Precious Thing

The meeting place was usually a hotel or motel. Some cautious people would change locations once or twice in the middle, but Tae Woowon wasn’t that particular.“Traffic must have been bad?”Although Tae Woowon had arrived earlier than the agreed time, the other party was already there. He gave a brief nod and took off his coat, sitting down on the sofa. Despite the biting chill outside, the hotel room, oblivious to the season, was comfortably warm.“What do you want to drink?”Kim Yeonseong, who had hung up Tae Woowon’s coat as if it were his own home, asked as he moved behind the bar. Tae Woowon responded with a simple “No,” as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.Kim Yeonseong was both an informant and a fence. And Tae Woowon was, for all intents and purposes, a thief. Growing up under a father who was in and out of jail like it was routine, Woowon had gotten into the habit of stealing from a young age. Most of the time, he didn’t take things because he desired them but because they looked valuable. And he needed the money. Left alone to fend for himself, he survived by selling stolen goods. That habit continued well into his thirties.Of course, as time passed, the scale of his operations grew. From expensive jewelry to high-value artwork useful for money laundering, the variety and price of his hauls were vast. In recent years, Woowon didn’t pull jobs often, but when he did, he aimed big. He only went after items worth at least 500 million won, living a lazy life in between, until he was nearly broke and needed another big score. Now was one of those times.“Has it been six months? I wonder if your skills have gotten rusty.”“Stop with the pointless worry.”Kim Yeonseong smirked, lifting his own glass of liquor as he approached. Then, he turned on the tablet sitting on the table and handed it to Tae Woowon.“It’s called Sandrite. Only eleven specimens exist worldwide. But recently, one more was discovered — this time in the form of jewelry.”Flipping the page on the tablet, Kim Yeonseong showed Tae Woowon a necklace with a pale sand-colored gem embedded in it.Just as Yeonseong had described, Sandrite was an incredibly rare gem. It had only been processed and turned into specimens in the early 90s, and even when it was discovered, it was usually in places too difficult to extract it from. This necklace, with a gem larger than most, would likely fetch a hefty price. In addition, the gem itself was already valuable, but the design surrounding it was also intricate. Nine crystals encircled the Sandrite, crafted with remarkable precision.“Thirty-nine years ago, someone stumbled upon Sandrite in Ireland and, without knowing what it was, sold it to a shady jeweler. The jeweler made a necklace out of it and gave it to his wife. Seventeen years later, the couple passed away, and the necklace’s whereabouts became a mystery. The jeweler who made the necklace eventually realized the gem was Sandrite, but by then, it was too late. He spent years searching for it in secret, but it never turned up. That is, until recently — in the most unexpected place.”Yeonseong swiped the tablet again, revealing a photo taken from social media. The woman wearing the necklace and flashing a sharp smile was someone even Tae Woowon, who wasn’t particularly into celebrities, recognized. She was Lee Yejin, the top domestic model, known for her frequent international work.Lee Yejin had been famous even before her modeling career, largely due to her family background. She was the granddaughter of Lee, the chairman of Yeho Group, a global business powerhouse. She was the only one among her generation of siblings and cousins to successfully establish herself independently.“How did it end up with her?”“The most plausible theory is that it slipped through the cracks at a flea market. Yejin bought the necklace abroad, had it appraised in Korea, and the appraiser, who’s both greedy and skilled, immediately recognized it as the Sandrite making waves in the underworld. The problem is, that appraiser is friends with a well-known fence — namely, me. The appraiser lied to Yejin, telling her it was just a yellow diamond, and then reached out to me.”Yeonseong grinned mischievously, referring to himself as the famous fence. Tae Woowon, uninterested, merely nodded while staring at Yejin’s face on the screen. Knowing the gem’s true value, Yejin would undoubtedly go to great lengths to protect the necklace. But since the appraiser had convinced her it was just a trivial diamond necklace, it gave Woowon the perfect opportunity to steal it.