One plus One Delivery Service

Han Jooan’s expression twisted strangely. Gi Myunghoon, whose hand had been stroking the back of Han Jooan’s head, moved it forward and rubbed his furrowed brows and scrunched-up eyebrows.“Why… me?”When Han Jooan didn’t push him away, Gi Myunghoon began to freely touch his face. His fingers moved from his brows to his sharp, monolid eyes.“I told you, you’re my type.”“My face…?”“Your personality too.”“What about my personality?”“I’ve liked people like you before. But they all caused similar problems. They started crossing lines—they wanted too much, hated me seeing other people, and sulked if I didn’t pay attention to them.”“…”“If I show you affection, just accept it. Don’t overstep and meddle with me.”Seeing no need to explain further to Han Jooan, who neither understood nor sympathized, Gi Myunghoon firmly added:“All I expect from you is to spend evenings with me when I call. Do that, and I’ll give you whatever you want. I can move you into a new place, pay for your tuition or living expenses, whatever you need.”Han Jooan, who had kept his mouth shut, finally spoke.“Sounds like you’re offering to sponsor me or something.”“Well, it could be seen that way.”“No thanks.”“You won’t be at a loss.”“No thanks, sir.”When Gi Myunghoon’s fingers, sliding down the bridge of Han Jooan’s nose, tried to slip between his lips, Han Jooan pushed him away and stood up. The chair screeched loudly as it was shoved back. Unlike the composed demeanor he had moments ago, his movements were abrupt.“Don’t contact me again.”As Han Jooan moved to gather his things and leave, Gi Myunghoon called out to him.“Most people wouldn’t miss a chance like this. It’s not like you’re harming anyone or doing something morally wrong. I just want to enjoy my time with someone who’s my type, and you’d be spending time with an ajusshi and getting paid for it. It’s just a deal that meets both our conditions.”Gi Myunghoon’s words didn’t even surprise him. Wasn’t this the same man who described marriage as nothing but a contract? Gi Myunghoon delivered a final blow to Han Jooan, who was now standing frozen with his hand on the doorknob.“Your pure charm won’t last more than a few years. By then, I won’t even be saying things like this to you.”Han Jooan didn’t respond.Screech. Bang!He swung the door open and left. The staff at the counter recognized him and spoke first.“Are you looking for the restroom? It’s in the opposite direction.”Ignoring the staff, he strode out of the restaurant.“Sir?”He didn’t answer the employee calling after him. Exiting the hotel building, he headed toward the subway station where Secretary Yoon Min had gone earlier. Only after standing on the subway platform did his face finally twist with anger. The curse he couldn’t say at the restaurant burst out.“Shit…”The humiliation and disgrace made him unable to lift his head.‘He’s probably said the same thing to more than one person. Did everyone else just agree to it?’Gi Myunghoon had been so confident of his victory. That composure, which once seemed like a byproduct of wealth, now revealed itself as the height of arrogance. As he suppressed his irritation, his phone vibrated.Buzz.When he checked his phone, there was a message. It was from Team Leader Oh at the logistics center, regarding his early morning shift.[Please come in two hours earlier tomorrow. It’s going to be very busy because of the backlog during the holidays.]‘If they want me two hours early, that means I have to clock in by 2 a.m.’Even if he went home to sleep immediately, he’d get at most four hours of rest. His frustration surged.‘Ha… what a life.’There was no point venting his anger in the wrong direction, so he simply replied, “Okay.” All he could think about was untangling the mess Gi Myunghoon had made of his schedule. He would cancel all the evening plans they’d made and return to his original routine.‘Simple.’The belief that seemed like a simple solution lasted only a week. At that time, Han Jooan couldn’t have imagined he’d end up needing Gi Myunghoon.✴︎˚“Jooan, it’s been a while since our restaurant got a delivery call from you,” said Kwon Seongtae, the owner of Sosoh Restaurant, as he handed over a bag of food with a warm welcome.While checking the order, Han Jooan replied, “It has been.”“Have you been busy lately?”“The early morning logistics job keeps taking up my time, so I haven’t been able to focus on evening deliveries.”“Why?”“People keep quitting. I guess it’s because summer break is ending, and the new semester is starting.”Kwon Seongtae glanced around at the diners and then called Han Jooan over.