Tak, Il-hyun’s gaze turned to the newspaper on the table. The incident from last night was prominently featured in it. It was a big deal that a high-ranking member of a Japanese organization had jumped from a hotel in downtown Hong Kong. Of course, he didn’t jump voluntarily.
Zhang Yi An’s grandfather Zhang Myung lit a pipe and waved to the secretary with a disapproving expression. The secretary held out a tablet. On it was a picture of Furukawa Daichi. Despite the fact that his face was hidden behind a hat and a mask, he was still alive and well until three days ago.
Il-hyun took it and swiped the photos one by one. He had no contact with anyone upon his arrival in Hong Kong. Then a black car appeared. The people in the car had their faces cleverly covered so it was impossible to recognize them.
“Professional. It took less than five minutes to kidnap him.”
He swiped the next photo. And the next photo again. Il-hyun’s hand froze in the air. He was dressed in a hoodie with the hood pulled deep and sunglasses that only revealed the bridge of his nose, but Il-hyun recognized it right away. An employee comes in and pours the freshly brewed tea while he was looking at the photo expressionlessly.
After Il-hyun expressed his gratitude, he handed the tablet back to his secretary.
“I will make up for the loss.”
Zhang Myung raised his body leaning on the sofa with an expression of surprise.
“Why would you.”
“Let’s just say it’s for not being able to keep the cats under control.”
Il-hyun laughed bitterly. Now he understands why Zhang Myung asked to see him in person. The wild cat had caused a problem. The image of him waving his hand to hide it and pretending nothing happened during their phone call a few hours ago was vivid in his mind.
The person who hired Lee Ja-kyung was Zhang Myung along with his father, who died two years ago. There’s no way he wouldn’t recognize him. The old man with a fiery temperament must have planned to cover it up by meeting him first.
AD
“How unexpected.”
Il-hyun’s gaze, which had been lingering on the teacup, shifted to Zhang Myung. Whether it was because he promised to take responsibility for the aftermath or for some other reason, Zhang Myung’s expression was a little tolerant.
“I saw CEO Kang as a very rational person.”
It would have been unthinkable in the past. Even if it was Kang Il-hyun’s person, when he made a mistake, the retribution that followed was ruthless.
“Perhaps old age has made my heart more forgiving.”
Zhang Myung chuckled at the absurd statement.
“I wish you had shown that generosity to your father as well.”
Il-hyun was silent. Zhang Myung never wondered how Chairman Kang died, but he had a hunch. It’s not surprising in this line of work for family members to shoot each other.
Just then, the phone in his pocket vibrates. It was Wang Han’s number. Excuse me. Il-hyun got up and walked toward the hallway behind the living room. Lee Ja-kyung’s voice came through when he picked up the phone.
[Where are you?]
“Hong Kong.”
[When are you coming?]
Il-hyun’s gaze turned to the watch. A faint sense of relief could be heard from Ja-kyung at the mention that Il-hyun might be later than expected. Mischievous.
“Do you want to see me?”
[Yes…]
There was no energy in the voice as it reluctantly answered. Well, why would he be after causing a big problem?
AD
“Wait. I’ll be there soon.”
***
Wang Lun grabbed Ja-kyung’s hand as he sighed after the call. He pulled him away like a lump of meat and tried to drag him into the shop. The shop was located in a corner of Macau and offered services like tattoos and waxing.
As they were led inside, a man with tattoos on his face greeted them. Ja-kyung pushed the door he had come through and went out, Wang Lun immediately followed and grabbed his arm.
“Just once. Only once.”
“Are you crazy? If you want to wax that much, do it yourself!”
“We can’t all die. It has to be you who sacrifices. Do you understand? You might discover a new taste.”
“No. It won’t be the three of us who die, it’ll be you. If hyung hadn’t lied, I would never have come here with you!”
The passers-by glanced at the tall men squabbling in front of the store. Wang Lun brought Ja-kyung here as soon as they arrived in Macau and finished unpacking for one reason and one reason only.
Wang Lun suggested that he prepare a gift in case the quick-witted Kang Il-hyun discovered all of the facts. However, Ja-kyung couldn’t understand why, even as a gift, his own body had to bear the burden. And to make matters worse, it was a Brazilian waxing.