“Do you have a buyer lined up?”“Yes. Quite a few people are interested.”“How much?”“The highest bidder willing to pay in cash, after splitting the take with the appraiser and me, is offering 1.05 million dollars.”Even after splitting it, that came to around 1.2 billion won — a disappointing amount for something so rare. Considering Yejin lived in a house fit for royalty, breaking in and preparing the heist would require a lot of money and time.“What’s the deadline?”“There isn’t one, but the sooner, the better. Someone else could catch wind of it and make a move.”“When did she post the picture?”“Two months ago.”Yeonseong finished speaking and then shifted his body to sit close to Tae Woowon. With a mischievous smile, he flipped the tablet’s page again.“But this photo is more recent. It’s Lee Yesin, the troublemaking youngest of the Lee family.”The picture showed Lee Yesin, a notorious black sheep of the Yeho family, wearing nothing but the necklace, his upper body bare. His half-closed eyes and blank expression suggested he had either been drinking or doing drugs, clearly after a night of wild partying.“He was so cute when he was a child actor. I guess money really isn’t everything.”“Sit farther away.”Tae Woowon nudged Yeonseong’s knee. Their legs were touching. He was growing tired of Yeonseong’s constant advances over the past few years. He wasn’t desperate for a bed partner, especially not someone he was working with. And besides, Yeonseong, being a man, wasn’t even his type.“…Do you always have to say things in such an embarrassing way?”“You should be grateful I didn’t make it worse.”Kim Yeonseong, who was nervously biting his lip, suddenly stood up and sat down on the sofa next to him. Taewon sat more comfortably and made eye contact with the Yesin in the picture. Wasn’t he said to be twenty-five? Yesin Lee, who had appeared like a comet in front of the public as a five-year-old child actor, quickly gained fame more for his looks than his background. After the movie he starred in became a big hit, his value skyrocketed, and he easily landed various commercials, leading to a sharp rise in popularity. However, after the movie he filmed at the age of seven, he stopped appearing on TV, occasionally showing up in magazines or online news like a celebrity.Yesin started making the rounds in people’s conversations again after he entered college. Draped in flashy luxury brands and attending school with a chauffeur, he acted like someone who would wither away without attention, constantly revealing his daily life to the public. It was as if he was obsessed with the growing number of followers, posting provocative pictures that were followed by wild rumors. Stories circulated that he slept with anyone, regardless of gender, was obsessed with threesomes and orgies, and had even reached the point of drinking alcohol and engaging in sexual acts through unconventional means. All of these were unsubstantiated rumors with no leaked sex videos to prove anything, but looking at this photo, Taewon couldn’t help but wonder if some of it might be true. The look in that young kid’s eyes.“It needs to be confirmed, but for now, it’s likely that Yesin has it. Are you going to do it?” Kim Yeonseong asked with a sullen face, stretching out his legs. Taewon nodded and sent the photo on the tablet PC to his phone. As Yeonseong handed over a sheet of paper, Taewon put down the tablet and skimmed through the document. It was a recruitment notice for security personnel from Yeho Group. The security subject? Yesin Lee, of course.“Just in case. If you’re planning on a direct heist, you won’t need it, but since we don’t know the exact location of the necklace, I’m offering you this service.”Taewon folded the paper, pocketed it, and stood up. He pulled on his coat, ready to leave the room when Yeonseong grabbed his sleeve, stopping him.“The deadline for that ad is next week. If you’re planning to use it, make sure to check the timing.”