“Chwee-chweet!”With flamboyant hand gestures, he signaled, Han Jooan, sneak into the kitchen!‘The regular baseball season must be ending. His team must be doing well,’ thought Han Jooan, shaking his head at the sight of Kwon Seongtae acting like a star coach giving signals. He followed the instructions and went into the kitchen, where Kwon Seongtae sidled up to him and subtly asked, “Are you still in touch with Boss Gwanghwa?”Han Jooan hesitated momentarily before replying casually, “No.”“Why not? I thought you two were getting close.”“Why would we?”“It’s curious, that’s all.”“I’m leaving.”“Oh, oh, drive safely!”After adjusting his helmet, Han Jooan rode his bike to the delivery location. The customer was already waiting outside a building, a young office worker who had clearly taken orders for the entire office.“Oh, Sosoh Restaurant! Over here!”Hearing the call, Han Jooan smoothly stopped his bike in front of the man. The customer, holding the bags of food in both hands, checked the order and, satisfied, bowed hastily without even turning back.“Thank you!”He quickly disappeared into the building. Watching him, Han Jooan had an idle thought.‘Is he not getting reimbursed for that? Must not have used a corporate card.’Clicking his tongue, Han Jooan tried to shake off thoughts related to that ajusshi.After finishing his task, he rubbed his eyes with his hands. The increased early-morning shifts were leaving him sleep-deprived. Even the caffeine from convenience store coffee was no longer enough to keep him going. He’d been pushing himself too hard lately.‘Maybe I overworked myself to avoid thinking about that ajusshi.’He realized he needed rest. Continuing like this could affect his modeling job scheduled in a couple of days.‘I’ll just clock out early today.’Riding his motorbike at a slow 10 km/h, he exited the alley.‘I should just take a nap at the jjimjilbang near home… huh?’Suddenly, a red sports car appeared from a side alley to his right.“!”Startled, Han Jooan swerved his handlebars sharply, but he still collided directly with the car’s left headlight.Crash!Both Han Jooan and the bike toppled onto the road. Though the low speed meant he wasn’t seriously injured, the state of his body wasn’t his main concern. The shattered headlight and scratched bumper of the car were driving him crazy.‘No way!’A man wearing sunglasses hurried out of the car.“Ah, shit!”The owner inspected the car’s damage before turning to Han Jooan, who was staggering to his feet. The man didn’t even try to help him up. Only after standing did Han Jooan notice something was wrong with his own body.“Ugh, I think I tore a ligament…”When he fell, he instinctively tried to brace himself by placing his hands on the ground, which seemed to put a lot of strain on his wrists and ankles, causing injury. The pain throbbed intensely, and he found himself unconsciously rubbing the affected areas. However, since there was no visible bleeding or apparent fractures, the driver immediately picked up his phone.“Hello, police? There’s been a traffic accident here. No one was injured, but a delivery guy crashed into my car. Yes, understood.”Han Jooan wore a dazed expression. He finally gathered his thoughts and asked indignantly:“Excuse me, don’t you know straight-line vehicles have the right of way? You entered first.”The car owner raised his voice as soon as he hung up.“I had the right of way!”“Ha, are you saying I hit you on purpose?”“Whatever! Call the insurance company!”The car owner, appearing to be in his early to mid-30s, made another call right after hanging up with the police.“Hello, insurance? I need to report an accident. No, I don’t need a tow, but could you come to the scene to check? Yes, thank you.”After finishing the calls, the man removed his sunglasses. Without checking if Han Jooan was hurt, he glared at him with a look of disgust.“Seriously, these broke losers will do anything to scam insurance money. You think I haven’t dealt with your kind before? Go rot in jail, you punk.”The sound of police sirens echoed from afar. Passersby glanced at the scene—a fallen motorcycle, a sports car, and the two involved—while older onlookers even approached to watch more closely. Han Jooan pressed his lips together, unsure how to handle the situation.It was an exhausting day, and that fatigue had led to what felt like the worst event of his life.✴︎˚“Please show me your ID.”While one police officer checked Han Jooan’s identification, another reviewed the car owner’s black box footage. As the insurance company representative arrived and joined the officers in inspecting the scene, the number of onlookers continued to grow. Han Jooan couldn’t bring himself to complain about the throbbing pain in his wrists and ankles. People were whispering and casting him sidelong glances.He was being treated like the perpetrator, like a fraudster staging an accident to scam insurance money.