《Things That Deserve To Die》


 Chapter 1

    [Take a deep breath, then pause for a moment, and clear your mind.]


    Ja-kyung spread a yoga mat in front of a large window, raised his upper body, and crossed his legs. With each inhalation and exhalation, the snake with its mouth wide open on his right shoulder squirmed and moved. The midday temperature was close to 38 degrees, but Ja-kyung¡¯s apartment was so cold that he had to wear long sleeves.


    Meditation music continued to play from the speaker.


    [Let the anger, hatred, and all the negative emotions out of your heart little by little.]


    There was a presence at the front door, but the awareness remained steady. There was the sound of footsteps, followed by something falling to the side. He only opened his closed eyes to look at the sound source after that.


    What fell on the floor was a newspaper published this morning in Thailand. The face of the man Ja-kyung killed last night was engraved on the front page of the newspaper. He heard a slow handclap from above his head. His gaze, which had been fixed on the newspaper article, shifted upward. A tall, big man stood in front of him. He was a Chinese named Wang Han, and he was like a brother to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°As expected, you¡¯re amazing.¡±


    Yang Yang, a Chinese man who made money in Thailand through prostitution and organ trafficking, was discovered dead in a hotel bed this morning. He was shot in the left chest with a 7.62mm bullet from the opposite building pierced the glass and pierced his heart precisely without an inch of error.


    ¡°People reacted enthusiastically when he died. You should have done a lot of bad things during that time.¡±


    It didn¡¯t even matter how bad he was. He had a commission, so he killed him, and once he had the money, that was the end of it.


    ¡°What about the money?¡±


    In response to Ja-kyung¡¯s question, Wang Han¡¯s lips, which had been smiling, twitched.


    ¡°Where is the rest?¡±


    Seeing Wang Han who had come empty-handed with only a single bundle of newspapers, Ja-kyung asked with a puzzled face. If everything goes as planned, he should have the $300,000 he received in his account by now. Of course, in cash. Wang Han paused and gestured to the table behind him. On the empty table was a bag of hamburgers.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat that first. Isn¡¯t it still before morning?¡±


    Wang Han walked to the table, took a hamburger out of a paper bag, and put a straw into the coke. The table was perfect for two people. He even unwrapped the hamburger to make it easier to eat, but Ja-kyung just sat there staring at it, as if he had no intention of eating it.


    Wang Han struggled to smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you soon.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Ja-kyung stood up and left his seat. He frowned and looked quite dissatisfied. Sure enough, he turned towards the bedroom rather than the dining table. Damn it. Wang Han followed him with his eyes tightly shut.


    Ja-kyung entered the room and began selecting one of the shirts hung on the wall. He chose a Hawaiian shirt with red flowers on it. He liked it because he got it for a low price at a night market a while ago. His expression as he buttoned his shirt seemed a little excited. He always had that expression on his face before going to kill someone.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°To get the money.¡±


    ¡°Calm down and listen to me. There¡¯s a reason for what happened.¡±


    Instead of answering, Ja-kyung opened the drawer next to the bed. The silver Beretta pistol gleamed.


    ¡°Tell me because I¡¯m listening.¡±


    But it wasn¡¯t the gun that Ja-kyung took out. Instead of a gun, he grabbed the watch next to it. It was a watch that acted like a time bomb. Even if it didn¡¯t destroy a single building, it could explode the entire surrounding area with just a push of a button.


    Wang Han¡¯s expression hardened.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m going to go get it today.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to bother yourself. No, I¡¯m leaving right now. You stay here.¡±


    Ja-kyung turned around and went outside despite the fact that he had not finished speaking. Wang Han remembered the client¡¯s face from earlier in the day with despair. He was a Chinese-Russian named Dmitry, the leader of a notorious criminal organization.


    He had always kept his promises like a knife, but for some reason, he postponed the payment of the balance by three days. It turned out to be a more serious problem than expected. Breaking a promise means that work has been disrupted. Besides, Ja-kyung wasn¡¯t the type to put up with things going wrong. He was a guy who counted every minute and every second and took interest.


    Ja-kyung walked out to the front door and looked back.


    ¡°Brother, you don¡¯t have to come.¡±


    ¡°Why.¡±


    ¡°Stay here and catch the cockroach.¡±


    He was baffled by the absurd talk of the cockroach.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I think I saw a cockroach this size in the morning.¡±


    Ja-kyung spread his thumb and index finger to roughly the size of his face and rubbed his hands against his pants. No. He really hates it. Wang Han knew how much he hated cockroaches. Moreover, the cockroaches living in Southeast Asia were so big that it felt like they were walking rather than crawling. But anyway¡­


    ¡°Is that important now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just as important to me as getting money. Even if I died, I couldn¡¯t be friends with them. I¡¯m telling you just in case, but you have to kill them. You can¡¯t just spray the repellent like before. If they show up again, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to sleep.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who had left after making a great request, looked back.


    ¡°Of course, that was if I came back alive.¡±


    He joked that he might die. The door closed and Wang Han, who was left alone, rubbed his face. A groan came out of his mouth. Even if he had to hold on to him more, Ja-kyung wasn¡¯t the kind of guy who would listen to him. He just hopes he doesn¡¯t come across Ja-kyung¡¯s name in the newspaper the next morning.


    ***


    As the chef brought out the soft tender tenderloin steak, Dmitry started cutting gracefully with a fork and knife. A large jewelry ring glistened on his hand every time he moved the knife. Two well-built men stood on the side with machine guns, and several men dragged their dogs around to guard the area.


    Dmitry¡¯s gaze was drawn to the newspaper on the left. It was published this morning, but the death of Yang Yang, who was like an enemy was published in a large article. As the smile spread on his face, red blood flowed from the meat and stained the white plate.


    The juices spread when he puts a piece of meat in his mouth with a fork. The thousand-year-old congestion seemed to dissipate as the thorn in his eye disappeared. He wiped the blood from his lips with a napkin, savoring the incredible taste, and then, Bang! A loud noise could be heard coming from the front door.


    A well-preserved black jaguar rushed into the yard with frightening force at the same time his jaws stopped moving while chewing meat. The scattered men gathered in unison to form a formation and point their guns at the same time as the Jaguar squeaked to a halt in front of Dmitry.


    His face frowned when he saw that the meticulously maintained lawn had been severely damaged. The driver¡¯s door opened at the same time as the chewed meat was spat out. An intruder got out of the driver¡¯s seat with loud music that seemed to tear the eardrums apart. The men all pointed their guns at the intruder, who was dressed in a bright floral shirt and sunglasses.


    But Lee Ja-kyung strode closer with a face that indicated he didn¡¯t care about that. Dmitry signaled for his men to lower their guns. Lee Ja-kyung pulled out the chair opposite and sat down as if it were his.


    ¡°Are you going to eat?¡±


    Ja-kyung took off his sunglasses and placed them on the table.


    ¡°Not eating, just give me the money.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s brown eyes flashed sensitively as he sat leaning on the chair.


    ¡°Is it because your concerns have disappeared? Your face got brighter overnight.¡±


    ¡°I used to, but it¡¯s no longer very good. I was hoping to have a quiet meal, but you ruined it.¡±


    ¡°This would not have happened if you had paid the money on time. Thanks to that, the interest is still accumulating little by little.¡±


    After snorting, Dmitry took a knife and fork to cut the meat into pieces. Ja-kyung quickly slid his hand into his trouser pocket. Despite the fact that no one had given an order, dozens of guns were aimed at him once more. Ja-kyung grinned and reached into his pocket for a cigarette and a silver Zippo lighter.


    ¡°It¡¯s scary.¡±


    After igniting the tip of his cigarette, he leaned languidly in his chair.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you three minutes. Or I¡¯ll take your life and the rest of the money.¡±


    Dmitry¡¯s men focused their attention on the tip of the cigarette, which burned red before turning gray. They were going to pull the trigger as soon as they saw Lee Ja-kyung move. However, they didn¡¯t act hastily. None of the people who had a grudge against Lee Ja-kyung in the past survived. They had no idea what he was going to do because he was skilled with both bombs and guns.


    Ja-kyung extinguished his cigarette after the last sip. The cigarette that had bounced landed right on the meat on the steak plate.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fully cooked. Cook it, then eat it.¡±


    Dmitry¡¯s lips curved upward.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I like you. You aren¡¯t scared of anything.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at his watch instead of answering.


    ¡°Fifteen seconds left.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention your skills.¡±


    ¡°Ten seconds. Is there anything else you¡¯d like to say as a will?¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s why¡­¡±


    ¡°Five seconds.¡±


    ¡°Go to Korea and kill someone. I¡¯ll pay ten times the price as a VIP.¡±

 Chapter 2

    There was an endless line in the church yard where the free lunch room was set up, and people gathered around the blue table as soon as the seats were empty. One of the volunteers was captured on camera by Reporter Yoon¡¯s camera, which was filming here and there.


    The man in the green apron was a handsome man who stood out from afar. He was tall, well-built, and smiled sympathetically at people.


    ¡°He is handsome.¡±


    Reporter Kwak, who was eating ice cream next to him, looked over.


    ¡°Kang Il-hyun?¡±


    ¡°Who would think that man is a gangster. When you look at the shell, you can tell he¡¯s more than just an actor, right?¡±


    ¡°If there is one thing that distinguishes him from other actors, it must be that he actually cuts people off.¡±


    Reporter Yoon took his gaze away from the camera and looked back at his senior reporter Kwak.


    ¡°Did you see it?¡±


    ¡°Do I have to see it to know? Everyone knows that his business is a gangster company. You know that a member of the National Assembly committed suicide three years ago and was found dead, right? That¡¯s all-,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± A man appeared between the two people who were secretly chatting and handed them a vitamin drink. The man smiled as brightly as he could, but his eyes and the energy he exuded were unusual. On the back of the man¡¯s hand, there were numerous small scars that even years couldn¡¯t erase.


    ¡°I look forward to your article. We are doing a lot of good things.¡±


    The man made eye contact with reporter Kwak and gave emphasis to the word ¡®good things¡¯. Reporter Kwak, who was nervous, grabbed two drinks quickly and responded with a forced smile. The man in front of him was a secretary working under Kang Il-hyun. In terms of the rank of the secretarial organization, the horse would be about the right arm.


    What was his name¡­ Park Tae-soo?


    Park Tae-soo, who appeared out of nowhere and handed him a drink, nodded and then disappeared. Reporter Kwak lowered his voice towards reporter Yoon.


    ¡°Hey, did he just hear that?¡±


    ¡°What if he heard it? It¡¯s not like I made up some nonsense.¡±


    Reporter Kwak subconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°Am I sweating? Did it seem obvious that I was nervous?¡±


    ¡°Why are you so scared? Who would kill you?¡±


    At the mention of killing him, reporter Kwak stared at the drink in his hand. If he throws it away, they might see it, and he feels uncomfortable at the thought of drinking it. While he was thinking about it, reporter Yoon, who was standing next to him, opened the lid and drank it. He reached out his hand to stop him, but he had already drunk it all.


    ¡°Hey. Why are you drinking that? I suspected there was something in it.¡±


    Reporter Yoon pointed to Kang Il-hyun, who was serving with a smile. Park Tae-soo, who had just handed over the drink to them, was standing next to him, and Kang Il-hyun, who was listening, was staring at reporter Yoon and reporter Kwak. Surprised, reporter Kwak quietly turned his back and called reporter Yoon.


    ¡°Damn it. Why is he looking here?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m curious as well.¡±


    Reporter Yoon sipped his drink and nodded his head in gratitude. Kang Il-hyun smiled politely and handed out food to the people in line once more. When he made eye contact with the homeless one by one, smiled, and even shook hands with those who occasionally reached out his hand, he was like a politician.


    ¡°Fuck it, it¡¯s dirty.¡±


    Kang Tae-han, who took off his glasses, squeezed plenty of alcohol on his hands and rubbed them again. He held his hand to receive gratitude from the homeless for making the meal. He even washed it clean with water, but the uncomfortable feeling did not disappear.


    ¡°They¡¯re like cockroaches. They just rush in because they¡¯re happy that we¡¯re giving them food for free.¡±


    He spits on the ground and pulls a cigarette from his pocket. A subordinate standing nearby quickly came over and lit the fire. He inhaled a cigarette and exhaled it in the stuffy air.


    Despite the fact that it was May, the weather was scorching. There was a lot of talk on TV about this summer being the worst heat wave ever, but in someways, the same news always came out around this time.


    A little farther away, his younger brother Kang Il-hyun was taking pictures with the volunteers. Tae-han smiled mockingly as he saw his brother pretending to be a good person. Disgusting bastard. After taking pictures, he said goodbye to the volunteers, then took off his apron and handed it to the subordinate standing next to him.


    They then talked for a while before walking to Tae-han¡¯s place. They drew everyone¡¯s attention with their nearly 190-centimeter height, strong skeleton, and Western-style body shape. The shirt¡¯s sleeves were folded to reveal a solid forearm, and the shape of the muscles changed with each arm movement. That was why women drool to see what they do. He was such bad luck.


    Kang Il-hyun, who had approached him, took bottled water and moistened his throat.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you good at acting? You can be an actor at this point.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun threw the bottle of water he had drank into the trash can when Kang Tae-han was sarcastic.


    ¡°Stop shaming people when you¡¯re being sarcastic. I went to the reporter earlier.¡±


    His tone was a little cooler, as it was one tone lower than the average person¡¯s.


    ¡°Reporter? Who?¡±


    Il-hyun took out a cigarette, lit it, and cast an oblique glance at Tae-han. Kang Tae-han, who wears glasses, escorted his mother out of the United States. Besides, he always had a frown on his forehead, which made him nervous. When he exhaled cigarette smoke on that face, the wrinkles deepened between his eyebrows.


    Tae-han coughed at the rising cigarette smoke with his hand and cursed.


    ¡°And please, smile a little in front of people. It¡¯s not like someone will hit you if you smile.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s your specialty. You smile as much as you want.¡±


    Il-hyun smoked a cigarette and flicked it forward.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get over this. You have to be on the same page with your hands and mouth to eat.¡±


    Tae-han¡¯s eyes widened as he heard those words. Although they have different mothers, he couldn¡¯t help but be offended by his eight years younger brother teaching him regularly. He beat him upside down to repent of his mistake when he was younger, but it was difficult to do so after he grew taller and bigger.


    He pondered the last time he has beaten Kang Il-hyun. Maybe when he was in first grade. Even then, for some reason, there were shouts and merciless foot stomping on him. But that day was different. Kang Il-hyun, who was being beaten, grabbed the knife the housekeeper was holding and shoved it into Tae-han¡¯s side, so he had to be taken to the emergency room.


    Sometimes he remembers that moment. Kang Il-hyun was clearly smiling.


    [If you hit me one more time, hyung, it¡¯ll be your heart next.]


    Kang Tae-han and his gangster brothers have grown up without a drop of blood on their hands since childhood. Kang Hoon, his father, ate, drank, and got drunk in the fertile land he had cultivated, and there was no way to fight a stronger man without being trampled on.


    However, Kang Il-hyun was different. Even though he grew up the same way, he became violent and cunning like a person who always craved blood. Despite making enemies everywhere, his work was neatly done, and he remained loyal to his father, Chairman Kang. That irritated Tae-han as well.


    As he recalled the old memories for a moment and ruined his mood, Tae-han¡¯s wife, Park Seon-joo, who finished greeting the volunteers, walked with a dignified step. Unlike usual, looking at her neatly tied hairstyle and makeup, Tae-han snorted again this time. There were other actors here as well.


    ¡°You did a great job, honey. Young master, as well.¡±


    ¡°Sister-in-law did most of the hard work. You look more beautiful today.¡±


    She smiled and covered her mouth as she heard her brother-in-law¡¯s compliment. Tae-han, who was standing nearby, smirked once more. She was having a good time. Park Seon-joo fixed her gaze and stared for a while, but Tae-han pretended not to see and turned away.


    Then Park Tae-soo approached cautiously with a cell phone.


    ¡°Sir. I think you should answer the phone.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun answered the phone call. Life appeared in his eyes for a brief moment while he was listening to the other person and then disappeared.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving, so get it under control.¡±


    Il-hyun handed over his cell phone after finishing the call and instructed Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°Bring the car. I¡¯m leaving right now.¡±


    When Tae-soo disappeared immediately, Tae-han asked out of curiosity.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled coldly.


    ¡°Our younger brother caused an accident. That is also very big.¡±


    Oh, that jerk. Tae-han spat out the curse words first, without hesitation. They had a half-brother, who was a pain in the family. The guy, who has just turned 20, has been involved in the nightlife, but more recently has been involved in drugs and has frequently caused scandals.


    ¡°Hyung, I will go first. See you at the dinner meeting tomorrow. Go home safely, both of you.¡±


    After saying farewell politely, Il-hyun walked to his car which was parked in the church¡¯s backyard. The smile on his smiling face completely disappeared and he became cold like an ice cube. Tae-soo, who had been waiting, opened the rear seat door and immediately moved to the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°Who is injured?¡±


    ¡°Six people have minor injuries and one is unconscious. There was a fight before stabbing with a knife. Fortunately, Senator Seo¡¯s son was not seriously injured.¡±


    Il-hyun spits a short curse and then instructed Tae-soo.


    ¡°Call Senator Seo. Tell him I¡¯ll see him in the evening.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do with the unconscious friend?¡±


    ¡°Get rid of him. It would be a headache when he wakes up.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    His fingers on the armrest moved as if he was planning a disaster. His moving fingers stopped, and their gazes met in the mirror.


    ¡°No.  Keep him alive for the time being.¡±


    If he keeps him alive, he¡¯ll be useful later. The car started and Il-hyun¡¯s gaze was drawn out the window. A fight broke out after several people hung out, drank, and used drugs, and they were taken to the hospital. If he looked at it, there was no one innocent there, so it didn¡¯t matter if anyone died. It was the same with Kang Seok-Joo. It was just annoying that he had more work to do.

 Chapter 3

    TW: Violence/Blood


    A bag of money spread out on the floor was full of dollars. Wang Han¡¯s gaze, who had been organizing it and sharing it, shifted to Ja-kyung, who was sitting at the table. He¡¯s been staring at a picture since he arrived. It was a new request from Dmitry.


    ¡°Are you really going to do it?¡±


    Ja-kyung remained silent. The man in the picture wearing a black suit and a black tie was close to expressionless. He wondered what it was. A face in a Western magazine. To be exact, underwear commercial? The features that overflowed with testosterone were quite strong, clear, and fierce for Asians.


    Wang Han, who was watching, got up from his seat and came to the table.


    ¡°I asked if you were going to do it.¡±


    Ja-kyung turned the picture around and showed it to Wang Han.


    ¡°Handsome, right? Don¡¯t you think it will be fun to kill him?¡±


    ¡°Well.¡±


    ¡°He is twenty-nine, doesn¡¯t he seem a lot older? He looked so old.¡±


    ¡°So are you going to do it?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded his head.


    ¡°I have to. It¡¯s ten times the previous price.¡±


    Wang Han sat down and spoke with a solemn expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all. It¡¯s fine to kill him, but you need to go into that house and get some items.¡±


    As expected, conditions were added as the amount was large. He would have been less concerned about killing a person in normal circumstances, but after killing the man, he needed to retrieve an item from a hidden safe. That was the transaction¡¯s condition.


    Wang Han took the picture and looked into the man¡¯s face. He asked a friend to conduct a thorough investigation into the man. Kang Hoon was the leader of the Sewon faction, a former ruling gang in Korea. Kang Hoon married a politician¡¯s daughter, expanded his business, and became an entrepreneur. Of course, he still rules the underworld behind the scenes.


    He has been married twice more since then, and he has three sons and a daughter. His three sons worked for the company, and his daughter was a doctor. Kang Il-hyun, the man in the photo, was the most likely successor of the three. Wang Han worked in this field and met all kinds of people, so he could make an assessment just by looking at him. The eyes and the aura emanating from him were dangerous, and Wang Han keen intuition told him to avoid it this time.


    Moreover, according to sources, this was not the first attempt to assassinate Kang Il-hyun. They all failed, and none of them survived. But, as usual, Ja-kyung dismissed it as insignificant.


    ¡°I¡¯m different. I¡¯m the best.¡±


    ¡°I know. But what if you¡¯re in danger?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to die.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say it lightly. What is your dream?¡±


    When he heard the word ¡°dream,¡± Ja-kyung closed his mouth. He intended to leave this job when he reached the age of 30. He also considered the island where he planned to spend the rest of his life. A deserted island where no one lives. Since there were so many enemies around, it would be convenient to go there. He must find a beautiful wife, raise children, build a house, farm, and live comfortably. He¡¯d never teach his child to shoot a gun.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it when I get back. Let¡¯s take care of this man first.¡±


    Ja-kyung took out a Zippo lighter from his pocket and lit the photos and documents. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face was distorted and seemed angry in the photo. He wondered if he would look like this when he died. He was a little excited about it. He laughed and tossed it in the garbage. The burned pictures quickly turned into a handful of ashes and disappeared.


    ***


    It was evening and the sun was slowly setting when the black sedan arrived at the Yangpyeong villa after a two-hour drive. This property belonged to his father, Chairman Kang, and it was primarily used as a playground by his youngest son, Kang Seok-Joo and his friends.


    When he opened the front door, he saw people cleaning the pool. While removing the flesh and bloodstains that had fallen here and there, they saw Kang Il-hyun and immediately got up to greet him. Accidents like this were not uncommon, and it was always their responsibility to follow up.


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    As he stepped on the stone steps and climbed up, he heard a shout from the inside before he even reach the front door. There was swearing and the sound of objects being smashed. It was clear how things were progressing. He still has some energy, so he must be running around like a lunatic, which was unusual for him.


    Il-hyun turned around and asked Tae-soo.


    ¡°If I kill that bastard, will the old man shed bloody tears?¡±


    Tae-soo didn¡¯t answer. Whether it was serious or not, he could do it himself.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s not yet time. Even if he died, I¡¯d only be relieved if the old man died as well.¡±


    A smile spreads across Il-hyun¡¯s face and then disappears as if he really imagined killing him. When he opened the door and went inside, as expected, the situation in front of him was a mess. The blood that fell on the floor and the unidentified flesh gave off a terrible fishy smell.


    Il-hyun took a deep breath. Hmm, smells good. A thick layer of blood clings to the sole of his shoe and drips off with each step. When the assembled subordinates saw Il-hyun, they quickly dispersed, and Kang Seok-joo appeared. He was covered in blood, holding an awl and swinging it around like a lunatic.


    ¡°Get out! Get out of here, you jerks! Do you want to die? Do you know who I am?¡±


    He had no idea who he was or where he was, so he reasoned that it would be best to teach him directly. As Il-hyun stepped closer, Kang Seok-joo blazed even more and swung his awl. Get out! Get out of here, you fucking bastard! Get out! I¡¯ll kill you if you don¡¯t leave!


    Il-hyun grabbed Seok-joo¡¯s wrist while avoiding the tip of the flying awl and twisted it until it made a clunking sound. Aww! The shriek that seemed to break was short-lived. Il-hyun took the awl that Seok-joo was holding and shoved it into his temple.


    Seok-joo couldn¡¯t even breathe properly after the blow and shrugged his shoulders. His legs loosened and he tried to sit down, but Il-hyun grabbed his hair and forced him to stand up again. With his eyes closed, he scraped his awl down slowly. As flesh was ripped apart, blood was dripping down and staining the shoes.


    Kang Seok-joo trembled like a newborn calf as if he couldn¡¯t bear the pain even while drunk.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Uh¡­!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t stand the pain and grabbed Il-hyun¡¯s arm, a low warning voice then rang out.


    ¡°Just put your hand on it. It¡¯ll be your eyes next.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo was unable to move and simply kept his mouth shut. In pain, tears welled up in his eyes, and the whites of his eyes turned red. He could now see the man in front of him clearly. His eyes sunk even deeper as he saw him smile like the devil.


    ¡°Hyu-, hyung. Th, tha, that,¡±


    ¡°Can you see me clearly now?¡±


    ¡°Ye, yeah¡­¡±


    When he applied more force, the tip of the awl arched inward and went in. In the agony of his broken bones, Seok-joo couldn¡¯t even groan, and his mouth was open like a fish. A creepy smile crossed Il-hyun¡¯s face as he watched his half-brother struggling in pain.


    ¡°You should always answer politely, okay?¡±


    ¡°Ye¡­ Yes¡­¡±


    The awl that was crushing the bones fell out at that moment, as did the strong hand that was holding the hair. Seok-joo let out a breath he had been holding back and sat down on the floor. The pain was still there, but fear and shame arrived at the same time.


    Il-hyun was looking down at Seok-joo when he heard a sound from the front door. When Il-hyun turned around, he saw a guest who had just arrived and smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re late.¡±


    The gray-haired man was the secretary of Seok-joo¡¯s mother, Kim Seon-young. His gaze fell to Seok-joo, who had fallen to the floor and was bleeding,  and his face soon darkened.


    ¡°You went too far.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hear my father reprimanding separately at tomorrow¡¯s meal.¡±


    ¡°Sir.¡±


    ¡°Say it.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t hurt your family for any reason.¡±


    One of Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows rose crookedly at the word ¡°family¡±. The more he thought about it, the more he despised the word. Family. Family¡­ Family. Change it to a fake. He licked the tip of the awl with his tongue while hiding his true feelings and smiling at him. Secretary Yoon¡¯s eyes trembled in response to the action.


    Il-hyun rolled the blood around in his mouth with his tongue to taste it before spitting it on the floor.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange. If blood is thicker than water, why does it taste so bland in my mouth?¡±


    ¡°Sir, if you do this again next time-,¡±


    ¡°What if I do this again?¡±


    A cold stare fell on him. Secretary Yoon took a brief pause before taking a half-step back and bowing his head.


    ¡°I stepped over the line. I apologize.¡±


    ¡°As expected, you¡¯re quick to grasp the situation. Otherwise, this would have been stuck in Secretary Yoon¡¯s head by now.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed and tossed the awl to the ground. Yeah, it was a clever joke, so don¡¯t be offended. Secretary Yoon disliked Kang Il-hyun but was unable to express his feelings. Because it was true that Kang Seok-joo was involved in a major accident this time. Although not in critical condition, one of the injured parties was the son of a politician, and it was understandable that he was upset because it was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s sole responsibility to settle the situation.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll get going. Clean up the mess. Just like you always do.¡±


    Il-hyun looked back. Seok-joo remained overwhelmed in his seat. Il-hyun gave him a very kind smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re so cute when you¡¯re calm. Now, you look like my younger brother.¡±

 Chapter 4

    Expensive ceramics and paintings from art galleries were displayed alongside the antique furniture. Vases of valuable flowers were strategically placed throughout the house, and employees were busy transporting food on serving carts.


    A middle-aged man in a well-dressed suit stood between them and directed the crowd. He was the head butler who took care of all the household affairs. While he was directing the staff to set the stained, someone approached from behind. The butler raised his glasses to look back at the person. The man who just arrived was Kang Il-hyun, the second son of this house.


    ¡°You¡¯ve arrived, Director Kang.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    ¡°The chairman said he¡¯d be there in 30 minutes with his wife.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll wait.¡±


    The butler smiled and then bowed his head. Then he went back to doing his job. Il-hyun was lost in thought for a moment, watching his back and meticulously giving instructions to the staff with a small movement.


    He was wondering how old he was when he first saw the butler. It has been so long that he couldn¡¯t even remember. Since his mother was still alive, it had to have been more than 20 years ago. Even then, he hadn¡¯t revealed his feelings to anyone. Even when his mother slapped him on the cheek, he always smiled, as he did now.


    Drag, the sound of a chair being pulled brought Il-hyun out of old memories. Kang Yoo-jung, who had just arrived, sat down beside him. She was dressed simply in jeans and a comfortable T-shirt, and she appeared tired at first glance. Unlike the three brothers who worked at the company, she had a separate profession as a doctor. She said she was satisfied with her work even though she lived on a tiring day as a surgeon.


    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t come.¡±


    ¡°I came to see you. It¡¯s been a while since we saw each other.¡±


    ¡°My cute little brother. Come here, I¡¯ll give you a hug.¡± She stretched out her hand, Il-hyun frowned, and pushed her upper body back. Seeing that face, which had not changed at all, was distorted, Yoo-jung laughed and liked it.


    ¡°Are you having fun?¡±


    ¡°Look in the mirror. I¡¯m having fun. You¡¯ll understand how I feel when you see your distorted face.¡±


    ¡°Weird hobby.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so cold-hearted. Did you forget that you and I are on the same team?¡±


    Il-hyun snorted. Team¡­ Kang Yoo-jung was the only one of the siblings who shared the same mother as Il-hyun. However, she also had no good memories of their mother. Their mother was addicted to alcohol and drugs, and she never showed affection to her children until the moment she hung her head from the second-floor railing. It wasn¡¯t necessarily her fault. She couldn¡¯t have loved them as a child because it was an unwanted marriage from the start.


    ¡°You two came early.¡±


    Kang Tae-han and his wife Park Seon-joo, who arrived late, joined the meal.  Park Seon-joo¡¯s makeup became thicker and her clothes became more glamorous, in contrast to yesterday when she gave away free meals. Park Seon-joo greeted Yoo-jung very warmly. Even though they were sisters-in-law,  they got along quite well. They shared common interests and, despite their outward appearance, had warm personalities.


    ¡°The chairman and his wife are on their way out.¡±


    As soon as the butler finished speaking, the four people sitting on the chairs rose from their seats at the same time. Chairman Kang was walking down the long circular staircase with a cane, and Kim Seon-young, his third wife which was also Kang Seok-joo¡¯s mother was holding his arm and supporting him.


    Despite her uncomfortably smooth gait, she worked tirelessly to care for her husband. And behind them was Kang Seok-joo, who had Il-hyun stamped on his temple last night. Chairman Kang sat at the head of the table, with Kim Seon-young and Kang Seok-joo sitting next to him.


    ¡°Everyone sit down.¡±


    Kim Seon-young sat down and turned to face Kang Il-hyun as soon as the words were spoken. Her gaze did not waver even as she waited for the main course to be served. Putting down the glass of water that Il-hyun was drinking, he asked Kim Seon-young directly.


    ¡°Mother. Do you have anything to say to me?¡±


    The tone was friendly, but the mood in the room had changed. Il-hyun knew better than anyone that she couldn¡¯t just ignore her beloved son¡¯s injury.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you apologize first before I ask?¡± It¡¯s because you poked a hole in a healthy child¡¯s face.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze shifted away from Seon-yeong and toward Seok-joo, who sat next to her. His temples were covered with gauze. When their eyes met, Seok-joo lowered his head like prey in front of a beast. Seon-yeong¡¯s squinted sharply, and the voice that scolded her son grew stronger.


    ¡°Raise your head. Are you a fool? You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    ¡°You can think about it. Kang Seok-Joo, answer me. Did I do anything to you that deserves an apology?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Answer me. If you want, I can do it here.¡±


    Seok-joo moved his anxious gaze back and forth. When he got drunk, he felt elated, but sitting here with a sane mind was like hell. All his brothers¡¯ eyes pierced him like thorns.


    ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s all right, Hyung. Because it¡¯s my fault¡­ There¡¯s no need for you to apologize¡­¡±


    Il-hyun looked at Seon-yeong with a sad smile on his face.


    ¡°See? It isn¡¯t my fault.¡±


    ¡°How could you,¡±


    ¡°Stop it. What are you doing during a meal?¡±


    All of them shut their mouths at Chairman Kang¡¯s remarks. Kim Seon-young had a sad expression on her face as she looked at her husband. She was aware that he had a particular preference for Kang Il-hyun. Of course, he has good abilities and looks exactly like him, so it must be true, but she was irritated when he tolerated such excessive behavior at times. She bit her lower lip gently and clenched her fist under the table.


    When the main dish came out and the meal started, the somewhat stiff atmosphere gradually eased. Most of the stories were about work, and in the meantime, Tae-han¡¯s twin story and Yoo-jung¡¯s hospital story came and went.


    ¡°When did you say the son of Zhang would come?¡±


    Tae-han, who was drinking wine, was the first to respond. Tomorrow.


    ¡°Where does he want to stay?¡±


    Il-hyun, who was slicing the meat, slightly lifted the tip of the knife and said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking of taking care of it.¡±


    ¡°Take good care of him. He is the son of Zhang, so he is like a brother to you.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled briefly when he heard the word ¡°brother.¡± He had fucking a lot of brothers.


    ¡°I will, Father.¡±


    At that moment, Seok-joo, who was sitting in front of Il-hyun, entered his vision. He was having fun watching him wince every time their eyes met, and a good idea suddenly came to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably better for Seok-joo to look after him than for me. They must have something in common because they are the same age.¡±


    Seok-joo¡¯s knife, which was cutting steak stopped. He had no idea why he had abruptly pointed him out. He raised his head and looked at Il-hyun, who was holding a wine glass and smiling. Seok-joo got goosebumps and quickly averted his gaze. He had no idea what Il-hyun was up to, but he sharpened his knife in his heart, vowing to kill this human with his own hands someday.


    ***


    ¡°I have always been interested in Korean art. That¡¯s why I asked grandfather for help.¡±


    Wang Han clicked his tongue when he saw Ja-kyung talking like a robot. No, today¡¯s robots would outperform that. He had to pretend to be someone else in order to stay at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house, but the disguise was supposed to be a weak young master.


    Wang Han scanned Ja-kyung from head to toe. His skin was close to the color of copper tanned by Thailand¡¯s hot sun, and his eyes were so intense that they penetrated through glass despite the fact that he was wearing glasses. Furthermore, there was a snake crawling on his shoulder with its mouth wide open, who would see him as a weak young master.


    ¡°Ja-kyung. Don¡¯t go out until you leave the country. That way your skin will come back like before.¡±


    ¡°Skin?¡±


    ¡°You definitely had pale skin when you were younger. No, it wasn¡¯t like this when you were in Shanghai last year. Staying at home for two weeks would be better than now.¡±


    Ja-kyung pursed his lips to the point where his lower chin was wrinkled and thought deeply. To gain access to the target¡¯s home, he had to pose as a Hong Kong man named Zhang Yi An. He was the godson of the Hong Kong organization, the Black Society, and after his father died when he was young, he was a flower in a greenhouse nurtured by his Korean mother and grandfather.


    He was a weed in comparison. A weed that could withstand being trampled on and crushed. It was similiar thing, but the class was different.


    ¡°Who do you think  actually commissioned it?¡±


    Ja-kyung suddenly became curious. Wang Han speculated that the client was a member of the shipping group. A person who has the power to use Dmitry as an intermediary to commission Ja-kyung to kill. A person who could replace the grandson of a big man. Someone who wouldn¡¯t get caught easily.


    ¡°It must be a family.¡±


    This was a common occurrence in this field. Killing each other between family and friends. The same could be said for the lover. It was nothing more than shoving bullets into the lover¡¯s heart and head who had been mixing bodies up until last night. As a result, Ja-kyung did not easily trust people and avoided meeting them.


    ¡°He¡¯ll realize that choosing me was a good decision. It¡¯s me we are talking about.¡±


    Wang Han shook his head as he looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s confident face.


    ¡°With your acting skills, you¡¯ll get caught soon.¡±


    ¡°Is it really that weird?¡±


    Wang Han looked intently at Ja-kyung¡¯s face. His eyes were large and clear, with thin double eyelids. The shape of his eyes changed depending on the viewer. His eye corners were redder than other people¡¯s, so when he looked down, he appeared pitiful, and when he lifted it up, it went up to the corner of the eyes and was slightly sexy. The women admired it, though.


    ¡°Well¡­ Relax your eyes a little. Like when you wake up in the early morning.¡±


    When he said that, Ja-kyung opened his eyes wide and then closed them, relaxing his eye muscles. Was it okay now? He looked relaxed, but this time it looks too relaxed. Wang Han shook his head, looking at the brown pupil that had disappeared through his eyelids.


    ¡°Stop it.¡±


    ¡°Then how about this?¡±


    He was now playing with his eyes in the middle, so Wang Han complained that if he was going to use that handsome face in that way, he should give it to him.


    ¡°Even if it¡¯s your face, never reveal your naked body. If he notices the small scars on your body, he will be suspicious.¡±


    When he heard this, Ja-kyung gave an absurd smile and leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.  There¡¯s no reason for me to take off my clothes. I¡¯m not going to seduce Kang Il-hyun.¡±

 Chapter 5

    The night view of Bangkok shone brightly from the window. The scenery that was unfamiliar to him when he first came here was now as comfortable as his own home. There was no such thing as a home for him, so if he remain anywhere long enough, it becomes his home. After recalling the old memories for a moment, Ja-kyung took out a cigarette and lit it.


    Wang Han appeared and handed him one of two bottles of beer from the refrigerator.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    ¡°I wondered if I could come back here.¡±


    Wang Han¡¯s brow furrowed.


    ¡°What a bad luck.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled and took a sip of the beer. He had to go outside in the afternoon the next day. He needed to tidy up his hair, get a new pair of glasses, and dress modestly. He planned to eat at a usual restaurant where he ate frequently.


    ¡°Are you returning to Korea for the first time in five years?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Wang Han did not ask any further questions. He knew how much of a terrible childhood Ja-kyung had in Korea. Both his parents were criminals and he said they engaged in drug-related work. While his peers were studying at school, Ja-kyung was used to deliver drugs.


    Being beaten after being hungry was common, and he didn¡¯t even have a chance to dream in the first place.


    After his parents died, Ja-kyung was left alone at the age of ten and fostered by Wang Han¡¯s father. Wang Han, who was 12 years old at the time, watched after Ja-kyung as if he were a younger brother, but the two eventually became criminals because what they saw and learned was stealing.


    ¡°What should I do when I get the money?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about getting a hair transplant. What do you think?¡±


    Ja-kyung burst out laughing. Wang Han had previously come from elsewhere to apply hair growth medicine, but this went wrong, and hair grew on his palms, forcing him to use a razor on his palms for a while. He later read in the manual that after application, he should wash his hands thoroughly with water.


    ¡°Give up. If there was a way to change it, none of the famous people would be bald?¡±


    Wang Han was aware of it as well, so he couldn¡¯t deny it.


    ¡°Then what are you going to do? Are you really going to buy an island?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitated for a while, pressing the tip of the beer bottle to his lips.


    ¡°Should I donate the money?¡±


    ¡°Donation?¡±


    ¡°Like Warren Buffett.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great. He¡¯s the best at investing and you¡¯re the best at killings, so in a way, you two have something in common.¡±


    Wang Han was serious, but Ja-kyung smiled bitterly. Warren Buffett would be furious if he learned that he was compared to a butcher who kills people. Many people have always admired that person, yet the only time he has been regarded was when he has killed someone.


    Wang Han picked up his beer bottle.


    ¡°For you who will be greater than Warren Buffett.¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed and bumped his bottle.


    ¡°For five million dollars and your new hair.¡±


    ***


    Il-hyun closed his eyes and raised his arm to press the stop button when the loud alarm went off. The time was 7 a.m. He got up and rubbed his face to wake him up. He drank alcohol with politicians until late yesterday, and the hangover did not go away even after he slept and woke up.


    He wanted to go back to bed, but he couldn¡¯t because he had an appointment in the morning. After putting on a robe in a nude state, he went out into the living room. When Tae-soo noticed him, he got up from the sofa.


    ¡°You¡¯re here, sir.¡±


    ¡°You came early.¡±


    His voice cracked from exhaustion and he walked to one side of the bar and opened the refrigerator. It was stocked with beer and disposable bottled water. He took a bottle of water, twisted the cover off, and drank it to relieve his thirst.


    ¡°What time did you say the flight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s half-past ten.¡±


    He¡¯d be on time if he washed up and left right now. He took off his robe and went into the bathroom to shower with cold water after discarding the empty bottled water in the trash can. He closed his eyes and stood under the water few moments to regain his composure.


    After wiping off the water, he went out to dry his hair, applied skin toner and picked out a shirt.


    He put on a blue shirt, a watch, and a tie that matched, and stood in front of the mirror. He smiled warmly as he fastened his cufflinks, as though his partner was standing directly in front of him.


    ¡°Welcome to Korea.¡±


    He then shifted his gaze left and right to examine his own features. Hmm, handsome. He took his jacket and headed outside with a satisfied smile on his face. Tae-soo was waiting for him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two went through the long hallway on the second floor to the central staircase. Every movement was recorded on CCTV installed throughout the house. It was placed four years ago after he was attacked, and it has a night vision feature that detects activity even in the dark.


    At that time, only five people died in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s home. Two of them were guards, while the other three were intruders. He had kept one of the intruders alive and tortured him severely to find out who had ordered him. A member of the National Assembly was found dead in a car the next year.


    ¡°Good morning, sir.¡±


    The resident employees all lowered their heads at the same time as he walked down the steps.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    He came out after hearing an elderly woman wearing an apron greet from the back kitchen. She was the housekeeper, who did housework and Kang Il-hyun had known her since he was barely able to walk.


    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Please don¡¯t prepare breakfast. I¡¯m going to the airport right away.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll make something simple for you to eat.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Never mind.¡±


    ¡°I heard that a guest is coming today¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, he will stay here for a while. Please take good care of him, Mrs.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I will.¡±


    Il-hyun headed out with Tae-soo after giving her a gentle smile. The car had parked in front of the gate appeared in front of him as he proceeded through the open grass. Il-hyun, who was sitting in the back seat, leaned on it. A hangover that did not go away completely plagued his stomach again. As he frowned his brow, Tae-soo who was seated in front noticed it and looked back.


    ¡°Are you all right, Sir?¡±


    He nodded once. The car started and the park came into view as they drove out of the neighborhood. Although it was early, there were quite a few people out for a walk. They were out on an outing with their family, dressed in casual clothing and enjoying the spring sun. He just passed the park and found a flower shop and stopped the car.


    Tae-soo turned around to see what was happening.


    ¡°Go and buy some flowers.¡±


    ¡°You say flowers, Sir?¡±


    ¡°I should prepare a bouquet of flowers for the guests coming from far away.¡±


    Tae-soo got off the car without more questions and proceeded to the flower shop. He has bought a bouquet of roses after a few talks with the owner. Tae-soo appeared to be an average man on his way to meet his lover, carrying a bouquet of roses.


    Il-hyun leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as the car continued its ride. The surging exhaustion and hangover were forcing him to sleep. He thought it would just be for a few minutes, but when he awoke, he was already on his way to the airport. Ah, he twisted his neck left and right and checked the time. He arrived on time.


    The car drove for ten more minutes and stopped in front of the airport. Tae-soo presented the flowers to Il-hyun as he exited the car. The aroma of roses was overwhelming. The only time he touched flowers was when someone had died and something to celebrate.


    There weren¡¯t many people in the airport when they arrived. He awaited him in front of the gate, holding a bouquet of roses in one hand and a paper with the Chinese characters ¡®Zhang Yi An¡¯ written on it. A sign indicated that a flight from Hong Kong had arrived, and people began to pour out.


    Il-hyun examines the people leaving with their luggage intently, and a tall figure stands out in the distance. He was dressed in a green striped shirt with spherical silver-rimmed glasses, yet his shoulders were slightly bowed and his eyes looking around were quite young and naive. A man who appeared to be a guard next to him was carrying his luggage.


    ¡°That¡¯s him, right?¡±


    Tae-soo, who was also observing, took a picture from his arms and checked it.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    He took the bouquet of roses and stepped forward, standing in front of him, without hesitation. Looking closely, he wasn¡¯t that tall. A little over 180 centimeters. The other person raised his head and established eye contact as he looked down at his height, which was shorter than his. Surprisingly, the inside of the circular spectacles revealed the bigger eyes. His eyes were red and watery,


    ¡°My name is Kang Il-hyun. Welcome to Korea.¡±


    He handed out the rose bouquet and noticed the guard standing next to him. The guard nodded. A bouquet of roses was presented to Zhang Yi An, or Lee Ja-kyung, who was disguised as Zhang Yi An. Il-hyun immediately held out his hand.


    ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitantly held his hand. Nice to meet you. He smiled awkwardly after saying hello in Chinese. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hands were cold and it was similar to the feeling of touching a snake. He felt like he¡¯d been holding his hand for too long, so he tried to release it, but he couldn¡¯t. As Ja-kyung¡¯s expression hardened, the guard from Hong Kong noticed something strange and stepped forward.


    [Don¡¯t be rude.]


    Tae-soo who was behind Il-hyun sent a warning to the Hong Kong guard with a look of warning not to step in. Il-hyun smiled and let go as his hands relaxed. But his hand didn¡¯t just fall off. He rubbed Ja-kyung¡¯s palm with his fingertips as if he were caressing him.


    ¡°I apologize for holding your hand for so long. Please follow me. The car is in front.¡±


    As Kang Il-hyun and Park Tae-soo turned and walked ahead, Ja-kyung, who was left behind, let out a deep sigh without realizing it. Damn it. A cold sweat trickled down on his back. He didn¡¯t know why, but Kang Il-hyun seemed to have confirmed his calluses by rubbing his palm a while ago.


    ¡­No way.


    The hand holding the bouquet became tense. An acquaintance of Wang Han and a colleague who would help him tapped him on the back. He nodded at him and asked whether he was all right. Kang Il-hyun, who was walking in front of him, turned around and gave him a sidelong glance, indicating that he should follow him.

 Chapter 6

    Despite the overwhelming scent of roses, Ja-kyung¡¯s nerves were focused on Kang Il-hyun, who sat next to him. He was perplexed as to why he grimaced as he touched his hand. He didn¡¯t know what he was trying to check. However, Kang Il-hyun only looked out throughout the ride and didn¡¯t say much.


    In suffocating silence, the car crossed the Incheon Bridge. It was difficult to tell if the foggy floating on the sea was fog or dust. Buildings appeared after crossing over a lengthy bridge. It was Ja-kyung¡¯s first visit in five years.


    When he stepped on Korean land, old memories came to mind. It wasn¡¯t a sad or heartbreaking feeling. Sometimes he would imagine if his parents were still alive, but even if they were, there was no guarantee that life would be better than now.


    Even if he had been beaten to death, starved to death, or if he had been lucky enough to survive, he would have become a drug addict.


    ¡°Have you ever visited Korea?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun, who had only been looking out the window, asked in a sloppy manner. Ja-kyung nodded with a smile on his lips. He needs to make a good first impression and figure out where the safe was hidden. It was more difficult to do that than to kill him. Killing with improvised weapons may have been carried out right here.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been here a few times with my mother. To see my maternal grandfather.¡±


    ¡°I see. You speak Korean better than I thought.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the compliment.¡±


    ¡°We met in Tokyo a long time ago. Do you remember?¡±


    He was completely unaware of this information. He had heard that Zhang Yi An was shrouded in a veil and never appeared outside. His hands were sweaty and he was hearing a warning sound in his head. Ja-kyung was nervous, but his expression remained calm.


    ¡°Is that so? I can¡¯t remember¡­¡±


    ¡°It was very brief. At the time, you must have been four or five years old.¡±


    Thank God. He hadn¡¯t seen him grow up.


    ¡°You grabbed my pants, cried, and begged me.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ did?¡±


    ¡°It was our first meeting, but I don¡¯t know why you did that to me.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ You must have been overwhelmed.¡±


    ¡°Yes, so I hit you. My father scolded me because you got a nosebleed.¡±


    The atmosphere became cold in an instant. Just looking at his face, he looks like he regrets not doing more. Ja-kyung was at a loss for words in embarrassment. He should apologize later. ¡®I apologize for bothering you at the time.¡¯ Or maybe he said it just to make him laugh.


    As he was thinking about fifty thousand thoughts, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s phone rang. He thought it was good. He wished him to be on the phone all the way to the place.


    ¡°Say it.¡±


    However, the wish did not come true. Kang Il-hyun hung up the phone after saying just one word, ¡°Okay.¡± Then he immediately called the man named Tae-soo who was sitting in front of him.


    ¡°Turn the car. Go to the factory.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±


    The car changed lanes and went to the U-turn spot without hesitation. The light changed, and the car reversed its direction. Was the factory nearby?


    ¡°I think we will be arriving home a little late. I have a place to stop by because something happened.¡±


    Then I should stay in this small area with him for a while longer. Ja-kyung smiled unconcernedly.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. And you can speak informally. I¡¯m much younger than you. I¡¯ll follow you like a brother.¡±


    However, Kang Il-hyun immediately refused.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Then do whatever made you comfortable.¡±


    He turned his head and stared out the window after smiling at him. Bastard. So picky. He pondered how to go through this after swearing on the inside. A roadblock appeared shortly after, and the car turned in the other way as before.


    Ja-kyung was looking at the scenery outside when he heard a small tick, tick, regular sound. Looking to the side, Kang Il-hyun snapped his fingers and tapped on the window with a bored expression on his face. It was a childish thing that didn¡¯t match his appearance.


    The number of buildings and cars diminished as the cars drove, and fields began to appear. There were very few restaurants that he could see from time to time. Even though it was a great car, when they left the asphalt road and entered the unpaved road, it couldn¡¯t help but shake its body.


    Grass the size of a human was overgrown outside the window. It was one of those scenes that you see a lot in horror movies. A killer sprang from the grass, chasing you down with a long scythe. Just like that 30 minutes had passed. The car slowed down, and an old warehouse appeared in the distance.


    The warehouse made of containers was old and unsightly to be called a factory. A group of men dressed in black suits had gathered in front of the warehouse. Most of them were big, and a sense of intimidation emanated from a distance.


    The car stopped a little further away from them, then Kang Il-hyun and Park Tae-soo, who sat in front, loosened their seat belts almost at the same time.


    ¡°Yi An, please stay here for a while.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded his head. Take care.


    Kang Il-hyun and Park Tae-soo got out of the car and walked towards the warehouse. Judging by the atmosphere, they were not going to fight. The men who had gathered confirmed that the two had appeared and dispersed in unison on opposite sides. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened slightly as he watched. A man was sitting on his knees could be seen as the group was separated.


    The man¡¯s face was covered in blood. Ja-kyung lowered his head out of curiosity and looked at him carefully. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s subordinate, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, looked into the rearview mirror, but he didn¡¯t care.


    They all bowed their heads at 90 degrees in unison to greet Kang Il-hyun as he approached. With his hands bound behind his back, the man soaked in blood raised his head. He didn¡¯t make a sound, but it seemed like he was pleading for mercy.


    However, Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of having a conversation. In the blink of an eye, he pulled out a gun from the waist of his subordinate, who was standing nearby and aimed it at the man. The moment I thought, ¡®No way,¡¯ Bang- I could hear the sound of a gun in the car. The head of the man sitting on his knees bursts and he falls down. Again,


    Bang, Bang, Bang,


    After three shots in a row in the chest area, Kang Il-hyun returned the gun to the owner and pulled out a cigarette. As soon as he beckoned, the subordinate next to him pulled a dagger from his waist, approached the fallen man, and cut something out.


    Kang Il-hyun walked over to the car after smoking a cigarette and throwing it on the corpse. Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut and did not take his eyes off the figure. It was not a skill he would have after only shooting once or twice. The muzzle was aimed precisely at the heart, and there was no sign of hesitation.


    Ja-kyung sat up straight and pretended not to see anything. When the back door opened, a mixture of cigarette smoke and gunpowder stung the tip of his nose.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was urgent, so I couldn¡¯t postpone it.¡±


    He was so casual, like someone a few minutes late for an appointment. He didn¡¯t know what to say. Maybe he should act as if he¡¯s surprised. Although he grew up in a dark place, Zhang Yi An grew up like a normal person under his grandfather¡¯s protection. He wondered what would an ordinary 21-year-old say in this situation.


    He couldn¡¯t find anything to say, so he stared at him and found blood on Kang Il-hyun¡¯s right cheek.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s blood on your face¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun rubbed his chin with the palm of his hand. Ja-kyung, who was worried, took out a handkerchief from his pants pocket. Wang Han gave it to him before he came to Korea. A well raised young master should have one of these.


    He laughed at him not to be funny, but he never thought that this would be useful. As expected, he sometimes did wise things as a man born in the kingdom of Confucius.


    As Ja-kyung wiped the blood from Kang Il-hyun¡¯s cheek with a handkerchief, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes stare intently at him. He folded the blood-stained handkerchief and tucked it into his pocket, smiling as nicely as he could. That was the end of it. It was now clean. Then he looked straight ahead.


    His men were putting dead bodies in drums and loading them into trucks. Ja-kyung had a hunch about where it was going. They planned to bury it deep down, where no one could discover it. It might be either the land or the sea. In the same way, as his parents did.


    Still, that guy was lucky. Because he was not thrown alive.


    Ja-kyung, who had been thinking about the past, felt the gaze on his cheek and turned his head. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s gaze remained fixed on his face. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s stared at him so intently that his cheeks sting. The car did not start, and the situation was very uncomfortable for Ja-kyung.


    ¡°If you have anything to say to me¡­¡±


    The gaze that had been on his face was now lowered. He felt nervous as he felt his body being scanned. Perhaps he noticed something because he was wearing a shirt and pants with a big size. His attention fell to the bouquet that had been placed in his lap.


    ¡°I think my choice was excellent.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°It suits you. The red roses.¡±


    He was perplexed as to what this jerk was talking about. He didn¡¯t know what to say in response to phrases that made him want to puke. Before he even finished thinking about it, Kang Il-hyun leans back on the chair and looks forward as if nothing had happened. Ja-kyung barely relaxed his wrinkled expression and straightened his posture.


    The inside of the car was remarkably quiet. Damn it. Turn on the radio or something. As the car drove, a dense grassy forest appeared again. It felt like he was seated next to a man who had passed him by without saying anything when he arrived. He couldn¡¯t even look inside.

 Chapter 7

    They arrived at a place a little far from Seoul after two hours. When Ja-kyung got out of the car and stared at the house in front of him, he was speechless for a moment. It was more like a mansion than a house. Countless rose vines grew endlessly around the wall. It was the same color as the flower he was holding in his hand.


    Two guards standing at the gate greeted them. The house was much bigger inside than it appeared from the outside. ¡®It¡¯s failed,¡¯ he thought first, followed by ¡®Where did he hide the safe?¡¯


    There were two additional guards inside the house as they crossed the yard and entered. So far, there have been four guards. There may be more, but they were small in comparison to the size of the house. Rather, it seemed that there were more people doing housework. As they greeted them, an elderly man appeared from behind.


    ¡°Welcome. Thank you for traveling such a great distance.¡±


    Ja-kyung was greeted warmly by the old man. The old man was probably one of the employees, presumably because of his neat attire. Considering that he was quite old, there was a high possibility that he has stayed in this house for a long time. He didn¡¯t see anything wrong with being close, so he greeted him respectfully and then smiled shyly.


    Kang Il-hyun took off his jacket, put it to one side, and pulled out his tie.


    ¡°Tae-soo will guide you to the room. Follow him, unpack your belongings and come down.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded his head. Park Tae-soo dragged his luggage and walked to the small aisle at the end of the living room. Ja-kyung followed him and looked around the house. In general, the house gave a bright and warm feeling, probably because of the large windows. He thought it would have been decorated like a fortress because it had been attacked several times, but it was unexpected.


    Then he found CCTV hanging from the ceiling. There were several identical ones in front of the front door, in the hallway, and in the living room. While trying to figure out the location and number of CCTVs with his eyes, he bumped into Tae-soo¡¯s back. He stopped and pressed the elevator.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just looked around.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Tae-soo and Ja-kyung entered the elevator shortly after the door opened. There were not only buttons on the 1st and 2nd floors inside. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes twinkled when he discovered that there was one more button under the first floor. It had a fingerprint reader instead of a number written on it. A place where no one could enter. The elevator door opened as he carefully examined it. Tae-soo was the first to come out, followed by Ja-kyung.


    ¡°At home¡­ There¡¯s an elevator.¡±


    Tae-soo nodded once as he walked with Ja-kyung luggage.


    ¡°Yes. Normally, you can use the central staircase.¡±


    ¡°There was an extra button below, but what is that? Do you have a basement?¡±


    ¡°The basement is a personal space.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there?¡±


    Tae-soo stopped walking and stared at Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung widened his eyes while holding a bouquet of roses. He radiated his eyes as if he was asking with a pure heart out of curiosity. But Park Tae-soo did not answer. He just walked forward with his luggage in hand.


    There were several rooms as he walked along the long hallway. All of the doors were shut and all of the doors were locked. He counted the number of rooms with his eyes, and Tae-soo stopped in front of the last room. The door opened when he pressed the card key.


    As he entered, Ja-kyung doubted his eyes. It wasn¡¯t just a room, it was a house within a house. There was a small living room, kitchen, and bedroom. Ja-kyung looked around with the bouquet in his hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad that you liked it. The cleaning will be done by the staff at 11 am. If you need something, please tell me separately or let the staff know. Meals are prepared whenever you want.¡±


    That¡¯s right, Ja-kyung who was nodding his head stopped. There was a CCTV camera on one side of the square living room. Just in case, he went inside and checked the bedroom, but there was also CCTV there. He roughly threw the bouquet on the bed and frowned. What was this.


    He opened the bathroom to check, but luckily it wasn¡¯t there. No, there was a situation where there may be hidden cameras. He was speechless, so he went outside.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sorry¡­ In the room,¡±


    Ja-kyung stopped walking as he came out of the living room. Park Tae-soo, who had accompanied him, had disappeared, and Kang Il-hyun sat on the sofa. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip slightly. Never get angry, never shoot, be kind. A weak young master. A young gentleman who grew up beautifully. A scared young master.


    First of all, he took a step forward with a slightly uneasy expression on his face.


    ¡°In the bedroom¡­ There are CCTV cameras.¡±


    ¡°I installed it in every room, is it inconvenient?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I think¡­ I feel like I¡¯m¡­ being watched¡­¡±


    ¡°I think of it as protection. Just in case.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ Just in case?¡±


    ¡°If Yi An-gun dies in this house, I will be in trouble. There needs to be at least an evidence video.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m joking, but you¡¯re not laughing.¡±


    ¡°Ahaha¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself to laugh. If you are uncomfortable, I will have the staff remove only the on in the bedroom.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Please.¡±


    ¡°And if you need someone to call, do you see that?¡±


    He pointed to the small intercom on the wall in the living room.


    ¡°If you press button 1 over there, you will be connected to the lower floor. Call the staff and they¡¯ll come right up. Pressing 0 will lead you to my room, but you won¡¯t need it.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ ¡±


    ¡°If you run into a dangerous situation, go to the bathroom. There is also an emergency button there.¡±


    ¡°Dangerous¡­situation?¡±


    Uhm. Kang Il-hyun thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.


    ¡°Like there are bullets coming from outside. Or someone comes down from upstairs and breaks the glass, or someone slams you against the bedside with an ax while you sleeps.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡±


    ¡°Why are you laughing? This is serious.¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Two employees died a few years ago. I haven¡¯t tested the performance because the glass was polished to be bulletproof and there were no intruders after that. I hope there will be no confirmation while Yi An-gun is here.¡±


    Wang Han¡¯s words suddenly passed by in his head. There have been several assassination attempts, and all those who tried were dead. It was true.


    ¡°I¡­ see¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say. Do you have any questions?¡±


    Where did you keep your secret safe? In the basement? I wanted to go in there. Could you lend me your finger? You can cut it and give it to me if you don¡¯t want me to borrow it. If you want, I can cut it prettily. If he asked like this, he was going to go ahead and asked something else right away.


    He smiled and shook his head, saying there was nothing. He returned his gaze to the person and smiled so broadly that his cheeks twitched. He couldn¡¯t spit on someone who was smiling. Oh, never mind. For the time being, all he wanted was for him to leave the room. Why did he make him feel so uneasy? Get out of here. Go down.


    Perhaps because of telepathy, Kang Il-hyun stood up from his seat.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m going out because I have an appointment. Have a good rest.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ thank you.¡±


    ¡°My younger brother will come tomorrow. He is the same age as you, so it will be more comfortable than me. Tell him if there¡¯s anywhere you want to go. Although there are some negative aspects, getting close will help you a lot.¡±


    Younger Brother? Looking at his personal information, it was revealed that he had only two half-brothers. Was it one of them? Whoever it was, it seemed more comfortable than this person. Ja-kyung forced a smile and nodded, Kang Il-hyun then turned around and walked out. He urges him to get out of the house quickly, but Kang Il-hyun suddenly looks back in front of the door.


    ¡°Ah. I have a question.¡±


    ¡°Please speak¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you say you majored in art?¡±


    His expression was calm, but his eyes darkened a little. Ja-kyung replied as casually as possible.


    ¡°It¡¯s a fine art.¡±


    ¡°Fine art.¡±


    ¡°A sculpture.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun nodded his head as if he understood.


    ¡°Ah, so¡­¡±


    There was no word after ¡®so¡¯. But Ja-kyung noticed that Kang Il-hyun had been questioning him since he touched his hand at the airport. He could be confused as to why the sickly and well-groomed young master¡¯s hands have so many calluses. In addition, it was a common thing for those who held daggers and guns all of the time.


    ¡°Then see you.¡±


    After confirming that Kang Il-hyun had completely left the room, Ja-kyung let out the breath he had been holding back and sat down on the sofa. He grabbed the cushion on his back and wanted to throw it in the direction Kang Il-hyun exited, but he was conscious of the CCTV mounted on it and endured it.


    Instead, he buried his face in the cushion and screamed silently. He felt like he was going to die of madness trying to play a role that didn¡¯t suit him. In addition to that, he could not smoke, so withdrawal symptoms began to appear, which made him more agitated.


    Ja-kyung, who had been agitated for a while, went into his room and unpacked his belongings. He took his phone and clothes out of his luggage, placed an e-cigarette and a detector between them, then entered the bathroom.


    The detector was turned on after closing the bathroom door and visually confirming that there was no CCTV around. He checked everywhere, from under the sink to the top of the chest of drawers, but no wiretapping devices or cameras were discovered.


    First of all, he turned off the detector and calmly took out the e-cigarette. Before coming, he took a drug to alleviate the urge to smoke, but it didn¡¯t work. Sucking a cigarette brings peace to his mind. It was a pity that he couldn¡¯t hold out in the beginning, but at least the cramping disappeared as the nicotine entered his body.


    Ja-kyung smoked like a thirsty person while staring up at the ceiling with blank eyes. The white smoke dissipated through the ventilation opening. He¡¯d only been in Korea for half a day, yet he felt exhausted as if he¡¯d been awake for three days and three nights.

 Chapter 8

    Ja-kyung stood in front of the bathroom mirror after wiping the water off his body. His body was covered in scars. The majority of the wounds were knife wounds, and there were also traces of gunshot wounds to the shoulder.  He put on his glasses after putting on a shirt and pants with a broad width that he had brought in.


    As soon as the signal came in, he answered the phone and a voice came from the other end. You can imagine how worried he must be after sending Ja-kyung to Korea.


    [Did you arrive safely?]


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house now.¡±


    [But what is the noise?]


    ¡°The bathroom. There are CCTV cameras all over the house, so I can¡¯t even talk on the phone.¡±


    [I see. How do you feel about seeing Kang Il-hyun in person?]


    Ja-kyung remembered the man who had stayed in his room a while ago.


    ¡°He looks better in person than in the picture.¡±


    [And?]


    ¡°He is more dangerous than I imagined.¡±


    [He¡¯s no ordinary guy. Be careful not to be noticed.]


    Ja-kyung lowered his gaze to his palms. He looked at the calluses and looked up to see himself in the mirror. Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t ask any more questions after learning that he studied art. He wasn¡¯t sure if it meant he entirely believed it or if there were ulterior motives, but just having his suspicions could lead to a dangerous situation.


    ¡°Did you say the inauguration ceremony is in three weeks?¡±


    [Exactly 20 days left.]


    ¡°Until then, I¡¯m not going to meet him as much as I can.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun was promoted from managing director to representative director 20 days later. Even though he was young, it was a remarkable promotion. The client requested that Kang Il-hyun be killed at the inauguration ceremony. He wanted him to die in a crowded place. They generally had a profound animosity or revenge while pointing to a specific location or a location with a large number of people.He hadn¡¯t seen it before today, but considering Kang Il-hyun¡¯s behaviors, he could understand the feelings of the person who commissioned it.


    ¡°I mean, you pissed people off.¡±


    [Me?]


    ¡°No, there¡¯s someone.¡±


    [Ja-kyung.]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Wang Han hesitated for a moment. Ja-kyung guessed what he was going to say.


    [If you don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good thing, let¡¯s wash our hands now. I¡¯ll talk to Dmitry.]


    Wang Han was still hesitant even after sending Ja-kyung to Korea.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure to finish it and go back.¡±


    A small sigh was heard over the phone.


    ¡°Should I buy you a gift at the duty-free shop?¡±


    [I don¡¯t need that, take care of yourself. If anything happens, call me right away.]


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Ja-kyung double-checked his clothes before heading outside. He proceeded deliberately, oblivious to the CCTV camera set in the room. After opening the luggage and organizing the clothing he had packed, he climbed onto the bed.


    He then took the book from the shelf and opened it. Wang Han handed him the book because he said he needed to look like a model student, but if he reads constantly, he would get bored reading, so he couldn¡¯t read the letters. He forced himself to read a few pages before falling asleep and waking up several times.


    ***


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    Closed rooms appeared everywhere after traveling over the long hallway. He was led to the innermost room by the staff. Three men were already in the room when he opened the sliding door. They were the shipping group¡¯s directors, and they assisted Kang Hoon in organizing and establishing the company. They were also the ones that wanted Kang Tae-han, the eldest son, to succeed him.¡°I¡¯m a little late. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Il-hyun took a seat and sat down after bowing politely. The three directors, who had been standing, sat down and exchanged awkward glances. They came because Kang Il-hyun requested it, but it was never a pleasant place to dine.Il-hyun ignored the awkward atmosphere and wiped his hands with the towel provided by the staff.¡°I¡¯m not sure why Director Kang insisted on seeing us.¡±Director Kim, who had the most power among the three, asked.¡°It¡¯s nothing special. I just remembered that I haven¡¯t eaten with the directors lately.¡±


    The three of them exchanged secret glances. Before coming here, the three of them made a promise to each other that no matter what happened, Kang Il-hyun would not be pushed to be the next president. This was most likely due to the fact that the eldest son, Kang Tae-han¡¯s maternal grandfather, was a member of the National Assembly, and while he had resigned from his current position, he still wielded power and made significant contributions to the company.


    However, Kang Il-hyun had no family to support him. His mother was almost forced to marry Kang Hoon because of her father¡¯s debt. Maybe she didn¡¯t like it, so she was intoxicated throughout the marriage. She committed suicide one day, leaving her child behind.


    The food was set while they were having a conversation about work. Il-hyun took a bottle of booze and poured it into their glasses. The conversation went smoothly, contrary to the three¡¯s expectations. As the awkward atmosphere slowly dissipated with alcohol, someone knocked on the door. Park Tae-soo walked in right away, sat down, and took the paperwork from his bag.The document was presented to the three directors in front of Il-hyun.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°This is the agreement document for the safe transfer.¡±


    Director Kim read the document¡¯s contents one by one. Chairman Kang Hoon and four directors had a place where they kept enormous sums of cash and gold bars, as well as laundered and dispersed the company¡¯s back money. However, police and prosecutors recently became aware of the situation and began digging in, forcing the place to be relocated.He wasn¡¯t sure why Kang Il-hyun dared to reveal what he knew ahead of time over a meal. The names of the four directors were also listed in order on the agreement form, but the fourth director, Yoon Kyung-hwan, did not even show up today.


    ¡°Why did you bring this today? Director Yoon isn¡¯t even here.¡±


    Il-hyun winked at Tae-soo, who was sitting next to him. Tae-soo pulled a little box from his luggage and placed it on the table. The three directors looked at the box with curious eyes. Tae-soo lifted the lid, and Il-hyun reached inside.


    ¡°Aah!¡±


    The other two, including Director Kim, had twisted faces. What Il-hyun took out of the box was someone¡¯s finger. The cut finger¡¯s knuckle was covered in dried blood.


    ¡°Y-, you!¡±


    ¡°Director Yoon was unable to attend, so I brought this instead.¡±


    ¡°No way! No way, you!¡±


    ¡°Tae-soo, stamp pad.¡±


    When Park Tae-soo pulled out the red stamp pad and opened the lid, Il-hyun smeared Director Yoon¡¯s fingerprint on it. He was unconcerned about the three persons who had turned white.


    ¡°Is that the right thumb?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun stamped the thumbprint at the bottom of the agreement form, next to Director Yoon¡¯s name. He then wiped his hands with a wet towel after putting the finger in the glass. The three of them became pale and focused solely on the fingers in the glass.Director Kim, the first of the three to come to his senses, raised his voice.¡°What exactly are you doing? How could you make a silly joke!¡±


    Il-hyun stared at Director Kim. Did he look like he was joking?


    Indignant at Kang Il-hyun serpent-like eyes, Director Kim kicked off his seat and stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll go straight to the president and inform him!¡±


    Il-hyun took out the finger from the glass and threw it on the plate in front of him, then poured the drink into his mouth. Director Kim¡¯s eyes trembled slightly when he saw it. Tak, Il-hyun made a sullen expression as he set the glass down.


    ¡°Director Yoon provided a foundation for the guys who sold logs.¡±


    Director Kim flinched as he listened. Log trading was an abbreviation for organ trafficking. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze rose to meet Director Kim¡¯s. Director Park and Director Choi, who was sitting next to one another, appeared completely clueless, while Director Kim did not. Il-hyun had the impression, based on the confused expression on his face, that he had also contributed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡±


    Fucking old man. You¡¯re pretending to be innocent.¡°I hope you don¡¯t know until the very end.  How devastated would my father¡¯s heart be if I cut Director Kim¡¯s finger? Right?¡±¡°You¡¯re disrespectful.


    While Kang Il-hyun and Director Kim were disputing, the other two appeared to be debating whose side to take. Following the confrontation, Il-hyun rose from his seat, picking up the jacket he had taken off initially. Director Kim¡¯s clenched fists trembled. Chairman Kang Hoon was doing illegal things behind closed doors, but there were a few things he would not accept. One of them was the business of buying and selling organs. Director Yoon was the first to break the rule, intending to use the money to open a casino in Namhae.


    ¡°It would be better for the three of you to eat today. This uninvited guest will leave.¡±


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    Looking at his leisurely smile, Director Kim finally couldn¡¯t stand it and shout.


    ¡°Do you think the president will make you his successor because of this? Don¡¯t even dream about it.¡±


    Il-hyun still smiled and respectfully greeted the three of them before exiting the room. His smile vanished as the door closed behind him. Inside the closed door, not even the sound of breathing can be heard. It was evident that many old people like snakes were beating on calculators in their heads right now.However, this will prevent them from acting hastily. Because there was no way their fate could differ from that of Director Yoon.

 Chapter 9

    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    The guard who appeared in front of him asked with a worried expression. Ja-kyung smiled apologetically and nodded his head.  He purposefully dropped the big vase in front of the window, and when moving it, he cut his hand, but the guard quickly arrived.Even though he didn¡¯t call for help, they appeared like a ghost, indicating that he was being monitored in real-time and recorded by CCTV. That meant he couldn¡¯t do things his way in this house.


    ¡°Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll bring a first aid kit.¡±


    ¡°Can you just bring me a band-aid?¡±


    Ja-kyung took a tissue from next to him and placed it in his hand. The guard called the servants and instructed them to clean up the shattered glass in the drawing room. The flowers that Kang Il-hyun gave him were moved to another vase.  He applied the band-aid the guard had given him to the wound. Ja-kyung stepped out into the hallway and began strolling around the house while the staff cleaned up the leftover shards of glass.


    This appears to be fine, given that no one showed up like before. It was easy to work if he had a basic idea of where the object was located, but it was difficult to figure out because each corner was big. Furthermore, each room was locked, making it impossible to access without a card key.He walked from one end of the hallway to the other, looking around the house and occasionally looking at the paintings on the walls. There were also several things in the paintings that gave off a warm feeling. It was completely different from the owner.


    It was quiet when he went downstairs since it was time for a break. He walked around the first-floor living room and stopped in front of a wide window. The view through the window as the sunset was beautiful. He sat on the window for a while, staring out the window, when he heard a voice calling out from behind him.


    Ja-kyung shifted his gaze. The old man who looked after the housework was approaching. Despite his white hair, he had a straight back, and several wrinkles around his eyes, he also had a warm impression.


    ¡°The scenery is wonderful, right? The director also  occasionally stands here and looks out.¡±¡°It¡¯s cool, but being at home is a little boring.¡±¡°Oh no, It would have been better if master Seok-joo had arrived earlier today.¡±¡°Seok-joo¡­ is?¡±¡°This family¡¯s youngest young master. He¡¯s supposed to be here tomorrow morning.¡±


    Ah. Then he remembered who Kang Seok-joo was. He was called by Kang Il-hyun. He was going to play with him. Ja-kyung was curious as to how his character will turn out. Perhaps he was the client. He was strangely excited at the thought of meeting one of the client candidates.Ja-kyung erased the thoughts of the client from his mind for a moment.¡°Can you tell me who built this house?¡±


    He spoke of Kang Il-hyun as if he were an almighty god. Ja-kyung smiled unintentionally. Anyway, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯ll be able to wake up from death. Only time will tell.¡°What is the architect¡¯s name?¡±¡°Why?¡±¡°I like the house¡­ I¡¯d like to meet him and ask him to make something similar.¡±¡°Well¡­ I heard he built this house and then went abroad. I don¡¯t know exactly where.¡±It would be heaven, not a foreign country.  He couldn¡¯t possibly let him build this house while yet keeping him alive. Ja-kyung made the decision to ask him one last question.


    ¡°There was also a basement, what was there?¡±¡°I¡¯m not sure. I don¡¯t know because I haven¡¯t been there.¡±That¡¯s all right. When Ja-kyung made a sad expression on his face, the old man smiled kindly.¡°Yi An-nim you can ask Director directly. Maybe he will answer you.¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t help but smile. Kang Il-hyun would be suspicious right away if he did it. He asked a question but received no enlightening answers. After Ja-kyung did some more digging, the old man returned to the kitchen and said that it was time to make dinner. When Ja-kyung was left alone, he climbed up the window frame and sat with his legs crossed, looking outside.The sun began to set behind the mountain, and the sky darkened even more. He enjoyed surfing at the beach when he wasn¡¯t working, but it was especially pleasant to watch the sunset while floating in the ocean. He was so engaged in watching the sun dip into the water that he imagined himself being drawn into it.


    Maybe it was because he was so immersed at the time that he didn¡¯t notice a chuckle behind his back till later.He turned his head to see the person, but his face was already on his shoulder. Ja-kyung was startled and started screaming.¡°Oh, fuck!¡±Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face naturally tilted and their eyes met from a distance. Fuck?


    What a stupid thing to say. Nevertheless, Kang Il-hyun smiled. He sat across from Ja-kyung, oblivious to his presence, and stared at him. Ja-kyung¡¯s neck became stiff. He questioned whether it was obvious. For the first time, he relaxed his eyes, raised his glasses, and lowered his gaze.He looked him in the eyes, but Kang Il-hyun remained deafeningly silent. Ja-kyung raised his head and smiled awkwardly to face him, unable to bear the suffocating silence.¡°A little while ago¡­ I was so surprised¡­¡±


    ¡°Hand.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but stare at him, but he first extends his hand. Long and slender fingers resembled those of its owner. Ja-kyung lowered his gaze to his hand.


    ¡°Hand.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He reached out and took Ja-kyung¡¯s right hand without hesitation. Then, turn it over and visually check the area where the band-aid was pasted.


    ¡°Fortunately, you¡¯re not seriously hurt.¡±


    Oh, it was because of the wound.


    ¡°You know¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my favorite vase, but I won¡¯t hold you accountable.¡±


    His favorite vase. How much would it be? Ten million won?


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    ¡°No. I will make amends.¡±


    ¡°700 million?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say no if you insisted.¡±


    Ja-kyung was silent and his eyes twitched. It was really 700 million. He looked serious. That had to be another reason why the guard arrived so quickly. It was no surprise that their face had grown unusually pale for such a minor injury.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t know it was that expensive¡­.¡±


    No other words came out of his mouth to ask. In compensation for the shattered vase, Ja-kyung promised to kill him painlessly. He¡¯s not going to make a hole in his handsome face. Of course, he had no way of knowing whether or not the promise would be kept.Kang Il-hyun just smiled and didn¡¯t bring up the vase any longer, not knowing what Ja-kyung was thinking. He chose to look out the window instead. With the last sting, the sun had entirely disappeared.


    It was getting dark all around him, and a veil of darkness was falling over his face. His prominent features shined even brighter when the shadows fell. It looked like an animal¡¯s face right before it went hunting. He¡¯s the same person, but he¡¯s really handsome and attractive.


    As Ja-kyung look at him, his gaze from the outside shifts to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first day, but I think you¡¯ll have to eat dinner alone. I have an appointment.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun got up from his seat. He said with a sad tone that he¡¯d have to see his face tomorrow or so, but Ja-kyung was happy in his absence. It was true that he didn¡¯t want to meet him as much as possible. He just realized that imitating and deceiving others was far more difficult than killing people.


    ***


    Ja-kyung sat down in the empty bathtub and retrieved his laptop from his bag. After turning on the power, he took off the frame of the glasses he had been wearing.  It was unplugged and converted to a USB drive, which he placed into his laptop and a file appeared on the screen.


    Feeling an unexpected defeat, Ja-kyung moved the screen a little further back.  After saving the video in his hand, he immediately forwarded it to Wang Han. He closely examined Kang Il-hyun¡¯s palm on the screen while waiting for a call.A Korean he has known in Thailand since last year taught him how to do palmistry, but Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lifeline was excruciatingly long. Based on the fact that it came down to the wrist, it appeared like he would live for a thousand years unless someone killed him, on the other hand, Ja-kyung¡¯s palm was cut off in the middle and disappeared. It was an unfair world.


    He took out an e-cigarette and put it into his mouth while waiting for a call. The phone rings while he hangs in the bathtub, smoking into the air. He heard Wang Han¡¯s voice after putting on his earbuds and pressing the call button.


    [The picture came out well.]


    ¡°How long do you think it will take?¡±


    [Even if I start working right away, a week?]


    He needed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s fingerprints to search the basement or enter his room.  There was also a method for obtaining fingerprints on objects, but the pictures were more accurate. However, he had no idea how things would change in a week. He must locate the safe and inspect the contents as soon as possible.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t it be a little faster?¡±


    [I¡¯ll try. What more do you need?]


    Ja-kyung, who was worried, shook his head.


    ¡°Nothing for now.¡±


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    [Take care of yourself.]


    ¡°Yeah. You too, hyung.¡±


    After the call, Ja-kyung placed the laptop on his upper body and laid it down completely in the bathtub as a bed. His long legs protruded out of the bathtub, but he didn¡¯t care and continued to smoke. The smoke was sucked in without a break through a large ventilator. No matter how you look at it, the ventilation system here was amazingly well-designed.

 Chapter 10

    Ja-kyung, who was tossing and turning on his bed, opened his eyes to the sound of music coming from outside. He looked at his watch and saw that it was ten o¡¯clock in the morning. He stood up and sat, rubbing his face. With twinkling lights on the room¡¯s ceiling, CCTV cameras were still watching him. It felt like he was in a prison.


    Ja-kyung stepped out of bed and into the living room. He was puzzled as to who had turned on the music in the morning, but a head poked up from the sofa. Perhaps it was Kang Il-hyun, but the loud EDM didn¡¯t seem to be his taste.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The man sitting there turned his head and looked at Ja-kyung. He then stood up and turned off the music. He was taller than Ja-kyung had imagined and wore dark sunglasses, but the atmosphere was eerily similar to Kang Il-hyun. He could tell that he was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s younger brother he was talking about yesterday without even asking.


    ¡°Are you awake? You slept late, so I thought about whether I should wake up.¡±


    If he was truly concerned, he would not play music until his ears were ripped apart. Why didn¡¯t he simply walk in and shake his head instead? The word came to the back of his throat. Furthermore, the other party spoke informally without introducing himself or anything.


    ¡°Wash up and go out. I have a place to go with you.¡±


    ¡°Where¡­ to?¡±


    ¡°The second brother told me to take you to the exhibition.¡±


    When Ja-kyung noticed the tip of his lips twisting spitefully, he assumed Kang Il-hyun had forced him to do it. That was what he had heard about him before coming to Korea. Twenty-one years old. The son of the third wife, a drug addict, and a party fanatic.


    Sure enough, seeing him sniffing his nose was quite familiar.


    ¡°And talk informally. I¡¯m the same age as you.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo sat down again on the sofa before hearing the other person¡¯s response and turned on loud music. Ja-kyung entered the room because he would be irritated if he said anything else. He took a nicotine suppressant and showered to get rid of any remaining drowsiness.Ja-kyung put on the clothes he brought with him after wiping away the water and drying his hair. He has to change his clothes in the bathroom because of the damn CCTV. He put on his horn-rimmed glasses and looked in the mirror while wearing all of his clothes. Regardless of the glasses, the navy blue checkered pattern that looked neat was not to his liking.


    He shook his head and walked into his bedroom to put on his watch. He bought a few expensive items to imitate the young master, one of which was the watch. He had to sell everything when he was finished. None of them were to his liking.Kang Seok-Joo stands up with his feet on the table when he comes out. He followed him downstairs, but Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be found. According to the butler of the house, he was preoccupied with work and left work early in the morning. After Ja-kyung stated that he disliked rice, the butler prepared toast and salad for him.


    Kang Seok-joo sat across from Ja-kyung, engrossed in a game on his phone, while Ja-kyung was eating his meals. His brow on the sunglasses kept getting wrinkled, and if things didn¡¯t go as planned, he¡¯d curse. He drank the juice that the butler made and observed him. He couldn¡¯t keep his lips still, and he looked nervous as he chewed.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡±


    Ja-kyung assumed he was distracted by the game, but it turns out he wasn¡¯t. As he bit the toast, Ja-kyung smiled vaguely. He was almost done eating when he heard a noise in the living room. This time, who would it be? He leaned back in his chair, surprised to see Kang Il-hyun approaching him. Huh? He didn¡¯t go to work.


    ¡°You are here, sir.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo jumped up from his seat and shoved his cell phone into his pocket as soon as he heard the words. Ja-kyung, who sat across from him, noticed that his nerves were tense. Kang Seok-joo took off his sunglasses and bowed his head to greet Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°You are here, hyung-nim¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun did not respond and pulled out the chair next to Ja-kyung and sat down. After greeting Kang Seok-joo also sat down and looked at his eyes. The attitude he had had a while ago was gone. Ja-kyung put down the toast he was eating and grabbed the juice. It feels like food was on top of an unexpected appearance. The awkward atmosphere was relaxed a bit when the butler intervened.


    ¡°Sir. You left work after only two hours.¡±


    ¡°I have something I left behind in my study. I¡®d like a cup of coffee, please.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s right arm was naturally draped over the chair in which Ja-kyung sat. When he realized Kang Il-hyun¡¯s arms were touching behind his back, Ja-kyung purposefully raised his back and widened the gap. Kang Il-hyun then greets him by making eye contact.¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    He felt uncomfortable. He swallowed the food in his mouth and nodded.¡°Yeah¡­ Thanks¡­.¡±Kang Il-hyun¡¯s gaze now shifted to Seok-joo.¡°Did you two greet each other?¡±Kang Seok-joo was restless like a poopy dog.¡°Yes¡­.¡±


    His face resembled Kang Il-hyun¡¯s without his sunglasses, but his eyes were completely different. He felt withdrawn and timid, like a student being scolded by his teacher. Ja-kyung hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but he had a noticeable scar on his temple.The butler arrived with coffee just in time, and Il-hyun took it and stood up. His hand, which had been resting on the chair, moved to Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. Ja-kyung stiffened at the sudden contact.


    ¡°Kang Seok-joo.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo raised his head as if on fire. Yes.


    ¡°You take good care of Yi An-gun.¡±


    ¡°All right¡­ . hyung-nim.¡±


    It was amusing that a twenty-one-year-old kept using the title ¡®hyung-nim.¡¯ That¡¯s how challenging the relationship was. Or at least it was uncomfortable. The hand on the shoulder naturally fell off. Kang Il-hyun grabbed the cup of coffee and went inside after saying his goodbyes.Ja-kyung moved his shoulders unconsciously to shake off the warmth. After a small sigh, his gaze met Kang Seok-Joo, who sat in front of him, and for a brief moment, he felt a sense of unity on his face. Those eyes appeared to be a representation of his heart.


    You also¡­ Kang Il-hyun, that bastard, you don¡¯t like him, do you?


    ***


    Even painting with his feet would be better than this. Ja-kyung thought to himself as he looked at the picture that he could not understand at all. It was a painting of a human face, but it also had eyes on the back of its head. He wondered what the artist wanted to say. He was curious as to what the artist intended to say. Make sure you don¡¯t get hit in the back? If that was the intention, he intended to purchase one and hang it inside the house. The thing no one should believe was the fact that even a child on the floor knows everything.


    Ja-kyung spent the whole day looking around with Kang Seok-joo. After going to Insa-dong to view exhibitions and purchase souvenirs, they arrived at the art museum run by the shipping group around the time the sun went down. Even though he looked at the pictures all day, he was not interested at all because he was an outsider.


    He felt sorry for the young deputy director who had been explaining for a long time. Ja-kyung has been mentioning his art major, so he must respond¡­ At best, he nodded, and sometimes he only said a lot of soulless lines such as wonderful, cool, and awesome.


    ¡°Even if I paint with my feet, I¡¯ll paint better than this.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked back at the sudden voice. Kang Seok-joo, who had gone to the bathroom, arrived later and shared his thoughts on the painting without filtering. The smile on the deputy chief¡¯s face faded as she listened to the harsh tone, saying that it would be better if he hung a picture he drew when he was seven years old, or what the hell was he going to buy and use this for.


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    ¡°How much is it?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo asked, and the deputy chief tried to smile.


    ¡°Are you talking about the painting?¡±


    ¡°No, how much does it cost to sleep with you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Why are you pretending not to understand? Stupid.¡±


    The deputy chief¡¯s neck and ears were bright red. Just then, an employee called to inform her that she had received an urgent call. She tried to hide her embarrassment as she politely excused herself and walked to the staff. Kang Seok-joo smacked his lips boldly as he looked back.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t she look delicious?¡±


    Kang Seok-Joo raised and waved his little finger when Ja-kyung didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°That, Kang Tae-han¡¯s? Do you know Kang Tae-han? My big brother. There is a reason why he got the position of deputy chief here at a young age.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Should I ask one for you as well?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Are you shy to talk about something like this?¡±


    Ja-kyung was baffled as to why he had asked him if he was shy while he himself had done something embarrassing. Ja-kyung would have smashed the back of his head until the eyeballs popped out if he had been a close friend. Just then, Kang Seok-Joo received a phone call. He was on the phone right next door, and the other person¡¯s voice rang out loudly. Kang Seok-joo didn¡¯t even consider turning down the volume.


    ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, damn it. I told you I couldn¡¯t make it.¡±


    [Why.]


    ¡°A guest came to my house, and my brother asked me to take care of it.¡±


    [What guest? Is it a woman?]


    ¡°It sucks, you asshole. It¡¯s a man.¡±


    [That¡¯s great. Ask him to play together. Choi Ki-tae is going to come with something amazing today.]


    Kang Seok-joo¡¯s irritated eyes lit up for a moment. His gaze was then fixed on Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung moved a little further away and gazed at another painting. He hung up the phone and called Ja-kyung¡¯s after some thought.


    ¡°Hey¡­ What was your name?¡±


    They¡¯d been together all day, but Ja-kyung was taken aback when he couldn¡¯t remember even three words of his name. He wondered if it was because he took too much drugs and his brain grew stupid, or if he was born with a stone head.


    ¡°Zhang Yi an.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Zhang Yi an. Do you need to see more paintings?¡±


    ¡°Why¡­?¡±


    ¡°I need to go see my friends for a while. Do you want to go with me?¡±


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I just have to go and sit down for a while.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t tell the second brother.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    When there was no reaction from Ja-kyung, Kang Seok-joo¡¯s expression becomes anxious. Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut, so Seok-joo took off his watch and held it out. It was an expensive watch worth over a billion dollars. It was ridiculous to toss something like that to a passing dog as if it were a snack.


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    ¡°Condition to keep your mouth shut.¡±


    Ja-kyung stared at the watch and nodded his head up and down. There was no reason to refuse. Ja-kyung, too, was slowly getting tired of appreciating paintings that he didn¡¯t even want to see. As soon as he received the watch and put it in his pocket, Kang Seok-joo said he liked him and patted him on the shoulder, and smiled.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Translated by SpringlilaEdited by Springlila


    Kang Seok-joo took him to an area with a lot of old buildings. Rows of empty shops with the words ¡°Rental Store¡± written on them were located away from the downtown area. The complicated alleys were as tangled as a spider¡¯s web, but as he slipped through them, he discovered a relatively clean building.


    There was no CCTV or passersby in front of the building, and there were only two guards guarding the front.


    When he went inside, the wonder of why children from wealthy families were playing in such a place disappeared. The basement of the building was truly a paradise, in contrast to the shabby exterior. Not to mention the vibrant interior and lighting, as well as the piercing music that made his heart race.


    The cigarette and marijuana smoke was thick, and young people addicted to alcohol and drugs were tangled up naked and shamelessly. There was also a small swimming pool when Ja-kyung rolled up his golden feet and went inside. Men and women were laughing and talking together in the water.


    ¡°This is our new hideout. Director Kang probably doesn¡¯t know about this place either.¡±


    Kang Seok-Joo whispered as he put his lips close to Ja-Kyung¡¯s ear. As if he thought they were getting close, the title was changed from hyung-nim to Director Kang. A round table and sofa appeared after passing the swimming pool and climbing the shallow stairs. Kang Seok-joo¡¯s friends,  who had already arrived, greeted him by waving their hands. Some had already applied white powder to the tip of their noses, and their pupils had dilated, allowing them to travel between heaven and hell.


    When he sat down, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to Lee Ja-kyung rather than Kang Seok-joo.


    ¡°Who? Guest?¡±


    ¡°Is your friend from Hong Kong?¡±


    ¡°Look at his glasses. There are still people wearing things like this these days.¡±


    A woman in short pants and a bikini top stared intently at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°You look handsome, why did you wear this? Take it off. Shall I take it off?¡±


    As she was about to take off his glasses with his large breasts pressed against him, Ja-kyung pushed her body back and pulled out her hands.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Look how shy you are. You¡¯re so cute.¡±


    Seok-joo laughed when the woman showed overt interest in Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t flirt. His grandfather is a terrifying man.¡±


    ¡°More than your brother?¡±


    The people who had gathered giggled when the brother¡¯s name was mentioned. On the other han, Kang Seok-joo¡¯s face turned sour.


    ¡°Damn it, you crazy girl. Why are you talking about that bastard?¡±


    He knew without even asking that the bastard he mean was Kang Il-hyun.  A strong man who was courageous approached Kang Seok-joo.  He had a goblin tattoo on his left arm and was wearing a black beanie. Ja-kyung stared at the tattoo for a long time, feeling familiar.The man who introduced himself as Choi Ki-tae exchanged whispers with Kang Seok-Joo before moving to a more distant place. He reached into his pocket and took out a small plastic bag. He took out the pills from the plastic bag, placed them on a plate, and skillfully ground them into a powder. He made it into an appropriate ratio by mixing it with the powder he already had and handing it to Kang Seok-Joo.


    Kang Seok-joo put his nose to it and took a deep breath without hesitation. His mouth opened and his eyes rolled up after a while. The people around him joined in one by one as he stretched out on the sofa, shivering like a person who ejaculate.Ja-kyung, who had been silently watching, was surprised to see a long glass of champagne appear in front of him. The pale yellow liquid emitted bubbles. The person who handed the champagne glass was the woman who was about to take his glasses off.


    ¡°Drink it. It will make you feel better.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled politely and declined. It was easy to get into trouble if you ate what was served to you in a place like this. The woman placed the glass of champagne on the table and pushed it to the side. She leaned her upper body and gently wrapped her arm around Ja-kyung¡¯s arm. Ja-kyung awkwardly laughed as she rubbed her voluptuous breasts with the dizzying scent of perfume.


    ¡°Your body is better than it looks.¡±


    The woman¡¯s hand on his arm slipped and went down his chest, stomach, and a little further down. Her hands caressed his genitals over his pants.   She made eye contact and was about to kiss him, so he took his hand off and got up. The woman¡¯s brows were wrinkled.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have bad lungs¡­ I¡¯ll get some fresh air and come back.¡±


    The woman held his hand.


    ¡°Shall we go together?¡±


    Ja-kyung dropped his hand again this time. He hadn¡¯t touched it for a while, and lust swelled up, but now it wasn¡¯t the time for that now. He smiled apologetically at the woman and came out around the table.


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    Kang Seok-joo was drunk, his eyes dilated, and he didn¡¯t even notice Ja-kyung was leaving. On his way out, Ja-kyung stole a cigarette and lighter from another table and placed them in his pocket. The loud music faded away as he climbed the stairs to the ground. He looked at the guard in front of him and walked slowly back in the direction he had come from.


    Instead of shops, he saw empty houses as he walked. Not all of them were empty, and in some places, there was a faint light leaking through or the TV¡¯s sound was barely noticeable. He walked a little further, leaned against the wall, and took a cigarette from his pocket. He put it in his mouth and tried to light it, but there was no spark from the lighter no matter how hard he tried.


    The gas has most likely run out. When he shook it, it remained the same. Oh fuck.   He threw the lighter on the floor, irritated. He even brought something useless like this. He chewed the tip of the cigarette with his front teeth with regret, but he heard a noise from inside the alley.


    He was curious as to who had exited the house. He had no idea who it was, but he prayed sincerely to be a smoker like him. He walks towards the sound, holding a cigarette between his index and middle fingers when a small person appears. A head collided with Ja-kyung¡¯s chest in the blink of an eye, and the person looked up in surprise.Fear could be seen on the youth¡¯s face. Before even comprehending the situation, the other person presses the hat harder and flees the scene as if fleeing. Then, from the direction where the person came from, someone opened the iron door and came out, rummaged through the garbage pile, grabbed a bag, and went in.


    Ja-kyung turned around. The shadow of the girl he¡¯d met earlier was fading into another alley in the distance. He threw down the cigarette he was smoking and proceeded slowly in the same way. The bag the girl was carrying appeared even larger in the light of the street lighting.


    Bare skinny limbs. Clothes that don¡¯t fit the season. Worn out shoes. Empty eyes from which the soul escaped.


    Ja-kyung had seen something similar before. Every morning, he would get out of bed and look in the mirror. They were the so-called carriers.  They provided drugs to those who couldn¡¯t come out to buy drugs on their own, and it was a way for them to toss them in a secret location and collect the money they had left. The reason drug dealers used them was simple. They were easy to throw away.


    As he followed, the girl gradually changed into her own clothes.


    [School? What school? Don¡¯t be crazy and get to work. You useless bastard.]


    He was frequently beaten up by a man that said to be his father. He¡¯d rather starve him to death if he didn¡¯t want to work. Growing up like that, he was fascinated to see children his age one day. Put on clean clothes. Clean shoes. Parents¡¯ hands stroking their children¡¯s hair. When he went home, he thought about it for a few days and said he wanted to go to school, but all he got in return was beatings and swearing.


    [I should not have given birth to you. My fate would have been better if I had simply aborted you.]


    He was beaten so badly one day that his leg fractured. He went to delivery the next day while wearing the splint. He almost received a bad time from a crazy old man that day. Naturally, he was unable to gather the money for the drugs, and his mother became furious and slapped him on the cheek, requesting that he pay for the drug by selling his body.


    At that time, Ja-kyung was only ten years old.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    Because he couldn¡¯t break free from the past, he didn¡¯t see the knife had touched his side until it was too late. Ja-kyung came to a halt and raised both hands to shoulder height. The opponent was strangely quiet. As he slowly turned his body, a man of the same height as him was wearing a hat and glared at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Are you a trader?¡±


    Where did he look like one? And wouldn¡¯t you be scolded if you point a knife at a real trader like this? Ja-kyung shook his head.


    ¡°But why are you following her?¡±


    The man was dressed in a black jumper, and the burn wounds on his neck were evident. Even while he glanced at Ja-kyung, he continued looking to the side where the girl had disappeared. The man held the knife¡¯s point near to his side as if about to stab him.


    ¡°Say it. Why did you follow her?¡±


    Ja-kyung answered with his hands raised.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­. I¡¯m just worried because a child is walking around alone.¡±


    The man fixed his gaze on Ja-kyung. A normal person would urinate in the presence of a knife and a man¡¯s harsh impression, but his eyes did not quiver. He apologized, but his look suggested otherwise. It was most likely award-winning. The man extended his hand to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Wallet.¡±


    Ja-kyung remained still. He debated whether he should kill him or let him live. Standing at a crossroads, the man chased Ja-kyung without knowing anything.


    ¡°Wallet!¡±


    That¡¯s right, let¡¯s get rid of him. At that moment, someone screamed from behind. The man in front of him hid his knife behind his back and nodded. Ja-kyung turned around and realized that he was the man with a goblin tattoo he saw in the hideout. Choi Ki-tae, after tossing the cigarette he was smoking to the side, came over with a smirk.


    ¡°What. Why.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m working, and this bastard has been behaving strangely. I¡¯m going to give him a lesson,¡±


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    Choi Ki-tae slapped the man on the cheek with his pot-cap-sized palm. The man stumbled to the side, as if about to fall, then stood up again. The hand slapped him once more.


    ¡°This bastard. Who are you going to give a lesson to? Who!¡±


    As he hit more, the man¡¯s face got red and swelled. The face of the goblin tattooed on Choi Ki-tae¡¯s forearm became grimmer with each swing of his arm. That always attracts his attention. Tattoos of goblins were common, but this was the first time he has seen such a shape.But why did it seem familiar¡­ Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes got wider as he watched. He then remembered that he had seen the same tattoo before.

 Chapter 12

    Tak, the thrown stones piled up beneath the wall. Squatting on the side of the road, Ja-kyung picked up a  stone with his dirty hands and threw it against the wall. Sneakers with worn out soles came into view. The pants with shortened ankles did not block the cold wind, and the sweater was also worn with shredded sleeves.


    The children going by with their backpacks were startled when they saw Ja-kyung throw stones. They were frightened as their gazes collided, and they ran. Baby ghost.  That¡¯s what the kids called him. He got his nickname since his family was more active at night than during the day, even if they didn¡¯t know what his family was doing.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    A tall man stepped from behind the wall and opened the door. Even when he saw the pile of stones below the wall, the man did not scold him. Instead, he went back into the house and handed him a loaf of bread. He was a Chinese who resided here long before Ja-kyung¡¯s family came. He said he have a son who was older than Ja-kyung and lived in China with his mother and grandmother.


    When Ja-kyung was handed the bread, he ripped it open and shoved it into his mouth. The man would occasionally come out and bring Ja-kyung something to eat when he was hungry. He fed him mostly bread and occasionally brought him into the house to cook ramen. Every time, however, Ja-kyung¡¯s father was angry and scolded him for attempting to seduce someone else¡¯s son.


    ¡°Eat slowly. You¡¯re going to get indigestion.¡±


    In the morning, he looked through the refrigerator but found nothing to eat. His father had left work three days prior and had not returned, and his mother had been drowned in alcohol and drugs for several days and had been unable to get up.


    ¡°You¡¯re so¡­ unlucky.¡±


    A man with the surname Wang took a cigarette from his pocket, placed it in his mouth, and lighted it. White smoke soared up into the air shortly after. Ja-kyung swallowed the last of the bread and stared blankly at the man who had lit the cigarette.


    ¡°What. Do you want to smoke?¡±


    Mr. Wang asked with a smile, and Ja-kyung nodded. His eyes widened, then returned to their original position. After thinking for a moment, he motioned for Ja-kyung to come. As they got closer, he passed the tip of the cigarette to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Keep sucking it.¡±


    He sucked as hard as he could with his thick lips pursed in a circle. However, a cough erupted almost immediately. His eyes sting and he has a congested nose. Above him, a huge hand ruffles his hair with laughter.


    ¡°See. You¡¯re not doing any good.¡±


    When Ja-kyung saw the cool smile, he had a brief thought of how great it would be if he were his father. He was also envious of his son, who was in China. When he finished smoking and entered the house, Ja-kyung followed the alleyway and went up to his house.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s house was at the top of the alley. In the middle of the alley, there was a high and steep staircase, which was a dangerous area where you may lose your life if you slipped. Last winter, an elderly guy fell down here and broke his neck, eventually dying.


    The closer he got to his house, the less excited he became about returning home. He heard a strange noise from within the home as he pushed through the unpainted iron door. When Ja-kyung noticed odd shoes under the old floor, he stopped. It appears a guest has arrived.


    ¡°Ah, ah, oppa, more, more, huh? Suck more.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you fucking bitch. You like it? huh? I¡®m better than your husband, right?¡±


    Ja-kyung sat on the floor and kicked it with his worn-out sneakers. His mother¡¯s choking voice stopped, and the sound of the two of them holding their breath was heard along with the man¡¯s groan.


    He ate up the bread far too quickly. He felt like he was about to puke, so he rubbed his stomach, and the old door opened with a loud bang as if it were about to fall, and a guy appeared. He¡¯d seen the face of the man taking his pants down a few times before.


    ¡°Hey. Your baby is here.¡±


    The man was going to reach out and touch Ja-kyung¡¯s head but he didn¡¯t like it so he turned away. The man smiled and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. A grim-faced goblin¡¯s face was carved on the guy¡¯s shoulder whose upper body was exposed.


    The goblin had four horns in total. There were two on the forehead and two on the chin. And the eyes were bright red. Those eyes seemed to be glaring at him, so Ja-kyung quickly averted his gaze.Then a shock was struck in the back of his head. His body stumbled forward as a result of the slap.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been wandering around since the morning and now you¡¯re crawling in!¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond, so she slapped him across the face. Blood dripped from his nose. Ja-kyung wiped the dripping blood and looked at his mother. Closing her protruding breasts with her clothes, she took a cigarette next to the man and smoked it.The man laughed and threw the mop at Ja-kyung. Wipe clean with this. Instead of picking up the mop, Ja-kyung glared at the man. The man didn¡¯t care, but his mother said she didn¡¯t like his eyes and kicked Ja-kyung with her feet.


    A twig-like body rolled in the yard. A clear blue sky came into view.  The sun was scorching and blistering. He blamed the sky for the tears that seemed to fall.


    ***


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    When Choi Ki-tae¡¯s eyes met his, Ja-kyung wiped away the old memories and gently raised the corners of his mouth, and nodded.  The man who had pointed the knife at his stomach was beaten to death, and after barely standing, he apologized and left, leaving just the man with the goblin tattoo on his arm in front of him.


    ¡°Then I will take a taxi.¡±


    As he was about to leave after saying goodbye, the man grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm. He looked at the goblin face hanging from his arm once more.


    ¡°Seok-joo¡¯s friend is just like my friend. I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but I will decline¡­. I can go alone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s annoying for me too, but I can¡¯t help it. If anything happens to you, not only Kang Seok-joo but all the people who were here today will be destroyed. I¡¯m not kidding. I¡¯m really going to die. I don¡¯t have to tell you who it is, do you?¡±


    Choi Ki-tae¡¯s sharp eyes widened as he laughed. It seemed to be pointing to Kang Il-hyun.  Ja-kyung chose to give up fast because he didn¡¯t think Choi Ki-tae would back down even if they argued more. Choi Ki-tae walked forward, motioning for him to follow. Looking at his gait, it appeared that he had not been drinking or using drugs. A white sports car was parked in front of the store when he returned. When the guard opened the door, Ja-kyung stepped into the passenger seat and buckled his seat belt.


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    When he turned around, the backrest was fully reclined. As Ja-kyung searched for the button to return it to its previous position,  Choi Ki-tae in the driver¡¯s seat tilts his upper body and reaches his arm toward the button. Ja-kyung¡¯s lips went closer to Choi Ki-tae¡¯s ears as his upper body was virtually pushed against his. A strong scent emanated from him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I did it once in the car during the day.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Sex.¡±


    Choi Ki-tae straightened his body and smiled brightly.


    ¡°Have you ever done it in a car?¡±


    Choi Ki-tae laughed and said he knew it when Ja-kyung shook his head. The car began to move, leaving the tight alleyway and swiftly entering the main road. Even though it was late at night, there were a lot of cars coming and going. Choi Ki-tae occasionally glanced toward Ja-kyung while driving.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re from Hong Kong.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°You speak Korean well.¡±


    ¡°My mother is Korean.¡±


    ¡°Then you are mixed race?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Choi Ki-tae mostly chatted to him on the way home, and Ja-kyung nodded or simply answered. By the time the conversation was getting boring, the car come across a red light and stopped. Ja-kyung looked tired and took off his glasses for a moment and rubbed his eyes.   He then noticed Choi Ki-tae, who was seated next to him, caressing his lips and staring at him.


    ¡°If I had your face, I would take my glasses off.¡±


    Ja-kyung put his glasses back on.


    ¡°You know the girl who sat next to you earlier? She¡¯s a popular CF model these days. She is also a great person.¡±


    Ja-kyung remembered the woman who was groping him.


    ¡°If she had flirted like that, everyone would have fallen for it. Looks like you have a higher standard than you look?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer this time either.


    ¡°Or do you like men?¡±


    When the light changed, the car began to move again. Ja-kyung immediately shook his head. No. He guessed what he was going to ask. It felt strange ever since he adjusted the backrest. He¡¯d seen a lot of such cases in his life, so he wasn¡¯t too bothered. Just like Wang Han said, his face was attractive to both men and women.He nodded roughly to his question, which he occasionally gazed at, or moved on to a quick yes or no answer until the car arrived near Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house. The man in the driver¡¯s seat became slightly tense as they got closer to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house.


    He stopped the car in front of the front gate and looked up at the house through the windshield. Two guards were making their way down the steps to investigate an unusual car¡¯s visit.¡°I can¡¯t believe they built a house in such a remote place like this. Isn¡¯t it strange? Right?¡±


    Take care. Choi Ki-tae grabbed his arm as he was going to open the door and go. He then took a business card from his wallet and handed it to Ja-kyung.¡°This is my personal contact information.  I¡¯m not giving it to  just anyone, so take it.¡±Ja-kyung, who had remained on the business card, raised his head and met Choi Ki-tae¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Call me if you need anything. I¡¯ll give you a discount.¡±


    What were you selling for a discounted price? Drugs? Or was it your body? He reasoned that if he didn¡¯t take it, he¡¯d keep him for longer, so he took the business card. Then, just as he was ready to open the door, a towering figure appeared in front of it. Choi Ki-tae first chewed and spit out a little curse when he learned it was Kang Il-hyun. Then he got out of the driver¡¯s seat and greeted him with his head almost on the ground.


    ¡°Hello, Director.¡±


    The calmness of a few moments ago disappeared. Ja-kyung, who got off a little late, nodded. Kang Il-hyun was smoking a cigarette in front of the gate, but even in the dark, the eyes staring at Choi Ki-tae were not pleasant. Choi Ki-tae was also worried because he was aware of the situation.


    Kang Il-hyun, who he expected to walk in after being greeted, put his hand in his pocket and took a slow step down the stairs. It wasn¡¯t anything big, but it was terrifying. He extended his hand to him as he approached.


    ¡°The thing you just received.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened slightly.  The tinting was also dark, and he was puzzled as to how he saw it. Seeing his cold expression, he decided it would be best to give it to him right away, so he took out the business card from his pocket and handed it to him. Kang Il-hyun held it between his index and middle fingers as he turned to face Choi Ki-tae. Choi Ki-tae bowed his head, terrified by the intense glare.


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    ¡°Little boy.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Tak, the business card bounced off the hand and hit Choi Ki-tae¡¯s face and fell.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about selling drugs to my clients. You¡¯ll get in trouble.¡±


    Despite the humiliation, Choi Ki-tae apologized immediately rather than making excuses. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Kang Il-hyun rubbed the cigarette that he was holding on to Ki-tae Choi¡¯s chest.  Smoke billowed from his hooded T-shirt, and his flesh burned behind the hood.Choi Ki-tae, bowed his head, tightened his chin, and wrinkled his brows. Kang Il-hyun tossed the cigarette to the floor before turning around and walking away from the gate. Ja-kyung instantly followed behind him without any hesitation.

 Chapter 13

    Ja-kyung opened the bedside drawer and placed the watch given to him as a bribe by Kang Seok-Joo. He first went to the bathroom to take a shower and change his clothing. He remembered the tattoo he saw earlier when he cooled down his head in cold water. On the day he last saw his parents, a man with the same tattoo and a group of people arrived at their home.


    They mercilessly assaulted three family members, including Ja-kyung. They covered their fainting eyes, tied their hands and feet, and took them somewhere. When they arrived, they found themselves in a warehouse with no light. His father disappeared on the first day, and his mother disappeared on the second. And then came the gloomy night on the third day¡­ Someone opened the door and entered the warehouse.


    Surprisingly, it was Mr. Wang, who lived in the same neighborhood. He walked out of the warehouse, wrapped around the bloody young Ja-kyung. At the entrance, Ja-kyung saw two men lying down, fainting. And an arm sticking out of the drum next to it. Nails painted red with a manicure. The cheap jewelry bracelet that his mother always wore shone on her wrist.


    For a brief moment, Ja-kyung was lost in old memories as he gazed down at the stream of water dropping on the bathroom floor. He then bit his lips. It wasn¡¯t resentment for killing his parents. After all, if his parents hadn¡¯t died at the moment, he may have killed them himself eventually.


    He needed a drink to lift his mood after a long day. He went out to the living room to fetch a beer from the fridge and drink it, but Kang Il-hyun walks in and sits on the sofa. It was about what he expected, so he set the beer down and walked over to him. Even though Kang Il-hyun was the owner of the house, he found it uncomfortable to go in and out of the house all the time.


    ¡°Come and sit down for a moment.¡±


    Ja-kyung went to the opposite side of Il-hyun and sat down.


    ¡°I apologize for today. I should have warned Seok-joo a little more, but it¡¯s my fault.¡±


    ¡°No¡­. Thanks to the Director, I enjoyed the exhibition.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    It was not meant to be on Kang Seok-joo¡¯s side. Even if he was eventually killed by Kang Il-hyun, it has nothing to do with him. However, because he had recently received an expensive watch, he was unable to thoroughly wipe his mouth clean. He should give him just a little help.


    ¡°It was fun meeting friends of my age.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s unexpected.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°No matter how much I think about it, I don¡¯t think he is a good match for Yi An.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ It wasn¡¯t bad. He was kind to me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be glad if that were the case. But you know that, right? It¡¯s okay to play together, but you can¡¯t cross the line. Then I¡¯ll lose face in front of your grandfather, who put his trust in my family.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I know¡­.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun nodded with a smile on his face saying he liked it.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s stop talking about today. I¡¯ll go down and rest.¡±


    Il-hyun stood up, and Ja-kyung, who had been hesitating, stood up with him and called him.


    ¡°Director. I have a question¡­. They said they would remove the CCTV in the room, but they are still there.¡±


    ¡°Well, are you feeling very uncomfortable?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I think¡­. It¡¯s frustrating to be at home already, but there¡¯s also CCTV in the bedroom¡­.¡±


    Ja-kyung was surprised to see Kang Il-hyun¡¯s subtly cold expression. He should not have said that being at home was frustrating. He immediately regretted it and tried to make excuses, but Il-hyun nodded his head as though in agreement.


    ¡°It was frustrating. At my home.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s not necessarily like that, but¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s frustrating because it¡¯s not big enough. I should have built it bigger.¡±


    ¡°Please¡­ It¡¯s not like that¡­.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I should have built it bigger.¡±


    A psycho-like jerk makes sarcastic remarks with a smiling face. Fuck. He didn¡¯t want to deal with it. He was swearing inside, but he need to try something like this.


    ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s a little frustrating¡­. I feel like I¡¯m being watched even while I¡¯m sleeping¡­. Also, since I am interested in interior design, I¡¯d like to look around the house¡­ It¡¯s difficult because everything is locked¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun tilted his head slightly. He stared at each other and opened his eyes as innocently as he could without averting the staring gaze.


    ¡°Where would you like to see so much?¡±


    Err, Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know. Let¡¯s see if he was allowed.


    ¡°Underground¡­?¡±


    Uhm. Ja-kyung was a little worried when he saw Kang Il-hyun¡¯s unwavering expression.  He shouldn¡¯t have said that. Il-hyun would be suspicious. He should have waited for the fingerprints. As he goes through all of his thought, he relaxed his face and gently nodded his head.


    ¡°You should have told me earlier. There¡¯s no reason why I can¡¯t show you.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled as he chewed his molars. It was an unexpected reaction. It was as the butler said, if he wanted to know, he should ask the Director because he would tell him.


    ¡°Would you like to go now?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I heard it¡¯s a private space¡­ May I really go?¡±


    He was becoming scared a little. Il-hyun, who was a little further away, approached him. Ja-kyung, who was nervous, tried to retreat, but he came to a halt and looked up. His gaze fell diagonally.


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    ¡°I hate people whose words and actions are different.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Your eyes are anxious to go, but why are your mouths lying?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to go, I¡¯ll take you now.¡±


    What¡¯s happening.


    ¡°Would you like to go?¡±¡°¡­ Yes, I will.¡±


    The firm tip of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lips gently rises. The remaining Ja-kyung let out a muffled sigh as he turned to follow him. He was relieved that things were going to be simple, yet anxiety was creeping in like a haze.


    ***


    Kang Tae-han, who was staring at the chilly teacup with an indifferent expression, raised his head. Kim Seon-young, his stepmother, was fiddling with the jewelry ring on her fourth finger in front of him. A stack of photos that she had brought out a while ago was on the table.Zhang Yi An, who was from Hong Kong recently arrived in Korea.He was now residing at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s residence, and it was reported that he spent the day with Kang Seok-joo.


    Kang Tae-han had a look around. She requested that they meet in a cafe on the outskirts of Seoul, but the place was empty, with no employees or customers. Only her favorite secretary, Yoon, was standing on one side of the store. After Kang Tae-han raised his glasses, he returned the photo of Zhang Yi An to Kim Seon-young.


    ¡°I have listened to what stepmother said. Unfortunately¡­ I don¡¯t want to listen anymore.¡±


    Kim Seon-young took a cigarette and a lighter. They say that as people age, their hands and necks get wrinkly, but this does not appear to be the case with her. She reclined back in her chair, smoking a cigarette with her smooth fingers, and cast a languid glance towards Kang Tae-han.


    ¡°Does that mean it doesn¡¯t matter if Director Kang sits as the successor?¡±


    Kang Tae-han¡¯s cunning eyes were distorted.  Already, one of the directors who believed in him and supported him had gone missing, and he was worried. It was shortly determined that the work was done by Kang Il-hyun. It was inconceivable for a managing director to eliminate one of the most important contributors to the development of a corporation.Only Chairman Kang¡¯s complete trust made this feasible. As the rumor grew, the rest of the board of directors became concerned, and other shareholders, who were neutral, began to speculate on whether Chairman Kang¡¯s heart was leaning toward his second son, Director Kang.


    Even yet, the statement she told now was ridiculous.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to remove him.¡±


    He was a foreign guest, the grandson of a prominent Hong Kong organization, and his father was a close friend of Chairman Kang throughout his lifetime. She wanted him to get rid of him so she could be safe? Kim Seon-young¡¯s recklessness evoked laughter. She had something to say, so he expected it to be something like this from the time she asked to meet¡­


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to kill him. I mean, let¡¯s just poke in a few places.¡±


    Kim Seon-young was far from an elegant wife, perhaps because she grew up with parents who loved to gamble money.


    ¡°It can make our position difficult.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not us who are in trouble, it¡¯s Director Kang. At least the chairman won¡¯t be on his side this time.¡±


    The Hong Kong organization, which was viewed as a brother, had a significant impact on Chairman Kang¡¯s decision to name Kang Il-hyun as his successor despite the opposition of the directors. They preferred Kang Il-hyun to take over and conduct business with them over the eldest son, Kang Tae-han. That was why Zhang Yi An¡¯s visit was more than just a friendly visit.


    ¡°It¡¯s reckless. If anything goes wrong, can you handle him?¡±


    She rubbed the cigarette into the ashtray and put it out. She pulled the chair a little further and sat down, placing her arms on the table and leaning her upper body forward.


    ¡°Then how about this?¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    ¡°What about getting rid of Director Kang altogether?¡±


    One of Kang Tae-han¡¯s eyebrows rose. It was a ridiculous plan.


    ¡°I keep my son, you keep your position.¡±


    Her feelings were completely understandable. Kang Il-hyun, in contrast to him, who overlooks Kang Seok-joo¡¯s accident, really looked like a person ready to kill. The intensity increased, and the last time it was Kang Seok-joo¡¯s forehead, but Kang Il-hyun might slice his throat next time. She must have also recognized that Kang Il-hyun could actually kill his son as a result of this incident.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know Director Kang? That bastard will climb up even if he falls to hell.¡±


    ¡°I mean, let¡¯s go a little easier.¡±


    Kang Tae-han took out a cigarette but didn¡¯t light it. If something goes wrong, it¡¯s game over.


    ¡°If something goes wrong¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not going to happen.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure?¡±


    ¡°Because I hired the best experts in this field.¡±


    There was even a hint of triumph on her smiling face. Kang Tae-han, who was chewing on the cigarette tip, broke it and threw it on the floor. He looked at the picture and checked Zhang Yi An¡¯s face again. Twenty-one years old. He¡¯s still young.


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    He worked the calculator in his head. It wasn¡¯t a bad idea to cut Kang Il-hyun¡¯s limbs off ahead of time, even though it was risky, rather than just staying like this. Let us only pretend to work together in moderation. If something goes wrong, he could blame Kim Seon-young.


    ¡°Then we¡¯re a team. Right?¡±


    She smiled and extended her hand. Kang Tae-han paused for a moment before setting the picture down and taking her hand in his. That¡¯s right. It was a team. He was a little anxious, but when he imagined Kang Il-hyun being ripped and falling apart, the anxiety vanished and a strange feeling of pleasure came across his face.

 Chapter 14

    T/W: Attempted rape/Non-consensual Sexual Act


    The elevator moved downstairs when Kang Il-hyun pressed the button with his fingerprint. When the door opened, the first thing Ja-kyung saw was a painting. He followed Kang Il-hyun down the hallway. Despite the fact that it was a basement, the ventilation system was adequate, thus there was no strange odor. It was less closed than he thought, and the paintings hung everywhere made him feel like he was in a gallery.


    Beyond the glass windows visible in the hallway, there was a gym, a movie theater, and a shooting range. Kang Il-hyun asked Ja-kyung if he had ever fired a gun as they passed the shooting range. Ja-kyung responded no, and Il-hyun said he would teach him if he had the opportunity.He declined nicely. He might appear to be overconfident, but even with his eyes closed, he was confident that he could shoot better than Kang Il-hyun.


    No matter how much he looked around, it was not a place to hide important things.  He was embarrassed for wanting to come in here because it was so ordinary than he expected. He followed, looked around, and stopped in front of the last door. It was the only place that had a lock.Kang Il-hyun recognized the fingerprint without hesitation after entering the password. Ja-kyung immediately memorized the eight-digit number. When the hidden door opened, Ja-kyung was the first to discover a big Buddha statue. In addition, there are numerous antiquities, including old paintings.


    ¡°Wow¡­ It¡¯s like we are in a museum.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Some of them are from there.¡±


    He questioned it to check whether it was real, and it wasn¡¯t stolen, but most of the time was a gift.  He was perplexed as to who would send a hundred years of Buddha statues and paintings as a gift. Some antiques were housed in a glass coffin  The only items to see were pottery, incense burners, crowns, and history books.Kang Il-hyun explained step by step. His voice was serious and low-pitched, but he spoke more clearly than any other voice actor. Ja-kyung listened intently without realizing it, but he suddenly came to his senses when he thought of the purpose of entering here.


    He went to the other side and looked at the decorative cabinets after looking around. It was open, although the majority of things were from Japan or China rather than Korea.


    ¡°You can touch the things there.¡±


    Ja-kyung was intrigued by the idea of being able to touch it, so he grabbed a book. It was quite clean and thick, but as soon as he turned a page, Ja-kyung¡¯s face wrinkled. Japanese erotic book. The figure was vividly portrayed when he turned another page.


    Aside from the character, the cock was unrealistically big and had a realistic appearance, so he was horrified. When he saw the man push his cock into the pussy of a woman lying with her legs spread apart, he gently closed the book. He heard a small laugh behind his back.


    ¡°You can see more.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­¡±


    Aside from that, they were all similar books. He didn¡¯t know who gave it to Kang Il-hyun as a gift, but he didn¡¯t want to look into it anymore. What a great thing it would be if this erotic book was exactly what the client requested. He may kill Kang Il-hyun and take it with him after stealing from here.


    He let out a little sigh and moved to the side a little more. There were beautiful bowls on display instead of books. Among the identically shaped bowls, a brightly colored bottle stood out. It was a gourd, but the color and shape were entirely Ja-kyung¡¯s taste. Kang Il-hyun said he could touch it, so he took it without hesitation. When he shook it slightly left and right, it created a clicking sound. Looking back, Kang Il-hyun was checking messages on his cell phone. Ja-kyung curiously picked up the bottle and opened the cap. He turned it hard because it was tight, but as soon as he opened it, the scent came out.


    He assumed it was an aged drink. The aroma was sweeter than imagined as he touched his nose to the entrance of the bottle and breathed in. He didn¡¯t think it was alcohol at first, but it smells great. Surprisingly, it tastes good. He wanted to sniff more and more as he inhaled into his nose. He breathes in again and again without realizing it, but he heard Kang Il-hyun¡¯s voice behind him.


    ¡°Yi An.¡±


    His head spun in an instant, and his arms and legs relaxed. Ja-kyung stumbled to the floor as the bottle he was holding fell to the floor without a hitch. Kang Il-hyun, who had approached him in a haste, had a concerned expression on his face. ¡®Are you all right?  Did you smell the scent?¡¯ In his ears, he heard a low-pitched voice.


    His heart was pounding, and blood was rushing through his veins at a faster rate than usual. His eyes were dilated and his lips were wide open. Kang Il-hyun stared at him as he breathe out without realizing it.


    ¡°This, ha, what is it? Drug, is it drug?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face changed with difficulty.


    ¡°Stimulant. I should have told you in advance. Are you okay?¡±


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    ¡°Shi-, shit¡­ Why now¡­¡±


    Words effortlessly flowed out of his mouth when his mind relaxed. To calm himself, he shook his head, but it simply made him dizzy and had no impact. Even in the midst of it, he could feel his lower back stiffening. He was attempting to get up from his seat with his thighs tightened, but his body doesn¡¯t listen to him.Kang Il-hyun grasped his hand as it slipped off the floor and wrapped it around his neck.


    ¡°Stand up. I will support you.¡±


    As their upper bodies touched, he forgot he was a man and was full of lust.  He barely got up with Kang Il-hyun¡¯s help, but his body slumped like wet clothes and became entangled with him. Against his will, he wanted to hug and rub him.Ja-kyung was afraid of getting into an unwanted incident if he left it, so he pushed Kang Il-hyun on the shoulder.


    ¡°Wait, wait, stay away. If we touched¡­ Fuck. Aah¡­!¡±


    When he falls, his body flows down like water to the floor. His head moved violently, and his vision fluctuated. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face while standing and staring at him appeared and disappeared constantly.Perhaps this how it felt to drink and ride a roller coaster without stopping. His stomach was churning, his head was dizzy, his body didn¡¯t feel like it belonged to him, and lust was constantly surfacing.He had to regain his composure. Kang Il-hyun catches Ja-kyung¡¯s hand first when he tries to slap his own cheek. His hand, which was wrapped around his wrist, was warm. Kang Il-hyun softly stroked his pulse area with his thumb. He was becoming more agitated. Kang Il-hyun let go of Ja-kyung¡¯s hand and looked him in the eyes.


    ¡°Are you in pain?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head helplessly. His mind was blank, and he couldn¡¯t think of anything to say. Only Kang Il-hyun¡¯s voice could be heard clearly over the heated breath in his ear.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    His body relaxed at the kind tone. Ja-kyung, who was struggling to breathe, shook his head but did not move. He understood what he was saying even in the essence of the drug. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face, which slightly lifted, was outrageously handsome, and he could believe if it was a statue. There was nothing strange about taking a seat someplace in this secret place.


    ¡°Help me?¡±


    Contrary to his tone of voice, his eyes were as dangerous as a poisonous snake. He was a man. Kang Il-hyun was also a man. He had to shake off his hand, but he suddenly wants someone to grip and hold him. He was not going to die because he had borrowed a hand. Lust had paralyzed his reasoning, and there was no longer any space in his head for thought.


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand clasped his waist and pulled him closer as he nodded, and his seated body lay looking up at the ceiling. Ji-ik, He could hear the sound of his pants zipper dropping. He thought he was simply going to touch him, but he was about to suck him. He was taken aback. He had no idea Kang Il-hyun was gay. There was no such information.He didn¡¯t sure what to do if Kang Il-hyun offered to put it in him later, referring to the fact that he had sucked him once. He refused to have sex with a man. Thoughts continued to rush through his mind even while he was confused. After taking his undershirt, he stood up and moved over Ja-kyung¡¯s head.


    Then he brings something to him and pours it on his dick. The fluid soaked his testicles and ran down the perineum, moistening it all the way to his buttocks. Ja-kyung stared up at the ceiling, his eyes wide open. Please suck or rub it.He wanted to say something, but his mouth wouldn¡¯t open. He couldn¡¯t take it any longer, so he placed his hand down, grasped his cock, and attempted to rub it, but he was dissatisfied with the slow movement. Kang Il-hyun took his hand, set it aside, and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s leg.


    Then Il-hyun spread the legs he¡¯d been holding and raised them into the air. As Il-hyun spread his leg, Ja-kyung was perplexed. Soon, his lower back lifted and a hard thing touched between his buttocks. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment. An unimaginable pain came down from his lower back. His eyes became wider and wider, and he let out a moan.


    ¡°Wai¡­ wait¡­ Ouch!¡±


    An excruciating pain followed, like a knife being stabbed into his spine.  He trembled like a freshly caught fish, his arms flailing in the air. It wasn¡¯t until later that he understood what was going on, and he realized exactly what Kang Il-hyun was doing to him.His mind returned to him as if he had poured cold water on him. A hole that had never been used for anything else opened up. Ja-kyung gripped the power and yanked out the ankle held by Il-hyun, then slammed into Kang Il-hyun.


    His head turned to the side, and the enormous item that had forced the anal came out. Ja-kyung scrambled to his feet and sat up. Kang Il-hyun stroked his face and used his tongue to check the inside of his mouth. Then he lowered his dark brows and smiled as if he were a villain.


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    ¡°It¡¯s too much. To the person who tried to help you.¡±


    Springlila¡¯s notes:


    Honestly, I¡¯m a bit confused about the consent because there were misunderstandings/miscommunications about what the consent was for. Ja-kyung thought he was giving consent for the ¡®help¡¯ to release through jerking off/masturbation while Kang Il-hyun thought he was giving consent for his ¡®help¡¯ which is in his mind through sex/putting it in. So I just put the warning, just in case some readers still find it uncomfortable or disturbing. Any opinions about the situation are welcome. You can share your opinion in the comment, but please be civil about it. Thank you~

 Chapter 15

    Ja-kyung stared blankly at the smoke that was being drawn in through the ventilation. He couldn¡¯t sleep and tossed and turned all night, and when he awoke in the morning, his mind was half-blurry. He thought washing up with cold water would be better, but it was the same.


    The sensation that crept through his buttocks was distinct even in the middle of his confusion. Damn it. He kicked him with his feet, but he still wanted to kill him. Even after returning to his bedroom, the drug-induced desire persisted till he couldn¡¯t handle it any longer and had to go to the bathroom and fall asleep.


    That was just too shameful.


    ¡°Bastard.¡±


    He spits out a curse as he glanced at the ceiling. The phone rang when he was grinding his teeth. It was a call from Wang Han. He heard his friendly voice as soon as he answered the phone. But Wang Han observed that Ja-kyung¡¯s voice has no energy and wondered what was going on.


    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal.¡±


    [Then why are you so down? You¡¯re not sick, are you?]


    Ja-kyung moved his head and looked down between his crotch. There was a slight pain in the lower back, but he never wanted to talk about it because it was embarrassing.


    ¡°What are you doing early in the morning?¡±


    [Where are you now? The GPS activated last night.]


    ¡°I used it somewhere else for a second. Send it to my cell phone from the beginning to the end.¡±


    Last night, Ja-kyung hid a GPS in the passenger seat of the man with the goblin tattoo. He had no idea what he was thinking.  Perhaps he was curious about the guy who reminded him of his childhood, or he was curious about the reality of the group that tried to kill Ja-kyung at that time. He¡¯d find out about it when he went back and checked.


    ¡°Hey. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s information that hyung gave me, is that all?¡±


    [What are you talking about?]


    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask if Kang Il-hyun liked men. He ended the conversation after insisting it was nothing. Ja-kyung, who threw his cell phone into the bathtub and stared blankly at the ceiling, got up from his seat.


    Oh. The fan plate opened and parted from the ceiling when he maintained a stable position and pushed upward with effort. He turned on the flash on his phone and looked inside; it was dusty. He had no idea where it led and it was smaller than he expected. He was wondering if he could get in.Damn it. With a dissatisfied expression, he replaced the plate, reinstalled it, and sat in the bathtub.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve told me earlier. I have no reason not to show it to you.¡±


    It was surprising that Kang Il-hyun willingly showed the basement. If he asked him where the safe was, he would probably tell him. He guessed he was feeling something similar to his interest or a crush on him. He wasn¡¯t sure if he was teasing him for fun or if he was going to try something.


    Why didn¡¯t he just act insane and give Kang Il-hyun his butt and gently persuade him into telling him where the safe is? Should he do so? Maybe he would hand over the key.


    Ja-Kyung shuddered as he imagined himself panting beneath Kang Il-hyun. Oh, shit. Crazy. It was insane. There¡¯s a limit to being blinded by money. He was completely insane. He slapped himself on the cheek, rose from his seat, and exited the bathroom.He was laying in bed, his eyelids constantly closing. He then fell asleep, and when he awoke, it was past lunchtime. He eventually became hungry and went downstairs to eat.


    Meals were usually prepared by the family¡¯s housekeeper, who was an excellent cook. Korean cuisine, as well as cuisine from other countries, has been made perfectly for Ja-kyung to eat.He stopped about two-thirds of the way down the steps when he heard a voice from downstairs. He hoped it wasn¡¯t him, but Kang Il-hyun was sitting on the sofa and talking with Park Tae-soo. He was confused as to why that person was staying at home instead of going to work. He turned around and ran back to the second floor, but Kang Il-hyun called him from behind.


    ¡°Yi An. Where are you going?¡±


    Ja-kyung stopped as he heard the remark. Son of a b*tch. However, he immediately relaxed his expression and turned around, smiling neatly.


    ¡°Good morning, Director.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s afternoon now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. Because I overslept¡­¡±


    ¡°You must have been very tired. Did you not sleep yesterday?¡±


    Ja-kyung tightened his fist behind his back. There was a limit to being brazen. He was probably purposefully irritating him, or he already had dementia. If the goal was to irritate him, he succeeded, you bastard.


    ¡°I have insomnia¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. It seems that my house is not comfortable.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way. I¡¯m very comfortable because you¡¯ve been taking care of me a lot.¡±


    They were having a conversation that they don¡¯t even want, but then Kang Il-hyun slowly raises his hand and licks it like a dog. Ja-kyung raised both corners of his mouth and pretended not to see him.  Then he wished him a good day at work and returned to the second floor. He pondered whether or not he would follow him, and he did.He eventually turned around in front of the door, only to find Il-hyun already in front of him.


    ¡°Do you have anything more to say¡­?¡±


    ¡°The CCTV will be removed tomorrow. If you have valuables in the bedroom, put them in the safe in advance.¡±


    His ears perked up as he heard the word safe.


    ¡°A safe?¡±


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    ¡°Did you not see it? I converted the bed frame into a safe. I reset it, so you can set the password yourself.¡±


    The unexpected words raised Ja-kyung¡¯s small expectation.


    ¡°How amazing¡­. Is a safe like that used in every room?¡±


    Il-hyun nodded.


    ¡°Normally.¡±


    Oh. So, how about your bedroom? He asked with his eyes but Il-hyun did not respond. Furthermore, if he says it too casually, it will arouse suspicions. Yesterday, he was careless and caught off guard. He stared him in the eyes to figure out what was going on. Dark eyes smiled as they peered down at him.


    ¡°And about yesterday, let¡¯s pretend it didn¡¯t happen. It will be uncomfortable for each other.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled calmly.


    ¡°Yesterday¡­ What happened?¡±


    Il-hyun stretched out and tried to touch his shoulder as soon as he finished speaking, and Ja-kyung, startled, took a step back. Il-hyun¡¯s lips curved upward in an arc.¡°See. You remembered.¡±


    Ja-kyung kept smiling, but his insides were boiling. He wanted to scold himself for tripping and retreating a while back. Kang Il-hyun said, ¡°See you after work,¡± and returned the way he came. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth as he watched him get further away. Yeah, laugh as much as you can.


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened yesterday. You didn¡¯t say anything else to my brother, did you?


    Kang Seok-joo came to see Ja-kyung after lunch. He acted like a king in the hideout last night, but as soon as he came to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house, he became a coward again.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°As expected.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo wrapped his arm around Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder like an old friend. And he told him about the woman last night that sat next to Ja-kyung who said that she liked him very much, and even told him that she was the only daughter of a well-known legal family.


    ¡°She is obsessed with you. She has been calling me since morning asking me to give her your contact information. How is it? She is pretty and has a nice body, would you like to meet him?¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled shyly and raised his glasses.


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t done it yet?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo made a sexually suggestive hand gesture with his finger. Ja-kyung laughed inwardly. He was attracted to a Chinese sister who lived next door when he was 15 years old. He met a lot of women after that, but when he started this work, it became less and less. Kang Seok-joo¡¯s eyes lit up when he couldn¡¯t answer, as though he¡¯d never done it before.


    ¡°That¡¯s great. There is a different exhibition tomorrow, let¡¯s go there.¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what it was, but it didn¡¯t seem like a real exhibition. Looking at Kang Seok-joo¡¯s face, he looked very happy.


    ¡°Are your friends coming too?¡±


    ¡°Friend? Who?¡±


    ¡°The friend who took me home yesterday. I couldn¡¯t even say thank you because I was busy¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just a favor I asked him.¡±


    ¡°Are you two very close?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before coming to a decision.


    ¡°Should I say that we are rather a business partner than a friend? Cause I¡¯ve invested in what he¡¯s doing.¡±


    Even after he said it, Kang Seok-joo immediately changed his words.


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    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a secret. Don¡¯t talk about it to my brother.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like talking to other people¡­ .¡±


    Kang Seok-joo expressed his appreciation for him and patted Ja-kyung on the shoulder. Without being asked, he gave a brief explanation of Choi Ki-tae. When asked about the tattoo on his arm, he stated that he did not represent any organization and only wanted to look like his father. Ja-kyung remembered seeing a man in the past and suspected him of being Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father.

 Chapter 16

    TW: Child Trafficking


    He followed Kang Seok-joo to a prefabricated building in the middle of Seoul the next day. From the outside, the three-story building appeared to be an ordinary studio, but once inside, it was nothing less of a hideout. If there was anything else, there were glass partitions everywhere, and both men and women entered the partitions wearing only underwear.


    He was hoping for a nude show. He remembered the incense burner and crown he saw the other day in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s basement. He stored it in a glass coffin since it was valuable. Champagne and snacks were placed further away from the glass partition, which was rolled over by drugs and syringes.


    Most of them seemed to have lost their minds because of alcohol and drugs. With a glass of wine in hand, Kang Seok-joo walked past the barrier and came to a halt in front of a man while chuckling. Kang Seok-Joo extended his forearm toward Ja-kyung after noticing the outline of his genitals protruding above his underpants.


    ¡°Yi An. Come here. This bastard is fucking big. Damn, are you sure you¡¯re Korean?¡±


    After becoming drunk and taking drugs, his tongue appeared to be twisted. This time, Kang Seok-joo, who had passed the man, stood in front of a woman. The woman licked the glass with her tongue and pushed her chest on it. Outside the glass, Seok-joo took a cigarette from his mouth and licked the woman¡¯s breasts from outside the glass.


    With the glass between them, long tongues extending like snakes scraped against each other. The glass was soaked in saliva after several licks. After that, she inserted her finger into her mouth, moistened it with saliva, tucked it under her lace panties, and rubbed her pussy.


    Seeing this, Kang Seok-Joo looked back at Ja-kyung with a recalled face as if he felt that his patience was limited.


    ¡°Wow, fuck you. I¡¯m so fucking bummed right now.¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡±


    ¡°What about you? If you like her, I¡¯ll give her to you. Or three of us can do it.¡±


    ¡°I will decline.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be back for a while, so will you wait here?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo immediately turned around and called someone when Ja-kyung nodded. A man approached them from a short distance. It was a man with tattoos all over his face and piercings on his ears and nose, with his hair swept to the side and tied in above.


    The glass door opened as soon as Seok-joo whispered to him, and a woman in her lingerie and high heels walked out, crossing Seok-joo¡¯s arms. The man who took the woman out earlier comes in and talked to Ja-kyung as he watched them disappear upstairs.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re Seok-joo¡¯s friend. Don¡¯t you have a girl you like? Don¡¯t worry, the price will be paid by Seok-joo.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Or is it something different?¡±


    The man pointed his hand at the man in the glass next to him. Muscular man rubbing his nipples with his thumbs and licking his lower lip. Even that was not enough, he even winks at Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung smiled bitterly.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Or a child?¡±


    When he didn¡¯t answer, the man whispered secretly into Ja-kyung¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Just say it. There are children who are just over 10 years old.¡±


    Ja-kyung fixed his gaze on the man. The man was hoping for a favorable answer from Ja-kyung. The man¡¯s face went disappointed as Ja-kyung shook his head, and the man then told him to think about it some more before moving on. Drunk folks from all over the place were making their way upstairs, after selecting a partner they liked.


    He walked between them, exited, and took a look around. The gate was securely shut, but it was evident that Kang Il-hyun had dispatched a guard outside. Kang Il-hyun asked someone to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn¡¯t go insane after what happened the day before yesterday.


    The same car followed Kang Seok-joo the entire trip, but he was completely unaware of it. Either he was unaware or he didn¡¯t care. After a brief moment of thought, Ja-kyung returned inside and took someone¡¯s jacket and baseball cap off the sofa.


    Then he turned around the building and went to the back wall. He climbed up the wall about chest height at once and looked around. A narrow lane existed, but no one was passing through or watching. He jumped off the wall and landed.


    He lowered his body and walked into the alley, there was a surveillance car a short distance away. He sneaked through the cars and escaped without being spotted by them. Walking down the alley, Ja-kyung bought a mask, put it on, and took a taxi.


    Then he handed the taxi driver a note with his address on it. The taxi driver checked the memo and waved his hand as he looked back at Ja-kyung.


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    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s too far. No. I can¡¯t go.¡±


    Ja-kyung took out several fifty thousand won bills from his wallet. As soon as he held it in his hand, the taxi that said he couldn¡¯t go started the car immediately. The taxi driver kept glancing at Ja-kyung through the rearview mirror. It must have been strange to him that he covered his face and remain silent.


    Seoul¡¯s roads were crowded even late at night. After roughly an hour of driving, the car entered a narrow marketplace and went round and round. The neighborhood was densely populated with Chinese, and it was gloomy at night, with people arguing with drunken people around.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s around here.¡±


    As soon as the taxi driver finished speaking, an announcement message stating that he had arrived near his destination came out. When the car finally stopped, Ja-kyung exited, and the taxi driver drove away from the narrow marketplace without hesitation.


    He used his phone to look up the location. Choi Ki-tae¡¯s car with GPS arrived first at this location. He stayed for about 10 minutes before leaving, and because the alley was so difficult, the precise location was not given, but it was clearly this neighborhood.


    Ja-kyung smoked a cigarette and started walking slowly. There were shabby restaurants everywhere. A car drew Ja-kyung¡¯s attention as he walked around the alley. A man in a sleeveless shirt exited the market and walked over to the car, which was parked in front of it.


    But the man¡¯s face was familiar. There was nothing more to see. It was the guy who pointed the knife at Ja-kyung side in the alley last time. Ja-kyung tucked his hat into his ear and began following him.


    The car stopped in front of the two-story house. Ja-kyung hid himself a little further down the alley. The man with a bald head was the first to enter the house, while the man with the sleeveless shirt remained in the car and was checking his phone.


    The door on the second story of the multi-family house opened after a while, and voices could be heard. The kids swore as they down the stairs. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. There were seven children, both boys, and girls, ranging in age from ten to twenty years.


    The sound of the cursing to go faster could be heard all the way up to where he was hiding. The sleeveless man who was waiting kicked a little boy who fell over in front of the gate. As the small body flies away from the kick, a girl behind him immediately raises the falling boy and supports him. Judging from her clothes, she appeared to be a child who Ja-kyung had met in the alley the night before.


    The kids rushed into the car one by one, and the door abruptly shut behind them. The car began to slowly leave the house. Ja-kyung, who was leaning against the wall, sighed slightly. He tried to get a cigarette out of his pocket, but he gave up and run down the route he had just come.


    Since he roughly memorized the road, he was able to predict where the car would go. He ran out onto a slightly broader road with all his might, but a black van appeared in the distance. Ja-kyung staggered in front of it and the car screeched to a halt.


    The bald man opened the driver¡¯s window and showed a grim face.


    ¡°What the fuck! Move!¡±


    Ja-kyung stumbled over to the back door and pulled it open. The door opened revealing the children¡¯s surprised expressions.


    ¡°Mister! Daerim-dong!¡±


    The sleeveless man in the passenger seat flung the door open and got out as Ja-kyung climbed into the back seat with a clicking tongue sound. He reached out to grab Ja-kyung¡¯s leg, and Ja-kyung slammed his foot into the man¡¯s face. Ppak! With the sound of a broken nose, the man screamed and jumped backward.


    Sensing the danger, Ja-kyung quickly jumped into the driver¡¯s seat, changed gears, and stepped on the accelerator. The bald man, who was approaching through the back door, hurriedly clings to the door, but his hand slipped and he eventually fell to the ground.


    Ja-kyung, who was driving, stopped around 50 meters away. Two men stumbled to their feet and ran after the car while screaming as if they were possessed by evil. Ja-kyung turned to face the kids in the back seat.


    ¡°Close the door.¡±


    The kids were apprehensive because they were unsure what to do, but the girl he saw the day before closed the door. Ja-kyung switched to reverse gear. Hold on tight. The men¡¯s distance progressively shrank as they approached. After around 10 meters, Ja-kyung slammed on the accelerator, and the car quickly backed up, slamming into the men who were running with no chance of escaping.


    The car was also impacted, and the kids inside screamed. Ja-kyung checked the two men who had flown that far in the room mirror and apologized to the children with a frivolous face.


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    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m a little bad at driving.¡±


    He heard the car rattling and tearing apart as he reversed again. Both of the men were writhing and gripping their legs as he looked in the rearview mirror.


    ¡°The head is still attached.¡±


    He was intending to stomp on it properly this time and crush their head, but people started turning on the lights and looking around. He could hear them shouting as they walked out of the restaurant. Ja-kyung, who was worried, clicked his tongue with a regretful expression. That was all for today. It¡¯s no fun if he finished them from the start.


    He drove out of the alley at a high speed after promising them the next time.

 Chapter 17

    Ja-kyung got off the taxi and began walking up the hill. The light from the city lamps entangled a variety of insects. A moth the size of a hand flew to the side of his face, causing Ja-kyung to smack his face and flee in panic.


    Despite not being far from Seoul, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house was long apart from the city like a remote island. There were numerous woodlands nearby, and walking alone gives him a lonely feeling. His steps became heavier as he went closer to the big mansion.


    A white SUV was parked in front of the house. He wondered if there was a guest. On the way to the main gate, Park Tae-soo finds Ja-kyung first and runs out in a hurry.


    ¡°Where have you been? The Director has been waiting for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Waiting for me¡­ Why?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in first.¡±


    When asked why he was waiting, he did not answer and took Ja-kyung inside. He was changing into slippers in front of the front door when he hear a loud noise. He went to look and saw a stranger sitting on the sofa in the living room.


    With her long hair tied in a ponytail, she was only wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, but she was a beautiful woman enough to attract attention. Even Ja-kyung, who thought he had seen a lot of pretty people, lost his mind for a moment. She stood up from her seat and approached Ja-kyung with her arms outstretched.


    ¡°Yi An? Nice to meet you.¡±


    Without a moment to step back, she hugged him and patted his back. The scent of shampoo tickled the tip of his nose. After she had let go, she held out her hand, and Ja-kyung rubbed his palm over his pants and held her hand. Her fingers were long and straight, and her skin was smooth.


    ¡°Welcome to Korea. It¡¯s my second time seeing you since you were young, and you¡¯re so handsome. Isn¡¯t that right, Il-hyun-ah?¡±


    Il-hyun-ah? Ja-kyung had a rough idea of who she was when he saw her chanting Kang Il-hyun¡¯s name comfortably. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s older sister. Kang Yoo-jung. A surgeon who was also his only blood sibling. But she was more gorgeous than he had imagined. After a time, he met Kang Il-hyun¡¯s gaze behind her. He was sitting on the sofa with his arms crossed and a grim expression on his face. He had no idea why Il-hyun was staring at him with those eyes. He didn¡¯t like it, but he couldn¡¯t show it, so he just smiled.


    Yoo-jung dragged Ja-kyung to the sofa.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, you¡¯ve grown this big. We met before, do you remember?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, you were young at the time. We met while attending a meeting in Tokyo, and Yi An was hanging onto Il-hyun¡¯s legs while crying.¡±


    ¡°Director Kang¡­ I heard he hit me before.¡±


    ¡°You heard that. His personality has been twisted since he was young. As you can see now, there is nothing different, so Yi An-gun please understands that.¡±


    ¡°No¡­. Be nice to me.¡±


    Ja-kyung said something he didn¡¯t mean to, but Yoo-jung waved her hand saying there was no need for that.


    ¡°He is my brother, so I know him well. In this case, I would usually tell him to be nice to others, but I can¡¯t seem to get that word out.¡±


    She talked about Kang Il-hyun openly. Ja-kyung felt a sigh of relief. He raised the corners of his lips without realizing it, but as his eyes met Kang Il-hyun¡¯s, he swiftly hid his expression.


    ¡°Go if you¡¯re done with your business. It¡¯s already late.¡±


    Yoo-jung pouted and told him to look at Il-hyun attitude. Despite her regret, she promptly grabbed her bag and rose up. Then she smiled brightly at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Then see you tomorrow.¡±


    Tomorrow? Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°My father invited Yi An to dinner. The whole family is going to be there, so you can come together with Director Kang.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze naturally shifted to Kang Il-hyun. He may figure out who commissioned Kang Il-hyun¡¯s death if he went there. The unexpected dinner was awkward, but on the other side, he was curious about the client. He could tell from the file, but it was only a guess.


    ¡°Then I will go.¡±


    Yoo-jung walked towards the front door, waving her hand goodbye. Ja-kyung was torn over whether or not to send her away. After thinking for a while, Kang Il-hyun called. He motioned for him to come and sit, so he moved to the opposite side and sat. The house was quieter today. There were no employees, not even a resident he saw frequently. He scratched his neck as he looked around.


    ¡°Your sister is very beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°With director¡¯s younger brother¡­ I returned after playing¡­¡±


    ¡°My subordinate said you weren¡¯t there.¡±


    He expected to be reported, but he was nervous when he was asked about it.


    ¡°After playing, I got out for a while and walked around alone¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you avoiding the two guards in front of you?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened as if it was the first time he had heard it.


    ¡°Pardon? I didn¡¯t see them. Director, did you have someone following me?¡±


    Ja-kyung made a dissatisfied expression on purpose. That¡¯s right, no matter how powerful Kang Il-hyun was, Zhang Yi An was an important guest to him. There was no need to keep a low profile. Kang Il-hyun looked at Ja-kyung with an expression he couldn¡¯t describe. Ja-kyung then looked at his eyes.


    ¡°Director. I¡¯ve been here for a while¡­ I¡¯ve done with my studies, and since I¡¯d been restricted for so long, I came here to relax and play. But I think it¡¯s too much to be unable to move at will¡­ ¡±


    He still staring into his eyes without answering. Why. What. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know what he would do while he looked at him like that. Kang Il-hyun nodded his head first.


    ¡°Okay. My interference was a little too much. It¡¯s not a big deal because you¡¯re all grown up. I don¡¯t mind if you wander around. But you can¡¯t do it by yourself. Only two or more people are allowed to move, whether it¡¯s Kang Seok-Joo or one of my subordinates. I will protect you as long as Yi An is here. I made the same promise to your grandfather.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ I¡¯m not even a minor.¡±


    ¡°No, but if there¡¯s a problem, there¡¯s so much I have to take responsibility for. So please. Not for Yi An, but for me. Okay?¡±


    In the end, it means don¡¯t embarrass him. Ja-kyung nodded in agreement, fearful of being reprimanded if he continued to speak. He wanted to go upstairs quickly and rest. Ja-kyung stood up and ran for the stairs as soon as Kang Il-hyun commanded him to leave. Even while climbing the spiral staircase, Kang Il-hyun was sitting on the sofa and staring intently at Ja-kyung.


    He unbuttoned the shirt that was strangling his neck as soon as he entered the second-floor bedroom and lay flat on the bed. He then stopped. The CCTV was mounted on the ceiling. He sat up and frowned. Kang Il-hyun said with his own mouth that he would call someone to remove it, but it was still there.


    He rushed to the first floor, but Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be found. He made his way down the hallway to his room. His steps slowed as another thought entered his mind. In the meantime, he knew where Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bedroom was, but he couldn¡¯t even look inside.


    Let¡¯s go inside and look around. He stood in front of his bedroom, licking his lower lip. He knocked, but there was no answer. Just as he was about to knock again a second time, the door clicked open and Kang Il-hyun appeared. Without any mess, he still wore the clothes Ja-kyung saw a while ago. Did he sleep like that?


    His gaze slowly descended from Ja-kyung¡¯s face and reached through the open shirt.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°I have something to tell you. Can I come in for a moment¡­?¡±


    That¡¯s right. Kang Il-hyun willingly opened the door. Ja-kyung cried out with joy inwardly. There was a drawing room inside, and the layout was similar to Ja-kyung¡¯s room on the second floor. If there was anything else, it was a stiffer and darker atmosphere. Two magnificent sharks swam slowly in the massive aquarium occupying one wall. His glance swept the inside as he sat down under his guidance.


    ¡°Would you like some tea?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no.¡±


    ¡°Then alcohol?¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t drink¡­.¡±


    ¡°Well. That¡¯s too bad.¡±


    It was awkward for them to be facing each other in such a little space. Ja-kyung tried as hard as he could not think about what had happened the day before.


    ¡°You said you had something to say. Say it.¡±


    ¡°You clearly said that you would remove the CCTV¡­ It¡¯s still there.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    He looked as if he had no idea. But his employee could not have forgotten his order.


    ¡°But is there any reason to remove it?¡±


    Ja-kyung clenched his molars. He had already explained it several times, and he was the first to speak about it this morning, so why was he doing this? He smiled innocently, trying not to offend him as much as possible.


    ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°To annoy me¡­¡±


    ¡°Am I a psycho? To harass people for no reason.¡±


    Ja-kyung pursed his lips. He barely suppressed his anger, but his voice inevitably raised.


    ¡°Then why are you leaving it that way? Think about it, Director. How would you feel if someone was staring at you while you were sleeping?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°I feel comfortable when I take off all my clothes when I sleep. That¡¯s why I never sleep comfortably here.¡±


    ¡°Take it off and sleep comfortably.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Think of it as your home.¡±


    His breathing became increasingly harsh. He screamed inwardly and imagined banging his fists on the table. This jerk probably liked him a lot. Perhaps protection was an excuse, and he really wanted to spy on him. He wasn¡¯t groping with his palms, but he could have been trying to appeal to something. His expression degraded as the thought progressed to that point.


    ¡°Director.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smiled softly even though the tone of his voice was blunt by itself.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Don¡¯t make that face. All cameras will be withdrawn tomorrow. They couldn¡¯t come because something happened to the company in charge. I played a little prank because it was fun to see you get angry.¡±


    What a bastard.


    ¡°And¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun paused for a moment. He seriously¡­didn¡¯t know what to do with this bastard.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious.¡±


    Il-hyun took up the cigarette case on the table. He pulled the ashtray in front of Ja-kyung, opened the case, and took out a cigarette. Ja-kyung asked bluntly.


    ¡°What were you so curious about?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun took the cigarette he picked out and answered casually.


    ¡°Why is there a tattoo on the so called gentle young master¡¯s shoulder?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The unexpected counterattack left Ja-kyung speechless. The brown eyes behind the glasses shook like the waves.


    ¡°You speak politely, but why are your eyes behind the glasses so arrogant?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smirks as he smokes.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious, so I have to be patient.¡±


    Ja-kyung was suffocating, and his palms on his knees had spontaneously clenched into fists. His mouth was dry, and a cold sweat ran down his spine. The minutes the red warning light flashed in Ja-kyung¡¯s thoughts, Il-hyun sparked the lighter. The lighter¡¯s blue flame flickered and disappeared, leaving a cloud of cigarette smoke in front of him.


    As Ja-kyung stared at the cigarette smoke with his mouth shut, Il-hyun made a face like he discovered something interesting


    ¡°What. Don¡¯t tell me you also smoke?¡±

 Chapter 18

    ¡°You can try it.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun handed Ja-kyung the cigarette he was smoking. Ja-kyung remained silent. Maybe he noticed. If so, how far was it? His gaze was concentrated on the cigarette Il-hyun was holding, yet a million thoughts raced through his mind. Nothing could be decided now. He briefly smiled and declined his offer.


    ¡°I have bad lungs¡­¡±


    ¡°Lie.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smiled and retrieved the cigarette, rubbing it in the ashtray to put it out as Ja-kyung coughed and dispersed the flying smoke with his palms. He folded his arms against the sofa and stared intently at Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung coughed again, covering his mouth with the back of his palm and examining Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Are you going to tell Grandpa?¡±


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t answer. Ja-kyug made a troubled expression.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell him. If he knows that I have a tattoo, he will scold me¡­.¡±


    His voice cracked like a child being scolded by his parents. He poured alcohol into the glass next to him after filling it with ice. The brown liquid was half-filled in the transparent glass. Ja-kyung looked at him uneasily, waiting for him to say anything. He took a sip without saying anything.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    ¡°You know¡­ What kind of person he is.¡±


    ¡°Well, the old man is old-fashioned.¡±


    The sound of the ice moving within the glass was quite loud. Ja-kyung nodded with a gloomy expression on his face.


    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ Too overprotective¡­ So sometimes¡­ It¡¯s suffocating¡­.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun was silent as he shook the glass in his hand.


    ¡°It was fun to come here and hang out with my peers¡­ It¡¯s a refreshing break. In fact, in Hong Kong¡­ I can¡¯t even imagine¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung lowered his brows and made a sad expression. He licked his lips several times and sighed as he played Zhang Yi An. When a person was in a crisis, the acting comes naturally. That¡¯s why survival instincts were frightening. Wang Han found it difficult to teach him before.


