Precious Thing

At Tak’s single comment, he felt his arousal spike. Tae Woowon hadn’t even shown an annoyed expression. He merely looked mildly sleepy as he muttered a curse, yet somehow, that drove Tak wild. Hearing this story, Rogi shook his head about five times, sighing as he recalled Tak’s inexplicable timing for arousal and Tae Woowon’s rare use of profanity, which had taken them all by surprise.“But isn’t it time to let go? It looked like he finally met his match,” Tak said, remembering a moment months earlier when Tae Woowon, in a cheap motel room, had snarled that he was about to face some serious trouble. Rogi recalled that vividly—seeing Tae Woowon so emotionally charged had been a first. It seemed Tak was now referring to that.“Have you seen him in person?”“No, just in a photo.”“Ah, I want to ask who it is.”“He wouldn’t tell you even if you asked.”In a world where information meant survival, a single careless word could mean not seeing the morning sun. People here were cautious with what they shared.“It’s the first time I’ve seen that psycho actually work so hard.”“Same. Would’ve been nice if he’d put in that effort for me,” Tak said lightly, glancing at his wristwatch. It was nearly 2 a.m. Placing a bookmark in his book and stretching his arms, he rose. Rogi, who had extinguished his cigarette, followed suit, stretching as he stood up.“Damn, I’m nervous,” Rogi muttered, and Tak chuckled. Earlier, he’d been all confidence, but now, with the time nearing, his nerves were kicking in. Trying to steady himself, Rogi checked the bugging devices planted around the room, just in case, then adjusted his in-ear monitor. Beep. A small voice chimed in through the monitor.— Ah, I told you I don’t like this ramen.— It’s all we had, so just eat it.Hearing Baek Hyeyun and Seokkyung bickering, Rogi quipped, “Enjoying yourselves? I’m starving over here.”— Oh, you’re on? Sorry, didn’t realize.“Whatever. Just… stay focused, alright?” he began, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Rogi and Tak exchanged glances. Tak quietly drew a gleaming knife and moved toward the door. Realizing what was happening, Rogi slapped his own cheek to snap himself into focus and trailed Tak.— What’s going on?“Think they’re here,” Rogi whispered, following Tak’s gesture to step aside. Tak called out in a low voice, “Who is it?”“Jo Seonggil,” came a voice from outside. Tak carefully opened the door halfway, only to find no one standing there. Staying alert, he was about to close the door when—thud! A tranquilizer dart hit his thigh. The shooter must’ve been at the end of the hallway.“Shit,” Tak swore under his breath as Jo Seonggil’s men surged in. Cursing, he grabbed the first one’s hair, slashed his neck deeply, and sent him sprawling.“Urgh…!” The spray of blood startled Rogi, whose eyes went wide, as well as the henchmen charging in.— What’s going on? Is everything okay?With a groan, Tak pulled the dart from his leg, then flung both the dart and the henchman to the ground. Reaching for the gun concealed at his ankle, he aimed it.“Rogi. Run.”They’d already secured an escape route. Without hesitation, Rogi abandoned Tak and dashed for the balcony.“Tak got hit. I’m outta here,” he reported.— What?!Quickly, Rogi dropped down to the lower balcony and opened the door—only to find Jo Seonggil smiling and greeting him.“Hello.”Damn it. Rogi’s vision went black as Jo Seonggil’s henchman struck him from behind.٠ ࣪⭑In the distance, voices echoed. Rogi struggled to understand their words, his mind muddled, until a stinging slap forced him back to awareness.“How hard did you hit him? Hey, you lost your mind or something?” An unfamiliar hand slapped him again, the sting snapping him fully awake. Seeing Jo Seonggil seated on a sofa, leaning forward, Rogi managed a lopsided grin despite his throbbing, swollen cheek.“…We came to negotiate, not fight.”“Oh, your tone needs some work.”A bespectacled man who had slapped Rogi a few times placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. Rogi, hands tied behind him on a hard chair, turned to look at the man, who only smiled and pressed harder. Despite his apparent age, the man was uncommonly strong.“My negotiation style is… unique. Didn’t you know?” Jo Seonggil said in a low voice, his accent peculiar. He had to be in his sixties, yet he still appeared young, healthy—strong.“Hadn’t heard.”“Hey, watch your mouth.”“What? Didn’t hear yaaa. Is that better?”At Rogi’s sarcastic response, the man with glasses scoffed in disbelief and took a step back, but then a boot came flying towards him. It hit him square in the face, knocking him over with his chair, and blood spurted from his nose. Sighing, he couldn’t help but let out a breath.“Get him up.”