PAYBACK BOOK 2.

Chapter 7.

Cha Jung-woo asked me loudly who my sponsor was, but I ignored him and returned to the back hallway, where the offices were, because it was familiar to me. I'd always gone out the back staircase, so I ended up here without realising it, but I knew I'd come this way. The club manager, who appeared out of nowhere, led me back to the boss's room. I held my breath as I was surrounded by a hellish, flower-filled mess once again before the boss handed me something. It was something familiar, something I'd seen before.

 

"Please take this to Jay at his house."

 

I glanced at the box of traditional medicine before suggesting a more suitable alternative.

 

"Either have someone pick up the package or use an express delivery service."

 

"..."

 

"Should I call one for you?"

 

After saying that, he turned his face away and murmured to himself. "...He won't answer...He won't open the door..."

 

The club owner mumbled something softly, almost inaudibly, but I could roughly understand what he was saying. It seemed he had been rejected before. The club owner lowered his head for a moment. Before he could even react, his expression was serious. The intense gaze he directed at me made me forget the pungent scent of flowers for a moment, and I turned my attention to waiting for his serious words instead.

 

"Here, you have one hundred won."

 

"Yes"

 

"Jay's work hasn't been going smoothly lately. It seems there are problems with his work in America, so he's been working so hard he's not getting enough sleep. Even in Korea, he's still working non-stop. But lately he's been very serious. It's like he needed to borrow something, but the results didn't look good. So, give him this. Just a little bit. That's probably all I can do for him."

 

I silently glanced at the club owner before reaching out to take the box.

 

"I can't promise you whether he'll accept it or not."

 

Even though the conditions were stated, the boss was still as happy as a child. Can I use my smart key for this task? I became anxious when I arrived at his house. I'm only now regretting accepting his request. The boss arrived, but I realised it was too late to turn back. I shouldn't have come to see him at all, and I should have stayed as far away from him as possible to cut off these unsettling feelings before they developed. No, I shouldn't have thought about him for a couple of days or a week to calm myself down, but here I am, at his doorstep...

 

I stood there for a while, then finally decided to use my smart key to open the door and go inside, intending only to put some things away and hoping that crazy person wouldn't come in.

 

"I won't be home." As soon as I touched the smart key, the electronic mechanism clicked, a light shone, and a faint voice followed. It was the voice of that lunatic, angrily berating someone in English. The deep, authoritative voice unnerved me before I stepped inside silently.

 

The anxiety completely pushed away the worry I had felt as I stood at the door, and my unwavering resolve not to be swayed by him vanished surprisingly easily. After taking off my shoes and walking in, I saw him standing by the kitchen entrance, probably on his way to get some water and stopping to answer a phone call. One hand was still holding an unopened bottle of water. He grabbed something decisively, then ran his hand forcefully through his hair. At that moment, he happened to glance over and see me. I saw that He paused for a moment, then quickly resumed speaking rapidly before hanging up.

 

"...."

 

"..."

 

We exchanged silent glances before he looked down at what was in my hand.

 

"Did you come to see me because of this?"

 

Yes, I came to see you because of this. The boss told me to bring it. Although those words were a very good excuse, I deflected the question by asking him.

 

"What happened?"

 

He raised one eyebrow as if asking what I meant, so I asked curtly, nodding towards his phone.

 

"You were angry on the phone, weren't you? Things weren't going smoothly at work, were they?"

 

"..."

"So Chairman Kim really did obstruct you, didn't he?"

 

I bombarded him with questions, but received no answers. However, his expression changed.

 

"Why are you smiling?" When I asked him, he walked slowly towards me, tossing the water bottle and his phone onto the table. The water bottle rolled around before falling to the floor with a loud clatter.  No one turned to look in that direction. He stopped a few steps away from me with an unexpected smile at the corner of his mouth, then tilted his head to the side before bending down to look at me.

 

"You."

 

"...."

 

"Are you worried about me?"

 

He asked, as if joking, perhaps because we both already knew my answer: I was going to tell him that...

 

"Don't talk nonsense," I muttered, or maybe I should have said, "I would never care about you." Yet, this time, I didn't say anything. Strangely, I didn't even realise I was holding a heavy box of traditional medicine. I just watched his face change, my gaze fixed on it. His eyes captivated me completely, a stark contrast to the smile that had fallen on his face.

 

"Yoo-han, are you worried about me?"

 

"..."

 

I felt like the world had stopped, like a still image, and I thought my heart had ceased to beat, until he strode forward and grabbed my shoulder, just as I was breathing. A warm sensation spread to my lips, and finally my heart began to beat loudly. Isn't unwavering willpower enough to help one control oneself? This question arose amidst the turmoil I was feeling.

 

Now, what method should we use when unpleasant feelings arise and we can't get rid of them as we'd like? Perhaps it's because these feelings were completely unexpected: to have feelings for someone, and to act so foolishly. Even so, I had already lost. I forgot my resolve to be cautious and avoid getting caught up in those strange feelings again, but instead I realised it had taken its place; I became aware of the essence of that feeling the moment we kissed without any resistance.

 

I'm starting to like him. The image of him pulling his lips away, then slowly lifting his head while still cupping my face in his hands, played over and over again in front of my eyes like a video playing on a screen. The cycle continued. Meanwhile, thoughts of him kept popping up, shattering my resolve. I felt utterly defeated once again, realising I couldn't stop this. Then, the ringing of that jerk's phone interrupted our kiss.

 

Actually, I'm not sure we'd have stopped kissing if the phone call hadn't come in, because I felt overwhelmed by a blurring of consciousness. My consciousness was muddled the whole time he held my arm so tightly I couldn't escape. After the kissing stopped, my awareness returned with great difficulty. I averted my gaze from him, who was talking on the phone in a language I couldn't understand, but I could tell from his tone that it was serious. The twinkling night sky offered some relief from the suffocating heat in my chest. I needed something to calm my mind, and luckily, I found it in my own memories.