    ¡°Because that¡¯s how my father died¡­ I know Grandpa cares more. But I¡¯m an adult now. And then When the director stated that he had surreptitiously assigned someone on me¡­ That¡¯s why I became even angrier¡­ It doesn¡¯t seem too different from living in Hong Kong. It suffocating¡­¡±


    His eyes were red and he stooped to speak. Il-hyun emptied all the remaining alcohol, and Ja-kyung waited for a while before continuing.


    ¡°The director must have felt the same way my grandfather did¡­ It was unwise of me to be angry¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    He bit his lower lip and lowered his eyes with an apologetic expression.  He was as silent as a dead man. When he looked up, he noticed Il-hyun checking something on his phone. He was doing something else while making people nervous. Il-hyun looked at Ja-kyung while touching his phone.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s an important call.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop here. Sleep well.¡±


    Il-hyun stood up and make a call somewhere. While talking about a deal, he went into the bedroom and disappeared. Ja-kyung, who had been left alone, peered around the closed room with a bewildered expression. What. He made the atmosphere strange a while ago. Ja-kyung even tried to shed tears.


    He got out of his seat and stared at the spot where Il-hyun had disappeared. His legs were slightly relaxed without him noticing it. When he left, the head butler approached him and asked if he wanted to eat snacks.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Why. You are still old enough to eat snacks.¡±


    That age has long passed. He didn¡¯t try to deceive her, but he awkwardly smiled and declined her offer. He was reminded of Wang Han¡¯s grandmother when he looked at her. Ja-kyung moved to China to live with Wang Han¡¯s family, where he met Wang Han¡¯s grandma for the first time.


    Even though it had been a long time since she died, the figure sitting in the small yard knitting was unforgettable. She was concerned about Ja-kyung and offered many helpful words. She also instilled in Ja-kyung the values of doing good and living. He had no idea that doing good would be killing people.


    Ja-kyung, who had walked to the second floor, entered the bathroom and sighed with relief. It was the only place in the house where he could comfortably spend time. He recalled the situation he had just a little while ago. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s words, actions, and facial expressions.


    Ja-kyung wondered when did Il-hyun see the tattoo. It was probably then when the shirt he was wearing in the basement got messed up. Perhaps he saw something else. Il-hyun looked at him suspiciously one day, then looked at him like a close sibling the next, and Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t get a clue.


    He took off his glasses and turned on the water in the sink to wash his face.  He leaned against the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. As the water dripped down, there was a lingering feeling of tension on his face. He put his hand in his pants pocket to take out his phone and sat down in the bathtub.


    A long time after the signal passed, Wang Han¡¯s voice was heard.


    [What are you doing at this hour?]


    ¡°I called because I have something to ask.¡±


    [What¡¯s wrong with your voice? What¡¯s going on?]


    ¡°Please find out who commissioned this work.¡±


    Wang Han remained silent, as though he was confused. If a request comes in through an intermediary like Dmitry rather than a direct request, he should never ask or wonder about the client. Even if it was not specifically stated in the contract, it was an implicit rule in this industry. Ja-kyung has never broken it while on the task.


    Wang Han¡¯s voice was very nervous as he thought something was wrong.


    [What happened?]


    ¡°No, not yet.¡±


    [What do you mean not yet? And there¡¯s no way Dmitry would tell you that.]


    ¡°If you tell me, I¡¯ll give you the advance payment back and I¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    [Ja-kyung.]


    ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±


    Wang Han did not ask any further questions. He was also uneasy from the start, so he assumed there was a motive for Ja-kyung to do this. However, starting a job and quitting in the middle was risky. When the rumors spread, there was a price to be paid in terms of customer confidentiality, whether it was money or body.


    [Okay. All I have to do is find out the commissioner.]


    ¡°Please. I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    After hanging up, Ja-kyung put the phone in his pocket and looked at himself in the mirror.


    [You speak politely, but your eyes behind the glasses are so arrogant.]


    His lips tightened. It sounds ridiculous, but at that moment, he was wondering if Kang Il-hyun was the client. It would be unexpected if others heard it. There were a lot of people who were commissioning to kill themselves.


    However, it was not without reason. Shortly after starting this job, he was commissioned by a famous Russian dancer who had an affair with a politician¡¯s wife. The man, who believed he couldn¡¯t have the woman completely, became depressed and eventually requested Ja-kyung to kill him.


    The day the woman and her husband came to see a performance, he asked to be brutally killed in front of the crowd.  He wanted to make the woman feel guilty for the rest of her life. No, even if she didn¡¯t feel guilty, he wanted her to remember him forever. Eventually, the dancer died, and it was reported in the media for a while.


    Following that, the woman also appeared frequently in the media. Despite the man¡¯s wishes, the woman was smiling and looked to be happy. He previously stated that this was the happiest time of his life, and he hopes that it continues to remain so.


    However, Kang Il-hyun was never the type of person who would live in someone¡¯s memory or lay down his life for revenge. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was to threaten or take someone¡¯s life as collateral. He rubbed his wet face with his hands. He wished he could cut through Kang Il-hyun¡¯s head and read his mind.


    ***


    After getting out of the bathroom, Il-hyun brushed his wet hair and changed into a pair of comfortable pants. Then he went into the living room to feed and view the pet sharks in the aquarium. He proudly smiled for a while because he liked how its sharp teeth gnawed at food. He then walked to the refrigerator, pulled out two cans of beer, and returned to the bedroom.


    He sat on the couch, opened a beer, and used the remote control to turn on the tv. The screen changes from advertisement to CCTV video when the button was pressed. The video displayed dozens of footage from inside and around the house. A video of Zhang Yi An¡¯s bedroom appears as he pressed the button again.


    Zhang Yi An was lying on his bed, moving his body and changing his posture as he was unable to sleep. Il-hyun drank beer while keeping his gaze fixed on the screen. He even laughed once in a while, as if watching a tv show.


    Zhang Yi An, who had been tossing and turning, got up from his bed. Il-hyun thought he needed to use the restrooms, but then he took off his shirt. He knew by touching it, that Zhang Yi An¡¯s body was stronger than he thought, and there was no flab. He licked his bottom lip with his tongue after he found a tattoo on his right shoulder.


    ¡°It was a snake.¡±


    He saw it in the basement, but it wasn¡¯t until now that he confirmed the exact shape. He takes off his shirt and pants, then lays down on a pair of panties. It was unfortunate that the skin color was not revealed due to the night vision function.


    Yi An couldn¡¯t sleep even after taking off his clothes and tossing and turning. He covered his body with a blanket and kicked it again. Until yesterday he was still conscious of the CCTV and was careful, but now he was not afraid of being caught by the CCTV.


    Then, at some point, his movements decreased, and he coiled up like a fetus and went asleep. Il-hyun crumpled up the empty beer, grabbed the remote, and turned off the tv. After the other lights were turned off, there was only one light remaining in the room.

 Chapter 19

    Ja-kyung, who had been making noises of moans, groans, and pain, abruptly got up from his bed and sat down. Cold sweat was forming on his forehead and his back was soaking wet. He looked around, unable to distinguish between dream and reality. He had a nightmare. Kang Il-hyun came out, shot him, cut off each finger with a knife, and put them in his mouth.


    It was so vivid it feels like he still has his own fingers in his mouth. He moved his tongue to make sure there was nothing and collapsed onto the bed. He didn¡¯t really dream for a while, but it seemed that yesterday¡¯s events were psychologically stressful.


    He lay down to try to fall asleep once again, but when he realized it had been some time, he got up. It would be good if he could work out till he was exhausted in this situation. He needs to jog around the neighborhood. The sun was already in the middle of the sky when he went to the window and took down the blinds.


    He saw that there was construction on one side of the yard when he heard the sound of a drill. Since the last time, Kang Il-hyun has been building a swimming pool, but it appears that the work is about to complete now. It was fairly nice and had a resort-like feel thanks to the addition of parasols, tables, and even sunbeds.


    He headed downstairs after changing. On the couch in the living room, Kang Il-hyun was reading the newspaper.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    He intentionally greeted him brightly, and Kang Il-hyun pulled down the newspaper and looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°How was your sleep? Your face looks good. You must have slept well.¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed bitterly. The dream he had the entire night came to mind. He found solace in the fact that they said dreams were the opposite of reality. After greeting the head butler in the kitchen and preparing a cup of coffee, he left the kitchen and entered the living room. Before he knew it, Kang Il-hyun was standing in front of the window and looking out.


    A dog he had never seen walked in the yard with the employees despite the fact that construction was also happening in the place. It was a German Shepherd, but it was rather huge and looked fierce.


    ¡°You have a dog¡­¡±


    ¡°I was raising it, but it just came back from the training camp.¡±


    ¡°The training camp¡­ Why?¡±


    ¡°It killed someone by biting them.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at Il-hyun. He then casually said the following:


    ¡°It was the guy I was going to kill anyway, but it still needs education.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Il-hyun bent his eyes and smiled.


    ¡°Whether it be an animal or a person, you should give it a chance.¡±


    Ja-kyung immediately smiled and nodded. When he attempted to force a smile at the other person in the morning after having such a dream, he felt as like his face was twitching. This person still hadn¡¯t gone to work even though it was already after ten. He left early the other day, but he was especially late today.


    ¡°The swimming pool is quite big.¡±


    He switched the topic to the pool since he had nothing to say. Not because it wasn¡¯t, but it was really big.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to the construction being completed soon.¡±


    ¡°Do you like swimming?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good at sports. What about Yi An?


    He was asked if he was good at it by Kang Il-hyun, who was. He was bragging about himself. Too bad.


    ¡°I like swimming too.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s swim together before you go back to Hong Kong.¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed at the sudden suggestion.  Actually, he didn¡¯t want to do that. He remained silent and cast his gaze to the trees in the distance as he waited for a chance to go to the second floor. In the dense bushes, something glistened.


    Just now¡­ What was it?


    He thought he was mistaken, but he wasn¡¯t. Ja-kyung e Eyes opened wide. His body was the first to realize what it was and respond to it.


    Bang, Ja-kyung¡¯s body was laid on top of Il-hyun¡¯s as they both hit the floor. Before they could even comprehend what was happening, another bullet fired. At the loud commotion, staff members fled from the building, and Ja-kyung called on them to come back in. Dogs were barking loudly outside, and the guards were shouting.


    Ja-kyung took a deep breath and started to feel anxious. The house was as quiet as a dead mouse and no further shots were fired. The silence was broken by Il-hyun.


    ¡°I wish you could come down¡­?¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was looking around, then looked down at Il-hyun who was lying beneath him.


    ¡°Sitting on top of me and panting, you really drive me crazy.¡±


    He seemed so relaxed and calm. In addition, the thing under his buttocks was getting bigger and bigger. Fuck. He was not even a dog in heat! Il-hyun grinned and even laughed as Ja-kyung glared at him with disdain.


    Several employees rush inside just in time. Park Tae-soo was also there.


    ¡°Are you okay, Director?¡±


    Il-hyun got up from the floor, shook off his shirt, and walked toward the window. Park Tae-soo, who was behind him, approached and stopped him.


    ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to be there, sir. First of all, you need to avoid¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face was visibly wrinkled as he stared at the bullet-proof glass with a hole in it.


    ¡°Go catch him.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re after him right now.¡±


    He turned and looked at Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°No. The bastard who sold the window.¡±


    Tae-soo paused, and Ja-kyung looked at him with a puzzled expression. Il-hyun gritted his teeth and had a cold gaze.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ They said it was bulletproof glass, so I got it at a damn high price.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°No. Just bury him, so he will never see the sun again.¡±


    Yes. Tae-soo bowed his head. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze shifted to Ja-kyung, who was next to him. Those glances were really slow but terribly suffocating. Damn it. Regardless of what happened yesterday, he noticed the bullet flying and saved Kang Il-hyun¡¯s life today. He needs to explain this somehow. Should he honestly say to have seen the sight glass¡¯s reflection in the light? Or should he lie about seeing the bullet instead?


    Evidently, last night¡¯s dream wasn¡¯t just a crazy one; rather, it was a foreshadowing.


    ¡°Yi An.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    He extended his hand as he came closer. Il-hyun pulled Ja-kyung¡¯s arm as he attempted to take a step back. His body was being dragged as their distance grew closer. He confirmed that Ja-kyung was fine by caressing Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek with his hand. Ja-kyung appeared to have been scratched by the splattered glass, based on the small amount of blood that was there. Il-hyun seemed more frightening than when he demanded to find the person who put the window a while back.


    ¡°Tsk. You got a scar on your pretty face.¡±


    He thought he had misheard. Pre, pretty face? He talked like a 60 years old man. Ja-kyung looked at him with disgust, but Kang Il-hyun looked genuinely moved.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Thanks for saving my life.¡±


    Ja-kyung found the best words to persuade him.


    ¡°No. I was lucky. Ever since I was a child, I had a habit of always watching my surroundings carefully for fear that someone might attack me.¡±


    ¡°As expected¡­ that¡¯s helpful.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°I also thought my eyesight was about 5.0.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ No way.¡±


    ¡°If you take off those glasses, won¡¯t you transform into Superman?¡±


    What. The fuck was that supposed to mean. Was he being sarcastic? Or was it a compliment?


    ¡°Just kidding.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself to laugh.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Il-hyun tapped Ja-kyung lightly on the shoulder. Then he called the staff and asked him to bring a band-aid to put on the wound. He walked over to the painting and cursed again. He claimed to have paid a very high amount for it at an auction, and if anyone was found, he would be entitled to the whole value of the paintings and glass, including their lives.


    How could he have remained composed after a bullet had just entered when he knew he faced death every day. Ja-kyung was astonished, yet his thoughts were also complicated. The bullet that was fired earlier was obviously intended for the area where Ja-kyung was standing. The placement of two bullets in the same location was not an error. Who? Why? Thoughts were tangled like a thread in his head.


    Il-hyun approached Ja-kyung after receiving a band and ointment from the staff. Il-hyun wasn¡¯t going to put it on him by himself, was he? All the staff was watching. Ja-kyung extended his hand in advance if that was the case.


    ¡°Please give it to me¡­ I can put it on myself.¡±


    ¡°You are the prince who saved my life. I will put it on myself.¡±


    He smiled sweetly and wiggled his fingers, signaling him to come closer. That was his gesture to the benefactor who had saved him. He appears to be treating Ja-kyung like a neighborhood dog. Ja-kyung reluctantly approached him, Il-hyun then squeezed the medicine directly into his fingertips, and gently rubs it on Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek. Il-hyun locked his gaze on him, and Ja-kyung avoided his gaze for no reason.


    The staff was quietly clearing the glass behind the scenes. The head butler and his staff were in better condition than expected. Because the wound was stinging, Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes wrinkled without realizing it, and Il-hyun even blew the wound with his mouth. Ja-kyung took a step back, shocked by the unexpected action.


    Il-hyun carefully applied the band-aid while expressing what was the problem. His eyes were full of curiosity. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t take it any longer and turned his head.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Il-hyun offered the medicine. Alright. He¡¯ll put this on later. Ja-kyung took it and kept it.


    ¡°If it gets worse, I will compensate for hospital bills.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°If you are very surprised, I will compensate you for the psychological damage as well.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°If you are really scared, you can sleep in my bedroom tonight. I¡¯ll allow it.¡±


    What this bastard was saying. Even though Ja-kyung knew it was a joke, he couldn¡¯t change his expression. He still remembered being hit hard on the buttocks. As Ja-kyung glanced down, the outlines were clearly enlarged. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t think of anything to say. It got really big. How could it get bigger in this situation?


    Kang Il-hyun smiled sweetly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go out today. It seems like he was aiming for Yi An.¡±


    His eyes and actions were told lightly, but his voice was firm. As expected, he knew.  He didn¡¯t say anything else about it. Il-hyun went outside with Park Tae-soo after telling him to go up and rest. The housekeeper approached Ja-kyung and asked if he was okay. Ja-kyung nodded and looked at the ointment and band-aid he was holding. His cheek, which had just been touched, felt strangely itchy.

 CH 20

    The glass vase flew off and shattered against the wall. Kim Seon-young screamed with blood vessels protruding from her neck. Stupid bastard. She asked if he couldn¡¯t handle one of them right away, then grabbed and kicked the young man in front of her. The man was one of those in charge of the messy work at Kim Seon-young¡¯s parents¡¯ house.


    Kim Seon-young¡¯s father was an influential investor and the richest man in Seoul. After Kim Seon-young married, he attempted to establish a savings bank, but he had difficulty obtaining approval from the Financial Supervisory Commission. Chairman Kang rolled up his sleeves and helped at the time. As a result, Kim Seon-young¡¯s parents paid close attention to Chairman Kang, who was still his son-in-law.


    ¡°How could you have missed that? You said that you are the right man. You said that you are confident in your skills.¡±


    The man spoke with a troubled face.


    ¡°Well, the other person noticed it first and avoided it. I think he saw it when I pulled the trigger.¡±


    ¡°You bastard asshole. You should¡¯ve said it!¡±


    Slap, her hand slapped the man on the cheek. Again, again, and again, she slapped enough to turn the man¡¯s head around and throw him to the floor. Kang Tae-han shook his head, holding a teacup behind her as she huffed and puffed. Even if she has a bad temper, she keeps it hidden from his father.


    Her plan, which she had been boasting about, went horribly wrong all at once. It wasn¡¯t surprising because Tae-han had expected it to some extent. There have been several similar incidents in the past, but Kang Il-hyun has miraculously survived each time.


    Kim Seon-young approached the table and sat, huffing and puffing as if her rage had not yet been released. He only found out later that she had broken her fingernail from slapping the man on the cheek, and after becoming enraged again, she pulled a cigarette from her bag and lit it.


    ¡°Things that are not good enough can¡¯t handle things properly.¡±


    Kang Tae-han said to calm her down and moved the teacup in front of her.


    ¡°I told you so. I wish you¡¯d listened to me.¡±


    Her eyes became sharp. She became enraged when she saw Kang Tae-han about to step out immediately. He used to be a selfish player, whether in the past or now. There was nothing a boy with such a thin wall could do. That was why he was in danger of losing his position to his younger half-brother, who was eight years younger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is not the only chance.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been through that today, so I¡¯m hoping Director Kang won¡¯t stay still. They are said to be searching all of the surrounding mountains with a drone, beginning with CCTV that enters the area.¡±


    She threw a cigarette in the ashtray. They must first find and eliminate him. They only need to find the person and destroy the evidence before he got caught and tortured. Nonetheless, someone has already been dispatched. But if Kang Il-hyun couldn¡¯t find him¡­


    Kang Tae-han¡¯s eyes flashed cunningly as he looked at Kim Seon-young, who was impatient. He leaned his upper body forward.


    ¡°I have a better idea¡­¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°How about using Seok-joo?¡±


    Her brows were crooked.


    ¡°I heard he was close friends with Yi An because they were the same age. Isn¡¯t it easier to approach him?¡±


    Kim Seon-young remained silent. It was done to protect her son Seok-joo, but she didn¡¯t want him dragged into this board. Even if things go wrong, she must complete the task on her own terms because she does not want her children to suffer.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to drag him in.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you drag me in? Aren¡¯t I the son that comes from my mother¡¯s womb?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? I never thought that you, Director Kang, and Seok-joo were the same. It¡¯s also the same for you.¡±


    ¡°As expected, my mother.¡±


    Tae-han smiled with a fed-up face. If you look closely, she was not even his real mother, but she has many similarities to Kang Il-hyun. Soon she started calling somewhere. Seeing that, they have to catch them first and destroy them no matter what happens, they have to destroy the evidence.


    ***


    Ja-kyung looked up at the ceiling after washing and drying his hair. Kang Il-hyun removed the CCTV in the bedroom as promised. He double-checked it with a tracker just in case, but no other traces were discovered. It felt like ten-year-old congestion had disappeared at the thought of being able to sleep comfortably.


    He checked the suit on the bed after drying his hair. He needed to dress appropriately for a meal at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s father¡¯s house today. The fabric on his body feels good when he wears the shirt. He fastened all the buttons and tied the tie, but he wasn¡¯t used to it after such a long time.


    He gave up after a few attempts and tied a rough shape. He then wear his watch and glasses and proceeded downstairs. In the middle of the living room, Il-hyun was talking to someone with his back turned.


    The bullet-smashed glass window quickly returned to its original state, and the inside of the house was as quiet as if nothing had happened. However, guards with dogs were watching inside and outside the window, several drones were spotted, and the number of guards was doubled.


    After finishing the call, Il-hyun looked back and paused.


    ¡°You look good.¡±


    Il-hyun, who was staring at him, took a step forward. And before Ja-kyung could stop him, he reached out and immediately untied Ja-kyung¡¯s tie. He looked at him, embarrassed, and made Ja-kyung a new tie. His long fingers knotted skilfully just below the neck. It was close enough to his chest that Ja-kyung could smell the scent of his skin.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°You must have been very surprised, but you can rest at home today. It¡¯s a promise, but you can put it off until later.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ Chairman Kang personally invited me¡­ I don¡¯t think that¡¯s polite.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled happily after tying a tie and pinning a pin. His gaze moved slowly from the bottom to the top. When their gazes met, Ja-kyung smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°It looks a lot nicer.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Il-hyun held out his hand.


    ¡°Then shall we go? Prince.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head with a troubled expression on his face. He appeared to have grown accustomed to this person¡¯s joke. Instead of his hand, Il-hyun laughed and patted Ja-kyung on the back. Let¡¯s go. It was time for the rush hour in Seoul, so it was best to hurry. Ja-kyung was worried about the hand on his back, but he didn¡¯t bother to remove it.


    The road, as he stated, was not blocked, but it was stagnant. Ja-kyung cast a glance out the window. The lights reflected off the Han River, mixed with the waves, and floated like jewels in the water. He grew up in Seoul but didn¡¯t come here until he was ten years old.


    Kang Il-hyun was also silent as he looked out the window. Cars kept moving and stopping, and when he got out of the congested area, he was able to breathe. When they arrived at the house, the staff greeted them. Ja-kyung exited the vehicle and followed Il-hyun through the gate and went inside.


    Chairman Kang¡¯s house was smaller than he expected. Except for the well-kept garden and pond on one side, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house was more suitable for the chairman¡¯s house. An elderly man greets them politely as they enter the front door.


    Il-hyun introduced him as the house butler. His hair was white, and he was old, but his eyes shone like those of a young man. Ja-kyung followed his guide and took his own look around the house. First, he was drawn to a large hanging family photo. Everyone was smiling, and it looked like a normal family.


    There was a long table when they arrived at the location to which they had been directed. The table was decorated with candlesticks and flowers, and the staff was busy carrying food. Ja-kyun thought they were on time, but some family members arrived first.


    ¡°Director Kang and Zhang Yi An-gun have arrived.¡±


    The eyes of the people who were talking were focused on them at the same time, and Kang Yoo-jung was the first to get up and approached them. Just like yesterday, she opened her arms to embrace Ja-kyung and patted him on the back.


    ¡°Welcome, it¡¯s nice to see you after a day.¡±


    Unlike yesterday, she was dressed nicely, but she still smelled nice. Even though he was not an eighteen years old boy anymore, his heart was racing for no reason. Ja-kyung was embarrassed to say the least, and his gaze briefly met Il-hyun¡¯s. He didn¡¯t know why he was smiling.


    He felt like he had been caught, so he quickly hid his expression.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Kang Tae-han. Il-hyun¡¯s older brother.¡±


    The skinny man with glasses introduced himself as Kang Tae-han. His eyes were as vicious as snakes.


    ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Zhang Yi An. Nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°You look just like your mother. What a waste. If you were a woman, you would have been quite a beauty.¡±


    He laughed and joked. A woman standing next to him patted him and gave him a glance. She seemed to be Kang Tae-han¡¯s wife.


    ¡°I apologize instead. He sometimes jokes too much.¡±


    At first glance, she was a much better woman than her husband.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll take it as a compliment.¡±


    Just then, a voice came from the stairs.


    ¡°The chairman and the madam are coming.¡±


    Everyone turned to face him, and the entire staff came out, bowing and lining up to the sides. They weren¡¯t expecting a king or queen to appear, but they were doing everything they could. The handsome man coming down the stairs was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s father.


    Despite his age, he maintained the same momentum and had the eyes of a tiger. The woman holding his arm from the side was probably Kang Seok-joo¡¯s mother. As expected, Kang Seok-joo appears behind him. He was riding a tiger, but his eyes were filled with fear. He was perverted every time they met, and in this house, he was just a weak herbivore.

 CH 21

    ¡°I heard something big happened today.¡±


    Chairman Kang set his drink down and asked about the incidents of the day. Kim Seon-young, his wife, scooped up food with tongs and placed it on his plate. The rest of the family, including Seok-joo, turned to look at Il-hyun.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t that big of a deal.¡±


    Chairman Kang clicked his tongue when Il-hyun responded briefly.


    ¡°Someone almost died, but it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not dead, I¡¯m alive. Thanks to that, I was able to eat the delicious food that my stepmother prepared with great care.¡±


    Il-hyun thanked Kim Seon-young with his eyes as he picked up the ribs with chopsticks. Ja-kyung was well aware that he was attempting to irritate Kim Seon-young. He could tell roughly by the way he spoke to Kang Seok-joo or his expression that the two were not close friends. Actually, it was odd if there was someone who was on good terms with Kang Il-hyun.


    Unsurprisingly, Kim Seon-young forced a smile to the point that her cheeks tremble. Chairman Kang focused his attention on Ja-kyung rather than Il-hyun¡¯s attitude.


    ¡°I had a visitor and gave him a messy appearance. Please bear with me.¡±


    Ja-kyung responded politely.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Chairman.¡±


    ¡°I thought about it, but since Kang¡¯s house seems dangerous, how about staying here? Kang Seok-joo is also here.¡±


    It was as if the recently swallowed meat had been piled on top of the unexpected offer. Thank you for your consideration, but he needed to bring something from there. And the discomfort was the same here and there. Kang Seok-joo urges him to do so with his eyes.


    It was amusing to act as if we had become close friends simply because we had played together a few times. A child was simply a child. He squinted at Kang Il-hyun, who was sitting next to him, but he chewed the food in his mouth like a machine and did not respond.


    ¡°I appreciate the favor, but I feel comfortable there. Director Kang is also nice to me.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Even Chairman Kang doesn¡¯t seem to believe him when he says Kang Il-hyun was nice to him. Would the father who gave birth have had such a reaction if he had behaved normally? It was completely understandable. Kang Il-hyun smiles as if he already knew. Ja-kyung had no idea why he was smiling, but he seemed satisfied.


    They ate while conversing. He laughed at times, and it was more normal than he thought. He had no idea what they were thinking on the inside, but on the outside, they looked like any other family. Even in the midst of it, Ja-kyung could feel the subtle war of nerves going back and forth once in a while.


    Who hired him to kill Kang Il-hyun? Before coming to Korea, he expected two people. Kang Tae-han and Kang Seok-joo. Those who will keep Kang Il-hyun in check during the succession battle. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know much about Kang Tae-han, and Kang Seok-joo was still young, so his mother may have taken the initiative.


    But Chairman Kang cannot be ignored either. On this day, he has witnessed many cases where parents asked him to get rid of their children and vice versa.


    The reason was simple. Power. It could sometimes make bloodshed worse than anything else. But, looking back, Chairman Kang and Kang Il-hyun¡¯s relationship didn¡¯t seem all that bad. Of course, it wasn¡¯t the only thing he could see with his eyes.


    Lastly, Kang Il-hyun. He may have made the request himself, but Ja-kyung has yet to receive an answer. He received a call this morning from Wang Han, who informed him that Dmitry was leaving for a vacation in Russia and would return in a few days. Why, of all times¡­


    ¡°Would you like a drink?¡±


    Chairman Kang offered a drink, and Ja-kyung smiled with a troubled face.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not good at drinking¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha. You¡¯re so different from your father.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, get a drink. You should learn to drink from an adult. Think of it as your father¡¯s place and accept it.¡±


    Ja-kyung took a glass of wine and held it out politely. The light yellow liquor has a strong aroma and a pleasant taste. Kang Il-hyun gave him a brief glance but said nothing. After drinking so many times, he got drunk.


    Ja-kyung wasn¡¯t the type to enjoy drinking. He could only drink two or three cans of beer at most. People¡¯s voices were whispering later as he endured it without showing it. His eyelids were becoming heavier, and drowsiness was pouring in him. Il-hyun, who was sitting next to him, got up and brought ice water, which he set aside.


    When Il-hyun asked if he was okay, he strengthened his eyes and looked at him, fearful of being caught drunk. He was a little grateful for the unexpected consideration. He could be mistaken, but Il-hyun smiled kindly and his eyes were warm. Ja-kyung nodded and moved his gaze forward. Because of the alcohol, his face was flushed.


    ***


    His head kept tilted to the side. Even when he tried to relax, his body couldn¡¯t make it work. It was embarrassing to be drunk after a few drinks, but he also thought he needed to stretch out and go to sleep. He has not slept soundly for a single day since coming to Korea.


    His vision became increasingly hazy. His consciousness wandered far away, and he fell asleep just like that. He pondered how long it had been. When Ja-kyung opened his eyes, he felt a strange sensation on his cheek. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s side face was very close to him as he lifted his head and looked to the side. He later discovered that he had dozed off on his shoulder.


    As he got up, Kang Il-hyun turned around.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know, on the Director¡¯s shoulder¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I have broad shoulders, so I can stand it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    What¡­ He was bragging all of sudden. Ja-kyung wiped his mouth in case he drooled. It was a good sleep while leaning on the shoulder of the person he was about to kill. He lamented inside, and his eyes widened as he looked out the window.


    The car had already stopped in an unfamiliar location. Then he noticed that both the driver¡¯s and passenger¡¯s seats were empty. Ja-kyung realized at that point that Il-hyun had been giving him his shoulder for quite some time.


    ¡°Where are we¡­?¡±


    ¡°My house.¡±


    ¡°Director¡¯s house?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep here today. I¡¯m tired of going far.¡±


    He was the first to open the door and got off, and Ja-kyung followed behind him. There were a lot of cars in the underground parking lot, but the majority of them were imported cars worth hundreds of millions of wons. Kang Il-hyun swiped his card at the parking lot entrance, and the door opened. Guards greeted them everywhere.


    He noticed people everywhere as he walked past them. There were several luxury halls in department stores, in addition to high-end restaurants. They took the escalator up to the second floor. A swimming pool, a party room, a guest room, and even a fitness center were available. The 13th floor was automatically recognized when Il-hyun took the elevator in the middle and swiped his card.


    When they arrived on the 13th floor, Ja-kyung noticed that one floor was occupied by two households. When Il-hyun asked where he was going to sleep, Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. Does this mean that both belong to Kang Il-hyun? Il-hyun suggested the room on the right when there was no response from Ja-kyung. He claimed that the view from there would be better.


    As soon as he opened the door and entered the house, the sensor and other lights worked. All the lights in the house turned on and Ja-kyung paused for a moment. The colorful and cute interior was in stark contrast to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s other house where he had stayed.


    ¡°Your tastes are very different.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was looking around the house, spit it out unknowingly, and Il-hyun laughed bitterly.


    ¡°This is my sister¡¯s preference. She made this look while I was away on a business trip, and I came back to this.¡±


    Ah. No wonder. He said that it didn¡¯t quite fit. Still, given Kang Il-hyun¡¯s personality, it was surprising that he didn¡¯t change everything. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes twinkled as he looked at the adorable things. He also enjoyed collecting small props, which Wang Han never understood.


    While looking, he found a small elephant sculpture and picked it up with his hand. His favorite animal was an elephant. Big, dependable, intelligent, and devoted to his family.


    ¡°Your sister¡¯s tastes are similar to mine.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked back with a smile, Kang Il-hyun looked at him with an expressionless face.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You really similar to Kang Yoo-jung. Because she likes that type of thing.¡±


    Ja-kyung was embarrassed. Of course, there was no reason to dislike such a beauty. She¡¯s attractive, has a pleasant personality, and is a doctor, so if he gets hurt on the job, she can treat him right away. Even though he wasn¡¯t aware of it, the tip of his lips rose up. At the same, one of Il-hyun¡¯s brows rose crookedly.


    ¡°Are you smiling?¡±


    ¡°Smile, who¡¯s smiling¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re stuttering.¡±


    Ja-kyung blushed as he looked at him. He thought it as a warning not to look at his sister. Their eyes met, and Kang Il-hyun still had a cold expression on his face.


    ¡°Stop dreaming. Wake up. Yi An is not my sister¡¯s type.¡±


    For a brief moment, Ja-kyung wondered if Il-hyun was truly interested in him. Even in the basement or when there was a sniper, it was not something he could do to a man like him.


    If that¡¯s the case, it might be a good idea to use Kang Il-hyun as much as possible. But what if that was a trap? Emotions were sufficient to fabricate lies. Should he give this a try?


    ¡°Then what about you Director?¡±


    Ja-kyung asked with a soft gaze. Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows were slightly distorted.


    ¡°What is your type, Director?¡±


    What did he read from the look on Ja-kyung¡¯s face? He smiled as he looked at him.


    ¡°Why are you acting cute?¡±


    Il-hyun stepped forward. Ja-kyung did not take a step back this time. In front of him was a reward worth five million won. It was never a small sum of money. It was a chance to completely float off the ground. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand was placed on his shoulder and slid up to his neck. Ja-kyung¡¯s throat tightened with tension every time Il-hyun¡¯s fingertips touched his skin.


    Il-hyun lightly tapped Ja-kyung¡¯s cheeks with his fingertips as if playing a piano, and then wrapped his palm around the entire cheeks. His hands were warm.


    ¡°You want to know?¡±


    He asked, and Ja-kyung was silent.


    ¡°Tell me. Are you really curious?¡±


    Ja-kyung opened his lips, which had been tightly closed. Fuck. Five million won. Five million won. This was a five-million-dollar thing in front of him, not a man.


    ¡°Yes. Let me know.¡±


    His lips curved upward. The hand that had been touching his cheek naturally fell behind his neck, and Il-hyun¡¯s smooth lips approached him slowly.

 CH 22

    Ja-kyung¡¯s neck tightened as Il-hyun¡¯s lips got closer and closer. Il-hyun¡¯s hand gently caressed the back of his neck, as if to relieve the tension. But the more he did it, the stiffer his muscles became and his face stiffened.


    ¡°Your skin is soft. Would you be softer on the inside?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I was just imagining it, but I already have an erection.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t get hurt today, so smile.¡±


    His spine tingled. Even the last remaining bits of drunkenness disappeared in an instant. What was he thinking when he provoked him a while back? He seemed like he¡¯d really kill him if he didn¡¯t say he couldn¡¯t do it now. Ja-kyung recalled the pain he had felt in the basement. He knew how to have sex with men, but the pain was beyond his imagination.


    Furthermore, he was not the one who inserts it; he was the one who received it. His self-esteem was suffering.


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand that was touching his neck moved downward gradually, sweeping his back and touching his waist. Il-hyun touched his side gently and slipped his hand into Ja-kyung¡¯s clothes. Ja-kyung¡¯s face hardened in surprise when Il-hyun¡¯s hands touched his bare body. Kang Il-hyun, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care and pulled his waist back. As he pulled, their upper and lower bodies became increasingly entwined. Ja-kyung smiled in embarrassment as he felt Il-hyun breath right in front of his nose.


    ¡°Can we do it with my clothes on¡­?¡±


    ¡°Then where should I put my dick? Your mouth?¡±


    ¡°Just, just the shirt¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, then.¡±


    Ja-kyung was relieved to hear this. Il-hyun tilted his head subtly. His lips moved closer and closer, and the scent from him made his mind dizzy. Ja-kyung shut his eyes. It was difficult for him to think of him as an object when Il-hyun kept kneading and touching him.


    That¡¯s right, imagine Kang Il-hyun as a woman. His glasses were taken from his grasp. He blinked his closed eyes open. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes stare intently right in front of his nose. He felt exposed. He closed his eyes again and immediately pressed his lips together. It was hot. Kang Il-hyun used his tongue to lick his lips as if tasting food.


    Kang Il-hyun noticed his back tensing up again and laughed as he licked him. His tongue now opened Ja-kyung¡¯s lips and tried to enter his mouth. It¡¯s a woman. A woman, not Kang Il-hyun. A woman whose name was unknown. He met her for the first time today while drinking. She had short hair and was beautiful, but she had a bad personality.


    He opened his mouth to allow his tongue to enter. The sensation of the tongues rubbing against each other was similar to any other kiss. It was denser and mushier rather than soft. Ja-kyung wrapped his arms around Il-hyun¡¯s neck in desperation as the kiss grew deeper and deeper.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s body was pushed backward, and he bumped into the bed. Ja-kyung was naturally led to the bed by Il-hyun. He then undid the tie Ja-kyung was wearing. He expected Il-hyun to strip him naked, but instead, he clasped Ja-kyung¡¯s hands, lifted them up, and tied them with the tie. Ja-kyung eyes widened in surprise.


    Kang Il-hyun smiled after tying the knot beautifully into a ribbon.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll hit me like last time. If you listen to me, I¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    ¡°No,¡±


    Their lips pressed together, and Ja-kyung swallowed the words of displeasure. He grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt and spread it apart after gently fiddling around. Suddenly, the button ripped and flew away, and Ja-kyung lowered his arm, grabbed the open shirt, and tucked it in. Il-hyun laughed at how quickly he moved despite his hands being tied.


    ¡°You agreed a while ago that I can wear a shirt.¡±


    Il-hyun nodded and said, ¡°Oh,¡± as if he had just remembered.


    ¡°However, what should I do? It¡¯s a total mess, and you won¡¯t be able to wear it again.¡±


    At the same time, Ja-kyung¡¯s fingers holding the shirt spread out one by one and took it off. Il-hyun was going to see everything anyway, so he asked what he was hiding. The scar on his body, not the tattoo, was the issue. It was a knife wound. Nonetheless, how would he explain the gunshot wound?


    Ja-kyung tapped Il-hyun¡¯s hand. Put it away. After Il-hyun retreated, Ja-kyung pulled the bed sheet next to him and covered his upper body. When Il-hyun saw this, he did not hide his displeasure.


    ¡°Turn, turn off the lights.¡±


    ¡°I like to see with my own eyes.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m embarrassed. Please turn it off.¡±


    Their gazes locked, and Ja-kyung refused to back down. Unable to do anything else, Il-hyun was forced to use the remote control to turn off all the lights in the room. All light from outside was coming through the curtains. Kang Il-hyun moved up, removing the sheet and gently fondling Ja-kyung¡¯s upper body from the abdomen.


    ¡°Your body is stronger than I thought.¡±


    ¡°For the compliment, thank you, eub!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t finish his speech and bit his lower lip. Il-hyun reached out and touched Ja-kyung¡¯s nipples. Ja-kyung held his breath. This was a woman. Woman. Not Kang Il-hyun, but the woman he met for the first time at the club today. He puts all of his strength into hypnosis, but Kang Il-hyun pinches and twists his nipples with his fingertips. As Il-hyun pinched him so hard, tears welled up in his eyes.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    He tried to take off Il-hyun¡¯s by pulling his tied wrist down, but he was caught and locked up again in an instant.


    ¡°You can¡¯t pinch me so hard!¡±


    ¡°You just thought of something else.¡±


    Ja-kyung was speechless when he heard his gloomy voice. Il-hyun stimulated him by rubbing and rolling his fingertips over Ja-kyung¡¯s nipples. Ja-kyung¡¯s chest swelled up and down. This time, Il-hyun¡¯s tongue touches his nipple and licks gently.


    Il-hyun uses the tip of his tongue to lick the bottom of Ja-kyung¡¯s nipple, then swallows it up to the areola and sucks it sideways like a child. The tingling stimulation strengthened his lower leg without his knowledge. It didn¡¯t matter if the other person was a man or how his body responded. He didn¡¯t take the stimulant like the last time, but lust began to creep in.


    Ja-kyung bit his lower lip as he was about to let out a moan. Il-hyun¡¯s tongue slid down like a snake. Il-hyun pulled his lips back and took off Ja-kyung¡¯s pants and underwear. Ja-kyung was naked in an instant, and he could feel the cold air on his body as the air conditioner made the air cold.


    His silhouette could be seen in the dark. Kang Il-hyun got out of bed and took off his shirt, pants, and underwear. A big object appears from between his legs. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t see it that day because he was too preoccupied, but it was much bigger and harder than he thought.


    He was nervous at the enormous size and swallowed his saliva. Fuck. Il-hyun¡¯s was so damn big. He swore inside and wondered if he could get away right now, but Il-hyun already climbed onto the bed. Because of his weight, the bed moved. Il-hyun spread Ja-kyung¡¯s legs apart and took a seat between them.


    A hard lump of flesh kept pressing against his thigh. Il-hyun grabbed his ankles and opened them up to the point of embarrassment when he shrank his thighs in tension. Ja-kyung was about to kick his face with his feet again, but he stopped. Ja-kyung bit his molars tightly as Il-hyun lowered his upper body.


    His thighs were pressed, and his legs spread naturally to the sides. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick pressed against and overlapped his testicles and dick. It felt strange fucking with an older man. The unknown woman he had been thinking about for a long time had packed her bag and ran away.


    Tak, a dim light appeared above the bed, and Ja-kyung frowned. Il-hyun was looking down at Ja-kyung while holding his arms by his side. His eyes gleamed dangerously as if he were a beast hunting its prey in the dark.


    ¡°You decided not to turn on the lights¡­¡±


    ¡°Just on your face. I¡¯m curious about your expression.¡±


    His face was cast in shadows by the lights. The already sculptural features became more prominent. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes looked down on their own without his knowledge. Il-hyun¡¯s torso was thick and hard, and an injury on his shoulder was visible. It wasn¡¯t just empty words to boast about having broad shoulders.


    He gently moved his waist after raising his eyes and looking at Kang Il-hyun. The two dicks were crushed and rubbed together. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes trembled. His stomach felt strange.


    Il-hyun grabbed his face and forced Ja-kyung to look at him when he turned his head to avoid him. When stimulated, cooper fluid flows out. His abdomen was damp. Fuck. It was the first time he felt ashamed. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip and lowered his gaze slightly.


    He was smitten by Il-hyun movements, which were so relaxed. Il-hyun bowed his head and used his tongue to lick Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes. He acts tenaciously, then licks his cheek, bites his chin, and bites his face as if he were going to eat him. He let himself go out of desperation. The man was consumed by a lust that could not be satisfied with just that.


    Can¡¯t he do it a little faster? Can¡¯t he rub some more? Ja-kyung then moved his ass and rubbed his leg against Il-hyun¡¯s thigh without realizing it. Kang Il-hyun was already smiling when Ja-kyung realized what had happened. Ja-kyung¡¯s pride was hurt that he bit his molars hard. Il-hyun¡¯s lips that came down from the nose to the philtrum kissed and swallowed his tongue. The speed of his waist movement gradually increased.


    Kang Il-hyun hit Ja-kyung¡¯s waist hard and quick as if he had inserted it into the hole. The huge bed began to shake. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and wrapped his legs around Il-hyun¡¯s waist. He couldn¡¯t describe the pleasure because it wasn¡¯t even an insertion and he wasn¡¯t even touching it with his hands.


    The sound of flesh slamming was loud. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s tongue became entangled with his tongue in his mouth. Wang Han would be astonished if he found out. Lee Ja-kyung spreads his legs and shakes his waist under a man. There was nothing to say, even if it would become a joke for the rest of his life.


    Unfortunately, lust renders reason useless.


    ¡°Ahhh.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smiled as he kissed Ja-kyung, who couldn¡¯t stop himself and moaned strangely. He wanted to die. He didn¡¯t even want to know why Kang Il-hyun was smiling.

 CH 23

    Ja-kyung opened his eyes slowly. The sun was shining brightly. He couldn¡¯t sleep well until the morning, and he barely opened his eyes. He tossed and turned, but Kang Il-hyun, who had been sleeping beside him, was nowhere to be found. He sat up and stretched. Instead of his clothes, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s pajamas were put on his body.


    Contrary to what he was worried about, Kang Il-hyun did not push it in recklessly. He only hugged him and moved his waist. It was surprising given it was Kang Il-hyun. He thought Il-hyun was going to push him hard. Furthermore, the touch and kiss were much sweeter than expected, making him feel strange.


    He had been awake all night, nervous, and his throat was dry. He stood up and went into the living room to get some water. Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be seen. He walked around the house after drinking a glass of water. He wondered where Il-hyun had gone since the morning. He went to the front door, but his shoes were nowhere to be found. He looked around and discovered a note he¡¯d left on the living room table.


    [I am going to work. I¡¯ll stop by for lunch.]


    It was neat and straight handwriting. It¡¯s Saturday, wasn¡¯t his day off? Ja-kyung thought it was better. They¡¯re just annoyed with each other when they look at each other¡¯s faces. After drinking water and admiring the paintings on the walls, he went inside and found the study room. Unlike the house where Kang Il-hyun always stayed, all the doors were open. Furthermore, there were no surveillance cameras.


    There were a lot of books in the library. A significant portion was made up of economic books, but there were also several poetry collections. He laughed unknowingly. He discovered the bookshelf was made of a sliding door while looking around. Normally, there was a hidden space behind this kind of spot.


    In anticipation, he pushed the bookshelf to one side. The bookshelf shifted, and a wall appeared. In disappointment, he stood close to the wall, attempting to reposition it. When he tapped it with his fist, it made a hollow sound. His eyes widened.


    The wall moved smoothly when he pushed it sideways with his palm, revealing another space inside. He looked back. There was still plenty of time until lunch. There was another study upon entering. Ja-kyung, who was looking over the bookshelf and desk, stopped.


    A safe was unexpectedly placed beneath the desk. He took a quick glance around the room. Perhaps it was being filmed. After some thought, he knelt down and checked the safe. Fortunately, it was a lock that needed to be unlocked with a password rather than a fingerprint.


    Ja-kyung, who was worried, remembered the eight numbers that Kang Il-hyun pressed in the basement. Press them in order. Tyririk¡­ there was a sound when he pressed the last number. The sound indicated that the lock had been unlocked. He carefully opened the safe door while licking his lower lip.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes and mouth widened as he checked what was inside, and he smiled in dismay.


    ¡°It was here.¡±


    There were numerous USBs in the safe. It was dated and labeled like a price tag, and it was organized so that you could see it at a glance. Some of them only had dates and no other information. The people with their names on them were well-known figures in Korea. From politicians to celebrities, law firms, and businessmen, all were there.


    It was unknown what their weaknesses were in them. First, he had to find the item requested by the client. Ja-kyung, who had been busy moving his eyes and hands, stopped. A USB with only the date and DK written 5 years ago stands out.


    Found it!


    He grabbed it, but he couldn¡¯t get it out. Kang Il-hyun would be suspicious of Lee Ja-kyung if he found out this was gone. There were two options. Import the file. And kill Kang Il-hyun. There was still a long time until the date to kill Kang Il-hyun.


    Ja-kyung was troubled. Should he take it? Or should he wait? He ultimately chose a slightly safer method. He discovered it, so it was a half-success. He could come and take it after killing Kang Il-hyun. Unfortunately, he had to leave now.


    He took a picture of the USB, saved it, and put it back in place. He closed the safe and erased the fingerprints that had been left behind. He went out and walked down the hallway when he heard a noise coming from the front door. Ja-kyung quickly sat down on the sofa, and after a few moments, the sound of footsteps approached.


    ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    Ja-kyung put down the glass of water he was drinking and looked back at Il-hyun. They were naked together last night, but Ja-kyung thought it would be better to greet him casually. He was holding a brown paper bag.


    ¡°Is hamburger okay?¡±


    Il-hyun approached the table and opened the paper bag. Ja-kyung stood up and approached him. Even so, he hasn¡¯t been able to eat a hamburger since he came here.


    ¡°Yes¡­ I like it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. There¡¯s a homemade burger place downstairs and it tastes pretty good. Try it.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun took off the hamburger wrapper and inserted a straw into the Coke. Ja-kyung takes it and places it in his mouth, and the aroma of the delectable seasoning makes his mouth water. He took a bite with his mouth wide open, and the tomato, meat, and pickles make a fantastic combination.


    Il-hyun, the man in front of him, smiled and extended a napkin. And pointed to his lips. Instead of using a napkin, Ja-kyung licked the corners of his mouth with his tongue. Il-hyun stared at him with his chin resting on the back of his hand.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious. It¡¯s one of the best burgers I¡¯ve ever eaten.¡±


    ¡°No, how was your sex yesterday?¡±


    Ja-kyung nearly spits the Coke he was drinking. Fuck. Fuck you. Let me eat in peace! He coughed and wiped his lips with a napkin. It feels like he would have indigestion. He looked at him, trying to figure out what he was saying. Kang Il-hyun leaned back and looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s not even sex.¡±


    ¡°Why are you saying that¡­?¡±


    ¡°I did it as soft as I promised, so I thought I could do it again today.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his voice without realizing it, and his impressions creased. Didn¡¯t it come to an end with just one time? The expression on Il-hyun¡¯s face told him it wasn¡¯t a joke. What should he say? He didn¡¯t think Il-hyun would let him in here again if he said no. It was embarrassing to do it again.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll think about it¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Let us take our time. Either say he¡¯s sick or that he has work.


    ¡°Are you done?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened as he was about to eat the hamburger again.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You said you would think about it.¡±


    Ja-kyung was stunned. It hasn¡¯t even been 5 seconds since he spoke.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first¡­¡±


    The more he wanted to eat, the more he lost his appetite. It was like chewing a sand grain on a melted hamburger. He ate lettuce slowly like a rabbit on purpose. Even though he eats leisurely, Kang Il-hyun sits there and did not move. Fortunately, his phone rang. He grabbed his jacket and stood up after a brief call.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Company. I will hear the answer later.¡±


    Ja-kyung breathed a sigh of relief without realizing it. Kang Il-hyun notices Ja-kyung¡¯s relaxed expression and cracks a joke.


    ¡°Damn. You like it when I leave. I¡¯m disappointed.¡±


    He cursed and laughed, which embarrassed Ja-kyung, so he quickly pretended to bite a straw and avoided his gaze.


    ***


    Only one orange light flickered in the old bathroom. The room was dark and only the occasional sound of water dripping from the ceiling could be heard. Below it was a naked man tied to a chair in only a pair of panties. Someone entered through the open door. The light flashed briefly and then went out.


    Kang Il-hyun was the one who entered the bathroom. He approached the man. The man¡¯s eyes were filled with terror. A subordinate brought a chair, and Il-hyun sat there, took out a cigarette, and lit it.


    ¡°Hey. President Choi.¡±


    The man protested as soon as Il-hyun called him.


    ¡°Director Kang! It¡¯s a misunderstanding. I really don¡¯t know!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being hard headed by yourself. Loyalty can only be protected if it has a life attached to it.¡±


    The man begged similarly as if he believed the way he spoke was generous.


    ¡°Trust me. I really don¡¯t know. It¡¯s the truth!¡±


    President Choi was in charge of one of the casinos operated by the shipping group. However, a large sum of money was recently withdrawn from his personal account. It was his own money, so it didn¡¯t matter where he spent it, but the place where the money went was questionable.


    Just in case, Il-hyun thoroughly researched President Choi¡¯s black box and his whereabouts that day, and roughly the destination was revealed. The cash was delivered to the odd job center. He had no idea what had been commissioned there. It was completely gone when he went this morning. And, most importantly, the man was Kim Seon-young¡¯s cousin.


    ¡°Director, Director Kang¡­ Let me see the Chairman. I will tell the Chairman!¡±


    Il-hyun stood up and shoved the lit cigarette into the man¡¯s mouth. Il-hyun grabbed the man¡¯s chin and pushed him without letting him scream. Bound to a chair, the man fell into a tub filled with water and sank to the bottom.


    The water was as deep as an adult man¡¯s chest, but instead of screams for help, only bubbles of water rose to the surface. With a scowl on his face, Il-hyun brushed the water from his shirt. Il-hyun motioned to the subordinate beside him to rescue him as the amount of air bubbles rising gradually decreased.


    President Choi was quickly dragged out of the tub by two of his subordinates. President Choi took a deep breath with a terrified expression on his face. Il-hyun sat back down on the chair, and the man had moved to the same position a few moments ago. Il-hyun asked for a new cigarette as he looked at him.


    ¡°See. You are punished for lying.¡±


    A subordinate next to him brought a towel, which Il-hyun use to meticulously wiped President Choi¡¯s face.


    ¡°Not my father, but I¡¯m the only one who can save President Choi right now. Think carefully. Don¡¯t bother looking for the Chairman and making me feel bad. Okay?¡±

 CH 24

    Ja-kyung was speechless as he smoked a cigarette and checked his breasts in the mirror. Even after two days, the red marks could still be seen here and there. Because of how many times Il-hyun bit and sucked his nipples, the size of his nipples appeared to have changed slightly. Kang Il-hyun had a strong obsession with nipples, possibly because he grew up not feeling loved by his mother. When Ja-kyung touched it, he felt tingling and pain, and he cursed.


    ¡°As long as I¡¯ve lived, I¡¯ve never seen such a man¡­¡±


    That was all. At first, even if he said that he was reluctant, later he moaned and moved his waist. He even wrapped his legs around Kang Il-hyun¡¯s body. His mind should be lighter when he checked the whereabouts of the object, but thinking about it, it was impossible.


    Kang Il-hyun was busy after that day and didn¡¯t show up for two days. Ja-kyung felt relieved that he had been fortunate. He sent a picture to Wang Han, requesting the same USB so that once the issue was resolved, he could rest easy. He hoped that there would be no more body entanglement until then.


    It was hot inside the house when he came out of the bedroom. All of the air conditioners were shut down. A vehicle that came to work on the swimming pool collided with a nearby electric pole and the power was cut. He went downstairs and stood in front of the living room window. Outside, the workers were busy working.


    There were no signs of bullets piercing the windows. The bullet was a 338 Lapua Magnum intended for sniper use. It was used by snipers due to its low tolerance and fast bullet speed. The morning of that day was not even windy, and the sky was clear with not a single cloud in the sky, making it ideal for aiming at the target. However, the bullet was aimed at Ja-kyung¡¯s right shoulder, not his left chest.


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t think it was a mistake. Perhaps that person intended to harm Zhang Yi An. Zhang Yi An was the only grandson of Zhang Yin, the godfather of a Hong Kong organization with ties to the shipping group. And if Zhang Yi An was hurt, Kang Il-hyun, who was now protecting him, would face difficulty.


    He wondered who had given the order. He remembered the faces of the family members he saw at the Chairman¡¯s house one by one.


    ¡°Yi An!¡±


    After some thought, he heard a familiar voice behind his back. When he turned around, Kang Seok-joo waved his hand and approached him. Ja-kyung received a call in the morning and stated that he would be unable to leave the house for some time, so Seok-joo came to the house immediately.


    ¡°Is it here? But there¡¯s no bullet mark?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo, who approached, smiled as he looked through the window. Ja-kyung could only guess why he had come.


    ¡°You look very happy.¡±


    ¡°Not happy. I¡¯m dissapointed.¡±


    He turned around to make sure no one was there and lowered his voice.


    ¡°Director Kang should have been shot.¡±


    Ja-kyung chuckled. Seok-joo seemed to be at ease with himself by saying things like that casually. He was much more energetic than he remembered seeing at home. After all, it was difficult to survive among brothers like hyenas.


    Ja-kyung and Seok-joo moved upstairs after asking the staff for a car. Then, in private, he asked about Choi Ki-tae¡¯s well-being.


    ¡°Ki-tae? That bastard must be going crazy now.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo leaned on the sofa on the second floor and proudly crossed his legs.


    ¡°His father is a drug dealer. You know that drug? The one we took last time.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°But then there this employee. After all, this employee took the working kids.¡±


    ¡°Employee? Who?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. They¡¯re minors so that employee must have taken them to the police station and ran. But then they got a call from the police. To take the kids.¡±


    Ja-kyung hardened his face as he listened. His tight jaw was clenched and his eyes were on the verge of bursting.


    ¡°You said¡­ minors? Weren¡¯t they taken to the shelter?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so naive. They are kids with nowhere to go. Because his father knew a lot of powerful people, they called him right away to take the kids. That¡¯s why you need power. Even the police are powerless in the face of money and power.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo laughed arrogantly and proudly as if he were at the top of power. Ja-kyung was at a loss for words. The children¡¯s eyes that stared at him come to mind.


    ¡°What happened to them? Are they working¡­ again?¡±


    ¡°How can you trust kids who ran away? They¡¯ll be dealt with.¡±


    ¡°Dealt?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo laughed it off without further explanation. Ja-kyung knew what it was. He remembered hearing a story as a child. It was said that useless children¡¯s organs were taken or used as sexual tools for adults. Alternatively, a man who was visiting his mother told him that he would become dog food.


    Ja-kyung initially thought it was a joke, but when he found a child hand his age who was working with him rolling around in the dog kennel, he realized it was real. On the other hand, he had nightmares for a long time due to his fear of becoming dog food.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes, which were recalling old memories, became cold. He should have sent them somewhere other than the police in the first place. No, he should have pretended not to know from the beginning. He shouldn¡¯t have driven the already miserable kids into their death.


    Fuck. He got up from his seat.


    ¡°What. Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have a bad headache, so I think I need to get some sleep today.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo got up from his seat and was annoyed.


    ¡°What. Then what do I do?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t go out for a while anyway. You know that. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled at him and hurriedly into the bedroom. When Seok-joo was left alone, he pouted and cursed to himself. The unit price would be great if the customer was important. He was irritated that he had to come for him, and Ja-kyung then left him to sleep because he was sick. He kicked the leg of the table with his foot, closed the door, and walked out.


    Ja-kyung walked back and forth in the bedroom while smoking an electronic cigarette. He became irritated and rubbed his face. He opened the safe, took a piece of paper from it, and unfolded it. It was a location in the house where CCTV was installed. He placed the paper in the safe under the bed after checking the exact location with his eyes and memorizing it.


    He then took a small flashlight and an iron rod from the safe and hid them in his clothes. Ja-kyung went downstairs and found the housekeeper. She was preparing dinner for tonight with the staff in the kitchen.


    ¡°Yi An. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite noisy outside. How long will it take to set up the swimming pool?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re finishing up right now. The electricity will be turned on soon.¡±


    ¡°There doesn¡¯t appear to be any emergency power here¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes. This is the first time this has occurred since the house was built¡­ I was perplexed as well.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ Actually, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll be able to eat dinner because I¡¯m sick. I¡¯m going to take some medicine and go to bed.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my. Do you want me to make you some soup?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. When you¡¯re sick, it¡¯s best to get plenty of rest. Please inform the Director if he is looking for me.¡±


    He added that once he fell asleep, no one should disturb him. That meant not to look for him even if Kang Il-hyun came. She smiled and replied that she understood.


    ¡°If you need anything, please feel free to contact me downstairs.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±


    After saying his gratitude, Ja-kyung went upstairs. He entered the bedroom, closed the door, and lowered all of the curtains. He went to the bathroom after putting a blanket on the pillow and making it appear as if someone was lying down. The windowless bathroom was pitch black when the door was shut.


    After turning on the flashlight, he climbed up to the bathroom railing and removed the ventilator. He checked the passage with the flashlight, and it was quite narrow. Before leaving, he thought it would be fun to see if he could get stuck in the passage and die. He threw the flashlight inside and used his arm strength to climb up.


    He crawled forward and lifted his lower body. The thick layer of dust tickled his nose and made him want to sneeze. He put the flashlight in his mouth and moved forward slowly, holding his breath as much as he could. Sweat poured like rain as he squirmed and moved like a caterpillar in a narrow ventilation hole in hot weather.


    Fortunately, the passage that curves to the right was much wider. Breathing a sigh of relief, he curled up and moved forward. Sweat ran down his face, stinging his eyes. After a while of crawling, light poured in from the front. The large ventilator fan had stopped functioning. He pulled the fan out and pushed his face out.


    He took a deep breath and breathed in some fresh air. Apart from the power outage, the cameras on either side of the vents were functional. Damn it. He knew it. He drew out an iron rod about the width of his waist and pressed the button.


    The rod¡¯s length gradually increased. He stretched his arm, touched the CCTV with the tip of the stick, and changed the directions. The other side received the same treatment. Then he dangled himself from the railing as far as he could, jumped down, and rolled himself.


    He leaned against the building¡¯s outer wall, lowered himself, and looked around to see if there was anywhere he could go outside. Fortunately, there were few cameras around, and when he turned around the corner, the camera was unable to capture him. Furthermore, it was all covered in rose vines.


    Ja-kyung took a long, deep breath as he looked at the wall in front of him. It was high, but he thought he could climb it. He ran, jumped, grabbed the wall with his hands, and climbed it with his feet. He hadn¡¯t exercised in a few days and had been playing and eating peacefully, and his body seemed to be the first to notice.


    He felt that his movements were slower than usual. He climbed and jumped to the other side. He looked around, but everything was quiet. All he could see were people working on the construction of a utility pole in the distance. Ja-kyung stepped back from the wall and rolled beneath the van in which the workers who had come to build the swimming pool were riding.


    After a while, with the sound of the door opening, people came out one by one. Staff voices could also be heard. He could hear everything about the construction period and the electricity. The car door opened and closed, and the engine began to turn on. The car moved, and Ja-kyung who had crawled down beneath it disappeared as well.

 CH 25

    The van carrying the workers stopped just before going on the road, and Ja-kyung rolled out to the side through the gap. He quickly hid in the grass and waited for the car to leave. And he got up when he was completely alone.


    After wiping off the grass and twigs from his clothes, he looked back. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house was so far away that he couldn¡¯t even see it anymore. He covered his face with the hat and mask he had in his pocket after turning his shoulders to loosen his body. As he walked away from the main road, he noticed a taxi he had hired in front of the convenience store.


    He got in the back seat and the taxi driver turns around.


    ¡°Are you the one who called?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Please go here.¡±


    The driver drove the car after confirming the address. After about an hour, the car arrived at a car center in a rural village in Gyeonggi-do. Ja-kyung walked to the car center after paying the driver. An employee who was conversing with a customer abruptly blocked Ja-kyung from approaching. The man probably thought Ja-kyung with his entire face covered appeared suspicious.


    ¡°What did you come here for?¡±


    ¡°I came to see the boss. If you say Han sent me, he will know.¡±


    The employee told him to wait a moment and then went inside. Soon after, a big man appeared from within. The man was dressed in a brightly colored short-sleeved shirt, and his physique was so big that the shirt was about to burst. A man who immediately recognized Ja-kyung approached him and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long. Right?¡±


    Ja-kyung tapped his arm, which wrapped around his neck. He was struggling to breathe. The boss let him go and motioned for the employee next to him to leave as well. When it was just the two of them left, Ja-kyung took off his hat and mask. Wang Lun was Wang Han¡¯s cousin, and now owns a car center but used to be a smuggler. Ja-kyung last saw him when he was 18, and it was a 7-year reunion.


    ¡°How have you been?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m always the same. You haven¡¯t changed at all. You haven¡¯t changed a bit. But what¡¯s the matter? There¡¯s still a long way to go before the appointment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to get it in advance. No, I have to say that I am only borrowing today.¡±


    Wang Lun¡¯s face grew slightly serious.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. There¡¯s something else I have to deal with.¡±


    Wang Lun simply nodded. He knew Ja-kyung wouldn¡¯t tell him even if he asked further. He led Ja-kyung to the office¡¯s back door. It was a warehouse where tools and other items were stored. When the boxes stacked to a person¡¯s height were removed, an iron gate appeared.


    He opened a lock the size of his fist and went inside. There was also all kinds of junk. Wang Lun bowed and picked up the yellow rug on the floor. Instead of a cement floor, there was a wooden lid under the rug.


    There were several black boxes when he opened the lid. When he took it out and put it on the floor, it made a pretty heavy sound. He closed the lid after taking out three boxes in total. He pushed the first box towards Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Check it.¡±


    There were two automatic pistols with 17 bullets each. The next box was filled with bullets, grenades, smoke grenades, and dynamite, and the last box was filled with a sniper rifle¡­


    ¡°What do you think? Is it enough?¡±


    ¡°More than enough.¡±


    Ja-kyung touched the surface of the sniper rifle with his fingertips. This was the weapon that will be used to kill Kang Il-hyun. Usually, snipers target the limbs, heart, and head, but unlike the thigh artery or heart, the head stops breathing without realizing that he was dying.


    The client wanted the heart. Kang Il-hyun, who was shot, will be out of breath for about a minute. What will he look like as he approached death? Will he be able to laugh and joke as casually as he did before? Unfortunately, Ja-kyung did not expect to see it there. Ja-kyung went inside, changed his clothes, grabbed a dagger and a pistol, and fastened a belt around his waist.


    He also stuffed the bag with grenades and smoke grenades. Wang Lun takes Ja-kyung to the side of the warehouse after getting ready. As the black plastic was removed, a motorcycle appeared. It was a new Kawasaki model, and the license plate was also forged, so there was no risk of being caught.


    Ja-kyung pulled the motorcycle outside. Wang Lun approached him as soon as he put on the helmet and started the engine.


    ¡°Be careful.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded. When he turned the handle, the engine made a grunting sound. He was thrilled to ride it again after such a long time. The tracker attached to one side was GPS-enabled. The red dot was making its way down the road.


    ¡°I will be back.¡±


    He waved to Wang Lun and entered the road. He swerved between cars to get out of the way of traffic on a busy road. Buildings and cars vanished in the blink of an eye as the speed increased. His heart rate increased as he felt a sense of speed he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time.


    The distance from the red dot decreased gradually. As he approached the area, he came to a halt at a traffic signal in front of a distant intersection and discovered a waiting car. The white sports car appeared to be quite familiar. The car started first after the signal changed, and Ja-kyung followed closely behind.


    If he looked closely, he could see that it was Choi Ki-tae¡¯s car with the tracker he had previously attached. As it gets closer to the driver¡¯s side, the window rolled down. A face appeared and screamed for him to go away. It was not Choi Ki-tae. The rough man shouted angrily.


    Ja-kyung simply jumped out and blocked the front car, as if it were about to collide. The stunning sports car slipped and left skid marks. Ja-kyung turned around and waved his middle finger. The enraged sports car roared and began chasing him.


    ***


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    The secretary made a troubled face as he reported that a guest had arrived, and Il-hyun now seemed to understand why. Kim Seon-young, who had been looking down at the nameplate that say Managing Director Kang Il-hyun, slowly turned around. In comparison to what he saw at home, her makeup was darker and her clothes were fancier. She sat on the sofa, and Il-hyun took off his jacket and summoned the secretary to bring her tea.


    ¡°No tea. We¡¯re not on such friendly terms that we¡¯d drink tea, are we?¡±


    ¡°Okay, then. Get to the point.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Explain so I can understand.¡±


    ¡°Why are you touching President Choi? Don¡¯t you know who that person is?¡±


    Il-hyun took out a cigarette from his silver case. He turned on the light and sat back on the sofa. President Choi admitted that he sent the money because Kim Seon-young requested it. He didn¡¯t know why; he just did it because he was asked to.


    There was no evidence to back up the claim because the people who received the money had left. But, since Tae-soo had sent their man, it was only a matter of time before they caught them. Il-hyun planned to rip off their limbs and kill them if they were caught.


    ¡°What do you think, mother?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t hate me too much. I like you mother.¡±


    Seon-young was dumbfounded as she looked at him. Then he sneered. Unsurprisingly, what Kang Il-hyun said next was very spiteful.


    ¡°You¡¯re greedy, cunning, and have a lot of similarities to me. You also like the color green. I would have loved you more if Mother had removed Seok-joo.¡±


    A vein appeared on the back of her clutch-holding hand.


    ¡°Is that what you want to say to an adult?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if it made you feel bad. I apologize.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re good at apologizing even when you don¡¯t even want to.¡±


    After rubbing off the cigarette, Il-hyun smiled and leaned on the sofa with his arms crossed. He wished to be loved by her when he was a child. He had no recollection of being loved by his mother, so he attempted to score some points for his stepmother, who appeared unexpectedly, but her response was cold.


    He wasn¡¯t upset in any way. That was how the world works. From her point of view, children without a drop of her blood could not be loved. Furthermore, even when he was young, Il-hyun was not the type of person who could be loved.


    His method of attracting attention was also bizarre, and Chairman Kang considered taking his son to a psychiatrist numerous times. It was no surprise that he would have exempted Il-hyun from military service as well. Mental and physical disorders. The excuse was mental and physical disorders, but Chairman Kang might have been worried that Il-hyun would join the army and start shooting people.


    ¡°I will give you a chance. If you¡¯re not going to be able to handle it perfectly, tell the truth now.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do this. If I found out, how are you going to handle it?¡±


    Seon-young chuckled. She then instructed him to look for it anywhere he could. Perhaps Il-hyun will find no evidence of the incident anywhere in the world. She found them this morning and removed all of them. Furthermore, the news that Zhang Yi An had been attacked had also been leaked to Hong Kong.


    Seon-young stood up from her seat, and Il-hyun raised his head and stared intently at her.


    ¡°Mother. What were our house rules?¡±


    Kim Seon-young was silent.


    ¡°The family does not harm each other under any circumstances.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Kim Seon-young snorted.


    ¡°Did you do that to Seok-joo?¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s face had lost its smile.


    ¡°However, the injured party¡¯s disposition is carried out according to the victim¡¯s judgment and decision, and no other family members are involved.¡±


    Seon-young was unapologetic.


    ¡°Does that mean it¡¯s okay if I kill you?¡±


    ¡°No. It means even if I die, Seok-joo has to be the one who kills me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play with words. No matter what you say, I have no idea.¡±


    Kim Seon-young smiled leisurely, but when she saw Kang Il-hyun, who was so casual, she became increasingly anxious. Kang Il-hyun had a history of bullying others since he was a child. It was the same when he grew up, so she was filled with rage every time he looked at him.


    She needs to use everything she has to bring him down before he bites her neck off. On the day he succeeded and climbed to the top, she and her son Kang Seok-joo would be the first to be killed.

 CH 26

    The white sports car roared and speeded up. The motorcycle in front of it teased him as if he couldn¡¯t be caught. The road became narrower after a long period of driving. The motorcycle makes a sharp left turn and enters a gravel road.


    The sports cars followed closely behind. A dust storm blew in, splattering pebbles everywhere. The motorcycle had been running for a long time when it came to a halt while turning. It was blocked off because of construction. The sports car also stopped, and a tough-looking man jumped out of the driver¡¯s seat. He sneered at the lost motorcycle.


    ¡°Hey, you bastard! You lost today!¡±


    The man pulled out a dagger from his bosom. The dagger gleamed in the light as he peeled off the newspaper that had been wrapped around it. The car was clearly Choi Ki- tae¡¯s, but he was nowhere to be found. Soon after, someone else got out of the passenger seat, and Ja-kyung kept a close eye on him.


    He had yellow hair, pierced lips and brows, and a goblin tattoo in the same place as Choi Ki-tae. They didn¡¯t look alike, but they were almost certainly blood relatives or very close. The enraged man swung his dagger and motioned for Ja-kyung to come to him.


    ¡°Come on. I¡¯m going to take your intestines out of your belly.¡±


    Ja-kyung took off his helmet in response to the giggling and smiling man. The black mask that covered his face until the bridge of his nose made it impossible to identify him.


    ¡°Come on, you punk!¡±


    The man¡¯s expression became increasingly distorted. Ja-kyung strode closer to him. As if it didn¡¯t look like he was begging for forgiveness, the man rushes in with his dagger. Ja-kyung took out a pistol with a silencer from within his arms and, in the blink of an eye, shoved a shot into the man¡¯s thigh.


    Pisyung, The man screamed and rolled on the dirt floor, clutching his legs.


    ¡°Fuck!¡±


    The yellow-haired man, who was leaning against the car and smoking a cigarette, hurriedly reached for his waist, but Ja-kyung was one step ahead. He was shot in the shin as well and fell forward. Ja-kyung moved in closer and placed the gun against the yellow hair¡¯s head. He then drew the gun from his waist, separated the ammunition with one hand, and tossed it to the ground.


    ¡°Where are the kids that were picked up from the police station yesterday?¡±


    The yellow-haired man raised his head and sneered.


    ¡°Fuck. You are that bastard. Do you think I¡¯ll tell you?¡±


    Ja-kyung stretched out his arms to the side and aimed at the other man¡¯s body as soon as he finished speaking. Bullets were fired without warning, and the large head exploded and fell backward. Blood and brain tissue poured from the shattered skull, staining the ground red.


    Blood drained from the yellow-haired man¡¯s face, which had been viciously smiling just a while ago.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t do this. I don¡¯t know who you are, but you¡¯re making a big mistake now.¡±


    ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°Do you know who my father is? If you want something, you have to negotiate. Such an ignorant way,¡±


    Ja-kyung pulled out a dagger and thrust it over the yellow-haired man¡¯s shoulder. Aargh! A tearful scream rang out across the still rural village. The knife tip that pierced the skin slashed through the muscles and smashed into the bones. The yellow-haired man¡¯s eyeballs turned white and he gritted his teeth as Ja-kyung twisted the dagger.


    Ja-kyung stopped moving and looked down at the man with an indifferent face.


    ¡°This is my way of negotiating. I¡¯ll ask again. Where are they?¡±


    ¡°Argh¡­ Ugh¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to talk?¡±


    The man nodded his head with red eyes.


    ¡°Ware¡­ warehouse¡­¡±


    ¡°The location.¡±


    ¡°If, if you let me live¡­ I¡¯ll¡­tell you.¡±


    Ja-kyung twisted the dagger again, the yellow-haired man shuddered in pain and groaned.


    ¡°I will tell you! It¡¯s a warehouse in Siheung-dong! Argh! Fuck! It hurt! I told you! Stop it! Fuck! Stop it!¡±


    Ja-kyung held out his hand. He motioned for the yellow-haired man to hand over his phone. The man took out his phone from his pocket. After unlocking the lock, Choi Ki-tae was visible in the contact list. There were also messages exchanged. As expected, he was Choi Ki-tae¡¯s younger brother.


    [Hyung, what is the address of the warehouse in Siheung-dong where the children are being held?]


    Ja-kyung moved his gaze to the yellow-haired man. He bled from his legs and shoulders, his face became paler, and his breathing became more strained. Ding. The response came quickly.


    [You dumbass. Are you already suffering from dementia? Why is it Siheung? It¡¯s Doksan.]


    One corner of Ja-kyung¡¯s lips rose. The yellow-haired man¡¯s eyes were slowly engulfed in fear.


    ¡°Your brother said it was not there?¡±


    The yellow-haired man hurriedly made excuses with a contemplative face.


    ¡°I, I was wrong. It¡¯s Doksan! Doksan-dong! I remember now. 298-31 Doksan-dong!¡±


    Ja-kyung immediately dialed Choi Ki-tae¡¯s number and pressed the speakerphone. After some time, an angry voice could be heard. It was Choi Ki-tae. Ja-kyung held the phone up to the yellow-haired man¡¯s mouth. He wanted to be sure.


    [Ah, you bastard. What is it again!]


    The yellow-haired man looked at the gun aimed at his forehead and opened his lips.


    ¡°Hyung¡­ The place¡­ Where the kids are gathered¡­ 298-31, Doksan-dong, right?¡±


    Haa. Choi Ki-tae¡¯s irritated sigh could be heard clearly through the speaker. But it wasn¡¯t just the sound. There was also the sound of flesh clinging and a suppressed man¡¯s groan. Ja-kyung could only guess what Choi Ki-tae was doing when he answered the phone.


    The yellow-haired man looked nervous because Choi Ki-tae was going to make an absurd sound.


    [Crazy. Did you only go there once or twice? Fuck, you bastard have different ways to annoy people.]


    ¡°So-sorry¡­ I forgot¡­¡±


    [Hang up, you punk! Because I¡¯m busy.]


    The phone abruptly hung up, and the yellow-haired man sighed in relief and looked up at Ja-kyung. Satisfied? You¡¯ll save me right now. Ja-kyung put the yellow-haired man¡¯s phone in his pocket and pulled the trigger. Pisyung, the yellow-haired man¡¯s head exploded, causing him to fall backward, and blood and flesh splashed on Ja-kyung¡¯s face.


    Ja-kyung walked past the dead man to the car. He looked through the car window, rubbed the blood on his face, then took a bomb from his bag and attached it to the underside of the car. As he started the motorcycle and go back the way he came, he heard a loud noise in the distance. He could smell blood from the tip of his nose.


    ***


    Il-hyun stepped out of the car and took a deep breath. There was clearly nothing nearby, so the air was clean. It was also a wise decision to build a home here. As he approached the gate, he noticed two employees coming out of the back of the house with ladders.


    They put down the ladder and politely greeted Il-hyun.


    ¡°You are here, Director.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, in the middle of the night?¡±


    ¡°I think the construction worker touched the CCTV while going back and forth for swimming pool construction. The direction was wrong, so I put it back in its original position.¡±


    A construction vehicle collided with a utility pole during the day, resulting in a brief power outage. He had previously attempted to install an emergency generator but had given up. but he felt it necessary to do so now. After sending them back, Il-hyun went to the swimming pool where the construction was completed and gave a satisfied expression.


    The size and depth were ideal. There were two sunbeds near the pool. He went over there and lay down with his legs stretched out. It was noticeably better today. Good night. He muttered to himself. He wanted to fill up with water and relax here.


    On his way home, he received information that the president and staff of the errand center had discovered dead bodies in the reservoir. It was clear who did it. He was irritated because he was a step late. Kim Seon-young was probably laughing and enjoying it by this point. That damn witch. She had plenty of reasons to be happy going to his office during the day.


    He made an impression and directed his attention to the second floor. In Zhang Yi An¡¯s bedroom, the lights were turned off. He had already fallen asleep. He was so preoccupied with work that he hadn¡¯t seen Zhang Yi An¡¯s face in two days, and he wondered what he was up to. He remembered how his eyes were wet with excitement as he lay beneath him, struggling with shame.


    Il-hyun stood up and entered the house. The first person he met was the housekeeper.


    ¡°You¡¯re here, Director.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m back. Nothing happened today, right?¡±


    ¡°Except for a brief power outage during the day, there was nothing. Oh, and Yi An-gun appears to be ill. He went up early in the evening to take medicine and sleep, but he hasn¡¯t come down yet.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s face became stern. That¡¯s why all the lights were turned off. He was about to move up to the second floor when the housekeeper called him.


    ¡°He wanted to rest today, so he asked me to inform Director.¡±


    That means Il-hyun should also not come. After a brief moment of thought, Il-hyun went upstairs, pretending not to hear what the housekeeper said. The living room light turned on when he opened the door. The room was quiet even when he went to the front of the bedroom door. He knocked and waited, but there was no response.


    ¡°Yi An.¡±


    There was no answer when he called his name. He knocked again. It was still very quiet. He turned the handle and the door was locked. Il-hyun¡¯s brow furrowed gradually. Should he try to force it open? A message arrived on his phone just as he was contemplating it.


    [Director. I got the flu and now I lost my voice. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.]


    It was Zhang Yi An¡¯s first message. Il-hyun looked at the door. Another message arrived.


    [I took the medicine. I think I¡¯ll be better off sleeping. Thank you for your concern.]


    ¡°Alright. Have a good rest.¡±


    There was no response or message this time. He paused for a moment before turning away from the door. He looked back one more time before leaving, but that was it. He didn¡¯t want to force a sick person out and bully him. Of course, it will be fun, but¡­

 CH 27

    Kang Il-hyun was seen in the phone video. Ja-kyung immediately sent a message after hearing him knock on the bedroom door. Kang Il-hyun stood looking at the bedroom door after checking the message. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip and sent the following message.


    [I took the medicine. I think I¡¯ll be better off sleeping. Thank you for your concern.]


    He hoped that person would not break the door and enter. Looking at his usual attitude, there was nothing strange about it. Contrary to his worries, Kang Il-hyun quietly turned around in front of the door and walked out. He closed his eyes and sighed in relief. He installed the camera inconspicuously in the living room and bedroom just in case, he didn¡¯t know it would be so helpful.


    Ja-kyung put his phone in his bag and lowered himself to look around the warehouse. The warehouse door was firmly shut and no one was seen. There were quite a few parked cars, so it wasn¡¯t that there were no people at all. A bomb with a timer was attached to each car, and the time was set on a wrist watch.


    From the factory entrance, a car noise could be heard. A black car enters the parking lot as he hides behind the van and waits. The car stopped, and a man stepped out. He walked quietly and twisted the man¡¯s neck. The man collapsed without a single scream, and Ja-kyung took the car key and climbed into the driver¡¯s seat.


    He fastened his seat belt, started the engine, and accelerated to full speed. The car sped up and collided with the warehouse door. Bang. The door smashed, causing his upper body to bounce forward before returning to its original position. He frowned and looked at the crumpled cap like a piece of paper.


    There were about ten men standing in the warehouse with surprised expressions. There was food and drinks in front of them, and it appeared that he was interfering with their meal time. When he got out of the car, the men who recognized him as not one of their colleagues immediately pulled their knives from their arms.


    Ja-kyung looked at them and smiled.


    ¡°Knock knock, I forgot to knock. Were you eating?¡±


    The man with curly hair creased his grim impression and strode forward.


    ¡°Who are you, you punk? What family are you from?


    He has no family. He is an orphan without parents, you bastard. He took out a pistol with a silencer and aimed it at the man¡¯s head and fired. Pisyung- The man¡¯s head exploded and the three men behind him rushed at the same time. Ja-kyung shot the bullet into the same area at lightning speed.


    Those who had survived the smooth and unnecessary movements all froze at the same time. When the guys with knives saw their colleague¡¯s head explode in front of them, they couldn¡¯t attack rashly and instead just stared at each other.


    ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s none, I want to do my business.¡±


    That¡¯s when he felt a movement right behind his back. The knife flew straight into his side. He turned his body to avoid it, grabbed the man¡¯s hair, and locked his neck. At the same time, the guys in front of him also took advantage of the opportunity and started running.


    He pulled out a knife from his waist and stabbed it into the neck of the man he was holding at high speed, and blood gushed out like a fountain. After tossing him to the side, he shot a bullet in his head and aimed and fired at the crowds of men.


    Some guys, who were quick to grasp the situation with the bullets flying in, threw away their knives and ran away. Even those guys were on target and it smashed their heads.


    In an instant, thirteen adult males fell to the floor, covered in blood. Ja-kyung checked those who were still breathing and stopped their last breath. If he let him live, he¡¯ll live like garbage anyway. He changed the magazine to see if there were any leftovers and went inside.


    There was no one there and a locked door appears. The gunshot smashed the locking part of the key. But what was inside was not children, but paper boxes stacked up to the height of a person. When he opened the box, he saw that the bag is full of sugar bags.


    A small plastic bag the size of his thumb comes out when he cut through the middle of the bag with a knife. There was a small amount of white powder in it. He put it on the tip of his tongue and checked it, it was methamphetamine. After spitting it out, he roughly counted the number of boxes. There were well over hundreds.


    First of all, finding the children was a priority. Ja-kyung left the box and moved back inside. There was no sound, but he could let his guard down. Then he found an old door. It was just big enough for one person to pass through.


    Opening the door led to the basement. He turned on the flashlight and went down slowly, illuminating the inside. Step, step, he couldn¡¯t hear anything but his footsteps. A foul smell of filth emanated from below. Two rats run away in a hurry as he steps on the floor.


    He looked around with the lights. There¡¯s one more door. It was old and locked from the outside. He took out his gun and smashed it, and the old door opened on its own. He hid behind the entrance and took a sniper stance, aiming inside with a gun and a flashlight.


    A child could be seen through the open door. Ja-kyung quickly lowered the gun and left only the lights on. The child was trembling in fear, clutching a stone in one hand. Ja-kyung remembered that it was the girl he saw in the alley. She had been beaten badly, and her face was a mess, and other children were gathered behind her, holding their breath.


    Seeing that the hand holding the stone trembled, Ja-kyung pulled down the mask that was covering half of his face. The child¡¯s eyes widened when she recognized him.


    ¡°Maybe that stone¡­ You aren¡¯t going to throw it at me, are you?¡±


    The child¡¯s face slowly contorted, and tears began to well up in her eyes. Ja-kyung was at a loss as to what to say. The child threw the stone on the floor and wiped the tears with the back of her hand. Ja-kyung came closer and looked at the children behind them. He was trying to take them all out, but one child was missing. Last time it was definitely seven.


    ¡°Where did one go?¡±


    Another child in the back stood up from his seat. The rest of the children also eased their guard little by little, knowing that he wouldn¡¯t hurt them.


    ¡°He is dead¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung felt his breath tighten.


    ¡°Why.¡±


    ¡°He was beaten¡­¡±


    He felt sick because he thought it was because of him. But he can feel sorry later. Taking the children out was a priority. It can be difficult to get out if he was delayed further and other bastards flock to him. There was a small child who seemed difficult to stand up, so he put him on his back and let the rest of the children take care of each other.


    As they go up the stairs, the light pours in. The children did not scream or run away when they saw dead bodies with their heads blown all over the place. Even in that situation, the older children covered the eyes of the younger ones.


    After breaking the glass of the van parked in the yard, he picked up the children one after the other.


    ¡°Stay here until I come.¡±


    After one more caution, Ja-kyung grabbed his bag and walked to the warehouse. He took the oil tank next to the warehouse, poured it all over the box, turned on the lighter, and threw it away. In an instant, the flames grew and engulfed the stacked boxes.


    And after opening all the valves on the LPG gas cylinder they used to roast meat, he kicked it. Chiik- Gas was leaking out and there was a musty smell. The fire from the inside was coming over this way along the outer wall.


    Ja-kyung closed the warehouse door and returned to the car. First, he took the tool out of his bag. After removing the key box, he pulled out the wire, stripped the cover, and connected it, but the engine does not start. Damn it. It¡¯s been a while so he was confused.


    When he checked the time, there were about 10 minutes left before the bomb installed in the car in the parking lot went off. He made up his mind and hurriedly started working. Broom. The heavy vehicle shook with the sound. Ja-kyung sighed in relief and smiled. He hurriedly drove out of the parking lot because the cars parked next to him were about to explode.


    ***


    One, two, three, four, five, six¡­ Wang Lun¡¯s expression was flustered as he counted the number of children. This was due to Ja-kyung, who had taken a motorcycle and a gun with him, selling the motorcycle and bringing six children with him. Children who also work as beggars. The children gathered to eat jajangmyeon and sweet and sour pork.


    ¡°Are these your children?¡±


    ¡°Not funny. Such a joke.¡±


    Wang Lun waved his hand. It¡¯s good that he brought them with him, but he wanted Wang Lun to keep them. This ain¡¯t no nursery.


    ¡°I can not. No. Take them to the police.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you more fees.¡±


    ¡°Did I ask you for money?¡±


    ¡°5% of my share.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Never mind if you don¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°Hold on. I¡¯m thinking about where to send them.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled softly. After much deliberation, Wang Lun remembered the cathedral. The priest at the church he attends takes care of the children who have nowhere to go, and he said that he should take them there. It may surprise others to hear that, but since he was very young, he went to church regularly was also had the baptismal name of Antonio.


    So, even when he was playing on this field, he made a schedule to avoid the weekend. Wang Han criticized Wang Lun for being unprofessional, but Ja-kyung was deeply envious of his religious affiliation. Because he had never really believed in anyone, nor had he ever prayed earnestly.


    He emptied a bowl of jajangmyeon and turned on the TV. The news was in full swing, but there was news that a factory exploded in Doksan-dong and that the firefighting process was in progress. The children¡¯s eyes flocked to the TV. After turning off the TV, Ja-kyung came out and smoked a cigarette.


    He inhaled deeply and then exhaled it into the air. Today the sky was clear with not a single cloud in the sky. As he was watching the moon, he heard the sound of a door opening behind his back. He wondered if it was Wang Lun, but it was the girl he saved.


    ¡°Thanks¡­ you¡­¡±


    She hesitated to say her gratitude and ran away inside. Ja-kyung becomes overwhelmed for no reason. When he first saw her in the alley, he thought she looked like him, but she wasn¡¯t. She was much better than him. He will never forget the sight of that child trembling while holding a stone to protect someone.


    He rubbed the cigarette out and looked up at the sky. Now¡­ Going back to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house was a problem.

 CH 28

    Ja-kyung poked his face out against the wall. There was no one in the yard. He made it to the bottom of the wall while avoiding the CCTV, but getting over it proved difficult. He began by leaping over the wall and landing on the grass.


    In an instant, a growling sound was heard. As he slowly raised his head, two eyes flashed in front of him. The beast that drooled and exposed its sharp teeth was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dog, who was said to have gone to a training camp after biting and killing people.


    He carefully stepped back. He hit the wall behind his back. Slowly moving sideways, looking for an opportunity to escape, he suddenly rushes in. Ja-kyung suddenly started running along the wall. Woof, woof, woof, the sound of barking echoed through the night sky.


    ¡°Argh fuck!¡±


    Even a human running 100m in 11 seconds could not beat a dog running at an average speed of 50-60 km/h. He quickly turned and ran to the other side, but it was useless. The distance gradually narrowed and it was just before his ass was bitten.


    Whistle- At the sound of whistling, the dog turns and runs towards the entrance of the house. He took a deep breath and bowed his back. He felt nauseated and his heart felt like it was going to explode. It was said that pet dogs resemble their masters, and Kang Il-hyun has a bad temper.


    Ja-kyung barely straightens his back, but Kang Il-hyun walks his way to him. The dog was pulled by a guard and disappeared behind him.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    He lifted his head slightly and then nodded.


    ¡°Why are you here at this hour?¡±


    After taking a deep breath, Ja-kyung swallowed dry saliva. Even so, he was in a difficult situation figuring out how to get into the house without being noticed.


    ¡°I came out of bed because I was bored¡­ The dog suddenly attacked¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes scanned him from top to bottom.


    ¡°How¡¯s your body?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded and then suddenly coughed. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s forehead wrinkled when Ja-kyung coughed like he was dying while covering it with his hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should go to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ I think it got worse because I just ran.¡±


    After coughing non-stop, Kang Il-hyun quietly backs away. He was not scared of dying, but he seemed scared of viruses. Ja-kyung did not miss that moment and acted as if he was going to cough blood. He squeezed it forcibly, and then nausea came out. Il-hyun¡¯s face hardened more and more.


    ¡°Come in. I will call the doctor.¡±


    ¡°I have weak lungs and¡­ I think I should go in and sleep more. I guess I shouldn¡¯t have come out to get some air.¡±


    Ja-kyung took the lead, and Kang Il-hyun followed quietly behind. He was relieved when the dog showed up. Or perhaps he¡¯d spend the night on the lawn as a blanket. The first thing he saw when he entered the house was the house chef, who asked Ja-kyung if he was okay.


    ¡°You¡¯re sick, what do you mean getting some air. Go up. I¡¯ll bring you some hot tea.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need¡­. I¡¯m sorry for worrying you. Please take a rest.¡±


    He went upstairs after bowing to Il-hyun and the house chef. He hid the camera with his body and inserted an iron stick from his pocket into the keyhole. The bedroom door opened at once, and he went inside and lay flat on the bed.


    ¡°Haaa. It¡¯s tough.¡±


    He looked up at the ceiling and spread out like a corpse when someone knocks on the bedroom door. He didn¡¯t want the house chef to bring him hot tea, but she must have come anyway. The door opened and Kang Il-hyun entered as soon as he stood up and sat down. Ja-kyung stood up and turned to face the unexpected guest. It was his first time going here since Ja-kyung arrived.


    He put the mug he was carrying on the side table and sat down on the bed.


    ¡°Drink. It will help with your coughing.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at the seat where he was sitting. He should¡¯ve left if he had already given him the drink. Why would you sit there?


    ¡°Hurry up and drink.¡±


    Thank you. Ja-kyung reluctantly took the cup and placed it in his mouth. He moves his gaze to Il-hyun, but he just sits and stares at him, as if he has no intention of leaving. He had no idea what kind of tea it was, but it was bitter and smelled bad. He gave up halfway through and frowned, then Il-hyun pulled a lollipop from his pocket, peeled the skin, and held it out.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    When Ja-kyung tried to take it, he took it back. A-ah, Ja-kyung opened his mouth reluctantly, as Il-hyun motioned him to open his mouth. After a while, the candy popped into his mouth. His mouth filled with the sweet strawberry scent.


    ¡°Drink your tea. It¡¯s good for not only coughing but also calming the mind and body.¡±


    He drank the rest reluctantly and quickly popped the candy into his mouth. To get rid of the bitter taste, he rolled the candy with his tongue, but Kang Il-hyun stared at him. He leaned in closer, so he let go of the candy he was eating and asked.


    ¡°What, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Ja-kyung stiffened while holding the candy.


    ¡°You smelled different.¡±


    He used a different soap while washing at Wang Lun¡¯s shop, but Kang Il-hyun recognized it right away. See. He is a bastard. He forced a smile and explained that he used the soap he brought from Hong Kong because the soap he was using did not suit him.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    He didn¡¯t even consider stepping back with his face so close. Even the atmosphere became uncomfortable and awkward. Ja-kyung wasn¡¯t sure if he was staring at his face or his lips as he ate candy, but he was worried about his eyes slowly moving down from the top to the bottom and observing his eyes, nose, and mouth.


    ¡°Director. I¡­ I¡¯m tired and I think I should go to sleep now¡­¡±


    ¡°Eat it again.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Candy. Eat it again.¡±


    What kind of trick was this again? Ja-kyung put the candy he was holding into his mouth with an indifferent face.


    ¡°Not like that. Suck it as you did a while ago.¡±


    This. Fucker.


    The candy melted in his mouth as he moved his tongue grumpily. Little by little, the corners of Il-hyun¡¯s lips move upward as if he was satisfied with Ja-kyung¡¯s movement. Il-hyun would love it if he licked it with his tongue, right? Suddenly, a mischievous mind took over, and he stuck out his tongue and licked the candy. Sure enough, this bastard smiled as if he enjoyed it.


    ¡°I wonder where you learned this bad thing.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned and put the candy into his mouth again. When Il-hyun rose from his seat, Ja-kyung assumed he was leaving and he could relax now.


    ¡°Please take care of me later.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°You know.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun gave a wink. Ja-kyung got goosebumps and nearly dropped the candy he was nibbling. He just winked at him with those viper-colored eyes, didn¡¯t he? Kang Il-hyun smiled affectionately as he watched Ja-kyung¡¯s expression deteriorate.


    ¡°I¡¯m going. I took off the camera, so you could take off your panties and sleep now.¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Sweet dreams.¡±


    After Il-hyun left the room, Ja-kyung threw the candy he was holding into the empty teacup and stood up. When he heard him mention his pants, he became suspicious and looked around the room. Fortunately, the hidden camera was not visible, but because it was dark, he had to sleep with his panties on.


    ***


    [Good job.]


    Wang Han¡¯s voice could be heard over the phone. Wang Lun had already told him the story. Ja-kyung expected him to nag him about why he was doing something useless, but Wang Han told him that he did a good job. He seemed to know what moved Ja-kyung to do it. He was grateful and sorry at the same time.


    [And I got a call from Dmitry.]


    Ja-kyung, who was on his way to the bed, stopped and raised his head to look straight ahead.


    ¡°Who.¡±


    [Kang Hoon.]


    When Ja-kyung does not answer, Wang Han called out to him.


    [Are you listening? Kang Hoon. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s father.]


    Ja-kyung remained still and motionless. He remembered Kang Hoon¡¯s face from yesterday. He didn¡¯t look like he was going to keep his position by killing his son, despite his stubborn and strong eyes. On the contrary, he seemed to care for Kang Il-hyun among his children.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    [Yes. But guess who actually did the deal?]


    ¡°Who is it¡­?¡±


    [Zhang Myung. You know that, right?]


    Zhang Yi An¡¯s grandfather. It was something he didn¡¯t expect at all. He was wondering what kind of a great person moved the giants in Hong Kong but turned out it was him.


    [According to Dmitry, there are forces in Hong Kong pushing Kang Il-Hyun and forces opposing him. Zhang Myung used to be neutral, but recently switched sides. He stated that he disliked working with Director Kang because he was too aggressive, but Chairman Kang most likely played a role in that.]


    ¡°Then who does Chairman Kang wants to become his successor.¡±


    [Kang Tae-han.]


    Sleepy eyes. Frivolous speech. Kang Tae-han was a person who seemed unsuitable to lead the group.


    [Chairman Kang¡¯s health has deteriorated since last year, so I think Kang Il-hyun has been mentioned as his successor. Furthermore, the shareholders who supported Kang Tae-han have recently shifted their support to Kang Il-hyun, so Kang Hoon believes he must pass it on to Kang Il-hyun. However, Kang Hoon refuses to relinquish his power just yet. So he decided to give it to Kang Tae-han and hold it until the end.]


    Ja-kyung was silent. Kang Il-hyun probably already guessed it.


    [Ja-kyung.]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    [We just have to do what we have to do.]


    ¡°I know. Don¡¯t worry. I will finish it for sure.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked out the window after finishing the phone call. He thought it would be easy if he knew who it was, but it was not. If Kang Il-hyun had made the request¡­ He thought, then shook his head. No matter who commissioned it, he must work for what he was paid for.


    A large full moon hangs in the middle of the window. The color was bright red. It was a sight that seemed to bleed if left alone for too long. He rolled down the curtains to cover the window and lay down on the bed.


    Nothing has changed. Kill him on a set date and leave Korea. There was nothing difficult.

 CH 29

    ¡°Wow. Fuck. It¡¯s so big even when I look at it again.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo looked at the swimming pool from the living room on the second floor and said something whether it was an insult or admiration. In the yard, the staff was filling the finished swimming pool with water. The color of the tile was also cobalt blue, so just looking at it made his eyes feel refreshed.


    Kang Seok-joo turned around and approached Ja-kyung. He was dressed in a neat black suit today and his hair was also waxed and pushed back. Ja-kyung hates to say this, but he looked more like Kang Il-hyun when he dressed up like this.


    ¡°Hurry up and get dressed. Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo asked to go to the funeral together. Choi Ki-tae¡¯s factory exploded a few days ago, killing his subordinates, including his younger brother, and causing an uproar. It appeared on TV news once, but when asked if he had seen it, Ja-kyung simply shook his head.


    Even though people died in this way, it was not widely reported in newspapers or on tv news. Due to the investigation, the body could not be collected for a few days, so the funeral was only held today. The investigation was also just a talk that was used to cover up before moving on.


    ¡°How can one person beat them up like that? The dead had all had their heads blown off and their brains spilled out.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was listening, frowned and expressed disgust.


    ¡°That¡¯s terrible¡­¡±


    ¡°They said it was a one-shot, one-kill.¡±


    Seok-joo pretended to shoot a gun in the air. Paang, paang, paang, then aim it at Ja-kyung. Look at his shooting form. Go to the army, you bastard.


    ¡°Raise your hand.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny¡­ stop it.¡±


    Seok-joo straightened his posture and chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯d never do it. Getting shot with a gun like an idiot. Isn¡¯t that pathetic?¡±


    Just looking at Kang Seok-joo¡¯s expression, he looked like someone going to a celebration party, not a funeral. Unsurprisingly, Ja-kyung discovered Choi Ki-tae had a hostile relationship with his younger brother. There was a reason he was saved as a bastard rather than a name on his dead younger brother¡¯s phone.


    ¡°Maybe after the funeral, Choi Ki-tae will have a party right away?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t his brother just dead?¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll do the same thing when Director Kang dies.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo gritted his teeth. There must be a lot of things piled up. The scar on his temple was much lighter than when he first saw it. He heard Kang Il-hyun stab it with an awl. Il-hyun felt much intention to kill, but he didn¡¯t kill him.


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying, just in case¡­ You aren¡¯t going to tell this to Director Kang, right?¡±


    Even after insulting Kang Il-hyun, he was scared and made sure to check.


    ¡°I will not¡­ We¡¯re not that close.¡±


    ¡°Right? You two have completely different personalities, and you can¡¯t get to know each other.¡±


    Still, Kang Seok-joo was proud of the fact that he thought Ja-kyung was closer to him than Kang Il-hyun. He wanted to tell him that his mental distance might be closer to him, but not physically. Ja-kyung said that he and Kang Il-hyun had already eaten together once. Of course, he wanted to add that it was absolutely not because he liked it.


    ***


    Ja-kyung thought it would be a hospital because it was said to be a funeral, but it was a fairly large temple. There were black cars outside the temple, and people in black clothes were crowded inside. Hundreds of people seemed to have gathered. Most of the incoming cars moved together.


    People who got out of the car climbed the stairs and moved to the top where the incense burner was prepared. Wreaths made of chrysanthemums were lined up on both sides of the way up, and mourners gathered and ate under the blue tent in the yard.


    There were people pretending to know each other as he walked with Seok-joo. Most people usually asked about their father¡¯s well-being. He could smell the incense as he got closer to the incense burner. Choi Ki-tae was greeting people in the hall while wearing a chief mourner armband.


    Ja-kyung followed Seok-joo inside after taking off his shoes. The man in the photo, surrounded by white chrysanthemums, is the man Ja-kyung shot a few days ago. Following the stone pillars, he made incense and bowed, praying that he should not go to a good place.


    They say that bastards like him should not be born and should spend the rest of their lives in hell in order for the world to be at peace.


    ¡°Thank you. for coming all the way here.¡±


    Choi Ki-tae held out his hand to Ja-kyung. There was no trace of sadness on his face. Ja-kyung took his hand and expressed his condolences.


    ¡°You must be sad¡­¡±


    Choi Ki-tae smiled and lowered his voice.


    ¡°No. Not really.¡±


    This guy was also pretty shitty. He tried to smile, but the entrance was getting noisy. Ja-kyung thought there was commotion because someone had arrived, but it was Kang Il-hyun. Next to him was Park Tae-soo.


    People¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to him when he appeared. People who had been eating here and there put down their spoons and went to greet him, bowing their backs and pretending to know each other. Even the elderly bowed in front of Kang Il-hyun. Even though he was among many people, his presence was clear. Ja-kyung seemed to understand why Kang Hoon was afraid of his son.


    Kang Il-hyun smiled kindly. Seeing this, Seok-joo quietly cursed from the side.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ Even from a distance, he looks disgusting¡­¡±


    Choi Ki-tae also helped.


    ¡°Hey. Don¡¯t let him come. I¡¯m trying to focus on eating Yukgaejang.¡±


    A man then approached Kang Il-hyun. The white-haired man was wearing the same armband as Choi Ki-tae. Because he saw him from behind, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t see his face very well. Ja-kyung kept a close eye on the man. Il-hyun was comforting him by holding his hand. He had a sad expression on his face as well. His acting skills were amazing. He was better than him.


    Kang Il-hyun approached after the conversation. When the middle-aged man who was holding hands turned around and revealed his face, Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened.


    That¡¯s him.


    The man who gave his parents drugs. The man who came to his house frequently and played with his mother. The man came wielding a golf stick, claiming that his father stole drugs. And the man who tried to kill the young Ja-kyung.


    His gray hair was sparse after 15 years, but his face hadn¡¯t changed much. The man went around the table again, greeting everyone.


    Kang Seok-joo was taken aback and reached out to touch Ja-kyung, who was standing blankly.


    ¡°Yi An, let¡¯s go.¡±


    But he was one step late. Kang Il-hyun was right in front of him before he even put on his shoes. Kang Il-hyun put his hands in his pants pockets, raised his chin slightly, and looked dissatisfiedly at the two. Ja-kyung became aware of the stinging gaze just eventually. Kang Seok-joo¡¯s fear seemed to be noticeable all the way here. Kang Il-hyun hasn¡¯t even given him permission to go out for the first time since the shooting accident.


    ¡°Why did our two young masters come here?¡±


    ¡°Hyung. I¡­ I¡¯m trying to comfort Ki, Ki-tae¡­¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze shifted from Seok-joo to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°What about Yi An?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at Seok-joo. He came because Kang Seok-joo asked him to go together, but his purpose for coming here was to check Choi Ki-tae¡¯s face and his family.


    ¡°Me too¡­ I, I want to comfort him too¡­¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    Il-hyun asked, and Ja-kyung quickly turned his head to look at Choi Ki-tae. He was welcoming other mourners who had just entered the hall.


    ¡°There¡­ It¡¯s him¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes became cold.


    ¡°Were you that close?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not close¡­ When a person is sad¡­ We have to share the pain together¡­ That¡¯s how I learned¡­¡±


    One of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows rises crookedly. Then Ja-kyung noticed a small scratch on the top of Il-hyun eyebrow. He couldn¡¯t see his face in the house for two days, so it seemed he went somewhere and had a fight.


    ¡°Who is this? It¡¯s Seok-joo.¡±


    Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father, whom he had seen a while ago, appeared unexpectedly. He appeared tired up close. His face was shadowed, his eyes were deep, and on the other hand, Ja-kyung was angry. Kang Il-hyun entered the hall after looking at Ja-kyung. He intended to escape during this time, but Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father called to him.


    ¡°Who is this friend¡­?¡±


    ¡°My name is Zhang Yi An¡­ I¡¯m from Hong Kong.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Thank you for coming.¡±


    The man held out his hand. It was the hand that rubbed his mother¡¯s breasts and slapped his cheeks when he was young. If possible, he wanted to cut it right off the spot. But he politely reached out and grabbed his hand.


    ¡°You must be sad¡­ I hope your son goes to a good place.¡±


    He patted Ja-kyung¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Thank you. Your little friend is considerate.¡±


    Ja-kyung lowered his gaze, hoping that his anger at the man would not be revealed. The man who let go of his hand then tilted his head and stared at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°We¡­ Have we ever met?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time to meet you¡­¡±


    The man laughed.


    ¡°Right. You¡¯re so handsome, and I wouldn¡¯t forget you if I have meet you.¡±


    The mean appearance he had in the past was nowhere to be seen, and now he was just a father who lost his child and fell into a sense of loss. Since the man came, he told him to eat and go, and then went into the hall. Ja-kyung and Seok-joo quickly went down before Il-hyun came out. Seok-joo lowered his voice and leaned closer to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat somewhere else. I¡¯m going to have an upset stomach if I eat here.¡±


    He agreed. As he hurried his steps, he heard Kang Il-hyun¡¯s voice from behind.


    ¡°Yi An.¡±


    Seok-joo stopped, closed his eyes tightly, and cursed quietly. He turned around and Kang Il-hyun approached him.


    ¡°If you¡¯re on your way home, take my car.¡±


    He spoke politely, but his eyes were fierce.


    ¡°I can go with Seok-joo¡­ ¡±


    His gaze shifted to the side and focused on Seok-joo. Right? Kang Seok-joo, unsurprisingly, has already taken a step back. He said he had forgotten about an appointment and worried Kang Il-hyun would become angry, so he bid him farewell with a bent waist and then jumped out. Ja-kyung sighed quietly. Ha, that bastard¡­

 CH 30

    The night sky was covered with dark clouds as if it were about to rain, and the wind was quite chilly. Ja-kyung took a look at the alcohol and snacks that had been left on the table by the staff. The sweet peach-scented cocktail probably belonged to Ja-kyung. And the strong liquor must be Kang Il-hyun.


    While looking out at the pool, he took a piece of ice from the ice bucket and placed it on the palm of his hand. The color of the pool¡¯s water has changed in many ways because of the lighting coming up from the floor. And soft music was playing from the speaker next to it.


    Throwing ice into the pool produces a fondant-like sound. It was fun, so he threw a few more and stood up. He put his hand in the water and it was still cold. He pulled out his hands and walked around the pool.


    Kang Il-hyun suggested that they go home and have dinner and then play in the pool. Ja-kyung refused, saying he didn¡¯t like it, but Il-hyun didn¡¯t even pretend to listen. He had found the USB anyway, there was no reason to stick around him on purpose. However, he thought that if he refused more, he would be teased, so he decided to come out and pretend to be sitting.


    Ja-kyung took a seat on the sunbeds and took a sip of the cocktails brought by the staff. It tasted like a non-alcoholic drink. He didn¡¯t like sweet things, but the taste was just okay. After emptying about half a cup, he picked up the canapes that were served as snacks. The staff explained that what went on top was beluga caviar. A little bit of gold powder was also sprinkled on top of it.


    A mosquito flew in and landed on his arm while he was eating snacks. He slapped it and made a loud sound. He brushed it off with a frown. He had seen the repellent work a few days before, but because the area was surrounded by a forest, it was always infested with moths and insects.


    ¡°You don¡¯t swim?¡±


    A man in a dark blue robe approached, but he didn¡¯t recognize him at first. Kang Il-hyun came out from the shower with his hair down and covering his brow. It was the first time Ja-kyung had seen him like this since he arrived, and he appeared much younger. He didn¡¯t appear to be under 30 though¡­


    ¡°How was the cocktail? The bartender made it himself.¡±


    He hired a bartender today to eat this. If there¡¯s anything you want, he¡¯ll make it for you. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t drink much anyway, so two or three glasses were the limit. While savoring the taste, Kang Il-hyun turned and took off his gown.


    While picking up cherries from the cocktail glass, Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze reached his back and stared at him. A truly flawless body. There was no fat and the muscle was dense. The shoulders were broad, and the proportions were amazing.


    It was quite surprising that he didn¡¯t have a tattoo on his back. Ja-kyung thought he was going to have at least one dragon tattoo. He put the cherry in his mouth, and Il-hyun turned around. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. He almost spits the cherry in his mouth. He wanted to ask him what he put in his panties.


    Kang Il-hyun walked over and grabbed a glass of wine.


    ¡°Cheers.¡±


    Standing close and holding out a glass, the front of his triangular swimsuit panties was quite bulging. Ja-kyung wondered if it was an erection or if it was always like that even when he wasn¡¯t erect. It was difficult to keep a straight face. Ja-kyung¡¯s upper body slowly receded back without realizing it.


    ¡°Would you like some?¡±


    Il-hyun grabbed the cherry from his glass and held it out to Ja-kyung, who looked up in surprise.


    ¡°You seemed to like it.¡±


    Fuck. Il-hyun spoke to him while he was looking down. He wished he could go swimming or sit down for a while. He was confused as to why this man was doing this right in front of his face. Turning his back made him look conscious, and remaining in this position annoyed him.


    ¡°Why do you keep stealing a glance at my dick?¡±


    It was both shocking and embarrassing. When Ja-kyung looked at him, he smiled and picked up a glass.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t glance at it¡­ Because it¡¯s sticking out like that in front of me¡­ ¡±


    ¡°It must be an optical illusion. It looks like it¡¯s been sticking out even though it¡¯s not. Because it¡¯s so big.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Actually, when he went to bed last night, he was thinking about Kang Il-hyun. Ja-kyung felt a bit sorry for Il-hyun because he had lost his mother when he was young and had to be killed by his father as he grew older. However, this human snout has the talent to blow it away. Even if he died, he was a scumbag.


    Il-hyun turned around, set down his glass, and went to the pool. The combination of the trickling water and crying bugs was pleasing. Ja-kyung sat on the sunbed and stared at Il-hyun. His soaked muscles shimmered even more in the light.


    He felt like a different person today with his hair down. He jumped right into the water. When he swam to the end of the pool, he looked more like a dolphin than a human. He wasn¡¯t joking when he said he was good at swimming. He made a powerful turn in front of the wall and didn¡¯t come out of the water until he was back in the first place.


    Il-hyun soared out of the water and wiped his wet hair, then smiled brightly at Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t even blink and was stunned for a moment at the sight. Handsome. So fucking handsome. He belatedly came to his senses and looked away.


    Kang Il-hyun walked out of the pool, grabbed a gown, and put it on. He opened his mouth and cursed while biting his lower lip.


    ¡°Fuck. It¡¯s so cold.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was drinking the cocktail, was having difficulty suppressing his laughter. Il-hyun wondered when Ja-kyung would take off his clothes. Ja-kyung sat there with a cold expression on his face even after Il-hyun went into the cold water. Il-hyun smiled and turned his head to the side before coming to the front and sitting.


    ¡°Is it funny?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head. But the laughter didn¡¯t stop once it started. He didn¡¯t laugh out loud, but Kang Il-hyun¡¯s appearance a while ago was too human. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip, but his cheeks continued to twitch. He couldn¡¯t help himself, so he buried his face between his legs.


    ¡°You¡¯re laughing.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who had his face buried between his legs, slowly lifted his head.


    ¡°You really laughed for the first time.¡±


    Ja-kyung felt as if he had been struck. Kang Il-hyun held a glass of wine in his hand as he gazed at the calm pool. The sound of insects was especially loud because they both remained silent. Il-hyun called the staff after finishing the cocktail. The staff brought the next cocktail. It was as if the universe was contained within the glass. Ja-kyung shook the glass and looked inside amazedly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you miss your Mom?¡±


    He sounded like he was asking a child a question. Ja-kyung shook his head at the sudden question about his mother.


    ¡°We talked on the phone every day, so it¡¯s okay¡­¡±


    ¡°How does it feel?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Having a mother.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer. How does it feel?


    ¡°It¡¯s good¡­¡±


    He was confused as to why Kang Il-hyun was asking such a question. Ja-kyung was aware of Il-hyun¡¯s mother¡¯s death. She hung herself from the second-floor balcony railing. Ja-kyung pondered why she would kill herself. He didn¡¯t think a wealthy wife would have any problems. The pleasant sound of grasshoppers had become pathetic.


    Kang Il-hyun, who was staring indifferently at the calm surface of the swimming pool, spoke up.


    ¡°When I look at the pool, I think of my deceased mother.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun first brings up the story of my mother.


    ¡°You must have swam with your mother when you were young¡­¡±


    ¡°No. She tried to kill me by drowning me in the pool.¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡±


    ¡°And after a while, she hanged herself and died.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Il-hyun frowned as he drank the rest of his drink. He then returned his gaze to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I understand. It must have been terrifying to live with a man you don¡¯t like and have a child like me.¡±


    For a moment, Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know what to say. After a long silence, Kang Il-hyun looked up at the sky and muttered. Oh, I miss my mom.


    What¡¯s the matter with him¡­ In the sudden serious atmosphere, Ja-kyung was at a loss for words. Kang Il-hyun turned his head and looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I wish someone comforted me.¡±


    He looked at Ja-kyung intently, but there was not a trace of sadness in his eyes.


    ¡°I want to be comforted, Yi An.¡±


    He held out his hand with a gloomy expression, like a dog in the rain, which didn¡¯t suit him. He didn¡¯t even look pitiful, but rather frightening. Ja-kyung shook his head left and right as he grabbed the watermelon served as a snack. Considering he almost died from his parents, looks like he also had a lot to say. Kang Il-hyun remained silent.


    ¡°Comfort.¡±


    Il-hyun kept talking insistently, so Ja-kyung turned his back and ate the watermelon slowly, pretending not to notice. Meanwhile, mosquitos continue to stick to his hands. Come to think of it, mosquitoes only attacked Ja-kyung. Mosquito, you also don¡¯t like Kang Il-hyun, do you? Ja-kyung wanted to ask if he could have a conversation. Kang Il-hyun spoke to him as he swung his hand away.


    Il-hyun got up with a cigarette in his mouth and held out his hand.


    ¡°Go in. I can¡¯t stand the mosquitoes.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who had been unsure, took the hand. He got up slowly, but he was suddenly pulled. Huh? He attempted to balance, but he was one step behind. In an instant, his body plunged into the pool.


    When he came up on the water with his arms swinging, he saw Kang Il-hyun smoking a lit cigarette and smiling like a villain. Ja-kyung screamed angrily.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡±


    ¡°I wish you would have done that.¡±


    Il-hyun sipped his wine and stepped back while lightly waving his hand. He told Ja-kyung to think about what he did wrong there and not to come out until he had done it, then turned around and walked away. Ja-kyung, who was dumbfounded, later discovered that his glasses had disappeared. When he looked at it, he noticed it was right next to the watermelon he had just eaten. Ah, fuck.


    He came out of the cold water. He was grinding his teeth and walking towards the house when it began to rain. Ja-kyung looked up at the sky with resentful eyes.

 CH 31

    Ja-kyung, who was smoking a cigarette, cursed as he looked at the error message on the laptop. The glasses were damaged after falling into the water, and the camera was rendered useless. All of the files were also gone.


    ¡°I bought it at a high price¡­¡±


    He threw his laptop and glasses to one side and stood up. He walked over to the window and looked out. The rain soon stopped, and the swimming pool where Kang Il-hyun and he had been sitting a while ago was empty. Perhaps the staff cleaned it up, and the drinks and snacks had disappeared.


    He remembered Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father¡¯s face as he finished smoking. It was exactly the same man in his memory. Given that he ate and lived well, it didn¡¯t appear that he was being punished for doing something bad.


    With a small sigh, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled business card. He had previously obtained it from Choi Ki-tae, but Kang Il-hyun threw it on the floor, and he picked it up the next day and kept it. There was no name on the business card, only contact information. He grabbed his phone and sent a message after some thought.


    [Hello. This is Zhang Yi An. Are you busy?]


    He leaned on the window sill and looked out while waiting for a response. Ja-kyung noticed a car approaching in the distance. He was curious as to who would come at this time. The car came to a halt in front of the gate. He wondered who it was, but it was difficult to tell from Ja-kyung¡¯s position. He had simply decided to go outside.


    As he went down the stairs, a woman he had seen for the first time at the front door walked in. She was dressed nicely, her hair was pulled back, and she was a stunning beauty. Her body was also nicely curved, so he would have looked back if he had seen her on the road.


    Park Tae-soo led her inside from the living room. Looking at it, she seemed to be entering Kang Il-hyun¡¯s room. When the house chef approached him from the kitchen, he was taken aback and turned away.


    ¡°What are you looking at like that?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ No. A stranger appeared at the house¡­¡±


    ¡°She is the Director¡¯s teacher.¡±


    ¡°A teacher?¡±


    ¡°He is learning Spanish these days.¡±


    Ah, that¡¯s right. If it was Spanish, Ja-kyung knew to a certain extent. Wang Han praised him for his exceptional skill to learn a language.


    ¡°The teacher is very beautiful.¡±


    ¡°The boss likes beautiful things. Whether it¡¯s a person or an object.¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed awkwardly. There was no one in the world who does not like beautiful things. However, Ja-kyung¡¯s beauty was linked to money. The standard also changed depending on whether or not it was money. It was something that people openly mocked because it was snobbish, but it didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°I will go up. Please take a rest.¡±


    Ja-kyung walked to the second floor after greeting the house chef. He heard laughter from Kang Il-hyun¡¯s room as he climbed three or four stairs.


    [I hope someone comforts me.]


    The phone in his pocket rings halfway down the stairs. So far, only three people knew this number. Kang Seok-joo, Kang Il-hyun, and Choi Ki-Tae, to whom he had sent the message 30 minutes earlier.


    Choi Ki-tae¡¯s phone number appeared on the screen He hurriedly climbed the stairs to the second floor. He pressed the answer button and brought the phone to his ear.


    ¡°This is Zhang Yi An.¡±


    [Wow, it¡¯s real.]


    His voice was so bright that he didn¡¯t look like he just had his brother¡¯s funeral today.


    [What¡¯s going on? You contacted me out of the blue..]


    ¡°Just¡­ I think I didn¡¯t even say hello properly before.¡±


    [I didn¡¯t know you would contact me, but it feels good. Were you trying to comfort me?]


    He asked with a strange nuance. Why were so many people talking about consolation today? Ja-kyung shifted his gaze back and forth. For the time being, a close approach to Choi Ki-tae is required. He entered the bedroom, shut the door, and spoke softly.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing else¡­ Is what you said then still valid?¡±


    [What?]


    ¡°You said you would give it to me cheap.¡±


    [Drugs? Or¡­ Something else?]


    Ja-kyung immediately answered the blatant question.


    ¡°Let¡¯s meet about that¡­ I want to talk.¡±


    [Haha. You surprised me many times today]


    ¡°But, keep it a secret from Seok-joo or other people. I¡¯ll be in trouble if it gets known to the house¡­¡±


    He replied that he would. He asked to meet soon and ended the call without telling Choi Ki-tae the exact location and time. Ja-kyung rubbed his cheek with a tired face. Choi Ki-tae¡¯s voice coming from the receiver was very favorable.


    Ja-kyung sat on the bed and looked out the window. The dark clouds had lifted, and the moon was visible through the window. It was a beautiful landscape. He tried to sleep but couldn¡¯t because his mind was still awake. After some tossing and turning, he heard the sound of a car outside. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s Spanish teacher seemed to be returning home.


    ***


    He couldn¡¯t even sleep properly, but he woke up earlier than he expected. Ja-kyung pondered about what to do and went out to the lawn to exercise. He wanted to go outside and play, but it was too early, and the guard stopped him because he couldn¡¯t go alone.


    The dog that had previously attacked Ja-kyung went for a morning walk with the guard. He was worried about another attack, but the dog unexpectedly acted calmly.


    When Ja-kyung returned home, he took a shower and changed into comfortable clothes. He replaced his broken black glasses with round silver-rimmed glasses. The shape was much better than the black one, and it suited Ja-kyung well. He went downstairs and greeted the staff members he met.


    He became quite accustomed to living here after about ten days. Bread and salad were already on the table when he arrived. Kang Il-hyun approaches as the house chef hands him the juice he made himself. There was coffee in front of Ja-kyung for him to drink.


    In contrast to Ja-kyung, who sleeps a lot in the morning, Il-hyun got up early to exercise and eat Korean food. And Ja-kyung woke late, came out at lunch time, and drank coffee.


    [Good morning.]


    After greeting in Spanish, he pulled out a chair across Ja-kyung and sat down. Ja-kyung nodded and greeted him.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    The house chef gave him water and smiled.


    ¡°Did you enjoy yesterday¡¯s class?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it was fun. She didn¡¯t ignore me like anyone else.¡±


    Even though Ja-kyung was aware that Il-hyun was referring to him, he ignored him and concentrated on his meal. Kang Il-hyun spoke in Spanish after eating bread and drinking juice from the house chef.


    [Yi An. Can I spread your ass and put my dick in today?]


    Ja-kyung spits back the juice in his mouth into the cup. Ja-kyung frowned at Kang Il-hyun, who was smiling. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes sharpened.


    [I feel like I¡¯m going to die if you look at me like that]


    Without understanding what Il-hyun was saying, the house chef smiled and joined in.


    ¡°Oh, my Gosh. You¡¯ve improved a lot. What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Listen through Yi An directly.¡±


    Ja-kyung wiped the juice from his lips with a napkin.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know Spanish¡­¡±


    After Ja-kyung finished speaking, Il-hyun continued to speak Spanish line by line, as if he were waiting for the conversation to end, but it was all nonsense. I¡¯d be very happy if you sucked my dick, I¡¯ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you, your ass is so cute I want to bite it.


    Ja-kyung hand holding the fork grew stronger and stronger. I want to kill. I really want to kill him. I desperately want to kill him. The house chef praised Il-hyun for being gifted with learning language from a young age, unaware that Ja-kyung¡¯s stomach was boiling.


    Indeed, it was clear that he was a natural talent, given that just his talking irritated Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung eventually put down his fork and stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯m full, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, sit down. I won¡¯t see you for a few days.¡±


    Ja-kyung quickly turned his head at the sudden words.


    ¡°Where¡­ are you going?¡±


    ¡°Business trip. It will take about four days.¡±


    God. It was unbelievable, but thank you. Ja-kyung tried not to show it, but he couldn¡¯t hide the brightness on his face and his twitching cheeks. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes gradually changed like a sharp knife.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°You like it.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ never¡­¡±


    ¡°You seem to like it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Il-hyun kept going until he hear what he wanted. He eventually shut his mouth and stopped asking questions. He asked Ja-kyung to go to his room after he finished his coffee. Ja-kyung hesitated. Ja-kyung had found what he was looking for, so there was no reason for him to go to his room anymore.


    ¡°I have something to give you. Follow me.¡±


    Il-hyun walked without waiting to hear Ja-kyung¡¯s answer. In the end, Ja-kyung reluctantly followed him to the bedroom. He intended to wait in the living room until Il-hyun came back, but he needed to go inside. He was anxious because the words he said in Spanish a while ago were still floating around in his head.


    ¡°What are you doing not entering?¡±


    Ja-kyung walked into the room. He heard a familiar sound as soon as he walked through the door. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened as he stopped. He felt a cold sensation at his temples. Only his eyes moved to look at Kang Il-hyun, despite his hardened face.


    Kang Il-hyun was smiling softly while pointing a gun at him.


    ¡°Wha, what are you doing?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun immediately lowered the gun and handed it to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Gift.¡±


    Ja-kyung let out a sigh of relief that he had been holding in. For a brief moment, he thought he had been caught.


    ¡°You said you never used a gun before? It won¡¯t be difficult. After lunch, Tae-soo will teach you.¡±


    ¡°Why are you giving this to me?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know for sure what would happen, so carry one with you. Don¡¯t go out by yourself like you did yesterday.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to give it to me¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m worried. If something happens to you, I will be in trouble.¡±


    Ja-kyung lowered his gaze to the gun in his hand. The 22 caliber pistol was brand new and showed no signs of use. Because there was little recoil, it was easy to use even for beginners. There were also letters engraved on the handle. An. The eyes that were looking at it trembled slightly. How should I deal with this?


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re thankful, kiss me.¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his head and looked him in the eyes. He thought it was a joke, but Il-hyun grabbed his arm and took the gun in an instant, throwing it on the sofa. Il-hyun snatched his wrists and pushed him onto the bed.


    Their lips overlap without further questioning. Ja-kyung yanked out his hand and grabbed Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Wait, wait a minute. I didn¡¯t come here for this¡­¡±


    ¡°I called you for this.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled as he rolled up Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt and bit his chest. Ja-kyung, who instantly knew he was in trouble, grabbed Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder and tried to push him away. On the contrary, the sound of breathing becomes harsher as he was stimulated. Ja-kyung almost screamed when Il-hyun bit his nipples.

 CH 32

    ¡°You¡¯ve seducing me since you asked about my types, huh? That¡¯s too much.¡±


    When Ja-kyung continued to push him away, Il-hyun made a sad face. That was because he had a purpose. Ja-kyung smiled and tried to twist himself free, but Il-hyun¡¯s arms wrapped to his waist like a snake and he couldn¡¯t get out.


    ¡°Wait. Director. Director?¡±


    Il-hyun ignored him, his hand crawls down and shoves into Ja-kyung¡¯s pants. Then he licked Ja-kyung¡¯s chest. Ah. Ja-kyung closed his eyes tightly at the stimulation applied up and down. He could escape if he hit him, but Zhang Yi An wasn¡¯t like that.


    Furthermore, as a normal human being, he was moved by the sexual pleasure he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. He discovered that he could do it with a man other than a woman, and he briefly considered that it would be fine if it weren¡¯t for insertion.


    Kang Il-hyun sucked and bit his nipples like a puppy who had been starving for three days and three nights. When Ja-kyung pushed away his shoulder, he still wouldn¡¯t let go and pulled it up and bit it. Even as he sucked loudly from side to side to the point of tingling, he raised his eyes to check Ja-kyung¡¯s expression.


    He sat down on Ja-kyung after moving his lips away. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Il-hyun unbuckled his pants and unzipped the zipper quickly. Soon after, a huge penis sprang out. Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth dropped open in amazement.


    ¡°You pretended not to like it, but then opened your mouth on your own. Be good.¡±


    He patted Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek, causing him to quickly come to his senses and close his mouth. Il-hyun grabbed his dick and rubbed it back and forth. It has already grown to that size, and it will continue to get bigger. Ja-kyung¡¯s face wrinkled as Il-hyun pressed the tip of his dick to Ja-kyung¡¯s lips. Il-hyun smiled down at him as Ja-kyung curled his lips and pressed them together. Even if Ja-kyung pushed him down, he couldn¡¯t move because his upper body was pressed tightly by his firm thighs.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty? Ah.¡±


    He frowned and moaned with delight. Shit! You pervert. Ja-kyung cursed inwardly, and a transparent liquid formed at the dick¡¯s end. Il-hyun did not force Ja-kyung to open his mouth or force it in when he kept it shut. He rubbed the tip of the cock, which had been soaked in pre-cum from Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek, over the entire face, including the lips, chin, and temples.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression when he looked down at him was very happy. His mouth was crooked to one side, his eyes glistened with lust, and the action of licking his lower lip made him look sexy. Ja-kyung turned his head as he felt his breath tighten.


    But soon he was caught and had no choice but to make eye contact.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to ask you to open it up, so look at me.¡±


    What?


    ¡°If you avoid me, I¡¯ll put it anywhere.¡±


    His tone was gloomy and damp. He spat on the palm of his hand, grabbed his dick, and begins rubbing it back and forth. He grabbed the head of the bed with one hand and lightly lifted himself up. It made a squeaky sound as he rubbed his palm against his penis.


    His expression was clearly visible as the light poured in through the window.


    The movement of his eyes, his harsh breathing, the slight trembling of his cheeks¡­


    Ja-kyung had never expected to see someone masturbating in front of him his entire life. Kang Il-hyun clenched his teeth and leaned back, most likely at the climax. Haa¡­ haa, fuck, his neck raised and blood was running up his neck.


    The sound of breathing becomes rough like a beast and the speed with which the hands move increases. The sound of his teeth gritting was terrifying. He let out a suppressed moan, and something splashed onto Ja-kyung¡¯s face at the same time. Once, twice, thrice¡­ A fishy liquid ran down his eyelids and nose bridge.


    Haa, haa, haa, like a beast that has just finished hunting, Kang Il-hyun took a deep breath and looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s face. He smiled nicely, pulling the corners of his lips with a face that was left with the afterglow of ejaculation. Ja-kyung, who had been enchanted by that face, only later came to his sense and realized that his face was covered in semen.


    Kang Il-hyun stopped him as he reached out to touch his face. Kang Il-hyun extends his tongue and begins licking the semen on Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek and chin. What the hell was this again. He grabbed his shoulder in fright, but it wasn¡¯t enough to push Kang Il-hyun, who was clinging to him like a leech.


    He licked his cheek and chin and spread saliva all over it, which was extremely irritating. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t take it any longer because he was afraid Il-hyun would eat it if he left it alone, so he grabbed his hand and pushed his face away.


    ¡°Stop. Stop¡­¡±


    Il-hyun then licked his palms. It wasn¡¯t enough for him, so he put Ja-kyung¡¯s finger in his mouth and tried to suck it, but Ja-kyung yanked it out with a force. Everything that has been caught in his mouth was about to be eaten. He whispered softly with semen on his lower lip.


    ¡°I want to eat more.¡±


    The intercom rang just then. Ja-kyung quickly escaped and got off the bed when Kang Il-hyun raised his head and looked at the intercom. He adjusted his clothes and took a step backward while brushing his tangled hair with his hands.


    Kang Il-hyun motioned for him to come, and Ja-kyung shook his head. As Il-hyun was about to get out of bed, Ja-kyung quickly got out and ran. Park Tae-soo was sitting in the living room and there was also an employee around. His ears were burning because he felt like everyone was staring at him.


    Ja-kyung made his way upstairs while cursing internally. He closed the door and washed his face as soon as entered the bathroom. His irritation increased as the smell of the semen wafted out of him. And the most humiliating thing of all¡­


    ¡°Fuck¡­¡±


    He pulled his pants and looked inside. The stiff, erect guy was about to break through his underwear. He closed his eyes tightly. He didn¡¯t rub or touch it, but his dick stood up. It¡¯s actually gotten erect since he saw Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face masturbating alone. From the moment Kang Il-hyun lowered his eyes and stared at him as if he was going to eat him¡­


    Ja-kyung buried his face in the sink after filling it with water. He eventually raised his head and looked in the mirror. The area around the eyes became even more red.


    ¡°¡­Haa, fuck¡­¡±


    He rubbed his irritated face and smoked a cigarette in the bathroom. He cursed and laughed because it was absurd, and despite the passage of time, his erection did not go away easily. It seemed that he could hear Kang Il-hyun¡¯s scoffing from here.


    ***


    Kang Seok-joo was wearing sunglasses while floating in the pool on a large tube. In the middle of the day, the sun was moderately hot in the pool, and the wind was blowing softly, so it was perfect for swimming. Kang Seok-joo moved his body while listening to club music on his cell phone, causing the tube to shake.


    Kang Il-hyun was on a business trip when he called Kang Seok-joo and told him he could play as much as he wanted. He can use your card key to access the house in Seoul if he wants to. He was truly generous for the price he paid for using his face as a tool for morning masturbation. Of course, there was a condition that Park Tae-soo had to be by his side.


    Park Tae-soo was as difficult as Kang Il-hyun for Ja-kyung. He never knew what he was thinking.


    Ja-kyung eventually stepped out of his room after masturbating with his hand in the bathroom. As usual, he closed his eyes and tried to think of a beautiful woman with curves when masturbating. He liked the woman he met a few years ago in Russia, and he liked the woman he met in Italy.


    But the more he did it, the clearer Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face became, who was panting and holding his dick above him. He was thirsty and drank the drink that the staff had brought him. Seok-joo, who was holding the phone, reduces the volume of the music as he chews the remaining ice and eats it.


    ¡°Yi An.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a party, would you like to go too?¡±


    ¡°Party?¡±


    ¡°A party hosted by Ki-Tae Choi. I told you before. I told you he was going to throw a party because his brother died.¡±


    He laughed and asked if he wanted to go. Ja-kyung hesitated for a moment before nodding. He said they¡¯d see each other soon, so he assumed he meant at the party. Now, without Kang Il-hyun, was the perfect time to move. Of course, having a bodyguard by his side bothered him.


    ¡°But where did Director Kang go on a business trip?¡±


    ¡°Hong Kong.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wish someone would kill him there.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled awkwardly. Ja-kyung put the remaining ice in his mouth and chews it, but Park Tae-soo observes them from a distance. While Ja-kyung munched the ice, Kang Seok-joo was startled, shut his mouth, and pretended not to know.


    Park Tae-soo went inside after watching the two of them for a while. Kang Seok-joo, who was smoking a cigarette, raised his sunglasses over his head and looked to the side where he had disappeared.


    ¡°Both the owner and the dog are bastards.¡±


    ¡°Secretary Park has worked here for a long time¡­?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo moved his eyes upwards and counted the date.


    ¡°It¡¯s been about 10 years. Rumor has it that he was from some secret unit, but I don¡¯t know for sure. He was brought by Kang Il-hyun.¡±


    ¡°He has been around for quite a while¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to believe, but all of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s employees have been with him for a long time. Even if he is a jerk to his family, he is said to take good care of his employees. Instead, you die that day if you want to quit. Oh, and there¡¯s also the house chef, right? According to the old man, she has been working in this house since Kang Il-hyun was born. She was there when Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mother went crazy and died.¡±


    ¡°Crazy¡­ died?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo put his index finger on his head and turned it in a circle.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know when you see Director Kang? His mother committed suicide due to mental illness. That¡¯s why Kang Il-hyun also went in and out of a mental hospital since he was young. If it wasn¡¯t for my father trying to make him a normal person, by now¡­¡±


    Seok-joo stopped talking and trembled, remembering Kang Il-hyun, who was even more insane than he was now.


    ¡°Fuck. I almost peed just by imagining it?¡±


    Ja-kyung remembered Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression last night when he asked him what it would be like to have a mother. Was it his mood that caused longing to be reflected in those viper-like eyes for a brief moment?


    Ja-kyung shook his head to clear his mind of the clutter that was rushing through him. Was this the source of Wang Han¡¯s concern? Being with the target for an extended period of time and assimilating. seen quite a few people around who feel compassion and do things wrongly.


    But Ja-kyung will never do that. It was a mistake made by stupid people.

 CH 33

    The party was held at a villa in Gapyeong. Choi Ki-tae owned it, and there was a swimming pool in the middle of the yard. It was also quite large, with enough room for ten adults to play. As soon as they arrived, Kang Seok-joo took off his clothes and entered the pool, sprinkling water on the women.


    ¡°How have you been?¡±


    Ja-kyung took a bottle of water and begins to drink it, but someone approached and sits next to him. It was the same woman he¡¯d seen before. She worked in the legal profession and was a model. The woman in a halterneck gown sat beside Ja-kyung. Her voluptuous breasts were adorned with a stunning jewel necklace.


    She swept her long hair to one side and smiled as she looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°You changed your glasses. This one is better.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°When are you going back to Hong Kong?¡±


    ¡°In ten days or so.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I often go shopping in Hong Kong, can I contact you separately?¡±


    Her body moved in closer as she asked. Her skin was soft. Her upper body was slightly bent, exposing her chest bone. The woman gently embraces his arm while looking intently at him. She rubbed her chest openly, and Ja-kyung didn¡¯t really push her away.


    If it had been the usual Ja-kyung, his body would have reacted, but strangely he didn¡¯t feel anything. He was shocked in an instant as if struck by lightning. He couldn¡¯t believe he hadn¡¯t reacted to such a beautiful and attractive woman after seeing Kang Il-hyun¡¯s huge dick.


    Ttak!


    Someone puts a finger to his ear and snaps it. When he turned around, it was Choi Ki-tae. Choi Ki-tae walked in and sat down after looking disapprovingly at the woman sitting next to Ja-kyung. The woman who had been pushed back turned and cursed.


    ¡°Oh, you crazy bastard.¡±


    ¡°He is my guest. Go away.¡±


    She shook his hand to get his attention, and after a brief moment of staring at him, she left to join her friends. Ja-kyung looked at the woman¡¯s back with a shocked expression on his face. She was beautiful, but why¡­ Choi Ki-tae waved his hand in front of his face expressionless.


    ¡°What? Did I interrupt you?¡±


    Ja-kyung, who came to his senses, shook his head left and right.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    He looked at the water that Ja-kyung was holding in his hand.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like champagne? Do you want me to get you something else?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ I don¡¯t like alcohol.¡±


    ¡°Ah, what a shame.¡±


    The words had an odd nuance to them. Ja-kyung pretended not to know and drank the water. Kang Seok-joo rides on his friend¡¯s shoulder while smoking marijuana and shaking champagne. The lid shattered and champagne splattered on Ja-kyung.


    Choi Ki-tae rushed to block it with his hand, but he was a step too late. Ja-kyung wrinkled his brow as he suddenly covered himself in champagne.


    ¡°That crazy bastard.¡±


    Choi Ki-tae cursed and shook off the champagne on Ja-kyung¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Kang Seok-joo popped the champagne into his mouth, drank it, and then splattered it on the women again. It was absurd to see champagne worth millions of won thrown away like water. Even after the taste has faded, it appears to last a long time. They decided to fight in groups of three, three, five, and laughed when one of them fell into the water. He was a really fresh young man, considering he hadn¡¯t used drugs.


    ¡°No way. Let¡¯s go in and change.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I have something to give you.¡±


    Choi Ki-tae¡¯s eyes darkened. Ja-kyung looked worried as he held the bottle of water he was drinking. Fortunately, Park Tae-soo was waiting outside the gate. It would have been preferable for the two of them to finish their work here rather than be caught by him.


    Choi Ki-tae took the initiative and stood up after Ja-kyung nodded his head. There were marijuana and drug bags all over the place. Ja-kyung followed him to the second floor. He could see the lower floor at a glance as he passed through the hallway. On the sofa, a man and a woman were having sex with only their bottoms exposed.


    Looking at it, Choi Ki-tae laughed.


    ¡°Fuck! Go and do it in the room!¡±


    The woman who had climbed on top of the man and shook her waist gave Choi Ki-tae the middle finger. Moans could be heard from all over the place. Choi Ki-tae escorted Ja-kyung to the last room. The noise was completely silenced once inside.


    There was a bed, a sofa, and a small bathroom in the room. It was said to be a villa, and each room appeared to be set aside for sex. While Ja-kyung looking around the room, Choi Ki-tae went to a small bar to the side and poured two drinks. It was a strong liquor¡­


    His intention was obvious. He placed it in front of Ja-kyung, who looked at him blankly and then Ki-tae advised him to drink it.


    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t drink¡­¡±


    ¡°Just have a drink. It doesn¡¯t have drugs.¡±


    Ja-kyung brought the glass to his mouth. Choi Ki-tae laughed as he frowned after tasting it a little. Choi Ki-tae grabbed his drink and drained it in one breath. The ring on his finger was noticeable. There was a large jewel embedded in it, and the stone was large and colorful. He smiled as he gazed at the stunning Ja-kyung.


    ¡°You look so sexy, but you¡¯re cuter because you can¡¯t even drink.¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his eyes, he apologized briefly.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. but you look really sexy, especially your eyes. You don¡¯t know?¡±


    He took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and exhaled smoke. Ja-kyung rested his hands on his lap and gazed at the glass he couldn¡¯t seem to empty. He used to get a lot of glare when he was younger, but it was all because of the color of his eyes. His father, in particular, stated that he did not like the color of Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes and attempted to cut them out with a knife.


    ¡°Is it really because of the drug that you contacted me? It¡¯s not, right?¡±


    He asked quietly. Ja-kyung remained silent and shook his head slightly. Choi Ki-tae stood up and sat next to Ja-kyung, as he nervously fidgeted with his fingers. He gently grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s wriggling hand and offered him marijuana.


    ¡°Would you like to?¡±


    Ja-kyung paused for a moment before biting the tip and sucking it in. When he coughed, Ki-tae smiled and rubbed the marijuana on the sofa to turn it off. And then his lips came closer. It had a distinct hemp scent. He turned his head to avoid their lips touching and pushed Choi Ki-tae¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you wash up¡­?¡±


    Choi Ki-tae¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°I¡¯m clean. Do you want to see it?¡±


    As he was about to take off his pants, Ja-kyung grabbed his hand and shook his head.


    ¡°Wash¡­ I¡¯ll do it after you wash up¡­¡±


    Ki-tae stood up from his seat after kicking his tongue with a disapproving face when Ja-kyung went out more firmly than he expected.


    ¡°Then wait. I¡¯ll wash up and go out.¡±


    He took out his cell phone and cigarette, tossed them aside, and entered the bathroom. The door closed and the sound of water was heard from inside. Ja-kyung wiped the area where his lips had touched with the back of his hand a while ago and then spat on the floor.


    He quickly took a connector from his inner pocket and connected Choi Ki-tae¡¯s phone to the new phone he had brought. The phone took about ten minutes to copy. Meanwhile, he wanted Choi Ki-tae to stay in the bathroom, but there was a good chance he¡¯d come out sooner because his body had heated up.


    Ja-kyung looked anxiously at the phone and the bathroom door. The sound of the water stopped after about 5 minutes. Oh, shit. Unsurprisingly, the doorknob twisted. Ja-kyung stood up, unbuttoned his shirt, and walked to the bed.


    Just then, Ki-tae came out wearing only his undershirt wrapped in a towel. Choi Ki-tae¡¯s eyes flashed with desire as soon as he saw Ja-kyung sitting on the bed with his clothes undone. As he approached, he smiled and placed his hands on both sides of the bed.


    ¡°What. You told me to wash up, but you are such a sweetheart to go to bed first. My pretty cat.¡±


    A wolf face is engraved on his chest as well as a goblin tattoo on his arm. His lips moved closer. Ja-kyung turned his head and his lips moved over his neck. Ja-kyung felt dirty and frowned as he licked his neck with his tongue.


    He tried it twice with Kang Il-hyun and thought it would be fine, but he feels much worse than he expected. Ja-kyung checked his watch as he tightened his grip. Done. Ten minutes. When he pushed Choi Ki-tae¡¯s shoulder, his body fell off. Choi Ki-tae looked at him with a puzzled face.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    The nape of the neck that he just sucked was tingling.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    His face was wrinkled, and his eyes were mixed with irritation and anger. Haa, fuck. He cursed as he swept his hair back.


    ¡°Hey, are you kidding me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    Ja-kyung tried to get out of bed slowly, but Ki-tae blocked him with his arm and threw him on the bed. Ja-kyung struggled for a while as he tried to forcefully subdue him. Don¡¯t kill this bastard just yet. At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Bang bang, bang bang. Hey, Choi Ki-tae, open the door. It¡¯s going crazy now. Fuck! Choi Ki-tae!


    ¡°Ah, seriously.¡±


    If he leaves it alone, that person will smash and break the door. Choi Ki-tae walked over to it. As soon as he opened the door, his friends come in drunk, babbling, and pushing. While Choi Ki-tae was arguing with them, Ja-kyung dashed to the sofa, disconnected his phone, and placed it in his back pocket.


    Choi Ki-tae turned around for a brief moment, and their gazes locked. Ja-kyung apologized and dashed outside. He heard a call from behind him, but pretended not to hear it and went downstairs to call Kang Seok-joo, who was in the pool.


    ¡°I will go first. I¡¯m too tired, I can¡¯t stay any longer.¡±


    ¡°What? Already?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Have fun.¡±


    As he walked away, the woman who was a model earlier waved her hand with a sad expression. After saying goodbye to her, Park Tae-soo stepped out of the car and approached him. But something was strange about his expression.


    Ja-kyung, who was approaching the car, came to a halt and checked his face on the rearview mirror. A red coin-sized mark was clearly visible on his neck. He closed his eyes tightly. He¡¯d feel better if he smashed Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head right now, but he couldn¡¯t, so his stomach was churning.


    Park Tae-soo, who was standing in front of the driver¡¯s seat, looked at him strangely as he straightened his back. He hurriedly opened the back seat door as if escaping.

 CH 34

    Ja-kyung, who was holding the steering wheel, looked at Park Tae-soo¡¯s back. He didn¡¯t say anything from the time he left Choi Ki-tae¡¯s villa until he arrived in Seoul. Kang Il-hyun also granted permission, so he would spend the day at his home in Seoul. It was preferable to watch the noisy Seoul than to sit in a house with grass all around.


    ¡°Secretary Park. Can I get some coffee on the way? I¡¯ve been eyeing a coffee shop, and there¡¯s a store nearby¡­¡±


    Park Tae-soo made eye contact with Ja-kyung through the rear mirror.


    ¡°Yes, you can.¡±


    Ja-kyung took the replicated phone in his hands and swiped the screen sideways. He looked over the messages Choi Ki-tae had received recently. Half of the conversations were unpleasant, with messages about work and Ja-kyung.


    I want to fuck, sexy, handsome, Kang Seok-joo¡¯s guest, is it okay if I touch him? Etc.


    Ja-kyung had a taste for it. Except when he was young and didn¡¯t know what he was doing, he had never seen men actively clinging to him in his life. They had no idea that if they mess with him, they would turn into a corpse. But as soon as he arrived in Korea, two strange people appeared.


    The irony was that both of them were gonna die at his hands. He checked Choi Ki-tae¡¯s schedule, shaking his head. In two days, there was an event. It was an event that was mentioned several times in messages to subordinates.


    It looked like it was being held on a ship, but there were notes and traces of the event¡¯s progress, indicating that it was a significant event. As he recited it in his head, the car stopped by the side of the road. Ja-kyung looked out the window. They eventually arrived in front of the cafe he was referring to.


    The car came to a complete stop, and Park Tae-soo, who was driving, turned around.


    ¡°You can tell me, and I will buy it.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I have to go to that bathroom too. I¡¯ll be back soon. What would you like to drink?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s on me. Have a drink¡­¡±


    Park Tae-soo ponders for a while because it doesn¡¯t suit him.


    ¡°Then I¡­ AA.¡±


    ¡°AA?¡± Ja-kyung blinked his eyes.


    ¡°Ice Americano.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ I see¡­ you shortened it¡­ Haha¡­¡±


    It was funny when he shortened the menu with a scary-looking face. Ja-kyung exited the car and entered the cafe. There were three stores in Korea, and this was one of them. There was a long line when he entered. He looked out the window as he flipped through his phone. The thick tinting made it difficult to see what Park Tae-soo was doing.


    After waiting in line for a while, he placed his order and asked where the restroom was. He was told that he needed to go to the back of the store, so he took the receipt and went there. He entered the bathroom and knocked on the door of the last room.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    The door suddenly opens and Wang Lun appears. He pulled Ja-kyung inside.


    ¡°Why are you so late? I¡¯ve been waiting for 10 minutes.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. Where¡¯s the item?¡±


    Wang Lun reached into his arms and pulled out a small paper bag. He presented it to Ja-kyung and confirmed it. It was identical to the USB in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s home. The date and handwriting in English were both copied exactly. He was going to replace this at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house today.


    ¡°It was a discontinued model, so it was hard to find.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°By the way¡­ Is that man allowing you to stay there?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a big deal. Does he trust you enough to let you stay at his home?¡±


    Wang Lun¡¯s face is filled with wonder. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t say anything about what he¡¯d done with Kang Il-hyun. If he had, the Wang brothers would have teased him until he died and was buried in a coffin. He turned around and slipped the USB drive into his pocket. The more time passed, the more suspicious he became.


    Then someone knocks on the door.


    After the knock, he heard Park Tae-soo¡¯s voice unexpectedly.


    ¡°Are you inside?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face hardened coldly. Wang Lun quickly climbed onto the toilet. The two held their breath and fixed their eyes on the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking care of my business. I¡¯ll be right out.¡±


    ¡°Is everything all right? I came here because I was worried.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll go get the coffee.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I will go and wait.¡±


    Ja-kyung swore silently in the shape of a mouth. He heard footsteps outside then it was quiet. Wang Lun asked who it was, and Ja-kyung shook his head and shut his mouth. He lowered his body and looked under the partition, but he couldn¡¯t see Tae-soo¡¯s feet.


    He quietly closed the door and exited after signaling to Wang Lun that he was leaving by hand. As he walked into the cafe, the vibrating bell in his pocket rang. He went to the car with two cups of coffee. Park Tae-soo was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, looking straight ahead.


    He took the cup of coffee from the bag and handed it to him.


    ¡°Please drink. It¡¯s cool.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    He sipped his coffee and drank half of it before starting the car. Their gazes met several times in the mirror, but no words were exchanged.


    ***


    [Did you take good care of the guest list?]


    [Yes, I made a separate VIP guest list and sent it to my father now. Please confirm it. At the entrance, we will conduct a thorough inspection of invitations for general guests and a body search. You don¡¯t have to worry.]


    [I trust you. Jun-tae is dead, so you have to work hard for him.]


    [I know. Trust me, Dad. I won¡¯t make a mistake.]


    Ja-kyung soaked himself in warm water in the bathtub. The rectangular bathtub is also quite large, so even after Ja-kyung enters, there is still plenty of room. He hung his arms out of the bathtub after smoking. The bathroom was filled with a mixture of cigarette smoke and water steam.


    Choi Ki-tae and his father were still on the phone. They were planning a charity event on the ship two days later. They say it was a charity event, but it was like a drug party. A large number of VIP guests gathered, including some who appeared to be celebrities.


    The call was disconnected after a lengthy conversation. Ja-kyung rubbed the cigarette on the floor before flushing the cigarette butt. He looked in the mirror before entering the shower, and the red mark as big as a coin on the back of his neck was so clear. He rubbed it with his hand after frowning. It could not be erased.


    He kicked his tongue, put on his robe, and went outside after taking a shower. He drank a beer and sat down with his feet on the table. Wang Lun handed out a forged USB. he wondered what was in the original that was priced the same as life. He was curious but opening it was an absolute foul.


    He drank the beer all at once. His thirst has subsided, but drunkenness has increased slightly. He was about to drink another beer when he gave up and got up from his seat with the USB that was on the table. He went through the house again, just in case, to see if there were any CCTV or wiretapping devices.


    Park Tae-soo, who lives next door would have no idea what was going on inside. He put on gloves on both hands to avoid leaving fingerprints and strode towards the study. A second study appeared when he pushed the sliding bookshelf and then the wall.


    He went under the desk without hesitation, and the safe was there. The lock turned when he pressed the eight digits he had memorized. He hummed as he slowly drew the door open. He could see the ordered USB inside. What was commissioned remained. He took out the real thing and replaced it with the fake he got from Wang Lun.


    He smiled naturally as he closed the safe door. In any case, it was resolved. He should go to Chairman Kang¡¯s house now that he has the items. Kang Il-hyun certainly did not forbid him to stay at his parents¡¯ house. He should call Kang Seok-joo tomorrow and give him the rough idea.


    If he stayed with Kang Il-hyun until the inauguration ceremony, he thought he would die from anger before that. Ja-kyung rose from his seat and was about to return when he noticed an album on a bookshelf. That was the only album among all the books.


    He took out the album and turned the first page out of curiosity. There were pictures of babies. Was this Kang Il-hyun? A slightly taller girl hugged Kang Il-hyun next to him. The smile was stunning. He flipped to the next page. The baby appears to be slightly bigger, but he was expressionless. Still, Kang Yoo-jung smiled and Kang Il-hyun looked at the camera with an expressionless face.


    Even though he was a child, he had a very unfriendly expression on his face. There were no smiling pictures on the next or subsequent pages. Ja-kyung remembered his childhood. Ja-kyung never smiled and always wore the same expression. If there was a picture, it would have looked similar to Kang Il-hyun.


    They didn¡¯t seem to take pictures after they got a little bigger. There was nothing left. The ID photo he took while wearing a school uniform in high school seemed far from decent. His lips were stubbornly closed and his eyes full of rebellion.


    Ja-kyung smiled and moved on to the next page of the album. All of them were empty. He was curious about Il-hyun¡¯s mother¡¯s face, but there was no picture left. The irony was that there were no photographs of the living father. At the elementary school graduation ceremony, he only took photos with his sister Kang Yoo-jung.


    Ja-kyung closed the album and put it back in its place. After going out, he opened the refrigerator, took out a beer, and returned to the sofa. When he turned on the music, the living room was filled with magnificent classical music. He caught the night of Seoul in his eyes as he stood in front of the window with a beer in his hand.


    The city¡¯s night view embroidered the dark night streets. The headlights of a car flashed across them. The music that came out was Queen of the Night Aria. Ja-kyung sipped his beer and smiled bitterly.


    Wasn¡¯t that song suited him perfectly? Did Kang Il-hyun also look out the window while listening to this music like him? Like the Queen of the Night, he must have hated and cursed someone.

 CH 35

    ¡°I can¡¯t help it. Because my father only likes Director Kang.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo leaned out of the pool and drank the watermelon juice the staff had just brought him with a straw. Even though it was June, the temperature in the middle of the day was quite high, and he was sweating profusely even when he stood still. As he sat on the sunbed, Ja-kyung sighed.


    There was still time until the day he decided to kill Kang Il-hyun, and in the meantime, he mentioned wanting to stay at Kang Seok-joo¡¯s house, but Chairman Kang refused. The reason was that Kang Il-hyun was against it. Kang Seok-joo said that Chairman Kang favored only Kang Il-hyun, but after learning the circumstances, that was not necessarily the case.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, come in and swim. The water is cool and nice.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head and lay down with his arms crossed and looked up at the sky. The color of the blue sky and the red parasol matched wonderfully. Seeing that, he stopped thinking about Kang Il-hyun for a moment and thought of Choi Ki-tae.


    Choi Ki-tae said he was going to rent a cruise and throw a party at sea tonight. This party was done to reassure customers who were concerned about the Doksan-dong bombing. All kinds of drugs and entertainment will be available, as well as large and small trades.


    Kang Seok-joo appeared to be unaware of this fact. Ja-kyung was sweating despite the fact that he was under an umbrella. Like Kang Seok-joo, he wanted to strip naked and dive into the water. Kang Seok-joo, who was doing the backstroke while fanning himself with his hands, turned to face Ja-kyung.