“Yes, sir.”The man in glasses set Rogi back up in his chair as before. Blood dripped from his nose, soaking his shirt. With a snort, Rogi twisted his head, flinging blood in every direction. Noticing a few drops splattered on the glasses guy’s clothes, he gave a sly grin. Glasses looked down at him in shock, and Rogi spat bloody saliva onto the floor, smirking with one side of his mouth.“Negotiation, huh? Feels more like intimidation. I got nothing to give you.”At Rogi’s defiance, Jo Seonggil rubbed his lips thoughtfully and nodded.“Say your piece.”“I told you. I got nothing for you.”“You an artist, by any chance?”“…”Rogi’s grin froze. As an artist, Rogi’s fingers were often stained with paint, and Jo Seonggil hadn’t missed it. Clasping his ringed hands, Jo Seonggil gestured lightly, and the man in glasses moved behind Rogi, gripping his right index finger. Rogi’s heart pounded louder.“Say it.”“…I’ll bring you the Shining Brand.”Jo Seonggil gestured to the woman standing behind the couch, who then placed a box in front of him. When Jo Seonggil opened the lid, there lay the Shining Brand, crafted by Rogi’s girlfriend, Goldie. It was supposed to be in the prosecutor’s hands as evidence, yet somehow, within days of arriving, Jo Seonggil had managed to retrieve it from Chairman Lee’s safe, even brutally murdering Lee Juho in the process. Jo Seonggil’s capabilities were unnervingly high.“I had my doubts, but I figured Chansuk couldn’t steal from me anyway.”“…Why do you think that?”“Because hiding the Shining Brand in some junk heap in that safe made no sense. And there wasn’t even a media buzz. For something like the Shining Brand, someone should’ve noticed, right? This thing’s pricey.”Jo Seonggil held the fake Shining Brand up to the chandelier light.“Not my business. I only know where the real Shining Brand is.”“You think I’m an idiot?”Jo Seonggil tossed the fake Shining Brand onto Rogi’s thigh, the impact making him jerk, and the knife barely nicked his finger. Whoops, careful there, the man with glasses said with a playful tone. Sweat gathered on Rogi’s hand.“I just came to negotiate with you. That’s all.”“Do you know why I killed Lee Juho?”“Oh, that was you?”Jo Seonggil chuckled at Rogi’s question, his low laugh sending a chill down Rogi’s spine.“Yes, I killed him. So that you would know I’m here. You all are too dumb to even realize I’m in Korea. Well? Did you know I’m here?”“…”“Think about it. How many people know the Shining Brand belongs to me? Just barging in here offering to negotiate is suspicious as hell.”Jo Seonggil was trying to pin the theft of his safe on Rogi. Thankfully, Rogi wasn’t the culprit, and all Jo Seonggil had was circumstantial evidence.“Don’t underestimate my intel. I knew where the Shining Brand was even before it hit the news. I used my skills to track down who owned it, and as soon as I found out you were back in Korea, I contacted you.”“Sounds plausible.”Jo Seonggil gave a satisfied nod and gestured to Glasses to set Rogi back up, freeing his index finger. A drop of sweat trickled down, falling onto the floor.“Fine, I’ll play along. Then tell me who hired you. I’ll let your fingers and his life go in exchange.”Rogi glanced at Tak, unconscious on the floor nearby. His shirt was stained with blood, and a corpse lay with a slashed throat next to him.“That kid’s just sleeping. Shot with a tranquilizer. He’s not the type to respond to threats—he doesn’t care about anything. Total psycho.”Glasses walked over to Tak and nudged him with his shoe.“Kid, call next time before you show up, alright? People like us get tracked immediately.”“Is he alive?”Rogi asked nonchalantly, difficult to read. Fortunately, he was gutsy enough not to be shaking in fear.“We didn’t mess him up. He’s snoozing. Got hit with a tranquilizer meant for animals over 200 kilos, and he lasted ten minutes. Total psycho.”Glasses nudged Tak’s side with the tip of his shoe, while Rogi turned back to Jo Seonggil, his gaze steady. Jo Seonggil was leaning back with his elbows on his knees, staring at Rogi. Rogi spoke with a calm face.“The client was Lee Juho.”“…”“The Lee Juho you killed. Don’t worry. Only I know where the Shining Brand is. Before it’s inherited, I…”“Arrogant.”“…What?”Jo Seonggil stood, stepping closer and grabbing Rogi’s chin, lifting it. He slid his hand down to Rogi’s neck, pressing his fingers into his pulse. Rogi’s heart pounded, sending a surge through his body.“Spit it out. Who broke into my safe? If you want to leave here alive.”“…”“You’ve got the wrong idea. You think I came here just for the Shining Brand? If you don’t want your fingers cut off one by one, make the call.”Jo Seonggil gave a subtle nod, and the woman retrieved Rogi’s phone from her pocket, holding it up to him to unlock. She swiped through his contacts.