“But it looks like the car owner didn’t signal before turning right,” one officer pointed out.The car owner flinched and shouted, “So what? It’s not like I was speeding! Look, I wasn’t even going 5 km/h. I wasn’t accelerating—just coasting in neutral!”“From the footage, it doesn’t seem like the motorcycle deliberately crashed into the car. This will need to be handled based on shared fault ratios.”“Wow, so the police are siding with the delivery scum instead of innocent citizens now?”Ignoring the irate car owner, the officer turned to his colleague who was checking Han Jooan’s ID.“Looks like this can just be handled between the insurance companies.”As the police prepared to leave, the car owner exploded again.“Do you even check if these delivery guys have insurance? They might just bolt! Take him to the station and investigate properly!”“Fine, understood.”“Do your job right. I’ll be watching!”“Yes, got it.”Returning Han Jooan’s ID, the officer asked, “Aren’t you going to contact your insurance or your company?”Han Jooan couldn’t speak. There was no way he could admit, “I don’t have insurance. I’m sorry.” He couldn’t bring himself to pay for insurance since he didn’t know how long he’d stick with delivery work. Trying to save money, he’d resorted to working uninsured.“Am I going to end up in jail? What do I do…”Everything seemed to crumble before his eyes. Even apart from fault ratios, he had no idea what penalties he might face for driving uninsured. His face turned pale as he stood there speechless. One of the officers asked gently:“Mr. Han Jooan, are you okay?”‘No, I’m not okay. I feel like I’m going to die.’He had no idea how to solve this on his own. He couldn’t ask his parents for help, either. With his eyes tightly shut, he realized there was only one person he could call for help, though he hated to rely on them.‘I really didn’t want to owe them anything…’Still, his trembling voice managed to ask the officer:“Can I make a quick phone call before we go?”Unlike the raging car owner, Han Jooan’s calm and composed demeanor led the police to treat him with more patience.“Go ahead.”Han Jooan pulled out his phone. His right wrist hurt too much to even hold it, so he pressed it with his left hand to call “Soso Restaurant.”<Soso Restaurant, how can I help you?>He wasn’t particularly close to them. While doing delivery runs, the restaurant owner, Kwon Seongtae, would occasionally give him water on hot days or a snack, leading to light small talk and a slight familiarity. Recently, they had bonded a little more over an incident involving the Gwanghwa Corporation’s president. Still, calling to ask for help after a traffic accident felt shameless. But there was no choice. Kwon Seongtae was the only adult he could think of to ask what to do in such a situation.“Sir, it’s me. Could you please help me?”His voice trembled so much that Kwon Seongtae shouted in alarm on the other end, “What happened!”✴︎˚“Why didn’t you have insurance? You know that’s illegal, right?”At the police station, as he was being questioned, Han Jooan had no response. He already knew he was in the wrong. What more could he say to the intimidating officer who kept hammering him with the obvious?“The car owner says he won’t go through insurance. He claims he’s not at fault and doesn’t want his premiums to go up. He intends to file a claim against you.”Han Jooan had somewhat expected this. He closed his eyes tightly before opening them again and asked, “How much are we talking about?”“He says one headlight costs 10 million won.”“…?”‘What kind of nonsense is that? A headlight costs 10 million won?’Before he could even process the absurdity, the officer continued.“And the bumper—he says there’s a dent. Repairing it will cost more, so he wants to replace the whole thing. Since the car’s manufacturer is based in Italy, sending it there for repairs will take at least a month. Until then, he plans to rent a car of the same class and charge you for both the repair and rental costs.”‘So this is another way to bleed someone dry!’Learning this harsh reality left Han Jooan speechless. He had about 5 million won saved in his bank account. By working hard until January next year, he’d hoped to save up 20 million won to afford university while aiming for scholarships to buy study time. But the money he had painstakingly saved wouldn’t even cover fixing a car’s lights.