“Who would want to receive such a gift!”
“You don’t know because you’re ignorant. Just wait and see. CEO Kang, that pervert, would be thrilled if he found out.”
“Who are you calling a pervert!”
Wang Lun burst out laughing when he saw Ja-kyung’s flustered appearance. Wasn’t it Ja-kyung who called him a crazy perverted bastard all the time? He pleaded with Ja-kyung, rubbing his hands together like a fly.
“Wei. Please, please. Please save my life.”
AD
“If you’re so scared, why did you do such a thing?”
“Did any of us think it would end up like this?”
Wang Han, who was in the driver’s seat, got out of the car and quietly helped.
“Let’s just do it together.”
Wang Lun hesitated for a moment, and Ja-kyung’s crumpled face slowly relaxed. It would be unfair to suffer alone, but it would be less unfair if the three were waxed together. Ja-kyung didn’t know why he and Wang Han had to suffer along with Wang Lun for the mess he had caused, but if Kang Il-hyun found out, he wouldn’t just let it slide.
Il-hyun had clearly shown his displeasure with the idea of sending them on a trip. Of course, he had casually told them to have a fun trip, but until the day before departure, he had tormented Ja-kyung in bed, to the point that he could barely walk on the plane.
“Then shall we go in?”
Lun smiled and pushed his back. Ja-kyung sighed and was reluctantly dragged in, and Wang Han also followed. But no one knew that it entailed great pain.
***
“What’s wrong with your expression? Aren’t you happy?”
Lee Ja-kyung and the Wang brothers couldn’t help but smile. Kang Il-hyun had appeared before they even had a chance to recover from the burning pain of the waxing session. Belatedly, Wang Lun smiled broadly, spreading his arms wide.
“Our CEO Kang, you’ve become even more charming in our absence. Isn’t that right, Wei?”
Ja-kyung smiled reluctantly. Kang Il-hyun passed Lun and came to Ja-kyung. He tightly held both of Ja-kyung’s cheeks and kissed him, causing Lun and Han’s faces to contort. Ja-kyung pushed Il-hyun on the shoulder, conscious of the Wang brothers.
“Hey, wait a minute.”
“I missed you.”
AD
“You shouldn’t…. when people are around.”
“Who cares if someone sees?”
The Wang brothers made a disgusted expression at his words. They were not just random people behind him. But the sin committed was such that they couldn’t even joke about it. Who would have imagined that the man they kidnapped last night had any connection to Kang Il-hyun?
“It was later than expected. Sorry.”
Ja-kyung was rather glad Il-hyun came late.
“No, it’s fine…”
Il-hyun’s gaze glanced up and down Ja-kyung once.
“What did you do today?”
Ja-kyung looked at the Wang brothers. They urged with their eyes to lie quickly.
“I was at the casino.”
“And.”
“I go shopping…”
“And.”
Ja-kyung pursed his lips like a crucian carp. He couldn’t bring himself to say that he had gone to get his pubic hair waxed.
Wang Han quickly interjected.
“You also had egg tarts! When it comes to Macau, it’s all about tarts! Haha.”
He laughed heartily, and Lun chimed in, suggesting they have one more. It seemed like the atmosphere was being lightened, but then Il-hyun smiled.
“You were having so much fun, you didn’t even realize you lost your phone.”
All three of them fell silent for a moment.
“Right…”
AD
While staring at Ja-kyung, he smiled and called for Park Tae-soo.
“Tae-soo. try making a call with Ja-kyung’s phone.”
Suddenly? Ja-kyung looked at Il-hyun with a bewildered expression. When he went to retrieve his phone in the early morning, there were police officers swarming the area, so he couldn’t retrieve it. He had managed to put it on silent mode for now…
As Ja-kyung cautiously moved his eyes, Tae-soo made the call. There was no one to answer it because it was on silent mode. But then a phone ringtone came from Il-hyun’s pocket. Ja-kyung’s eyes widened, and Wang Lun and Wang Han, who were standing behind him, had the same reaction.