“What’s the name?”When he didn’t answer, Jo Seonggil tightened his grip on his neck. His body involuntarily inhaled in fear. Rogi laughed dryly, licking his dry lips before speaking.“Baeksong.”Rogi didn’t actually know who had broken into Jo Seonggil’s safe, though Tae Woowon was a likely candidate. He just hoped the person listening in on this conversation could act smartly to get him out of this mess.٠ ࣪⭑“When I was 19, I heard it by accident with Hangyeol. He was born with health problems, so he swapped places with me. The person who gave birth to me is in a care facility abroad now. She became an alcoholic after Hangyeol died.”Devastated by Go Hangyeol’s death, Go Heejeong often searched for Lee Yesin when drunk. “You didn’t do it, right? You loved Hangyeol, didn’t you? You wouldn’t do that.” She’d talk to herself, bursting into tears and then sometimes shouting, her tone changing.“You filthy bastard! How could you do that to my son? What did you do to him to make him hang himself?”“Father sent that person overseas, supposedly for medication treatment. And he told me… that if that already unstable person found out the truth, they might fall apart. So he told me to keep quiet. That person doesn’t know we’ve changed.”Clack. Lee Yesin, leaving out an important detail, rolled the dice. His piece stopped at a hotel in Lisbon, owned by Tae Woowon. He counted his money and handed it to Tae Woowon, who pocketed it before rolling the dice. Tae Woowon’s piece ended up stranded on a deserted island.“Is that person my mother?”“Biologically, yes. But does it really matter? Whether she’s your mother or not.”Lee Yesin, fiddling with the dice, stretched out his legs and tapped the Monopoly board. Tae Woowon’s hotel and pieces scattered. Tae Woowon smirked and tugged on Lee Yesin’s bare foot, causing him to slip and fall back. Tae Woowon brushed his tongue over Lee Yesin’s ankle. Lee Yesin reached out, pulling Tae Woowon down with him. Tae Woowon swept the fake money and hotels aside with his arm, covering Lee Yesin’s body. He kissed his cheek, licked his lips, then slid his tongue between his even teeth, pressing deeper. With his eyes closed, Lee Yesin stroked Tae Woowon’s back, swallowing naturally and brushing his lips against Tae Woowon’s slightly parted mouth.“Tell me your story.”Tae Woowon tilted his head, grazing Lee Yesin’s lips before sucking, making a loud sound, scratching his favorite spot on the roof of his mouth. Lee Yesin’s arousal gradually hardened against him. Tae Woowon wrapped his arm around Lee Yesin’s waist, lifting him to sit up. He turned him toward the living room sofa nearby and sat behind him, pulling down his robe to reveal a tattoo etched on the pale skin of his neck. As he saw the words inked there, Tae Woowon’s body quickly grew hot. Lowering his lips near the tattoo, he gripped Lee Yesin’s arousal, moving his hand.“Mm…”Lee Yesin, leaning his upper body against the sofa, slowly moved his hips. As a result, his backside subtly brushed against Tae Woowon’s arousal. Smooch, smooch. Tae Woowon pressed his lips against Lee Yesin’s shoulders and neck, gently sucking and then releasing. Even with light pressure, the skin quickly reddened. Watching this, Tae Woowon rubbed his arousal between Lee Yesin’s thighs.“Ji, Geonwoo….”With a sultry voice, he called Tae Woowon’s name, tightening his legs and lifting his hips slightly. Tae Woowon spread Lee Yesin’s firm cheeks, applying precum from the tip of Lee Yesin’s erection onto the entrance. He pressed the tip firmly against the entrance while holding Lee Yesin’s rounded hips apart. If he pushed in like this, it might tear. To lubricate the entrance, Tae Woowon quickly ran his free hand along the shaft of his erection, feeling pre-cum slowly gather. Growing impatient, Lee Yesin reached back, rubbing the tip of Tae Woowon’s erection with his palm. Tae Woowon’s thick pre-cum smeared onto Lee Yesin’s pale hand.“Spread your cheeks.”Obediently, Lee Yesin grasped his cheeks with both hands, pulling them apart. Tae Woowon forced the tip of his erection into the flushed entrance. As he climaxed, Lee Yesin’s body trembled subtly.“Ah… ngh….”“What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”Tae Woowon stroked along the shaft, letting the remaining fluid spill inside. He scooped up what leaked out, spreading it around the entrance and along the shaft.“It’s so hot….”Releasing his grip, Lee Yesin leaned forward against the sofa, resting his head. Tae Woowon wrapped an arm around Lee Yesin’s waist, slowly pushing his still-hardened length back inside.