 

The past has replaced the thoughts in my head that lack self-control and awareness. I have lived for almost twenty-five years. It's strange how much of the past remains. Only five years ago, that one event was affecting me as it has for the past five years and will continue to do so.

 

"Damn it"

 

I rolled my eyes when I heard what he said, before the jerk hung up and stared at me. I don't know if he swore because of the call he just had. Or maybe it was because of me, but I pulled my hand away and stepped back. Surprisingly, he let me pull his hand away so easily, before muttering another short curse.

 

"Damn it!"

 

"...”

 

"Wow, you're back to your old self again."

 

Ah, so that's how he sees me. Lucky me. I opened my mouth in relief when I heard that.

 

"Is this something I should be scolding you for?"

 

"I'm scolding myself."

 

After that, he mumbled softly, "I shouldn't have answered the phone." That's when I understood why he let go of my arm so easily. Because he thought he'd made a mistake, huh? Holding me back after missing a chance to kiss me might feel humiliating. He looked at me with a calm, expressionless face for a moment before asking… "What came to mind?"

 

"What were you thinking of?"

 

"I asked what made it so easy for you to return to normal."

 

I could tell from the coldness in his voice that he was back to normal, too. It seemed I was the one who had put him off first. Even so, this isn't something we need to argue about. 

 

"It's not something you need to know."

 

"Is it guilt for causing your family's death?"

 

He read my mind easily and spoke directly to my sore spot with a nonchalant, almost cruel tone.

 

"That annoying redemption doesn't bring you any happiness, does it?"

 

"That's noisy."

 

"Ugh, so noisy."

 

Suddenly, he smirked and stared at me with a sharp, piercing gaze.

 

"That's your problem. You've been deliberately closing your ears and refusing to face it for too long. You keep dwelling on your mistakes and ignoring yourself; wasn't that true five years ago?"

 

I glared at him, about to say my usual line, "Stop rambling," but froze like a statue when I heard what he said.

 

"That's why you can't cry alone."

 

The words I'd heard before sounded more convincing this time. What would someone like you know to say in response to something like that? A shock of anger, like a secret being exposed, flashed in my eyes as I stared at him. Yet he still didn't let go of his smug smile, and his eyes gleamed with a cruel intensity, as if he were even angrier than I was.

 

"Right now I'm trying to speak to you as politely and gentlemanly as I possibly can, so listen carefully. If you try to push me away or shut me off just one more time, block out the feelings in your heart that are reacting to me..."

 

His eyes were like those of a ferocious animal that would never let go of its prey, as if a growl was escaping its grasp. He continued speaking exactly as before.

 

"I will get rid of all the past that haunts you, in my own way, regardless of whether you suffer pain or can't breathe." 

 

At that moment, I wanted to curse myself. I hated myself for feeling a strange sense of relief rather than anger at his calm, unwavering warning. I looked at the other person and spoke curtly, in a voice that didn't sound like my own—a lie that sounded surprisingly true.

 

"Don't misunderstand me. My heart reacting to you? How do you know that?" I thought it was an unanswerable question, and no matter what the answer was, I could deny it. Yet, I was speechless upon hearing his answer.

 

"How do I know? From your gaze and your expression, even the slightest movement of your finger, all your actions reveal that you're trying to hide something."

 

He tilted his head to the side, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

 

"Even now, my heart is burning with desire because of you."

My manager, busy with Cha Jung-woo's affairs, diligently used his free time to find work for Han Soo and me. Most of it was minor supporting roles or magazine advertisements, similar to the previous one. He emphasised that the experience of playing a different role in front of the camera again is something that cannot be bought with money.

 

From the manager's raised voice, it sounded like he was embarrassed about not getting a big job and was making lame excuses. Even so, I have confidence in him. He was right, so I decided to have Han-soo and that eccentric manager run around to work with me for the past few days. And it was very fortunate for me because I didn't need anything more than to keep myself busy to forget something anymore, just something that needed to be prepared for gradually.

 

My thoughts should be racing with revenge on Myungshin, but whenever the tension eases, I always recall that last conversation I had with that lunatic. Back then, when I was speechless, he just backed away, satisfied.

 

"I'm leaving for America tomorrow morning. 

You can keep worrying about me until I return, okay?"

 

You damn lunatic!

 

"I heard he's returning to Korea tomorrow."

 

Upon hearing Han Soo's voice, I unconsciously held my breath before asking in return.

 

"Who is it?"

 

Han Soo replied, chewing on the bread. "It's Youngshin," he said. Ah, so it's him. I just remembered him," Han Soo added in a loud and clear voice before swallowing more food.

 

"It seems he had something urgent to do, which is why he came back a day earlier than scheduled. This morning, when I went to pick up the information the manager asked me to help with, I overheard the person who's taking care of him..."

 

Youngshin also said, "I'm going to go crazy."

 

Urgent? He certainly didn't come back because of a sports car. So what is it? I'm reminded of the message he typed to someone. He's looked kind these past few days.

 

[I've been instigating him, but he's not really going along with it. It seems like Song Yoohan is going to be quite intimidating.] 

 

I don't think a blond guy would be easily swayed by manipulation. But the important thing is that anger overrides fear. 

 

[I'll prepare the stage to make him change his mind. So keep egging him on, telling him he's not getting fair compensation for being manipulated. Go ahead and use it. And take advantage of the opportunity while Choo YooHan is away.]

 

The last message I received was like this:

 

[Good news! Chairman Kim will be coming to our company tomorrow regarding work, and Hyungseok intends to be by his side as well.] 

 

Seeing this message, I couldn't help but think that Chairman Kim wasn't satisfied with targeting celebrities solely on the basis of photographs, so he was coming.

 

"Did you see him in person at the company? 

 

Moreover, the blond-haired guy said he'd be staying close to him. While it might be an opportunity for the blond-haired guy to get closer to Chairman Kim, it didn't seem like an urgent reason for Myungshin to rush back to Korea. Why did Myungshin rush back so suddenly? Is it related to Chairman Kim's business at the company...?" Just then, Han Soo, having finished his bread, waved his hand and added something else.