    ¡°What is that on your neck?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°A band-aid around your neck. Did you get hurt?¡±


    Ja-kyung pretended it was nothing. fade easily, so he ended up covering them with a band-aid. It was difficult because everyone he saw since the morning had asked whether he was hurt. If it had been winter, he would have worn a shirt that reached his neck.


    ¡°Are you¡­?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo asked with a sly smile who it was. Kang Seok-joo asked if the girl was the model from before and if the two had previously been together. When Ja-kyung said no, Kang Seok-joo listed by linking the people who had contact with Ja-kyung one by one. He couldn¡¯t have imagined it being Choi Ki-tae.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a little scratch and put it on¡­¡±


    ¡°Pretending to be innocent.¡±


    He laughed and then continued swimming. He really likes water. Their mother might be different, but he is very similar to Kang Il-hyun in that matter. He wasn¡¯t sure if Kang Il-hyun liked the pool or missed his mother.


    Come to think of it, he will return to Korea tomorrow. He has to go home from work until he comes home. A message arrives on his phone while he was cooling off with watermelon juice.


    It was a message from Wang Lun reconfirming when and where they would meet.


    As he was replying, Kang Seok-joo reached out of the pool and turned on the music. Thump thump thump thump, a beat faster than the heart rate, Seok-joo shook his head excitedly. Ja-kyung also clapped his hands in time with the music. A plan for what to do at night was forming in his mind.


    ***


    The sound of a vehicle engine coming from a distance disrupted the face of the guard at the gate. A small truck passed in front of the gate not long ago, and it stopped to see what was wrong before restarting the engine. The guard moved towards it because it was unbearable.


    He knocked on the window, and a man with short hair stick his face out.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Ah, the engine suddenly stopped.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    The guard¡¯s eyes were cautious. The driver motioned ahead with his finger. There were houses as well as scarce farms. The man¡¯s truck, unsurprisingly, smelled of manure. The guard frowned.


    ¡°This is private land, so you are not allowed to pass freely.¡±


    ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know because it was my first time. But what can I do? The car isn¡¯t moving. Let¡¯s get down and take a look.¡±


    The man stepped out of the driver¡¯s seat and opened the car¡¯s cap. The guard remained close behind the man. If there was any suspicious behavior, it would be dealt with right away. For a while, the man who was sticking his face into the car grumbled.


    ¡°Ah, this came off. After all, both cars and people experience breakdowns as they age.¡±


    Tak, the man who slammed the cap shut and climbed into the driver¡¯s seat. He backed up, turned the car around, and drove back the way he had come. The guard, who had been left alone, clicked his tongue in displeasure. Immediately, a radio could be heard from inside the house. It was Park Tae-soo.


    [What¡¯s going on?]


    ¡°Nothing. He must have taken the wrong path.¡±


    The guard returned and stood in front of the gate. The place was quieter today, like a dead mouse.


    The light from a distant car approached Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes as he lowered himself into the grass. The headlights resembled two eyes. When a truck approached, Ja-kyung hurriedly opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat.


    Wang Lun sat in the driver¡¯s seat. He bought Ja-kyung some time to safely cross the fence in front of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house a while ago.


    ¡°You¡¯re just in time.¡±


    Wang Lun exhaled a long sigh. Despite the fact that the children had been entrusted to him, Ja-kyung took the risk of an unexpected event and was unsure whether or not to do it. Furthermore, he had to bear all of these concerns on his own because Ja-kyung had requested that Wang Han not be informed.


    ¡°If Han finds out, he will try to kill me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you 10%.¡±


    Suddenly 5% share jumped. Wang Lun laughed so hard with a tear in his eye that his worries from a while ago were overshadowed.


    ¡°Okay. I will keep my mouth shut until I die.¡±


    He met Wang Lun¡¯s subordinate in the middle of the main highway and switched cars. Not only that, but the two wore stylish suits and had their hair trimmed. He began driving toward Incheon Port after changing from a truck to an expensive imported car.


    On the way, Ja-kyung looked at the invitation. The names of the two men were written on the invitations. They were regular customers who were briefly kidnapped and detained in order to obtain this invitation. The car that was on the highway changed to a national road and proceeded to the port.


    ¡°The gun.¡±


    ¡°I kept it in the food storage. Do you know how hard it must have been for me to bring it in?¡±


    Ja-kyung quickly spread out five fingers, fearful that Wang Lun would dismiss it. He had decided to give him an additional 5%, so he wanted him to stop talking about it. Unlike Wang Han, Wang Lun was willing to take financial risks. He resembled Ja-kyung in that, and Wang Han always scolded the two when they were young.


    Ja-kyung put on black sunglasses as the cruise approached. Cars were already lined up when they arrived. Choi Ki-tae¡¯s staff were dressed in neat suits and inspecting invitations and conducting a body search at the dock where the cruise would leave.


    Unlike regular guests, VIPs entered directly by invitation without a body search. He parked in an appropriate location and walked towards it. Choi Ki-tae was spotted among the crowds dressed in suits and dresses. Fortunately, he was busy greeting the VIPs next to him.


    Choi Ki-tae¡¯s subordinates confirmed the invitation while he was waiting for his turn with his back to him. They demanded his cell phone after checking in, and it would be returned when he got off the boat. Ja-kyung had prepared the duplicate phone ahead of time, so he gave it to him, put it in a sanitary bag, marked it, and placed it in one location.


    They also searched Ja-kyung and Wang Lun¡¯s bodies. It went off without a hitch, and he was handed the bedroom key.


    Gold badges indicating that they were passengers were hung on their clothes at the entrance. The ship was a cruise ship, and it was larger and brighter than expected. Upon entering, there was a colorful chandelier hanging in the middle of the cabin.


    Indoors, there was a swimming pool, spa, casino, massage shop, and performance hall, and on the deck, there was a swimming pool, putting practice area, and sun beds. And, starting on the second floor, the majority of them were rooms. He noticed people drinking and chatting in groups of two or three. Wang Lun grabs a glass of champagne while Ja-kyung keeps an eye out for any familiar faces.


    Ja-kyung took it and put it back in its place.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink.¡±


    ¡°Only one drink.¡±


    ¡°It could be the last drink your drink in this life. Get a grip.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too strict.¡±


    Wang Lun shook his head. Pretending to look around, he figured out the ship¡¯s layout and the approximate number of guards. Then he went upstairs to the designated room. He came to a halt in the middle of the second floor to check the number written on the key.


    The corridor overlooked the center of the ship. There were more people than on the first floor, and they were having a good time. Ja-kyung searched the crowd and found Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father, Choi Moon-seong. He appeared to be more lively than he had been at the funeral a few days before, and he appeared to be much younger now that he had dyed his hair.


    He was busy greeting people with a young woman who appeared to be his partner next to him. Wang Lun glanced at him.


    ¡°Is it that person?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m excited. He doesn¡¯t even know that today is his memorial day.¡±


    Ja-kyung remained silent. He stood with his hand on the railing, then turned and placed the card on the room¡¯s doorway. There were two beds and a bathroom. When he opened the drawer next to the bed, marijuana and pills were prepared as a service.


    Wang Lun sat down on the bed and smiled.


    ¡°Ja-kyung. Doesn¡¯t it looks like we¡¯re on our honeymoon?¡±


    Ja-kyung took off his sunglasses and walked up to the window. A quick glance through a small window revealed the sea facing the night sky. The fishing boats¡¯ lights were attracting fish from the sea here and there. Wang Lun approached him and lit a cigarette. He blew smoke out the window and stared out at the darkened sea. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes were also gradually becoming as black as the darkness.

 CH 36

    Ja-kyung, who was waiting near the kitchen, knocked out a man in a cooking suit when he entered the bathroom, and then stripped him naked. He took him into the bathroom¡¯s cubicle after tying his hands and feet. Ja-kyung changed his clothes and went to the kitchen.


    It was dinnertime, and everyone was so preoccupied with preparing the food that they didn¡¯t notice a stranger had infiltrated. Ja-kyung went to the food storage while avoiding people¡¯s eyes and found a box marked by Wang Lun.


    When he opened it, it was filled with green onions. When he put his hand inside, he could feel the hard plastic. Ja-kyung took it out after touching the lid. He was about to leave when he ran into a staff. The staff looked at Ja-kyung with a dissatisfied expression.


    ¡°Newbie?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Who told you to come in here?¡±


    Ja-kyung bowed his head.


    ¡°Chef Kim sent me here¡­¡±


    ¡°Kim Young-woo?¡±


    After all, Kim is said to be the most common first name in Korea.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Chef Kim Young-woo¡­¡±


    ¡°What did he tell you to bring?¡±


    The man approached and Ja-kyung opened the box cover slightly and checked the contents.


    ¡°Green onions.¡±


    ¡°You punk, take it out and bring it to him, don¡¯t be careless¡­¡±


    I¡¯m sorry. He bowed and the man motioned him to go with an annoyed look on his face. Ja-kyung turned around with a sigh. He bowed his head and walked away from the crowd, then moved with the box in his hand to the warehouse where the trash was collected.


    He could smell a foul smell as soon as he opened the door. He shut the door, took off his cooking clothes, and changed back into his regular clothes. He took his gun, knife, and a smoke grenade from the box, and then came out after he hid them here and there. When he came out, he noticed Choi Ki-tae walking in the distance and quickly ran behind the wall.


    He waited for him to leave before proceeding to climb the stairs. As he walked down the second-floor hallway, violins, cellos, and pianos appeared on the banquet hall stage, and the performance began. People¡¯s attention was drawn to it. Everyone was dressed up, and it reminded him of a fairy tale ball.


    Ja-kyung, who was walking while looking down, came to a halt in surprise. He frowned, wondering if he had seen it correctly, and double-checked. Why was that person there¡­


    Kang Il-hyun, who was drinking champagne while watching the performance, turned his head. Ja-kyung sat down and hid beneath the railing. Fuck¡­!


    A staff who spotted Ja-kyung approached quickly.


    ¡°Guest. Are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded his head.


    [I¡¯m okay. I just get dizzy for a moment.]


    He spoke in Chinese, and the man also asked if he could accompany him to his room in Chinese. Ja-kyung shook his head and stood up slowly with his back to Kang Il-hyun. He looked around, but his attention was drawn to the stage. A woman in a dress stood next to him. He had no idea who she was, but she seemed to be close to Kang Il-hyun.


    Ja-kyung walked close to the wall after thanking the staff to avoid being seen as much as possible. Wang Lun sat up after lying down when Ja-kyung entered the room. He had a bored expression on his face, probably from being alone without a cell phone.


    ¡°You¡¯re here? The gun?¡±


    Ja-kyung opened the jacket and confirmed the gun. Seeing his darkened face, Wang Lun asked with a worried expression.


    ¡°Are you okay? Your complexion doesn¡¯t look good.¡±


    ¡°He is outside.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Kang Il-hyun.¡±


    Wang Lun couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I heard he was arriving from Hong Kong tomorrow morning, so why¡­¡±


    Wang Lun jumped up from his seat, placed his hand on his waist, and paced back and forth in the small room. Ja-kyung, who was perplexed, took out his gun and examined it. He had no idea why Il-hyun was here at this hour, but as long as he doesn¡¯t stand out, he gonna fine. All he had to do was complete the work on time, move to the boat that Wang Lun¡¯s men had moored nearby, and disappear.


    ¡°Will it be okay?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, he didn¡¯t see me.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at his watch. From the next room, a faint moan could be heard. A grunt and occasional pounding against the wall. Wang Lun frowned as he smoked a cigarette.


    ¡°Do people usually getting sexual in the early evening?¡±


    He leaned his ear against the wall. Oppa, I like it so much, Wang Lun¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sound of what had just been said on the other side. Someone knocked on the bedroom door just as Wang Lun was about to drop a cigarette from his mouth, and he fell off the wall, startled.


    Ja-kyung winked at him to go out, then turned to the window so that his face was hidden. A staff with neatly tied hair knocked on the door. She handed the tablet and walked away. Wang Lun confirmed it.


    There were pictures of men and women, as well as information about their body size, height, and weight. Those who had previously been chosen were locked out.


    ¡°Tell me if you have an idea.¡±


    He went up to bed after handing the tablet to Ja-kyung. Wang Lun had an old lover who never left his side. He pretended to be strong, but when his lover said a word, he lowered his tail and became a gentle dog.


    Ja-kyung put the tablet aside. He also laid down on the bed. The two spent time in the room. Dinner was also delivered to the room. There were about three hours left until work, so he had to stay as inconspicuous as possible until then.


    Ja-kyung remembered Kang Il-hyun, who he saw from outside while lying on the bed. Why the hell did he come here? Of course, he may have invested in Choi Ki-tae¡¯s family like Kang Seok-joo. But when Il-hyun told him he was going to Hong Kong and showed up in the wrong place, he felt a strange sense of betrayal.


    He then sat up, embarrassed by his emotions. Wang Lun asked why from the other side and Ja-kyung shook his head. He lay down again, erased his thoughts about Kang Il-hyun, and concentrated solely on the plan to complete the job safely.


    ***


    As midnight approached, the number of people significantly decreased as everyone went into their bedrooms. Ja-kyung came out and walked down the hallway while wearing sunglasses. Moans and noises could be heard from inside the door from time to time. By this point, they were most likely enjoying the pleasure of taking the drugs provided as a service.


    Choi Ki-tae¡¯s security guards carried guns everywhere and carried out strict surveillance. When he looked down, the remaining crowd was still gathered and conversing. Fortunately, Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be seen. Ja-kyung approached the guard, held out a bundle of fifty thousand won in cash, and secretly whispered.


    ¡°Hey¡­ I¡¯d like to get more drugs. The price doesn¡¯t matter. The strongest one.¡±


    The guard checked Ja-kyung¡¯s status and called somewhere on the radio. Soon after, a man in a suit and glasses appeared from downstairs. The handsome man greeted Ja-kyung politely and checked the invitation and room key.


    Although the man¡¯s nameplate read Chief, he remembered seeing him with Chairman Choi at the banquet hall.


    ¡°Please go back to your room and wait, I¡¯ll bring it to you.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded as the man smiled kindly. When the man titled Chief turned around, all of the lights on the ship went out. Noise could be heard here and there as the room darkened. Confused, the Chief searched for someone via walkie-talkie. It would have been nice to have a flashlight, but there was none available because even the staff had returned their cell phones.


    The staff from downstairs came out with a flashlight and lit it, but it did not even start to illuminate the spacious interior of the ship. However, the vigilante was wearing sunglasses with infrared function, so people¡¯s movements were easily captured.


    Ja-kyung strode forward and bumped into the man titled Chief. He staggered at the sudden impact, dropped the walkie-talkie, and grabbed the railing.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t see ahead.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all right, sir. Could you please go back to your room? We will bring the items you need as soon as the power is restored.¡±


    In the meantime, he does not lose his composure and was even kind. Ja-kyung picked up the walkie-talkie and the in-ear that the man had dropped, stepped back, and walked into the hallway opposite the bedroom. On the way, the doors of the rooms opened and people shouted everywhere.


    The staff was busy reassuring the panicked guests. Despite the fact that Wang Lun entered the basement and turned off the power, it does not take long for it to recover. Because the emergency power had been damaged, there was a high probability of suspicion being raised immediately upon discovery.


    It took approximately 30 minutes to recover. He needed to find and kill Choi Moon-seong. His walking speed quickened. He steered clear of the people who were wandering around in the dark. A few staff members carried flashlights and turned on the lights, leading those in the room to their rooms.


    On the chaos cruise, Ja-kyung wore an in-ear. He could hear the communications on the walkie-talkie. Several voices were mixed together.


    [The emergency power line was cut.]


    [I want you to control the entrance and strengthen security.]


    [How long will it take to restore?]


    [Estimated to take about 30 minutes.]


    [Fuck. Get it back in any way. And release the other guys and make sure they catch who did this. Security team checks CCTV when the electricity comes on.]


    It was Choi Ki-tae¡¯s angry voice.


    [Yes.]


    [And add more people to the VIP massage room.]


    [How much do you mean?]


    [I don¡¯t know, you bastard! Send as many people there as possible. Because Father is there now.]


    Ja-kyung unfolded the map of the cruise in his mind. The VIP massage room was in the far back corner of the first floor. He wasn¡¯t sure if Chairman Choi was really getting massages there, but it was a place with tight security before the lights went out.


    He checked the time and dashed downstairs. Unsurprisingly, the staff who had gathered after hearing the radio were encamped in front of it. They also had an emergency light. Some even used lighters to light the room.


    Ja-kyung, who was holding his breath behind the wall, pulled out a smoke bomb from his arms. When he pressed the button and threw it as hard as he could at the location, two smoke bombs fell to the floor and a huge cloud of smoke rose. People gathered in the dark smoke were confused and panicked


    What is this? ring a fire extinguisher! Is there a fire? Don¡¯t light the lighter! Shouts and coughing could be heard from all directions. Ja-kyung raised his mask which partially covered his face, held his breath, and blended between them. In a situation where he couldn¡¯t see properly because of the smoke, he followed the wall and entered inside.


    The staff inside were also surprised when the smoke came in, so it was a mountain of confusion. Ja-kyung pretended to be a staff and yelled at them.


    ¡°There is a fire outside! Everyone goes out. Hurry up! You have to go quickly!¡±


    The guards guarding the inside looked bewildered as the staff ran out screaming. As Ja-kyung attempted to enter further, one of the guards lit up his face to confirm. Who are you? He asked Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung then took off his sunglasses. Don¡¯t you know me?


    Ja-kyung swung his fists as the man approached. The man flew back and Ja-kyung used his feet to kick the man in the chest. As soon as he pulled out his knife to kill him, the light turned on and the room brightened.

 CH 37

    ¡°What about the perpetrator?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t found him yet. The other guys are still looking for him.¡±


    Slap, Choi Moon-seong¡¯s big hand flew and slapped Choi Ki-tae¡¯s cheek. Choi Ki-tae, who had been stumbling, stood up like a roly-poly and took a resting posture. Choi Moon-seong repeatedly smacked Choi Ki-tae¡¯s cheek out of frustration, causing Choi Ki-tae¡¯s face to turn red as if it were cooked on a fire.


    The subordinates behind them could not even breathe at the sight.


    ¡°You incompetent bastards. You couldn¡¯t even catch one person!¡±


    ¡°I will definitely catch him. Please believe me.¡±


    Choi Moon-seong strongly ground his teeth. There was a power failure when he was getting a massage in the backroom. He originally thought that electricity would return soon, but when he noticed that the outside was rather noisy, he understood that there was more going on than just a power outage. But the intruder that was directly in front of him disappeared. One of the guards was knocked out and said he couldn¡¯t see it clearly since he was wearing a mask.


    ¡°Did you check the list properly?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We checked everything from personal information to body search.¡±


    ¡°Then how did he get in here! He even made his move!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll find him and get rid of him as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your apology at all. The guests must never know. In particular, take extra care to avoid drawing the attention of the VIPs.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The already observant guests have been asking what has happened. The explosion that happened not long ago has made the guest more anxious. It would be challenging to solve this situation if it came up again.


    At the same time, his subordinates were looking in and coming out of his private bedroom.


    ¡°There is nothing wrong inside.¡±


    Choi Moon-seong went inside and Choi Ki-tae followed.


    ¡°I will definitely catch him. Don¡¯t worry too much, Dad.¡±


    Choi Moon-seong¡¯s rage persisted despite Ki-tae¡¯s determination. When Choi Ki-tae left, Choi Moon-seong pulled the gun he had stashed under the pillow from its hiding place, set it on the table, and inhaled deeply with his hand on his waist. He made the decision that no matter what type of bastard he was if he was caught, he would cut off his limbs and throw them into the water.


    He took out a cigar, lit it, and walked up to the window. The deck was being searched by a group of men. His eyes widened as he rubbed his smoked cigar into the ashtray and turned around. In front of him, A gun with a silencer was aimed at his head.


    Choi Moon-seong¡¯s attention turned to the ceiling fan¡¯s ripped cover before shifting to the front door. The door that was initially open was now tightly locked. The invader raised his index finger to his mouth while pointing the gun.


    Shhh.


    And he motioned cutting his neck. He made a threat that if he called anyone, he would shoot him dead right away. Choi Moon-seong fixed a stern gaze on the intruder. The intruder¡¯s eyes were familiar. The intruder carefully removed the mask that was covering half of his face as he stared at him intently.


    Not surprisingly, this was the man he saw at the funeral of his youngest son a few days ago.


    A Hong Konger who was with Kang Seok-ju.


    ¡°You, why are you¡­!¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at Choi Moon-seong with an indifferent face. Ja-kyung escaped and hid in the man¡¯s room ventilation as the armed guards concentrated near the massage room. It seemed like billions of years during that tiny waiting period. He attempted to shoot the man dead as soon as Choi Ki-tae left, but he changed his mind. He still wanted to see the face of the person who died at his hand.


    Choi Moon-seong slowly extended his hand to the side while focusing his attention forward. Choi Moon-seong glanced down at his palm as a burst of light and a squeaky sound erupted from the intruder¡¯s muzzle as soon as his fingertips touched the gun. Later, severe pain arose. He couldn¡¯t even scream properly and fell down.


    He gasped as he realized that his three fingers had vanished without a trace. Ja-kyung approached the man who was having trouble breathing and aimed the gun at his forehead. As he peered down, Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes showed no sign of mercy.


    Choi Moon-seong raised his head and looked at Ja-kyung. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.


    ¡°Which bastard¡­ send you?¡±


    Ja-kyung had an ambiguous smile on his lips.


    ¡°If you know. Do you want revenge?¡±


    ¡°Do you think you will be safe after this?¡±


    ¡°Oh, my. Your youngest son said the same thing. Did they call it like father, like son in Korea?¡±


    His eyes widened before becoming distorted.


    ¡°You bastard! My son!¡±


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The one who sent me to kill you.¡±


    Choi Moon-seong was shot in the forehead as soon as he opened his lips to speak, and the bloody back of his head immediately burst, staining the curtains. Choi Moon-seong staggered backward and was unable to even close his eyes. Ja-kyung shot him while maintaining an indifferent expression as he stared down at his face.


    One, two, three, four, five.


    The past he wanted to forget appeared and disappeared with each shot he made. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere. Ja-kyung stopped firing when his face was broken and his eyes, nose, and lips were disfigured beyond recognition. The eyeballs that had fallen off his face and rolled on the ground were staring at Ja-kyung.


    He stomped on it and pulled up the bedsheets to wipe the blood on his face and hands. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Ja-kyung stepped on the sofa and entered the vent. He closed the lid and crawled forward when he heard the voices of the staff talking from below.


    After crawling for a while, Wang Lun¡¯s voice came through the in-ears he had put into his ears.


    [Ja-kyung. Where are you?]


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the boat yet. What about you?¡±


    [I went out and got into the boat. I¡¯ve also dealt with CCTV, but the problem is that the security is tight now, so it¡¯s difficult to get close to the cruise.]


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll get out as soon as possible.¡±


    [Come carefully. I¡¯ll be waiting.]


    Ja-kyung, who was crawling out, tore off the fan in the staff¡¯s bathroom and came down. He wiped the dust from his body and put his sunglasses in his pocket. He leaned on the side of the door and checked through the palm-sized window to see that no one was coming and going.


    When he came out, the downstairs was noisy. Many guests could be seen out from their rooms and perching on the railings to observe the situation while the staff ran around reassuring them.


    Ja-kyung was attempting to leave through the deck, but there was heavy security at the door directly in front of the banquet hall. Ja-kyung remembered the other stairs on the third floor. He started to move in search of another entry after instantly giving up trying to walk downstairs. With about half a turn left, two armed guards suddenly appeared from the corner directly in front of him.


    Ja-kyung passed them by after bowing his head in greeting.


    After a while, he heard a call coming from behind.


    ¡°Guest. Please stop for a moment.¡±


    He walked more quickly while pretending not to hear them. Their following speed increased as well. Guest. Guest. He bit his lower lip as their voices grew louder. Ja-kyung briefly stopped when the sound of the trigger being pulled could be heard.


    ¡°I warn you. Please turn around.¡±


    Ja-kyung did not even budge as he stared straight ahead. The guard was holding a gun at the back of his head and was around seven to eight meters away. To reach the entrance, he had to go a little further. Apparently, the guards across the way picked up on the oddity as well and moved in his direction.


    Ja-kyung closed his eyes tightly. Then he heard a sound from behind.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Fuck. I¡¯m Fucked up. It was Choi Ki-tae.


    ¡°He looked suspicious, but he didn¡¯t want to stop.¡±


    He could clearly hear Ki-tae approaching footsteps. His hands felt cold. There was no guarantee that he would escape safely even if he killed him.


    ¡°I guess you didn¡¯t hear it. Could you turn around and let me check your face and invitation?¡±


    It was just before Ja-kyung raised his hand and put it into his arms. The door swung open from the front, and an unexpected person appeared. The guards coming from the other side also stopped. Kang Il-hyun took off the phone he was holding to his ear and raised one eyebrow.


    When their gaze locked, Ja-kyung¡¯s sunglasses-covered eyes shook erratically. Out of everything¡­


    For a split second, the silence felt unbearable. A cold sweat ran down his back. Kang Il-hyun approached in stride and reached out and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm. Due to the unexpected move, Ja-kyung was unable to even breathe, and Kang Il-hyun tenderly smiled and stroked his cheek.


    ¡°Why are you just arriving now? I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. He was as quiet as a dead mouse. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s gaze, which had remained on Ja-kyung¡¯s face, turned away.


    ¡°Do you need something with my partner?¡±


    ¡°Sir¡­ Is he your partner?¡±


    ¡°If so?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry. We almost made a mistake.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smirked and dragged Ja-kyung inside by his arm. The door closed behind him, and Ja-kyung was unable to move in front of it. He only moved his eyes to look at Kang Il-hyun in front of him, but his gaze was colder than usual.


    It was also quiet outside the door. Kang Il-hyun was the first to break the suffocating silence.


    ¡°I think I know this face?¡±


    Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut and looked at him. He was so calm as if they met after making a promise.


    ¡°Why is the cat that should be at home on this ship?¡±


    Il-hyun moved right in front of him as he spoke. Today, the smell of skin he usually smelled was more dizzying. Ja-kyung looked around the room. The single bed had nothing on it. Kang Il-hyun grabbed the door with both hands, squeezing Ja-kyung inside and preventing him from leaving. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes were curved and the corners of his mouth were raised when looking down.


    ¡°Tell me, Yi An.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Or do you have another name?¡±

 CH 38

    Ja-kyung had a confused expression and only his eyes moved.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what the Director is talking about.¡±


    No way. Kang Il-hyun quickly took off Ja-kyung¡¯s sunglasses. Il-hyun thought that his eyes were full of life, unlike Zhang Yi An, who stayed in his house. And he preferred this one over Zhang Yi An. These kinds of eyes made Il-hyun want to torture and force him to succumb.


    ¡°I was on a business trip to Hong Kong and I heard a very interesting story.¡±


    He paused and moved his tongue across his mouth. Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut and didn¡¯t say anything. A cold sweat trickled down his back.


    ¡°So I was thinking about how to ask this, but I¡¯m meeting you here just in time.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious? What that interesting story was?¡±


    Il-hyun kept his smile on his face like a messenger of good news, and Ja-kyung remained silent.


    ¡°Someone is trying to kill me. And apparently that someone is in my house.¡±


    The hand that was hidden behind his back was numb and he clenched it tightly. Kang Il-hyun knows all the truths. How?


    Il-hyun gently caressed Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Explain it. After listening, I will decide whether to be deceived or not.¡±


    There were about eight days until the promised date, but with the situation as it was, there wasn¡¯t much to do. When Ja-kyung saw Il-hyun¡¯s bright, smiling eyes, he realized it was pointless to try to get away with it. Ja-kyung pushed hard on Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder.


    He eventually took a knife from his arms and attacked. Swish- The knife sliced through the air and attacked the underside of Il-hyun¡¯s neck. Kang Il-hyun ducked his head to avoid the knife and defended himself by clutching Ja-kyung¡¯s arm.


    Ja-kyung took the knife in his left hand and this time tried to slash Il-hyun¡¯s arm. Ja-kyung pushed Kang Il-hyun against the wall with all his might while Kang Il-hyun grabbed his arm. Thump, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s back smacked against the wall, and the tip of the knife stopped just below his neck.


    Ja-kyung pushed him hard, but the difference in physical strength was greater than he had anticipated. In a situation where their arms were crossed and they faced each other, Ja-kyung moved his left hand back and placed the tip of the knife in his palm. The tip of the knife gradually approached Il-hyun¡¯s neck as he pressed it with force.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression remained unchanged as the knife was about to pierce his throat. He instead smiled coldly and relaxed.


    ¡°Do you think anything good will come of this?¡±


    Il-hyun pushed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm out with force after warning him. When pushed, Ja-kyung slammed his head into Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face. Slam, he cursed and grabbed his nose. When the knife appeared again, Kang Il-hyun bowed his head to avoid it, then pushed Ja-kyung against the wall with a loud sound.


    Kang Il-hyun quickly grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s wrist and twisted it. Ugh, Ja-kyung frowned in pain. It was a situation in which his lower body was so close that kicking was impossible.


    ¡°Do it in moderation. Shouldn¡¯t you be polite to your new employer?¡±


    Ja-kyung paused at the word of the new employer.


    ¡°What are you talking about.¡±


    ¡°Did you not understand? I am announcing that your client has changed from my father to me.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s expression became twisted. What the hell do you mean by this nonsense? No, more than that, Kang Il-hyun knows that his father is trying to kill him. Looking at his expression, he doesn¡¯t seem to be joking.


    ¡°Dmitry? He was a good friend of mine.¡±


    He laughed as he mentioned Dmitry. Ja-kyung¡¯s face darkened noticeably when Kang Il-hyun mentioned the familiar name. It wasn¡¯t something he was trying to say, no matter how he looked at it.


    ¡°So, can you put the knife away now? Before my patience runs out, huh?¡±


    Their eyes were intricately intertwined. Wang Lun called Ja-kyung from the in-ear he was wearing at the time. Ja-kyung still pointed the knife and did not move.


    [Ja-kyung. Are you listening to me?]


    Il-hyun relaxed his body and looked at Ja-kyung with a more relaxed facial expression. Ja-kyung slowly walked away from him. Il-hyun leaned against the window, rubbed his nose, which had been hit a while ago, and frowned.


    ¡°I am listening. Talk.¡±


    [Why are you getting it so late? Where are you now?]


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the boat yet.¡±


    [Shall I go back in?]


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes stayed on Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°No. I¡¯ll be out in a minute. Wait for me.¡±


    Ja-kyung finished the radio talk but continued to be wary of Il-hyun. Il-hyun took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it behind the door, and handed it to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t your lungs still good?¡±


    Instead of accepting the cigarette, Ja-kyung looked at him.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°There are many ways to know. Instead, it cost quite a bit.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of a change of employer.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m suggesting it myself right now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have no intention of accepting your offer.¡±


    Ja-kyung put strength in the hand holding the knife.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hold the knife too hard. My talk is not over yet.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about killing my father. You just have to kill me as planned.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun said something completely incomprehensible.


    ¡°What are you up to?¡±


    ¡°As you heard. Of course, I will give you a more generous price. I¡¯ll also guarantee your safety in the future.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was arranging his words in his head came to a realization after a while. So Kang Il-hyun devised a plan to remove Chairman Kang from his position by getting killed. If he could figure out who Ja-kyung was, he¡¯d already have proof that Chairman Kang had ordered it. It seemed Ja-kyung have figured out what Il-hyun was after.


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes gradually softened.


    ¡°I will give you time to think. It seems like your friend is waiting outside, so that¡¯s it for today.¡±


    ¡°What if I refuse?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. You are smart. And you like money.¡±


    Il-hyun, who had been staring at him with a smile, stepped forward unexpectedly. Ja-kyung strengthened the hand that held the knife. Il-hyun stopped in front of him and tilted his head. His eyes were terrifying. When he reached out, Ja-kyung hit his hand with the knife-wielding hand, and Il-hyun stretched his hand out again, removing the band-aid on Ja-kyung¡¯s neck.


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes were strange when he saw the mark on his neck. Even when Ja-kyung pointed the tip of the knife at his neck a while ago, he acted calmly but his eyes became terribly fierce now. Ja-kyung pushed him away, grabbed the band-aid, and put it in place. Ja-kyung avoided Il-hyun¡¯s gaze, but then he grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s neck as if he was going to strangle him.


    ¡°You must have had fun while I was away?¡±


    His tone of voice was cold. Ja-kyung pushed his hand away and looked at him. Even though Ja-kyung still had no idea why Il-hyun was angry, Il-hyun raised the corners of his mouth and smiled nicely.


    ¡°Then shall we go? If we run into Choi Ki-tae, I think we¡¯ll be in big trouble.¡±


    But his eyes were like a midwinter storm.


    ***


    Ja-kyung stood there for a long time, watching the water fall. Even though the smell of blood had been washed away by the seawater, it felt like it was rising from under his nose. As the crowd thinned, Kang Il-hyun led him up to the deck. The cruise was strangely quiet after the Chairman died.


    As expected, Choi Ki-tae will conceal his father¡¯s death for the time being in order to avoid agitating the guests. It was natural for the guests to be concerned as the rich man was murdered one by one. He climbed down the line under the cruise and swam to the boat that was anchored nearby.


    Kang Il-hyun stood there and watched until Ja-kyung got on the boat safely.


    Wang Lun approached Ja-kyung with a cigarette after he had finished washing and wiping the water. He had a handful of patches in his hand. Ja-kyung¡¯s body was not stabbed with a knife, but there was no place without a scar. Furthermore, he was still in a state of chaos after escaping from the ship.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head. Just in case, he called Wang Han after arriving at Wang Lun¡¯s house, but he didn¡¯t seem to know anything. He felt compelled to tell him everything. Kang Il-hyun was aware of everything, but what should we do? He stated that he had additional suggestions. Il-hyun also agreed to double the money. Then it became ten million dollars. It was about twelve billion Korean Won. It was an unimaginable amount.


    Wang Lun applies ointment to Ja-kyung¡¯s dry palm while he keeps his mouth shut and was lost in thought.


    ¡°Do you feel relieved?¡±


    Ja-kyung lifted his head and looked at Wang Lun.


    ¡°Do you feel relieved after killing him?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer. Wang Lun quickly tapped Ja-kyung on the shoulder. Then he brought Ja-kyung a blanket and wrapped it around him. Wang Lun¡¯s phone rings as he cleaned out the paste and ointment on his hand. He approached Ja-kyung with a cheerful expression after checking the message.


    ¡°Look.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze was fixed on the phone screen. The children who had been brought from the factory a few days before were gathered in front of the camera. They didn¡¯t smile brightly, but their faces appeared much more relaxed than before. A greeting message was sent, along with a statement that they are doing well.


    ¡°I¡¯m so proud that I could die. It seems that they go to school and study.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±


    ¡°The eldest name is Kim Joo-eun. She¡¯s smart, so she¡¯ll do well in her studies.¡±


    The child who was carrying drugs and grabbed the stone to save the other children instead took the pencil. Ja-kyung smiled without realizing it as he thought the school uniform suit her so well.


    ¡°I sent the money you gave to the orphanage.¡±


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    ¡°And when the kids asked for your contact information, I politely declined.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to send you the pictures often?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head. No, don¡¯t. One should play in a place that suits them. This was the place for Ja-kyung, and children should not step foot in this place. Wang Lun bid farewell and left the room after cleaning it up.


    Ja-kyung, who was left alone, sat on the bed with his legs crossed and remained silent for a long time. The sun began to rise outside the window as time passed. Wang Lun¡¯s snoring could be heard all the way here.


    He tried to sleep, but his eyelids were still light he couldn¡¯t sleep easily. His entire body ached from muscle aches, and his mind was muddled. Then he fell asleep and dreamed. Choi Moon-seong, who had died, and his son transformed into demons and chased him.


    Kang Il-hyun with a gun appeared after he managed to escape from them. Ja-kyung fell down an endless cliff after the bullet he fired struck his heart. He opened his eyes and realized it was all a dream, but cold sweat ran down his back.


    Damn it. He had only been asleep for about 3 hours when he awoke and checked the time. The sun was already shining brightly outside. A message came as Wang Lun opens the lid to drink the bottled water he left by his bedside. He hadn¡¯t expected to get a message from Kang Il-hyun, but it was.


    [Have you thought about it?]


    Ja-kyung clenched his molars. He set his phone down without answering it, and it immediately rang again.


    [I¡¯ll pick you up when you¡¯ve decided.]


    His fingers stopped on the phone. He read the text several times. Chairman Kang would no longer be a problem if he quit now. As far as Kang Il-hyun found out, whatever choice he made was risky. Ja-kyung typed the message after much thought.


    [Please come. I¡¯ll wait.]

 CH 39

    Ja-kyung sat on the cafe terrace and watched the people passing by. He didn¡¯t have time to enjoy his daily life because he had been so busy since coming to Korea, but he felt free for a while because he was drinking coffee leisurely. Inside the cafe, people his age or younger sat in groups of twos and threes to study.


    Ja-kyung leaned back on the chair and tilted his head back. He¡¯d been awake all night and was exhausted. When he closed his eyes, he heard the car door close. He straightened his body after turning his head. Kang Il-hyun had just gotten out of the driver¡¯s seat after parking his car alongside the road.


    He pulled out a chair and sat down in front of him, throwing his car keys on the table.


    ¡°I guess you haven¡¯t slept all night. Your complexion is pretty bad.¡±


    He reached out his arm and drank Ja-kyung¡¯s coffee as if it were his own. Sorry. I¡¯m thirsty. Ja-kyung looked at him but said nothing. Kang Il-hyun tapped the table with his fingertips as he sat crookedly in a chair with his legs crossed. That sound squeezed his mind like the watch¡¯s second hand.


    When the couple in the back disappeared and only the two of them were left on the terrace, Ja-kyung spoke up.


    ¡°I will accept your terms.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s fingers stopped moving. As expected, a smile spread across Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face. Ja-kyung clenched his fists under the table.


    ¡°Instead, there are conditions.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Increase it by three times.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun was expressionless. That would be 15 million dollars. 18 billion in Korean Won. That¡¯s a ridiculous amount.


    ¡°You must pay that amount, plus a penalty for Chairman Kang¡¯s commission.¡±


    ¡°Why the penalty? Because you couldn¡¯t kill me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a lot of money for that?¡±


    Ja-kyung continued speaking calmly.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a small amount compared to what the Director gets?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s bigger than it looks. You say 18 billion is a small amount.¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t give it to me, I¡¯ll let go of both sides.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun took off his sunglasses and raised his chin as Ja-kyung tried to stand. He was going to see it, whatever it was because he was in a position to work for money, but wasn¡¯t he a little stiff? When Il-hyun motioned for him to sit down, Ja-kyung sat down and drank the cold water next to him instead of coffee.


    Il-hyun chuckled. The fake Zhang Yi An, who was sitting in front of him, was more brazen than he thought. He wasn¡¯t expecting to be intimidated, but he also wasn¡¯t expecting to be asked for more money. Il-hyun, who was unsure, nodded slowly.


    ¡°Okay. 15 million dollars. I¡¯ll pay half of it in advance and pay the rest when the job is done.¡±


    ¡°The advance payment must be made before work.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s difficult right now. It will take three or four days.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded.


    ¡°Is it enough now?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then you can tell me now.¡±


    What do you want me to tell you? You already know who ordered it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want me to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Your real name. Of course, it¡¯s not Zhang Yi An.¡±


    Ja-kyung remained silent and did not respond. He called himself by more than ten different names. Mr. Wang took him and named him Wang Wei, from which several other names arose. However, he preferred the name Ja-kyung. Even though he hated his parents so much that he wanted to kill them, it wasn¡¯t the same with the name.


    Il-hyun smiled absurdly as Ja-kyung stubbornly kept his mouth shut.


    ¡°You¡¯re too much. With 18 billion won, can¡¯t you tell me your name?¡±


    Ja-kyung pursed his lips, overly bothered.


    ¡°Lee¡­¡±


    ¡°Lee?¡±


    ¡°Lee¡­¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed. His eyes urged him to speak quickly, and Ja-kyung had no choice but to do so.


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung¡­¡±


    ¡°Lee, Ja. kyung?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun pronounced each letter one by one as if to confirm. His name came out quite strangely through his voice. Even those who knew him, beginning with Dmitry, rarely knew his original name. What on earth was he thinking? Ja-kyung immediately regretted it, but it was even stranger when he told him and then tried to deny it.


    ¡°Your age?¡±


    ¡°Is it important?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious. Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you are four years younger than me. Your parents?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. Even though it was a name, he couldn¡¯t understand why Kang Il-hyun even investigated his family register. Kang Il-hyun moved his upper body forward and stared at him with his chin on his palm when he didn¡¯t respond. The flowers on the table swayed gently in the breeze.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°A lover?¡±


    Il-hyun then understood and laughed as Ja-kyung remained silent and stared at him.


    ¡°Good. No lover, no parents.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He smiled brightly, pushed the chair back, and stood up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home for now. Zhang Yi An must remain in the shed for the time being.¡±


    ***


    [Dmitry, you son of a b*tch.]


    Wang Han¡¯s angry voice could be heard over the receiver. As the employer changed from Dmitry to Kang Il-hyun, Wang Han and Ja-kyung found it difficult.


    There was no reason to reject an employer who offered more money here. However, Ja-kyung believed that money was important, but credit was also important. So he thought that choosing Kang Il-hyun might catch his ankle even later.


    [Are you really going to do this?]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Do you trust him?]


    Ja-kyung did not respond immediately. Can he completely trust Kang Il-hyun? He had asked the question numerous times, but it was difficult to draw an accurate conclusion. Even if he said he would withdraw from the current situation, Kang Il-hyun, who knew everything, would not simply back down.


    ¡°There is no other way.¡±


    [Shall I go to Korea?]


    ¡°No. If hyung also makes a move, it will only make you stand out more. Please stay there and watch the situation on Dmitry¡¯s side. Because the two of them could be planning and screwing us.¡±


    [Will it be okay to be alone?]


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There is also Wang Lun hyung here. I will get the money and return with a healthy body.¡±


    Wang Han¡¯s deep sigh could be heard all the way up here. It would be even more chaotic if he discovered that Ja-kyung had broken into the ship the night before and killed a man. He ended the call after discussing transferring the money to his account. Ja-kyung finally let out the sigh he had been holding back.


    He followed Kang Il-hyun to the house, but his head was still throbbing from the previous night. He looked around the room but couldn¡¯t find any headache medication. He asked someone to bring him some medicine over the intercom. He wanted to avoid what would happen when he went down and ran into Il-hyun Kang.


    He was sitting with his head on the head of the bed when he heard a knock. They most likely brought the medicine. The door opened and Kang Il-hyun appeared as soon as he got out of bed and stood up. Alas, when Ja-kyung made an obvious impression, Il-hyun comes inside regardless. He held a glass of water and a tray of medicines.


    ¡°You said you had a headache. Are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded his head half-heartedly.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Well.¡±


    He placed the medicine and the water on the table. Ja-kyung approached Il-hyun¡¯s side and tried to sit, but Il-hyun grabbed his arm and pulled him to sit next to him. He put a knife to his neck last night, but it was difficult to do so carelessly now since he became his employer. He reluctantly sat down next to him, and Il-hyun gave him the medicine and water.


    When he tried to take the medicine, Il-hyun took the medicine back and pretended to open his mouth.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    It¡¯s starting again. Il-hyun smirked as Ja-kyung looked at him with disgust.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even force yourself to smile anymore? Is it because you¡¯ve been caught?¡±


    Ja-kyung took advantage of the opportunity to look him in the eyes, and immediately grabbed the medicine, and swallowed it with water. It tasted bitter as it passed through his throat, and it felt like his throat was getting hotter. Maybe it was because he swallowed it so quickly. Kang Il-hyun smiled broadly next to Ja-kyung as he touched his neck.


    Ja-kyung felt a chill run up his spine. He put his finger in his mouth and tried to vomit, but was immediately stopped. He slapped Il-hyun¡¯s arm hard, but as he stood up, Il-hyun grabbed him again. Kang Il-hyun then pushed him, and he fallen onto the sofa.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes were fierce as he looked down from above. Ja-kyung¡¯s breathing slowed, he felt drowsy, and his arms and legs relaxed, likely as a result of the medicine.


    ¡°Come to think of it, I¡¯m disappointed.¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way.¡±


    ¡°Even if you go to a small restaurant and eat, they give you service, but I gave you 18 billion won and I didn¡¯t get anything?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. He had a rough idea of what service he was referring to. Kang Il-hyun slowly removed the band-aid on Ja-kyung¡¯s neck. The mark was still red, and it had bothered him since the day before. Even after going to Hong Kong and learning the entire story, Il-hyun was not so angry.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s breath became short and his stomach became strange. Even if he pushed Kang Il-hyun, it was no use because his limbs did not have any strength. Il-hyun muttered as he touched the mark on Ja-kyung¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Where did you get this thing while I was away¡­ Fuck. So annoying.¡±


    Il-hyun was about to kiss him but Ja-kyung covered his lips with his hand.


    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for a partner tonight, look elsewhere. Because I am not interested in men.¡±


    Il-hyun covered his mouth with his hand and reached into Ja-kyung¡¯s pants. The already hard penis was so excited that his front was wet. Ja-kyung grabbed Il-hyun¡¯s arm, but it was useless. Il-hyun grabbed the pillar and rubbed it up and down to stimulate it.


    Ja-kyung bit his lip as he felt the fuse in his head flicker.


    Kang Il-hyun whispered into his ear.


    ¡°You said you¡¯re not interested, but why is your dick hard?¡±


    Ja-kyung was momentarily furious and gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Fuck! That¡¯s because you drugged me!¡±


    Kang Il-hyun pressed their lips together, and Ja-kyung immediately stopped talking. Ja-kyung used his front teeth to bite Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lower lip. Il-hyun had to be in pain, but he put his tongue in Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth and moved around freely.


    Ja-kyung tried to stick out his tongue, but it felt more like rubbing it together. As a result, the hand rubbing his penis became rougher. For a brief moment, the tongue that had been digging in his mouth fell out, and Ja-kyung took the opportunity to bite off Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lower lip.


    Ugh. Il-hyun frowned and licked his lips. Red blood dripped on Ja-kyung¡¯s face. Seeing this, Il-hyun smiled creepily.


    ¡°Are you going to be like this?¡±

 CH 40

    T/W: Non Consensual/R*pe


    During this time, he used all of his strength to push him away, but it was futile. He repeatedly pounced on him, pushed him away, and slapped him across the face. His nails scratched his face, and he felt Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes become fierce.


    He thought he was going to quit when he got up from his body, but he got out of bed and took off his T-shirt. His muscles twitched as if he was angry, and his eyes gleamed as if he was about to devour Ja-kyung.


    Ja-kyung rolled over and tried to get out of bed. But Kang Il-hyun quickly caught his leg. Kick! He kicked him in the shoulder, but he was out of strength and didn¡¯t do much damage. Rather, he was dragged down by his legs.


    He had to grab the sheets to keep himself from being dragged, and the bed was a total mess. Kang Il-hyun dragged Ja-kyung¡¯s lower body off the bed and immediately pressed his hand against his back. Ja-kyung¡¯s face was pressed against the bed mat, his upper body on the bed and only his lower body standing.


    When he tried to get up, Il-hyun pressed him again with great force. Ja-kyung knew exactly what Kang Il-hyun was going to do in an instant. His spine shivered as he heard pants buckles and zippers being pulled down. The pants and panties Ja-kyung was wearing were immediately pulled down and hung over his thighs.


    Ja-kyung cursed as his buttocks were exposed and his penis was pressed against the bed.


    ¡°Damn it! I got it! All right¡­ let go!¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick landed in Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes as he shouted. It was already erect enough to stick to his stomach without being touched. He grabbed the pole, rubbed it, and tapped it on Ja-kyung¡¯s buttocks. Il-hyun even said his ass was plump and it seemed to feel good to pound it.


    Ja-kyung became more soft and moved his body as Il-hyun¡¯s dick touched his ass.


    ¡°Just put it in! I¡¯ll kill you! Employer or whatever, I¡¯m going to cut your ass off! You bastard!¡±


    The more Ja-kyung cursed, the more crooked Kang Il-hyun¡¯s smile became. He lowered his upper body and pressed against Ja-kyung¡¯s back, licking his ears and softly whispering.


    ¡°Your personality is fiercer than I expected. I like it.¡±


    Then he blatantly puts his dick between his buttocks and moves it back and forth. Ja-kyung bit his teeth at the unexpected friction and shouted.


    ¡°You pervert bastard!¡±


    Ja-kyung moved his hand forward. He buried the gun Kang Il-hyun had given him under the pillow, but he stopped when he touched it. He was an employee of some kind, and he could only punch him in the head. However, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s weight attached to his back was quite heavy, so it was difficult for him to move.


    Rather, the more he moved, the more vivid the sensation of the dick between his buttocks became. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s tongue caressed the back of his neck, and his shoulders before going down his back. Even as his temper raged, Il-hyun¡¯s tongue seemed to melt him away, driving him even crazier.


    Ja-kyung struggled and pummeled his forehead on the sheet. Kang Il-hyun raised his upper body, swept his fingertips with saliva, and applied it to Ja-kyung¡¯s anal. Ja-kyung tightly closed his eyes. However, he couldn¡¯t help but open his eyes as Il-hyun rubbed his perineum and the entrance to his hole with his damp hands.


    It was a sticky hand gesture that felt like he was caressing a woman¡¯s vagina. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip in response to the strange sensation he was experiencing for the first time in his life. He couldn¡¯t move because of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s force behind him every time he tried to lift his upper body.


    Ja-kyung changed his mind to appease Il-hyun instead.


    ¡°Hey. Director. Just¡­ I¡¯ll suck you. I¡¯ll suck you. Okay?¡±


    ¡°Did you suck that bastard too?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The bastard who left the mark on your neck.¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about!¡±


    His large hands caress his protruding buttocks before grabbing and spreading them apart. Kang Il-hyun spits on the hole when it is revealed. The hole was wet from the saliva that ran down. Ja-kyung turned his head quickly and looked at him.


    ¡°Hey, Director Kang. Are you really going to do this? Should I pretend that I didn¡¯t have a contract?


    ¡°Answer me. I asked if you had sucked that bastard too.¡±


    His voice was so calm that the current situation felt rather unrealistic. Ja-kyung remembered Choi Ki-tae. Could it be that Kang Il-hyun was upset because of the mark on his neck? But, why? Was it this that made him so angry?


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes became fiercer as Ja-kyung closed his mouth tightly due to his complicated head.


    ¡°Fuck. You sucked him.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. Before he could say no, his hair was grabbed and his face was slammed into the mat. Argh, no, you bastard! There was only a huffing sound instead of an answer. Il-hyun grabbed his dick and rubbed against the gleaming hole with saliva.


    Il-hyun only inserted the thick tip then and took it out, but Ja-kyung¡¯s butt flinched, and the tightening was strong. Il-hyun forced it in, but it didn¡¯t go in properly, and he kept spitting on it. He also slapped Ja-kyung on the backside. He relaxed Ja-kyung¡¯s muscles by hitting them to the point where he had hand marks.


    The struggle grew stronger, but he opened it properly and began to enter without hesitation. Ja-kyung¡¯s face was engulfed in pain, and his breathing became difficult as the hole opened. Kang Il-hyun realized this as well and let go of the back of his head.


    Ja-kyung turned his head sideways because he thought it was time. Haaa, haaa, he let out the breath he had been holding back, but the pain that followed was so great that he thought it would be better if he could not breathe. He couldn¡¯t even make a sound because it hurt so much. His pupils dilated, his mouth opened, and he gasped as if his throat was clogged.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s chest, which was broad and strong behind his back, pressed against his body. He licked his earlobe softly and whispered.


    ¡°Relax. Otherwise, it will only be difficult for you.¡±


    Fuck. He couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Tears welled up. He thought it was already all in, but something kept coming in. Given the size of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick, it was not surprising. Kang Il-hyun reached out his hand and gently touched Ja-kyung¡¯s dick that was pressed against the mat. The dick, which had become less painful, was slowly erected.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s stomach ached and he felt as if his intestines were being ripped apart. Ja-kyung shook his head as Il-hyun began to move. No, no, don¡¯t move right now. That wish has been granted. Kang Il-hyun shoved it in and didn¡¯t even move an inch.


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t move, so Ja-kyung thought he¡¯d live at that moment. Il-hyun licked his ears again.


    ¡°I will ask you again. Did you suck him?¡±


    Bastard. So persistent.


    ¡°Suck¡­ What do you mean, ah¡­ no. I didn¡¯t suck him. I didn¡¯t. Fuck! Don¡¯t move. It hurt.¡±


    It hurt so much at first, but as time passed, the pain that had been breaking through the intestines gradually subsided. He frowned, then swept back his hair and moved his waist slowly. It still hurt, but not as much as it did the first time.


    Ja-kyung reasoned that it would be better to end it quickly rather than waste time by making another fuss, so he threw his face into the bed and pretended to be desperate. Then Kang Il-hyun¡¯s upper body got off his back. He thought Il-hyun was going to quit, but his body turned over while being inserted and his posture changed.


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s gaze fell straight down. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t see his inserted bottom, so he moved his gaze elsewhere. Kang Il-hyun then put Ja-kyung¡¯s legs on his arms, lifted his hips, and bent his upper body forward. The insertion became deeper and more painful as if his intestines were being severed.


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    Kang Il-hyun put his hand behind Ja-kyung¡¯s head and lifted him. His upper body was raised at the same time, revealing the inserted part. Ja-kyung was taken aback when he noticed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s huge dick fit perfectly in a hole he had never put anything in before.


    ¡°Look carefully. Whose dick are you eating right now.¡±


    He drew his back and shoved it in him as soon as he finished speaking. Ja-kyung trembled and tightened his thighs. The movement was also shocking, but it felt a little strange when Kang Il-hyun shoved his dick just now. The insides of him were tingling like an electric shock.


    ¡°Wait a minute. Wait a minute.¡±


    He waved his hand in the air but Kang Il-hyun poked the area again. Along with the pain, a strange pleasure spread. He had a rough idea that the area he touched was the prostate. He used to laugh like an asshole when he heard his acquaintance having sex with men say things like that.


    Fuck¡­ I was an asshole.


    Il-hyun moving speed has increased. A loud slamming sound was heard. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and covered his eyes with the back of his hand to avoid moaning. Kang Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s dick while moving his waist and started rubbing it.


    As the stimulus was applied both internally and externally, Ja-kyung forgot that he had been trying to run away until a while ago and struggled with pleasure. He tensed his toes and suppressed his moans, but his eyes gradually turned white. He could see Kang Il-hyun moving like a beast with a narrow vision.


    He could feel the taste of blood on his lips. His over-excited face was ferocious and sultry.

 CH 41

    When Ja-kyung opened his eyes, the room was pitch black. Ja-kyung reached up and placed his hand on the bedside. He wasn¡¯t even able to touch his phone or watch. He stood up and rolled onto his back. He almost screamed because it hurt like his entire body had been beaten.


    He checked the time and realized it was after lunch. He got out of bed and went to the window, then rolled up the blinds. The sun shone brightly. He trudged towards the bathroom with his arm covering his eyes. He was startled to see his reflection as soon as he walked in.


    There¡¯s a zombie standing there. His lips were swollen, his eyes were puffy, and his neck was blotchy¡­ When he lifted his shirt and checked his chest and abdomen, it looked as if he had contracted some kind of infectious disease.


    ¡°Crazy bastard¡­¡±


    He shut his eyes tight and remembered what Kang Il-hyun had done to him the night before. He didn¡¯t know how many times he pounded until he cum. He never falls behind anyone in physical strength, no matter where he goes, but last night he fainted for a while.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s sucking caused the marks left by Choi Ki-tae to change color, and the area became wider. He lit a cigarette first when he was completely awake. He sat down in the bathtub and smoked two cigarettes with a bewildered look on his face.


    Then he went to the sink, grabbed a toothbrush, and put a toothpaste. His arm hurts, and he can¡¯t even brush his teeth. He ground his teeth so hard to hold back his moan that the gums were all swollen.


    ¡°Haa.¡±


    He laughed at himself, rinsed my mouth, took off all his clothes, and showered. He assumed the marks were only on his chest and back, but red flowers bloomed all over his thighs and calves. He thought it would be hard to go out for a while in this condition.


    He changed into clothes that covered as much as possible after washing, and a large patch was attached to his neck. He went downstairs because he was hungry, but the house was quiet. He thought it was better. The pain began in his buttocks and progressed up his spine with each step he took.


    When he walked into the kitchen, the house chef looked at him as she was preparing lunch. She rushed over, wiping her hands on her apron, and asked if he was okay with a worried expression.


    ¡°You said you weren¡¯t in good condition. I made porridge for you, would you like to eat it now?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head.


    ¡°I want to eat meat¡­¡±


    He lost too much protein yesterday. No, he must have lost it all. He was concerned that Kang Il-hyun¡¯s fingerprints had become imprinted on his dick as a result of his excessive holding and rubbing. Ja-kyung sat down on the sofa while the house chef prepared the meat dishes.


    When he looked out the window, he noticed the gardener mowing the lawn. The clear skies made the grass appear greener. He took his phone from his pocket and went online. There was no coverage of what happened last night in the news.


    It was to be expected. He was drooping like a corpse and tilting his head back when he heard a noise from the front door. Startled, he turned his back. He wondered if it was Kang Il-hyun, and if he was right, he intended to rush up to the second floor. However, it was Kang Seok-joo who entered the house.


    ¡°Hey, Yi An. Did you just wake up?¡±


    He shook the shopping bag in his hand.


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°I prepared champagne for you. To drink while swimming.¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t believe Seok-joo prepared it for someone who doesn¡¯t even drink or swim. The obvious lie made him laugh.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t had lunch yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I just woke up.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great. Let¡¯s go out and eat while swimming. House chef. Bring out the lunch.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo urged him to go out with the champagne he had brought. The plan of wanting to eat, lie down, and sleep all day was interrupted. Anyway, now that his identity has been revealed, should he request that Kang Il-hyun not allow Kang Seok-joo to come? It was difficult to play with a kid.


    He went to the pool, but the weather became hotter for a few days, and sweat formed on his forehead just sitting under the parasol. and threw them away. He was dressed in a swimsuit, as you can see. It was a square swimsuit the last time, and now it¡¯s a triangle. The front was thick, but not as big as Kang Il-hyun¡¯s.


    Then, Ja-kyung was somewhat shocked as to why he was comparing their dick sizes. On the other hand, seeing Kang Seok-joo moving back and forth in the water without much thought, he was envious of how comfortable his life was.


    The staff eventually brought champagne inside a bucket of ice and food. Each had a steak plate placed in front of them. Potatoes, asparagus, and onions were served alongside the beef, which was cut into bite-sized pieces, along with two glasses of cool lemonade with herb leaves.


    Seok-joo, who came out of the water, couldn¡¯t take it any longer and begged the staff to bring him food. When asked if he had time in the afternoon, the employee gave a vague smile and went inside. That¡¯s how Ja-kyung got eaten up by Kang Il-hyun.


    After opening the champagne, he filled the empty glass.


    ¡°Cheers.¡±


    Cling, the glasses collided, but instead of alcohol, Ja-kyung drank the lemonade. Seok-joo was curious about the patch he put on his neck, so he asked how it happened. Ja-kyung was unable to speak openly and only stated that he was experiencing muscle pain.


    While he was eating, Seok-joo¡¯s cell phone rang. As he was checking the message, he mumbled, ¡°Wow,¡± with his eyes twinkling with an interesting face. When Ja-kyung looked at him, he told him about the conversation he had with his friends without even asking.


    ¡°I heard Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father is dead?¡±


    Ja-kyung blinked his eyes slowly. As if he didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°It¡¯s Choi Ki-tae. That drug dealer bastard.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow, this is fucking shocking. It¡¯s a mess right now. Choi Ki-tae denies it, but rumors are already circulating.¡±


    He was as excited as a reporter with a breaking story. It¡¯s a world where someone¡¯s death was nothing more than gossip, not mourning. Kang Seok-joo had forgotten to eat and was relaying the articles posted in the group chat room. From reports that he was murdered in his sleep to some credible articles that he had a party and it was so crowded that he couldn¡¯t be seen since. There has been a lot of speculation.


    Ja-kyung chewed the meat with an expressionless face.


    Kang Seok-joo called Choi Ki-tae. However, he called a few more times to see if he couldn¡¯t get through, and put his cell phone down next to him with a grumpy face.


    ¡°He¡¯s not answering. Do you think it¡¯s true?¡±


    ¡°If his father had really died, he would have held a funeral.¡±


    ¡°I made an investment there. I shouldn¡¯t have done it.¡±


    ¡°How much did you do?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo showed ten fingers without hesitation. It won¡¯t be ten million won. It¡¯s not even 100 million. Then 1 billion?


    ¡°It was a small amount, but it was the first investment of my life.¡±


    ¡°Do it in the right place¡­ What makes you believe in such people and invest in them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because you don¡¯t know. There¡¯s no place with a better return than that. And if Choi Ki-tae goes down, Director Kang will be upset too.¡±


    To make clear Seok-joo¡¯s words, he stated that only a few people were as skilled at money laundering as the dead Choi Moon-sung. That was why Kang Il-hyun frequently employed him. Furthermore, high-ranking officials constantly come and go from his parties, and he act to be aware that there was no other good place to build relationships.


    Instead of responding, Ja-kyung ate the remaining food. Kang Seok-joo, on the other hand, was having a long conversation with his friends about the death of Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father. Kang Seok-joo, who was typing a message at the time, looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°But I said there was an incident where someone stole the kids last time. Didn¡¯t I tell you about that?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then Choi Ki-tae¡¯s younger brother died, and this time, Ki-tae¡¯s father died.¡±


    ¡°Therefore?¡±


    ¡°I think it was done by the same guy.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo was not as stupid as he looks.


    ¡°You think so¡­?¡±


    ¡°I would be right. I don¡¯t know who it is, but he has a grudge against Choi Ki-tae¡¯s family. Maybe the next turn will be Choi Ki-tae?¡±


    Like Detective Conan, he pretended to raise the glasses that didn¡¯t exist. Ja-kyung laughed.


    ¡°Be careful¡­ The guy who talked like that always died first.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Kang Seok-joo laughed.


    ¡°Do you think I will be easily killed?¡±


    He feigns shooting into the air again with a triumphant expression on his face. Ja-kyung sighed as he noticed Seok-joo positioning it in front of his nose rather than his shoulder. The recoil will crush your nose if you shoot like that. If he has the opportunity before returning, he will teach Kang Seok-joo how to shoot and then leave. That way, even if he dies from Kang Il-hyun, he will only die fighting.


    As he stared at him, Kang Seok-joo suddenly gets startled and changed his posture to sit down. Ja-kyung seemed to know who appeared without looking back. Pretending not to notice, Ja-kyung dipped the meat in mustard sauce and brought it to his mouth. The sound of the stone rolling could be heard up to here. The footsteps on the grass were also getting closer.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Seok-joo got up from his seat, and Kang Il-hyun came and stood next to Ja-kyung. He felt his gaze on his neck, where the patch was applied, but he pretended not to know.


    ¡°That, hyung¡­ You told me to come and play with him last time¡­¡±


    ¡°Go because he doesn¡¯t need it anymore.¡±


    When the order was issued, a flash of injustice flashed across Seok-joo¡¯s face. You were the one who asked me to come and play, and now you don¡¯t need me? He grabbed his clothes and walked towards the house after saying his goodbyes. Ja-kyung finished his meal while looking at Kang Seok-joo¡¯s droopy shoulders.


    Kang Il-hyun went to the other side and sat when Seok-joo left.


    ¡°Have you woken up just now? You must have been very tired.¡±


    It was funny how cleverly he pretended not to know anything. After staring at him for a moment, he chewed the meat in his mouth as if it were Kang Il-hyun¡¯s flesh.

 CH 42

    Kang Il-hyun, who had called the staff, requested tea and watched Ja-kyung eat. Why had he arrived before it was even time to leave work? It was uncomfortable. Il-hyun watched and smiled as Ja-kyung ate more quickly.


    ¡°Eat slowly. I wonder if it was not enough after you ate so much yesterday?¡±


    When Ja-kyung locked his gaze on him, Il-hyun smiled and motioned for him to keep eating. He chewed it thoroughly, but the meat felt tough. After Ja-kyung put down the fork and wiped his mouth, Kang Il-hyun crossed his arms on the table and tilted his upper body.


    ¡°I have a question.¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    ¡°Why did you kill Choi Moon-seong?¡±


    Ja-kyung paused at the sudden question about Choi Moon-seong.


    ¡°Who is that?¡±


    When he pretended to be innocent, Kang Il-hyun smiled as if he were cute.


    ¡°Why did you kill him? Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill him.¡±


    ¡°Is it a grudge?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I didn¡¯t kill him?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a grudge. So, is there only Choi Ki-tae left?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer. He was considering getting rid of Choi Ki-tae at the right time, but he didn¡¯t have to say anything. Others will question why he wanted to get rid of the sons as well when he only need to kill Choi Moon-seong, but if he lets it go, it will become a problem someday. He himself was already a problem.


    ¡°How did you kill him? With a gun? Or a knife?¡±


    Il-hyun supported his chin on the table and asked with a really curious face. Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut and remained ignorant.


    ¡° I heard that his face was damaged to the point of being unrecognizable.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that to me.¡±


    Then he touched his left chest.


    ¡°Shoot here. Here. Don¡¯t shoot me in the wrong place for no reason.¡±


    Are you concerned about the risk of being shot? Just by looking at his face, it looked like he would be smiling even if a cannonball flew his way. Ja-kyung stretched his arm forward and moved his hand slightly to the right. The heart had been assumed to be on the left side, however, it is actually in the center and skewed to the left. So, when aiming at the heart, he had to move it a little more inward to aim properly.


    ¡°The heart is here.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled while making eye contact.


    ¡°Yes. Be kind too. Then can you tell me where my dick is?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face immediately turned to disgust. Should he shoot a bullet into his dick instead of his heart? He would spend the rest of his life as a eunuch. Ja-kyung was so excited just imagining it that it brought a smile to his face. He created a business smile and displayed it to him after attempting to hide it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t happen.¡±


    Ja-kyung picked a watermelon for dessert and searched for a place to spit the seeds while eating. Il-hyun, who was sitting next to him, noticed and extended his hand. Spit here. He wanted to spit it in his face, but Ja-kyung spewed it on the ground instead.


    ¡°If you spit out there, watermelons will grow.¡±


    ¡°Good for you. Next year, the Director can harvest and eat it. Of course, if you are still alive.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes widen as he smiles.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to hear your words because it¡¯s as pretty as your face.¡±


    Ja-kyung ignored him and only ate watermelon. He set the plates and glasses on the tray after removing the foods that had been eaten. He wanted to go to the second floor and relax soon because staying any longer would cause his blood pressure to rise. He took it and got up, but Kang Il-hyun stared at him with his chin resting on his palm.


    ¡°Shall I kill him?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked down at him.


    ¡°Choi Ki-tae. Shall I kill him?¡±


    His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were cold. Ja-kyung, who was making eye contact, smiled by pulling the corners of his mouth together.


    ¡°Then I¡¯d be grateful.¡±


    Ja-kyung bowed, took up the tray, and entered the house. Looking out through the living room window, Kang Il-hyun was still sitting there drinking tea. The tray was handed to the housekeeper as she come out of the kitchen.


    ¡°Let the staff do this. Don¡¯t do it yourself.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I really enjoyed the meal. I will go up and rest.¡±


    Ja-kyung was about to leave after saying his gratitude when the housekeeper grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Yi An. Director bought you a gift.¡±


    When he heard the word ¡°gift,¡± Ja-kyung frowned. Normally, receiving a gift should make him happy, but he didn¡¯t want to get anything from Kang Il-hyun other than money. He grasped his arm and moved to the front of the sofa as he trembled. There was a box on the sofa. He tied the flowers with a ribbon tied to a beautiful pastel colored wrapping paper.


    ¡°Is¡­ that?¡±


    ¡°Yes, go up and open it.¡±


    The housekeeper was overjoyed as if she was the one who had received a gift. Was it so fascinating for Kang Il-hyun to buy someone a gift? Ja-kyung lifted the box with a reluctant expression. It was pretty heavy. About 4-5 kg.


    He picked it up and went up to the second floor, where he placed it on the living room table. A fishy smell gushed out when he undid the ribbon and opened the lid. Ja-kyung paused. There¡¯s no way. No way¡­ Ja-kyung¡¯s face hardened after fully opening the lid.


    He could see black hair and bloodied eyelashes and the bridge of the nose down below. What was in the box was Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head. The cut skin was clearly cut while he was still alive. Kang Il-hyun was still sitting there when he looked outside. He placed the cover back on and headed out with it.


    Across the lawn, he approached Kang Il-hyun and placed a box in front of him.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°You asked me to kill him.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The stare peering up at him briefly startled him.


    ¡°Why. Are you sad to see him die?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t sad, but if he claims he is, Il-hyun looks like he was about to slash his throat. Ja-kyung took up the box, intending to burn or bury it.


    ¡°Where are you taking it?¡±


    ¡°You said it was a gift. If you gave it to me, I think you can ignore what I¡¯m gonna do about it.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to hug me and cry?¡±


    The sarcastic tone was cold. Why did he kill Choi Ki-tae? Because Choi Moon-seong died, was he considered useless? Or was it because he left a mark on his neck? The second guess was plausible based on what Kang Il-hyun was doing.


    Did Choi Ki-tae find out? He would never have imagined that his head would be cut just for flirting. Ja-kyung had no idea why Kang Il-hyun was acting this way. He¡¯s met a number of people who were similar to him.


    They treated people as though they were toys, but morbidly disliked being touched by others. However, it did not last long. Ja-kyung had no idea what would happen if Il-hyun lost interest in him. Instead of Choi Ki-tae, his head might be in the box next time.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bury it. There¡¯s nothing good about being seen in the public eye.¡±


    Hwii- Il-hyun whistled. Soon after, a dog ran from the back of the house. It was the shepherd who attacked Ja-kyung before. Kang Il-hyun grabbed the box and pulled Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head out and tossed it on the lawn.


    Ja-kyung confirmed that Choi Ki-tae¡¯s mouth had been mutilated. The nose and eyes were fine, but the lips had been battered to the point where it was impossible to recognize the shape. Meanwhile, the dog bit the head and returned the way it came. Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head in front of him disappeared in an instant.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to bury now, right?¡±


    Ja-kyung was at a loss for words when he saw Kang Il-hyun asking with a bright smile.


    ***


    Ja-kyung came out from the shower wearing only one pair of pants and stood in front of the mirror. He put the ointment he¡¯d brought with him on his nipples with his fingertips. He couldn¡¯t stand it because of how much it stung every time his clothes came into contact with it.


    He cursed and applied it to the other side, and when he looked in the mirror, he was astonished. It hurts to touch, yet the sensation was strange. Ja-kyung thought that his body had only sensations. It was the only thing that felt good when touched.


    However, last night¡­ He suddenly remembered the scene where Kang Il-hyun was stroking and caressing him, and then he shook his head vigorously. He looked down at his swelling nipples with a bitter face and put his shirt back on.


    This will be over in seven days. Until then, he didn¡¯t want to get involved with Kang Il-hyun anymore.


    He stepped outside, put on the air conditioner, opened the storage box, and pulled out a yoga mat. He laid it out in front of the window and crossed his legs. When the music was played, the sound of water mixed with the sound of a singing ball made his complicated mind more and more relaxed.


    He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, cleansing his thoughts of the events of the last few days. The minuscule vibration sound is communicated to the body¡¯s deep cells, relaxing and alleviating tension.


    [Look carefully, who¡¯s dick you¡¯re eating right now.]


    He grimaced with his closed eyelids. Last night¡¯s scene with Kang Il-hyun panting behind him like a dog was replayed in his thoughts. Ja-kyung vigorously shook his head. The scenes that sprang to mind, on the other hand, were never easily gone.


    He eventually became irritated, opened his eyes, and turned off the music.


    ¡°Fuck¡­¡±


    He got up from his seat and his phone rang. He checked the phone he had thrown on the sofa, and a number he had never seen before was displayed. There were two cell phones, and the numbers were known by three people: Kang Il-hyun, Kang Seok-joo, and Choi Ki-tae.


    Since Choi Ki-tae is dead, there are now two people left. He pressed the answer button and brought it to his ear. Ja-kyung remained silent, as did the other party. Ja-kyung wanted to hang up as the silence was getting longer. Then an unfamiliar voice was heard.


    [Yi An?]


    He remained silent, so the other person talked to him again.


    [I am Chairman Kang.]


    His eyes shook and his hand holding the phone became stronger. Ja-kyung checked that the bedroom door was closed once more and moved inside.


    ¡°Yes, hello¡­ Chairman.¡±


    [Are you busy? I¡¯m calling to see if you have time today. I¡¯d like to meet you if you don¡¯t mind.]


    Ja-kyung did not respond immediately. Perhaps he noticed. Or maybe Dmitry, this damn bastard, saw him leave and went to Chairman Kang. All kinds of thoughts ran through his mind.


    [Is it difficult?]


    After some consideration, Ja-kyung responded that he understood. He looked outside after ending the call and noticed dark clouds slowly falling over the blue sky. He tried to shake the ominous feeling that was washing over him and went to Kang Il-hyun to tell him the news.

 CH 43

    Ja-kyung looked around his dressing room while Kang Il-hyun was choosing a tie in front of the showcase. In the dressing room, there were numerous similar shirts and pants, reminiscent of a clothing store, and accessories such as shoes, belts, cufflinks, and watches were as diverse as if a store had been relocated. Wang Han, who is obsessed with clothes, would have gone insane if he had seen it.


    Kang Il-hyun called Ja-kyung while looking at the clocks.


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun put the tie on Ja-kyung¡¯s clothes one by one and picked the one that suits him.


    ¡°This is better.¡±


    He took off his black tie and replaced it with a red tie. The knot-making hand gestures were neat. When Ja-kyung looked down at his long, smooth fingers, he wondered how many people he had killed with this hand. Even if it wasn¡¯t, it didn¡¯t appear to be less than him.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his head and made eye contact with Il-hyun in front of him. He smiled brightly, took a step back, checked Ja-kyung¡¯s appearance, and smiled contentedly.


    ¡°Perfect.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    What did Chairman Kang call him to discuss? When Ja-kyung received the phone call, he had the feeling it wasn¡¯t just a meal invitation. The tie around Ja-kyung¡¯s neck was becoming uncomfortable. Wang Han was right when he stated that he was not good at acting. When he went there, he didn¡¯t know what kind of expression to use.


    ¡°Just go with a light heart. There¡¯s nothing strange, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Take your gun just in case.¡±


    Why does he have to bring his gun if it won¡¯t be a huge deal? Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t stop himself, so he turned around and tried to leave without getting noticed. However, Kang Il-hyun grabbed his arm and pulled him away. He was confused, but Il-hyun went to the showcase and took a box.


    When he opened the box, there was a watch. He put it on Ja-kyung despite the fact that it was worth more than a billion dollars. Il-hyun checked the line and asked if it was a little big.


    ¡°Why a watch??¡±


    ¡°There is a bomb inside. If you go and talk nonsense, it will explode.¡±


    Maybe it was because he saw Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head in the box during the day, and Il-hyun¡¯s words didn¡¯t sound like a joke anymore.


    ¡°Thinking about it, that¡¯s also good. The money stayed, and the person who wanted to kill me is dead.¡±


    When Ja-kyung tried to unlock the watch, he grabbed his hand.


    ¡°Just kidding. It¡¯s a gift.¡±


    One of Ja-kyung¡¯s eyebrows rose crookedly.


    ¡°I was already satisfied with the gift I received during the day.¡±


    He said that in a tone that didn¡¯t even indicate sincerity, but Il-hyun¡¯s eyes were nicely curved. Is it really feel so good to hear that he was content with Choi Ki-tae¡¯s death? As Il-hyun sought to touch his cheek with his hand, Ja-kyung took a step back and dodged him. Kang Il-hyun rushed forward, and Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t move anymore because of the mirror behind him.


    Il-hyun¡¯s hands touching his cheeks travel down his neck, shoulders, and chest. Ja-kyung smacked him hard as he touched his already sore nipples. Kang Il-hyun then laughed quietly to himself.


    ¡°Have you become sensitive?¡±


    At that remark, Ja-kyung did not lose his temper and laughed.


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. You¡¯ve bitten me like a dog so many times that it tattered.¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about your nipples? I was talking about your feelings.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I can tatter elsewhere if you want.¡±


    Ja-kyung forced a smile as he forced Il-hyun¡¯s hand that touched his buttocks down. In his mind, he wished to tatter Kang Il-hyun by shooting him in the head. But Kang Il-hyun is an employer. And that¡¯s $15 million, VVIP.


    Initially, he intended to run without looking back once this commission was finished, but after further investigation, he was willing to deal with him once or twice more if he ever made the next request as long as he paid a huge sum of money as he is today. The condition is, of course, that his body is not demanded.


    Ja-kyung checked the watch he had put on a while ago.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go. I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    Their lips brushed together as he raised his head. Ja-kyung was going to push him away but he gave up and raised his gaze to the ceiling. Then Il-hyun¡¯s hand groped his body again. He attempted to put up with only touching his side, but when he grabbed his ass tightly, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t take it any longer and pushed his shoulder.


    Kang Il-hyun smiled despite Ja-kyung glare while wiping his lips with the back of his hand.


    ¡°Why is your face red? Do you like it?¡±


    He was clearly a psychopath since he couldn¡¯t tell if he liked it or was angry about it.


    ¡°No. To be honest, it was the worst kiss I¡¯ve ever had.¡±


    Ja-kyung said it to make him feel bad, but his eyes became twisted as if it had worked.


    ¡°No way.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true. Should I say it cools down the fucking hard dick?¡±


    ¡°We can check it out.¡±


    Il-hyun was clinging to him so he pushed him away and walked out of the dressing room. Park Tae-soo looked at him from the living room. Ja-kyung was irritated for no reason, so he purposefully stepped on the stairs loudly and went upstairs.


    ***


    After asking the staff for water, Ja-kyung waited for Chairman Kang in his study. He didn¡¯t say anything during dinner. However, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t easily touch the food because he was afraid it was poisoned, and he couldn¡¯t raise his chopsticks until Chairman Kang and Seok-joo started eating.


    Time flew by as he sat nervously in his study room. Unlike the one in the living room, there was a picture of the family on the wall that appeared to be quite old. Kang Il-hyun was not difficult to find. He appeared much younger than he is now, and he had a face that said he didn¡¯t want to be photographed.


    While he was looking around, the door opened and Chairman Kang entered with a cane. A staff member followed, placed the tea in front of him, and walked away. Chairman Kang took out a thick cigar and lit it as soon as he sat down.


    ¡°Did you enjoy your meal?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ It was delicious.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you liked it. Would you like to smoke a cigarette?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m okay.¡±


    He let out a friendly smile.


    ¡°Actually, what¡¯s the point of learning things that are not good for your body? It¡¯s really hard for me to quit smoking.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ haha.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how stupid humans are. Even if I know, I can¡¯t avoid it.¡±


    Ja-kyung was silent.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it inconvenient to live with Director Kang?¡±


    ¡°As I told you last time, the Director is good to me¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad. I¡¯ll be ashamed of your grandfather if you aren¡¯t comfortable.¡±


    He wondered if he had thought about it. Because as you get older, you become more suspicious.


    Whatever it is, he must pretend to be an insider for the time being. He told several stories. From Zhang Yi An¡¯s father to his grandfather Zhang Myung¡¯s relationship.


    A secretary entered while they were still smiling and responding appropriately. He was a young man with glasses, and he gave off an unhappy vibe.


    ¡°What about the wreath?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will send it today.¡±


    ¡°Take care of it. It¡¯s Seok-joo¡¯s friend, so I¡¯m not sad.¡±


    That¡¯s right. Chairman Kang looked at Ja-kyung after the man said goodbye and left.


    ¡°Do you know him? His name is Choi Ki-tae. You must have seen him while hanging out together with Seok-joo.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded his head. Yes.


    ¡°He was found dead in the office today. I don¡¯t know who it was, but he cut off his head and took it.¡±


    Chairman Kang clicked his tongue and stated the end of the world. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t think of anything to say. He assumed it was done quietly, but he had no idea Il-hyun would leave the torso in the office. When asked with a slightly surprised expression, Chairman Kang expressed regret.


    ¡°He is so young, it¡¯s too bad.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a scary world. You shouldn¡¯t be like that.¡±


    The hand holding the teacup stopped. Ja-kyung turned to face Chairman Kang. He smiled and tapped the ashtray with the cigar he was holding. The smoke rose and the fire went out. Ja-kyung wondered what he was thinking when he said that.


    ¡°Who would have done such a bad thing?¡±


    Chairman Kang looked through Ja-kyung intently. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t try to avoid those stares. He relaxed his eyes as much as he could and pretended to be the innocent Zhang Yi An, asking him a question. Who the hell is that bad guy? Chairman Kang reverted to his good-man image, opened the box, and handed a candy to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But there is a saying that I heard one day.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He uttered each word slowly as if carved into his bones, as he looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°There are people I believe will not harm me. I call them corpses.¡±


    The clasped hands under the table got stronger. Chairman Kang smiled and asked if he knew who told him that saying. Ja-kyung was unable to respond.


    Chairman Kang took up the teacup and savored the tea.


    ¡°You seem to have a lot of secret time with Director Kang these days.¡±


    It was a direct question as if he knew everything. Is there a spy among the people working in the house? He kept his mouth shut and didn¡¯t say anything. Chairman Kang then set his teacup down and smiled strangely.


    ¡°Don¡¯t trust too much. Whoever it is.¡±


    The smile was so similar to Kang Il-hyun that he realized that he was his father.


    ***


    Steam came up from the coffee cup he was holding. The sky had been dark all afternoon, and rain started pouring down from the sky as if there had been a hole in it. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes looking out the window also resembled that sky. The voice of Chairman Kang, who was in the main house, was being played through the speaker on one side.


    [There are people I believe will not harm me. I call them corpses.]


    ¡°He is playing.¡±


    Il-hyun blatantly ridiculed Chairman Kang. That¡¯s what he once said to Chairman Kang. Lee Ja-kyung was extremely quiet in the speaker. It was natural for him in the circumstances.


    [Don¡¯t believe too much. Whoever it is.]


    Il-hyun turned off the speaker and walked over to the sofa. Park Tae-soo was already seated. He was the one who told Chairman Kang about Kang Il-hyun and Zhang Yi An eating together. Chairman Kang invited Zhang Yi An to his home right away. The meal was just an excuse, and doubts were probably sprouting in his mind.


    ¡°Will you be all right? The chairman will start to doubt you.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled happily while smoking a cigarette.


    ¡°I wish so. That way he would make a move, right?¡±


    Chairman Kang hired a contract killer as a secret deal, and the evidence has been cleared. It wasn¡¯t enough just to get shot. Il-hun must find additional evidence that Chairman Kang is trying to kill him. To do so, he must use the agitated mind. When you are being chased, your heart becomes impatient, and those who are in a hurry tend to make mistakes.

 CH 44

    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung dozed off in the car on the way home. He was going to come home right away after a brief conversation with Chairman Kang, but he was delayed for quite some time because he was caught by Kang Seok-joo. Kang Seok-joo grieved that Choi Ki-tae¡¯s death was unbelievable, but he regretted having to lose the money he had invested.


    Something seemed to pop out of the gloomy and dark forest as he drove down the street at night with only the streetlights on. It was raining, and the mood had darkened even more. A light flashed from the dark sky, appeared and disappeared, and there was the sound of a loud rain, shaking the ground.


    As he approached the house, there was someone waiting at the front door with an umbrella. Is that Park Tae-soo? Ja-kyung, who was about to open the door, stopped. It was Kang Il-hyun. Ja-kyung felt strange when he saw him approaching with an umbrella. He wasn¡¯t a child, so he wouldn¡¯t have to wait for him.


    As soon as he opened the door, he put an umbrella over his head and smiled sweetly.


    ¡°It¡¯s raining quite a lot.¡±


    He went inside after closing the car door. The umbrella leaned on Ja-kyung in the pouring rain, soaking Il-hyun¡¯s right shoulder. Ja-kyung entered the house and wiped the raindrops off Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder with an indifferent face. Nonetheless, Il-hyun liked it.


    ¡°You¡¯re so mindful.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t want to respond, so he pretended not to hear and went upstairs, but Il-hyun followed. He knew if he left him alone, he¡¯d come into the bedroom, so he stopped him right in front of the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. Say what you want to say.¡±


    Il-hyun put his nose to Ja-kyung¡¯s face.


    ¡°Did you drink?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What did you talk about there?¡±


    Ja-kyung took off his watch from his wrist and handed it to Il-hyun. When Il-hyun did not accept it, Ja-kyung grabbed and held his hand.


    ¡°You heard it all. Why are you pretending you don¡¯t know?¡±


    Ja-kyung pointed to the watch again as Il-hyun tilted his head. Il-hyun¡¯s lips curled up.


    ¡°So you knew?¡±


    ¡°Is it a new model? The detector didn¡¯t catch it when I entered?¡±


    Ja-kyung was confused as to why he suddenly gave him an expensive watch, so he ripped open the back of the watch in the car to inspect it. The chip, which was slightly larger than a grain of rice, seemed to be a recent model. It wasn¡¯t even detected by the detector, and it was perfect.


    To be honest, he liked the wiretap more than the watch.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s also in my room¡­?¡±


    When asked with suspicious eyes, Il-hyun frowned.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s a new model that came out yesterday.¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t believe him. He should search his room and bathroom whenever he has time.


    ¡°Should I give it to you if you like it?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯d be grateful.¡±


    There was no need to refuse when he gave it to him. Il-hyun then reached out to stroke Ja-kyung¡¯s hair. He liked the sensation of the soft hair caught in his fingers. It was the same dark brown as his eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what Chairman Kang said.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really care. I don¡¯t completely trust the Director either.¡±


    The hand resting on his head slowly descended and smoothed the tie.


    ¡°I¡¯m sad. Our bodies were already entangled. Will you trust me if I tangle it up again?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will happen. Take a rest. I¡¯m tired too.¡±


    Ja-kyung turned around with a bitter smile on his face. As soon as the door opened, Kang Il-hyun pulled the handle and closed it. Ja-kyung let out a small sigh as he looked at the closed door. As he turned around and frowned, Il-hyun approached him.


    ¡°Would you like to go swimming?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked outside with a puzzled expression. He wanted to ask him if he was out of his mind. It was pouring so heavily that he couldn¡¯t even see ahead, let alone swim. The sky was flashing. A person who commits a crime is said to be killed by lightning, but Kang Il-hyun does not appear to be afraid of lightning.


    ¡°The weather outside¡­ Can¡¯t you see?¡±


    Il-hyun looked out the window and said casually.


    ¡°It¡¯s good. Do you not like swimming on a rainy day?¡±


    ¡°Just do what you want¡­ I will decline.¡±


    ¡°Then how about tea in my room? There¡¯s a very fragrant tea.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no good either.¡±


    ¡°Or would you like to shoot in the basement?¡±


    Ja-kyung immediately dropped his rejection intention. His body was stiff, and he thought it would be nice to exercise somewhere, but his eyes sparkled when he heard the word shooting. Thinking it was a positive reaction, Il-hyun took a step back.


    ¡°Wash up, change into comfortable clothes and come down.¡±


    He quietly stepped back and went downstairs. Ja-kyung sighed faintly. It was far too early to sleep anyway. It didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea to loosen up a little with a moderate shot.


    Ja-kyung remembered the fingerprint gloves he had received from Wang Lun as he watched Il-hyun scanning his finger in the elevator. He didn¡¯t have to use it because of the easy way to get the USB, but he kept it just in case. The two proceeded to the shooting range downstairs.


    The inside of the shooting range was much larger than it appeared from the outside. As he entered and looked around, Il-hyun pressed the button next to the wall. When the wall moved, a space opened up inside, and an incredible sight unfolded before his eyes. He had imagined a few guns at most, but he was mistaken.


    The walls were crammed with various types of firearms. Glocks, Berettas, and revolvers, as well as shotguns, sniper rifles, and anti-objective rifles He gazed in awe at the various varieties and quantities, and Il-hyun asked him to choose the one he liked.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes twinkled as he approached and checked the gun. When Il-hyun saw this, he smiled bitterly and muttered something.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been treated less than a gun so far.¡±


    Without pretending to hear it, Ja-kyung pulled out a rifle, checked it, and loaded the bullet. He turned immediately after attaching the buttstock to his shoulder and aimed at Kang Il-hyun, who was leaning against the door. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s handsome face comes into the aiming point.


    Bang, Ja-kyung pretended to shoot him, thus Il-hyun grabbed his heart and expressed pain. Ja-kyung lowered his gun in response to the absurd reaction.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even make a sound if you got shot by that, would you?¡±


    ¡°You will know when I got shot.¡±


    He put the guns down and looked at them one by one, then pulled out a 38-caliber revolver. A snake was drawn on the handle.


    ¡°It was a gift from my father.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s amazing. Director, do you like snakes?¡±


    ¡°No. I like dragons.¡±


    A snake could never become a dragon. Chairman Kang may have gifted this gun to confirm it.


    ¡°Shoot it.¡±


    Ja-kyung turned towards the human target as soon as the words were spoken. The tumbler was pushed back after six bullets were placed in the cylinder. Il-hyun leaned against his back, pressed his lower body against his buttocks, and whispered into his ear.


    ¡°Think of it as someone you hate.¡±


    Ja-kyung immediately took a stance, aimed, and fired. Bang, bang, bang, six bullets all flew through the target¡¯s crotch. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed. Ja-kyung quickly filled the bullets and shot right away. The target¡¯s crotch is now tattered.


    Il-hyun smiled bitterly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not me, is it?¡±


    Ja-kyung just filled the bullets without saying anything, and Kang Il-hyun came over and grabbed the gun.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop right here and get out. I can¡¯t stand it any longer because it hurts so much there.¡±


    He took the gun, returned it to its original place, and pressed the button. Ja-kyung frowned. He wanted to think of it as Kang Il-hyun and shoot him with a machine gun. Il-hyun told him he could shoot as much as he wanted, but if that was the case, he had no idea why he had brought him here.


    Ja-kyung went out and walked straight to the elevator, but Il-hyun grabbed his arm and dragged him inside. Ja-kyung gave strength and endured as he remembered he took a stimulant before.


    ¡°Why. Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s watch a movie while you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯ll just go up.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t go. Watch it while lying down, so you can sleep.¡±


    Il-hyun dragged his arm along with him. He saw a movie theater when he goes inside. There was a sofa bed with a large screen, as well as a refrigerator and a wine cellar.


    ¡°What would you like to watch?¡±


    If he had to choose, he wanted to watch romance.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely not romance. War? SF? Thriller? Horror?¡±


    It was because he obviously lacks imagination. Il-hyun assumed that killing people meant only watching movies like that. When Ja-kyung did not respond, he chose an unfamiliar Korean thriller film. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t want to watch it, so he stood there, but Il-hyun dragged his arms and pushed him onto the bed.


    The thriller contains gore elements, and the limbs are cut and stabbed from the start. In an instant, a man with a hilt thrusts a knife into the stomach of another man. Ja-kyung and Il-hyun, who were watching, both shook their heads almost at the same time.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡±


    ¡°Who holds a knife like that¡­¡±


    ¡°Why is he cutting like that? He doesn¡¯t even know the basics.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not there. The knife is gonna stuck because of the ribs.¡±


    ¡°Fuck. They made it without any research.¡±


    Ja-kyung also agreed with that statement. It¡¯s messed up.


    ¡°I agree. The director doesn¡¯t seem to care. If I were the one who invested in this movie, I would¡¯ve killed him in a fit of anger.¡±


    Il-hyun stared at Ja-kyung instead of the screen. It was a face with a lot to say.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Our company¡¯s affiliates train singers and actors and produce films. It was the first movie I invested in, but it failed. I was so angry that I tried to kill that director bastard, but I restrained myself.¡±


    Despite knowing that it was such a movie, he still wanted to watch it together. Ja-kyung was about to say something but held back. He had completely forgotten that Kang Il-hyun¡¯s company was involved in a variety of businesses such as trade, construction, distribution, entertainment, and hotels. But the more he watched the movie, the clearer it became why it was ruined. Knowing Kang Il-hyun¡¯s personality, it was surprising that he did not kill the director.


    He eventually turned it off without even watching half of it.

 CH 45

    This is abuse. Ja-kyung blinked his eyes open and gazed at the screen. The first movie was bad, but the second was even worse. Was this also produced by Kang Il-hyun¡¯s company? He looked at him as if he wanted to ask him a question, but he was sitting with his arms crossed and motionless.


    He was curious whether Il-hyun enjoyed this or not, so he checked him closely, and his eyes were closed.


    Damn it. He turned on this and that but then he fell asleep. Ja-kyung got out of bed quietly, waving his hand in front of him. He walked quietly towards the door. He wanted to leave alone and go upstairs to sleep. Ja-kyung, who was standing in front of the elevator, smiled in vain as if he was hit with a single blow.


    It makes no difference how many fingers you have unless they are Kang Il-hyun¡¯s fingerprints. He sighed and returned the way he had come. As he approached the bed, he noticed the corners of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth slowly rising and a small laugh leak out.


    ¡°Why are you pretending to be asleep when you¡¯re awake?¡±


    Ja-kyung grumbled, and Il-hyun opened his eyes and looked back at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I thought you were going to secretly kiss me while I was sleeping.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t funny. When he said he wanted to go upstairs Il-hyun didn¡¯t even bother to listen. He also didn¡¯t want to open the refrigerator by himself. He finally gave up after watching the movie and opened the refrigerator to find something to drink. He took out a can of beer and brought one for Kang Il-hyun just in case.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    They drink beer next to each other while Kang Il-hyun leans forward. Ja-kyung shifted his weight and his head drooped. He leaned back and it dropped again, and his head continued to droop, so he gave up and left it alone.


    The movie was about a family drama, but because he had no family, he couldn¡¯t relate to it and found it boring. He glanced at Kang Il-hyun, who was watching with an expression similar to his. He had no idea why the father was crying and hugging his son.


    ¡°If your child gets a fatal disease, would you cry like that?¡±


    Ja-kyung shrugged as Il-hyun asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know because I don¡¯t have children.¡±


    ¡°There must be your parents.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t respond and instead drank beer. He could feel Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes on him.


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung, don¡¯t you have parents?¡±


    He becomes slightly tipsy after emptying one can of beer. If no response was given, the question will be asked again. He didn¡¯t have any reason to hide, so he nodded. Then Il-hyun made a sound that he couldn¡¯t tell if it was an exclamation or a lamentation.


    ¡°A brother?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have it either.¡±


    Il-hyun crumpled up a can of beer and tossed it on the floor before going to the refrigerator and taking two more. He took one and offered the other one to Ja-kyung, who accepted and drank it immediately.


    ¡°How does it feel to be without parents?¡±


    After taking a sip of the beer that remained in his mouth, he pondered for a moment.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s good.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun nodded his head.


    ¡°As expected. I knew it.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a lie. When he thought of his parents, there were times when not having them was much better. Kang Il-hyun picked up the beer can.


    ¡°Cheers. To the one without parents, and the one who will disappear soon. Cheers.¡±


    He drank more beer after half-heartedly bumping it. Two cans should have been enough, but Il-hyun keeps bringing out beer for some reason. The alertness faded as the number of empty cans increased, and the mood and body became woozy.


    Il-hyun bombarded Ja-kyung with questions. He did not respond in detail when he was asked about when his parents died, why they died, how he lived alone until now, how he started what he is doing now, how often he dated, when his last relationship was, and many other questions.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious. Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Why are you curious about that? Are you going to quit your job and change it?¡±


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you think I¡¯ll do pretty well?¡±


    That was something Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t deny. Il-hyun may be far more capable than Ja-kyung. There was no job that suited him better than this because he felt no emotion or guilt. Ja-kyung imagined Il-hyun hiding and pulling the trigger with his gun pointed at the enemy, which suited him perfectly. It was also sexy.


    ¡°Let me know if you want to change jobs. Let me introduce you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t like partnerships?¡±


    ¡°Can you work for me?¡±


    ¡°Why am I below you? I¡¯ll always be above you, honey.¡±


    Il-hyun flirted subtly, then smiled and patted his cheek. Ja-kyung was startled by the word ¡°honey¡± and he leaned his upper body back. After Il-hyun crumpled up the finished beer can and threw it on the floor, he grabbed his shoulder and blocked it. He made oblique eye contact, tilted his head, and implied his intentions. Ja-kyung shook his head immediately.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I¡¯m not doing it.¡±


    Ja-kyung blocked Il-hyun approaching face with his palm and forced him to stop. His high nose was smashed into his palm, and his eyes became playful. Il-hyun took his hand and gently lowered it, clasped his hands gently, and slowly moved his body to climb on top of Lee Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just kiss you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Just a kiss. Is it okay?¡±


    It was a friendly tone that didn¡¯t fit his arrogant appearance. Ja-kyung thought he must be drunk on beer. Kang Il-hyun appeared to be more handsome to him.


    ¡°No¡­ penetration.¡±


    He nodded obediently and gently caressed Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek. He pursed his lips and tilted his head obliquely. The tongue moved like a snake inside his mouth. The tongue, which had been moving around the mouth, came into contact with the root under the tongue.


    It was a little ticklish, but it felt good. As his tongue rubbed together in his mouth, Il-hyun¡¯s hands began to unbutton his shirt one by one. Ja-kyung¡¯s chest was revealed when the shirt ripped open. Il-hyun rubbed his chest with his large hand. Every time it touches the palm of his hand, it stings and tingles.


    Il-hyun pulled Ja-kyung¡¯s body and laid him on the bed. Ja-kyung blinked his eyes slowly into the air. He hadn¡¯t been taking drugs, but he was strangely excited. Ja-kyung trembled as soon as Kang Il-hyun sucked his nipples.


    The swelling and sensitivity also helped to evoke pleasure. Electricity passed through his toes. He expected Il-hyun to rip off his nipples again, but for some reason, he just licked them gently. Ja-kyung closed his eyes and bit his lower lip.


    Il-hyun caressed his chest with his other hand and squeezed the other chest. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s thighs and dick were softly rubbed between his gaping legs. The lips that had been kissing him turned downward. However, Ja-kyung had to open his closed eyes with the gesture of unbuckling his pants.


    ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t do it!¡±


    ¡°Shh. I¡¯ll keep my promise.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t believe it, but for the time being, he just let it go. He felt his pants and underwear go down, and after a moment Il-hyun¡¯s hands gently caressed his dick. Then, without hesitation, he put it in his mouth. The unexpected action caused Ja-kyung to raise his head in surprise.


    The sensation of his dick being rubbed against his mouth¡¯s mucous membrane is intense. Once, his balls bulged out from side to side. Il-hyun grabbed his legs, spread them upwards, and moved his head back and forth with his face completely buried between his crotch.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    The tingling caused him to raise his hips and tilt his head back. Il-hyun seems to have never sucked anyone¡¯s dick before. As expected, the teeth brushed against it were clumsy, but increased the pleasure.


    The embarrassing sound of friction entered his ears. Kang Il-hyun eventually spit out what was in his mouth and licked the testicle just below. Put it in his mouth, roll it around, lick it with his tongue, and then go down to the perineum. Huh? He shouldn¡¯t go there at all. Ja-kyung was about to say something when his ass lifted and Il-hyun buried his lips in the hole.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°Wait, wait a minute.¡±


    Il-hyun lifted Ja-kyung¡¯s waist as high as possible, revealing where his lips were sucking.


    ¡°You say you won¡¯t insert it!¡±


    When Ja-kyung shouted, Il-hyun parted his shiny lips.


    ¡°I just won¡¯t put a dick in it.¡±


    He licked the hole again without waiting for him to respond. Ja-kyung hid his face behind his hands. His skin was tingling all over his body. His stomach was itching, and his thighs became stronger. He moves around, unable to keep his body still, but Kang Il-hyun inserts his finger into the hole.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    He tried to grab his arm, but it was useless. His fingers began to move back and forth, rubbing against the inner wall. The area where the skin and mucous membranes have been rubbed is becoming hotter. Then he inserts both fingers one at a time into the hole and spreads them sideways with force.


    Ah! Feeling embarrassed, Ja-kyung frowned and shook his hands while Il-hyun stared into the hole and smacked his lips.


    ¡°Ja-kyung is pretty even in the hole.¡±


    ¡°Bas-bastard. Stop¡­ ! Wait a moment!¡±


    ¡°What a waste. I can¡¯t show you.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s spine quivered as Il-hyun smiled sweetly. If he said he wanted to see it, he looked like he was about to cut his head off and put it in a hole. He tried to stop him with his foot, but he stuck his tongue in the gap. Il-hyun¡¯s tongue pierced his hole, but he couldn¡¯t keep his eyes open any longer.


    Ahh, damn it. Was he such a weak person? He should have told him not to do it, but it felt good to do it again. He seemed to have more desire in recent years because he had only done it with his hands. Il-hyun puts his legs together and unzips his zipper while Ja-kyung covers his eyes with his hand and panting.


    The already erected dick popped out through the zipper. He was thinking about what he was going to do when he wet it with saliva and shoved it between his thighs. He moved his waist, pressing his two legs together toward his chest.


    ¡°Put your hands away.¡±


    Ja-kyung continues to cover his face with his hand, and Il-hyun threatens to put it in his hole if he does not stop. Ja-kyung reluctantly let go of his hand, and a satisfied smile spread on Il-hyun¡¯s lips. Haa, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s breathing became a little rough. Il-hyun looked pretty as his eyelashes trembled with excitement as he lowered them slightly.


    Pretty¡­? Kang Il-hyun?


    The emotions that rushed into Ja-kyung left him lost for words. He thought his devilish employer was pretty¡­ He finally loses his mind.

 CH 46

    The dick that went back and forth between his thighs didn¡¯t even ejaculate no matter how much time passed. Later, when his thighs began to ache, Ja-kyung pushed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder with his foot and slipped it off. Il-hyun raised an eyebrow and gave a dissatisfied expression as it parted.


    Ja-kyung raised his body halfway and asked.


    ¡°How long are you going to rub it?¡±


    The inside of his thigh is red. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick is fine. Fuck. He probably didn¡¯t even have pre-cum on his dick, so why is he all alone? Kang Il-hyun lowered his eyes and responded with a languid expression.


    ¡°What should I do if I don¡¯t feel anything no matter how much I do it? Either that or do it somewhere else.¡±


    Ja-kyung clenched his teeth. In other words, he was asking for his ass. He only just said no a few minutes ago. It was his fault for believing this bastard. Furthermore, if you are in a position to make a request, you must be polite, but his expression is completely domineering.


    He was acting nice, so Ja-kyung wondered if there was something. Ja-kyung just lay down and stared at it. Yeah, do it, do it. This is not a person. It¡¯s a $15 million dildo. Dildo. He considered what he would do with his body, which would rot anyway if he died, and he didn¡¯t want to stop because he was too aroused to quit.


    Kang Il-hyun tilted his head obliquely, looking at Ja-kyung, who had his face buried in the bed and didn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Open it with your hands. I can¡¯t see where to put it.¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his buried face and returned his gaze. He stretched his hands back, grabbed his buttocks, and opened them while staring at Kang Il-hyun, who was smiling. At the same time, he felt a sense of shame that he had never felt before.


    ¡°More.¡±


    Ja-kyung did what he was told.


    ¡°More.¡±


    As he clenched his teeth and spread them further, a satisfying laugh is heard.


    ¡°Lift your ass.¡±


    As Kang Il-hyun approached, the bed moved. Soon, his fingertips rubbed the hole gently. The fingers fall off, and a much larger and thicker one appears and touches it. It appears that the pain has returned to him because he has previously experienced it. He was nervous, and strength just flowed into his thighs.


    Kang Il-hyun notices it first and gently strokes Ja-kyung¡¯s inner thigh with his hand.


    ¡°Relax. I will make you feel better.¡±


    Il-hyun took his dick and began slowly inserting it into the hole. Even after relaxing it, the inside was still so tight that he had to push it out. Even though he pushed it hard, it was easier to accept than the first time. Il-hyun could feel Ja-kyung stiffen from his shoulder as it slowly opened and pushed inside.


    Il-hyun lowered his gaze to his buttocks. The voluptuous buttock had moderate muscle and was elastically attached to it. It was odd that there was a mark on it that looked like a dimple. When he groped with his hands and then rubbed his buttocks, it felt soft and smooth to the touch.


    About halfway in, Ja-kyung reached back and signaled to stop.


    ¡°Hurt¡­¡±


    Il-hyun reached out in front of him and gently rubbed his dick at the sound of his painful voice. When you touch something that has already been erected, the glans gradually become wet. In the gap where Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s nerves were focused, Il-hyun put everything in until the end. Since he has never used the back, the strength to tighten it was not a joke. Il-hyun bit his lower lip and let it go, suppressing a moan with his teeth.


    Lee Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and struggled not to moan with his forehead resting on the bed. The inner wall clung to him and clamped his dick slowly as he moved his waist up and down. Haa¡­haa, Il-hyun tilted his head and exhaled a sticky breath.


    Ja-kyung had no intention of taking a man, and he never did until now. That¡¯s not to say he didn¡¯t do it in the back hole. But the feeling was much better than he expected, and the pleasure was high. Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulders trembled as he slowly pulled his back and pressed it in.


    Slowly increasing the speed, Il-hyun continued to touch Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s dick. Slap, slap, slap, the intensity was getting stronger and his body swayed back and forth as he pushed it. Ja-kyung¡¯s face was pretty, his shoulders were moderately wide, and his muscles were smooth and firm. In addition, there were quite a few scars all over the body.


    The more he hit it, the more the snake on Ja-kyung¡¯s right shoulder moved with its mouth wide open. Il-hyun thinks that he should have drawn a cat instead. Meanwhile, he disliked Lee Ja-kyung, who endured the moan.


    Il-hyun pulled out the dick he was inserting and propped Ja-kyung up. He looked down from above, and Ja-kyung quickly turned his head to avoid seeing the shape. It bothered him that he kept his dick up and refused to look at him. Il-hyun wrapped his hand around and rubbed the glans with his thumb, and made Ja-kyung¡¯s ears turn red.


    He continued to rub the glans after reinserting it. Lee Ja-kyung cursed and covered his mouth. The sight of biting his lips and holding back the sound is quite attractive. Il-hyun leaned forward, pushing it in.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s two legs spread out to the side. He opened his eyes wide and stared in surprise as he reached the end. Their gazes were locked, and Il-hyun sucked Ja-kyung¡¯s lips gently. He accepted his kiss a few moments ago, but now he turns his head to avoid it as if he doesn¡¯t like it.


    Il-hyun grabbed his chin, then gently kissed his lips and parted. Chup, there was a sound and he smiled with his eyes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like my lips while sucking my dick?¡±


    Contrary to the friendly tone of voice, the waist movement becomes increasingly rough. Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut and the noise was silenced. Il-hyun forced his index and middle fingers into Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth. He whispered while licking Ja-kyung¡¯s ear as he tried to pull out his finger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be expensive, okay? Let me hear your voice.¡±


    Il-hyun pressed his tongue down with his fingertips and slam! When he pushed it hard until it make a sound, Ja-kyung let out a moan without realizing it.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    That was the signal, and Il-hyun¡¯s waist began to move in a jumbled pattern. The sound of flesh slamming against each other was obscene. Ja-kyung felt like a light flashed in front of him and then disappeared, so he couldn¡¯t help but grabbed the bed sheets and trembled.


    ¡°Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ugh!¡±


    The fingers in his mouth slipped away, and Il-hyun raised his upper body and placed Ja-kyung¡¯s legs on his shoulders. He rose from his prone position, both hands on Ja-kyung¡¯s bedside. Ja-kyung¡¯s buttocks and waist were lifted, and the insertion became deeper.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s erect penis reached halfway through his body. Ja-kyung wanted to poke his eyes at the naked insertion scene. Without shaking her head to tell Ja-kyung not to do so in the pain of tearing her stomach, her back recedes and aches and throbs. Every time Kang Il-hyun¡¯s penis comes in, his belly skin sticks out from the bottom of his stomach. Ja-kyung trembled with her mouth open in shock.


    Slap, slap, slap, as he slammed it down from above with a body that was a lump of muscle, Ja-kyung¡¯s body was pushed up by itself. It felt as if his head was pressing against the head of the bed and all of his internal organs were being pulled. Then, as if he had properly touched the prostate, his head went blank and an electric current flowed through his body.


    His two shoulders trembled as if in convulsion, and his dick had already ejaculated. Semen is leaking, but the movement inside him drove him crazy. Ja-kyung motioned with his hand not to do it and then Il-hyun grabbed it. Kang Il-hyun moved his waist like an animal, not thinking about Ja-kyung¡¯s condition.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes became red, and he begged him to stop. Then he lowered his legs from his shoulders and buried his face in the nape of his neck while holding his upper body in his arms. He could only hear Kang Il-hyun¡¯s beast-like breathing in his ears.


    Ja-kyung feel suffocated as he clung to Il-hyun¡¯s body like a leech. , and his lower back is still itchy. Kang Il-hyun sucked his neck and rushed in like a dog in heat. He groaned and ejaculated deep inside as the sky turned yellow. Ja-kyung looked up at the air, disappointed by the sensation of warm liquid flowing.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hair was messy, and he was exhaling heavily. Only then did Ja-kyung realize that he had ripped his hair out. Kang Il-hyun gently ran his hand under his red eyes as he kissed his cheek and lips when he looked at him with a face devoid of energy and half-passed.


    ¡°You have very pretty eyes.¡±


    It was a very humid and low voice. He looked at his face while caressing it. The strange atmosphere made Ja-kyung feel awkward. He pushed his shoulder, but Kang Il-hyun puts his nose in the nape of his neck and takes a deep breath.


    ¡°Your skin smells great.¡±


    He was so friendly that he gave the impression that he liked him when he listened to it. The harder he pushed his shoulders, the tighter he clung to him and hugged him. It felt strange to be hugging a man who was bigger than him and wasn¡¯t a woman.


    He lay on his side and hugged Ja-kyung from behind.


    ¡°Only ten minutes. Let¡¯s lie down like this.¡±


    Il-hyun took the sheet and draped it over his body. And he was bound with his arms and legs, making it impossible for him to escape. His breath landed on the back of his neck. There is a clear heartbeat on the back. It was surprising that he was a human with a heart. Ja-kyung, who had become complicated in his mind, struggled to clear his mind of the thoughts that came flooding in and remembered what Chairman Kang had said.


    [Don¡¯t believe too much. Whoever it is.]

 CH 47

    Il-hyun looked at the clock on the shelf while buttoning his shirt in front of the mirror. It¡¯s the one he put on Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s wrist last night, and it contains a wiretapping device. He had no idea Ja-kyung would rip it open. He looked down on him because of his sloppy acting, but he thought that his opponent might not be as easy as he thought.


    He dressed up, grabbed his jacket, and went outside. The house chef was sorting the morning newspaper in the living room.


    ¡°Are you leaving already?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll have breakfast at work.¡±


    Il-hyun stopped in front of the stairs leading up to the second floor. Because Lee Ja-kyung sleeps a lot in the morning, he always couldn¡¯t get up until late. Besides, he must have been quite tired yesterday. After that, he tortured him to do it a few more times.


    ¡°Please prepare Yi An meal with care. Something nutritious.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Il-hyun greeted her and went out. The staff was draining the water on one side of the pool. The water became dirty due to the rain last night, and the filter failed to function properly, so company employees came to inspect it in the afternoon.


    Tae-soo was waiting in the car in front of the gate when he came out. The car drove away as soon as he sat in the back seat. Park Tae-soo, who was in the passenger seat, handed a file to him.


    ¡°This is a list of guests coming to the inauguration ceremony.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s name was at the top of the list as soon as he opened it. And family members, including Kang Yoo-jung, members of the National Assembly¡¯s legislative branch, company executives, and so on¡­ The time Lee Ja-kyung shoots him will be right after the inauguration ceremony.


    Park Tae-soo asked carefully while Il-hyun looked at the list.


    ¡°What will you do with Lee Ja-kyung when it¡¯s over?¡±


    Il-hyun paused for a moment while flipping through the list. But he answered in a monotone tone, as if he had made a quick decision.


    ¡°Get to work right away.¡±


    Tae-soo in the mirror had a slightly surprised expression on his face. No matter how hard he tried not to show it, he knew that the two of them were more than just friends. There was also a discussion among the house chefs. Il-hyun raised his head and looked in the rearview mirror at Tae-soo.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Tae-soo immediately lowered his gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Director.¡±


    ¡°If Lee Ja-kyung is still alive, the old man will have a difficult time, but so will I. So get rid of him completely.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Il-hyun looked out the window. He remembered Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s excited expression from the night before. The way he looked up at him with redness under his eyes seemed to haunt him even after he died. But it¡¯s better to get rid of it completely than to be a small source of trouble.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill and throw him away, bury him well.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Il-hyun, after going over the list, covered it up and threw it next to him. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. He remembered that expression again. His smooth neck. He bit his lower lip, unsure what to do. His bright red ears. His erotic eyes that turn red when he gets excited.


    Hmm¡­ Instead of burying it in the ground, he would rather keep it.


    Ja-kyung laughed at his reflection in the mirror after entering the bathroom wearing only one piece of underwear. His back ached, he couldn¡¯t straighten out, and his entire body ached as if he¡¯d been smashed with a hammer. His nipples were so swollen that just touching them made him cry, so he had to put a band-aid on them.


    He cursed and rubbed the patch all over his body, and came out. Every time he moved, a painful sound came out of his mouth. After opening the safe under the bed, Ja-kyung took out the USB stolen from Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house in Seoul.


    He took it and walked around the bedroom. He turned on the laptop and connected it after some thought. He checked the file and found it to be empty. He clenched his teeth. Just in case, his prediction was correct. Seriously, there¡¯s no way he could have hidden something so important in an empty house without CCTV. He took it out and put it in his pants pocket instead of the safe.


    He then proceeded downstairs. He said hello to the staff as they came and went, but he couldn¡¯t find the house chef. Instead, a delicious smell wafted from the kitchen. He needed some sunlight because his head was complicated and his body ached. The sun was already high when he left the house.


    Because of the rain last night, the sky was clear and blue with no clouds. He walked through the wet grass, stretching his arms upwards. The pain subsided slightly as he walked. He received a message from Wang Han while walking around the house.


    [$7.5 million confirmed.]


    This is the money that Kang Il-hyun sent. 9 billion Korean Won. Given that it was usually between 100 million and 500 million per case, it is an unimaginable sum. If he adds up the advance payment received from Chairman Kang, it is 12 billion won. The starting point may differ, but the goal of getting rid of each other is the same.


    He gathered his thoughts and made his way to the backyard slowly. Then a voice comes from behind the building. As he approached, he noticed the house chef knocking on the ground with a shovel. A German Shepherd sits next to him and wags its tail.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    As Ja-kyung approached, the house chef turned around with a shovel, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and smiled kindly.


    ¡°Happy was carrying something strange, so I buried it.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t until later that Ja-kyung discovered the dog¡¯s name was Happy. It¡¯s a really unsuitable name. The house chef took the watering can next to her and sprinkled it on the spot where she had just buried it. Ja-kyung guessed that she had buried Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head.


    When the Shepard tried to dig it, she said firmly, ¡®No.¡¯ The guy understood the house chef¡¯s words better than he appeared to. He eventually lowered his tail and walked to another place.


    ¡°Let other people do it¡­¡±


    ¡°Whoever has the time can do it. Let¡¯s go, now that you¡¯re awake you must be hungry.¡±


    She grabbed the shovel and pushed Ja-kyung¡¯s back. Her hand dragged Ja-kyung into the house. When Kang Il-hyun was not present, the spacious house felt very different. He acknowledged the significance of his presence. She quickly prepared the food after washing her hands.


    Ja-kyung spent the rest of his time sitting on the sofa while fiddling with his phone. He was bored because Kang Seok-joo, who came to see him every day, was not there. It was annoying when he was around, but it felt empty when he wasn¡¯t. He looked around and noticed strangers entering and exiting the pool area.


    They were dressed in an outfit and hat he had never seen before, and he wondered if they were Kang Il-hyun¡¯s employees. One of them glanced over his side with his hat pressed deep.


    ¡°Yi An. Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    He entered and took a seat at the table. Looking at the food on the table, he couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. There were plenty of meat dishes on the menu, but just looking at them made his mouth water.


    ¡°Wow, what day is it today?¡±


    ¡°I paid attention to it because you don¡¯t seem to have an appetite these days.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. Actually, the Director specifically asked me when he was leaving. Yi An doesn¡¯t seem to be in good condition, so he asked me to look after you.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so proud to see him like that.¡±


    She smiled from ear to ear. Ja-kyung wondered if Kang Il-hyun¡¯s command to prepare the food well was something to be proud of. It was someone¡¯s fault he wasn¡¯t in a good condition, and it wasn¡¯t like he was infecting him with a disease or drugs. He was resentful and thankful, but he was still confused about the emotions he felt for a brief moment yesterday, which made him feel uncomfortable.


    Ja-kyung went out to the living room after eating delicious food, but there were still people in the pool. When he asked the house chef, he was told that the filter had broken due to the heavy rain last night and that they had come to repair it. However, the act of constantly being aware of one¡¯s surroundings is suspicious.


    Ja-kyung looked around the living room, took a fountain pen from the table, tucked it inside his sleeve, and came out. The guard in front of the gate casts a glance at him as he strides across the lawn. Ja-kyung walked over to the pool.


    The two were filling up the pool as it seem that they had finished cleaning it. The man pouring medicine into the water returned Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze and bowed his head.


    ¡°Are the repairs finished?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we should be able to get all the water in the evening.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fortunate¡­ I really wanted to swim today.¡±


    Ja-kyung approached the man and looked at the barrel he was holding.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a disinfectant.¡±


    ¡°Can I smell it?¡±


    He could see the man¡¯s shoulders getting tense. Ja-kyung squatted next to the man and tilted his head to stare at his side face.


    ¡°Can I smell it?¡±


    The man turns his head slowly. He had a hard, stiff smile on his face.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a disinfectant¡­ It smells so strong that it won¡¯t be good for you.¡±


    ¡°Is it okay to just put something so strong in here?¡±


    The man frowned and avoided his gaze. Ja-kyung got up from his seat. He could sense the other man working in the front looking at him. His gaze was familiar. Ja-kyung pretended to make a mistake and pushed the man¡¯s back while walking. The unfocused man fell into the pool and plunged his face into the knee-high water.


    The man who fell into the pool panicked and attempted to crawl out. But he immediately grabbed his neck and coughed as if he was suffocated. He managed to get out of the pool, but the man squealed as he rolled over on the ground.


    The man in the front quickly pulled out a knife from inside his arms.


    ¡°Fuck!¡±


    Only then did Ja-kyung accurately remember the man¡¯s face. It was one of the guys who worked for Choi Ki-tae. He recognized him from the cruise. Ja-kyung took the fountain pen from his sleeve and opened the lid as the man charged in with a knife. He threw the fountain pen at the running man, striking him in the eye. After hearing the noise, the guards began running while the man was rolling around, holding his eyes and shouting loudly.

 CH 48

    Kang Il-hyun also left work earlier than usual due to the commotion. Kang Il-hyun couldn¡¯t straighten his wrinkled face as he saw the bodies scattered near the pool. His guard moved the body, loaded it into a car, and drove away.


    How did they know that it was Kang Il-hyun who killed Choi Ki-tae? It was very likely that Chairman Kang spilled it. Kang Il-hyun called Ja-kyung to his bedroom after a brief conversation with Park Tae-soo, who had returned from disposing of the body.


    He took a cigarette and lit it. He was so neat and clean that Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t find the image of him panting on top of himself last night.


    ¡°Thank you for saving my life. How should I compensate?¡±


    Ja-kyung took the USB from his pocket without hesitation. It came from his home in Seoul. Kang Il-hyun raised one of his eyebrows as he placed it on the table. And immediately smiled as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°When did you steal this again?¡±


    ¡°Chairman Kang¡¯s terms and conditions included this.¡±


    Il-hyun rubbed his lips with the hand holding the cigarette. His face was full of interest.


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°I signed a contract on condition that I get rid of the Director and bring this with me.¡±


    At those words, Il-hyun was stunned.


    ¡°You mean, my life is just worth¡­ 3 billion?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Fuck. It¡¯s the funniest joke I¡¯ve ever heard.¡±


    ¡°But it was an empty file with nothing.¡±


    ¡°Therefore?¡±


    ¡°Please give me the original.¡±


    It was absurd when he boldly demanded that he hand over the items entrusted to him. He thought Ja-kyung was overstepping after he said he was pretty, but based on his expression, he is serious. Il-hyun snuffed out the cigarette and clasped his hands.


    ¡°We¡¯re on the same side now, why do you need it?¡±


    ¡°Insurance.¡±


    ¡°Insurance?¡±


    ¡°Just in case, I have to get insurance, too¡±


    Il-hyun smiled and leaned back on the sofa, his arms stretched out.


    ¡°Come on. Do you think I will even harm you?¡±


    Ja-kyung does not respond, despite his disappointed expression. He just lowered his gaze


    ¡°Are you scared of me?¡±


    Ja-kyung did not deny it.


    ¡°I¡¯m not just asking for it. I¡¯m asking for an exchange.¡±


    Ja-kyung immediately took another USB from his pocket. He plugged it into his laptop and played the video for Il-hyun to see. Il-hyun¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked at the screen. Chairman Kang¡¯s face appeared as soon as the video began to play.


    [I heard that you have a lot of secret time with Director Kang these days.]


    On the screen, Chairman Kang put down his teacup and smiled eerily.


    [Don¡¯t believe too much. Whoever it is.]


    It was the scene he filmed last night. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression turned cold. In the video, Ja-kyung brings a fountain pen and a notepad to the front and begins writing letters on them. He then held the paper up for Chairman Kang to see.


    [We¡¯re being wiretapped.]


    Chairman Kang¡¯s expression on the screen was also no different from Il-hyun¡¯s. However, he skillfully conceals his emotions and puts on a mask of kindness and friendliness.


    ¡°This old man will sit and read your lengthy paper.¡±


    Ja-kyung wrote the letters again.


    [Kang Il-hyun is aiming for Chairman Kang¡¯s life.]


    When he shows Chairman Kang the letter, his eyes light up. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes became as sharp as an awl as he stared at the screen. He turned to face Ja-kyung. Doing the unsettling act of purposefully writing letters and leaving evidence.


    Ja-kyung wrote the following letters on the screen:


    [I will take care of it. Please believe me]


    Chairman Kang, who was looking at Ja-kyung, nodded slowly. Ja-kyung used a lighter to burn the paper and tossed it into the ashtray. For a brief moment, he could see his hand whether there was a camera on his glasses as the screen was shaking.


    ¡°I will keep the chairman¡¯s words in mind.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s lips curved into a smile. The memo Ja-kyung had written a while ago was charred to ashes in the ashtray. The screen stopped there.


    Il-hyun, who was watching the video, burst out laughing with a surprised expression. Ja-kyung unplugged the USB from the laptop and set it on the table. When Il-hyun reached out and tried to grab it, Ja-kyung quickly grabbed it and hides it behind his back.


    ¡°You know the term equivalent exchange.¡±


    ¡°Do you think this is worth it?¡±


    ¡°This is evidence that Chairman Kang is trying to get rid of the Director, but it is also the other way around. You saw it earlier, right?¡±


    Il-hyun gritted his teeth and smiled.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you adorable?¡±


    ¡°Are you going to give it to me or not?¡±


    Il-hyun just stared at him without answering, and Ja-kyung immediately stood up from his seat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you need it, so I¡¯ll go now.¡±


    As soon as he put the USB in his pocket and was about to leave, Il-hyun motioned for him to sit down. He took another cigarette from the case and lit it. He leaned back on the sofa, tilting his head back, and exhaled a long puff of smoke. Ja-kyung waited for him to finish smoking.


    Il-hyun stood up from his seat with a cigarette and looked down at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Close your eyes. I¡¯ll bring it to you.¡±


    Ja-kyung closed his eyes. His footsteps could be heard. He heard the sound of something opening and closing, followed by footsteps. It was in this bedroom. Ja-kyung traveled all the way to Seoul and endured the hardship without knowing that.


    He opened his eyes because it was quiet, and Il-hyun was sitting directly in front of his nose with his face so close. Oh, shit! He scared me! Ja-kyung, who was surprised, pushed his body backward and held what he was holding in front of his eyes. It was the same USB that Ja-kyung stole.


    Ja-kyung took it and connected it directly to the laptop.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check it right away.¡±


    Il-hyun returned to his seat, sat, and tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°It¡¯s better not to watch it. Your eyes are going to rot.¡±


    Ja-kyung played the video without hesitation. He could see the man¡¯s broad back and droopy buttocks. A woman was beneath him. No, she was a young girl who couldn¡¯t even be called a woman. He didn¡¯t think he was Korean. Ja-kyung frowned and flipped forward the screen. The man was Chairman Kang.


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t watch all the way through, and after turning off the video, he looked at Il-hyun with an uncomfortable expression. Kang Il-hyun smirked, saying he knew it would be the case.


    ¡°I told you so. I told you it would be better not to watch.¡±


    Ja-kyung disconnected the USB from the laptop.


    ¡°I know. I feel sick.¡±


    After a brief pause, Il-hyun resumed his speech in response to that reaction.


    ¡°Do you know how old my dead mother was when she was sold to pay off her father¡¯s debt and forced to marry?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°Sixteen.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Il-hyun smashed the cigarette and put out a bored expression. It was as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.


    ¡°So she died of madness. At the age of going to school wearing a school uniform, she was dragged by a 20-year-old bastard and gave birth to an unwanted child. If that¡¯s not hell, what would it be? Don¡¯t you think so?¡±


    Ja-kyung was unable to respond. Il-hyun smiled and shook the USB that Ja-kyung had taken the night before.


    ¡°Is this mine now?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded. Then he put the USB that Kang Il-hyun had given him in his pocket. He had no idea whether this was an original or a copy, but it didn¡¯t matter. He was about to leave because he had gotten what he wanted, but Kang Il-hyun was staring at him.


    ¡°I think we talked about each other¡¯s work enough, so do you want to go swimming?¡±


    Ja-kyung flatly refused. The incident occurred during the day, but he refused to go there. However, he couldn¡¯t ignore Kang Il-hyun¡¯s persistent request, and he was dragged out. As they walked away, the house chef smiled at them. She seemed proud of Kang Il-hyun getting along with others.


    Ja-kyung changed into shorts and a T-shirt upstairs, went outside, did a quick warm-up, and jumped into the water. Kang Il-hyun sat on a sunbed and drank only high alcohol instead of swimming. If that was the case, Ja-kyung had no idea why he had asked him to swim.


    Il-hyun, who was sipping wine, looked at the still water. Lee Ja-kyung goes in for a dive, but he doesn¡¯t come out for a long time. While watching, he quickly set down his whiskey glass and went to the pool.


    Ja-kyung poked his head out of the water at that precise moment. Their eyes met under the bright moonlight, and Ja-kyung smiled at Il-hyun.


    ¡°Why are you standing there? Do you think I am dead?¡±


    Il-hyun returned to his sunbed, smiling as if it were the same. Ja-kyung swam in the pool like a fish. He poked his face out of the water now and then, but his wet face seemed to glow even more in harmony with the lighting.


    Il-hyun drew a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. Lee Ja-kyung, who was swimming, came out of the pool. After squeezing water on his t-shirt, he hurriedly approached him and pulled the cigarette from Il-hyun¡¯s mouth. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes widened slightly before returning to their original position.


    Ja-kyung put the cigarette in his mouth and smiled at Il-hyun. Il-hyun smiled as well when he saw this.


    ¡°Are you going to smoke openly now?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked back. He replied that he had no eyes to be concerned about for the time being, and then he sucked the cigarette and exhaled the smoke into the air.


    He then took a towel from the side and went behind Ja-kyung. He rubbed the towel on his head to dry his hair, but Ja-kyung waved his hand and told him not to. Il-hyun ignored it and kept brushing his hair and took back the cigarette from Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth.


    Ja-kyung raised his head and looked up after losing his cigarette. Il-hyun inhaled the cigarette smoke before bringing it to Ja-kyung¡¯s lips. Smoke ran down Ja-kyung¡¯s throat and Il-hyun¡¯s tongue licked his lips for a moment before parting.


    Then he casually brushed Ja-kyung¡¯s hair again. He said they¡¯d just swim, but the atmosphere¡­ Ja-kyung was embarrassed for no reason and just stared at him blankly.


    ¡°Leave it alone and it will dry out.¡±


    As he replied bluntly, the hand that was drying his hair touched his ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you might catch a cold. If you are sick, your work will be disrupted.¡±


    ¡°You are pretending to be very considerate. You do the same when we had sex.¡±


    ¡°Then, shall I give you a sweet sex today? Hmm?¡±


    Ja-kyung jumped up from his sunbed in surprise when the hand that was touching his ear slipped and groped his nipples. Il-hyun smiled softly and motioned for him to come over, and Ja-kyung quickly ran away to the other side of the pool.

 CH 49

    The downstairs was noisy with guests who had come since morning. When he asked who came, they said Kang Il-hyun¡¯s older sister Kang Yoo-jung came. The inauguration ceremony was just a day away, and she said that she had stopped by to say hello to Zhang Yi An, who was about to go back home.


    ¡°Yi An. I¡¯m going to miss you. Stay healthy.¡±


    She hugged him tightly. She still had a nice scent. If he had to compare her to a flower, he would say she is a wildflower. His expression loosened and he smiled wildly, but Kang Il-hyun, who was sitting on the sofa over her shoulder, caught his eye. When Ja-kyung noticed Kang Il-hyun pretending to slit his neck while staring at him, he hurriedly pushed Kang Yoo-jung.


    ¡°Thank, thank you. Noona also takes care of your throat. No, I mean take care of your health.¡±


    She smiled as she moved the corner of her mouth into a moved face when she heard the word ¡°Noona.¡± Wouldn¡¯t it be wonderful to have such a handsome and adorable younger brother? She has two younger brothers, one of whom is an old man with no blood or tears, and the other is a total mess.


    She led Ja-kyung¡¯s hand to the sofa and handed him a present. It was a small box, and the ribbon was beautifully decorated.


    ¡°Open it. I hope you like it.¡±


    Ja-kyung unwrapped the ribbon and opened the package to find a wooden music box. It was designed in the shape of a merry-go-round and was the perfect gift for Ja-kyung, who likes cute things.


    ¡°Thank you. I really like it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±


    Ja-kyung liked these things as a child because he had never had a proper toy. Perhaps this is similar to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s obsession with nipples. He smiled because he was happy, and then his gaze met Kang Il-hyun¡¯s, and he also smiled at him.


    Kang Yoo-jung asked Kang Il-hyun with a puzzled face.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to work?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Sunday.¡±


    It was expected her to be mistaken because he wears a suit almost every day, even on holidays, just without a tie. Kang Yoo-jung kindly demonstrated how to use the music box. A clear and melodious sound was produced when the mainspring was turned. It was a well-known song, but Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t recall the title. After he was laughing and chatting with Kang Yoo-jung, Kang Il-hyun, who was sitting in front of him, gave him a stern look and stood up to go into the bedroom.


    After Kang Yoo-jung left, Ja-kyung went up to the second floor and grabbed his luggage. His load was cut in half after he threw away the clothes he couldn¡¯t wear anymore. When he opened the drawer, he found a watch by Kang Seok-joo. He was insensitive and immature, but he wasn¡¯t such a bad guy.


    He took out his watch and placed it on the table, and as he was packing his belongings, he heard a knock. Kang Il-hyun entered through the open door. He walked over to the bed and sat down, looking down at Ja-kyung, who was sitting on the floor.


    ¡°Were you packing?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m almost done.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to leave immediately after work?¡±


    ¡°Maybe?¡±


    ¡°The remaining money.¡±


    ¡°You can send it to the place where you sent the advance payment. Even if you give it to me right now, I won¡¯t be able to take it with me.¡±


    That¡¯s right. He didn¡¯t understand why they were discussing it again, even though they had previously discussed it. Kang Il-hyun looked around and picked up a music box that was lying on the bed.


    ¡°You forgot this.¡±


    Ah, Ja-kyung held out his hand for it. But Kang Il-hyun dropped it a little further away. Ja-kyung attempted to grab him, but it was too late. Thud. The music box fell to the floor, and Ja-kyung frowned. Il-hyun gave a smug smile.


    ¡°Oh, my. My hand slipped. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Ja-kyung picked up the music box. Il-hyun then said another sentence. He glared at Kang Il-hyun. To the very end.


    ¡°You should have taken it properly. Because it¡¯s precious.¡±


    He emphasized the words, ¡®It¡¯s precious.¡¯ Ja-kyung thought there must be something going on because Il-hyun had been treating him well and acting like a gentleman for the past two days. The mainspring still makes a sound when he winds it up. Ja-kyung thought he could roughly attach the broken one.


    Ja-kyung swallowed the curse and placed the music box in the bag. Il-hyun got out of bed and sat down on the floor. Then he fixed his gaze on Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung, who was packing his belongings, raised his head.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Instead of responding, Il-hyun moved closer to his face. His eyes are really pretty. He will rot away if he dies. What a waste. He should have definitely kept him.


    ¡°I thought I¡¯d miss you.¡±


    His gaze was unusually tinged with emotion. Ja-kyung seemed to understand why he looked at him in that way. So, rather than asking more questions, he smiled vaguely and began packing his belongings. Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t leave the spot until Ja-kyung finished packing.


    Ja-kyung awoke early in the morning, took a shower, and looked around the room where he was staying. He also wanted to know if there was anything he had forgotten, and despite the fact that it had only been about 20 days, he had a little sentimental attachment to it around that time. When he came out, Tae-soo was the first to come up to the living room.


    ¡°Please, give it to me. I¡¯ll carry your bag.¡±


    Park Tae-soo was aware that he was not Zhang Yi An, but he continued to treat him as such until the end. Ja-kyung went downstairs with his luggage bag with his help. He also said his farewell to the house chef and other employees. The house chef hugged him several times with a sad face, saying she was quite attached to him. It was warm and good in a different way from Kang Yoo-jung. He kept thinking about Wang Han¡¯s grandmother, who had died, and his nose turned sour for no apparent reason.


    ¡°It would have been nice if the director was here, but today was the inauguration ceremony, so he left early in the morning.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I said my goodbyes yesterday..¡±


    He went outside after saying his goodbyes to them. Ja-kyung sat in the back seat while Park Tae-soo loaded the luggage into the trunk. He looked up at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house. Even though it seemed strange and like a prison when he first arrived, he has grown to like it. Ja-kyung stared out the window for a long time after Park Tae-soo turned the car and drove away.


    Park Tae-soo didn¡¯t say anything the entire time the car was moving. Come to think of it, he hadn¡¯t seen him talk much during his stay here. The car drove for about 30 minutes before coming to a stop near the destination. Park Tae-soo got off, opened the back door, and took the luggage bag from the trunk.


    Ja-kyung was handed the luggage bag and then he said his gratitude to Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°Thank you for all this time.¡±


    Park Tae-soo simply bowed his head instead of answering.


    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m going to meet a friend here.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    Ja-kyung walked to the black car parked in front of the convenience store with his luggage as Park Tae-soo got into the car and began driving away. Wang Lun showed his face as he lightly knocked on the driver¡¯s side window. He opened the trunk and threw his luggage behind him.


    Wang Lun blinked at the spot where Park Tae-soo¡¯s car had disappeared a while ago.


    ¡°Is that person Kang Il-hyun?¡±


    ¡°No. That¡¯s his secretary.¡±


    ¡°What time did you say the inauguration was?¡±


    ¡°11 o¡¯clock.¡±


    Wang Lun took out a new license plate from the back seat and replaced it with the new one. After finishing their work, the two hopped in their car and drove to Seoul. Wang Lun shook his head to loud music while traveling. Ja-kyung burst into laughter when he saw that the beat was completely off.


    Ja-kyung wore a black hat and changed into a T-shirt. He also put a yellow vest on top of it. On the left chest of the vest, the name of the air conditioner company was written. After getting ready, he hung the employee card around his neck and looked out the window.


    Wang Lun was annoyed when there was a traffic jam on the bridge.


    ¡°It¡¯s rush hour, so there¡¯s a traffic jam.¡±


    While the car stopped for a moment, Ja-kyung took a small bag from his backpack and handed it to Wang Lun.


    ¡°Take it back.¡±


    Wang Lun opened it to check it and frowned.


    ¡°What. But there¡¯s no wiretapping device?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t get it back.¡±


    ¡°How much is it?¡±


    ¡°10%¡±


    ¡°Ugh, only 10% of him. If I get another, I¡¯ll have him remove all the body parts.¡±


    Wang Lun grumbled, but as he got closer to his destination, his face hardened. Ja-kyung had a dry mouth as well. He checked the time after drinking a glass of water and drenching his throat. There¡¯s about an hour until work. Wang Lun looked up at the building after hearing that it was close to the destination.


    The tall building was so high that you had to tilt your head back to see it all.


    ¡°What floor was it?¡±


    ¡°17th floor.¡±


    ¡°Will you be okay? Shouldn¡¯t you be carrying a parachute?¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed at his joke, telling him not to talk nonsense.


    ¡°Bye.¡±


    Wang Lun raised his fist. Ja-kyung smiled and bumped his fist on it before pulling a toolbox-like bag from the back seat. As he entered the building, security stopped him as if they were waiting for him. After showing his ID, the guard called somewhere, and he was finally allowed to enter safely.


    He took the elevator to the 17th floor. There were many people present, and he was preoccupied with work. Ja-kyung came out from the elevator on the 17th floor wearing a hat. He walked down the hall to the Yuhan Construction sign and opened the door.


    The inside was empty. He entered, locked the door, went to the window, and placed his bag. He took off the ID from his neck, placed it in his pocket, and looked out the window across the street. When he took out the telescope and checked it, quite a few people had already entered the inauguration hall and were moving.


    Ja-kyung took the rope from the bag, tied it in a tight knot between the poles, and pulled it hard to double-check it. He then leaned against the window, took out a cigarette, and looked at the time.


    There were 40 minutes until the shot.


    He turned on quiet music on his cell phone after squishing the smoked cigarette with his feet. He opened his bag, pulled out a sniper rifle, and began assembling them one by one. His fingertips were filled with the sensation of cold metal. Clap, clap, and the iron makes a cool noise. It was like the sound of death.

 CH 50

    ¡°Did you not sleep?¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung looked at Il-hyun¡¯s complexion and asked with a worried expression.


    ¡°No. I¡¯m feeling nauseous because I¡¯ve been forced to smile at people I don¡¯t want to see since the morning.¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung tried to smile as she looked around at his sharp tone. It was a good day for the inauguration ceremony, but Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression was so grim that he looked like he had come to attend a funeral. Kang Il-hyun, who was greeting the crowd, eventually asked Kang Yoo-jung for headache medicine, which she pulled from her bag and handed to him.


    Il-hyun went to the bathroom and washed his face with cold water after taking medicine to avoid people¡¯s eyes. He checked the time while pressing his temples against his throbbing headache. There are about 40 minutes until work time. He wiped the water from his face and looked in the mirror at himself. Perhaps his eyes were sharper than usual because he didn¡¯t get enough sleep the night before.


    He stopped for a moment, checked the condition of the bulletproof vest he was wearing beneath his shirt, reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled out his cell phone. And he called somewhere.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    [Yes, Director, please tell me.]


    ¡°Are you waiting?¡±


    [I¡¯m right downstairs.]


    Il-hyun was silent for a moment. Park Tae-soo patiently waited for his orders.


    ¡°Let him live for now. Even if I kill him, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    [I understand.]


    He smiled in despair as he hung up the phone. He must be insane. It would be easier to just kill him. He was going to kill him after seeing him one more time just because he thought he was pretty. Crazy bastard. He pulled out a hand towel, wiped the water off his face, tossed it into the trash can, and exited the bathroom.


    As he walked out, Chairman Kang appeared in the distance with Kim Seon-young and Kang Seok-joo. Il-hyun casually approached him and smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re here, Father.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve prepared a lot.¡±


    ¡°Representative Yoon and Minister Park have been waiting for you since a while ago.¡±


    Chairman Kang smiled and nodded, then went inside with Kim Seon-young. Kang Seok-joo glanced at him and then followed Chairman Kang. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes became cold when he looked at Chairman Kang¡¯s back. Enjoy it to the fullest while you can. Father.


    ***


    Ja-kyung relaxed his muscles by moving his neck left and right. He moved in front of the window after loosening his arms and legs moderately. The tinted windows were invisible from the outside. He positioned the gun on the bipod and drew the muzzle out the window. Wang Lun¡¯s voice came from the In-ear.


    [Are you ready?]


    ¡°Yes. How about you, hyung?¡±


    [I¡¯m waiting downstairs. Can you see the blue van?]


    Ja-kyung went to the right and checked the roadside. Wang Lun¡¯s car is waiting next to a blue van parked in front of the cafe.


    ¡°I see it.¡±


    There were 20 minutes left. To calm his mind, he took a piece of gum and chewed it slowly. He sat down by the window and waited for the time to pass. He couldn¡¯t help but think of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face as he closed his eyes. He shook his head and wiped his forehead. He then tried to imagine something else. The island where he will live, a pretty wife and cute children to spend his time with, and¡­ Kang Il-hyun¡­?


    Why was he there? Ja-kyung frowned and waved his arms around. Go away. He intended to stop thinking about him, but the angry smirk on his face never faded.


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    Ja-kyung stood up from his seat after swearing. It was now time to get to work. He put his eye on the scope and pointed it at the building where Kang Il-hyun was. He saw faces passing through the window. And then Kang Il-hyun entered the scope.


    It was soon time for Il-hyun to appear and deliver his inaugural speech. He breathed slowly. Among the guests, there was Kang Yoo-jung, and there were quite a few familiar figures including Chairman Kang and Kang Seok-joo.


    Kang Il-hyun stood up after Chairman Kang¡¯s greetings. As he walked out onto the podium, he took a seat in front of the microphone and began to speak. Even though he wasn¡¯t particularly fashionable, he was particularly dazzling today.


    Kang Il-hyun walked out of the podium after completing his inaugural speech. The gun, which was aimed at Il-hyun¡¯s face, began to move downward. Ja-kyung slowly stopped breathing. Il-hyun politely bowed to the crowd. The muzzle went further down past the heart. And the moment Kang Il-hyun raised his head, Ja-kyung pulled the trigger.


    Baang, the bullet that flew through the window pierced his left thigh.


    Kang Il-hyun staggered and stepped back, and everyone in the room stood up at once. The bodyguards rushed in, and the blinds began to fall in an instant. Ja-kyung took advantage of the little gap, pulling the lever to remove the cartridge case and firing the second bullet.


    The second bullet struck his right thigh. He collapsed uncontrollably as blood spurted from his wounds. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t see anything because all of the windows were closed. Ja-kyung took his gaze away from the scene and exhaled a breath he had been holding in.


    Bang Bang. The front door rattled as though he had anticipated it. The men¡¯s shouts could be heard coming from this direction through the door. Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound of someone knocking on the door with a hard object could be heard.


    Ja-kyung took two smoke grenades out of his waist, pressed the button, and rolled them over. After some time, the view was blocked by smoke that quickly increased. The door was broken open at the same moment the rope was fastened to his waistline.


    Ja-kyung immediately went to the window and hurled himself out when he heard footsteps approaching. The body emerged from the building after the windows were broken. The body that was thrown out was recoiled and flew to the window downstairs, and Ja-kyung slammed into the window, rolled over, and landed on the floor.


    People working in the office screamed in surprise.


    Ja-kyung swiftly exited the office and began rushing towards the emergency exit after cutting the rope with a knife. He could hear shouting and footsteps from above as he descended the stairs. His ears were being torn apart by the sound of bullets hitting the stair railing.


    Several men came up from below as he descended. Ja-kyung grabbed the railing and leaped up to kick the man. He then immediately pulled out a knife and stabbed their arms and legs with it. Someone attempted to shoot him from below, so Ja-kyung quickly turned the man who was stabbed by his knife into a shield while grabbing the knife and hurling it at the person holding the gun, stabbing him in the neck.


    There were a lot more than he had anticipated. Ja-kyung fled from the emergency exit after determining that it would be tough to escape the situation. When he opened the door to the office and entered, people screamed at the sight of Ja-kyung covered in blood.


    Ja-kyung picked up the chair and threw it into the window, then ran and climbed up the window sill. The men who were chasing Ja-kyung also armed themselves and ran into the office. The men who were chasing Ja-kyung also armed themselves and ran into the office. The office soon became chaotic. Ja-kyung jumped downwards.


    He broke the glass after falling on top of the parked car. Ja-kyung tumbled down and scurried under the car as a bullet shot into him directly from above. He could clearly see bullets splashing on the asphalt floor.


    Just then, Wang Lun¡¯s voice came through the In-ear.


    [Where are you?]


    ¡°The entrance to the back door parking lot. Come quickly!¡±


    A car pulled up to the side and stopped abruptly after the words were finished. Ja-kyung rolled over and hastily entered the car once Wang Lun opened the door. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s men mercilessly fired their guns from above, shattering the windshield.


    However, Wang Lun didn¡¯t care and started to get out of there at high speed. Ja-kyung took a deep breath and sat back down. He didn¡¯t feel discomfort in his arm until much later, and when he looked at it, he saw that it was covered in blood.


    Wang Lun asked with a worried expression next to him.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. A little scratched.¡±


    Wang Lun looked in the rearview mirror and spat out a cuss. A frightening amount of black cars chased after. He was glad it wasn¡¯t rush hour. The car that was pursuing them was also accelerating if he did, and there was no indication that it was going to slow down as he drove while dodging the pursuing cars.


    ¡°I think those bastards are getting close.¡±


    Wang Lun¡¯s face shone with excitement. Ja-kyung reached back and grabbed an automatic rifle from the back seat. A tunnel entrance could be seen up ahead. Ja-kyung had no expression on his face while holding the magazine. The chasing cars closely followed Wang Lun as he slowed down in front of the tunnel, thinking this to be a moment of opportunity.


    Bang, bang, bullets pierced the back window and struck the seat resulting in chaos. Wang Lun bowed his head to avoid the bullet and regretted not having installed bulletproof glass sooner. Ja-kyung used his foot to kick the cracked glass and tear it off before signaling Wang Lun in the center of the tunnel.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start.¡±


    Wang Lun hurriedly turned the steering wheel. The car made a quick spin with a ripping and screeching sound before shifting in to backward. Via the open windshield, Ja-kyung fired his gun mercilessly.


    The bullets fired incessantly flew through the windows and wheels of the following car. The cars lost control, stumbled, collided with one another, and ultimately flipped. The car that followed smashed into and halted as smoke ascended.


    Wang Lun laughed loudly as he quickly spun the steering wheel all the way around to return the car body to its previous state.


    ¡°As expected, Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    He reached out to fist bump, but Ja-kyung, who was worn out, tossed the gun back and put his head on the seat. The open windshield let in a humid wind that carried the smell of blood. Even though this smell was familiar to him, he gets more nauseated today. He pulled out a cigarette and closed his eyes.


    I¡¯m sick of this. I¡¯m sick of this smell now.


    He remembered Kang Il-hyun¡¯s previous appearance quite clearly and smiled bitterly.


    You brought it on yourself. After all, you tried to kill me too.

 CH 51

    Il-hyun stared at the picture that Ja-kyung drew on the paper. He was drawing on paper where he would stand and where Lee Ja-kyung would shoot on the day of the shooting, and he burst out laughing when he remembered that he lied about being an art major due to his poor painting skills.


    Since Ja-kyung had toured the building in advance, he gave Kang Il-hyun exactly where he should stand.


    ¡°I see you from here. I¡¯ll shoot you right away when the director comes out to the side of the podium to give your closing speech.¡±


    He drew Kang Il-hyun on the other side of the building, and all he had to do was draw his arms, legs, and his head, but his eyes were unusually sharp and ferocious. Il-hyun was dissatisfied with the drawing. Paintings also reveal people¡¯s unconscious thoughts, but in Ja-unconscious thought, he had such an ugly and wretched face. He felt betrayed because he was so nice to him.


    The bullet flew at a high speed and will hit Kang Il-hyun¡¯s left chest. Kang Il-hyun sat on the other side, staring at Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s face as he worked hard to explain the picture. Later, Ja-kyung noticed and tapped the paper with his hand.


    ¡°Concentrate. Are you listening?¡±


    ¡°Continue.¡±


    ¡°You know, vests block bullets but do not stop the impact. Your ribs or intestines may be injured if you are unlucky. According to the director¡¯s body, it doesn¡¯t seem like that¡¯s going to happen.¡±


    ¡°Of course. There is nothing wrong with my body.¡±


    While saying that, he raised his chin and stretched his shoulders wider. Ja-kyung deliberately pretended not to see.


    ¡°Anyway, you have to deal with that.¡±


    Il-hyun continued to stare at Ja-kyung¡¯s face. He thought only his eyes were pretty, but the closer he looked, the thicker his lips became.


    ¡°You can¡¯t make any claim for damage compensation from me.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed out loud when he heard him say it softly.


    ¡°Do I seem to be that petty?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    When Ja-kyung answered without hesitation, Il-hyun looked at him with a sad face.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you. Do you want to see what being petty really is?¡±


    ¡°Enough of that. Anyway, that¡¯s my job. The director should handle the rest. If you are concerned, you can form a separate medical team.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Because I believe in you.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes fluttered slightly. Il-hyun took Ja-kyung¡¯s hand and placed it on his chest.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to shoot properly. Here.¡±


    This time, Ja-kyung moved his hand a little further to the right. The heart is here. Thump, thump, thump, his heartbeat was transmitted through his palm. He quickly took his hand off because it felt like it was moving on his body, but Il-hyun grabbed it and placed it on his dick this time.


    ¡°But I guess my heart is in my dick.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s it, is it beating?¡±


    Ja-kyung wriggled his hand and was disgusted as Il-hyun¡¯s dick visibly grew bigger, he then slapped his hand. Ah. Il-hyun frowned while smiling, then took Ja-kyung¡¯s fountain pen. Ja-kyung had no idea why, but when he saw it, Il-hyun drew his shoulders a little wider. He did this to make himself look good.


    Ja-kyung burst out laughing. It appeared that the house chef¡¯s claim that there was nothing that couldn¡¯t be done was true. It was a crude drawing, but it seemed plausible. Then, this time, he drew big alien eyes on Ja-kyung¡¯s face. He scribbled the first three letters of Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s name next to his face. The letters were perfectly straight as if printed.


    He even drew a heart next to his name, so Ja-kyung frowned and took the paper in a hurry. He was annoyed, but his neck and cheeks were a little hot.


    Kang Il-hyun turned the fountain pen between his fingers while looking at him, his chin resting on the other hand.


    ¡°You look like a teenage boy. Getting shy because of the heart.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think I¡¯m creeped out and pissed off?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled slyly and flicked his fingers.


    Come here.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to see you in two days, so I want to kiss you goodbye.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Il-hyun got up from his chair and moved his upper body forward while placing his hands on the table. Ja-kyung tried to run away, but he was one step too late. His lips were lightly touched and the back of his head was gripped. Il-hyun then sucked his lips and pushed his tongue in.


    His tongue was tangled, and his breathing was becoming increasingly hard. Il-hyun reached out his hand and began unbuttoning Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt. Ja-kyung also didn¡¯t do much of a deterrent. Then there was a knock, and they both stopped. Their lips parted, and Il-hyun turned to face the door with a dissatisfied expression.


    ¡°Director are you here?¡±


    It was Park Tae-soo¡¯s voice. Il-hyun sighed and looked down at Ja-kyung, who had his head bowed. It was lovely to see the tip of his ears turn red as he tried to hide the paper, making him smile without realizing it.


    He felt a terrible pain in his left thigh. Il-hyun lowered his head to look at his legs. Blood gushed from his thighs. This time, a shot was fired in his right thigh, causing his body to fall back and the back of his head to hit the ground.


    People gathered around him and Kang Yoo-jung¡¯s pale expression came into view. She called Park Tae-soo as she pressed her hand against his thigh. His breathing became more difficult, and his consciousness became hazy. The screams, shouts, and screeching of people deafened him.


    His body suddenly lifted up. His eyelids were heavy, and blood was draining from his body. He then felt a chill from somewhere. His head tilted to the side, revealing the faces of his family members in front of him. Kim Seon-young, Kang Tae-han, Kang Seok-joo. Everyone appeared flustered, but only Chairman Kang¡¯s expression remained calm. No, he seemed to be smiling.


    Il-hyun glared at Chairman Kang, and then pulled the corners of his lips crookedly and smiled.


    It¡¯s still too early to be happy. Old man.


    Even if he dies and goes to hell, he will definitely come to pick him up.


    So wait.


    His vision becomes increasingly blurred as he grits his teeth. Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s face flashed through my mind. He looks cute. He slapped him on the back of the head with that cute face. His eyelids dropped, his vision became completely closed, and the loud noises faded away.


    Everything was dark, and his consciousness had sunk to the bottom.


    ***


    The warehouse was full of unused items. It used to be a factory run by Wang Lun¡¯s acquaintance, but it is now closed. Outsiders could not enter without permission, so it was perfect for hiding for the time being.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s men had already set up camp near the port. He received a call from an acquaintance, and it appears that Il-hyun seemed to have swept the neighborhood with a picture of Lee Ja-kyung.


    They must stay here for a few days to monitor their movements before boarding a fishing boat and changing to a smuggling ship while their surveillance is flawed. Wang Lun also goes to the place where Wang Han is with Ja-kyung. Wang Han organized everything in Thailand before moving to Russia.


    Ja-kyung took several pills with water at the same time. Wang Lun sat in a chair next to him, preparing to sew the wound on Ja-kyung¡¯s forearm with a medical needle and thread. Wang Lun was good at making things with his hands, which could explain why he was the best at stitching wounds of the three.


    While he disinfected the needle and sewed up the gaping flesh, Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and endured it without a single groan. A cold sweat was forming on his forehead and blood vessel was visible on his neck. Seeing this, Wang Lun shook his head.


    ¡°Persistent, you¡¯re so persistent. You aren¡¯t even making a sound.¡±


    [Don¡¯t be expensive, hmm? Let me hear your voice.]


    Why did he think of Kang Il-hyun at that moment? Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and tried not to think about him anymore. If Ja-kyung hadn¡¯t shot Il-hyun, he would have been the one to die. Il-hyun would live because he didn¡¯t hit his head. Il-hyun said no, but he was aware that he would be deploying a medical team.


    ¡°Take off your clothes. I¡¯ll make sure if you¡¯re injured somewhere else.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was about to take off his clothes, stopped. The countless marks made by Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lips would still be visible. While Ja-kyung hesitates, Wang Lun lifts the back of his shirt and his eyes widen. He returned his gaze to Ja-kyung after noticing several marks that weren¡¯t even bruises.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Ja-kyung hurriedly put down her shirt and smiled.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°I have lived 8 years longer than you. Do you think I wouldn¡¯t know just by lookit at it?¡±


    ¡°I said it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°Your skill is great. How did you meet a girl there?¡±


    Ja-kyung sighed and kept his mouth shut. It was not a woman. He will be teased until he dies if the Wang brothers find out. It was said that Lee Ja-kyung came back after being devoured by a man.