“Haa, ha… just, just put it all in, ngh.”Lee Yesin pressed down on Tae Woowon’s hips with his hands. Tae Woowon bit gently at Lee Yesin’s nape and thrust deeply, just as Lee Yesin wanted. Lee Yesin let out a long moan, gripping Tae Woowon’s hips tightly. Though he hadn’t taken everything in, he held as much as he could. Tae Woowon grabbed a fistful of Lee Yesin’s hair, turning his face to kiss him deeply. Lee Yesin’s entrance clenched tightly around Tae Woowon, the inner walls eagerly moving as if savoring the sensation. Lee Yesin traced his hands over Tae Woon’s arms draped over him and tilted his head back. With a quick, dot-like kiss at the corner of his mouth, he locked eyes with Tae Woowon.“…Tell me anything. Something about you, anything.”“What do you want to know?”“Everything. What were you doing before we met?”“Working.”Tae Woowon’s fingers traced the bridge of Lee Yesin’s delicate nose. As if his own past left him uneasy, he seemed reluctant to share. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much he could say.“Security work?”“Yeah.”Tae Woowon gave a passing response, then sucked on Lee Yesin’s lips. Lee Yesin pushed back against Tae Woowon’s tongue in his mouth, resisting. When Tae Woowon leaned in again undeterred, Lee Yesin cupped his face to hold him back. Tae Woowon gave a slight thrust, making Lee Yesin tremble, and a smile flickered across Lee Yesin’s face.“Who did you protect?”“Why?”“I’m curious if you took care of them as well as you’re taking care of me.”“No way.”Tae Woowon lowered his hand, grabbing Lee Yesin’s semi-hard length and giving it a gentle squeeze. Lee Yesin bit his lip, letting out a soft moan and tightening around him in sync with each movement. Tae Woowon’s arousal grew even harder.“Tell me who it was… the person you protected.”“Why would you want to know?”“I just do… ah.”Tae Woowon gripped Lee Yesin’s hips, pulling out halfway before thrusting back in, his gaze fixed on Lee Yesin. Wet, eager sounds filled the air as he continued to move.“Just… a person.”He lowered his head and kissed him. Finally, Lee Yesin, usually so talkative, closed his eyes and focused on the kiss. Tae Woowon continued to press into Lee Yesin’s tight entrance while touching him, but suddenly, his phone, tossed nearby, started vibrating. Ignoring it, he kept going. But the vibrations didn’t stop. Clicking his tongue, Tae Woowon pulled back from the kiss and gripped Lee Yesin’s waist, lifting him onto the sofa. Rising to his knees, he moved his hips quickly, teasingly brushing against the sensitive spot he knew too well. Lee Yesin spread his cheeks, guiding Tae Woowon’s length exactly where he wanted it. Taking in every bit of Lee Yesin’s raw desire, Tae Woowon thrust deeply.“Ah… hng…!”Even without much effort, he was drawn further in by the tight heat. The slick wetness grew as pleasure surged up to the very top, spilling precum into the depths. Tae Woon gripped Lee Yesin’s waist firmly, driving in even deeper, and Lee Yesin’s moans turned softer, his body trembling slightly. As Tae Woowon reached his peak, he pulled out halfway and finished shallowly.“Haa… ah…!”Though it was his second climax, the intensity made Lee Yesin’s back arch sharply. Tae Woowon pulled his robe down, gently rubbing Lee Yesin’s pale back, then stretched out to grab his phone. It was Baek Hyeyun.“What is it?”Tae Woowon traced his fingers over Lee Yesin’s back as if drawing a picture. Unexpected, shaky breathing echoed from the other end of the phone.— Jo Seonggil knows everything.“What?”— He figured out we used him, baited him with Shining Brand, and raided the vault. He’s looking for you now, and he’s not open to negotiation. If we don’t hand over the person who cracked the vault… he said he’ll cut off Rogi’s fingers and Tak’s legs.“…I’m coming now.”He ended the call. Lee Yesin furrowed his brows and turned his head. Tae Woowon kissed his forehead and began to pull out, but Lee Yesin shook his head, gripping Tae Woon’s waist.“Don’t pull out. Don’t go.”Tae Woowon looked down at him quietly, then withdrew completely. With a soft plop, a few drops of Tae Woowon’s release trickled out of Lee Yesin’s entrance. He gently opened Lee Yesin’s entrance with his fingers, wiping away any remaining drops.“I’ll be right back.”“Don’t go.”“Stay here, no medicine. Just wait for me.”“Where are you going?”Tae Woowon took off his shirt and used it to clean Lee Yesin’s hips. With a soft kiss on his cheek, he stood up, but Lee Yesin grabbed a plastic hotel piece from a Monopoly set nearby and threw it at Tae Woowon’s back.“Where are you going at this hour?”