“All in all, you’re looking at about 40 million won.”The overwhelming figure left him unable to speak. The officer added another blow.“Oh, and since you were driving uninsured, you’ll also need to pay a fine.”It felt like his life had crumbled in an instant. All his efforts seemed to have gone to waste, leaving him drowning in a mix of defeat and self-loathing. He felt like crying. He wanted to ask if the payment could be made in installments over a year, like on a credit card, but he couldn’t even form the words.‘I don’t want to live anymore.’He hung his head low. Just as he thought there was no way out, a familiar voice caught his attention.“Han Jooan?”He looked up and turned around. A familiar face was walking toward him. His eyes widened.“…Secretary?”It was Yoon Min, the secretary of Gi Myunghoon, the president of Gwanghwa Corporation. He approached in a neatly tailored suit.“I came on your behalf after getting the call.”“What? From who?”“The restaurant owner, sir. Didn’t you tell him you had a traffic accident?”“Oh…”“Sir didn’t know what to do, so he immediately contacted me. I got permission from the president to come here. Well, we don’t have much time.”Checking his phone for the time, Yoon Min turned to the police and said, “Our lawyer is on the way. You can discuss the details with Han Jooan’s legal representative, right?”The police were as surprised as Han Jooan. They had pitied the young man for working uninsured, but now, out of nowhere, a stranger appeared talking about lawyers. It was hard to make sense of the situation.“Ah, yes, yes, that’s possible.”Yoon Min gave a slight nod to the frozen-in-place Han Jooan.“It will be over quickly.”It would have been enough to have just one adult come to help. But someone from Gwanghwa, accompanied by a lawyer? There wasn’t even time to feel relief; cold sweat ran down his back from the pressure.Instinctively, he knew this help wasn’t free goodwill but would come with a cost. Perhaps one even greater than the 40 million won the car owner was demanding.✴︎˚As soon as they left the police station, Yoon Min made a call.“Yes, Sir, it’s been taken care of. No, it wasn’t a big issue. I’m about to return to the office; what should I do? Oh, about Han Jooan?”Yoon Min glanced at Han Jooan standing beside him. He seemed unable to collect himself after going through such a big ordeal in a short time, staring blankly into space with a dazed look.It was perhaps due to this that he’d unknowingly been limping slightly. His left foot. And he seemed unable to use his right hand properly. He didn’t even seem to notice the pain, but it looked slightly swollen, as if he’d injured a ligament.“He has minor injuries. He’ll need to be checked and treated. All right, I’ll stop by the hospital and then return.”Yoon Min hung up the call, slipped his phone into his jacket pocket, and called out to Han Jooan.“Han Jooan, let’s stop by the hospital before heading to the office.”The dazed eyes took a moment to react.“Sorry?”“Your hand and foot seem injured.”“Oh, but I can’t afford hospital bills….”“Don’t worry about the cost. We’ll take care of it. Let’s go.”And just like that, Han Jooan was practically dragged to the hospital by Yoon Min. As expected, he was diagnosed with a ligament injury, but it was minor, so there was no need for a cast or bandage. They only prescribed painkillers and advised him to take it easy for a few days.It wasn’t until after receiving treatment that Han Jooan finally started to regain his composure. In the car on the way to the company, he turned to Yoon Min.“Thank you.”The words came late.“I was so overwhelmed I just kept accepting help. Thank you so much.”While steering, Yoon Min replied, “You should thank the president, not me.”Going to the company meant meeting Gi Myunghoon. It was only natural to express gratitude after receiving help, but Han Jooan couldn’t shake his unease. Conversations from their recent dinner kept resurfacing in his mind.“You’re my type. I want to take care of someone like you.”The divorce reason was a difference in sexual orientation. His ex-wife had known about it before they married, so there wasn’t much point in assigning blame or labeling anyone a victim. The important part was how Gi Myunghoon explained his reason for showing kindness to Han Jooan.“What I want from you is to spend the evenings I call for with me. If you can do that, I’ll give you anything you want. I can move you to a better place, cover your tuition and living expenses.”Han Jooan clenched and unclenched his fists. His right hand was too weak, so only his left kept repeating the motion, betraying his anxiety. Noticing this, Yoon Min said, “Our legal team will handle everything. Don’t worry too much.”