    ¡°It must be a very hot girl.¡±


    As Wang Lun tried to check again, Ja-kyung quickly got up and ran away. Wang Lun laughed as he organized the medicine. Ja-kyung, who was sitting in front of the window, was staring out the window and had stopped speaking. Wang Lun was unfamiliar with this appearance.


    Ja-kyung usually looked refreshed when he finished work, but this time was different. He looked like he had left something behind.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled bitterly.


    ¡°I thought that I should not act next time.¡±


    Wang Lun agreed and nodded his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wise decision.¡±


    In any case, he never imagined Ja-kyung to be such a performer.


    Wang Lun, who was speaking, stated that he would sleep first and lie down on the bed. Ja-kyung left him and went outside for a while, pulling out a cigarette. The car next to them was covered by an awning, and the entrance was tightly shut, so CCTV and alarms were activated 24 hours a day. He looked up at the sky, which was filled with dark clouds. It seemed to be raining.


    He lit a fire and smell the smoke while rubbing his face. The pain in the arm subsided as the daily dose took effect. He raised his eyes to the sky and heard a rustling sound next to him. He immediately reached into his arms and touched the gun, but two eyes flashed in the darkness.


    Next to the drum, a small kitten came out. It appeared to have just been born, but it walks out. Ja-kyung went to see it, but a black mother cat walks out from behind it and looks at him with cautious eyes.


    Ja-kyung stopped. The mother exposes its teeth and makes a mandibular sound. Ja-kyung took a step back and smiled. Then, not long after biting the baby, it disappeared somewhere. Ja-kyung entered the warehouse and locked the door after rubbing the cigarette on the ground.


    Wang Lun¡¯s snoring could be heard. Ja-kyung envied his character¡¯s ability to sleep comfortably in any situation. He fell asleep on the old sofa. Fortunately, he appeared to be able to sleep comfortably today as a result of the medicinal effect.


    However, as soon as he fell asleep, the evil employer¡¯s face appeared and haunted him. He awoke several times from sleep, and as a result, he had to face the dawn.

 CH 52

    ¡°Take care of your expression.¡±


    In response to Kim Seon-young¡¯s resolute voice, Kang Seok-joo tried to hide the corners of his lips that kept rising. After Kang Il-hyun was shot during the inauguration ceremony and taken to the hospital, he underwent emergency surgery and was in the intensive care unit until today, when he was moved to the VIP room.


    News and newspapers were buzzing about Kang Il-hyun¡¯s accident every day. The case of Chairman Kang¡¯s slush fund scandal is well-known due to this. Prosecutors also expressed their belief that Chairman Kang¡¯s summons should be postponed due to an accident involving his son.


    Executives and shareholders were also agitated, and at this time, the existing forces who wanted to follow Kang Tae-han¡¯s succession process, the forces of Kim Seon-young who wanted to appoint Kang Seok-joo as the new successor, and the forces who believed that there was still no one better than Kang Il-hyun as a successor were confronting each other. Kim Seon-young straightened her expression and told Kang Seok-joo to never show off his face.


    Instead, Kang Seok-joo was having a heated discussion about the good news with his friends on his cell phone. Who really shot Kang Il-hyun? The common opinion of all was that it was difficult to guess because there were so many people who wanted to kill Kang Il-hyun.


    If Zhang Yi An had been there, they would have shared the joy together. He sent a message to him with regret, but there was no reply.


    When the car came to a stop in front of the hospital, the secretary opened the back door. Chairman Kang and Kang Tae-han¡¯s cars stopped behind, and they got off and entered the hospital. People¡¯s attention was drawn to them, and the hospital director and doctors greeted them, but their faces were gloomy.


    Kang Seok-joo discovered the reason at the VIP ward entrance on the 20th floor. Park Tae-soo stopped them before the elevator door opened and they could enter Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hospital room. Chairman Kang looked surprised at Park Tae-soo, who was blocking the way.


    ¡°What are you doing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chairman. You can¡¯t go in.¡±


    Kang Tae-han, who was standing next to him, rushed forward.


    ¡°You cheeky bastard. How dare you, a mere secretary, meddle so recklessly. What? You can¡¯t get in? You were under Kang Il-hyun, so your liver came out of the stomach, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    Kang Tae-han stepped forward with a single blow, and the hospital director next to him was apologetic, but he couldn¡¯t stop him. The elevator door then opened, revealing Kang Yoo-jung. Next to her was a young man with glasses.


    Chairman Kang recognized him. He was a representative lawyer at a large law firm who knew Kang Il-hyun and was in charge of Il-hyun¡¯s personal affairs. Kang Yoo-jung approached the family members with a gentle expression.


    ¡°You all came early. But what can I do, I think it¡¯s going to be hard to visit today.¡±


    Kang Tae-han replied with a curt face.


    ¡°Why? You said the surgery went well.¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung had a sad expression on her face after slowly examining the faces of her family members.


    ¡°Because he was bleeding profusely, he died and was resurrected. He needs to rest right now, so come back later.¡±


    The bullet in the left leg only crossed the artery and nerve, but the bullet in the right leg severed the artery. First aid was administered immediately, but there was so much blood that it was difficult to locate the artery hidden inside the muscle.


    If a medical team had not been deployed to the scene despite Kang Il-hyun¡¯s objection, and if Kang Yoo-jung had not been there on the pretext of being busy, something unimaginable might have happened.


    Then Kim Seon-young stepped forward. The sound of high heels hitting the floor was sharp.


    ¡°Yoo-jung-ah. We¡¯ll just check his face. Your father came all the way here himself.¡±


    Kang Tae-han also helped.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Don¡¯t be too tight. The director doesn¡¯t even say anything, but why are you interfering!


    The hospital director coughed and averted his gaze. He couldn¡¯t say anything else because he had already spoken with Kang Yoo-jung. Kang Yoo-jung examined the faces of the family members one by one. Everyone was hiding it, but there was a strange look of excitement on their faces.


    They must be so happy. Kang Il-hyun, who was like a thorn in the eye, was shot.


    She cast a glance at the law firm representative sitting next to her. He opened the document and presented it to Chairman Kang politely. Chairman Kang¡¯s secretary accepted it and handed it over to him. Chairman Kang¡¯s brow twitched as he examined the documents¡¯ contents.


    Yoo-jung began speaking as she looked at Chairman Kang.


    ¡°It¡¯s about giving me complete authority if something happens to Director Kang and he becomes unconscious or dies.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s eyes widened when he heard the words.


    ¡°What do you mean by this?¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung smiled brightly. That smile somehow resembled Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°Well, what does that mean?¡±


    Kang Tae-han became impatient and asked angrily.


    ¡°Are you kidding me? So what it is? Say it correctly so that I can understand!¡±


    Yoo-jung still fixed her gaze on Chairman Kang.


    ¡°It means that whoever it is, if you want to kill Kang Sang-moo in the future, you have to kill me, too. Father.¡±


    There was anger and sadness in the word ¡°father.¡± Chairman Kang¡¯s eyes trembled, and Kang Tae-han raised his voice next to him.


    ¡°What do you mean now? I mean, we even asked for a favor!¡±


    Chairman Kang gestured to stop and then looked at Kang Yoo-jung. Her lips were softly smiling, but her eyes were strangely hostile. Unlike Kang Il-hyun, she was good at hiding her emotions, but she showed them today.


    Chairman Kang nodded and returned the documents, calming the ferocious momentum.


    ¡°I¡¯m going back today. Contact me when he gets better. You¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s worried about him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will.¡±


    Yoo-jung returned to her usual form and smiled sweetly. Chairman Kang and the family turned around and left. The hospital¡¯s director and other doctors appeared to be wiping sweat from their foreheads. Kang Yoo-jung bit her teeth and closed her eyes tightly after they boarded the elevator and descended.


    Park Tae-soo came to the side.


    ¡°You did well.¡±


    Yoo-jung opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and smiled sadly. She was stunned and then enraged the first time she heard Kang Il-hyun¡¯s story. Why is he so greedy that he wants to hold the position by killing his children? Yoo-jung didn¡¯t get it, and neither did forgiveness.


    After sending off the lawyer, she went into the hospital room with Park Tae-soo. After checking Il-hyun¡¯s blood pressure and pulse, she looked down at his two legs wrapped in bandages. It seemed that it would take quite a while to walk without discomfort.


    ¡°It would be better to move to the hospital, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Tae-soo nodded at Yoo-jung¡¯s question.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a suitable place, so I¡¯ll let you know as soon as it¡¯s decided.¡±


    ¡°I feel reassured that Secretary Park is by my side.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just do what I have to do.¡±


    ¡°Who is the culprit?¡±


    Tae-soo pondered for a moment. Kang Yoo-jung doesn¡¯t know that the killer is Zhang Yi An or Lee Ja-kyung. Kang Il-hyun told Kang Yoo-jung everything but kept this one a secret. So he didn¡¯t say anything either.


    ¡°We are still looking.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun groaned and frowned at the time. Kang Yoo-jung approached him, and Park Tae-soo examined his face to see how he was doing. The lashes trembled, the eyelids raised, and the pupils moved to the left and right.


    Yoo-jung asked cautiously.


    ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    The black eyes first looked at Kang Yoo-jung, then at Park Tae-soo. Kang Yoo-jung asked again if he was okay, but there was no response. Kang Yoo-jung¡¯s heart sank as he stared at her like a lunatic.


    She turned on her medical pen light to examine his pupils, but he suddenly laughed. Kang Yoo-jung¡¯s eyes widened. Did you just laugh? Did you hit your head when you fell? However, neither the examination results nor the appearance were abnormal.


    Kang Il-hyun now makes a sound and laughed to the point where his chest was vibrating. Yoo-jung looked back at Tae-soo with a worried expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡±


    When the doctor asked Tae-soo about the patient¡¯s condition, he struggled to respond. But after nearly ten years of watching Kang Il-hyun, he guessed that¡¯s the state¡­


    ¡°He seems angry.¡±


    Yoo-jung¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Did you just say that this is him being angry?¡±


    Park Tae-soo lowered his voice and answered so that only Kang Yoo-jung could hear it.


    ¡°Yes¡­ very.¡±


    He was right to say, ¡®He¡¯s so pissed off,¡¯ but he didn¡¯t want to tell Yoo-jung those low-key words. Yoo-jung frowned. Kang Il-hyun couldn¡¯t stop laughing at what he thought was funny. If anyone had seen him, they would have assumed his wife had given birth instead of being shot and hospitalized.


    After a while of laughing, the smile on his face faded and his eyes became cold. The black eyes had taken on an eerie glint.


    ***


    Ueg, ueg. Wang Lun sticks his head out of the boat and vomits.


    He was forced to change ships in the middle of the sea on a fishing boat, but his motion sickness worsened. He had taken some medication beforehand, but it was ineffective.


    After he disappeared into the cabin saying he was going to lie down, Ja-kyung looked at the turbulent sea from the deck. He could only hear sounds and see nothing in the dark sea. After Wang Han¡¯s father saved his life when he was ten years old, he once went to China by boat like this at night.


    The relief of living and the fear of going to a new place kept him awake the entire time he tried to sleep. He met Wang Han and Wang Lun there. They were like family to him.


    He took his phone from his pocket. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s contact information was saved on the phone, which had been turned off. While lying on the bed, he thought that he needed to get as far away as possible to where he couldn¡¯t be found. It didn¡¯t matter because it happened all the time.


    It was a pity that he couldn¡¯t get all of the money, but it was quite a big sum that he decided to be content with it. He only got an advance payment from both of them, and he only gave them half of what they wanted, so it was never a low-key deal for them. The rest is up to them from now on. It didn¡¯t matter whether they killed each other or not.


    Ja-kyung was certain he had received a large sum of money, so he planned to visit the island when the situation had calmed down. It would be difficult to manage if it was too large, so he would need to get an appropriate size. To do so, he must first meet the woman he wishes to marry. He will have to think about where he wants to live a little more, but he will not return to Korea.


    He crossed his arms on the railing and looked down at the dark ocean, thinking through several thoughts. He looked up and noticed a faint light in the distance. It flashed several times as if it were signaling


    It was a sailing ship


    Ja-kyung slowly stood up. The ship¡¯s lights came closer and closer.

 CH 53

    Chairman Kang stared at the USB on the desk. It arrived quickly on the day Kang Il-hyun collapsed after being shot. He once went on a golf trip with some members of parliament to another country, and someone secretly filmed him having sex with a teenage girl there.


    Chairman Kang will not be the only one in trouble if this spreads. They were also filmed getting tangled up in groups at the end of the video. He wondered if Kang Il-hyun had made a duplicate. Or Lee Ja-kyung? Assuming he shot Il-hyun¡¯s leg rather than his heart, there could have been a secret transaction between the two that he was unaware of.


    As soon as the work was finished, Lee Ja-kyung disappeared. Chairman Kang thought about taking care of him, but he couldn¡¯t find him. If Ja-kyung had the will to live, he would never set foot on Korean soil again. He had someone to check it out, and Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house was also clean and vacant.


    And he learned that Kang Il-hyun had been transferred to a different hospital during the day. Chairman Kang pretended to be unaware of this. In a situation that even Kang Yoo-jung noticed, he decided that there was nothing worthwhile to probe.


    Then, with a knock, a visitor entered. There were three directors who contributed greatly to the founding of the company. They were four founding members at first, but one betrayed him by stabbing him in the back, and Chairman Kang had Il-hyun get rid of him a while ago.


    The directors came in and took their seats, and the secretary served the tea.


    ¡°Since the chairman must be very concerned, we stopped by to comfort you.¡±


    He presented a gift wrapped in a golden cloth saying that they had prepared it together. Chairman Kang ordered his secretary to set it aside inside.


    ¡°Thank you for thinking of this old man this much.¡±


    ¡°Who knew that we would experience such a fuss at the inauguration ceremony while living in the world?¡±


    ¡°I was also very surprised. See how my hands are still shaking.¡±


    Chairman Kang felt the same way when he saw Director Park pretend to shake his hand for no reason. They used to kill and throw away people when they were in their twenties, but now they pretend to be innocent. While drinking tea with a smile, Director Kim, who had been silent, glanced over and opened his mouth.


    ¡°The Chairman must be worried, but neither of us could sleep. Right now, there appears to be a lot of discussion among shareholders. The stock price is also dropping as a result of this incident, and isn¡¯t it just painting the company in a bad light? That sort of thing keeps happening.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. But honestly, I expected something like this to happen one day. It¡¯s odd that Director Kang has no enemies, given his usual behavior. Everyone was terrified and kept their mouths shut, but they must have been thinking the same thing.¡±


    ¡°As usual, I noticed that the executives had a lot of complaints this time. I couldn¡¯t say anything because the Chairman was so fond of him¡­ To be honest, he did not seem like the type of person who could succeed the Chairman. Most people would have thought the same thing. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°I think it is separate from what foreign members acknowledge. They prefer an aggressive management strategy, so Director Kang will suit them, but we are concerned that they will bring great anger on themselves someday. Isn¡¯t the company to blame for the damage? That would be unacceptable even to the Chairman.¡±


    Of course, of course. The three nodded and responded in unison. Chairman Kang took out a cigar, lit it, leaned back on the sofa, and looked at the three people in turn. He¡¯s looking around, but he appears to have decided to take Kang Il-hyun down in some way.


    Chairman Kang exhaled smoke with a calm face.


    ¡°Then, who do you think is the right person?¡±


    The three exchanged glances as if they thought it was accomplished, and Director Kim, as if waiting for the opportunity, took up his arms.


    ¡°Anyway, I believe Director Kang Tae-han would be a good fit. The eldest son comes from a powerful mother¡¯s family, and there will be no way to defy the chairman¡¯s wishes.¡±


    ¡°Even if Director Kang Tae-han seems a bit lighthearted as a person, he will be more communicative than Director Kang Il-hyun.¡±


    Chairman Kang held his cigar between his fingers and secretly cast a pitiful glance at the directors.


    ¡°What about Seok-joo?¡±


    All three shook their heads.


    ¡°Since he is still young, it would be better for Seok-joo to come into the company and learn step by step.¡±


    ¡°I share your opinion. Seok-joo is intelligent and will do well at work because he resembles the chairman and his wife. Let him play to his hearts¡¯ content for the time being, and then think about it later.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo was on their side, but his presence was obvious.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you mean, I¡¯ll consider it.¡±


    The three directors were overjoyed when they received a positive response. Chairman Kang barely smiled as he rubbed the finished cigar into the ashtray. They will now go around agitating shareholders and executives and attempting to set up Kang Tae-han in the seat sooner or later.


    It was the right time for them now while Kang Il-hyun was lying in bed and couldn¡¯t move.


    ***


    Before getting out of the car, Kim Seon-young checked Seok-joo¡¯s clothes once more. She grabbed her son¡¯s chin, checked his face, and smiled contentedly. Kang Seok-joo sat curtly and only looked at his phone. Kim Seon-young tapped Seok-joo on the shoulder.


    ¡°Get a hold of yourself. I mean, make a proper look today.¡±


    Seok-joo seemed frustrated and tried to pull on his tie, and Kim Seon-young took off his hand.


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°Do I have to go?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you have to go. Don¡¯t you want to see for yourself how Kang Il-hyun¡¯s position in the main company is stripped away?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo rolled his eyes at this point. Because the person is in the hospital, he won¡¯t be able to see his face directly, but it appeared to be quite interesting. Kang Seok-joo and Kim Seon-young got out of the car in front of the head office and went upstairs to the meeting room with the secretaries. The assembled executives and shareholders exchanged greetings before entering the building.


    Chairman Kang took the center seat at the front of the conference room, while Kang Tae-han and his supporters sat on the right. The dismissal of Kang Il-hyun was a major agenda item at today¡¯s extraordinary shareholders¡¯ meeting. The executives stood up and bowed when Kim Seon-young entered. Kim Seon-young sat in the seat to the left of Chairman Kang.


    While Chairman Kim, the chairman of the General Assembly, gave brief greetings and talked about today¡¯s agenda, Kang Seok-joo exchanged messages with friends under the table.


    [I can¡¯t go today. A general meeting of shareholders. Today is the day Kang Il-hyun¡¯s position is stripped away!]


    [Really? Then Seok-joo, will you become the director?]


    [Crazy. I¡¯m not the chairman, why would I be the director?]


    [Kang Il-hyun is unemployed now?]


    [Looking at the atmosphere right now, it seems like he is out of my father¡¯s eyes]


    ¡°From now on, we will proceed with the vote on Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dismissal, which is on the agenda for today¡¯s general shareholders¡¯ meeting.¡±


    Bang-bang, while he was knocking on the gavel, the conference room door opened, and a completely unexpected person entered. It was Kang Yoo-jung. People¡¯s attention was drawn to her because she did not usually show her face at shareholder meetings. Even more surprising was Kang Il-hyun, who appeared behind her.


    Kang Il-hyun appeared in a wheelchair, dressed in a patient¡¯s uniform and sunglasses, with IV drips hanging from his arm. People began to murmur.


    They said he was dead. They didn¡¯t say he was only unconscious. What happened. He looked fine.


    As the shareholders became agitated, Chairman Kang, Kim Seon-young, and other family members¡¯ expressions hardened. While Tae-soo was pulling out the second row of chairs behind Chairman Kang to make room for Il-hyun, Director Kwon, who was sitting right next to him, asked how he was doing.


    ¡°Are you okay, Director Kang? You have no idea how surprised I was that day.¡±


    He was one of the people who were usually close to Il-hyun. Other executives also joined in.


    ¡°The rumors say it was really bad.¡±


    Il-hyun took off his sunglasses and smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. As you can see, it looks like I will be confined to a wheelchair for a while.¡±


    While everyone¡¯s attention was focused, Il-hyun raised his hand toward Chairman Kim.


    ¡°Chairman. I¡¯m sorry as soon as I came, but can I speak?¡±


    Director Kim looked at Chairman Kang with a hard complexion and tried to smile.


    ¡°Please speak.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Tae-soo took something out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Il-hyun. Il-hyun held it in his hand and held it up for the shareholders to see. It was a bullet lodged in both his thighs. People in the back were so curious that they couldn¡¯t even just stretch their necks out, so they stood up and checked the bullets.


    ¡°This is the bullet that got in my thigh exactly a week ago, on the day of my inauguration.¡±


    People¡¯s faces wrinkled as if they had been beaten. Il-hyun held it up and checked it from side to side.


    ¡°What do you think? It must have been really painful, right?¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s expression wrinkled at the vulgar tone, and Chairman Kim quickly brought his mouth to the microphone.


    ¡°Director Kang. This is a public seat. Please speak politely.¡±


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t care and went on with his words.


    ¡°I want to, but while I was lying on the sick bed after being shot, he proposed my dismissal.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°How should I handle this situation, Chairman Kim?¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes moved to Chairman Kim and immediately their gaze met. Director Kim, who was in the Chairman¡¯s seat, slightly raised his voice with a displeased expression.


    ¡°For what purpose are you saying that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m asking because I¡¯m curious if any of the people trying to get me fired is the one who shot me in the leg.¡±


    As soon as the words were finished, there was a buzz here and there, and Chairman Kim became enraged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say anything unfounded!¡±


    Il-hyun smiled coldly and sighed.


    ¡°Well. You¡¯ll know when the vote results come out. Whether it¡¯s really unfounded or not.¡±


    Chairman Kim clenched his teeth and glared at Il-hyun. Il-hyun took a quick look around the conference room. There were quite a few people among them who were hostile to Il-hyun. Looking at them, Il-hyun¡¯s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were murderous as if he was about to cut their flesh.


    He called Park Tae-soo loudly.


    ¡°TAE-SOO!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Find the shooter.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then cut all of the joints you can find with a saw.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun threw the last word with a happy face as people¡¯s faces became stunned.


    ¡°And throw it as dog food.¡±


    Chairman Kang could not stand it and jumped up and turned around.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Il-hyun raised his head crookedly and looked at Chairman Kang. Stupid old man. If you want to kill me, you should have killed me properly. Or not in the first place.


    ¡°Why are you so angry? I didn¡¯t even say if it was possible that my father did it.¡±


    When Chairman Kang become even more enraged, Il-hyun frowned and grabbed his leg. The room was deafeningly silent; not even breathing could be heard. Il-hyun smiled at everyone with a sad expression.


    ¡°Sorry, everyone. I want to stay and vote, but it¡¯s time for my painkillers.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving, so please vote well. Please take care of yourself.¡±


    The atmosphere froze like a field of ice when he smiled. Chairman Kang rose from his seat, trembling but unable to do anything to Il-hyun. Il-hyun, who was in a wheelchair, said his farewell before putting on sunglasses and exiting the conference room.

 CH 54

    Il-hyun couldn¡¯t take his gaze away from the window the entire ride. It has been a week since he went out. A hot wind rushed in when he opened the window. Even though his hair was a mess, he leaned against the window like a child, looking out to see the scenery.


    He eventually closed the window and leaned back in his seat. Every time he moved, the pain left an imprint on his body. Park Tae-soo kept looking at the back as he heard the sound Il-hyun made because of the pain. He ignored the doctor¡¯s warning and went outside, but it was difficult because he couldn¡¯t use his legs.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s bearable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all because of my negligence.¡±


    Park Tae-soo lived with words of apology that were uncharacteristic of him after Il-hyun was shot. Il-hyun laughed.


    ¡°How can you block the bullets that fly in my direction? Are you Superman?¡±


    He remembered having a similar conversation with Lee Ja-kyung. The first thing he saw was a flying bullet, which knocked him to the ground. Although he later admitted that what he saw was the reflection of the light on the scope¡¯s glass, not the bullet. He then looked for him everywhere, but Lee Ja-kyung had disappeared.


    By now, he must have gone to a country other than Korea.


    ¡°I took it too easy.¡±


    He laughed casually. After Lee Ja-kyung ran away, Il-hyun found a wiretapping device under the back seat of the car he was riding in. Lee Ja-kyung already knew he was going to kill him. Although it is late, he must admit that he underestimated his opponent.


    His mouth watered just thinking about it. Would he have been able to kill Lee Ja-kyung if everything had gone as planned? Why did he change his mind on the day of the inauguration? Why did he hesitate, why did he¡­ His phone rings as he was thinking about it.


    The caller is Kang Yoo-jung. She had no choice but to attend today¡¯s general meeting of shareholders, but the expression she saw from the front when Il-hyun misbehaved was truly¡­ It was the kind of face that begged to be punched. He heard her voice when he put the phone to his ear.


    [Did you arrive?]


    ¡°Still on the way.¡±


    [Congratulation. The dismissal was rejected. You avoided being jobless.]


    Il-hyun smiled.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I expected. Everyone appreciated my work skills.¡±


    Yoo-jung¡¯s voice sounded dumbfounded.


    [It must have been because they didn¡¯t want to become dog food.]


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrow went up.


    ¡°Does anyone believe that joke?¡±


    Yoo-jung said that she was tired of talking more. You said you were exhausted. I had to return to the hospital first, so I¡¯ll see you later. He moved to another place, and Yoo-jung decided to stay there for the time being. When he got older, it was difficult to live with his sister, but he couldn¡¯t help himself because she was so stubborn.


    After the phone call, Tae-soo¡¯s gaze went back to the rear mirror.


    ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled and turned to look out the window. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was worth celebrating. He remembered the faces of the damn directors who couldn¡¯t wait to get rid of him one by one and vowed that one day he would replace them all with his own hands. Chairman Kang will be unable to move forward recklessly unless he knows the cards he is holding.


    He will save himself for the time being because he has already failed. Ironically, he was afraid of him even though he was his son. He realized it a long time ago. He complimented him with his mouth, but he was wary of him and regards him as if he were a monster..


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Send the video taken by Lee Ja-kyung to Chairman Kang. Don¡¯t let him think about doing anything else for a while.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    Outside the window, a cruise ship sailed leisurely down the ocean. The thought about Lee Ja-kyung then returned. Did he travel by boat? Where would he go if he rode? He wanted to find out, torture, and open up everyone involved, but he decided to leave it alone for the time being. He¡¯ll stick his head out of the water if it¡¯s safe.


    That¡¯s right. Run away as far as you can. I¡¯ll catch you and make you realize what a huge mistake you¡¯ve made when you¡¯re having fun with the illusion that you¡¯ve earned your freedom. Il-hyun feels like the cells in his body are already going crazy with pleasure just thinking about it.


    Unable to contain his excitement, Il-hyun opened the window and took out a cigarette. The doctor told him not to smoke, but he couldn¡¯t live without it today.


    ***


    He heard a loud voice outside while buried under the blanket, curled up and sleeping late. Ja-kyung got out of bed and looked around the house blankly. Wang Han could not be found. After putting on his clothes and tidying up his tousled hair, he went downstairs, opened the door, and came out.


    The grass was wet and felt especially fresh because it appeared to be raining at dawn. He stretched all the way and breathed deeply through his nose, but he could smell grilled meat somewhere. Wang Han had been grilling skewers on the grill and drinking beer since the morning.


    However, he was not alone, but with two Russian women living next door. They rented a house and became friends with Wang Han, who invited them to play frequently. Rita, the eldest, seemed quite like Wang Han.


    After working on Kang Il-hyun, Lee Ja-kyung, Wang Han, and Wang Lun moved around several times. However, it was quieter than expected at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s side, and after about a half-year, it became common to settle down in one place for an extended period of time. And at the end of the year, Wang Lun left for Japan last week, saying he had business to do.


    Ja-kyung tried to buy an island with the money he had saved, but the places he really wanted were ridiculously expensive, and the places that were suitable had only one drawback that he didn¡¯t like. So he was still considering it.


    Wang Han had his hair transplanted as planned, but the results were better than expected, and his hair grew longer than before. When he was washing his hair, he carefully touched each hair as if it were a newborn baby, and Ja-kyung laughed when he saw him from the side.


    ¡°You woke up?¡±


    ¡°Come over here and eat the skewers.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head and walked to the other side. There was no way the meat was going down his throat as soon as he woke up. Instead, he took out a cigarette and lit it, and Sasha, the younger of the sisters, ran over to him and stood next to him.


    She held out a skewer to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t the means to reject it.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She followed him around and talked to Ja-kyung. With her hair braided in two pigtails, she was about Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulders tall, had round eyes looking up, blue eyes, and a cute dimple on her cheek when she smiled.


    Ja-kyung understood half of what she was saying in Russian and couldn¡¯t understand the other half, but he answered with a guess. She reached out to a plumeria tree while walking through the garden. She appeared to be picking flowers, but when she couldn¡¯t reach them, she looked at Ja-kyung.


    Ja-kyung extended his arm, picked a flower, and handed it to her. She smiled, holds out the flower, and pretends to place it next to her ear. She asked if she was pretty while looking at Ja-kyung hesitatedly.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty.¡±


    Her bright smile was really pretty. She quickly took the cigarette from Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth and placed it in her own. Wang Han, who was standing nearby, whistled. When Ja-kyung saw him, he gave him a strange look and walked to the other side, frowning.


    Ja-kyung spent the entire afternoon lying in a hammock in the yard. The weather was clear until the morning, but it began to rain after lunch. Ja-kyung relaxed in the afternoon sun, listening to the patter of the rain.


    Wang Han, who had been sleeping after filling his stomach with alcohol and meat in the morning, awoke scratching his back. He sat down in a chair and smoked a cigarette. He opened his mouth wide, yawned, and exhaled smoke as he watched the rain fall.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we start working soon?¡±


    Ja-kyung felt the same way; he was a little sore from resting for so long. He had saved money, but it would not last forever.


    ¡°I received a call from Dmitry. There is a lot of work coming in, but no one seems to be qualified for it. It¡¯s difficult to find someone as talented as you.¡±


    ¡°No. I won¡¯t do business with him again.¡±


    Wang Han understood Ja-kyung¡¯s stern refusal and said nothing further. Because he changed employers without consulting them, their position was also dangerous, and Lee Ja-kyung nearly died in Korea at the hands of Kang Il-hyun.


    Ja-kyung never looked for an article about Kang Il-hyun after leaving Korea. Even if Wang Han or Wang Lun asked, he would always say he didn¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t want to think about him at all. He knew it wasn¡¯t just disgust or hatred he was feeling. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t want to talk about him, and he didn¡¯t want to admit it.


    He could hear rain falling when he closed his eyes. Wang Han¡¯s cigarette smoke mixed with the hot, damp air. Wang Han shifted the hammock from side to side after smoking. Ja-kyung burst out laughing when Wang Han said he was like a baby in a cradle.


    ¡°Do you remember how I used to make you sleep like this when you were little?¡±


    ¡°Lie. I was ten then.¡±


    ¡°Because you were so small that you looked like a newborn baby.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say nonsense,¡± Ja-kyung laughed. Real sleepiness poured out when his body was cradled. Wang Han san a song. It was nice to hear his distinct low tone mixed with the rain. Ja-kyung lay there for a long time even after Wang Han went in, enjoying the sound of the rain.


    It was a most peaceful afternoon.

 CH 55

    Il-hyun frowned as he shaved his chin with shaving cream. He was standing still because it was raining and his right thigh was tingling. Even though it had been over a year since he had been shot, he still felt a slight pain in his leg on cloudy days.


    The surgery was carried out at Kang Yoo-jung¡¯s hospital, which prided itself on being the best, but it was subpar. If only they were not related by blood, he would undoubtedly sue and seek restitution for the damage. He went out after shaving and taking a shower.


    After choosing a shirt, tie and watch in the dressing room, he put them on and stood in front of the mirror. Chairman Kang promoted Il-hyun to CEO while he was away for a few months due to a leg injury. He realized he wouldn¡¯t be able to cut his throat right away, so he resolved to look for another opportunity while cursing his stomach in moderation. He¡¯s a snake-like old man. He went downstairs after straightening his crooked necktie to find Tae-soo waiting for him.


    ¡°You are here, Sir.¡±


    He greeted the staff in the morning, went to the table, and sat down, while the house chef was preparing a meal. Hangover soup was served thanks to drinking until late last night. Instead of rice, he drinks soup with a spoon, and his stomach is already full.


    ¡°It¡¯s Sunday, are you going to work today?¡±


    The house chef looked at him with a sad expression and asked. Kang Il-hyun has recently been more focused on his work. She understands he¡¯s busy because he¡¯s been promoted, but he¡¯s frequently skipped meals, and she¡¯s concerned about his health.


    ¡°Yes, I was unable to work yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Shall I bring you a packed lunch?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯ll take care of it at a nearby restaurant.¡±


    Just then, Tae-soo¡¯s cell phone rings in front of him. Tae-soo took the phone and walked into the living room. Yes, yes, alright. He returned to his position after a brief phone call. He looked like he had a lot to say, but he seemed to be waiting for Il-hyun to finish his meal, so he asked first.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°The cathedral has contacted us.¡±


    ¡°Cathedral?¡±


    Il-hyun, who was about to drink water, stopped. Tae-soo didn¡¯t say anything else. Their eyes met, and a smile slowly spread across Il-hyun¡¯s face. When he got up from his seat, the house chef asked worriedly.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat more?¡±


    ¡°I think I have to go in a hurry.¡±


    Il-hyun, who was about to go out with Tae-soo, looked back and called the resident house.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled happily and asked.


    ¡°Please prepare dinner with special care tomorrow. It seems that a special guest will come.¡±


    ***


    Ja-kyung enjoyed sunbathing while lying on a sunbed wearing only shorts and a swimsuit. Wang Han, Rita, and Sasha were bouncing and playing beach ball inside the pool. Sasha came out from the pool, wipes herself dry, and takes a beer from a bucket of ice, which she hands to him.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ja-kyung got up from his seat and accepted the beer. Wang Han¡¯s ball flew over Ja-kyung¡¯s head, so he knocked it off and laughed. When he turned around, he saw her holding out an oil bottle.


    ¡°Apply it for me.¡±


    She smiled wide enough to reveal her dimples before lying down on the sunbed and untying her swimsuit straps. Ja-kyung poured it into his palm and rubbed it over her shoulder and back. Her white skin was similar to the first time he saw it as it was not easily tanned or red.


    He rubbed the back and waist, beginning with the shoulders until the skin was soft and smooth. She made eye contact with him while he applied the oil. Ja-kyung deliberately pretended not to know the meaning of those eyes.


    Nonetheless, Wang Han often brought up about Sasha these days and pushed him to do well. However, he was leaving this place soon, and he didn¡¯t want to make a useless relationship.


    ¡°Wei.¡±


    She called Ja-kyung¡¯s Chinese name. When he looked at her, she lowered her voice and whispered.


    ¡°I¡¯m only telling you this, but Rita likes Han.¡±


    Ja-kyung returned his gaze to the two people playing in the water. It was obvious that she likes him. Using ball games as an excuse, they hugged and fussed over each other. He smiled at them, but Sasha called him again.


    ¡°How about you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Do you like someone?¡±


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t interested in women at all. I was wondering if you like men.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head without thinking. Absolutely not. Sasha¡¯s mouth went up on both sides at those words. Wang Han called Ja-kyung while the two were talking. Bring the machine that pumps air into the tube to me.


    Ja-kyung got up from his seat and walked into the house. Loud laughter could be heard from inside. Wang Han recently appeared so happy that he often thought it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to just live like this for the rest of his life.


    He was looking for an air pump in his bedroom when he heard a noise at the door.


    When he looked up, Sasha had already entered. She leans in front of the closed door. She looked beautiful as if it were created by her moderately sized chest and narrow waistline.


    ¡°The two of them are kissing now. I think I should avoid them.¡±


    She smiled and walked over to sit directly in front of him.


    ¡°Do you want me to help you find it?¡±


    She stated that she wanted to help him in finding it, but her lips moved closer to his. Ja-kyung smiled as her intentions were obvious. Her upper body leaned in to kiss Ja-kyung on the lips. It was as soft and thick as a marshmallow.


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t push her away, instead gently pressing his lips together. Her body is getting closer and closer. Ja-kyung was also not wearing a top, so her bare body touched his chest, and her breasts were pressed against his chest, spreading heat to the area they touched. It was the first kiss and contact with someone else after almost a year. She also has a fragrant scent.


    She must have had a drink, and because he is human, his body heated up. His hands were wrapped around her waist and he was about to untie her swimsuit straps when his cell phone rang on the bed. Ja-kyung gently tapped Sasha on the shoulder. Her lips parted and she gave him a sad expression.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you answer it later?¡±


    It could have been Wang Lun on a business trip to Japan, so he needed to answer it right away.


    ¡°Sorry. It just takes a moment.¡±


    He walked away from her, went to bed, and picked up his phone. He had no idea what the international conversion number was. He got it immediately, just in case, but it was a video call. Wang Lun occasionally contacted him via video, so he waited for his face to appear.


    The screen shook, and he saw a blue sky for a split second before seeing a black suit pass by. What. After some time has passed, an unexpected face appears on the screen. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened beyond measure.


    On the screen, Kang Il-hyun, who was smoking a cigarette, smiled brightly.


    [Hi, honey.]


    Surprised, Ja-kyung hurriedly hung up the phone and threw it on the bed. Standing as hard as a stone, Sasha gets up and approached him. She asked as to what was going on, but his mouth couldn¡¯t open. Did he see it wrong? No. That face was definitely Kang Il-hyun.


    The phone rang again before he could clear his mind. Let¡¯s not answer it. It kept ringing. Sasha asked with a worried face.


    ¡°Wei, are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled and nodded his head. The phone rings again, just as he decides to go out and tell Wang Han about it. He couldn¡¯t believe it, but it was Wang Lun¡¯s number this time. He was getting a shiver down his spine. He checked his phone and saw that it was a video call.


    When he pressed the answer button, Kang Il-hyun appeared instead of Wang Lun. Damn it. His ominous hunch was not wrong.


    Ja-kyung closed and opened his eyes. On the screen, the smile on his face had a distinct sly expression. Ja-kyung suddenly realized Sasha was standing next to him. He quickly reversed the screen, pushed Sasha in the back, escorted her out of the room, and shut the door.


    He could see the corners of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth raising.


    [Looks like you¡¯re having fun. Naked.]


    Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and glared at him. Kang Il-hyun lowered his eyes briefly before slowly raising them. He was smiling, but his eyes were filled with the viciousness of murder.


    [I know we still have things to sort out.]


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer.


    [How. Shall I go? Or do you want to come?]


    ¡°Where is the owner of the cell phone?¡±


    Il-hyun raised his eyebrows. Are you talking about this person? As Il-hyun turned the screen around, Ja-kyung could see Wang Lun sitting on his knees, completely covered in blood. He squeezed his strength and screamed as he raised his head and stretched out his hand as if to grab his cell phone.


    [Don¡¯t, don¡¯t come! Never come back!]


    Kang Il-hyun snatched Wang Lun¡¯s hand and brought it to his mouth as he floundered into the air. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. Wang Lun¡¯s little finger cut into Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth in an instant. A scary sound was heard, and Wang Lun¡¯s scream broke through the screen.


    [Arghhhh!]


    Ja-kyung stood firm and only looked at the screen. Kang Il-hyun stuck out his tongue in the video. A little finger was resting on his tongue. He took it in his hand and held it close enough to the screen to show it while smiling horrifyingly. The cut joint was clear.


    ¡°You, you son of a¡­!¡±


    Ja-kyung gnashed his teeth with an angry face.


    Kang Il-hyun wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and opened his mouth.


    [Answer me.]


    It felt like the air was freezing cold. Ja-kyung stared at Kang Il-hyun on the screen while holding his breath. Even after a year, he hadn¡¯t changed at all.


    No, his eyes were livelier than before.


    When there was no answer, Il-hyun looked at the screen and asked again.


    [Shall I go or will you come?]

 CH 56

    Il-hyun closed his mouth tightly as he stared at the disconnected phone call. It was a face he hadn¡¯t seen in a year. In the first place, he expected him to be happy, but the woman next to him was completely unexpected. He moved his tongue around in his mouth, looking at the photos on the phone one by one.


    A man named Wang Lun seemed to be quite friendly with Lee Ja-kyung. The majority of the photos were of weapons, but there were also a few of Lee Ja-kyung. His skin was sunburned within a year, and he smiled brightly, unlike when he was with him. It was a face he hadn¡¯t seen.


    Il-hyun, who was flipping through the photos, stopped for a moment. The smiling woman next to Lee Ja-kyung is the same woman he saw earlier in the video. Il-hyun approached Wang Lun, who was groaning with his phone in his hand and grabbed his hair to get him to look up.


    ¡°Who is this woman?¡±


    The wounded Wang Lun took a deep breath, looked at the picture of Sasha¡¯s face, and then back at Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°What is her relationship with Lee Ja-kyung?¡±


    When Wang Lun did not answer, Il-hyun shook his severed finger in front of his eyes.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want all your fingers cut off, you¡¯d better tell me.¡±


    Wang Lun glared at him and gnashed his teeth.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on.¡±


    Hmm. Il-hyun narrowed his eyes. He then flipped through the photos again, and while there are photos of them together, they don¡¯t appear to be particularly close. But what were they doing together naked? Now that he thought about it, it seem the woman was wearing something. He was strangely angered. After staring at Lee Ja-kyung, he looked down at the kneeling man in the photo.


    ¡°Then what is his relationship with you?¡±


    Instead of answering, Wang Lun just kept his mouth shut and glared at him.


    ¡°Boss?¡±


    To put it mildly, his fighting skills were not as good as Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s. He admitted to having good strength, but he was terrible with a knife.


    ¡°Brother.¡±


    Il-hyun snorted.


    ¡°You sound like a brother.¡±


    Wang Lun immediately accepted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t laugh. We are real brothers.¡±


    There was no resemblance to Lee Ja-kyung no matter where he looked up or down. Il-hyun¡¯s brow furrowed. He suddenly remembered Lee Ja-kyung mentioning him. He didn¡¯t tell him everything, but a man named Wang took him to China and raised him as his adopted son. There are people who are closer than blood brothers. Come to think of it, did he say that this guy¡¯s name was Wang Lun?


    While thinking deeply, Wang Lun gasped and glared at Il-hyun roughly.


    ¡°End your revenge with me. Don¡¯t touch my brother.¡±


    The look on his face is real. Il-hyun clicked his tongue and called Park Tae-soo. Then he threw the severed finger to him.


    ¡°Take him to the hospital and stick it up.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Tae-soo¡¯s eyes widened slightly. It bewildered him because he had never been asked to reattach someone¡¯s fingers, even if they were severed. Il-hyun lowered himself and sat down in front of Wang Lun while ordering his subordinates to pack an envelope to put his finger in. He then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from Wang Lun¡¯s forehead. Wang Lun threw himself back, startled, and Il-hyun smiled kindly.


    ¡°I wish you had told me that you are his brother.¡±


    Wang Lun glared at Kang Il-hyun. Wang Lun pushed out Il-hyun¡¯s hands as he tried to wipe away the blood around his mouth. It gave him goosebumps even more than when Il-hyun bit his finger off. What is this crazy bastard doing? Wang Lun couldn¡¯t tell if it was because he liked laughing or because he was planning to kill him.


    He had seen all kinds of things so far, but this was the first time seeing a human being like this. He could see why Lee Ja-kyung was cursing and shuddering because of this crazy bastard. Wang Lun was soon lifted and loaded into the car by Il-hyun men.


    After the car with Wang Lun had left, Il-hyun returned his attention to Lee Ja-kyung on the phone. It was the first time he had seen his smiling face with visible teeth. Ja-kyung always forced a smile or laughed at him whenever he saw him.


    In the early days when he was lying in a hospital bed, he gnashed his teeth, saying that if Ja-kyung was caught, he would tear him to death. However, the desire to kill gradually changed into something else. It was his mistaken belief that he would be easy to catch. Ja-kyung rarely left any traces while running away, and as time passed, Il-hyun became nervous. He wondered whether he would miss him forever.


    But seeing him sticking with a woman today makes Il-hyun want to kill him again. How could he really explain this? He sighed softly, grabbed the phone, and walked towards the car. That¡¯s right, he¡¯ll know when he sees that handsome face in person. To tear him apart or not.


    ***


    ¡°He only told you to come to Japan?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded in response to Wang Han¡¯s question. He could see why Wang Lun, who was supposed to be in Japan, had gone to Korea. His lover stayed here for a while before returning to Korea, so he must have gone to see her. He couldn¡¯t bear telling Wang Han the truth, so he lied and said he invited him to visit Japan for a while.


    ¡°Excluding me?¡±


    ¡°The Japanese guys said they wanted to see me in person.¡±


    Wang Lun went to Japan to meet a yakuza tycoon, and Ja-kyung lied that they had asked to see him. Wang Han was sad that he hadn¡¯t called him, but Ja-kyung quickly added his words.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that mean you could spend some intimate time with Rita while I¡¯m gone?¡±


    Wang Han touched his chin and was still worried about it, he then dialed Wang Lun¡¯s number. Ja-kyung tried to stop him, but he said he needed to make the call. The phone, thankfully, did not connect. He exhaled a sigh of relief and began packing his belongings.


    ¡°What about the plane ticket?¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, there was still some left.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the airport.¡±


    ¡°No. I can take a taxi.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled while hiding his complicated feelings. The hand packing the luggage became increasingly hurried. When he saw Kang Il-hyun¡¯s demon-like face on the screen, he had no choice but to go as fast as he could. Before he swallows Wang Lun entirely. It was obvious that the insane man would remain that way.


    ¡°I wish I could come with you.¡±


    Wang Han was disappointed to the end. He stated that he wanted to eat sushi and see Tokyo at night. But, to be honest, he will prevent him from leaving. Something was promised when the first three started working.


    If one person was caught and caused the other two to be in danger, let¡¯s call it quits. If something similar happened, Wang Han would be the first to step away. Besides, it was entirely his fault that this happened. So he had to take responsibility.


    He¡¯d rather have his head blown off than his legs on that particular day. He packed his belongings with belated regret. He must find Kang Il-hyun before causing harm to Wang Lun.


    ***


    After arriving by plane for 6 and a half hours, the weather in Korea was sticky and humid compared to Kuala Lumpur. The airport was crowded because it was the weekend. Ja-kyung took a taxi to the car center that Wang Lun had been operating while in Korea.


    He stopped the taxi in front of it and looked around, but he didn¡¯t notice anything. He got out of the taxi after paying the fare and approached the building. The owner had left the car center empty for a long time, and traces of neglect were visible here and there.


    When he returned to enter the lock¡¯s code, he found himself in a dark room. He returns inside and opens the box after turning on the light, but the gun he looked for is nowhere to be found. Wang Lun appeared to have organized everything before leaving this place.


    He managed to find only a shotgun and a knife after searching everywhere. He loaded the bullet, picked it up, and returned. A storage shed with shutters and locks stood next to the building. Ja-kyung shot the lock, shattering it, then raised the shutter and went inside.


    Inside the warehouse, he found a motorcycle similar to the one he¡¯d seen before. He took the key from a nearby box and activated the GPS tracker. He had a tracking device installed in each cell phone just in case, but he had no idea it would be used in this way.


    When activated, a red dot appears alongside the satellite map and Wang Lun¡¯s location. He wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d be with Kang Il-hyun or not, but he just hoped he¡¯d be alive when he arrived. The red dot was now moving somewhere.


    Kang Il-hyun told him to come to his house, but there could be a trap waiting for him there. If he had a numerical advantage, he should strike first. Ja-kyung donned his helmet. One or two drops of rain fell from the dark sky as he pulled his motorcycle out of the warehouse.


    Damn it. Even the weather isn¡¯t helping. He climbed on it, started the engine, and began moving quickly in the direction indicated by the tracker. The motorcycle speeded up and down through the rain, moving between cars.


    Ja-kyung had been riding for about 40 minutes when he noticed Wang Lun¡¯s location was getting closer. It was heading towards Kang Il-hyun¡¯s old house. Sure enough, he noticed a familiar car ahead of him. He couldn¡¯t see anything inside the heavily tinted car, but it was unmistakably Kang Il- hyun¡¯s. He slowed down and followed him, but when he entered a deserted place, he went ahead and blocked him.


    Screech. When the car came to a halt, Ja-kyung got off the motorcycle and took off his helmet. Then he unlocked the safety catch on the shotgun he was carrying on his back and aimed it at the car. Raindrops landed on his head, wet his brows, and ran down his cheeks and chin.


    The black car only moved its wipers and did not budge.

 CH 57

    ¡°The surgery seems to have gone well.¡±


    ¡°What about Lee Ja-kyung?¡±


    ¡°He arrived in Korea three hours ago.¡±


    Il-hyun looked at his watch. He told Ja-kyung to come to his house, so he¡¯ll see him soon. There¡¯s a hostage, so he won¡¯t come armed with guns. However, because he was stabbed in the back once, he is unsure how it will turn out, so Il-hyun has also increased the number of guards at home and is fully prepared.


    Il-hyun looked out the window and it was pouring heavily. Seong-min, who was in the driver¡¯s seat at the time, abruptly stepped on the brakes. Tae-soo looked back as Il-hyun¡¯s body leaned forward with the screeching sound.


    ¡°Are you alright, sir?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Suddenly, a motorcycle cuts in!¡±


    Il-hyun, who had been frowning, straightened up and raised one eyebrow. Tae-soo¡¯s gaze also turned forward when he looked ahead. In the rain, a motorcycle was blocking the road. Seong-min, who was behind the wheel, apologized repeatedly, but Il-hyun couldn¡¯t hear him.


    Tae-soo also noticed something unusual and put his hand inside the jacket and grabbed the gun. Sure enough, the man who got off the motorcycle took off his helmet. The rain made it difficult to see, but he was certain of this view. Haa. Il-hyun gave a puzzled smile.


    Tae-soo tried to get off with the gun, but Il-hyun stopped him by raising his hand. Then, with his arms crossed on the seat, he sat back and gazed out the window, as if watching a movie. In the rain, Lee Ja-kyung pulls out a gun, loads it, and points it at him. Tae-soo¡¯s face stiffened, whereas Il-hyun smiled.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, president.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that look so damn sexy?¡±


    Tae-soo looked back with an expression wondering if he had heard it wrong. The corners of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth went up.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I can¡¯t look around.¡±


    Il-hyun got out of the car and opened his umbrella after he told them to stay still. The sound of rain pummeling the umbrella was loud. Lee Ja-kyung, who was only 10 meters away, stood there pointing a gun at this place and did not budge.


    Fuck. Il-hyun had planned to kill him until yesterday, but when he saw Ja-kyung, he changed his mind again. Il-hyun walked forward while holding an umbrella. The rain soaked his pants and shoes, but he didn¡¯t mind. He could see Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s face clearly even when he was only 2-3m away.


    His skin was slightly tanned, his eyes still looked like those of a wounded cat, and the sight of him aiming a gun drenched in rain made him look captivating.


    With the gun in front of him, Il-hyun stopped walking.


    ¡°Long time no see.¡±


    The Ja-kyung didn¡¯t even move with his gun still pointing at him.


    ¡°I guess you still don¡¯t want me to hear your voice.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled and walked forward. The nozzle landed squarely on his left chest as he got closer. Ja-kyung raised his eyes and glared at Il-hyun.


    ¡°Where is Wang Lun?¡±


    Il-hyun grabbed the nuzzle, pushed it to the side, and attempted to take another step forward. However, Ja-kyung refused to let him approach and aimed the gun under his chin. With the intention of blowing up his head at any time.


    The two¡¯s eyes were intertwined. Kang Il-hyun, whom he saw after a year, had a more relaxed expression than the viper-like expression he saw on the screen. Despite the loaded gun under his chin, he didn¡¯t blink an eye and appeared as happy as if he had received a bouquet of flowers.


    ¡°Your brother is fine. I also put his fingers back together. Of course, I don¡¯t know if it will stick well.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you talk to him now if you want.¡±


    When Ja-kyung did not respond, he dialed a number. The figure of Wang Lun soon appeared in the video. He was dressed in a hospital gown and had bandages on his finger. He was in better condition than when he first saw him yesterday morning. He shouted at Ja-kyung with a surprised face.


    [You come here? Did you come alone? I told you not to come,]


    Tuk, and the phone hung up. Ja-kyung took his gaze away from the screen and glared at Kang Il-hyun in front of him. The relief that Il-hyun did not harm Wang Lun softened his ferocious spirit.


    Il-hyun smiled and asked.


    ¡°Can I put an umbrella over you now? I don¡¯t want you to get rained on.¡±


    Il-hyun took a step forward, grabbed the gun aimed beneath his chin, and slowly set it aside. Ja-kyung walked in under the umbrella. The silence between the two was broken by the sound of rain. Il-hyun held out his hand while looking at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we met. A handshake is okay, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play tricks.¡±


    He suddenly grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s hand. When Ja-kyung tried to pull away, Il-hyun pulled him with force. Ja-kyung lost his balance and was dragged into Il-hyun¡¯s arms as his body moved forward. Ja-kyung tried to push him away, but Il-hyun hugged him tightly.


    Ja-kyung was embarrassed by the unexpected action, but he was feeling a tingling pain in his neck at the time. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. Il-hyun took a syringe from the inside of his sleeve and inserted it into Ja-kyung¡¯s neck. When the drug went in, he felt a stiff pain in his neck.


    Ja-kyung pushed Il-hyun away, pulled the syringe out of his neck, and aimed the gun at him again. However, Kang Il-hyun quickly grabbed the gun, threw it aside, and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s neck with one hand. His breathing became more rapid, and his eyes widened. He tried to take Il-hyun¡¯s hand, but his entire body couldn¡¯t muster the strength.


    Kang Il-hyun pushed the syringe with half the drug in front of him and smiled and a stiff pain came to his neck.


    ¡°Sorry. There still some.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t tell if the suffocation was caused by the medicine or by Il-hyun strangling him. His vision was becoming increasingly hazy. He threw the syringe to the ground to see if the medicine was completely injected. Ja-kyung staggered backward, drew his knife, and swung it around.


    Ja-kyung redirected the knife and swung it again, but his hand loses strength and it falls to the floor. His eyelids trembled, and his breathing became increasingly fast. Il-hyun, who approached cautiously, kicked the knife to the side with his foot.


    Ja-kyung finally sat down, barely raising his head to look at Kang Il-hyun. Fuck. Bastard¡­ Rain poured down his cheeks. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Il-hyun sat down in front of him and placed his lips against his ear.


    ¡°Welcome back.¡±


    His voice felt as distant as a dream.


    ¡°I¡¯ll preserve you nicely, just wait a little bit.¡±


    His consciousness faded away as there was a buzzing sound. He reached out and tried to grab the gun again, but to no avail. He fell backward and blacked out as he felt himself sinking into the ground.


    ***


    The bloody Ja-kyung woke up in a shabby warehouse. He frowned as he noticed bugs and rats crawling under his feet. He took a deep breath and looked around, but all he saw was a drum.


    He tried to stand up, but his legs refused to cooperate. He slumped into his seat without hesitation. He even attempted to crawl away. At that moment, a creepy sound came from the drum in front of him.


    He directed his gaze to the drum. The head slowly rose as bright red fingernails appeared on top of the drum. When Ja-kyung noticed a cheap jewel bracelet glittering on the wrist, his eyes widened.


    The woman whose face was visible above the drum was his late mother. The man he called father crawled out of the other drum next to it. He had that terrifying expression on his face when he whipped him. With that face that appeared to be about to leap out of the barrel and kill him.


    The frightened Ja-kyung sat back and stepped back. They flowed like liquid out of the drum and crawled like spiders toward Ja-kyung.


    [Are you happy being the only one alive? You traitor!]


    [I shouldn¡¯t have given birth to a bastard like you in the first place!]


    [I should have killed you by breaking your neck, not your legs!]


    [Come with us! You also come with us!]


    It feels like his ears were being ripped apart by their evil voices. Ah, don¡¯t come. Do not come! Ja-kyung fumbled to the side, looking for something to throw. The previously rough ground was transformed into a smooth, high-quality floor. His mouth dropped open the moment he turned his head and looked up.


    Kang Il-hyun had a devilish smile on his face and a scalpel in his hand.


    [I¡¯ll preserve you nicely.]


    As soon as he finished speaking, he thrust the scalpel down into Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes. Arghh!


    Ugh. Ja-kyung jumped up from his seat, surprised. He took a deep breath and looked around, only to realize it was all a dream. He regained consciousness and looked around after rubbing his cold sweaty face with both hands. It was a place that felt familiar.


    Inside, there was not only a bed, but also a refrigerator, a dining table, a sofa, and a variety of household items. He got out of bed and put his feet on the floor, but his legs were weak. He still hasn¡¯t had enough strength in his body. Come to think of it, he remembered Kang Il-Hyun inserting a syringe into his neck. After running his hand over his neck, he slowly moved forward, wary of his surroundings.


    Ja-kyung walked out the door and into a long corridor. And every room adjacent to the hallway. He suddenly realized he was in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s basement. He frowned and looked around for people, but he couldn¡¯t even find a single ant.


    Instead, CCTVs have been installed throughout the ceiling, which did not exist previously. Il-hyun changed him into a pajama, but he noticed a strange sensation in his chest area. When Ja-kyung sneakily lifted his clothes, his nipples were slightly swollen and the teeth marks were clear.


    His butt is fine. Only then did he realize that it was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s work and gnashed his teeth. This perverted nipple asshole! Ja-kyung went to the elevator¡¯s front, but it didn¡¯t work even after he pressed the button. He kept the gloves imprinted with Kang Il-hyun¡¯s fingerprints in his bag just in case.


    Damn it, it must be in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hands now.


    Bang! Bang! He slammed his fist against the elevator door, but it didn¡¯t budge. Ja-kyung went to the shooting range location. He looked inside, but it was empty. Each room was empty except for the one where Ja-kyung stayed, which was furnished with household items.


    He couldn¡¯t even get out and was completely trapped.


    Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and looked up.


    This bastard. What are you going to do with me now.

 CH 58

    Ja-kyung had been locked in the basement for what seemed like hours. He expected someone to show up at first, but no one did, no matter how long he waited. Ja-kyung became impatient and entered the bathroom, looking around inside. At least there was no CCTV, so he stepped on the bathtub and pushed the ventilation with his hand.


    Even when he pushed it with enough strength, it does not budge. He was looking for something to use as a tool in the kitchen when he came across a steak knife and used it to open the gap. However, the screw-on fan was immovable. He eventually gave up and sat on the floor with his head back.


    Ah, shit. If Il-hyun was going to imprison him, he should at least give him a cigarette. There was food in the refrigerator, but no cigarettes. In a frustrating situation like this, he will go insane and run wild without it. He didn¡¯t even touch the food because he had no idea what was in it.


    He went outside the bathroom, opened a bottle of water, drank it, and let out a long sigh. He went back to the elevator and forced the door open. The elevator stopped upstairs. But there was no way to go up. He could have been crushed to death when the elevator came down unintentionally while going up on a rope.


    ¡°Hey! Director Kang!¡±


    If he shouted loudly, the sound echoes. Il-hyun could definitely hear it, but it was quiet. He shouted louder.


    ¡°Let me go! You bastard!¡±


    ¡°You pervert!¡±


    ¡°Crazy bastard!¡±


    ¡°I hope you get hit by lightning and die!¡±


    ¡°Give me a cigarette! Cigarettes!¡±


    In spite of the evil, he shouted loudly, but all he got was silence. Ah, he was so pissed off. Ja-kyung grabbed the back of his neck and headed for the bedroom. Fuck. Was Il-hyun going to lock him up and raise him? Was he really attempting to preserve him? If it was this person, he was really going to go with it.


    Maybe Il-hyun would preserve him, put him in his room, and fuck with him all the time. A trick flashed through Ja-kyung¡¯s mind as he walked briskly down the hallway. He held his forehead and staggering like a sick person, collapsed in the middle of the hallway with his eyes closed and motionless. If Il-hyun was watching, someone would come and check him out sooner or later, that¡¯s what he was thinking.


    ***


    Il-hyun couldn¡¯t help but smile as he sat on his bed, watching the video on TV. Lee Ja-kyung jumped up and down like a freshly caught fish, lay flat on the bed, went into the bathroom, and walked up and down the hallway, never stopping. Being locked up made him go crazy, but his annoyance was transmitted all the way here.


    He forced open the elevator door and screamed in front of it, which echoed throughout the house. Il-hyun smiled as he watched it, but suddenly Ja-kyung walked across the hallway and collapsed. Il-hyun¡¯s face stiffened. Ja-kyung lay down and did not move.


    After a while, he got a call from Tae-soo.


    [Sir. The security team has contacted me. Lee Ja-kyung seems to have collapsed, what should I do?]


    Il-hyun looked carefully at the screen and smiled.


    ¡°Leave it. It will happen sooner or later.¡±


    He looked at the screen after hanging up the phone. After about 10 minutes, 20 minutes passed, Lee Ja-kyung suddenly stood up and stared at the CCTV. As Ja-kyung raised his middle finger, Il-hyun laughed softly. His acting is really bad.


    He then went to bed and lay down after drinking water. Except for bottled water, Lee Ja-kyung did not touch anything in the refrigerator. Tossing and turning on the bed, then curling up and becoming quiet.


    He must have fallen asleep this time. For a long time, Il-hyun couldn¡¯t take his gaze away from him. He had no idea observing someone could be so fun. Perhaps he should just lock him up for the rest of his life. Ja-kyung had no idea how badly Il-hyun wanted to touch him as he put him to sleep and changed his clothes. He struggled to control his desire to suck, fuck, and kiss.


    So he nibbled on Ja-kyung¡¯s nipples a little. Ja-kyung would be irritated if he found out. He thought he would have to think a little bit about what to do with Lee Ja-kyung in the future. Il-hyun muttered to himself as if he was talking to Ja-kyung in the video.


    ¡°Good night.¡±


    Click, the screen went off, and Il-hyun lay down on the bed as well. He closed his eyes, but it appeared that he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep easily that night.


    ***


    ¡°Still?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He didn¡¯t even touch the water today.¡±


    After work, he heard that Lee Ja-kyung hadn¡¯t eaten anything today. It was already the fourth day. He made a fuss and screamed at Il-hyun to take him out on the first day, but from the second day on, he lay on the bed and didn¡¯t move. He still drank water until yesterday, but now he doesn¡¯t drink any at all.


    Il-hyun, who was loosening his tie, used the remote control to turn on the TV and change the channel. The bedroom where Lee Ja-kyung is staying appeared. As Tae-soo stated, he lay in a sleeping position on the bed and did not move. That was definitely the same in the morning.


    ¡°Ask the house chef to prepare food.¡±


    ¡°Are you going down yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just prepare the food.¡±


    Yes. After Tae-soo left, Il-hyun looked at Lee Ja-kyung on the screen and went out. The house chef placed the dinner preparations on a tray, Il-hyun took it to the elevator and went downstairs. The sound of footsteps echoed down the empty hallway.


    Everything in the house had been moved elsewhere after the accident a year ago, so the basement was empty. Lee Ja-kyung would have been less bored if the shooting range had been preserved. But if he had, he would have fired the gun into the ceiling.


    He went into the farthest bedroom and see Lee Ja-kyung lying on the bed with his back turned. He didn¡¯t budge at the sound of footsteps, so he put the food on the table next to the bed and sat still while looking at his back.


    ¡°Do you want a cigarette?¡±


    He turned his body to lie down in response to the voice. He looked like he was just woken up. It was cute how his hair was messed up from rolling around on the bed. Il-hyun reached into his pocket for a cigarette case, but Ja-kyung shook his head slightly.


    ¡°No. Give me a hug. I haven¡¯t seen you in a while.¡±


    Il-hyun raised one of his brows crookedly. Ja-kyung wanted to hug him with a sleepy, dreamy expression. He couldn¡¯t help but stare at him for some reason. He went up to the bed with the idea of just being fooled and gave himself up to him.


    Ja-kyung first hugged his neck, and their lips met in an instant. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes widened slightly. He inserted his tongue between their overlapping lips. His lower body became hot. Il-hyun reached into Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt and rubbed his chest. Then untied his tie.


    Ja-kyung quickly pulled away, wrapped the tie around Il-hyun¡¯s neck, rolled over to the other side of the bed, and strangled him. Il-hyun, who was unknowingly strangled, groaned. The pain of strangulation caused the blood vessels on his temples and neck to bulge.


    Lee Ja-kyung held Il-hyun¡¯s hand with his body, so there was no gap. He turned around and rolled his body toward Lee Ja-kyung and fell down the bed together. The impact of the fall loosened the tie that had been strangling him for a brief moment, and Il-hyun pulled it hard to separate it from his neck.


    Lee Ja-kyung jumped up, stepped back, and turned his head left and right. Il-hyun laughed as he rubbed his neck with his hand, where the tie was wrapped just a moment ago.


    ¡°Was that just a beauty trap?¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it anywhere else. Just use it on me.¡±


    Ja-kyung rushed right in. Il-hyun dodged his flying fist and attempted to strike him with his knee.As soon as he stopped and avoided it, Ja-kyung wrapped Kang Il-hyun¡¯s arm around his tie and bent it backward. Then Il-hyun kicked Ja-kyung¡¯s knee and untied the tie that was wrapped around his wrist.


    The limbs that had become entangled in each other unraveled, and the gap grew wider. Ja-kyung limped on his kicked leg and wrapped the tie around his right hand. After hitting and blocking again, Ja-kyung¡¯s fist quickly landed on Il-hyun¡¯s chin.


    Pak. Il-hyun¡¯s face hardened violently as he turned around. His tongue tasted like blood as he ran it through his mouth. Chik. He spat on the floor, and blood mixed with it spilled out. He stared at Ja-kyung in front of him, but Ja-kyung wiggled his fingers and laughed.


    Il-hyun gritted his teeth and laughed at the same time.


    ¡°Honey, are you really going to do this?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t even listen before rushing in and kicking him. Il-hyun, who had dodged quickly, grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s foot, wrapped his leg around his side, and wrapped it around his shoulder at the same time. Ja-kyung, who floated up in the air in an instant, hit Kang Il-hyun¡¯s back with his fist.


    Pak, pak, Il-hyun didn¡¯t budge and then threw Ja-kyung on the table. The table was smashed, and the body was thrown to the floor. Ja-kyung staggered up, took a steak knife and fork from the kitchen, held them in both hands, and swung them around in an attacking stance.


    Il-hyun untied his shirt sleeves and walked away, exhaling deeply.


    ¡°Stop it. I think I¡¯m going to get really angry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to be angry. Our deals are already over.¡±


    ¡°Who gave you the right to end it. You broke your promise. Did I ask you to shoot me in the leg?¡±


    ¡°You said you¡¯ll kill me first. Did you think I didn¡¯t know?¡±


    Il-hyun made a hurt expression.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t really mean to kill you.¡±


    Ja-kyung was astounded. Does that mean that nothing happened then?


    ¡°So you want to kill me now?¡±


    Il-hyun relaxed his hand and sighed when he saw his fierce expression.


    ¡°If I had intended to kill you, I would have killed you as soon as I found you. So are your brothers.¡±


    Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut. That¡¯s right. Even after lying in bed and thinking about it for a few days, it didn¡¯t seem like Kang Il-hyun had brought him here to kill him. Not even preserved. If so, what was it for?


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes darkened slightly.


    ¡°Sometimes I think of you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Actually, often. You won¡¯t believe this anyway.¡±


    In the atmosphere as if he were confessing his love, Ja-kyung made an impression with a disgusted expression. Il-hyun then gave a sly smile.


    ¡°That, are you happy?¡±


    Ja-kyung lost his temper.


    ¡°Shut up and tell me the real reason.¡±


    He had one thing in mind, but he didn¡¯t want to admit it. But through his words, he found out that his thought was true. Il-hyun soon hid his laughter and talked about the main topic.


    ¡°I want you to take on a new job. Of course, you¡¯ll have to make the decision.¡±


    He knew it. Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut and just stared at him. Il-hyun¡¯s phone rang as if he had been waiting for it. He finished a brief phone call with someone and looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    Forgetting the scuffle a while ago, he smiled. There were clear bruises on his face.


    ¡°Your brothers have arrived. Upstairs.¡±

 CH 59

    When Ja-kyung came from the basement and went upstairs, he was surprised to see Wang Han in the living room. How in the world did he know about this place? Wang Lun sat like a sinner beside him. Wang Han appears to have already scolded him, based on the look on his face.


    Ja-kyung also looked up and approached them. Wang Han, who had been sitting, stood up and frowned, but his expression toned down when he saw Kang Il-hyun. The three stood up and walked to the doorway, conversing in Chinese.


    [What happened? Is this Japan?]


    Wang Han, who was contacted for the first time, was shocked and concerned, so he came right away. Obviously, he said not to go to save one person even if he was caught, but it was just words, and when something came up, he was worried that his younger brothers would be in danger.


    [There was a reason for that.]


    Wang Lun protested, but it didn¡¯t work.


    [Reason? I definitely told you not to go anywhere near Korea. And Wei. It¡¯s also wrong that you lied to me. Do you understand?]


    [Lun was arrested because of me, so I can¡¯t pretend I didn¡¯t know.]


    [Is that why you¡¯re locked up in the basement? You¡¯re trying to save me?]


    [That¡¯s right. It¡¯s strange no matter how you think about it. It¡¯s not like you to be careless.]


    [That crazy guy put a syringe in my neck.]


    [Drugs?]


    [Not really, but he¡¯s really annoying. I should have killed him then.]


    [I agree with that. So annoying.]


    [Both of you, be quiet. I heard everything.]


    Wang Han was usually generous with people and laughed a lot, but when he got angry, he was terrifying. Both Ja-kyung and Wang Lun responded with a few words, but then they closed their mouths and looked at their toes for no reason.


    Kang Il-hyun was brimming with energy as he looked at the three. He was leaning against the sofa, applying an ice pack to the area where Ja-kyung had hit him. Go somewhere far away to talk. Or do they think I can¡¯t understand Chinese?


    Thanks to that, Il-hyun fully understood how much Lee Ja-kyung hated him. He knocked on the table as the conversation never seemed to end.


    The eyes of the three were focused on Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°I think that¡¯s enough for the conversation, so can you take a seat now?¡±


    The three of them came to the seats across from each other and sat side by side. Despite their polite demeanor, Wang Lun and Ja-kyung both stared at him. He placed the ice pack on the table. There was still swelling and blood crusts on the corners of his mouth. Ja-kyung felt refreshed on the inside. Wang Lun asked in his ear if he did that, and when he nodded, he was also overjoyed.


    Tae-soo placed a file in front of the three of them after the employee brought out the tea. Wang Han was the first to open it. Wang Lun and Ja-kyung soon followed suit. It was a contract. Wang Han covered the papers and placed them on the table without even looking at the content entirely.


    He had already heard the narrative on the way, but it was nonsense.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I decline it.¡±


    Wang Lun¡¯s eyes widened as he sullenly turned over the back page. It was a one-year contract with Kang Il-hyun, but the total amount was quite large when the down payment, salary, and case-specific incentives were factored in. He was taken aback when he saw it and nudged Ja-kyung with his elbow. Hurry up and read it. Ja-kyung saw it as well, but like Wang Han, he covered it up and threw it in front of him.


    Wang Lun held on to the contract with a sad face until it was snatched and thrown away by Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Are you not satisfied with the terms?¡±


    Wang Han tried his best not to offend him.


    ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯ve received similar offers from a number of companies. But we are more comfortable with the three of us moving as we do now. It is inconvenient to be a part of a group and then receive supervision or instructions.¡±


    Il-hyun looked at him with an expression asking him to say more.


    ¡°Also, there were some unsavory things between CEO Kang and our youngest. Wouldn¡¯t it be difficult? When the relationship of trust has already been broken?¡±


    Il-hyun leaned back on the sofa and muttered to himself as he crossed his arms. It was unfortunate. He looked over at Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung kept a glum expression on his face. His eyes are very lively for someone who has been starving for several days. Actually, when he hit him earlier, he appeared to be bursting with energy. He was a lunatic who brought a meal and went down for him because he was worried.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Because I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m a human being who doesn¡¯t hold grudges.¡±


    When Il-hyun refused to step down easily, Wang Han kept his mouth shut. If he looked at the circumstances, it wasn¡¯t so bad, but he was concerned because the relationship had gone wrong before. Ja-kyung would be in the same situation. Il-hyun returned the contract to Wang Han.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a few days to stay here and think about it. Aren¡¯t the terms too wasteful to overturn because of the past?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned as soon as he smiled. Wang Han tried to smile as he cleared his throat. He needs to finish the negotiation and get out of here without any mishaps.


    ¡°CEO Kang may have forgotten, but our youngest still has grudges.¡±


    At those words, Il-hyun straightened his back and looked at Ja-kyung with friendly eyes.


    ¡°How. Shall I apologize here?¡±


    Ja-kyung flatly refused.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡±


    Il-hyun lowered his eyebrows.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    Ja-kyung snorted, and Il-hyun immediately continued.


    ¡°Next time we have sex, I¡¯ll be sure to ask for your permission first.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth opened, and Il-hyun immediately added.


    ¡°Still, you liked it when I sucked on your nipple. You agree, right?¡±


    Wang Lun, who was drinking tea, spat it into the teacup. Wang Han¡¯s eyes widened and his mouth half-opened. Ja-kyung held his breath and looked at Il-hyun confusedly.


    In response, Il-hyun shrugged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t your brothers know that you and I had that kind of relationship?¡±


    Wang Han stepped forward.


    ¡°Hey, CEO Kang. It¡¯s too much of a joke.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed.


    ¡°Ask your cute youngest brother if I¡¯m joking or not.¡±


    Wang Han and Wang Lun¡¯s heads turned at the same time, their gazes fixed on Ja-kyung, who sat in the center. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and glared at Kang Il-hyun, then alternately looked at the two sitting on either side of him and laughed as if baffled.


    ¡°Do you believe him? Absolutely not!¡±


    They both said ok then, but when Kang Il-hyun, who was sitting in front of them, smiled confidently, they became confused. Looking back, Ja-kyung never mentioned Kang Il-hyun during his entire life on the run. He could bring it out like a useless venting if he had a drink, but he avoided it at all costs. Perhaps that¡¯s why¡­


    When they stared at him intently from both sides, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t stand it and jumped up from his seat.


    ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t sign this contract. I¡¯ll be back, so give me my stuff.¡±


    Ja-kyung lost his temper and walked outside, but when Wang Lun tried to move, Il-hyun stopped him and stood up first.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will go out and comfort him.¡±


    After Kang Il-hyun disappeared, Wang Han and Wang Lun made eye contact and looked serious.


    ¡°Just now¡­ Did he say he would comfort him?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. You heard it right.¡±


    Wang Lun looked at his bandaged finger. Il-hyun put it together quickly because he said he was Ja-kyung¡¯s brother.


    ¡°Is it true?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ You know how much Ja-kyung likes pretty girls.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    They both tried to deny it and looked out the living room window. Lee Ja-kyung hurried away, but Kang Il-hyun grabbed his arm, and Ja-kyung shook him off. Furthermore, Ja-kyung would not laugh or blink an eye at his opponent in this situation, but he was unusually hotheaded and displayed his emotions. It was very rare.


    Ja-kyung now was swinging a stick around. Although it was hard to see, Kang Il-hyun looked happy. They should be worried that there would be a fight, but after what they heard a while ago, it looked like a lover¡¯s quarrel.


    The two took their eyes off the window and looked at each other at the same time. It was strange no matter how they looked at it.


    ***


    Il-hyun held onto Ja-kyung, who was huffing and puffing as he walked across the lawn. Il-hyun grabbed him again after Ja-kyung shook him off, but Ja-kyung punched him. Il-hyun quickly avoided it, but Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so he broke a long broom nearby with his foot and swung the stick.


    Il-hyun grabbed it and pulled it while avoiding it. Ja-kyung tried to hit him with his forehead when he tried to grab his arm because his body was being dragged. He was almost hit again where he had been hit before. Il-hyun dodged and clasped his shoulder.


    ¡°Honey, do you have anger management disorder?¡±


    ¡°It seems so. I didn¡¯t know, but whenever I see Director Kang makes me want to kill you.¡±


    As Ja-kyung was grinding his teeth, Kang Il-hyun let go of Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder and took his wallet from his pocket. When Il-hyun found what he was looking for, he put his business card between his fingers and proudly held it out in front of Ja-kyung. The words ¡®CEO Kang Il-hyun¡¯ were clearly seen. He waved it in front of Ja-kyung eyes and stuffed it into his shirt¡¯s front pocket.


    ¡°Thanks to you, I got promoted. Sorry for the late gratitude, but thank you.¡±


    He put his business card in and gently rubbed Ja-kyung¡¯s chest, so he slapped Il-hyun¡¯s hand away.


    ¡°So, help me a little more. You will not be disappointed with the reward.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t trust you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t trust me, trust my money.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I will pay the entire amount you suggested in one lump sum. Including severance pay.¡±


    Ja-kyung paused. Was he saying he¡¯d pay the down payment, salary, and severance pay all at once? Ja-kyung vaguely remembered the amount he¡¯d seen in the contract. Even if the three were not added together, the total was enormous. Il-hyun tilts his head and examines his expression as he continues to stiffen his expression while looking at him.


    ¡°The terms aren¡¯t bad, are they?¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lower lip.


    Kang Il-hyun, who was looking into his eyes, smiled and said something more.


    ¡°You can take my dick as a bonus if you want.¡±

 CH 60

    The three people gathered to eat were concerned that the table legs would collapse. There was a mix of Chinese and Korean food, and it was clear that Il-hyun cared about them. Il-hyun avoided sitting with them for fear of making them uncomfortable, but they were just as uncomfortable without him.


    ¡°Yi An, no. It¡¯s awkward to call you by your original name. Anyway, nice to see you again.¡±


    The house chef asked no further questions and smiled as she greeted Ja-kyung, who had returned. First and foremost, an elderly burying a person¡¯s head while smiling cannot be ordinary. It was a mistake to be reminded of his dead grandmother for a moment.


    After she disappeared, Wang Lun whispered in his ear.


    ¡°Can we eat it? It wasn¡¯t given any drugs, did it?¡±


    Wang Han, who was concerned, first picked up the food and nodded to indicate that it was good. Wang Lun and Ja-kyung began eating immediately as well. As expected, the taste was just as good as the smell. Ja-kyung, who had been starving for four days, simply chewed and swallowed his food without saying anything. He didn¡¯t know if he was hungry because he had a temper tantrum earlier, but the hunger came late. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s consideration, but the staff was nowhere to be found during the meal.


    After eating, the three of them sat together on the second floor. There was a long period of silence between them. They decided to sleep here today on Kang Il-hyun¡¯s advice, but their minds were still confused. There were mixed opinions on the proposal to pay all the money at once.


    Wang Han was not pleased, but Wang Lun agreed without hesitation. It may appear foolish to change your mind for money, but money is everything in this world. Nothing was more terrifying than the fact that money could be used to both kill and save people.


    ¡°Ja-kyung, what do you think?¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t make up his mind. It was the fact that he had been away somewhere for a year, but it was also the fact that he was with Kang Il-hyun that made him uncomfortable. A person who betrayed once always had retaliation. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t renew his contract with Dmitry. However, if he disregards everything and only considers the amount, it¡¯s worth agreeing with.


    ¡°Should we just take the money and run away?¡±


    Wang Han and Wang Lun¡¯s gazes came at the same time as Ja-kyung¡¯s words uttered inadvertently. Wang Lun scratched the bridge of his nose and hesitated.


    ¡°But you really are with him,¡±


    He was about to say something when Wang Han tapped him on the leg. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened as he watched the two exchange glances. He could roughly guess what Wang Lun was trying to say.


    ¡°I said no.¡±


    Wang Lun laughed.


    ¡°I have no prejudice against that.¡±


    Wang Han raised his hand in agreement. So do I. However, he didn¡¯t like the fact that the partner was Kang Il-hyun. It didn¡¯t matter if it was a man or a woman, but he hoped Ja-kyung would meet someone who was generous and could lavish him with love.


    Ja-kyung refutes it again, but judging by their expressions, neither of them believed it. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t help but nod, thinking that it would be the same.


    ¡°It was just one mistake. Okay? Don¡¯t talk about it anymore.¡±


    Wang Han let out a small sigh, and Wang Lun muttered to himself with an admiring face.


    ¡°Awesome. To think that a person like Kang Il-hyun would surrender to you.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face was distorted as he listened. He expected him to think that way. He couldn¡¯t say what he wanted to say. Wang Han, who noticed it, winked at Wang Lun not to do it, but Wang Lun keep admiring Lee Ja-kyung, and Ja-kyung eventually stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go. Talk to you again tomorrow.¡±


    As Ja-kyung ran away, Wang Lun looked at Wang Han and giggled.


    ¡°Cute. Look at him being shy.¡±


    Wang Han clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    ¡°You¡¯re all bad, but being ignorant is the worst.¡±


    ***


    Ja-kyung took a look around the room. Little had changed when he returned after a year. He went to the window after observing the neatly arranged sheets and pillows. They said it had been raining heavily for a few days, and the night sky outside the window was clear.


    The pool was still there, the sunbeds they were lying on were still there, and the surrounding trees had grown thicker. Outside, the surveillance of the guards was stricter than before. Is he still receiving death threats?


    He took out a cigarette and lit it. As he blows smoke into the window, it becomes hazy before returning to normal. However, his head became heavier. He keeps thinking about the amount he saw in the contract. It was ridiculously expensive, but it was enough to buy the island he wanted. He would have agreed without hesitation if it hadn¡¯t been for Kang Il-hyun.


    He snuffed out his cigarette in an ashtray, took off all his clothes, and lay face down on the bed with only a piece of underwear on. Whether it was because it dried well in the sun, the pillows and sheets are soft.


    Then there was a knock on the door, and Kang Il-hyun entered before he could ask who it was. He was holding a mug in one hand and a pain relief patch in the other. He placed the mug on the table. Ja-kyung had no idea what it was, but there was steam rising.


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze shifted to Ja-kyung, who was lying face down on the bed. He looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s head and went down his smooth back muscles, slim waist, and well-protruded buttocks that are desirable. His gaze, which had reached all the way to his toes, returned to Ja-kyung¡¯s face.


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Ja-kyung turned his head the other way as if he was annoyed.


    Il-hyun approached and sat on the bed. The snake tattoo on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder really stands out. o matter how he looked at it, cats still looked better than snakes. He remembered having similar thoughts in the past. When Ja-kyung fainted, he should¡¯ve changed it to a cat.


    There were clear marks on his body from the fight earlier.


    ¡°It bruises well.¡±


    Ja-kyung turned his head to look at Kang Il-hyun. He applied ice packs a few times, and the swelling had already subsided. It was unfair. His stomach twisted as he felt he had lost something. Kang Il-hyun took out the pain relief patch, which smelled strongly.


    Since Il-hyun attached it to the bruised area, Ja-kyung left him alone, but later, he gently groped his body, so he kicked him away and sat up. Ja-kyung got out of bed and put on the shirt he had draped across the sofa. When he turned around, Kang Il-hyun was taking his shirt off. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°What are you doing now?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see. I¡¯m clearly taking off my clothes.¡±


    He took off his shirt and threw it on the floor brazenly. He still had a body that resembled a Western underwear model. His torso was thick and solid, with broad, square shoulders. Exercise is exercise, but something must be innate.


    Even if Ja-kyung took off his shirt, he was subtly compared, despite the fact that he didn¡¯t have a body that would fall out anywhere. Without a moment to feel embarrassed, Il-hyun tried to take off his pants this time. Ja-kyung suddenly came to his senses and picked up his shirt, which had fallen to the floor, and threw it fiercely.


    ¡°Get dressed and leave quickly.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun confidently lowered his pants. The scars from the surgery are clearly visible on his thighs. Ja-kyung looked at it, but he averted his gaze elsewhere. Il-hyun then smiled.


    ¡°Are you sorry?¡±


    He¡¯d rather go out. Kang Il-hyun comes to the back and stands with his chest on his back as Ja-kyung pulls the doorknob to sleep on the sofa in the living room. His body temperature was apparent. He closed the open door behind him and hugged Ja-kyung tightly. His breath touched his cheek as his strong arm wrapped around his shoulder.


    ¡°I miss you.¡±


    As if those words were sincere, the heart that touched his back thumped.


    ¡°Your persona falls apart when you say nice things.¡±


    He turned Ja-kyung around with his teeth clenched. He pushed him onto the door, closed his eyes, and smiled. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and glared at him before slapping his shoulder and telling him to move. But it was Il-hyun¡¯s that came first. Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s chin violently and devoured his lips as Ja-kyung turned his head to avoid him.


    He then tucks his thigh between Ja-kyung¡¯s crotch and rubs his dick gently. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t take the stimulation any longer and pushed Kang Il-hyun away. He was both flustered and angry, so he acted quickly, and Kang Il-hyun stroked his cheek.


    ¡°Everything here is nice, but the soundproofing is not good.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to wake your brothers in the next room, let¡¯s take it easy. Okay?¡±


    This human. Ja-kyung wondered why Il-hyun gave him a room right next to them. The hand that touched his cheek rises and brushes his hair as he frowns. filled with warmth. The situation was the same back then. So he was fooled, and he nearly fell for it.


    Il-hyun made eye contact with Ja-kyung, who was still glaring at him and said seriously.


    ¡°I was sincere when I said I was sorry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh.¡±


    ¡°I lost too much credibility.¡±


    His face disappeared from sight. Il-hyun knelt on the floor slowly. He brought his lips over Ja-kyung¡¯s underwear as he lowered his head. Il-hyun sticks out his tongue and licks the top of his underwear as Ja-kyung tries to push his head away.


    Ja-kyung closed his mouth as Il-hyun opened his mouth to bite his dick. His lips touching his panties were hot. He slowly took off Ja-kyung¡¯s underwear. Despite what Ja-kyung said, Il-hyun looked at the guy who had already begun to have an erection, then moved his eyes upward and smiled at Ja-kyung.


    Ja-kyung clenched his teeth. He had to push him, he had to stop here. He couldn¡¯t push him off easily because his body remembered the exhilarating pleasure that felt like his entire body was being electrocuted.


    He opened his mouth and shoved Ja-kyung¡¯s dick into his mouth. The glans scraped against the mucous membrane, touched his teeth, and the groaning was erotic. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth, threw his head back, and leaned against the door. As he stood, his legs trembled. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hands, which gripped both of his thighs, were hot. He put it in his mouth and rubbed it with his tongue, and Ja-kyung¡¯s mind went blank.


    ¡°Eup.¡±


    He moaned without realizing it and covered his mouth in hurry. The sensation of ejaculation increased. He lowered his other hand down, grabbed the back of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s head, and moved his waist. He could clearly see his dick going in and out of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth when he lowered his head.


    Il-hyun looked up. Ja-kyung¡¯s toes tingled at the intense gaze. His waist moved at a faster pace. Even when the sensation reached his throat, he didn¡¯t blink. The hand that was holding Il-hyun¡¯s hair grew stronger.


    He couldn¡¯t take it any longer and cum into his mouth. Ja-kyung¡¯s chest swelled up and down rapidly. Kang Il-hyun took out Ja-kyung¡¯s dick and swallowed the semen.


    Ja-kyung exhaled heavily, unable to shake the lingering effects of the ejaculation. Il-hyun sucked the remaining semen from his mouth with his finger before slowly standing up. Then he placed his arms on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder and whispered with a smile that seemed to fade.


    ¡°Is it my turn now? Get down.¡±

 CH 61

    Kang Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and led him to the bed while he was still out of breath and motionless. Ja-kyung tried to hold on as long as he could, but he was eventually dragged and fell face down on the bed.


    A hard erect dick brushed up against his ass. The pleasure faded, and the memory of the pain returned. His chest was pressed against the bed. Kang Il-hyun pressed his shoulder as he was about to get up.


    ¡°Stay still.¡±


    His incredibly low-pitched voice had a hint of excitement in it. Il-hyun ran his palm down Ja-kyung¡¯s spine after touching the patch on his shoulder. The skin is soft and smooth. The scars on his body seemed to indicate how hard he had lived.


    It¡¯s more tanned than before, so the overall color is bronze. Only the area where he was wearing a swimsuit did not tan, so there was a line around his waist and thighs. It was attractive because his ass was still white. His ass felt soft when he grips it tightly with both hands. A narrow hole appeared when he opened it to the side. Il-hyun opened the drawer next to the bed and took out the gel he had previously placed there.


    When he opened the lid and brought it to the entrance of the hole, Lee Ja-kyung lifted his upper body slightly and turned around.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Ignoring his query, Il-hyun squeezed the gel and pressed it against the entrance. He then rubbed the opening with his finger before inserting it slowly. The muscles in his body became tense. It¡¯s amusing to see Lee Ja-kyung lose his temper in front of him, but it¡¯s even more amusing to see him nervous.


    Even though he only put one finger in it, it¡¯s tight. The gel inside melted as his finger moved in a circular motion. The squealing was infuriating. He inserted another finger, and it keeps trying to push it out. Ja-kyung¡¯s thighs tensed as he pushed it deeper inside and rubbed it while holding his wrist.


    The two marks, which look like dimples in the middle connecting the hip and waist, darken as well. He lowered his upper body with his fingers in, until his chest touched Ja-kyung¡¯s back. Ja-kyung turned his head away as Il-hyun licked his round ears and cheeks. Il-hyun grabbed his hair, pushed back his face, and licked it voraciously.


    ¡°Has anyone else touched this place besides me?¡±


    He asked while licking his ear, but Ja-kyung remained silent and did not respond. Il-hyun became irritated and scratched the inside by bending his fingers.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head.


    ¡°Who is that girl?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes narrowed. He guessed who Il-hyun was asking about. He was pretending not to hear, so Il-hyun lightly bite his ear lobe. As he frowned, he heard a friendly voice.


    ¡°How far has she touched your body?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be angry, so let me know.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you hold hands?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course, you would have pecked(light kiss).¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°What about a kiss?¡±


    Ja-kyung rolled his eyes and tried to look at Il-hyun. At that time, while kissing Sasha, Kang Il-hyun called, but it did not go any further. It hurts his pride to tell a lie, and he was afraid of the consequences to tell him the truth.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Il-hyun lowered his head and gazed into Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes as soon as he finished speaking. When their gazes met, he grinned, drew his finger, and pressed the front of his dick into the hole. I Ja-kyung bit his lower lip in pain.


    Ja-kyung thought he¡¯d put it in slowly, but once the front was in, Il-hyun shoved it in at once. Ja-kyung was startled. Agh! He raised his upper body and shouted in surprise. Il-hyun, on the other hand, immediately pressed his head and shoulders against the bed.


    His dreary voice sounded horrifying in the back of his head.


    ¡°You must have done something, right?¡±


    When Ja-kyung was out of breath, he hit the bed with his hand, and Il-hyun let go of the back of Ja-kyung¡¯s head. He turned his head as far as he could and looked back, but he couldn¡¯t see Kang Il- hyun¡¯s expression.


    ¡°You said earlier that you wouldn¡¯t get angry, ah!¡±


    He bit his lip, but couldn¡¯t stop the sound. Slap, slap, slap, Il-hyun ruthlessly moved his hips. The sound of skin clashing was louder than the moaning. No matter how much he let himself go, there was no way the unfamiliar sex would be good.


    Ja-kyung climbed onto the bed in pain and tried to run away, but Il-hyun grabbed his waist and pulled him again. Slap, slap, slap, the intense movement was delivered to the bed. His entire body shook, and when he looked down, the skin on his stomach protruded and then disappeared, as if Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick was about to break through at any moment.


    Ja-kyung motioned with his hand behind his back for him to stop. Fortunately, Il-hyun stopped, and Ja-kyung climbed onto the bed when Il-hyun¡¯s hand was momentarily away from his back. The dick that had been filling the hole came out.


    He crawled up against the wall, turned around, and tossed the pillow to Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°I¡¯m not doing it! Fuck! Get out!¡±


    Il-hyun took the flying pillow and tossed it on the bed, then motioned with his fingers. Come here quickly. Il-hyun dick remained erect throughout, ready to cling to his belly. Fuck, it¡¯s so big. Something like that entered his body, but it didn¡¯t hurt as much and he was able to endure it.


    When Kang Il-hyun approached the bed, he kicked him. He couldn¡¯t do much damage despite hitting Il-hyun on the shoulder because his leg was weak. The force of his ankle being grabbed and the seat being pulled and dragged his body. When the other foot kicks him in the face, Il-hyun dodged quickly and puts his finger to Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth.


    Shh. He then points to the next room.


    Ja-kyung wasn¡¯t sure if they had heard it or not. He was about to dismiss it when he heard a thud from the next room, followed by the sound of talking. Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze was drawn to it. It does not appear to be completely soundproof. Il-hyun grabbed his other leg and pulled him while his gaze was fixed on the wall.


    Il-dick hyun¡¯s reached between his crotches, grabbed his hand, and pressed it against the sheet.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose your energy for nothing.¡±


    ¡°If you want to do that, I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll fuck you.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled kindly as he gritted his teeth and growled.


    ¡°Wake up from your dream. It won¡¯t happen even if I die.¡±


    Il-hyun moved his waist again. This time, instead of the hole, his dick was rubbed on top of Ja-kyung¡¯s dick.


    ¡°Are you okay with this?¡±


    When Il-hyun asked, Ja-kyung didn¡¯t respond, so he put his mouth to his chest. He sucked his chest and rubbed his nipples with his tongue, but the lower part of his abdomen felt tingly. He swallowed his moans and almost forgot about the panic he had just a moment ago.


    Il-hyun swallowed the areola and sucked hard, like a child sucking at a breast for milk. Ja-kyung discovered that he also had erogenous zones in his chest because of Kang Il-hyun. The more he sucked, the more his dick, which was pressed by Kang Il-hyun dick, erected.


    Il-hyun detached his mouth from Ja-kyung¡¯s chest and looked at his face. The sight of his eyes wide open and biting his lips to hold it in was erotic enough to drive people crazy. He reached down and inserted his dick into the hole. Ja-kyung lifted his head and frowned at him, so Il-hyun gently rubbed the back of his hand against his cheek to soothe him.


    ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you this time.¡±


    As the hole opened, Ja-kyung¡¯s face gradually contorted in pain. Il-hyun leaned in and gently licked Ja-kyung¡¯s lips. Ja-kyung held his mouth tightly shut when he tried to enter with the tip of his tongue. He put his fingers between them and stuck his tongue in.


    And then, little by little, he pushed his dick inside. He gently licked Ja-kyung¡¯s neck after pushing it all the way. When he twists his waist while inserting it tightly, the feeling is more vivid than when he moved back and forth. Ja-kyung tightly closed his eyes. The gel inside made a noise. At the very least, he wasn¡¯t as rough as he was before.


    After some time, Il-hyun placed his hands on Ja-kyung¡¯s knees and pushed them up. His legs were spread wide apart. He extended his tongue and licked his calf for a long time. When Ja-kyung opened his eyes, he averted his gaze elsewhere. His buttocks were lifted slightly, and his glans made contact with Il-hyun prostate. Ja-kyung reached out his hand and told him to stop when he felt the tingling sensation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡±


    He moved his waist, blatantly licked his lower lip, and smirked.


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    Seeing him smirk despite knowing everything, Ja-kyung suppressed his voice and glared at him.


    ¡°Stop, ah!¡±


    The lifted head fell onto the bed. Slap, slap, slap, when he touched the same spot, his legs trembled and it felt like an electric current was spreading from his stomach. Shit. He placed the pillow next to him over his face.


    Then Il-hyun took it and threw it out of bed. And again, slap, slap, he shoved with enough force to push Ja-kyung body upward. The pleasure of firecrackers exploded in his head. Ja-kyung crossed his arms to cover his face and cursed, fuck!


    Il-hyun straightened his knees and stood up. Thanks to that, His back was lifted and only his shoulders and head touched the bed. Slam, slam, slam, but it¡¯s no longer just touching; it¡¯s also the pain and pleasure of hitting it with a dick.


    ¡°Wait, wait, ah! Heuk!¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s dick swelled with semen before he could feel it any longer. He covered his mouth with the back of his arm and squeezed the sheet with the other hand, but it wasn¡¯t enough.


    ¡°Heung!¡±


    Even after the ejaculation, the stimulation continued, causing the fuse in his head to explode and his eyes to turn white. It felt like the cells in his body were running wild and his blood was running backward as if he had been electrocuted. Ja-kyung gasped and couldn¡¯t breathe properly, but he couldn¡¯t take it any longer and shouted and moaned at the same time.


    ¡°Shi, that, ah. Stop! Ah! Bastard! You bastard!¡±


    Il-hyun lowered his posture and stick on top of Ja-kyung¡¯s body. When their chests were pressed together, Il-hyun hugged him tightly and moved his waists back and forth like a madman, increasing his final speed. Ja-kyung could hear him gasping like an animal in his ear.


    The sounds of biting teeth, softly swearing, flesh clashing, and rough breathing all mixed together made his mind dizzy.


    With a groan, he hugged Ja-kyung¡¯s body as if it would break. Hot liquid gushed out from the inside. Il-hyun, who was breathing hard on the nape of his neck, raised his head. Ja-kyung was still covering his face with the back of his arm and biting his lip.


    Il-hyun took off his arm, and both of his eyes were red. Ja-kyung pulled his hand, so Il-hyun grabbed it again and thoroughly examined his face. Whether it was from pain or happiness, the tips of his eyes became damp. Seeing that, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes darkened.


    He licked his wet eyes with his tongue and whispered softly.


    ¡°Only show this face to me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Kissing, sex, only with me.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t have the energy to speak, so he didn¡¯t respond, and then Il-hyun kissed his lips and smiled as if he was about to melt.


    ¡°You understand?¡±


    The whispering voice was sweet, but it was more of a threat.

 CH 62

    Even when he opened his eyes, the room was pitch black. He didn¡¯t realize lunch had passed until he fumbled with his hand to check the time. The blinds were raised and sunlight streamed into the bedroom with the press of a button. Ja-kyung rose from his seat with a swollen face.


    He groaned spontaneously as pain rose from his tailbone. Kang Il-hyun had been hugging him from behind until dawn, but he had disappeared before he knew it. He crept under the bed after looking at the empty place where he was lying down. Clothes were strewn across the floor, along with the wet towel used to wipe his body.


    He went into the restroom and took a cigarette. He was about to light it when he caught sight of himself in the mirror. There was no place left untouched. Anyone would have assumed it was a contagious disease. There were visible kiss marks on the body as well as under the chin, and faint teeth marks on the cheeks. and faint teeth marks on the cheeks. At this point, he should¡¯ve just eaten him whole.


    Grinding his teeth, he lit the cigarette and came out. Kang Il-hyun had brought a lot of patches to the table the day before. He doubted whether he expected this when he wondered why he brought so many patches.


    He took off the patches one by one and placed them around his neck. He went outside after smoking a cigarette and changing his clothes. He stood in the hallway and knocked on the next room¡¯s door. It was completely silent. He heard a loud noise as he walked downstairs.


    Wang Han and Wang Lun were conversing with the house chef at the table when he arrived. He was greeted by the house chef who had first discovered Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Are you up?¡±


    Wang Han and Wang Lun looked back.


    ¡°You¡¯re up.¡±


    ¡°Come over here and have lunch. This person cooked the food and it was really delicious.¡±


    The two looked comfortable as if they were at home. Ja-kyung sat on the other side of the table, his face expressionless. Wang Lun then leaned forward and asked.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his eyes and looked at Wang Lun.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to bring you a cushion? Would you like to sit on it?¡±


    When Ja-kyung frowned, Wang Han told Wang Lun not to do it and slapped him on the side. Wang Lun swallowed his laughter and placed the food in his mouth. His cheeks twitched even more. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and glared at him. Damn, they heard it all.


    He will be teased for this for another hundred years. He had no idea about Wang Han, but Wang Lun is still the same. He was teased for years as a child for peeing in his pants after being chased by a dog. He cursed Kang Il-hyun inwardly while grinding his teeth. Who is he blaming? He should have just kicked him out, but he went all out for sucking his dick once.


    After dinner, the three of them went outside and sat next to each other near the pool. When an employee asked if he could bring tea, he politely declined and smoked a cigarette after looking around to see if anything could be cracked. Bodyguards were passing by, but they paid no attention to this side. Rather, they widened the gap so they could talk and then withdrew.


    Instead, there were CCTV cameras set up all over the place. He didn¡¯t think he needed to be aware of it, so the three of them sat comfortably and talked.


    ¡°Have you thought about it?¡±


    Wang Han asked Ja-kyung, and Wang Lun giggled.


    ¡°Did he have the energy to do that yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Lun hyung. Shut that mouth.¡±


    ¡°Could it be that the tooth marks on your cheeks were also made by CEO Kang? Is he as fierce as his personality?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned while smoking a cigarette and threatened to shoot him if he continued. Wang Han came forward and scolded the two. Now is not the time to crack jokes about such things. Wang Lun raised his bandaged hand after speaking.


    ¡°I agree. A year is not a long time, and I think it is appropriate. I¡¯m tired of running around anymore but good for you. And he pays us a lot of money.¡±


    Wang Han¡¯s gaze shifted to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung smoked a cigarette and thought for a while before opening his mouth.


    ¡°For now, I agree.¡±


    Even if he refused, Kang Il-hyun would do anything to get him to sign the contract. Maybe he¡¯ll cut off his hand instead and get in trouble. He was still a human. Ja-kyung lowered his voice after looking around and confirming that no one was nearby.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out in the middle instead.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m saying running away after getting paid.¡±


    Both of their eyes widened.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that yesterday a joke?¡±


    ¡°I meant it.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, the corners of Wang Lun¡¯s lips began to rise. Such a cute kid. He grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s face and tried to kiss him, but Ja-kyung pushed his face away.


    However, Wang Han¡¯s expression was quite serious.


    ¡°Will it be okay?¡±


    ¡°Do you think that human nature will keep us alive even if the job is over? It is also a problem that Kang Il-hyun¡¯s father finds out. Then they¡¯ll be after our lives, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s unreasonable to stay here for a year. I think the best approach is to solve a few things in moderation and then leave.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to live in hiding for a while, but that¡¯s our specialty.¡±


    While Wang Han was agonizing, Ja-kyung glared at Wang Lun.


    ¡°If Hyung doesn¡¯t come to Korea, he won¡¯t be caught easily.¡±


    Wang Lun sighs and clears his throat. He came to Korea on his own to see his girlfriend, and he also went to the cathedral. But he had no idea they would arrive so soon. If he received money, he planned to change his identity and spend the rest of his life with his girlfriend in a place with clean air, such as Norway or New Zealand.


    Wang Han, the eldest brother, struggled to make a decision. Betrayal¡­ It¡¯s a common occurrence in this field, but so far, Ja-kyung¡¯s choice has always been different. He stated that trust comes first, but he has already hit the back of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s head for the second time. Of course, the first cause was provided by Kang Il-hyun.


    He sighed in confusion, unable to provide a definitive answer. He wondered if it would be all right. As a team leader, it was a difficult decision. With Kang Il-hyun¡¯s personality, if something went wrong, all three of them would be killed right away.


    ***


    Chairman Kang smoked his cigar and examined the documents Il-hyun was holding out. A report about a project to build a hotel and a shopping mall on Jeju Island was promoted. The work went more smoothly than expected, but the problem was that if this project solidified Kang Il-hyun¡¯s position, more executives would follow him. At a time when Kang Tae-han is not showing any significant results.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled. He knew better than anyone that he disagreed with what he said. Chairman Kang treated Il-hyun as if nothing had happened after the incident a year ago. It was the same with Il-hyun.


    Lee Ja-kyung provided a USB drive, but it contained evidence that he was targeting Chairman Kang. After all, it¡¯s the starting point. The two were spending each day like any other rich man, looking for an opportunity to bite each other¡¯s neck.


    ¡°But since the Directors strongly oppose it, I guess we¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡±


    You should. Il-hyun nodded and smiled. It was not opposed by the directors, but by Chairman Kang¡¯s order. No matter how old they were, they could not ignore his influence in the company.


    In addition, there was a steady stream of talks about holding a general meeting soon to decide on a successor. If that happens, Chairman Kang, who has a lot of stakes, will have an advantage. Il-hyun laughed inwardly, but on the outside, he pretended to be calm and nodded and drank tea. The taste of bitter brewed tea was just like his insides.


    He went outside and headed downstairs to his office after the conversation. He turned on the TV as soon as he walked in, using the remote control. When he switched the channel, CCTV screens inside and outside the house appeared in a split screen. Lee Ja-kyung and the two Wang brothers have gathered in front of the swimming pool.


    The screen enlarges when the button is pressed. Tae-soo, who came in after him, took a moment to look at the screen.


    ¡°Shall we listen to them?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled and took out a cigarette.


    ¡°Leave it. At best, they must be making plans to run away after getting paid.¡±


    He lit it, inhaled deeply enough to make his cheeks thin, and then exhaled. He couldn¡¯t see Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s face in detail on the screen, but he seemed happy. However, Tae-soo, who was standing next to him, had an unusually dark face. He knew exactly what he was worried about. Wouldn¡¯t it be difficult to point a gun at him again after the first time?


    ¡°Are you worried?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, Lee Ja-kyung currently does not trust me. I have no choice but to calm him down by making the necessary adjustments.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to have him or play with him because it was fun. But he knew it wasn¡¯t a feeling that would go away easily. The issue is that Lee Ja-kyung has no intention of doing that with him. It¡¯s no different than a high-priced masturbation device that only provides pleasure. Thinking about that makes him more bitter than when he was facing Chairman Kang earlier.


    Three people on the screen rose to their feet at the same time. He had no idea what Wang Lun had said, but Ja-kyung smacked him across the shoulder. Ja-kyung immediately grabbed his waist and bent his upper body as if it hurt. He could almost hear him swearing off the screen.


    A smile crept across Il-hyun¡¯s lips as he looked at the screen.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it seem like they have come to a rough conclusion?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Check Choi Man-sik¡¯s personal information, range of conduct, and schedule, and bring it to me in the evening. Tell him to start working right away.¡±


    Tae-soo bowed his head. Il-hyun leaned back on the sofa, smoking a cigarette. As Lee Ja-kyung moved, the screen changed. When he was with his brothers, he seemed much more comfortable than when he was with him. Nonetheless, he occasionally touched his waist.


    He was far too harsh yesterday, he reflected on himself for a moment. The repeated action reminded him of his sexy face on the bed, and the lower part of his body became stiff.

 CH 63

    Ja-kyung, who was walking on the lawn, stopped near the pool and gazed into the water. The lights shone brilliantly on the surface of the water. Park Tae-soo arrived after dinner and handed over the documents. It was the first work target. His name was Choi Man-shik, and he was said to be Choi Ki-tae¡¯s uncle.


    He took over the business after Choi Ki-tae¡¯s father died, but after learning that Il-hyun was involved in Choi Ki-tae¡¯s death, he attached himself to Chairman Kang and continued to cause trouble like a thorn in the eye. Furthermore, they appeared to be in trouble for selling drugs to minors at an entertainment agency run by Kang Il-hyun¡¯s company.


    After dinner, the three of them talked about it for a while. Ja-kyung then went for a walk in frustration. It briefly rained in the afternoon, making the air damp and the grass wet. Even his exhaled breath was moist.


    He was about to go inside the house after a walk, but the phone rang. It was a video call from Sasha. Ja-kyung looked back once to make sure there was no one nearby and pressed the call button. Sasha¡¯s face appeared on the screen.


    She smiled broadly when she saw Ja-kyung.


    [Wei. What happened? I was surprised when you disappeared without a word.]


    Ja-kyung smiled awkwardly with a shy face.


    ¡°It happened like that. I won¡¯t be going back for a while.¡±


    Her expression darkened.


    [Rita is very sad because Han is gone.]


    When there was no answer, she hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    [Of course, me too. I still think you thought I was special.]


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t understand everything, but he could tell she was sad. He made an apologetuc expression, but Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face suddenly appeared on his shoulder. Argh! His phone slips out of his grasp before he can even turn around.


    Kang Il-hyun smiled and said a word to Sasha on the screen.


    [He is my lover. Don¡¯t contact him again.]


    It¡¯s amazing that he speaks Russian perfectly, but he throws his cell phone right into the swimming pool. Ja-kyung tried to catch it, but it was already drowning and sinking to the bottom of the water. He jumped in and picked it up, but the screen was damaged.


    However, the phone¡¯s screen was not the only thing that was broken. Kang Il-hyun sat down on the edge of the pool and smiled down at Ja-kyung as he turned around with a fierce frown. He grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s face as he approached and looked to the left and right. He hit him hard and Ja-kyung bit his teeth while asking him what he was doing.


    ¡°Usually, those who can¡¯t understand my words have their ears cut off, but where should I cut you off in order for you to understand my words?¡±


    ¡°Get lost.¡±


    ¡°Well, even without ears, I think you¡¯ll be fine because you have such a handsome face.¡±


    Ja-kyung screamed because Il-hyun tried to touch his ear.


    ¡°You are a psychopath!¡±


    Il-hyun made a sad expression. Even that was disgusting.


    ¡°Is it obvious?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°They are called mentally sick people. So be kind to me. Give me affection, okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t respond at all. Ja-kyung walked out of the pool in disgust. Kang Il-hyun brought a large towel and tried to dry him off as the water dripped from him.


    Ja-kyung pushed his shoulders roughly and strides away, but Il-hyun suddenly throws his body over his shoulders and throws him into the pool. There was no time to react because it happened so quickly. Ja-kyung came out of the water and stared at Il-hyun with a stunned expression.


    ¡°Cool off and come out. I will wait.¡±


    Ja-kyung crawled out and lunged deadly at him as he smiled.


    Wang Han filled a glass with ice, poured it, and brought it to his mouth. While drinking, he looked at the picture of the man Park Tae-soo handed over in the evening. Did he say he was selling drugs and organ trafficking? His shaved head was covered in tattoos up to his neck, and his impression was strong.


    He needed to plan a suitable day based on the man¡¯s movements and future plans, but Ja-kyung, who went outside to get some fresh air, did not return. Wang Lun, who was standing in front of the window at the time, burst out laughing. Wang Han was perplexed as to why, but when he stood up, he saw Ja-kyung and Il-hyun tossing and turning in the pool.


    ¡°What are they doing?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess they¡¯re having a love fight. Just a moment ago, Ja-kyung punched CEO Kang in the face.¡±


    ¡°Crazy. Since when have they been doing that?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s been 5 minutes. Should I stop it?¡±


    Wang Han shook his head. Rather than fighting, it appeared that Kang Il-hyun was accepting it one-sidedly. Ja-kyung, who had jumped out of the water, sat on the sunbed in wet clothes. Kang Il-hyun also comes out and grabs a towel to dry his hair.


    They had been hitting and running until now, and looking at the current situation, they were lovers.


    ¡°He is kinder than I thought. Does he really have feelings for Wei?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t trust him too much. That person is also using us anyway, so he won¡¯t trust us.¡±


    Wang Han was on his way back to his seat when Wang Lun whistled and exclaimed, ¡°Wow!¡± He returned and saw Kang Il-hyun kissing Ja-kyung, who was sitting on the sunbed. Ja-kyung struggled as if it was a surprise attack from behind.


    Wang Han scolded Wang Lun for taking out his mobile phone and trying to take evidence.


    ¡°Don¡¯t keep teasing Wei.¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s fun. I never imagined he would do that with a man.¡±


    He was determined to take a picture, so Wang Han pulled him by the back and led him to the sofa. He was organizing the target¡¯s photos, placing them in an envelope, and began drinking alcohol when he heard a knock. When he opened the door, Ja-kyung walked in, wet and huffing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll use the bathroom.¡±


    He finished that sentence and went straight to the bathroom. Wang Lun looked out into the hallway to see if Kang Il-hyun was following him, but he couldn¡¯t see him. The sound of a Ja-kyung swearing came from inside the living room.


    ***


    Ja-kyung, who had been soaking in water for a long time, took a shower and came out wearing Wang Lun¡¯s clothes. When he came out, Kang Il-hyun was openly drinking with the Wang brothers in the living room. Il-hyun had washed and changed his clothes and had a clean face before he knew it. The living room was thick with cigarette smoke, and the tables were crowded with expensive wines and snacks.


    Wang Han was fine, but Wang Lun was slightly drunk.


    ¡°Come on, Wei. Let¡¯s drink together.¡±


    He pretended he didn¡¯t hear Wang Lun¡¯s call, but Il-hyun asked him to come. He went over to the sofa and sat down on the other side in case Wang Lun would talk about unnecessary things. Kang Il-hyun poured Champagne into Ja-kyung¡¯s glass instead of strong liquor.


    A drop rose from the golden liquid. Il-hyun rests his arm on the sofa as Ja-kyung raised the glass to his mouth. His arm came to rest on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. He thought about removing it, but instead ate the watermelon that had come out as a snack.


    They must have been discussing work, based on the pictures scattered across the table.


    ¡°And then?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun asked Wang Lun, who then responded enthusiastically.


    ¡°He met a lot of people after that. From Italian to Vietnamese to Spanish. Oh! What was the name of the Spanish girl? Was it Veronica?¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was sipping champagne, burst out. It was only then that he realized what the three of them were discussing was not work, but Ja-kyung¡¯s previous love affair. He widened his eyes and glared at Wang Lun, but he didn¡¯t think Wang Lun would stop.


    ¡°Anyway, she has a pretty face, but her figure is really voluptuous. Right, Wei?¡±


    He glared at him and signaled to stop, but Wang Lun smiled and added another word.


    ¡°You liked her quite a bit too.¡±


    ¡°It seems you liked her, my sweetheart.¡±


    Wang Han noticed that it was getting serious and shoved a watermelon into Wang Lun¡¯s mouth when Il-hyun repeated the words with his mouth. He told Wan Lun to stop talking and eat. Wang Lun pushed his hand away.


    ¡°I hate watermelons. Wei likes watermelon.¡±


    ¡°No, from today you like it too. Shut up and eat, quickly.¡±


    Looking at them, Il-hyun smiled with a gentle face.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t really care about that. Because the past is the past.¡±


    He smiled at Ja-kyung as he spoke. Ja-kyung got goosebumps and shook his arm off his shoulder and stood up. ¡°Wang Lun suddenly praised Kang Il-hyun, saying, ¡°Look at that, do you know how broad-minded CEO Kang is?¡±


    He signaled with his eyes to tell Wang Han to quickly drag Wang Lun in and excused himself from the three of them.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. I¡¯m so tired.¡±


    He quickly left the room and went to his room. First and foremost, he locked the front door and the bedroom door tightly. Even after 10 minutes and 20 minutes have passed, nothing happened. He was relieved, and just as he was taken off all his clothes and go to bed, he heard a knock.


    He didn¡¯t respond, and the doorknob was turned. He frowned and rose from his seat, staring at the door. As expected, it was Kang Il-hyun.


    [Stop pretending to be asleep and open it.]


    As he pretended to be dead, he heard a small laugh outside the door.


    [Should I destroy it to go in?]


    Ja-kyung bets he won¡¯t break it. He was just staring at it without answering when the door slammed! Then it opens up. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened when he saw an ax in his hand. Damn, where did you get that from?


    Il-hyun smoked a cigarette and smiled as he swung the ax around.


    ¡°In case you didn¡¯t know, I put it in every living room. I had no idea it would be used in this way.¡±


    His appearance was similar to that of a killer in a movie. Il-hyun approached Ja-kyung, who was sitting on the bed, slowly while exhaling long smoke.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it. Where else should I cut beside your ears so you can understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Ja-kyung gave him a strange look, but Il-hyun raised the ax in the air and swings it. The ax flew toward Ja-kyung in the blink of an eye. Argh! When he came to his senses, the ax was lodged directly in front of his crotch. Ja-kyung looked at it with a pale expression.


    ¡°This crazy bastard¡­¡±


    He looked up at Kang Il-hyun, who was smoking a cigarette and laughing like a devil.


    ¡°You won¡¯t use it in the future anyway, so let¡¯s cut it now. Okay?¡±

 CH 64

    A strong smell of alcohol wafted from Kang Il-hyun, who had come closer. It was obviously too far to say it¡¯s because of alcohol. There is also a limit to patience. After harassing people like that last night, he dropped his cell phone in the water today. He put up with that, but when he came in while he was sleeping, he openly said he would cut his dick with an axe.


    If Ja-kyung put up with it any longer, he¡¯s a fool. Ja-kyung rushed at Il-hyun. When he throws his fist, Il-hyun dodged quickly. He threw a fist on the opposite side, but grabbed his arm and broke it. He loosened his bent arm and kicked Kang Il-hyun¡¯s calf. He staggered for a moment, then turned and smiled.


    ¡°So you¡¯re angry?¡±


    He smashed his cigarette into the wall and motioned for him to come. Ja-kyung took a fighting stance, jumped up, and slammed him with his knee. Kang Il-hyun blocked it with his hand and stepped back, so he kicked him right away.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s body stumbled backward as a result of the quick and agile movement, and Ja-kyung took advantage of the situation and threw himself. The two became entangled and rolled over on the bed, at which point Ja-kyung pulled out the ax that had become stuck on the bed and struck Kang Il-hyun in the head.


    The ax blade fell to the spot where Il-hyun¡¯s head had been as soon as he dodged. Knowing that it was no joke, Il-hyun grabbed his arm and pushed Ja-kyung away. Ja-kyung rolled over, stood up, and threw the axe in an instant. The axe hit the wall after Il-hyun ducked his upper body to avoid it.


    Looking back, Il-hyun narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°Did you really try to kill me? I am your employer.¡±


    Ja-kyung took a deep breath, held out his middle finger, and gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Get out, you psychopath. I¡¯m not signing the contract with you. I¡¯m going out of this house tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°So why do you talk to your ex-girlfriend on the phone and ruin my mood?¡±


    Ja-kyung screamed in disbelief.


    ¡°You said you don¡¯t hold grudges!¡±


    Kang Il-hyun shamelessly raised his chin.


    ¡°I don¡¯t, but I did today.¡±


    Then he gnashed his teeth with a disapproving expression.


    ¡°Was Veronica¡¯s body so voluptuous? My dick is quite voluptuous too, would you like to take a look?¡±


    As Il-hyun was about to take off his pants, Ja-kyung pretended not to hear and charged again. Il-hyun was defending meticulously, and at one point Ja-kyung¡¯s fist went in properly and hit his jaw. Il-hyun¡¯s expression became grim. As Ja-kyung¡¯s fist flew in succession, Il-hyun blocked it and stretched out his fist.


    Bam, the battered Ja-kyung staggers back and lands on the floor! And he spat. His saliva mixed with blood. When Il-hyun saw this, he made a sad expression.


    ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s not like I did that on purpose.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    As they blocked each other, exchanged punches, and rolled, things in the bedroom flew around and the table was overturned. Later, the glass of the TV was cracked and even a large picture frame hanging on the wall fell and was smashed. As they were tossing and turning on the floor, Ja-kyung climbed onto Il-hyun¡¯s body first, grabbed him by the collar, and growled.


    ¡°Say it. Say you won¡¯t do it again!¡±


    Il-hyun smiled and licked his tongue.


    ¡°Ha, this posture is good. Move your back as it is.¡±


    Feeling Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick growing under his ass as he sat on it, Ja-kyung was furious and fed up. How can a dick grow in such a situation? A bastard who doesn¡¯t like this guy. He throws a fist, but Il-hyun does not block it this time.


    Just as he was punching Kang Il-hyun in the chin, there was a sound in front of the door.


    When he raised his head, Park Tae-soo stood there with a surprised expression.


    ***


    Wang Han and Wang Lun, who were having an early breakfast, widened their eyes when they saw Ja-kyung coming down. It was surprising that Ja-kyung, who slept a lot in the morning, woke up early, but the corner of his mouth was bruised. The housekeeper also looked at him with a worried expression.


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Yes. Other footsteps could be heard from inside as Ja-kyung nodded. It was Kang Il-hyun. Ja-kyung was about to go upstairs with just the bread from breakfast when Il-hyun arrived. Wang Lun and Wang Han couldn¡¯t keep their mouths shut when they saw Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face.


    His cheeks were also bruised and his lips chapped. Their gazes alternated between Ja-kyung and Il-hyun. Because there was a loud noise in the next room last night, Wang Lun made a joke about how violent they were. They weren¡¯t having sex, but they were fighting.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    After a refreshing smile, Kang Il-hyun looked at Ja-kyung. He was angered and hit him while defending himself yesterday, but it appears that it bruises well. He moved to Ja-kyung¡¯s side in frustration when he noticed his mouth was swollen, but Ja-kyung only brought bread and went upstairs.


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed. Why are you so angry? Ja-kyung didn¡¯t even pretend to hear when Il-hyun called after him. He even dashed over and slammed the door behind him. The sound of footsteps behind him stopped Il-hyun as he was about to open the door.


    When he turned around, Wang Han, who had been eating a while ago, was following him. In an awkward atmosphere, he cleared his throat and moved closer, scratching the bridge of his nose. Il-hyun looked at him and smiled kindly.


    ¡°Do you have anything to say to me?¡±


    ¡°CEO Kang, please leave Wei, no, Ja-kyung alone.¡±


    One of Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows went up. The words ¡°leave him alone¡± got on his nerves. Wang Han noticed that and struggled to decide what to say before opening his mouth.


    ¡°He¡¯s a guy who doesn¡¯t even meet people for a few days before starting work. He¡¯s sensitive. But if you keep provoking him like that, it may cause problems in his work.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m provoking Lee Ja-kyung?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Should I be happy?¡±


    ¡°No. So Ja-kyung¡­ he hates that.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    After much thought, Wang Han spoke up.


    ¡°Being clingy.¡±


    At those words, Il-hyun¡¯s expression darkened. So, are you saying that he was being clingy with Lee Ja-kyung?


    ¡°He came to my house when he was 10 years old, and Wang Lun-i was like CEO Kang at the time. He wanted a new younger brother, but Ja-kyung didn¡¯t like the way he approached him. Because of this, we were enemies when we were younger. Of course, we still fight a lot now.


    Il-hyun just listened in silence.


    ¡°I may sound arrogant, but if you keep doing that, you will only get resentment.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression seemed more shocked than he had expected. He expected Il-hyun to tell him not to be arrogant, but he seemed to be thinking a little seriously. Perhaps he truly cares about Ja-kyung. Il-hyun, who had been silent, slowly nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll remember it. Thank you.¡±


    Seeing him readily agree, Wang Han let out a sigh of relief. After all, he¡¯s an employer. Pretty bad-tempered as well. He was just grateful that Il-hyun agreed with him. After Il-hyun went down, Wang Han knocked on Ja-kyung¡¯s room and entered.


    Inside the bedroom, the staff was busy cleaning. It must have not been very well attached, based on the fact that they kept bringing out the broken items. Ja-kyung sat on the couch, munching on bread from downstairs. He frowned halfway through his meal as if his mouth was bursting with pain.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    He sat next to him and asked, and Ja-kyung simply nodded. This seemed to happen once a day if he stayed here with Kang Il-hyun. He asked if the three of them would be willing to relocate to a different location. Ja-kyung nodded after a brief moment of thought.


    ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll look at the situation and talk to CEO Kang.¡±


    Wang Han then patted Ja-kyung on the shoulder. It meant to relax. Ja-kyung let out a long sigh and tore off half of the bread and handed it to Wang Han. Even when he was young, if he had something to eat, he always left half of it and took care of it.


    The cleaning staff comes out with a box full of something while he was eating. Ja-kyung stood up and went there without hesitation. He frowned when he noticed a miniature camera among the items in the box.


    He was confused as to how he knew and appeared at the right time like a ghost, but he had a camera in the room. Surely, then, all of the sex was recorded? He can¡¯t guarantee there won¡¯t be any if he considers collecting recorded files on a crazy level.


    ***


    Il-hyun looked outside with a serious face. Park Tae-soo, who was sitting in front of him, looked at him once in a while. Il-hyun was quite shocked to hear what Wang Han said. I was clingy? Me? To Lee Ja-kyung? I thought I fairly treated him kindly.


    That¡¯s why he brought Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head straight off, and also attached Wang Lun¡¯ severed finger. How much more kind does he have to be here? He¡¯d rather have Ja-kyung make a list of the guys he hates. If he kills them all, will Ja-kyung open his heart?


    He then let out a sigh. He couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d been thinking about this at such an important time. Even thinking about it made him feel pathetic and confused.


    ¡°Shall we go to the hospital?¡±


    Tae-soo asked, and Il-hyun gently touched his bruised cheek. He looked pretty, but his fist is quite fast, and strong. Even if he was good at hitting and dodging, putting Tae-soo, a former fighter, up against him would be a no-brainer. Thoughts about Lee Ja-kyung were flowing again in his mind.


    ¡°I¡¯m really crazy.¡±


    Tae-soo, who was sitting in front of him, asked, ¡°Yes?¡± and looked back. Il-hyun gestured and leaned against the sheet, indicating that it was nothing. Ja-kyung¡¯s face appeared when Il-hyun closed his eyes. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes were bright red during their sex, and his skin was smooth and soft. His scent was perfect, and moaning and cursing were also lovely.


    But yesterday¡¯s incident made Ja-kyung really angry this morning. According to Tae-soo, only Lee Ja-kyung hasn¡¯t signed the contract yet. Is he really being hated? He wouldn¡¯t have been concerned if he had preserved him at the time.


    Fuck. Even if he was preserved, he would preserve him properly.


    He bitterly regretted not being able to preserve him sooner, but the area he was hit was painful.

 CH 65

    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut as he opened the boxes Park Tae-soo had brought in the afternoon. Wang Han and Wang Lun were busy admiring it as well. He said they would use the weapons they found in the box while working. Ja-kyung recognized it as the same type he¡¯d seen in the basement. Park Tae-soo placed the car key on the table as he examined the guns one by one.


    ¡°This is the car that the three of you will use. Use this if possible.¡±


    Wang Lun¡¯s eyes widened as he checked the car keys. It was a fairly expensive car.


    ¡°And if you tell me anything else you need, I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡±


    Park Tae-soo immediately handed a shopping bag to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°The CEO told me to deliver this.¡±


    Ja-kyung opened it after Park Tae-soo said goodbye and left. It¡¯s a cell phone. It¡¯s also the most recent model. Il-hyun must have purchased it because he dropped his phone in the water yesterday, but he decided it would be better to disassemble it and inspect it in case it was being tapped.


    Wang Lun is starting to have opposing views. He couldn¡¯t believe Il-hyun was still buying them things after he had already paid them so much. Let us not bail in the middle and simply request a long-term contract. He gave Ja-kyung a quick glance but quickly changed his mind. The atmosphere became tense because he made with his mouth and the two of them just had a fight last night.


    ¡°CEO Kang has a cool personality. He is a man who knows how to spend money properly.¡±


    Despite his quiet praise, Ja-kyung remained silent, tinkering with his gun while smoking a cigarette. He gave Wang Han a sidelong glance, but his expression asked him to let go.


    ***


    Ja-kyung lay on the bed wearing only one pair of panties and stared at the ceiling. Everything in the bedroom has been replaced, and the bed is now larger than before. It had been raining nonstop since yesterday, making it hot and humid outside, but the air conditioner was always on, keeping the house cool.


    Kang Il-hyun did not appear in his room yesterday. Even when he saw him this morning, he only did a simple greeting. He didn¡¯t carelessly touch his body, and he didn¡¯t play jokes or pranks on him. It was refreshing, but also strangely uncomfortable.


    When people suddenly change, they are said to die soon. It would be fine if he died, but Ja-kyung was afraid that if Il-hyun endured it, he would explode and do something even more heinous and crazy. Then there was a knock on the door. Ja-kyung raised his head and looked at it, but the door opened and Kang Il-hyun appeared.


    Ja-kyung frowned automatically. Kang Il-hyun asked if he could go in at the door while he was putting on the shirt he had hung next to him. Ja-kyung who was wearing his clothes hesitated. He wondered if he had misheard, but it appears that he is awaiting permission. When Ja-kyung looked at him dumbfoundedly, Kang Il-hyun carefully closed the door and entered.


    As he approached, the bruises on his face were still visible. He was holding a mug. He approached the bed and placed it on the bedside table. The aroma of tea could be detected. This is a tea that Ja-kyung has enjoyed drinking since long ago.


    ¡°I asked your brother and he said you like this.¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at him without replying.


    Il-hyun pulled a chair and sat down, making eye contact with Ja-kyung and smiling apologetically.


    ¡°What happened that day was too much for you. No matter how angry I¡¯m, I shouldn¡¯t cut your dick carelessly.¡±


    Ja-kyung was dumbfounded as he looked at him. What nonsense. Crazy bastard. Ja-kyung wanted to curse but held back because he didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble. He wished for him to leave quickly, but Il-hyun moved his hand to his bosom. Perhaps he was going to pull out the axe again, but when Ja-kyung clenched his fist to defend himself, an unexpected object came out of his hand.


    He put it next to the teacup. The little elephant was made of wood, and the shape was elaborate and cute. As he was looking at it, Il-hyun asked him indirectly.


    ¡°I thought of you when I bought it. Do you like it?¡±


    Ja-kyung remained silent. Il-hyun rose from his seat, paused awkwardly, then reached out and brushed Ja-kyung¡¯s bangs once. When the perplexed Ja-kyung stood still, he gently touched him and quickly withdrew his hand.


    ¡°Then, sleep well. Have a nice dream.¡±


    He smiles and walks out of the room. Ja-kyung blinked slowly and pinched his cheek, wondering if this was all a dream. He returns to his senses by looking at the teacup and the elephant next to it. Is he crazy, and why is he acting this way? It wasn¡¯t good that people suddenly changed; it was scary.


    Perhaps he is listening outside the door. Ja-kyung nervously opened the door, but no one was there. He¡¯s really gone, judging by the fact that he¡¯s not even in the living room. Ja-kyung wondered if Il-hyun had a camera attached to it, but he searched the room and found nothing.


    The aromas of tea and his skin lingered in the room. Ja-kyung sat on the bed, holding the elephant up to his face and staring at it. What are you up to?


    ***


    Ja-kyung is eating dinner earlier than usual, but Kang Il-hyun enters the room after leaving work early. However, the clothes have changed. He was dressed in black which made his face appear more decadent. Ja-kyung gave him a quick glance before turning away while eating dinner. Wang¡¯s brother greeted him as he approached, but Ja-kyung remained silent.


    Il-hyun instructed the house chef not to prepare his dinner tonight, and he quickly left the house after a brief goodbye. Ja-kyung, who was eating, looked in the direction in which he had disappeared. At that time, Wang Lun patted Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t made up?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°But where is he going today? The atmosphere is different from usual.¡±


    The house chef gave Ja-kyung more food and smiled with a slightly sad expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s his Mother¡¯s memorial day..¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was drinking the water, stopped. Unknowingly, his gaze returned to the side where Kang Il-hyun had disappeared. He remembered him talking about his mother. Did he say she went insane and committed suicide? Kang Il-hyun said that she attempted to drown him in water. Everything started when Chairman Kang took her and forced her to marry him against her will. Is this where Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hatred began?


    Ja-kyung hand slowed down. His head was spinning as he remembered his late mother. Choi Moon-seong¡¯s brother younger and Choi Ki-tae¡¯s uncle, whom he killed with his own hands a year ago, was the man he needed to kill in two days. He may have seen him once as a child.


    Even after 15 years, the painful and bad feelings has not faded.


    ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡±


    When Ja-kyung stood up from his meal, the house chef asked him worriedly, if he didn¡¯t have an appetite. He smiled and went upstairs. He packed his gun and knife for the work in two days, double-checked it, and went for a walk to digest.


    The weather remained humid. It had stopped for a while, but the sky was cloudy, and it was about to rain again. The bodyguards greeted him as if they were used to it while he was out for a walk. After a year, the shepherd he had seen before also appeared more dignified. Meanwhile, there were several dogs who looked alike, as if they had become friends.


    After walking moderately, he came inside the house, took a shower, and meditated. He slowly emptied the sundry things in his heart. After an hour or so, he got up. It was already dark outside.


    Looking out the window, Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze was drawn to the swimming pool. Kang Il-hyun, who had disappeared a few hours before on the occasion of his Mother¡¯s memorial day., was sitting on a chair, gazing out at the pool. Raindrops fell from the sky one by one, but he did not move.


    He smoked a few cigarettes before slowly taking off his shoes, jacket, and loosening his tie. Il-hyun walked into the pool when Ja-kyung realized what he was doing. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. He lay down in the pool looking at the sky.


    The figure floating in the water appeared to be as at ease as lying on a bed. Little by little, the raindrops became more intense. In that state, Kang Il-hyun did not even move. Ja-kyung walked away from the window and into bed to lie down. He tried to relax his nerves and fall asleep, but he couldn¡¯t.


    He stood up and returned to the window, but Il-hyun was still floating there like a corpse. Perhaps he was drunk. Who will give them the money if he drowns while doing so? If not¡­ Is it so painful that he wants to die? Why does he appear so pathetic today?


    Ja-kyung wondered if he hadn¡¯t had any energy for a few days because of his Mother¡¯s memorial day.. He is still a human being, so he experiences sadness. Ja-kyung changed his clothes and went downstairs, concerned. Everyone had gone to bed, so the house was quiet, and when he came out, the guards standing guard greeted him.


    He opened his umbrella and walked towards the pool. Patter, patter, the sound of rain was strong. Ja-kyung was already standing in front of the pool. Kang Il-hyun closed his eyes and remained motionless.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Ja-kyung asked but there was no answer


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Il-hyun remained silent. No way, Ja-kyung immediately jumped into the pool and grabbed his arm. Kang Il-hyun then opened his eyes and stood up straight. He raised an eyebrow as he wiped the water from his face. Ja-kyung let out a sigh of relief and spat out a curse.


    ¡°Why are you making that face?¡±


    ¡°What face?¡±


    When he replied bluntly, Kang Il-hyun smiled faintly.


    ¡°Why do you look so scared?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. The answer did not come easily. Did he? No. It was just that without Il-hyun, Ja-kyung has no one to give him money¡­ He made excuses inside his head but couldn¡¯t get them out.


    Just then, the rain poured down. Il-hyun¡¯s large hand shaded Ja-kyung¡¯s head. And with the other hand, he kindly wiped the rainwater from his face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get caught in the rain and go out. You will catch a cold.¡±

 CH 66

    Il-hyun frowned in the humid weather. He noticed the light in Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s room was still on as he crossed the yard. Is he not sleeping? His mouth became itchy after two days of simple greetings, and he can¡¯t stand it any longer. He was dying to see Ja-kyung¡¯s face when he had had enough of his teasing.


    The urge to spread his firm ass open and shove his dick into it boiled over several times a day. He has to be patient. He tried to suppress his craving by chewing on the end of his cigarette. He smoked a few cigarettes while sitting like that, but the desire did not go away but rather flared up.


    Fuck. I can¡¯t. If he entered the house in this state, he would immediately proceed to the second floor and attack Lee Ja-kyung. He took off his shoes and jacket, loosened his tie, and walked into the pool to cool off. He will come to his senses if he soaks in water. When the security guard outside with the dog looked at him, he waved that he was fine, then relaxed and lay down in the pool.


    He couldn¡¯t hear anything because his body floated and his ears were submerged. It¡¯s relaxing. Raindrops began to fall from the sky one by one. It¡¯s like returning to his dead mother¡¯s womb. Long before he was born, his mother discovered she was pregnant for the second time and was devastated.


    Her condition deteriorated beyond all recognition at the time, and she referred to the child in her womb as the devil, beat him with her fist, rolled down the stairs, and later used drugs without his father¡¯s knowledge. Regardless of how difficult his life was, he eventually came out to the world.


    Chairman Kang was elated to have a son, but his mother¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred throughout Il-hyun¡¯s growth. He used to do bizarre things when he was younger, longing for that kind of motherly love. Perhaps this irritated her even more. It got so bad that he blamed himself for being born a human who shouldn¡¯t have been born.


    But not anymore. He had wanted everything since he was born. He wanted to get to the top so he could look down at the world beneath his feet. He needs more power than he currently has to accomplish this.


    The world fell silent when he closed his eyes. Raindrops hit his face. After lying down for a while, someone jumped into the water. Il-hyun opened his eyes and straightened his body. And he couldn¡¯t help but be surprised to see the person in front of him.


    Lee Ja-kyung, who should have been inside the house, entered the pool and stood in the middle of it, holding his arm. Fear flashed through his big eyes.


    ¡°Why are you making that face?¡±


    ¡°What face?¡±


    It was a brusque tone, but Il-hyun instinctively realized that Lee Ja-kyung was worried about him and jumped in. Just in case, he blocked the rain with his hand and carefully wiped his face. He usually hated even the slightest touch and slapped him terribly, but today he is calm.


    Ah, I¡¯ve realized now. What kind of person you are.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get caught in the rain and go out. You will catch a cold.¡±


    He grabbed Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and pulled him out of the pool. He was drenched, and the rain was pouring down heavily. They walked into the house. After roughly wiping off the water with a towel in the closet in front of the entrance, Ja-kyung headed to the second floor. Il-hyun also walked to his room on the first floor without saying anything.


    Ja-kyung came out of the shower, changed his clothes, and brushed his dripping wet hair. The rain that had been falling for a short time had stopped as if it had never happened. When he looked out the window, the pool was completely empty, as if nothing had happened. It¡¯s as if he was being possessed by a ghost.


    Why did he go down there? He went to bed and sat down, regretting his actions, when he heard a knock on the door. Kang Il-hyun appeared as the door opened. With a mug in one hand.


    ¡°May I come in?¡±


    He entered after Ja-kyung nodded. He sat down after placing the teacup on the bedside table. He¡¯d just gotten out of the shower and was dressed in an ink-colored gown, but his wet hair was covering his forehead, making him appear much younger and gentler than usual.


    ¡°Thank you for earlier.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I wasn¡¯t feeling well¡­ You may have heard¡­ Today is my Mother¡¯s memorial day¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought I could see my mother¡¯s face for a moment if I lay there, but you appeared.¡±


    Ja-kyung was at a loss for words for a moment as he stared at Kang Il-hyun, who drew the corner of his mouth and smiled bitterly. Was it because he was really sad? He thought Il-hyun was trash that even dogs wouldn¡¯t bite into because he was a human with no blood or tears. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t believe it and examined his expression. Didn¡¯t he talk about his dead mother before and seek his comfort?


    Kang Il-hyun bit his lower lip and rubbed his face with his hand, avoiding his gaze. Ja-kyung was taken aback as he noticed Il-hyun¡¯s eyes turning slightly red as he returned his gaze. What. What¡¯s wrong with him?


    Ja-kyung was lost and thinking about it, but Kang Il-hyun gave him a strange look.


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung. I have a favor.¡±


    ¡°Tell me¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t I just sleep here for tonight?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I have no other intentions. It¡¯s because I¡¯m afraid of sleeping alone. Actually, I¡¯m only telling you this, but I always have nightmares around this time of year. Of course, you won¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Unbelievable. Rather, Ja-kyung wondered if there were many people who suffer from nightmares because of him. Kang Il-hyun waited for an answer without pressing him. He just blinked his long eyelashes and looked down at his hands resting on his thighs.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes looked up as he notices Ja-kyung¡¯s more determined demeanor than he expected. His eyes were even redder than they had been. Ja-kyung was stunned and at a loss for words. Il-hyun frowned and smiled heartbrokenly.


    ¡°Sorry. I asked for too much.¡±


    He obediently stood up, said good night, and turned around. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip. There¡¯s no need for him to comfort him, no matter how he thinks about it. Then he remembered his childhood. Ja-kyung had nightmares for quite some time after moving to China. Every night, his parents crawled out of the drum and attacked him like demons, asking him to die with them.


    Wang Han visited him on those days and patted him until he fell asleep. Even now, he has that dream on occasion. Even though he knew it was all a dream, he was terrified and always run away, and when he awoke, his entire body was soaked with cold sweat.


    ¡°From the side¡­¡±


    When Ja-kyung spoke, Il-hyun stopped in front of the door.


    ¡°But, sleep away instead. Don¡¯t do anything else.¡±


    He thinks the corners of Il-hyun¡¯s mouth raised slightly as he returned his gaze. Ja-kyung was suspicious, but Il-hyun¡¯s sad expression made him couldn¡¯t argue if he was acting. He can¡¯t possibly be someone who used his dead mother as an excuse, can he?


    Kang Il-hyun climbed onto the bed. The atmosphere was awkward as they lay side by side facing the ceiling. Ja-kyung turned his back on Kang Il-hyun and looked at the other side. This is better. He tried to fall asleep, but he felt warmth on his back.


    He expected this person to be like this. When Ja-kyung turned around to look at him, he noticed saw Kang Il-hyun burying his face by resting his forehead on his back. He crouched like an abandoned baby animal with his large body. He felt strange for a moment because the appearance was so familiar.


    ¡°I¡¯ll borrow your back for today.¡±


    It was a voice that made even the listeners feel sad. His chin stiffened several times as if he was trying to keep a cry from coming out. Ja-kyung let out a small sigh and finally gave up. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s left arm enters the front of Ja-kyung¡¯s chest and hugged him.


    But that was it. He didn¡¯t do anything. An occasional sigh was mixed with the sound of breathing behind his back. Then something hard hit his buttocks, and his body froze when he realized what it was.


    He tried to stand up, but Il-hyun was hugging him so tightly from behind that he couldn¡¯t. He pushed his buttocks forward, but it followed him and poked him again. Unable to bear it, he pulled off his arm and turned over. Their breaths came and went as they faced each other right in front of their noses.


    ¡°Excuse me, Director.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s CEO.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir¡­ You¡¯re sad, but why is your dick hard?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t even go to the bathroom because you¡¯re sad? Are you not eating?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s physiological¡­ It¡¯s separate from my sadness, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    He said it pitifully, so Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t tell him not to mess around. Why did his bangs come down again today, he looked gentler than usual, damn it. While he was swearing inwardly, Il-hyun buried his face in Ja-kyung¡¯s chest.


    He didn¡¯t have the spirit to push him away because it happened so quickly. He was wearing a T-shirt, but it was thin, so his nose bridge was pressed down and he could feel his breath. He pushed against his shoulder, but he didn¡¯t move. Furthermore, Il-hyun¡¯s cheek kept touching the places of his nipple.


    ¡°Wait. Wait for a moment.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push me¡­ I want to be comforted.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung let him go and hugged him before closing his eyes. Instead of his usual skin smell, he smelled like fragrant peaches. It felt like a different person, to the point where he wondered if he was really Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°Sleep well.¡±


    He still said in a sad tone.


    However, Ja-kyung was so distracted by it that he didn¡¯t even notice that the corners of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lips were going up.

 CH 67

    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s thick brows and long eyelashes were in front of Ja-kyung when he opened his eyes. It was unusual to see him so calm. He stood up and looked for a cigarette after withdrawing Il-hyun¡¯s arm from his waist. He turned around with a cigarette on his lips, but Il-hyun, who had already opened his eyes, was smiling sweetly.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    His deep voice seemed to be filled with sadness. He instantly extended his hand to Ja-kyung. Il-hyun laughed as Ja-kyung frowned and shook his head in displeasure.


    ¡°No, cigarettes.¡±


    Damn, Ja-kyung thought he was asking for another hug. He was embarrassed because he felt like he had a strange imagination alone, so he quickly handed him a cigarette and a lighter. Il-hyun got up and lit the cigarette. The front of the gown he was wearing with his slightly tousled hair parted, showing his strong chest muscles.


    His profile as he exhaled long smoke was like a scene from a movie. Compared to Ja-kyung, who had thin lines, Kang Il-hyun had thick features. Ja-kyung was jealous of that. Because he looks much more manly and strong.


    Still, he finished his cigarette bitterly, consoling himself that he had a slightly better personality.


    ¡°What are you doing after work tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, would you like to have dinner? Just the two of us.¡±


    It sounded like a request for a date. Ja-kyung moved his tongue in his mouth, struggling to find the words to say.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to refuse if you don¡¯t like it.¡±


    It was a very gentlemanly tone, and Ja-kyung was very unfamiliar with it. What¡¯s wrong with him since last night? Could it be that he was born as a new person on his mother¡¯s memorial day? Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t get used to having a normal conversation.


    He waited for an answer, and Ja-kyung nodded his head in thought.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll be busy tomorrow, so let¡¯s eat the day after tomorrow. Lunch.¡±


    The corners of Il-hyun¡¯s lips went up. Let¡¯s do that.


    ¡°Then can you go downstairs now? I don¡¯t want to run into my brothers.¡±


    He obediently got out of bed and approached Ja-kyung at his request. Ja-kyung took a cautious step back, and Il-hyun past him and went towards the entrance. He returned his gaze as he grasped the doorknob.


    ¡°Wash up and come down. Let¡¯s have breakfast together.¡±


    He smiled and walked out of the room. Ja-kyung looked at the door through which Il-hyun exited with a confused expression. Is he sincere? No way, even if people change overnight, how can they change so drastically? It¡¯s difficult to call it acting, but it¡¯s also difficult to tell¡­


    Oh, he has absolutely no idea. Ja-kyung eventually went into the bathroom to wash up.


    ***


    Ja-kyung drove to the designated location and looked out the window. The rain didn¡¯t seem to stop, and the weather remained wet and sticky. It was the kind of weather that made him depressed. He wondered if Kang Il-hyun was also affected by the weather, and for several days he behaved like a gentle sheep.


    ¡°I mean CEO Kang. Don¡¯t you think he has changed?¡±


    Wang Han shrugged in response to Wang Lun¡¯s question. Finally, he turned around and asked Ja-kyung, who was sitting in the back seat, but he received no response.


    ¡°Did he really have a crush on Wei?¡±


    Wang Han tapped his arm and told him not to do it as he laughed at the joke. Despite Wang Lun¡¯s teasing, Ja-kyung only looked out the window and remained silent. He noticed a black car following behind them as the car moved.


    They had been sent by Kang Il-hyun. They claimed it was for protection, but they knew better than anyone that the purpose of monitoring was more important, so the three of them pretended not to know. As the car got closer to their destination, all three of them became less talkative.


    The place to work was a club, and getting in was difficult due to the club¡¯s membership system. Kang Il-hyun had gotten him a membership card ahead of time and he decided to use it. The further the car went inside, the more Ja-kyung realized he was on a familiar street.


    It was near the club where he met Kang Seok-joo. The car descended underground under the guidance of the navigation system. After stopping the car, Ja-kyung got out wearing black sunglasses. Ja-kyung entered the club while the two waited.


    Ja-kyung was led by an employee who stood at the front. The path to follow him was a maze. When people arrived at the entrance, the well-built staff checked their identities and searched them. When he handed out his card, a man with the name Chief on his name tag gave him a businesslike smile.


    ¡°Sorry. We are checking the body of all customers to prevent accidents in the future. I¡¯d appreciate it if you could follow it.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled and nodded in response to the polite request. Ja-kyung¡¯s body was soon scanned by the metal detector. He didn¡¯t mind that the clock was ticking. He went inside after making sure there was nothing on him.


    Boom, boom, it felt like the floor was shaking with the sound of the music. Lights flashed from the ceiling, and a topless DJ moved his hands dazzlingly to the beat in the center of the stage. There was a swimming pool next to the dancing people, and there were weed smokers everywhere. It was not much different from the previous club he had visited with Kang Seok-joo.


    Going up to the second floor, a woman playing in the pool finds Ja-kyung and flirts with him with a glass of champagne. Ja-kyung smiled and proceeded upstairs. Young people were rubbing their bodies and whispering in each other ears all over the place.


    According to what he knew in advance, the target secretly distributed drugs and administered them himself in a second-floor room. Prostitution is also practiced in the hotel above the club. Guards were stationed throughout the corridor as he walked. They exchanged radio calls and occasionally glanced at Ja-kyung, but they didn¡¯t do anything in particular.


    Ja-kyung leaned against the railing and looked down. After about twenty minutes, a group of people comes up the stairs. Ja-kyung checked them out by moving only his eyes while wearing sunglasses. Choi Man-sik was here.


    His shaved head was covered in tattoos all the way up to his neck, and his face was clearly marked with knife cuts. They walked past Ja-kyung and into the room where the last guard was stationed. Someone tapped him on the shoulder as his eyes paused for a moment. His eyes widened as he turned back. It was Kang Seok-joo.


    Kang Seok-joo was also surprised and hugged him as if he was happy.


    ¡°Wow! Damn it! It¡¯s been a long time! I didn¡¯t think I¡¯m wrong but you¡¯re Yi An, right?¡±


    Ja-kyung put his sunglasses on the tip of his nose and smiled awkwardly after barely shoving him off. Ah, why is he here¡­ The scent of alcohol emanated from him. A year has passed, and he has not changed. He motioned with his hands for his group to go first, and they soon disappeared as they entered the room.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a really long time. When did you come? Why didn¡¯t you contact me when you came? I thought you were a different person because you took off your glasses.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Actually, I came secretly without telling the family. I¡¯d like you to keep it a secret too.¡±


    He tapped Ja-kyung¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Don¡¯t you know the news?¡±


    Kang Seok-joo, who thought he would go soon, asked excitedly if he knew what had happened. On the day Ja-kyung left, he learned that Kang Il-hyun had been shot at the inauguration ceremony. He didn¡¯t know who the culprit was, but he cursed harshly, saying that his shooting skills were mediocre that he should have shot his head, and that Il-hyun only survived because he only shot his thigh. Ja-kyung smiled bitterly. My skills are mediocre.


    Ja-kyung wanted him to stop, but he didn¡¯t think Seok-joo would let him go because he had so much to say. The cell phone in his pocket rang just then. Ja-kyung checked and his eyes widened. It was under the name bastard.


    ¡°Sorry. I have to answer the phone.¡±


    Seok-joo invited him to come over if he was bored and pointed to the room where he was staying. After a rough nod, Ja-kyung answered the phone. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s voice could be heard on the other side.


    [Are you working?]


    Normally, he would have been annoyed, but now that Il-hyun had saved him from Kang Seok-joo, he was relieved.


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    [I called because I had a question.]


    ¡°Say it.¡±


    [What kind of flowers do you like?]


    Ja-kyung wondered if he heard it wrong. He suddenly called and asked what kind of flowers he liked. He noticed Choi Man-shik walking from a distance while wondering what Il-hyun intention was. Ja-kyung slowly turned away. When there was no response, Il-hyun asked again.


    ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    He followed Choi Man-sik. While walking on the phone, he noticed him going into the bathroom and hung up the phone. He entered the bathroom and shut the door. Ja-kyung was unable to locate him. As he went through the compartments one by one, he heard a voice from the last one.


    He went into the compartment next to him, rolled up his shirt, and untied the cord he had wrapped around his abdomen. The cord had already been knotted, as was the case with the execution of death row prisoners. His voice raised as Ja-kyung carefully stepped onto the toilet.


    ¡°Fuck. Then you should have paid more. Anyway, the Russians have no conscience. Where are you going to eat for free!¡±


    Ja-kyung wrapped the rope around Choi Man-shik¡¯s neck at the same time. Surprised, he looked up, and Ja-kyung jumped down the toilet, lowered himself, and quickly pulled the rope. Kheuk, kheuk, kheuk, a groan of pain came from the other side,


    Ja-kyung gritted his teeth and quickly wrapped the rope around his arm, further tightening the man¡¯s neck. It is difficult to struggle due to its large size. The rope was pulled taut as if it would snap, and the partition shook as they struggled. The rope suddenly loosened, and bang! The sound of a door being kicked open could be heard.


    Ja-kyung hurried out after confirming the cut rope. Fuck. Choi Man-sik, who had been in the next compartment, was holding a knife in one hand and untangling the rope around his neck. Tsk. Ja-kyung clicked his tongue and took a few steps back.


    Choi Man-sik attacked him with reddened eyes and an evil face at that moment.


    ¡°You fucking bastard!¡±

 CH 68

    Hiss. Whoosh, the knife flew at him, ready to stab his throat. Ja-kyung took a step back and gradually distanced himself from Choi Man-shik. Then he quietly took off his sunglasses and placed them on the sink.


    ¡°Who sent you! Fuck, is it President Park? Or President Kim?¡±


    You also have a lot of people that wanted your life. When Ja-kyung didn¡¯t respond, he grabbed the knife and charged at him. Ja-kyung grabbed both of his wrists, bending them completely backward, and pushed Choi Man-shik with his body. His body slammed against the bathroom wall, and the knife he was holding fell to the floor.


    He quickly kicked it away and ducked to avoid the flying fist. Ja-kyung stuck his fist fiercely under his chin while Choi Man-shik¡¯s eyes were chasing the knife. Choi Man-shik¡¯s face swung around with a crackling sound.


    Choi Man-shik raised his fist this time. It was slow, but at first glance, it appeared to be as hard as stone and capable of making him faint if struck. After quickly defending and blocking, Ja-kyung kicked the wall and jumped into the air, then hit Choi Man-shik in the face with his knee.


    Choi Man-shik stumbled backward after that hit, and he kicked him right away, knocking him over.


    He shook his head and staggered to his feet with blood pouring from his nose.


    ¡°You little bastard! Without fear!¡±


    Choi Man-shik charged again, like a horned bull. Choi Man-shik hit him in the face while they were exchanging fists. As expected, the sensation of hitting is extremely strong. His eyes turned red in the front. Fuck. It was obvious that if he dragged it out for too long, he would be at a disadvantage. Ja-kyung grinned as he licked the corner of his mouth with his tongue.


    ¡°You smiled? I will make today your memorial day.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what your brother said.¡±


    Choi Man-shik¡¯s eyes shook.


    ¡°So did your nephew.¡±


    Anger flared up in his eyes.


    ¡°You are that fucking bastard!¡±


    The enraged Choi Man-shik rushed at Ja-kyung. After all, if he excites his opponent in a fight, it becomes a flaw. Kang Il-hyun is the person who makes the best use of this. He was truly the best in the universe in terms of being able to irritate people.


    Avoiding the rushing Choi Man-shik, he quickly took out the cut rope from his waist and put it around his neck, and moved behind his back. Choi Man-shik was strangled and tried to pull out the rope in an instant, and Ja-kyung poured all of his strength into strangling Choi Man-shik and pinning him to the floor.


    He grabbed the vase next to him and hit him in the back of the head as soon as he fell face down on the floor. The vase was shattered, and Choi Man-shik couldn¡¯t get up easily because of the shock. Ja-kyung climbed on his back, pressed his knees against his body, tightened the rope as much as he could, and waited for his breathing to stop.


    The large body trembled.


    ¡°Cough¡­cough!¡±


    He tapped his palms on the floor like a wrestler. However, Ja-kyung did not loosen his grip. Choi Man-shik¡¯s body drooped like wet laundry as the intense movement subsided. Someone knocked on the bathroom door, and people¡¯s voices could be heard.


    Ja-kyung dragged Choi Man-shik into an empty bathroom after confirming that he had stopped breathing. As expected, he¡¯s heavy. He picked up the dropped knife, put on the sunglasses he¡¯d left on the sink, and opened the door. There were two men in the gap glared at Ja-kyung with stern faces, but when they noticed blood stains on his clothes, they hesitated and backed away.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    He came out after asking for a way. However, as he walks downstairs, people who appear to be Choi Man-shik¡¯s subordinates rush toward the bathroom.


    Others appeared to be too preoccupied with dancing to notice what was going on. Ja-kyung walked leisurely toward the doorway. The bodyguard in front of him was talking with someone over the in-ear, then approached him with a grim expression and pulled a gun from his waist.


    Ja-kyung raised both hands to shoulder height. The guests around them were in uproar. Ja-kyung extended his hand to the approaching guard to inform him that there was nothing there. As soon as the guard¡¯s gaze reached his hand, Ja-kyung grabbed the gun, pulled it toward the ceiling, and removed the magazine. Although the trigger was pulled, no bullet was fired.