“Don’t worry about it.”How Taewon chose to proceed was entirely up to him. Although Yeonseong’s comment wasn’t overly presumptuous, the friendly tone felt awkward, causing Taewon to respond more sharply than intended. Noticing Taewon’s unkind attitude, Yeonseong looked down and nervously bit his lip.“…The advance payment.”He was referring to the information fee. It was already stashed in Yeonseong’s car on the way here.“In your car trunk.”“What?”A startled Yeonseong rummaged through his pants pocket. Seeing the car key in his hand, his brows furrowed.“But I have the key…”“I’m leaving.”If he couldn’t even open a car trunk, he should probably quit the job altogether. With a lazy wave, Taewon turned to push open the door, but once again, Yeonseong stopped him. Taewon lowered his gaze with a look of irritation.“What now?”“Can I call you?”“As long as it’s not for something pointless.”“What’s your definition of ‘pointless’?”“Your talk.”Kim Yeonseong pursed his lips and let go of Taewon’s arm. Taewon looked down at Yeonseong’s flushed face, swallowing his humiliation, and gently brushed his cheek.“Just don’t do it too often.”Taewon tapped him lightly on the lips and left. Through the narrow crack in the door, he glimpsed Yeonseong’s ears, bright red. Taewon had no real interest in Yeonseong, but he wasn’t going to turn down any scraps that might fall his way.٠ ࣪⭑According to Yeonseong’s information, it was more likely that Yesin had the necklace. Taewon had someone tail Yesin during the day and followed him himself at night. He also hired some people to track down Yesin’s brother, Yejin, who was conveniently in Korea at the time. After a few days, the necklace resurfaced. The Sandrite necklace hung around Yesin’s neck as he entered a club late at night. Taewon got out of his car, parked in front of the dark building, and headed toward the club, pulling out his phone.“Go ahead with the job I mentioned.”He sent the same message to two people before entering the club. The loud music and the throng of people made it difficult to move, and Taewon frowned, sticking close to the wall. He scanned the tables on a slightly raised platform above the main hall and spotted Yesin sitting at the farthest table. Yesin was laughing and chatting with a man on one side and a woman whose shoulder he had his arm around. Every now and then, the necklace hanging from his loose black T-shirt caught the light.Despite Yesin’s enthusiastic conversation, Taewon couldn’t hear a word over the noise and distance. As he focused on his plan, keeping an eye on Yesin, someone bumped into him.“Oh, sorry!”The person, who had knocked into him, smiled awkwardly as they apologized. Taewon gave a brief nod and returned his gaze to Yesin’s table. The stranger’s eyes followed his and landed on Yesin.“Are you looking at that woman?” she asked, leaning close to Taewon’s ear. Without moving his eyes, Taewon shook his head.“The man beside her.”There wasn’t much to hide. This club was famous for its “good” crowd, with plenty of options for anyone looking for a partner, regardless of gender.“Ah, do you swing that way?”Lee Yesin playfully touched the thigh of the man sitting next to him, his eyes narrowing mischievously. The man grinned widely, tapping Lee Yesin’s chest. Taewon watched the scene with a bored expression before speaking up.“No.”“Really?”“Yeah, really.”“Then why are you looking?”“Because he stands out.”It was true. Despite being far away, Lee Yesin was easy to spot. Even though there were plenty of others more dressed up than him, Taewon, whose standards of beauty were fairly conventional, found Lee Yesin eye-catching for that very reason. Compared to how he appeared on screen, this spoiled young master was even more striking in person.“So… do you want to leave with me?”Taewon turned his gaze from the drinking Lee Yesin to the woman standing before him. Lee Yesin’s night had only just begun, and there was no need to follow him all the way. Since he’d be too busy with work for a while—no time for sex or anything else—spending time with this woman now didn’t seem like a bad idea. Taewon nodded and extended his hand. The woman, despite confidently making the offer, looked up at him with wide eyes, as if she hadn’t expected his response. Then she quickly grabbed his hand. Holding her hand, Taewon led her out of the club.