 

"Oh, and I've heard some strange rumours from the office as well. Just a rumour, huh?"

 

"I heard that our company president might be stepping down," I said, thinking of the president I'd met in the underground parking lot, only to notice Han Soo tilting his head in confusion.

 

"But isn't that a little strange? I heard that the previous chairman was backing Director Yoon, but according to rumours, he's going to hand over the chairmanship to him."

 

"I'll go with someone else instead."

 

"Who are these 'other people'?"

 

"He's the chairman's son. I heard he graduated from abroad and is coming back to Korea soon. That's why..." Han Soo added a little more information he knew, but it didn't register with me. I didn't want to think about what that idiot had said about worrying about him. Yet a question immediately came to mind: was this bad news for that idiot? No, it's just a rumour. Or even if it were true, that idiot might not even be eyeing the chairmanship.

 

No matter how many weak excuses he came up with, the thought that this was bad news for him still wouldn't leave his head. Why would that guy have ‘Danger is all around us '? I automatically held my breath before turning around to see the Road Manager, who had been invisible all along, looking off into the distance. 

 

Suddenly, a loud commotion came from where he was looking. Han-soo, busy shovelling another piece of bread into his mouth because he was hungry, didn't notice. Only I was looking in the same direction the Road Manager was looking, but before I could see who it was, I heard him murmur.

 

"...It's like a snake."

 

I automatically rolled my eyes in that direction and saw a small, elderly man amidst the group of people who had appeared at the entrance. That man was Chairman Kim, followed by some company employees, that crazy dog, and the blond-haired guy. A fifty-year-old board member was gesturing towards different areas of the company, explaining things as he went, as if introducing the company.

 

The short, burly Chairman Kim slowly scanned the lounge, his eyes gleaming like a snake eyeing its prey. That's when the mad dog, who was a head taller than him, noticed me. The moment our eyes met, he grinned widely and licked his lips. That crazy dog ​​stepped closer to whisper something in Chairman Kim's ear. Then Chairman Kim glanced towards where we were sitting; even though I saw those two staring for the second time, I felt the same shiver down my spine as the first time.

 

The eyes, like snakes, beneath wrinkled eyelids stared intently at me before glancing slightly to the side. I don't know why, but my heart sank. Turning his head to look in the direction he was pointing, he saw Han Soo munching on bread, his cheeks puffed out, completely unaware that a group of people had appeared at the entrance.

 

I glanced at Chairman Kim again and saw that he still hadn't taken his eyes off Han Soo. In that split second, a faint smile spread across his lips, as if he had his eye on the target. He seemed about to say something when the blond-haired man next to him suddenly moved closer, glanced at Han Soo and me, and deliberately whispered something to Chairman Kim. I instinctively shifted, feeling uneasy.

 

Screech! I shoved the chair hard and jumped up, standing in front of Han Soo as if to block his view. That crazy dog ​​reacted to my move. First, a wide smile appeared on his face, then on Chairman Kim's, whose eyes seemed to narrow before returning to their usual expressionless state. Soon, he turned to face the mad dog and pointed his withered finger at me, but instinctively I knew he was pointing at Han Soo, who was behind me.

 

Upon seeing my actions, that old man pointed his finger even more deliberately and openly. If I hadn't moved, he would have let it slide. Did I unnecessarily provoke him? Anxiety spread throughout my body. That's why, unable to move even after Chairman Kim's entourage had disappeared from view, I turned around when i felt a tug on my shirt from behind and saw Han Soo, with crumbs of bread smeared on his mouth, looking up at me with a questioning expression.

 

"What are you doing standing there? Choosing bread from the menu?"

 

Han Soo blinked repeatedly, glancing between me and the distant shops. His seemingly foolish question, which I usually found absurd, felt different this time. My heart, which had only reacted to his anxieties once before, began beating rapidly. Only then did I realise that my anxiety had widened.

 

"Han Soo"

 

"Yes?"

 

"Where have you been these past few days...?"

 

"Oh, just a moment."

 

Han Soo adjusted his hair with a guilty expression before answering the ringing phone. Then, he looked up at me with a bright face and pointed to the phone.

 

"Wow, Manager! Mr Taemin, the manager is calling! Manager, I missed you! When are you coming back? What? Tomorrow? Okay, ugh, just come today! I'm so bored. Taemin usually doesn't talk much, and the road manager keeps dozing off every day!"

 

His voice, as he complained to the manager, sounded cheerful, but I couldn't listen to it with the same feeling anymore. I suppressed my pent-up frustration before I turned around and saw the disease manager slumped face down on the table; I didn't know where he'd gotten there.

 

"Is there something you want to discuss?"

 

The kind-faced person standing at the entrance of the train station, our meeting place, asked me as soon as they saw me. I didn't know because I had already left the hospital. Was it a predetermined schedule? His expression still didn't look good, but he still managed to hide his fatigue. I took him to a place I'd never been before.

 

"How is Hyungseok doing?"

 

"He was practically on the edge of his seat. He said he'd found a target he was sure would catch Chairman Kim's eye, and excitedly declared that no matter what happened, he would resign."

 

"It's a ploy to lure the kids to the party. Oh, and by those guys, 'party' means doing dirty, sordid things."

 

"...Who is the victim?"

 

"I don't know. I haven't heard the name. But if Youngseok would use a trick like this, it's probably a new kid, or some nobody like me," he replied softly, adding in a faint voice as if his emotions had completely died down.

 

"Even though we don't know who it was, the claim that Chairman Kim personally picked him suggests this won't be a one-time incident."

 

"So, where are you going?"

 

The kind-faced man suddenly remembered and asked again, but my mind was completely filled with other thoughts, so I only replied when we were almost there.

 

I've got it. This is a three-story building with a simple shop sign hanging on the wall. As I walked down the wooden stairs, the kind-faced person who had been wondering about the location let out a soft breath at the entrance.

 

"Huh? Why are you here...?"

 

Nevertheless, his words were drowned out by the loud shouts of photographer P, who seemed to be waiting inside.

