Ji Hwan opened his bedroom door and was immediately startled to see Ji Yeon standing in front of him with a serious expression. In her hand, she held the pill that had been found earlier.
Without saying anything, Ji Hwan walked past Ji Yeon and sat down on the chair at his study desk, while Ji Yeon remained standing, staring at him intensely.
"Care to explain this?" Ji Yeon finally spoke, her voice firmer than usual.
Ji Hwan let out a long sigh and lowered his head. "Tae Min set me up yesterday. I didn't even realize that pill was in my pocket."
Ji Yeon clenched her fists. "Why didn't you tell me right away?!"
Ji Hwan gave a bitter smile. "What could I have done? I had already taken it. And now, Dad knows."
Ji Yeon fell silent. She knew very well that their father wasn't the type to let something like this slide. "Dad must be furious, right?"
Ji Hwan chuckled weakly, but his eyes were filled with worry. "Not just furious. I'm sure he's already moving from the shadows. I just don't know what he's going to do next."
Ji Yeon bit her lip. "And you? Are you just going to sit back and do nothing? Tae Min messed with you. Are you really going to let him get away with this?"
Ji Hwan looked at Ji Yeon, his expression unreadable. "I won't stay quiet. But I also don't want to drag you all into this any further. This is my problem."
Ji Yeon scoffed. "Idiot. This isn't just your problem. You have friends, Ji Hwan. And you have me. So don't act like you have to deal with this alone."
Ji Hwan was silent for a moment before finally giving a small, tired smile. "You're always like this, huh? Never letting me be alone, even when I keep getting into trouble."
Ji Yeon crossed her arms. "Of course. I'm the twin sister of the idiot Ji Hwan. If you're in trouble, that means I am too."
Ji Hwan glanced at the pill in Ji Yeon's hand, then reached out his own hand. "Throw it away. I don't want to see it again."
Ji Yeon nodded and turned to leave the room, but before she walked out, she looked back at Ji Hwan. "Tomorrow, I'm still keeping an eye on you. Don't do anything reckless."
Ji Hwan just chuckled softly. "I know. Thanks, Ji Yeon."
As Ji Yeon left, Ji Hwan rested his head on the desk and stared blankly out the window. Tonight felt long, but he knew tomorrow might be even crazier.
The next morning, Ji Hwan's alarm rang a hundred times, yet its owner showed no sign of waking up.
Meanwhile, Ji Yeon was already dressed and ready to leave. As she walked into the living room, she glanced at their mother and asked, "Where's Ji Hwan?"
Their mother sighed while sipping her morning tea. "I think he's still asleep."
Ji Yeon rolled her eyes and marched straight to Ji Hwan's room. Without hesitation, she banged on the door and shouted, "Yah! Bichinna! Wake up!"
When there was no response, she pushed the door open and found Ji Hwan sprawled on his bed, snoring lightly. She smirked and crossed her arms. "If you don't wake up, I'll tell Uncle and Mom about your little secret."
Ji Hwan's eyes shot open immediately. He sat up groggily and groaned, "Hajima!! Don't do that! Mom might faint, and I really don't want to deal with daily training again."
Ji Yeon smirked, victorious. "Good. Now get up. I'm leaving first. I don't want to be late just because of you."
She turned on her heel and left, while Ji Hwan flopped back onto his bed, mumbling, "What a terrifying sister…" before finally dragging himself up.
Ji Hwan had just finished changing his clothes and was about to go downstairs. As he was heading toward the door, he glanced at the dining area and saw his father sitting calmly, wearing only a dress shirt without a blazer, focusing on his breakfast.
Ji Hwan tried to walk quickly to the door, hoping to leave before his father could stop him. But just as his hand reached for the doorknob, his father's voice called out.
"Ji Hwan, wait a moment."
Ji Hwan froze in place, his mind immediately racing with worst-case scenarios. Was his father going to scold him about yesterday? Or interrogate him further?
But instead of sounding angry, his father spoke in a casual tone, "You know Cheongna, right? There's a big office there, and I work there."
Ji Hwan looked at him in confusion. "Uh… okay? And?"