“Someone asked for help. I’ll be back soon.”With Lee Yesin still behind him, Tae Woowon stepped into the room to change clothes. He left the ledger but took the Shining Brand and headed to the living room. Lee Yesin remained in the same position, his face buried in the sofa. Tae Woowon sat behind him with some wet wipes, gently cleaning his hips and wiping away the traces on his calves. He kissed his exposed shoulder and nape a few times, then carefully wrapped him in his robe.It was the first time he’d seen Lee Yesin cling like this. Whether it was due to Lee Juho’s death, Yoon Seokyung’s appearance, or the mention of Go Hangyeol—someone he hadn’t talked about in ages—he seemed more vulnerable than usual. After a moment’s thought, Tae Woowon decided to untie Lee Yesin’s ankle restraints. It was partly to comfort him, but also as a precaution in case anything happened.“I brought back a gift from China.”“…….”Lee Yesin turned his head slightly, his eyes wet as he glared at Tae Woowon, with red-rimmed eyes. Tae Woowon cupped his cheek, gently brushing his face.“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I haven’t had it made yet.”“…….”“It’s a gemstone, so you can choose what to make with it. It’s red. Three carats.”He ruffled Lee Yesin’s soft hair, and Lee Yesin gave a faint nod. Tae Woowon kissed him briefly and stood up, feeling Yesin’s gaze follow him as he left the house. He then drove to the motel where Rogi and Tak were waiting.٠ ࣪⭑Jo Seonggil’s subordinate stood guard in front of the hotel entrance, wearing sunglasses in the pitch-black dawn. Tae Woowon said he was there to meet Jo Seonggil, and the man searched Tae Woowon’s body. He even checked inside the box containing the shining brand before letting Tae Woowon in. As soon as he entered, he saw Tak sprawled out at the door, covered in blood. The rising and falling of his back suggested he was still alive.“Don’t worry, he’s not dead. In fact, our kid is the one who’s dead. Is that bastard a monster?”A bespectacled man approached with a banana in his mouth. Tae Woowon looked at him and smiled.“He’s a monster.”“You’ve got a good friend. To come to rescue that monster.”Tae Woowon turned his gaze away, staring at the grinning bespectacled man. Jo Seonggil was sitting on a long sofa, and Rogi was tied to an uncomfortable-looking chair across from him. Tae Woowon walked toward Rogi, feeling the hot stares of several people on him.“…Boss Woo.”Tae Woowon scanned Rogi’s bloodied face with his eyes and bent down. He had only been slightly cut, and after confirming Rogi’s intact fingers, he freed him from the chair.“Take Tak out.”“……”Rogi glanced at Jo Seonggil. Jo Seonggil extended his hand without saying a word. Tae Woowon threw the jewelry box to Jo Seonggil and pulled Rogi along. He then awkwardly lifted the heavy Tak, who seemed to be snoring, and placed him on Rogi’s shoulder. Ignoring the expressionless man guarding the door, he opened it and sent Rogi and Tak outside.“There’s a Baeksong car in the alley behind the building.”“…Hyung. Be careful.”Rogi, forgetting to respond, whispered quietly. Tae Woowon nodded and closed the door. He then turned around and flopped down onto the chair where Rogi had been tied up just moments ago.“You stole it?”Jo Seonggil asked while shining a flashlight at the shining brand he received from his subordinate.“Yeah.”“This bastard doesn’t talk much.”The bespectacled man, having tossed aside the banana peel, approached Tae Woowon. Tae Woowon pulled out a cigarette with a disinterested expression. Lighting it, he exhaled a long plume of smoke while looking at the man.“What’s your name?”“Hey, are you crazy?”“Park Jungpil, Cha Yunyoung, Gyeon Sangho, Jeong Hyejin, Yoo Jaegwon, Choi Kyungmin. Is anyone among them?”The bespectacled man’s face stiffened. There was nothing good about having one’s identity revealed in this world. In fact, it was dangerous. The man narrowed his eyes, gauging how much Tae Woowon knew. Tae Woowon continued to smoke leisurely, maintaining the conversation.“They say Jo Seonggil killed their parents.”The man’s eyes narrowed. His upper lip twitched irregularly, and a chilling aura radiated from his body. Then Jo Seonggil, across from him, let out a snicker.“Did you memorize all that?”“Of course not. I just remember a few.”Tae Woowon said with a smile, as if to tease Jo Seonggil. It was information he had seen in the ledger. Names and events were listed like a code, and upon recognizing a few, he figured that Jo Seonggil had staged the deaths of their parents to bind his subordinates tightly to his side. He comforted them while taking down their enemies together. Jo Seonggil, who artificially created loyalty, was devoid of blood and tears.“Stay outside.”“…Yes.”The bespectacled man, his expression complicated, walked briskly and roughly opened the door. However, there was hardly any sound as the door closed.“I know you have the ledger. I still don’t know that you stole it, though.”“Is it that you don’t want to believe me?”