‘It’s not the accident I’m worried about—it’s your boss.’Han Jooan shook his head.‘What kind of ungrateful thoughts are these toward someone who saved me from rock bottom? If they say jump, I should be asking how high.’Reminding himself of his situation, Han Jooan tried to stay calm and asked, “The car owner said they’d demand about 40 million won from me.”“Hm, the damaged car was a Porsche, wasn’t it? That makes sense.”“Are you helping me with the financial side as well?”“Do you think I was sent here just to get you out of the police station?”“How should I repay the money?”“You’ll have to discuss that directly with Sir.”“You’re his secretary, so you must have seen a lot of people like me, right?”“People like you? What do you mean by that?”‘Is he pretending not to know, or does he really not know? It’s possible he’s unaware of that ajusshi’s private life, but given how he’s cleaning up after everyone involved, he probably knows everything.’Han Jooan stopped trying to figure out the complexities of the adults’ situation and decided to trust his instincts.‘This secretary clearly doesn’t know the people that ajusshi has been involved with before. That’s why he doesn’t see me as some parasite leeching off his boss. That ajusshi must be meticulous about keeping his private life completely hidden.’Han Jooan recalled Gi Myunghoon’s attitude. He didn’t seem like someone meeting a “young one” for the first time. Judging by the way he mentioned how many demands they usually had and how he hoped Han Jooan wouldn’t do the same, it sounded like he was used to handling such inconveniences himself.‘Since I’ve already caused troublesome problems like the others he’s met, he might be fed up and push me away.’That must be why he called him to the company.‘He’s probably going to tell me not to get involved anymore, to take the money and disappear.’He decided to accept it calmly. He had already faced a car accident, a trip to the police station, and an injury—all chaotic events in a single day. Still, he was trying hard to stay composed. Even if he cried his eyes out once he got home, he was determined to act and speak properly now.Before he knew it, the car had stopped in the company’s parking lot.Screech.“You can get out now.”Han Jooan stepped out of the car and looked up at the massive glass building. The letters “GH,” representing Gwanghwa Corporation, were boldly displayed at the top of the structure.‘The number of employees here must be in the thousands. Or maybe tens of thousands. This guy manages to provide for all of them and secures construction contracts. He’s more incredible than I thought.’Gwanghwa’s “Gloria” apartment line was famously the most expensive among domestic brands. Even with starting prices 1.5 times higher than other brands, they were the top choice, considered the most prestigious apartments. He vaguely recalled reading in a news article that the designs were Gi Myunghoon’s work. A man with such vision and the ability to manage a company of this scale—it hit him just how special that chance meeting and meal really were.In hindsight, he felt a twinge of regret.‘I should’ve at least pretended to consider his proposal. For all I knew, he might’ve really just meant dinner. I let a golden opportunity slip through my fingers.’He hadn’t realized how desperate he would become for money when the time came. Recognizing his own materialistic side left a bitter taste in his mouth.‘Ajusshi, I’m not as pure as you think I am. I’m just a worn-down person.’“Let’s go.”He followed Yoon Min into the building. There were more than eight elevators in the central hall. Since it was late afternoon, just before the end of the workday, there weren’t many people using them, so they got in without waiting. Yoon Min pressed the top button, for the 18th floor, where the secretary’s office was located.“Hello, Chief.”Several female employees in suits, their hair tied up, greeted Yoon Min. He walked through the secretary’s office and asked, “Is the president in?”“Yes, he doesn’t have any appointments this afternoon.”“That’s good news, Jooan. You won’t have to wait and can meet him right away.”Yoon Min knocked on a dark wooden door.Knock, knock.“Sir, I’ve brought Han Jooan.”A familiar voice responded from inside.“Come in.”When the door opened, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the bright and lively secretary’s office. The dark-toned wallpaper and furniture seemed to weigh down the air. A large nameplate on the desk read [President Gi Myunghoon]. Its owner stood slightly tilted, looking at Han Jooan.He’d spoken so kindly and warmly before that it hadn’t been apparent, but standing there expressionless, he was intimidating enough to make Han Jooan hesitate to speak first.