    Ja-kyung pulled Choi Man-shik¡¯s knife from his waist and thrust it into the man¡¯s neck, slicing it with a single stroke. The guests at the entrance screamed and scattered as blood spurted out. Ja-kyung snatched the gun from the fallen man¡¯s grasp and inserted the magazine.


    Choi Man-shik¡¯s men were running down the stairs in groups, as he looked back. Ja-kyung pulled a fire extinguisher from a nearby fire hydrant, rolled it into the club, and fired a bullet. Powder spewed from the fire extinguisher, and the club became a mess. Sparks flew when he shot the lantern hanging from the ceiling.


    People screamed and ran, and the men who had come down from the second floor to check on Choi Man-shik¡¯s body were caught in the gap. Ja-kyung returned his attention to the doorway. He saw the parking lot lights and sped up and ran toward the car the moment he stepped outside. Soon after, Choi Man-shik¡¯s men discovered Ja-kyung and fired their guns indiscriminately.


    Bang, bang, bang, he lowered his body and ran, using the parked cars as a shield, then opened the back door and got on at once. As soon as the door was closed, Wang Han looked back at Ja-kyung to make sure that there were no injuries, and Wang Lun hurriedly stepped on the accelerator. Screech, the car makes a half turn and accelerates towards the parking lot entrance.


    Bang, bang, bang, bullets flew in but were unable to penetrate the bulletproof glass. Several cars followed them as soon as they get on the road. There were a lot of cars because it was in the middle of the city, and it seemed like they¡¯d get caught if they went like this.


    ¡°My heart is beating like crazy?¡±


    Wang Lun laughed, and Wang Han slapped his arm, telling him not to be silly and to concentrate on driving. He was juggling and turned left ignoring the traffic light. Because a truck was approaching from the front, they could be crushed.


    Tiiiiiiin- Wang Lun didn¡¯t slow down despite the ear-piercing sound of the horn and immediately turned left and went into the alley. As his body leaned, Wang Lun grabbed the handle next to him and cursed, and Ja-kyung looked back and checked the vehicle.


    Unsurprisingly, Choi Man-shik¡¯s men followed them until they reach the alley. Wang Han gestured. Turn right, then left. Wang Lun skillfully turned the steering wheel right and left in response to his signal. After running through the complicated alleys lined with motels, chasing after them, and passing the car, Wang Lun slowed down in front of a motel and entered quickly.


    They looked outside with bated breath as they turned off the engine. After a while, a line of black cars passes under the long stretched tent at the entrance. It wasn¡¯t just one or two car. When there were no more cars passing by, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back at the same time.


    Wang Lun then got out of the car and changed the license plate. Ja-kyung¡¯s phone rang just then. It was the phone call Kang Il-hyun had given him as a gift. As soon as he received it, he heard Park Tae-soo¡¯s voice.


    [Are you okay?]


    I¡¯ve already received a report. Be quick.


    ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m hiding in the parking lot right now. Sorry. I tried to solve it quietly, but things got bigger.¡±


    [Our staff is waiting nearby. I¡¯ll contact you when it calms down, so stay there for now.]


    Tae-soo hung up after telling him about the business. They got out of the car, went into the motel, paid for their stay, and went up to the top floor after they got the key. The wallpaper in the old motel was colorful while the sofa and the duvet was red.


    Ja-kyung peered out the window after closing all the curtains. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s black car was parked far away from the motel, and several of the cars chasing after them returned and circled the same spot several times. His phone rang again as he closed the curtains.


    Ja-kyung hesitated at the word that said ¡°bastard.¡± He took a deep breath and answered the phone casually.


    [It¡¯s me.]


    ¡°Yes. I know.¡±


    [Are you okay?]


    ¡°No. As you may have heard, things have gone a little wrong.¡±


    [I¡¯m asking if you¡¯re hurt.]


    Ja-kyung felt strange when he heard his voice asking how he was. He alternated between looking at Wang Lun and Wang Han. Wang Han may not realize it, but Wang Lun has the eyes of a hungry hyena. It was inevitable that they would relate to it and make fun of it. He crept into the bathroom and shut the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. However, I don¡¯t think I can go out now because Choi Man-shik¡¯s men are outside.¡±


    [Shall I pick you up?]


    Ja-kyung frowned.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you advertise that you are here?¡±


    Ja-kyung could hear him laugh softly. Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t say anything else, but Ja-kyung could tell he was genuinely worried. He hated that, and Ja-kyung wanted to hang up the phone quickly. Then Il-hyun asks the same question again.


    [I didn¡¯t hear the answer. I wonder what kind of flower you like.]


    Ja-kyung thought for a moment. Then he remembered that Il-hyun gave him a rose as a gift when they first met. He didn¡¯t know a lot about flowers and didn¡¯t want to waste time, so he said it was a rose.


    He received a photo after hanging up the phone from Il-hyun. A bouquet of roses in a vase next to his bed. There was no message to be found. Perhaps he bought it himself? After staring at the flower in the picture, he deleted it and came out.


    The room is completely empty. He heard a noise in front of the door and approached, placing the gun on the table behind his back. When the door was opened, Wang Lun and Wang Han enter with their hands full of luggage.


    ¡°Are you done talking?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°That bastards are still running around outside.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s rest and go back in the morning.¡±


    ¡°That would be better. Han hyung. Play some music.¡±


    They exchanged meaningful glances for a split second. Wang Han turned up the music, and Wang Lun walked into the motel closet. There was a large bag that someone had previously placed there, as well as new clothes and shoes. When he opened the bag they took from the car, it contained money rather than a weapon.


    Wang Lun took out the money bundles one by one, inspecting them before placing them in a black bag. Ja-kyung sat beside him and helped him as well. They all remained silent as if they had made a promise. It was just quietly putting money in it.

 CH 69

    Knock Knock Knock, Il-hyun woke up to the sound of knocking, which had disturbed his sleep. He stood up and looked at the clock by his bedside. The large letters indicated that it was 6:00 a.m. He got out of bed and walked to the front door. Park Tae-soo is standing there as he opened the door.


    His expression was similar to the day when Il-hyun collapsed after being shot during the inauguration ceremony a year ago. What made him so agitated when he was always expressionless? Il-hyun could tell something had gone wrong right away. Tae-soo lowered his head with an apologetic face.


    ¡°I think you should go outside and see.¡±


    Il-hyun was dressed in a black gown that covered his bare upper body. When he went downstairs with Tae-soo, the house chef, who hadn¡¯t slept all morning, came out of the kitchen and looked at him with worry. Il-hyun walked out the front door, leaving her behind.


    Employees who had been standing guard all night had gathered, and a car caught his eye. It was the same car Lee Ja-kyung rode out to work yesterday. The car¡¯s body and glass have been remodeled to make it impenetrable to most bullets. There are three men with their hands behind their backs next to it, including Park Seong-soo, who was following Ja-kyung and his brothers last night.


    They looked at Il-hyun and bowed deeply.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. It¡¯s our negligence. I didn¡¯t even check who was in the car because I trusted the GPS. I will gladly accept any punishment.¡±


    They were prepared to commit seppuku if given an order. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze moved to the side. The man he had never seen before was kneeling on the floor and sobbing. When one of the staff stood him up, he turned pale and shook his head.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything! They asked me to drive the car here. That¡¯s all. Help me!¡±


    In an unusual atmosphere, the man kneels on the floor and cried. In front of him was a bundle of money, which appeared to have been given to him by Lee Ja-kyung. Il-hyun moved slowly to the trunk. The rear window has visible bullet marks. He bumped it violently last night, he could tell without checking.


    ¡°Open it.¡±


    One of his subordinates quickly opens the trunk when he heard Il-hyun¡¯s cold voice. There were loads of clothes, shoes, and firearms they were wearing. Il-hyun kept his mouth shut and reached into his pocket for his cell phone.


    When he dialed Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s number, [Honey] appeared on his phone¡¯s screen. A vibration was heard near the trunk¡¯s corner. Tae-soo quickly took it out. Park Tae-soo, who was looking at the screen, hesitated for a moment. Il-hyun held out his hand, and Tae-soo handed it to him.


    Il-hyun smiled as he looked at Lee Jakyung¡¯s cell phone in his hand.


    [Bastard]


    A burst of laughter broke out. It¡¯s even more amazing when he put it side by side with his cell phone. Honey and the Bastard. Doesn¡¯t it clearly show what the relationship between the two is like and how vain delusion he was alone?


    He thought Lee Ja-kyung didn¡¯t sign a contract with him was just a bluff. He mistakenly thought he had performed half of it by the time he visited a flower shop he had never visited before, chose a flower that would suit him for a long time, and returned home with it.


    He made a reservation at a restaurant he didn¡¯t usually visit in anticipation of having lunch together during the day. There would not be such a fool. Tae-soo as the leader came to the side with his eyes closed.


    ¡°I ordered to check all CCTVs nearby. They wouldn¡¯t have gone far. I will definitely find them.¡±


    When Il-hyun opened his eyes, they glowed like poisonous snake. He smoked after he lit a cigarette. He just stared at the car in which Lee Ja-kyung was riding, his mouth shut tight enough to burn all the cigarettes. Even the air around him was cold.


    Il-hyun called Tae-soo after rubbing out the finished cigarette. His voice was frighteningly calm in comparison to his cold face.


    ¡°Block both airports and ports. Find them somehow before leaving Korea.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he threw Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s cell phone into the trunk. After that, Il-hyun disappeared into the house as if nothing had happened. The three men who had been tailing him closed their eyes tightly and let out a sigh of relief.


    Tae-soo ordered them to release the man they had dragged along and gave them orders in turn.


    ***


    The two-hour boat ride arrived at an island far from the mainland. As soon as the boat reached the shore, the three men, Ja-kyung, Wang Han, and Wang Lun, took turns carrying the luggage from the boat. After moving all the luggage, Wang Han handed a bundle of money to the elderly captain.


    As the ship sailed away, the three of them started looking around the island. Ja-kyung wearing a hat pressed down on his forehead frowned. He expected a lot because it was an island, but the surrounding area is littered with garbage washed up from the sea. Starting with basins, there were various types of nets, boots, drink bottles, and waste oil containers.


    An island is an island, but this is a garbage island.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move our luggage first.¡±


    They walked into the grass, carrying the money and provisions they had brought with them on their shoulders and hands. There were no roads in the densely wooded forest, most likely because no one had visited in the meantime. A small cabin appears after about ten minutes of walking through the thigh-high grass.


    Despite its small size, it was capable of withstanding moderate rain and wind. When the door is opened, dust falls from behind with the old metal sound. This long-vacated place was said to be a place where Wang Lun¡¯s acquaintances used to make drugs away from people¡¯s eyes a long time ago.


    He was shot dead a long time ago, but Wang Lun remembered the place he had only visited once ten years ago. Heaps of dust all over the place seemed to tell the story of the past. Wang Han opened the door and window to ventilate after placing the bags in one place. They weren¡¯t planning on staying long, but they wanted to clean it up while they were here.


    As Ja-kyung looked around the house, Wang Lun tapped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Finally, your wish came true. How do you feel? You wanted to live on an island.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his arm. This is an uninhabited island, not an island. There was no fire or electricity, and he couldn¡¯t get anywhere without a boat. He brushed off the dust on the table with his hand. It would be better if he cleaned it.


    ¡°By the way, about that captain. Is he trustworthy?¡±


    ¡°He is famous for his heavy mouth. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t forget me.¡±


    Wang Han chuckled.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a look you¡¯ll easily forget.¡±


    ¡°So do you hyung. Don¡¯t forget that the two of us look alike.¡±


    ¡°Wei. You tell me Which one of us is better?¡±


    At Wang Han¡¯s words, Ja-kyung pointed at Wang Han without hesitation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie. You are definitely on hyung side!¡±


    Wang Lun approached and tried to choke Wang Han, so Ja-kyung kicked him in the buttocks to stop him. Wang Han smiled and tidied up his luggage while the two argued. He intended to stay here for a while until things calmed down before departing for another country. Wang Lun¡¯s girlfriend left the country in advance and went into hiding, and the three of them have no plans to return to Korea.


    Ja-kyung pulled out the dusty items and brushed them clean. How did so many things in such a small space? The dust rises when he hit it with a wooden stick. At this rate, he¡¯ll die of lung disease.


    It was much better after the three of them worked together to clean up. Although it was not a hotel, they will be able to sleep comfortably for the time being. Ja-kyung come out of the cabin after cleaning and took a look around. Because it was all green, his eyes felt fresh.


    Then, he thought of Kang Il-hyun without realizing it. Perhaps he expected Ja-kyung to run away. He never imagined it would happen so soon after completing his first job. Il-hyun must be looking for him now with his eyes wide open as he grinds his teeth.


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t feel sorry at all. However, Kang Il-hyun is also to blame for kidnapping him from his decent life and even forcing him to sign a contract.


    He smoked a cigarette and looked up at the sky. He didn¡¯t realize it because he was so busy, but the sunset was stunning when he looked up at the sky.


    ¡°Hyung. Come out.¡±


    As he shouted inside, Wang Han came out and looked out. Soon after, Wang Lun comes out. As the sun set, the three of them stood side by side, smoking cigarettes and staring at the sky. Everything is peaceful. It¡¯s not as bad as they thought.


    Were they having the same thoughts at the same time? The corner of their mouth, where they had been smoking, rises in the same way. They weren¡¯t sure if they¡¯d have to stay for a few days, but it didn¡¯t seem as bad as they thought. Think of it as a vacation after a long time. They went inside to prepare dinner after they finished smoking.


    Even though they cooked instant food on a portable gas burner, it tasted pretty good. The night grew late as they enjoyed a drink and talked. When Ja-kyung came out, it was as if the stars were pouring down. He had been staring at the sky for a while when Wang Han, whom he thought was sleeping, opened the door and came out.


    When Ja-kyung turned around, he handed him a cigarette.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡±


    ¡°Just because. The stars are pretty, and the night air is nice.¡±


    Wang Han smiled as they both looked up at the sky. It¡¯s beautiful. Suddenly, a loud snoring could be heard from inside the cabin. They exchanged glances, sighed, and shook their heads. Once Wang Lun fell asleep, he didn¡¯t even know if he was carried, and his snoring was so bad that kicking him was the only option.


    ¡°I¡¯m done sleeping tonight.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Wang Han looks at Ja-kyung as he smiles. There was a lot of meaning in his eyes. It had affection and worries.


    ¡°Wei.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°It just¡­ I thought you might regret it.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned as he realized the meaning of the word. Wang Han tapped Ja-kyung on the shoulder and went inside after he asked if that couldn¡¯t be the case, and Ja-kyung answered yes. Ja-kyung, who had been left alone, stood there disapprovingly. It¡¯s absurd. He was relieved when he flew away from that human¡­


    Wang Han knew him, but he didn¡¯t know much about him.

 CH 70

    T/W: Torture/Bloody Scene


    Tuk, tuk, tuk, the knife¡¯s tip frequently hit against the table¡¯s edge. A man with permed hair sat in front of him, his hands tied with ropes, his face covered in blood, and his mouth covered with tape.


    Il-hyun rubbed the knife between his fingers once before pressing it hard against the man¡¯s neck. The man¡¯s throat vein bulged, and an uh, uh, sound came from his blocked mouth. Tae-soo took the tape off of the man¡¯s mouth.


    The knife¡¯s slid-down tip slashed the man¡¯s thigh at once. Aargh. A tearful scream rang out throughout the room. When the knife was pulled out, blood gushed out. Il-hyun smiled as he inserted his finger into the open wound.


    Aaaaaaah! The man screamed and shook his body. Il-hyun wiped his bloody hands on a towel and made eye contact with the man.


    ¡°To be honest, there is no need to make each other tired. Don¡¯t you think so, CEO Kim?¡±


    The man shook his chin in pain. The man known as CEO Kim was paid to stow away and forge passports, but no one in this world was unaware. Il-hyun knew that the man was involved in Lee Ja-kyung and Wang Lun¡¯s stowaway last year.


    ¡°Really, I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know anything¡­¡±


    Tsk. Il-hyun clicked his tongue and held out his hand toward Tae-soo. He handed over the iron tongs, and the two men grabbed and pressed the man¡¯s shoulders. The man¡¯s eyes widened. Il-hyun grabbed and pressed his chin. The strong grip caused his jaw to open on its own, resulting in a scream.


    Il-hyun inserted the tongs, grabbed his tongue, and smiled coldly.


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t seem to want to talk about it, I¡¯ll have to make it impossible for the rest of my life.¡±


    The man shook his head as Il-hyun brought a bloody knife to cut his tongue. The subordinates behind him immediately grabbed the man¡¯s face and fixed him. Il-hyun smiled coldly as he put the knife right in front of the man¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Shh. I won¡¯t pull out your tongue. Instead, I¡¯ll cut it in half so you can still taste the food.¡±


    The man moved his tongue as soon as Il-hyun smiled and placed the knife on his tongue. Il-hyun couldn¡¯t understand, but the man tried to say something. Il-hyun let go of his chin and looked the terrified man in the eyes.


    ¡°Are you ready to speak now?¡±


    The man¡¯s eyes turned red. The man pondered for a while, but soon lowered his head as if he had given up, sighed, and muttered to himself.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the details¡­¡±


    As soon as Il-hyun gave the order to hold him again, the man shook his head and shouted.


    ¡°Jeonnam, they asked me to find a boat to Jeonnam! That¡¯s it! Believe me! I wouldn¡¯t lie!¡±


    ¡°Jeonnam?¡±


    It¡¯s an unexpected place. What¡¯s there to take the boat¡­ He turned his eyes and looked at Tae-soo while thinking. He once said that he trained for a while on an uninhabited island nearby during his active career. It¡¯s the area with the most islands in Korea, so even if he moved from place to place, he won¡¯t be able to find them for a while.


    Tae-soo nodded slightly, probably thinking the same thing.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Use anything that can float, be it a boat or a helicopter.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Il-hyun threw the knife he was holding onto the floor and laughed. Haha, fuck. Was it an island where you barely escaped? It was ridiculous.


    Yes, my darling. Enjoy your freedom to the fullest.


    Because this bastard will come to see you soon.


    ***


    ¡°Oh my God. There are tons of things to eat.¡±


    Wang Lun looked at the captured goat as he trimmed it with a knife. He¡¯s been hunting a black goat in the upper part of the island since the morning. Wang Lun would live the longest regardless of which place of the three was thrown as he perfectly adapted in two days.


    Ja-kyung went to his side and placed the cuts of goat meat on a wooden skewer, made a support for it, and set it aside. There was no direct fire, but he could smell the sizzling meat after a while.


    They ate instant noodles until now, so his mouth watered when he saw the meat. Ja-kyung swallowed his saliva and eagerly made a skewer.


    ¡°We¡¯ll live here for a month instead of ten days?¡±


    Wang Lun asked, and Ja-kyung also agreed to some extent. It wasn¡¯t as bad as he thought except for a lot of mosquito bites. He stood up and watched the waves come and go, but a little further away from a rock crevice Wang Han sharpens a stick to catch fish.


    The goat meat takes time to fully cook. Ja-kyung submerged himself in the water. Despite the fact that he had only walked in for a few moments, he was suddenly submerged up to his waist. He went down to the bottom after submerging and looking for something to eat.


    There wasn¡¯t a single clam in sight. When he raised his face above the water, the waves washed over him. He was floating around on his back as he thought of Kang Il-hyun. He was lying like this at the pool a few days ago.


    Was he really sad?


    Ah, but why did he come all the way here just to think about that person? He went repeatedly into the water to calm down and come out. He saw a fish and reached out to catch it, but he couldn¡¯t. He eventually gave up and came out of the water.


    Wang Lun shook the vodka as he sat in front of the fire.


    ¡°Wei. Come quickly. The meat is slowly starting to cook.¡±


    Wang Han, who had gone fishing had returned before he knew it. He didn¡¯t have high expectations, but there were two octopuses in the bucket. He looked up in surprise. Ja-kyung filled an empty bucket with water, placed the octopus inside, and set it on fire.


    The octopus, which was struggling to crawl out of the barrel, quickly fell silent. The delicious aroma was permeating the air, and he felt good at the same time.


    ¡°I like it here. Shall I set up our honeymoon here?¡±


    At Wang Lun¡¯s words, Wang Han teased him, saying that his wife would really like him. The three laughed as they lifted each stick with the cooked meat. Wang Lun poured vodka into a glass, took a bite of the meat, and frowned. Ja-kyung also tasted the meat and made a subtle expression.


    ¡°It feels like chewing on a tire¡­¡±


    ¡°Why. The more you chew, the tastier it gets.¡±


    ¡°Then would you like to eat mine too?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m already full.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather hunt birds.¡±


    ¡°Good idea. There was a long rifle in the cabin. It¡¯s old and rusty, but I think it can be used if I put oil on it.¡±


    ¡°By the way, seeing the three of us sitting like this reminds me of the past. I mean when we were young.¡±


    Wang Lun brought up a story about their childhood, and Wang Han and Ja-kyung were also immersed in old memories for a while. They were full and relaxed after drinking and eating meat and later sharing octopus. The sun was setting over the horizon, and the sky had turned red.


    Wang Lun stood up, stretched, and watched the sunset.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful scenery no matter how you look at it.¡±


    Ja-kyung and Wang Han had the same idea. Just then, a helicopter flies in the distance. Wang Lun lit a cigarette and waved both arms at the helicopter.


    ¡°Save me! There are people here!¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was drunk, took a step back and laughed at the ridiculous appearance. Wang Lun looked back.


    ¡°Why would people be trapped on an island like this?¡±


    He waved his hands while jumping up and down with his big body. Wang Han told him to stop, but he didn¡¯t listen. But for some reason, the helicopter that was flying turned around and came their way.


    Wang Han hardened his expression.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it. It¡¯s really coming.¡±


    Wang Lun laughed and motioned for the helicopter to go back.


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t come. We¡¯re here to play. Go away.¡±


    But the helicopter is indifferent and continues to approach. Ja-kyung, who was mumbling while holding the octopus leg in his mouth, also hardened his face. The three gradually fell silent as the helicopter approached. At first glance, it did not appear to be a military or police helicopter.


    The helicopter approached and lowered its altitude. When Ja-kyung and Wang Han realized something was wrong, they stood up. The helicopter then turns sideways. It¡¯s most likely returning. The moment they feel relieved, the helicopter door opens.


    Suddenly, Ja-kyung dropped the octopus leg he was holding in his mouth to the ground.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ What is that.¡±


    Wang Lun, who was at the front, stepped back with an expression as if he had seen a ghost. Someone was pointing a sniper rifle at them in front of the open helicopter door. The waves ripple and the wind blow hard as the helicopter descends. Without even time to think, bullets rained down on the sand, and Wang Lun looked back and screamed.


    ¡°We¡¯re screwed! Run!¡±


    The three of them ran frantically towards the forest at the same time.


    Bang bang bang.


    Bang-, the gunfire that shook the island rendered Ja-kyung speechless. If he was not mistaken, that must be Kang Il-hyun. Why is he here? How did he find them after only three days since they ran away? He run into the cabin and gasp for breath when he heard the sound of a helicopter overhead.


    He quickly searched inside and pulled out a long hunting rifle. It appeared to be old and hopeless. When he pulled the lever to test it, it moved without difficulty. Thud, something falls on top of the cabin as he searched for bullets.


    The eyes of the three moved to the ceiling. Thud, thud, thud, it sounded again like the sound of a large acorn falling and rolling across the roof. The three people who realized what it was at the same time ran out the door.


    They couldn¡¯t even take a few steps when they heard a huge explosion from behind them, and the cabin was blown away. They got out safely, but the shock of the explosion knocked them out and they rolled on the ground. Ja-kyung, who was barely awake, attempted to stand up on the ground.


    He checked on Wang Lun and Wang Han, but they also rolled around without coming to their senses. His eyes were spinning and he could hear ringing in his ears. He shook his head. He needs to calm down and get out. Someone was walking around with a rifle in his blurry vision.


    Even on an island like this, Kang Il-hyun looks great in his suit and hair. Il-hyun swung his gun as soon as Ja-kyung clenched his fist to fight back. Slam, Ja-kyung lost consciousness as a result of the shock to the head.

 CH 71

    T/W: Non Consensual/R*pe


    Ja-kyung, who had regained consciousness, tried to open his eyes, but it was difficult. He got a shiver down his spine. In the meantime, there was a pleasant, fishy smell and loud voices.


    [He has a lot of scars on his body. Will it be okay?]


    [Yes. It must be difficult, but please do it today.]


    [I¡¯m also new to doing this to people¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can do it well.]


    [I¡¯ll give you any amount of money. Ah, take out his eyes and give them to me.]


    Ja-kyung could tell that it was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s voice without listening to it anymore. He lifted his heavy eyelids, but his vision seemed blurry, but it gradually became clearer. He slowly turned his head and saw Kang Il-hyun¡¯s back.


    Next to him stood a white-haired man whom he had never seen before. He tried to move his hands and feet, but they were fixed on top of each other and he couldn¡¯t budge. He couldn¡¯t speak because his mouth was covered with tape. Ja-kyung moved his head and looked around.


    Seeing all of the preserved animals, such as wild boars, deer, hawks, rabbits, and more, made the back of his neck feel cold. He lowered his gaze, only to realize he was lying on the operating table, wearing only one pair of underwear.


    Kang Il-hyun, who was a little further away, turned around and smiled kindly as he confirmed Ja-kyung had awoken.


    ¡°My dear, are you awake?¡±


    His mouth was smiling as he approached, but his eyes were ice cold. Ja-kyung tried to speak, but the tape covered his mouth, and he could only make muffled noises. The old man with Il-hyun approached and smiled at him. The old man looked Ja-kyung in the eyes and made a joke about admiration.


    ¡°There was a reason why you asked me to take care of his eyes separately. These are rare beautiful eyes.¡±


    Ja-kyung pulled on his tied arms as hard as he could, lifted his head, and slammed it down on the operating table. Il-hyun, who had been standing nearby, approached and stroked Ja-kyung¡¯s hair gently.


    ¡°Shh. You¡¯re a good boy, right? It will be over soon.¡±


    The friendly voice gave him goosebumps. The preserved animals around him, as well as the conversations Il-hyun had with the old man. Ja-kyung now fully comprehends what this lunatic is trying to do. Ja-kyung made as much noise as he could. If he did, he might actually preserve him and put him in the middle of the bedroom. In addition, Il-hyun will pluck out Ja-kyung¡¯s eyeballs and display them next to him.


    ¡°I see this friend has a lot to say to you?¡±


    When the old man spoke, Il-hyun took out a cigarette and asked.


    ¡°Let him be. He¡¯s always lying when he opens his mouth anyway.¡±


    Eup! Eupeupeup! As Ja-kyung kept making noise, Il-hyun looked down with a nonchalant face and removed the tape from his mouth. As soon as the tape was removed, Ja-kyung shouted.


    ¡°You crazy bastard,¡±


    His mouth was sealed with tape again before he finished talking. He gritted his teeth and glared at him, but Kang Il-hyun lit a cigarette and just stared at him without saying a word.


    ¡°Shall we start now?¡±


    Ja-kyung screamed as if in a fit when he heard the old man¡¯s words. Because his head was the only part that could move, Il-hyun placed his hand inside the back of his head on the operating table. Ja-kyung stopped and stared at Kang Il-hyun. He tossed the cigarette to the floor, stepped on it, and looked Ja-kyung in the eyes.


    ¡°This is your last chance.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Think carefully. What do I want to hear now?¡±


    Il-hyun slowly removed the tape. Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut.


    ¡°You have nothing to say?¡±


    Il-hyun tried to put the tape on again, and Ja-kyung hurriedly opened his mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ wrong¡­! I won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    He turned his head in an attempt to get away from the situation, but he was unsure of the response Il-hyun wanted. Ja-kyung shouted, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know,¡± as Il-hyun attempted to attach the tape again.


    ¡°I like you!¡±


    One of Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows went up.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Ja-kyung pursed his lips. He must live. There¡¯s no other way to live.


    ¡°I do. I really like you. I thought I ran away for nothing. I thought a lot about whether I should go back.¡±


    ¡°You hated having sex with me.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head.


    ¡°No. I really liked it. I¡¯ve never had such ecstatic sex in my life! Trust me!¡±


    Confidence and nonsense are now the priorities to live. Ja-kyung made up nonsensical words in order to please him as much as possible. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s scary expression gradually loosened when Ja-kyung said he thought about it 12 times a day.


    Il-hyun called the elderly man who was getting ready to work nearby and told him to leave for a moment. Il-hyun runs his hands from head to toe over Ja-kyung¡¯s body after the old man left and they were left alone. Il-hyun first carefully touched Ja-kyung¡¯s abdomen before moving his fingertips up to his chest as if sketching a portrait.


    Ja-kyung tensed unintentionally as Il-hyun caressed his nipple. Ja-kyung pulled his toes back and bit his lower lip lightly as Il-hyun grabbed his nipple in his hands and slowly twisted it around. After slightly twisting and pinching, Il-hyun climbed to the operation table.


    Then he sat down on Ja-kyung¡¯s chest, undid his belt, and unzipped his pants. The swollen dick bulged out as it grew.


    ¡°Prove it.¡±


    Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s hair and pulled his head forward. He spoke in a low voice while rubbing it on Ja-kyung¡¯s lips. I told you to prove it. Ja-kyung then opened his mouth. He put the big dick in his mouth. Even though he tried his best to open his mouth as wide as possible, but it was impossible for it to enter fully.


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand stroked the top of Ja-kyung¡¯s neck.


    corner


    ¡°Relax. It¡¯ll go all the way in.¡±


    Ja-kyung gasped for breath as the dick thrust in carelessly and without care. Il-hyun rammed his waist into him despite his body trembling in pain. The corners of his eyes were red from suffocation.


    Ja-kyung struggled with his arms and legs tied, then raised his eyes and looked at Kang Il-hyun, who had moved his waist over his face.


    He appeared to be angry and not like someone who was enjoying sex as his brow was furrowed. He couldn¡¯t breathe, and tears began to gather before spilling over.


    Ja-kyung coughed as soon as Il-hyun pulled out his dick. He repeatedly gagged as saliva streamed from the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°It sucks.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun spat out that one word while fastening his pants and getting down from the table. He brushed Ja-kyung¡¯s tangled hair, wiped the corners of his mouth, and kissed the bridge of his nose as if nothing had happened earlier. The door opened, and inspiration entered before Ja-kyung had a chance to think about it.


    ¡°It¡¯s all done. Let¡¯s begin.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as they met Il- hyun¡¯s. Il-hyun taped his mouth shut without thinking twice. He stroked Ja-yung¡¯s cheek and smiled sadly as he screamed.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you should¡¯ve messed around in moderation when I pampered you.¡±


    He heard the sound of footsteps and the old man handed the syringe to Il-hyun. Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s chin. The look on Il-hyun¡¯s face when he inserted the sharp needle into his neck was terrifying.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll make you the prettiest taxidermy in the world.¡±


    Ja-kyung breathing quickened and his consciousness became hazy. He tried his best to open his eyes and come to his senses, but to no avail. His eyes began to tear up from the intense fear.


    Fuck. I don¡¯t want to die this way. I¡¯d rather just die.


    He saw Kang Il-hyun¡¯s coolly smiling face for the last time, but his view was completely blocked.


    ***


    Chairman Kang¡¯s eyes darkened as he looked at the pictures in front of him. Choi Man-shik, a drug dealer, was discovered dead at his own club a few days earlier. He laundered Chairman Kang¡¯s black money and took care of the dirty work, but he died overnight.


    However, Lee Ja-kyung and the individual seen on CCTV that day¡¯s crime were believed to have been committed by the same person. It wasn¡¯t just one or two that was strange to call it a coincidence. In addition, Kang Il-hyun informed him this morning that he would be working from home temporarily due to personal reasons. He couldn¡¯t figure out what they were trying to do.


    ¡°Find out who came to Mr. Kang¡¯s house recently.¡±


    Secretary Kim couldn¡¯t answer easily and looked troubled.


    ¡°It will take time, Chairman. As you know, the place is so big and open all around that it is not easy to hide.¡±


    Chairman Kang pulled out a cigar. This is the reason for Kang Il-hyun¡¯s decision to build his home away from densely populated areas, where it is open on all sides. Even the small garden in front of the house had been pushed aside, leaving the area completely deserted. It was easy to get caught if you sent someone out clumsily.


    Chairman Kang called Kang Seok-joo out of worry. After a while, Kang Seok-joo comes in after knocking. Chairman Kang was considering sending Kang Seok-joo into the military as he observed the child who is unable of getting his act together after so many years.


    Kang Seok-joo sat down and looked at Chairman Kang. It was almost uncommon for his father to call him to his study.


    ¡°For what reason¡­ Did you call me?¡±


    ¡°Go visit your second brother for a while during the day.¡±


    Seok-joo¡¯s eyes widened. When it comes to the second older brother, isn¡¯t it Kang Il-hyun? Why does he have to go there?


    ¡°I think he¡¯s not feeling well, so bring him some herbal medicine.¡±


    ¡°M, me?¡±


    As he was hesitating, Chairman Kang glared at him as if he was going to eat him.


    ¡°You punk. He¡¯s your older brother, what are you afraid of?¡±


    Seok-joo lowered his eyes as he observed his father harshly criticizing him. He reluctantly agreed, then got to his feet and glanced at the picture next to Secretary Kim. There is one really annoying picture.


    That was clearly Zhang Yi An. Why does his father have a picture of Zhang Yi An? He left and shut the door like he was being kicked out. Damn it. He was unsure of the cause of everyone¡¯s annoyance with him. He placed his ear to the door to try to hear what they were talking about, but he couldn¡¯t hear anything.

 CH 72

    Seok-joo got out of the car and went to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house, carrying a box of herbal medicine with secretary Yoon. It had been a year since he had visited. When Zhang Yi¡¯an was here, he still came often, but he hadn¡¯t visited much since then. It was still heavily guarded and there were big dogs everywhere.


    When he entered the house, the housekeeper was the first to greet him.


    ¡°Welcome, young master.¡±


    He greeted her with an indifferent face as she smiled brightly. The housekeeper was the only person that caused him to feel as horrible aside Kang Il-hyun. She¡¯s an old woman who was always smiling, but you couldn¡¯t understand what she was thinking on the inside. It was occasionally unsettling to see her smiling just as in the pictures. Seok-joo took the herbal medicine from Secretary Yoon and held it out.


    ¡°My father told me to bring this to my brother. Since it was summer, he bought it himself.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, it is so precious. I¡¯ll give it to him when he comes home.¡±


    ¡°About hyung¡­ Where did he go?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s out of town today, so I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be back until tonight.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Would you like to wait, so you can meet face to face?¡±


    Seok-joo immediately shook his head in rejection in response to her question. His job was to see if Kang Il-hyun was at home and to give herbal medicine. He declined the housekeeper¡¯s offer of a cup of tea, and as he turned to go, he heard men¡¯s voices from upstairs. He turned to face the stairs, but no one was there. He asked the housekeeper who was in front of him out of curiosity.


    ¡°It seems there are guests?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They will be staying here for the time being.¡±


    Without giving it any thought, Seok-joo left. He just wanted to leave this house as quickly as possible. He proceeded outside after the housekeeper accompanied him, but he stopped when he heard a noise coming from the house¡¯s backyard.


    He went over there and had a look after signaling Secretary Yoon to go first. Two of the workers were smoking. It just took a while to return because the topic of conversation was simply how hot it was getting.


    ¡°When is the CEO coming back?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe he¡¯ll stay there for a while?¡±


    Seok-joo held his breath and listened to the conversation. The housekeeper said that he would definitely come at night.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t go alone, did he?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡±


    ¡°Deputy Kim said he saw the Hong Kong guy in the car. He said it looked like he was dead.¡±


    ¡°No way. The brothers are alive and well.¡±


    ¡°Really. He said he saw it clearly with his own two eyes.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense.¡±


    As soon as the talk was interrupted by the sound of footsteps, Seok-joo hurriedly moved in the direction of the gate. When he opened the door, he found Secretary Yun waiting with the car engine running. Seok-joo, who was seated in the back seat, thought about the conversation the employee¡¯s had just a moment ago.


    Hong Kong person?


    He didn¡¯t know why, but it reminded him of Zhang Yi An, whom he met by chance at a club.


    Ah, probably not. No way.


    ***


    Ja-kyung felt heavy and sinking. He repeatedly closed and opened his eyes, but his body refused to move. Ja-kyung finally woke up and raised his arm to examine his wrist as the sun slowly started to light up the room.


    The signs of tying are obvious. His entire body was covered in cuts and bruises from the island explosion. He was able to get out of bed with the thought that he had to leave the room and a sense of relief that he had survived. His legs were shaking, probably because of the medicine.


    He repeatedly stepped onto the floor, fell, and stood up again. He leaned against the wall and stood up, looking around the unfamiliar bedroom. He had never seen this place before. His eyes searched for the doorway, and he almost screamed when he saw a figure standing in the corner.


    There was a figure who looked very much like him. His eyes widened, and he couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth in shock. Am I already dead? Am I dead and looking at myself? Or am I dreaming?


    Ja-kyung slapped his cheek and pinched his arm, but it hurt. What. As he got closer and looked at it, it appeared to be just like him, but it was a model, not a real person. What¡¯s this? Just in case, he pulled up the pants and peered inside. Even the shape of the dick was made similar.


    Frightened, he stepped back, scanning the model up and down. When the hell did he make this? He hurried to the door, opened it, and went outside into an unfamiliar place. He noticed a sound coming from the kitchen inside the house as he was gazing around. When he entered, a familiar back appeared.


    The sound of swearing could be heard all the way here while he was working on something in front of the kitchen counter. Ja-kyung suddenly felt lightheaded and stumbled. Il-hyun swiveled to face behind him. He held a knife in one hand with a reddened expression on his face, he looked as if he would kill a Ja-kyung at any moment.


    ¡°Go¡­ go away.¡±


    Ja-kyung stepped back and waved his arm, and Kang Il-hyun approached him while still holding a knife. Then he pulled out a chair, grabbed Ja-kyung by the shoulder, and sat him there. Ja-kyung¡¯s nerves were all on the knife he was holding.


    However, Kang Il-hyun put a cushion behind Ja-kyung¡¯s back and kissed him on the cheek.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    Ja-kyung shuddered to see Il-hyun greet him kindly. The terrifying figure he had seen before passing out was nowhere to be found. Perhaps because of the medicine, Ja-kyung lost all his energy and had no strength left to attack. Il-hyun handed over a cup of tea and pulled out a chair across from him and sat down.


    He rested his chin on his palm and smiled as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°So, my dear, how does it feel to come back from the dead?¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at Il-hyun while holding the cup. Should he just hit his head with this?


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m staying here for the time being. I decided to give you my attention for a full twenty-four hours since I could tell you were desperate for it. I¡¯m going to stick around and give you a lot of affection.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled when he used the words ¡®affection¡¯ and ¡®a lot.¡¯ Ja-kyung glared as he opened his mouth.


    ¡°Is that a face when you¡¯re happy?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. Where are my brothers?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re safe. I wanted to kill them all, but I didn¡¯t want to be hated by you, so I spared them. Aren¡¯t I nice?¡±


    Noticing that Ja-kyung didn¡¯t believe him, Il-hyun made a video call to Park Tae-soo. Park Tae-soo¡¯s expressionless face appeared, and he immediately handed the phone to the Wang brothers. Fortunately, both of them seem fine except for minor scars on their faces.


    Wang Lun was conscious of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s presence and continued to flatter him.


    [I¡¯m really sorry, sir. I should have told you in advance that we were going on vacation, but I forgot. Aren¡¯t you still misunderstood? Please take good care of our Ja-kyung. You have a broad mind and a handsome face, but I was truly amazed at how you can have such a great personality. Haha.]


    Ja-kyung put the phone down because he didn¡¯t want to hear it as Wang Lun would praise Kang Il-hyun to the top of the sky. He handed Kang Il-hyun the phone, who then asked with a smile.


    ¡°Do you want to listen to music?¡±


    Before he could hear an answer, he pressed the button on the remote control and Ja-kyunge¡¯s voice reverberated throughout the house.


    [I like you, sir!]


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face twisted.


    [I really like you. I thought I ran away for nothing. I thought a lot about whether I should go back. I really liked it. I¡¯ve never had such ecstatic sex in my life! Trust me!]


    Fuck. When Ja-kyung jumped up from his seat and attempted to steal the remote control, Il-hyun laughed and hid it behind his back. They scream as though the table was being turned, yet the sound repeats indefinitely. He couldn¡¯t compete with him since he had no strength.


    Kang Il-hyun walked to the sofa with Ja-kyung on his shoulder after getting a hold of both his hands. He tossed him on the couch, and as Ja-kyung attempted to attack him, Il-hyun grabbed his head and pressed the button. The blinds that covered the living room window were drawn back, revealing a sweeping view of the ocean.


    Ja-kyung was at a loss for words at the unexpected scenery.


    ¡°You can watch the sea from here. I know it¡¯s not what you wanted, but it¡¯s still an island.¡±


    Il-hyun sat down with one leg bent in front of him and made eye contact with him when he didn¡¯t say anything. His eyes were so warm and friendly that Ja-kyung wondered if he was the same man who looked like he would kill him right away. The sound was still audible through the speakers, I really liked it. I¡¯ve never had such ecstatic sex in my life!


    ¡°Hey, CEO Kang. Please, please, turn that off!¡±


    ¡°Then be honest with me.¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°How many times did you think of me while you were running away?¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t answer. Maybe once a day, no, maybe more. He closed his mouth, not wanting to say it. From the speaker, ¡®I like you, sir¡¯ still came out like a song. Ja-kyung felt like he was being brainwashed, so he wanted to cover his ears.


    Il-hyun asked again.


    ¡°You never did?¡±


    Ja-kyung pursed his lips. He thought there was no need to lie.


    ¡°I did¡­¡±


    The corners of Il-hyun¡¯s lips rise gracefully. Ja-kyung was about to not answer if he persisted about how many times he thought of him, but Il-hyun stood up with a satisfied look on his face.


    ¡°That¡¯s all right then.¡±


    What do you mean that¡¯s all right? Soon, his face approached, and their lips kissed briefly before parting. Ja-kyung frowned and wiped his lips with the back of his hand before turning away. Strangely, his ears were burning and his stomach was itching.


    Il-hyun smiled and proceeded to the kitchen, where he took a knife and began cutting things in front of the countertop again. However, within a moment, Il-hyun threw his head back, stared at the ceiling, and cursed.


    Fuck. It¡¯s fucking spicy.


    It wasn¡¯t until later that Ja-kyung realized Il-hyun was chopping an onion.

 CH 73

    ¡°Alone without Park Tae-soo?¡±


    At Secretary Kim¡¯s report, Chairman Kang¡¯s snake-like eyes narrowed. He¡¯d sent Seok-joo to investigate, and he¡¯d overheard the employees talking. He didn¡¯t know if it was true or not, but they said that Kang Il-hyun had traveled alone.


    It was very rare for him to move without Park Tae-soo accompanying him. In addition, the traces of Lee Ja-kyung disappeared. If they had met in the first place, there¡¯s no way Kang Il-hyun would have kept him alive. If he did, there was only one reason.


    ¡°Investigate all the buildings owned by CEO Kang. He wouldn¡¯t have gone far.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s eyes flashed like an awl.


    ¡°Once you¡¯ve identified them, send the good guys to them.¡±


    Secretary Kim immediately understood what Chairman Kang wanted. Chairman Kang leaned back on the sofa with a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth. Others would point fingers at him for threatening his son in order to keep his position, but there were many things in life that could not be avoided.


    Because they share the same personality, this fight will never end unless one of them dies first.


    ***


    Ja-kyung was speechless after tasting Kang Il-hyun¡¯s fried rice. He wondered if all the tears went into the rice as he sliced ??the onion while cursing. It was overly salty. He moved his jaw slowly and looked at Kang Il-hyun, who sat in front of him, fearful that he would spit it out right away.


    Sure enough, Il-hyun¡¯s expression was serious, and he drank water right away.


    ¡°Fuck. Why does it taste like this?¡±


    He made it. Ja-kyung barely held back what he wanted to say. Il-hyun took his plate and Ja-kyung¡¯s plate and threw them into the sink. Ja-kyung smiled involuntarily as he saw him sigh while holding onto the sink with both hands.


    He only messed up one dish, so why was he taking himself so seriously? Plus, he¡¯s so tall that his head almost touched the top shelf. Ja-kyung got up from his seat and walked over to the refrigerator. He took out a few ingredients and went to the kitchen table, and Kang Il-hyun looked at him.


    ¡°Do you have leftover rice?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun nodded. He went to see it, but the amount was huge. This will last until tomorrow morning, but he must have used just the right amount of water. Il-hyun came up behind him and hugged his waist while he was chopping vegetables.


    ¡°Will you do it yourself?¡±


    Il-hyun placed his lips on the nape of Ja-kyung¡¯s neck, which irritated him and caused him to shake his shoulders. Il-hyun kept sticking and clinging to him, so he held out the knife he used to cut carrots.


    ¡°I¡¯m holding a knife now.¡±


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t care even in front of the knife, but when Ja-kyung took out the onion, he immediately frowned and stepped back. The onion was particularly spicy, but not to the point where Ja-kyung was swearing at it. If he had known this was going to happen, he would have killed him with an onion instead of shooting him a year ago.


    ¡°You are much better than me.¡±


    Il-hyun leaned against the sink with his arms crossed, watching Ja-kyung cook. Ja-kyung poured oil into the frying pan and skillfully stir-fried the vegetables, and Il-hyun applauded in admiration. Ja-kyung shrugged and moved the frying pan more vigorously.


    Then he realized he was being played by Kang Il-hyun, so he frowned and quickly came to his senses. Il-hyun smiled as expected. Ja-kyung has the impression that he has been tricked. He divided the fried rice into plates once it was finished.


    ¡°Thank you for this food.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun sat down, lifted his spoon, took a bite, and nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious. You can marry me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re noisy.¡±


    Let us not waste energy by getting angry for no reason. It¡¯s not like they¡¯ve been arguing for a day or two, but it¡¯s a little unusual to have a meal alone. It was even more awkward because there was no housekeeper or staff around, including Wang Han and Wang Lun. So Ja-kyung bowed his head and ate silently.


    ¡°Do you want to go for a walk at the beach after dinner?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Then how about sex?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smiles as Ja-kyung frowned and glared at him.


    ¡°Did you know my dick gets hard every time you look at me with your eyes like that?¡±


    Ja-kyung recalled the model in the bedroom and said sarcastically.


    ¡°Good. You even made a doll, so you can stick it in there.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not for me to keep, it¡¯s a gift to you.¡±


    When Ja-kyung asked what he was talking about, he laughed bitterly.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying that if you run away next time, it won¡¯t end up just in the model.¡±


    Ja-kyung was startled, but pretended not to hear and continued eating. That doesn¡¯t sound like a joke because Kang Il-hyun is a madman who can pull it off. Kang Il-hyun volunteered to wash the dishes after eating. Because he was uncomfortable, Ja-kyung came out to help, but he was kicked out and sat at the table.


    ¡°Sit here and admire my broad back.¡±


    He said shamelessly. He rolled up his sleeves and began washing the plates and cups. Ja-kyung had no idea why Il-hyun had traveled all the way to the island and dressed in a T-shirt and suit, but every time he bent forward, the shirt pulled up, revealing his hard, sculptural upper body.


    He ends up smashing one of the cups after scrubbing the dishes until tendons form in his arms. He cursed and tossed the broken cup in the trash can. Ja-kyung sat on a chair and looked around the house.


    He looked around the house, expecting to see someone at any moment. But the house was deafeningly quiet, with only the sound of running water and dishes clinking. Il-hyun wiped his wet hands and walked over to the table after washing the dishes. The water had somehow gotten down the front of his shirt.


    As he looked down at his wet shirt and frowned, Ja-kyung blurted out without thinking.


    ¡°You should have brought someone to work.¡±


    Il-hyun started unbuttoning his shirt one by one.


    ¡°I hate that you care about other people. I just wanted you to focus on me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I want you to take this opportunity to properly look into my heart.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I will wait for you until then.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I promise I won¡¯t touch you while you¡¯re here unless you come to my room first and take your clothes off.¡±


    ¡°In your dream.¡±


    His tone was blunt but sincere. He¡¯s such an unpredictable person. Sometimes he¡¯s like a childish elementary school student, sometimes he¡¯s like an adult, and sometimes he¡¯s like a crazy killer, so Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know which one is the real Kang Il-hyun. He was staring at him while Il-hyun took his shirt off completely. Then he tried to take off his pants.


    Ja-kyung, who came to his senses, hardened his expression.


    ¡°Why are you taking off your pants?¡±


    ¡°To take a shower.¡±


    He could take them off once he was inside. Why here? He dropped his pants down. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s erect dick protruded upward. It was so hard it almost stuck to his stomach. Ja-kyung opened his mouth and was at a loss for words.


    He wondered if he was on some kind of drug, how else could he get an erection every time he took it out? When he tilted his head as if he¡¯d seen something he shouldn¡¯t have, Il-hyun threw his clothes aside and asked,


    ¡°Want to eat?¡±


    Ja-kyung screamed in disgust and told him to get lost, then Il-hyun smirked and laughed.


    ¡°I was talking about dessert. There¡¯s a nice cafe at the end of the island.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go together tomorrow.¡±


    Ja-kyung thought this was the only house on the island, but apparently not. Even though it was a bit of a drive away, Ja-kyung was relieved to hear that there was a resort and a restaurant. He could still eat properly.


    Ja-kyung leaned his head with a tired face after Il-hyun left to take a shower. As he closed his eyes in exhaustion, he heard Kang Il-hyun¡¯s voice from the bathroom.


    ¡°Honey. I can¡¯t find the shampoo, can you come and find it for me?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned and screamed out of nowhere.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play tricks!¡±


    He could hear him laughing right away. He got up from his seat and went into his bedroom. After locking the door tightly, he turned around and was startled to see the model standing in front of the window. Ah, shit. It got really scary the more he looked at it.


    Ja-kyung pulled the bed sheet over and covered it up. How did he get the idea to create something like this? At the very least, he should make his dick bigger. It wasn¡¯t this small. Just because he was big, he thought everyone else was small. Ja-kyung got pissed off and went into the bathroom.


    He lit a cigarette and smoked it before stripping naked. After turning on the hot water and finishing the shower, he felt alive. Ja-kyung, who was wiping away water with a towel, turned around and stopped. In the bathroom mirror, he caught a glimpse of his back, but there was something he couldn¡¯t see.


    No way¡­ The moment he checked properly, his eyes widened.


    There were letters he hadn¡¯t seen before on the border of his waist and buttocks. It was small and in English, but it was clearly Kang Il-hyun¡¯s name. He¡¯s got to be joking. The letters remained clear even after erasing with water and then soaping.


    He looked at it in disbelief and frowned. Fuck. Putting on the gown, he sprinted through the door and went to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s room. Bang. He walked in and saw Kang Il-hyun smoking a cigarette and talking on the phone with only a towel wrapped around his lower body.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you back.¡±


    After the call, he raised one eyebrow. What¡¯s the matter?


    Ja-kyung sighed and pointed with his finger.


    ¡°You tattooed my body!¡±


    Il-hyun put down his phone and approached slowly. His eyes narrowed, and he looked like he was about to lose it. Ja-kyung clenched his fists. He¡¯d regained some of his strength, and he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d lose this fight. Il-hyun approached and tilted his head sideways.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean?¡±


    Ja-kyung took off his gown in anger and confirmed the letters engraved under his waist. You don¡¯t know? As soon as he finished speaking, Il-hyun grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed Ja-kyung to the bed. Suddenly, Ja-kyung under him crumpled his brow.


    Il-hyun untied the towel that was wrapped around his waist and smiled.


    ¡°You come to my room first and take your clothes off?¡±

 CH 74

    ¡°Get out of the way before I kick you.¡±


    Il-hyun stroked Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek and made eye contact.


    ¡°Tell me. What do you want? If you stay with me, I¡¯ll do everything you want.¡±


    Lee Ja-kyung bared his fangs and still only glared at him.


    ¡°Island? House? Or a car?¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed in disbelief.


    ¡°Do you have that much money?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. More than you can imagine.¡±


    There are so many things to brag about. If the contract time has ended, please let me go; I have no other wishes. Il-hyun disapproved of it, so Ja-kyung tried to push him away, but he grabbed both of his arms, pressed them down, and kissed him. Ja-kyung closed his lips and held on, then Il-hyun reached inside the gaping gown and stroked his side gently.


    His hand moved carefully to his chest.


    ¡°You like to be sucked here, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Before he could answer, Il-hyun went down and touched his nipples with his tongue.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s nipples were pink, and Il-hyun wanted to nibble on them every time he saw them. He rubbed it with his tongue before putting it in his mouth and sucking on it. The hand on his shoulder feels more tense. He is cold-hearted when killing people, sensitive like a cat when he plays pranks on him, and became shy when having sex.


    When Il-hyun looked up and checked his expression, he saw that he was biting his lips and his ears were burning red.


    Aah, so pretty.


    Where have you been and just showed up now, huh?


    Il-hyun pulled his lips away and moved his hand down, grabbing Ja-kyung¡¯s dick and gently rubbing it up and down, and he could feel him tensing up. A part of him wanted to spread his legs and ram him right now, but he knew Ja-kyung would kick him again if he did.


    In the meantime, he wanted to kill Lee Ja-kyung over and over in his mind. He imagined strangling him after each betrayal, but when he saw his face, the anger disappeared and lust took its place. He learned from Lee Ja-kyung that suppressing lust is the same as suppressing the desire to kill.


    It was a feeling that he had never felt before. He thought there would be no such thing as falling in love with someone. That¡¯s because he was born without love in the first place.


    The more he rubbed, the moister the semen came out. Il-hyun licked his body and moved down. The startled cat lifted his torso up and looked down as Il-hyun licked his dick with his tongue. He smiled and rubbed his tongue under his dick at that pretty face.


    Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s head goes back down to the bed, and his chest rises and falls rapidly.


    ¡°I¡¯m better at Fella, right?¡±


    Lee Ja-kyung covered his eyes with the back of his arm at the question. It¡¯s noisy. A smile spread across Il-hyun¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Enjoy it. There are only two of us here.¡±


    He put Ja-kyung¡¯s dick in his mouth and moved his head back and forth. The slurping sound made Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s thighs tighten. Il-hyun kept it in his mouth and swirled his tongue around it, gently stroking the inside of his tightened thighs.


    Il-hyun let out the dick he had been sucking and slipped a finger into his mouth, wetting it before rubbing it against Ja-kyung¡¯s hole. Il-hyun pushed it in slowly, but the narrow entrance made it difficult for even his fingers to enter.


    Ja-kyung hid his face behind his arm and bit his molars firmly. Kang Il-hyun was good with his body, much to his frustration. He was well aware of where he liked to be sucked. However, as soon as the finger began to enter, the sensation of ejaculation began to subside due to tension.


    Ja-kyung was aware that pleasure comes after pain, but he was still not used to having sex from behind. He could clearly feel Il-hyun¡¯s fingers widening his insides. Although only one finger was inserted, he immediately stretched it out and rubbed it.


    Although he pretended to be at ease, Kang Il-hyun had clearly become impatient. His movements were quicker than before, and he was already putting in three fingers. While loosening Ja-kyung¡¯s hole, Il-hyun wetted his long dick with his mouth. Il-hyun¡¯s dick glistened with saliva when Ja-kyung looked down.


    He spat on his dick and drew his fingers out. His legs were spread out on either side. Feeling empty, Ja-kyung involuntarily closed his legs.


    ¡°Open up.¡±


    Until a while ago, he coaxed kindly and gently, and his tone and gaze changed to overbearing. His eyes were like a beast and more like a predator with his prey in front of him. As Ja-kyung remained silent, he grabbed his legs with both hands and spread them apart.


    Then, in an instant, he grabbed his dick and brought it into the hole. Ja-kyung frowned at the gigantic dick entering through the narrow entrance and stopped breathing. It hurts as much as when he forcibly opens a wound from a gun or knife. It¡¯s a pain he won¡¯t get used to.


    Ja-kyung tried to hold back his moaning, but the sound leaked out. Il-hyun leaned forward about a third of the way through. He carefully licked Ja-kyung¡¯ lips, cheeks, chin, and ears. Like a mother licking a newborn puppy.


    ¡°Honey. Relax.¡±


    ¡°Shit. I¡¯ll fuck you, Huu, so you will know how it feels. Ugh, I¡¯m, tired.¡±


    ¡°Stupid. You still haven¡¯t given up on that dream.¡±


    After smiling lightly, Il-hyun pushed harder. He was on the verge of crushing his dick because the hole was still too tight. Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes twitch as Il-hyun went all the way in. Even sweat forms beads on his forehead.


    When they kiss, Ja-kyung accepted meekly for some reason. He moved his hips and licked his tongue. The inner wall was pushed back and forth with each movement. Il-hyun rubbed the root of Ja-kyung¡¯s tongue and put it deep into his throat and licked every corner.


    As he was out of breath, Ja-kyung grabbed his shoulder first. Il-hyun parted his lips and rubbed his thumb across Ja-kyung¡¯s lips. His lips moistened with saliva were particularly red.


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes darkened.


    ¡°Do you remember?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°The day we first met.¡±


    Ja-kyung remembered.


    The sight of Il-hyun reaching out his hand while handing him a red bouquet at the airport.


    ¡°Come to think of it, I¡¯ve liked you since then.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t believe that. It¡¯s a lie. If that¡¯s the case, why did Il-hyun want to kill him? Il-hyun¡¯s pulled back and thrusts it in before Ja-kyung could even speak. His stomach jolted, and pain shot up his tailbone and down his spine. Ugh, pound, pound, he pounded relentlessly while alternately sucking between his lips and neck.


    Ja-kyung tried to push Il-hyun¡¯s head away so he wouldn¡¯t leave marks from the hard sucking, but it was pointless because Il-hyun looked like a starving beast. The fear of having his neck torn out was short-lived as the dick that had been filling his hole slipped out.


    Suddenly empty, it feels hollow inside. Il-hyun flipped Ja-kyung over, putting his hand inside his waist and pulling him. Then he pressed Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. His knees were bent and only his hips were lifted. Just as Ja-kyung was about to move because he was embarrassed by this position, Kang Il-hyun pulled his buttcheeks apart and licked his hole with his tongue.


    Ah. Fuck. Ja-kyung¡¯s head dropped. The hole where his dick had gone in and out a moment ago was now pierced by his tongue. Licking his testicles and perineum, working his tongue in and out of his hole. Ja-kyung buried his face in the bed and clutched at the sheets.


    Even without touching the prostate, the sensation of ejaculation overwhelms him. It was a different pleasure from being mercilessly pounded. As his body grew tired like paper dissolved in water, Il-hyun pushed his dick in again. While holding Ja-kyung¡¯s waist, Kang Il-hyun reached for his name, which was engraved on the middle with both hands.


    Il-hyun carved it out of frustration, but when he looks at it while having sex, it drives him insane. There were dimple-like marks at the top. He leaned in close and touched it with his fingertips.


    Lee Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t stand it and moaned.


    ¡°Uhm¡­¡±


    His right shoulder¡¯s snake tattoo wriggled as he moved. Il-hyun pressed his back and thrust it hard, causing his hips to tremble. There is no part of his face and body that is not pretty. Slap, slap, slap!


    The movement pushed his body forward, and Ja-kyung buried his face in the sheet, trying to keep his moaning to a minimum. Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and pulled. Ja-kyung¡¯s looked up in surprise as his upper body pulled as well.


    He hugged and pressed his upper body tightly with his right arm, and rubbed Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s dick with his left hand. He lifted his waist at the same time. Il-hyun lowered his head forward, then moved his hand on his chest upward and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s neck. Ja-kyung¡¯s tilted back and his mouth opened as Il-hyun strangled him with force.


    ¡°Aah!¡±


    The stubborn cat finally started making sounds. That acted as a catalyst, and Il-hyun moved his waist wildly. The stimuli applied inside and outside the hole distracted Ja-kyung, whose body was tied to his strong arms.


    Pleasure gradually emerged from the painful hole. It felt like his mind was going blank and his blood was flowing backwards in his body. Sweat was seeping from Kang Il-hyun¡¯s powerful chest against his back.


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s voice was low when he cursed as he sucked on his ear.


    ¡°Ah! Heuss.¡±


    It¡¯s been a long time since his speed increased, and Ja-kyung¡¯s reasoning has been blown away. A little harder. Harder. Ja-kyung reached back and grabbed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s waist, more, more, more. Oh, I don¡¯t even know anymore. When he turned his head back, his lips met Kang Il-hyun¡¯s.


    Their tongues rubbed promiscuously together between their mismatched lips. While gasping, Ja-kyung rested his head entirely on Kang Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder. It¡¯s clear that it was a pleasure he¡¯d never felt before. He gripped Kang Il-hyun¡¯s thighs with his hands as he reached climax. His chest heaved and his eyelids trembled as he ejaculated into Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand.


    Kang Il-hyun pulled out his dick and laid Ja-kyung upright on the bed after ejaculation. As he breathed heavily, Il-hyun crawled on top of him and settled on his chest. Ja-kyung looked at him with his face flushed.


    Kang Il-hyun grabbed his own erect dick and rubbed it back and forth. His brows were twisted, and his eyes twitched delicately. Ja-kyung seemed to know exactly what he was going to do. Ja-kyung raised his chin and opened his mouth.


    That¡¯s right, because there was no one. since it¡¯s just the two of us, I¡¯ll give you this much.


    The corners of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth curved into a satisfied smile. Then his handsome brow crumpled and he let out a low, muffled curse. Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth and face were filled with fishy semen. A man¡¯s semen, which he had tasted for the first time in his life, was more tasteless than he thought.

 CH 75

    [I like you, sir! I¡¯ve never had such ecstatic sex in my life!]


    Hearing the voice repeated infinitely, Ja-kyung opened his closed eyes and was the first to spit out a curse. He thought it was a sound in his dream, but it wasn¡¯t. Raising his upper body and looking around, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s cell phone was placed on the bedside table. Did he set that as an alarm?


    Ja-kyung frowned and stretched out his arms, but Kang Il-hyun snatched it up first. He had just come out of the shower, wearing a robe and a towel over his head.


    After turning off the alarm, he smiled at Ja-kyung and unexpectedly kissed him on the lips.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    Then Il-hyun stroked and rubbed his hair. Ja-kyung pulled his hand and glared at him.


    ¡°Erase that immediately.¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°The recording!¡±


    ¡°Why, it sounds good.¡±


    Ja-kyung got up and threw a pillow at him because it was being played like a song. I¡¯m going to kill him! Then Ja-kyung collapsed onto the bed with pain in his lower back. He feels abused more during sex than at work. Il-hyun comes up and lies down next to Ja-kyung because he was not moving.


    Ja-kyung only blinked as he lay on his side, staring at his face.


    Unlike Ja-kyung who was having a hard time, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face brightened in a single day. He remembered Il-hyun ejaculating on his face in excitement the night before. If he had a strong sense of being fucked one-sidedly before, he had fun together yesterday.


    Crazy. Crazy to say the least.


    It¡¯s like crossing a river with no way back. Kang Il-hyun suddenly stroked his hair with a sad expression.


    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll erase it. Don¡¯t be angry.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Would you like to sleep a little longer?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then, shall we go out and get breakfast?¡±


    It was an ambiguous time to call it breakfast as it was close to lunchtime. He was tired, but hungry because he had spent all of his energy on sex. Il-hyun stood up and tugged at his arm, so he was reluctantly dragged down the bed.


    He went into the bathroom and took off my gown, but my whole body was tingling. Looking at his swollen nipples, he realized once again that Il-hyun was a nipple pervert. While taking a shower, the semen that remained inside ran down his legs.


    He was speechless in shock and looked down at it blankly. Haa, he tilted his head to the ceiling and let out a sigh.


    Okay. Let¡¯s think positively. You enjoyed it too, you didn¡¯t hate it.


    He wondered if he¡¯d ever be the one to get on top of him and sway his hips, but he felt hopeless as his imagination reached there. Ja-kyung went outside to change his clothes after thoroughly washing his body in cold water.


    Kang Il-hyun sat on the sofa in the living room, sipping tea. He was dressed in shorts, a shirt, and sunglasses, but it was unfamiliar because he was dressed differently than usual. His calves were also long, toned, and smooth, and the shorts fit him perfectly.


    Ja-kyung looked him up and down absentmindedly, and he noticed him like a ghost, then spread his arms and smiled.


    ¡°You like it?¡±


    Il-hyun chased after Ja-kyung and asked if he didn¡¯t like it when he pretended not to hear. He nodded irritably because Il-hyun was persistent, and Il-hyun ruffled his head proudly. Excessive confidence was supposed to bring bad luck, but because it was well-founded, it only irritated him.


    He only properly checked the exterior of the house after he came out. It was a small wooden house that appeared to be quite old.


    No matter how he looked at it, he didn¡¯t get along with Kang Il-hyun. He was curious as to how Il-hyun came up with the idea of building a house here. He looked around curiously and found a white sports car parked in the yard.


    ¡°Catch.¡±


    Ja-kyung cathed the car key that Il-hyun threw.


    ¡°You drive.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t show it, but he was quite happy. He opened the door, sat in the driver¡¯s seat, and turned on the engine. The roar of the engines excites him. A road appears next to the beach after leaving the yard. The roads were in better condition than expected.


    It reminded him of the uninhabited island where he¡¯d fled, but it was much larger. He could smell the salty smell of the sea as he drove along the coast. Looking out to the side, Il-hyun had his arm leaning against the window.


    His randomly flowing hair and the pleasantly raised corners of his mouth blended in with the sea, giving the impression of a painting. Small restaurants and cafes huddled together in front of the sea after deftly turning the corner.


    He was worried because there were no cars or people passing by, but fortunately, one restaurant had just opened. Ja-kyung slowed down and stopped in front of it. The young owner, who took the menu out and put it up, was startled when he saw the two.


    For a moment, he thought they were two actors who had come to filming.


    ¡°Can we eat?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s going to take a while, is that okay?¡±


    The two nodded and entered. The cutely decorated menu board was eye-catching. They took a seat next to the window with the view of the ocean. Today¡¯s sky was especially clear. Il-hyun flipped through the menu and handed it to Ja-kyung while he was distracted outside.


    ¡°Are you done choosing?¡±


    ¡°You choose. I don¡¯t know what to eat.¡±


    He demonstrated that it was a pasta-focused restaurant. Furthermore, because it is a fusion pasta, it contains herbs, making it a bit different. As he pondered the menu with his hand, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes were not on the menu, but on Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s face.


    Their gazes met when Ja-kyung raised his head, and Il-hyun smiled first. Ja-kyung was shy, so he drank some water and gazed out the window after ordering the menu.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the cafe we talked about yesterday when we finish eating.¡±


    It must have been the cafe where the desserts were good. Ja-kyung suddenly became curious.


    ¡°Do you come here often?¡±


    ¡°I have been here before.¡±


    ¡°Vacation?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled lightly and shook his head.


    ¡°This is where my late mother recuperated. So, when I was younger, I used to come here about twice a month.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course, she didn¡¯t welcome me.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled brightly even as he told the depressing story. He quickly moved on to another story after saying that he had come several times as he grew up. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t ask any more. The meal was served, and the two had relatively normal conversations.


    It was strange at first, but as he grew accustomed to it, he noticed that the point of the knife aimed at Kang Il-hyun became dull. Furthermore, when Il-hyun was outside, he acted like a normal person. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was acting or real, but he liked it for the first time in a long time.


    After finishing the meal, they set off for the cafe Il-hyun mentioned. However, the cafe had been closed for a long time, so the inside was empty. Ja-kyung was curious about how delicious the dessert was, so he was a little disappointed. He was looking for another cafe and was fortunate to find one he liked.


    It was quite large and had several guests. While he simply ordered a coffee and waited, he saw couples sitting and taking pictures all over the place. Ja-kyung was worried about the mark Kang Il-hyun left on his neck last night, so he kept covering it with his hand.


    A woman suddenly approached Ja-kyung. She smiled shyly and said, ¡®Hey¡­ If you have time¡­¡¯ She was startled when she noticed Il-hyun sitting in front of him. Il-hyun leaned back in his chair and glared at the woman with burning eyes.


    The woman said nothing and ran away to her group, and Ja-kyung finally spoke up.


    ¡°Smile. You¡¯re going to shoot lasers out of your eyes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m smiling.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not. You just glared at me.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows go up as he makes a disapproving expression.


    ¡°Why, are you disappointed?¡±


    They will fight again if he responds. Ja-kyung crossed his arms and buried his face in the table because he didn¡¯t want to hear it. He turned his head to the side and looked out the window before closing his eyes. The air conditioner was on, sunlight was streaming in, and sleepiness was pouring down.


    Kang Il-hyun sat with his chin resting on his palm and stroked Ja-kyung¡¯s hair. He just leaves him alone because it doesn¡¯t mess up his hair. Il-hyun¡¯s hand slipped down and brushes up against Ja-kyung¡¯s neck. Ja-kyung allowed him to touch his neck out of kindness. Ja-kyung felt like he was going to fall asleep after sitting like that for a long time, so he got up.


    ¡°Are you very tired?¡±


    Ja-kyung crumpled his face in disgust at Il-hyun¡¯s shameless question.


    ¡°It¡¯s because of someone.¡±


    ¡°How can you work when your body is so weak? Do you want some supplements?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Okay. How much more do you want to torment me after feeding it?¡±


    The number of customers in the cafe grew as they sat there. People¡¯s gazes increased as well. A different woman from earlier appeared and brought up her contact information, but ran away after seeing Il-hyun¡¯s grim face. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t seem to be able to do it any longer, so he took Il-hyun outside.


    While driving around, they arrived at a resort on the back side of the island. It was a place where a golf course was operated together. They ate dinner at an Italian restaurant inside the resort and walked along the beach. As the sun set on the horizon, the sky turned red.


    Kang Il-hyun tried to grab his hand, but he shook it off several times, and then he picked up Ja-kung and threw him into the sea. They eventually returned to the house after another round of bickering. Il-hyun looked at the house as he parked the car in the yard.


    Ja-kyung, who was drying his wet hair, turned around wondering what was wrong. Il-hyun turned off the engine. The headlights were gone, and everything was dark. Ja-kyung tried to get out, but Il-hyun grabbed his arm and put his finger to his mouth. Shhh. His eyes glowed in the darkness like a beast stalking its prey.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze was drawn to the house. After a while, Il-hyun restarted the engine, and the lights poured into the house. There was a shadow by the window for a split second before it disappeared.


    An intruder.


    ¡°You see it?¡±


    Ja-kyung stared at it and nodded.


    ¡°Do you have a gun?¡±


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t need it.¡±


    If you don¡¯t have it, just say so; there¡¯s no need to add that you don¡¯t need it. Ja-kyung stared at him puzzled, but then he stepped on the accelerator as well as the brake. The needle on the instrument panel shook violently. Realizing what he was about to do, Ja-kyung fastened his seat belt again with a tired face.


    ¡°Just go in.¡±


    ¡°Relax. I¡¯m an expert in ramming.¡±


    Ja-kyung hated it because Il-hyun winked at him. Fuck. How dare he say that in the midst of all this.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t like the house anyway.¡±


    He gnashed his teeth. Ja-kyung frowned and reached for the handle near his head. The car began to rush towards the front door of the house the moment he let go of the brake.


    Damn it. Just where are we going to sleep tonight?

 CH 76

    Bang! Debris fell through the car windows as the car broke down the door and entered the house. The headlights lighted the dark inside of the house, and Il-hyun¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked out the car window. It was the same with Ja-kyung.


    The man stood alone in the dark. And the way he was standing there didn¡¯t suggest he was here to kill. The intruder approached as the car window was lowered.


    ¡°You crazy! Do you want to kill someone?¡±


    Hearing the familiar voice, Il-hyun spat a low curse and got out of the car. Only after all of the lights in the house were turned on did the intruder was properly identified. Kang Yoo-jung. Seeing her for the first time in a while, she was glaring at Kang Il-hyun, who had gotten out of the driver¡¯s seat, with a stunned expression.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I heard you took a vacation, so I came to see you. Dr. Park didn¡¯t tell me, so I figured you¡¯d be here.¡±


    ¡°So why.¡±


    ¡°You seriously asking why? It¡¯s your birthday tomorrow.¡±


    Come to think of it, there¡¯s a birthday cake and a shopping bag on the table that she seems to have brought. Il-hyun clicked his tongue with a disapproving face.


    ¡°If you come, at least turn on the lights. Why are you hiding like a rat?¡±


    ¡°Damn you. Is your sister a rat now? I was hiding to give you a surprise, but who would have thought you¡¯d hit me with a car? Thanks to you, your birthday almost became my memorial day.¡±


    While she was grinding her teeth, she noticed Ja-kyung standing behind him and looked surprised. Ja-kyung panicked, unsure of what to do in the unexpected situation. Her gaze shifted back and forth between Il-hyun and Ja-kyung.


    Il-hyun turned around and waved at Ja-kyung. He hesitantly moved over, and her eyes widened.


    ¡°Yi An¡­?¡±


    ¡°He¡­hello.¡±


    ¡°How are you here¡­¡±


    Il-hyun introduced each other with a nonchalant face.


    ¡°You¡¯ve known her since you met her last year. This is my older sister Kang Yoo-jung.¡±


    His gaze shifted from Yoo-jung to Ja-kyung. Unlike when he sees his older sister, his eyes warm up and the corners of his mouth go up.


    ¡°And this is Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    Yoo-jung tilted her head. Not Zhang Yi-an, but Lee Ja-kyung? Before she even had time to wonder, Il-hyun added it right away with a proud face.


    ¡°My lover.¡±


    Yoo-jung and Ja-kyung spoke at the same time.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    When Ja-kyung denied it, Il-hyun smiled.


    ¡°As you can see, my honey is very shy.¡±


    Ja-kyung hated it even more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. The CEO was joking!¡±


    She opened her eyes wide and looked at the two of them alternately. Ja-kyung was amazed at the look on her face. Kang Yoo-jung, whom he saw after a year, was still beautiful and full of charm. He was distracted for a moment, but Il-hyun noticed and covered Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes with his large hand while pulling him back.


    ¡°Enough greetings. You go inside.¡±


    Where does he want him to go after destroying the house? Ja-kyung looked around and saw that everything was fine except for the smashed door and windows. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s about to collapse. After holding on for dear life, he was eventually pushed and kicked into the room.


    Kang Yoo-jung doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. Ja-kyung put his ear to the door, but he couldn¡¯t hear the conversation very well. He sighed and turned around and was startled to find his model standing in front of the window. Even though it was covered and only the feet were visible, Ja-kyung was still scared.


    He recalled what Kang Yoo-jung said while sitting on the bed waiting for Kang Il-hyun to come. , but why didn¡¯t he say anything? With Il-hyun¡¯s personality, he could have used his birthday as an excuse to suck him to the bone marrow.


    Even after waiting, there was no sign of the conversation coming to an end. Ja-kyung went into the bathroom to wipe his wet body. He smoked a cigarette, showered, and changed his clothes. He was drying his wet hair when he heard the sound of a car outside. He was about to leave when the door opened and Kang Il-hyun entered.


    With a cigarette in his mouth and a cake in one hand.


    He looked at the replica of Ja-kyung standing by the window and immediately took off the sheet. It was made so similar that it felt like facing a cloned human. He looked up and down at the model and looked satisfied.


    ¡°I really like it.¡±


    He put the cake down and flipped the model around. Ja-kyung had no idea what he was going to do, but he pulled the model¡¯s pants down. The tattoo on the hip and the dimple-like fan mark on it are made identical. He stroked the area with his hand before reaching down and fondling his ass.


    Ja-kyung hated it and yelled at him to stop, and he turned around with a sad expression on his face.


    ¡°As expected, I should have plucked out the eyeballs and put them in.¡±


    Il-hyun pointed at Ja-kyung with a cigarette between his fingers. He was smiling, but there was a glint of danger in his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you, I won¡¯t let you go if you look at anyone other than me that way from now on.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He had previously appeared mesmerized by Kang Yoo-jung. No, it was natural for a man to be attracted to a beautiful woman. His eyes move on their own. He couldn¡¯t help himself. He wanted to argue, but he was afraid of getting his eyeballs plucked out on the spot.


    Ja-kyung clicked his tongue inwardly. Given what he did to his own sister, Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head was probably cut for a reason other than rage.


    ¡°Is your sister¡­ gone?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gone. The manager is here to pick her up.¡±


    ¡°The manager?¡±


    ¡°The resort is owned by the company.¡±


    People greeted him everywhere he went, leading Ja-kyung to assume he was a VIP customer, but he wasn¡¯t.


    So why come here and suffer when they could have stayed there in the first place? After all, one side of the living room was now completely destroyed. He placed the cake on the table and crushed the cigarette in the ashtray.


    ¡°Tomorrow is¡­ your birthday?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°You should have told me.¡±


    ¡°Why. You want to get me a present?¡±


    Ja-kyung remained silent. If he says he will, this person may request something else. He would have prepared a small gift if he had known ahead of time. Il-hyun is his employer after all. Il-hyun approached and sat on the bed. He spoke with a small sigh right next to him.


    Actually, I don¡¯t like birthdays. They remind me of my unfortunate past when I wasn¡¯t loved by my mother.¡±


    He rested his head on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder with an upset expression. Aah, whenever this person does this, it¡¯s fucking scary. Il-hyun rubbed his cheek against his shoulder and continued talking in a sad voice.


    ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t have been born.¡±


    Ja-kyung flinched. In contrast to his sad voice, his lips draw closer. Ja-kyung thought he was going to kiss him but instead licked him from his lower jaw to his cheek, then stepped back and smiled. When Ja-kyung felt at ease,


    ¡°I¡¯ll wash up and come back. Let¡¯s have a birthday party.¡±


    ¡°A party¡­?¡±


    ¡°I want you to celebrate my birth with your whole body.¡±


    Except for everything, only the words ¡®whole body¡¯ could be clearly heard. He swallowed his saliva nervously. Il-hyun gave a vague smile and entered the bathroom. With a slap on his face, Ja-kyung, who was left alone, only looked at the cake in front of him.


    Oh shit, I feel like I¡¯m going to suffer.


    His tailbone still hurts, no way¡­ probably not¡­ In the house where it was almost destroyed¡­ Oh, please¡­ Let¡¯s pretend to sleep first. Ja-kyung pulled the blanket over himself and closed his eyes, but let alone sleep, his mind became more and more clear.


    His ears perked up in the direction of the bathroom. He squeezed his eyes shut as he heard the bathroom door open. The blanket was pulled from beneath his feet, so he clung to it with all his might, but it was useless. Finally, the blanket was stripped away, and he got up. Kang Il-hyun, who had just gotten out of the shower, lowered his brows and looked sad.


    ¡°Are you tired? It¡¯s my birthday.¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his teeth. It was only tens of minutes ago that he said he didn¡¯t like birthdays. He looked at the time and it was past 12. He just wanted to sleep, but he was not in the mood to back down. After a tense battle of nerves, Ja-kyung reluctantly sat down at the table and took out the cake.


    The cake was as white as the first snow. As Il-hyun lights the candle, he dips his finger in whipped cream and brings it to his mouth. He sticks out his tongue and licks his fingers after sucking. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes sparkled. He looked like he could eat him at any moment.


    Il-hyun looked at him, dipped his finger in the cream again, and handed it out.


    ¡°Do you want to taste it too?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I will eat it myself.¡±


    Ja-kyung refused moderately, but this person stood up and took off his gown. His erect dick sprang to the surface. Ja-kyung frowned and blatantly showed disgust. They should do a drug test on him, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be standing like that every time if it wasn¡¯t for that.


    Il-hyun drove his dick into the cake before lighting the candles. Ja-kyung¡¯s face hardened. His dick was covered in whipped cream when he pulled it out. Ja-kyung considered lighting his dick instead of the candle, but he gave up because he didn¡¯t want to risk his life over this.


    The uneasy premonition that it would not be, was gradually becoming a reality.


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s my birthday, I should get a present, right?¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his eyes and glared at him.


    ¡°Instead, I¡¯ll only let you have one present.¡±


    That means if Ja-kyung did it with his mouth, Il-hyun wouldn¡¯t touch his ass. After a short deliberation, the decision was made.


    That¡¯s right, it¡¯s his birthday. He gave them a lot of money, and he was caught while running away, but Il-hyun didn¡¯t kill him.


    Every time Ja-kyung heard him say that he was unhappy, and even though he was a total bastard who lied and sold his dead mother, it reminded him of his own childhood.


    He didn¡¯t know why. Both of them were equally lonely and unhappy, and Kang Il-hyun would have been better than himself. At least he didn¡¯t have to tear open a cardboard box to eat out of hunger.


    Nonetheless, he wished to console him in his childhood, if only for a brief moment.


    Ja-kyung knelt down in front of Il-hyun. Opening his mouth, he pressed the tip of Il-hyun¡¯s dick to his lips. He stuck out his tongue and lightly licked it. It tasted sweet from the cream. He lifted his eyes and met Il-hyun¡¯s lustful eyes.

 CH 77

    ¡°You¡¯re so badass when it comes to killing people, but why are you so shy when it comes to sucking dick?¡±


    Ja-kyung finally raised his head. He¡¯d never sucked a dick, so he didn¡¯t know how, so he¡¯d only run his tongue along the outside, which had to be unpleasant. Furthermore, he didn¡¯t feel like it because of what happened in the preserving room. It was fear itself that clogged his throat and choked his breath.


    ¡°I might as well suck yours.¡±


    Ja-kyung stood up as soon as Il-hyun finished speaking. Will you? However, before he could fully straighten his legs, Kang Il-hyun pressed his shoulder. He signaled with his eyes to hurry, so Ja-kyung reluctantly opened his mouth and swallowed his dick.


    If he wasn¡¯t going to do it, he shouldn¡¯t have brought it up.


    Ja-kyung moved his head back and forth and pretended to put it in and take it out, but it was so big that it scratched his teeth once in a while. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes became more insidious, as if this had stimulated him. He moved his waist slightly as he ran his hand through his hair. Ja-kyung flinched every time the glans touched his uvula.


    He can feel the clear veins of the shaft etching the mucous membrane of his mouth as his dick slides in and out. Every time Il-hyun tried to go deeper, Ja-kyung grabbed his thigh and blocked it. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t thrusting as mindlessly as before


    His gaze shifted to the marks of gunshot wounds on both sides of his thighs. On that day a year ago, he never imagined the two¡¯s relationship would develop in this way. He had no idea about the left side, so he shot his right thigh to kill him, but Il-hyun managed to survive.


    Haa, Il-hyun tilted his head back, and the speed with which he moved his hips gradually increased. When nausea struck, Ja-kyung drew his head back. Kang Il-hyun fucked him a few times before pulling out his dick and scooping up the whipped cream from the corner of Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth and putting it in his mouth.


    ¡°Take off your clothes.¡±


    ¡°Why. You said you would only get one.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll suck yours too.¡±


    Ja-kyung reluctantly took off his clothes slowly. If Il-hyun wants to suck him, he won¡¯t refuse. Compared to him, Kang Il-hyun was good at ramming and sucking. To the point where Ja-kyung doubted that he had never had sex with a man before.


    thigh


    He leads him to the couch once they¡¯re both naked. Ja-kyung tried to sit him down, but he laid down and patted his thigh, motioning for him to come up. Ja-kyung was perplexed as to what he was up to. Ja-kyung looked at him confusedly. So now he wanted to¡­ suck each other off.


    In the so-called 69 posture.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to do this?¡±


    The teasing tone made Ja-kyung annoyed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve tried it too!¡±


    Then, Il-hyun¡¯s eyes grow cold.


    ¡°Fuck, with who?¡±


    He wanted to deny it, but it was no use; he¡¯d already spit it out. Ja-kyung evaded it by climbing on top of him and getting into a posture. No matter how much he thought about it, this was really¡­ He spread his legs to the side of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face and turned his face toward Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick.


    Il-hyun first grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s ass, then opened his mouth and put the dick in his mouth to harden it. Ah, Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know what to do and put Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick in his mouth. It¡¯s a little easier to suck now that he¡¯s relaxed.


    Ja-kyung unknowingly moved his waist up and down. It was cold, and they were sucking each other¡¯s dicks while stacked upside down on each other. Kang Il-hyun, who was kneading his ass, puts saliva on his finger and inserts it into Ja-kyung¡¯s hole.


    Then he used his tongue to lick his testicles and perineum. Ja-kyung¡¯s legs trembled as a result of the stimulation both inside and outside. The tension was relieved as he became excited, and Il-hyun¡¯s dick entered Ja-kyung¡¯s throat deeper than the first time. Only the sound of sucking each other¡¯s dicks could be heard in the silence.


    After a while, Kang Il-hyun, who was kneading his butt, slapped it with his palm.


    Ja-kyung was startled and lifted his upper body in surprise. Il-hyun sat up and naturally pushed Ja-kyung¡¯s body forward. It was like Ja-kyung was lying face down on the sofa with his butt lifted all of a sudden. Il-hyun reached for the cake and smeared the cream on Ja-kyung¡¯s hole.


    When Ja-kyung reached out his hand to stop him, his lips first touched. Il-hyun stuck out his tongue and licked the cream from the testicles all the way to the perineum, then reached inside and rubbed his dick up and down. Ja-kyung swallowed a moan and buried his head on the sofa.


    Haa, his shoulders went up and down. Damn it, he was so good at driving people crazy. Ja-kyung bit his lip and held it in, but maybe because of the comfort of being together, he moaned more easily than usual.


    ¡°Um¡­ ah!¡±


    His shoulders trembled, and his legs kept getting tense. Ja-kyung felt like he was going to cum, but he held it in for the sake of his pride. When Il-hyun noticed Ja-kyung was about to cum, he immediately removed his hand, sat down on the sofa, and pulled Ja-kyung closer.


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. Where? Il-hyun tapped on his thighs again. Ja-kyung remained silent. Fuck. The ominous vision he had had in the morning became a reality. Pretending not to understand, he put his legs together and gently sat on Il-hyun¡¯s thighs, and then he was hit hard on the buttocks. Slap-


    Ah! Ja-kyung glared at him, and Il-hyun motioned for him to sit down again. Ja-kyung eventually spread his legs apart and sat facing each other on top of Il-hyun¡¯s thighs. Ja-kyung was more embarrassed than when he was lying down or on his stomach. He could clearly feel Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick between his asses. His face was too close, so he turned his head to avoid it, but Kang Il-hyun grabbed his chin and forced him to meet his gaze.


    Il-hyun slowly inserted two fingers all the way into the hole.


    ¡°Try to move.¡±


    Ja-kyung moved his hips slowly as he heard the wet voice. The mixture of shame and excitement made it impossible to look at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face properly. As Ja-kyung rested his forehead on his shoulder, Il-hyun covered Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek with one hand and kissed him.


    Their tongues became sticky, and Il-hyun put in another finger. It was tight, but it was bearable. Ja-kyung¡¯s waist moved a little faster and more violently when he was excited, regardless of his will. As they kissed, he reached down and rubbed Ja-kyung¡¯s dick.


    Their lips parted, and they exchanged gazes.


    Il-hyun asked languidly.


    ¡°I want to get another present.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Can you give it to me?¡±


    His tone was different from his lustful eyes when he asked for permission. Ja-kyung remained silent and nodded. ¡°Lift your ass,¡± Il-hyun whispered in his ear. His fingers slipped out, and something thick touched him this time. After rubbing the glans at the entrance, the narrow hole was slowly opened and his dick was pushed in.


    Ja-kyung stiffened and stopped breathing.


    Il-hyun stroked his back up and down and looked at him with soothing eyes.


    ¡°Good boy. You have to relax for me to go in.¡±


    Then he used the tip of his tongue to lick his nipples. Ja-kyung relaxed his body as much as possible. Maybe because of his posture, he felt like Il-hyun was coming in deeper than usual. Ja-kyung looked down, afraid that Il-hyun would pierce the skin of his stomach.


    Il-hyun stroked the area with his palm and pressed it firmly.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded, and Il-hyun asked again.


    ¡°Does it hurt so much?¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s friendly voice rings in his ears. Even if he made a bad joke, Ja-kyung would be unable to refuse if Il-hyun was so considerate. Ja-kyung grabbed Il-hyun by the shoulder and moved his waist back and forth. It was sloppy because it was his first time, but the deep penetration feels much stronger than before. Ahh, he bit his lip, closed his eyes tightly, and pressed his forehead against Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder.


    Il-hyun teased Ja-kyung¡¯s nipples with his fingers while licking his neck and chin. He twisted it between his fingers, then slowly moved his hand back and grabbed both of Ja-kyung¡¯s buttocks and spread them apart.


    The veins on the backs of Il-hyun¡¯s hands and clenched jaws had hardened from suppressing the desire to fuck Ja-kyung mercilessly .


    ¡°Haaa, fuck.¡±


    Il-hyun, who spat low curses, raised his head and looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s face. Ja-kyung¡¯s scruff of the neck and his ears were already red from excitement.


    ¡°Sorry. Babe.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was biting his lower lip, met Il-hyun¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I just can¡¯t help myself.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold tight.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he inserted his arm into Ja-kyung¡¯s thigh and stood up. His body tilted over, and Ja-kyung hugged Il-hyun tightly by the neck in a hurry. His body floated in the air, his legs spread wide. Ja-kyung looked at him in surprise, but Kang Il-hyun bounced his waist from the bottom to the top. The dick jammed into his ass and then came out while floating in the air.


    ¡°Wait, wait, ah!¡±


    Slap, slap, slap, slap¡ªhanging from his arms with his legs apart, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t get out. His body jumped upwards every time Il-hyun thrust it in. Fuck. He wouldn¡¯t be able to lift an adult man over 180 cm like a piece of paper, no matter how strong he is.


    As the weight was fully loaded, the penetration became deeper, and Ja-kyung felt like his lower stomach was being ripped apart every time Il-hyun thrust it. In the meantime, a sense of ejaculation came over him.


    ¡°Ah, that, that! No, no!¡±


    Ja-kyung screamed as Il-hyun continued to stamp and press on his prostate, causing spurts of semen to gush upward. He hung on his neck and shouted to stop, but the consideration Il-hyun showed for a moment was, of course, a pretense. Il-hyun pounded him so hard that he got another erection despite the fact that he had just finished cumming.


    His moaning couldn¡¯t keep up with the beat and flowed randomly. Kang Il-hyun placed Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulders on the back of the sofa while exhaling heavily. Ja-kyung gasped and looked up at the ceiling with his body floating in the air.


    His vision spiraled. He looked at Il-hyun with bright red eyes, but he licked his lower lip and looked down.


    ¡°You¡¯re the best birthday present I¡¯ve ever gotten.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s heart dropped into his stomach the moment Il-hyun smiled beautifully with a face covered in sweat and lust. Even though he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, Ja-kyung was taken aback by his beating heart, and Il-hyun began preparing to move his waist again.

 CH 78

    ¡°I cannot. No more, ahh.¡±


    Ja-kyung was crawling forward when Il-hyun grabbed him. Before he had a chance to fight back, Il-hyun grabbed him and pushed his dick inside. Slap, slap, his field of vision shook once more. This scumbag. He was planning to eat him all the way down to the bone as an excuse for his birthday.


    Ja-kyung belatedly regretted his decision to set the rhythm, but it was too late. When he turned his head, he noticed the cake Kang Yoo-jung had brought. More than half the cream disappeared from the badly damaged cake. Most of it was smeared on his dick and ass, and entered his mouth.


    Ja-kyung would never have guessed Il-hyun bought it for that purpose. His body flipped over while he was looking away for a moment. Il-hyun draped Ja-kyung¡¯s legs over his shoulders. Knowing what he was about to do, Ja-kyung tried to lower his legs, but Il-hyun¡¯s upper body had already been bent down, and his erect dick came up to the pit of his stomach.


    Both of their upper bodies were drenched in sweat and cum. Il-hyun placed his arm next to Ja-kyung¡¯s face and slammed him down with a short, strong thrust. Slap, slap, slap, his stomach rumbled, his dick crushed his prostate, and he ejaculated for the fourth time. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lips swallowed his as he was about to moan.


    His tongue entered, licked, and rubbed every nook and cranny of his mouth. It was a kiss as fierce as his waist movement. Pleasure spread throughout his body. Semen poured out and splashed on his chest and chin when he lifted his hips on tiptoes.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand came up and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s neck as his lips parted. His grip was strong. He tried to take off his hand because he was suffocating, but it didn¡¯t work. His eyes had turned white. Meanwhile, Il-hyun moved his waist mercilessly.


    Slap, slap, slap, and he saw two legs swinging over his shoulders through his blurred vision. He¡¯d just ejaculated, and there¡¯s a downward tug, as if something else is about to come out. He couldn¡¯t speak because he was choked, so he clutched his shoulder.


    He felt weird and wanted to escape. Sparks flew in front of his eyes with each thrust. Ja-kyung pushed his shoulder to stop, but Il-hyun grabbed him and pinned him to the bed.


    Il-hyun¡¯s thrusts became more violent, and his stomach ached as if it were being ripped open. His eyes had turned red, and the tips of his eyelashes were wet. Kang Il-hyun stuck out his tongue and mercilessly licked and sucked as if he was about to pluck out Ja-kyung¡¯s eyeballs and eat them.


    Aah, stop, stop. Strange. It¡¯s strange.


    His mind went blank, and the sparks that had been flying all over his body ignited at the same time, sending a shock and shudder through him as if he had been struck by lightning. Ja-kyung lifted his waist higher, tightened his thighs, and trembled.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lips went up as something like water poured over his stomach. He didn¡¯t slow down. Semen and water mixed and stained Ja-kyung¡¯s stomach and sheets. The hand that had been pressing against his neck and arm had fallen off. As Ja-kyung ejaculated with a crying face, Il-hyun hugged his torso tightly and poured semen inside.


    Il-hyun¡¯s rough breathing could be clearly heard in Ja-kyung¡¯s ears despite his blurry vision. His entire body felt weak as he was exhausted. Nothing could be heard except for the breathing of the two of them. Ja-kyung¡¯s consciousness gradually faded as he remained motionless and stared at the ceiling.


    ***


    Ja-kyung passed out, and when he finally opened his eyes and woke up, the sun was rising outside. His eyelids were very heavy. He went back to sleep and found Kang Il-hyun clinging to his back like a leech. When he lifted the blanket, Il-hyun¡¯s arms were tightly clasping his chest.


    He continued to feel as though his hole was completely full. He initially thought it was because he had done too much, but he was stunned when he realized later that Il-hyun¡¯s dick was still inside. Did he really sleep with it plugged in? Il-hyun¡¯s dick slipped out of the hole after Ja-kyung released his grip on his chest and moved his body forward.


    It seemed like he knew what was dripping out of his ass without even saying it. He frowned and cursed silently before looking back. Kang Il-hyun was sleeping soundly for some reason. He should kill him. Ja-kyung stared at him and then laid face to face. He doesn¡¯t even breathe. His sleeping is also grossly inhumane.


    Ja-kyung silently cursed so that Il-hyun wouldn¡¯t hear him and then closely examined his features. His face is so attractive¡ªalmost too attractive¡ªthat it attracts attention wherever he goes. Ja-kyung looked at each feature of his face, including his brows, eyes, nose, forehead, and chin, and when he noticed that Il-hyun¡¯s face was approaching, he threw his head back in shock.


    At the same time, the corners of Il-hyun¡¯s lips went up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I don¡¯t know, so kiss me and go wash up.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. Il-hyun opened his eyes, but they were clear, unlike someone who had just awoken. Il-hyun had apparently awoken earlier than him. Ja-kyung can¡¯t take it anymore. He slid down the bed and stepped on the floor, but his back tingled and he couldn¡¯t stand properly.


    He sat down and held on to the bed, and Il-hyun raised his upper body.


    ¡°Oh, my. Are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung got angry and threw a pillow at him. Despite being hit in the face, Il-hyun still smiled brightly. Fuck. You brute. He went into the bathroom while swearing. Ja-kyung looked in the mirror and was speechless.


    The area around his eyes was red and swollen from being tortured all night, and there were kiss marks and teeth marks all over his face from how much Il-hyun sucked and bit him. His stomach and chest were covered in white, dried cum, and his nipples and dick were on the verge of being torn, and it hurt to touch them.


    The semen that had been inside flowed down his thighs again. Il-hyun had cum a lot. While grinding his teeth and holding the sink with both hands, Ja-kyung noticed Kang Il-hyun getting out of bed and approaching him in the mirror.


    Ja-kyung quickly closed the door, and Il-hyun started to knock as soon as Ja-kyung locked it.


    [Let¡¯s wash up together]


    Ja-kyung screamed in anger.


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    [Open the door. I¡¯ll wash you]


    ¡°I¡¯ll wash myself! Just come in if you dare! I¡¯m going to kill you today just like I couldn¡¯t a year ago!¡±¡±


    Ja-kyung heard laughter outside the door. Ja-kyung moved cautiously to the shower booth. His entire body squeaks every time he walks. He turned on the hot water and stood under it, staring puzzledly at the bathroom tiles.


    Last night¡¯s events unfolded one by one, like a panoramic film. No matter how much he thought about it, the ratio of excitement and pain was different from before.


    He covered his face with both hands and hit his head against the shower.


    ¡°Fuck. I guess I¡¯m really gay¡­¡±


    Feeling both ashamed and despondent at the same time, he washed his body with foam, washed his hair, brushed his teeth, and came out. However, Kang Il-hyun was not in the bedroom. He left a change of underwear and outerwear on the bed and disappeared.


    Then the faint sound of a car came from outside. Ja-kyung walked away with a towel wrapped around his waist. He saw several black cars when he pulled back the curtains. He hurriedly clung to the wall and hid himself, only sticking his face out to inspect it.


    It was Park Tae-soo.


    Ja-kyung wondered why he was here at this hour.


    He was puzzled, but the door opened, and Il-hyun entered wearing a gown. He looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s mottled chest and made a pitiful expression.


    ¡°What can I do, it¡¯s time for us to go home.¡±


    ¡°Already?¡±


    Even if he said it, he wished he could take it back.


    ¡°Are you sad?¡±


    ¡°No, I mean¡­¡±


    He was trying to find an excuse, but Il-hyun came right in front of him and kissed him on the lips before leaving.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to wash up, so put on your clothes first. I don¡¯t want the others to see your body.¡±


    He gave a small smile before taking off his robe and entering the bathroom. Ja-kyung, who was left alone, stood there shaking his head erratically while wearing a slightly dazed expression. Don¡¯t be self-conscious. Don¡¯t be needlessly self-conscious. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s cell phone made a loud noise as he smoked a cigarette.


    [I like you, sir! I¡¯ve never had such ecstatic sex in my life!]


    Ja-kyung dropped the cigarette he was holding out of surprise.


    Fuck!


    As if he¡¯d been caught red-handed, he rushed over and turned off the phone.


    ***


    After leaving the island by boat, Ja-kyung sat in the back seat and began to doze off. Il-hyun grabbed his head as it continued to droop to the side and placed it on his shoulder so Ja-kyung could lean against him. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t have the energy to push him away, so he just let him be.


    Park Tae-soo said that as soon as he heard the news that Kang Yoo-jung had departed, he immediately followed. He said that he was afraid that someone would aim for Kang Il-hyun¡¯s life, so he moved ahead. And in order not to disturb the boss¡¯s good time, he watched and waited until morning in a place a little far away from the house.


    He has a good subordinate. Ja-kyung would not have been abused if he had just shown up yesterday. He was irritated with Park Tae-soo for no apparent reason. It was already past lunchtime when he arrived at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house after repeatedly dozing off like that.


    When he got out of the car and opened the door, the Wang brothers came running out, beaming with excitement, but then took a step back when they saw Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°Oh, my God, sir. I haven¡¯t seen you in a few days, but you look much better. Haha.¡±


    At Wang Lun¡¯s joke, Wang Han slapped his side and apologized.


    ¡°We were careless. It won¡¯t happen next time.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve gained a lot from you.¡±


    What did he gain? The Wang brothers¡¯ gazes shifted to Ja-kyung, who stood behind him. Wang Lun¡¯s eyes widened. He had no idea what Ja-kyung had been through, but he appeared after a few days as if half dead. He walked strangely, with bags under his eyes.


    He wondered if he¡¯d broken something in his body.


    He reached down and examined him because he was worried, but when he noticed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes changing into a poisonous snake, he quickly took off his hand.

 CH 79

    ¡°Are you really okay? You weren¡¯t tortured?¡±


    If it was torture, it¡¯s torture, except the weapon is a dick. Ja-kyung shook his head, saying he didn¡¯t want to say anything. After a late lunch, the three sat in the yard and talked about what had happened that day. Fortunately, the two seemed to get along well without Kang Il-hyun¡¯s retaliation while Ja-kyung was away.


    Wang Lun sighed as he remembered what had happened that day.


    ¡°Who would have guessed he¡¯d show up in a helicopter and beat us up with rifles and grenades? CEO Kang, he¡¯s a more powerful man than I thought.¡±


    Wang Han sighed.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I told you not to run away.¡±


    ¡°Hyung. Next time, be aggressive to stop him from running away. Or beat him up.¡±


    Ja-kyung sneered.


    ¡°You¡¯re giving up after just that? What makes you so afraid of Kang Il-Hyun?¡±


    Wang Lun trembled.


    ¡°You said that when you saw it yourself? When CEO Kang appeared from the sky, I thought the devil had come down. I even peed myself. Touch me. My pants are still damp.¡±


    Ja-kyung slumped his shoulders and muttered to himself.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a big fuss about it. I really peed.¡±


    After rubbing the cigarette under his feet and standing up, Wang Lun asked what he was talking about. Ja-kyung could never tell the truth. They¡¯d probably look down at him if he told them he had to pee because he couldn¡¯t cum anymore.


    He looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh, but the gate opened and two employees came in carrying something. It was a box as tall as a man, but at first glance it looked like a coffin.


    Wang Lun and Wang Han also stood up from their seats.


    What¡¯s that?


    Ja-kyung became ominous as he remembered the doll that was modeled after him. He thought Il-hyun left it behind. He hurriedly followed them in, and sure enough, they had dropped the box downstairs. When they opened the lid, a replica of a Ja-kyung was lying inside.


    The Wang brothers looked at it with wide eyes.


    ¡°Wei¡­ Is this you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean no? It¡¯s the same.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s similar, but it¡¯s not.¡±


    It was no use arguing. Kang Il-hyun came out of the bedroom while they looked at each other in amazement. Kang Il-hyun directed the staff to place the model in Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s room on the second floor. He did something to make himself unable to say no, so he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of resisting and accepted it without hesitation.


    Ja-kyung eventually left the creepy doll in one corner of the bedroom. Wang Lun, who had followed him, frowned as he lifted the pants.


    ¡°Oh my God. There¡¯s a dick too.¡±


    Wang Han was also curious and snooped around. He expected it to be hard like a mannequin, but it¡¯s surprisingly soft. They eventually dragged Ja-kyung next to it and made him alternately look at them. They didn¡¯t even take Ja-kyung¡¯s pants off to check, but his dick was much bigger.


    ¡°He used his heart to make this. But it¡¯s a shame he had to make it so small.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I have a man¡¯s pride. CEO Kang was too much.¡±


    ¡°Wei, are you upset?¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at them both and told them to stop talking. Just then, the door opened, Kang Il-hyun, who was downstairs, appeared, and the atmosphere turned cold in an instant. Wang Lun and Wang Han try to run away, but Il-hyun slams the door shut and stands in front of them, looking at the three in turn.


    Wang Lun laughed heartily as he looked at the model.


    ¡°CEO Kang has great sense. To even think of giving him a doll like this as a gift.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled kindly.


    ¡°Yes. I felt bad that he ran away, so I took him to be preserved, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to kill him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so it wasn¡¯t just a gift¡­. You were trying to preserve him¡­.¡±


    They swallowed hard and tried to smile, but Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes lit up.


    ¡°I can make one for you two if you want.¡±


    Wang Lun and Wang Han both waved their hands at the same time. They immediately understood what he meant. That means the next time they run away, he¡¯ll preserve them. It also meant putting it here to look at it and reflect on it. Hearing that story made the model feel even creepier.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you have a lot to talk about after a few days, but I¡¯m going down now. Secretary Park will tell you the next schedule tomorrow. Until then, take a good rest.¡±


    Well then. Il-hyun bowed slightly, closed the door, and walked away.


    The three exchanged glances and sighed.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re in trouble, right?¡±


    ¡°It was wrong to take the money and run away in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Shall we all have a drink to celebrate our survival?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m out. I want to sleep.¡±


    Wang Lun begged him to have a drink, but Ja-kyung shook him off and went into the bedroom. He was tired because he couldn¡¯t sleep properly, and his whole body hurt like he had been beaten. Seeing that the noisy living room was quiet, both of them must have gone back to the next room.


    Ja-kyung stood in front of the bathroom mirror and peeled off the patch. He used more patches because of sex than when he worked. In the place where the patch disappeared, there were a lot of red marks. He took off his shirt and examined his chest and stomach, but nothing was in good condition.


    As he came out and collapsed in the bedroom, the phone rang at his bedside. When he looked up, he noticed a mobile phone on the bedside table. It was the one Kang Il-hyun had bought but left behind when he ran away. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes twisted as he checked the number.


    [My darling?]


    When did he change this?


    The bastard finally became himself.


    Ja-kyung ignored it, but it kept ringing. After swearing, he picked it up.


    [Did you sleep?]


    ¡°I¡¯m lying down¡­¡±


    [I¡¯m going back to my place for dinner, I might be late].


    ¡°¡­¡±


    [Do you want me to come up to see you before I go?]


    He kept asking for permission even when it wasn¡¯t necessary. Ja-kyung wished Il-hyun had asked for permission to have sex as well. The clear handprints on his neck showed what he¡¯d done the night before.


    ¡°Goodbye. I¡¯m really tired.¡±


    Ja-kyung lay on the bed like a corpse after hanging up the phone. He slowly looked around the bedroom after staring at the ceiling for a long time. It¡¯s pretty comfortable here now. He wondered if he could return to where he was.


    He couldn¡¯t sleep, but his mind was racing with thoughts.


    ***


    It was quiet and cold, more like a funeral home than a dinner. All kinds of delicacies were served on the long table, but dinner at this house always felt like a last supper to Il-hyun. He casually exchanged company stories and had casual conversations with his mouth while doing other calculations in his head.


    ¡°It seems you had a good vacation.¡±


    At Chairman Kang¡¯s question, Il-hyun nodded. Yes.


    ¡°Did you go alone?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled sheepishly. He already knew everything, so why was he asking?


    ¡°My sister went for a short visit at night.¡±


    Yoo-jung was on vacation and was staying at the resort until tomorrow, so she couldn¡¯t attend the dinner. Everyone seemed to be eating, but Il-hyun could feel that they were paying attention to his voice.


    ¡°She was secretly hiding to surprise me, but I misunderstood and ran her over.¡±


    ¡°Misunderstood?¡±


    ¡°I thought it was someone who came to kill me.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed as if telling a funny joke. He could see Kim Seon-young¡¯s hesitation even if it was only for a split second. On the other hand, Chairman Kang was calm. Rather, Kang Tae-han, who was sitting in front of him, looked fed up.


    ¡°How can you live like that? If I were you, I¡¯d die of stress.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Because I¡¯m not you, hyung.¡±


    It felt strangely sarcastic, but Kang Tae-han glared at him and shut his mouth, not wanting to ruin the dinner. He said something unnecessary because he couldn¡¯t think of anything else. Seok-joo, who was watching the carnivores, waited for the right moment to speak up.


    ¡°I saw Zhang Yi An the other day.¡±


    He forgot to mention that he saw him at the club. Kang Il-hyun did not respond or react. Kang Tae-han tilted his glass of wine and looked at Seok-joo.


    ¡°Zhang Myung¡¯s grandson? The one with the erotic eyes?¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand paused on the steak he was slicing. His eyes shifted to look at Kang Tae-han, who was sitting in front of him, as he continued to speak with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°He stayed at CEO Kang¡¯s house last year. What¡¯s he doing here? Did you see him at the club?¡±


    Seok-joo nodded. Tae-han clicked his tongue in surprise. He was impressed that he knew how to hang out in a place like that, when he thought he was just a naive child who didn¡¯t know anything.


    ¡°Well, I heard that there are a lot of perverts among the art students, but what brings him here without a call? Have you heard anything, father?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re noisy. Stop talking and eat.¡±


    Kang Tae-han remained silent. Chairman Kang put the food in his mouth and looked at Il-hyun¡¯s expression. He was calm without any agitation. Like someone who hears something they don¡¯t know at all. But he wasn¡¯t sure how long that calmness would last.


    ***


    Il-hyun opened the window and lit a cigarette as the car drove away. He was tired, as if he had just fought a war and not having dinner. He reached into his tie and pulled it, unbuttoning his shirt¡¯s top button. Haa, he exhaled cigarette smoke and looked out the window calmly.


    Next to him lay something he had received as a birthday present from Chairman Kang. When he turned his head and took out the box, inside was a drinking cup made of fine jade-colored porcelain. Il-hyun laughed softly and ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth. He could feel Park Tae-soo¡¯s gaze glancing back through the room mirror.


    It¡¯s Gye Young-bae.


    A glass that overflows from the outside if you drink more than a certain amount. Chairman Kang used to give this as a gift before purging competitors when he was younger. It was a warning. Don¡¯t do anything that overflows in minutes. It also meant that they would pay the price by shedding blood or sweat.


    Finally this came to him.


    Il-hyun roughly shoved the glass into the box and handed it to Tae-soo, who was sitting in front of him.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Il-hyun lit a cigarette and laughed like a villain.


    ¡°Keep it well, and put it on the old man¡¯s table. We¡¯ll see who gets to use it first.¡±

 CH 80

    Ja-kyung looked outside as the car briefly stopped at the traffic light. Geothermal heat rose like a haze over the asphalt due to the hot weather. There was a lot of noise on the news that a heat wave warning had been issued, and even the streets were quiet.


    Ja-kyung departed as soon as the signal changed. The car¡¯s navigation system was directing the three to a hotel in the city center. Wang Lun¡¯s girlfriend, who had been hiding abroad, came back to Korea, but she had to stay in a hotel for the time being because she had no place to stay right away.


    ¡°About CEO Kang. Is he busy?¡±


    Wang Lun, who was in the passenger seat, asked Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung shook his head. He didn¡¯t know. He went to his parents¡¯ house for dinner on his birthday and didn¡¯t even show his nose afterwards. He went to work earlier and left later than usual.


    The housekeeper explained that it was due to work piling up after a few days off. Ja-kyung thought he was always going out to cut people¡¯s heads, but it was amazing that he was also working.


    After parking the car in the underground parking lot of the hotel, the three of them went up to the lobby. Wang Han and Ja-kyung sat in the lobby waiting for Wang Lun while he met his girlfriend. Wang Han watched the people passing by while Ja-kyung double-checked the photo that Park Tae-soo had given him yesterday and that he had saved to his phone.


    The target was a man named Kim Dong-myeong, a person Ja-kyung knew.


    Ja-kyung had seen him before at a place where he went with Kang Seok-joo. A man who displayed and sold women and men like merchandise. A man who secretly offered Ja-kyung a deal in which he could deliver a child around the age of ten.


    Ja-kyung was told that he ran dozens of high-end brothels in Seoul, Busan, Japan, Hong Kong, and other locations, with profits going to a man named Director Kim of Shipping Group. It was Chairman Kang¡¯s person who pretended to be Kang Il-hyun.


    Kang Il-hyun was in the process of pruning the twigs before cutting down the trunk of a large tree.


    Using Ja-kyung and his brothers as an axe.


    He was playing a game because he was bored while looking at the picture, but Wang Han, who was sitting next to him, tapped him. Then he winked at the center of the lobby. Has Wang Lun already come down? Ja-kyung turned his head and his eyes widened slightly.


    It was Kang Il-hyun.


    He had no idea why he was in the hotel lobby at this time, but he wasn¡¯t alone. Il-hyun was there with a young woman next to him, but Ja-kyung had never seen the woman in a black dress before. The outfit and clutch bag she was carrying were too flashy for a secretary, and the two appeared to be particularly close.


    It was the first time he¡¯d seen Kang Il-hyun smile like that around a woman. The woman smiled brightly when Il-hyun shook his head and looked puzzled. Wang Han and Ja-kyung saw the scene and turned to the other side to avoid them. They took the elevator and went upstairs.


    Wang Han secretly looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°It looks like he¡¯s come to work. I should have said hello.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    Ja-kyung responded casually, then picked up his phone and focused on the game. After waiting for another 30 minutes, Wang Lun finally comes out. Judging from the fact that his shirt was torn apart and his face was flushed red, he must have had a good time with his girlfriend.


    When Ja-kyung told him to wear clothes properly, he tucked his shirt in and smirked.


    ¡°Even during the day, there are a lot of people in the hotel. Maybe they¡¯re hiding a lover like me.¡±


    Wang Han warned him not to, but Wang Lun made a bad joke by saying that daytime sex is the best. Wang Han said that there must have been a lot of people who came for business and scolded Wang Lun that not everyone thinks like him, but to no avail. He dragged the excited Wang Lun out of the hotel.


    While driving on the road, Wang Lun spotted a nearby department store and asked Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Wei, didn¡¯t you say you were going to stop by the department store?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    There was a subtle low pressure from earlier. Wang Lun looked at Wang Han and asked for a reason with his eyes, but he couldn¡¯t hear the answer. He noticed a car following them in the rearview mirror. They were still being watched, but they didn¡¯t mind since they had given up trying to escape.


    ***


    ¡°Did you think that this trick would work for me?¡±


    The white-haired old man showed traces of age on his wrinkled face. Nonetheless, the energy in his eyes was as strong as that of a tiger. He was dressed in a gray suit with a red tie and smoking a pipe, and the more he watched it, the more it reminded him of a black-and-white movie.


    ¡°What do you mean by a trick? I¡¯m upset. There¡¯s nothing I can do to stop a man and woman from being attracted to each other.¡±


    Next to the old man sat a young man and woman. The woman was dressed in a black one-piece dress. She was Il-hyun¡¯s junior in high school and worked at Il-hyun¡¯s company. And sitting next to her was Zhang Yi An, the old man¡¯s grandson.


    The old man¡¯s name was Zhang Myung, and he was the former head of a large Hong Kong organization, now retired but still very influential among them.


    ¡°You mean, the two of them met by chance?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s by chance or not, your grandson has found a suitable partner, and that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    Zhang Myung was taken aback by Il-hyun¡¯s brazen attitude. He¡¯d lost his son in an accident, and he¡¯d pampered his grandson so much that he¡¯d never set foot near this side. Even though his daughter-in-law was Korean, he never dreamed of asking his grandson to marry a Korean woman.


    And at that, she was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s person.


    ¡°So. What do you want from me?¡±


    Il-hyun winked at Tae-soo. An employee served drinks after Tae-soo left the drawing room with Zhang Yi An and his girlfriend. In terms of Korea, it was similar to soju, which is commonly consumed in Hong Kong. After filling Zhang Myung¡¯s glass with alcohol, Il-hyun poured it into his own glass as well. Zhang Myung¡¯s gaze was fixed on the glass.


    What you want, I¡¯ll give it to you. He was going to kick him out immediately if he said anything unseemly. However, after Il-hyun turned around and emptied the glass, he immediately refilled it and remained silent.


    Zhang Myung emptied his glass as well, and only after Il-Hyun filled it did he speak.


    ¡°I know very well that you¡¯re close with my father.¡±


    Zhang Myung stared at Il-hyun without saying anything.


    ¡°I also know very well that you have a lot of affection for our company.¡±


    ¡°So.¡±


    ¡°The company, help me take it. You know that my brother Kang Tae-han has no strong qualities.¡±


    In a word, it was a request to support him.


    Zhang Myung had a share, so it appeared that he was thinking about voting for the successor.


    ¡°And you have qualities?¡±


    ¡°At least I¡¯m not going to mess it up.¡±


    When Zhang Myung looked at him, Il-hyun smiled and finished filling the glass.


    ¡°I know there are many things you dislike about me, but can¡¯t you just pretend I¡¯m your late son and look at me in a positive light?¡±


    Zhang Myung was at a loss for words when he saw him smile and fill his glass. He waited, thinking that if he came out with a high-handed attitude, he would scold him, but this guy was even sneakier than Chairman Kang. Besides, as much as he hated to admit it, his deceased son and his bulldozer-like personality are strangely similar. It seemed that he knew that better than he did.


    After meeting him in private, he was at least a little relieved to see that Il-hyun wasn¡¯t as crazy as he had feared.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to convince Chairman Kang first. Then I¡¯ll consider it.¡±


    Il-hyun raised his glass again. As expected, the biggest stumbling block was Chairman Kang. He knew how to do it, but he was still struggling. It was entirely up to him whether to make a toothless tiger or leave the skin.


    ***


    Il-hyun closed his eyes and rested his head on the back seat of the car. His head was pounding from drinking all day on an empty stomach. He looked down on that old man, but after observing how the alcohol continued to flow into him like a bottomless pit, he regretted having used alcohol to persuade him.


    He couldn¡¯t wait to see Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s face. He left him for two days to rest well, but now was the limit. Would Ja-kyung like to look a little nicer today since he was considerate? The car arrived in front of the house before he knew it. A splash from the pool could be heard as he opened the back door and entered the house through the gate.


    Even from a distance, he could tell who it was at a glance. He motioned for Tae-soo to enter first before turning his steps toward the pool. A smile naturally spread across his lips. His heartbeat accelerated along with his steps. As he approached and looked down, Lee Ja-kyung was submerged in the water and moving back and forth.


    Ja-kyung eventually raised his face above the water and let out a breath as Il-hyun stood and waited.


    ¡°Hi baby.¡±


    Il-hyun gave him a refreshing smile as he approached, but Ja-kyung dove back into the water after giving him a quick glance. It has been two days since Il-hyun saw him, but Ja-kyung ignored him. Il-hyun frowned and found a pile of alcohol bottles and cigarette ash next to the chair. It was less than what many people drank, and it was a lot to say that he drank alone.


    Ja-kyung walked out of the water just as Il-hyun made the decision to dive in and pull him up. He was swimming in a thin white shirt that revealed his exposed figure. After wringing out the water from his clothes, he approached to pick up the towel that was on the chair. Il-hyun went in front of him and stared into his face.


    How should he describe this? A grumpy cat?


    Il-hyun raised one eyebrow and asked.


    ¡°You know how bad your eyes look right now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My eyes look so ugly.¡±


    After a soulless apology, he turned around and walked in, shaking his head. Il-hyun stood there with a stunned expression and then followed him. Even though he was drunk, he came here excitedly at the thought of seeing Ja-kyung¡¯s face, but he felt bad because Ja-kyung treated him more insignificantly than before.


    Il-hyun grabbed his shoulders and turned him around, looking straight into his eyes.


    ¡°If you¡¯re upset about anything, tell me. Don¡¯t act like this.¡±


    He had no idea what the problem was, but Ja-kyung remained silent and glared at him.


    Il-hyun calmed down and touched Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek.


    Yes, the person who likes more should lose. What should I do?


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, it¡¯s killing me.¡±


    As he smiled and brought his lips to kiss, Ja-kyung¡¯s head was thrown back. Il-hyun thought he was trying to avoid it, but Ja-kyung slammed him in the face. Fuck! Il-hyun wrinkled his brow as he held his nose.


    Ja-kyung still had an evil look in his eyes and a wicked smile.


    ¡°Sorry. It was a mistake.¡±


    Il-hyun was stunned. Mistake? Anyone can see that he hit him up on purpose. Before he could ask why, Ja-kyung dashed into the house as if running away. The nose that was hit was in pain. Il-hyun ran after him angrily, but Ja-kyung had already run into the bedroom. There were many eyes watching in the living room.


    He clenched his teeth and turned his gaze to the second floor, where Ja-kyung had disappeared. Il-hyun was confused as to what was wrong with him.

 CH 81

    His stomach was turned upside down, and his head hurt like it was going to break. He barely opened his eyes, so he couldn¡¯t be bothered to move. He moved so much that the bed sheets were messed up and he was lying on his back. Ja-kyung, who had only just gotten up, opened his eyes wide.


    A couch was stacked in front of the door.


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    He rubbed his eyes wondering if he was seeing it wrong. He even remembered drinking in the living room with Wang Han and Wang Lun last night, but the memory stopped after that. He got out of bed and looked around, but he didn¡¯t see anything unusual.


    He wondered what had happened.


    First, he went into the bathroom to get some rest. Standing in front of the sink, he lifted his bangs while looking at his face. A bruise was clearly visible in the middle of his forehead. What¡¯s this. Did I fall? There were also bruises on his knees and arms.


    What the hell did I do? After taking a shower to wake up, he put a patch on the kiss marks left by Kang Il-hyun and changed his clothes. After moving the sofa and putting it in place, he opened the door with a little fear.


    Despite his concerns, the living room was as usual. The sofa and table where they had a drink yesterday were also cleaned. He exhaled a sigh of relief and proceeded to the first floor. He heard Wang Han and Wang Lun¡¯s voices from inside the dining room as he passed by the living room.


    Before going to them, the house chef approached and asked kindly.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded his head awkwardly. Yes.


    ¡°Do you want me to get you hot water?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll have the usual.¡±


    Wang Lun and Wang Han were eating at the table when he arrived. Their expressions were strange to say the least. ¡®Why?¡¯ Ja-kyung asked with his lips, but they only shook their heads in response.


    The house chef approached and handed him honey water instead of juice.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine to soothe yourself before a meal. Breakfast will be ready soon.¡±


    Ja-kyung sat down with his cup. Wang Lun, who was eating bread with soup, curled his lips and twitched as if he was trying not to laugh. An uneasiness creeps up behind his back. Before Ja-kyung could ask why, he heard voices from outside the living room.


    Kang Il-hyun came inside despite the fact that it was past rush hour. When Ja-kyung turned to say hello, his eyes widened slightly. There was a band-aid on the bridge of Il-hyun¡¯s nose. Il-hyun made eye contact and smiled brightly.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    He pulled out the chair next to Ja-kyung and sat down. Wang Lun and Wang Han stood up and picked up the bread as if they had agreed.


    ¡°Thank you for the meal, Mrs.¡±


    Looking at the Wang brothers, Il-hyun motioned for them to sit down.


    ¡°The witnesses can¡¯t run away.¡±


    Witness?


    Il-hyun changed his posture and looked directly at Ja-kyung, and put his arms behind the chair. Ja-kyung gradually moved his upper body backward to avoid him, who was coming close.


    ¡°Why, why?¡±


    ¡°Do you have anything to say to me?¡±


    What do I want to say?


    ¡°Your nose¡­ What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±


    When Ja-kyung asked, Il-hyun wrinkled the bridge of his nose as if in pain.


    ¡°I was attacked by a crazy cat last night.¡±


    Ja-kyung made a confused expression. What crazy cat? No way¡­ Ja-kyung moved his gaze to the Wang brothers sitting in front of him, but both were fidgeting. He must have done something wrong, based on the atmosphere. Was he involved in a drunken fight? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t remember anything.


    He looked carefully and asked carefully.


    ¡°I¡­ Did I do it?¡±


    Il-hyun did not respond. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t recall anything, so he was at a loss for words. Soon after, Il-hyun pulled on his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. It was red around his neck


    ¡°You don¡¯t remember this either?¡±


    Ja-kyung opened his mouth and tilted his head.


    ¡°No way, did I¡­?¡±


    Il-hyun called Park Tae-soo and gestured as soon as he finished talking. Park Tae-soo, who was standing close to the sofa, brought something with him. It was a tablet with a video on the screen. When the button was pressed, images of the two appeared on the CCTV screen.


    It was recorded and the time shown below was last night. In the living room on the second floor, the two of them grabbed each other, shoved each other, and squabbled with each other. Ja-kyung punched him first. Il-hyun lightly avoided it, but the problem came after that. The two got tangled up and fell on the floor when Ja-kyung put his legs on top of Il-hyun¡¯s shoulders, crossed them, and strangled him.


    Il-hyun rolled on the floor for a long time, as if he lacked the strength to resist the stranglehold with Ja-kyung¡¯s legs rather than his arms. Ja-kyung runs away to his bedroom as soon as Il-hyun frees himself from the leg that was strangling him. Il-hyun stood up and stood in front of the door, putting one hand on his hip and brushing his flowing hair.


    He could feel Il-hyun¡¯s rage even as he watched it on the screen. With a bite of bread in his hand, Ja-kyung stared at the screen, speechless. Kang Il-hyun smiled softly from the side.


    ¡°Would you like to hear your voice? It¡¯s even hotter.¡±


    As he opened the next file, two voices alternated.


    [Don¡¯t act like this, tell me exactly why you¡¯re angry.]


    The low, deep voice belonged to Kang Il-hyun.


    [Go away! You son of a bitch! If you dare to come closer. I¡¯m not going to let you go!]


    Ja-kyung¡¯s voice was full of spite.


    [I kept calling you pretty, so you¡¯re taking liberties now, don¡¯t you?]


    [When did I ask you to call me pretty!]


    [Come here while I still speak nicely.]


    [No! You old pervert!]


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes and mouth widened. Silence flowed in the same way in the audio file he was listening to. After a while, he heard Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bewildered voice.


    [Old¡­ what?]


    [Old bastard!]


    Il-hyun gnashed his teeth as he held the tablet. Ja-kyung placed the bread he was biting on the plate and placed his hands on his knees. Fuck. I¡¯ve committed a heinous sin.


    Il-hyun looked back and called Tae-soo.


    Tae-soo, do I look that old?


    Park Tae-soo responded immediately that he was not. Ja-kyung sighed and rolled his eyes. Tae-soo did a great job, but he was dishonest. When Il-hyun asked the house chef and the Wang brothers the same question, they both gave the same answer. Everyone was lying. When Ja-kyung first saw him, he couldn¡¯t believe Il-hyun was only twenty-nine. He looked a little younger now that he was 30. He¡¯ll look his age when he¡¯s about thirty-five.


    But that was not the point now. Il-hyun pressed the button again just as Ja-kyung was about to apologize. Il-hyun could be heard gasping for air. Ja-kyung broke out in cold sweat. Il-hyun¡¯s murderous voice could be heard as if he had just barely escaped.


    [Honey, are you really going to do this?]


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t give up and screamed in anger.


    [How is it? You also feel awful when you¡¯re strangled! Strangle me one more time! I will also shove it into your ass and step on your neck!]


    Oh, I can¡¯t hear any more. Il-hyun paused and set the tablet down. At the same time, he rested his chin on his palm and smiled gently at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Do you remember now?¡±


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°I almost died because of you yesterday.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize. Thanks to that, I came to see my dead mother for a short time.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Your face looks better than when you were drunk. That¡¯s great.¡±


    Ja-kyung was speechless as Il-hyun smiled sadly. With that temperament, it¡¯s strange he didn¡¯t kill Ja-kyung yesterday. His head was gradually falling down as if he had become a treasonous criminal. There was silence around the table as if no one was there. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t even hear the breathing of the Wang brothers sitting in front of him.


    Il-hyun lightly tapped his fingertips on the table before reaching out and tucking Ja-kyung¡¯s side hair behind his ear. The touch was gentle.


    ¡°Stop with the apology, why don¡¯t you tell me in your own words what happened yesterday?¡±


    Ja-kyung held on tightly.


    ¡°If you speak honestly, I will forgive you.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Sorry. I don¡¯t remember¡­¡±


    ¡°Think carefully. There must be a reason.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a crazy person who gets drunk and fights with anyone.¡±


    That¡¯s strange. He seemed to be in a good mood, despite the fact that he was clearly accusing Ja-kyung of wrongdoing. He was smiling, which made him even scarier. Ja-kyung moved the fork and knife away from him quietly.


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t remember¡­¡±


    A strange air current flowed in his gaze with a sense of playfulness. Ja-kyung hastily made an excuse.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ it happens when I drink, my brothers know.¡±


    He made up words that did not exist in order to avoid a crisis. There was only one case in which Ja-kyung became drunk and his memory was cut off, it was when he was eighteen years old. Ja-kyung thought that the bread he had just eaten had gotten stuck in his stomach, so he grabbed a glass of cold water.


    Gulp, the moment he took a sip,


    ¡°Are you so upset that I went to a hotel with a girl?¡±


    Pooh! He sprayed the water in his mouth onto Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face. Il-hyun smiled happily as Park Tae-soo handed him a handkerchief to wipe his wet face. Ja-kyung was speechless and stared with his mouth open before turning his head to face Wang Han and Wang Lun, who sat in front of him.


    The two averted their gazes simultaneously. Il-hyun leaned in closer to Ja-kyung as he wiped his face.


    ¡°Tell me. What made you so angry that you wanted to strangle me?¡±


    A grin spreads across his face. The upper lip of the perplexed Ja-kyung quivered. It was true that he was angry. However, he wasn¡¯t angry with Kang Il-hyun because he was with a woman; he was angry with himself for being in a bad mood when he saw them. So it was definitely not jealousy.


    ¡°I understand because if it was the other way around, I would have torn you apart on the spot.¡±


    A murderous intent flashed in and out of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about¡­.¡±


    Il-hyun picked up the tablet again.


    ¡°This won¡¯t do, I¡¯m going to have to show you the proof.¡±


    Ja-kyung muttered, and his face became pale. There was no way he would have said such a thing even when he was drunk.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know when you hear it.¡±


    Ja-kyung jumped up from his seat when Il-hyun attempted to press something on the tablet. He then grabbed the tablet and ran to the second floor. He slammed the door shut behind him, locked it, and sat down while panting heavily. He checked the screen, but there was nothing but the video and audio files he had seen earlier.


    He listened to the audio file just in case, but there was no mention of jealousy. Ja-kyung trembled as he gripped the tablet, a defeated expression on his face. After some time, a message from Kang Il-hyun arrived on the cell phone he was carrying in his pocket.


    [Since you seem embarrassed, I¡¯ll send you breakfast.]


    Il-hyun¡¯s happy face flashed before his eyes. He clenched his teeth in frustration and the next message arrived.


    [Tell me in bed tonight how jealous you were?]

 CH 82

    Ja-kyung smoked a cigarette and silently disassembled the firearm, wiping it down and lubricating it with a cloth. He was going to work on the second job tomorrow night, and because he had to descend the rope from the roof, he needed to be fully prepared, including the gun.


    Even in the midst of that, he remembered what had happened in the morning and let out a sigh. Wang Han, who was sitting next to him, watched and said a word.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind it. CEO Kang just let it go.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun did not simply dismiss it. Ja-kyung was certain that man would mock this morning for a hundred years. Wang Lun could be seen in the corner if he looked closely. Wang Lun then comes out smiling. He appeared to be in a good mood following a lengthy video call with his girlfriend.


    Ja-kyung glared at him and filled the magazine with bullets one by one.


    ¡°Wei. Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Looking at him smiling, Ja-kyung asked with his teeth clenched.


    ¡°Did hyung tell him?¡±


    ¡°So what? If you had seen CEO Kang¡¯s face yesterday, you would have told the truth.¡±


    Wang Han also agreed. Yesterday, the two of them were drinking more in the next room, when a loud noise came from Ja-kyung¡¯s room and they ran out. The living room was a mess, CEO Kang had a scar on his nose, and his clothes were messed up.


    His eyes were blazing like a beast, and he was ready to pull out Ja-kyung and kill him. Wang Lun quickly confessed what had happened during the day. Although he didn¡¯t admit it, he sneakily spilled the words that Ja-kyung was jealous.


    After learning the circumstances, the anger disappeared from Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face, and a smile spread instead. Wang Lun thought he was a man he couldn¡¯t understand at all, but his feelings for Ja-kyung were revealed at a glance.


    ¡°He must have really liked you.¡±


    Wang Lun agreed with Wang Han¡¯s careless words.


    ¡°You saw it this morning. Honey dripping from his eyes even after you drunk and said that shit.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that, but I don¡¯t think he¡¯s taking the relationship lightly.¡±


    ¡°I already knew. If he had intended to kill me, he would have killed me right away when he caught me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°And Wei. About you. You¡¯re a nice guy and all, but you¡¯re prone to saying mean things sometimes.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°You heard it. It was too much to say that he looked old. I would have been hurt too.¡±


    Wang Han, who was listening, frowned as he remembered the past.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You used to get mad and yell at me for being a bald old man.¡±


    Wang Lun looked upset as if he had heard it. The thick hair was gradually disappearing, so the pain was understandable.


    ¡°It¡¯s cruel. I thought I¡¯d always have a lot of hair.¡±


    Wang Han laughed.


    ¡°Therefore. I¡¯m glad you understand my heart too.¡±


    ¡°If CEO Kang called you a fox. How would you feel?¡±


    Ja-kyung gnashed his teeth. Since he was a child, he had been told that he looked like a fox, so he hated the word.


    ¡°Look at that. Squinting your eyes again.¡±


    After yelling at him to stop talking, Ja-kyung focused only on the gun. Whose side was he on? Wang Lun grew to like Kang Il-hyun day by day. No, he liked him from the day Il-hyun chased them by helicopter to the island. He said he really liked Il-hyun¡¯s manly personality.


    After finishing the gun, they cleaned up and went back to their bedrooms to rest. Ja-kyung lay on the bed, turned on meditation music to calm himself down, and sat on the floor. Taking a deep breath, he cleared out the bad emotions accumulated in his body and tidied up his head.


    But all was in vain. He keeps thinking of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s smirking and smiling face that he saw this morning. He¡¯d rather go outside and swim and sunbathe. Getting out in the sun will make him feel a little better. After meditating, he stood up from his seat, took off his clothes, and put on his swimsuit.


    ****


    Ah, with a dismayed expression on his face, Il-hyun tilted his head back. A shopping center and hotel were being built on Jeju Island, and there had been frequent clashes with environmental protection groups for some time. It eventually escalated into a physical fight this morning, and the construction was stopped for a while.


    He had to leave work early in order to travel to Jeju Island on short notice. He was determined to bully the cat tonight. The closer he got to his house, the more regretful he became. When he entered the yard, he noticed someone lying on a sunbed in the far pool.


    Of course, it was Lee Ja-kyung. He was lying on his stomach in the sun, wearing only a swimsuit, earphones, and even sunglasses, and not moving.


    Il-hyun gestured to Taes-oo to go in and then approached. Looking down from the nose, the bruises were clear all over the body. Even in the midst of this, the well-protruding hips caught his eye. The tattoo he carved was cleverly hidden by the top of his swimsuit. The urge to pull down the bathing suit and lick it arose.


    He sat in front of him and ran his fingertips along his spine from his shoulders. Ja-kyung turned over. He tilted his head, pulled up his sunglasses, and cast a hazy glance at Il-hyun. Ja-kyung was probably sleeping.


    ¡°Are you going to be barbecuing?¡±


    Ja-kyung sat up, took off his sunglasses, and rubbed his face. He checked his wristwatch next to him with a sleepy face and a puzzled expression. It wasn¡¯t even 3 o¡¯clock yet. What brought Kang Il-hyun here? Before he had time to wonder, Il-hyun brought a large towel and wrapped it around Ja-kyung¡¯s body.


    ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can see your gorgeous body.¡±


    His hand slides down the front of the towel and flicks a nipple. Ja-kyung frowned and withdrew his hand. Il-hyun licked his lower lip and smiled.


    ¡°We have some unfinished business from this morning, don¡¯t we?¡±


    Ja-kyung flinched and tried to run away, but was caught and returned to the sunbed. Il-hyun took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeved shirt. The staff arrived just in time to serve cool watermelon juice and iced coffee. After the staff left, Il-hyun gave Ja-kyung the juice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to explain, but I have nothing to do with her.¡±


    Ja-kyung held a straw in his mouth and gulped down the juice. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze stared at his mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m not curious.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were jealous.¡±


    ¡°My brothers got it wrong.¡±


    ¡°You really didn¡¯t mind?¡±


    Ja-kyung was speechless. To be honest, his pride hurts, and to lie, he was afraid of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s aftermath. As he rolled his eyes, Kang Il-hyun grabbed his hand and brought it to his face. When Ja-kyung tried to pull it out, Il-hyun placed it on his cheek and smiled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tease the old man. It¡¯s more attractive when you play hard to get.¡±


    Ja-kyung was startled and drew his hand away. Given how he chewed and spit out the words old man, it must have formed quite a bit. He was debating whether to apologize when Tae-soo came out from the house with a suitcase. Il-hyun smiled as he made eye contact with Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I have an urgent business trip today, so let¡¯s finish our conversation when I get back.¡±


    Ja-kyung let out a sigh of relief inside. He survived for now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡±


    Damn it. He should¡¯ve stayed for a month and come back while he was there.


    ¡°Then hug me and say goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Why¡­should I?¡±


    ¡°You never hugged me first.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an old man¡¯s wish.¡±


    Ja-kyung clenched his teeth. Damn it. Ja-kyung be that Il-hyun will use it until he died. Il-hyun waited while Ja-kyung looked around. Tae-soo was nowhere to be found, nor were the guards. Ja-kyung hesitantly extended his arms in front of him. Ja-kyung felt sorry for beating him the day before and said that Il-hyun was old.


    The scent of his skin wafted out as he hugged his neck in a sloppy posture. Il-hyun wrapped his arms around Ja-kyung and drew him in. Their upper body was completely attached as a result of this. A hug without sex felt awkward and unfamiliar. Il-hyun¡¯s lips approached this time as he let go of Ja-kyung¡¯s body.


    Ja-kyung lowered his eyes instead of dodging. The tongue slipped into the mouth after their lips collided. Il-hyun swiped the inside of Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth once, and it was quickly parted. Il-hyun wore a sad expression, and despite the fact that it was only for a moment, Ja-kyung accepted his kiss because he felt sorry for him.


    But that feeling couldn¡¯t last more than a minute.


    ¡°I got hard when all you did was hug me.¡±


    Il-hyun rubbed the front of Ja-kyung¡¯s tight pants with his hands. Ja-kyung hated it and glared at him, asking him not to do it. He laughed and pulled Ja-kyung by the back of his head. The lips were brushed slightly softer this time. They could feel each other through slightly parted lips.


    Il-hyun secretly whispered.


    ¡°I have 10 minutes to spare, would you like to do one round behind the house?¡±


    ¡°One round?¡±


    Il-hyun stood up, grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm, and pulled him away as soon as he finished speaking. Il-hyun gently coaxed and dragged Ja-kyung away when he tried to pull his arm.


    ¡°I¡¯m not making you do it. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Shut up and let go of my hand.¡±


    Ja-kyung vigorously shook his arms, but to no avail. When they arrived at the house, he noticed an empty space with no one in it. Il-hyun pushed Ja-kyung against the wall and sucked his lips hard. Ja-kyung grabbed his shoulder and pushed him away, frowning and pointing to the CCTV.


    Il-hyun then took a stone from the flower bed and handed it to Ja-kyung. Even though he wasn¡¯t told to, Ja-kyung instinctively threw a stone and hit the CCTV. Il-hyun smiled as the camera rotated to the other side.


    ¡°Nice shot.¡±


    Ah, why am I doing that? Il-hyun knelt on the lawn as Ja-kyung tried to come back to his senses. Ja-kyung was aware of what he was about to do, but he couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. Il-hyun pulled down his swimsuit and swallowed Ja-kyung¡¯s dick into his mouth in the blink of an eye. Ja-kyung grabbed his head and yanked him off in an unexpected situation.


    ¡°Are you a dog in heat?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m a fool.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°After being humiliated like that yesterday, today I¡¯m down on my knees to suck your dick.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°With this much fucking effort, come over a little bit.¡±


    He sneered and swallowed Ja-kyung¡¯s dick again. Ja-kyung pressed his head against the wall and bit his lower lip. He could see the fence in front of him. It was still covered in red roses. He lowered his gaze to the clear sucking sound. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s head moved back and forth, and Ja-kyung¡¯s dick went in and out of his mouth.


    He hate to admit it, but even the way Il-hyun¡¯s cheeks were so deeply puckered from sucking his dick was ridiculously sexy.


    Unknowingly, he reached down and grabbed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s head and moved his waist.


    More, harder, harder.


    His entire body was tingling with excitement, and his mind yearned for something more stimulating.

 CH 83

    The rain, which had been falling for two hours prior to their departure, had finally stopped after midnight. The three drove a luxury sedan into the underground parking lot of a central Seoul apartment building. Today¡¯s target was Kim Dong-myung, a man who prostitutes himself for high-ranking people. Fortunately, there was a house that Kang Il-hyun had bought in the same apartment building, so he could easily enter the parking lot.


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t wonder why he bought an apartment here. The housekeeper once told him that Il-hyun has too many properties to count. This seemed to be one of them.


    ¡°I wonder how much property he has.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t imagine.¡±


    The shipping group took shape like an ordinary company, but it still engage in numerous illegal activities behind the scenes. Of course, they cleverly avoided the law, and even if they were investigated by the prosecution, they often escaped without charges. Payouts to high-ranking officials likely played a role along the way.


    Wang Han waited in the car while Ja-kyung and Wang Lun carried the gun, rope, and knife to the elevator. He swiped the card to open the door. After getting off the elevator on the 15th floor, they headed to the rooftop through the emergency exit.


    The roof entrance door had been completely shut. Wang Lun took a tool from his bag to open the door. After applying an electric shock, he ripped off the switchgear and went inside to inspect his surroundings.


    They settled down in a suitable place, took the rope from the bag, and wrapped it tightly around the ventilation system. After Wang Lun pulled the rope several times to make sure it was secure, the two stood side by side and lit a cigarette. The city where the sun disappeared was spectacular with the lights emitted from the buildings.


    Wang Lun exhaled smoke and smiled softly.


    ¡°The night view is awesome.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°How is it? Didn¡¯t you say you lived around here when you were little?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked around. It wasn¡¯t near, it was a little far away, but he couldn¡¯t remember the exact location. He didn¡¯t realize then that Seoul was like this. It was dark, scary, frightening, and a hell of a place for a ten-year-old to survive day to day.


    ¡°Maybe we should start our life together in Seoul when we¡¯re done here. With the money we had saved up, I think it¡¯s enough to buy a building.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head.


    ¡°No. I will leave immediately.¡±


    Wang Lun smiled while smoking a cigarette.


    ¡°Do you think CEO Kang will let you go?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what that man thinks.¡±


    ¡°Ooh. Judging by what he has been doing, it seems like he¡¯s going to follow you to hell and back.¡±


    Ja-kyung did not agree with that. He¡¯d seen plenty of people like that. If they were interested in something, they wanted to hold it tightly in their hand and when they get a hold of it, they then throw it away as if it had never happened. Ja-kyung was more anxious now that he appeared to be in Il-hyun¡¯s grasp, and he didn¡¯t know what would happen when Il-hyun finally got him.


    Just then, Wang Han¡¯s voice came through the in-ear.


    [Target arrived. He¡¯s heading up.]


    ¡°Is he alone?¡±


    [Yeah. I think he¡¯s pretty drunk. He¡¯s staggering.]


    Great. The job will be easier than he thought. Looking down at the 24-story apartment was dizzying. The target was on the 19th floor. As he warmed up and relaxed his muscles, Wang Lun¡¯s mobile phone vibrated in his pocket. Ja-kyung frowned. Why did you bring your cell phone while working?


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    He smiled and quickly moved away from Ja-kyung. Seeing what he was doing, it seemed to be his girlfriend. Ja-kyung attached a silencer to his automatic gun and glared at the back of Wang Lun¡¯s head, wondering if he would shoot Wang Lun at this rate. Wang Lun quickly finished the call and walked with a smile on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Han hyung everything. That you¡¯re talking to a woman while working.¡±


    ¡°Why are you being so uptight? Don¡¯t forget that your life is in my hands.¡±


    Ja-kyung pointed the gun at Wang Lun.


    ¡°Then if I do this, your life is in my hands.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mess around. It only takes one finger to subdue you.¡±


    He wiggled his middle finger to tease Ja-kyung. After glaring and cursing, Ja-kyung attached the rope to the buckle. He placed his foot on the roof railing after checking his watch. Because of the tilt angle, his torso leaned downward as he climbed. He let go of the rope and walked gently toward his target.


    Wang Lun made sure that the rope was not tangled and watched Ja-kyung go down. Stepping on the wall with his feet, Ja-kyung went down floor by floor, but it was well past 2:00 in the morning, so many houses had their lights turned off. When he reached the 19th floor, it started to rain again.


    Oh shit. Ja-kyung frowned and looked up. He saw Wang Lun looking at him worriedly. Ja-kyung moved sideways and put one foot on the veranda railing. It was slippery after the rain. He peeked inside, but it was dark as if the target was already asleep.


    There was no moonlight as it was raining, making it even more difficult to judge. He was about to enter, but the moment he felt chill. He patted the back of his back. It was empty. He clenched his eyes tightly when he realized he had forgotten his night vision goggles.


    Damn it. Nothing works.


    He hurriedly called Wang Lun through his in-ear.


    ¡°Hyung! Put down the night vision goggles.¡±


    [Clumsy. Wait.]


    The goggles eventually came down on a string. Ja-kyung grabbed it and checked inside Kim Dong-myung¡¯s apartment and his expression hardened. That sends shivers down his spine, like if he¡¯s been doused in ice water. Multiple legs of a person seen through a gray lens. When he looked up, a group of fully-armed men stood waiting for Ja-kyung to enter.


    Fuck. Ja-kyung called Wang Lun and Wang Han at the same time in the in-ear.


    ¡°Looks like things went wrong.¡±


    [What are you talking about?]


    He could hear Wang Han¡¯s voice. But Wang Lun was silent. The rope, which had been pulled taut, suddenly swayed. Ja-kyung raised his head and looked up. Rainwater was pouring down his face, so he couldn¡¯t see clearly, but Wang Lun was stretching himself over the railing.


    ¡°Lun hyung?¡±


    The rope shakes a little harder. Ja-kyung propped up on the wall with both legs to keep his balance and stared up. Wiping the rainwater off his face, he called for Wang Lun once again, but he did not answer.


    Wang Han¡¯s voice came through the in-ear.


    [What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s the matter?]


    It was only then that Ja-kyung realized that the person looking down at him was not Wang Lun. At that moment, he felt the rope going down. Ja-kyung quickly kicked the wall, rebounded, and rolled onto the terrace. Tuk, at the same time the rope broke.


    Fuck. How did this happen.


    Before there was time to react, the glass windows of the terrace were shattered and a hail of bullets flew from inside the house.


    There were four men pointing guns at him. The leader of them raised his hand to signal them to stop. Kim Dong-myung stuck out his face while wearing a gown.


    ¡°Did you kill him? Did you kill him?¡±


    When he turns on the light, a messy living room appears. Lee Ja-kyung, dressed in black, was lying on the terrace. Kim Dong-myung looked around the living room and cursed. Fuck. How much will this cost? The leader motioned for Kim Dong-myung to enter, and then had a subordinate check Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s condition.


    After the subordinate took a few steps, Ja-kyung, who had been stretched out like a corpse, turned over and blew the approaching man¡¯s head off. Then Ja-kyung fired a bullet into the standing legs of the men while lying down. Surprised, Kim Dong-myung hurried to the bedroom as the man who had been shot in the leg fell forward.


    In the meantime, Ja-kyung rolled over and hid behind the terrace wall. Bullets flew through the air and struck the wall. He took a deep breath and loaded the magazine before checking his condition. A bullet grazed his arm, and blood flowed quite a bit. He frowned and cursed.


    Wang Han¡¯s voice was heard in a situation where the enemy was in a tense confrontation with a wall.


    [Wei. Are you okay?]


    Ja-kyung bit his teeth.


    ¡°I think things are wrong. Go to the rooftop now. I can¡¯t contact Lun hyung.¡±


    The raindrops became stronger, but the inside of the house was as quiet as a dead mouse. Ja-kyung took a flower pot from the corner and tossed it into the center. As if waiting for it, the bullet shattered the pot. He took a breather as the gunfight came to a halt. A man stuck out his face to check the movement, and Ja-kyung didn¡¯t miss the chance and blew his head off at once.


    As the commotion continues, the lights come on in the otherwise quiet apartment.


    At this rate, the police will come. He has to deal with it quickly somehow and get out of here. Ja-kyung looked to the side. It¡¯s far, but there¡¯s another terrace there. Kim Dong-myung fled to the room on the right earlier, so it must be connected to that place.


    He looked down and realized it was pitch black. It was raining and if he made a mistake, he would fall. He was at a disadvantage, and it was too much for him to take on the fully armed men alone in a small space. He had no other choice. He slung his gun around his waist and rubbed his palms together. Please. Please.


    He stepped on the railing and jumped to it. His feet couldn¡¯t reach due to the distance, but he could barely hold on to the railing with his hands. Climbing up and going to the terrace, he saw Kim Dong-myung shivering with his ear against the door.


    Haha, I¡¯ve come to the right place. Fortunately, the window was open, so he went right in. Kim Dong-myung, who looked back, sat down in his seat with his eyes wide open. Before he could open the door to escape, Ja-kyung put a gun to his head.


    He looked like he was about to cry, his legs trembling like a newborn calf. The man who said with a confident face that he would rescue a young woman from Ja-kyung a year ago was nowhere to be seen. Using Kim Dong-myung as a hostage, he opened the door and came out.


    As he goes through the hallway to the living room, one of the men who was shooting earlier turns around first. He pointed the gun at Ja-kyung. So did the man behind him. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t see his face because he was wearing a mask, but he wasn¡¯t an average person.


    Ja-kyung put a gun to the back of Kim Dong-myung¡¯s head and warned them.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to put a hole in your client¡¯s head, put the gun down.¡±


    But the men didn¡¯t listen. When Kim Dong-myung saw that they did not back down easily, he screamed.


    ¡°Fuck you, bastards! Listen to him! Do you want to see me die?¡±


    They didn¡¯t bat an eye. Suddenly, it occurred to Ja-kyung that they might not be the people Kim Dong-myung hired. He didn¡¯t know who ordered them to come here, but there was no need for hostages.


    Ja-kyung charged forward using Kim Dong-myung as a shield and fired a gun at them. Pusyuk, pusyuk, one died instantly from being hit in the chest and head, while the other managed to hide behind a wall. The bullets they fired hit Kim Dong-myung in the head and legs.


    Ahh, Kim Dong-myung screamed and struggled. Ja-kyung grabbed him and stood him up, using him as a shield until the end to approach the other one. In a situation where there was a confrontation over a wall, the ticking of the clock on the wall was particularly loud.


    In the meantime, the sound of the magazine being pulled out was faintly heard, and Ja-kyung threw Kim Dong-myung and ran to find the man hiding behind the wall and aimed his gun at him. The man who had just loaded the magazine paused. Ja-kyung put a gun to his head and removed his mask.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s expression twisted as he checked his face. A foreigner. He also looked very young. The man opened his mouth slowly with eyes full of fear. Please, please don¡¯t kill me. Ja-kyung looked at the man with a cold gaze. The man begged for help.


    Ja-kyung was 18 when he was holding a gun. The first time he killed a person was nineteen. It seemed like he was seeing himself as a child, but that was no reason to keep him alive. When he pulled the trigger, the back of his head exploded and blood splattered on Ja-kyung¡¯s face.


    Wiping the blood, he looked back. Now there was only one person left. Even as Kim Dong-myung was out of breath, he tried to crawl away. Ja-kyung walked towards him. He let out a tearing scream as Ja-kyung stepped on his leg, which had been shot.


    Ja-kyung laid him straight and looked at him with a cold gaze.


    ¡°Did you know we were coming?¡±


    Kim Dong-myung¡¯s face turned red from the pain, and he felt like he was going to pass out at any moment.


    ¡°Ah! I, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡±


    ¡°Answer me. How did you know?¡±


    Kim Dong-myung laughed hysterically through his tears as if he had finally gone crazy.


    ¡°Fuck, do you think I¡¯m going to tell you that, haha, either way I¡¯ll die, too.¡±


    Bang, Ja-kyung blew Kim Dong-myung¡¯s head without hesitation. As soon as blood splattered everywhere, Wang Han¡¯s voice came through the in-ear.


    [Wei, are you okay?]


    Ja-kyung roughly wiped the gun and the blood off his face as he walked toward the door.


    ¡°Yeah. Are you okay? I¡¯ve got everything sorted out here.¡±


    [Thank god.]


    His voice of relief trembles slightly. Ja-kyung hid his anxiety and asked.


    ¡°What about Lun hyung?¡±


    Wang Han did not answer. Ja-kyung bit his teeth and checked again.


    ¡°L hyung!¡±


    His voice cracked as if he was about to cry.


    [He¡¯s lost a lot of blood¡­ He¡¯s unconscious. I think we should take him to the hospital right away.]

 CH 84

    Wang Lun was carried into the operating room on a stretcher and looked like a corpse. His entire body was pale due to the blood loss, and he did not move at all. If Wang Han, who found him first, had not given first aid to the stab wound, he could have died on the spot.


    How the hell did these guys know? The only people who know the work schedule were the three and Kang Il-hyun. In case they would attract attention, only three of them moved without Kang Il-hyun¡¯s subordinates that day. But how did they know in advance that they were even waiting there? No matter how much Ja-kyung thought about it, he didn¡¯t know.


    People dressed in scrubs rushed in with several bags of blood. Ja-kyung, who was standing there nervously, glanced through the crack in the open door at Wang Lun. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t stand it when he saw his droopy arm and turned around.


    Wang Han was sitting in a chair in front of the operating room, half-fazed. Ja-kyungg took a seat next to him and waited for the operation to be completed safely. Every time the door opened, his heart skipped a beat. Wang Han raised his hand and stroked Ji-kyung¡¯s head.


    ¡°He¡¯s gonna be okay. He¡¯s a terrible bastard, so he¡¯ll definitely live.¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his teeth. As a child, when he was anxious, Wang Han always told him it was okay and reassured him that it would be fine. And then, mysteriously, he would be fine. He could only hope it would work this time.


    On the one hand, he felt guilty. If he had taken good care of his night vision goggles, Wang Lun wouldn¡¯t have looked away, and even if he was attacked by surprise, he wouldn¡¯t have been one-sided. Wang Han patted him on the back as if he had noticed that.


    Time passed very slowly. An hour passed, and then it was two hours, Wang Han went out to talk on the phone. Left alone, Ja-kyung wandered in front of the operating room again and took out his cell phone. After finding Kang Il-hyun¡¯s contact number, he hesitated for a while. He should be sleeping by now. He shouldn¡¯t call him.


    Wang Han, who had gone to talk on the phone, returned just in time. He thought he should notify Wang Lun¡¯s girlfriend, so he called her, but the phone was turned off. Even before he began working on it, he saw with Wang Lun was on the phone with her


    Time passed and the waiting room door finally opened. Wang Lun¡¯s face was as white as a sheet of paper as he wheeled out on the bed. A number of intravenous lines were hung over it and swayed.


    Wang Han urgently held on to the doctor.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    The doctor lowered his mask.


    ¡°He¡¯s lost a lot of blood, but fortunately, it¡¯s not life-threatening. You were quick with the first aid. I think we¡¯ll just have to keep him stable and watch him for now.¡±


    Thank you, sir. Wang Han held the doctor¡¯s hand and bowed down. After Ja-kyung said thank you, the two exchanged glances and let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°You were worried for nothing.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled.