Il-hyun licked his lower lip and takes out the phone from the inside pocket of his jacket. It was the one Ja-kyung had left on the roof of the building. The words “My baby” were clearly spelled out on the screen.
Ja-kyung looked at it without blinking.
“I’m curious. Why was my baby in Hong Kong when he went to have fun in Macau?”
The thing Ja-kyung was worried about exploded so easily. His eyes moved towards Wang Lun. It was your doing, so you take responsibility.
“And it was right across from the building where the murder took place. Hmm?”
His tone and expression were soft. It was even scarier. Ja-kyung held his breath and looked at Wang Han and Wang Lun standing behind him. Their faces reflected deep contemplation as well. Il-hyun was casually smiling, but his gaze was that of a predator ready to tear into its prey.
Ja-kyung bit his lip and tried to come up with a flexible response.
“Well… I wonder why it was there…”
As Ja-kyung continued to play innocent, Il-hyun smiled and gestured toward Tae-soo. The door soon opened, and two big men entered and grabbed the arms of the Wang brothers. When Wang Lun shouted in protest, Il-hyun raised a finger as a warning instead of giving a response.
“If you fool around one more time, I’ll rip their organ out of their body for the amount of money I lost.”
When he talked about ripping the organs from a living person, he laughed casually, and Wang Lun kept his mouth shut. Seeing the two being dragged away, Ja-kyung hardened his expression. Hopefully, Il-hyun won’t really kill them. He had some faith that he wouldn’t, but no one knew what Il-hyun would do when he got angry.
AD
Ja-kyung stepped back slightly and smiled wryly.
“I… was fooled too.”
“Of course you were.”
“If you want to kill someone, kill Lun hyung! He’s a really bad guy!”
Il-hyun was amazed.
“As expected, my honey. You never fail to be loyal.”
Il-hyun loosened his tie. Ja-kyung took a step back and clenched his fist. Surely he didn’t intend to strangle him with it? As Ja-kyung stared, Il-hyun tossed his tie to the side and made beckoning gestures. When Ja-kyung didn’t budge, Il-hyun approached him, grabbed his shoulder, and forcefully dragged him onto the bed.
Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung’s ankle and climbed onto the bed as he hurriedly tried to stand up. Then he settled it by placing Ja-kyung’s calf between his arm and side. When he saw the grip tightening, Ja-kyung turned pale and raised his upper body, writhing, but his foot wouldn’t come loose from the strength.
“Wait a minute! CEO Kang!”
Il-hyun laughed softly as if he were melting away.
“It’s going to hurt. Of course, not as much as the pain in my heart.”
His voice was cold. It meant he wasn’t joking. Ja-kyung screamed in anguish.
“No! CEO Kang! Hey, Kang Il-hyun!”
“I’m listening. Speak.”
Realizing that the hand holding the ankle was straining, Ja-kyung swung his arm.
AD
“A gift! I have a gift for you!”
Il-hyun’s hand, which was about to twist his ankle, paused for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ja-kyung swiftly withdrew his foot and escaped under the bed. Thinking that he had lied to avoid a crisis, Il-hyun’s expression turned furious.
“You want to break them both?”
Ja-kyung hesitated. The lower half of his body still felt burning. Presenting this as a gift? Wang Lun was also a madman. He was not saying that it was justifiable for Wang Lun’s arm to be broken for no reason. As he stood there wobbling, lost in thought, Il-hyun approached confidently.
Ah, fuck it. Ja-kyung tightly closed his eyes and walked towards him, grabbing his hand firmly. And then he put his hand into his own pants pocket. As he vigorously rubbed his hand against the throbbing cock, Kang Il-hyun’s face stiffened.
Ja-kyung thought Il-hyun would be so pleased that his eyes would roll back, but his expression was fucking pissed.
Fuck. He must be a fucking idiot for listening to Wang Lun.
Might as well beg. As soon as he tried to release his hand, his body was forcefully pushed down onto the bed. Kang Il-hyun, who was just in front of him a moment ago now loomed above his head. His face contorted fiercely. Muffled groans and laughter escaped from his twisted lips.
“Haah, fuck… You’re really something.”