٠ ࣪⭑There wasn’t a lot of work to do, but a few tasks needed to be completed within a deadline. Taewon took care of the urgent ones and checked on the progress of a previous request. Since one particular job required a backup plan if it was delayed, he pressed the worker more than usual, and thanks to that, it was completed on time.“Mr. Ji Geonwoo, you may go in now.”“Yes.”Taewon, now dressed in a black suit for the first time in a while and sporting a freshly cut hairstyle, entered through the heavy doors. ‘Ji Geonwoo’ was the false identity he’d created for this job. Unlike himself, this alias was a bodyguard who had followed the elite path, which had taken considerable effort to create convincingly.“Making it to the final interview must’ve been tough, but landing the job will be even harder, so even if you fail here, don’t think too much of it.”Chairman Lee of Yeho Group didn’t bother with introductions, simply motioning for Taewon to sit. Taewon gave a slight bow and took a seat opposite him. Even though it was the final interview, Taewon hadn’t expected to meet the chairman himself. It seemed that the bodyguard position for Lee Yesin was more important than he’d thought.“So, since physical skills are about the same for everyone, no need to bother discussing that. Do you know why you’ve made it this far?”Chairman Lee asked as he lifted a refined porcelain teacup to his lips. His face was partially obscured by the cup, making his eyes appear all the more intense.“I refused a journalist’s offer.”With a soft slurp, the chairman quietly set the cup back down. Taewon lifted his gaze from the chairman’s hands.“That’s correct. I didn’t think much of the offer, but I suppose three million won is still tempting for some. You’re the only one left.”On the day of the final application deadline for the bodyguard position, Taewon had submitted his paperwork and attended the first interview a few days later. During that interview, one of the staff overseeing the applicants had let something slip.‘The young master apparently got a girl pregnant while he was in the Philippines last week. That’s why they’re hiring. They need damage control.’The soundproofing was terrible, so even though the conversation was meant to be private, every applicant, including Taewon, had heard it. That evening, Taewon received a phone call from a journalist claiming to work for a famous magazine, subtly asking if he’d heard any interesting gossip during the interview. In exchange for spilling the story, they offered him 3 million won. Most applicants would’ve been tempted, even for just 1 million won, because everyone had received poor evaluations in the interview.From the start, Chairman Lee had been looking for someone with discretion, and the first interview was just a test. The harsh, indifferent interview was designed to sour the applicants’ moods and lower their hopes, before sending a journalist to weigh the applicants’ loyalty. Taewon was the only one who passed.“Wasn’t it an amusing piece of gossip? Or was 3 million too little?”“I was looking for a job. That was all.”At Taewon’s response, the chairman slowly nodded, a faint smile forming on his lips.“From now on, make sure to keep that heavy tongue of yours in check.”“I will.”“Shall we start with salary negotiations or the job details?”“Whichever you prefer.”The chairman pulled a cigarette from the case on the table and held it to his lips. As he lightly flicked his lighter, it felt as if he was asking for permission. How many people could possibly refuse in this situation? Taewon, showing polite deference, gestured for him to proceed. Click. The flame from the lighter flickered to life.“My youngest grandson, Yesin… that little brat’s been acting out, trying to screw over both his father and me for years. But no matter how much he misbehaves, no one reacts, so he’s gotten bolder. With all the other matters I have to deal with, this boy, whose only redeeming quality is his looks, keeps tripping me up. You get what I’m saying?”As Chairman Lee exhaled a puff of smoke, Taewon answered with a simple “Yes.” The chairman had been spending money to cover up Lee Yesin’s reckless behavior, but it was becoming more and more of a hassle. The point was clear—he wanted someone to manage Lee Yesin’s antics. Instead of hiding them, the proper solution was to correct them. But how many truly functional families were there in this world? Pushing aside his creeping doubts, Taewon looked at the chairman and spoke.