 

"Ahhh! It's the real deal!!! It's the real Taemin!!!!!!!!"

 

The studio, empty after everyone had finished work, felt as deserted as its size suggested, but the voice of one person echoed throughout the space, speaking...To be precise, that person was complaining.

 

"Sob...I went to the Amazon and into the jungle to look for you, Taemin...Sob...but I was attacked by a crocodile...by a crocodile...."

 

When the photographer could no longer speak, the kind-faced man, who had been listening to his complaints with a puzzled expression, asked in surprise..."Gasp! Were you bitten by a crocodile?"

 

"No, I was attacked by a crocodile's killer gaze! Agh! It was terrifying! Its gaze was only after me!"

 

"..."

 

The kind-faced person glanced at me, who hadn't responded until then, with an understanding look, as if to ask if I was a coward.

 

Really? Of course, he didn't blurt out his suspicions because he knew who the photographer was. Unlike me, who spoke my mind immediately. The photographer pretended to cry and subtly leaned against me. So I pushed him away and said… "Should I call my manager?"

 

Suddenly, he pouted and let out a "Hmph," as if he had never cried before, before replying softly. "I understand."

 

Then he changed his position and placed his hands on my lap instead.

 

"Then something like this."

 

I immediately pulled out my phone. Suddenly, the photographer withdrew his hand and made another fake "click" sound as he turned his face away. It was as if he were sulking, and he sat down. The kind-faced man whispered a question to me.

 

"He seems angry."

 

Hearing the worried tone in his voice, I opened my mouth and spoke to the photographer. "In that case, I'll be leaving now."

 

"Gasp! No! Mr Taemin, don't go!"

 

Not only was he not angry, but the face that turned towards him was even redder, as if to convey embarrassment.

 

"Actually, I really like that cold side of you, Taemin. Ahhh!" The moment he sat there trembling as if feeling a shiver, the kind-faced man's expression changed to one of sternness. Even so, the photographer, who had been staring only at me, then sent a glare my way, regardless of whether anyone else was making a displeased face.

 

"By the way, Taemin, what's the matter? You said on the phone that you wanted to discuss something we talked about before. What is it? The nude photoshoot? Are you going to take pictures?"

 

"Shall we arrange a meeting right now?"

 

The kind-faced man looked at me with a sympathetic expression. I immediately got straight to the point, thinking it would be best to finish the business quickly and leave.

 

"Photographer P, you told me before that you would join in the revenge, didn't you?"

 

He blinked several times and immediately clenched his fists tightly, as if he had just remembered something.

 

"Of course I remember! As for your revenge against Song Yoohan, I'll be joining in too. Ah, or maybe…"

 

He continued asking in a more serious tone. "So, you've started your revenge now?"

 

I nodded.

 

"How can I help you?"

 

I gazed at the air for a moment before choosing the right words.

 

"I'm looking for a small-scale photography project. Ideally, it would be for a magazine where the photographer can take the pictures themselves, or a small advertisement. The photographer will simply choose the models himself."

 

He replied casually, "That's not difficult," and then asked as if something had just occurred to him. "So, who should I choose?"

 

The next day, I came to the company, and the manager was there as well after a long absence. He informed us of the purpose of Chairman Kim's visit to the company the previous day.

 

"It seems that those who oppose the chairman are taking advantage of Director Yoon's absence to summon Chairman Kim to the company in order to persuade him to join their side. To be honest, if Chairman Kim fully sides with them, Dream Production might really be split up. Right now, Director Yoon will be in a difficult position all alone. If he continues to help the Chairman, he might get into trouble too. But going with the flow and joining them would be betraying the Chairman."

 

The manager's voice trailed off as my thoughts became a jumbled mess. What was the best option for this lunatic? Of course, it would likely involve winning over Chairman Kim and suppressing the opposing faction. However, allying with Chairman Kim would undoubtedly come with sacrifices. They're probably demanding something. They've likely secured Chairman Kim's support and are prepared for the consequences. But according to rumours, the Chairman is very protective of his only son...

 

"Taemin"

 

I snapped out of my daze when I heard someone call my name. Before I knew it, Han-soo and the road manager had arrived at the conference room we were using as our office. I don't know when they arrived. I understood why Han-Soo was here. I heard that from today onwards, the manager would be overseeing us again, so the road manager wasn't needed anymore. Although the road manager came in with Han-Soo without thinking much of it, the manager and I immediately stared at him. Even Han-Soo, who was chatting excitedly like a fish out of water, felt our gazes and looked at the road manager as well.

 

"Oh, that's right, UncleChoi. The manager is back today, so you don't need to come anymore."

 

Han-Soo’s bright, almost bubbly personality easily summarised the situation. The manager cleared his throat, 'Ahem,' with a flustered gesture. Stunned, feeling guilty for staring at the other person without taking his eyes off them, the road manager, who had been sitting quietly, murmured softly.

 

"...I want to continue working."

 

Suddenly, an awkward silence fell over the room. Even the usually cheerful Han Soo was taken aback by what the road manager had said. I couldn't bring myself to tell the other person not to come anymore. I looked at the manager, silently asking for advice on what to do. The manager, looking bewildered, spoke up with difficulty.

 

"Uh, well... I'll go talk to Chief Park first to see if I can find you another job. So, you can go home first..." At that moment, the manager bowed his head slightly and mumbled something again.

 

"My wife doesn't like me staying home..."

 

I heard someone take a deep breath, a loud sniff. Even without looking, I knew it was the manager. Unexpectedly, another sound followed, as if someone were suppressing emotion. It seemed to be Han-soo's voice. The manager, being married, should understand the plight of "manager syndrome," but why was Han-soo like that too? The reason was revealed later.

 

"W-when my father was home, my mother would abuse him until he had to go to the library," Han-soo bit his lip before turning his face away. Suddenly, the emotional manager jumped up from his seat.

 

"Wait a minute! I'll go plead with Chief Park, and I'll be right back!"

 

"Oh, I'll go and ask too!"

