Should he tell the family? Lee Jin-woo wrestled with it for a while.
In the end, he decided to.
No matter what, he'd reaped the perks of his status.
This time, plus the 80 billion last time…
He couldn't just pretend it never happened.
Besides, he needed a big shot to take the heat.
Wall Street's elites wouldn't be happy getting outplayed by their own prey, right?
"Old Kang-ho, you better hold strong!"
Thinking of that family, he recalled Chief Ahn's words.
"Please visit home sometime. Madam and the young miss miss you dearly."
"You're back."
"Ne."
"Hello."
"Hello."
Exchanging greetings with a neighbor lady, Lee Jin-woo stepped into the elevator, mood bright.
Yoon Hye-na found a nice place this time—middle-class tenants, doctors, lawyers, CEOs, all elites.
Rent wasn't cheap: two years, 160 million won deposit, full lease (see author's note).
Two bedrooms, one living room—plenty for him alone.
Zzt~
Opening the electronic door, he was about to kick off his shoes when cheerful footsteps echoed.
"Oppa!" Son Yoon-joo appeared, barefoot in an oversized T-shirt.
"Oh, you're here." He slipped off his shoes, padding inside.
Son Yoon-joo stashed his shoes in the cabinet. "Oppa, eaten yet?"
Seeing covered dishes and chopsticks on the coffee table, he said, "Yeah, but I'm hungry again."
"Great! Eomma made side dishes, soy crab, and soy shrimp. Fresh-caught overnight, marinated this morning, delivered super fresh."
"Hm." Shedding his jacket, he washed his hands and sat on the sofa. The covered dishes were cleared.
Bright soy crab, soy shrimp, mixed rice, and seaweed soup. Then Son Yoon-joo brought ramen from the kitchen.
"Ready to eat." She set chopsticks and a spoon beside him, beaming.
Mixing crab roe with rice, he took a spoonful. Fresh, as she'd said.
Setting down the spoon, she fed him a peeled soy shrimp. "Oppa, ah!"
He bit it, her fingers brushing his lips.
Son Yoon-joo blushed, peeling more. "Soy crab's great too. Eomma's cooking is amazing."
"Is it? Gotta eat more then." He smiled.
"Mm." She nodded happily.
Chewing soy crab, his eyes lingered on her pale, slender legs resting aside.
Delicate, tiny feet, like crystal carvings.
"Yoon-joo-ya!"
"Ne?"
"Come here. Those feet need some love."
Soy crab and shrimp were tasty, brimming with ocean flavor.
Gulp~
Downing a water bottle, he aimed it at the corner trash can.
Swish~
It arced perfectly, landing inside.
"Oppa~"
She cooed, rising to sort the trash.
"Leave it. Get an auntie tomorrow. Know any part-timers?"
"No. Should I find one?"
"No need."
Yoon Hye-na could handle it better.
Resting a bit, Son Yoon-joo changed into yoga pants and a sports bra, stretching on the carpet by the table.
The poses he missed last time? Now his alone to savor.
Spider pose was nice. Golden toad too…
Oh~
Good physique, pure freedom. He left the room an hour later.
"Oppa, I'm gonna be late."
"No worries. I'll drive you to the shoot. Your assistant's meeting you there."
"Soo-hyun's with me?"
"Mm. How's she?"
"Seems nice, super warm."
"Talk to her. Anything comes up, tell your manager."
"Mm, got it, oppa!"
Rubbing her flat stomach, she murmured, "Oppa, I won't get pregnant, right?"
"Didn't take the pill?"
"I did~ But there's still a chance…"
"Tiny chance. If it happens, just have it."
"No way, I'm not having a kid."
Stretch marks, belly pouch, orbiting a kid daily, no personal time—she'd seen married sisters with kids. No thanks.
"I respect your choice. No kid then."
He sounded sincere, like some gentleman.
She pouted inwardly. That's not what I wanted to hear. Just a fling, huh?
But that handsome profile, sly smirk—perfectly bad.
Aish~
Toxic suffocation hit hard.
He's too hot. What to do?
Parking at the shoot, she dropped her wild thoughts.
Kissing his cheek, she chirped, "Oppa, what for dinner? Need me to grab groceries?"
"Got plans tonight. Don't wait up."
"Oh. Drive safe."