    ¡°You are the one who said that he would live because he was a terrible bastard.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about him. I was worried because if there were only the two of us working, there would be no one to fetch weapons.¡±


    The two relaxed and laughed and exchanged jokes. They walk to the hospital room, guided by the nurse, but Ja-kyung¡¯s phone rings. A message arrived from a number he had never seen before. Ja-kyung stopped walking as he opened it to check.


    In the photo, Park Tae-soo was meeting Wang Lun¡¯s girlfriend, Yoon Mi-ra.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The next picture was the scene where Park Tae-soo hands over a black bag to Yoon Mi-ra. It was a situation he didn¡¯t understand. What is this? Why were they meeting?


    Wang Han, who was walking ahead, looked back.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Ja-kyung quickly put the phone in his pocket and approached Wang Han.


    ¡°Do you have a Lun hyung¡¯s cell phone?¡±


    Wang Han took out Wang Lun¡¯s cell phone from his pocket and handed it to Ja-kyung. They always carried two cell phones, one for work and one for personal use. For everyday use, he usually used the most recent model with the best performance, and for work, he mostly used an old folded phone that was difficult to hack.


    Even the three of them contacted each other and shared schedules for work only.


    However, Wang Lun communicated with his lover on a regular basis, even on a work phone, so this was not the first time Wang Han constantly complained. Ja-kyung entered the password to unlock the phone and called Yoon Mi-ra right away.


    As Wang Han mentioned, a message appeared indicating that the signal had been turned off. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes shifted subtly. The same can be said for walking again. When he looked through the messages Wang Lun had recently exchanged with her, he noticed that the majority of them were short expressions of affection.


    Ja-kyung tore off the back of the phone to remove the battery, and when that wasn¡¯t enough, he slammed the phone into the wall. Crack, when the cell phone was smashed and a gap opened, he forcibly pulled it to check the inside. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes as he looked inside changed sharply.


    Wang Han, who was in front of him, approached right in front of him, found a chip smaller than his thumbnail, and let out a sigh. He knew at a glance that it was a wiretapping machine. Since when was it? Even now, the conversation between the two will be passed on to the other person.


    Ja-kyung stared at the chip before breaking it into his mouth and chewing it with his molars. It scraped the tip of his tongue and smashed it until blood came out, then spat it out in the trash. After wiping the blood from his lips, the two sat on chairs on the side of the road, unable to go to Wang Lun.


    ***


    Il-hyun smoked a cigarette in front of the railing on the hotel terrace early in the morning. Protesters in front were shouting slogans violently. They claimed to be a private environmental organization, but it was an act and they were a bunch of hastily assembled thugs.


    It was obvious that they were paid as they appeared out of nowhere and disrupted work. And, of course, this was at a time when Lee Ja-kyung was jealous. He got on the plane without being able to suck his dick a few times as a result, so he wanted to tear them to death.


    Il-hyun smiled viciously as he chewed his cigarette with his teeth.


    ¡°Fuck. I want to pour oil on them and fry them all.¡±


    The fight had gotten so bad that the lawyers had come down and were at the police station, but the construction company was the one who assaulted them first, so they were at a disadvantage now. According to the team leader, the man who was the head of the organization was arguing with him, bringing up his dead parents. In other words, he intentionally provoked them, and they fell for it.


    Il-hyun lit a cigarette and put both hands in his pants pockets. There were tons of things he didn¡¯t like.


    Tsk, he clicked his tongue and stared down, but Tae-soo opened the terrace door and entered.


    ¡°Sir, you should answer the phone.¡±


    His voice was the same as usual, but his speech sped up a little. It was a very rare case, so Il-hyun took the phone to his ear as soon as he was handed it. It was a call from an employee in Seoul. He was entrusted with protecting Lee Ja-kyung while he was away.


    Il-hyun¡¯s expression hardened as he listened to the story.


    ¡°Where?¡±


    Behind the receiver, he explained the location of the hospital. First, he ordered them to move to the hospital and hung up the phone. Still, slogans and cries against environmental destruction could be heard from below. Il-hyun fixed his gaze there and called for Tae-soo.


    ¡°We should probably head up.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Il-hyun stubbed out his cigarette and gritted his teeth. It was obvious who had done it. How did they know beforehand? He tried to contact Lee Ja-kyung, but he didn¡¯t answer. They said that there was no danger to his life and that the bullet just grazed his arm.


    My cat, what a surprise.


    I have to go and comfort him.


    ***


    Ja-kyung, who had been smoking in a smoking booth near the hospital, came out. At dawn, the sky was pouring down with rain, and now the sun was scorching his head. He hadn¡¯t dried his wet clothes from the night before and was still wearing them.


    He kept calling Yoon Mi-ra, but in the morning it came out that the number was unavailable. As the things they feared gradually became reality, Ja-kyung and Wang Han became frustrated and worried about what to tell Wang Lun.


    Wang Lun opened his eyes once in the middle of the night, but he wasn¡¯t fully awake because of the medicine.


    Ja-kyung sighed and began to walk, but he was cut off by a black car. He was about to move out of the way and turn around when the front passenger door opened and a tall man stepped out, blocking his path.


    ¡°Mr. Lee Ja-kyung?¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was looking at the ground, raised his head and stared at the man. The man looked familiar, but it wasn¡¯t until later that he realized he was Chairman Kang¡¯s secretary. As he stepped back and stared at the man, the back window of the car goes down. Ja-kyung¡¯s expression hardened.


    It was Chairman Kang. Seeing him after a year, he still showed a beast-like side in his eyes.


    ¡°Get in. I have something to say.¡±


    Ja-kyung stared at Chairman Kang.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go to the funeral home of Kim Dong-myung, who died, rather than here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡±


    ¡°Keep pretending. That¡¯s the Chairman¡¯s specialty.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I did it?¡±


    ¡°Then who did it? Kang Il-hyun?¡±


    The chairman didn¡¯t answer, and Ja-kyung snorted. He sent a picture from somewhere and tried to put the blame on Kang Il-hyun. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t fully trust him, but he didn¡¯t think Il-hyun was a crazy person who would sprinkle ashes on his dinner. He had no reason to do that.


    So, Chairman Kang is most likely the one who initiated it. He¡¯d shoot a hole through the old man¡¯s head right now if he had a gun. Fuck. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and smiled crookedly at Chairman Kang.


    ¡°Please take care of yourself. I¡¯m going to pay off yesterday¡¯s debt.¡±


    ¡°You speak carelessly.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re not my customer anymore.¡±


    Ja-kyung was about to pass by after arguing, but Chairman Kang called him again.


    ¡°You and CEO Kang are in a relationship, right?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. He wonders if he¡¯s asking if they¡¯re having sex.


    ¡°Do you know what happened to the people who met with CEO Kang in the past?¡±


    Ja-kyung turned around with an annoyed look on his face.


    ¡°Do I even need to know Kang Il-hyun¡¯s love history?¡±


    Chairman Kang laughed as if he had heard something funny.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious? What happened to those people?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Whether they¡¯re alive or dead.¡±


    The nuance was odd. Chairman Kang smiled with an inappropriately gentle face as Ja-kyung did not respond.


    ¡°It would be great if you were mine.¡±


    ¡°Dream on.¡±


    ¡°I will. But don¡¯t trust him too much. When the moment of crisis comes, CEO Kang will be the first to let go of your hand.¡±


    Before Ja-kyung could say anything else, the window rolled up and the car pulled away. Ja-kyung stared at the car as it drives away and gritted his teeth. At this point, he really started to feel sorry for Kang Il-hyun. That old man was desperate to catch his own son.


    Fuck. That was why his kid became crazy.

 CH 85

    ¡°Try again. It can¡¯t be.¡±


    Wang Lun, who had only just awoken, began looking for his lover from earlier as if the brothers who had saved him were nowhere to be seen. He was transferred to another hospital a few hours ago. It was also the hospital where Kang Yoo-jung worked. Wang Lun was confused as to why his lover had not come or why she had not returned his call, and Ja-kyung and Wang Han only looked at each other and said they didn¡¯t know.


    Wang Lun had barely regained consciousness, but if they tell the truth, there will be even more uproar. Ja-kyung went to the hotel where she was staying just in case, but the room was already empty. Ja-kyung looked around Kim Dong-myung¡¯s house after leaving the hotel, where there had been a gunfight the day before. The shattered glass and veranda were also neatly repaired and cleaned as if nothing had happened.


    There was no way to know who had cleaned it up. It was all too easy for them to kill people and leave no trace of them, without a rat or bird noticing. While Ja-kyung was thinking about all of this, someone knocked on the hospital room door.


    Kang Yoo-jung was the one who opened the door and showed up. She put on a gown and greeted Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung rose from his seat on the bed and bowed his head.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°I heard you were admitted to our hospital. If you had come here from the beginning, I would have sewn it up nicely.¡±


    She smiled kindly and checked Wang Lun¡¯s condition. Wang Han had a blank expression on his face as he looked at Kang Yoo-jung¡¯s profile. Kang Yoo-jung left after a brief conversation with Ja-kyung, and Wang Han asked about her, wondering who she was. He couldn¡¯t believe it when he found out she was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s older sister.


    ¡°Oh, my god. Brother and sister are born with a different character.¡±


    Wang Han admired that he had never seen a woman with such an angelic appearance, and Wang Lun agreed. However, Ja-kyung kept his mouth shut. The last time Ja-kyung was caught looking at Kang Yoo-jung, he almost got his eyeballs plucked out by Kang Il-hyun.


    It¡¯s not that scary, of course. Still¡­


    While Wang Han was praising Kang Yoo-jung¡¯s good looks, someone knocked on the door again.


    The three men¡¯s gazes were drawn there. The person who opened the door was Kang Il-hyun. But it wasn¡¯t his presence that caught the three¡¯s attention, it was the white chrysanthemum he was holding in his hand. Ja-kyung narrowed his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things wrong. What is that? Wang Han had the same expression.


    He first checked on Ja-kyung while holding the chrysanthemum. He examined Ja-kyung from head to toe as if he were going to tear him apart with his eyes, then was relieved to see that he was in better shape than he had thought, and soon discovered Wang Lun lying down and tilted his head.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re alive?¡±


    Wang Lun frowned and groaned as if his stab wound was being poked. Il-hyun threw away the chrysanthemum he had brought. He only heard that Ja-kyung was hurt and ignored the news that Wang Lun was critically injured after being stabbed with a knife.


    That¡¯s why he bought flowers thinking he was dead; however because he¡¯s still alive, the flowers were useless.


    Ja-kyung, who had only just realized what was going on, asked in disbelief.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, you didn¡¯t even know if he was dead or alive?¡±


    Il-hyun changed his attitude and smiled kindly.


    ¡°I got the wrong information, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯m sorry. Wang Han.¡±


    Il-hyun called the lying Wang Lun Wang Han. It was only then that the three of them realized that Kang Il-hyun couldn¡¯t even properly distinguish the names of the two, and they were shocked. Wang Lun was shocked, as he thought they had become very close after drinking together before.


    It was embarrassing to have praised Il-hyun as a cool man. Just then, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s cell phone rang and he left, saying he would answer the call and come back. When there were only three left, Wang Lun looked tired.


    ¡°What the hell. Is he really human? A person almost died, but how can he be like that? It means that as long as Wei is fine is enough for him.¡±


    Ja-kyung responded.


    ¡°Do you realize it now? He¡¯s not cool at all, and you complimented him like that without knowing anything about him.¡±


    Wang Han also shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed, CEO Kang. I thought of him as your lover for a moment.¡±


    Ja-kyung was so upset that he lost his temper. Who was whose lover? Not knowing that the three of them were swearing, Kang Il-hyun did not come back even after he left for quite some time. Ja-kyung stood up and walked out. Il-hyun was still on the phone from a distance.


    Ja-kyung sat on a chair in front of the hospital room and waited for him to come. After about 10 minutes passed, Il-hyun walked to him. His gaze scanned Ja-kyung. There were blood stains on the clothes, his face and hair disheveled, and the back of his arm bandaged.


    ¡°Are you done with the call?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s my lawyer. I came here without finishing my work after hearing that you were injured.¡±


    ¡°You need to scold whoever broke that news, or you wouldn¡¯t have brought white chrysanthemums.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed when Ja-kyung was being sarcastic. But Il-hyun liked white chrysanthemums as much as red roses. He wanted to put it in different places around the house every now and then, but the housekeeper hated it and Il-hyun couldn¡¯t do it. When Ja-kyung met Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes, he averted his gaze and spoke.


    ¡°Sorry¡­ There must have been a leak on our side. This won¡¯t happen next time.¡±


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t answer and only looked at the bandaged Ja-kyung¡¯s arm.


    ¡°How about you. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°As you can see. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°All right then. Don¡¯t get hurt in the future. You gave this old bastard a heart attack.¡±


    Aah, the grudge was fucking long. Ja-kyung grimaced in annoyance, but he felt a sense of relief in his heart. It was strange. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Il-hyun¡¯s playful voice while Wang Lun was injured and undergoing surgery. He hesitated several times about whether to use the report as an excuse to call. Ja-kyung thought the fear will disappear after hearing Il-hyun¡¯s voice.


    Looking back now, he didn¡¯t know why. Perhaps he was so deeply brainwashed that he was actually starting to like this guy.


    When he was silent, Il-hyun leaned his head on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. Ja-kyung let him as it was. Time passed in silence, and Ja-kyung cautiously opened his mouth.


    ¡°I met Chairman Kang during the day. In front of the hospital.¡±


    ¡°You should have shot him.¡±


    Il-hyun said in a nonchalant tone, but his eyes sharpened.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t believe you. One day you will let go of my hand.¡±


    He laughed as if he¡¯d heard a joke.


    ¡°So what did you say?¡±


    ¡°I said I don¡¯t trust you.¡±


    Il-hyun just laughed and said nothing. Ja-kyung debated whether or not to show the picture. Why did he make Park Tae-soo meet with Yoon Mi-ra? Would Il-hyun be honest even if he showed the photo? Ja-kyung was still torn between believing in Kang Il-hyun or not.


    [Do you know what happened to the people who met CEO Kang in the past?]


    [Aren¡¯t you curious? What happened to those people?]


    [Whether they¡¯re alive or dead.]


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, just ask me if you have any questions.¡±


    Il-hyun said it lightly, but it struck Ja-kyung¡¯s mind. Ja-kyung took out his cell phone after much thought and showed the photo. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw a picture of Park Tae-soo with a woman.


    ¡°Is she Tae-soo¡¯s girlfriend?¡±


    Ja-kyung was stunned.


    ¡°She¡¯s Lun hyung¡¯s lover.¡±


    ¡°What. Did she have an affair with Park Tae-soo?¡±


    This man seriously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember?¡±


    Il-hyun, who had been looking closely, remembered it belatedly and said ahh.


    ¡°A long time after you ran away, Tae-soo found the woman.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°She passed the information on to us. Thanks to that, I took your brother hostage and brought you back to Korea.¡±


    ¡°Money¡­ did you give it to her?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°What more do you need?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked down at Kang Il-hyun, who was leaning on his shoulder without saying a word. Il-hyun lifted his head and met Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Your eyes speak. Half of your heart wants to believe me, but half of your heart doesn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand. Because I tried to kill you once.¡±


    Ja-kyung averted his gaze as he felt like he had been caught.


    ¡°I was serious about trying to kill you then.¡±


    He knew it, but it hurts even more to hear it himself. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer and bit his teeth.


    Il-hyun continued to speak in a low voice, still leaning on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious about liking you now.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s late, but I apologize.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I made a wrong choice. If I¡¯d known I¡¯d fall for you, I¡¯d never have done something so stupid.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s heart was racing again. Not wanting to be found out, Ja-kyung stubbornly shut his mouth and stared at the floor. Il-hyun, who was leaning on him, straightened his back.


    ¡°Now. You tell me.¡±


    The gaze that had been looking at the floor finally shifted to Il-hyun.


    ¡°Tell you what?¡±


    ¡°That you could¡¯ve hidden everything and doubted me.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s deep eyes stared straight at him. Ja-kyung opened his mouth. He didn¡¯t fully trust him. But¡­


    ¡°You said not to trust you, but to trust your money. Since you¡¯re pouring money on me, I decided to trust you to a certain extent.¡±


    Even so, I wanted to believe in you. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t bring his true feelings out of his mouth, so he made an excuse using the money. The corners of Il-hyun¡¯s lips slowly go up. He grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek and pinched it gently. When Ja-kyung tried to take his hand off, Il-hyun twisted it while pinching it.


    ¡°You¡¯re a sneaky little boy. You keep lying all the way.¡±


    ¡°It hurts!¡±


    ¡°Tell the truth that I¡¯ve gotten better.¡±


    After barely taking off his hands, Il-hyun pulled the back of Ja-kyung¡¯s head and kissed him on the lips. Ja-kyung was startled and pushed him.


    ¡°Are you sure you want to do that with this dirty face?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re still gorgeous in my eyes.¡±


    A nurse at a nearby desk looked at him, so Ja-kyung jumped up and pushed him on the back.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen me, so now go back.¡±


    Il-hyun stood up and smiled regretfully.


    ¡°I have to go to work anyway. I¡¯m here to make sure you¡¯re okay.¡±


    ¡°All right, go.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯ll be people to help you when you get down there, just go home and wash up and get some rest, you look pretty tired.¡±


    He hasn¡¯t been able to close his eyes since all the commotion yesterday, so it¡¯s only natural that he looks like that. Ja-kyung nodded. Il-hyun affectionately caressed his cheek before walking towards the elevator. Ja-kyung stood in front of the hospital room, looking at Il-hyun, even as the elevator door closed.


    Il-hyun waved once, and Ja-kyung raised his hand to wave back, then flinched, turned red, and ran into the hospital room. Il-hyun chuckled at the cute behavior. The smile faded from his face as the door closed completely.


    Park Tae-soo was waiting in front of the elevator on the first floor.


    ¡°My father.¡±


    ¡°He is at his home now.¡±


    The two proceeded to the parked car, then Il-hyun opened the trunk and took a handgun from there, which he placed in his arms. His eyes couldn¡¯t be more colder and murderous.

 CH 86

    When Il-hyun entered the house, the eyes looking at him were not friendly. Kim Seon-young, who was in the living room, opened her sharp eye and glared at Il-hyun.


    ¡°How are you?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t call, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    In a situation where no one welcomed him, Il-hyun smiled calmly.


    ¡°I came to see my father. He¡¯s upstairs, right?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s busy right now. Come back later.¡±


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t even pretend to listen and went upstairs. Kim Seon-young did not like his behavior, but she could not find a reason to stop him. Il-hyun went upstairs and went straight to Chairman Kang¡¯s study. After knocking, he opened the door and went in without waiting for an answer.


    While talking with Director Kim, Chairman Kang¡¯s gaze shifted to Il-hyun. It was a very brief moment, but he could see the displeasure in his eyes. Il-hyun undid the buttons on his suit and sat across from Chairman Kang.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t even call.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying the same thing as mother. Does a son need to have a reason to visit his father?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to talk to you today. Go back.¡±


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t respond and looked at Chairman Kang blankly. The eyes of the two were tightly intertwined, and Chairman Kang could not stand it and signaled to Director Kim to take him out. Director Kim approached and bowed his head.


    ¡°CEO Kang, I think it would be better if you go home today.¡±


    Director Kim grabbed Il-hyun¡¯s arm as he sat motionless on the sofa. At the moment he asked, ¡°CEO Kang?,¡± Il-hyun pulled a gun from his arms and aimed it at Director Kim¡¯s foot. He screamed and fell forward after a deafening explosion and a bullet lodged in his foot.


    Chairman Kang jumped up from his seat with a surprised face, and after a while, hearing gunshots, three men hurriedly rushed in and kicked in the door. Il-hyun casually tossed the gun on the table and brushed off the part of the arm that Director Kim had just touched.


    One of the bodyguards rushed to help Director Kim to go outside, while the other two stood behind Il-hyun¡¯s back, waiting for Chairman Kang¡¯s instructions. Il-hyun put his arms on the sofa and smiled with a relaxed face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. If you touch me, I¡¯ll cut you all to pieces right here.¡±


    It was said to the bodyguards, but his serpent-like glare was directed at Chairman Kang. Chairman Kang angrily picked up the gun that Il-hyun had thrown. And he aimed it at Il-hyun.


    Il-hyun smiled without blinking an eye.


    ¡°Shoot.¡±


    Chairman Kang, who was angry, trembled under his eyes.


    ¡°You! This bastard. You are completely insane!¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s lower jaw stiffened as if his intentions had been revealed. His lips twitched and his gray eyes glowed with a murderous aura. Il-hyun repeated the same question with a smile on his face.


    ¡°Tell me. Did father find this son scary like monsters?¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s finger caught the trigger and twitched. Il-hyun smiled and got up from his seat.


    ¡°I definitely gave you a chance.¡±


    He pulled the front of his top to adjust his clothes and then walked leisurely around the sofa toward the door. When Il-hyun reached for the door to leave, he heard a click and a trigger pulled behind him. Il-hyun turned around slowly. Chairman Kang, who had just pulled the trigger, stood puzzledly with his gun pointed at Il-hyun. Chairman Kang¡¯s cheeks trembled and Il-hyun, who saw that, smirked.


    ¡°My father has lost his senses.¡±


    The only loaded bullet was fired at Director Kim. Nonetheless, Chairman Kang pulled the trigger on Il-hyun several times. Only the empty cylinder rotated, but no bullets were fired. Chairman Kang¡¯s rage erupted when he realized he had been mocked. He threw the gun at Il-hyun without hesitation with his face flushed red.


    Bang. The gun hit the door and fell to the floor, and Il-hyun looked at it with an emotionless expression.


    ¡°Family members should never hurt each other.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°However, if you injure them first, you must accept any punishment.¡±


    He recited the family rules as if reading a sentence. Then he smiled eerily at Chairman Kang.


    ¡°My father shot me today, so it¡¯s my turn next.¡±


    Chairman Kang picked up an ashtray this time and threw it. Il-hyun dodged lightly, then moved only his neck to bid his farewell, opened the door, and left. A thunderous roar and a crashing sound can be heard. The smile slowly faded from his face as he walked down the hallway, and anger and hatred mixed in his eyes.


    ***


    Ja-kyung looked out the window with a serious face and continued to smoke. Wang Lun was still completely unaware that his girlfriend had betrayed him. He asked acquaintances who could be contacted, but the answer came back that they did not know.


    They¡¯ve been in love for years, but how can she betray him like this? After arriving home, he and Wang Han put their heads together and pondered, but nothing came of it. In the end, a rock-paper-scissors game was used to decide who would tell Wang Lun, and fortunately, Wang Han won.


    After finishing his cigarette, he opened the window to get some fresh air and went to bed. Ja-kyung had been awake all night, and as soon as he lay down, drowsiness set in. The previous night¡¯s scene was vividly recreated in his dream. The young man in the mask abruptly changed into himself and collapsed, vomiting blood. Then he was startled awake by the sound of footsteps and the door opening. He saw Kang Il-hyun as he raised his head in a daze.


    He brought a chair and sat down next to the bed. He looked very tired and exhausted.


    ¡°I heard you were sleeping without eating, so I came here.¡±


    When Ja-kyung checked the time, it was already past 8 pm. He slept for a long time. He rubbed his face to wake himself up and frowned because his arm hurt. Il-hyun took his hand in his and examined it. The back of his arm was ripped and stitched up, but it wasn¡¯t a big wound.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it uncomfortable to wash it?¡±


    He asked in a sweet voice.


    ¡°My brother gave me a quick wash.¡±


    One of Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows raised as soon as he finished speaking. Kang Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder as he tried to put on a T-shirt. Something must have irritated him because his eyes were becoming increasingly aggressive.


    ¡°Do you brothers always wash each other?¡±


    ¡°It often happens when I get hurt. Besides, when I was young, my older brother always washed me.¡±


    After sitting down with a displeased face, he stood up and went to the table to bring memo pads and a ballpoint pen. Ja-kyung had no idea what he was doing. He spits out unexpected words after handing Ja-kyung the paper and pen.


    ¡°Write them down in order of importance to you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Wang Han, Wang Lun, me, write them in order of importance.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. This came as a complete surprise to him because he had just woken up, and he didn¡¯t know what other bullshit this was. Ja-kyung stared at him with a puzzled expression, as Il-hyun held out the pen and pressed him with his gaze to write quickly. Il-hyun forced Ja-kyung to take the pen and write despite his protests.


    Ah, seriously. What¡¯s wrong with him again. Ja-kyung wrote Wang Han at the top. He then wrote Wang Lun and scribbled Kang Il-hyun at the bottom. When Ja-kyung held it out, Il-hyun gritted his teeth.


    He took out his pen and drew a line through the names of Wang Han and Wang Lun, smiling brightly.


    ¡°If I kill both of them, I will be number one. Right?¡±


    Ja-kyung hated it and snatched the pen and crumpled the paper. He was a little bit excited when Il-hyun acted like a normal sane person in the morning¡­ Fuck it. Il-hyun went back to being crazy. Ja-kyung was too tired to respond, so he ignored him and lay on his bed, covering himself with the blanket.


    ¡°Get out. I want to sleep more.¡±


    ¡°Tell me. What do you need?¡±


    Ja-kyung pulled the blanket over his head, and Il-hyun¡¯s hand slowly dug in.


    ¡°Shall I give you money? Eung? Honey, you like money, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I have tons of money.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Will you think of me first if I give you all the money I have?¡±


    Ja-kyung got up, shoved Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder, and climbed out of bed. He opened the hidden safe below, took three bundles of money, and pulled Il-hyun¡¯s shirt. When the button was ripped off and a gap appeared, he stuffed the bundle of money into it.


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t care whether his face frowned or not.


    ¡°I will give you the money. Seriously, get out.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes turned into daggers as he pulled the bundle of money out of his shirt.


    ¡°Why are you so good? Have you ever put some money in a man before?¡±


    Il-hyun climbed on top of Ja-kyung after throwing away the bundle of money. Il-hyun quickly let go of Ja-kyung¡¯s injured arm and apologized when he screamed. He apologized and burrowed his head like a spoiled brat into Ja-kyung¡¯s arms, who kept pushing him away. Ja-kyung, who was about to grab Il-hyun¡¯s hair, let it go.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, just hug me. Something made me really upset today.¡±


    It was ridiculous to see a man of 190 cm tall hanging in your arms. Ja-kyung expected him to let go soon, but he stayed put and refused to budge. There was no response when Ja-kyung asked what was upsetting him. Ja-kyung carefully moved his aching arm over his shoulder.


    Ten minutes passed, then twenty minutes passed, and he was still quiet.


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    After a long silence, he spoke.


    ¡°Tell me. I¡¯m listening.¡±


    Ja-kyung was going to beat him up if he brought up money again.


    ¡°I have a vacation home in Hawaii.¡±


    After bragging about money, he was bragging about a villa this time.


    ¡°Would you like to stay there for a while?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened at the unexpected words. Were they going on a vacation? Kang Il-hyun raised his face at the same time as Ja-kyung lowered his gaze. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were dark and still, like the calm before a typhoon.


    ¡°A month is enough. Think of it as a vacation.¡±

 CH 87

    It was an unexpected offer. A vacation out of the blue. Ja-kyung sat up in disbelief. Il-hyun stretched out his arm and touched Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek. His hands went down and touched Ja-kyung¡¯s chest and tried to twist his nipples, so he quickly took them off and put on the T-shirt first.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°As you heard. Your brother is also injured, so go get some rest.¡±


    Wang Lun has been active in Korea in recent years, while Wang Han and Ja-kyung have traveled abroad. They¡¯ve been able to get by without him. Judging by the look on Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face, that wasn¡¯t the only reason. Ja-kyung lowered his gaze to his injured arm.


    ¡°Is it because I was hurt? Are you afraid I won¡¯t be able to do my job properly?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°A scratch like this is nothing.¡±


    Il-hyun looked at Ja-kyung without saying anything. Chairman Kang must have realized by now what Ja-kyung meant to him and that he wasn¡¯t just keeping them for business or to pass time.


    ¡°I think you will be my weakness. If you¡¯re unlucky, Chairman Kang might hold you hostage and threaten me.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at him with a puzzled face. Hostage? Me?


    ¡°I¡¯m Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed at the way he held his chin up. Others might see Ja-kyung as a menacing hitman, but to Il-hyun, he was like a kitten wielding a cotton bud in front of a black panther.


    Ja-kyung must have noticed that too, because he frowned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t laugh. I feel pretty bad right now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, just go for a month.¡±


    Ja-kyung thought deeply. One month¡­ Isn¡¯t that the perfect time to run away?


    Ja-kyung narrowed his eyes, but as if sensing his thought, Kang Il-hyun said first,


    ¡°If you run away, this time I will take a fighter jet, not a helicopter.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because I like you, I can¡¯t kill you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t thinking of anything.¡±


    Ja-kyung pretended to be innocent, but Il-hyun was already smiling, his eyes flashing like a murderer. Ja-kyung quickly abandoned the idea of running away as chills ran down his spine. He had already realized once that the man was capable of preserving him as much as he wanted. However, Kang Il-hyun was staring at Ja-kyung¡¯s T-shirt. Ja-kyung wondered why, so he lowered his head and looked down.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°I have a favor.¡±


    Ja-kyung had an uneasy feeling.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it. Don¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°Can I suck your nipples?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled slyly, and Ja-kyung hated it.


    ¡°It¡¯s because my head is dizzy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather you meditate with me.¡±


    Ja-kyung began to explain the benefits of meditation in detail. However, Il-hyun was not having any of it and looked sad.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need it. To me, your nipples are alcohol and drugs.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Sucking on them makes me feel so fucking relaxed.¡±


    Il-hyun motioned for him to come, but Ja-kyung didn¡¯t even pretend to hear. He had just grabbed a pillow to head to Wang Han¡¯s room when Il-hyun grabbed his arm. After struggling, Il-hyun sat up on the bed, hugged Ja-kyung¡¯s waist, lifted his T-shirt, and put his head inside it.


    Panicked, Ja-kyung tried to push his head out, but Il-hyun had already sucked his nipple.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Il-hyun placed his tongue on his nipple, squeezed it, and sucked on one side. Even though Ja-kyung said he didn¡¯t like it, he couldn¡¯t help but notice his toes tingling as the stimulation was applied. Il-hyun¡¯s head moved and came out from inside the T-shirt. Today, Ja-kyung was worried about Il-hyun¡¯s eyes that seemed to be more empty. He wrapped his arms around Ja-kyung¡¯s waist and rubbed his cheek against his chest, letting out a loud sigh.


    ¡°I¡¯m upset. I want to be comforted.¡±


    Ja-kyung knew that Il-hyun did this every once in a while. He weakens people¡¯s hearts. Even though he cursed at him for being cunning, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t easily push him away. Il-hyun¡¯s hand, which was wrapped around his waist, came down and entered his pants. He grabbed his ass and rubbed it.


    ¡°Comfort me with sex.¡±


    Ja-kyung let out a groan and a sigh simultaneously. Taking advantage of his weakened state of mind, Il-hyun stood up and took off Ja-kyung¡¯s T-shirt at once. He then made him lie face down on the bed. It appeared that his acting for trying to be pitiful succeeded, as Ja-kyung willingly followed him.


    With only the upper body lying on the bed, he pulled Ja-kyung¡¯s pants and underwear down to his thighs. Il-hyun reached out to the bedside table and opened the drawer. He took out the gel Ihe put in before, opened the lid, and squeezed it out. As the cold liquid entered, Ja-kyung frowned and turned around.


    Il-hyun gathered the flowing gel with his fingers, inserted it into the hole, and rubbed it back and forth. Ja-kyung¡¯s back stiffened, and his muscles were clearly visible. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze was drawn down by the snake-shaped tattoo and landed on his name.


    Il-hyun pressed his fingers into the hole while his eyes tracing the name over and over again. Ja-kyung thighs clenched and his hands clawed at the sheets as Il-hyun flexed his fingers and scratched inside.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Ja-kyung turned around and looked at him pleadingly. The area under his eyes was already red, and he bit his lower lip as if trying to hold back a moan. Il-hyun wondered if Ja-kyung was aware of how erotic his face looked. After Il-hyun briefly tasted him before departing for Jeju Island, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Lee Ja-kyung for two days.


    Il-hyun rubbed his thick dick against the entrance and pushed the hole open. The muscles on Ja-kyung¡¯s back were stiff. Il-hyun tossed his head back and let out a low groan when he was about halfway through. Ah, fuck. It feels so good. After completely inserting it, he grabbed Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s ass with both hands and squeezed it wide open from side to side.


    ¡°Mmm.¡±


    While trembling slightly in pain, his hole tightened even more, chewing hard as if about to cut his dick. Ja-kyung¡¯s ass jerked as he arched his back gently. Il-hyun ran his fingers over the engraving of his name, then reached up and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder to pull him back.


    ¡°Get up.¡±


    When Ja-kyung stood up, his inside was tighter because of the posture. Il-hyun frowned and cursed. He reached out and rubbed Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s dick while slowly moving his waist. Il-hyun moved the tip in and out to make it enticing, then struck it deeply to the root every now and then.


    Ja-kyung was helpless at the skillful pace control and leaned the back of his head completely on Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder.


    Il-hyun licked his neck and chin ravenously and repeated his waist movements.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lip and didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°Tell me. Haa, does it hurt?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head in response to the whispering voice. It hurts, but it¡¯s better than it was. The more Il-hyun does, the better. So scary. Ja-kyung was worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to quit doing this and cling to Kang Il-hyun later on. As if to corroborate this, the inside becomes increasingly hot. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand rubbing his dick also became faster.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    A moan came out like a scream. Slap, slap, slap, the speed and strength of the beat increased, and the ceiling seemed to shakes as well. Ja-kyung reached his hand behind him, touching Kang Il-hyun¡¯s body here and there. Il-hyun¡¯s chest that touched his back was firm.


    That was the moment.


    Suddenly, the door opened and Wang Han came in. Ja-kyung reacted to the sound a step later and turned around. It felt as if the air in the bedroom had stopped. He couldn¡¯t even blink and looked at him in surprise, but Wang Han also paused with his mouth hanging open.


    However, Kang Il-hyun moved steadfastly and calmly gestured for Wang Han to go out.


    [I¡¯m sorry!]


    Wang Han stammered an apology in Chinese, then slammed the door and disappeared. Ja-kyung¡¯s soul had already been powdered and separated from his body. He came to his senses and tried to push Kang Il-hyun off, but this man lay him face down on the bed and makes a very determined decision to fuck him.


    ¡°Wait, wait, hyung, he saw it!¡±


    When Ja-kyung tried to get up, Il-hyun pressed on his shoulders.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t see it.¡±


    It was not like Wang Han didn¡¯t have eyes, how can he not see them? He should¡¯ve insisted. Il-hyun put his chest close to Ja-kyung¡¯s back and only his waist moved like an animal. Slap, slap, slap, the sound of flesh clashing, the sound of rough breathing, and the occasional groan made Ja-kyung dizzy.


    Ja-kyung forgot about the shock and ejaculated. Il-hyun whispered bloodily as he licked and sucked Ja-kyung¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Haa, if your brother makes fun of you, I¡¯ll fucking kill him.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, semen poured onto Kang Il-hyun¡¯s palm. Il-hyun hugged his chest tightly and pressed his lower body so that his buttocks were crushed. Heukk. With a short moan, something hot erupts from deep inside his stomach. It felt like his organs were all wet.


    Ja-kyung stretched out exhaustedly and breathed heavily, Kang Il-hyun still clinging to his back like a leech.


    Even so, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Wang Han¡¯s surprised face from earlier.


    He squeezed his eyes shut. I¡¯m screwed, I¡¯m screwed.


    ***


    Ja-kyung and Wang Han were on their way to Wang Lun late at night. They didn¡¯t where Wang Lun heard the news and contacted them and screamed that he knew his girlfriend had betrayed him. The two hastened to the hospital, wondering if Wang Lun would change his mind.


    Neither Wang Han nor Ja-kyung, who was driving, said anything. Wang Han, who was having difficulties speaking, had an ambiguous expression. As if to try not to make it obvious as much as possible


    ¡°A while ago¡­ I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at him, tearing his eyes like a flounder. If he didn¡¯t see him, Wang Han wouldn¡¯t have given him a cushion as soon as he got into the car. Anyway, Wang Han was needlessly kind. Why didn¡¯t Il-hyun lock the door? Hw thought back to that scene with regret.


    He cursed Kang Il-hyun, calling him a dog in heat, and asked him to never tell Wang Lun. Wang Han told him to trust him and vowed to keep his word.


    The two arrived at the hospital and headed to the hospital room, but as soon as the elevator door opened, the hallway was noisy. Wang Lun, who should have been lying in bed, came out. He pushed off the bodyguards and went on a rampage while the nurses watched anxiously.


    ¡°Get off me! I don¡¯t need medical treatment! I¡¯m getting out of here!¡±


    Upon seeing the scene, Wang Han let out a deep sigh. Once Wang Lun set his mind to something, no one could stop him. The stitches had burst, and blood had already leaked out of his patient suit.


    Wang Han asked Ja-kyung while pressing the elevator open button.


    ¡°Shall I go?¡±


    Ja-kyung clicked his tongue.


    Wang Han was too weak-minded to do it. Without asking further questions, Ja-kyung started running.


    ¡°Lun!¡±


    Wang Lun, who was rampaging like the Hulk, turned around when his name was called. Ja-kyung stepped on the wall directly in front of him, hurled himself into the air, and kicked Wang Lun like lightning. His eyes widened as his head turned around.


    Thud, and Wang Lun¡¯s large body was sprawled in the hallway.

 CH 88

    Huu, huh, uh huh. Wang Lun folded up his big body onto the small bed and sobbed softly. After he woke from his unconsciousness, he double-checked with Wang Han and Ja-kyung to see if his lover had truly betrayed him. Ja-kyung wondered how to break the news to Wang Lun, but then realized it was for the best.


    Ja-kyung, who had never loved someone to the point of tears, couldn¡¯t understand Wang Lun¡¯s behavior. Even so, Wang Han had some experience and tried to comfort him by gently pulling down the blanket.


    ¡°Stop crying¡­ We¡¯ll find her.¡±


    Wang Han winked at Ja-kyung and signaled him to quickly comfort him as well.


    Ja-kyung sighed and patted Wang Lun on the shoulder.


    ¡°I can get rid of her if you want?¡±


    Wang Han hurriedly urged him not to do that, but Ja-kyung insisted on adding another word.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re my brother, I¡¯ll do it for free.¡±


    Wang Lun, who was sobbing, threw back the blanket and sat up. Ja-kyung¡¯s kick caused bruises and nosebleeds, and he had a tissue stuck in his nose. He pulled the tissue from his nose and threw it away as he glared at Ja-kyung. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, and snot running down his nose.


    Ja-kyung felt sorry for him, but he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    Oh, shit. I can¡¯t laugh.


    If I laugh now, I might get killed by Lun hyung.


    ¡°Wei. You don¡¯t know love! That¡¯s why you¡¯re saying stupid things!¡±


    Why did the arrows return to him? Ja-kyung looked at Wang Han, feeling unjust. Wang Han did not take sides this time. Seeing how frustrated and sad he was, Ja-kyung felt sorry for him. He tried to help him in covering himself with the tossed quilt, but Wang Lun flicked his hand away and lay down again.


    Ja-kyung quietly approached and grabbed Wang Lun by the shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry hyung¡­ It¡¯s not on purpose.¡±


    Wang Lun remained motionless with the blanket covering his head. Wang Han and Ja-kyung looked into each other¡¯s eyes and sighed. Wang Lun¡¯s arm was being injected with a new sleeping medicine that the nurse had administered.


    Wang Lun continued to cry, and Ja-kyung walked out of the room, grabbed the nurse, and asked if this was the maximum dose that could be administered to a person. After being told yes, he asked for an amount that would be administered to a bear or cow, not a human, and was rejected at once.


    The two patiently waited for Wang Lun to calm down. Wang Lun, who had sobbed, muttered to himself and vented his rage, gradually becoming quiet. Wang Han lifted the blanket quietly. Wang Lun, who was crying, was snoring and asleep. He tucked him in properly after looking at him pityingly.


    The two came out, greeted the bodyguard in front of the door, and stopped by the smoking room outside the hospital to smoke one after another. Well, it was never easy to console a broken heart.


    Just then, Wang Han¡¯s phone rings. He initially ignored it because he didn¡¯t recognize the number, but he quickly answered the call in case it was Wang Lun¡¯s lover who had betrayed him. Wang Han¡¯s face stiffened slightly as he heard the other person¡¯s voice. He gives Ja-kyung a quick glance before heading outside.


    Wang Han looked up from his call and turned around as Ja-kyung followed him out the door.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Wang Han let out a small sigh.


    ¡°Jun. He¡¯s Korea.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Ja-kyung asked again, wondering if he had heard it wrong.


    ¡°Your mentor. Takeya Jun.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face was subtly distorted. The person Wang Han spoke to was a Japanese who lived near Ja-kyung when he was young. Ja-kyung had often earned his pocket money by running errands for him, and he had taught him to shoot.


    When Ja-kyung was a little older, he realized he was a hitman, and he naturally followed in his footsteps. However, the relationship between the two did not last long. The conflict arose when he witnessed him trying to kill a child.


    That¡¯s how they grew apart. He called Ja-kyung and criticized him for being unnecessarily affectionate and unsuitable for the job of a hitman, but Ja-kyung was still making a living from it. He kept in touch with Wang Han from time to time, but even that had stopped in recent years, and rumors circulated that he had died.


    ¡°He¡¯s alive.¡±


    ¡°He said he came to Korea yesterday.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s in Korea¡­ why?¡±


    ¡°It must be because of work.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°He asked me where I was staying, so I roughly covered it up. He asked how you were.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer. He was not happy to meet him. He learned to shoot from him, but he refused to treat him as a human being. Others might call him a butcher who kills people anyway, all the same trash, but to Ja-kyung, that man was a classified person who was worse than trash.


    The two headed to the car. Ja-kyung grabbed the steering wheel, started the engine, and drove out of the parking lot, but Il-hyun¡¯s bodyguards immediately followed from a short distance away. They used to try to avoid being seen, but now they were chasing after them.


    While going home, Ja-kyung remembered what Kang Il-hyun said.


    ¡°Hyung.¡±


    Wang Han, who had been looking out the window at the scenery, turned his head. Why?


    ¡°I had a conversation with CEO Kang in the bedroom earlier.¡±


    ¡°I saw it. You guys were having a heated exchange.¡±


    Ja-kyung clenched his teeth as Wang Han teased him. He¡¯d promised not to say anything. Wang Han ducked and laughed as he swung his fist. Ja-kyung immediately relayed what Il-hyun had told him. Wang Han¡¯s eyes widened as he learned they would be staying in Hawaii for a month.


    ¡°Suddenly?¡±


    ¡°Lun hyung is also injured, and my arm is like this too¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s strange. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s attentive enough to care about such things.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Could it be because of you?¡±


    As Wang Han speculated, Kang Il-hyun was worried that Ja-kyung would become a hostage. Stupid idiot. If you¡¯re going to invest so much money, you should think about making it useful somehow. If you¡¯re going to hide and protect me, why did you even sign the contract in the first place? It made him feel even worse that he was being treated like a weakling.


    ¡°So. Did you answer?¡±


    ¡°No. Not yet.¡±


    After much thought, Wang Han came to a conclusion.


    ¡°Wang Lun¡¯s condition is not good, so it wouldn¡¯t be bad to go and take a rest.¡±


    That¡¯s true, but¡­


    There were many things to be concerned about. Looking at the timing, wasn¡¯t now the time to pay the most attention to security? Or did he think Ja-kyung and the Wang brothers were good at killing people but were incapable of protecting them? It was understandable to think so, as there were many competent bodyguards, including Park Tae-soo. But why was he so sad¡­?


    I also can protect you.


    Ja-kyung was astounded by the sudden thought as if he had been hit. He unknowingly stepped on the brakes, and the car following them suddenly stopped and honked. Wang Han¡¯s body stumbled forward.


    ¡°What the hell, you scared me.¡±


    Ja-kyung apologized to the car behind him and started up. His mind was still in shock. Crazy, who¡¯s protecting whom. The thought he just had was probably unnecessary. Let¡¯s think about protecting my poor ass from that man. His hips and tailbone still throbbed whenever he shook.


    The car left the city and entered a secluded place. All around Il-hyun¡¯s house was a dark and empty field. Even the hills ahead have been cleared away, leaving no place for anyone to hide and attack. On his way to the house, there was a black car that he has not seen before. And a small refrigerated truck behind it.


    It was unusually quiet as he approached the gate. The guards at the gate were gone, and the only sound was grasshoppers chirping. He heard footsteps crunching on the grass behind the building as he walked home.


    Ja-kyung, who had been wary of looking back, stopped. The person who walked out from behind was Kang Il-hyun. Like a demon, he had red blood all over his shirt and face. He lit a cigarette and stopped when he saw Ja-kyung. A stranger seeing him would have been terrified.


    He lit a cigarette and smiled calmly as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°You¡¯re home fast. Lun, is he okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung spoke up. I think the one asking if someone was okay is me, not you. He discarded his cigarette and ran his hand over the blood on his face. His grotesque face became even more eerie.


    Moments later, two strangers come out carrying a large box. Judging by its size, it most likely contains a corpse.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside first.¡±


    Il-hyun led the way, and Ja-kyung and Wang Han followed. Ja-kyung looked out the gate. They load the boxes brought out by the men into the refrigerated truck and set off.


    As Il-hyun entered the house, the housekeeper approached.


    ¡°Oh, no. That was your favorite shirt. Do you want me to clean the blood?¡±


    ¡°No. Please throw it away.¡±


    He looked so nonchalant. Ja-kyung wondered if it was Chairman Kang¡¯s subordinates. Kang Il-hyun went to wash up right away and Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t check it. Then Ja-kyung noticed two men sitting on the sofa. He initially assumed they were an employee, but they were not.


    They sat upright and looked straight ahead, dressed in black. It has the appearance of a doll placed upstairs. Scars on the arms and neck. And one didn¡¯t have a pinky finger. The man in the sunglasses slowly turns his head toward them, his eyes unreadable but his breath smells like blood.


    Ja-kyung instinctively recognized that they were human beings like him.

 CH 89

    Knock, knock, Ja-kyung, who knocked, hesitated for a moment before entering. The model in the second-floor living room had disappeared, so he wondered where it had gone, and it was in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bedroom. Ja-kyung looked at it in bewilderment, but the bathroom door opened and Kang Il-hyun came out, shaking his head and wearing only a towel over his lower body.


    The man with a damp face and wet bangs was not the man who appeared to be a murderer just a moment ago. It wasn¡¯t like Ja-kyung hadn¡¯t seen the naked body in a few days, but he was embarrassed and averted my gaze elsewhere.


    ¡°I was going to come down after washing up, but it seem you couldn¡¯t wait and came here.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. He heard from Park Tae-soo that Il-hyun told him to come here. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know who was telling the truth but seeing Il-hyun¡¯s smile made him more inclined to believe in Park Tae-soo, whom he was not close with. Il-hyun took off the towel that was covering him.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth dropped open when she saw Il-hyun¡¯s dick poking out hard. A full erection for 24 hours. Il-hyun casually pulled on his gray robe and walked over to the couch as he tied the laces. As he sat down across from Ja-kyung with his legs apart, his robe fell open, revealing a barely contained dick.


    Kang Il-hyun smiles blatantly after noticing the gaze.


    ¡°Stop staring at me if you¡¯re not going to suck me up.¡±


    It was ridiculous. Il-hyun was so naked and had his crotch open, but he told him not to look. Ja-kyung scolded him and threw a cushion at him, but it was in vain. Finally, Ja-kyung had to avoid his gaze on his own. Il-hyun lit a cigarette and handed Ja-kyung the brown paper bag next to the table.


    Ja-kyung took it and looked inside. It contained simple documents, an airline ticket to Hawaii, as well as business cards and photos of strangers. Surprisingly, the ticket¡¯s departure date is two days later. The photo was taken in Hawaii, but the man was dressed in a black suit, so you might think it¡¯s fake at first glance.


    ¡°Yoon Soo-hyun. He is the person in charge who will take care of you there. He¡¯ll pick you up at the airport, so familiarize yourself with his face.¡±


    The word ¡°care¡± got on his nerves. Am I a kid? Ja-kyung showed protesting eyes, but his attitude was firm. Along with a few precautions, he repeatedly asked him not to move alone just in case.


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t like the fact that Il-hyun already made up his mind before he had even given him a clear answer. Il-hyun asked him bluntly as if he realized it.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to go?¡±


    ¡°Rather than not wanting to¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung blurted out his words. Then he remembered the people in the living room. After washing and coming down from the second floor, they had left.


    ¡°The people in the living room earlier.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Are they new hires?¡±


    Il-hyun nodded.


    ¡°Then isn¡¯t it a loss to you? If you¡¯re going to pay them to make fun of me, why did you keep me?¡±


    Il-hyun extinguished his cigarette and smiled sadly.


    ¡°Are you asking because you really don¡¯t know, or are you pretending?¡±


    Ja-kyung mouth tightened. Do you really like me? The words that couldn¡¯t come out of his throat racked up in layers. Ja-kyung had been questioning him since the moment he began to believe in him and want to protect him. Is it possible for someone who hates his own family to love others?


    Likewise, Ja-kyung had never truly loved anyone. He was lonely both physically and mentally, so he only met and relied on them for a short time. So he didn¡¯t understand Wang Lun¡¯s attitude, in which he resents his lover for betraying him but also misses her and can¡¯t forget her.


    ¡°If there is something you want to say, say it.¡±


    Il-hyun seemed to be aware that Ja-kyung was thinking a lot, so he spoke first. Ja-kyung clenched his jaw and shook his head. Then he packed up the documents. Nothing would change now. Il-hyun was the boss, and he had to follow his orders.


    ¡°Are they trustworthy?¡±


    Just in case, he checked again. Il-hyun smiled and got up and came to sit next to Ja-kyung. Il-hyun smells like peaches. Though Ja-kyung thought it didn¡¯t suit him, he unknowingly put his nose close and sniffed the scent.


    Il-hyun pulled Ja-kyung in with his arms around his shoulders. Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s escaping hand, interlocked his fingers, and tilted his head to meet his eyes. Surprisingly, this was more embarrassing than having sex with this man. As he tried to pull away, Il-hyun leaned his head on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. It was not like his shoulder was going to break, so Ja-kyung let him be.


    ¡°Are you worried about me?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    ¡°Even if I can¡¯t shoot a gun better than you, I¡¯m better at acting than you.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head and pushed Il-hyun away. Don¡¯t make that sound. Il-hyun pushed him when he loses his temper. His dick poked through the sheer robe and rubbed up against Ja-kyung¡¯s thigh. He struggled to get up, but it wasn¡¯t easy with Il-hyun already on top of him.


    ¡°Ah! Get off me.¡±


    ¡°Please get out of the way, try saying it sweetly.¡±


    Ja-kyung narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth reluctantly, chewing and spitting out word by word.


    ¡°Please, get, out, of, the, way.¡±


    Il-hyun replied immediately with a smile.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Haa. Ja-kyung was debating whether or not to punch him before leaving the country, but then Il-hyun moved behind Ja-kyung. The sofa was spacious, but it was too small for two people to lie on. Il-hyun hugged Ja-kyung from behind. He barely made it to the end of the sofa before wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him.


    Ja-kyung heard the sound of Il-hyun¡¯s heart pounding as his hard chest was against his back. Ja-kyung tried to get away, but this time Il-hyun hugged him tighter. The bedroom was as quiet as a dead rat, and lying back on his chest made Ja-kyung feel strange.


    Il-hyun put his arm under Ja-kyung¡¯s head to make a pillow and patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯ll put you to sleep.¡±


    When he refused, Il-hyun hummed an unfamiliar song. When Ja-kyung asked what song it was, he said he didn¡¯t know.


    Come to think of it, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t recall ever hearing a proper lullaby from anyone since he was born.


    ¡°CEO Kang, did anyone sing you a lullaby when you were little?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯ve slept alone since I was a baby.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it scary?¡±


    ¡°Not really. What should I be afraid of?¡±


    ¡°Something like a ghost¡­¡±


    ¡°There are no ghosts.¡±


    Ja-kyung blinked his eyes. When he was staying in the Philippines before, he had seen a ghost with Wang Han in an old hotel. He didn¡¯t see it clearly, but a white object flashed in front of his eyes. When he thought of that moment, chills run down his spine.


    ¡°There is. I saw it.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed.


    ¡°You believe in ghosts, but how come you still kill people.¡±


    Come to think of it, he¡¯s right. Ja-kyung became hot for no reason.


    ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯re scared of besides ghosts?¡±


    Ja-kyung thought deeply. Anything with more than six legs is scary, including cockroaches. That was why he like snakes. Because it has no legs. He was afraid of his dead parents, who appeared to him in his dreams and tried to kill him, and¡­ There didn¡¯t seem to be anymore.


    ¡°Will you tell me about your childhood? I¡¯m curious.¡±


    For the first time, Il-hyun asked about Ja-kyung¡¯s childhood. He touched Ja-kyung¡¯s ear when he didn¡¯t respond.


    It was a past Ja-kyung didn¡¯t want to recall. There was a part of him that wished he¡¯d just died rather than go through the same hellish cycle of being beaten, delivering drugs, starving, and being beaten again. His brown eyes were still, staring into one place. He felt his brain pause for a moment as his memory flashed back to that time.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk, you don¡¯t have to.¡±


    Il-hyun withdraws unexpectedly. The hand that had been touching his ear stroked his hair. He felt sleepy at the gentle touch. The sofa, which he had just considered uncomfortable, was actually more comfortable than he had thought, and his eyelids sank speedily.


    Ja-kyung got up and tried to go upstairs, but he was caught again.


    ¡°I feel sleepy¡­¡±


    ¡°Sleep here, I¡¯ll carry you to your bed.¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed. It was so funny to imagine.


    ¡°Am I a princess?¡±


    ¡°There is no law that says a prince must carry a princess. I can be your princess if you want.¡±


    His tone and touch were soft. He closed his eyes and Il-hyun continued to sing an unknown song. The sound of his voice was pleasing to the ear.


    ***


    Ja-kyung, who had been tossing and turning in his sleep, opened his eyes. The bedroom was dark because the light was turned off. He searched his way to the side, but it was empty. He flipped on the bedside lamp and took a look around. He knew that Il-hyun was carrying him in his sleep, but Il-hyun left him alone. He wondered when Il-hyun left.


    Ja-kyung got out of bed. The papers Il-hyun had handed him earlier were still on the table.


    He walked out of the bedroom and found Il-hyun standing in front of the living room window. His expression as he stared out the window while holding a glass was so handsome. The dawn sky¡¯s blue light poured down on him, and the atmosphere was that of a beast about to go hunting.


    When he saw Ja-kyung, he immediately changes his expression and smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±


    There¡¯s an empty bottle of wine on the table in front of the couch. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t believe Il-hyun drank all of that, but his face was too fresh for that.


    ¡°Have you been drinking this whole time?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I can¡¯t sleep.¡±


    Ja-kyung approached him, snatched the half-left cup, and placed it in his mouth. He drank two sips and it was immediately confiscated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink. I¡¯m afraid of your drunkenness.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Though the jealousy felt good.¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at him as Il-hyun smiled. He protested that it wasn¡¯t jealousy, but Il-hyun didn¡¯t believe him. The gaze that used to be directed at the window has now turned to Ja-kyung. Instead of hostility, there was affection and lust in his eyes. His face came closer, and Ja-kyung didn¡¯t avoid him.


    Il-hyun¡¯s fingertips rubbed Ja-kyung¡¯s lips and then parted them in the middle.


    ¡°Suck it.¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitantly moved his tongue and licked Il-hyun¡¯s fingers in his mouth. Ja-kyung was not even drunk after two sips, but his body moved on its own. Il-hyun smiled and clasped their upper bodies close together, whispering softly into Ja-kyung¡¯s ear.


    ¡°I thought I was going crazy because I wanted to torture you while you were sleeping.¡±

 CH 90

    Translated by Springlila


    Il-hyun¡¯s lips moved closer as the fingers that had been probing in his mouth slipped away. The aromas of whiskey and tobacco blended weakly. He carefully licked every nook and cranny of Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth with his tongue. He did it gently at first, then violently.


    Ja-kyung was out of breath, so he pushed Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder for a moment and took a deep breath. Looking back, the outside was brightening up and the guards were walking the dogs in the yard.


    ¡°Go to bed and do it.¡±


    ¡°Why. I like it here because it¡¯s thrilling.¡±


    He reached into Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt and touched his chest. His skin was smooth and pleasant to the touch, and it fits snugly in his palm. He lifted his shirt and ran his tongue up his stomach to his chest in a long lick. His skin tightened with tension.


    As Il-hyun continued to bite his nipple and suck it, Ja-kyung bit his lip and held back his moans.


    Il-hyun, who had been tormenting his chest for so long, went downward again. Ja-kyung had a sense of what he was trying to do. Ja-kyung¡¯s dick was already hard when Il-hyun pulled his pants and panties down to his thighs.


    Il-hyun lifted his head and looked up, making eye contact with Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Watch and learn.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. Learn what? He sat Ja-kyung in a space up to his waist in front of the window, took off his pants and underwear, grabbed both of his thighs, and spread them upward. Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulders and the back of his head were in contact with the window, his ass was lifted, and his legs were spread embarrassingly wide.


    The bewildered Ja-kyung struggled and stammered.


    ¡°Do I have to be in this position?¡±


    Il-hyun ignored him, then buried his face between his crotches and sucked his dick. It was more visible in his eyes than when he was completely lying down or standing. Slurp, slurp, slurp, his head moved up and down, sucking his dick. Ja-kyung folded his body halfway and gasped for air before running his hand through Il-hyun¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Mhm¡­!¡±


    Il-hyun sucked it slowly at first, then gradually increased his strength and sucked it harder, and Ja-kyung quickly feel like he was about to ejaculate. His chest and abdomen heaved, putting strain on his dick. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze was constantly directed upward while doing fella. The deep sunken cheeks from sucking dick his and the slightly creased corners of the eyes caused by teasing were more erotic than usual.


    ¡°S-stop¡­ I think, I¡¯m cumming, aaah!¡±


    Ja-kyung arched his back and trembled. He gets a shiver down his spine. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and stifled a moan before yelping and cumming. The tension was released after ejaculation, and Ja-kyung¡¯s body drooped. Il-hyun spread out Ja-kyung¡¯s and spit the cum from his mouth over his balls.


    Slowly, it ran down the perineum and into the hole. Il-hyun licked the semen remaining on his lips with his tongue and rubbed the hole with his fingers. As he poked his middle and ring fingers in, Ja-kyung flinched and tried to close his legs together.


    ¡°It¡¯s my turn.¡±


    His voice was muffled.


    The thought of taking that big thing up his ass brought back memories of pain, and he squirmed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll suck you in the same way!¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because you can¡¯t fucking suck it.¡±


    Ja-kyung pride was hurt because he was rejected so quickly, but Il-hyun managed to add one more word to hit him in the bone.


    Fuck. Ja-kyung cursed inwardly. You must be a fucking good sucker. Ja-kyung knew he was actually a good sucker, but the sarcasm didn¡¯t last long. The fingers that came inside rubbed against the inner wall and moved back and forth. He hated hearing the squelching sound.


    It was getting brighter outside now. Ja-kyung looked around again, embarrassed for no reason. The earlier guards were nowhere to be seen. While Ja-kyung was distracted, Il-hyun scratched the inside of his shirt. Ja-kyung looked up in surprise. Il-hyun expression was fierce.


    ¡°You seem distracted?¡±


    Il-hyun drew his fingers back and untied the straps of his gown. The robe opened, revealing his hard body. He was naturally built in and seeing him as a man made me envious and aroused. Il-hyun grabbed his dick, rubbed it, and pressed it against the hole firmly.


    It was a pressure that cannot be compared to that of a finger. His dick was thicker and more shaped than most, and it curved upward slightly, making it easier to feel inside.


    In the past, just looking at it made Ja-kyung shudder, but now it was shocking to him that he was ready to accept it without any hesitation. But the useless thoughts didn¡¯t last long. As Il-hyun slowly opened his hole and entered, Ja-kyung¡¯s breath stopped. It was still difficult to adapt.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    A mixture of moaning and breathing flowed out of his teeth clenched in pain. Ja-kyung looked down. Because of his posture, he could clearly see Il-hyun¡¯s dick entering him. Ahh, Ja-kyung groaned and leaned the back of his head against the window. After pushing it all the way in, Il-hyun slowly moved his hip. The lower part of Ja-kyung¡¯s abdomen bulged out every time he thrust in deeply.


    He took Ja-kyung¡¯s hand and made him touch it.


    ¡°It went all the way here. Can you feel it?¡±


    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.


    Ja-kyung suddenly remembered the Alien movie. He was afraid that it might break through, so he quickly withdrew his hand. As he moved faster and faster, his head and shoulders were crushed by the window. Hearing the sound of the dog barking, Ja-kyung looked back.


    As a shepherd runs through the yard, a bodyguard hurried out and dragged the dog away to the back. He raised his head and quickly turned his head. Ja-kyung realized they had seen the situation. It was bad enough that Wang Han saw them, and now it would be spread all over the neighborhood.


    ¡°Stop being down. There¡¯s no one in this house who doesn¡¯t know that the two of us are having sex anyway.¡±


    Bast-. Ja-kyung was glaring at him, but suddenly, with all his might, Il-hyun thrusts into him. Ja-kyung toes tingled as Il-hyun¡¯s dick rubbed against his prostate. Ahh. Ja-kyung closed his eyes and stretched out his hand without realizing it. Kang Il-hyun willingly gave his neck.


    Ja-kyung clung to his neck with his penis still shoved in. Slap, slap, slap, Il-hyun moved so roughly that Ja-kyung¡¯s body was completely crumpled, and sparks fly in front of his eyes. His mind had gone blank, and he didn¡¯t care whether anyone was watching or not. He hurriedly found Il-hyun¡¯s lips and sucked them.


    Ja-kyung noticed the corners of Il-hyun¡¯s lips rising when he opened his eyes slightly. Slap, slap, it was so fast and hard that it hurt his ass, and the skin on his stomach bulged out while warm liquid poured out from within.


    For a long time, the two of them savored the afterglow of the climax while sucking each other lips. Il-hyun brushed Ja-kyung¡¯s hair as he parted his lips to catch his breath.


    ¡°I must abstain from sex for a month now.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled, but Ja-kyung can¡¯t smile at all. Il-hyun really thinking of sending him away. Not too long ago, he had intended to run away from the island. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t understand why he was so anxious and upset when he could be jumping for joy.


    The human heart was something that he couldn¡¯t understand.


    ***


    ¡°Until when are you going to do this?¡±


    Wang Lun remained wrapped in a blanket, despite Wang Han¡¯s question. He had run amok like a mad cow the day before, and today he was completely exhausted and lying like a corpse. Ja-kyung also attempted to cheer him up but was unsuccessful.


    He must have been in a big shock, seeing that there was no reaction even when he was told that they would go to Hawaii and stay for a month. If everything had gone as usual, he would have been the most excited and happy. Ja-kyung sighed deeply, and then he and Wang Han comforted him some more before leaving the room.


    At the very least, the two of them decided to return home and pack their belongings. The sky had been dark since they arrived, and it began to rain as soon as they came out. Ja-kyung sat in the driver¡¯s seat, turned on the engine, and brushed his wet hair roughly.


    Despite moving the wipers, the rain was heavy, making it difficult to see. He finally set out after waiting for the rain to stop, and Il-hyun¡¯s men, who were a little further away, immediately followed. The cars were slowing down when he exited the parking lot and entered the main road due to the rain.


    ¡°Lun hyung, will he continue to be like that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. We should get his spirits up quickly.¡±


    ¡°Should I look for her?¡±


    It would be easy to find Wang Lun¡¯s lover if he asked people he knew. But it wouldn¡¯t make any difference. She had betrayed him, and even if they were to meet again, it would be difficult to repair the trust that had already been broken.


    The traffic light changed, and the car stopped for a while. Ja-kyung looked behind him in his rearview mirror. There was no sign of the bodyguard¡¯s car. They were parked right next to him when he turned around. It surprised Ja-kyung because they usually follow from behind.


    When the light changed, he started off and turned right. It was a new road, a weekday, and there was little traffic due to the heavy rain. The bodyguard¡¯s car keeps pulling to the side while driving in the rain. Ja-kyung was nervous. Wang Han also rolled down the window, probably feeling something strange.


    Why did they do that? What¡¯s the matter?


    Soon, the other driver¡¯s window rolled down. He was surprised to see that the bodyguard wasn¡¯t wearing his usual black suit. Ja-kyung, who was about to take a closer look, opened his mouth in surprise. Wang Han also froze in place as he recognized the other man.


    Takeya Jun, who was said to have arrived in Korea yesterday and asked where they were over the phone, was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, pointing a gun at them. The man fired a bullet as soon as Ja-kyung stepped on the accelerator. Bang, the missed bullet shattered the back window.


    If he didn¡¯t respond quickly, their heads could fly off. Ja-kyung accelerated and looked back. Takeya Jun slammed into the car¡¯s back bumper with terrifying force. The force of the impact threw the body forward. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and gripped the steering wheel tightly.


    ¡°Why is that man here!¡±


    Wang Han finally remembered his words about coming here to work, and his mind went blank. Could it be that they were the target?


    Fuck. We¡¯re screwed.


    The car that had caught up with them at breakneck speed now comes to the side and slammed their car. The car¡¯s body was scratched, and it stumbled as if it were about to collide with a guardrail.


    ¡°Get out the gun!¡±


    Ja-kyung shouted urgently. He took out the gun to wash the inside of the car a few days ago. He¡¯d become careless because he hadn¡¯t recently faced any threats to his life.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    As soon as he shouted and blamed himself, bullets flew like rain. Bang, bang, bang, the rearview mirror had been shattered, and all of the side windows had also been smashed. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth. He tried to speed up as much as possible to increase the distance between them and Jun, but he was too close for them to escape.

 CH 91

    T/W: Gore/Cruelty


    Takeya Jun¡¯s car followed him at the same speed as he drove at full speed. Wang Han quickly grabbed his phone and dialed Park Tae-soo¡¯s number. He answered the phone as soon as the signal went out and then screamed.


    ¡°Secretary Park! We are under attack! Send someone out quickly!¡±


    He also asked that they bring a gun, but the car shook and the cell phone fell. They hit them from behind again as he bent down to pick it up. Wang Han bounced forward and collided with the dashboard. Ugh, he clutched his head and groaned, and Ja-kyung stepped on the gas pedal full force.


    Takeya Jun¡¯s car caught up with him at a terrifying speed as he accelerated. Takeya Jun rolled down the windows and mercilessly fired his gun from behind and to the side. To avoid the flying bullets, Ja-kyung and Wang Han lowered their bodies. Bullets pierced the seats and shattered the windshield, pouring in like rain.


    Fuck. It was difficult to see the attack in a situation where it was difficult to secure sight. Ja-kyung needed to hold on and buy time. Kang Il-hyun must have had a tracker attached to the car. He just hoped his men would arrive as soon as possible.


    As the chase continued for more than 30 minutes, the terrifying rain stopped as if it had never happened. While passing over a bridge over a river, a bullet hits the wheel of a car. Bang, the tire burst, and the car skidded at high speed.


    He stepped on the brake and adjusted the steering wheel, but it was difficult because it had been raining on the street. The car eventually collided with the pier railing! Bang!!! The airbag exploded as a result of the impact, and Ja-kyung and Wang Han¡¯s bodies bounced forward before returning to their original positions.


    Ja-kyung, who was barely awake, looked in the rearview mirror. Broom, broom, and Jun¡¯s car were about to drive right up to them.


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    As soon as Ja-kyung hurriedly unbuckled his seat belt and jumped out of the driver¡¯s seat, the car came at full speed. The car they were riding in shattered the railing and crashed into the river beneath a bridge. Jun stepped out of the stopped car and loaded his gun. He wore a leather jacket even in the middle of summer, and he had visible scars from the tips of his lips to his cheekbones. He said that it was a scar left by his parents many years ago. And that he killed his parents with his own hands.


    He sat leisurely on the bonnet of the car and looked at the two of them.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Wei.¡±


    His smile was viciously unwelcoming. Ja-kyung smiled and responded.


    ¡°Long time no see, hyung-nim. Your face has gotten better since I haven¡¯t seen you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you. They say you¡¯ve been tasted by men and even treated them with your body these days?¡±


    Ja-kyung wrinkled his brow. Wang Han intervened in the middle.


    ¡°Jun. Don¡¯t be like this. Wei was your colleague.¡±


    ¡°A colleague? That weakling?¡±


    He openly scoffed. Ja-kyung looked back once more. The river flowed quickly after heavy rain. It appeared that if they jumped down, their lives would be saved, but the problem was that they would almost certainly get shot. He approached Wang Han with caution. Ja-kyung considered pushing him away and dumping him in the water.


    But Jun noticed it like a ghost and switched the muzzle from Ja-kyung to Wang Han.


    ¡°Wei. Don¡¯t play tricks.¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at him.


    ¡°Take my life. Han hyung did nothing wrong.¡±


    Jun cackled loudly. It was a terribly unpleasant sound.


    ¡°You¡¯re still the same. Pretending to be a hero when you¡¯re a murderer.¡±


    He brought up the past. Takeya Jun kidnapped the 6-year-old son of a high-ranking official who was attempting to flee to another country while they were working together. He intended to send the child to the parents in pieces. However, Ja-kyung secretly released the child, and everything went to waste.


    This time, Wang Han asked politely.


    ¡°Let Wei go. Instead, I will pay the debt.¡±


    ¡°You fools. Don¡¯t be ridiculous. I will kill all of you anyway.¡±


    He shifted the muzzle to the left and right. Who will be the first to have their head blown off? Ja-kyung took another step back. Wang Han moves along as well, possibly realizing his intention. Jump off the bridge at the same time if necessary. They were only looking for opportunities to jump off the bridge. As they wait for their chance, they hear the sound of a crash.


    It was around this time. The moment Ja-kyung touched the handrail, a car rushing from the other side crossed the boundary line and crashed into Takeya Jun. His body flew like a feather and landed on the ground. Ja-kyung stood firm on the railing, and Wang Han couldn¡¯t hide his surprise.


    Takeya Jun, who fell to the ground, did not even move as if he had lost consciousness. Kang Il-hyun and Park Tae-soo got out of the stopped car. He was the first to check on Ja-kyung¡¯s safety, his eyes scanning every nook and cranny of his body.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded. He never dreamed that Il-hyun would come to him in person. Il-hyun took out a gun and threw it at Ja-kyung. As he accepted it, Il-hyun raised the corner of his mouth and smiled.


    ¡°You can¡¯t even act, and now you forgot your gun.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was loading his gun, averted his gaze, embarrassed. Il-hyun returned his gaze to Park Tae-soo, who had been riding alongside him.


    ¡°Tae-soo, this means we got scammed, right? Shouldn¡¯t we sue?¡±


    When Ja-kyung tried to approach Jun with a loaded gun, Park Tae-soo went first and grabbed Jun from behind. He seemed to be trying to forcefully lift him up and place him in the car. His clothes were tattered, revealing a tattoo between his shoulders. Il-hyun went straight to Jun and lifted his top after discovering the tattoo.


    His eyes narrowed when he noticed he had the same tattoo as Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s on his shoulder.


    Jun, who had briefly lost consciousness, pulled a knife from his sleeve. The knife tip flew like lightning aimed at Il-hyun¡¯s carotid artery. Il-hyun immediately grabbed and twisted his arm. His arm was twisted and bent backward as the knife fell to the ground.


    Crack, with the sound of bones snapping, Jun screamed. Kang Il-hyun caused his bones to rip and protrude. Aargh! Jun screamed, grabbed his arm, and fell forward. Il-hyun crouched in front of him, violently grabbing his hair, and staring at him.


    ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with Lee Ja-kyung?


    Even though Jun was in pain, he held on to his broken wrist and laughed.


    ¡°Are you curious?¡±


    Ja-kyung let out a sigh. Jun shouldn¡¯t have said a word. If he does, he¡¯ll die. But Takeya Jun was more stupid than Ja-kyung thought.


    ¡°We¡¯re very close. Isn¡¯t that right, Wei?¡±


    Jun looked at Ja-kyung, and at the same time, Il-hyun looked back. Ja-kyung, who received the two men¡¯s gazes, returned the stares with a look of disbelief.


    Il-hyun asked with a sad face.


    ¡°Babe. You said I was your first man.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes and expression were the same as they had been the night he swung the axe. Ja-kyung tried in vain to explain that his relationship with Jun was not as Il-hyun thinks. Takeya Jun spoke even harder.


    ¡°How does that guy¡¯s ass taste? It¡¯s awesome, right?¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes moved back to Jun.


    A man with the same tattoo as Lee Ja-kyung. Same job. Ah fuck. I don¡¯t like it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me so arrogantly.¡±


    Jun laughed.


    ¡°Why. You will pluck my eye-.¡±


    Il-hyun covered Jun¡¯s face before he could finish his sentence. Jun trembled as Il-hyun¡¯s left thumb dug under his right eye. Aaaaargh. Park Tae-soo grabbed Jun from behind as he struggled. Il-hyun quickly inserted his fingers into Jun¡¯s eye and pulled out the slippery eyeball in an instant.


    Aaaaargh. Jun¡¯s limbs trembled with an ear-piercing scream. Ja-kyung standing behind watched the scene with his mouth shut. Jun clutched his bloody face and struggled in pain.


    Il-hyun grabbed his chin and forced him to look at his face. Then, he put the right eyeball he had just plucked out into his left eye and smiled terribly. Jun¡¯s eyes, which had been arrogant, were slowly eroded by fear.


    ¡°Hello? Say hello. It¡¯s your right eye.¡±


    While shaking, Jun gritted his teeth and glared at Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°Would you like to repeat what you said earlier?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°How was Lee Ja-kyung?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun bursts the eyeballs in his hands with force when there was no response. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s cheeks were splattered with blood and unidentified lumps. He rubbed his hands over the things on his cheeks, tasted them, and spit them out.


    ¡°Eyeballs don¡¯t have much taste.¡±


    Jun Takeya, who was trembling and clenching his teeth, slowly lowered his gaze. He¡¯s a devil. He¡¯s a real devil.


    ¡°Tell me. Or, do you want me to pluck out the remaining eyeballs too?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to feel what it¡¯s like to be chased in the dark for the rest of your life?¡±


    Il-hyun stands up when Ja-kyung tells him to stop. Ja-kyung trembled as he saw Il-hyun¡¯s bloodied hands and crushed eyeballs. And now his eyes were in danger.


    ¡°We¡¯re not friends! He¡¯s just a colleague I knew before.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun took out a handkerchief, wiped his cheeks and hands, and smiled affectionately unlike a while ago.


    ¡°About that, I¡¯ll find out when we go home and check it out.¡±


    He smiled, but his tone was completely cold. He soon called for Tae-soo and had him lift Takeya Jun into the trunk of his car. Tae-soo shoves the groaning Jun into the trunk and slammed the door.


    Ja-kyung went to Il-hyun¡¯s side and talked to him several times. He told him to just kill Jun here, bury him, or whatever since they weren¡¯t together, but it didn¡¯t work. Eventually, he was thrown into the backseat of a car with Wang Han and went home.


    The whole way home, the car was as silent as a dead rat. If Wang Lun was there, he would have made some silly jokes, but his absence was disappointing today. After about 20 minutes, Kang Il-hyun finally spoke up.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how to make sashimi?¡±


    ¡°I learned it before.¡±


    Why sashimi all of sudden? He wondered if Il-hyun really wanted to eat sashimi in this atmosphere. However, what Kang Il-hyun said was something Ja-kyung never imagined.


    ¡°Good. I need you to remove the tattoos on Ja-kyung¡¯s back.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was distraughtly looking out the window, opened his eyes wide and looked ahead. Kang Il-hyun ignored him and did not respond when he asked what he had just said. Sashimi. Sashimi, he wasn¡¯t even flatfish or rockfish! Ja-kyung was flabbergasted, but the only response he received was a threat to shut up and sit still.

 CH 92

    As soon as they arrived home, Ja-kyung was initially concerned about what would happen if Kang Il-hyun dug out the tattoo on his back with a knife, but he was surprisingly friendly. After thoroughly inspecting every part of Ja-kyung¡¯s body, he skillfully treated the wound on his arm and took out the bandage.


    ¡°You know, you¡¯ve been losing focus lately?¡±


    Ja-kyung was moved, but he couldn¡¯t refute it because he wasn¡¯t wrong. He made mistakes in his work, forgot his guns, and deserves to be criticized.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to apologize. I¡¯m saying get a grip and take care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Is your mind disturbed because of your brother¡¯s matter?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer and kept his mouth shut. The hand that bandages his arm was careful. He wondered if it was the same man who gouged out Takeya Jun¡¯s eyeballs. When he looked up at Il-hyun¡¯s face, he made eye contact and smiled.


    Losing focus, distracted mind, and thinking about something else¡­ It was not because of Wang Lun.


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t bear to be honest with him, and he just kept repeating that he wouldn¡¯t do it again. When Il-hyun finished bandaging his arm, he took a cigarette and lit it. He took a puff and handed it to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung took it and put it in his mouth, and soon there was a knock on the door and Park Tae-soo entered.


    ¡°All preparations are complete.¡±


    Il-hyun held out his hand toward Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Then shall we go now?¡±


    It was a polite gesture, like an escort before entering a party. Without asking where they were going, a chill ran down Ja-kyung¡¯s spine. No way. Eyy, No way¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Tae-soo seems to have had to make sashimi in the past.¡±


    Ja-kyung almost dropped his cigarette on the floor. Wasn¡¯t he joking?


    ¡°Don¡¯t play around.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not generous enough to bear that you have the same tattoo on your body as someone else. And you know it.¡±


    Ja-kyung was dumbfounded. This was not only on Takeya Jun, but the group who was with Ja-kyung at the time also thought it was cool and followed it. Then he has to catch and kill them all. Il-hyun¡¯s right mind had already gone, so he won¡¯t listen no matter how much he explains.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to strip it clean and replace it with something I like.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ is it?¡±


    ¡°Meow.¡±


    It¡¯s even creepier when he meows with a wicked grin. By the look on his face, he wasn¡¯t joking. Il-hyun was determined to take him away, so Ja-kyung did everything he could to resist. He was able to avoid the crisis in the end by traveling to Hawaii and barely persuading him to erase it with a laser.


    ¡°Promise me. If you don¡¯t erase it then, I¡¯ll dig it out with my own hands.¡±


    Ja-kyung reluctantly nodded, and Il-hyun gently stroked his hair.


    ¡°My honey is a good boy. You listen well.¡±


    Ja-kyung slapped off that hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m angry. Don¡¯t say that I¡¯m a good boy. It¡¯s because you¡¯re a psychopath!¡±


    At the word ¡®psychopath¡¯, Il-hyun asked if it was obvious with a hurt expression. As the two bickered, Ja-kyung clearly saw Park Tae-soo smiling proudly. When your boss does something crazy, you¡¯re supposed to stand by and stop him. No, even if you don¡¯t stop him, it¡¯s not something to look at so proudly, right?


    Ja-kyung entered the bedroom to pack his belongings after Park Tae-soo left. Kang Il-hyun leaned his chin in front of him and looked at him as he opened his bag and packed his clothes.


    ¡°Do you need help?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll just pack the basics and go buy what I need later.¡±


    At that moment, something fell from between the clothes and rolled under Kang Il-hyun¡¯s feet. Il-hyun bent down and picked it up. Embarrassed, Ja-kyung quickly got up and tried to take it away, but was a step too late. He had tucked the wooden elephant doll Il-hyun had been given before inside his clothes, and it happened to be¡­


    ¡°Give it to me.¡±


    When Ja-kyung held out his hand, Il-hyun made a strange expression.


    ¡°I¡¯m touched. I didn¡¯t know you would cherish it.¡±


    It¡¯s roughly buried, but it fits together.


    ¡°Give it to me, quickly.¡±


    When he tried to take it away, he ducked his hand behind his back and smirked.


    ¡°I have a bigger elephant than this one, want to see?¡±


    Judging by the twinkle in his eye, the elephant must have been attached to his body. As expected, his hand untied the belt, so Ja-kyung quickly snatched the doll and stuffed it into his bag, ignoring him.


    Il-hyun, who was sitting in a chair, sat down on the floor beside Ja-kyung. Then he started disturbing him by rummaging through his bag. Even if Ja-kyung pushed him away, he wouldn¡¯t move and later sighed as he rested his head on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna miss you.¡±


    Il-hyun said it so casually as if it were a joke. It sounded more genuine than anything he¡¯d ever said, and it made Ja-kyung feel weird. Ja-kyung, who was packing his belongings, turned his head to the side. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze was intense. His lips curved into a smile as he reached out and tugged on the back of Ja-kyung¡¯s head. Their lips touched softly and then parted. Kang Il-hyun let out a sticky breath between his lips, whether it was a sigh or a moan.


    ¡°Fuck. I feel sorry for my dick. It¡¯s going to be hard for a month.¡±


    Good riddance.


    Ja-kyung glared at him once before finishing packing his belongings, but Il-hyun teased him by putting his hand inside Ja-kyung¡¯s T-shirt. Pushing him off was bothersome, so Ja-kyung left him be, and the range grew wider and more persistent. In the end, they didn¡¯t say much and just hugged and rolled around. They were biting and sucking on each other¡¯s lips when someone knocked on the door.


    Park Tae-soo¡¯s voice came from outside.


    ¡°Sir, I think you should come out for a while.¡±


    Il-hyun planted a quick kiss on Ja-kyung¡¯s lips, rose from his seat, adjusted his clothes, and headed out. When Ja-kyung tried to follow him, Il-hyun told him to finish packing and then closed the door. In the living room, there was a rattling sound. After a while, Ja-kyung went out, but Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be found.


    ***


    ¡°The house will be empty.¡±


    The house chef was feeling sad while preparing breakfast. Ja-kyung was sorry that he couldn¡¯t eat the delicious food she had prepared for the time being. Ja-kyung was curious about Kang Il-hyun¡¯s whereabouts and asked her subtly while eating. Instead of responding, she smiled as she looked behind Ja-kyung.


    ¡°You can ask me directly.¡±


    Ja-kyung was taken aback when he looked back. It was because Kang Il-hyun was smiling at him from behind. Dressed for work, he pulled out a chair and sat down next to him. Il-hyun stared blankly at Ja-kyung¡¯s clothes as the house chef served coffee. He¡¯d seen him in neutral colors every day, but the red Hawaiian shirt looked great on him.


    ¡°Your clothes, it looks nice?¡±


    ¡°I like it.¡±


    ¡°You should wear it more often.¡±


    Ja-kyung wanted to, but he just refrained from being noticed.


    ¡°Does it suit me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It goes well with your gangster-like eyes.¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at him when he said the word gangster. Ja-kyung¡¯s cheeks bulge as he places the bread in his mouth and chews it.


    Il-hyun smiled and poked his cheek with his finger, thinking it was cute.


    ¡°What about your brothers?¡±


    ¡°He packed up and went to the hospital first.¡±


    They weren¡¯t the only ones going to Hawaii. There were bodyguards and a doctor to treat Wang Lun. The doctor will also be stationed there until Wang Lun is completely healed. Ja-kyung was grateful that Kang Il-hyun was giving him so much consideration without realizing it.


    Ja-kyung, who was tearing bread with his hands, asked about the incident from the night before. He was confused as to why Park Tae-soo had suddenly appeared and where he had gone after he went out.


    ¡°I went out for a while because something urgent happened at work.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡°Another staff member will escort you to the airport. I have a morning meeting, so I have to go to work.¡±


    ¡°And Jun?¡±


    ¡°The Japanese guy?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded, and Il-hyun smiled as he removed the crumbs from Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth with his hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I killed him and buried him well.¡±


    Could it be that he fed it to the dog again? Jun is not someone to be taken lightly. When Ja-kyung gave him a worried look, Il-hyun stroked his hair to reassure him. Kang Il-hyun is the person who has touched his hair the most since Wang Han.


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand came down gradually, touching Ja-kyung¡¯s ear lobe, neck, shoulder, and back in that order, before pulling away. It¡¯s too bad he can¡¯t stay. Before Ja-kyung could even think about wanting to be with him more, he heard the sound of a chair dragging and Il-hyun stood up from his seat.


    ¡°Be healthy and have a safe trip. Call me as soon as you arrive.¡±


    Il-hyun kissed him on the cheek from behind and patted his shoulder. The house chef, who was washing the dishes, noticed it and smiled. Ja-kyung¡¯s ear lobe turned red, and he sat motionless. Il-hyun left the house as usual after saying his goodbyes. From behind, Il-hyun appeared carefree, which made Ja-kyung sad that he was suffering from heartache alone.


    Ja-kyung wouldn¡¯t be able to see him for a month. It doesn¡¯t seem to be a big deal. Was he the only one who was concerned and cared? Ja-kyung stared at the cup Il-hyun had left behind. Looking back, he didn¡¯t even drink the coffee, instead he just stared at his face and left. Ja-kyung was biting his lower lip when he received a phone call from Wang. When he answered the phone, Wang Han spoke in an urgent voice


    [Did you leave?]


    ¡°No, not yet. Why are you so out of breath?¡±


    [Did you know?]


    ¡°What?¡±


    [Jun. I heard he escaped while being moved to another place last night.]


    Ja-kyung almost dropped his phone. His gaze was drawn to the place where Kang Il-hyun had left earlier. He sat up and walked towards it without realizing it. He went out the front door while still talking to Wang Han.


    [I also overheard some of CEO Kang¡¯s employees talking about how they were searching for him until dawn.]


    Ja-kyung stopped halfway through the yard. Kang Il-hyun exchanged words with Park Tae-soo before returning his gaze. Ja-kyung clenched his fists while looking at Kang Il-hyun.


    Why did you lie? You said he was dead. You said not to worry.


    Wang Han sighed over the phone.


    [Anyway, even if he runs away in that condition, he won¡¯t last long.]


    ¡°¡­¡±


    [Are you listening?]


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    [Hurry up. Lun is looking for you.]


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer and hung up the phone, saying he¡¯d call back later. He then approached Kang Il-hyun, who was standing in the car, and grabbed his arm. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze moved to the arm being held, then up to face Ja-kyung.


    ¡°What? What is this sudden action?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡±


    One of Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows rises crookedly. Ja-kyung spoke once with a determined expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to Hawaii. I want to stay here.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed. It was an expression that he was at a loss for words. Ja-kyung opened his mouth. He has no choice but to say it. Il-hyun¡¯s head might burst and he¡¯d die if he left without saying anything. No, he may come to regret it. He was going to say it whether it was embarrassing or humiliating.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay and¡­ protect you.¡±


    Il-hyun asked in disbelief.


    ¡°Protect who?¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lip. Ah fuck. I don¡¯t know either.


    ¡°You, CEO Kang. I will protect you!¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bewildered expression gradually changed into a face Ja-kyung had never seen before. Even when they had sex, when they strangled each other, or when he want to cut his dick and gouge his eyes, it was an expression Ja-kyung had never seen before.

 CH 93

    You¡¯d better speak up or laugh. Why are you looking at me with such a bewildered expression? Ja-kyung risked embarrassing himself to say that, but Il-hyun¡¯s reaction was strange. After a while, the silence was broken, as Il-hyun returned his gaze to Tae-soo, who was standing behind him, rather than Ja-kyung. He then said with excitement.


    ¡°Tae-soo. I just got proposed to Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    Ja-kyung hit Il-hyun¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make things up. I said I would protect you, when did I ask to marry you?¡±


    Il-hyun looked at the time, told Tae-soo to leave 30 minutes later, then grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and dragged him toward the house. Ja-kyung, who was being dragged away, tried to release his arm but was helpless. Ja-kyung was dragged up to the second floor before he could properly take off his shoes, but the housekeeper in the kitchen came out to see what was going on.


    ¡°Don¡¯t send someone up to the second floor.¡±


    He dragged Ja-kyung into the farthest room on the second floor after saying that. Il-hyun was desperate enough e had to push the door open, but instead, he pulled it open, shook it, and cursed. Ja-kyung grabbed his arm and asked what was wrong, but Il-hyun didn¡¯t pretend to hear him and dragged him into the bedroom. As soon as he entered, he threw Ja-kyung on the bed and climbed on top.


    The bewildered Ja-kyung shoved his shoulder away and looked at him with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Why are you like this, all of a sudden? Aren¡¯t you going to work?¡±


    ¡°Fuck, I just heard that, how the fuck am I supposed to go to work.¡±


    Il-hyun restlessly kissed his lips and swallowed them violently. Looking into his eyes, he was on the verge of going out of focus and turning around. As he kissed and groped him, he grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt and tore it apart as if he wasn¡¯t satisfied. As soon as the button fell off, Ja-kyung pushed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face away and frowned.


    ¡°Shiit¡­¡±


    ¡°Why.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my favorite shirt.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a hundred, a thousand, and more.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s lips licked Ja-kyung¡¯s cheeks and chins before sucking on his earlobes. Ja-kyung, who was getting hot, arched his back. He cupped his hands around Ja-kyung¡¯s chest, squeezed them, and flicked them with the tip of his tongue. The early morning sun shone brightly through the window. Kang Il-hyun raised his upper body after sucking his breasts for a while. He untied his tie and threw Ja-kyung¡¯s pants and underwear under the bed.


    It was truly spectacular to see him with only a half-naked Hawaiian shirt draped over his shoulders and his legs spread apart. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes gradually became full with desire. He hurriedly lowered his pants, pulled out his dick, and spat in his hand, before thrusting it into Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s hole. As Il-hyun pushed his finger in, Ja-kyung grabbed his shoulder and bit his lip.


    He forced his way through the narrow opening, and it clamped down hard. Feeling the foreign sensation, Ja-kyung held his breath and bit his lips. Il-hyun lowered his upper body and licked his lower lip with his tongue.


    ¡°I know it hurts, but let it slide just for today. I can¡¯t stand it.¡±


    As soon as Il-hyun said that he couldn¡¯t stand it, his fingers slipped out and his penis touched Ja-kyung. No, you haven¡¯t loosened it yet. Ja-kyung signaled that he should wait longer, but Kang Il-hyun showed no patience. Eventually, his thick dick forced open the hole and began to push in.


    Ah, Ja-kyung opened his mouth and tilted his head back.


    ¡°Ah, it hurts¡­!¡±


    Sorry. As Il-hyun apologized with his mouth, he used his hand to rub up and down Ja-kyung¡¯s dick, then pushed in with a little more force. It was painful to slide it in while it was still not loose enough. He should have just gone to Hawaii. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth, cursing himself for his rash confession.


    ¡°Fuck, I¡­ didn¡¯t stay here, to be doing this, ah. Wait, wait, it will rip, ha.¡±


    Il-hyun shoved his dick into the hole without a gap and moved his waist while sucking Ja-kyung¡¯s lips like a starving man. He put his tongue into his mouth and rubbed it in every nook and cranny, and even though Ja-kyung was gasping for breath, Il-hyun persisted and did not let go.


    After a while, his lips moved to Ja-kyung¡¯s ears and his voice was heard.


    ¡°Can you feel it? How well you¡¯re sucking my dick, haa.¡±


    ¡°Ah, shut that mouth, ugh.¡±


    Slap, slap, he moved as if hitting like a hammer, the pain was gone, and the pleasure come in filled with short, powerful movements. Ja-kyung¡¯s stomach itched, and he felt electricity coursing through his body. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and struggled, but Il-hyun tightly hugged and pressed Ja-kyung¡¯s upper body, only his waist moving like an animal.


    There was an uncharacteristic sense of impatience. Even the disoriented dick moving around in a jumble, and the lips sucking on him in a rush, were like a boy having his first experience, and it made Ja-kyung feel strange.


    Haa, Ja-kyung could feel the pain and pleasure spreading in his mind. Kang Il-hyun, who was licking his ears and exhaling heavily, raised his head and met his gaze. He smiled as he looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes, which were loose and stained red.


    ¡°What you said earlier, haa, say it again.¡±


    ¡°What, uhh, wait, slow down.¡±


    ¡°The words about protecting me.¡±


    He paused in his movements and looked down gently at Ja-kyung. When Ja-kyung didn¡¯t answer, Il-hyun rubbed and pressed the front of the dick he was holding with his thumb. Umm, Ja-kyung gripped his arm and wrinkled his brow.


    ¡°Say it.¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lip at the requesting tone.


    ¡°I¡­ I will protect you.¡±


    ¡°Again¡­¡±


    The pleading tone was unfamiliar. He is indeed a mysterious man. He¡¯s icy cold one minute, a sweet gentleman the next, and now a pitiful man desperate for love. As a result, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t keep his head down and said the words.


    ¡°Kang Il-hyun¡­ I will protect you.¡±


    ¡°Again¡­¡±


    ¡°No matter what happens, I will protect you.¡±


    Ha. Fuck. Il-hyun hugged Ja-kyung tightly. Ja-kyung could feel Il-hyun¡¯s dick throbbing inside and getting bigger. Il-hyun moved his waist roughly and the ceiling shook with every beat, making him dizzy. Ja-kyung begged him to slow down, but the words come out in a groan.


    Ja-kyung ejaculated first, and then Kang Il-hyun poured out the semen incessantly. Ja-kyung¡¯s stomach was drenched in cum. He took a deep breath and buried his face in Ja-kyung¡¯s neck, rubbing it as if he adored him.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ Where did something so pretty appear¡­¡±


    Their hearts pounded together as if to prove the words were true. Ja-kyung took off his hands from the body he was holding and moved them up to gently touch and stroke his hair. This big man feels like a puppy today.


    It was the first time in his life that Ja-kyung realized that stroking someone¡¯s hair felt good.


    ***


    [Are you okay?]


    When Wang Han learned that he was suddenly unable to leave, his first concern was for Ja-kyung¡¯s safety. Partly because Takeya Jun had fled with an injured body, but more importantly because of the news that a number of skilled hitmen had recently arrived in Korea. It wasn¡¯t clear who they were working for, but there were too many uneasy coincidences to believe they weren¡¯t linked.


    [Or should we also stay?]


    Even if they had stayed here, Wang Lun¡¯s condition would have made things harder.


    ¡°No. Go and take care of Lun hyung well.¡±


    Wang Han still seemed reluctant to leave Ja-kyung behind.


    [You must contact me immediately if something happens.]


    ¡°Yeah, I will. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    After the phone call, Ja-kyung lit a cigarette and looked out the window. A photo arrives right away. It was a picture of Wang Han and Wang Lun taken at the airport before departure. Lun¡¯s expression was still withered and his eyes were staring at the ground.


    When Wang Lun was teasing him, Ja-kyung wanted to slap him, but the fact that he was still depressed made him feel bad. Ja-kyung sighed heavily and looked outside to see the housekeeper playing with the shepherd named Happy in the yard. She¡¯s particularly fond of Happy, who was a bit of a troublemaker, but thanks to the training, it didn¡¯t act as recklessly as before.


    Then Happy notices something behind the wall and barks. The housekeeper, who had been looking at the flowers with her back turned, went there and pulled Happy¡¯s leash. A snake with its head raised can be seen from a distance under the wall. Ja-kyung poked his head out and looked toward the gate.


    He figured if there wasn¡¯t an employee to call, he¡¯d go help. However, the housekeeper skillfully snatched the snake¡¯s head without any help. Her hands moved so quickly that he wondered if she was really an elderly lady. Ja-kyung, who was standing nearby, couldn¡¯t help but be dazed. She shows it to Happy and they laugh and talk before tossing it over the fence.


    She turned around, dragging Happy by the leash, and looked Ja-kyung in the eyes. She waved her hand lightly, and Ja-kyung smiled awkwardly before entering the bedroom. What. How did she manage to catch a snake so casually? Come to think of it, even when she buried Choi Ki-tae¡¯s head, and when she found out that Ja-kyung wasn¡¯t Zang Yi An and was a hitman, she always acted indifferently.


    What the hell was her deal¡­


    While Ja-kyung was deep in thought, his phone rang. It was Kang Il-hyun.


    [Shall we go on a date tonight?]


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face contorted at the unfamiliar word ¡®date¡¯. Even sex with a man was still awkward, but a date? He felt like he had two personalities as he was planning what he was going to do in his head. Why do his mind and heart act separately? He wondered if he suffered from a mental illness. He was thinking about how to respond when Il-hyun sent him another message.


    [Then see you later.]


    Ja-kyung hasn¡¯t even answered yet. Anyway, this person is selfish. He was laughing at the absurdity of it all, and then as he was typing OK and was about to put a period on it, but he noticed the red heart right above it. He can no longer see the period, only the heart.


    No, don¡¯t do that.


    His head said no, but his damn finger had already clicked the red heart and sent it. Then he quickly regretted it. Ah, he shouldn¡¯t have sent it.


    He didn¡¯t see it, right? Yeah, he was too busy, so he couldn¡¯t see it.

 CH 94

    Translated by Springlila


    Il-hyun, who was about to board the elevator, was dazed when he noticed the heart stamped on the message. Just in case, he took a screenshot and saved it right away, but it disappeared in an instant. And only the previous message, minus the heart, arrived again. A smile appeared on his lips as he realized Lee Ja-kyung hadn¡¯t sent it by accident.


    He called Tae-soo next to him.


    ¡°Secretary Park.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving work right away. Clear all afternoon schedule.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and I¡¯m going to stay out. Don¡¯t call me even if it¡¯s late in the morning.¡±


    Tonight they were alone, and Il-hyun planned to bite and suck until he was exhausted. What should they do? What food should they eat? Work has been put on hold, and he was preoccupied with the idea of going on a date when the elevator doors opened, allowing Director Park and Director Kim to board from the fifth floor, but come to a halt when they see Kang Il-hyun.


    Il-hyun politely greeted them.


    ¡°Hello, directors.¡±


    They return the greeting, but seeing a smiling Kang Il-hyun makes them uncomfortable. What¡¯s it with him that he is smiling like that? Others were scary when they were angry, but Kang Il-hyun is a mysterious person, so he is scary when he smiles.


    As the air in the elevator cooled down, Director Park spoke to Il-hyun first.


    ¡°How¡¯s the chairman? Is he feeling better?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled sheepishly. Chairman Kang hadn¡¯t left the house since Il-hyun barged in and threatened him. Il-hyun realized that his leg pain was a pretext to buy himself time. Why did a man who was cruel enough to be dubbed a ¡°human butcher¡± in his youth change so drastically? Was it because he had so much on his plate, or was it because he was getting older?


    Thanks to that, even the people hired by Il-hyun couldn¡¯t do their job and had a hard time. Il-hyun had rather Chairman Kang stay at home and die. Then he won¡¯t have to see his face anymore.


    ¡°If you¡¯re so worried, would you like to go with me today? I¡¯m curious too.¡±


    Director Park¡¯s expression hardened. He smiled awkwardly and said that he wouldn¡¯t be able to because he has a busy schedule today. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze now reached the back of Director Kim¡¯s head right in front of him. He is a serpent-like old man, like Chairman Kang. He slips away like a loach even if he tries to catch his weakness.


    ¡°I heard that director Kim¡¯s son returned from New Zealand. You must be happy.¡±


    Director Kim¡¯s neck and shoulders stiffened. He turned his head halfway and smiled faintly.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice that CEO Kang is interested in me.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m very interested in the directors.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ I see.¡±


    ¡°There is nothing I don¡¯t know about who you met last night, what you ate, and what you talked with your wife in bed.¡±


    Director Kim¡¯s expression stiffened and turned around quickly while Il-hyun smiled slyly.


    ¡°I¡¯m kidding. Why are you so serious?¡±


    Ding, the elevator door opened and Il-hyun walked out between them. He put his hands in his trouser pockets and nodded his head as he greeted the two stunned people. Then, good luck. Director Kim and Park¡¯s grim faces disappeared into the elevator doors.


    Il-hyun turned around and his eyes brightened fiercely. There were still a lot of talks inside about holding a board meeting to decide on a successor. Unless Chairman Kang changed his mind, the directors who were his entourage would play hardball in that regard.


    Tsk. Il-hyun was irritated and opened his phone to check the messages he had exchanged with Lee Ja-kyung a while ago. The dirty feeling has subsided. The secretary who was standing up looked at him puzzled as he entered the room, laughing like a lunatic.


    ***


    This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.


    Ja-kyung sat on a sunbed, staring at the pool and sipping watermelon juice made by the house chef. He wanted to swim, but his injured arm prevented him from doing so. Unfortunately, he only sipped the juice and checked his phone once more.


    Since then, there has been no message from Kang Il-hyun. He must be busy.


    He wouldn¡¯t have seen that message either. Ja-kyung erased it like lightning, so Il-hyun wouldn¡¯t have seen it. By the time Ja-kyung had finished drinking the juice with a positive mindset, someone had entered from the far gate. At first, he thought he was looking at it wrong. It was Kang Il-hyun striding across the yard without hesitation.


    As Ja-kyung stared in surprise, Il-hyun stepped forward and stood in front of him.


    ¡°What are you doing here, at this hour?¡±


    He smiles brightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m here for a date.¡±


    Ja-kyung checked the time. It was absurd to leave work after only 4 hours of work.


    ¡°Is the company a joke? Can you go to work and leave at will?¡±


    ¡°Today is okay. Because it¡¯s a special day.¡±


    What, what are you talking about? When Ja-kyung pretend he didn¡¯t know anything, Il-hyun took out his phone and showed him the screenshot. The red heart is clear. As a bonus, he even played the old recording of him saying, ¡°I love you! I¡¯ve never had such ecstatic sex in my life!¡± making Ja-kyung stunned.


    Ja-kyung took the phone and tried to erase it, but Il-hyun quickly put it in his pocket. Ja-kyung¡¯s ears and the nape of his neck turned red with embarrassment. Il-hyun, who had approached him, touched his ear lobe.


    ¡°I¡¯m losing my mind because you¡¯re constantly surprising me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I clicked the wrong button.¡±


    ¡°I knew you would say that, so I ordered Tae-soo to enlarge it and make it into a picture frame.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked up in shock.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding¡­ right?¡±


    ¡°Should I hang it in the living room? Or my bedroom?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Both?¡±


    The look on his face was genuine, so Ja-kyung¡¯s complexion darkened rapidly and he clenched his teeth.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t you dare to hang it. I¡¯m not putting up with this.¡±


    His hand slipped from behind his ear and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s hand. Ja-kyung still sat down and resisted. Then, Il-hyun quickly changed his tone, saying that he understood and was only kidding. Ja-kyung stopped his resistance and rose from his seat.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop fighting and go on a date.¡±


    At the word date, Ja-kyung looked down at the clothes he was wearing. He was wearing comfortable shorts and a shirt, but it was in stark contrast to the well-dressed Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°I¡¯ll change my clothes and come back.¡±


    ¡°Just wear this. I¡¯m going to take it off later anyway.¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head as Il-hyun blatantly explained the purpose of the date. Is it your only thought to take off my clothes and roll around? Ja-kyung grumbled and went to the second floor and put on the clothes he had prepared in advance.


    When Ja-kyung came out dressed, Kang Il-hyun, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room downstairs, had a strange expression on his face. Perhaps he didn¡¯t like it. Ja-kyung was unnecessarily nervous and leaned down to check his outfit. Hearing the noise, the house chef come out from the kitchen and smiled cheerfully at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°My goodness, it looks so good on you. Right, sir?¡±


    Ja-kyung wore a white shirt with beige slacks that exposed his ankles, and his limbs were long and straight, which was quite different from the sporty clothes he usually wore. It was neat and erotic at the same time. Il-hyun smiled lightly, unable to take his eyes off him.


    ¡°I see. You¡¯re making me fall in love twice in one day.¡±


    Ja-kyung scratched his neck in embarrassment. There was no need for him to say that. Once outside, Il-hyun opened the door to the passenger side of the car. Get in, prince. Ja-kyung chuckled in disbelief and climbed into the seat. Before the car started, Il-hyun stretched out his hand to fasten Ja-kyung¡¯s seat belt.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have hands too.¡±


    ¡°Hold still. I¡¯m trying to make it feel like a date.¡±


    The car started right away after Il-hyun fastened his seat belt. A vibrant summer landscape surrounded the house. When they passed the road leading outside, Ja-kyung realized why Kang Il-hyun had built a house here. Because he had only seen it in the summer, he couldn¡¯t imagine what it must be like in the winter.


    Even though it was daytime, the closer they got to the city center, the more cars there were.


    ¡°Is there a place you want to go?¡±


    Ja-kyung pondered after Il-hyun asked. He didn¡¯t really want to go anywhere or do anything. He became accustomed to simply working and living.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡±


    While Ja-kyung was thinking about it, Il-hyun reached out and opened the passenger seat dashboard, taking out some paper. Ja-kyung opened it to see what it was, and it was a report-style list of dating courses, restaurants, and places that couples would like to visit in Seoul.


    Ja-kyung laughed when he saw it.


    ¡°Who made this?¡±


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Ohh, Secretary Park, has he ever been in a relationship?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never seen him in a relationship.¡±


    Ja-kyung stared at Il-hyun.


    ¡°How about you? Have you been in a lot of relationships?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled strangely.


    ¡°How do you think it would have been?¡±


    Ja-kyung answered without a second thought.


    ¡°A playboy.¡±


    ¡°Wrong.¡±


    ¡°Trashy?¡±


    ¡°Babe. That¡¯s too much.¡±


    ¡°Then a bastard?


    ¡°Don¡¯t empathize it.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed in disbelief. Ever since he entered college, Il-hyun had no time to have a proper relationship because he was learning company work and studying at the same time. Most of his relationships were short-lived, and the girls who got tired of his work were the ones who broke up with me first. He wasn¡¯t the type to have any regrets about breaking up.


    When he told him about it, Ja-kyung didn¡¯t seem to believe it.


    ¡°Then, if I ask you to break up later, be cool with it as well.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t even finish his sentence before Il-hyun cut him off like a knife.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. The moment you break up with me, you¡¯ll be in the afterlife.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned.


    ¡°You said you don¡¯t have any regrets!¡±


    ¡°No, not to you. I¡¯m going to be so petty and grumpy. So erase the thought of escaping from your head in the first place.¡±


    Seeing him with a desperate expression, Il-hyun smiled and added an extra word.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t tell you. I revised my will through a lawyer.¡±


    A will out of the blue.


    He looked at Ja-kyung very affectionately. His eyes brimming with affection


    ¡°If I die first, I asked you to be buried alive with me.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who didn¡¯t understand the term ¡°buried alive,¡± looked it up later on the Internet, and the blood drained from his face.


    It was a joke¡­ right?


    Il-hyun just laughed.


    Ja-kyung shouted at him not to joke around, but Il-hyun didn¡¯t answer until the end.

 CH 95

    Translated by Springlila


    The excitement of the date momentarily faded as Kang Il-hyun¡¯s car was heading to an increasingly strange place since a while ago. He drove out of the center of Seoul and entered a place commonly known as a slum, but later the road had become narrower until they had to stop and get out in the middle.


    Ja-kyung who got out of the car stopped when he found a small hole-in-the-wall shop in front of the neighborhood. In front of the dilapidated hole-in-the-wall store, a stooped, gray-haired old lady was sitting on a bench peeling garlic. The old lady raised her head at the visit of strangers. Seeing the large mole next to her eye, Ja-kyung flinched back.


    ¡°Do you need anything?¡±


    Her hearing seemed to be not so good, so her voice was loud. Ja-kyung¡¯s memory quickly flashed to the past. At that time, hunger was an everyday thing, and he often visited the store to steal bread because he couldn¡¯t bear the hunger. He would get caught and beaten, but the aunt of a particularly generous store owner covered Ja-kyung and secretly gave him bread or milk. And she also had a big mole next to her eye.


    As Ja-kyung stepped back, he felt a warm hand on his back. The hand then came up to rest on his shoulder. Ja-kyung turned around and faced Il-hyun.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°You remember?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°There are many ways to know.¡±


    Ja-kyung was speechless. He looked around the neighborhood once more. The stairs he climbed up and down while delivering drugs as a child, and the spaces where he hid from his parents¡¯ beatings, were still the same. Ja-kyung wasn¡¯t ready to climb up and just stood there, but Il-hyun extended his hand.


    ¡°Do you want to go see the house you used to live in?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Tell me if you feel uncomfortable. We can go back.¡±


    Ja-kyung was silent. After leaving Korea, he never wanted to set foot here again. But as he began to settle down, he became curious sometimes. How would that place have changed? Will the house he lived in still exist? He could find it if he tried, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to look for it. But now that he has come here, it wasn¡¯t as scary as he had thought.


    While he was lost in thought, Il-hyun went into the store and came out with two ice creams. The man¡¯s muffled voice was from inside as he swiped his card. He peeled off the wrapper and handed one to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung absent-mindedly took it, and Il-hyun was already taking a bite of his strawberry ice cream.


    The scene where Kang Il-hyun eats 1,000 won ice cream was as unfamiliar as Wang Han¡¯s thick hair. He spoke to him affectionately with strawberry-flavored ice cream in his mouth.


    ¡°Do you want to go up?¡±


    He extended his hand, and Ja-kyung looked at it blankly before stepping away. Kang Il-hyun trailed behind him and held his hand. It seemed strange for two big men to go up the hill holding hands, so Ja-kyung kept pulling away, but they eventually made it up the hill while holding hands.


    There was graffiti on both sides of the alley with red paint spars, and there were old people sitting and relaxing along the way. As they continued up the steep hill, Il-hyun seemed to get hotter and took off his jacket, draping it over his arm.


    The stairs where the man fell to his death and the house where old Wang lived were all still there. Ja-kyung¡¯s heart tightened as more old memories surfaced in his mind. Whether it was because of strength or for some other reason, his step became heavier and heavier.


    The closer he got to the house, the tighter his breath became, and he couldn¡¯t take any more steps. Because his hands were sweaty, he let go of them and rubbed them on his pants several times.


    ¡°Shall we go back?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head quietly in response to Il-hyun¡¯s question. Still, since he had come this far, he was curious. Ja-kyung took a long, deep breath in front of the tightly closed blue iron door. He felt like he was going to be grabbed by the hair and stomped in the face the moment he opened it.


    He felt like his dead mother was going to scream at him with her demonic face and tear at his body with her ghostly nails. It seemed that his terrifying father was going to hit him with a golf stick in a fit of rage. He couldn¡¯t bear to take a step, and just barely put his hand on the door.


    It felt chillingly cold. As he slowly opened the door with a creaking sound, Ja-kyung stopped in his tracks. The front yard of the house was full of flowers. It was obvious that someone had put a lot of effort into taking care of it. The whole house was clean and had a cozy feeling to it.


    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.


    Ja-kyung grabbed Il-hyun¡¯s arm and pulled him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­ someone must be living here.¡±


    Il-hyun pretended not to hear and went to sit on the porch, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it before patting the seat next to him and motioning for Ja-kyung to sit.


    Ja-kyung looked around and cautiously stepped inside.


    ¡°There must be someone living here.¡±


    ¡°No, there isn¡¯t.¡±


    No matter how you look at it, it¡¯s obvious that someone lives here. It wouldn¡¯t be this clean otherwise. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t even imagine that this was the house he lived in. Come to think of it, there were red roses climbing all over the walls.


    Il-hyun approached him and placed a cigarette in his mouth as he carefully sat down on the floor.


    He then walked up to the floor in his shoes and lay down on Ja-kyung¡¯s thigh.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s comfortable.¡±


    Ja-kyung exhaled a long puff of cigarette smoke and looked around the house. The house had changed so drastically that he wondered if it was really his house. It was at the top of the hill, so sitting in the shade was quite pleasant. The wind blew and cooled the sweat on his forehead, making him feel alive.


    Ja-kyung who was looking around the yard looked back. He saw a tightly closed door. Still inside, it seemed that his mother was having affairs with strangers. After staring blankly, he lowered his gaze and looked at Kang Il-hyun, who has closed his eyes and barely moves.


    ¡°Are you asleep?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°This¡­ how did you find this place?¡±


    Il-hyun opened his eyes. Ja-kyung¡¯s face was reflected in his languid eyes.


    ¡°I found out by accident when I was looking for you after you ran away last year.¡±


    Last year¡­ Looking at the pretty flowers on the flower bed and the wall, Ja-kyung felt suspicious if Il-hyun had done it. Il-hyun sat up and made eye contact with Ja-kyung with a slightly serious expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s been empty for a long time, and it¡¯s covered in dust. They say it¡¯s haunted, so no one has lived in it or touched it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I was curious about how you looked when you were young.¡±


    Il-hyun stopped talking and remembered that time. Messy household items, adult products, and a small amount of drugs scattered around the room, empty bottles of alcohol, and gambling cards.


    ¡°I wondered if I had come to the wrong place because there were no traces or things of raising a child.¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lower lip. There couldn¡¯t be anything like that in the first place.


    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, if they had given birth to you, they should have taken at least one photo. Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    The only children¡¯s clothes Il-hyun could find were a few rags. They weren¡¯t worn out over time, but they were just that way from the beginning. There were no toys, notebooks, or writing utensils to be found at all. Il-hyun gnashed his teeth with hatred in his eyes.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s nose turned sour as he watched Il-hyun take his side. When Ja-kyung tried to brush it off, telling himself that it was all in the past, Il-hyun stood up and walked over to the flowerbed. He drew a cigarette and smoked it, so Ja-kyung thought he was doing so to relax, but Il-hyun went into the flower bed and broke off the flowers blooming here and there one by one.


    Ja-kyung frowned.


    ¡°Why are you picking the perfectly good flowers?¡±


    Il-hyun pretended not to hear and kept bending and carrying it slowly across the yard. Wearing loose clothing, smoking a cigarette, and holding a randomly picked flower, it reminds Ja-kyung of a villain character from a certain movie.


    It felt like he was about to pull a gun out of his pocket and shoot. Instead of a gun, he held out a flower. When Ja-kyung remained motionless, Il-hyun stubbed out his cigarette on the ground and smiled brightly.


    ¡°Consolation to you who grew up without being loved as a child.¡±


    Ah, why was this man like this? Ja-kyung took a deep breath, and that¡¯s when he smell it. The smell of alcohol. The smell of heavy cosmetics. The smell of cigarettes. The smell of fishy semen. The smell of blood. The voices of his parents screaming that they should never have had a child like him.


    Ja-kyung kept his eyes fixed on the ground and couldn¡¯t lift his head. His nose was sore and his eyes were hot.


    ¡°Babe. Can you take it before my arm falls?¡±


    At his joke, Ja-kyung raised his head. Instead of his abusive parents, there was a handsome man holding out a flower with a charming smile. The scent of flowers was so strong that it made his head dizzy. Il-hyun took out his cell phone and sat right next to him.


    Il-hyun turned the camera on without saying a word. It was awkward to see himself on the camera sitting side by side with Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Taking a picture.¡±


    Ja-kyung snapped out of his daze. He tried to run away because he didn¡¯t like it, but he was caught and forced to take a picture. Ja-kyung¡¯s expression in the photo was unnatural. Kang Il-hyun looked at it disapprovingly.


    ¡°Fuck. It came out as if I was the only one who liked it.¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed unconsciously at the childlike complaint. Il-hyun looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s smiling face, then pulled the back of his head and swallowed his lips. His tongue slipped into the open mouth and slid across the sticky coating, then fell off.


    After that, Il-hyun hugged him tightly and stroked his back and head with his big hand.


    ¡°Thank you for growing up well.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s throat tightened. It was the kind of thing you usually only hear from your parents. Ja-kyung buried his eyes in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder. He felt like he was going to burst into tears.


    ¡°From now on, I will give you all the love you need.¡±


    It was nice to hear the softly whispered confession.


    If it wasn¡¯t for that last word, it would have been more memorable.


    ¡°If you get it from someone other than me¡­¡±


    Il-hyun stopped talking and Ja-kyung held his breath.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll be buried together in this flower garden, do you understand?¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his head and frowned, Il-hyun pressed Ja-kyung¡¯s head back down to rest against his shoulder and patted him on the back to soothe him. Good boy, it¡¯s okay.


    Unlike his frightening words, his voice was as affectionate as ever.


    Whether it was a confession or a threat, Ja-kyung can¡¯t tell.

 CH 96

    Translated by Springlila


    As they descended the hill, a few dark clouds began to form in the clear sky. The old lady was still peeling garlic on the bench in front of the run-down store. Ja-kyung asked Il-hyun to borrow his wallet. He took some money from his wallet and handed them to the elderly lady. Her droopy eyelids widened slightly as she raised her gaze to Ja-kyung.


    Ja-kyung held up a bag of garlic and shook it.


    ¡°For the garlic.¡±


    The old woman stared at the money and Ja-kyung¡¯s face as if she couldn¡¯t see the letters clearly. Her wrinkled eyes narrowed. Ja-kyung smiled and walked to his car. As he was about to get into the car, the old lady called Ja-kyung. But when he looked, she came over and handed him money and two drinks.


    ¡°You¡¯re the kid who use to live upstairs, right?¡±


    Ja-kyung was taken aback and speechless. She snatched the bag of garlic from Ja-kyung and smiled softly with a wrinkled face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take something you can¡¯t even eat.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Your bright appearance is still the same as when you were young.¡±


    She turned around and went to the store after laughing. Her hunched back was pitiful. He looked at the drink in his hand. She remembered. She remembered me. Ja-kyung looked at the old lady¡¯s hunched back with melancholy, then ran and hastily put the money into her pocket.


    ¡°This is for the bread.¡±


    Then he ran back to the car like he was running away. Il-hyun started the engine and drove away, but Ja-kyung noticed the old lady standing still and staring at him in the rearview mirror. A few drops of rain began to fall from the overcast sky, and the car went back down the way it came.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Ja-kyung took his eyes off the rear-view mirror and looked at Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°I feel strange.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I thought it would be terrible, but it¡¯s not as bad as I thought.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡±


    It was unexpected. Ja-kyung thought Il-hyun was going to say all sorts of things, but that was all he said.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±


    After hesitating for a while, he finally expressed his sincerity. He would not have gone this far without him. Fortunately, it was just a passing rain, and after a brief downpour, the sky cleared up as it always does.


    They drove into town and stopped for a drink at a cafe. The cafe was crowded with people due to the sudden rain. After ordering and sitting by the window, the bell rang. When Ja-kyung tried to get up, Il-hyun got up first and went to the counter to pay.


    He came back with a tray of cups and was unexpectedly steady. He probably had never done anything like that before. People¡¯s attention followed his movements. Ja-kyung could feel the gazes of people focusing on Il-hyun in the noisy cafe.


    He brought the cup and put one in front of Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Drink it.¡±


    Il-hyun took a sip of the espresso he ordered and makes a subtle expression.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    Curious about the taste, Ja-kyung asked, but Il-hyun¡¯s expression was grim.


    ¡°If it were my employee, I would have fired them right away.¡±


    After laughing, Ja-kyung drank the watermelon juice in front of him. It wasn¡¯t nearly as good as the juice made by the house chef, but it was good enough.


    ¡°You really like watermelons.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to quit your work and go to the countryside to farm watermelons?¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t tell by the look in his eyes if he was joking or not.


    ¡°Will you pay me?¡±


    ¡°We got engaged, so there¡¯s no your money or my money.¡±


    Ja-kyung was so surprised that he almost spat out his juice. He looked around to see if anyone had heard. Engaged? When did that happen? Is he crazy? He shot lasers with his eyes, but Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t even pretend to see him. Ja-kyung chewed the straw tightly with his front teeth as Il-hyun showed him the weird photo from earlier as proof.


    ¡°It¡¯s all up to you. You lied to me in the morning saying that we¡¯re going to be buried together or something.¡±


    ¡°Who said I lied?¡±


    Ja-kyung scoffed. So it was real? He scolded him to stop joking. Who wouldn¡¯t know that it was just to scare him? Il-hyun made a phone call and pressed the speakerphone. After a while, a man¡¯s voice came from the other side.


    ¡°It¡¯s me. Lawyer Park.¡±


    [Yes, sir. Is something wrong that you¡¯re calling me directly?]


    ¡°You know what we talked about last week? How was it?¡±


    Ah¡­ The bewildered voice of a man called a lawyer comes through the receiver. The sound was hard to hear, so Ja-kyung leaned forward and brought his face closer to the phone.


    [That is¡­ Because there are many legal and ethical problems.]


    ¡°Lawyer Park.¡±


    [Yes, sir.]


    ¡°If we were going to talk about laws, ethics, and stuff like that, why would I pay a lot of money and hire a lawyer? Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    [Yes¡­ you¡¯re right.]


    ¡°What¡¯s so hard about asking one person to die with you?¡±


    He smiled at Ja-kyung while talking to the lawyer. To avoid being seen, Ja-kyung bit into a straw and cursed with his mouth. It was real. Il-hyun seriously considered burying Ja-kyung alongside him, crazy bastard. Il-hyun leaned back and stared at Ja-kyung after the phone call.


    ¡°Did you hear?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear.¡±


    ¡°Accept your fate.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to think that it¡¯s my destiny to be caught and buried by a madman.¡±


    Il-hyun had a very happy expression on his face when Ja-kyung was upset. There were numerous ways to express affection. He shifted his gaze away from the window and toward something else. Then he noticed a movie theater right across the street. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze naturally followed.


    ¡°Do you want to go watch?¡±


    He nodded without a second thought. It seemed like a perfect time to go to the movies and then have dinner. It was an ordinary day for anyone, but for the two of them, who had to live with war every day, it was something special.


    Fortunately, it was midday on a weekday, so there were few people inside. To enter the Lion Theater, a guide said to buy a ticket, popcorn, and coke. They entered the theater after confirming its location. Again, there were few people. Ja-kyung set his drink down on the armrest and grabbed some popcorn.


    Ja-kyung looked around the theater while the advertisement played for about ten minutes. Surprisingly, many men came by themselves to watch it. When he looked closely, he noticed that they were sitting like a wooden stone. It bothered him, so he kept staring at them.


    The movie began after the advertisement, and the main character¡¯s face appeared on the screen. It was a French film, and the pamphlet said it was about the love and separation of lovers in a period of stagnation. After some time, an angry woman¡¯s voice could be heard through the screen.


    The woman was gesturing wildly and shouting abuse at him, but the exhausted man was too busy leaning back in his chair and ignoring her. When the woman finally left alone, she reached for a bottle of alcohol and lit a cigarette. The woman looking out the window had a lonely expression on her face. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t even think to put the popcorn in his mouth while watching a movie that was more depressing than expected and instead looked at Kang Il-hyun, who was sitting next to him.


    No matter how you look at it, it was not Kang Il-hyun¡¯s taste. He shouldn¡¯t have asked him to watch. Concerned, Ja-kyung keeps looking at him and then Il-hyun turned around.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    At the whispered words, Ja-kyung brought his lips to his ear.


    ¡°It¡¯s fun?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    He knew it.


    ¡°But I think it¡¯s about to get interesting.¡±


    He puts on a strange smile and returns his attention to the movie. Ja-kyung also tried to immerse himself in the movie as well. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand, which was on the armrest at the time, approached the popcorn container. Ja-kyung thought he was going to eat popcorn, but instead, he slid down and groped Ja-kyung¡¯s thigh.


    When Ja-kyung frowned at him, Il-hyun turned his head and moved his lips silently. I want to do it. Ja-kyung correctly interpreted and pulled his hand in disgust. Il-hyun¡¯s hand slid away like a mudfish before he squeezed Ja-kyung¡¯s dick.


    ¡°Ah, seriously!¡±


    Ja-kyung shouted unconsciously, attracting the attention of everyone in the movie theater. Ja-kyung bit his lip and stared straight ahead, then locked eyes with the men in front of him, and his expression hardened. He could sense a hint of resentment in the way they looked away.


    Ja-kyung put down the popcorn container and touched Il-hyun¡¯s leg with his foot. Their eyes met and Il-hyun tilted his head slightly to the side. The two stood up at the same time and left the cinema.


    The moment they hurriedly got on the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor, the door to the cinema they were staying in a moment ago opened and someone else came out.


    The elevator then closed.


    ¡°Did you see that?¡±


    Il-hyun asked and Ja-kyung nodded.


    The men sitting in the theater. They were dressed in plain clothes, but Ja-kyung could tell that they were of the same kind as him.


    ¡°How did you recognize them?¡±


    ¡°There was one guy who looked familiar.¡±


    ¡°So you touched my dick on purpose?¡±


    ¡°No. I touched it because I wanted to touch it.¡±


    Of course, he is. Ja-kyung looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, and Il-hyun chuckled.


    When they arrived at the underground parking lot, the elevator door opened, and they exited to go to their car. At that point, the doors of nearby cars began to open one by one, and people come out. It was an unusual move. The two came to a halt and looked around for a way out. As expected, they stood guard on all sides to prevent them from escaping.


    They had no choice but to break through. Il-hyun handed the car keys to Ja-kyung as he walked forward. Il-hyun then makes an unexpected offer to Ja-kyung after he receives it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s bet who gets to the car first.¡±


    We are "pawread dot com", find us on google.


    Haa. Ja-kyung looked at him in disbelief.


    ¡°You really want to do that in this situation?¡±


    ¡°If I win, tonight you¡¯ll have to wear lace underwear with flowers on it.¡±


    Seeing him smirking, Ja-kyung gnashed his teeth. He said let¡¯s see.


    ¡°Then if I win, can I fuck CEO Kang from behind?¡±


    ¡°Do whatever you like.¡±


    Seeing Il-hyun so confident made Ja-kyung want to fuck him more. Ja-kyung sighed and pulled out a gun from the waist belt behind his back. When the magazine was loaded, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression distorted.


    ¡°What the hell, when did you get a gun? Isn¡¯t that cheating?¡±


    ¡°If you think it¡¯s unfair, go get one for yourself.¡±


    ¡°You¡­!¡±


    After loosening his neck from side to side, Ja-kyung jumped out quickly.


    ¡°I go first. Keep your promise.¡±

 CH 97

    Translated by Springlila


    The group of strangers who got out of the car each took out a knife from their arms. Ja-kyung put his gun back in his waist and ran towards the car. The crowd gathered and blocked his way. The flashing blade moved with a whistling sound in front of his eyes.


    Ja-kyung grabbed his opponent¡¯s arm and broke it against his side in one breath. Then, he quickly picked up the falling knife and kicked the attacker¡¯s instep, stepped up, and instantly severed his carotid artery. As the splashing blood rose up in the air, the opponent grabbed his own neck, fell down, and floundered like a fish.


    He skillfully turned the knife in his hand and threw it at the face of the man behind him. The tip of the knife accurately hit the man¡¯s eye, and the man collapsed into the ground screaming. Ja-kyung drew his gun and aimed it at the menacingly approaching people. Pisyuk, pisyuk, pisyuk, flying bullets hit them in the chest and head.


    We are "pawread dot com", find us on google.


    Several members of the group draw guns from their arms in response to the unexpected violent response. Ja-kyung crept among the parked cars. He aimed at their ankles after falling under the car. The heads of those who fell after being hit by ankles were completely shot, and bullets grazed the sides of their faces as soon as they stood up.


    A man with half his face covered suddenly jumped out of the back of the van. Just before Ja-kyung fired the second bullet, Kang Il-hyun appeared from behind and grabbed the man by the neck, and twisted it at once. Seeing him grinning, Ja-kyung gnashed his teeth. When did he get there?


    He could have ended up wearing a flower-decorated lace dress today. Even thinking about it gave him shivers all over his body. While Ja-kyung was distracted for a moment, a knife suddenly came towards him. He barely avoided it, but it almost pierced his neck.


    He grabbed his opponent¡¯s arm and took his knife, punched his opponent¡¯s neck and face with his fists, and smashed his head against the windshield of the car. Someone jumped onto the car¡¯s roof after he threw the bloodied man to the ground.


    This time it was a rather large man wearing a suit. Seeing the gun in his hand, Ja-kyung quickly fell down and rolled under the car. Bang, bang, the bullet hits the ground where he was lying a moment ago. Under the car, Ja-kyung looked around.


    Fuck. They were focused and determined. People who were inside the building rushed out of the parking lot entrance just as the movie ended. He rolled out of the car after hearing a buzz.


    Bullets flew as he dodged and ran between cars at full speed. Car windows were smashed and car alarms went off loudly. The people who came out the front door screamed and ran back into the building, and the opponents scattered as they realized what was happening.


    The security guards who appeared after being contacted ran out with truncheons


    and hurriedly radioed to somewhere with guns and knives. After reaching the car, Ja-kyung looked around. It has become a mess, but Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be seen.


    He was probably shot somewhere. Il-hyun was not an easy person to kill, but Ja-kyung was still worried. First and foremost, he got into the car, and contrary to his worries, Kang Il-hyun was sitting in the passenger seat. He was smiling pervertedly.


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung, I won the race.¡±


    Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and started the engine. He stepped on the accelerator, pulled the car out immediately, and started to exit the parking lot at lightning speed. Several black cars followed behind him. He broke through the barricade the guards had set up to block the entrance and exited the building.


    As soon as he exited, he turned immediately to the right, ran a red light, and sped away.


    ¡°How did you arrive first?¡±


    ¡°By sneaking.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s embarrassing. I was fighting to the death.¡±


    ¡°Fighting is the norm. But no one wants to fight to the death.¡±


    Ja-kyung rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Wait and see, if it becomes dangerous later, I¡¯ll run away first.¡±


    ¡°Why did you change your words? Who was the one who proposed to protect me in the morning?¡±


    He¡¯s good at making up things that he didn¡¯t even say at the time of the proposal. He¡¯s a delusional person. Ja-kyung felt unfair and cursed silently, but the chasing became even more intense. Moreover, the front was congested with a long line of cars waiting for the signal to change.


    Ja-kyung immediately turned right into the alley. Hoonk, hoonk- As the Klaxon sounds continuously, the people passing by split like the Red Sea. The chasers also quickly followed. Bump, bump, bump, the car swayed each time it jumped over the speed bump.


    Ja-kyung was attempting to exit the alley when a van stopped in front of him. Ja-kyung drove up to the empty sidewalk and crossed the flower bed. The wheel became stuck on the ledge of the flower bed, causing the car to float into the air and crash onto the road.


    Il-hyun unknowingly grabbed the steering wheel and turned around, frowning.


    ¡°You have a driver¡¯s license, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not as good as Lun hyung, but I have some skills, so I won¡¯t crash anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Look out for the front.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking.¡±


    Looking ahead, there were still too many cars on the road. Ja-kyung swerved through the gap between the cars stopped on either side. He narrowly missed a car, smashing his rearview mirror in the process. But his chasers were no match for him.


    While driving, Ja-kyung came to an intersection and attempted to turn left, but a car that had been following them closely suddenly pulled alongside and blocked their path. To their frustration, they were forced to continue straight. Ja-kyung turned to Il-hyun after inspecting the sign for the upcoming tunnel.


    He had a relaxed expression as if he were enjoying a game rather than being chased. In any case, Ja-kyung pulled out a loaded gun and handed it to him.


    ¡°You see the tunnel? Shoot at the wheels when we enter.¡±


    Il-hyun nodded. Shortly after entering the tunnel, he opened the car window and pointed the gun at the car behind him. Pisyuk, pisyuk, pisyuk, flash emanated from the silenced pistol. There were sparks on the road and bullets in the bumper, but the tires were intact.


    Ja-kyung turned around to check, then frowned.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that useless skill of yours?¡±


    ¡°It keeps moving.¡±


    ¡°Then if the car is not moving, is it still called a car?¡±


    ¡°If you keep nagging me, I will shoot you.¡±


    Man, seriously. As if on cue, a bullet came from behind. It wasn¡¯t easily broken because it was bulletproof glass, but the rearview mirror that remained was smashed. After taking the gun, Ja-kyung took Il-hyun¡¯s hand and made him hold the steering wheel.


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Ja-kyung counterattacked by sticking his upper body out the driver¡¯s side window. He pulled the trigger on the gun while pointing it at the tire. The tire on the car that was shot exploded, causing the car to lose its balance and move in a straight line. Bang! It collided with the tunnel wall and stopped.


    The car that followed also stopped as the road was blocked. Taking advantage of the situation, Ja-kyung quickly pulled the car into gear and accelerated. Ja-kyung looked to the side as there was no word from him, and Kang Il-hyun looked at him with a half-fazed expression. The reaction was similar to when Ja-kyung confessed in the morning.


    ¡°Why¡­ why?¡±


    ¡°Do you know how sexy you are right now?¡±


    Ja-kyung was taken aback by the unexpected remark. Il-hyun sighed and muttered to himself at the same time.


    ¡°Ha, fuck. I¡¯m hard.¡±


    Ja-kyung was dumbfounded. This crazy man. He is horny at any time. He should probably shoot him with a gun. While glaring at him, Il-hyun sneakily slid his hand and asked if it would be okay if he could touch him just once. As Ja-kyung struggled to shake off that hand, they were hit from behind.


    When Ja-kyung turned around, another car quickly followed. He missed Wang Lun more than ever. If he were here, they could have gotten away with it in a minute. They were outnumbered, and he wasn¡¯t sure if it was a coincidence or a plan, but they would pass them at every intersection, forcing them to move forward.


    ¡°It¡¯s weird, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mischievous expression faded as time passed, and he became colder. Ja-kyung became nervous because it was a rare sight. It began to rain again from an overcast sky. Damn it. Even the weather doesn¡¯t help.


    In the pouring rain, it was difficult to secure visibility no matter how much the wipers were moved. Every time he turned a corner at high speed, the wheels slipped and stumbled in the rain. At some point, they were just following behind, with no attack or other response.


    Perhaps¡­


    ¡°They¡¯re rabbit coursing.¡±


    At Kang Il-hyun¡¯s words, Ja-kyung grabbed the steering wheel tightly. Recognizing that the situation was serious, Kang Il-hyun immediately asked Tae-soo for support, and he leaned out the window where the rain was pouring and pointed the gun at them. Please, shoot properly this time. Ja-kyung earnestly wished for it, but it hits the wheel one after another and explodes.


    Il-hyun then changed the magazine with demonic skill as Ja-kyung looked up with amazement. Loading, aiming, and firing were all done simultaneously. Ja-kyung was stunned that he wondered if he was really the same man who had been firing randomly earlier. The number of cars was reduced to one-third after using the last remaining magazine.


    Needless to say, they escaped as soon as the car stopped and got out of the entanglement. It proved that Il-hyun was not an amateur, and it also proved that Ja-kyung would not be able to return home easily today.


    They drove out to the outskirts of town, but it didn¡¯t make a difference. The rain continued to fall with terrifying force, and darkness fell all around. The cars following them gradually slowed down for some reason. Il-hyun, who sat next to him, told him to stop when all his nerves were focused on the back.


    He saw a black object on the street, but it was already too late when he hit the brakes.


    The car skidded, the tire exploded, and they collided with the guardrail. His body staggered, but he considered himself fortunate that the impact was less severe than expected. Even if he had to fight without his weapon, he would not be easily pushed back.


    But that relief didn¡¯t last long. Ja-kyung looked behind him, but a blindingly bright light pours in all at once from outside. Ja-kyung covered his face with his arm and immediately heard Kang Il-hyun swearing next to him.


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    Before Ja-kyung could ask, Il-hyun wrapped his arms around Ja-kyung¡¯s head and fell on his stomach. Then bullets flew like a hail of fire. Even the bulletproof glass, which was barely holding on, was smashed, and the chair seat was torn into tatters.


    He wondered if it would make this sound if you put iron beads in an iron can and shake them. Deafening gunshots rang out one after the other, then stopped at the same time. Ja-kyung and Il-hyun, who had been bending their bodies and breathing heavily, slowly raised their heads.


    The light from the searchlight faded, revealing dozens of fully armed men through the smudged glass, their guns all pointed at them.


    And in the midst of it all, Chairman Kang stood like a grim reaper with an umbrella.

 CH 98

    Translated by Springlila


    Rainwater poured in through the broken windows. Seeing dozens of gunshot holes, Ja-kyung was speechless. It was about to turn into a beehive. Kang Il-hyun, who was sitting next to him, also had a different expression than usual. Two armed men approached the car, standing on either side of it and pointing their guns at them.


    As Ja-kyung tried to get off, Kang Il-hyun grabbed his arm first.


    ¡°Wait here.¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lip.


    ¡°But¡­!¡±


    Il-hyun repeated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t come out until I tell you to.¡±


    With a determined expression on Il-hyun¡¯s face, Ja-kyung reluctantly replied that he would.


    Il-hyun opened the car door and looked back. Those who had been chasing from the cinema were stationed outside the venue. He turned around and walked slowly over to Chairman Kang. Rainwater poured down his head and face as he walked. Chairman Kang threw his cigar to the ground and greeted his son with a cold-blooded expression.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m interrupted your good time.¡±


    His mouth was smiling, but Il-hyun¡¯s eyes were as cold as ice.


    ¡°If you knew, you should have come later.¡±


    ¡°I think this is going to be a long talk, so it would be better if we moved place?¡±


    Il-hyun looked back once more. Lee Ja-kyung can be seen staring at this location from inside the wrecked car. He clenched his teeth so hard that his jaw stiffen before turning back to face Chairman Kang.


    ¡°Please let him go.¡±


    ¡°Why.¡±


    ¡°Let him go. Please.¡±


    Either way, if they were caught, one of them would end up dead or spend the rest of their life in jail. He didn¡¯t think Chairman Kang would have brought in this many people without that much determination. Il-hyun thought Chairman Kang wouldn¡¯t be able to move because he was scared, but Il-hyun was mistaken. The foxy old man was just waiting for his son to show an opening.


    ¡°That guy is also part of this.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I asked for a favor.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s wrinkled eyes narrowed and a strange smile formed on his lips.


    ¡°Well. Do you think he wants to go?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him.¡±


    There was silence between them. The rain, which had been pouring down so heavily that visibility was nearly non-existent, had suddenly thinned. The tension in the air seemed to have lowered the temperature. Il-hyun calmly waited for Chairman Kang¡¯s permission.


    That brief moment felt especially long. After seeing Chairman Kang nod, he turned his body. Il-hyun strode to the driver¡¯s seat and faced Lee Ja-kyung. He had a tense expression on his face and varied emotions in his eyes. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, there was even a hint of affection in there.


    The day has been really long today. Il-hyun received an unexpected confession in the morning, then went to the neighborhood where Lee Ja-kyung lived, and even had an ordinary date like everyone else.


    It was not a bad day for a gift before dying.


    He looked at Ja-kyung affectionately and reached out his hand to caress his cheek. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t even move, just stared at Il-hyun. As if he guessed what he was talking about.


    ¡°I think we should part ways here.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s lower eyelid trembled.


    ¡°Go and wait for me. I¡¯ll come back when I¡¯m done talking to my father.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°I told you I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Il-hyun guessed that persuasion would not be easy, but Ja-kyung was more stubborn than he thought. Ja-kyung stubbornly shut his lips and even tried to open the car door. Il-hyun closed the door with more force. This time, he spoke more firmly.


    ¡°Please.¡±


    Ja-kyung gritted his teeth. He couldn¡¯t say anything because he saw the nervousness in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes for the first time. You, why? Why do you make such expressions? Just smile like you normally do, tell a joke or something.


    Others might think that a father would never kill his child, but Chairman Kang had been there before. Ja-kyung was the one who had been ordered to kill, and he knew better than anyone that if Il-hyun was taken away, he would be killed.


    The hand that had been touching his face now stroked his hair.


    ¡°Bye.¡±


    After a short farewell with a smile, he turned and went to Chairman Kang. A man named Section Chief Kim used a detector to scan his body. They found a watch with a tracker on it, had it unlocked, threw it on the ground, and fired several shots.


    A flash of light flashed in the darkness and the watch was smashed. Il-hyun remained calm despite having his wrists tied behind his back with a rope. Ja-kyung, who was staring at the driver¡¯s seat, suddenly remembered something. He opened the dashboard and pulled out an old cell phone while the man beside him was distracted.


    Ja-kyung hid his hand beneath the steering wheel, tore off the back of the phone, extracted a small chip, and placed it in his mouth. Gulp. He swallowed it, but the small pieces became lodged in his throat and wouldn¡¯t go down. Then he called the man who was guarding the car.


    Hey. The man approaches from about two steps away. The man¡¯s face drew closer as Ja-kyung whispered inaudibly. Ja-kyung then grabbed the man¡¯s head and slashed it with a knife in an instant, then quickly lowered it and removed the weapon. During the sudden uproar, guns and lights were all directed at Ja-kyung. He could see the blood draining from Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face as he looked back.


    Ja-kyung stood in the pouring rain and firmly pointed his gun at Chairman Kang.


    ¡°You can¡¯t go!¡±


    The shout echoed down the empty road.


    ¡°Take me with you. Or we can die together right here!¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s subordinate, who was behind Il-hyun, received instructions and smashed his head with a bat just as Il-hyun was about to approach Ja-kyung with an angry face. Kang Il-hyun collapsed to the ground. Chairman Kang pressed his cane against his back as he groaned and tried to stand up. The blood that poured from his head mixed with the rain, turning the road red.


    Ja-kyung watched the scene while gnashing his teeth. The finger on the trigger twitched. Chairman Kang laughed like a devil. He looked similar to Kang Il-hyun, yet so different.


    ¡°If you insist, I¡¯ll take you.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s subordinates surrounded Ja-kyung as soon as he gave his orders. He put down his gun obediently, and they tied his arms behind his back and covered his head with something. Everything became dark. And soon followed by a hard blow to the head.


    His legs gave out and he lost consciousness. Was this a good thing? Was this the right thing to do? No matter how hard he think about it, he didn¡¯t know the answer. But he couldn¡¯t let Kang Il-hyun die alone.


    ***


    Wang Lun, who was sitting in the back seat, looked out the window and felt depressed as he thought about his treacherous lover who had abandoned him. The wounds in his heart do not heal easily, no matter where he goes or how beautiful the scenery is. In addition, Wang Han, who was sitting next to him, was restless while holding onto the phone while moving to the lodging.


    ¡°It¡¯s kind of strange.¡±


    Wang Lun asked with a nonchalant face.


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°I think something happened to Wei.¡±


    Wang Lun sighed quietly at this. If anything happened to Wei, it had to be a broken back or a crippled hip. He couldn¡¯t say anything because Kang Il-hyun¡¯s subordinates were in front of him. Even so, another security car was following close behind. Il-hyun seemed to have fallen hard for Lee Ja-kyung, judging by the fact that he was accompanied by a doctor on his journey.


    ¡°The two of them should be having a good time by now.¡±


    ¡°I guess so.¡±


    ¡°Hyung, that¡¯s the problem with you. You think he¡¯s still a ten years old.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°And you don¡¯t care about this heartbroken second brother.¡±


    When Wang Lun secretly expressed his disappointment, Wang Han smiled awkwardly. He wasn¡¯t playing favorites, but he couldn¡¯t help but be concerned about Ja-kyung. He was much older than him, and it may be more because he have taken care of him.


    Still, something feels strange.


    Search "pawread dot com" for the original.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s ever gone this long without calling¡­¡±


    A call did come, but it was received by the subordinate sitting in the front seat. He spoke in a very polite manner. He quickly returned the phone. Wang Han was relieved to learn that the other person was Secretary Park. The more he spoke, the more solemn his expression became.


    After hanging up the phone, his face was pale.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter.¡±


    ¡°Abou Wei¡­ They said he was kidnapped.¡±


    ¡°Who is Wei kidnapping?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it! He¡¯s been kidnapped!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke around.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s father took him away.¡±


    Fuck! Wang Lun, who had been sitting motionless, jumped up and hit his head on the car¡¯s ceiling. It would be normal if Lee Ja-kyung kidnapped someone, but he was not one to get kidnapped. That meant Ja-kyung was in real danger. Before the employee in front of them even asked what they were going to do, the two urged them to turn around quickly.


    After speaking with Park Tae-soo, the employee reversed the car, and Wang Han tried to contact Ja-kyung again. It simply states that the phone has been turned off. Ja-kyung had a small tracker attached to his work phone just in case. He made it so Ja-kyung could swallow it just in case, but he had to go to Korea to check it out.


    Please be safe. Until we get there, please.


    ***


    It was very dark. Ja-kyung awoke with only darkness in front of his eyes. A damp cloth clung to his face with each breath and then fell off. Even if he tried to move his hands, he was restrained as he was tied behind his back. The cloth was then removed from his head. A bright light flooded his vision.


    He took a deep breath and scanned his surrounding. An unfamiliar place, unfamiliar people. Ja-kyung was sure it was inside the building, but one side was completely open.


    Two men stood in front of him, looking at Ja-kyung strangely and laughing among themselves. One of them moved his hips while acting like holding his dick, while the man in front of him, smoking a cigarette, smiled at what he was doing.


    Ja-kyung gnashed his teeth as he realized they were mocking him.


    ¡°Where is Kang Il-hyun?¡±


    One of the men came up and flicked the cigarette he was smoking into Ja-kyung¡¯s face.


    ¡°You cheeky bastard. Is CEO Kang your friend?¡±


    ¡°I asked where is he, bastard!¡±


    The man walked right up to him and smirked as his hand on the buckle of his trousers.


    ¡°Do you want to suck it up? I might tell you if you suck it well.

 CH 99

    Translated by Springlila


    ¡°Come on, suck it and I¡¯ll answer you.¡±


    Ja-kyung grinned viciously, revealing his teeth.


    ¡°Okay. Come here. I¡¯ll rip off the flesh and chew it slowly.¡±


    Cheeky asshole. The man¡¯s fists and feet flew toward Ja-kyung as soon as the words were finished. Hey, don¡¯t do it. The man next to him intervened, but the violence continued. The man continued to kick even when Ja-kyung¡¯s body which was tied to the chair rolled over on its side. Ja-kyung was straightened by the man, who had barely been able to calm himself up. Ja-kyung, whose face had smashed, spat blood on the ground.


    They strapped him to a chair and tied his hands and legs together so tightly that he couldn¡¯t get free. His brothers must have known about him by now. Ja-kyung was wondering when Park Tae-soo would arrive. It¡¯s too late to keep waiting for him. He tried to conceal his anxiety, but he heard footsteps outside. The two guards¡¯ gazes were drawn there.


    His eyes widened as he turned around.


    ¡°You¡¯re still going strong after that?¡±


    The owner of the voice was none other than Takeya Jun. He threw a knife into the air and caught it with his free hand as he strode forward with one gouged-out eye and a broken arm wrapped in bandages. He approached Ja-kyung and lowered himself to examine his face as the two guards stepped back.


    ¡°You look like shit. Didn¡¯t you get hit too easily?¡±


    Ja-kyung smirked as he scanned his face up and down.


    ¡°Hyung-nim, aren¡¯t you the one who looks like shit? Can you see ahead?¡±


    Jun aimed the tip of his knife at Ja-kyung¡¯s right eye. Even the slightest movement of his head would make his eyeballs burst. He lowered the point of his knife, ran it across Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek, and aimed it at his neck.


    ¡°You want me to kill you in one shot? Or shall I cut you into pieces and send you to your brother?¡±


    When he didn¡¯t answer, his grip tightened on Ja-kyung¡¯s jaw.


    ¡°Answer me. Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Do as you please, you son of a bitch!¡±


    Jun kicked his body with his feet as soon as Ja-kyung screamed. He trampled on the fallen Ja-kyung repeatedly, and as if that wasn¡¯t enough, he stabbed his arm with a knife, which is still not fully healed. Then do the same for the other arm.


    Arghhh. A piercing scream echoed through the empty building.


    Dip, dip, dip, blood dripping from his face soaked the floor. Il-hyun writhed in pain with his hands tied behind his back. Broken wooden bats littered the ground. The men wielding wooden bats and metal pipes surrounded him, and Chairman Kang sat in the front, indifferently staring at his bloodied son.


    ¡°There is an old saying. A bat is the medicine for a mad dog.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed with a bloody face.


    ¡°There¡¯s also another saying. You must die when you are old.¡±


    ¡°Well, well. I see you still don¡¯t understand the situation.¡±


    Chairman Kang gestured, and one of his subordinates hit Il-hyun on the back with a wooden bat. Il-hyun dropped to his knees. He¡¯s staring at Chairman Kang as if he¡¯s about to rip him apart, but Section Chief Kim, who was standing next to him, approached with a piece of paper. He took a step back after placing a blank piece of paper and a ballpoint pen on the ground. There was nothing written on the white paper.


    ¡°Write down as I said.¡±


    ¡°Fuck you. Father.¡±


    ¡°A suicide note.¡±


    Il-hyun, who was staring at the blank paper, burst into laughter. After rubbing the inside of his mouth with his tongue, ptui! He then spat it out on the ground. A mixture of saliva and blood splattered on the floor.


    ¡°Fuck. If you want to kill me, just kill me.¡±


    ¡°Write it down. I, Kang Il-hyun, have a worsening mental illness.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed hysterically, then changed his expression and asked with a stern face.


    ¡°Did you notice that?¡±


    Chairman Kang continued talking without hesitation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be an inconvenience to those around me anymore, so I¡¯m going to give up everything I have and end my life.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed and added a word.


    Theft is never good, try looking at [ pawread dot com ].


    ¡°P.s. The culprit is Chairman Kang Hoon.¡±


    Pak, pak, pak, the wooden bat was slammed into Il-hyun¡¯s back again and again. This time, Chairman Kang stood up, as if enraged, and came over to hit him in the face with his cane. The impact on his jaw and face and ringing was heard in his right ear. Blood gushed from his mouth as his bruised cheeks ripped open.


    Il-hyun raised his head and laughed like a lunatic at Chairman Kang. Chairman Kang¡¯s eyes sank beneath the black water as he gazed at his demonic son. Despite the fact that Il-hyun was his child, he was terrified of him and wanted to kill him.


    No one should want his position without his permission, and no one should take it without his permission. He couldn¡¯t just let it go, even if it was his own child who broke all of these rules.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have given birth to you in the first place. I should have left you alone when your mother said she would take drugs and die.¡±


    Il-hyun spoke each word clearly.


    ¡°You should have done that.¡±


    Just then, Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s voice was heard from the next room. A cruel smile spread across Chairman Kang¡¯s face when he saw Il-hyun¡¯s expression completely change from that of a lunatic. He dragged a blank piece of paper thrown on the ground with the tip of his cane and set it aside. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s gaze, which had been fixed on the wall, shifted to Chairman Kang.


    ¡°Why. Smile more.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll write whatever you want, so don¡¯t touch him.¡±


    Despite the request, his voice was eerily cold. Chairman Kang didn¡¯t answer, and Kang Il-hyun couldn¡¯t hold it in and finally exploded.


    ¡°Fuck! I said I¡¯ll do whatever you want!¡±


    Chairman Kang was taken aback by his son¡¯s unfamiliar and strange appearance, and an unexplainable sense of malice rose within him. He was fascinated as to what had caused someone who appeared so calm and relaxed to become impatient and anxious.


    ¡°I always kept what you said in my heart.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°There are those I trust not to harm me. I call them corpses.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes turned cold. Anger rose to the top of his head. The rope was not loosening no matter how much he moved his hand. When he heard Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s scream again, his heart sank.


    Chairman Kang was having fun while watching his agitated son. There was no other way as effective as this for disciplining a spoiled son who constantly tries to sit on top of his head.


    ¡°Shall we test that word today?¡±


    Chairman Kang gave a separate order to Section Chief Kim next to him before Il-hyun could ask what he meant. He went outside, and the noisy adjoining room quieted down. Il-hyun bit his lower lip and gazed out the window. A relatively high floor. Chairman Kang most likely intended for him to write his suicide note here and then push him down. The open window gives a view of the blue sky. It was a bright and sunny day.


    Before he had time to think about it, Section Chief Kim dragged Lee Ja-kyung. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face contorted when he saw Takeya Jun following him. Jun smiled as he showed the bloody knife, and blood dripped from Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s arm.


    Ja-kyung was shocked when he saw Kang Il-hyun covered in blood. His throat tightened as he realized it was all his fault. If he hadn¡¯t made a confession like that in the morning, if Il-hyun had finished his work at the company as planned, none of this would have happened.


    Chairman Kang¡¯s subordinate brought Ja-kyung and knelt him down next to Il-hyun.


    After checking Ja-kyung¡¯s condition, Il-hyun glared at Chairman Kang. His eyes were full of anger and hatred.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do everything you ask, please let go.¡±


    ¡°Who? You or that kid?¡±


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s gaze shifted to Ja-kyung. It would not have gotten this far if this guy had done his job properly a year ago. He wanted to kill him right away out of resentment, but he also wanted to teach his son that life had many bitter lessons.


    One of which was the betrayal of someone you trusted and cherished.


    Chairman Kang gave the order and one of his subordinates untied Ja-kyung¡¯s bound arms. Before Ja-kyung could understand why, Section Chief Kim approached as he pulled an ax from his back, and threw it. The moment he instinctively tried to grab it, Section Chief Kim pulled out a gun and aimed it at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t give it to you to play tricks.¡±


    Ja-kyung took his eyes off the ax and looked at Chairman Kang.


    ¡°My son believes in you like a steel.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°How about you? Do you trust my son?¡±


    Ja-kyung turned to face Il-hyun. However, Il-hyun avoided making eye contact with Ja-kyung. Why? Why wouldn¡¯t Il-hyun look him in the eyes? Chairman Kang made an unbelievable proposal before Ja-kyung could even realize what was going on.


    ¡°Cut off his right arm, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at Kang Il-hyun in surprise. But, Il-hyun still stared straight ahead.


    Why. Why don¡¯t you look at me?


    ¡°Hey, CEO Kang.¡±


    Il-hyun closed his eyes and pretended not to hear. Ja-kyung finally understood his intentions. Fuck. Fuck. He clenched his teeth, turned his head, and glared at Chairman Kang as if he were about to kill him.


    It was not out of affection that he does not immediately kill his children. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bad habit of slowly playing with his prey seemed to have been passed down from Chairman Kang. Rather than physical pain, Chairman Kang wanted to give Il-hyun the pain of being betrayed by someone he trusted and loved.


    As soon as Ja-kyung slowly reached out his hand and grabbed the ax in front of him, the muzzles were all directed at Ja-kyung. They were prepared to fire if necessary. Anyway, he would die either way. Ja-kyung grabbed the axe handle and stood up from his seat.


    Il-hyun bowed his head in defeat. Ja-kyung understood why Il-hyun avoided eye contact. He was concerned that Ja-kyung would hesitate and waver. He was afraid that if Ja-kyung hesitated, they would both be killed.


    Sweat broke out in the hand holding the axe.


    ¡°Haa. Fuck.¡±


    Chairman Kang was not a patient man.


    ¡°Do I need to wait longer?¡±


    Ja-kyung called Kang Il-hyun in a quiet voice.


    ¡°CEO Kang.¡±


    Il-hyun remained silent. Ja-kyung pursed his lips.


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s hardened mouth went up slightly. He remained motionless, his eyes closed as if awaiting execution. I¡¯m really sorry. I will pay for this sin for the rest of my life. Chairman Kang¡¯s face lit up as soon as Ja-kyung raised the axe.


    Looking at Kang Il-hyun, who was still motionless, Ja-kyung turned around and threw the ax at Chairman Kang. The ax that flew in an instant hit Chairman Kang¡¯s forehead without even stopping, and his skull split open with a loud cracking sound.


    Kang Il-hyun opened his closed eyes at the same time. He turned to look at Ja-kyung after seeing his father fall down with an axe on his forehead.


    Ja-kyung smiled sadly and with remorse.