 

While the manager and Han Soo went out to bully Chief Park together, the room was left with only the two of them, and it was eerily silent for a long time. I thought the manager would take this opportunity to nap, but I didn't expect him to just stare blankly at the wall. If the manager used his persuasive skills, he would surely get Chief Parks' permission, right? 

 

As soon as this thought crossed my mind, I came up with something to say to the good-natured manager.

 

"I have a request."

 

He rolled his eyes and blinked repeatedly, as if asking what I meant. So I pointed to the empty seat that the occupant wasn't in.

 

"If possible, could you please follow Han Soo until he gets home? And if you notice anyone strange trying to approach Han Soo, please contact me."

 

“yes"

 

"Just a few days, and I'll pay you hourly for your overtime." After staring at him for so long that I wondered if he was dozing off, he finally spoke.

 

"Who is this strange person?"

 

"Just... just someone I think could be dangerous."

 

But the reaction he showed to my words was far beyond my expectations, because it was the first time he smiled.

 

"What would Lee Taemin do if he encountered someone dangerous?"

 

Me? The question, asked in a gentle gaze, sounded so distant. I never expected to receive such a caring, adult look from someone like this. Having a habit of just sleeping all the time, I felt awkward about that aspect of him, so I responded a little late.

 

"I'm fine."

 

After my curt reply, he nodded and mumbled to himself again.

 

"Hmm, then the three of us can go everywhere together."

 

"Uh, don't include me. Just Han Soo..."

 

Just then, the door burst open, and the manager entered the room with a serious expression.

 

"Taemin, this is a really big deal. Director Yoon helped me with the false accusations against me, so I'm hoping everything will go smoothly." 

 

My ears perked up at the manager's words. Just as I looked up and asked what it was about, the manager walked towards me with a frown.

 

"Damn, it seems Chairman Kim is going to team up with the opposition and become the new CEO of Dream Production with their support."

 

"Don't panic... I plan to give up in this first match."

 

Even though I'd prepared myself for that lunatic's warning, what am I going to do now that things have turned out this way? What if he gets attacked first and loses? They lost before the first match even started.

 

Late at night, as I was leaving the company, I realised that Myungshin was returning to the country today because of this. If they make a quick decision while that lunatic is away, does that mean Chairman Kim never intended to cooperate with that lunatic from the start? And perhaps Chairman Kim planned to bring him under his control rather than form an alliance.

 

It seems that Myungshin, who has already gotten involved with Director Yoon and made formal arrangements, is unaware of this. Is that why he rushed back? If so, my assumption was correct. Chairman Kim probably didn't tell Myungshin about this important matter.

 

Well, even though I didn't think Myungshin was important to Chairman Kim, this feels like he's even more insignificant than I expected. If that's the case, then I should be glad. While I could have easily gotten revenge on Myungshin, I didn't feel good about it at all because I couldn't stop thinking about that one person: that lunatic. What's wrong with him...?

 

"Uh, I'll excuse myself for a moment."

 

Han Soo, typing on his phone, grinned and muttered to himself as if he had something amusing in mind.

 

"Suddenly I have a blind date. Hehe."

 

Not knowing who arranged the blind date, Han Soo was so excited he practically squirmed before walking to the bus stop instead of the usual subway station.

 

"I have an urgent appointment, sir."

 

Then, he waved his hand enthusiastically and ran off cheerfully, with the Disease Manager following slowly behind. The Disease Manager must have listened to the request.

 

I ended up walking down a path I'd never taken before. Tomorrow I have an appointment with Chairman Kim and Myungshin. So, is that lunatic going to show up? That question popped into my head as I kept walking. Then, suddenly, I felt a vibration in my pants pocket. The person who sent the message had a kind face.

 

I heard Chairman Kim is having some kind of celebratory party today. Hyungseok is excited to catch his target. It seems easy to lure him in because...

 

[Getting to know the victim's senior]

 

*Gasp* I glared at the message before turning around and starting to run. Damn it! Those bastards!

 

Hacking, hacking, hacking

I ran as fast as I could to the bus stop, but there was no sign of Han Soo or the road manager. Don't tell me they've already boarded the bus? Where did they go? I frantically pulled out my phone and called Han Soo, but he didn't answer; I only heard the ringtone.

 

"Damn it!"

 

I hung up the phone and intended to keep calling the kind-faced person, thinking I'd just ask for the park's location... but my eyes caught sight of something else first. It was a car parked on the side of the road across the street. The car that the kind-faced person and the blond-haired person had driven me to Alice before. I clearly recognised its flashy colours and the modified bumper. They must be around here somewhere. I scanned my surroundings, then started running frantically again. Where could they be? 

 

Somewhere secluded, somewhere around here... Suddenly, I remembered what Han Soo had said before: that he sometimes played basketball in the park. He said that because the area was so densely populated with offices, the park was almost deserted in the evenings, giving it a feeling similar to renting a house in Cheonse!

 

I changed direction and headed towards the park. Luckily, I found two groups of people standing facing each other. Although they were called groups, one side had...

There were only two of them, while five people surrounded them on the other side. I knew this because I heard the mad dog's voice, who was the leader of those five.

 

"Hey, cute little guy, try running away somewhere. The more you jump around, the more aroused my...thing gets." Han Soo stood trembling across from the mad dog, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings as if searching for an opportunity to escape, his face showing a desperate expression. He burst into tears right then and there. Meanwhile, the manager was standing behind Han Soo with a puzzled expression, wondering what had happened. I gritted my teeth and walked over to the two of them.

 

"Damn, I really want to help you straighten out that aroused dick of yours."

 

Everyone turned to look at me at the same time, their sharp eyes fixed on me as I walked towards them. I stopped a short distance from Han Soo before waving to call the crazy dog.

 

"You have business with me, huh? Come on then! I'll beat you to a pulp!" The mad dog, seeing me, bared his teeth and snarled.

 

"What the hell? Don't tell me you came to help this kid... because this kid helped you before, is that it?"

 

"Stop barking and come in."