His father continued, "I'll send you the office location later. If you have time, drop by with your friends."
Ji Hwan was even more confused. "Huh? Why all of a sudden? What's there?"
His father just gave a small smile, took a sip of his coffee, and calmly replied, "You'll find out if you come."
Ji Hwan let out a deep sigh, scratching the back of his neck, sensing that something was off. But before he could ask more, his father had already stood up and was getting ready to leave.
"Don't forget to eat breakfast," his father said before walking out the door.
Ji Hwan stood there for a moment, still trying to figure out what his father meant. But remembering that he also had to get to school, he simply muttered, "That was weird… but whatever."
With quick steps, he finally left the house, hurrying to school while occasionally checking his phone, waiting for the location his father would send.
In the classroom, Ms. Lee entered first and looked at the students with a serious expression.
"Alright, listen up. The parent-teacher meeting will be held this week. Make sure to inform your parents," she said, placing her book on the desk.
The students started whispering among themselves. Some seemed indifferent, while others groaned quietly.
Outside, Ji Hwan arrived on his sports bike, speeding toward the school gate just as it was about to close. He timed it perfectly, arriving just in time—but the school security guard stopped him.
"Hey, Ji Hwan! Why are you always cutting it so close?! You know the rules!" the guard scolded, hands on his hips.
Ji Hwan, always ready with an excuse, quickly put on a panicked expression. "Sir! There was a brawl on the way here! I had to escape as fast as I could! Luckily, I made it here safely!" he said, pretending to catch his breath.
The guard hesitated. "A brawl? Where?"
Ji Hwan pointed randomly behind him. "Over there, sir! It was really dangerous! I didn't want to get involved, so I just sped straight to school!"
The guard looked suspicious, but before he could ask more questions, Ji Hwan seized the moment. "Sir, I need to get to class! I'll explain later!"
Without waiting for permission, Ji Hwan dashed past the gate and ran into the school before the guard could stop him.
Inside the classroom, his friends, who had been watching from the window, chuckled.
"Ji Hwan always comes up with ridiculous excuses," Joo Hyuk muttered, shaking his head.
When Ji Hwan finally entered the classroom, slightly out of breath, Ms. Lee gave him a sharp look. "Why are you late again, Ji Hwan?"
Still in acting mode, Ji Hwan clutched his chest and said, "Miss… I almost got caught in a street fight! Thank goodness I made it here safely..."
The whole class struggled to hold in their laughter, while Ms. Lee let out a long sigh. "Sit down, Ji Hwan. And if you're late again, I won't care about your excuses."
Ji Hwan quickly took his seat and whispered to Seung Woo, "I almost got caught, huh?"
Seung Woo smirked. "Next time, come up with something more believable."
One of Ji Hwan's friends leaned over and whispered, "The parent-teacher meeting this week… it's because of you."
Ji Hwan's eyes widened in shock. Without thinking, he shot up from his seat and declared loudly, "Miss, I tricked my classmates! It was all my fault! I'm the mastermind! I'm sorry, Miss… everything got messed up because of me!"
The classroom fell into stunned silence. Some students exchanged confused glances, while others tried to suppress their laughter at Ji Hwan's dramatic confession.
Ms. Lee sighed, rubbing her temples. "Alright, Ji Hwan. Follow me to the counseling room."
Ji Hwan groaned internally but obediently followed behind her. As he walked out, Joo Hyuk whispered to Seung Woo, "He really threw himself under the bus, huh?"
Seung Woo smirked. "Classic Ji Hwan."
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the school Tae Min stood near the edge, staring down with an unreadable expression. The wind ruffled his hair as he sighed deeply, slipping his hands into his pockets.
Back to Ji Hwan In the counseling room, Ji Hwan winced as Ms. Lee pulled his ear. "Ah! Ms. Lee, that hurts! I already admitted my mistake, why are you still punishing me?"
Ms. Lee glared at him. "So you'll learn your lesson! Don't think you can get away with this, Ji Hwan!"
Suddenly, another teacher entered the room and called Ms. Lee. "Ms. Lee, there's a visitor here for Ji Hwan."