“Is there a clear line I should be aware of?”“You’re quick. Just one thing. As long as the public doesn’t find out, I don’t care what he does. As long as those damn reporters who treat gossip like truth don’t catch wind of it, I don’t care. If you need additional funds for handling things, feel free to bill us. There’s also a VIP hospital room on standby, so don’t worry.”It wasn’t just leniency—it was abandonment. Lee Yesin was a discarded child. Too famous from his past to be thrown away completely, but even less valuable than a nuisance. Maybe it was only because of their blood ties that they hadn’t broken his legs.“But killing him is off-limits.”“…”“If our family’s name is dragged through the mud over some nonsense…”The chairman, dismissing death as trivial, growled alone, casting a heavy silence over the room. When Taewon remained silent, he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and spoke again, his face stern.“Then you’ll come to understand the importance of painkillers.”“Good, good. It’s a long-term contract, so work hard and put in your best effort. I’ll pay you more generously than you might expect.”“Thank you.”“You may leave now.”Just as when he entered, Tae Woowon bowed his head, opened the large door, and stepped out. Everything was going smoothly. Now, all he had to do was go to Lee Yesin’s house and figure out where the necklace was. He was confident in his ability to steal it. He had already commissioned a fake yellow diamond necklace to replace the original, so there was no need to worry about raising suspicion after the theft. If all went well, he might be sipping cocktails at a resort by next month. With this lighthearted thought, Tae Woowon walked with a leisurely pace. However, Lee Yesin would not be an easy target.“Just give me everything. If it’s too much trouble, you can just toss it all into a garbage bag.”Lee Yesin, casually wrapped in a dark gray scarf, pulled a thin wallet from his pocket. He threw down his card.“…I’ve received the card.”The manager picked up the fallen card and spoke. Her temples were throbbing as she entered the counter, quickly gesturing to the staff. The employees, who had been staring at the scattered clothes with bewildered expressions, hesitated before gathering the clothes and accessories and placing them on the counter. While they fetched new items and wrapped them, Lee Yesin picked up a takeout coffee cup from the display. The nearby leather wallet became slightly wet due to the cold drink. After briefly glancing at the wallet, he tossed it onto the counter.“Ah!”The manager let out a short yelp as the wallet hit her.“That too, give it to me.”He wasn’t causing a scene, but he was no less of a tyrant.“Tae Woowon here. What’s the situation?”Tae Woowon approached a man standing outside the store and asked. Before heading to the department store, he had already been informed of who Lee Yesin was with, so he introduced himself without hesitation. The man, who had been standing with a blank expression, sighed lightly and spoke.“Nice to meet you. I’m secretary Park Jonghyun. Uh… this is just an ordinary day.”“Are you saying this is how he always shops?”“Yes. He doesn’t come shopping often, but when he does, it’s always like this. He enjoys being the center of attention.”Indeed, there were many eyes watching him. As a third-generation chaebol of the Yeho Group, Lee Yesin didn’t need to come to the department store during the day. Besides, it didn’t seem like he actually needed to buy anything. Tae Woowon glanced over at Lee Yesin, who was idly tapping on his phone with a bored expression. The vibe was different from when he had seen him at the club. He wasn’t smiling, nor was his outfit as extravagant as it had been then. But the atmosphere was strange, for reasons beyond just his appearance.“You’re going to have a tough time from now on.”Park Jonghyun spoke quietly to Tae Woowon, who was quietly observing Lee Yesin. With Tae Woowon now hired, Park no longer had to be unexpectedly called out of the office, and the joy of that showed on his face, half-hidden by a barely contained smile.“Yes, well. Any specific things I should be aware of?”“Plenty. It’s easier to just match his temperament. He throws a lot of tantrums. He yells a lot… and if things don’t go his way, he might get physical.”Park Jonghyun, who was tactfully describing Lee Yesin as a spoiled brat, pulled out a business card from his inner pocket and handed it over.