 

Then I laughed mockingly at the four people standing behind him.

 

"You guys look so weak. Come on, charge in all at once!" The four of them turned around and advanced step by step, provoked by my taunt. I looked at them with an unfazed expression before glancing at Han Soo. The moment our eyes met, Han Soo, standing stiffly with a pale face, opened his mouth to speak, but I spoke first.

 

"Run away."

 

"B-but..."

 

"I told you to run away!"

 

The mad dog and his four henchmen grinned at my order as if they found something incredibly amusing. It seemed they found the idea of ​​confronting them quite comical.

 

"Hey, man, how about we let this bastard have a good look at this? He's going to fight five against one." Suddenly, I heard someone answer that question from a completely unexpected direction.

 

"Um"

 

The voice echoed throughout the area, and everyone's eyes simultaneously shifted to that spot. Then, everyone fell silent, their faces showing the same stunned expression as mine, because the one who responded with that powerful voice was the Road Manager. He took a step forward before asking the mad dog with a smile, a stark contrast to his usual vacant expression.

 

"Do you guys want to get beaten up by an older man?"

 

Everything suddenly froze, the sound fading away as if a still image had been taken. What on earth was he talking about? This time, no one answered the Road Manager. He stepped forward with such confidence, and not only that, he even asked them if they wanted to get beaten up. I thought I might have misheard that it was all a hallucination, because it seemed so out of place for an ordinary forty-year-old man fighting five burly men in such a heated atmosphere. But the road manager made us disbelieve our ears once again.

 

"Even if I beat you up, don't you dare report me to the police, understand?" he asked again, seriously, as if he were about to actually do it.

 

"If you report me like a child, I'll cut off your little worms!" This time, the mad dog reacted immediately.

 

"Haha"

 

He let out a short burst of laughter, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

 

"Hey old man, at your age, it looks like you're getting Alzheimer's. I might as well laugh it off and let it go, but go back the way you came."

 

"It's better to be quiet."

 

*Click* The mad dog took a step forward before looking down with a menacing gaze.

 

"Before he was beaten up by a mob until his old body lay in a pool of blood."

 

"People who talk too much like this always end up filing police reports later. It's so annoying..."

 

The Manager's voice was normal, but on a quiet night in the park, it was clear enough for the mad dog to hear it. Especially when he was being unusual, he stopped smiling and bared his fangs.

 

"Hey, you jerk! What nonsense are you muttering?"

 

Click, click. The moment that mad dog started walking, I immediately stepped forward. The mad dog, noticing me, stopped abruptly in the middle of the road and rolled its eyes to look at me.

 

"Why? Are you trying to pull off a knight in shining armour again?"

 

"You don't need to be a knight to catch a dog," I replied indifferently before blocking the road manager, thinking that before he could say anything crazy again, I needed to send both Han Soo and the road manager back. I went ahead even if it meant pushing those two aside. And then that crazy dog ​​said something outrageous.

 

"That guy who's about to become a joke is really cocky, isn't he? But we have to save him for later to make it fun, just like that person said." That person? The person who flashed through my mind was Chairman Kim. What a disgusting honour that he would even bother to keep me around. He opened his mouth and spoke immediately without turning around to look at the road manager behind him.

 

"Run away quickly!"

 

However, the road manager sighed slowly, 

 

"Hmph," then took long strides and stood in front of me. He then grabbed my shoulder and spoke gently

 

"I'll deal with that guy first, then I'll come back."

 

I should have just laughed at his words, but I couldn't. All I could do was turn back and look at him with a serious expression. Even though l I don't possess any special abilities, I think I have one thing that sets me apart: the ability to read people. I have an intuitive sense of how dangerous or strong someone might be, and my intuition is almost never wrong. And I have confidence in my intuition.

 

Then I met a middle-aged man, around forty years old, who looked ordinary and didn't give off any particularly intimidating aura. He didn't fit my usual category, but I could feel the pain in my shoulder from his grip—it was so intense it felt like the bones were breaking. Anyone could do it with a bit of force, but very few could do it so easily, as if it were no big deal. The road manager started acting like a completely different person, just like the pain in my shoulder spreading throughout my body. That's when I finally turned to get a good look at him, wondering who this old man was.

 

"So, please wait a moment."

 

My shoulders felt lightheaded, as if they had never been squeezed before, after he released my hand and stepped forward to stand in front of that crazy dog, before asking the same question again. He repeated it, as if to make sure.

 

"Don't report it to the police, okay?"

 

When the disease manager took a serious step, the mad dog stopped laughing. It seemed that he had decided to deal with him first, so he nodded to someone behind him and said, "Stomp on him!"

 

Suddenly, one of the men surrounding them stepped forward in front of the road manager. He watched the man prepare to fight and began warming up. Slowly, the first movement was turning his head from side to side, followed by stretching his shoulders, arms, and wrists in sequence. Although his movements seemed sluggish, I no longer believed in outward sluggishness. As I watched him silently, I heard a trembling sound behind me.

 

"W-what should we do? Should I run and report it to the police?" Han Soo, who was standing behind me, whispered softly. I answered him without taking my eyes off the road manager.

 

"Let's wait and see."

 

Han Soo was taken aback by my answer and asked, bewildered, "Huh?" But I didn't have time to explain further. I kept a close eye on the road manager, not letting him out of my sight for even a moment, certain that this man was hiding something. But he was concealing it so remarkably that I had misjudged him.

 

"Oh, my knee!"

 

Manager's disease, which was causing him to feign sudden weakness in his right leg, suddenly manifested as a dramatic outburst. Then he shouted loudly, as if deliberately making an announcement.

 

"My knees are such a mess! They ache like this even with just a little movement!"

 

...What else could I do? He was stepping forward confidently, while simultaneously complaining about knee pain. Watching him, I felt betrayed and like an idiot. Even the giant man who was about to fight the uncle looked at him with bewildered expressions. But what was even more bewildering was that the road manager, who insisted he had arthritis, kept glancing at me. It was as if he wanted to announce to me that he really had arthritis. Why would he do that? Or was he hoping I would step forward and help him?