Watching the Land Rover merge into traffic, vanishing, she sighed. "Aish~"
"Yoon-joo, something wrong?" Oh Soo-hyun approached, peering where she looked.
The Land Rover was long gone. She saw nothing.
"Aniyo, unnie. Shooting's starting."
"There's time. Let's go. Want me to do your makeup?"
"Ani~ I'll manage. Kamsahamnida."
"Manager Na's treating everyone to drinks tonight. Join us?"
She nearly declined, but with oppa busy and an empty night ahead…
"Sure, I'm in… Seon-young and Yeon-jung coming? Who else?"
"Everyone free's coming. Great bonding chance, jaang."
"Jaang~"
They raised foot-guns, winking playfully.
"Haha~"
Arm-in-arm, they dashed to the building, bursting with energy!
"President."
Handing the car to Driver Kim, Lee Jin-woo slid into the back.
"Just us two. Together?"
"Mm."
The car headed to Daechang Realty, a shabby second-floor office in a rundown area.
Thugs hired by the rich to "solve" demolition issues slurped ramen inside.
Bang!
The aluminum door slammed the wall. Driver Kim retracted his hand, sheepish. "This door's too flimsy."
"Aish, who're you?"
"Ha, some stray dog?"
Driver Kim stepped into the dingy room, walls and glass plastered with newspapers.
Lee Jin-woo, hands in pockets, followed, head down.
"President Cheon here?" he asked.
"What's your business with our boss?"
Spotting his neck tattoo, a burly thug stood, wary.
Was this guy from some mob, stirring trouble?
"Here to talk business. He in?" Lee Jin-woo scratched his brow. Was the weather too dry? Why the itch?
"What's the noise?" A gruff shout came from the back. President Cheon emerged from a glass partition.
"Who's this?" Seeing strangers, Cheon's face soured.
He was stressed. His men sent to Angel Garden were jailed, and no connections could spring them.
A cop pal whispered: a big shot ordered it, prosecution moving fast, max sentences.
No plea could overturn it.
Cheon was fuming, wondering who was screwing him. His mouth blistered from the stress.
"You're Cheon Kyung-tae."
"Who're you?"
Lee Jin-woo approached. Alone, Cheon's men didn't block, just trailed to prevent surprises.
"Talk inside. Too many eyes out here."
"Hm? Come in!" Cheon bought it, thinking it was business.
Inside, the door shut.
An iron grip clamped Cheon's throat, slamming him into a chair.
"Ah~ Aah~" Cheon wheezed silently, flailing to break free.
A snap threatened to crush his throat.
"Want to live? Stay still."
Cheon's face went red to blue, nodding desperately.
"That's right. Be good, no pain."
Releasing him, Lee Jin-woo sat on the desk, flipping through files.
"Trash, trash, all trash… Where's the Wongok Village development plan? Who hired you?"
Grabbing a hard folder, he saw Cheon gasping.
He smacked Cheon's head with it. "Not talking? Huh~ Speak, or get beat again."
"Aish~ Yah!" Regaining strength, Cheon wasn't ready to fold.
Damn dog, he'd pay.
Bang~
The door flew open, the flimsy partition wobbling. "Boss!"
Seeing Lee Jin-woo perched arrogantly, their boss clutching his throat in pain.
What more to say?
"Yah, shibal, get down!"
A tank-like bruiser charged, grabbing for Lee Jin-woo.
[Use: Basic Attack Crit Card.]
His left fist rocketed, smashing the thug's meaty cheek faster than he moved.
Crack~
The bruiser's feet left the ground, flying back.
The rickety partition couldn't handle 200+ pounds.
Crash~
Driver Kim, at the door, kicked it shut, unbuttoning his suit's bottom two buttons.
Five minutes later, the thugs groaned on the floor, "Aigoo~"
Bruised, the burly bruiser cowered like a helpless girl, clutching his face in the corner.
The "peace" mark on his cheek would haunt him forever.
He didn't dare look up.
Too brutal!
Full lease (jeonse).
Pay 30–40% of the property's value as a deposit. The landlord can invest it (bank interest, stocks) for profit.
Tenants cover utilities only, no extra rent.
After two years, renew or get the deposit back.
Risky: large sums invite scams, or landlords' bad investments may prevent repayment.
(End of Chapter)
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