    ¡°Sorry. You have no parents anymore.¡±

 CH 100

    Translated by Springlila


    As soon as Ja-kyung threw the axe, he pulled the gun from Section Chief Kim¡¯s waist and aimed it at his temple. Slump, Chairman Kang collapsed and Ja-kyung looked back at Il-hyun.


    ¡°Sorry. You have no parents anymore.¡±


    Delight flashed across Il-hyun¡¯s face. Even though his father was struck with an ax in the head right in front of his eyes, he didn¡¯t look sad at all. The collapsed Chairman Kang groaned and convulsed, and his subordinates pointed their guns at Ja-kyung in panic.


    In a tense confrontation with guns pointed at each other, Section Section Chief Kim shouted.


    ¡°What! What are you doing! Chairman! Bring Chairman Kang here first! You bastards!¡±


    As most of them were hired mercenaries, confusion was heightened even among them. Ja-kyung called out to them.


    ¡°Make a good judgment. The person who was going to give you money is dead anyway. It¡¯s foolish to have a gunfight here.¡±


    Chairman Kang¡¯s flailing stopped as if to prove Ja-kyung¡¯s point. Several of his subordinates looked back at Section Chief Kim, puzzled. Section Chief Kim¡¯s expression became stunned as well. Ja-kyung pulled a knife from Section Chief Kim¡¯s pocket while still pointing the gun at him, and then moved behind Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°This CEO Kang will pay you the same amount. Of course, if you put the gun down.¡±


    Search tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w for the original.


    After cutting and untying the rope, Kang Il-hyun slowly stood up. Section Chief Kim¡¯s face went white. He kept shouting not to shoot for fear of endangering his life. Ja-kyung took Section Chief Kim as a hostage and began to slowly retreat.


    At that moment, Takeya Jun, who was mingling with the crowd, pulled out a gun and fired without hesitation. Bang, the sound echoed through the building, and the flying bullet grazed the side of Ja-kyung¡¯s face. Damn, it. Jun stood with the gun pointed at him and laughed eerily.


    ¡°Listen, everyone. He¡¯s the one who made my eyes look like this. Do you think I¡¯ll let you live?¡±


    Everyone began to waver at his words. Ja-kyung frowned, and Jun retaliated with a finishing blow.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the money, kill those two guys!¡±


    Fuck. The moment Ja-kyung reached out to counterattack, Section Chief Kim¡¯s head was blown by the second bullet, and Ja-kyung¡¯s face was covered in blood. Bang, bang, Ja-kyung launched an immediate counterattack, and ran toward Kang Il-hyun and the doorway, using Section Chief Kim¡¯s body as a shield.


    As he threw Section Chief Kim¡¯s body on the ground and runs downstairs, he heard a gunshot and sounds of Chairman Kang¡¯s men coming up from under the building. The two of them turned to the side and looked for a place to hide.


    The sound of footsteps drew closer. Kang Il-hyun then grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and walked into a nearby empty office. As expected, it was just being built so that was why the window side was clearly open, and the pillars and construction materials were piled up in the middle.


    The two took a step back after locking the door. Shouts were heard outside along with the sound of footsteps. Il-hyun quickly scanned Ja-kyung from head to toe. The white T-shirt he was wearing for the date was stained with blood. Both arms continued to swell with blood.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded. He didn¡¯t think Il-hyun should be the one asking him if he was okay. Kang Il-hyun was also in a bad condition. Il-hyun looked around. There were construction tools, welding machines, and welding gas all over the place as if the construction had progressed quite a bit. He dragged Ja-kyung to the window. He looked down once and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder.


    Before figuring out what Il-hyun was up to, Ja-kyung looked down and discovered a safety net beneath the building. The safety net didn¡¯t appear to be strong enough to support two grown men, and while there was sand beneath, it wasn¡¯t clear how much cushion it would provide.


    Bam, bam, bam, here it is! Here! The closed door shook as if about to be ripped open, and then there was a gunshot. As bullet marks formed one by one on the iron door, Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek and kissed his lips roughly. Unknown to whom the blood belonged, it entered the mouth and mixed with saliva.


    His lips parted, and Ja-kyung hurriedly grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Wait. I think we should jump out of here together.¡±


    Il-hyun replied with a smile.


    ¡°Go ahead and wait.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. What does that mean? Before he could ask more, Il-hyun pushed Ja-kyung on the shoulder. He tried to grab Kang Il-hyun¡¯s arm, but he suddenly stepped back and fell straight down.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s body gets caught in the net once, and then the safety net breaks and he rolls onto the pile of sand. He couldn¡¯t get up easily because of the shock, but Ja-kyung didn¡¯t seem to be seriously injured. Il-hyun picked up the chainsaw and pulled the string back. After two or three turns, the motor turns and the sharp saw blade moves at a terrifying speed.


    He picked it up and strode toward the door.


    Bang, bang, bang, the door latch rattles before popping off, and the door swings open with a shattering sound. Il-hyun swung the chainsaw at the oncoming men indiscriminately. A pitiful scream was heard, followed by the splattering of flesh and blood.


    Bang, bang, gunshots were heard and Il-hyun stumbled backward.


    Blood gushed from the right side of his abdomen. Fuck. Spitting out a curse, he snatched one of the automatic rifles they were carrying and hurriedly ducked behind a pillar. Bang, bang, bang, bullets flew mercilessly into the pillars, and pieces of cement splattered in all directions.


    Il-hyun leaned through the wall and aimed at them. Bang, bang, the head exploded, and several people fell down in an instant. By the looks of it, it seemed that all the people gathered. Il-hyun aimed at the welding gas cylinder behind them.


    A bullet flew by and grazed his shoulder. Ugh, the bullet that was aimed at the gas cylinder flew off to the wrong place. As soon as he ducked for cover, he heard Takeya Jun¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Oh, no. The cheeky young master has turned into a cornered mouse. But where did Lee Ja-kyung go? Huh?¡±


    Il-hyun let out a ragged breath. Blood was pouring from his side when he looked down. A few of them were about to walk out the door as if Takeya Jun had ordered them to. Il-hyun took advantage of the opportunity and shot them in the head. As they collapsed in front of the entrance, bullets rained down on the pillar without a chance to breathe.


    Cement dust splattered in all directions, revealing an iron framework.


    Il-hyun grinned eerily under his breath.


    ¡°None of you are getting out of here!¡±


    He attacked the guys at the entrance as soon as he finished speaking. They also hid behind pillars. He must buy time to allow Lee Ja-kyung to escape. As he caught his breath, Il-hyun ejected the magazine and counted the remaining bullets. He couldn¡¯t go on any longer. A gas canister could be seen behind Takeya Jun, but it was difficult to hit it from this angle. It could only be reached by going outside the pillar.


    He could die here if he was unlucky. However, if he hesitated, Lee Ja-kyung will also die. It¡¯s something that should never happen. Ja-kyung must live regardless of what happens. I would have changed my will if I had known I was going to die so soon. This incompetent lawyer won¡¯t really bury Ja-kyung with me, will he?


    He regretted it belatedly and smiled bitterly.


    He had made his final decision. It became more difficult for him to breathe, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was the sweat or the rushing blood, but his consciousness was becoming increasingly blurry. He pushed himself out of the pillar after taking a slow, deep breath.


    Bang, bang, he fired back at them, then aimed at the gas cylinder and fired a bullet. Bang, as soon as one shot hits, a bullet from the other side gets stuck in the right abdomen. Ugh. His body trembled with pain. Shhh- Hearing the gas leak, Takeya Jun looked at him.


    Il-hyun fired the second bullet and immediately jump behind the pillar.


    BOOM! The ceiling shook with a deafening explosion, and chunks of cement rained down overhead.


    Ugh! Ja-kyung who came to his senses, looked up. Kang Il-hyun, you crazy bastard. Bastard! His leg wobbled as he tried to stand up. It wasn¡¯t broken, but it felt like it was cracked. Gritting his teeth, Ja-kyung got up and limped away. He was hurrying toward the building when he noticed several black cars in the distance, kicking up dust and speeding toward him.


    Among them were several ambulances. He didn¡¯t even have time to check if they were Chairman Kang¡¯s people. Ja-kyung limped into the building. He grabbed the stair railing and tumbled upstairs, but then he heard an explosion above him. BOOM!


    The building shook, and Ja-kyung stopped moving. What. BOOM! Debris from the ceiling falls. Ja-kyung was overcome with fear for a brief moment. No way¡­! He forgot about his aching leg and began climbing furiously.


    Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from below.


    ¡°Wei!¡±


    Ja-kyung paused as he looked back. Park Tae-soo, Wang Han, Wang Lun, and others appeared and were armed. He could see tension and nervousness on Park Tae-soo¡¯s normally calm face. Slow footsteps could be heard coming from the upper stairwell, where the explosion had occurred.


    Park Tae-soo¡¯s men aimed their guns in that direction. Ja-kyung held his breath and looked up.


    ¡°Wei. Come here.¡±


    Wang Han called out but Ja-kyung remained motionless. Wang Han climbed up to protect Ja-kyung but stopped. Kang Il-hyun, covered in blood, staggered down with a pale face, dragging his legs. As if holes had been pierced throughout his body, blood keep gushing out. Every step he took was splattered with blood.


    He found Ja-kyung and smiled faintly.


    ¡°Thank god¡­¡±


    Blood gushed out of his mouth as he spoke. The sight made Ja-kyung lose his breath.


    ¡°You¡¯re fine¡­ My baby¡­¡±


    He smiled and collapsed on top of Ja-kyung.


    Sir! Park Tae-soo ran up, and Ja-kyung held him. It smelled like blood, and Il-hyun¡¯s body was so cold Ja-kyung felt as if he was hugging a corpse. His heart sank. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, Il-hyun became weak and limp. While holding him, Ja-kyung¡¯s voice trembled with sobs.


    ¡°Hey. CEO Kang¡­¡±


    No answer. Even his faint breathing was fading away.

 CH 101

    Ja-kyung looked down at his bloody clothes. His stabbed arm was stitched and bandaged so it looked like a mummy. As Ja-kyung stayed there blankly looking at his less bloodied hands, Wang Lun finally said something, perhaps because he was worried about his mental state.


    ¡°You should go back to your room, there¡¯s no point in staying here like this.¡±


    When Ja-kyung refused to go, Wang Lun grabbed his arm and pulled him up. While Ja-kyung sat still, Wang Han patted Wang Lun on the shoulder and shook his head, telling him to stop. Wang Lun sighed deeply and turned around to see a line of men in black suits in the hallway outside the operating room.


    After moving Kang Il-hyun, Park Tae-soo was busy trying to clean things up. Ja-kyung stood up whenever the door opened as the operating time got longer. Nonetheless, the majority of those who come out from the operating room were medical staff.


    Among those who entered the operating room was Kang Yoo-jung. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t look her in the eye because he felt guilty. Time passed slowly, and the exhausted Wang Han and Wang Lun left their seats to smoke. Ja-kyung sat firmly in front of the operating room, nervously staring at the door.


    Ja-kyung heard footsteps and turned around to see Park Tae-soo returning from work.


    ¡°Please go back to your room, I¡¯ll let you know when the surgery is over.¡±


    He spoke politely, but Ja-kyung did not answer. There was a long silence between the two. Ja-kyung was the first to break it and asked about Chairman Kang¡¯s condition.


    ¡°What about Chairman Kang¡­¡±


    Park Tae-soo¡¯s always calm face looked tired.


    ¡°He¡¯s also unconscious.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face darkened. Even the one he thought was dead was moved to the emergency room and narrowly escaped death through surgery. That damn old man, why did his fate have to be so long? He should have had his life snuffed out. The disappointment was short-lived as the door to the operating room opens again. Ja-kyung stood up like a robot.


    Kang Il-hyun appeared as the portable bed came out. His bandaged upper torso was covered with a sheet up to his shoulders; he was unconscious and reliant on an oxygen mask. He had intravenous drips and blood bags, and his face was as pale as paper.


    Yoo-jung, who had followed, lowered her mask and looked at Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°He will be transferred to the intensive care unit. But even if he makes it through tonight, he¡¯ll need to be monitored for a few days.¡±


    With a tired face, she informed Tae-soo about Il-hyun¡¯s condition and was about to leave. Ja-kyung grabbed her arm in haste. It was clear who the blood on her gown belonged to. Feeling guilty, he let go of the arm he was holding and bit his lips.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    She let out a small sigh instead of a resentment.


    ¡°Go to your room and rest for a while. You can¡¯t visit him now anyway.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she then patted his shoulder and disappeared down the long hallway.


    Wang Han and Wang Lun, who were bringing lunch boxes to eat, saw an empty hospital room and rushed straight to the intensive care unit. Sure enough, Lee Ja-kyung, who was dressed in a hospital gown, was sitting motionless on a chair in front of the intensive care unit.


    His exhausted appearance was evident as he leaned against the wall with his eyes closed. Ja-kyung was also bleeding profusely, and the doctor advised him to rest for a while, but he had been sitting there day and night for several days.


    ¡°Are you going to keep this up? At this rate, you will die before CEO Kang.¡±


    Unable to bear it, Wang Han said bitterly. His cheeks and lips were covered with dried blood, and his face was rough because he hasn¡¯t eaten properly. His big brown eyes slowly disappeared and reappeared between his eyelids. Ja-kyung sat silently like a stone.


    The two sighed and sat down next to each other. As time passed, it was time for visiting hours. From two days ago, he could visit once a day, but only for a short time, so all he could do was look at his face. Ja-kyung stood up, put on a mask and gown, and entered the intensive care unit when the time came.


    Artificial respiratory devices can be seen attached to dying lives everywhere. Nurses and doctors move around busily. And within that, there was an intensive care unit. The nurse guided Ja-kyung inside. He opened the door and saw Kang Il-hyun lying there.


    Lying on the bed, Il-hyun looked no different from when he came out of the operating room. He was a little more frail, had stubble on his chin, and was still dependent on a machine to breathe. After the nurse had left, Ja-kyung pulled out a chair and sat down next to him.


    Most of his upper body was bandaged, and there were faint bloodstains outside the bandages. His cheeks were swollen, and his temples were clearly torn. Ja-kyung looked at him without missing any detail. He cautiously reached out his hand after seeing the ringed needle in his arm. As soon as his fingertips touched him, his throat began to feel hot.


    Uhh, he trembled as his emotions overtook him. His eyes became red, and his nose was stuffy.


    ¡°Wake up¡­¡±


    His voice was hoarse. Come to think of it, he had never held Il-hyun¡¯s hand before. Fortunately, his hand was warm. Don¡¯t leave me and go anywhere. If you wake up, I¡¯ll do anything for you. I¡¯ll love you more. So please don¡¯t go anywhere. Please wake up.


    Ja-kyung struggled to keep the tears from falling down his cheeks. He might have cried out loud if it hadn¡¯t been for the nurse¡¯s words that the visit had ended. Wang Lun, Wang Han, and Park Tae-soo were waiting for him when he came out, wiping away tears with his bandaged arm.


    [It¡¯s been a week since Chairman Kang Hoon and CEO Kang Il-hyun of the Haewoon Group were kidnapped and knocked unconscious. However, it was reported this morning that Chairman Kang Hoon¡¯s condition in the intensive care unit had deteriorated and that he had died. In response, the police and prosecutors have stated that they will use all means and measures to locate the culprits as they concluded that this was a planned attack by an organization associated with the Shipping group.]


    Every day, the news was buzzing about the case of the Shipping group. Kang Hoon and Kang Il-hyun were the topics of all newspaper articles. On the other hand, a seemingly convincing narrative was stated on an internet broadcast that the relationship between Kang Hoon and Kang Il-hyun had not been good before and that there was also a family conflict that erupted due to a power struggle. Even Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mother¡¯s death was brought up, and the media was all over it.


    Wang Han, who was watching the news, asked with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Chairman Kang. Why did he suddenly die? Looking at his condition, he was better than CEO Kang, wasn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°What does it matter? He¡¯s dead, and that¡¯s good. If that old man woke up first, we would all be dead.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. I even thought about whether I would go and kill him secretly if the situation had to be.¡±


    The two people who were talking quickly turned off the TV at the sound of the hospital room door opening. Ja-kyung entered the hospital room with a cast on. It has been over a week since Kang Il-hyun stayed in the intensive care unit. There was an improvement, but he still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness.


    Lee Ja-kyung has made it a routine to go and sit in front of Il-hyun¡¯s bed all day long. Even the two persons who had been stopping him at the beginning, Kang Yoo-jung and Park Tae-soo, raised their hands and feet at Ja-kyung¡¯s stubbornness. Ja-kyung found a newspaper on the table.


    Wang Han quickly flipped it over, but Ja-kyung also knew that Chairman Kang had died. Ja-kyung wondered what was the reason. Park Tae-soo informed him that Chairman Kang was in better condition than Kang Il-hyun. Ja-kyung was sitting on the bed when Kang Yoo-jung enters.


    After checking Ja-kyung¡¯s injured arm, she sterilized it and bandaged it. Her hands were warm. She was so calm, not like someone who had lost their father a few hours ago. Ja-kyung was at a loss as to what to say. Wasn¡¯t he himself the one who made Chairman Kang Hoon like that? Does she know the truth? Would she treat him so kindly even after knowing all the facts?


    At the very least, Ja-kyung didn¡¯t want to be hated because she was the only person in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s family whom he trusted and depended on. She smiled as she wrapped the bandage around him.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be discharged tomorrow, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Do you know how many complaints there were during your hospital stay? Didn¡¯t you know that there was a rumor that the handsome bachelor was sitting around, so everyone went down to take a look at least once.¡±


    She joked and laughed faintly, then found a newspaper on the table after finishing the treatment. She grabbed it up, searched for her father¡¯s death, and read it. Wang Han and Wang Lun exchanged glances. Surprisingly, she tossed it in the trash. Then she put her hands in her gown¡¯s pockets and said casually:


    ¡°Anyway, Koreans are very interested in other people¡¯s affairs. It¡¯s time for him to die, so he died. Don¡¯t you think so?¡±


    The Wang brothers were stunned into silence. Ja-kyung also raised his head in surprise. She smiled.


    ¡°Take care and have a good recovery.¡±


    When Ja-kyung nodded, she waved goodbye and left the room. Ja-kyung looked at the newspaper she had just tossed away. Chairman Kang¡¯s face was smeared with trash. Wang Lun tilted his head as he glanced at the door through which she had left.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t she somehow resemble CEO Kang?¡±


    Wang Han rubbed his chin and nodded. At first, he thought she was just a smart beauty, but the more he looked at her, th

 CH 102

    Little Il-hyun was playing on a tube in the pool. Mom. Please look at me. Mom. He repeatedly called his mother who was sitting in the chair, but she just sipped her wine and didn¡¯t even look at Il-hyun.


    Il-hyun waved his hand cheerfully over the tube to grab her attention a little more, but suddenly his body sunk into the water. He flailed his arms, unable to breathe as the water came up to his head. Help, help me. Mom! Mom, save me! Mom! Cough, cough,


    She looked back belatedly as he gasped for air.


    Her eyes were staring at him silently while holding a wine glass as if she was waiting for him to die. Gurgle, gurgle, the water flows down his throat, and he gradually loses strength as his body sinks endlessly. It was strange that he could breathe underwater when he wasn¡¯t supposed to be able to.


    Moreover, he wasn¡¯t alone. Dozens of people under the water glared at him with eyes full of resentment. Between people whose heads were cut off and whose fingers were missing, his body sank all the way to the bottom. Now, the surface of the water felt incredibly far away.


    The miserable dead slowly approached Il-hyun. Little Il-hyun was frightened and screamed at them not to come. Then someone jumped into the water¡ªthose who cut through the current and swim down, reaching out his hand without hesitation.


    The moment the young boy grabbed the hand to survive, his eyes opened wide.


    A white ceiling was visible through his blurry vision. He moved his eyes left and right. He can see the IV strings hanging over his head and hear the regular sound of a machine. He moved his hands and toes. The nurse who opened the door and came in checked and looked at him with a surprised expression. She disappeared and soon several people appeared.


    The penlight¡¯s bright light streamed into his eyes. Through the clearer vision, he saw people in gowns, and among them was Kang Yoo-jung. Kang Yoo-jung asked, ¡°Are you awake? Can you hear me?¡± Il-hyun wanted to speak, but he was blocked by the oxygen respirator. Instead, he blinked several times and she smiled with joy. She must have been holding back her tears because her eyes turned red.


    ***


    Nothing had changed when Ja-kyung went home after ten days. It was still quiet, and the number of guards stationed outside the house remained the same. Ja-kyung stayed in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bedroom on the first floor, not on the second floor. He hugged his pillow and blanket and cuddled up on the bed, where his scent lingered.


    Only the sound of the second hand ticking on the clock sounded loud that night. Ja-kyung woke up many times to make sure there had been no calls from the hospital. The bed felt strangely wide when he turned over. Even the warmth of the ownerless bedroom had disappeared.


    He had a dream when he closed his eyes for a moment. He went to play with Kang Il-hyun, but he disappeared. No matter how much he searched for and called his name, Il-hyun did not appear, so even though it was a dream, Ja-kyung¡¯s heart sank and he was afraid. He couldn¡¯t sleep after waking up like that.


    The hours of waiting for the morning came went far too slowly. When morning arrived, the first thing Ja-kyung checked was that there had been no call from the hospital. He was disappointed to find out that there was no call, but at the same time relieved that there was no worse news.


    Ja-kyung walked into the restroom and only washed his face to avoid getting water on the stitched wound before exiting. The house chef looked at him with concern, observing his bloated face from lack of sleep.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Yes¡­ He nodded. The number of people asking if he was okay has increased dramatically in the past few days. He said he was fine, but he wasn¡¯t fine at all. He felt numb as if one side of his heart had been cut by a knife, and he couldn¡¯t stand it because he thought of Kang Il-hyun even while eating or sitting down to rest.


    Something may have gone wrong while he was here. It¡¯s not like Il-hyun is getting better just because he¡¯s in the hospital, but Ja-kyung was worried and couldn¡¯t do anything else. He put on his clothes and tried to leave with the car keys after telling the house chef he was skipping breakfast.


    She stopped Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Hospital¡­¡±


    Her eyes were drawn to his left leg, which was injured, but it didn¡¯t matter. She let out a small sigh. He came out after she just told him to ask another staff to drive. He started the engine and drove away.


    Wang Han called him after driving for nearly 20 minutes, furious. Ja-kyung persuaded him that he would return shortly. Wang Han threatened to tie Ja-kyung to the bed starting tomorrow. He drove for a while to the hospital after hanging up the phone.


    The parking lot was empty as it was early in the morning, so he parked on one side and limped out. He entered the hospital and sat on a chair in front of the intensive care unit, as usual, waiting for time to pass. A familiar nurse comes out and her eyes widen when she spots Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t you just leave the hospital yesterday?¡±


    Ja-kyung put on an embarrassed expression. And then she gave him unexpected news.


    ¡°You came just in time.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°He woke up in the morning and moved to the regular room.¡±


    Ja-kyung was ecstatic and jumped up from his seat. Really? She nodded. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t hide his joy and smiled brightly. After saying thank you several times, he hurriedly took the elevator to get to his room.


    It wasn¡¯t hard to find the room. Several men in black suits had already gathered at the door. They greeted Ja-kyung after recognizing him. Three letters of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s name were written in front of the hospital room door. Ja-kyung was relieved to see that he had woken up, and he felt emotional.


    He was wondering if he could come in. He took a breath in front of the door since he could not really open it. He was ready to knock when the door opened, revealing a long line of doctors. Kang Yoo-jung was one of them.


    She seemed surprised when she saw Ja-kyung. She hadn¡¯t told Park Tae-soo yet, so she asked how he found out. Her face also lightened noticeably. He couldn¡¯t see Kang Il-hyun because the door was closed. His heart was restless, and his expression seemed to show it, so she smiled.


    ¡°Really¡­ Is he awake?¡±


    She made a troubled expression.


    ¡°Yes¡­ But you shouldn¡¯t go in now.¡±


    ¡°Why¡­ why?¡±


    Ja-kyung asked with a nervous face, and Yoo-jung answered playfully.


    ¡°I lied about Ja-kyung-ssi running away.¡±


    I¡¯m not responsible if he shouted as soon as you enter. She laughed and disappeared with the medical staff. Jakyung looked puzzled. Why did she tell such a lie¡­ He cautiously opened the door, and Kang Il-hyun was sitting up in bed, his expression completely ferocious.


    He really woke up. Tears welled up when Ja-kyung saw him looking fine. He didn¡¯t want to show his crying face, so he turned around. Alas, I don¡¯t believe in gods but thank God Buddha. Thank you for saving him. I will do a lot of good things in the future.


    His throat was clogged with tears, and he heard Kang Il-hyun laughing in disbelief.


    ¡°You are here? I was getting so fucking pissed thinking you ran away again.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°But why are you looking away?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The smile fades from Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face as Ja-kyung still had his back on him.


    ¡°Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    The tears he had been holding back spilled as Il-hyun called his name. Sniffle, sniffle. Tears streamed down his cheeks and landed on the floor. It was only then that Il-hyun¡¯s voice softened as if he had understood the situation.


    ¡°No way¡­ Are you crying?¡±


    No, sob. Ja-kyung made a strange sound as he swallowed his tears. Il-hyun¡¯s tone became more affectionate.


    ¡°Come here. I want to see your face.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed as Ja-kyung reluctantly turned around. His eyes and the tip of his nose were red from crying, but it wasn¡¯t exactly cute. He gritted his teeth trying to hold back the lust that rose up with laughter.


    Fuck. It¡¯s not something to say after dying, but I want to lay him down and fuck him right away.


    Il-hyun wanted to take a picture of this. He looked for his phone but couldn¡¯t find it anywhere. He gestured for Ja-kyung to come over to soothe his disappointment. His desire was momentarily forgotten as he noticed Ja-kyung¡¯s limp leg and his expression hardened instantly.


    ¡°Did you hurt your leg?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. It¡¯s just a sprain.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Once again, the incident came back to mind and Ja-kyung choked up.


    ¡°You pushed me, damn it.¡±


    Who asked for help, who sacrificed his life to save me, who told me to live for them. Who told him to die because of me. A wave of remorse and bitterness washed over him. Il-hyun grabbed a tissue from the bedside and told him to sit on the bed as Ja-kyung wiped away his tears with his bandaged arm. Il-hyun wiped away Ja-kyung¡¯s tears and gently caressed his cheek as he sat down.


    A mix of emotions crossed his face.


    ¡°Seeing you cry because of me, I guess you won¡¯t run away from now on.¡±


    Il-hyun didn¡¯t even think about his own body and just checked how badly Ja-kyung was injured. This made Ja-kyung cry even more. Fuck. How embarrassing. If the Wang brothers saw this, he would be a laughingstock for the rest of his life.


    He barely stopped crying and was sobbing when Il-hyun reached for his hand. Come here if you¡¯ve finished crying. I want to hug you. He carefully hugged him so as not to put pressure on his injured arm and body, Il-hyun laughed softly in his ear.


    His mischievous attitude from a while ago had gone and his voice was filled with tenderness.


    ¡°To die and come back to life¡­ It¡¯s not bad.¡±

 CH 103

    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes narrowed as he concentrated. He put shaving cream on Il-hyun¡¯s face to shave the stubble on his chin, but his hands shook so much because he had never used a razor before. Seeing that, Il-hyun laughed.


    ¡°You¡¯re unstoppable when you kill people, but why are you shaking like that?¡±


    Ja-kyung felt that it seemed to be easier to kill people with blunt words.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk. Be quiet.¡±


    He concentrated and shaved Il-hyun¡¯s beard, making a scratching sound as he did so. He¡¯d never thought a beard looked cool in his life. Ja-kyung¡¯s beard didn¡¯t grow much, thus shaving was only done on occasion, unlike Wang Han and Wang Lun whose beards became thick and wild in just a day.


    But strangely, the beard suited Kang Il-hyun quite well. It made him look somewhat more decadent. Ja-kyung wanted to keep it, but he didn¡¯t want him to look even more sick, so he made up his mind to shave it off.


    He was focusing while staring at his cheek when he heard a knock. The food had come by the time Ja-kyung turned around. After shaving, he cleansed Il-hyun¡¯s face with a warm towel. Il-hyun had lost weight while he was in the hospital, which made his already sharp features even sharper.


    Ja-kyung opened the table on the bed and offered him porridge after tidying up. For the time being, he could only eat porridge. He set the utensils down, but Kang Il-hyun only stared at them. Even when Ja-kyung poured water and urged him to eat quickly, he didn¡¯t even bother to pick up the utensils.


    Il-hyun asked with a pitiful expression.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to feed me?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at him in bewilderment. The left hand is broken, but the right hand is fine. It has been like this for a few days now. Today, Ja-kyung firmly gestured with his eyes, pointing at his right hand. Then Il-hyun raised his chin and answered confidently.


    ¡°I¡¯m left-handed.¡±


    Since when? Ja-kyung remembered Il-hyun using his right hand to pick up a spoon, hold a ballpoint pen, and even rub his dick! Before Ja-kyung could ask where he was going with this, Il-hyun pushed the table forward as if throwing a tantrum and laid down on the bed.


    Ja-kyung looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Did you get shot in the head or something? Why are you acting so out of character?¡± He wanted to shout out those words but held himself back. Ja-kyung sat down on the bed, sighed, and pushed the table forward.


    ¡°Fine, I got it. I¡¯ll feed you.¡±


    Il-hyun gets up and sits down casually. Ja-kyung noticed the white bandage wrapped between the open hospital gown. The wound was healing quickly, but he¡¯ll have to stay in the hospital for the time being. He took a spoonful of porridge, blew it, and then held it out.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    As Il-hyun opened his mouth, Ja-kyung pushed the spoon inside. As the porridge stained his lips, Il-hyun licked them teasingly and stared intently. Ah, I want to eat something else. Ja-kyung pretended not to hear and scooped another spoonful of porridge. Jihyeon stared at him as if he was chewing on Ja-kyung¡¯s face rather than the food in his mouth.


    Seeing a mischievous smile spread across his lips, Ja-kyung let out a sigh.


    ¡°Are you a kid, or what¡­¡±


    Despite his grumbling, he found the sight funny and ended up laughing as well. He eventually fed him the entire porridge and made him brush his teeth and wash his face when he finished eating. Then he kissed him on the lips as a reward. Time passed quickly while he was in the hospital.


    Park Tae-soo arrived in the late afternoon. On the first day Il-hyun was conscious, he smiled till the corner of his lips rose. It was the happiest expression Ja-kyung had ever seen on his face. While he came in once a day to report on business, Ja-kyung waited outside until he was finished.


    As he sat down, familiar staff passed by and greet him. According to what he had heard, Chairman Kang¡¯s funeral had been postponed since Il-hyun was still in the hospital. The company executives had decided to do the same.


    They also stated that Kang Il-hyun should appear in court for a thorough investigation as soon as he recovered. Public opinion dominated with questions of whether it was necessary to summon someone who almost died for questioning, and whether it was too much to put him through in the midst of grieving for his father.


    After Park Tae-soo went back, Ja-kyung went into the hospital room. The sun was already setting outside the window.


    ¡°Tae-soo is waiting downstairs. Go home today.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned at the unexpected words.


    ¡°Why¡­?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t keep staying here. Your leg hasn¡¯t fully healed yet.¡±


    Ja-kyung pointed to the caregiver¡¯s bed. Despite his claim that it was better than a decent bed, Kang Il-hyun insisted that he go home to sleep. It felt like he was being chased away, which made Ja-kyung upset. He sat there pretending not to easily change his mind.


    After Ja-kyung persisted stubbornly, Kang Il-hyun finally gave in and contacted Tae-soo, telling him to go home first today. Only then did Ja-kyung¡¯s face brighten.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you sleep with me tonight?¡±


    Il-hyun patted on his bed. It wasn¡¯t particularly wide, but it was enough for two people. However, Ja-kyung was worried that he would accidentally touch the wound while sleeping. Il-hyun moved his body a little more to the side as Ja-kyung hesitated. There was enough space, and Ja-kyung climbed onto the bed. Then he cautiously placed his hand on Kang Il-hyun¡¯s chest.


    ¡°It hurts?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Can I just lean on you and sleep like this?¡±


    ¡°Sure. You can climb on and even ride me if you want.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned as he understood the meaning of the words


    ¡°Is that all you have on your mind?¡±


    ¡°You should try having a boyfriend like yourself. Not like me, all messed up and broken.¡±


    He reached out his right hand and gently stroked Ja-kyung¡¯s hair. From the head, his touch descended down the nape of the neck and touched the back. Pat, pat, his large hand comforted Ja-kyung¡¯s back. Ja-kyung felt his eyelids growing heavier.


    ¡°You know, CEO Kang¡­¡±


    He called him with a voice tinged with drowsiness.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitated. Still, he thought it would be more comfortable to address the issue and move on.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°Your father¡­¡±


    He stopped speaking there. Although he died at the hospital, it was ultimately Ja-kyung who killed him.


    ¡°He died because of his own actions, not because of you. Don¡¯t think like that.¡±


    The hand that had been patting his back slipped inside his shirt and touched his bare skin. Ja-kyung tensed. Il-hyun buried his face in the nape of his neck and took a deep breath. The hand that caressed his body grew stronger. Suppressing the overwhelming lust that rose fiercely, Il-hyun recalled the deceased Chairman Kang.


    In fact, everything went smoothly after Chairman Kang died. He must be the scum of the earth as he felt relieved deep down. On the other hand, Il-hyun pretended not to notice Ja-kyung¡¯s feelings of guilt. If he could use that to hold him captive, he would also exploit his emotions. Never letting him leave.


    He struggled to keep it hidden because he was afraid that Ja-kyung would become unhappy if his true feelings were exposed. He made eye contact, disguising his desires behind a good-natured smile.


    ¡°Stop talking and go to sleep. You look sleepy.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who had been forcing his eyes open, nodded his head unable to bear it any longer. Afraid that he might accidentally touch his wounds in his drowsiness, he turned his body and lay down on the outer side of the bed. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s breath brushed against the back of his neck, his lips briefly touching before separating.


    A low whispering voice was heard.


    That he liked him a lot. That he¡¯s in love.


    Those remarks came through clearly even in Ja-kyung¡¯s sleepy state.


    ***


    Kang Yoo-jung stopped by Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hospital room in the morning while visiting patients and was at a loss for words. The nurses next to her also looked bewildered. After sending them away, she approached and met Kang Il-hyun¡¯s gaze as he opened his eyes. Ja-kyung was curled up like a caterpillar next to his body, clinging to him in his sleep.


    She was at a loss for words when she saw Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s hand gripping Kang Il-hyun¡¯s patient gown tightly.


    Kang Il-hyun whispered for her to leave.


    ¡°Come back later. I¡¯m still sleepy.¡±


    Yoo-jung shook her head and clicked her tongue as she noticed him lowering his voice in fear of waking up Ja-kyung. She was surprised at first that he wasn¡¯t Zhang Yi An, and then she was surprised that he had tried to kill Kang Il-hyun. What surprised her even more was the fact that Il-hyun knew all this and yet accepted him.


    He also told Yoo-jung not to show any signs of discomfort. In other words, he meant not to make Ja-kyung feel uneasy. Although she was worried that he had fallen head over heels for him, she was also glad to know that, despite the fact that Ja-kyung is a male, Il-hyun was now doing everything that other people did.


    She thought he would live his whole life cutting off people¡¯s fingers.


    But when she saw it with her own eyes, she just couldn¡¯t get used to it.


    ¡°Get out, quickly.¡±


    Il-hyun frowned as Lee Ja-kyung wriggled and squirmed. Yoo-jung sighed and left, and the room fell silent. Il-hyun turned to face Lee Ja-kyung, who was sleeping next to him. That saddened him every time he saw Ja-kyung sleeping curled up.


    He pulled out a blanket and covered it up to his shoulders. Kang Yoo-jung had told him. Lee Ja-kyung sat in front of the intensive care unit every day for the ten days he was unconscious. He didn¡¯t listen to her, even when she tried to stop him, and he waited for him to wake up with a distressed expression on his face.


    Perhaps it was because of the sunlight streaming in through the window, but his closed eyelids trembled and opened, showing his brown eyes. His dazed expression from just waking up was lovely. If he had died, it would have been unfair not to see this face, and he would have been upset about it.


    ¡°Morning. Did you sleep well?¡±


    Ja-kyung carefully dug into Il-hyun¡¯s arms, who smiled brightly. Just 30 more minutes. Please let me sleep for just 30 more minutes. His murmuring voice was filled with drowsiness. Il-hyun tilted his body as much as possible toward Ja-kyung. He stroked his soft hair and Ja-kyung burrowed deeper as if he¡¯d been waiting.


    The wild cat had now become a perfect house cat.

 CH 104

    [This morning, Kang Il-hyun, CEO of the Shipping Group, appeared at the trial as a witness. Many reporters had been camped out in front of the prosecutor¡¯s office since the morning. The shipping group has announced that they will undergo a major executive reshuffle and personnel reassignment as part of their image revitalization following this incident.]


    Behind the anchor¡¯s explanation, a screen appeared. Kang Il-hyun stood in front of the camera with a cast on his left arm and a suit jacket draped over his shoulder. The weight he lost while in the hospital has been moderately regained, but he appeared a little haggard today, possibly due to the makeup.


    ¡°CEO Kang, please give us a statement. What will happen to the management in the future? Everyone is eager to hear what you have to say.¡± When Il-hyun turned around, the reporters¡¯ shouting quieted down. He pursed his lips and wore a dejected expression.


    [I apologize for causing concern to many people. The shipping group will be reborn as a result of this incident. And I will, by all means, reveal the entire truth and¡­ settle my late father¡¯s grudge.]


    His voice choked at the end of his speech, and he lowered his head briefly, biting his lips. As if waiting for the sight of his trembling lips, the camera flash went off and the shutter clicked loudly. The corner of his eyes was slightly damp with tears. ¡°Thank you.¡± He said his goodbyes politely and entered the Prosecutor¡¯s Office under protection.


    Wang Han, Wang Lun, and Ja-kyung, who were watching TV, became dumbfounded.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that on par with an actor?¡±


    ¡°Did you see his lips trembling? It¡¯ll be headline news in tomorrow¡¯s newspaper.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded as he ate his watermelon. Apparently, Kang Il-hyun should do the acting rather than him. He was worried since last night when he heard that Il-hyun was going to appear at the prosecution, but he shouldn¡¯t have been. When he checked the quickly posted articles on the internet, everyone felt pity and sorry for him, and they were also in awe of how handsome he was.


    What the hell, they even said he¡¯s sexy. After grimacing, he continued eating watermelon. Wang Lun, who was flipping through TV channels, suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°But we¡­ can we continue like this?¡±


    Wang Han looked back.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Is it okay for us to keep playing around and eat here?¡±


    Wang Han thought for a moment. He realized that Wang Lun¡¯s word wasn¡¯t wrong. Ja-kyung agreed with those words as well. His injuries had healed completely, but there was no mention of work. They should be given work if they were given money. He grabbed Park Tae-soo the other day and asked him subtly, but he evaded his words.


    ¡°Wei, what if, he didn¡¯t want you to get hurt again.¡±


    Both of their eyes were drawn to him at the same time. Ja-kyung shook his head. Kang Il-hyun is a person who is sure of his public and private affairs.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean no? It¡¯s obvious. Of course, it¡¯s nice to have fun and eat, but¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung thought about it deeply. The image of Kang Il-Hyun from a while ago was shown repeatedly on TV. It¡¯s strange to see the person he slept with until the morning on TV. And he wasn¡¯t saying this because he¡¯s his lover, but he¡¯s indeed handsome.


    He looked at him in awe and giggled like a crazy person without realizing it.


    ***


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°I told them there is none for now.¡±


    ¡°Good job. Keep pretending you don¡¯t know.¡±


    Il-hyun looked out the window. He had already hired people to handle the work for Lee Ja-kyung and the Wang brothers. He didn¡¯t say anything because he was afraid Ja-kyung would leave with that excuse. He didn¡¯t distrust Lee Ja-kyung, but the fear that he might disappear lingered in his heart.


    He sighed lightly and leaned back on his chair. He was exhausted after being tortured by the prosecutors all day. They were eager to bite into anything. Il-hyun repeated the same words like a tape recorder.


    He was kidnapped alongside Chairman Kang, nearly died there, and barely survived. He was deeply saddened by his father¡¯s death. He had no idea how much effort he had put into acting like a good son despite his not having any real feelings.


    Not even an hour had passed when he received instructions from the prosecution¡¯s higher-ups to play along reasonably. How could they dismiss everything he had said with such arrogance? It was an expected outcome. Looking at the prosecutor¡¯s frustrated expression, Il-hyun smiled regretfully and said they would meet again later.


    When he arrived at the office, the secretary in front of him had a strange expression.


    ¡°Madam is inside, sir.¡±


    Madam? Is it Ja-kyung?


    Of course, it couldn¡¯t be him. He opened the door and walked in to find Kim Seon-young sitting on the sofa, facing him. He could sense the tension in her expression as she turned around. It was their first meeting following the funeral and the 49-day memorial service. She still had that haughty demeanor and appeared unruffled, unlike someone who had lost a husband. While the secretary brought them tea, they sat across from each other and exchanged brief greetings.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    She lifted her head from staring at the table.


    ¡°Seok-joo, you told him to learn how to work in the company.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun had instructed Seok-joo to stay in school for the time being and learn the company¡¯s business the rest of the time. He had been forced to come to the company last week, crying and gritting his teeth. On top of that, he had to report to Il-hyun on his days off.


    ¡°What are you up to?¡±


    Her eyes were sharp. Her decision to marry Chairman Kang was never motivated by love. Furthermore, after discovering that he frequently exploited younger girls than his own daughter, she despised him. She simply didn¡¯t show it because she didn¡¯t want to let go of what she owned. She was not mourning the loss of a spouse, but was only concerned about her and her son¡¯s future well-being.


    ¡°I asked you. What do you plan to do with Seok-joo?¡±


    Il-hyun drew a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. The doctor advised him to stop, but it did not work as intended. Especially on a tiring day like today.


    ¡°He¡¯s my younger brother, are you worried I¡¯ll kill him?¡±


    ¡°You think I didn¡¯t know? Your father¡¯s situation was your doing.¡±


    Il-hyun smoked and smiled as he looked at her venomous expression.


    ¡°Think whatever you like.¡±


    ¡°Just don¡¯t touch Seok-joo. I can¡¯t stand that.¡±


    ¡°Mother.¡±


    Il-hyun calmly continued to speak.


    ¡°I told you before. I don¡¯t hate you. But I don¡¯t like Seok-joo, and to be honest, I want to bury him somewhere, but I¡¯m putting up with him because he¡¯s my brother.¡±


    She bit her lower lip.


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep him involved in drugs forever. If Father were still alive, he might ignore it, but I can¡¯t stand it. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll take him under my wing and teach him.¡±


    It was sincere to some extent. He thought about leaving Kang Tae-han and Kang Seok-joo alone if they were not greedy enough to take his place. Even though he despised Chairman Kang, he found it amusing that he looked just like him. She must have sensed it as well because her ferocious spirit softened slightly.


    Furthermore, Il-hyun did not hate Kim Seon-young. He actually envied Kang Seok-joo when he was younger because of how deeply she cared for her own child. Of course, Kim Seon-yeong would never think of it.


    Kim Seon-yeong left the office after receiving confirmation that he would ensure Kang Seok-joo¡¯s safety. Il-hyun then untied and discarded the cast he was wearing. Just then, he had just received a message from Ja-kyung asking when he would be leaving work.


    The fact that someone was expecting him at home made him feel incredibly happy. Ja-kyung also mentioned watching him on TV and thanked him for his hard work today. He definitely started to express his feeling much more than before. He¡¯d initiate kisses, approach him, and hug him.


    ¡°I wish my hand had been cut off instead.¡±


    Il-hyun clicked his tongue in regret. If so, he could have been a little more pampered. He put the cast back on and sighed.


    ¡°Fuck. How long should I wear this?¡±


    It¡¯s been a while since his arm has recovered. However, when he wears it, Lee Ja-kyung allows him to do whatever he wants, so Il-hyun intends to wear it for the time being. Of course, if he was caught, there would be chaos. A smile spread across his face as he replied.


    ***


    Ja-kyung brought shampoo, squeezed it into his hands, and rubbed it on Il-hyun¡¯s head as he lay in the bathtub wearing a shower robe. He carefully wiped the foam from his hair after covering his cast with a towel to prevent any water from reaching his arm.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes looking up bend into a curve. Ja-kyung put his head on the headrest and said not to move when he pursed his mouth to kiss him.


    ¡°Something seems off.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Usually the cast comes off in a month or so.¡±


    ¡°I was severely injured, so the bones took longer to heal. You heard what Kang Yoo-jung said.¡±


    I heard it. Ja-kyung nodded. Il-hyun suppressed a laugh. He didn¡¯t even dream of Kang Yoo-jung stepping out and telling a lie. After washing his hair carefully, they went into the shower booth together. As Ja-kyung removed Il-hyun¡¯s gown, gunshot wounds were evident on his abdomen and shoulder.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes sting and his heart aches every time he sees those scars. He lathered it up and rubbed it around the injured area. Il-hyun gently guided Ja-kyung¡¯s hand to a certain place.


    ¡°Here too.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned and swatted it away. Il-hyun¡¯s arm hasn¡¯t healed yet, but the teasing didn¡¯t stop. He pushed him away, but he kept sticking to him today. As the switch on his back was pressed, water poured down from above. Worried that his casted arm would get wet, Ja-kyung pushed him away in surprise, but it was too late. His body ended up completely soaked.


    Il-hyun pulled him close, sticking out his tongue and hungrily sucking on his chin and neck, like a starving person.


    ¡°Wait, wait.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°What got it, ugh, your arm is wet. Your arm!¡±


    Il-hyun pulled out the cast and threw it aside. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. Il-hyun pulled his waist towards him with his previously injured arm, strong and unaffected. What. Ja-kyung was dumbfounded and glared at him, but ended up being engulfed by his lips.


    Ja-kyung tried to argue, but it was useless as the voice was swallowed up. Il-hyun¡¯s thighs dug into the center, pushing and stimulating him. It had been a while since they had sex, and Ja-kyung¡¯s body responded eagerly. In the brief moment that their lips parted, Ja-kyung grabbed his face and narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°You scoundrel.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll listen to your scolding after this.¡±


    He chuckled excitedly and captured his lips again. It was an apology without any sincerity, but it felt good nonetheless. Their wet shirts were peeled off and fell to the floor, and his back hit the booth¡¯s glass window. Their bodies began to heat up, and their breathing grew rougher with each passing moment.

 CH 105

    Ja-kyung was out of breath and pushed him away, and then Il-hyun lunged at him again, causing his body to collide with the bathroom wall. He bit and sucked on Ja-kyung¡¯s nipple so hard that he pulled Il-hyun¡¯s head away.


    ¡°Stop, it hurts. It hurts.¡±


    A desire-filled gaze pierced through him. His usually tidy hair was wet and covered his forehead.


    ¡°Just let me do it for you instead.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Do I really have to explain how awful your blowjob skill is?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned and pushed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder. How upsetting! He¡¯d done it a few times before when Il-hyun was discharged from the hospital because he kept whining, and he seemed to enjoy it back then. When Ja-kyung continued to push him away in disgust, Il-hyun grabbed him and poured kisses on him while biting his lips. Then, Il-hyun pulled away and let out a short sigh as if something had crossed his mind.


    Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and dragged him out of the shower before he could ask what was wrong. He tried to withdraw his hand, but it was pointless. Kang Il-hyun dragged Ja-kyung from the bathroom and placed him next to the bed.


    Then, Il-hyun opened a drawer and started searching for something.


    ¡°What¡­ are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I prepared a gift, but I forgot.¡±


    A surprise gift while they¡¯re having sex? Ja-kyung looked at him curiously. He¡¯s not pulling out a ring or anything, right? That would be a little overwhelming. With those thoughts racing through his mind, Ja-kyung watched as he pulled a fist-sized box from the drawer. It was wrapped in a large ribbon.


    ¡°Open it.¡±


    It reminded him of receiving a human head as a gift before. Mixed with doubt and expectation, Ja-kyung opened the lid of the box and found the wrapping paper wrapped inside. Ja-kyung¡¯s complexion darkened as he unfolded the wrapping paper from side to side.


    No matter how he looked at it, the beautifully folded white fabric is panties. Ja-kyung thought to himself, ¡®Could it be?¡¯ as he lightly lifted it with his fingertips. His lower lip trembled. His worries became a reality. In one motion, he threw the box and its contents in front of him.


    ¡°Ah! Fuck!¡±


    Il-hyun picked up the fallen lace panties and smiled proudly as he spread them open.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they pretty?¡±


    Ja-kyung was astonished.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? You lost the bet.¡±


    Ja-kyung remembered making a bet in the parking lot before the accident. Kang Il-hyun obviously won, but he never imagined he would remember and prepare for it. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth and stared at the panties, but Il-hyun approached and attempted to hand them over to him.


    ¡°Oh, please. I¡¯d rather do something else.¡±


    Il-hyun warned with his hand holding the panties.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it twice.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s scowl deepened. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s thick brows droop as Ja-kyung insists that he will not wear them even if he dies. Il-hyun wore his bangs down to reveal a subtly sorrowful expression, similar to the one he wore on TV during the day while mourning his father¡¯s death.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel sorry for me?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Now I have no mother¡­ I don¡¯t even have a father¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung was stunned. If he put it that way, then Ja-kyung had never had them from the start.


    ¡°Don¡¯t put on a show. Lun hyung said he saw you secretly laughing at Chairman Kang¡¯s funeral.¡±


    Il-hyun raised one eyebrow.


    ¡°He said he saw it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Fuck, when did he see that? I should kill your brother too. He said the frightening words as if they were a joke. However, because Ja-kyung did not comply with his request, Il-hyun eventually climbed onto the bed and wrapped himself in the blanket. What¡¯s the deal with him? Seriously. Since he was in the hospital, he¡¯s been acting like a child when his request isn¡¯t met, and it¡¯s become a habit.


    It¡¯s something he¡¯s gotten good at as he¡¯s gotten older. Ja-kyung was thinking of just leaving, but he glanced at the panties lying on the carpet. Damn, you live and live and then you get caught by the dog psycho and do everything. Biting his lower lip, he glared at Kang Il-hyun, who hid on the bed and looked up at the ceiling.


    Ja-kyung hoped he was not installing a camera or something. As Ja-kyung examined the surroundings, Il-hyun suddenly stuck his face out from under the blanket and smiled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, put it on.¡±


    ¡°Shit¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung closed his eyes tightly. He had been resisting without making a single concession, but Ja-kyung yielded first and picked up the panties. Fine, do it. I¡¯ll put it on, you pervert. Ja-kyung unfolded the panties and tearfully slid his legs into them.


    The sensation felt strange as it passed through his calves, up to his thighs, and finally rested on his buttocks. Il-hyun sat on the edge of the bed, delightedly watching the scene.


    ¡°Now lie down.¡±


    Might as well go along with it, considering the situation. Since Il-hyun had come back from the dead, Ja-kyung could do this much for him.


    In a state close to losing his mind, Ja-kyung lay down on the bed, staring only at the ceiling. Il-hyun stood on the edge of the bed with his arms crossed and stared down.


    ¡°Spread your legs.¡±


    After giving Il-hyun a threatening look, Ja-kyung spread his legs apart.


    ¡°Get your legs up.¡±


    Damn, he had a lot of demand.


    ¡°More. Open up more.¡±


    Ah. His posture became more and more embarrassing. Ja-kyung used the back of his arm to cover his eyes. He was relieved he couldn¡¯t see himself. At that moment, Il-hyun took up the remote control that was on the table and pressed a button. The upper ceiling split open to the sides with a sliding sound, revealing a mirror.


    What the hell, why is it like that? The ceiling abruptly transformed into a mirror. Ja-kyung was surprised and sat up straight. Il-hyun then climbs onto the bed and nestles between Ja-kyung¡¯s legs. Ja-kyung lay down again and his reflection appeared on the ceiling.


    ¡°W-What is that?¡±


    ¡°A mirror. I installed it two days ago when people came to work on my room.¡±


    People were going back and forth in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s room two days ago, so was that what it was for?


    ¡°Then why the hell did you install it?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smiled mischievously, his expression unconcerned.


    ¡°To confirm how naughty you can be.¡±


    Il-hyun grabbed both of his legs as soon as he tried to curse. His eyes flashed dangerously as he stared at the lace panties. He licked his lower lip with his tongue as if coveting delicious food, then raised his gaze to face Ja-kyung.


    Il-hyun licked his calf with his tongue while locking their gaze. As Ja-kyung flinched at the tickling sensation, Il-hyun crept up and sucked his thighs before burying his face between his legs. His erection throbbed inside the lace as he became so aroused.


    He relentlessly licked and teased with his mouth, alternating between sucking gently and releasing. Ja-kyung tightly closed his eyes and bit his lower lip. The sensation of the tongue moving through the thin fabric was intense. Even though it wasn¡¯t direct contact, the fact that it was noticeable made it feel even more stimulating.


    Soon after, Il-hyun went down and sucked Ja-kyung¡¯s testicles, then moved along the perineum, gently nibbling on the buttocks, and moistened the entrance of the hole with saliva, Ja-kyung breathed heavily and gripped the sheets. His explicit reflection was vividly displayed on the ceiling mirror when he opened his closed eyes.


    Ah, this was maddening.


    He can close his eyes if he doesn¡¯t like it, but Ja-kyung was curious and wanted to see it. The stimulation of the sight was beyond imagination. Kang Il-hyun buried his face completely and greedily licked the bottom. Ja-kyung moaned involuntarily. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand soon tore the bottom of Ja-kyung¡¯s panties.


    A ripping sound was heard as the fabric tore, and his fingers slipped in between. Unable to easily accept it as it had been a long time since they had sex and kept pushing it away, so Il-hyun took out the gel and squeezed the tube into the hole. Ja-kyung shuddered as he felt the cold gel seep in.


    Il-hyun slipped his fingers back in, rubbing them around to loosen it, and it was softer than before. Ja-kyung stared blankly at himself in the mirror. The sight of him gasping with half-closed eyes and an open mouth seemed strange. The number of fingers quickly increased to two.


    There was a squelching sound as the gel melted. Il-hyun tilted his head and looked at the ceiling. His eyes met Ja-kyung¡¯s in the mirror, and the corners of his mouth went up flexibly.


    ¡°How do you like the sensation of watching yourself?¡±


    He scratched the inside with his finger when there was no response. Ja-kyung moaned and arched his back.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    ¡°Answer me.¡±


    Ja-kyung lowered his head and said with a sultry voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Il-hyun twisted his wrist and dug inside when he lied. Ja-kyung¡¯s waist jerked involuntarily. His erection had already grown boldly within the lace, dripping with pre-cum.


    It felt like he¡¯d been drugged. He didn¡¯t mind being panting while being touched by a man in the mirror. Il-hyun brought a pillow and tucked it under Ja-kyung¡¯s waist as his fingers slipped out.


    His hips and back arched upward, and then Il-hyun grabbed his dick and pushed it into the hole. Ja-kyung held his breath and only stared at the mirror. He can clearly see Il-hyun¡¯s dick entering his ass. Pain shot through him as his tight hole was forced open.


    As Ja-kyung frowned, Il-hyun caressed the inside of his thighs and thrusts. It¡¯s okay. Relax. After inserting without any gaps, Kang Il-hyun started moving his waist slowly back and forth. Ja-kyung felt a mix of pain and the sensation of climax, so he lowered his hand and inserted it inside the lace, but he was immediately stopped.


    Il-hyun moved his waist leisurely as he pressed Ja-kyung¡¯s wrists against the bed. Ja-kyung turned his head to the side as he couldn¡¯t look any further. As if anticipating this, Il-hyun grabbed his chin and forced him to look in the mirror. Il-hyun licked Ja-kyung¡¯s eyelids with his tongue when he closed his eyes.


    In the end, Ja-kyung had to open his eyes and stare at his reflection in the mirror.


    ¡°How do you like the sight?¡±


    He asked again, and Ja-kyung swallowed his moans and replied.


    ¡°It feels like watching a porn movie, uh, that kind of feeling.¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled softly. Kang Il-hyun bent down and hugged Ja-kyung. He mercilessly licked Ja-kyung¡¯s lips, cheeks, and chin. His waist movement became faster and more violent as time passed. His back in the mirror resembled a beast. Ja-kyung spread legs shook sideways with each forceful thrust, and his vision blurred.


    ¡°Ah no!¡±


    Ja-kyung hugged him tightly and wrapped his legs around his waist. Their entangled naked bodies trembled in full view in the mirror. Electric currents rushed through Ja-kyung¡¯s body, and a ticking time bomb ticked in his head, about to explode.

 CH 106

    ¡°Wait, ah, wait,¡±


    Ja-kyung was unable to think straight as he was pounded in a dog-like position on the bed. He couldn¡¯t take it any longer and crawled away on his knees, causing the dick that was in his hole to slip out abruptly.


    But his leg was soon caught, and he was dragged back. He let out a scream as Il-hyun thrust his dick straight into the gaping hole.


    Slap, slap, slap, the sound of flesh colliding was loud, and the body rocked back and forth endlessly. Ja-kyung reached out his hand to tell him to stop, but he was grabbed and pulled. He could see his sitting posture in the ceiling mirror when he leaned back.


    Their chests and backs were pressed together like Siamese twins. Kang Il-hyun, who had been tenaciously biting and sucking his neck, lowered his panties and took out Ja-kyung¡¯s dick. His head gradually became blank as he stimulated it with his hand. He had already ejaculated once, and his panties and legs were dried with cum.


    ¡°Mmm,¡±


    As he swallowed his moans, Kang Il-hyun whispered in his ear.


    ¡°Say you like it.¡±


    When Ja-kyung didn¡¯t respond, Il-hyun pinched and twisted his nipple. He pressed his dick as soon as he let go of his hand. When the stimulation was applied, Ja-kyung opened his mouth and looked up at the ceiling. Kang Ilhyun was now staring up as well. He met his lustful gaze in the mirror.


    ¡°Say it, come on.¡±


    Ja-kyung felt like he was going to be eaten by those burning eyes, he closed his eyes without realizing it.


    ¡°Ugh, I, I like it.¡±


    ¡°Again.¡±


    ¡°I like it.¡±


    Il-hyun slammed his dick completely into Ja-kyung¡¯s hole, crushing his buttocks. Veins formed in his neck as he bit his teeth and tilted his head back, and semen poured out. Ja-kyung ejaculated almost simultaneously. When Ja-kyung opened his eyes to catch his breath, he saw Kang Il-hyun smiling back at him in the mirror.


    ***


    The day dawned while they were still sleeping, stretched out like corpses. Ja-kyung tossed and turned. He planned to go upstairs to the second floor before everyone woke up and started moving around the house. As he turned his head, he first glanced at the mirror on the ceiling and made a disgusted expression.


    Kang Il-hyun was sleeping on his back like a leech in the mirror. Ja-kyung carefully removed his arm and attempted to crawl out of the bed. But he was grabbed and dragged into the covers before he could get out.


    As if that weren¡¯t enough, he rubbed his lips and cheeks against his back and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°Sleep more.¡±


    His voice was heavy with drowsiness.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to work?¡±


    Il-hyun fiddled with Ja-kyung¡¯s chest instead of responding. Ja-kyung just let him and remained motionless as his hands move lower and lower. Ja-kyung flinched, pulled his arm away, and scrambled out of bed when Il-hyun rubbed his panties.


    ¡°Looks good, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Ja-kyung lowered his gaze to his lace panties. They were stiff with dried semen. Cursing, he ripped his tattered panties off and threw them in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face. Il-hyun rubbed his nose with the panties that had fallen on his face and inhaled it.


    Aah, what the fuck. Ja-kyung¡¯s face contorted. Il-hyun motioned for him to come, so he dressed up and took out a cigarette. He put it in his mouth and walked to the window, but Kang Il-hyun stood up and approached him, hugging him from behind. Il-hyun placed his chin on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder and casually snatched the cigarette from his mouth and placed it in his.


    After a few puffs, he gave it back to Ja-kyung. Il-hyun¡¯s arms wrapped around his waist tightened.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to work.¡±


    It was really funny when he complained like a child in a very deep voice.


    ¡°Just give it up.¡±


    ¡°Shall I? Should I quit and build a watermelon farm in the backyard with you?¡±


    There was an empty space behind the house, but he was not sure if it was a field.


    ¡°The soil is good, so the watermelons will grow well.¡±


    He spoke as if he had experience in farming, which was quite surprising.


    ¡°How do you know the soil is good?¡±


    ¡°I buried so many people in it.¡±


    Ja-kyung turned around with the cigarette in his mouth. Il-hyun¡¯s shameless expression implied that he had buried something. Who would want to eat watermelons grown in a corpse field? When Ja-kyung mentioned it, Il-hyun said it didn¡¯t matter as long as they tasted good. After telling him to eat his fill alone, Ja-kyung tried to go upstairs.


    But Il-hyun grabbed him and turned his back towards the bathroom.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go wash up.¡±


    ¡°I want to go up before the others wake up.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no one who doesn¡¯t know about us anyway. Even if we get married tomorrow, they wouldn¡¯t be surprised.¡±


    Ja-kyung had no argument to counter that. Il-hyun¡¯s hands were busy untying Ja-kyung¡¯s gown as they entered the bathroom. It was unclear whether he intended for them to shower or do something else, but he touched Ja-kyung¡¯s body so intimately that they became entwined once more before exiting the bathroom.


    ***


    Ja-kyung looked at the necktie in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand with a bewildered expression. He was all dressed up and even had a cast on his left arm. And now he wanted help to tie his necktie. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t believe he was the same guy who had been fuking around in the bathroom earlier.


    Feeling a mischievous urge, Ja-kyung deliberately put on the necktie tightly around Il-hyun¡¯s neck and pulled with force. And he chuckled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that. If you tighten it more, it might break.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°Speak nicely. I¡¯m your employer.¡±


    He chose his words well.


    ¡°If you¡¯re my employer, then give me some work. Stop letting me laze around and eat.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no work.¡±


    Ja-kyung stared at him blankly. What could he do if there was none? That was the expression on Il-hyun¡¯s face.


    ¡°Then can I spend some time outside for a while? I will not run away.¡±


    The food at the house was delicious, but he always seemed to run into a lot of people here, and he had the feeling that he was being watched. Wang Han was not used to such a life and wanted to go out on his own. He needed time to organize the things he had been doing all over the place because he was planning to stay in Korea for a long time.


    And Wang Lun has not yet completely recovered from the pain of a broken heart. He said he would like to go on a trip if he had no work for a while. He wanted to relax his mind while wandering wherever his feet touched him.


    Ja-kyung waited for permission, but unlike his concern, Il-hyun agreed quickly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find a place in Seoul for them. And I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be a problem for the two of them to live together.¡±


    At the word two, Ja-kyung widened his eyes and pointed at his chest.


    ¡°What about me?¡±


    Il-hyun tilted his head. His gaze became crooked, and then his tongue moved inside his mouth as he chose his words.


    ¡°Aside from the two of them, why would you want to leave?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t about leaving completely. Now that Kang Il-hyun was no longer in danger, Ja-kyung wanted to go to the island for a while and live there. He wanted to meditate, go fishing, and hunt. He was tired of the war-like everyday life and needed his own kind of rest.


    He had more fun than he expected the last time he ran away with his brothers and stayed on the island for a while. It was peaceful and tranquil until Kang Il-hyun appeared in a helicopter from the sky and fired a gun at them.


    As he listened, Il-hyun let out a small sigh and reluctantly nodded his head.


    ¡°Fine. But only for a month.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Ja-kyung tried to hide his joy, but he couldn¡¯t help but blush, and the corners of his mouth gradually lifted. However, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes became fierce.


    ¡°Fuck. Do you like it that much?¡±


    ¡°Who, who says I like it? I just, I just want to feel the preciousness of CEO Kang while living alone?¡±


    As soon as he muttered, Il-hyun laughed mockingly. Ja-kyung felt sorry and noticed the situation, so he untied Il-hyun¡¯s crooked necktie.


    ¡°So when are you going?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure yet.¡±


    ¡°Let me know when it¡¯s decided.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Because I have to take a vacation too.¡±


    The hand that was wrapping the tie around his neck twitched and stopped. He lifted his gaze and met Kang Il-hyun¡¯s smiling face. Ja-kyung furrowed his brows in response.


    ¡°Why take a vacation¡­?¡±


    ¡°I thought your dream was to live on a desert island with your wife and have kids.¡±


    ¡°Who, who said that!¡±


    ¡°Your brothers.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I will be happy to be your wife. I won¡¯t be able to have children though.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Should we bring a dog instead?¡±


    Ja-kyung thought it was kind of sweet of him to accompany him, but he wasn¡¯t sure Il-hyun could be away from work for that long. He seemed to be busy cleaning up right now. Imagining the two of them fishing and swimming on a deserted island didn¡¯t seem too bad. Of course, they¡¯d have a lot more sex. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t help but laugh as he imagined the two of them going wild and fishing.


    ¡°Why are you laughing?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t laugh.¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed despite his words. He pinched Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek and pulled it upwards. ¡°Ouch!¡± He tried to remove Il-hyun¡¯s hand, but Il-hyun wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed him on the lips. Ignoring his feigned disapproval, Il-hyun continued to shower him with kisses.


    ¡°Assuming you allowed it, I¡¯ll take my vacation then?¡±


    ¡°Do as you please. You¡¯ve already made up your mind anyway.¡±


    ¡°The reason for the vacation should be the honeymoon.¡±


    Ja-kyung had no idea who would hear it, but he could imagine their expressions. Ja-kyung tied his tie properly this time after warning Il-hyun not to do that. Even though he grumbled, his hands were gentle in tying the knot. Il-hyun stared at him intently as he adjusted his shirt collar.


    Ja-kyung kissed him first and smiled mischievously. ¡°All done. I guess you can go to work now.¡± But Il-hyun held on to his waist and did not intend to let go. Their playful exchange of kisses gradually became more passionate.


    Thump! They moved around and accidentally bumped into the decorations in the dressing room. He slipped his hand into Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt as their breaths became heavy. Ja-kyung quickly grabbed his hand to restrain him, sensing that things were about to escalate.


    ¡°Wait. You have to go to work!¡±


    ¡°Fuck. I probably won¡¯t go.¡±


    The breath he exhaled was ragged.


    ¡°Should we depart for the island immediately?¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled and nodded as he stared into his eyes. When he thought about it, he realized how nice it would be to be together, whether on an island or anywhere. He smiled sweetly like cotton candy. Enchanted by his smile, Il-hyun leaned in and kissed him once again.

 CH 107

    Translated by Springlila


    ¡°Will you be okay?¡±


    Even after arriving at the airport, Wang Han continued to express his concerns. He worried about Ja-kyung being alone while he and Wang Lun were leaving Korea. He feared that Chairman Kang¡¯s remaining henchmen might pose a threat to Ja-kyung¡¯s life.


    ¡°CEO Kang will be with him.¡±


    Although Wang Lun tried to reassure him, Wang Han couldn¡¯t shake off his worries. He repeatedly urged Ja-kyung to contact him immediately if anything happened. Wang Lun planned to sort things out and return to alleviate the pain of his broken heart.


    ¡°Make sure to contact me once you reach the island.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled helplessly. The two of them continued to fight over the issue of going to the island. Ja-kyung wanted to go hunting, catch fish, and enjoy life as it was in the wild, but the island Kang Il-hyun had reserved was more like a¡­ honeymoon destination. He almost threw the tablet away when he saw the red petals on the bed.


    ¡°Take care and come back safely.¡±


    The two brothers bid farewell with a hug and walked through the gate. Ja-kyung stood there watching them until they were gone, then turned away. He set the navigation to the neighborhood where he grew up after he found his car in the parking lot.


    ***


    Ja-kyung bought a bottle of water from a small hole-in-the-wall shop in the neighborhood. An elderly woman with a hunched back was sitting on a bench, meticulously preparing vegetables. Climbing the uphill road was a little heavy. He didn¡¯t know it when he came with Kang Il-hyun, but walking alone here reminded him of his childhood.


    When he reached halfway, a worn-out green metal gate swung open, and five rough-looking young men poured out all at once. Their condition was visibly not good. They spat on the ground and glanced briefly at Ja-kyung as they passed by. Ignoring their stares, Ja-kyung continued his walk, but he heard muttering from behind.


    Under the scorching midsummer sun, sweat trickled down his forehead. When he was halfway through his bottle of water, he arrived at the place he used to live at the neighborhood¡¯s highest point. The flower garden was still well-maintained, and the house had been repaired, making it almost unrecognizable. A message arrived as he cooled off on the porch and finished the last of the water.


    It was Kang Il-hyun. Ja-kyung replied with his location and then walked toward the direction of the wall. As he climbed up and sat on the wall, he had a panoramic view of downtown Seoul. The scenery was quite authentic. He thought it would look beautiful once darkness fell and the city lights illuminated the night.


    These were things he hadn¡¯t enjoyed during his childhood. His phone rang while he was lost in nostalgic memories. His brows furrowed at the sight of the caller ID displaying ¡°My Love.¡± Somehow, it magically changed even when he saved it by name.


    [Why did you go there?]


    His voice was gentle


    ¡°Just because. I came to hang out.¡±


    [What are you doing now?]


    ¡°Sightseeing the city. The weather is really nice today.¡±


    Laughter was laced at the end of the sentence. It was quiet on the other end of the line. Was it disconnected? Ja-kyung checked, but it wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Are you listening?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I was just enjoying your voice for a moment.¡±


    ¡°What a pervert.¡±


    The sound of laughter could be heard.


    [I think I will be leaving work soon, shall I go there?]


    Ja-kyung readily agreed without hesitation. After talking on the phone, he came down from the wall while watching the sun go down over the mountains. He opened the door, but couldn¡¯t find any trace of the past. Every time he walked, the warped floor creaked. Then tiredness set in and he straightened up and lay down.


    The blooming flowers beneath the wall caught his attention when he turned his head. A gentle breeze brushed his shaded hair now and then.


    ***


    Il-hyun, who was sitting in the back seat of the car with a cast on his left arm, opened the window while looking at the chicken and beer sitting next to him. When Lee Ja-kyung said he went to his old house, he bought chicken with the intention of drinking beer while watching the night view, but the smell was stronger than expected.


    It was unpleasant for him because he didn¡¯t like fried food that much. He regretted not putting it in the trunk and instead lit a cigarette. A smile spread across his lips as he approached the neighborhood. Tae-soo got out of the car and handed him the chicken and beer. Then he pulled out a gun.


    When Il-hyun stared at him intently, Tae-soo added,


    ¡°The neighborhood is quite dangerous, so just in case, I prepared this.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled as he slipped it into his belt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come to pick you up later.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll just go back with Lee Ja-kyung.¡±


    ¡° I understand.¡±


    Il-hyun began walking up the alley after Tae-soo had left. The hills were steep, dimly lit, and noisier at night than during the day. The sound of fighting could be heard everywhere, as well as the sounds of arguments and breaking objects.


    Il-hyun continued to climb the hill while humming a tune, and a shadow from above gradually merged into one and moved upward. There were five men, and the smoke from their cigarettes blew toward Il-hyun. They swaggered and spat on the ground all the time. One of them, whether drunk or high on drugs, couldn¡¯t control his body and staggered.


    ¡°Walk straight, you asshole.¡±


    ¡°Hey! But are you sure that he¡¯s really rich?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see? If he drives an expensive car and wears expensive clothes in this neighborhood, what else could he be? It¡¯s obvious.¡±


    ¡°I wish he had a lot of cash in his wallet.¡±


    ¡°Shall we go to the club today and use that bastard card?¡±


    They laughed among themselves, enjoying the moment. Il-hyun¡¯s steps slowed down. He had a rough idea of ??where they were headed. Lee Ja-kyung seems to have become the target of the thugs in this neighborhood. He followed after them with an interesting look, and one of them looked back.


    He looked ahead again, as he had also informed his companion. But they didn¡¯t stop there. Il-hyun could hear their murmur.


    ¡°Fuck. Why did he keep following us?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he with the guy up there?¡±


    ¡°Did you see his face?¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s dark, so I can¡¯t see.¡±


    ¡°He is so damn tall.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind. He¡¯s just an arm cripple.¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled as he looked at his casted arm. Once they arrived at the topmost house where Lee Ja-kyung was staying, they peered inside through the wall. Il-hyun passed them by, opened the gate, and went inside. A confused voice is heard from behind. What the fuck. Are they really together?


    Startled by the sound of the door opening, Lee Ja-kyung, who had been lying on the porch, quickly sat up, his eyes widening in surprise.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Il-hyun held up the beer and chicken in his hand.


    ¡°A gift.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze was drawn to the men standing in front of the gate. He thought it was an employee brought by Kang Il-hyun, but they were dressed completely differently. They swarmed in, and upon closer inspection, they were the same guys Ja-kyung had seen earlier in the day in the alley. Il-hyun loosened his tie and placed the chicken and beer on the table. His eyes were filled with curiosity.


    Ja-kyung, who understood the situation, asked.


    ¡°Why did you bring them?¡±


    The answer was unexpected.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t they your friends?¡±


    ¡°Where did you get that?¡±


    ¡°They look like troublemakers.¡±


    As if to confirm his words, the men in front of the gate drew their knives. ¡°Close the door! Stop them!¡± they shouted. Ja-kyung stood up and took out his wallet from his pants pocket. He approached the men after withdrawing some cash and handed it over.


    ¡°Is it enough? Take it and never come here again.¡±


    The dumbfounded men changed their expressions to triumphant ones as if they had misunderstood that Ja-kyung had given the money out of fear. One of them drew a folding knife and pointed it at Ja-kyung¡¯s throat.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, hand over your wallet.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at the knife under his neck with an annoyed expression and sighed. They were probably in their early twenties at most. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t understand why they would risk their lives for something like this. Meanwhile, Kang Il-hyun was leaning against the table, smoking a cigarette and enjoying the scene with a delighted expression.


    ¡°Babe. Do you need help?¡±


    As Ja-kyung glared at him, Il-hyun pulled something out from his pocket. He thought it was a wallet, but it turned out to be a gun. His eyes widened. Il-hyun rarely carried a gun around. The men who saw the gun also froze simultaneously. What¡¯s this? Is it a real gun? What the hell! It¡¯s not a toy!


    Il-hyun pointed the gun at them.


    ¡°Which one¡¯s head should I shoot first?¡±


    Ja-kyung beckoned him to clean it up, but he didn¡¯t make a move. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression gradually becomes mischievous. He stood up, holding the gun against his temple, contemplating which head to shoot first, looking at each of them with a calculating expression


    Ja-kyung scowled in annoyance.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do it. They¡¯re just kids.¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled playfully.


    ¡°If they¡¯re over twenty, it¡¯s fine even if they die.¡±


    Without bothering to argue with such nonsense, Il-hyun aimed the gun and pulled the trigger. A gunshot rang out as the bullet hit the iron door. Startled, Ja-kyung turned around. What if he actually shoots? Il-hyun had a disappointed expression on his face.


    ¡°Shit. I missed.¡±


    As Il-hyun try to shoot again, the guys blocking the way screamed and run out of the gate. Ja-kyung looked out and found them running down the hill at full speed. Ja-kyung frowned, picked up the money they had spilled, and stood up.


    After returning to his usual self, Il-hyun tossed the gun aside, grabbed a beer, and offered it to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung accepted it and leaned against him.


    ¡°Ah, I suddenly feel tired because of those bastards.¡±


    You¡¯re the worst among them. But there¡¯s a greasy smell somewhere. Looking around, Ja-kyung spotted the chicken and quickly went to grab it.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a chicken!¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s body leaned sideways as if he were about to collapse, and his expression became fierce.


    ¡°You like the chicken more than me? Should I be reborn as a chicken next time?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a fuss. I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    After opening the lid, Ja-kyung closed his eyes, smelled it, and smiled broadly. His stomach was empty because he hadn¡¯t eaten anything during the last meal with his brothers during the day. Il-hyun¡¯s fierce eyes softened at Ja-kyung¡¯s expression of enjoyment.


    Ja-kyung picked up a chicken leg first and held it out to Il-hyun.


    ¡°Eat this.¡±


    A cool breeze blew from somewhere to cool off the midsummer night¡¯s heat. He took the leg that was offered to him to eat. The smell of oil he didn¡¯t want to smell before had changed. Il-hyun smiled after taking a bite.


    ¡°Is it delicious?¡±


    He nodded. It was a night where nothing could go wrong when you were with someone you like.

 CH 108

    End Of Main Story


    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung squinted his eyes as he examined Il-hyun¡¯s palm. He had learned how to read palm lines from a Korean neighbor back in the day, and he wanted to read Il-hyun¡¯s palm, but his lifeline was incredibly long, even ridiculously long. On the other hand, Ja-kyung¡¯s lifeline was abruptly cut in the middle.


    Meanwhile, Il-hyun was not focused on his own palm but rather observed Ja-kyung¡¯s expression with an intrigued look on his face.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re smart. And your lifeline is so long, you¡¯ll live a long life.¡±


    In response, Ja-kyung showed his own lifeline. ¡°Look at mine. It¡¯s quite short. It says I won¡¯t live for long.¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Your temperament is very bad. You¡¯re so mean.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t add your thoughts.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°What about a spouse?¡±


    ¡°You have one. Just one.¡±


    ¡°Then what about you?¡±


    Ja-kyung proudly spread his palms.


    ¡°I have two.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes darkened. The moment his lips parted, the phone rang. It was a video call from Wang Han. Shh. Ja-kyung signaled him to be quiet and turned on the video. Wang Han¡¯s face appeared on the screen against the blue sky.


    ¡°Did you arrive safely?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I just finished unpacking. Where are you, it¡¯s so dark?¡±


    A woman appeared unexpectedly next to his curious face. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. It was Rita who lived next door when he was staying in Kuala Lumpur. He can¡¯t believe she¡¯s in Thailand. Rita waves without a second¡¯s hesitation.


    [Wei, long time no see. I heard you had a lover. You don¡¯t know how upset Sasha was when she heard the news.]


    When Sasha¡¯s name was mentioned, Ja-kyung glanced at Il-hyun, spoke more quietly, and stood up from the porch, proceeding to move away in a different direction. Il-hyun, who had been watching while drinking his beer, stood up and went toward the back of the house. It was a relief. Because soon Sasha appeared between Rita and Wang Han.


    [Wei. I¡¯ll always be waiting for you. If you break up with that girl, come back to me!]


    The shout caused the three of them to laugh and make a fuss. Ja-kyung smiled with a troubled expression. He had previously explained it thoroughly to Sasha, and she appeared to have made up her mind. He quickly ended the call after saying goodbye to Wang Han.


    However, Il-hyun was nowhere to be seen. Ja-kyung looked around and sat down on the bench, but then he heard the sound of footsteps. When Ja-kyung turned to face him, he almost screamed in surprise. Il-hyun was approaching with a sickle in his hand and a cigarette dangling from his lips.


    ¡°What, what¡¯s that?¡±


    Il-hyun snapped his finger.


    ¡°Come here. I can change your palm lines as much as you want.¡±


    Ja-kyung stepped back. He asked if he had gone crazy, but Il-hyun grabbed his wrist tightly and twisted it. Ja-kyung quickly pulled away and kicked Il-hyun¡¯s knee.


    Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t care, grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s hand, pressed it to the ground, and swung his scythe. The sharp point of the scythe slammed down between his index and middle finger. Argh! Ja-kyung screamed, then breathed a sigh of relief when he realized his finger was still attached. You, shit! Ja-kyung shoved his shoulder and took a step back.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡±


    ¡°I told you to come.¡±


    ¡°Why are you doing this again?¡±


    ¡°I made a mistake. I should¡¯ve carved my name on your face, not your waist.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense and put that down.¡±


    ¡°Then say it here.¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°That you only like me and only have sex with me for the rest of your life.¡±


    As Ja-kyung looked disgusted, Il-hyun pointed the end of the sickle toward Ja-kyung as if challenging him. Ja-kyung reluctantly nodded. That seemed to satisfy him momentarily. But his damn obsession had resurfaced. It would be better to get it over with quickly.


    ¡°I will only like and have sex only with Kang Il-hyun for the rest of my life.¡±


    He raised his eyes and spoke in a soulless tone like a robot.


    ¡°Honey. You don¡¯t mean it.¡±


    Ja-kyung gritted his teeth.


    ¡°I will only like and have sex only with Kang Il-hyun for the rest of my life.¡±


    Finally satisfied, Il-hyun threw the sickle aside. Ja-kyung sighed and cursed all kinds of curses inwardly. He gestured for Ja-kyung to come, and Il-hyun took out his cell phone. No way, Ja-kyung quickly took his phone away. He was afraid that Il-hyun would record it again and play it on repeat. But what he showed him was a photo, not a recorded file. It was an island with moderately flat land and enough necessities for people to live on.


    ¡°How about it? It¡¯s not too far because it was within the country. You can go hunting or fishing as you wish. Isn¡¯t it great?¡±


    Ja-kyung, who was flipping through several photos, nodded.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need a house. We can just pitch a tent.¡±


    ¡°Do as you please.¡±


    ¡°I will hunt all the food.¡±


    ¡°I thought it was our honeymoon, not military training.¡±


    Teasingly, Il-hyun lightly tapped his arm and chuckled. Yet, despite Il-hyun¡¯s earlier display of wielding the sickle, he surprisingly acquiesced without much resistance.


    ¡°But remember.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t revised my will yet.¡±


    Haa, good riddance. Ja-kyung nodded with a defeated expression on his face. Yeah, let¡¯s bury ourselves together.


    Ja-kyung stood up and walked towards the flower field while looking at the pictures of the island. He could see the city at a glance as he crossed his arms on the wall and looked down. Soon after, Il-hyun came to the side. He lit a cigarette and laughed softly.


    ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking¡­¡±


    Il-hyun turned his head and looked at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°I think it would be nice to live here instead of your house.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s expression froze for a moment at the unexpected words. Ja-kyung waited for his response. Now, this place seemed perfect. The yard where he was beaten while lying around, and the warehouse where he¡¯d been locked up without being able to breathe, it was all good.


    The house didn¡¯t feel like hell anymore since Kang Il-hyun had picked the flowers and handed them to him. Il-hyun took out a cigarette and let out a long puff of smoke. As there was no response for a long time, Ja-kyung thought it meant rejection, but then Il-hyun slowly nodded his head.


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked back in surprise.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, as long as I can come and hang out like today.¡±


    ¡°Why are you like this? It¡¯s scary because you always comply with everything.¡±


    ¡°They say the one who loves more is usually the weaker one. What can I do? I have to accommodate you.¡±


    Il-hyun ruffled his hair with his large hand and leaned his arms against Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. Soon, his head rested on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t mind having a man a foot taller than him lean on him now and then. Ja-kyung touched the other side of Il-hyun¡¯s face as he rubbed his cheek against his shoulder like a puppy. Il-hyun laughed so hard that his cheeks hurt.


    After standing side by side and watching the night view for a while, they went back to their seat and drank more beer. When Ja-kyung got drunk, he acted cute, and Il-hyun liked it, so he gave him more drink, but he later passed out. He stared at Ja-kyung¡¯s face as he slept, staring until his eyes were tired, and only fell asleep as dawn approached.


    Ja-kyung barely opened his eyes as he heard birds chirping. He thought he¡¯d fallen asleep for a while, but the sun had already come up and his entire body felt sore. He realized Il-hyun¡¯s jacket was covering him as he lay on the floor.


    He took it off and looked around. Outside the gate, he heard Kang Il-hyun talking to someone on the phone. It was time to wash up and go to work, so he needed to return home. As Ja-kyung rubbed his face to wake up, his attention was suddenly drawn to his palm.


    When he spread his hand, someone had drawn his lifeline with a pen all the way to his wrist. He chuckled as he tried to rub it off with his hand.


    It was obvious even if he didn¡¯t see who did it. Just then, the gate opened and Kang Il-hyun walked in. He smiled brightly, despite his messy hair and clothes. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± Ja-kyung burst out laughing at his out-of-character appearance. He stretched out his arms and Il-hyun came forward to embrace him without hesitation.


    ***


    The autumn sky was incredibly clear. There was a long line of people waiting to eat at the free cafeteria. Reporter Yoon, who was filming from one side of the cafeteria, was focused on capturing Kang Il-hyun wearing a black apron and handing out meals.


    ¡°It¡¯s strange.¡±


    Reporter Kwak extinguished his cigarette at the sound of reporter Yoon muttering and looked over.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°CEO Kang. I think he has changed.¡±


    ¡°Having gone through something like that and losing his father, it¡¯s understandable to be deeply affected.¡±


    Reporter Yoon shook his head. That expression wasn¡¯t the look of someone who had lost their parents, but rather someone who had gained a nation.


    ¡°But who is the new face next to him?¡±


    Reporter Kwak pointed to another man next to Kang Il-hyun. He didn¡¯t think it was a family member or even an employee. The man he saw for the first time smiled as he handed the meals. In the middle of it, Kang Il-hyun spoke to the man, but his expression was noticeably different from when he spoke to others.


    ¡°The more I look at him, the more handsome he is. Maybe he learned it from his agency.¡±


    ¡°Should we dig into his background a bit?¡±


    ¡°And what will that accomplish?¡±


    ¡°Who knows? Maybe that man has some weaknesses that could be exploited against Kang Il-hyun.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s focus on our work.¡±


    Reporter Yoon looked at the man next to Kang Il-hyun through his camera. As he zoomed in, the handsome face appeared on the screen. Wow. He exclaimed in admiration and clicked. He pressed the shutter button. Kang Il-hyun, who was serving meals at the time, looked in his direction. Startled, he lowered his camera and nervously greeted him.


    For some reason, Kang Il-hyun took off his apron and walked toward reporters Yoon and Kwak. Reporter Kwak¡¯s tense face hardened. He must have known in advance that they were writing a promotional article, so why would Kang Il-hyun personally come to them, and not the secretary?


    He has two bottles of drink in his hand as he approached.


    ¡°You two have worked hard.¡±


    After they accepted them, Il-hyun glanced at the camera.


    ¡°Can I check the picture you just took?¡±


    There was no reason to refuse. Reporter Yoon hesitated for a moment, then handed the camera to Kang Il-hyun. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, and Reporter Kwak looked at Il-hyun nervously with a drink in his hand.


    Kang Il-hyun handed over the camera and smiled charmingly.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to have this picture personally. May I ask you a favor?¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡­¡±


    Reporter Kwak quickly interjected.


    ¡°Of course. I will send it right away.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun said thank you and went back to his place. As they watched him move away, both of them breathed a sigh of relief and finally checked the photo in the camera. It captured a scene of Kang Il-hyun facing the man next to him and smiling brightly.


    ¡°Why is this¡­¡±


    ¡°I know, right?¡±


    The two looked at Kang Il-hyun with suspicious eyes. When Il-hyun returned to his position, the man beside him tied the back strap of his apron and smiled. The atmosphere seemed suspicious as the two of them exchanged words. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Kang Il-hyun leaned in and whispered something into the man¡¯s ear.


    ¡°No matter how you look at it¡­¡±


    ¡°They look like a couple, don¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying¡­¡±


    ¡°No way¡­¡±


    Reporter Yoon shook his head as if he was dumbfounded and raised the camera again. The lens captured the image of the two smiling men like a painting. They might not be a couple, but they did seem to suit each other quite well.


    ¨C END.

 CH 109

    Side Story 1


    Translated by Springlila


    A man fixed his gaze on a photo posted on a white chalkboard. There were several pictures attached, but the one in the center was Kang Il-hyun, and there was also a photo of Chairman Kang with bold red letters read ¡°dead¡± on his face.


    The man looked at the photo he was holding in his hand. He recently tried to find even a speck of information about this man who was frequently seen with Kang Il-hyun, but it was not as simple as he had thought. He called up the secretary who was nearby, checking the papers.


    ¡°Secretary Park. What did you say this man¡¯s name was?¡±


    Secretary Park looked at a photo Prosecutor Jang held out. His stunning features made it difficult to believe he wasn¡¯t an actor. At first, they assumed he was an actor under Kang Il-hyun¡¯s company, but his frequent appearances with Kang Il-hyun raised questions.


    Secretary Park presented the documents to Prosecutor Jang. The man¡¯s identity was written there.


    ¡°His name is Yang Seon-woo. He grew up under ordinary parents, went to university, and was exempted from military service due to an illness. We know that he stays at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house, but we couldn¡¯t find any further details no matter how hard we investigated.¡±


    Mmm. Prosecutor Zhang¡¯s eyes narrowed. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s closest aide, Park Tae-soo, was from a special forces unit and served as a mercenary before becoming Kang Il-hyun¡¯s right-hand man. But this man named Yang Seon-woo, who was he and where did he come from? There was not even a sliver of a lead to pursue.


    ¡°Please look into it further. Even the tiniest bit of information will do.¡±


    Secretary Park sighed. The higher-ups were already pressuring him not to touch Kang Il-hyun. Several charges have been filed, but all have been dropped. There was pressure not only from the chief prosecutor, but also from above, and if they continue to push, they will be the ones who were pushed out.


    ¡°Prosecutor. If the chief finds out, it will be chaos.¡±


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I asked you secretly.¡±


    Secretary Park sighed and hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°This is just a rumor, you know¡­¡±


    Prosecutor Jang propped up on his desk and looked at him with twinkling eyes. As someone famous for his unconventional methods even within the prosecutor¡¯s office, baseless rumors wouldn¡¯t be entirely groundless.


    ¡°There was a rumor that he¡¯s Chairman Kang¡¯s lover.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang¡¯s thick eyebrows twitched. Huh? He looked at Secretary Park as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. He shrugged, claiming it was all a rumor. Prosecutor Jang looked at the photo of Yang Seon-woo he was holding and placed it discreetly next to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s photo.


    He crossed his arms again and alternately looked at them. Then he went to his desk and turned over several pictures of the two of them one by one. He had investigated Kang Il-hyun as a witness six months ago, but he couldn¡¯t find that bastard who used to laugh mischievously and crush people anywhere.


    Mmm. He showed the photo for Secretary Park to see.


    ¡°Who did you say was the reporter who took this picture?¡±


    ¡°Reporter Yoon, he is my junior.¡±


    ¡°Could you schedule an appointment for me? I have something to ask him.¡±


    Secretary Park let out a small sigh and nodded reluctantly. He was the type of person who would go searching regardless of whether they were told not to.


    ***


    Sprinklers were running across the well-kept golf course, and flowers bloomed in abundance as summer approached. Director Kim, Director Park, and Director Choi were leisurely enjoying a game of golf. The young ladies who had come with them cheered and applauded each nice shot they made.


    ¡°Director Kim gets more energetic as he gets older.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ve been taking good care of myself lately.¡±


    Director Kim hugged the young lady next to him by the waist and pulled her toward him. A cart was speeding down the hill in the distance, amidst the sounds of chatter and laughter. Director Choi, who found it first, clicked his tongue.


    ¡°That has to be some crazy guy driving like that.¡±


    However, the cart continued across the lawn, heading straight toward them. Director Choi, who had been walking forward, abruptly came to a halt. The cart didn¡¯t slow down, and Director Choi and Kim¡¯s faces turned pale as they belatedly noticed the driver.


    The crowd dispersed on both sides to avoid the approaching cart, and Director Choi, whose feet were twisted, fell and rolled on the lawn. Director. His secretary hurriedly tried to help him to his feet, but he could do nothing about the embarrassment that was already spreading.


    Kang Il-hyun stepped off the stopped cart, with a cigarette in his mouth and a bored expression. His sudden appearance chilled the air as if cold water had been poured on it. Kang Il-hyun pulled a club from the caddy¡¯s golf bag and swung it forcefully in front of Director Choi. Argh! Director Choi screamed involuntarily, and the golf ball beneath his feet flew as far as it could.


    Il-hyun flicked the cigarette aside and chuckled coldly.


    ¡°Nice shot.¡±


    The three Directors¡¯ faces darkened sharply. The mere fact that Il-hyun was here when he should be at work, was ominous. The three of them avoided his gaze and trembled as if they were guilty. Il-hyun tapped the golf club he was holding to the ground and stared coldly at them one by one.


    ¡°You seem to be having fun during work hours.¡±


    Director Kim hastily stepped forward.


    ¡°W-Well, you see, I had an appointment with Representative Seo, but it got canceled¡­¡±


    ¡°If it got canceled, then you should come to the company and work.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m paying all of you a salary just for you to play around here?¡±


    The three of them were speechless. When Chairman Kang was alive, the three of them were able to accumulate wealth without doing anything special because they were founding members. However, everything changed after the company came into Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hands.


    At first, they couldn¡¯t understand why they were spared even after undergoing a massive reshuffle. But it didn¡¯t take long for them to realize why. It was because he wanted to torment and manipulate them incessantly. Thanks to him, they felt their lifelines getting shorter every day.


    The three of them even tried to resign, but it didn¡¯t work. They ended up reluctantly taking their seats at the behest of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s remark that if they wanted to do that, they should return everything they had secretly taken.


    The golf club was directed at Director Kim, Director Choi, and Director Park in turn, like a knife.


    ¡°If you have nothing to do, at least clean the company.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°How sad would my late father feel if he saw you like this? Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun asked with a disappointed expression. But the three of them knew. Others might think it¡¯s just a rumor, but they knew it was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s doing that Chairman Kang died.


    ¡°Or would you like to leave together with me?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled meaningfully and glanced at the sky. The spines of the three directors chilled, and their faces darkened.


    ¡°Just kidding. Just kidding.¡±


    He casually put the golf club back into the bag. Then he went over to the waiting cart where Park Tae-soo was, sat in the driver¡¯s seat, waved his hand, and immediately drove off. Seeing the cart going back the way it came, the three of them simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.


    Director Choi supported his wobbly legs and pointed at Kang Il-hyun, who was moving away.


    ¡°That, that damn bastard.¡±


    Shortly after, Director Kim spat on the ground


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve lost all interest in golf.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Should I kill him?¡±


    Tae-soo looked behind through the rear mirror, but there was no answer. Il-hyun looked out the window and exhaled a long cigarette smoke. It was fun to harass the directors by leaving them behind just by looking at them, but it was too risky to play with them for a long time. Even so, it was still useful because it was still alive. However, he hadn¡¯t gotten rid of them yet because they still had their uses. They had connections in the political and business circles, and they were useful for dealing with troublesome aftermath.


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not the right time yet.¡±


    As if talking to himself, he took out his phone and checked it. He sent a message to Lee Ja-kyung, but there was no reply. It made him uneasy. Part of the reason why he came here today and bothered the three directors was because of Lee Ja-kyung.


    Ja-kyung had gone on a trip to Macau with Wang Lun and Wang Han a week ago and still hadn¡¯t returned. He had said he would come back today, but suddenly changed his mind a day before and sent a message last night saying he would need two more days.


    He had permitted it, but he didn¡¯t feel particularly pleased about it.


    He made a video call, and the signal went through. After a few rings, Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s face filled the screen. It seemed like he had just woken up with his disheveled hair and sleepy eyes. Lee Ja-kyung smiled sweetly at the screen after rubbing his face.


    [Hello. CEO Kang.]


    Il-hyun¡¯s crappy mood disappeared as soon as he saw Ja-kyung¡¯s smiling face. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh at himself because he found it pathetic. The screen moved, and the sound of rustling blankets could be heard. Il-hyun motioned for him to rotate the camera. As if familiar with the routine, Lee Ja-kyung pointed the camera at the bedside and the room, then protested.


    [Delusional jealousy]


    Il-hyun chuckled as if feeling sorry.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that. I¡¯m restraining myself from chasing after you.¡±


    Ugh, Ja-kyung made an odd sound of annoyance and grimaced. Il-hyun moved his tongue inside his mouth as he looked at Ja-kyung¡¯s bare upper body. Ah, it had been over a week since he held that body in his arms.


    [Are you on your way to work?]


    Il-hyun nodded his head. In his heart, he wanted to catch him and keep him locked up, but Lee Ja-kyung originally has wild instincts. He had no intention of forcibly suppressing that. He just believed that the one holding the leash should always be himself.


    ¡°I miss you.¡±


    He blurted out his longing. He didn¡¯t want to ask when he would come home. But now that he¡¯s seen Ja-kyung¡¯s face, he wants to go after him right away. With a face that was still half-asleep, Lee Ja-kyung leaned in and kissed the screen. I miss you too.


    Now, even expressions of affection came quite naturally. He was satisfied with that and couldn¡¯t stop smiling.

 CH 110

    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung took out a bottle of water from the small refrigerator in the room and quenched his thirst. He was tired after walking around late last night. He went with his bottled water and looked down at the man in the corner of the bed. The man was wearing only a pair of underwear and his limbs were tied behind his back, and he had colorful tattoos tattooed all over his body.


    Ja-kyung removed the tape covering the man¡¯s mouth and poured water on him. The man weakly opened his eyes and hurriedly drank the water before making a sound. Ja-kyung quickly covered his mouth again with the tape, and muffled sounds echoed within the tape.


    When Ja-kyung opened the door and come out, Wang Lun was dividing a bundle of money in a briefcase. After drinking the water, he went to the side and picked up a wad of money, and tossed it into his bag.


    ¡°Why are you awake already? Sleep more.¡±


    ¡°I got a call from CEO Kang.¡±


    Wang Lun, who was closing the bag, raised his head.


    ¡°You, you didn¡¯t say anything right?¡±


    Before he can answer, the door on the other side opens and Wang Han comes out. There was only one towel dangling from his lower body, which had just been washed.


    ¡°Wei. You¡¯re up already?¡±


    ¡°CEO Kang called.¡±


    We are bit.ly/3iBfjkV, find us on google.


    ¡°Did you tell him?¡±


    Ja-kyung replied with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Do you think I did?¡±


    ¡°No. If you did, he¡¯d already be knocking on that door with a gun.¡±


    Wang Han shuddered as he remembered the time they had fled and were caught on the island. That scene would occasionally appear in his dreams, and on those days, he would be especially tense. Wang Lun entered the room and dragged the man on the floor with him. The man screamed as soon as he removed the tape.


    ¡°What do you want? I¡¯ll give you anything you want! Just say it! I have a lot of money! I¡¯ll listen to anything, please!¡±


    Ja-kyung taped his mouth again. So noisy. His head hurts. After tossing the empty water bottle into the trash can, he unfolded the suitcase for the man. The man was Japanese and the right-hand man of a giant organization. However, he became a wanted man after stealing secrets from his organization and handing them over to Hong Kong.


    ¡°Pray a lot. After all, you don¡¯t have much time left to breathe.¡±


    Wang Lun and Ja-kyung carried the man into a travel bag. The man cried tears and let out muffled sounds from within. His desperate eyes, filled with an almost breaking plea, and a poignant voice didn¡¯t match the vibrant tattoos that covered his body.


    Ja-kyung stared at the man silently as he closed the lid of the bag and zipped it up. Gradually, the man¡¯s groans and cries subsided. There was no point in leaving a will behind; there was no one to listen to it anyway.


    ***


    On the roof of a tall building, Ja-kyung lowered himself and looked through the telescope at the building opposite the hotel. A little later, Wang Han and Wang Lun entered a hotel room on the 22nd floor. Once they handed over the kidnapped man, it would be over. Just in case, Ja-kyung was waiting on the other side, aiming a sniper rifle.


    After spending a few months under Kang Il-hyun¡¯s care, being loved like a pet, Ja-kyung found the sensation of holding a gun strangely unfamiliar. Just half a year ago, he used to commit murders without a second thought. That¡¯s why they call humans the animals of their environment.


    He took a piece of gum out of his pocket. Along with the sound of it crackling in her ear, Wang Han¡¯s voice came through.


    [Wei. Can you hear me?]


    Ja-kyung put the gum in his mouth.


    ¡°I can hear you.¡±


    [We¡¯ve arrived now, so get ready.]


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    He looked down as he chewed the gum slowly. Several black cars arrived in front of the hotel. They all went inside at the same time after the unusual figures got off. Ja-kyung drew his sniper rifle and focused his gaze on the scope.


    He could clearly see the faces of Wang Han and Wang Lun in the opposite building, who appeared tense.


    Drdrdr, drdrdr, the cellphone she had left in her pocket vibrated as if he¡¯s been waiting for it. Ah, of course now. Ja-kyung tried to ignore it, but the vibration wouldn¡¯t stop. When he took it out and check it, it was from ¡®My baby¡¯. Ja-kyung threw his phone aside and focused on the situation in front of him as the hotel door opened.


    They exchanged greetings for a very short time, and soon the bag of money was handed over to Wang Han and Wang Lun.


    Wang Han opened the bag and checked the amount. Ja-kyung focused his attention on each and every movement of the opponent. A brief conversation ensued, and Wang Han and Wang Lun safely exited the room. He looked at the closed door and sighed in relief.


    Wang Han¡¯s voice came through the in-ear again.


    [Wei. Get out now. Come down.]


    Ja-kyung removed the silencer from the gun. Organize the scope and support rod and put it in the bag. Bang! A loud cracking sound was heard. Jakyung sat up. The man who was inside the bag just moments ago now lay on top of the car parked in front of the hotel. Red blood flowed down to the ground, causing a commotion among the passersby.


    Boom! An explosion was heard immediately and the building shook. Screams could be heard, and flames could be seen raging in the hotel room where the man across the street was staying. They were ruthless in their treatment of traitors.


    Tomorrow morning, the newspapers would publish an article stating that a key figure of a Japanese organization committed suicide in Hong Kong. It was disguised as a suicide, but it served as a warning of sorts. By disposing of the traitor, they instilled fear in the remaining members of the organization. That was how they strengthened their bonds.


    He packed his bag, came down the emergency exit stairs, and quickly got into a black car waiting on the road. He saw people crowding around the corpse. He faced the dead man¡¯s face with its eyes open. He wondered what he was about to say.


    The car started right away, and fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances were on their way. Ja-kyung turned around to find a bag of money beside him. The money bag seemed to smell like blood.


    Looking at the passing police cars, Wang Han whistled softly.


    ¡°They¡¯ve gathered like ants.¡±


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve made some money, shall we have some fun with the ladies tonight?¡±


    At Wang Lun¡¯s words, Wang Han laughed and pointed behind him.


    ¡°You want to see Wei die?¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. He had no intention to play with women.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like I¡¯m being held captive.¡±


    Wang Han and Wang Lun giggled.


    ¡°But it¡¯s the truth. I didn¡¯t know you had such a sentimental side.¡±


    Ja-kyung scowled as he kicked Wang Lun¡¯s chair. Stop talking, Lun hyung. It wasn¡¯t because he was afraid of Kang Il-hyun, but because he liked him, so he said that he was loyal to him, but their teasing didn¡¯t stop. Ja-kyung reached into his pocket in desperation. Then his eyes widened.


    Ah. The phone.


    Damn it. He¡¯d thrown it on the ground and left it there.


    Going back now would attract too much attention. He would have to wait until tomorrow dawn. Frustrated, he borrowed Wang Han¡¯s phone and tried to contact Kang Il-hyun. But there was no response.


    Ja-kyung tried several times, but it was the same. Wang Han, who had been watching, asked with a worried expression.


    ¡°He¡¯s not picking up?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    Seeing Ja-kyung¡¯s restlessness, Wang Lun chuckled.


    ¡°Look at that. He¡¯s being held captive.¡±


    ¡°And who¡¯s responsible for all this!¡±


    Ja-kyung kicked angrily on Wang Lun¡¯s seat again. Ja-kyung initially thought they were just traveling and followed along, but it turned out they had a different agenda. He had unintentionally lied to Kang Il-hyun because of him. He grumbled and made another phone call, but there was no answer despite the signal going through.


    ***


    Upon arriving at the accommodation and packing his belongings to return to Macau, Wang Lun¡¯s phone rang. He checked the number and called Ja-kyung. CEO Kang. Ja-kyung received the call and walked a bit away from the Wang brothers.


    [What happened.]


    ¡°While shopping¡­ I lost my phone.¡±


    Ja-kyung lied as he looked out the window. In the distance, smoke still billowed from the hotel. The flashing lights of fire trucks and police cars were still visible. He momentarily diverted his gaze elsewhere, and the other end of the line was noisy. There were announcements and such.


    ¡°Are you outside?¡±


    [Yeah. At the airport.]


    ¡°Why?¡±


    [I¡¯m on my way to Hong Kong. Something came up.]


    Ja-kyung paused for a moment and looked back at Wang Han and Wang Lun. They were excitedly kicking up a fuss as if something amazing had happened. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip discreetly.


    ¡°Why Hong Kong¡­¡±


    [One of the clients we were dealing with died.]


    ¡°¡­¡±


    [They said he fell from the hotel.]


    Ah, no way.


    ¡°What¡¯s the name?¡±


    [Furukawa Daichi.]


    Ja-kyung almost let out a sigh at the unexpected response. Sensing that something was amiss from Ja-kyung¡¯s troubled expression, the Wang brothers also noticed and focused their attention on him. Ja-kyung grimaced and shook his head toward them. Wang Lun asked why, but he couldn¡¯t give an answer.


    [I¡¯ll go there first and then cross over to Macau. Return to Korea together.]


    ¡°¡­¡±


    When he couldn¡¯t answer right away, Il-hyun called Ja-kyung.


    [Lee Ja-kyung.]


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call. Ja-kyung held the disconnected phone against his face and cursed. Wang Lun asked what was wrong, and Ja-kyung tore his hair in despair.


    ¡°We¡¯re fucked¡­¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I think the person who died earlier is¡­ Kang Il-hyun¡¯s client.¡±


    The two stood up at the same time. What!?


    ¡°Damn it. Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°It might not be true.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at both of them alternately with a despondent expression.


    ¡°Even the name is exactly the same.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Everyone fell silent. They considered the slim possibility that it might not be true, but the chances of another Japanese man with the same name falling to his death at the hotel today were extremely slim. The ticking of the second hand on the wristwatch felt like a signal announcing death. Wang Lun, the instigator, suggested they just disappear, while Wang Han said that if he really wanted to die, he should go ahead.


    In the end, Ja-kyung seemed to have made up his mind and packed his bag.


    ¡°First, pack your things. Let¡¯s leave right away.¡±

 CH 111

    Translated by Springlila


    Tak, Il-hyun¡¯s gaze turned to the newspaper on the table. The incident from last night was prominently featured in it. It was a big deal that a high-ranking member of a Japanese organization had jumped from a hotel in downtown Hong Kong. Of course, he didn¡¯t jump voluntarily.


    Zhang Yi An¡¯s grandfather Zhang Myung lit a pipe and waved to the secretary with a disapproving expression. The secretary held out a tablet. On it was a picture of Furukawa Daichi. Despite the fact that his face was hidden behind a hat and a mask, he was still alive and well until three days ago.


    Il-hyun took it and swiped the photos one by one. He had no contact with anyone upon his arrival in Hong Kong. Then a black car appeared. The people in the car had their faces cleverly covered so it was impossible to recognize them.


    ¡°Professional. It took less than five minutes to kidnap him.¡±


    He swiped the next photo. And the next photo again. Il-hyun¡¯s hand froze in the air. He was dressed in a hoodie with the hood pulled deep and sunglasses that only revealed the bridge of his nose, but Il-hyun recognized it right away. An employee comes in and pours the freshly brewed tea while he was looking at the photo expressionlessly.


    After Il-hyun expressed his gratitude, he handed the tablet back to his secretary.


    ¡°I will make up for the loss.¡±


    Zhang Myung raised his body leaning on the sofa with an expression of surprise.


    ¡°Why would you.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s for not being able to keep the cats under control.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed bitterly. Now he understands why Zhang Myung asked to see him in person. The wild cat had caused a problem. The image of him waving his hand to hide it and pretending nothing happened during their phone call a few hours ago was vivid in his mind.


    The person who hired Lee Ja-kyung was Zhang Myung along with his father, who died two years ago. There¡¯s no way he wouldn¡¯t recognize him. The old man with a fiery temperament must have planned to cover it up by meeting him first.


    ¡°How unexpected.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze, which had been lingering on the teacup, shifted to Zhang Myung. Whether it was because he promised to take responsibility for the aftermath or for some other reason, Zhang Myung¡¯s expression was a little tolerant.


    ¡°I saw CEO Kang as a very rational person.¡±


    It would have been unthinkable in the past. Even if it was Kang Il-hyun¡¯s person, when he made a mistake, the retribution that followed was ruthless.


    ¡°Perhaps old age has made my heart more forgiving.¡±


    Zhang Myung chuckled at the absurd statement.


    ¡°I wish you had shown that generosity to your father as well.¡±


    Il-hyun was silent. Zhang Myung never wondered how Chairman Kang died, but he had a hunch. It¡¯s not surprising in this line of work for family members to shoot each other.


    Just then, the phone in his pocket vibrates. It was Wang Han¡¯s number. Excuse me. Il-hyun got up and walked toward the hallway behind the living room. Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s voice came through when he picked up the phone.


    [Where are you?]


    ¡°Hong Kong.¡±


    [When are you coming?]


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze turned to the watch. A faint sense of relief could be heard from Ja-kyung at the mention that Il-hyun might be later than expected. Mischievous.


    ¡°Do you want to see me?¡±


    [Yes¡­]


    There was no energy in the voice as it reluctantly answered. Well, why would he be after causing a big problem?


    ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ***


    Wang Lun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s hand as he sighed after the call. He pulled him away like a lump of meat and tried to drag him into the shop. The shop was located in a corner of Macau and offered services like tattoos and waxing.


    As they were led inside, a man with tattoos on his face greeted them. Ja-kyung pushed the door he had come through and went out, Wang Lun immediately followed and grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Just once. Only once.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy? If you want to wax that much, do it yourself!¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t all die. It has to be you who sacrifices. Do you understand? You might discover a new taste.¡±


    ¡°No. It won¡¯t be the three of us who die, it¡¯ll be you. If hyung hadn¡¯t lied, I would never have come here with you!¡±


    The passers-by glanced at the tall men squabbling in front of the store. Wang Lun brought Ja-kyung here as soon as they arrived in Macau and finished unpacking for one reason and one reason only.


    Wang Lun suggested that he prepare a gift in case the quick-witted Kang Il-hyun discovered all of the facts. However, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t understand why, even as a gift, his own body had to bear the burden. And to make matters worse, it was a Brazilian waxing.


    ¡°Who would want to receive such a gift!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know because you¡¯re ignorant. Just wait and see. CEO Kang, that pervert, would be thrilled if he found out.¡±


    ¡°Who are you calling a pervert!¡±


    Wang Lun burst out laughing when he saw Ja-kyung¡¯s flustered appearance. Wasn¡¯t it Ja-kyung who called him a crazy perverted bastard all the time? He pleaded with Ja-kyung, rubbing his hands together like a fly.


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    ¡°Wei. Please, please. Please save my life.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re so scared, why did you do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°Did any of us think it would end up like this?¡±


    Wang Han, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, got out of the car and quietly helped.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just do it together.¡±


    Wang Lun hesitated for a moment, and Ja-kyung¡¯s crumpled face slowly relaxed. It would be unfair to suffer alone, but it would be less unfair if the three were waxed together. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know why he and Wang Han had to suffer along with Wang Lun for the mess he had caused, but if Kang Il-hyun found out, he wouldn¡¯t just let it slide.


    Il-hyun had clearly shown his displeasure with the idea of sending them on a trip. Of course, he had casually told them to have a fun trip, but until the day before departure, he had tormented Ja-kyung in bed, to the point that he could barely walk on the plane.


    ¡°Then shall we go in?¡±


    Lun smiled and pushed his back. Ja-kyung sighed and was reluctantly dragged in, and Wang Han also followed. But no one knew that it entailed great pain.


    ***


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your expression? Aren¡¯t you happy?¡±


    Lee Ja-kyung and the Wang brothers couldn¡¯t help but smile. Kang Il-hyun had appeared before they even had a chance to recover from the burning pain of the waxing session. Belatedly, Wang Lun smiled broadly, spreading his arms wide.


    ¡°Our CEO Kang, you¡¯ve become even more charming in our absence. Isn¡¯t that right, Wei?¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled reluctantly. Kang Il-hyun passed Lun and came to Ja-kyung. He tightly held both of Ja-kyung¡¯s cheeks and kissed him, causing Lun and Han¡¯s faces to contort. Ja-kyung pushed Il-hyun on the shoulder, conscious of the Wang brothers.


    ¡°Hey, wait a minute.¡±


    ¡°I missed you.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t¡­. when people are around.¡±


    ¡°Who cares if someone sees?¡±


    The Wang brothers made a disgusted expression at his words. They were not just random people behind him. But the sin committed was such that they couldn¡¯t even joke about it. Who would have imagined that the man they kidnapped last night had any connection to Kang Il-hyun?


    ¡°It was later than expected. Sorry.¡±


    Ja-kyung was rather glad Il-hyun came late.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine¡­¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze glanced up and down Ja-kyung once.


    ¡°What did you do today?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at the Wang brothers. They urged with their eyes to lie quickly.


    ¡°I was at the casino.¡±


    ¡°And.¡±


    ¡°I go shopping¡­¡±


    ¡°And.¡±


    Ja-kyung pursed his lips like a crucian carp. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say that he had gone to get his pubic hair waxed.


    Wang Han quickly interjected.


    ¡°You also had egg tarts! When it comes to Macau, it¡¯s all about tarts! Haha.¡±


    He laughed heartily, and Lun chimed in, suggesting they have one more. It seemed like the atmosphere was being lightened, but then Il-hyun smiled.


    ¡°You were having so much fun, you didn¡¯t even realize you lost your phone.¡±


    All three of them fell silent for a moment.


    ¡°Right¡­¡±


    While staring at Ja-kyung, he smiled and called for Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°Tae-soo. try making a call with Ja-kyung¡¯s phone.¡±


    Suddenly? Ja-kyung looked at Il-hyun with a bewildered expression. When he went to retrieve his phone in the early morning, there were police officers swarming the area, so he couldn¡¯t retrieve it. He had managed to put it on silent mode for now¡­


    As Ja-kyung cautiously moved his eyes, Tae-soo made the call. There was no one to answer it because it was on silent mode. But then a phone ringtone came from Il-hyun¡¯s pocket. Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened, and Wang Lun and Wang Han, who were standing behind him, had the same reaction.


    Il-hyun licked his lower lip and takes out the phone from the inside pocket of his jacket. It was the one Ja-kyung had left on the roof of the building. The words ¡°My baby¡± were clearly spelled out on the screen.


    Ja-kyung looked at it without blinking.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious. Why was my baby in Hong Kong when he went to have fun in Macau?¡±


    The thing Ja-kyung was worried about exploded so easily. His eyes moved towards Wang Lun. It was your doing, so you take responsibility.


    ¡°And it was right across from the building where the murder took place. Hmm?¡±


    His tone and expression were soft. It was even scarier. Ja-kyung held his breath and looked at Wang Han and Wang Lun standing behind him. Their faces reflected deep contemplation as well. Il-hyun was casually smiling, but his gaze was that of a predator ready to tear into its prey.


    Ja-kyung bit his lip and tried to come up with a flexible response.


    ¡°Well¡­ I wonder why it was there¡­¡±


    As Ja-kyung continued to play innocent, Il-hyun smiled and gestured toward Tae-soo. The door soon opened, and two big men entered and grabbed the arms of the Wang brothers. When Wang Lun shouted in protest, Il-hyun raised a finger as a warning instead of giving a response.


    ¡°If you fool around one more time, I¡¯ll rip their organ out of their body for the amount of money I lost.¡±


    When he talked about ripping the organs from a living person, he laughed casually, and Wang Lun kept his mouth shut. Seeing the two being dragged away, Ja-kyung hardened his expression. Hopefully, Il-hyun won¡¯t really kill them. He had some faith that he wouldn¡¯t, but no one knew what Il-hyun would do when he got angry.


    Ja-kyung stepped back slightly and smiled wryly.


    ¡°I¡­ was fooled too.¡±


    ¡°Of course you were.¡±


    ¡°If you want to kill someone, kill Lun hyung! He¡¯s a really bad guy!¡±


    Il-hyun was amazed.


    ¡°As expected, my honey. You never fail to be loyal.¡±


    Il-hyun loosened his tie. Ja-kyung took a step back and clenched his fist. Surely he didn¡¯t intend to strangle him with it? As Ja-kyung stared, Il-hyun tossed his tie to the side and made beckoning gestures. When Ja-kyung didn¡¯t budge, Il-hyun approached him, grabbed his shoulder, and forcefully dragged him onto the bed.


    Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s ankle and climbed onto the bed as he hurriedly tried to stand up. Then he settled it by placing Ja-kyung¡¯s calf between his arm and side. When he saw the grip tightening, Ja-kyung turned pale and raised his upper body, writhing, but his foot wouldn¡¯t come loose from the strength.


    ¡°Wait a minute! CEO Kang!¡±


    Il-hyun laughed softly as if he were melting away.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to hurt. Of course, not as much as the pain in my heart.¡±


    His voice was cold. It meant he wasn¡¯t joking. Ja-kyung screamed in anguish.


    ¡°No! CEO Kang! Hey, Kang Il-hyun!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m listening. Speak.¡±


    Realizing that the hand holding the ankle was straining, Ja-kyung swung his arm.


    ¡°A gift! I have a gift for you!¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand, which was about to twist his ankle, paused for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ja-kyung swiftly withdrew his foot and escaped under the bed. Thinking that he had lied to avoid a crisis, Il-hyun¡¯s expression turned furious.


    ¡°You want to break them both?¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitated. The lower half of his body still felt burning. Presenting this as a gift? Wang Lun was also a madman. He was not saying that it was justifiable for Wang Lun¡¯s arm to be broken for no reason. As he stood there wobbling, lost in thought, Il-hyun approached confidently.


    Ah, fuck it. Ja-kyung tightly closed his eyes and walked towards him, grabbing his hand firmly. And then he put his hand into his own pants pocket. As he vigorously rubbed his hand against the throbbing cock, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face stiffened.


    Ja-kyung thought Il-hyun would be so pleased that his eyes would roll back, but his expression was fucking pissed.


    Fuck. He must be a fucking idiot for listening to Wang Lun.


    Might as well beg. As soon as he tried to release his hand, his body was forcefully pushed down onto the bed. Kang Il-hyun, who was just in front of him a moment ago now loomed above his head. His face contorted fiercely. Muffled groans and laughter escaped from his twisted lips.


    ¡°Haah, fuck¡­ You¡¯re really something.¡±

 CH 112

    Translated by Springlila


    The look in his eyes has changed. Was he pissed off? Or did he like it? Ja-kyung hoped for the latter, but Kang Il-hyun began unbuttoning his shirt one at a time. His movements were languid and unhurried.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have done it alone, where did you do it?¡±


    He seemed to like it, but he was oddly cold.


    ¡°At the salon where Lun hyung took me¡­ I received it there.¡±


    ¡°A woman? Or a man?¡±


    Only then did Ja-kyung realize what the question was about. The person who did the waxing was the salon¡¯s owner, but unexpectedly it was a woman. Ja-kyung was embarrassed at first when he received Brazilian waxing from a woman with his legs wide apart. But she did an excellent job. He was told to avoid sexual intercourse for about 2-3 days after completing the work.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re referring to me?¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed. Ja-kyung nailed it once more.


    ¡°You already know. The only thing in my head is the great CEO Kang.¡±


    Shit. He couldn¡¯t believe he was such a pathetic human. But what can he do? A man with many sins should bow down and accept it. Apparently satisfied with the answer, Il-hyun¡¯s tightly closed lips loosen.


    He unbuttoned the last button, revealing a firm chest carved with a sculptor¡¯s knife. Clear traces of wounds adorned the abdomen. Ja-kyung lifted his gaze to meet his eyes again. When Il-hyun tried to take off his pants, Ja-kyung reached out and stopped him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Ja-kyung lowered his pants and underwear down to his thighs. Ja-kyung spread his legs so that Il-hyun could see better. After being together for almost a year, there was nothing embarrassing about such things.


    Il-hyun¡¯s fingertips touched the waxed area as he looked down between his legs.


    ¡°It¡¯s red.¡±


    Now that his hand actually touched the area, it felt strange. Ja-kyung frowned as he applied pressure with force.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°Just a little tingling.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled silently and approached, spreading Ja-kyung¡¯s legs and taking his place. Soon, his tongue touched the waxed area. The sensation of his damp tongue was vivid. He ran his tongue over the area as if he were tending to a wounded young animal. However, Ja-kyung realized in an instant that if it hurt, licking it with his tongue wouldn¡¯t help, and he would need to go to the hospital.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Il-hyun raised his head slowly as he lets out a moan of pain.


    ¡°It hurts?¡±


    When he asked again, Ja-kyung nodded with a pitiful expression. It hurts more than expected. It may seem trivial compared to guns and knives, but it was still painful.


    ¡°Endure it. It¡¯s better than breaking your leg.¡±


    If that¡¯s the case, why did you bother asking in the first place, you bastard? Ja-kyung eventually turned his head away after giving him a disapproving look and glaring at him. Il-hyun spat on that spot, and as the sticky saliva dripped down, he licked it with his tongue, savoring it as if it were a meal. Looking down, one could see the corners of his mouth curling up. He must really enjoy it.


    As a result, he thought it was good to listen to Wang Lun¡¯s words. At least when he go back to Korea, he would be able to walk on his own two feet. The sound sucking and licking echoed through the hotel room. The ceiling fan attached to the ceiling spun dizzyingly in the fading field of vision.


    Gradually, the sensation increased, and Ja-kyung¡¯s waist kept twitching due to excitement. Il-hyun gave him a blowjob and moved his head back and forth. His cheeks hollowed out. Ja-kyung brought another pillow from the side and propped it behind his head, enjoying the sight.


    The pleasure of Kang Il-hyun sucking his dick was beyond his imagination. Despite the fact that he is a lover and a fellow man, he is also superior in physique, strength, and power. The sight of him kneeling down and sucking on him made him feel thrilled every time he saw him.


    Ja-kyung eyelids keep drooping from excitement. He licked his lips and spread his legs a little more to the sides. Ja-kyung butt tightens up every time Kang Il-hyun sucked his dick as if he was squeezing it with force in his mouth.


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand touched his back hole as he sucked his dick. He spread the hole with his fingers and tried to insert them, but it wasn¡¯t easy to open up. Ja-kyung reached out and grabbed the round cream jar that he had placed near his head.


    ¡°CEO Kang.¡±


    Il-hyun raised his head and looked at Ja-kyung. Who knew sucking dick could make you look this sexy? Ja-kyung almost blurted out just like that. When Il-hyun let go of his dick and stood up, Ja-kyung threw the cream jar at him. He opened the lid of the jar he received, smelled it, and smiled.


    ¡°Peach?¡±


    Originally, it was given to apply to the waxed area. But Il-hyun turned it over and poured it onto Ja-kyung¡¯s body.


    ¡°Not there¡­¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    The cream that dripped down Ja-kyung¡¯s chest and abdomen resembled him being covered in semen. Il-hyun felt his dick painfully swollen inside his pants. He spread the cream around as if painting a picture.


    Ja-kyung took a deep breath. The scent of peach permeates the tip of his nose. Everywhere he touched was as hot as if it were on fire. This time, he touched the nipples. Ja-kyung twitched and his body trembled slightly as he pinched them.


    Ah¡­ Unintentionally, Ja-kyung let out a moan and bit his lower lip. The leisurely movements that were happening suddenly reached the waxed area. He poured the remaining cream there and gently massaged it, looking at Ja-kyung with his burning gaze.


    ¡°Thank you for the gift.¡±


    His smirk looked wicked yet sexy. Ja-kyung felt the strength exerted on the dick that Il-hyun had been sucking just a moment ago. He¡¯s handsome, disturbingly handsome. For a moment, he gazed absentmindedly as Il-hyun took the remaining cream and smeared it on his hand, moving it behind his ass.


    Ja-kyung grimaced at the cold cream. Perhaps because of the cream, one finger effortlessly slipped inside. As his finger moved inside, the dick Il-hyun had sucked into his mouth twitched and spewed out a thin stream of liquid.


    The squelching sound heightened the excitement. Il-hyun increased his finger by two or three and gently rubbed the wrinkles on the inner wall and bent his fingers to stimulate him. Ja-kyung covered his face with the back of his arm and gritted his teeth. Il-hyun¡¯s fingers slipped out and he spread Ja-kyung¡¯s legs and climbed on top of him. The mattress, which had been supporting his body, sank downward.


    ¡°Why are you covering up your pretty face?¡±


    After removing the arm that was covering his eyes, Il-hyun swallowed Ja-kyung¡¯s lips in one breath. His lips parted and his tongue pushed in. He lowered one hand and unzipped his own pants, pulling out his erect dick. Holding his dick, he brought it to Ja-kyung¡¯s hole and pressed against it.


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    Even though he had been loosened with fingers, it still felt tight when trying to insert the dick. The peach scent rose dizzyingly. Il-hyun caressed Ja-kyung¡¯s reddened cheek and continuously kissed his lips. Meanwhile, starting from the glans, he slowly began to penetrate. As the tight hole opened up, Ja-kyung flinched in pain. The suppressed moan, along with saliva, was sucked into Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth.


    When his dick was halfway in, their lips parted for a moment and Il-hyun gently caressed Ja-kyung¡¯s reddened eyes with his hand.


    ¡°From now on, I will do it myself. Don¡¯t show your dick to anyone else.¡±


    Ja-kyung, whose eyes were open, gasped for breath and answered the freeze.


    ¡°It was a woman, not a man-¡±


    Ah, realizing the slip of the tongue, Ja-kyung tried to shut his mouth, but it was too late. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze turned fiercely menacing.


    ¡°You said you couldn¡¯t remember.¡±


    He suddenly comes to his sense. Ja-kyung hurriedly tried to rectify it.


    ¡°What did I say?¡±


    As soon as Ja-kyung played innocent, one corner of Il-hyun¡¯s mouth goes up. Oh, baby. I feel bad. After that, he extends his arm over Jakyung¡¯s head and gently wraps it around him. His actions were very gentlemanly, but his gaze was savage.


    ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding. I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Ja-kyung tried to make an excuse belatedly, but it was already too late. He thrust the halfway dick all the way in at once. Thrust! There was a sound and his body shook with shock. Then he starts thrusting relentlessly, creating a repetitive thrusting sound.


    ¡°Ah, wait, wait!¡±


    Il-hyun pushed in with such force that it felt like his body was splitting in half. Ja-kyung pushed on his shoulder, but Il-hyun didn¡¯t budge. Instead, he bites Ja-kyung¡¯s lips and restrains him when he tries to turn his head.


    Ja-kyung was finally able to pull his lip away, and his mouth now tastes like iron. He didn¡¯t notice his lips were cracked until he licked it with his tongue. Even that wasn¡¯t enough; this time Il-hyun recklessly chewed his ear lobe and neck. The burning sensation intensified as his dick and the waxed area rubbed against Kang Il-hyun¡¯s abdomen.


    Jakyung¡¯s face looks like he¡¯s about to cry as he pleads.


    ¡°Ugh, wait a moment!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take off your clothes anywhere else.¡±


    ¡°Just a moment! Ah, stop! Shit, enough!¡±


    Even though he cursed at him in frustration, Il-hyun didn¡¯t stop. As his body squirmed, he could hear Kang¡¯s raspy voice in his ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you, if you do it again, your dick will be displayed in my bedroom.¡±


    He says this menacingly while thrusting deeper and deeper. It sends shivers down Ja-kyung¡¯s spine. He remembered Takeya Jun¡¯s eyeball, which was placed in Il-hyun¡¯s study. When Il-hyun went through the intensive care unit, Park Tae-soo personally removed his remaining eyeball and preserved it in formalin. After regaining consciousness, Il-hyun was very satisfied with it.


    Ja-kyung was at a loss for words. In the meantime, the pleasure continues to hit the head. He hurriedly removed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lips from his neck and kissed him first by holding his cheek.


    ¡°I won¡¯t so do it gently¡­ okay?¡±


    Pleading was more effective than pride or cursing in situations like this. Il-hyun¡¯s waist movement stopped, and Ja-kyung calms him by gently running his hands up and down his shoulders and back. Ja-kyung then straddles his waist, wrapping his legs around it and moving his ass up and down.


    ¡°Gently¡­ okay? CEO Kang¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung hugged his neck and pressed his upper body closely. The heavy breathing gradually slowed down. The moment he thought it was all right, Il-hyun took off Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and looked down.


    Ja-kyung worked tirelessly to remove the arrogance from his eyes. Looking like a gentle lamb, he met his regretful expression.


    ¡°Sorry, honey.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Soon, he coldly but affectionately smiles.


    ¡°I think you will have to crawl back to Korea.¡±

 CH 113

    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung had become a trembling mess, staring up at the ceiling with unfocused eyes due to some circumstances. The spinning ceiling fan only blurred his vision. He would have hung Kang Il-hyun upside down right then and there if he could. But it was he, not Kang Il-hyun, who was hanging upside down at the moment.


    After putting Ja-kyung¡¯s legs over his shoulders, Il-hyun leaned his upper body forward. Il-hyun pushed until Ja-kyung¡¯s thighs touched his chest and his butt lifted up. Ja-kyung¡¯s body was crumpled like paper, and his stomach felt sore from the dick that had come in so deep.


    Il-hyun reached his hand into the back of Ja-kyung¡¯s neck and pulled him towards him. As his upper body rose, it became apparent that a protrusion was sticking out under his belly.


    ¡°Can you see it?¡±


    His voice was dangerous, his gaze devoid of any flavor.


    When there was no response, he took Ja-kyung¡¯s hand and rubbed it against that area. The sensation of Il-hyun¡¯s dick inside the protruding belly was vivid.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how amazing it feels to put it all the way here.¡±


    Ja-kyung gasped and opened his eyes wide.


    ¡°Since I don¡¯t know, why don¡¯t you lie down and take the pound-, ah!¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t finish his sentence before Il-hyun thrusting and moving his hips from side to side. It feels like his dick was tearing through his intestines. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know what to do and grabbed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s arm which was supporting the bed. Ahh, stop, stop for a moment. You went too deep. Ja-kyung held his breath as Il-hyun thrust harder.


    Ja-kyung was excited by the sensation of hitting his prostate like striking it with a hammer, but the pleasure was indescribable when Il-hyun roughly thrust in this way. Although he had asked him to move faster, he wouldn¡¯t easily grant such a request. Today, he acted stubbornly like a naughty child.


    Ja-kyung finally reached down and grabbed his penis, rubbing it up and down. His sense of smell was tormented by the sticky and fishy smell mixed with the scent of peaches. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s jaw clenched as the stimulation tightened Ja-kyung¡¯s hole.


    Il-hyun touched the smooth waxed area with his hand. t had swollen red from how much he had sucked on it.


    ¡°Should I engrave my name here?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t, ah, don¡¯t even think about it.¡±


    ¡°As expected, I thought you¡¯d like it.¡±


    When Ja-kyung raised his head and glared at him, Il-hyun smirked and pulled it all the way back before thrusting back in with force. Il-hyun smacked up against his prostate. Ja-kyung threw back his head as his body convulsed, and poured out semen like a gushing stream.


    His eyelids trembled, and not even a moan came out of his parted lips. No matter how long Il-hyun had been putting it inside, it felt like the inner wall and his dick have merged like two lumps of clay. Ja-kyung was afraid that if Kang Il-hyun pulled out his dick, his organs would come out.


    Il-hyun took the semen that Ja-kyung had ejaculated on his stomach with his hand and brought it to his mouth. He licked the ejaculate off his fingers, sucking on them before leaning forward again to kiss her passionately. Drool dripped from the corners of his mouth that were still slightly open.


    Il-hyun licked him like a dog again. His chin and cheeks were smeared with his saliva. Later, he licked the top of his eyelid but Ja-kyung pushed his face away.


    ¡°Ha, don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I want to eat you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I want to eat you and put you in my stomach.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh, can I do that?¡±


    If he told him yes, he would really do it. This crazy man.


    ¡°Tell me, honey. Hmm? Is that okay?¡±


    It was an inappropriate plea. But¡­ if that was really what he wanted¡­


    ¡°Do as you like.¡±


    Moans and words flowed together. Kang Il-hyun bit Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder and cursed. The movements of his hips became faster and faster. Slap, slap, sweat drips down his back and shoulders, and his stomach clenched, even though he just finished ejaculating.


    ¡°Ah no, ah!¡±


    Il-hyun thrust with such force that it hurt Ja-kyung¡¯s ass, and he poured his semen deep inside. Sweat dripped down their tightly coiled bodies. Thump thump, their hearts pounded wildly, and Ja-kyung¡¯s legs draped over his shoulders ached and tingled as if bitten by a mouse.


    Kang Il-hyun, who was breathing heavily next to Ja-kyung¡¯s face, lifted his head, looked into his eyes, and smiled.


    ¡°Do you want more?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t have the energy to answer. When he shook his head, Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed mischievously, and their lips met again. Let¡¯s just stay like this. It¡¯s warm and nice. His whispering voice felt distant, like a dream.


    ***


    His eyelids felt heavy. He closed and opened them a few times before coming to my senses. The ceiling fan spinning overhead summoned memories of last night. The smell of semen wafted through the air as he lifted the sheet covering his waist.


    Ja-kyung managed to get up and looked around, but Kang Il-hyun was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he¡¯s in the living room. As he got off the bed, his legs felt weak and wobbly. He held onto the bed, but his knees were already bent. Ah, I feel so pathetic. It¡¯s about preserving a man¡¯s dignity.


    He cursed and staggered to his feet. When he caught sight of his reflection in the bathroom mirror, Ja-kyung was speechless. His nipples were puffed out, his lips were torn and swollen, and his cheeks were faintly covered with teeth marks.


    Just in case, he looked at his back and it was the same. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s name was still tattooed on the border of his buttocks and waist, but the tattoo of a snake on his right shoulder, or more precisely, the snake¡¯s head, was covered in teeth marks. He should have simply eaten it away.


    Ja-kyung huffed and walked to the shower after squeezing some toothpaste onto his toothbrush. While brushing his teeth, he turned on the water, but as soon as it touches the waxed area, it stings to the point where his hair stands on end. He came out wearing a gown after barely showering with tears in his eyes.


    He walked into the living room and saw not only Kang Il-hyun but also Park Tae-soo. He said hello and left, and Il-hyun approached him with an ice pack in his hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake already?¡±


    He knew they were supposed to leave in the afternoon, but looking at the time, it was already lunchtime. Ja-kyung dragged his heavy body and sat on the sofa, and Il-hyun took a seat next to him.


    ¡°Lie down and spread your legs. I¡¯ll give you an ice compress.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re giving me treatment for my pain?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Why did you do something that would upset me like that?¡±


    It¡¯s ridiculous.


    ¡°And you fucking loved it.¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at him, but he didn¡¯t deny it. As Il-hyun kept telling him to lie down, Ja-kyung reluctantly took off his gown and lay down on the sofa. Il-hyun wrapped the ice bag once with a thin towel and placed it on top of Ja-kyung¡¯s crotch. The burning sensation subsided a bit, providing some relief.


    After a while, Il-hyun picked up the ointment from the table.


    ¡°I¡¯ll apply the ointment for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re going to make a mess.¡±


    Il-hyun snorted.


    ¡°I promise. If I caused a mess, I¡¯ll call you ¡®oppa¡¯.¡±


    Even though Ja-kyung protested, Il-hyun still leaned in and used his mouth to blow on that area, carefully applying the ointment. It stung even more when the ointment touched him. Ugh, Ja-kyung let out a groan, and Il-hyun¡¯s expression turned pitiful.


    ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡±


    Fuck. Whose fault is it? It¡¯s not like you intentionally sucked on it with your mouth. Even though he looked at him with resentful eyes, he just smiled. Il-hyun only touched it slightly while applying the ointment, but it feels strange. In case he might get an erection, Ja-kyung pushed his shoulder and tied his robe.


    As Ja-kyung tried to go to the bedroom, Il-hyun pulled him close and lay down on the sofa. Their chests pressed against each other, and he could hear Il-hyun¡¯s shallow breaths above his head. When Ja-kyung tried to break free, Il-hyun held him even tighter.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stay like this for 10 minutes.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a bad suggestion, so he adjusted his uncomfortable posture and turned to lie on his chest. He could feel Il-hyun¡¯s heartbeat thumping against his back. Il-hyun used his arm as a pillow between Ja-kyung¡¯s neck and head and embraced his waist. But as Ja-kyung felt his hard dick pressing against his buttocks, Ja-kyung moved his waist forward.


    ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    Il-hyun immediately replied in his ear.


    ¡°Oppa?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at him with disgust. He¡¯s so full of surprises, really. Irritated, Ja-kyung moved his elbow back and hit his chest. Ugh, Il-hyun¡¯s short groan was laced with laughter. He kept rubbing his hard dick against Ja-kyung¡¯s ass, so he held on and eventually rolled down the couch. When he stood up he saw Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick was already hard and bulging through his pants.


    Even though they did it a lot yesterday, it still getting hard well. It¡¯s amazing.


    ¡°You¡¯re not taking Viagra behind my back, are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not at that age yet.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure. You¡¯re not far off.¡±


    Will you hate me when I¡¯m old? He walked over and put both hands on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulders and gave him a pained look. But it was all part of his trick.


    He pressed Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulders down to his knees while pulling down his pants and pulling out his penis with the other hand. He brushed Ja-kyung¡¯s hair aside as he lowered his pants and underwear to his thighs.


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯ll die because of how much I like you.¡±


    Desire oozed from his voice, revealing his longing. He grasped his dick and brushed the tip against Ja-kyung¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Suck it.¡±


    Ja-kyung closed his mouth and opened his eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t command me.¡±


    Il-hyun quickly lowered his eyebrows.


    ¡°Suck it. Please.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, Oppa.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed and stroked Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek when he frowned. After pondering for a moment, Ja-kyung made a decision. Fine, I¡¯ve done a lot of wrong to you this time, so I¡¯ll make amends. He opened his mouth slowly and stuck his tongue out to lick the underside of his dick. Every time he licked, Il-hyun¡¯s Adam apple moved up and down. The hand gripping Ja-kyung¡¯s hair grew stronger as Il-hyun¡¯s gaze looked down darkened.


    Ja-kyung tried to open his throat as wide as possible to take in his dick, but he could only take in about half of it. He grabbed both of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s thighs to try to push it in more. Then, the hand that had been touching his cheek groped the lower part of his neck.


    ¡°You did well last time. Open the way here.¡±


    After a few attempts, Ja-kyung managed to open it wide enough for it to reach his throat, but he almost choked and nearly went to the underworld. When he grimaced in refusal, Il-hyun gently stroked his cheek. Ja-kyung had no choice but to relax his throat.


    Il-hyun¡¯s dick swept through his moist throat and went deeper. It felt like he couldn¡¯t breathe, and he thought he might gag. Ha, fuck. As Ja-kyung¡¯s throat tightens around his dick, Il-hyun throws his head back and grinds his teeth. His waist moved back and forth, and his dick¡¯s surface rubbed against the oral mucosa and touched his teeth.


    Undigested saliva trickled down Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth, and the corners of his eyes gradually turned red. Il-hyun carefully controlled his speed and pushed his dick deeper until it bulged below his throat. Haa, as Ja-kyung¡¯s expression changed as if he was about to cry the more he moved.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face always incites his sadistic desires. But if he continued like this, there would undoubtedly be consequences. Il-hyun showed patience and pulled out his dick. He rubbed his dick back and forth, and Ja-kyung stuck out his tongue.


    My beautiful little kitten. Even if Ja-kyung can¡¯t suck his dick, he sure knows how to turn me on. Il-hyun¡¯s eyes darkened. With a suppressed moan, he released his semen onto Ja-kyung¡¯s tongue and nose.


    Theft is never good, try looking at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

 CH 114

    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung put on sunglasses and looked up at the sky while lying in a large tube. A few clouds drifted across the blue sky. The midsummer weather was so hot that it made him dizzy, and spending the day at the swimming pool wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    After coming down from the tube and going into the water, Wang Lun and Wang Han approach from afar. They¡¯re carrying a square tray with large slices of watermelon, beer, and juice.


    Ja-kyung grabbed the edge of the pool and came out from the water. As soon as he sat down, Wang Han handed him a watermelon.


    ¡°Have some. The watermelon is really ripe and delicious.¡±


    Ja-kyung declined and shook his head. Instead, he picked up a refreshing glass of lemonade. Wang Lun smiled as he eat the watermelon next to him and said,


    ¡°Sweet like honey.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. Now Wang Han was going crazy, telling him to eat the watermelon.


    ¡°Just have one, okay? CEO Kang planted a lot of watermelons in the backyard because he knew you liked them.¡±


    Wang Lun nodded and agreed.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s a romanticist.¡±


    They chuckled, saying it was true love. As Ja-kyung sipped his lemonade, he watched as the watermelon went into the mouths of the two men. It was the watermelon grown in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s backyard, where a lot of bodies were buried.


    He thought Kang Il-hyun¡¯s remark about burying a person was a joke until he discovered a long bone while helping the house chef pick watermelons. The house chef claimed it was an animal bone, but its length and shape clearly indicated it was a human shin bone.


    As he frowned, Wang Lun asked him what was wrong. Ja-kyung shook his head. It was best for them not to know, so eat to your heart¡¯s content.


    Until recently, the three of them had gathered and planned to kill someone, but recently they had been stuck in a monotonous and boring routine. On top of that, after the accident they had caused due to Wang Lun¡¯s insistence a month ago, they were practically trapped.


    Kang Il-hyun suffered significant losses from that incident and warned them that if they did anything unnecessary again, he would tie all three of them together and throw them into the river.


    ¡°It¡¯s boring. What else is there to do?¡±


    Wang Han muttered to himself as he laid back on the sunbed. Wang Lun placed the finished watermelon rind on the tray, stood up and stretched, and soon jumped into the pool. Plop, the big guy fell into the pool and the water splashed all over the place. Ja-kyung wiped the water off his face and emptied the remaining juice before getting up from his seat.


    Wang Han¡¯s gaze followed him.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the department store.¡±


    ¡°Department store?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s birthday was just around the corner, and Ja-kyung had been contemplating what to make for a birthday present since last week. Wang Han already knew that.


    ¡°Ask him directly. It¡¯s only a good gift if you give him what he wants, right?¡±


    Upon hearing that, Ja-kyung wiped off the water with a towel and looked up. He didn¡¯t know what absurd thing that crazy person would demand if he asked him. He recalled his own birthday a few months ago. That¡¯s when he received a painting from Kang Il-hyun. Il-hyun brought a foreign man to his house, and he painted a portrait of Ja-kyung. It was the first time he faced his own face through a painting, and it felt unfamiliar yet not unpleasant.


    Strangely enough, that painting ended up hanging in Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bedroom, not in Ja-kyung¡¯s room. It was displayed side by side with a model of himself. Of course, since they often slept together, he could see the painting whenever he opened his eyes. With a portrait hanging on the wall, it made him feel like he had become something.


    One day, Kang Yoo-jung came to visit, and she told him that it was like a tribute and that the artist who painted it was a very famous person.


    ¡°What should I buy for him to like¡­¡±


    No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t figure it out. Giving a gift to a man who had everything was definitely not an easy task.


    ***


    ¡°You¡¯re going to pierce a hole in the picture.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang, who was standing in front of the blackboard, smiled at Secretary Park¡¯s words and took a long look at Yang Seon-woo¡¯s picture. Yang Seon-woo, a member of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s entourage, had returned from Hong Kong, but for some reason, he hadn¡¯t been seen at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house for nearly a month.


    ¡°I mean Yang Seon-woo. Doesn¡¯t he look familiar?¡±


    At Secretary Park¡¯s words, Prosecutor Jang shrugged. Well.


    ¡°Oh, when Prosecutor Oh stopped by and looked at it, he said he looked like Prosecutor Jang.¡±


    He laughed and Prosecutor Jang made a bewildered expression. Where did that come from?


    ¡°Your nose and mouth. He asked me if Yang Seon-woo was Prosecutor Jang¡¯s younger brother.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Seeing Prosecutor Jang¡¯s silence, he said it was a joke, but then he realized it and quickly apologized.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I must have said something unnecessary.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang chuckled bitterly.


    ¡°No¡­ If my younger brother had been alive somewhere, he would be around that age.¡±


    He looked closely at Yang Seon-woo¡¯s photo again. He wasn¡¯t sure if they looked alike, but their ages were roughly similar. Prosecutor Jang was nine years old when he lost his three years old younger brother. He lost his younger brother in the market before he could even speak properly.


    Tragedy struck without warning. He had walked a little distance away from the store where his parents worked, trying to calm down his crying and tantrum-throwing younger brother. It was a moment of carelessness when his younger brother dropped the ball he was holding and briefly let go of his hand.


    When he turned around to give the ball back, his brother had disappeared. Even at a young age, he realized the significance of everything turning white before his eyes. He vividly remembered his parents¡¯ shocked expressions as he frantically ran back to tell them the truth.


    His parents, who were running a business at the time, reported the disappearance and closed down their shop, scouring every corner of the country like mad in search of their lost son. One year passed, then five years, then ten years, and in the end, they found nothing while their tears continued to accumulate.


    That how it was. Both of them got sick and passed away early. And Prosecutor Jang couldn¡¯t escape that guilt for the rest of his life. Although his deceased parents never resented the son they had left behind, not even once.


    His mouth was dry for no reason, so he took his eyes off the blackboard and sighed. As he returned to his seat and shuffled through some documents, Secretary Park¡¯s phone rang. His gaze flew to Prosecutor Jang. After ending the call, he smiled, indicating that there was good news.


    ¡°Yang Seon-woo. They say he is out of the house now.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang¡¯s eyes twinkled.


    ¡°Alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang grabbed his coat and took off the ID card he had been wearing around his neck. He puts on a camouflage jacket and thick horn-rimmed glasses, then turns to Secretary Park.


    ¡°What do you think? Do I look good?¡±


    ¡°You look like a detective.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great.¡±


    He moved quickly behind. Secretary Park received a report on Yang Seon-woo¡¯s movement route while driving in a parked car in the parking lot. Fortunately, it was a department store close to the prosecutor¡¯s office.


    He drove to the department store at a fast speed and parked. Then, he went upstairs to where Yang Seon-woo was supposed to be. A person planted there by Secretary Park was waiting for him. They exchanged a subtle greeting with their eyes, and he entered the watch store.


    As he entered, the staff greeted him. Acting as if he was browsing the watches, he circled around the man named Yang Seon-woo. He was wearing a red shirt with large flower patterns and black sunglasses that concealed his eyes.


    Impressive choice of shirt. He looked more glamorous in person than in the photos. Perhaps people thought he was a celebrity because even others nearby couldn¡¯t help but steal glances. He scrutinized the watches for a while but apparently didn¡¯t find anything to his liking, as he left the store without making a purchase.


    Prosecutor Jang immediately followed after him. Yang Seon-woo went downstairs and looked around the other stores several times. He went round and round without buying anything until the music box was chosen. He called someone after pulling out his wallet and paying in cash.


    As Prosecutor Jang slowly followed after him, he suddenly turned around and came his way. Caught off guard, Prosecutor Jang quickly turned his body and accidentally grabbed one of the sunglasses that were in front of him. Yang Seon-woo¡¯s voice grew closer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to buy. I should have come with you, hyung.¡±


    To read the uncut version, go to pawread dot com.


    Hyung? Was it Kang Il-hyun?


    ¡°I only bought a music box for my room. But¡­¡±


    Thud! Prosecutor Jang staggered as he looked in the mirror. Yang Seon-woo, who was passing by, collided with him, causing his shopping bags and phones to fall to the ground. Prosecutor Jang¡¯s face hardened as he was caught off guard.


    Picking up the fallen shopping bag, Yang Seon-woo lowered his sunglasses down to his nose.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    He smiled with an embarrassed face and then stood up. He checked the music box in the shopping bag and let out a short sigh of relief when he confirmed it was undamaged. After apologizing again, he continued his phone call.


    ¡°I bumped into someone. It hurts. Yeah, yeah. Should I buy sushi? It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he watched the figure getting farther away. What¡¯s this? He looks even younger than he expected. He doesn¡¯t seem to be anything special. Is he really Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lover, or just a plaything? He smiled and was about to return the sunglasses he held in his hand to the employee when, oh no, damn it¡­ the bridge of the sunglasses bent.


    He looked at the employee in confusion, and they still had a smile on their face. Reluctantly, Prosecutor Jang smiled and put his hand in his coat pocket to find his wallet. Huh? Even after searching the opposite pocket, it was the same.


    What? Where is my wallet¡­


    ***


    [Where are you, honey?]


    He parked his car on the side of the road when he got a call from Kang Il-hyun. This damn ¡°babe¡± nickname has become so common that it feels like a greeting now.


    ¡°I¡¯m here at the department store.¡±


    [Why?]


    Since he probably already knows, Ja-kyung honestly spilled the beans.


    ¡°To buy a birthday present for someone.¡±


    [Me?]


    ¡°Yes. But I can¡¯t find anything suitable. Do you have anything you want?¡±


    [I knew you¡¯d say that, so I prepared in advance. You just have to wear it.]


    He looked at the phone screen with a grim expression, sensing a bad feeling.


    [It¡¯s a pair of panties that a lace artisan puts effort into weaving stitch by stitch. It suits you very well.]


    Thud! He pressed the end call button without listening any further. Should he sew every inch of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s mouth shut as a gift instead? He became concerned that his words might not be a joke as he thought about them. He sighed and looked in the rearview mirror. He took out his wallet from his pocket, confirming that no one was following him.


    Inside the wallet were only some cards and a total of 50,000 won in cash. He took out the man¡¯s ID card from inside the wallet and checked his face. Jang Tae-ho, prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors¡¯ Office?


    Ha, damn it. Looks like a fly landed on him.


    He clicked his tongue and threw the wallet onto the passenger seat. It seemed like going home would be the better option for today.

 CH 115

    Translated by Springlila


    When Ja-kyung drove home, Kang Seok-joo was already there. After Chairman Kang died, he went to school while also learning to work at the company. He always took exams on Friday mornings and returned to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house with the results in the afternoon.


    Ja-kyung thought Kang Il-hyun still cared about his younger brother, but it turned out that he only wanted to bully Kang Seok-joo. If he failed the exam, he would be beaten to death that day, and Ja-kyung had heard that Kang Seok-joo had gone home crying last week.


    Kim Seon-young visited Kang Il-hyun several times, concerned that her only son would be wronged. She was not discouraged by Chairman Kang¡¯s absence but rather attempted to protect Kang Seok-joo.


    Ja-kyung personally disliked her, but he acknowledged the mother¡¯s intentions to protect her child. And perhaps Kim Seon-young liked the fact that Kang Seok-joo was gradually distancing himself from alcohol and drugs and trying to live as a decent person. Now she somewhat tolerated Kang Il-hyun¡¯s behavior.


    From the moment he arrived home, Kang Seok-joo followed Ja-kyung like an annoying puppy. It was easy to guess why he was behaving like that. Kang Il-hyun would arrive soon, and Kang Seok-joo seemed to have lacked confidence with today¡¯s test results. Ja-kyung ignored him and attempted to go upstairs, but he followed him all the way and clung to him.


    ¡°Hey, Yi An. No, Yang Seon-woo.¡±


    Ja-kyung frowned. Why.


    ¡°I beg of you. Please, will you? Can¡¯t you ask him to let me go today?¡±


    ¡°Why should I do you a favor?¡±


    Seok-joo took off the watch he was wearing and handed it to Ja-kyung. It was a model that was hard to come by, and he had waited a year to obtain it, but he had no other way to survive. When Ja-kyung stared at his watch, Seok-joo quickly put it in Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt pocket and patted his shoulder.


    ¡°I blanked out on the exam this morning.¡±


    Ja-kyung took out the watch and examined it closely. It couldn¡¯t be a fake. On the other hand, she became curious.


    ¡°You should have studied in advance.¡±


    Kang Seok-joo snorted at that remark. Everyone says the same thing. If you¡¯re so scared of Kang Il-hyun, study hard. But it wasn¡¯t simply a matter of memorizing and understanding. For example, a test question might ask, ¡°What would you do if you became the CEO of the company?¡±


    So if he write, ¡°I will manage the company diligently,¡± Kang Il-hyun would scold him for trying to surpass him and steal the company, and then he would beat him with a golf club. When the same question came up a week later, if he wrote, ¡°I have no intention of running the company,¡± he would be beaten until his thigh was bruised, while being called someone with no dreams or ambitions.


    Seok-joo his eyes turned red as he revealed his inner circumstances.


    ¡°Damn, bastard, He hit me in every way possible. Calling him a psychopath isn¡¯t far off.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded involuntarily. He couldn¡¯t understand everything, but he slightly agreed with the term psychopath. And to top it off, a pervert. Suddenly, Seok-joo felt dejected. Ja-kyung returned the watch, encouraging him to cheer up and patting his shoulder, but then he grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s hand tightly.


    Ja-kyung stared at the hand that was holding his.


    ¡°Or, I¡¯ll give you the money¡­¡±


    He carefully looked around and moved his lips to Ja-kyung¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Do you want to kill Kang Il-hyun?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I will give you all the money I have. You¡¯ve done it once, so it shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡±


    He knew that Ja-kyung was the one who put the bullet in Il-hyun¡¯s thigh two years ago. Unfortunately, it seemed that he didn¡¯t know that the same person was responsible for putting an axe in his late father¡¯s head. When Ja-kyung smirked, Seok-joo pleaded. Please, save me.


    At that moment, they sensed someone outside the door, and Seok-joo quickly released Ja-kyung¡¯s hand and distanced himself. Kang Il-hyun unexpectedly entered as the door opened. He held a blank sheet of paper in his left hand and a golf club in his right.


    ¡°Why are you two together?¡±


    His voice was cold. Ja-kyung quickly stepped back and pointed behind his back. It was towards the bedroom he was about to enter. Seok-joo looked at him with resentful eyes, but Ja-kyung pretended not to know.


    Sorry. If I take your side today, both you and I will die. Of course, in bed


    Ja-kyung closed the door with a bitter smile after going in. From outside, hitting sounds and screams could be heard. Ah, Seok-joo. Poor Kang Seok-joo. So why were you born as Kang Il-hyun¡¯s younger brother? Suddenly, he felt relieved that Kang Il-hyun wasn¡¯t his brother but his lover.


    ***


    While playing music and meditating, Kang Il-hyun entered. Seeing his slightly disheveled bangs, it seemed like he had just had his way with Kang Seok-joo. He lit a cigarette, then picked up the music box on the windowsill and began spinning the string. Brahms¡¯ lullaby flowed out of the music box.


    Ja-kyung closed his eyes again, sitting in a half-lotus position.


    ¡°The wallet is on the table. Check it out.¡±


    Il-hyun reached for the wallet on the table in front of the sofa. Il-hyun checked the ID and chuckled with ridicule. Jang Tae-ho. He works as a prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor¡¯s Office and has previously charged Il-hyun with bribery, solicitation, and breach of trust.


    He grew up in an ordinary family, with both parents passing away early, and succeeded on his own, literally rising from the bottom. And he was one of the types that Il-hyun despised the most. He was full of a sense of justice despite having nothing.


    ¡°Should I kill him?¡±


    Ja-kyung asked with his eyes closed, and Il-hyun threw the wallet on the sofa and knelt down in front of him. His closed eyelids open, revealing dark brown eyes. He would kill if he wanted him to.