“You don’t look like the kind of guy who would draw me all the way here without wanting something.”Jo Seonggil said with a face that could hardly be called a smile. On his way here, he had spoken with Baek Hyeyun again. According to her, who had eavesdropped on the entire situation, as soon as Jo Seonggil realized that the shining brand from Chairman Lee’s safe was a fake, he figured out it was bait to draw him in. To flush out Tae Woowon’s team, the only connection he had, he targeted Yeho Group. Since Chairman Lee was under investigation by the prosecution at the time and couldn’t be touched, Lee Juho became the target. Instead of killing someone who could be easily disposed of or someone weaker, he cruelly mutilated Lee Juho. It was a display of his power.“Don’t try to deceive me; send yourself in. Whether it’s for conversation or slaughter, it starts once he arrives.”This was what Jo Seonggil had said after a brief conversation with Baek Hyeyun. He quickly realized that she was not the thief who had broken into his safe. He was clever.“The proof isn’t my responsibility.”“True. But before proving it, what is it you want from me?”Asking what he wanted while claiming not to believe him seemed to imply that Tae Woowon thought it was likely he had indeed turned the safe. Tae Woowon, uninterested in earning his trust, gauged the timing. What would happen if he spoke of what he wanted now? Tae Woowon was definitely in a weaker position. He had sneaked the ledger out to save his life, but if Jo Seonggil wasn’t afraid of losing the ledger, Tae Woowon would be subjected to severe torture until he passed out.“Don’t think too hard. I can hear you.”Ah, the seasoned old man wouldn’t even let him ponder freely. Tae Woowon chuckled and brushed the ash off his cigarette onto the floor.“I was going to ask you to deliver something.”“Is it heavy?”“It’s heavy for me, but light for you.”Tae Woowon’s words prompted Jo Seonggil to lift his upper body from where he was leaning. He then gestured to the woman standing behind him. The woman stepped over and opened a sports bag placed near the table.“If you really opened my safe, I can at least hand over the items on the condition of an exchange for the ledger.”“……”“However, be prepared if you’re lying.”With a thud, a moderately heavy, familiar box was placed on the table. Tae Woowon stared down at the box with an expressionless face.“If you can’t open it, you’ll find out how many tendons are in your body.”This was a box made by Tae Woowon and his mother. The box that should have been in Tae Hyunjae’s possession.As he looked at the box, Tae Woowon stood up from his chair and sat down in front of the table. He crushed his cigarette in the ashtray and pulled the box closer. He brushed his hand over the wooden top. He had many questions. However, he could only get answers by opening the box.He flipped the box over. Touching the iron bottom, he brought a lighter to the left end and lit it. Tilting the box, he applied the flame to that area, causing the wax to melt away. A small, shallow hole formed, large enough for a finger to fit in. Tae Woowon scraped the wax off with his fingernail and pressed down on the same spot on the top. The wooden piece that had been piercing through the inside dropped down. He reached into the gap that had opened up to find the fishing line. Pulling on it, the gift box opened as three sides smoothly detached from the base.“…You’re not hesitating at all.”Should he at least pretend to hesitate? Considering Jo Seonggil’s words to be somewhat bland, Tae Woowon moved his hands diligently. After removing the first layer, he methodically undid the remaining steps. The box gradually shrank in size, and when he had stripped it three more times, a space appeared. It was a place to put treasure.After making this box, Tae Woowon and his mother hadn’t put anything inside. This was an empty box. Jo Seonggil, on the other hand, had no interest in what was inside. He was merely checking whether Tae Woowon could open it. Tae Woowon placed his hand into the space and released the trick mechanism. As the base was revealed, another space appeared. There, he discovered a pattern he had never seen before.The shape of the box, the way it opened, and even the large scratches in some places matched Tae Woowon’s memory, but the pattern was unfamiliar. It was uncertain, but it seemed that either his mother or Tae Hyunjae had tampered with the box. It was more likely that his mother had handled it than Tae Hyunjae. Tae Woowon had left the box unattended until Tae Hyunjae had fled with it. He had been too busy making a living and had gone out so often that he hadn’t been home as frequently as Tae Hyunjae. She had ample opportunities to intrude.Tae Woowon brushed his hand over the pattern and opened the next door. He removed the thin tempered glass and pressed a button. At the end of this process, he found the third and final space where the treasure could be placed. The box had shrunk to the size of his palm. It no longer seemed to have space for anything else to open. However, the same pattern he had seen before was drawn in the corner. Tae Woowon ran his fingers over it and then, with a light push, slid the box back to Jo Seonggil.