“I’m the point of contact, so if anything difficult to handle comes up, just call me.”He tucked the business card wallet back with a bitter expression but quickly wiped the look from his face. Following Park’s gaze, Tae Woowon saw Lee Yesin receiving his card back while looking in their direction.“Aren’t you going to carry the bags?”“Oh, yes!”Park quickly darted into the store. Tae Woowon watched as Park adeptly picked up an armful of shopping bags. Carrying bags wasn’t in Tae Woowon’s job description, but it would likely fall on him if Park wasn’t around. As he thought about the concept of being a bodyguard, he noticed Lee Yesin walking toward him.“Are you the new guy? Here to carry my bags?”Lee Yesin asked, sipping his coffee with a smirk. Though Tae Woowon had to speak politely to someone younger than him, this wasn’t the time to get petty. He simply replied, “Yes,” and looked down at the slightly shorter Lee Yesin.“Nice body, tall too. Can I send him home? I’d rather go shopping with you.”Like grandfather, like grandson, both asked questions that were hard to refuse while pretending to be nice. His arrogant attitude, paired with a slanted gaze that was clearly testing him, was as obnoxious as it gets. Tae Woowon’s temper wasn’t exactly mild either, and he also had Chairman Lee’s permission to use force if necessary. However, Tae Woowon had anticipated some of this behavior and, given the many eyes around, held back from lashing out. Deciding he’d correct that attitude later, Tae Woowon simply replied, “Whatever you prefer.”“Nice voice, too. Speak up more. What’s your name?”“Ji Geonwoo.”Lee Yesin repeated Tae Woowon’s alias aloud, his pretty eyes narrowing into a smile before he walked ahead. Tae Woowon licked the inside of his cheek as he followed, gesturing for Park to leave. He wondered how many pointless hours they’d be wandering around the vast, windowless department store. Glancing at the slim figure of Lee Yesin sipping coffee, Tae Woowon checked his watch. Four in the afternoon. A fine time for shopping.٠ ࣪⭑Despite his inability to properly carry even one shopping bag, Lee Yesin had surprising stamina. First floor, second floor, third floor… He visited every women’s clothing store, touching and purchasing a few items here and there. Tae Woowon wondered if he had a hobby of cross-dressing, which gave him chills. Thankfully, the earlier tantrum seemed to be a one-off, and in the other stores, Lee Yesin was much more composed while browsing clothes. Though Tae Woowon’s hands were weighed down with bags, the sharp edge of his nerves had dulled a bit. However, it’s always in these moments of complacency that things go wrong.“…Ah.”Lee Yesin, who had been quietly looking at clothes, lowered his head and let out a small groan. Tae Woowon, in the middle of counting the shopping bags, turned his gaze toward him. Lee Yesin opened his hand wide and slowly blinked before lifting his head. Just as Tae Woowon furrowed his brow, Lee Yesin shouted in a loud voice.“What kind of store management is this?!”He violently pulled off the clothing and began to throw a fit. He flung clothes and accessories around, knocked over racks, and kicked a bag that had fallen on the floor. The scene unfolding in front of him was like something out of a movie, and Tae Woowon couldn’t help but scoff. Though he thought about intervening, he was also curious to see how far this would go. So he crossed his arms and watched as Lee Yesin made a spectacle of himself.“S-Sir! Please calm down!”“Calm down?! There’s glass in this damn clothing!”Lee Yesin thrust his hand toward the manager’s face. Thin lines of blood trickled down his smooth hand. Seeing more blood than expected, Tae Woowon dropped his nonchalant stance and approached them, grabbing Lee Yesin’s wrist. The wound wasn’t long, but it was deep enough to show some flesh.“Let’s go.”Tae Woowon tried to pull him away, but Lee Yesin resisted, yanking his arm free with force.“Go? Where? Hey, aren’t you the manager? A customer gets hurt while looking at your clothes, and all you do is stand there? Shouldn’t you get a first aid kit or find the person who left glass in the clothing?! Do something!”“S-Sorry, I-I….”“Contact this person.”Tae Woowon tossed Park Jonghyun’s business card to the manager, who looked ready to kneel and beg. He then bent down and hoisted Lee Yesin over his shoulder, walking out of the store as Lee Yesin pounded his fists against Tae Woowon’s back.“Let me go! Damn it, what kind of thug behavior is this? Are you crazy? Put me down!”Ignoring his outburst, Tae Woowon approached the elevator. As it arrived, he stepped in, set Lee Yesin down, and pressed the button for the parking garage. Then, slap

