Taehyuk's pov:
"I know it, sir… but—"
His voice faltered as his gaze dropped to the floor.
"But I'm in debt… sir." He finally forced the words out.
"Debt?" I repeated, my eyes dragging slowly from his head to toe, measuring every inch of him.
"What kind of debt?"
"That… uh…" He swallowed hard.
"My dad was a gambler. He lost everything. When he couldn't repay it… he ran away. Left me and my mom alone."
I said nothing. Just watched.
"And my mom… she borrowed money from loan sharks for my education. That's how our debt… kept growing."
"Where is your mother now?"
"She's in Busan. I came to Seoul… for part-time jobs—
"How much?" I cut him off, uninterested in the details.
"Sir?" he blinked, confused.
I took a slow step closer.
"How much debt do you have?"
His fingers clenched slightly at his sides.
"…2 million won, sir."
Without another word I walked away..
Time skips
I sat on the couch in the hallway, working.
Lee walked in.
"Boss, you called me?"
I nodded, removing my glasses and placing them on the table.
"What is the order, boss?"
"Pay all of his debts."
"Whose debt, boss?"
"Yujin's."
He stared at me for a moment.
And I knew why.
Because I had never done this before. Never paid for someone.
I don't even let my targets walk free.
But him…
"Something on my face?" I asked coldly.
"Sorry, boss." He lowered his head.
"Go. Find out everything about his debt. Pay all of it."
He nodded and turned to leave.
"And—"
He stopped.
"And don't tell the lenders we paid. Not even him. Keep it a secret."
"Yes, boss."
He left.
Yujin's POV
I sat on the edge of his bed.
Thinking.
How different he acted today… compared to the day first we met.
He was different.
He was… soft—
No. No, no, no, no. Don't think like this Yujin..
At end of the day he's mafia
He isn't soft...
And maybe he will never be..
But what if he is..soft ?
No!
"Even thinking like this feels dangerous.
And yet… I can't stop" I mumbled to myself
The door suddenly opened.
I flinched, looking up to see him leaning against the doorframe.
"S-sir?"
"I thought you would have slept," he said, walking toward me.
As he got closer, I stepped back.
One step.
Two.
Three.
My back hit the wall.
"Why are you keeping your distance?" he asked, now close enough to feel suffocating.
I swallowed.
"You're not even standing close to me… so
how are we supposed to sleep in the same bed?"
My heart stopped.
Same bed…?
And there it was—that teasing smirk.
Arrogant.
Dangerous.
Why is my heart beating faster when he smiles like that.…?
He snapped his fingers in front of my face.
"What? Went off imagining things?" His tone carried a teasing edge.
My face burned instantly.
"S-stuff? W-what—"
He let out a low, measured chuckle.
Then he stepped back and sat on the bed, legs spread slightly, posture relaxed but commanding.
"Not coming to sleep?" he asked, raising his pierced brow.
"Uh…" My eyes shifted to the couch.
"I'll sleep… on the couch."
"Why?" he asked, casually undoing his suit buttons.
My eyes snapped shut immediately.
From his smirk, I knew—he was enjoying this.
"Shy boy."
My eyes are still closed.
Don't open your eyes, Yujin...or you will lose what little innocence you have left..
"Whatever. Sleep wherever you want. Just don't come crawling to me at midnight saying the couch is uncomfortable."
He grabbed a towel.
"And don't worry… I won't eat you alive."
My eyes opened, embarrassed.
"What? That's what you're scared of, isn't it? That I'll do something to your precious body?"
I looked down, face burning.
"Seems like I'm right." He smirked again.
"Fine. Sleep. I'm going to shower."
He walked away without another word.
How can he read me so easily… like iam some open book...
I covered my face with my hands.