“You’re Suyeon’s son.”Jo Seonggil said as he fiddled with the box’s shell. Kim Suyeon. His mother’s name. Tae Woowon took out a cigarette and lit it. Seeing the silence as an affirmation, Jo Seonggil chuckled softly.“You tried to pull a fast one on me, but your son has completely messed it up. Hahaha!”He laughed heartily, yet there was something hollow about his laughter as he held the box high and examined it. Suddenly stopping his laughter, he lightly tossed the box to Tae Woowon. Catching it with one hand, Tae Woowon shook the ashes from his cigarette into the empty box.“I got that from your dad.”Could he be dead? He still hadn’t asked why he had taken the box.“Did he just hand it over when you asked?”“Of course. Surprisingly, we had a smooth conversation and made an ordinary trade.”What could he have exchanged for the box he had kept for over a decade? As the curiosity about whether he was dead was resolved, a new question emerged. It was exhausting.“Where’s the ledger?”“I came to meet the ailing Dragon King but left my guts behind.”As if he had expected it, Jo Seonggil grinned.“Tell me where it is before I catch the guys who left earlier and cut them up.”“Even if I know where it is, I can’t open it. I’m Kim Suyeon’s son.”The smile gradually faded from Jo Seonggil’s face. Seeing him like that, Tae Woowon smiled back.“I wanted to meet you.”“Why? Do you dare to ask me to deliver heavy flowers?”“Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth. Just make sure the items are delivered.”Tae Woowon’s cocky tone made Jo Seonggil’s men standing around snicker menacingly and flex their muscles. The moment Jo Seonggil gave a signal, it was preparation to rip Tae Woowon’s throat. Amid the tense atmosphere, Tae Woowon casually smoked his cigarette. Jo Seonggil grinned maliciously.“To whom? What for?”“There’s a black box under the bed. Give it directly to Lee Yejun of Yeho Group. If you tell him to handle it properly, I’d appreciate it even more.”As Jo Seonggil gestured, a man nearby pulled out a small black box from under the bed and placed it in Jo Seonggil’s hand.“But what makes you so bold to act like this? If I decide not to take the ledger, you’ll have to give up your organs.”“I turned your safe a while ago. Do you think I just sat idle since then?”Tae Woowon’s words were a threat that he had already made preparations using the contents of the ledger. However, in reality, Tae Woowon had done nothing.“Like mother, like son, both insufferable.”Tae Woowon ignored Jo Seonggil’s words, bringing the cigarette end to the pattern inside the box and pressing it down. The pattern quickly caught fire, creating small sparks. Fortunately, no one was paying attention.“I guess my mom and I didn’t have a good relationship.”A gap formed in the box as it burned. As he prodded that part with the cigarette butt, a very small jewel emerged.“Of course. It was a contractual relationship.”Tae Woowon lifted his lowered gaze.“A contract?”At Tae Woowon’s question, Jo Seonggil made a strange expression. Then he quickly relaxed his face and clicked his tongue.“What do you know?”“…I don’t know. I only know your name.”“Yet, that little bastard managed to rob my safe.”“Isn’t that a good thing? That’s why I’m moving the items for you.”Tae Woowon said as he dropped the box onto the table with a thud. Jo Seonggil slowly nodded, biting his lip. If it weren’t for Tae Woowon, that safe would have remained closed for life. The ledger was incredibly important to Jo Seonggil. It contained all kinds of information about the flow of money, transaction routines, and future plans. If Tae Woowon used the ledger to threaten him, Jo Seonggil had no choice but to give in to his demands.“Right.”Seeing Jo Seonggil readily admit it, Tae Woowon felt a sense of relief. With this, he could safely return to Lee Yesin’s side.“What kind of contract did you make?”However, the long time spent chasing after Jo Seonggil’s past weighed on his mind, making it difficult to turn away. Long ago, in young Tae Woowon’s eyes, Tae Hyunjae and Kim Suyeon truly liked each other. Yet, Kim Suyeon abandoned Tae Hyunjae for Jo Seonggil. Thus, he had always been curious about what kind of person Jo Seonggil was to warrant such a choice. And, why had she abandoned him?“Your mother had a lot of debt. It was an amount that couldn’t be paid back even by selling her body or organs. So, I kept her by my side. I had a lot to hide, you know.”Jo Seonggil must have created countless safes by his side. After moving to China, she had handled more safes than jewelry.