 

While I was wondering if this old man was crazy, the road manager, who probably thought he'd told me enough about my arthritis, stretched, then stepped forward. As soon as he approached the burly man, the man smirked and sneered.

 

"Your knees aren't doing so well, are they, old man? What are you going to do? Your leg will probably be completely limp soon... Oh, dear!"

 

Thump

Whoosh

Crash!

 

After the deafening roar echoed through the area, a heavy silence fell. No one understood what had happened in that split second. Although he was certain the road manager had strode purposefully towards the man, he couldn't fully understand why the giant man had collapsed to the ground. But if what I saw was correct, the road manager landed a punch to the guy's stomach and then used a judo technique to take him down; that's all. And then the only one who could confirm this was the road manager, kneeling beside the giant man who had collapsed to the ground, his hand gripping the man's throat. 

 

Seeing the man's pale face, it was clear he was unconscious and unable to fight again. The road manager slowly released his grip on the man's neck and stood up with his usual weary demeanour. The smile and the look of contempt had vanished from the eyes of those watching. The mad dog, who was the first to understand the situation, narrowed his eyes, glancing between the road manager and the giant man lying on the ground.

 

"Who the hell are you?"

 

"Part-time employee"

 

The road manager responded with a furious grin before strode directly towards the group of mad dogs. One of them, feeling terrified, quickly stepped forward to block his path. Then they launched the attack first. He swung his fist through the air, but the road manager, who had dodged to the side without anyone noticing, easily grabbed the other's arm, causing him to lose his balance. The balance was restored, and then, like the previous scene, it was unclear exactly where the road manager punched. The man's body, which had been the aggressor, hunched over before his hand and the arm of the road manager wrapped around the person's neck from behind and instantly broke their throat.

 

Crunch

The sound of joints twisting and a loud thud echoed through the area again. What surprised me even more than the fact that the Road Manager had taken down a man much bigger than himself in one go was his seemingly weak and powerless movement. Having dealt with two men in the blink of an eye, the Road Manager turned to look for his next opponent among the remaining men. The mad dog stared at the second man to fall for a long time. At first, I thought he was in shock, but he rolled his eyes as if deep in thought. And what I realised was the order he gave to his subordinates.

 

"Block that old man."

 

Suddenly, the road manager stepped forward, scratching his head, which was covered in grey hairs.

 

"I want you to be next. Don't tell me you're going to run away while you're that big."

 

The manager made a provocative remark, but the mad dog just grinned in return.

 

"Yes, I intended to escape while my subordinates were blocking you. But before that..." The moment he stopped speaking and glanced away, the manager immediately stopped walking. That crazy dog looked at Han Soo and me before speaking.

 

"I'm planning to cripple those two first, so... Uncle..."

 

The mad dog looked at the road manager one more time before finishing the sentence.

 

"Then go ahead and fight my subordinates."

 

The manager stood still for a moment, silently staring at the mad dog, before taking a step back. Seeing this, the mad dog grinned widely. As if they already knew it would happen.

 

"Wow, what the heck? He has a knight in shining armour?" Then the crazy dog ​​glanced over and met my gaze. He opened his mouth and bared his fangs as if roaring.

 

"Hey, you incredibly lucky guy, make sure you carry this part-time employee with you wherever you go, 24 hours a day. Don't let him out of your sight even for a second. You and that little chick behind you are definitely going to get kidnapped."

 

After the five burly men disappeared, the open space seemed even more vast. Han Soo kept silent until the group of mad dogs vanished, his face showing a mixture of anger and disbelief. I understand the situation, but maybe Han Soo thinks we're incredibly lucky, like that crazy dog ​​said. But I don't think that's the case at all. Even when the Road Manager took down two giant men, I still thought we were lucky to have encountered one skilled in combat. But the moment He stepped back when he heard the mad dog's words. I was sure this wasn't a coincidence. If he only intended to help us as a road manager, he shouldn't have.

 

Step back. I can handle that mad dog while the rest of my subordinates are fighting my uncle. I'll definitely get beaten up, but I don't think I'll be taken down immediately. However, the road manager backed down as if he absolutely refused to let that happen, as if his goal was perfect protection.

 

"Wow! Mr Road Manager! That's a complete failure!"

 

It was then that Han Soo started talking nonstop, as if he had just regained his senses. He clung to his manager, pleading with him to adopt him as his son.

The disciple then returned to his normal behaviour and murmured softly, as if troubled.

 

"If my wife found out I got into a fight, she'd scold me for sure. And my knee isn't great either..." Then he glanced at me. Oh, really? So there are people like that? A strange-looking person who keeps complaining about his knee pain and hoping I'll take care of him.

 

I knew. I stared at him silently.

 

"Uncle, please, please, please accept me as your apprentice. I've been completely charmed by you, Uncle..."

 

"Who are you?"

 

My voice rang out clearly amidst the open space, filled only with Han-soo's cheers. Han-soo, who was shaking his uncle's arm, could probably feel the chill. The coldness in his voice made me stop moving, startled. He looked at me, then at the Road Manager, bewildered, but in my eyes I saw only the Road Manager. I resolved that if he wouldn't tell me, I would pounce on him, even if it meant lunging at him. However, he showed no sign of being surprised by my question. Instead, he answered simply with his usual bored expression.

 

"If you see Jay, please tell him that my knee isn't in great shape."

 

What did you say? I don't know if my face looks like an idiot right now. I didn't expect him to say that at all. He said "Jay." Really? That's the name of that lunatic. Why did Manager Syndrome say his name so casually, as if he didn't think twice?

 

"My 'right' knee isn't in great shape, but I'm still working hard," he emphasised the words "right knee," before adding something that left me speechless once again.

 

"So, ugh, could you please tell him to stop chasing me?" ...Chasing me, huh?