‘So this is how he is at work….’His hair was slicked back.He wore thin silver-rimmed glasses, giving off an intellectual air.And he was dressed in a gray three-piece suit with a classic design that would typically suit an older gentleman. But on Gi Myunghoon, it didn’t look outdated. Instead, he resembled an heir from a prestigious family maintaining its legacy and tradition.‘I treated someone like this so casually? I must’ve taken him too lightly.’Recalling how he might’ve acted rudely toward such a dignified person made his face burn with embarrassment.Oblivious to Han Jooan’s thoughts, Gi Myunghoon merely flipped through the papers in his hand. Then he read out the content written on them to Han Jooan.“You didn’t even have insurance for your delivery job. As a freelance model, you don’t have worker’s compensation or employment insurance, and for the logistics work, there’s no contract since it’s just a part-time job. Are you proud of being young? Do you think it’s fine to grind yourself down just to survive?”Gi Myunghoon placed the papers he was holding on the table meant for hosting guests.Thud.The documents contained details of Han Jooan’s employment status, verified by the legal team. Flustered, Han Jooan asked,“Isn’t this personal information?”“It is.”“Then how can you—sir—be allowed to see it?”“You appointed our company’s lawyer as your legal representative for the car accident.”“What?”“Didn’t you agree to that when you left the police station?”Han Jooan, bewildered, turned to Yoon Min, who nodded calmly.“That’s correct.”‘So leaving the police station wasn’t the end of it?’Not knowing what was going on, Han Jooan couldn’t find the words to respond. He had no choice but to gauge the situation. Gi Myunghoon looked visibly displeased, glaring at Han Jooan as if he were a predator growling at its prey.“That’s why I could check your employment status. I needed to see if there was any insurance to cover you after the accident. I didn’t expect you to be a completely uninsured, bare-handed individual.”Gi Myunghoon leaned casually against his desk. Whether it was because of his attire or his posture, the oppressive air he exuded was overwhelming for Han Jooan. Those sharp eyes, seemingly capable of seeing through anything, were impossible to meet. Standing under that gaze felt like being stripped bare. The remark about being able to assess someone in just three seconds didn’t seem like an exaggeration. It felt like he had already formed a clear picture of Han Jooan’s personality, disposition, attitude, and values, despite only meeting him a few times.“Secretary Yoon, I don’t have any appointments this afternoon, do I?”“You don’t, sir.”“Then I’ll leave early today.”Yoon Min’s eyes sparkled with joy, brimming with unspoken excitement.“Of course! You always work late, so I’ve been worried about your health. Please go home early today and rest well!”“Oh? Sounds like you’re trying to kick me out.”“Of course not, sir!”At the same time, he politely picked up the car keys.“I’ll have the car prepared.”“No need. You and the rest of the secretary team can leave early today too.”“Haha, yes, thank you, sir.”Unable to hide his smile, Yoon Min left the office, closing the door behind him. Faint cheers of excitement could be heard from the employees outside, thrilled by the unexpected early dismissal. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, Han Jooan couldn’t bring himself to smile. Instead, he bowed his head politely.“Thank you for your help.”As he bowed deeply, Gi Myunghoon’s gaze landed on the top of his head, sharp and intense enough to feel like a physical weight. When Han Jooan straightened up, he couldn’t figure out where to look under the piercing stare.‘Even if he calls me shameless, I’ll grit my teeth and apologize.’Resolving himself for a stern scolding, he was met instead with a concerned question.“They said you went to the hospital. Where are you hurt?”“Huh? Oh, um…”“Let me see.”Han Jooan hesitated, his nervous and reluctant demeanor resembling a wary stray cat. Despite the mix of caution and confusion in his eyes, Gi Myunghoon remained steady.“Do you not want to show me?”‘There it is again, that gentle tone.’Even in the presence of his closest aide, Gi Myunghoon maintained a weighty demeanor, yet around Han Jooan, he shed that layer to reveal his true self. The way he acted made it seem like Han Jooan was receiving special treatment.‘What is with this man? He should be scolding me, so why….’