. His cheek stung as the heat slowly spread across his skin.“You crazy bastard! Who the hell do you think you are, dragging me out like that? Do you think I’m easy just because I was being nice to you?”Slap. Lee Yesin struck Tae Woowon again, this time harder, as if his temper had flared. There were a few people in the elevator, so now wasn’t the time. Tae Woowon straightened his head, quietly staring down at Lee Yesin, who scoffed in disbelief at his cold gaze.“You’re really out of your mind, huh? Who told you to ignore me? Do you think I’m going to be scared by that tough-guy act of yours? You piece of sh—”Ding. Before Lee Yesin could finish, the elevator came to a stop. Tae Woowon grabbed the door as it opened and stepped aside, nodding toward the exit.“Please step out.”“Ha, are you giving me orders now?”“Please step out.”“Hey.”“There are others here. You’re causing a disturbance. Please step out.”With a furious glare, Lee Yesin exhaled sharply, then roughly pushed past Tae Woowon as he stormed out. Tae Woowon followed, and the elevator doors closed behind them as they silently walked toward the parking lot. Tae Woowon dialed the driver’s number, and the driver picked up immediately, curtly saying, “On my way,” before hanging up. This clearly wasn’t his first time dealing with such a situation. Soon, with a loud screech, a black sedan came to a stop in front of them.Lee Yesin angrily opened the back door and climbed in. Tae Woowon circled the car and sat next to him. The driver gave them a confused glance in the rearview mirror—bodyguards usually sat in the front, but Tae Woowon had deliberately chosen the back seat.“Heading off now.”The car smoothly started in the chilly silence as the driver pressed the accelerator.“How long have you been working as a driver?” Tae Woowon asked out of nowhere, causing both the driver and Lee Yesin to frown at him.“Excuse me?”“Did you sign a contract? That one with over four pages of confidentiality agreements?”“Of course. My family has been working for them for generations without any problems.”“Good.”Tae Woowon gave a short reply and slowly loosened his tie. The spacious sedan had an armrest in the center of the back seat. It was unnecessary, but perhaps it was better for back support.“Bare your ass.”“…What?”“No, driver, just keep focusing on the road.”“Uh, yes, sir.”The flustered driver quickly averted his gaze from the rearview mirror. Tae Woowon turned to face Lee Yesin, who was staring at him in shock. Slowly, Tae Woowon pulled his tie all the way off.“Didn’t you hear me? I said, bare your ass.”“Are you out of your mind?”“Do it before I really lose my temper.”“You crazy…!”Before Lee Yesin could finish his curse, Tae Woowon grabbed both of his wrists and yanked him forward. Unable to resist the force, Lee Yesin fell over Tae Woowon’s thigh. With swift precision, Tae Woowon wrapped the tie around Lee Yesin’s wrists, tying them tightly. Lee Yesin froze in disbelief, still trying to grasp the situation. Wasting no time, Tae Woowon pinned Lee Yesin’s wrists between his thighs, pressing him down by the nape of his neck to prevent him from lifting his head. He then gripped both his pants and underwear, roughly yanking them down. Without a belt, Lee Yesin’s backside was easily exposed.“Are you…! Ah!”The sound that followed was more of a crack than a slap. Clearly, it was the first time Lee Yesin had ever been spanked, and he fell silent, his face buried against Tae Woowon’s thigh. Tae Woowon, his expression unreadable, raised his hand again. Crack!Slap!Slap! After the third hit, Lee Yesin finally came to his senses and started shouting.“Let go! Are you insane? Why are you hitting me?”“How many more do you want?”“What the hell? Let go of my neck, let go of my hands!”Lee Yesin let out a hot breath against Tae Woowon’s thigh as he squirmed in place. Tae Woowon, looking down at the already reddened backside of Lee Yesin, brought his hand down once more.