    He liked Lee Ja-kyung, who casually kills people, but only when it was for business. Right now, he just wanted him to stay under his protection and be pretty. Il-hyun deeply inhaled the cigarette smoke and immediately pressed his lips against Ja-kyung¡¯s.


    The smoke lingered in the air. Ja-kyung shifted out of his half-lotus position and drew Il-hyun¡¯s body towards him, lying on his back. Il-hyun tossed the cigarette aside as their bodies collided and rolled on the floor. He greedily kissed Ja-kyung¡¯s lips and locked his gaze on him.


    ¡°Kill me, not anyone else.¡±


    He moved his hand behind him and squeezed his luscious ass tightly. Here. With this.


    The cat looked disgusted. Even his face was insanely adorable.


    The flying file folder grazed the side of his face. When Prosecutor Jang arrived at work, he noticed Secretary Park¡¯s agitated expression and realized something was wrong. The chief has requested that you come up as soon as you arrive. And sure enough, the chief¡¯s enraged face appeared as soon as he opened the door.


    Not only did he throw the document file and books, but he also berated him fiercely.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing? Do you think I¡¯m joking?¡±


    Could he possibly know about what happened yesterday?


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean¡­¡±


    ¡°CEO Kang has filed a complaint against you! He says you invaded his residence!¡±


    Prosecutor Jang¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Did you sneak into that house?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°But why is your wallet in the living room of that house!¡±


    Prosecutor Jang¡¯s eyebrows slowly furrowed. After losing his wallet yesterday, he hurried down to the underground parking lot. He tried to chase after Yang Seon-woo, but he was a step too late, and it was a situation where it could be assumed that he took the wallet. But if he were to tell the truth¡­


    ¡°Tell me. Were you really trying to secretly break into that house?¡±


    Prosecutor Jang wore an incredulous expression. It wasn¡¯t a secret break-in; to be precise, it was something Yang Sun-woo had brought there. The chief must be well aware of how securely the house was guarded. No matter how skilled Prosecutor Jang was, it was impossible to sneak in there.


    ¡°No, really, I didn¡¯t. I can prove my alibi, and please check the CCTV.¡±


    ¡°Checking what? They said someone erased everything yesterday.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Chief Kim brushed his disheveled bangs aside roughly. He knew that Prosecutor Chang was not stupid enough to do something so reckless. Things got complicated. What if it got reported in the media? That wasn¡¯t what scared him.


    ¡°What did I tell you? Not to meddle. Didn¡¯t I say not to interfere with that person? You think I¡¯m favoring that person? I told you not to meddle from above. If we¡¯re going to be criticized, we should be criticized together. What can a useless bastard like you believe in and make such a fuss about!¡±


    Why do you think we need a connection and backing to catch the bad guy? It was a phrase he heard from time to time, but each time he heard it he became frustrated. Prosecutor Jang¡¯s clenched jaw grew stronger over time.


    ¡°Do you know how much trouble I had to deal with because of you, from the Deputy Director this morning?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°Is sorry enough? What are you going to do?¡±


    Chief Kim sighed and waved his hand reluctantly as if he didn¡¯t want to see him anymore when he didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Get out. Go and convince them, kneel and beg if you have to. Take responsibility for yourself. Don¡¯t make trouble for me for no reason. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Prosecutor Jang rubbed his face with his hands after bowing and leaving the Chief¡¯s office. Despite the fact that his blood was flowing in the opposite direction, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the absurd situation. Being fooled by that youthful appearance, apologizing to him, and checking the music box¡ªhe fell for it without realizing it.


    Ah, damn it. As he bit his lip, he descended to the lower floor, receiving fleeting glances from people he encountered. It seems like rumors have already spread. He loosened his tie as he entered his room. It felt like his breath was being constricted. Secretary Park cautiously spoke up.


    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".


    ¡°The Chief just contacted me¡­¡±


    It came broken a little while ago, why again?


    Just when things were starting to calm down, why again?


    ¡°He wants you to keep your evening free. He said it¡¯s for a meal.¡±


    ¡°A meal?¡±


    Secretary Park pursed his lips with a troubled expression. Prosecutor Jang, who had already figured it out, chuckled helplessly and closed his eyes tightly. Damn it. Even without looking, he knew who he would be having a meal with.

 CH 116

    Ja-kyung hangs upside down on the exercise equipment and does sit-ups while only wearing one pair of pants and a naked upper body. Sweat dripped down to the floor every time he clasped his hands behind his head and raised his body, and the muscles in his abdomen were clearly visible. After some time, Wang Han appeared and held two water bottles.


    ¡°Wei, stop for a moment and have some water.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    His legs tensed up as he kept repeating the same movement while hanging upside down. He grabbed the pole to come down and picked up the towel while exhaling heavily. He was wiping his sweat and drinking water when he noticed Kang Il-hyun resting his chin in front of the hallway window and watching him.


    Ja-kyung almost spewed the water he was drinking as he was startled. Since when had he been there? Wang Han, who was undressing to start exercising in the back, answered Ja-kyung¡¯s curiosity.


    ¡°He was like that the whole time you were working out.¡±


    He had no idea. As Ja-kyung stepped out with a towel, Il-hyun¡¯s gaze travels down his body and back up again. You look good. His eyes were mischievous. He walked up to Ja-kyung and tousles his sweaty bangs affectionately.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been working out a lot these days?¡±


    Ja-kyung took another sip of water and replied without hesitation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the one on top when I get bigger through exercise.¡±


    In other words, Ja-kyung wanted to be the one taking the lead. Il-hyun chuckled at the absurdity.


    ¡°Yeah, they say that the younger you are, the bigger your dreams.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a joke. You always have your way! It¡¯s unfair!¡±


    ¡°You seem to like it even though it¡¯s unfair.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And two days ago, you even rolled your eyes and went overboard.¡±


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t deny it. When Ja-kyung frowned, Il-hyun reached out and teasingly flicked his nipple. Ja-kyung blushed and used the towel he was holding to slap Il-hyun¡¯s hand. He went to the bathroom to take a shower, but Il-hyun followed him, making him wonder why he was still at home after saying he had plans for the evening.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to have dinner outside?¡±


    ¡°I still have time.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to see the prosecutor?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled while looking at Ja-kyung. Even though he hadn¡¯t said anything, it seemed like Ja-kyung already knew. Prosecutor Jang Tae-ho had been trailing him for a day or two. However, Il-hyun had ignored him until now because he knew no matter how hard Prosecutor Jang tried, he couldn¡¯t do anything.


    But this time, he had crossed the line. Il-hyun wasn¡¯t curious about why he was after Lee Ja-kyung. It was just that he couldn¡¯t tolerate someone else showing interest in Ja-kyung.


    As Ja-kyung walked in front of him, he suddenly stopped and turned around.


    ¡°Is that prosecutor famous?¡±


    ¡°No, why?¡±


    ¡°But why does he look familiar?¡±


    Il-hyun smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a common face.¡±


    Ja-kyung pursed his lips and then quickly closed them. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t a common face, but he was handsome, and if he said so, Il-hyun would probably cancel their plans for tonight and lock him in his room to torture him.


    ¡°Yeah, just a common face.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s response seemed to please him. He patted his head with an expression as if he had succeeded in getting a dog to give him its paw. Sometimes, it felt like Il-hyun could see right through him.


    ¡°Do you want to wash together?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Ja-kyung refused right away because his purpose was completely obvious. He pushed Il-hyun out of the bedroom and entered the bathroom. He paused while washing his face to examine his reflection in the mirror. He had run into that prosecutor at the department store the day before. When he got home, the first thing he did was show Wang Han and Wang Lun the prosecutor¡¯s ID, and when they saw the picture, Wang Lun said:


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t he look a lot like Wei? I¡¯m not sure about the eyes, but the nose and mouth are pretty similar.¡±


    Wang Han, who has no discerning eyes, agreed. Ja-kyung didn¡¯t attach much meaning to their words. They always made similar comments when good-looking actors appeared on TV. Did he really look like me?


    However, it was strange to hear that a prosecutor who is a regular person and at odds with Kang Il-hyun resembled him.


    Suddenly, he wondered if Il-hyun would have the same thoughts when he meets that prosecutor today.


    ***


    Having parked his car in the parking lot, Prosecutor Jang Tae-ho looked at the building in front of him and sighed. He had reluctantly come here. He had resisted coming, but the chief had even asked him if he wanted to strip him of his position. Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t want to have a meal with him. He just wanted to humiliate him.


    After hearing the confirmation that he was coming, the chief told him to do well today. His steps felt heavy as he walked inside. The traditional Korean restaurant, which had been around for quite some time, exuded a nostalgic atmosphere. Following the guidance of the staff who had been waiting for him, he headed inside.


    The staff turned to the left as they walked down the corridor and came to a halt in front of the innermost room on the left. A hearty, carefree laugh could be heard. The chief, who had thrown documents at him this morning in anger, was now laughing loudly and making a pleasant sound.


    The staff knocked and opened the door, and the three people who were in the middle of a conversation fell silent for a moment. The chief scolded him for being late. After exchanging greetings, Jang Tae-ho tried to sit down, but the chief next to him moved his seat to make room for him. It seemed like they were in sync with each other. Thanks to them, he ended up facing Kang Il-hyun.


    Kang Il-hyun greeted him with a friendly smile.


    ¡°Long time no see. Prosecutor Jang. We met a year ago, is this the second time?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ It¡¯s been a long time.¡±


    It was uncomfortable. The seat felt like a bed of thorns, making him shift in his seat. The prosecutor next to Kang Ilhyun sent him a meaningful look. Kang Ilhyun picked up a bottle of alcohol and offered it to him. ¡°Have a drink.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you. I drove by myself here, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey. This guy is always like this. This punk. Do you think CEO Kang will keep being lenient towards you? You can just call a substitute driver to go home.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho had no choice but to raise his glass in response to the chief¡¯s glare. The small ceramic cup was filled with light yellow liquor. His esophagus burned and his throat stung as he took a sip. Alcohol was like poison to him who couldn¡¯t drink. As expected, his neck turned red in no time, and his ears felt hot.


    ¡°Prosecutor Jang seemed to be unable to handle alcohol. I¡¯m sorry. I must have made a mistake.¡±


    At Il-hyun¡¯s words, the chief and the other prosecutor joked that this guy was like that, and playfully teased him to drink more if he wanted to look good in front of Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m in a position to do that. If anything, I should be the one asking our Prosecutor Jang for a favor.¡±


    Please take care of me. Please don¡¯t hate me too much. Kang Il-hyun smiled cheerfully and even bowed his head slightly.


    The chief prosecutor intervened from the side, saying there was no need for that. The atmosphere was warm and friendly. However, Jang Tae-ho¡¯s expression gradually darkened. Was it because of the alcohol he had just gulped down, or because of the damn atmosphere, his stomach kept churning. Even though he had loosened his tie, he felt no improvement.


    He couldn¡¯t hold it any longer and hurriedly stood up, and six pairs of eyes turned towards him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I urgently needed to use the restroom.¡±


    He said goodbye and left the room. He hurriedly searched for the restroom, but the restaurant was so big that the corridor seemed to go on forever. He eventually found the bathroom after going around, and as soon as he entered, he began vomiting while holding onto the toilet.


    Having not eaten properly, only the alcohol he drank a while ago mixed with the bitter stomach acid came out. His nose felt burning. Argh, damn it. He stood up in front of the sink. His vision was blurry. He rinsed his mouth and splashed water on his face several times. As he was drying his face with a hand towel, his action froze when he saw him.


    Kang Il-hyun leaned against the wall of the bathroom right behind him, smoking a cigarette and staring at him. His expression with his arms crossed was perfectly relaxed, but his eyes were slightly different from when he saw them in the room.


    Jang Tae-ho tried to ignore him and pulled out a hand towel to wipe the water from his face.


    ¡°Is your stomach not feeling well? I guess I shouldn¡¯t have suggested eating.¡±


    He turned around and faced him. Kang Il-hyun straightened up and approached slowly. Whether because of his height or because of the environment, he was quite intimidating. He pulled Jang Tae-ho¡¯s wallet from his pants pocket and pushed it in front of him. But when Jang Tae-ho reached out to grab the wallet, Il-hyun pulled it back. Jang Tae-ho¡¯s eyes became ferocious.


    ¡°What are you doing? Are you playing with me?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun took a deep drag of his cigarette, making his already stern expression even fiercer. Then, he blew out the smoke into the air and opened his mouth slowly.


    ¡°Then, Prosecutor Jang, what are you trying to do with me? Why do you carelessly climb over the fence of someone else¡¯s house?¡±


    ¡°You made it up!¡±


    As he retorted, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face came even closer. His eyes sparkled with intensity just about a fist¡¯s length away. When Jang Tae-ho tried to back away, he was blocked by the sink. He felt like he couldn¡¯t go anywhere. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes looked like they were about to tear into his neck. He grinned menacingly.


    ¡°Do you think the law is really great, prosecutor Jang?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°But you know what?¡±


    This time, the cigarette smoke sprayed directly onto Jang Tae-ho¡¯s face.


    ¡°That I am above the law.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Next time, it won¡¯t end with this.¡±


    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    Kang Il-hyun smiled sadly and brought his lips to the side of Prosecutor Jang¡¯s face and whispered. His voice was as cold as his gaze.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand. I don¡¯t use words for threats, Prosecutor Jang.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho¡¯s fingers froze. He had encountered countless bad guys, but this guy was different.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Kang Il-hyun puts the wallet he was holding into Prosecutor Jang¡¯s pocket and then throws the cigarette on the floor. Unfortunately, the cigarette butt hit the top of Kang Il-hyun¡¯s shoe and fell off. Ah, shit. Kang Il-hyun swore as he looked at his soiled shoe, then turned back to face Jang Tae-ho.


    ¡°Prosecutor Jang, you were planning to apologize to me today, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He gestured to his right foot where the cigarette butt had landed.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you get down on your knees right now and clean my shoe?¡±


    Prosecutor Jang gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Licking them with your tongue would be even better.¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled when he saw Prosecutor Jang clench his fists in frustration. It was just a joke. Why are you taking it so seriously? Then Kang Il-hyun casually opened the door and walked away. When he was alone, Jang Tae-ho tightly clutched the wallet he had just recovered.


    A sense of powerlessness washed over him. Reality didn¡¯t always favor justice. While that devilish man mocked him, he couldn¡¯t do anything to retaliate. The bitterness in his heart wasn¡¯t just because of the alcohol. With a bitter smile, he fixed his appearance and looked at his reflection in the mirror, sharpening the knife in his heart.


    Kang Il-hyun, just wait. Someday, I¡¯ll definitely repay this debt.

 CH 117

    On the way back home, sitting in the back seat, Kang Il-hyun loosened his necktie. His body felt languid and heavy from the alcohol. He was leaning back in his seat when Tae-soo sitting in front of him passed an envelope to the back. ¡°Sir, as you mentioned yesterday.¡±


    Il-hyun unfolded it. On the front page was Jang Tae-ho¡¯s picture. He was thirty-three years old. Both parents were deceased ten years ago. Top-ranked admission to university, passed the judicial exam, and entered the training institute. The eldest of two brothers. Below were several cases he had handled.


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Tae-soo¡¯s gaze shifted from the front to the back.


    ¡°Nothing else.¡±


    He had considered trying to find something to use against him, but there was nothing to fault. So there was nothing he could do but kill him. He smirked and turned to the next page. The back page contained detailed information about a missing child registered in a missing child search center.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°He had a younger brother who went missing when he was a child. It was said he searches for him whenever he has time, so I attached it just in case.¡±


    Il-hyun casually scanned through the documents. Jang Kyung-joon. Three years old. Went missing in the market. He spoke later than his peers and was wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans when he disappeared. As he turned the page, a picture of the missing child appeared.


    Il-hyun¡¯s hand stopped. He turned to the next page and then the next. There were several montages, presumably depicting his current appearance. His gaze lingered on the recent photo for a while. The boy in the picture looked remarkably similar to someone he knew.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Did you see this too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What do you think about it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun turned the documents again, tearing off Jang Tae-ho¡¯s picture and placing it side by side with the recent picture of his brother. The nose and lips were similar, but the eyes looked completely different. Jang Tae-ho resembled a calm and dependable dog, while his brother¡­


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Before, you said there was someone identified as Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s uncle.¡±


    Tae-soo nodded. Yes. When they were searching for Lee Ja-kyung who had escaped, they found a person claiming to be his uncle. It wasn¡¯t much of a blood relationship since he had been imprisoned and had very little contact with Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s mother. When they found him, he was in a debilitated state due to drug addiction. After torturing him, he found out about the old house where Lee Ja-kyung lived.


    He said this about Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s dead mother.


    [She¡¯s my sister, but that woman was crazy. She brought a kid out of nowhere and called him Lee Hyung-joon¡¯s son. Hahaha.]


    According to him, after breaking up with Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s father, she gave birth secretly, raised him alone, and came to visit Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s father several years later asking him to take responsibility.


    There were many people who resemble others. When they were searching for Lee Ja-kyung who had run away, several similar-looking people were brought in. However, they were not Lee Ja-kyung. Tap, tap, the fingers on the armrest moved rhythmically. It was better to leave some of them unsettled and confirm them later.


    ¡°Get him as soon as you can.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Il-hyun closed the documents he was looking at and leaned back on the seat. He turned his head and opened the window, catching a glimpse of the flower shop outside. He got out of the car and walked to the front of the shop after telling it to stop. The store¡¯s owner, who was just cleaning up, straightened his back.


    ¡°Welcome, how can I help you?¡±


    Seeing Il-hyun¡¯s face, the owner flinched and took a step back.


    ¡°Are there any flowers suitable for cats?¡±


    The owner looked puzzled. Excuse me?


    ¡°It would be better if it was red.¡±


    ***


    A fresh citrus scent comes from the foam that fills the bathtub. It felt like his body was melting while soaking in hot water. Ja-kyung reached for a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it. He sucked in the smoke and exhaled, letting it drift away into the fan.


    He stretched his arms and moved his head left and right, relieving the tension in his muscles. He missed the massages he used to get in Thailand. It was something he can¡¯t even dream of now. If he were to receive a massage from someone else, it would be like touching the forbidden fruit.


    Ja-kyung turned around at the sound of footsteps behind him. It was Kang Il-hyun, dressed in a black shirt, holding a red rose in one hand. As much as he hated to admit it, he looked sexy. Ja-kyung smiled with a cigarette in his mouth.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the flowers?¡±


    ¡°I bought them on the way here, for you.¡±


    Ja-kyung put out his cigarette and took the flower to smell it. The rich scent reminded him of their first meeting.


    ¡°It smells nice.¡±


    As expected, red roses look good on you. Il-hyun caressed Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek. His face was flushed from being in the hot water for too long. Lee Ja-kyung, who had buried his face in the flower, turned his head and sniffed Il-hyun¡¯s hand.


    Il-hyun laughed at the puzzling action.


    ¡°Why. Do you think I cheated on you or something?¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his head and met his gaze.


    ¡° No. I thought you might have killed someone. Good thing. I don¡¯t smell blood.¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled, and Ja-kyung asked again.


    ¡°How was dinner?¡±


    His brows creased as he thought of the dinner.


    ¡°It was boring.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    Curiosity filled his eyes. The image of the child in the photo overlapped with the boy in his memory. When he first visited Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s old house, he couldn¡¯t imagine it was a place where a child was raised. Would Lee Ja-kyung be the same if he had met parents who could love him instead of such trashy parents?


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    This time, Jang Tae-ho¡¯s face, which was staring at him in disgust and brimming with a sense of justice, overlaps. Ja-kyung reached out and cupped Il-hyun¡¯s cheek when he didn¡¯t say anything. CEO Kang? Il-hyun drew his hand away and kissed his palm before leaning in and capturing his lips.


    Ja-kyung naturally opened his mouth. Their tongues rubbed against each other until they fell off, and Il-hyun¡¯s hand went down his neck and caressed the side of his chest. His head was dizzy, whether from the steam from the hot water or the rising lust.


    His lips parted and Il-hyun whispered while looking at him obliquely.


    ¡°Lie down.¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitated for a moment but eventually stood up. Splash! The sound of water accompanied the white foam as it smoothly cascaded down his sleek body, like melting vanilla ice cream under the summer sun. When he came out of the bathtub and lay down in the adjacent space, he beckoned to Il-hyun. Come here.


    Kang Il-hyun undid his loose tie and threw it aside while swearing. Ha, fuck. If you¡¯re in a good mood, you receive it warmly, and if you¡¯re upset, you make a fuss before receiving it. Therefore, it seems that our cat is in a good mood today. His gaze was drawn to the bouquet of flowers on the shelf as he removed his shirt.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s gaze followed suit.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to hit me with that flower, are you?¡±


    ¡°How can I hit you?¡±


    He smiled, holding the lower part of the rose bouquet in one hand and plucking the petals with the other. Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened and propped himself up on his elbows. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Il-hyun scattered the petals as soon as Ja-kyung finished speaking. Red petals fluttered through the air and landed on Ja-kyung¡¯s smooth body like butterflies. What a waste of flowers. After doing that a few more times, he stopped and looked down while licking his lips.


    His eyes were similar to when Ja-kyung showed up with his dick hair shaved, so Ja-kyung warned him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    Il-hyun nodded slowly, understanding. He would treat him gently. His gaze trailed down slowly, stopping at Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s dick. It was smooth and hairless, most likely due to the recent waxing performed by Il-hyun himself. He had learned the technique from a top-tier professional.


    ¡°Open your legs.¡±


    Ja-kyung raised his knees and spread his legs out to the sides. Kang Il-hyun tilted his head. He reached over and plucked some petals that were near Ja-kyung¡¯s dick, then used his fingertips to trace down from the tip to the base. Ja-kyung¡¯s body twitched, and he tried to close his legs.


    ¡°Naughty boy. Spread them¡­,¡±


    Il-hyun teased while caressing the perineum and then gently touching the back hole area with his fingertip. Ja-kyung tightened up at the touch. Ah, it¡¯s tight. Kang Il-hyun removed his hand and turned around to retrieve a gel from the drawer. He squeezed some of it onto his fingers and thoroughly coated it. His gaze was fierce, but his movements were relaxed. Surprisingly, it was Ja-kung who felt uneasy and repeatedly raised his head to look down below.


    ¡°Why are you taking so long today?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be impatient.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not impatient, ah!¡±


    The fingers that came inside bend and scratch the inner wall. Ja-kyung held his breath and twisted his waist. Aah. The fingers that had been moving back and forth suddenly stopped, and Il-hyun¡¯s gaze lifted upwards.


    ¡°Do you want to do it from above?¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s eyes widened. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing, then Il-hyun withdrew his hand abruptly. His hole twitched and closed, but Il-hyun reached out his hand again. As Ja-kyung took his hand, his body was pulled up. After removing the petals stuck to his forehead, Il-hyun supported his waist.


    Despite having exercised intensively for the past few days, his body felt light. Ja-kyung hugged his neck and wrapped his legs around Il-hyun¡¯s waist. It was embarrassing at first to see himself clinging to and hugging an adult man, but after a while, it became a habit.


    As they walked, Il-hyun didn¡¯t stop kissing and sucking on his lips.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? Acting as if you won¡¯t let me do it no matter what.¡±


    Before he finished speaking, the sound of a zipper being pulled down rang out. Huh? Before Ja-kyung could question it, something hard touched his hole. He made a surprised expression, and Il-hyun eased the pressure on his arm. As his body flowed down, Il-hyun¡¯s dick entered Ja-kyung¡¯s entrance.


    With each step Il-hyun took, it gradually went in deeper. He knew this would happen. Ja-kyung grimaced and tried to push himself up.


    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, I¡¯m supposed to be on top!¡±


    But the more he struggled, the more the dick pushed inside. Aah, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t bear it and rested his forehead on Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder while exerting pressure on both thighs. The scary thing about instincts was that amidst all of this, he kept rubbing his dick against Il-hyun¡¯s abdomen.


    Il-hyun walked over to the bed and immediately lay down on his back. With Il-hyun¡¯s dick fully stuffed inside, his stomach felt tight. Ja-kyung gripped Il-hyun¡¯s chest and slowly lifted his upper body. Looking down, he noticed that his own ass was completely engulfing Il-hyun¡¯s dick.


    As he glared at him, Il-hyun chuckled and smiled.


    ¡°You said you wanted to be on top.¡±


    ¡°F-fuck¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve granted your wish, now move.¡±

 CH 118

    As he lifted his body, the dick that had been filling his hole almost slipped out. Il-hyun quickly caught Ja-kyung¡¯s waist and pulled him down. It went in all the way, making a thumping sound, and Ja-kyung¡¯s upper body lost its balance.


    ¡°Ah! Wait. Wait a minute.¡± Ja-kyung grabbed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s arm and stopped him.


    ¡°I told you to move. Otherwise, should I do it my way?¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at Il-hyun for a moment before removing his hand from his waist. Even though he knew Ja-kyung disliked this position particularly, he sometimes placed him on top just to play with him and enjoy the view. When Ja-kyung adjusted his position by moving his knees, Kang Il-hyun clasped his hands behind my head.


    The muscles in his broad shoulders, chest, and arms twitched and moved. Damn, I never thought I¡¯d end up in a situation like this. As Ja-kyung briefly spaced out, Il-hyun caught on quickly and smacked his buttocks to urge him on.


    Ja-kyung blinked his eyes and slowly moved his hips back and forth. The sensation of the dick inside his belly was vivid. The gel made a squelching sound. He bit his lower lip and put his arms behind him.


    His center of gravity shifts backward, and his penis sticks to the surface of his stomach. Hard. Ja-kyung moved his other hand to the front, grabbing his own dick and rubbing it up and down.


    ¡°Lean back more.¡±


    At Il-hyun¡¯s words, I leaned my upper body slightly back and it touched my prostate. Ah! For a moment, he felt like he¡¯d been struck by lightning. He trembled as he tightened his thighs and calves in shock. He bit his lower lip and tilted his head back, barely supporting himself on the bed with his left arm. Kang Il-hyun slightly bounced his back, dissatisfied with Ja-kyung¡¯s focus rubbing his own dick.


    Ja-kyung, who was rubbing back and forth, raised his knees slightly and then moved his hips up and down. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze followed the dick going in and out of the hole. His eyes were filled with desire.


    Il-hyun removed the hand that was behind his head and gently stroked Ja-kyung¡¯s thigh. It felt smooth. Quite good. Until not too long ago, Ja-kyung used to complain about this position, saying it was uncomfortable and made his stomach ache. But now, he seemed to know exactly how to get aroused.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s upper body continued to tilt back as he moved. The dick he was rubbing in his hand was dripping with pre-cum.


    ¡°Ah, ah.¡±


    Every time his thighs clenched, his inner walls tightened. When Ja-kyung¡¯s hand, which was holding and rubbing his dick, began to move in an odd rhythm, Il-hyun removed it and pulled his arm. Ja-kyung¡¯s upper body was folded as he was dragged forward.


    Il-hyun quickly bent his knees and thrust up with all his might from below.


    ¡°Eup!¡±


    Slap, slap, their bodies shook together. Il-hyun hugged his body tightly and thrust into his hole tenaciously. The struggling Ja-kyung put his forehead on Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder and gasped for breath. Il-hyun stood up as his penis slid out.


    Il-hyun made Ja-kyung, who had been stumbling to his feet, lie on his stomach at the head of the bed, holding him in place with both arms and pressing against his back.


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze swept from the back of his head along his spine as he observed the posture in which only his hips were raised. He noticed Ja-kyung¡¯s snake tattoo on his shoulder, which he thought he should have removed last year. Every time he sees it, he regrets it.


    He stroked his hand over the name tattooed on his waistband and inserted his dick. The dimple-like mark at the border of his waist and buttocks became more distinct as he inserted it. He pressed his fingertips against it and pushed it all the way in, then rubbed Ja-kyung¡¯s waist.


    The inner wall moves in the same direction as the dick movement. moaned, Il-hyun pulled his waist back and thrust rapidly. Slap! Slap! Slap! The sound echoed as Ja-kyung moaned in pain. Ja-kyung¡¯s body swayed up and down like a dancer as he moved faster.


    The visual pleasure was as stimulating as the physical sensation. In a fleeting thought, Il-hyun thought about how great it would be if humans could rotate their necks 360 degrees. He loved having sex in this position, but not being able to see Ja-kyung¡¯s face clearly was somewhat disappointing.


    Ja-kyung put his forehead on the back of his arm and squeezed the bed sheet, then raised and lowered his head, not knowing what to do. He looked back, and his eyes were already teary. His skin was surprisingly pale and smooth, and the tattoos looked well-made.


    Il-hyun reached out his hand and grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s dick, rubbing it up and down.


    ¡°Ah,¡±


    The dimples above the buttocks become deeper. It was proof that excitement has reached its peak. At the same time, his inner walls clenched around Il-hyun¡¯s dick as if trying to devour it. Haa, fuck. Il-hyun leaned his upper body forward. Ja-kyung¡¯s body landed on the bed and his stomach flattened against the bed.


    Pressing his upper body down, Il-hyun restrained him while only moving his waist like a frenzied dog in heat. His dick went in and out of the hole promiscuously. Il-hyun whispered in a raspy voice as he rubbed his lips against Ja-kyung¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Do you want me to do it, slowly?¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head.


    ¡°Harder?¡±


    At the same time as Ja-kyung nodded, Il-hyun¡¯s dick lost its direction and thrust inside him. Aah fuck. He licked his earlobe and rained kisses over his cheeks, chin, and lips that he didn¡¯t quite reach. Ja-kyung¡¯s breaths and moans were muffled, and his eyelids trembled at one point. Suddenly, he tightened his grip on Il-hyun¡¯s hand, seeking comfort in the midst of passion.


    Il-hyun rubbed Ja-kyung¡¯s sensitive dick with his thumb as he increased the speed.


    Il-hyun massaged Ja-kyung¡¯s prostate while still feeling the effects of his climax, leaving him breathless and overwhelmed.


    ¡°Ah, ah! Heung!¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s composed expression twisted into a grimace. He thrust with such force that Ja-kyung¡¯s buttocks clenched, causing him to gasp for air as he relentlessly increased his pace. Il-hyun abruptly stopped and pressed his dick deeply inside Ja-kyung as he couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He groaned and released his semen into Ja-kyung¡¯s belly.


    ***


    Ja-kyung, who had just awoken, walked into the living room like a zombie, took a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and returned to his bedroom with a cigarette. The evidence of last night¡¯s intimacy between the two was vividly imprinted on the bed. The pungent smell of semen made him frown involuntarily.


    He suddenly wondered what the staff who comes to clean every day would think when they saw this. After quenching his throat, he lit a cigarette, sat on the sofa, and stretched up. He couldn¡¯t help but think he was crazy for looking forward to it. Well, let him handle everything himself for the rest of his life.


    After cursing, he sighed and comforted himself.


    He eventually got up to loosen his muscles and went to the bathroom to shower. As usual, his body was a mess. He sighed as he looked at his swollen nipples. Even after the sex was over, Il-hyun continued to touch and suck his nipples absentmindedly until morning.


    Nipple Pervert.


    Mumbling to himself, he casually reached out to take his toothbrush, but it was nowhere to be found. Huh? Did it fall on the floor or inside the shower booth? He looked around but couldn¡¯t find it anywhere. Strange. Wearing the T-shirt that was lying on the floor beside the bed, he went downstairs to the first floor.


    He asked the housekeeper for a new toothbrush and was about to head upstairs when he heard footsteps coming from Il-hyun¡¯s bedroom. Hadn¡¯t Il-hyun left for work yet? As he looked, it turned out to be Park Tae-soo, not Il-hyun. He came out of the room with a yellow envelope in his hand and greeted Ja-kyung with a nod.


    What was he doing up so early?


    After greeting him, he headed toward Kang Il-hyun¡¯s bedroom. Il-hyun seemed to have finished getting ready for work, as he was dressed and sipping his tea while flipping through the newspaper.


    ¡°Why are you awake already?¡±


    Ja-kyung waved a new toothbrush with his puffy face.


    ¡°My toothbrush is completely gone.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun laughed.


    ¡°Oh, did it get feet and run?¡±


    Il-hyun put down the cup he was drinking from and gestured to Ja-kyung to come over. As he approached, Kang Il-hyun checked the inside of the front part of Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt. It was inside out. He chuckled at the cuteness of the situation, pulled his arms out, and fixed the shirt back in place. When you see someone capable of committing murder, they seem shrewd, but at moments like this, they¡¯re nothing but a fool.


    ¡°Since you came down, wash up here. I¡¯ll wash you.¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t you finish getting ready for work?¡±


    ¡°I can always put my clothes back on later.¡±


    As Il-hyun smiled and tried to loosen his tie, Ja-kyung grabbed his hand and shook his head. If he came in with the excuse of washing, he would never just leave. Don¡¯t mess around, go to work. After warning with his eyes, Ja-kyung took a quick step back.


    After Ja-kyung disappeared, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face slowly lost its playful smile. He took another sip of tea and leaned back on the couch to check the time. Eight hours to go¡­


    Park Tae-soo went out early in the morning to find Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s only blood relative, his maternal uncle, but he had died of a drug overdose five months ago. However, even if he were still alive, there was no guarantee he would know the truth.


    His index finger on the armrest tapped repetitively like a ticking clock.


    Eventually, he stood up and grabbed his jacket.


    In eight hours, he would find out the connection between Ja-kyung and Jang Tae-ho.


    If there wasn¡¯t any connection, that would be a relief.


    But if there was¡­ then at that time¡­


    ***


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    When Prosecutor Jang entered the room, Manager Park looked at him puzzledly. What¡¯s going on? He¡¯s never late, and he¡¯s usually punctual like a clock. It was hard to understand why he was about ten minutes late. Besides, his hair was a mess. Prosecutor Jang took off his jacket and hung it on one side, sighing in disbelief.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve been grabbed by the hair by an elderly lady.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Prosecutor Jang explained the situation. On his way to work in the morning, he saw an old lady struggling with heavy luggage, seemingly unable to move. As he approached her, she suddenly turned violent, accusing him of being a thief and grabbing him by the hair. If it had been an adult man, he might have tried to restrain her with force, but dealing with an elderly person, he couldn¡¯t use force and had to rely on passersby to come to his aid and pull her away. The funniest thing was that the old lady disappeared with her luggage after that.


    Secretary Park, who was listening, looked at him perplexedly.


    ¡°Did you just let her go?¡±


    ¡°What else could I do? I couldn¡¯t report a senile old lady.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang, who was looking in the mirror at the crown of his head, lamented.


    ¡°I¡¯m having a hard time for two days in a row.¡±


    He chuckled bitterly. He was humiliated by Kang Il-hyun last night, and now in the morning, he had his hair grabbed by an unfamiliar old lady. Tsk, he clicked his tongue and tidied his hair with his hand before sitting down at his desk. There, he noticed an envelope with documents that he hadn¡¯t seen before.


    ¡°Secretary Park. What is this?¡±


    ¡°Something the prosecutor will like.¡±


    Something I like? When he opened the envelope, Yang Seon-woo¡¯s picture came out. His eyes changed sharply.


    ¡°It¡¯s a mountain village on the outskirts of Seoul, and he stops by there once in a while and stays for a few days. When I asked some of the thugs in the neighborhood, they said that sometimes he comes with a certain man.¡±


    ¡°A man?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what they said. They said he looked really scary and gloomy.¡±


    Ah, even if he didn¡¯t check who it was, he know it. The address was written on the back. It was not too far from where he lived. A fleeting smile passed across Prosecutor Jang¡¯s face. Kang Il-hyun, who didn¡¯t even bat an eye when they met a year ago in the investigation room, was burning with rage yesterday.


    Just because he was chasing Yang Seon-woo. Why?


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Prosecutor Jang grinned as he looked at Secretary Park, who asked with concern.


    ¡°For now, I¡¯ll see when I get there. Whatever happens, this time I plan to follow him properly.¡±

 CH 119

    Cough, cough, it was a series of scorching days where breathing was difficult. Prosecutor Jang took off his jacket and hung it on his arm, taking a moment to rest in the middle of an alley. He thought he had climbed a lot, but there was still about half left to go.


    He had no idea why people like Yang Seon-woo came here, which made him more suspicious. The neighborhood was sparsely populated, and there were no street lights or CCTV. Therefore, making it an ideal place to avoid being noticed. A group of young men in their twenties descended from above as he was cooling off.


    Prosecutor Jang stood up and smiled kindly as he approached them.


    ¡°Excuse me, are you guys from this neighborhood? I have something to ask.¡±


    One of them chewed his gum gruffly and replied.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    One of them, a young man with dyed yellow hair and brow piercings, appeared tired and worn out. His eyes had a dark circle and he kept sniffing the air, suggesting he was on drugs. Prosecutor Jang held out Yang Seon-woo¡¯s photo.


    ¡°Have you seen this person before?¡±


    The man narrowed his eyes and checked the photo before nodding.


    ¡°Someone else came asking about him a few days ago.¡±


    It seems that this person was the one who Secretary Park met when he was running errands.


    ¡°Oh, really?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking about him?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious¡­¡±


    ¡°The guy who came before was giving out money while asking questions.¡±


    Ah, money. Prosecutor Jang smiled bitterly and took out his wallet from his pocket. The young man frowned when he took out three ten thousand won bills and handed them over. Buy something to eat with this. He gave him an extra 30,000 won because the man grumbled, but he still seemed dissatisfied.


    ¡°What are you curious about?¡±


    ¡°Just tell me everything you know.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know his name, but he comes here occasionally and stays for a while. He buys us ice cream and beer when he sees us.¡±


    Right, right. At first, it was a bit scary, but he¡¯s a really nice guy. The other young men nearby chimed in, confirming that they knew Yang Seon-woo too. Prosecutor Jang¡¯s eyes twinkled with excitement.


    ¡°Do they still come here often?¡±


    ¡°Not these days. Oh! And there¡¯s another guy who comes sometimes, his personality is just¡­¡±


    The pierced man stopped talking and sighed as if he didn¡¯t even want to think about it. The peers next to him have the same expression, probably thinking the same thing. Prosecutor Jang could guess who they were talking about; his own expression would be no different if he thought of that man.


    ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s all I know.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever seen what they do here?¡±


    ¡°No, but I¡¯ve been inside their house a few times. We grilled meat together and stuff.¡±


    ¡°Did they mention anything specific? Like where they go, what they do, or who they are?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s unemployed now. I don¡¯t know what he used to do before.¡±


    ¡°Do you keep in touch with them separately?¡±


    ¡°Nah, we¡¯re not that close.¡±


    Prosecutor Jang frowned and looked at the 60,000 won the man was holding. There wasn¡¯t much valuable information he could get with this money. He should have given him just 20,000 won. He regretted it, and the man seemed to have noticed and discreetly put the money into his back pocket. He gave a curt farewell and left with the group.


    Prosecutor Jang sighed and started climbing again. He should have built up his stamina more. Huffing and puffing, he finally reached a blue door. He straightened his back and surveyed the area. He couldn¡¯t see any CCTV cameras or anything like that.


    Kock, knock, he knocked on the door with his fist, but it remained quiet. He knocked again. Slowly, he walked towards the wall and climbed up to peep inside. Contrary to his expectations, the garden was blooming with flowers, and a small table was set up in the yard with slippers left on the veranda as if someone had been there recently. It was a peaceful scene, like a snapshot from a photo.


    Hesitantly, Prosecutor Jang took a second look around and hung his jacket on the fence. After taking a deep breath, he climbed up the wall and jumped over.


    ***


    Chiik, as the foam of the canned beer rose, Wang Lun quickly brought it to his mouth. Beside him, Wang Han and Ja-kyung were lying on sunbeds enjoying the sun. Upbeat pop music played from the speakers, and in one corner, cicadas chirped loudly.


    Ja-kyung, who had been lying face down for a while, suddenly turned over and sat up. He took off his sunglasses and grabbed a beer from the ice-filled bucket, then rubbed it against his nipples. Wang Lun frowned at his actions.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s sore.¡±


    ¡°Why.¡±


    ¡°Because of CEO Kang.¡±


    There were so many bite marks all over his body that they know what he did yesterday without asking more. Thanks to this, he realized every time how strong and firm Kang Il-hyun¡¯s teeth were.


    ¡°You don¡¯t intend to hide it at all?¡±


    Ja-kyung retorted with a resigned face.


    ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no one in this house who doesn¡¯t know that I and Kang Il-hyun are having sex.¡±


    ¡°Wei. Don¡¯t be like that. Why do you keep becoming more and more like CEO Kang?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. At least you¡¯ve always been a boy when it comes to sex.¡±


    It was either an insult or a compliment. While laughing with an incredulous expression, Wang Han¡¯s phone starts ringing. He gets up from where he was lying down, looking disheveled, and answers the call with a muffled voice, asking, ¡°Hello? Who¡¯s this?¡± Lun and Ja-kyung¡¯s gazes turn towards him. Wang Han covered the phone with his hand and his eyes widened.


    ¡°I got a call from the prosecutor.¡±


    Wang Lun asked curiously.


    ¡°The prosecutor, why?¡±


    ¡°He says my bank account was hacked.¡±


    Lun abruptly stood up when they heard that. Who dared to mess with him like that! Ja-kyung, who was lying around, motioned for the phone to be handed over. Ja-kyung spoke firmly after he took the phone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make this kind of call. We¡¯ll find you and tear your head off.¡±


    The person on the other end cursed, and Ja-kyung motioned to Wang Han to trace the location. The damn bastard. If they catch him, they will not let him go lightly. However, the man hung up before his location was revealed. Ja-kyung, who had been resolute, mocked the Wang brothers, saying what would they do if they were so easily fooled.


    Embarrassed, the two stood up, blaming the cold beer for no reason. At that moment, Ja-kyung¡¯s phone made a beep-beep warning sound. Ja-kyung¡¯s complexion hardened as he turned on the screen to check. Wang Lun, who was on his way to get more beer, hesitated and stepped aside.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that serious expression?¡±


    A CCTV video appeared on the screen of the mobile phone. The house where Ja-kyung was born and raised. So, someone came to that mountain village. The man who knocked on the gate looked inside over the fence, confirmed that no one was there, and went straight over the fence. A mischievous smile spread on the corner of Ja-kyung¡¯s lips when he saw that.


    Wang Lun frowned and asked fiercely.


    ¡°What is this bastard?¡±


    Ja-kyung laughed and murmured.


    ¡°Looks like the real prosecutor has appeared?¡±


    ***


    On the way out from the meeting, Kang Il-hyun ran into Kang Tae-han, the eldest brother. Although Kang Tae-han represented the company on the surface, it was only superficial. If one looked inside, they¡¯d see that he was just a scarecrow and a shield set up by Kang Il-hyun.


    The two of them got into the executive elevator and didn¡¯t speak to each other the entire time they headed upstairs. Il-hyun looked at the number changing with a nonchalant face, then looked back at Kang Tae-han and smiled.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°I heard my sister-in-law filed for divorce.¡±


    Tae-han¡¯s face was distorted, and Il-hyun smiled sadly.


    ¡°So, why are you cheating on her?¡±


    ¡°Who said that?¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows.¡±


    Il-hyun said mockingly, and Tae-han¡¯s eyes twitched. It was well-known that Kang Tae-han suspected Il-hyun¡¯s involvement in their father¡¯s death, but all his efforts to find evidence had been in vain. Now, he was afraid of drawing attention to himself and Kim Seon-young.


    ¡°So, how about you? Are you getting married soon? What about kids?¡±


    Il-hyun laughed and responded firmly when he abruptly changed the subject.


    ¡°I will not. I will live with my cat for the rest of my life.¡±


    Ding, the elevator opened just then. Il-hyun raised his hand to bid him farewell and entered his room without looking back. He took off his jacket and sat down before pulling out his phone and connecting to the CCTV.


    In the split-screen, people were moving around. He quickly found the swimming pool screen with Ja-kyung and tapped on it to watch. Ja-kyung was resting on the pool¡¯s edge, talking with Wang Han.


    What kind of enjoyable conversation was my cat having with his brothers? Il-hyun zoomed in on the screen to get a closer look at his face, but he was interrupted by a knock, and Park Tae-soo entered. He placed a black envelope on Il-hyun¡¯s desk. Il-hyun put down his phone and picked up the envelope instead.


    ¡°How convenient the world has become. You can find out your bloodline in just a day.¡±


    Taesoo remained silent. He used a knife to cut open the top of the envelope and took out the documents. The first thing he found was a genetic identification certificate. As he read through it, he turned to the next page, which was filled with lengthy explanations.


    Tsk, his gaze stopped at the very last sentence after clicking his tongue.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    His gaze moved from the document to Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze went back to the document. His lips hardened. He threw the paper onto the desk and leaned back in his chair. His eyes still lingered on the document.


    Y Chromosome Analysis Result: 16 Genetic Types Matched 99%. The same lineage is confirmed.


    So, they are indeed blood-related.


    In the absurdity of the situation, he couldn¡¯t help but burst into a hollow laugh.


    ¡°Ha, fuck. Looks like he had become Juliet.¡±

 CH 120

    Translated by Springlila


    Wang Lun, who was watching the CCTV screen, bit the cigarette with his front teeth. The man who broke into Ja-kyung¡¯s old house started from the yard and looked inside the house, then disappeared in the same way he had broken in the first time. The CCTV installed there was so small that it was difficult to find with the naked eye. Even so, to think that a respected man like a prosecutor would break into someone else¡¯s house in broad daylight was quite surprising.


    Ja-kyung looked out the window in silence. Darkness had settled in all directions, and only the occasional headlights of passing cars on the distant road could be seen. When Kang Il-hyun returned from work, he usually drove along the small road that led to this place. It seemed that he would be late coming home today.


    Lost in thought, Ja-kyung turned around and called Wang Lun.


    ¡°Hyung, shall we go out?¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember what Grandma said before she passed away?¡±


    Unable to understand, Wang Lun frowned. Huh?


    ¡°She said if a guest comes, never send them away empty-handed.¡±


    As Wang Lun¡¯s eyes narrowed, a smile gradually spread across his face, and Ja-kyung quickly added,


    ¡°I want to give him a gift. Something very nice.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? If CEO Kang finds out, there will be trouble.¡±


    ¡°Who cares? I¡¯m thinking of playing around with him a little bit. What do you think, Han hyung?¡±


    Han nodded in agreement. Sounds like fun. The gazes of the three people kept switching back and forth. Soon, Ja-kyung took out his phone and contacted Kang Il-hyun. During the call, he asked when Il-hyun would come home today and if he could go out and have fun with his brothers.


    When Wang Lun saw Ja-kyung having to ask for permission like a child, he teased him and imitated his mouth movements, while Wang Han slapped the back of his head and told him not to do that. Wang Han then reprimanded that it was all because of him. If Wang Lun didn¡¯t lie and took them to Hong Kong, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.


    While the two were playfully squabbling, Ja-kyung finished the call and laughed leisurely.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ***


    Il-hyun put down the disconnected phone on the table. Kang Yoo-jung, who sat in front of him, looked at his face with curiosity while holding a coffee cup. She was bewildered when he suddenly suggested having a cup of coffee near the hospital.


    ¡°Who? Ja-kyung ssi?¡±


    Instead of answering, Il-hyun looked at Kang Yoo-jung¡¯s gown. The stained gown was evidence that she had just saved someone¡¯s life a while ago. Even during their conversation, she occasionally checked the time.


    ¡°Just go if you are busy.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you come here because you had something to say?¡±


    ¡°Just came to see your face.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°If I say I came because I missed my older sister, will you believe me?¡±


    Surprised, Yoo-jung¡¯s eyes widened, then soon showed a skeptical expression.


    ¡°What did I do wrong to you?¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled. After receiving the test results, he couldn¡¯t get a grasp on his work. Prosecutor Jang lost his younger brother, and Ja-kyung resembled his brother¡¯s face a lot. He considered it a mere coincidence until he found out they were brothers, but strangely, Kang Yoo-jung came to mind at that moment.


    ¡°I have a question.¡±


    ¡°Say it.¡±


    She lifted the coffee cup and brought it to her mouth. Il-hyun leaned back on the sofa and stared at Kang Yoo-jung. The girl who used to carry and hug him instead of his mother when he was little has now become much smaller than him.


    ¡°Why did you do that?¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung took her mouth off the coffee cup and looked upward.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°That day. Why did you save me?¡±


    The hand that had set the glass down stopped. There was no change in her expression as she looked at Il-hyun.


    ¡°You want to criticize me?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m just curious. You could have saved Father instead.¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung answered as if she had no hesitation.


    ¡°Because I wanted to.¡±


    ¡°So why.¡±


    ¡°Because you are more important than our father.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Even if the same situation happens again, my choice won¡¯t change. I have no regrets.¡±


    Her face was resolute, and despite her sincerity, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s heart sank into darkness.


    ¡°Is being a younger brother really like that?¡±


    Il-hyun asked with a curious expression. Meanwhile, Kang Yoo-jung thought that Kang Il-hyun was strange. At that time, there was a broadcast looking for Kang Yoo-jung. She took out the pager she had kept in her pocket and checked it, then stood up. I have to go. See you later. Il-hyun grabbed her arm as she waved goodbye.


    When she stopped walking and looked back, Il-hyun smiled lightly.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    His eyes were filled with sincerity. Yoo-jung was taken aback, opened her mouth, stammered a bit, and then looked at Park Tae-soo. Is he okay? Did Lee Ja-kyung run away again? Park Tae-soo couldn¡¯t answer her. Yoo-jung let out a short sigh, then removed Il-hyun¡¯s hand and patted the back of his hand as if to comfort him.


    Then she said goodbye and hurriedly ran to the emergency room. While watching her back, Kang Il-hyun quietly called Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Park Tae-soo, who was about two steps away, came closer. He lowered his body and listened closely. In that moment, all emotions disappeared from Il-hyun¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Let¡¯s kill Prosecutor Jang.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Is this the right place?¡±


    Looking at the house through the car window, Wang Lun asked Ja-kyung. After stealing the wallet, Ja-kyung had written down the address, and now they arrived at a detached house not far from Ja-kyung¡¯s old house. The old house looked weathered with paint peeling here and there, and even the tree in the yard was withered to the point where it was hard to recognize its original form.


    ¡°It looks like a place where a ghost would appear.¡±


    ¡°If that prosecutor dies tonight, he might become a real ghost.¡±


    Wang Lun laughed out loud at Ja-kyung¡¯s joke. The two got out of the car with black hoods and masks covering their faces. They thought there would be CCTV, but there was none. While the two were moving near the house, Wang Han pulled the car and disappeared down the alley. Once they crossed the fence, they heard the sound of an old branch breaking. Step by step, they proceeded toward the house, but they didn¡¯t sense any presence.


    Carefully, they climbed the stairs and checked the front door. Wang Lun inserted a pointed piece of metal into the keyhole and turned it quickly. The security measures of a prosecutor were no match for him. He turned on the flashlight and entered inside. Ja-kyung instructed Wang Lun to go to the right, while he moved to the other side.


    While looking for a suitable place to plant the camera, Wang Han¡¯s voice was heard through the in-ear.


    [Did you get in?]


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m in the middle of the operation¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s words trailed off as he shone the lantern on the wall. There were family photos hanging there- a young couple with two children. One of the children seemed to be around ten years old, and the other was a toddler just learning to walk. After glancing at them, he passed through the kitchen and entered the bedroom.


    From what he observed, this person didn¡¯t seem to be the type to take money or engage in illegal activities. The room was cluttered with books, documents, and various items, all covered in dust. It looked tidy, but it needed some cleaning.


    After attaching cameras and wiretaps to various places with gloved hands, he contacted Wang Han to test whether the signal was picked up. During this process, one of the wiretapping fell into a narrow gap between drawers. Ja-kyung tried to reach for it with his hand but couldn¡¯t get a good grip due to the tight space.


    When the drawer was pulled forward, the pile of papers on top of it slipped and scattered on the floor. As he tried to pick them up, he was too late to catch one of the papers that flew away, revealing some writing on it. Fuck. He quickly retrieved the scattered papers.


    [Wei. What¡¯s the matter?]


    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll be out soon.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s hand, which was picking up the paper, stopped. The flashlight shone on the exact spot where he saw some words written.


    Missing child. Seeking information about Jang Kyung-joon.


    Name: Jang Kyung-joon


    Age at the time of disappearance: 3 years old


    Current age: 4 years old


    Short and thin with black hair, speaks slower than his peers.


    He was wearing jeans and a blue T-shirt.


    The location, date, and minor characteristics of the lost child were written.


    Ja-kyung unknowingly turned to the next page. Even on the faded paper, the traces of time were evident. The feeling was similar to when he first saw this house ¨C a place where time seemed to have stood still. And the belongings¡­ The flyer mentioned that the missing child¡¯s current age was five, but the picture still showed the child at the age of three. As he flipped through, he noticed the ages increasing: six, seven, eight¡­ They had been searching for the child diligently, and each year, the number kept growing.


    ¡°Wei?¡±


    Wang Lun suddenly appeared and put his hand on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder. The startled Ja-kyung turned around and dropped the flashlight to the floor. He picked it up in a hurry, but Wang Lun looked at him worriedly. Are you okay?


    Ja-kyung let out a laugh.


    ¡°Yeah. I dropped the paper.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be careless. I¡¯ll finish the installation for you.¡±


    Theft is never good, try looking at [ pawread dot com ].


    Wang Lun sat down beside him to help pick up the paper, and Ja-kyung found the wiretap that had rolled over and was about to stand up to install it. Huh? Wang Lun made a surprised sound. Ja-kyung who planted the wiretap behind the frame hesitated and looked down.


    He was looking at the paper Ja-kyung had been looking through earlier. But this time, there was another face next to the picture of the three-year-old child ¨C a current image of the person at the age of 23. The face looked familiar. Wang Lun looked up at Ja-kyung with an expression of disbelief.


    ¡°Wei¡­ This one looks like you¡­?¡±


    Jakyung looked puzzled but laughed it off. ¡°Again with that talk?¡±


    Wang Lun slowly stood up and took the montage alongside Ja-kyung¡¯s face. Look, you look very similar. Ja-kyung alternately checked the person in the montage and his own face through the mirror on the wall.


    They did resemble each other. The missing child. Even if it was a composite sketch, the resemblance was convincing. Ja-kyung felt strangely uneasy and placed the paper back in its original position. Just then, Wang Han¡¯s voice came through the earpiece.


    [You both come out quickly.]


    Wang Lun made a fuss.


    ¡°Hyung, I found something interesting. Someone who looks just like Wei here,¡±


    [Don¡¯t talk nonsense, come out quickly.]


    Wang Han¡¯s voice sounded urgent. It seemed like Prosecutor Jang had appeared. The two inside the house exchanged glances.


    But unfortunately, their expectations were off the mark.


    ¡°Another visitor has come beside us.¡±

 CH 121

    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung rushed out and moved quickly down the wall with Wang Lun. He looked out the wall and confirmed that it was quiet. Wang Han¡¯s car had already pulled up to the front of the mart at the alley¡¯s entrance. They jumped over the fence and ran into the car.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, Wang Han explained what had just happened. He¡¯d been observing Prosecutor Jang¡¯s car from below the alley when a taxi pulled over and Prosecutor Jang got out, stumbling slightly as if drunk.


    However, the moment he picked up the radio, a man with his face covered came down from a black van that was parked in front of him and kidnapped Prosecutor Jang in a blink of an eye. It was hard to believe. No, he could be kidnapped¡­ Why did it have to happen today of all days?


    If Prosecutor Jang were to be found as a corpse tomorrow morning, the situation would become complicated. The three of them who were at the same place at the same time would all be considered suspects. For now, they should go back. Wang Han was about to start the engine and leave, but Wang Lun from the backseat suddenly leaned his face between the driver¡¯s seat and the passenger seat.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we chase after them?¡±


    Wang Han looked back.


    ¡°Why.¡±


    Wang Lun takes something out of his pocket. Ja-kyung looked at it and it was a missing person report leaflet he saw at Prosecutor Jang¡¯s house earlier. He handed it to Wang Han. look at this hyung. When Wang Han tried to open it, Ja-kyung snatched it away. Don¡¯t look. Lun hyung is talking nonsense.


    Ja-kyung was about to crumple it and throw it away, but Lun snatched it away and gave it to Wang Han. Wang Han¡¯s eyes widened as he opened them to check. After looking at Ja-kyung¡¯s face and the paper several times, he rubbed his chin and made a muffled sound.


    Theft is never good, try looking at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.


    ¡°You look very similar.¡±


    Ja-kyung replied nonchalantly.


    ¡°There are many people in the world who look alike.¡±


    Wang Han seemed to agree as he nodded. Indeed, there could be many people who look alike. Despite this, Wang Lun couldn¡¯t give up and kept urging them to chase after the kidnappers.


    ¡°What if Wei is really the child these people lost? Then that prosecutor is his one and only older brother.¡±


    Wang Han frowned.


    ¡°You and I are Wei¡¯s older brothers.¡±


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that? What I mean is¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung shook his head and clicked his tongue. He remarked that his brothers had been watching too many dramas lately and were finally losing touch with reality. He urged them to start moving already.


    However, the car didn¡¯t move. Ja-kyung looked beside him, only to find Wang Han couldn¡¯t seem to let go of the paper. Ja-kyung snatched it and pushed it aside, urging him to return home. Wang Han started the car, and Ja-kyung thought they were finally leaving, but Wang Han turned in the opposite direction.


    Ja-kyung frowned and looked back, and Lun happily looked at Ja-kyung with his arms between the chairs.


    ¡°Wei. It looks like Han hyung has decided to side with me this time too.¡±


    Ja-kyung stubbornly insisted that they should go back home. However, instead of responding, Wang Han activated the location tracker on the car¡¯s mount. The screen changed, and a circular light flickered in the distance. Ja-kyung looked at it with a bewildered expression.


    ¡°When did you install that?¡±


    Wang Han took out something resembling a pistol from under the seat and waved it. It was a device for attaching a tracker, and it was made so that it could be launched and attached from a long distance. Wang Lun, who was sitting in the back, also laughed and said ¡°As expected of our hyung,¡± but Ja-kyung was annoyed.


    ¡°Why do you do such stupid things? What are we supposed to do, chase him down and save him?¡±


    Han smiled silently and called Ja-kyung¡¯s name. Wei. Ja-kyung turned around to find Wang Han looking at him warmly.


    ¡°I believe that children resemble their parents. Of course, it¡¯s not always the case. So, I sometimes wondered how a child like you was born under such trash-like parents.¡±


    Ja-kyung was silent. Han said something similar when he was young. Then Ja-kyung laughed. Han said that Ja-kyung was special, but that didn¡¯t change the fact that he was a hitman.


    ¡°You never know. The parents who gave birth to you must have been good people.¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lower lip. Neither of them seemed to be in their right mind. There were so many people who look alike in the world. However, he didn¡¯t have the authority to decide now. It was two against one. He sighed and checked the time. He wondered if Kang Il-hyun has arrived home. What excuse should he make tonight?


    ***


    There were models of Lee Ja-kyung, portraits of Lee Ja-kyung, the bullet Lee Ja-kyung had shot into his thigh, the first heart message Lee Ja-kyung sent him, and frames with printed images of it. Other items related to Lee Ja-kyung were placed throughout the bedroom like decorations. Il-hyun, who was sitting on the sofa, got up and went to the model of Ja-kyung.


    He faced it, cupped his cheek with his hand, and spoke as if he were talking to the real Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Baby, will you understand me?¡±


    There was no response. His face became expressionless. He felt conflicted just like when he had decided to kill his own father, but he didn¡¯t want to change his decision. He didn¡¯t want to see anyone, whether they were related by blood or not, standing by Ja-kyung¡¯s side.


    How bittersweet it would be if they met again after such a long time of being apart. Damn it. He hated even the thought of it¡­ Killing was the right choice.


    Knock-knock, the sound of knocking interrupted his thoughts. Park Tae-soo came in and he started to report the situation. The kidnapped Prosecutor Jang was now being moved to a dockside container. They would arrive shortly and wanted to know if he should kill him right away or if there were other instructions.


    While deeply pondering, Il-hyun looked back at the model of Ja-kyung in front of him. He had fallen deeply into reading Romeo and Juliet when he was young. It might sound laughable to others, but the love that ended in death excites Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡®Is love a tender thing? It¡¯s too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it¡¯s prick like a thorn. That¡¯s love.¡± He muttered a line from the play, smiled bitterly, and turned to walk toward Tae-soo.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. He could have become my brother, so I should at least see him off on his final journey.¡±


    ***


    Ja-kyung, Wang Han, and Wang Lun parked the car at a distance and observed the situation. The black van disappeared inside the dock, surrounded by large containers lined up in a row. They had no idea where they went.


    Hiding the car to avoid attracting attention, they followed them from afar. Soon, a car approached in the distance. They all hid themselves, and as the car passed by, their eyes widened. The black car went in the same direction as the van.


    ¡°That¡­ CEO Kang, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    The three of them thought carefully. Could it be that Kang Il-hyun gave instructions? Considering how he had seen them as thorns in his side, there was a high possibility. Ja-kyung stood up first.


    ¡°I want to go home.¡±


    ¡°Why.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll never know. If he finds out we¡¯re messing around again. Do you think CEO Kang will leave you alone?


    Wang Lun chuckled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You have insurance.¡±


    Insurance? Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t understand and looked at Wang Lun, who was pointing between his legs. Ja-kyung understood it instantly and retorted sharply, ¡®There¡¯s nothing more to wax now!¡¯


    Wang Lun asked if it hadn¡¯t grown back, but Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t bear to admit that Kang Il-hyun had waxed him himself recently. He even learns that from a waxing expert. What a crazy guy. The way he enjoyed using what he learned was so vivid in his memory; he could still see his smiling face.


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m going, so you two take care of yourself.¡±


    As he was about to leave alone, the once quiet Wang Han grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm urgently.


    ¡°Wei, wait.¡±


    Ja-kyung looked back with a tired expression.


    ¡°Why is hyung like this?¡±


    Wang Han hesitated whether to speak or not. This was just his guess¡­


    ¡°If you and the prosecutor inside are brothers, and if CEO Kang knew that first¡­ Wouldn¡¯t that explain a little bit what¡¯s happening now?¡±


    Ja-kyung was dumbfounded. No matter how crazy Kang Il-hyun was, why would he kill him if he was Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s older brother?


    ¡°CEO Kang isn¡¯t such a bad guy.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°He might be acting crazy, but maybe it¡¯s because he¡¯s actually hurting deep inside¡­¡±


    Both fell into silence. Ja-kyung also refrained from adding to his words, feeling uncertain even after saying them. Staying longer might cause unnecessary problems, so he headed toward the car first.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m leaving. Figure it out between yourselves.¡±


    Then suddenly, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s confession came to mind. In the yard of his old house, Il-hyun had picked a beautiful flower from the flowerbed and said,


    [From now on, I will give you all the love you need.]


    [If you receive it from someone else, then this place will be your grave.]


    His steps slowed down. He suddenly remembered the toothbrush that disappeared in the morning. Not once had any of Ja-kyung¡¯s belongings gone missing. The cleaning staff never touched his things without permission. That meant someone might have intentionally taken it away.


    In the end, Ja-kyung stopped midway and turned around. Wang Lun and Wang Han were still standing there. Ja-kyung looked around. It was a perfect place to kill someone and leave no traces. Fuck. He cursed and turned back, only to have Wang Lun pat his shoulder and offer his comradeship.


    The three moved swiftly between the containers. As they did, they spotted a faint light coming from a container in the distance. A man in a black suit was guarding the entrance. It was a strange sight at first glance.


    They hid themselves behind the container, and Wang Lun took a listening device from his pocket. It could pick up sounds even through significant barriers, similar to a stethoscope used by doctors. Wang Lun pressed the rest of his body against the container¡¯s wall while wearing the earphones.


    His eyes darted left and right. When Wang Han asked if he could hear anything, Wang Lun signaled him to be quiet and brought his finger to his lips. He didn¡¯t move, just shifting his eyes. Curious, both Ja-kyung and Wang Han stared at him like otters gathering to eat a fish offered by their trainer.


    Suddenly, Wang Lun takes out the earphones from his ears and hands them to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung accepted them and put them on his ears. Beep- the sound made him think his eardrums would burst, so he frowned, and Wang Lun mouthed an apology. Then, a familiar voice came through.


    Kang Il-hyun.


    Ja-kyung focused on his voice. How we ended up like this is regrettable, and you shouldn¡¯t have been nosy, and this time, you crossed the line first. Etc¡­ It was as expected; not far from his predictions. Ja-kyung let out a small sigh of relief. See, Kang Il-hyun wasn¡¯t that crazy.


    Just as he was about to take off the earphones, shuffling footsteps were heard, and Kang Il-hyun¡¯s voice became faint. Ja-kyung paused. The whispering voice seemed to pass through the wall.


    [Goodbye, Prosecutor.]


    [Still, you¡¯re lucky. You saw that your little brother is alive with your own eyes.]


    Ja-kyung narrowed his eyes. His lower eyelids slowly twisted, and Il-hyun¡¯s voice became clear again.


    [Still don¡¯t get it? Yang Seon-woo. That¡¯s your little brother.]


    A stunned look appeared on Ja-kyung¡¯s face. He quickly pulled the device out of his ears. Wang Han and Wang Lun asked what was happening, looking concerned. Ja-kyung stood still like a statue, with his face still filled with shock.


    ¡°What did you hear?¡±


    Ja-kyung still had a bewildered face.


    ¡°Wei. Are you okay? Ja-kyung.¡±


    Various emotions mixed on Ja-kyung¡¯s face as he turned to look at Wang Han.


    ¡°Hyung.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Did you bring the gun?¡±


    Before Wang Han could answer, Ja-kyung reached out his hand.


    ¡°Give it to me.¡±

 CH 122

    Translated by Springlila


    Wei, wait. Wei. Ja-kyung took out a 38-caliber gun from Wang Han¡¯s bosom in an instant and walked toward the container entrance. Act rationally. If you shoot CEO Kang now, you¡¯ll regret it later. Wang Han held Ja-kyung¡¯s arm, but he easily shrugged him off and holstered the gun behind his back.


    The subordinates ahead were the first to notice Ja-kyung¡¯s presence. They greeted him casually and cleared the way for him to enter. It seemed like they assumed he had an appointment with Kang Il-hyun.


    As the heavy iron door opened, all eyes were focused on it. Under a small light, Kang Il-hyun was standing with his back turned, and in front of him, Jang Tae-ho was sitting with his arms and legs bound. A little further away were Park Tae-soo and other henchmen.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression stiffened as he turned to look at Ja-kyung. Wang Han and Wang Lun, who followed behind, offered greetings on his behalf and forced an awkward smile. Ja-kyung took confident steps forward and glanced indifferently at Prosecutor Jang, who was tied to the chair and unconscious.


    Kang Il-hyun blocked Ja-kyung¡¯s path.


    ¡°This is unexpected. What are you doing here?¡±


    Even though he suddenly appeared, Kang Il-hyun didn¡¯t lose his composure. Ja-kyung felt angry at his brazenness, but he also wondered why he went to such lengths. If the man in front of him was truly his flesh and blood, then why did he¡­?


    ¡°I didn¡¯t come because I had something to do with you.¡±


    ¡°Then.¡±


    ¡°Jang Tae-ho entered my house without permission.¡±


    ¡°So.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill him.¡±


    Ja-kyung took out the gun from behind his back.


    ¡°CEO Kang, get out of the way.¡±


    Il-hyun nodded lightly and took a step to the side. Jang Tae-ho, whose head was hanging down, slowly gazed up. His mouth was taped shut, and his eyes seemed clouded as if he couldn¡¯t recognize the person in front of him.


    Ja-kyung pulled back the muzzle of his revolver. The cylinder clicked. The silver muzzle of the gun was aimed precisely at the man¡¯s heart. As Il-hyun stepped aside, leaning on his arm, he watched the scene with a relaxed expression.


    ¡°Go ahead, shoot. I want to see your skills after such a long time.¡±


    As Wang Lun tried to stop him from behind, Wang Han held his shoulder, telling him to leave the decision to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung¡¯s finger on the trigger didn¡¯t even twitch. Il-hyun didn¡¯t miss his movement and observed him closely. Ja-kyung tightened his grip. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung¡¯s arm and raised it upwards.


    BANG- The gunshot ripped a hole in the container¡¯s ceiling. An instant silence filled the air. Ja-kyung removed Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand from his arm and stared at him coldly.


    ¡°CEO Kang, don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t ask why Il-hyun was interfering but whether he had anything to say. Meanwhile, he prepared for the next shot with his hand. Il-hyun¡¯s expression turned cold. He was sure that Ja-kyung knew everything and came searching for him. How he found out didn¡¯t matter. He was only curious about the reason why Ja-kyung, who was supposedly his only remaining family, was trying to shoot him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±


    Click, click, the cylinder turns again, and Ja-kyung stretched out his arm. Jang Tae-ho lifted his head with difficulty. Memories of the family photo he had seen at his house flashed in his mind. Is he really my older brother? If so, why didn¡¯t I recognize him? In the end, family becomes meaningful when you spend time together, like Wang Han and Wang Lun.


    As he tried to suppress the emerging thoughts, Il-hyun blocked his path and looked at him intently.


    ¡°Baby, did you know?¡±


    Ja-kyung glared at Il-hyun fiercely.


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°The man in front of you, he¡¯s your own brother.¡±


    ¡°So.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows narrowed as he saw Ja-kyung¡¯s indifferent expression. He might have felt less irritated if Ja-kyung had exploded in anger. The cat¡¯s state of mind was not very good.


    Ja-kyung handed the gun to Il-hyun.


    ¡°Or do you want to shoot him?¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze shifted to the gun and then moved upward. Ja-kyung¡¯s expression was so cold that it felt unfamiliar. Il-hyun suddenly wondered if Ja-kyung would have looked like that when he shot him at the inauguration ceremony two years ago. As he touched Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek, telling him not to get angry, Ja-kyung swiftly changed the direction of the gun and swung it.


    Thunk! The grip of the gun hit Il-hyun¡¯s chin, and he staggered backward.


    When Park Tae-soo and his men panicked and took a step forward, Il-hyun raised his hand to stop them. Blood dripped from his lips as he raised his head. He wiped the blood with a handkerchief, then scratched the inside of his mouth with his tongue and spat the remaining blood on the ground.


    Then he looked sadly at Ja-kyung.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to hit me, do you?¡±


    Thunk, Ja-kyung threw the gun he was holding to Kang Il-hyun. As the gun hit the floor, Ja-kyung turned around and walked away. Wait a moment. Hold on. When he lifted his foot to chase after him, Ja-kyung turned back with an angry expression.


    ¡°Fuck! Do you know what really pisses me off? That you tried to kill Jang Tae-ho? Don¡¯t make me laugh. A family that I don¡¯t even remember, why should it matter to me? But you know what? If that¡¯s the case, you should¡¯ve told me in advance. You knew everything and still deceived people like a damn con artist! You even stole my toothbrush!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get angry.¡± When Il-hyun tried to approach, Ja-kyung raised his hand to warn him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare come any closer, fuck! I¡¯ll really lose it!¡±


    Ja-kyung huffed and came out of the container. Wang Han and Wang Lun, who were bewildered, hastily followed him. Wei, wait. Let¡¯s go together. Bang! A gunshot was heard. Ja-kyung and the Wang brothers paused and turned back. Bang, bang! Wang Han tried to turn around, but Ja-kyung paid no attention and kept going toward where their car was parked.


    ***


    Il-hyun lowered the gun he had aimed at the ceiling. Three more bullet marks appeared next to the one Ja-kyung had shot earlier. He counted the marks in his mind, but Ja-kyung didn¡¯t return. Ah, he leaned his head back and let out a groan and a sigh. Shit. The cat is really mad.


    Il-hyun looked back at Jang Tae-ho, who was lying helplessly. He approached him and made him look up. He still hadn¡¯t regained his senses. It was a natural result because he was drunk at the time of the kidnapping and was given an anesthetic. Il-hyun let go of his face and looked at Tae-soo.


    ¡°Tae-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Find out if there is a hospital that erases memories through hypnosis.¡±


    Seeing Tae-soo¡¯s bewildered expression, Il-hyun waved it off. He ordered his subordinates to take Tae-ho back home and then stepped out of the container. He tried to call Ja-kyung, but as expected, his phone was turned off. After that, he sighed briefly and called Wang Han, but the same thing happened. Fuck. His steps towards the car quickened.


    ***


    Il-hyun got out of the driver¡¯s seat and took out a bouquet of red roses from the passenger seat. A tall alleyway stretched out in front of him. Fortunately, Wang Han contacted him in the interim after Ja-kyung disappeared. He said Ja-kyung was angry and went to his old house. He was really upset, so please calm him down.


    As he walked up the alleyway, a group of hoodlums sat around, laughing and smoking. As they recognized Il-hyun, they quickly scattered like cockroaches into the nearby houses. The closer he got to Ja-kyung¡¯s place, the slower his steps became.


    The lights were on, so Ja-kyung must be inside. Il-hyun looked at the flower in his hand once, then silently stood in front of the gate. After knocking, he went to the fence and looked inside. He considered the possibility of Ja-kyung having a gun or holding a knife, so he approached with caution.


    Contrary to his expectations, Ja-kyung was sitting casually inside. Only his back was visible, and beside him, beer cans were scattered about. He must have been drinking alone for a while. Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t even handle alcohol properly. Il-hyun didn¡¯t know what Ja-kyung was looking at, but he was bent down, looking at something on the floor for a while. Intrigued, Il-hyun craned his neck to see.


    What on earth are you looking at so intently?


    After a while in the same posture, Ja-kyung moved whatever he was looking at to the side. Il-hyun¡¯s expression darkened. It was the missing poster he received from Tae-soo a few days ago. Ja-kyung took another sip of alcohol and looked at it again.


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    Il-hyun leaned against the wall. Absentmindedly, he noticed small flowers crushed under his feet. They were the ones he had planted together with Ja-kyung last spring. He didn¡¯t do it on purpose. After moving his seat to the side, he was staring at the crushed flowers when his phone rang from inside his jacket.


    Damn it. He took it out and pressed the end call button a beat too late.


    Creak-, the tightly closed door opened, and Lee Ja-kyung peeked out through the gap. Awkward silence flowed between them until Il-hyun smiled affectionately, offering the bouquet of flowers.


    ¡°I bought you flowers.¡±


    Bang. The door closed again, and Il-hyun closed his eyes tightly. He walked up to the door and knocked forcefully. Thump, thump, Ja-kyung. Hey, Lee Ja-kyung. There was no sound. This time, he went to the fenced window and waved the bouquet of flowers. But something whooshed past above his head, and the flower petals dropped to the ground. Realizing that what flew past was a knife, Il-hyun quickly pulled back his head.


    ¡°Baby, what are you do-¡±


    Whoosh, something flew at him again. He managed to dodge it swiftly, but the fist-sized rock rolled far away. Il-hyun leaned against the wall and shouted.


    ¡°Are you really going to do this?¡±


    No answer. Letting out a sigh, Il-hyun sat down under the window. The bouquet in his hand became a mess. He had never made Ja-kyung this angry before. It was frustrating, and he couldn¡¯t figure out how to calm his anger.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    Around the house, the sound of crickets buzzed loudly. Il-hyun leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky. The weather was good, the stars were clear, and the crescent moon was as beautiful as a cat¡¯s smile. He spoke towards the inside.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, honey.¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°I won¡¯t do that again.¡±


    Still silent.


    ¡°Shall I go in and beg?¡±


    Lee Ja-kyung remained silent, instead, only the dog in the lower town barks intently.

 CH 123

    Translated by Springlila


    The noisy chirping of birds made Il-hyun open his eyes involuntarily. The morning sun rose with a reddish hue. It was the first time in his life that he sat outside to welcome the morning. As he stood up, his entire body felt stiff. Damn it. He cursed quietly, glancing around inside the fenced area.


    The lights had been on until dawn, but now it was quiet. He patted off his pants and decided to try to get inside. However, the front door was firmly locked. He didn¡¯t want to break in and cause a commotion, so he climbed up the fence instead. He had done everything under the sun during his life.


    He jumped down and crossed the yard. A crumpled beer can rolled around on the ground. Standing in front of the door, he called out, ¡°Babe?¡± but there was no response. Was he still sleeping? He took off his shoes and climbed up to the wooden floor, knocking gently.


    There was no response. Even when he knocked harder, there was no difference. If it were enough to wake him up, it was certainly suspicious that he was still quiet. A cold aura passed by his neck.


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    He took a step back and kicked the door open. The top of the hinge fell off. He pushed the door open and went inside. He saw Lee Ja-kyung lying down with a blanket wrapped around her. Haa, you¡¯re sleeping. Il-hyun let out a sigh of relief and lifted the blanket.


    ¡°Babe.¡±


    His face was completely hardened. He found two pillows laid in place of Ja-kyung. He stood up and search the small room across the street and the kitchen, but he can¡¯t find a single hair. In this tiny house, Ja-kyung had disappeared like a ghost. He took out his mobile phone and called, but it said that the number was not available.


    As he walked around the house with a stern expression, he suddenly stopped when he noticed a low wall at the back. He stood still, contemplating if his eyes were deceiving him. Inside the fence, there was a mountaineering rope connected to the outside. Could it be? With a sense of disbelief, he approached to confirm. The back of the house was almost like a cliff, with the rope extending down below.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it when he saw it, so he pulled up the rope, but there was nothing attached to it. He was dumbfounded, letting out a hollow laugh. He had spent the night guarding the front door without realizing that he had escaped. He tried to hold back his anger and contacted Park Tae-soo.


    ¡°Tae-soo. Check Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s location.¡±


    ***


    Ugh. Moaning in pain, Jang Tae-ho rolled off the bed and fell to the floor. He barely got up and stumbled along the wall to find the bathroom. As he entered the bathroom and grabbed the toilet, nausea welled up.


    After vomiting for a while, he washed himself with cold water. As he came out, he looked at his own face in the mirror, his eyes were bloodshot. To regain some clarity, he grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge and gulped it down. It seemed to help a little.


    What time did I come back? Even when he checked his watch and tried to remember, his memory was cut off as if it had been cut with a knife. Yesterday afternoon, he went to Yang Seon-woo¡¯s house, but there was no significant outcome. It only made him wonder why such a person would stay here.


    Afterward, as he was heading back, he received unexpected news. The victim from a case he had handled a few years ago had committed suicide. So, after work, he went to the funeral home to meet Secretary Park and the bereaved family with a complicated mind.


    The victim was a 13-year-old girl at the time of the incident. The perpetrator was a man in his thirties hailing from a powerful family with three generations of politicians. They had hired top-notch lawyers from well-known law firms in the country and argued that the crime was committed while he was mentally impaired and suffering from depression, ultimately receiving a suspended sentence.


    The expression on the child¡¯s face that day remained vivid in his memory. He regretted choosing this profession for the first time in his life. And yesterday, at the funeral home, the girl¡¯s father grabbed him and cried, asking why people like him were not punishing the wrongdoers, why his daughter was dead while that man was shamelessly living, questioning if this was the justice they spoke of.


    Jang Tae-ho led his tired body to the sofa and lay down for a long time. He blinked slowly and looked up at the ceiling. His head was throbbing as if it would burst from the hangover. He still had some time before he had to go to work. As he tried to close his eyes again, a voice echoed in his mind.


    ¡°Still, you¡¯re lucky. You saw that your little brother is alive with your own eyes.¡±


    Startled, he opened his eyes. It was almost dark in the room, and the fluorescent light overhead was dim. He sat up, frowning from the oncoming headache. He covered his head with both arms. Then the voice comes out more clearly.


    ¡°Still don¡¯t get it? Yang Seon-woo. That¡¯s your little brother.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho slowly lifted his buried head l and stared straight ahead. The house was so quiet that even he could hear his own breath. He got up and moved into the bedroom, took out a piece of paper he had piled on the drawer, and looked at it.


    He compared the face of Yang Seon-woo with the montage that was estimated to be a recent appearance of his little brother. The throbbing in his temple intensified as fragments of memories from the previous night came back like pieces of a fragmented film: the warehouse, the gunshot, Kang Il-hyun, and the man pointing a gun at him. The face in the flyer overlapped with the man¡¯s face, becoming one person.


    Confused, Jang Tae-ho paced back and forth around the room. It can¡¯t be. Absolutely not. If Yang Seon-woo was his little brother, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t have recognized him. He saw his face in person. He had been to the place where he lived.


    In the end, he wrapped his head in his hands.


    I don¡¯t know. I just don¡¯t know.


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    ***


    While having breakfast, Wang Han and Wang Lun stopped moving when they saw Kang Il-hyun entering the house. His suit was covered in dirt, his hair was disheveled, and there were red marks on his cheek, probably from mosquito bites. Even if he had lost the country, he wouldn¡¯t have such an expression.


    As he entered the house, he headed towards the bedroom without saying a word, then abruptly turned around. Wang Han and Wang Lun, who were watching with their heads lifted, flinched and straightened their postures. They heard from Park Tae-soo early in the morning that Ja-kyung had disappeared. They didn¡¯t know how Kang Il-hyun was feeling right now, but the look in his eyes shows that he won¡¯t let him go easily if he gets caught.


    He returned from his path to the bedroom and stood in front of Wang Han and Wang Lun, tilting his head awkwardly.


    ¡°Tell me honestly. Do you two know where he is?¡±


    Lunn replied with an unfair expression.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already told Secretary Park that we don¡¯t know. Isn¡¯t that right, hyung?¡±


    Wang Han also nodded in agreement. But even though they didn¡¯t know where Ja-kyung was, they knew this fact.


    ¡°Just leave him be. He¡¯s a terrifying guy when he¡¯s angry. There was a time when he didn¡¯t speak with Lun and me for three months after we fought.¡±


    At the mention of three months, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression darkened. Wang Lun also made an expression of being scared as he recalled that time.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t three months. It was exactly four months. I apologized and did everything, but he didn¡¯t accept it. Why was Wei so angry back then?¡±


    ¡°You kept doing things he told you not to do and played around.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Right. It really wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡±


    Wang Lun tore off the bread and put it in his mouth, looking at Kang Il-hyun with a sympathetic gaze.


    ¡°CEO Kang may take longer.¡±


    Sensing that Kang Il-hyun¡¯s expression was becoming more and more hostile, the two of them took the remaining bread and went upstairs as if they were running away. The house chef nearby asked if he would eat breakfast, but Il-hyun had lost his appetite for breakfast.


    He went into the bedroom and threw off his dusty jacket. His fatigued appearance reflected from the mirror. Il-hyun had a location tracker attached to Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s watch and sneakers, but even that signal had been cut off. Ja-kyung turned off his phone and even removed the chip that was secretly planted in the back of the phone. It¡¯s not that he wasn¡¯t aware of it, but despite being aware, he chose to ignore it.


    Feeling restless, he put a cigarette in his mouth. He looked out through the window. The swimming pool where Ja-kyung used to rest was completely empty. ¡°Where did you go, meow?¡± He exhaled smoke and sighed. Then his phone rang.


    It was an unknown number.


    He answered with some hesitation, but it was someone he wasn¡¯t particularly pleased to hear from.


    [This is Prosecutor Jang Tae-ho. I contacted you because I wanted to meet you.]


    The voice was as cold as ice. Although he didn¡¯t want to admit it, there was an eerie resemblance to Ja-kyung¡¯s voice. He didn¡¯t respond and just stared out of the window, smoking his cigarette.


    [Are you listening?]


    As he exhaled smoke, the window became hazy. Damn it. He should¡¯ve killed him back then. Il-hyun forced a smile to form on his lips as he struggled to control his rising irritation. He toned down his voice and added a touch of kindness.


    ¡°I see. Prosecutor Jang. Where shall we meet?¡±


    ***


    Strange. Ja-kyung looked at the fishing line, then looked at it again. It should have worked well like this before. However, to his disappointment, he had been sitting here for hours without any catch. Ah, whatever. He lay down on a large stone next to him and looked at the sky. It looked like it was going to rain, so there were a lot of dark clouds.


    He rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Searching for missing children. He read it again and again. The smiling face of the child in the photo seemed unfamiliar. What was he so excited about? Is this really me?


    [I shouldn¡¯t have given birth to something like you. I should have killed you when you were in my womb.]


    Those were the words of Ja-kyung¡¯s dead mother. A child that should never have been born. Is she really not his birth mother? But why did she claim to have given birth to him?


    He folded the paper and put it back in his pocket. Il-hyun probably noticed by now that he had run away. It was predictable what expression he would have. The voice that apologized under the wall until dawn came to mind. Ja-kyung wondered if he was really sorry. He resented the fact that he couldn¡¯t hate him even though he had done something he hated. Why did he like such a crazy person?


    As he sighed, the fishing line was pulled taut. He quickly reeled it in, but the bait disappeared, leaving only an empty hook. He threw the fishing rod away with a disappointed expression.


    Ah, I should have just gone to the land and enjoyed some raw fish.

 CH 124

    Translated by Springlila


    Jang Tae-ho looked at the teacup in silence. The cafe entrance was bustling, and then Kang Il-hyun walked in. Except for the cafe staff, no one else seemed to stand out. The sight of Kang Il-hyun walking from a distance was like a male lead from a movie.


    When the media covered him, his appearance was never overlooked. His handsome face has always drawn people¡¯s attention, to the point where his appearance was praised more than his work performance. After a brief greeting, Kang Il-hyun sat on the opposite side, while his right-hand man, Park Tae-soo, waited at a distance.


    ¡°Long time no see. Prosecutor.¡±


    Seeing Kang Il-hyun greet him with a shameless face, Jang Tae-ho felt irritated.


    ¡°So, CEO Kang was the person I met last night, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you remember. I think there was a misunderstanding about yesterday. It¡¯s a bit late, but let me apologize.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you have to offer?¡±


    ¡°Then?¡±


    ¡°At least get down on your knees and polish my shoes. Then, we¡¯ll see.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun gritted his teeth and smiled eerily. This son of a bitch. Does he want to return the favor I gave him? Exhaustion overwhelmed him. He tilted his head slightly, forcing a smile as he looked at his opponent. If it were up to him, he would get rid of him right here and now. And, of all people, it had to be Ja-kyung¡¯s brother.


    Ah. Fuck. Why did I become Romeo?


    ¡°Let¡¯s put the apology aside for now. Why did you want to meet?¡±


    ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Yang Seon-woo.¡±


    ¡°Why are you curious about him?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to confirm.¡±


    Confirm, huh? Il-hyun pondered those words silently in his mouth before sinking deep into the sofa. A staff member brought tea, and he stared at the golden rim of the teacup before speaking slowly.


    ¡°Well, let me tell you about Seon-woo and me, our relationship.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho could not hide his true feelings. His eyes seemed to reveal the wish that there was nothing between the two of them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any relationship with him,¡±


    Jang Tae-ho sighed with relief, and Kang Il-hyun waited before adding the next words.


    ¡°I wish I could tell you that, but unfortunately, it¡¯s not the case. We can almost be seen as a couple.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled proudly, while Tae-ho¡¯s expression turned dark and pale. He had suspected it when rumors circulated that they were dating, and even when he visited Yang Seon-woo¡¯s house, Il-hyun showed a strong reaction. But still¡­


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s eyes turn cold as Prosecutor Jang looked disappointed and depressed.


    ¡°Hey, Prosecutor Jang.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho¡¯s gaze, which had stayed on the teacup, moved to Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to make that face when you meet your brother, you better stop here.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho¡¯s face contorted. Il-hyun, who was grinning casually, straightened his back and leaned forward. He spoke in a tone that could be interpreted as a request or a warning, his gaze fixed on Tae- ho¡¯s.


    ¡°You have no idea how he¡¯s been living.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°So, if you¡¯re going to hurt him by making that face, you¡¯d better just give up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Or for fuck sake, I won¡¯t leave you alone.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho¡¯s face hardened. Il-hyun, who had been clenching his teeth, straightened up and smiled as if nothing had happened. At that moment, Park Tae-soo, who had been standing far away, approached and whispered something to Kang Il-hyun. Il-hyun rose to his feet and adjusted his appearance.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end the conversation here today. We¡¯ll wrap things up when the lost cat comes back.¡±


    ***


    Argh, forget about it. I gave up! Ja-kyung stood on top of a large rock and threw his fishing rod. Even on the next day, he hadn¡¯t caught any fish. Maybe he should go to the other side. However, there were already people living there, making it easy to be noticed. Just then, a large fish delivery boat passed by in the distance.


    The island was relatively close to the mainland, so it was not difficult to come across passing boats. He should have gone further away. He descended to the rocks below and boiled water on a disposable burner, tearing open a cup of instant noodles. Eating cup noodles for the second day in a row was getting boring. He wanted to eat the breakfast prepared by the house chef.


    Ja-kyung poured boiling water into the ramen cup and waited for it to cook. He hadn¡¯t slept properly last night, and now sleep poured over him. He needed to eat and take a nap. He yawned and stretched, but in the distance, he noticed a boat passing by at a very high speed. The way it moved through the water made him worry it might flip over. Whoever was driving it had terrible driving skills.


    As the boat approached, he noticed it was turning in his direction. Ja-kyung, who was about to open the lid of the ramen cup, felt a sense of danger and stood up. He took out binoculars from inside the tent, and he frowned. The man at the wheel was dressed in a black suit.


    The crazy guy who had appeared last year on a helicopter and fired shots was now arriving by boat. He had expected this visit, but not in just two days¡­ At this level, Ja-kyung wondered if Il-hyun may have planted a tracker in his body.


    Ja-kyung put down his binocular, pulled out a shotgun from inside the tent, and loaded the bullets, just in case. He had brought it with him in case he needed to hunt, but he didn¡¯t expect to use it like this. He aimed and pulled the trigger, but the bullet only grazed the side of the boat.


    Ignoring the warning shot, Il-hyun waved his hand out of the boat. Ja-kyung considered jumping into the water to escape, but the island was small, and there was nowhere suitable to run. In the end, he put the gun down and sat back in front of the ramen. He stirred the deflated noodles with his chopsticks; the sound of a motor gets closer, and after a while, he heard footsteps.


    ¡°You ran away all this way, only to end up here? You should have gone to a nicer place. How disappointing.¡±


    Slurp, pretending not to hear, Ja-kyung continued eating his ramen until Il-hyun took away the ramen and chopsticks. As he glared, Il-hyun smiled as he wiped the ramen soup from Ja-kyung¡¯s mouth with his hand.


    ¡°Your face is ripe. It¡¯s red.¡±


    Ja-kyung snatched his ramen back and started eating.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to talk to me?¡±


    Ja-kyung only ate his ramen with his mouth full, and Il-hyun tilted his head, looking at him.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait here until you want to talk, how about that?¡±


    Il-hyun took off his jacket and spread it on the sand and lay down. Ah, nice. The sun was scorching, and it was a perfect day to burn to death. Ja-kyung finished eating his ramen, drank some water, and then climbed up the rock. It was quiet behind him. When he looked back, Il-hyun had laid down with both arms behind his head and eyes closed.


    As Ja-kyung looked back at the sea, a voice reached his ears.


    ¡°Jang Tae-ho wants to meet you. He wants to request a personal investigation.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s hands, which were winding the fishing line, paused.


    ¡°His test results probably won¡¯t be any different.¡±


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    Ja-kyung looked back. Il-hyun had already approached him. He climbed up to where Ja-kyung had been holding the fishing rod and retrieved it. After checking the hook and opening the bait box, he took out a worm.


    Skillfully attaching the worm to the hook, he handed it back to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung realized belatedly that he had wrongly attached the bait. He swung the fishing rod far away. The waves were calm. Both of them stared silently at the point where the hook had dropped.


    ¡°First of all, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    As time passed, Il-hyun was the first to speak.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°That day, I wasn¡¯t sincere when I apologized to you.¡±


    Ja-kyung, who had been staring out at the sea, turned to look at Il-hyun. Il-hyun was still gazing beyond the sea.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want your affections to flow even a bit to others. I don¡¯t want to share them, whether it¡¯s family or anyone else.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought that because of your brother¡¯s sudden appearance, you might waver, or you might distance yourself from me. So I thought it would be better to kill him.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I only considered my own position. But you can be different. I convinced myself that if I filled your wounds, it would be enough.¡±


    His sharp gaze finally met Ja-kyung¡¯s, and it held various emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being a person who loves you like this.¡±


    The string pulled taut.


    ¡°I won¡¯t do it again. Please forgive me.¡±


    Ja-kyung silently reeled the fishing line. The fishing rod bent like a bow, and a fish revealed itself above the water. Surprised by its considerable size, Ja-kyung took the fish and carefully removed the hook from its mouth. It kept flapping around energetically, refusing to stop.


    After throwing the caught fish back into the sea, Ja-kyung brushed off his hands and stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯m going.¡±


    Ja-kyung reached out his hand when Il-hyun looked upset thinking he means to go alone.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°After eating only instant noodles for two days, I¡¯m starving to death. I want to go home, take a shower, and sleep comfortably.¡±


    Feeling touched, Il-hyun tried to hug him but Ja-kyung took a step back. Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows furrowed with a hint of disappointment.


    ¡°You say you forgive me.¡±


    ¡°But a hug isn¡¯t necessary as soon as you make up, is it?¡±


    Il-hyun looked slightly upset, but then his eyes twinkled. Close your eyes for a moment. I¡¯ve got something for you. Ja-kyung looked behind him. When Il-hyun got off the boat, Ja-kyung noticed he was empty-handed. As Ja-kyung looked at him suspiciously, Il-hyun urged him to close his eyes now. Ja-kyung closed his eyes for a moment before Il-hyun took his hand and led him away.


    Jiik, his cheeks twitched at the familiar sound. What. No way. But the moment he touched it, he opened his eyes wide. His hand had somehow slipped inside Il-hyun¡¯s pants. And not just that, it was in an incredible place.


    Surprised, Ja-kyung quickly pulled his hand away from his smooth dick.


    ¡°W-What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°The gift of reconciliation. Do you like it?¡±


    Unable to find words, Ja-kyung stared at him in disbelief.


    ¡°Fuck. It¡¯s so fucking sore. Let¡¯s not do this next time.¡±


    Would you like to touch more? Il-hyun reached for his hand, but Ja-kyung pushed him away, feeling disgusted. Then, Il-hyun zipped up his pants and put his arm around Ja-kyung¡¯s neck. And whispered in his ear, ¡°I heard that both masturbating and having sex after a fight feels amazing.¡± It was so close that his lips were about to touch Ja-kyung¡¯s ears.


    So noisy. Il-hyun persisted despite being pushed and continued to speak obscenities. Il-hyun¡¯s body leaned back as Ja-kyung pushed his shoulders telling him to stop. They both slipped and fell under the rock when Ja-kyung tried to push him away. Splash! They plunged into the water, then quickly got their faces out.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s wet face glistened under the sun. He laughed brightly, and Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter as well.

 CH 125

    Translated by Springlila


    ¡°Hyung, did you tell him to do it?¡±


    Ja-kyung looked at the elated Wang Lun with a puzzled expression. He had wondered why Kang Il-hyun unexpectedly got waxing, but Wang Lun claimed he was encouraged by love. They say that love comes with sacrifice and cost. What in the world. It was strange that Wang Lun encouraged it, but even stranger given Kang Il-hyun¡¯s personality, he listened to it and put it into action.


    ¡°When you¡¯re in love, your judgment becomes clouded. If I told him to shave his head, CEO Kang would have done it.¡±


    At that, Wang Han was furious. Don¡¯t touch his hair. He complained that his recently transplanted hair was falling out and he was depressed. Then, he handed out a glass of wine to Ja-kyung.


    ¡°Anyway, congratulations on your return. Even though it was just a two-day escape.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled charmingly as he raised his glass of juice and gently clinked it. After returning home, taking a shower, and having a hearty dinner prepared by the house chef, he realized how foolish it was to have fled to the island. He even made a promise that if he ever had to run away again, he would go to a top-notch resort.


    ¡°Did CEO Kang go to the company?¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded at Wang Lun¡¯s question. He dropped off Ja-kyung and went straight back to the office. He said that he might be late because he had a lot of work to do, and they would catch up later.


    Ja-kyung felt somewhat sorry for spending the night sitting in front of the gate, and when he saw the mosquito bite mark on his cheek, he found it a bit amusing. You¡¯re human too, huh? Seeing the mosquito bite made him think that.


    ¡°Oh, Wei. I have something to tell you.¡±


    Wang Han spoke while pouring alcohol into an empty glass. Ja-kyung, who was eating a watermelon, looked at him. He hesitated a little, made eye contact with Wang Lun for a moment, and then got to the point.


    ¡°Lun and I are going to leave this place.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we can stay here forever. Staying in one place for a long time is not our nature. You know that too.¡±


    Ja-kyung asked anxiously. Then what about me? Han smiled warmly.


    ¡°You idiot. Do you think CEO Kang will let you go?¡±


    Han didn¡¯t say anything more. Ja-kyung looked at Lun. Seeing the expression with a lot to say, he gestured for him to go ahead and express his thoughts.


    ¡°Hyung thinks we might be a hindrance to you. Now that you have a good older brother, having people like us around might make your situation difficult. So¡­¡±


    ¡°Lun.¡±


    Han warned with his eyes to stop, and Lun kept his mouth shut. Ja-kyung asked with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°How could you think that way?¡±


    ¡°Lun was exaggerating. We had planned to leave before.¡±


    Lun pouted. lie. It was a lie. Although Han warned, Lun wasn¡¯t the type to listen. Ja-kyung looked back and forth between Han and Lun. He understood their feelings, but it was still hurtful.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that. We¡¯re family. No matter what anyone says, you guys are my family.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ve never once thought of you as an outsider either. But¡­¡±


    ¡°You guys raised me. You¡¯re my parents and brothers.¡±


    ¡°Wei¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung spoke firmly to the two of them.


    ¡°If I could die for someone, it would be my brothers. So, please don¡¯t think about it.¡±


    Both of them fell silent. Then suddenly, Lun stared at the ceiling. Han turned away and wiped his eyes with the back of his arm. Ja-kyung asked with a concerned look. ¡°Are you guys crying now?¡± When Han looked back, his eyes were red. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that the alcohol is too strong.¡±


    ***


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t sleep. Tossing and turning, he checked the time and it was 2 am. He was supposed to meet Jang Tae-ho tomorrow for a re-examination. Kang Il-hyun said the results wouldn¡¯t change much. He felt strange. He didn¡¯t know what kind of expression he should make when he met Jang Tae-ho. It was strange that he didn¡¯t have any feelings for him, even though he was his blood brother.


    He fell asleep after a while, but he heard the door open and the faint sound of footsteps. The bed shifted before he woke and looked back, and someone¡¯s body temperature touched his back first. The fresh scent was something Kang Il-hyun often used.


    ¡°You¡¯re late from work.¡±


    Il-hyun kissed the back of Ja-kyung¡¯s neck as he muttered in his sleep.


    ¡°Sorry. I should have let you sleep, but I missed you so much I couldn¡¯t resist.¡±


    As Ja-kyung tried to turn around, Il-hyun wrapped his firm arms around Ja-kyung¡¯s waist and pressed his body closely.


    ¡°Good night.¡±


    It was quiet. ja-kyung thought he would do something else, but since he sleeps quietly, it was rather suspicious. But unlike the good night greeting, his dick couldn¡¯t sleep and poked his ass hard. Also, he expected that. Annoyed, Ja-kyung pulled his back forward, but Il-hyun pulled him back.


    ¡°Do you want to do it or not?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind. My dick has a mind of its own.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play around, do it if you want to.¡±


    Ja-kyung was barely finished speaking when Il-hyun flipped him over and climbed right on top. Tak, Ja-kyung turned on the bedside light and finally could see his face properly. Ja-kyung squinted, then laughed when he noticed the mosquito bite mark on Il-hyun¡¯s cheek.


    Ja-kyung pressed it with his fingertips, and Il-hyun grabbed his hand and then licked it with his tongue. Il-hyun¡¯s tongue climbed up his wrist and licked his chin and cheeks as if painting with a brush. Il-hyun targeted the sensitive spot inside Ja-kyung¡¯s neck as he squirmed from the ticklish sensation. Then, moving to his lips, he kissed and caressed with small pecks.


    As their lips parted, Il-hyun¡¯s hand reached inside Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt and touched his chest. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip and swallowed a moan as Il-hyun pressed and rubbed his nipple. This time, Il-hyun pinched and twisted it between his fingers. Capturing the ever-changing expressions on Ja-kyung¡¯s face with his gaze, Il-hyun commanded, ¡°Smile.¡±


    When Ja-kyung frowned instead of smiling, Il-hyun buried his face in the nape of his neck and rubbed his nose against it. Give me a smile. Smile for me. Now, he lowered himself further, pushing his face into Ja-kyung¡¯s shirt-covered chest, nibbling and suckling at his chest. Eventually, he turned his attention to the nipples, making Ja-kyung arch slightly. Il-hyun¡¯s head came out from inside the shirt, his hair tousled. His eyes darkened with lust.


    Ja-kyung raised his upper body.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a blowjob.¡±


    Il-hyun raised one eyebrow.


    ¡°Baby, you suck at blowjob,¡±


    Ja-kyung warned.


    ¡°One more word. I will kick you out.¡±


    Il-hyun quickly adjusted his expression and lay down. Ja-kyung sat on his stomach and pulled his shirt off over his head. Il-hyun stroked his hands along the muscles of Ja-kyung¡¯s body.


    His well-defined muscles looked impressive. The chest he had been biting and sucking not long ago had already turned reddish. Following the pale nipples, he explored every nook and cranny of his body. There was no unattractive spot on Ja-kyung¡¯s body. As his hand moved downward from his chest, caressing his abdomen and sides, Ja-kyung moved downward, removing Il-hyun¡¯s pants. The taut, erect dick sprung up, jutting towards his belly.


    Ja-kyung let out a sigh. Il-hyun¡¯s dick looked bigger because he had no pubic hair. The vivid blue veins seemed to stand out even more today. It twitched when his fingertip lightly brushed against it. Il-hyun piled up two pillows next to him and propped them up behind his head, watching Ja-kyung.


    Ja-kyung extended his tongue and began licking, starting from the base and slowly tracing up the dick. His tongue pressed against the upper part of the dick like Il-hyun had done to him, he could hear Il-hyun¡¯s breathing become rougher.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Ja-kyung chuckled at his hoarse voice. He licked a few times before parting his lips and swallowing his dick. Moving his head up and down, he attempted to take it deeper as Il-hyun had instructed. However, it was still a bit challenging to take it past the back of his throat. After a few attempts following Il-hyun¡¯s guidance, he gave up and used his hand to grip the dick, rubbing it up and down.


    ¡°A wise choice.¡±


    Ja-kyung applied more pressure as Il-hyun teased him. Il-hyun frowned and removed his hand. Then, at once, he threw Ja-kyung back down and climbed on it while pressing his body. Suddenly, the position changed. He took off Ja-kyung¡¯s pants and underwear, threw them aside, and buried his face between Ja-kyung¡¯s legs.


    In an instant, Ja-kyung¡¯s dick disappeared into Il-hyun¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Ja-kyung could see the crown of Il-hyun¡¯s head between his legs. With each movement of his head, waves of pleasure washed over him. The sensation of touching the delicate skin with saliva, teeth, and tongue was distinct. Spitting out the dick that had been in his mouth, Il-hyun smiled as if he were about to melt away.


    ¡°Is this really that hard?¡±


    He teasingly kicked out with his foot, but his legs were caught. He thought Il-hyun was going to penetrate him as Il-hyun spread his legs wide. Ja-kyung reached up to find the lube, but contrary to his expectations, Il-hyun quickly rolled over, pressing his body down on Ja-kyung¡¯s. As they moved their waists together, their dicks were pressed between their torsos and rubbed against each other.


    It was a different sensation. His earlier promise that it would feel amazing was not entirely untrue. Il-hyun¡¯s hips moved rhythmically, just like when he thrust into Ja-kyung. Il-hyun¡¯s head almost hit the headboard of the bed as his body moved. He wrapped his arms around Il-hyun¡¯s head, looking him in the eyes. The hand stroking his cheek was soft and affectionate.


    Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t take his gaze away from his lust-ridden eyes. Il-hyun lowered his lips. As Il-hyun¡¯s tongue entered his mouth and a deep, passionate kiss ensued, he felt like he was being penetrated even though he wasn¡¯t. Ja-kyung hugged his neck and wrapped his legs around his waist. The kissing lips fell off and landed on Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder.


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    ¡°Haa¡­ Haa.¡±


    The rhythm of their movements grew faster and faster. Il-hyun leaned harder into him with the arms that held his head and body close. Biting his shoulder before moving to his earlobe, he whispered huskily. ¡°I love you.¡± Il-hyun was a person who did not hesitate to say all sorts of embarrassing things to him, but Ja-kyung was especially fond of those words. That¡¯s why those words always touched his heart.

 CH 126

    Translated by Springlila


    Il-hyun had no idea how many times he had done it. Ja-kyung looked at himself in the mirror and had a disapproving expression on his face the entire time. Kang Il-hyun switched from a red tie to a cobalt blue tie. When Ja-kyung asked if this was better, he nodded roughly. Ja-kyung¡¯s hair was styled with pomade, but it appeared to be similar to Kang Il-hyun¡¯s at first glance. He looked so damn old.


    ¡°Your forehead is handsome, so it looks good even with it uncovered.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this hairstyle.¡±


    ¡°Why? It looks cool.¡±


    ¡°Now I understand why you, CEO Kang, look old. The hair is the problem.¡±


    Il-hyun clicked his tongue and loosened his tie again as Ja-kyung messed up his hair. Then he compared it with different colors. Il-hyun smirked as Ja-kyung grumbled that he wasn¡¯t sure if he was going on a genetic test or a blind date.


    ¡°Do you want to go on a blind date?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°If you want to, just say it.¡±


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    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°I know someone who would be perfect for you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s handsome, rich, has a big dick, and is a little presbyopic, but he still loves you the most.¡±


    Il-hyun laughed in amusement, then adjusted the newly worn tie and fixed the front of Ja-kyung¡¯s hair, and finally turned him so he could see himself in the mirror. Ja-kyung nodded when he looked at his reflection in the mirror. It¡¯s okay. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s hand slid down his arm and hugged him around the waist. He sighed and whined, nuzzling his face between Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulder and neck.


    ¡°Ah, I want to go with you rather than go to work.¡±


    Ja-kyung gently pulled Kang Il-hyun away. Even though he had declined Il-hyun¡¯s insistence to go together, it seemed like he was having a hard time letting go of lingering feelings.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, no need to worry.¡±


    ¡°Why are you so nonchalant?¡±


    He shrugged. His mood felt strange, but it was distant from sentimentality. Although the results were uncertain, nothing would change. I am Ja-kyung, and I¡¯m already too far from being Jang Kyung-joon. Il-hyun, who had been quietly watching, grabbed his cheek and kissed his lips.


    ¡°Take care and come back safely.¡±


    He nodded and then smiled. There was a knock on the door and Park Tae-soo entered. He had decided to accompany him instead of Kang Il-hyun. After adjusting his wristwatch, they stepped outside, where the Wang brothers, who had been waiting, came over and hugged him.


    ¡°Wei, you can¡¯t go and cry.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Wang Lun, who had been patting his back, suddenly made a strange sound and turned to look at the ceiling. His large body bounced up and down. Perplexed, Ja-kyung asked if he was crying, but Wang Han told him not to worry about it and patted his back.


    They were on their way to meet Jang Tae-ho, and as they started off, a few raindrops fell from the heavily clouded sky, which soon turned into a downpour. When they reached their destination and the car stopped, Park Tae-soo held a large black umbrella over them to shield them from the rain.


    When he was escorted inside the genetic forensics center, he spotted Jang Tae-ho, who had arrived first. He was sitting in a chair and looking straight ahead. Ja-kyung approached him and awkwardly greeted him.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    As Jang Tae-ho returned his gaze, Ja-kyung could see tension and nervousness on his face. He rose from his seat and smiled softly.


    ¡°Welcome. It¡¯s raining a lot outside, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you encounter any traffic jams on the way?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t know what else to say, so he just answered. After that, neither of them spoke. They found seats a little apart from each other and waited. After a while, a staff member came over and used a cotton swab to collect a sample from their mouths. The staff member seemed to have some familiarity with Jang Tae-ho.


    They said it would take about 3 hours for the results to come out, and Ja-kyung tried to go home and wait. At that time, Jang Tae-ho called Ja-kyung and stopped him.


    ¡°If you¡¯re okay with it, would you like to wait at my place? It doesn¡¯t seem like the rain will stop easily¡­ and my place is nearby.¡±


    Ah¡­ Ja-kyung looked at Park Tae-soo, but he didn¡¯t respond. Should I do it? He hesitated, then nodded. They got out and went to their respective cars.


    As Jang Tae-ho said, the house was not far away. And it was different from what Ja-kyung had seen at night. It felt familiar as if he had been here before. He left Park Tae-soo to wait in the car and followed Tae-ho into the house. As they pushed open the front door, they were greeted by overgrown dead trees and weeds in the yard.


    Jang Tae-ho, who had gone inside first, rushed to clear the cluttered items and looked embarrassed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not usually this messy¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled awkwardly. Lie. The last time he came, it was messier. He couldn¡¯t say that he had come secretly once. Only belatedly did he remember the hidden microphones and cameras he had placed all around the house. He would need to remove them discreetly. They were expensive too.


    ¡°Do you want something to drink? Tea?¡±


    Jang Tae-ho asked, and Ja-kyung shook his head. However, Jang Tae-ho still brought a bottle of orange juice and handed it to Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung took the juice and looked around the living room. A family photo he had seen before was hanging on one wall. Jang Tae-ho¡¯s gaze seemed to be fixed on Ja-kyung¡¯s face as he stared at the photo intently. Jang Tae-ho made a conscious effort to smile nonchalantly when their gazes met as Ja-kyung turned.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think so when I saw it in the photo, but seeing it in person¡­¡±


    His words were slurred and muffled, so Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t quite understand them. Perhaps he wanted to say that Ja-kyung resembled someone. Ja-kyung had a guess from the photos of who that might be. Especially the face of the woman who seemed to be his mother, her eyes were remarkably similar to Ja-kyung¡¯s.


    Neither of them spoke, and the three hours felt like three days. Jang Tae-ho made calls intermittently for work, which allowed him to leave his seats, a fortunate distraction; otherwise, Ja-kyung might have felt too suffocated and wanted to run out. And so, time passed until a message came from Kang Il-hyun. He asked if the results were out, and Ja-kyung sent a reply. Just as he did, Jang Tae-ho¡¯s phone rang.


    After checking the number, he answered the call with a tense expression, then looked at Ja-kyung. Ja-kyung focused only on Jang Tae-ho¡¯s face. His expression changed gradually. How should he explain it? Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face flashed through his mind. A year ago, Kang Il-hyun, who had died and then come back, seemed to have made a similar expression while looking at Ja-kyung.


    After ending the call, Jang Tae-ho seemed to be in a complex mood. He took a deep breath, and his eyes quickly turned red. He pulled away his hands from his face, then pressed them against his face again, seemingly overwhelmed. Ja-kyung also held his phone, unable to move.


    ***


    He returned home late. He couldn¡¯t concentrate on work all day because his mind was preoccupied with Ja-kyung. The journey back home felt unusually long today. He could hear lively laughter from the second floor as he climbed the stairs. Intrigued, he headed toward the source of the sound. Wang Han and Wang Lun were drinking and laughing while spreading something out.


    Wang Lun turned around as Il-hyun entered the room.


    ¡°CEO Kang, come and see this. You have no idea how cute Wei was when he was a baby.¡±


    What they were looking at was an album. Getting closer, he noticed that someone¡¯s handwriting was next to the album. It contained records like a diary, noting the date of the child¡¯s birth, the child¡¯s actions, and small incidents that happened when the photos were taken. Our beautiful Kyung-joon. Our adorable Kyung-joon. Our¡­


    Il-hyun smiled. She was a good mother. The person who gave birth to Lee Ja-kyung.


    ¡°But where did he go? I didn¡¯t see him.¡±


    Wang Han pointed toward the bedroom with his hand. He went to sleep. He said he felt upset and let us know in advance. Il-hyun stood up and went into the bedroom. The room was dark with the lights off, but the light coming in from the window revealed that Ja-kyung was lying on the bed.


    As he approached, Ja-kyung tossed and turned before lying on his back.


    ¡°You¡¯re late.¡±


    Il-hyun sat on the bed and gently stroked Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Congratulations. You have a brother now.¡±


    Ja-kyung smiled silently.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just¡­¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s words trailed off, and Il-hyun did not urge him.


    ¡°He¡¯s sorry, to me. Saying he lost me¡­ If he had just held my hand properly¡­ None of this would have happened.¡±


    Once they heard the result that they were biologically related, Jang Tae-ho had cried silently for a long time without saying anything. He didn¡¯t know how many times Jang Tae-ho apologized. He thought it was his fault, that he couldn¡¯t even properly look at his parents¡¯ faces. He felt responsible for their early departure. He lived with guilt all his life. Now he was relieved to find him, to know he was alive. He was grateful for him to finally appear, just being alive was enough.


    ¡°And.¡±


    ¡°Our parents¡­ He said they died. He said they couldn¡¯t sleep comfortably all day because they were looking for me. He said that they were sure I was to be alive somewhere, that they only worried about me until they died¡­¡±


    Il-hyun climbed onto the bed and pulled Ja-kyung into his arms. He gently stroked his back as if to soothe him. You can cry if you want to cry. Ja-kyung exhaled a long sighing breath in response to his words. His eyes were stinging, and the back of his neck hurt. He gritted his teeth harder to suppress his emotions.


    ¡°Sorry¡­ I thought I¡¯d be fine¡­¡±


    He had thought it would be fine. Even after hearing the results, he had remained composed. However, looking at the childhood photos and videos that Jang Tae-ho showed him, he realized he wasn¡¯t fine at all.


    ¡°It¡¯s unfair¡­ and frustrating¡­¡±


    ¡°Fuck¡­ A child with parents¡­ how¡­ fuck¡­¡±


    Uncontrollable anger surged. If he could, he wanted to go find the kidnappers and ask them why, why did they do this to him, why did they treat him like this. Ja-kyung trembled, sobbing against Kang Il-hyun¡¯s shoulder as his emotions erupted like boiling water. Kang Il-hyun tightened his arms around Ja-kyung even more as he cry more.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Everything¡¯s okay. If you want to cry, cry.¡±

 CH 127

    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung frowned as he looked in the mirror. His eyes were puffy from crying the day before. He came out of the bedroom after washing his face in cold water to wake up, but Kang Il-hyun, who had been by his side all night, seemed missing and didn¡¯t appear to be getting ready for work.


    He thought about whether he should sleep more or go down and have breakfast until he realized that Il-hyun¡¯s birthday was two days away. He woke up at the thought of a gift. What should he buy? As he thought about the gift in his mind, he changed his clothes and noticed a box on the bedside table.


    It wasn¡¯t there until yesterday. The palm-sized box had a large ribbon on it. On top of it was a card. When he opened the card, he found neat handwriting.


    [My birthday gift. Wear it when we go on a date.]


    He was taken aback. He opened the box slightly with a feeling of disbelief and closed it immediately, tightly closing his eyes. Oh, damn it. He calmed himself down, opened the box again, and checked its contents properly. The underwear, which the artisan had made with meticulous care, was white lace, and surprisingly, there was a cat embroidered on the backside.


    Ja-kyung was horrified and shoved it into the box, then closed the lid. It had been nice until he comforted her last night. He then hid it in a drawer in case someone might see it, and came out of the living room.


    He lit a cigarette and sat on the sofa. Then, he opened the album he received from Jang Tae-ho. Flipping through the album one page at a time, he was thinking about his mother, whose face he couldn¡¯t even remember when a message arrived. It was from Kang Il-hyun.


    [I¡¯m looking forward to the gift.]


    Ugh, he groaned as he tossed his phone aside.


    ***


    Ja-kyung definitely checked the message, but there was no reply. Il-hyun clicked his tongue. He had suggested having dinner in two days, but he wondered if Ja-kyung would agree. Although he had only imagined his reaction for a moment, it felt like he was getting aroused.


    ¡°Would it be okay for you to go alone?¡±


    Park Tae-soo, who was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, sent a somewhat worried look through the rearview mirror. Il-hyun chuckled. He knew what he was worried about. The words ¡°Seoul Central District Prosecutors¡¯ Office¡± came into view outside the window. When he had come here before, the reporters were bustling around.


    After getting out of the car, Tae-soo opened the trunk and took out a fruit basket. Straightening his tie once, Il-hyun walked inside. He felt the uneasy glances as he entered as if unwelcome guests had arrived. Going up to the third floor, Il-hyun stopped in front of the door with ¡°Prosecutor Jang Tae-ho¡± written on it.


    Knock, he knocked on the door and went inside. When he entered, Jang Tae-ho¡¯s secretary was the first to greet him. He recognized Il-hyun, his eyes widening, and then he stood up abruptly. The other colleague next to him also stared with a wide-open mouth.


    Il-hyun greeted them casually and then placed the fruit basket on the table in front of the sofa. Jang Tae-ho, who had been talking on the phone with his back turned, turned to find Il-hyun, then stopped talking and frowned.


    After ending the call, he asked his employees to give them some privacy for a moment. When they left and only the two of them remained, the atmosphere became even more awkward.


    ¡°What did you come here for?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and talk. My leg hurts.¡±


    Without asking permission, Il-hyun took a seat on the couch and sat down. He crossed his long legs and rested his hands on the armrests of the couch, and tapped his fingers. Jang Tae-ho looked disapprovingly at the fruit basket he had brought and took a seat across from him.


    Kang Il-hyun looked inside the office. He had noticed it since the last time,


    ¡°It¡¯s small. The chief prosecutor¡¯s office is much bigger.¡±


    ¡°Cut the nonsense, just get to the point and leave.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled leisurely as he noticed the hostility in his eyes. He then took something from his arms. It was a USB the size of a finger. Jang Tae-ho looked at it and then lifted his gaze to stare at Il-hyun.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Things that might be useful to you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush, just tell me.¡±


    ¡°For example, evidence supporting allegations of someone¡¯s corruption, accusations of sexual bribery, or embezzlement.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho returned his gaze to Kang Il-hyun after looking at the USB with a questioning expression on his face.


    ¡°Prosecutor Jang, you¡¯re brimming with a sense of justice, while I¡¯m brimming with power rather than justice. If we collaborate, we might create quite an exquisite picture, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Jang Tae-ho sneered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play tricks. Do you think I don¡¯t know you, CEO Kang? Even if you combine all the scoundrels inside this thing, there won¡¯t be anyone worse than you.¡±


    ¡°You really know how to make words sting.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, tell me the real reason for all this with me.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun chuckled, giving him a smile that seemed to say he was asking a foolish question.


    ¡°Are you asking because you don¡¯t know? It¡¯s because of your brother.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t drag Kyung-joon into this. He¡¯s different from you. If he had grown up properly, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved with someone like you.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled. It seemed that in Jang Tae-ho¡¯s eyes, Lee Ja-kyung was just a cute and innocent little brother who had been lost in childhood.


    ¡°Therefore. I¡¯m here to make peace. How upset the cat must be if the two of us keep fighting. Don¡¯t you think? I can¡¯t stand seeing that.¡±


    ¡°If that ever happens, Kyung-joon, he will be on my side.¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled at Jang Tae-ho¡¯s confidence.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. Let¡¯s both make an effort to get along from now on. This isn¡¯t a threat, it¡¯s a request.¡±


    Jang Tae-ho sighed and pointed to the fruit basket as Kang Il-hyun stood up after finishing his business. ¡°Take this with you, on your way out.¡± Just then, Kang Il-hyun picked up the cutter knife that was beside him and pushed it up. Jang Tae-ho flinched as the knife come out. Il-hyun slashed open the wrapping and pulled out an apple.


    After taking a quick bite of the apple, he waved it at Jang Tae-ho.


    ¡°It¡¯s done, right? You can eat it now.¡±


    As Kang Il-hyun left the office, Jang Tae-ho looked in the direction he disappeared and then stood up from his seat. Immediately, his gaze landed on the USB on the table. He clenched his fist. ¡°Dammit¡­ How dare he¡­ What does he take me for?¡±


    Il-hyun stepped outside and tossed the apple he had been eating into the trash can. Bastard. He¡¯d kill him if it weren¡¯t for the fact that he¡¯s Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s brother. He received a message from Lee Ja-kyung as he gritted his teeth and walked to his car. I¡¯m going to my brother¡¯s house today. My brother wanted to see me.


    Il-hyun stopped in his tracks, and couldn¡¯t help but turn around. This bastard. He couldn¡¯t erase the thought that Tae-ho had deliberately brought Ja-kyung into this to provoke him. He bit his lip, sending a reply. Sure, have a safe trip. He even added a smiley face to the message.


    ***


    The clinking sound of ice being poured filled the glass. After pouring the drink halfway, Il-hyun lay down on the sunbed and pulled out a cigarette. The evening rain had given way to a clear sky. He was admiring the stars when he heard footsteps. When he turned, he saw Ja-kyung standing there, dressed in a seemingly modest shirt and pants.


    Il-hyun sat up as he left his seat.


    ¡°You¡¯re home early.¡±


    ¡°Why are you out here?¡±


    Il-hyun showed the glass of wine. He was going to have a drink and then head in to sleep. After finishing the remaining drink, he placed the empty glass on the table. Jaekyung pulled up a chair and sat across from Il-hyun, picking up some fruit that was served as a snack.


    ¡°What have you been doing?¡±


    ¡°Just had dinner, listened to stories about my parents, you know, random things like that.¡±


    ¡°It must have been enjoyable.¡±


    Ja-kyung nodded.


    ¡°I always wondered why I liked watermelon so much. My parents used to own a fruit store when I was a kid. Even back then, I loved watermelon the most. Isn¡¯t it interesting?¡±


    Feeling excited, Ja-kyung talked about his childhood, and Il-hyun poured the rest of the alcohol.


    ¡°Did Jang Tae-ho say anything else?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Between you and me.¡±


    Ja-kyung hesitated. In fact, Jang Tae-ho had asked if he had to stay at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s house, or if he couldn¡¯t come to stay in his house. He flatly said he didn¡¯t have that intention, thinking he didn¡¯t want to give false hope. Jang Tae-ho seemed somewhat surprised and perhaps a bit hurt.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything specific.¡±


    After spitting out the watermelon seeds, Ja-kyung reached into his back pocket, took something out, and held it out. Il-hyun looked at it and raised an eyebrow. A USB. At first, he thought it was the one he gave to Jang Tae-ho during the day, but looking closely, it was different. Il-hyun puzzledly looked at him before Ja-kyung slipped the USB drive into Il-hyun¡¯s shirt pocket.


    ¡°CEO Kang, it¡¯s your birthday present.¡±


    Il-hyun took it out and checked. It had the name ¡°Kang Il-hyun¡± written on it.


    ¡°It was at my brother¡¯s house. It was at the top, showing the bad things you did.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyes widened. Still, it wasn¡¯t enough. He realized that the team leader in charge of accounting had suddenly lost contact with him and fled the country. They were still tracking him. Park Tae-soo said he had proof that he had met with Jang Tae-ho before he left the country.


    As Il-hyun looked at him with a disbelieving expression, Ja-kyung told him that he didn¡¯t need to be grateful.


    ¡°Did you know what¡¯s in it?¡±


    Ja-kyung bit into the watermelon and spoke.


    ¡°It seemed like some kind of financial file. The amount¡­ wow.¡±


    As Ja-kyung shook his head, Il-hyun¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°How did you find it?¡±


    ¡°When I secretly went there last time, I planted cameras and wiretapping. I was trying to retrieve those and delete the recording files, but I accidentally found this.¡±


    Even after doing something unexpected, he remained calm. A tinge of joy began to spread across Il-hyun¡¯s face. Look at this, Jang Tae-ho. You are very mistaken. Cats aren¡¯t that naive. He smiled and tried to pull Ja-kyung into an embrace, but Ja-kyung pushed him away with his finger, keeping him at bay.


    ¡°I gave you a present, so I¡¯m canceling the panties.¡±


    ¡°Just hug me for now. I¡¯m feeling so excited that I might explode.¡±


    Even when Il-hyun said that Ja-kyung persisted. Il-hyun clung to him stubbornly as Ja-kyung tried to push him away. Come here. He eventually pulled Ja-kyung into a tight embrace. Actually, the USB wasn¡¯t important. Even if these things fell into Jang Tae-ho¡¯s hands, they could be made useless. But he was anxious the whole time. He wondered if Ja-kyung was wavering, wanting to return to his original home. To the point that it made his earlier confidence in Jang Tae-ho seem shallow.


    ¡°If your brother finds out about this, he might be furious. Are you okay with that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. We haven¡¯t met in a long time, so he might just let it slide. If not, I¡¯ll handle a few hits.¡±


    Il-hyun whispered softly into Ja-kyung¡¯s ear. Thank you.


    ¡°If you¡¯re thankful, I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t have any panties.¡±


    But to that end, Ja-kyung couldn¡¯t get an answer.


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 CH 128

    Translated by Springlila


    ¡°How is it? Do you like it?¡±


    A bracelet of the same design glittered in the black box. Kang Yoo-jung contacted him to say she would be stopping by the company for a short time, and he was curious about what was going on; it turned out she had given him a gift for his birthday. Each other¡¯s initials were engraved on the inside of the silver bracelet.


    ¡°The cat will like it.¡±


    ¡°I asked a friend to make it. They said they¡¯d change the name on it if you break up.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s eyebrows rose at her joke. He warned her not to say such things, even as a joke.


    ¡°Shall we have dinner together for dinner? Oh, did you say Ja-kyung found his brother? How about the four of us eating together?¡±


    Il-hyun outright refused. He said they would have a quiet dinner together. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door, and then the door swung open as Jang Tae-ho entered. Anxiety crossed the face of the secretary who followed. Seeing Jang Tae-ho¡¯s flushed face reminded him of the USB that Lee Ja-kyung gave him last night.


    He gestured for the secretaries to leave and then stood up from his seat.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here so early in the morning, Prosecutor Jang?¡±


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    ¡°What have you done to my younger sibling?¡±


    ¡°Tell me so I can understand.¡±


    Seeing the calm Kang Il-hyun, Jang Tae-ho clenched his fists.


    ¡°Pretending to care so much, then coaxing the innocent one to steal for you,¡±


    ¡°Please have a seat. Yelling at each other won¡¯t get us anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Did you actually threaten him? How did you manage to get that soft-hearted soul, who hasn¡¯t seen his brother in 20 years, to steal something from his brother¡¯s house?¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung, who had been silently listening to the two of them, intervened.


    ¡°Somebody told him, maybe, Lee Ja-kyung, no, Yang Seon-woo¡­ brother?¡±


    Jang Tae-ho¡¯s gaze moved from Kang Il-hyun to Kang Yoo-jung. The angry red hue of his face seemed to subside a bit as his expression softened. Kang Yoo-jung smiled brightly and asked him to sit down, which he did reluctantly.


    Kang Il-hyun made a disapproving expression when he saw this. The siblings seem to have similar tastes. Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s ears still turn red whenever he sees Kang Yoo-jung, and whenever that happens, he feels the urge to cut them off.


    As Kang Yoo-jung sat down, she gracefully introduced herself with a polite smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m Kang Il-hyun¡¯s older sister. Kang Yoo-jung. Since there is a connection between our families, you know who I am, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I know.¡±


    ¡°You said that my younger brother supposedly threatened your younger brother, but that¡¯s a misunderstanding. In fact, my younger brother almost always gives away everything he has, and I often wonder if he¡¯s being taken advantage of.¡±


    Kang Il-hyun stared at Kang Yoo-jung with a puzzled expression. Did she just call him a fool? Still, Jang Tae-ho¡¯s anger didn¡¯t seem to have subsided.


    ¡°Are you telling me to believe that now?¡±


    ¡°Prosecutor. You know that CEO Kang Il-hyun was shot at the inauguration ceremony two years ago and almost died, right?¡±


    Jang Tae-ho did not answer. There was no way he didn¡¯t know about that incident. He had watched the news and felt so delighted. He had even wished Kang Il-hyun had died.


    ¡°The one who shot him at that time was your younger brother, Prosecutor.¡±


    Kang Yoo-jung said it calmly and matter-of-factly. Jang Tae-ho¡¯s eyes widened considerably, and he wore an expression of disbelief.


    ¡°My sibling can¡¯t even kill an ant.¡±


    Il-hyun snorted inwardly. Even if he couldn¡¯t kill ants, he was more than capable of killing people. He felt an itch to say something but restrained himself, fearing that Ja-kyung might get upset again if he found out. He managed a smile. Kang Yoo-jung continued to calm Jang Tae-ho down.


    ¡°If you¡¯re curious, you can confirm it with your brother directly. By the way, there were even more severe incidents after that, but I still acknowledged and accepted their relationship.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course, it wasn¡¯t easy.¡±


    She smiled with a touch of regret, while Jang Tae-ho¡¯s expression remained incredulous. Kang Yoo-jung held his hand affectionately, looked into his eyes, and quietly comforted him.


    ¡°I also don¡¯t understand my younger brother, and there are many times when it¡¯s hard for me to accept his choices. But what can I do? They¡¯re our bloodline. We have to embrace it.¡±


    ***


    Thud, thud, bundles of money piled up. Wang Lun, Wang Han, and Ja-kyung gathered around the pool because they were bored. They decided to hold a competition to see who could hold their breath underwater the longest, with the bet increasing with each round.


    Ja-kyung sat cross-legged in the water and counted the numbers in his head, letting the breath he had inhaled earlier flow out of his mouth little by little. Wang Han came out of the water first, followed by Wang Lun, who couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and finally Ja-kyung.


    With a splash, Ja-kyung lifted his face above the water¡¯s surface and wiped his face while smiling.


    ¡°One more time?¡±


    Han shook his head. Forget it. I¡¯d rather compete with the fish.


    ¡°Way, you come here. Do you have gills?¡±


    Lun grumbled and tried to wrap his arms around Ja-kyung¡¯s neck to push his back underwater, but Ja-kyung slipped away like a catfish and escaped from the water. Then, as he was drying his wet hair, one of the three phones started ringing. It was Ja-kyung¡¯s. As he checked the caller ID, the smile faded from his face.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Wang Lun asked from the water, and Ja-kyung signaled for him to be quiet before answering the call and walking to the grassy area. Hello?


    [It¡¯s me, Kyung-joon. Are you busy?]


    A somewhat serious tone. Jakyung guessed why he had called.


    ¡°No, Hyung¡­ Let¡¯s talk.¡±


    [You¡­ don¡¯t have anything to say to me?]


    His cautious tone. Has he already noticed? Ja-kyung lightly licked his lower lip and rolled his eyes. Anyway, he did something wrong by taking that USB, but leaving it as it was might cause trouble for Kang Il-hyun later.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ If you¡¯re asking about stealing the USB, then yes, I did it.¡±


    A long sigh came through the receiver.


    [Why did you do that? Did someone¡­ threaten you?]


    ¡°No.¡±


    [You can tell me the truth.]


    ¡°It really wasn¡¯t like that.¡±


    [I went to visit Kang Il-hyun during the day and heard a ridiculous story. He lied that it was you who shot him two years ago.]


    Ja-kyung¡¯s steps stopped. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to let it out coolly anyway? Jang Tae-ho did not ask how Ja-kyung lived, but pretending not to know did not mean that it had not happened.


    ¡°I did those things.¡±


    [Kyung-joon-ah.]


    ¡°And last year, I threw an ax at Kang Il-hyun¡¯s father¡¯s head.¡±


    [¡­]


    Of course, it didn¡¯t cause his death. Ja-kyung muttered to himself, and something like a sigh and a grunt came from the other side. After a moment of hesitation, Ja-kyung spoke up.


    ¡°I know you are disappointed. But this is me. If you expected me to be an innocent and kind younger brother, I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t grow up like that.¡±


    In the silence, only the sound of stepping on the grass could be heard. It was awkward. Perhaps the difference in their lives was inevitable after all. As he walked towards the fence, Jang Tae-ho speaks first.


    [No, I¡¯m sorry. I was thinking on my own¡­ You must have had a hard time too¡­]


    His voice seemed to die down suddenly. Ja-kyung felt a rush of guilt. He hadn¡¯t asked further about that matter.


    [Come home when you have time. Let¡¯s have dinner together.]


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    After ending the call, Ja-kyung let out a sigh. It was unexpected. He thought he would explode, saying he wouldn¡¯t consider someone like him as his brother. But he¡¯s willing to put up with that because he felt guilty about what he¡¯s lost.


    He turned around with a bitter feeling, only to see the Wang brothers playfully dunking each other¡¯s heads underwater. A message arrived as he walked toward them. It was Kang Il-hyun. He had specified the dinner location and time, and below that, only one line.


    [Be sure to bring a present.]


    Ja-kyung¡¯s face crumpled like a piece of paper.


    After coming out of the shower, Ja-kyung dried his hair and unfolded the lace panties properly with a devastated expression. Unbelievable. Even looking at it again, it¡¯s still grotesque. The front was mesh and the back was a cat. He frowned at it, wondering if he should really wear this or not. It wasn¡¯t too late to change. He was about to text that he couldn¡¯t wear it when a message from Kang Il-hyun arrived.


    [Babe. Did you put it on? I might cry if I don¡¯t get my present today.]


    Fuck. Was this being watched through a camera? Jakyung finally put on the panties after looking around the room in frustration. The feeling was softer than he had thought, but the shape was more embarrassing than what he had previously worn.


    Yeah. It¡¯s your birthday. It¡¯s just for today. Ja-kyung reluctantly put on a decent outfit over it. It felt more like being dragged to a slaughterhouse than going on a date. He styled his hair, dressed up, and walked outside where the house chef was waiting with a bright smile.


    ¡°Oh, you look great.¡±


    As Ja-kyung smiled back at her, Wang Han and Wang Lun, who were in the living room, rushed over like excited puppies. They scrutinized Ja-kyung from top to bottom and looked at him with puzzled expressions.


    ¡°Wei, where¡¯s CEO Kang¡¯s present?¡±


    Ja-kyung shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something. I¡¯ll give it to him when I meet him.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t prepare it? He might be disappointed.¡±


    Ja-kyung didn¡¯t respond and tried to walk past them. Just then, Lun threw in a comment as he passed by.


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t prepared it yet, at least wear some sexy underwear. Couples do a lot of events like that.¡±


    Han hit Lun on the back.


    ¡°Cut it out, Lun. CEO Kang isn¡¯t a pervert. Besides, Wei will not going to wear that just because CEO Kang told him to?¡±


    ¡°Well, you have a point.¡±


    They laughed together. When Ja-kyung glared at them as he walk, they exchanged glances and followed. No way¡­! Before they could say anything, Ja-kyung shouted that he didn¡¯t want to hear it and walked out the front door. The car sent by Kang Il-hyun was already waiting in front of the gate.

 CH 129

    Translated by Springlila


    Ja-kyung entered the restaurant with a cake in one hand. The staff led him to where Il-hyun was sitting. Il-hyun had arrived first and was looking out the window when he noticed Ja-kyung. After taking his seat, Ja-kyung placed the cake on one side of the table. Il-hyun¡¯s gaze lingered on the cake.


    ¡°Is that for me?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t come empty-handed. Besides, it¡¯s your birthday.¡±


    Il-hyun chuckled and stood up from his seat. He approached Ja-kyung, then unbuttoned one of his shirt buttons, revealing a portion of his chest, before returning to his seat. He grinned as he brought the wine glass to his lips.


    ¡°You look much nicer.¡±


    It was such a simple action, but Ja-kyung was nervous for no apparent reason. He was embarrassed and rubbed his neck once before ordering a meal and a glass of wine. Then they both discussed what had happened today. Ja-kyung discovered that Jang Tae-ho had visited Il-hyun¡¯s company and had met Kang Yoo-jung there.


    Il-hyun handed him the bracelet that Yoo-jung had given him. It was the same bracelet design but made of platinum, with their initials engraved on the inside. Ja-kyung¡¯s face lit up with a smile upon seeing it.


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    He nodded.


    ¡°As expected, I think Yoo-jung-ssi has a very good taste.¡±


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    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze sharpened at the thoughtless words. Ja-kyung was so absorbed in putting the bracelet on his wrist and admiring it that he didn¡¯t notice his change in expression.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    When Il-hyun asked, Ja-kyung raised his head and was startled. His gaze was intense as if he was about to devour him with his eyes.


    ¡°I¡­ like it.¡±


    ¡°You like it because it¡¯s a gift from Kang Yoo-jung, or because it¡¯s a couple bracelet?¡±


    Ja-kyung expected it. Ja-kyung spoke clearly like a robot without hesitation.


    ¡°I like it because it¡¯s the same bracelet as CEO Kang¡¯s.¡±


    Il-hyun took a sip of wine and smiled. Cute. Ja-kyung let out a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t know how much scolding he had endured for misspeaking once before. When Kang Il-hyun had asked if he found Kang Yoo-jung pretty, Ja-kyung had carelessly replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Little did he know, Il-hyun would spend the entire night replaying the recorded message he had recorded secretly, ¡®CEO Kang, I like you. This is the first time in my life that I¡¯ve had such ecstatic sex.¡¯


    ¡°If you like Kang Yoo-jung, just say it. Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll wear a long-haired wig and meet you.¡±


    Ja-kyung made a disgusted expression. Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face and long hair wig. The mere thought of it gave me goosebumps. Ja-kyung rubbed his arm, and Kang Il-hyun added more.


    ¡°Or, I can call you ¡®oppa¡¯ if you want.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡±


    Even though Ja-kyung said he didn¡¯t like it, Il-hyun still called him oppa, and it made his pride cringe. Il-hyun laughed, and the two continued with light conversations while waiting for their food. When the steak arrived, Il-hyun took Ja-kyung¡¯s plate, sliced the steak, and offered it to him with a fork. Ja-kyung looked around and shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat on my own.¡±


    ¡°Today, I want to feed you myself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m probably better with a knife than you are.¡±


    ¡°Come on, give it a try.¡±


    Feeling like he should continue the banter, Ja-kyung slightly opened his mouth pretending to be defeated, and Il-hyun smiled in approval. While they indulged in this slightly embarrassing behavior, they also engaged in some serious conversations. Plans for the future, the possibility of being busy for a while¡ªrequests for understanding about various matters. It felt like they were sharing not just their daily lives, but their entire beings. As Ja-kyung began to feel a bit drunk and his throat tightened, Il-hyun tilted his head and looked at him.


    ¡°My baby, you got drunk. Your face turns red too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not drunk yet.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Il-hyun got up from his seat and approached Ja-kyung, holding out his hand to take the cake Ja-kyung had brought. Let¡¯s go.


    ¡°Why? We still have dessert left.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go eat the rest upstairs.¡±


    Il-hyun¡¯s gaze became heavy as he said ¡°eat.¡± Ja-kyung flushed briefly as Il-hyun¡¯s gaze seemed to pierce through him. Ja-kyung stood up, but when he tried to withdraw his hand after Il-hyun had taken it, Il-hyun firmly held it.


    ¡°Others are watching.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If anyone says anything, I¡¯ll knock their heads off.¡±


    Thump. Il-hyun¡¯s aggressive advances began as they entered the suite. Their kisses were passionate as if they were about to devour each other lips. Ja-kyung was carried away by the atmosphere, and he wrapped his hand around Il-hyun¡¯s neck and clung to him more tightly than usual.


    Then their lips parted for a moment, and Il-hyun smiled as he leaned back and sat on the sofa. He loosened his tie and took out a cigarette. When Ja-kyung tried to approach, Il-hyun signaled him to stop and leaned back against the sofa.


    ¡°Give me the present.¡±


    Ja-kyung pretended he could not hear it, so he asked again with a wistful look.


    ¡°The present?¡±


    Ja-kyung bit his lower lip. He had thought about brushing it off, but Il-hyun was persistent¡­ After a moment of hesitation, he unbuttoned and discarded his shirt, then slowly pulled down his pants. When he saw the white lace, Kang Il-hyun raised the corner of his mouth and used the finger holding the cigarette to touch his lips.


    When Ja-kyung was standing completely naked, Il-hyun motioned for him to take a turn. He did as he was told, and this time Il-hyun asked him to come closer. Well, today was his birthday, so he could endure this time. Ja-kyung thought, ¡®Let¡¯s see when it¡¯s my birthday.¡¯ He would make Il-hyun wear a dress with a plunging neckline. Just imagining Kang Il-hyun wearing a dress sent shivers down his spine more than when he had to call him ¡®oppa.¡¯ Ahh, enough of this.


    He went and stood in front of him. Il-hyun¡¯s hand grabbed his dick through his panties. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip. With each touch of his hand, excitement crawled up from his toes. Il-hyun raised his gaze and looked up.


    ¡°Can I take a picture?¡±


    When Ja-kyung frowned, Il-hyun laughed and put his lips on Ja-kyung¡¯s prick. It felt erotic to run his tongue over the thin fabric. He licked it, then buried his face in it, moving his lips around. Ja-kyung clenched his teeth to hold back a moan.


    The bridge of Il-hyun¡¯s nose between his thick eyebrows was completely crushed by his dick. He licked the area tenaciously like a baby looking for its mother¡¯s milk, then parted. His front was wet. He could see the intense pleasure on Kang Il-hyun¡¯s face as he breathed heavily.


    ¡°Lay down.¡±


    Il-hyun pressed his shoulders and back as Ja-kyung lay face down on the carpet. His hips were raised, and his upper body was flattened and moved back. Il-hyun let out a curse word when he saw the cat-embroidered buttocks.


    Il-hyun initially ordered it to tease Ja-kyung, but when he put it on, it was erotic enough to make his hair stand on end. Lee Ja-kyung looked back as Il-hyun kneaded his ass. Ja-kyung¡¯s reddened nape and eyes were enough to make people go crazy.


    Ja-kyung¡¯s well-proportioned back went up and down. The snake tattoo on his shoulder still bothered him. Il-hyun promised himself that someday he would get rid of this and carve a cute cat into it. Then he looked at his name engraved on Ja-kyung¡¯s waist with satisfaction.


    His eyes roamed over Ja-kyung¡¯s body for a while, then he grabbed his buttocks on either side, spread them apart, and ran his tongue down the center. Ja-kyung¡¯s thighs tensed. Il-hyun licked and sucked like a dog until the lace was wet, then bit the lace with his teeth. Lee Ja-kyung turned around in surprise at the sound of tearing.


    Il-hyun thinks Ja-kyung had just cursed him for being a perverted bastard with his eyes, but even that turned him on. He pushed the ripped fabric to the side, stuck his tongue, and moved it in and out the hole, then rubbed Ja-kyung¡¯s dick with his hand.


    Ja-kyung moaned as his thigh trembled. Pulling his lips away, Il-hyun lifted Ja-kyung to his feet and carried him to the couch. Settling down on the couch, Il-hyun unzipped his own pants and pulled out his dick. As he rubbed his painfully erect dick up and down, Ja-kyung climbed onto the sofa and sat on his thigh with his legs spread out.


    Il-hyun¡¯s dick touched Ja-kyung¡¯s hole as he sat down slowly with his knees up. The thick dick began to open and enter the hole. It¡¯s tight. Ja-kyung clutched at his shoulder in pain. Il-hyun caressed Ja-kyung¡¯s cheek and kissed his lips to comfort him. Their tongues rubbed against each other, and a hot breath passed from their mouth.


    ¡°Not yet, not even halfway.¡±


    Their lips parted for a moment, and Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung by the waist and pressed him down with force. The tight hole was forced open, and his stomach clenched. Ja-kyung held his breath and didn¡¯t know what to do. his position was almost as bad as oral. He still couldn¡¯t get used to it and it was hard every time he did it.


    Kang Il-hyun¡¯s thighs touched his ass when he sat completely down. His panties were soaked in saliva and pre-cum from his dick. Il-hyun licked Ja-kyung¡¯s neck and cheeks before suckling his chest. He swallowed the areola and nipple in one bite, sucking it hard. The sucking had made Il-hyun¡¯s cheeks thinner.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Ja-kyung thighs clenched. Ja-kyung moved his waist slightly as Kang Il-hyun looked up. Ja-kyung rubbed his dick against his stomach. Then he touched his own prostate and felt electricity run through him, which caused him to stop moving, lower his head, and tremble. Ugh.


    ¡°Why. Can¡¯t you do it?¡±


    Il-hyun licked his ear lobe and his whispering voice was hoarse. After shaking his head, Ja-kyung moved his hips again. He could feel the dick going in and out as he lifted his hips up and down while kneeling. Kang Il-hyun bit his nipple harder as he moved faster. Ah, the moment Ja-kyung lifted his head in pain, Il-hyun grabbed his butt with both hands as if he were about to explode instead of his chest.


    ¡°Now is it my turn?¡±

 CH 130

    Translated by Springlila


    His dick slipped out. Kang Il-hyun helped Ja-kyung down, holding onto the back of the couch to keep him on his stomach. Then he got down and moved back, rubbing his own dick. Through the ripped panties, he can see the hole where Ja-kyung used to receive the dick a while ago.


    Lee Ja-kyung¡¯s shoulders trembled as Il-hyun rubbed and pressed the inside with his middle finger. Il-hyun could feel every wrinkle on his fingertips. He slowly drew a circle and explored the inside, as if tasting food.


    Ja-kyung looked back and gave him a pleading gaze.


    ¡°When are you going to do it?¡±


    ¡°Now.¡±


    When Il-hyun inserted dick with his fingers still in it, Ja-kyung flailed his arms in surprise. Aah!! Tear, it¡¯ll tear! Ugh. The big cock slid through the narrow hole. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip and gripped the back of the couch tightly. He was about to ask if Il-hyun was crazy when Kang Il-hyun moved his waist in a circular motion.


    ¡°Huh, I¡¯ve always been curious. How my dick moves inside you.¡±


    ¡°Get your hand out off me, now, ah! Fuck!¡±


    His fingers scratched inside and slipped out. Kang Il-hyun then immediately grabbed his waist with both hands and slammed into him. Il-hyun slid his hands in front of him to steady him when Ja-kyung¡¯s upper body nearly collapsed from the impact. Baby, I haven¡¯t even started yet.


    As soon as he finished speaking, he supported one leg on the sofa and started moving. Slap, slap, slap, his body swaying back and forth as Il-hyun slammed into his ass until it hurts.


    ¡°Aah!¡±


    ¡°Hold on tight, baby.¡±


    Ja-kyung¡¯s legs were lifted before he realized what he meant. His body suddenly floated in the air like Superman. Ja-kyung looked back as he wrapped his arm around the back of the sofa. This crazy man. It was more difficult than he had expected to be fucked with his body in the air. Veins bulged from Ja-kyung¡¯s neck and arms.


    Slap, slap, slap, holding on to his legs, he slammed in like a machine. The fuse in his head flickered in and out as Il-hyun¡¯s dick crushed his prostate. His vision flashed white and pleasure shot up his spine from his waist.


    His arms were trembling, and he kept slipping due to the sweat. He felt the urge to cum and put one hand down to touch his dick, but he was stopped by Kang Il-hyun. When he turned around, his usually neat hair was disheveled. Afterward, he could see Il-hyun¡¯s excitement in his short, hot breaths.


    Il-hyun¡¯s dick pounded inside him like a mortar. Kang Il-hyun lowered his body and immediately flipped him over and climbed up the moment he felt the urge to cum. His legs were now dangling from his shoulders, and his body was crumpled like a piece of paper.


    The penetration from above struck him squarely in the prostate from that position. Ja-kyung threw his arms in the air in desperation. Wait. Il-hyun¡¯s mouth lifted slightly. He pulled Ja-kyung¡¯s body close to him and raised his knees. This resulted in his back and ass being lifted in midair, with only his shoulders touching the sofa.


    Because of his position, Ja-kyung could see Kang Il-hyun¡¯s dick sliding in and out of his hole. His dick twitched in front of his eyes with each thrust. Ja-kyung hid his face behind his arms. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was from sweat or tears, but his arms were wet. As his climax approached, his jaw trembled.


    Instead of moaning, only breath escaped from his mouth and his eyes turned white.


    ¡°Ugh, uh!¡±


    His limbs trembled convulsively, straining against his back and thighs. Cum splashed into his face as his body folded in half. Every muscle in his body twitched against his will as if he¡¯d been electrocuted. Kang Il-hyun let go of his legs and wrapped his arms around him before the excitement wore off.


    He licked the semen from Ja-kyung¡¯s chest and face with his tongue and continued to thrust. His movements had become so relaxed that he couldn¡¯t tell if he was grinding or pounding. He smiled as he carefully licked Ja-kyung¡¯s flushed cheeks and eyes.


    ¡°You need to take some supplements, why are you having such a hard time?¡±


    ¡°Let me fuck you, and I¡¯ll tell you why it¡¯s hard.¡±


    Ja-kyung gasped for air as he said it, and Il-hyun grinned before grabbing Ja-kyung¡¯s dick. When Ja-kyung told him not to touch him because he was sensitive, he squeezed it and rubbed it with his thumb. He then sucked on Ja-kyung¡¯s nipples. Along with the stinging sensation, the electricity coursed through his body again.


    Slap, slap, slap, he forgot he¡¯d cummed and his dick throbbed again. The movements gradually became harder and faster. From above, Kang Il-hyun¡¯s lips devoured Ja-kyung¡¯s. He kissed him until he couldn¡¯t breathe, and licked him until his face was covered in saliva.


    As Ja-kyung turned his head, he saw the cake box. I want to eat cake. He muttered like he was talking in his sleep, but he could hear Kang Il-hyun laughing in his ears. Now was not the time to worry about cake. Even as he says scary things, the hand that runs through his hair was gentle. Ja-kyung holds onto his hand and looked up at Kang Il-hyun.


    ¡°Come to think of it, I didn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°What.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for being born.¡±


    A smile grew on Il-hyun¡¯s face. Don¡¯t mention it. His lips curled down, signaling the beginning of a long night.


    ***


    Ja-kyung woke up early and looked at his reflection in the mirror with a dazed expression and sighed. The tattered lace panties haphazardly draped over his waist, losing their original shape. After discarding the panties and putting on a robe, he looked for the clothes he had taken off last night.


    While searching through the pockets, he found a box containing two rings. Thankfully, Kang Il-hyun on the bed was still asleep. Carefully, Ja-kyung took out Il-hyun¡¯s ring and placed it next to his finger. He roughly measured the size of Il-hyun¡¯s finger with his eye, but it seemed a bit uncertain.


    A quick look at "pawread dot com" will leave you more fulfilled.


    He tried to put it on Il-hyun¡¯s left ring finger discreetly, but it got stuck halfway. Frustrated, he attempted to remove it, but Il-hyun¡¯s eyelids twitched. Il-hyun was one step ahead of Ja-kyung, his hand clenched around the ring before he could fully remove it. The ring remained on his finger due to the tight grip. As Ja-kyung made a puzzled expression, Il-hyun held his palm out, looking at the ring for a while before turning to ask.


    ¡°Is it a proposal?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a birthday present.¡±


    He checked the ring by examining his hand back and forth several times with a surprised yet happy face. Ja-kyung reached out to grab Il-hyun¡¯s hand and attempted to push the ring further in. However, it wouldn¡¯t go in any deeper. Ja-kyung looked disappointed, and Il-hyun chuckled with a smug grin.


    ¡°It¡¯s good, it¡¯s so tight it feels like it¡¯s in your hole.¡±


    He said it as if he was joking. Rolling his eyes, Ja-kyung made one more attempt to push it in, but it still got stuck in the middle.


    ¡°Damn it. I wish it fit just right.¡±


    Il-hyun smiled and held out his hand to the sullen Ja-kyung. Come here. As Ja-kyung climbed onto the bed, Il-hyun embraced him and gently rubbed his cheek against his. Thank you. Honestly, I was touched. There was sincerity in his voice. Ja-kyung hugged him tightly and buried his face in his chest.


    ¡°I wanted to give you a better present. But I couldn¡¯t think of anything.¡±


    Ja-kyung thought about it over and over again, but it was difficult to give a gift to someone with more money than him.


    ¡°You are a gift to me. Among all the things I¡¯ve received in my life, you¡¯re the most valuable and precious.¡±


    His voice was incredibly warm. The hand that had been caressing his head moved downward to pat his back. Rest more. Let¡¯s get up and go on a date later. As Ja-kyung closed his eyes, Il-hyun¡¯s gaze focused on his hand again. The ring sparkled between his middle and ring fingers. A smile spread across his lips as he observed it.


    ***


    ¡°Young master. When you go home, you must apologize to the chairman.¡±


    Il-hyun looked out the window with an indifferent expression. He looked down at his soiled school uniform and frowned. He had dragged an annoying classmate to the restroom and beaten him until he was almost unconscious, causing a huge commotion.


    He knew that when he got home, his father would probably beat him with a golf club again. He despised his father. He was someone who indulged in all kinds of wrongdoings himself, yet constantly imposed moral standards on Il-hyun. It was ridiculous.


    As the car passes through an alley, it shows a group of students in school uniforms.


    ¡°Please stop the car.¡±


    The secretary turned around and instructed the driver to stop. Il-hyun got out of the car and walked towards the scene. A group of high school students had surrounded someone and were attacking him. The victim, a young child, was clearly much younger and had a worn-out appearance, with a torn backpack clutched to his chest.


    As one of the group attempted to snatch the backpack, the child stubbornly held onto it, resisting.


    ¡°You little brat! You want a beating, huh? Hand it over!¡±


    The child looked up. His gaze met Il-hyun¡¯s head-on. Despite his scruffy appearance, his eyes held a spark of life. His upturned eyes resembled those of a lost kitten. Blood trickled down from his split lip. It piqued Il-hyun¡¯s interest. Should he just watch the fight or turn away?


    After thinking about it, as he approached closer, the high school students noticed Il-hyun and frowned.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    ¡°Middle schooler? Get lost. If you don¡¯t want a serious beating, that is.¡±


    Il-hyun stared into the child¡¯s eyes intently. Should I help? At the same time, one of the high school students grabbed Il-hyun¡¯s collar. This brat, fuck off. Il-hyun grinned and then looked at the child who was lying on the ground. The child nodded vigorously with a scared look on his face.


    The moment the high school student raised his fist, Il-hyun took out a cutter knife from his pocket and cut the face of the boy in front of him. Argh! A shout followed by a stream of blood erupted from his face. The boy fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding face while crying in pain, and the other students around him took a step back in shock.


    Il-hyun laughed as he waved his knife.


    ¡°From now on, those who challenge me will pay the price.¡±


    Fuck. He is crazy The high school students were flustered, hastily helping their injured friend and fleeing. Il-hyun clicked his tongue and watched the guys running away. He glanced back at where the kid had been writhing on the ground just moments ago, only to find the kid had run away with the backpack held tightly. When Il-hyun saw this, he scoffed at the absurdity of it all, then he discovered a small plastic bag on the ground. It was filled with white powder that looked like flour. He kicked it, then returned his gaze to the direction where the child had disappeared.


    ¡°Fuck. Some courtesy wouldn¡¯t hurt. That kid could have at least said thank you.¡±


    He dropped the knife he was holding onto the ground and headed back to his car. No matter how he thought about it, the situation was irksome. He had gone out of his way to help, and what did he get in return? He muttered to himself that the next time they met, whether the kid was little or grown, he¡¯d make sure to give him a kick in the ass.


    However, after that day, he never crossed paths with the kid in that area again.


    ¨C End of the Side Story ¨C