…Why is he letting this slide?Even with potentially tens of millions of won on the line, was that amount insignificant to him?To Han Jooan, who had been trembling at the harsh reality, the warmth Gi Myunghoon exuded felt almost unbearably kind. That small act of gentleness brought a surge of emotions to the surface, nearly causing him to break down.‘Even if I cry, I’ll wait until I’m home to do it.’I made up my mind several times and responded as calmly as possible.“I sprained the ligaments in my ankle and wrist. It’s not a serious injury.”“Let me see. How badly are you hurt?”Han Jooan hesitated but cautiously stepped forward. He unconsciously limped as he walked, causing Gi Myunghoon to look closely at the injured ankle. Han Jooan raised his right hand to show it.“It’s hardly noticeable.”Gi Myunghoon grabbed the outstretched hand firmly. Han Jooan flinched instinctively, but he remained still, the grip on his wrist causing pain. Gi Myunghoon, instead of the injured wrist, held his palm and arm, turning them gently before speaking.“With how thin you are, it’s no surprise you injured your ligaments. You should build some muscle.”The touch that smoothed his hand and arm made Han Jooan shrink his shoulders. He knew he should ask to be let go now that the check was done, but the words wouldn’t come out. In his mind, the claim amount of 40 million won for the accident kept floating around. It was a sum far beyond the yearly salary of most employees.‘Is Ajusshi going to solve this personally, or is the legal team involved, and the company will handle it? I don’t know. Can I ask?’He couldn’t help but feel smaller, like a criminal. Gi Myunghoon was well aware of Han Jooan’s shrinking demeanor and was savvy enough to take advantage of it.Swish.The hand on his arm slid under his short sleeve. The soft touch that reached his shoulder and armpit made Han Jooan’s eyes tremble.‘Ah, this… it’s got a sexual undertone…’Instinctively, he tried to pull his arm away. As if expecting this, Gi Myunghoon gently grabbed his other arm.“Jooan.”Gi Myunghoon’s voice was soft, intended to reassure him, but his hands did the opposite. It was like a snake slowly tightening its grip.“The accident costs might go to court, or if they want a settlement, it could end there. I can’t give a definite answer on how much it’ll be; we’ll have to see how it progresses.”“….”“You understand that, right?”“…Yes.”Gi Myunghoon pulled Han Jooan closer. As Han Jooan hesitated, walking into his space, Gi Myunghoon examined him carefully. He was flustered but didn’t push him away, seemingly considering the money and trying to listen to what Gi Myunghoon had to say. Gi Myunghoon liked that attitude. He found it tiresome when young people prided themselves and shouted loudly, but Han Jooan was meek and obedient, which suited his taste. On the outside, he seemed difficult and rude, but inside, he was soft and malleable—like soft tofu that would crumble with just a little pressure. He wasn’t the type to extort with money, but he wanted to make Han Jooan understand that he was like someone who had won the lottery by being close to him.“You’ll get the money. Nothing’s free for you.”Han Jooan snapped back to reality when the subject of money was brought up. He calmly responded.“There’s 5 million won in my account. Anything more, I’ll earn and pay back monthly.”“What if you run away in the middle?”The question struck at Han Jooan’s pride.“I won’t! I’ll pay it all back, for sure!”Gi Myunghoon couldn’t help but smile. He liked Han Jooan’s determination to solve things on his own. So, he decided to push further.He wanted to gauge just how much pressure it would take to shake Han Jooan.“I want to know what you’re doing until the money’s paid off. Your job, your actions, everything. Can you provide me with that kind of information?”For the first time, Han Jooan met his gaze. Gi Myunghoon didn’t look away. Unlike the mysterious aura created by his glasses, Han Jooan’s intentions were transparent, and he seemed genuinely taken aback by the proposal.“Are you going to monitor me?”Gi Myunghoon shrugged.“I’m much too busy with work to be keeping tabs on one person.”“Ah, so what I mean is…”“If you don’t like it, you could give me a few services in exchange for paying off the debt.”Gi Myunghoon’s hand slid up, and Han Jooan flinched. As he lowered his gaze, his eyelashes trembled visibly. Gi Myunghoon noticed that Han Jooan had understood what he meant by “a few services.” He gently grabbed Han Jooan’s chin and pulled him closer until their breaths could be heard softly.“The ‘work’ I want from you won’t be as difficult or strange as you’re imagining.”Han Jooan’s lips parted, but he couldn’t speak.