Tak, Il-hyun’s gaze turned to the newspaper on the table. The incident from last night was prominently featured in it. It was a big deal that a high-ranking member of a Japanese organization had jumped from a hotel in downtown Hong Kong. Of course, he didn’t jump voluntarily.
Zhang Yi An’s grandfather Zhang Myung lit a pipe and waved to the secretary with a disapproving expression. The secretary held out a tablet. On it was a picture of Furukawa Daichi. Despite the fact that his face was hidden behind a hat and a mask, he was still alive and well until three days ago.
Il-hyun took it and swiped the photos one by one. He had no contact with anyone upon his arrival in Hong Kong. Then a black car appeared. The people in the car had their faces cleverly covered so it was impossible to recognize them.
“Professional. It took less than five minutes to kidnap him.”
He swiped the next photo. And the next photo again. Il-hyun’s hand froze in the air. He was dressed in a hoodie with the hood pulled deep and sunglasses that only revealed the bridge of his nose, but Il-hyun recognized it right away. An employee comes in and pours the freshly brewed tea while he was looking at the photo expressionlessly.
After Il-hyun expressed his gratitude, he handed the tablet back to his secretary.
“I will make up for the loss.”
Zhang Myung raised his body leaning on the sofa with an expression of surprise.
“Why would you.”
“Let’s just say it’s for not being able to keep the cats under control.”
Il-hyun laughed bitterly. Now he understands why Zhang Myung asked to see him in person. The wild cat had caused a problem. The image of him waving his hand to hide it and pretending nothing happened during their phone call a few hours ago was vivid in his mind.
The person who hired Lee Ja-kyung was Zhang Myung along with his father, who died two years ago. There’s no way he wouldn’t recognize him. The old man with a fiery temperament must have planned to cover it up by meeting him first.
AD
“How unexpected.”
Il-hyun’s gaze, which had been lingering on the teacup, shifted to Zhang Myung. Whether it was because he promised to take responsibility for the aftermath or for some other reason, Zhang Myung’s expression was a little tolerant.
“I saw CEO Kang as a very rational person.”
It would have been unthinkable in the past. Even if it was Kang Il-hyun’s person, when he made a mistake, the retribution that followed was ruthless.
“Perhaps old age has made my heart more forgiving.”
Zhang Myung chuckled at the absurd statement.
“I wish you had shown that generosity to your father as well.”
Il-hyun was silent. Zhang Myung never wondered how Chairman Kang died, but he had a hunch. It’s not surprising in this line of work for family members to shoot each other.
Just then, the phone in his pocket vibrates. It was Wang Han’s number. Excuse me. Il-hyun got up and walked toward the hallway behind the living room. Lee Ja-kyung’s voice came through when he picked up the phone.
[Where are you?]
“Hong Kong.”
[When are you coming?]
Il-hyun’s gaze turned to the watch. A faint sense of relief could be heard from Ja-kyung at the mention that Il-hyun might be later than expected. Mischievous.
“Do you want to see me?”
[Yes…]
There was no energy in the voice as it reluctantly answered. Well, why would he be after causing a big problem?
AD
“Wait. I’ll be there soon.”
***
Wang Lun grabbed Ja-kyung’s hand as he sighed after the call. He pulled him away like a lump of meat and tried to drag him into the shop. The shop was located in a corner of Macau and offered services like tattoos and waxing.
As they were led inside, a man with tattoos on his face greeted them. Ja-kyung pushed the door he had come through and went out, Wang Lun immediately followed and grabbed his arm.
“Just once. Only once.”
“Are you crazy? If you want to wax that much, do it yourself!”
“We can’t all die. It has to be you who sacrifices. Do you understand? You might discover a new taste.”
“No. It won’t be the three of us who die, it’ll be you. If hyung hadn’t lied, I would never have come here with you!”
The passers-by glanced at the tall men squabbling in front of the store. Wang Lun brought Ja-kyung here as soon as they arrived in Macau and finished unpacking for one reason and one reason only.
Wang Lun suggested that he prepare a gift in case the quick-witted Kang Il-hyun discovered all of the facts. However, Ja-kyung couldn’t understand why, even as a gift, his own body had to bear the burden. And to make matters worse, it was a Brazilian waxing.