Ji Hwan immediately saw his chance. As Ms. Lee stepped out, he prepared to sneak away. But just as he was about to escape, his eyes landed on a familiar figure outside. Uncle Kang Ryun?!
Ji Hwan was stunned for a moment before running toward him. "Uncle Ryun!!"
Kang Ryun turned around with a blank expression and said, "So, you caused trouble again?"
Ms. Lee overheard this and asked in confusion, "Wait, you two know each other?"
Kang Ryun replied nonchalantly, "He's my nephew."
Ms. Lee's eyes widened in shock. Meanwhile, Ji Hwan grinned mischievously and looked at his uncle teasingly. "Ohhh, so this is the teacher you talked about, Uncle? The one who's three years younger than you? You two are dating, aren't you?"
The room went completely silent. Ms. Lee choked on air, her face turning red. Meanwhile, Kang Ryun shot Ji Hwan a sharp glare before smacking him lightly on the head. "You little brat! Shut up!"
Ji Hwan laughed as he dodged, while Ms. Lee struggled to regain her composure. "Kang Ryun-ssi, explain this right now!"
Ji Hwan smirked mischievously and said, "Alright then, I'm going to make my escape…!"
Before Kang Ryun or Ms. Lee could react, he bolted out of the room at full speed. As he sprinted through the hallway, a stack of papers from a passing student scattered into the air.
"Ah! Mianhae!" Ji Hwan called out but didn't stop running.
Reaching his classroom, he dramatically grabbed both sides of the door frame and grinned. "My dear classmates! I have returned! You're all safe, so everything is fine now!"
The whole class turned to look at him with mixed expressions—some relieved, others irritated. Ji Yeon, arms crossed, scowled at him. "You idiot, stop acting like a hero!"
Despite their frustration, everyone knew Ji Hwan had a good heart. He always found a way to outsmart the teachers and keep everyone out of trouble. Even if his methods were chaotic, deep down, he knew exactly what he was doing.
Meanwhile, the gang members under the command of Dae Ho—Ji Hwan's father—were hanging out at their hideout. At first, they were just relaxing, sipping coffee and smoking, but soon their conversation shifted to one common topic: Tae Min.
"That kid is really asking for trouble," one of them muttered as he exhaled a puff of smoke. "How dare he set up the boss's son? Does he even know who he's messing with?"
Another one nodded in agreement. "I don't get it. Ji Hwan isn't the type to fall for a trap that easily. If he got caught up in this, then Tae Min must be seriously cunning."
Someone else took a sip of his coffee before adding, "If the boss digs deeper into this, that kid is done for. A lot of people already have a grudge against him, and after this stunt? He just made things worse for himself."
Suddenly, a senior member slammed his cup down on the table. "Enough gossiping. We're not here to talk about some high school kid. What matters is that we've let Ji Hwan know we're on his side. The rest… let the boss decide."
Even so, the tension in the room remained thick. Everyone knew Tae Min had just played with fire—and if he wasn't careful, that fire could turn around and burn him instead.
That evening, they all went their separate ways after school.
"Ji Hwan-ah… don't cause any more trouble," one of his friends warned before leaving. "Don't let that bastard trap you again."
Joo Hyuk smirked and added, "Oh yeah, don't forget to take us to your hideout someday."
Seung Min waved as he walked away. "See you tomorrow!"
Ji Hwan let out a sigh as he watched them disappear. He muttered to himself, "Too bad… that hideout is going to be shut down soon."
Ji Yeon, walking beside him, raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What do you mean? What about your gang?"
Ji Hwan stretched his arms lazily and replied, "I'm moving them to one of my dad's gangster hideouts. They'll be taken in under his men's supervision."
Ji Yeon stopped in her tracks, eyes wide with shock. "Wait… since when did Dad have gangsters under him?! And a hideout?!"
Ji Hwan smirked, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I only found out last night when I met three of his men who were secretly watching over me."
Ji Yeon blinked in disbelief, trying to process the fact that their seemingly composed father was actually involved with gangsters.