“It hurts!”“How many more hits do you want?”“Why, why should I! Why am I being hit?”“You’re the one who self-harmed in the store. Why are you trying to pin that on someone else?”“…”Smack. Lee Yesin’s butt clenched tightly. There were no glass shards in the store. As soon as Lee Yesin let out a groan, Tae Woowon noticed his tool—a box cutter blade swiftly hidden on the inside of his watch. It seemed that Lee Yesin had cut deeper than intended, judging by the sound of his groan.“And you can’t just go around slapping people in the face out of nowhere.”Slap. Lee Yesin’s body flinched. By now, the pain must’ve been starting to set in. Hitting the same spot repeatedly made the pain sharper and more intense.“I’ll let you off the hook for sneaking out of work, but at least hold back on the cursing.”Smack. A pained grunt escaped from Lee Yesin. Tae Woowon raised his hand again and brought it down without hesitation.“Ugh…”Lee Yesin, biting down on his lip, trembled. Suddenly, he opened his mouth wide as if to bite Tae Woowon’s thigh. But before he could, Tae Woowon grabbed a fistful of Lee Yesin’s hair, pulling him back. He looked down at the now foolishly open-mouthed Lee Yesin and delivered another, harder blow.“Ow!”“How many more hits do you want? I’m not going to ask again. If you don’t answer, you’ll keep getting hit until we get home.”Smack!“Ugh!”Stubbornly, Lee Yesin clenched his mouth shut, refusing to speak, living up to his notorious reputation. Tae Woowon, in turn, swung his hand freely, watching as Lee Yesin’s face twisted in pain, eyes red and on the verge of tears. The sounds of blows and groans filled the air. After eight more strikes, tears glistened at the corners of Lee Yesin’s narrow eyes.“Stop, stop! Ugh! Enough already!”“How much longer till we get home?” Tae Woowon asked the driver.“Th-thirteen minutes left, sir.”“You hear that?”Smack. “Ahh!” Lee Yesin’s pain was obvious, but Tae Woowon’s hand was also beginning to sting. No wonder people didn’t hit others with their bare hands. Maybe he should start carrying a stick. With that thought, he brought his hand down heavily once more. Lee Yesin, having lost all strength, let his head hang down as he began to softly sob. Tae Woowon, his face expressionless, continued to spank him.“St-stop… please… stop…”“This is the last time. How many more hits do you want?”Lee Yesin’s brows furrowed tightly as he bit down on his already red lips. Tae Woowon spread his hand wide, not letting up. He could even see the blood vessels in Lee Yesin’s skin starting to burst. By the time Lee Yesin had been hit so many times that he lost count, he finally opened his mouth, just a little.“Th-three… three more…”Seems like asking for one would’ve hurt his pride. Tae Woowon released his grip on Lee Yesin’s hair. Lee Yesin’s head drooped as tears streamed down onto Tae Woowon’s thigh. Keeping his promise, Tae Woowon yanked Lee Yesin’s pants down further and gave three more hard spanks, putting all his strength into it.Although he had only been hit on one side, which would likely make him limp, Lee Yesin stepped out of the car and walked briskly into the house, fists clenched. Tae Woowon glanced at him before shaking out his hands and walking toward his own car, parked nearby. He had an interview at a department store right after this, so he had sent his car ahead of time. Retrieving a small bag from the trunk, he entered the upscale villa.The four-story villa only housed four tenants, but the only current resident was Lee Yesin. He had wanted to move out, but building a house took too much time and finding suitable land was difficult. So when Lee Yesin got into university, he bought this high-end villa in a quiet neighborhood close to the school.“…Why are you here?”Holding an ice pack from the fridge, Lee Yesin frowned deeply as he looked at Tae Woowon.“I’m living here from now on.”“Says who?”“Your grandfather.”Lee Yesin scoffed and averted his gaze. He hadn’t been told about Chairman Lee’s decision to have Tae Woowon live with him. Instead, he focused on the ice pack in his hand. Then, irritated, he threw it at Tae Woowon. Tae Woowon easily caught the ice pack and set his bag down, gripping the cold pack with his right hand. His hand was already sore, and now he had the ice pack in hand to help with that.