“Who would want to receive such a gift!”
“You don’t know because you’re ignorant. Just wait and see. CEO Kang, that pervert, would be thrilled if he found out.”
“Who are you calling a pervert!”
Wang Lun burst out laughing when he saw Ja-kyung’s flustered appearance. Wasn’t it Ja-kyung who called him a crazy perverted bastard all the time? He pleaded with Ja-kyung, rubbing his hands together like a fly.
“Wei. Please, please. Please save my life.”
AD
“If you’re so scared, why did you do such a thing?”
“Did any of us think it would end up like this?”
Wang Han, who was in the driver’s seat, got out of the car and quietly helped.
“Let’s just do it together.”
Wang Lun hesitated for a moment, and Ja-kyung’s crumpled face slowly relaxed. It would be unfair to suffer alone, but it would be less unfair if the three were waxed together. Ja-kyung didn’t know why he and Wang Han had to suffer along with Wang Lun for the mess he had caused, but if Kang Il-hyun found out, he wouldn’t just let it slide.
Il-hyun had clearly shown his displeasure with the idea of sending them on a trip. Of course, he had casually told them to have a fun trip, but until the day before departure, he had tormented Ja-kyung in bed, to the point that he could barely walk on the plane.
“Then shall we go in?”
Lun smiled and pushed his back. Ja-kyung sighed and was reluctantly dragged in, and Wang Han also followed. But no one knew that it entailed great pain.
***
“What’s wrong with your expression? Aren’t you happy?”
Lee Ja-kyung and the Wang brothers couldn’t help but smile. Kang Il-hyun had appeared before they even had a chance to recover from the burning pain of the waxing session. Belatedly, Wang Lun smiled broadly, spreading his arms wide.
“Our CEO Kang, you’ve become even more charming in our absence. Isn’t that right, Wei?”
Ja-kyung smiled reluctantly. Kang Il-hyun passed Lun and came to Ja-kyung. He tightly held both of Ja-kyung’s cheeks and kissed him, causing Lun and Han’s faces to contort. Ja-kyung pushed Il-hyun on the shoulder, conscious of the Wang brothers.
“Hey, wait a minute.”
“I missed you.”
AD
“You shouldn’t…. when people are around.”
“Who cares if someone sees?”
The Wang brothers made a disgusted expression at his words. They were not just random people behind him. But the sin committed was such that they couldn’t even joke about it. Who would have imagined that the man they kidnapped last night had any connection to Kang Il-hyun?
“It was later than expected. Sorry.”
Ja-kyung was rather glad Il-hyun came late.
“No, it’s fine…”
Il-hyun’s gaze glanced up and down Ja-kyung once.
“What did you do today?”
Ja-kyung looked at the Wang brothers. They urged with their eyes to lie quickly.
“I was at the casino.”
“And.”
“I go shopping…”
“And.”
Ja-kyung pursed his lips like a crucian carp. He couldn’t bring himself to say that he had gone to get his pubic hair waxed.
Wang Han quickly interjected.
“You also had egg tarts! When it comes to Macau, it’s all about tarts! Haha.”
He laughed heartily, and Lun chimed in, suggesting they have one more. It seemed like the atmosphere was being lightened, but then Il-hyun smiled.
“You were having so much fun, you didn’t even realize you lost your phone.”
All three of them fell silent for a moment.
“Right…”
AD
While staring at Ja-kyung, he smiled and called for Park Tae-soo.
“Tae-soo. try making a call with Ja-kyung’s phone.”
Suddenly? Ja-kyung looked at Il-hyun with a bewildered expression. When he went to retrieve his phone in the early morning, there were police officers swarming the area, so he couldn’t retrieve it. He had managed to put it on silent mode for now…
As Ja-kyung cautiously moved his eyes, Tae-soo made the call. There was no one to answer it because it was on silent mode. But then a phone ringtone came from Il-hyun’s pocket. Ja-kyung’s eyes widened, and Wang Lun and Wang Han, who were standing behind him, had the same reaction.