“So you tricked me on the way. Because I didn’t let Suyeon go to you and Tae Hyunjae.”“You were the one who trusted that person enough to put the ledger in the safe.”“I had no choice but to trust him. I always used the safes that Suyeon made. And it was written in the instruction manual.”Tae Woowon put one hand in his pocket and looked at him. Jo Seonggil chuckled, lifting his lips.“I love you.”A laugh escaped Tae Woowon in disbelief at such a ridiculous statement. It was funny enough for Jo Seonggil to keep chuckling.“You take after your mother.”“…….”“Be careful. There’s nothing more dangerous for a discarded brat like you.”As Tae Woowon looked at him expressionlessly, Jo Seonggil shook the black box he was holding and changed the subject.“I’ll deliver this to Lee Yejun right away. When you confirm, send the ledger. If you’ve set up any other tricks, don’t get caught.”The latter part was a warning about the earlier threat. If he had copied the ledger or shown it to someone else, it meant he should be cautious; if caught, it would mean death. Having only read the ledger, Tae Woowon nodded in understanding. Jo Seonggil’s subordinates prepared to clean up the bodies. Jo Seonggil also got up from the sofa. Just as Tae Woowon thought they would leave, Jo Seonggil paused.“But, wasn’t there anything else in the safe?”There was. A red light and a treasure map. But Tae Woowon showed no reaction.“Right. Consider it your inheritance from Suyeon, take those two. By the way, that map is useless now.”That was unfortunate news for Jane.٠ ࣪⭑After leaving the motel, Tae Woowon called Baek Hyeyun. Before the ringing tone could finish, a van stopped in front of him.“Boss Woo! Get in!”Seokkyung waved him over with the back door wide open. Tae Woowon climbed into the vehicle. The one driving was Tak, who had a visibly annoyed expression as he pressed the accelerator. Beside him, Rogi also subtly raised a hand to Tae Woowon, his own expression not much better. Meanwhile, Baek Hyeyun and Seokkyung, seated in the back, quietly organized their eavesdropping devices with stern faces. As he surveyed the group, he found them looking rather disheveled. Although they had tried to assemble a decent team, it was clearly not going well.“Why does everyone look like that?”“…Damn it. I dropped my gun.”“Because you were late, I had to speak honorifically to some bespectacled bastard while waiting. Damn, what a jerk.”Tak was the first to complain, followed by Rogi. Their grievances were all personal, leaving no room for retorts.“…I heard everything.”At least Baek Hyeyun brought up work. Tae Woowon rolled down the car window slightly to check the time.“Once the USB is in Yejun’s hands, the ledger will be transferred. Then this will all be over.”“…That’s not what I was talking about.”Surprised by the unexpected reply, he turned his gaze from the window. Baek Hyeyun and Seokkyung hesitated, their lips pursed.“What do you mean?”“Um… Boss Woo… you grew up very lonely after being abandoned by your mom…”“Crazy.”“Hey, don’t curse. I’m going to sleep.”It was a total mess. Tak was joking around, and Baek Hyeyun inadvertently spilled secrets from the past. Since even the names of their parents were mentioned, it was only a matter of time before Tae Woowon’s identity was exposed.“So, what’s your name? Tae something? Huh?”Tae Woowon shrugged off Baek Hyeyun’s clinginess and lightly kicked the driver’s seat. Tak, who was speaking, made eye contact with Tae Woowon in the rearview mirror.“Pull over after the light.”“I’ll give you a ride.”“I’m taking my car.”Rogi was unaware that Tae Woowon was targeting Lee Yesin. If they drove this car to Lee Yesin’s house, Rogi would definitely become curious. While he was not someone to blabber around, there was no need to inform him, and he didn’t want to park a suspicious van in front of Lee Yesin’s house. Moreover, he had somewhere to stop along the way.“When’s the wrap party? Can we invite Francesco and Jane too?”Baek Hyeyun chirped excitedly. However, he didn’t feel bad about it. The play he had been preparing with ambition was coming to an end. It would take a few more months for Lee Yejun’s secret biological mother’s show to completely wrap up, but without Chairman Lee and Lee Juho, his worries were lessened. Now, there was no one in Yeho Group who could touch Lee Yesin. With Jo Seonggil’s appearance, Lee Yejun, who was quite tense, would naturally protect Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin was like a fish trapped in a net. From now on, Tae Woowon planned to spend time with him, fulfilling his wishes one by one. At the same time, he intended to fend off the fools who coveted him. Imagining a fragrant future with Lee Yesin lifted his spirits, not just to neutrality but to genuine happiness.