 

There are some days that feel extra long, whether my body is exhausted or I have a ton to think about. The darkness of the night seems endless, making me wonder if the day is finally over. The only thing that slows this time down is all the chaotic problems I have to deal with. Tomorrow is the meeting with Chairman Kim. So, is that lunatic actually going to show up? Does he know that Chairman Kim started the conflict first?

 

If you don't know what he's thinking, all the questions boil down to one: Can he really win? On the other side of those endless questions, frustration is building up. After that, the road manager kept quiet and said nothing more. It was clear that the madman had hired him, perhaps intending to have him protect them.

 

I should be angry, but the truth is, it's making me feel more confused and bewildered. Of course, I should be angry because it's a blatant humiliation. The fact that he did something for me made my heart flutter slightly. That's why I feel frustrated—frustrated with myself for not being able to react normally.

 

"Excuse me."

 

Han Soo, who had followed me to the bus stop after parting ways with the manager, spoke hesitantly. He probably had a lot of questions, but he still managed to endure it. When I turned around, he asked as if he had been waiting for it.

 

"Who is Jay?"

 

“…"

 

"So, did you and the road manager know each other before?"

 

"Nothing"

 

When the second question was answered easily, Han Soo swallowed hard, as if feeling uncomfortable.

 

"But you both know someone named Jay, don't you? How do you know him?"

 

When I avoided answering again, he pouted and muttered as if disappointed.

 

"I'm the only outsider who's being treated like this." When I still didn't react as usual, he became even more dejected.

 

"I've known Taemin longer than you, but you're the only one who hates me."

 

"..."

 

"The manager told us to stick together like siblings, but what kind of siblings behave like this...?"

 

"Okay, I'll tell you. Stop it."

 

Finally, I spoke in a low voice. Han Soo immediately looked up, his eyes sparkling as if he had never felt depressed before.

 

"Who is Jay?"

 

"You crazy bastard."

 

"Oh, that... *gasp*!"

 

I felt like I'd been up all night, only realising it was morning when that kind-looking guy sent me a message a little while ago. 

 

[Finally, Hyungseok brought a new victim. When Chung Yoohan appeared before the party started, Hyungseok's expression became very strange. He seemed to be thinking...]

 

[I had the chance to perform oral sex on Chairman Kim when he wasn't around. I feel like Chung Yoohan can somewhat see Hyungseok's intentions. Chairman Kim must have been in a good mood yesterday; that's why the party ended a little early. Tell me, was it worth watching this disgusting stuff? You can take them all down, right?]

 

I had a strange feeling that I could smell tears emanating from every letter before I replied briefly.

 

[Yes]

 

I turned off my phone and reopened the book in my hand. The only thing I have to do now is wait... wait for the right moment when Myungshin will be annoyed. Come on, take advantage of that, and wait for that lunatic to show up at our meeting place today. In the book I read, the protagonist is trying to find the final answer in the lyrics but also wonders if the song might be some kind of trap.

 

I went to my acting class in the morning, had lunch, and then went to the conference room. When I arrived, I saw the manager walking into the conference room. It was a perfect coincidence.

 

"Taemin, it's good you came. I had something I wanted to ask you."

 

The manager stopped in front of the door, lowered his voice, and asked with a serious expression.

 

"So, did photographer P contact you to invite you to do another nude photoshoot?"

 

"Why?"

 

"Nothing much. I just got contacted by a company that needs models for a magazine photoshoot. Apparently, they want you and two others to run a test. Sigh, I guess..."

 

"Since you said that, we'll go..."

 

"I'll go."

 

"Dumb, huh? He's gone... Oh! You're leaving too?"

 

When I nodded in response, he frowned for a moment, as if he wanted to say something.

 

"Aren't you uncomfortable meeting that photographer? He's probably going to be shooting nudes again," the manager said to me as he opened the door, his voice drowned out by the loud shouting coming from inside.

 

"Agh! Manager! Why did you only just come to get this house?!"

 

"Gasp! You scared me! Why did you yell like that, Han Soo? Is something wrong?" As the startled manager rushed over, Hansoo grabbed his arm so hard he was afraid it would sprain to tell him something important.

 

"Oh my god, the manager would be genuinely shocked if he knew what happened yesterday."

 

"...I was startled when you screamed."

 

"No, it's even more shocking! Here's what happened: Yesterday, on my way home, suddenly I  ran into a gang of thugs."

 

As soon as I interrupted to explain, the manager turned to look at me with a truly shocked expression. Han-soo, who was behind him, blinked at me. So I winked at the first person, signalling they should say no more, before briefly explaining further.

 

"But it wasn't a big deal. After I yelled for the police a couple of times, they all ran off."

 

"Ah, is that so? Consider it a stroke of bad luck. I thought you might have been injured somewhere."

 

The manager raised his hand to his chest and sighed with relief. Seeing this, Han-soo exclaimed, "Ah!" and put his index finger to his lips as if to say, "He wanted to keep quiet. He was probably afraid that if he spoke out, the manager would worry. More than that, I didn't want to reveal the Road Manager's fighting skills because I didn't want people to know that the Road Manager was connected to that lunatic, or to be more specific, connected to Director Yoon. But all these efforts were in vain.

 

"Um, Mr Taemin, then we can't talk about someone named Jay, can we?" Han Soo asked in a whisper, but it didn't escape the manager's ears, who was standing nearby.

 

"Jay? Who are you talking about?"

 

I looked at Han-soo with a stunned expression, but He understood that my silence was tacit permission, so he informed the manager right then and there.

 

"I'm not sure, but I heard that both the road manager and Mr Taemin know someone named Jay."

 

"Jay? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before... Hmm, but what about that person?"

 

"Taemin said that person was crazy."

 

"Oh, that guy is... *gasp*!"

 

The manager's jaw dropped, and he reacted the same way Han Soo did yesterday. He was even more shocked when he heard Han Soo's next words.

 

"Moreover, that lunatic is also a stalker who's been following your uncle, the road manager." 

 

I was shocked too. Just as I was about to ask why he said that, I shut my mouth when I heard the manager shouting inside.

 

"So that crazy, ill-mannered person is a man?!"