Il-hyun licked his lower lip and takes out the phone from the inside pocket of his jacket. It was the one Ja-kyung had left on the roof of the building. The words “My baby” were clearly spelled out on the screen.
Ja-kyung looked at it without blinking.
“I’m curious. Why was my baby in Hong Kong when he went to have fun in Macau?”
The thing Ja-kyung was worried about exploded so easily. His eyes moved towards Wang Lun. It was your doing, so you take responsibility.
“And it was right across from the building where the murder took place. Hmm?”
His tone and expression were soft. It was even scarier. Ja-kyung held his breath and looked at Wang Han and Wang Lun standing behind him. Their faces reflected deep contemplation as well. Il-hyun was casually smiling, but his gaze was that of a predator ready to tear into its prey.
Ja-kyung bit his lip and tried to come up with a flexible response.
“Well… I wonder why it was there…”
As Ja-kyung continued to play innocent, Il-hyun smiled and gestured toward Tae-soo. The door soon opened, and two big men entered and grabbed the arms of the Wang brothers. When Wang Lun shouted in protest, Il-hyun raised a finger as a warning instead of giving a response.
“If you fool around one more time, I’ll rip their organ out of their body for the amount of money I lost.”
When he talked about ripping the organs from a living person, he laughed casually, and Wang Lun kept his mouth shut. Seeing the two being dragged away, Ja-kyung hardened his expression. Hopefully, Il-hyun won’t really kill them. He had some faith that he wouldn’t, but no one knew what Il-hyun would do when he got angry.
AD
Ja-kyung stepped back slightly and smiled wryly.
“I… was fooled too.”
“Of course you were.”
“If you want to kill someone, kill Lun hyung! He’s a really bad guy!”
Il-hyun was amazed.
“As expected, my honey. You never fail to be loyal.”
Il-hyun loosened his tie. Ja-kyung took a step back and clenched his fist. Surely he didn’t intend to strangle him with it? As Ja-kyung stared, Il-hyun tossed his tie to the side and made beckoning gestures. When Ja-kyung didn’t budge, Il-hyun approached him, grabbed his shoulder, and forcefully dragged him onto the bed.
Il-hyun grabbed Ja-kyung’s ankle and climbed onto the bed as he hurriedly tried to stand up. Then he settled it by placing Ja-kyung’s calf between his arm and side. When he saw the grip tightening, Ja-kyung turned pale and raised his upper body, writhing, but his foot wouldn’t come loose from the strength.
“Wait a minute! CEO Kang!”
Il-hyun laughed softly as if he were melting away.
“It’s going to hurt. Of course, not as much as the pain in my heart.”
His voice was cold. It meant he wasn’t joking. Ja-kyung screamed in anguish.
“No! CEO Kang! Hey, Kang Il-hyun!”
“I’m listening. Speak.”
Realizing that the hand holding the ankle was straining, Ja-kyung swung his arm.
AD
“A gift! I have a gift for you!”
Il-hyun’s hand, which was about to twist his ankle, paused for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ja-kyung swiftly withdrew his foot and escaped under the bed. Thinking that he had lied to avoid a crisis, Il-hyun’s expression turned furious.
“You want to break them both?”
Ja-kyung hesitated. The lower half of his body still felt burning. Presenting this as a gift? Wang Lun was also a madman. He was not saying that it was justifiable for Wang Lun’s arm to be broken for no reason. As he stood there wobbling, lost in thought, Il-hyun approached confidently.
Ah, fuck it. Ja-kyung tightly closed his eyes and walked towards him, grabbing his hand firmly. And then he put his hand into his own pants pocket. As he vigorously rubbed his hand against the throbbing cock, Kang Il-hyun’s face stiffened.
Ja-kyung thought Il-hyun would be so pleased that his eyes would roll back, but his expression was fucking pissed.
Fuck. He must be a fucking idiot for listening to Wang Lun.
Might as well beg. As soon as he tried to release his hand, his body was forcefully pushed down onto the bed. Kang Il-hyun, who was just in front of him a moment ago now loomed above his head. His face contorted fiercely. Muffled groans and laughter escaped from his twisted lips.
“Haah, fuck… You’re really something.”