Ji Hwan stopped as well, turned around, and looked at Ji Yeon, who was still standing there with a surprised expression.
"Hurry up and go home by yourself," he said lazily. "I'm going to Dad's office with Jin Woo to discuss the donation."
Ji Yeon still stared at him suspiciously. "Did Dad really agree?"
Ji Hwan sighed in frustration. "Aish, you ask too many questions! Palli!" he said, waving his hand to shoo her away.
Ji Yeon let out a deep sigh, still feeling weird about everything, but eventually, she shrugged and walked away. Meanwhile, Ji Hwan turned back and headed toward where Jin Woo was already waiting for him.
Elsewhere, Kang Ryun was in the university library, covering his face in embarrassment after what had happened earlier.
Meanwhile, Jung Ha Joon, Tae Min's older brother, was at his club, sitting comfortably in the VIP section. The dim lights and soft music created a relaxing atmosphere as he sipped his drink.
Just then, Tae Min entered and slumped onto the couch across from him, looking exhausted. Ha Joon raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for his younger brother to speak.
Back to Ji Hwan and Jin Woo, they entered the elevator in Ji Hwan's father's office building.
As soon as the doors closed, Ji Hwan stared at the control panel, completely lost. He looked at the buttons, then at Jin Woo, then back at the buttons.
Jin Woo noticed his confusion. "You... don't know how to use an elevator?" he asked, holding back a laugh.
Ji Hwan scoffed, acting cool. "Of course, I do! I was just... making sure it works properly."
But when he confidently pressed a random button, the elevator suddenly stopped on the wrong floor.
A businessman outside looked in, confused. "Aren't you going up?"
Ji Hwan quickly pressed another button in panic, but it only made the doors close and open repeatedly.
Jin Woo burst out laughing."You idiot! Just let me do it!" he said, finally pressing the right button.
Ji Hwan crossed his arms, muttering, "Tch. Elevators are stupid anyway."
Jin Woo was just as clueless as Ji Hwan…
Not long after, a man standing nearby noticed their struggle and chuckled. "Do you guys need help getting upstairs? I can take you there."
Ji Hwan quickly replied, "Take us to the CEO's office."
The man raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright, follow me."
As they stepped into the elevator together, Jin Woo whispered to Ji Hwan, "Let's pretend we knew how to do it all along."
Ji Hwan nodded seriously. "Of course. We totally had it under control."
They sat on the sofa, feeling a bit awkward.
Dae Ho glanced at the documents on his desk and said, "Everything has been taken care of. You just need to sign this."
Ji Hwan took the document and skimmed through it. Meanwhile, Dae Ho turned his gaze to Jin Woo and added, "You will move to a dormitory under my supervision. It's more comfortable, and remember, focus on your studies."
Jin Woo, still surprised, bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Ajusshi."
Ji Hwan looked at his father suspiciously. "Why are you suddenly being so nice? What do you want?"
Dae Ho scoffed and replied casually, "I just don't want to hear about your troubles anymore."
Jin Woo cheered, "Yay! The day after tomorrow, we'll be moving! Thanks, Ji Hwan. If you hadn't asked your dad for help, we wouldn't have gotten this chance. For all your kindness before, we'll find a way to repay you!"
Ji Hwan waved his hand dismissively. "Yah, what's there to repay? We're human, we should help each other."
Then, with a playful grin, he added, "How about we celebrate? Let's go eat at the nearest diner!"
Jin Woo's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! Let's call the others!"
The two of them left the office excitedly, already thinking about the feast they were about to have.
They enjoyed their dinner, grilling meat while joking around. This time, there were no cigarettes or alcohol—just soda and water on their table.
After finishing their meal, Ji Hwan stood up and walked toward the cashier. A girl working there greeted him politely. He glanced at her briefly but didn't think much of it. After paying, he returned to the table and patted Jin Woo on the shoulder.
"Guys, let's go home. It's late, and we have school tomorrow. Palli!"
They all got up and left the restaurant, hopping onto their motorcycles. The sound of engines filled the night as they rode off, leaving behind the warm atmosphere of the restaurant.