‘Innocent as always.’Gi Myunghoon couldn’t stop laughing, thoroughly amused by teasing the younger man. His touch grew more mischievous.Srrk.He brushed his fingers along the corner of Han Jooan’s lips, his gaze fixed there as well, refusing to budge. Under that persistent scrutiny and touch, Han Jooan froze, unable to move—like prey stiffening before a predator. Gi Myunghoon relished the moment, savoring the stillness of the younger man, whose full lips stood out on his otherwise slender frame. While Han Jooan’s eyes were sharp and narrow, devoid of double eyelids, his lips were inexplicably plump—a stark contrast to his refined features.‘No wonder he oozes allure. Who was he trying to entrance, looking like this?’Han Jooan watched Gi Myunghoon’s actions with a bewildered gaze. Still focused entirely on his lips, Gi Myunghoon murmured,“I like playing with kids, you know. That’s why I’m making this proposition.”Han Jooan’s pupils trembled uncontrollably. For the first time, the desires he had buried beneath a façade of propriety broke free. Gi Myunghoon had orchestrated the situation so meticulously that Han Jooan had no choice but to take the bait dangling before him.“Why juggle three jobs with your precarious employment when you could just spend an hour or two with me every evening? I’ll pay you more than those three jobs combined. How does that sound?”Han Jooan’s circumstances had changed. This wasn’t like before, where he could storm out of a restaurant in disgust.‘I’ve injured my wrists and ankles, so I can’t work the early morning logistics job for now. My uninsured delivery gig will likely cut me loose too. That leaves me with the modeling job, but honestly, it only earns enough for a month’s meals—it’s nowhere near enough to save for tuition or living expenses after I re-enroll.’And that wasn’t all.‘On top of that, I still need to pay back the debt I owe this man. If I have to work endlessly during school to cover the costs, I’ll have no time to study. Without a scholarship, I’ll just keep hemorrhaging money. It’ll be a vicious cycle.’An easy way out lay before him. Gi Myunghoon’s offer could eliminate all those hardships in one stroke, freeing his body and mind. Yet, it was so sweet it felt dangerous to even take a bite.Nothing in life came free. Han Jooan had learned that truth the hard way, through his own struggles. Choosing this easy path seemed bound to extract an unimaginable price, a cost so steep it frightened him. He feared making a decision he would regret forever, trapped in remorse.Gi Myunghoon saw right through Han Jooan’s hesitation. He was all too familiar with the thought process of the younger men who had clung to him. They were all the same. Once the floodgates opened, it was easy, but they often fled before taking that first step. Normally, he wouldn’t care if they ran off, as he had no intention of forcing anyone. But Han Jooan was different—he was precisely Gi Myunghoon’s type.Not just the pretty face and handsome features. Not just the wounded heart that pretended to be unscathed. Not just the submissiveness that sparked an urge to cherish him even more.Han Jooan was someone Gi Myunghoon wanted to know deeply.“Jooan-ah.”Gi Myunghoon’s voice dropped a tone, causing Han Jooan to flinch. Startled, he looked up, only to see Gi Myunghoon smiling like a snake ready to tempt him.“You can try it first and decide later. If it doesn’t work, you can back out then. I’m not going to force you.”It was a lie, of course. Once Han Jooan stepped in, Gi Myunghoon intended to hold on to him, even by coercion if necessary. Naturally, he would do it so subtly that Han Jooan wouldn’t even realize he was being cornered.After hesitating, Han Jooan asked, “What… what do I have to do?”‘Not quite the same as when he stormed off with that disgusted look, is it?’Recognizing the shift, Gi Myunghoon grinned.“What do you have to do? You’re asking what playing with me entails?”Han Jooan nodded, cautiously gauging whether it was something he could handle. His nervousness and meticulous evaluation reminded Gi Myunghoon of a kitten contemplating whether it could leap over a threshold. Every reaction was so endearing that it made Gi Myunghoon’s stomach churn with want.Feeling such emotions for a grown man was unfamiliar, but it only solidified his resolve—Han Jooan was someone he couldn’t let slip away. Still, he masked his intentions carefully.‘Don’t rush. If he bolts again, you won’t catch him a second time.’Patience and precision—Gi Myunghoon’s specialties.He withdrew his hand from Han Jooan’s trembling form and grabbed his car keys.“I’ll show you at my place.”