That night, Joo Hyuk sat in a fancy restaurant, staring at the lavishly set table. He had been forced to come after his father invited him for dinner. Sitting across from him was his father's new wife—a woman he had no interest in knowing.
Meanwhile, back at the campus court, Ji Hwan and Ji Yeon waited for their uncle, Kang Ryun.
After a while, Ji Hwan stretched his arms and yawned. "Alright, I have something to take care of. Let's go home, Ji Yeon."
Ji Yeon shook her head. "You go ahead. I'll stay and help Mom at home, especially since Uncle is eating with us."
Ji Hwan shrugged and left.
On the other side of town, Seung Woo and their classmates had planned a barbecue night at his house. They were waiting for Ji Hwan and Joo Hyuk.
Ji Hwan arrived first.
"Of course, this guy is always the first to show up," one of the guys muttered, making the others laugh in frustration.
A little while later, Joo Hyuk finally arrived, his face noticeably stiff. The moment he stepped inside, his friends swarmed him, throwing their arms around him.
"Yah, Joo Hyuk! What's with that face? Did you just get out of a funeral?" Ji Hwan teased.
Joo Hyuk sighed but allowed himself to be pulled into their chaos. They took photos together, laughing and messing around.
Ji Hwan sent one of the pictures to their gang's group chat.
Jin Woo immediately reacted.
"Wow, nice. And why exactly weren't we invited, Ji Hwan?" he complained, filling the chat with playful grumbles.
Ji Hwan only laughed at the teasing messages.
Then, Jin Woo suddenly sent a picture back.
"We're chilling at your dad's place, by the way."
The photo showed Jin Woo sitting comfortably alongside some gang members—including the bald guy and the chubby man in a cap.
The sight made Ji Hwan nearly choke on his drink. "Yah, what the hell are you doing there?" he typed back.
Ji Hwan stared at the glass of water in front of him. As he took a sip, his eyes widened in shock. "Eh?! This is soju?!"
His friends burst into laughter. "Of course! Did you really think we'd be drinking plain water at a barbecue party?" one of them teased.
Not long after, Seung Woo arrived, carrying several bottles of alcohol. "Come on, it's Saturday night! We have to drink, right?" he said, pouring drinks into their glasses.
The others cheered and raised their glasses.
Ji Hwan remained silent, staring at his drink with hesitation. Then, with a serious expression, he said, "I don't want to be late for church tomorrow."
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Then, out of nowhere, his friends exploded into laughter. "OH MY GOD! Ji Hwan, since when are you religious?!" Joo Hyuk shouted, playfully smacking his back.
Seung Woo chuckled. "Come on, just one sip. God will understand."
Ji Hwan let out a deep sigh. "Yeah, do whatever you want, but I'm not drinking."
His friends eventually let it go, but Ji Hwan knew they'd be teasing him about this for the rest of the night.
Meanwhile, at the club, Jung Ha Joon, Tae Min's older brother, leaned back in his seat, swirling his drink absentmindedly. The music pounded through the room, but his focus was entirely on Tae Min, who sat across from him with a curious expression.
"So, about what I asked you earlier today..." Ha Joon began, his voice calm but firm.
Tae Min raised an eyebrow. "You really need my help? That's new. Usually, it's the other way around."
Ha Joon exhaled slowly. He was the type who never asked for favors, always handling things on his own. But tonight was different.
"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important," he admitted. "This situation... it's not something I can deal with alone."
Tae Min smirked, leaning forward. "That serious, huh? Now I'm curious. What exactly are you dealing with?"
Ha Joon remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke. "I'll tell you everything. But first, promise me you won't back out."
Tae Min's eyes gleamed with interest. "Now you've got me hooked."
Tae Min frowned, spinning the ring on his finger as he processed his brother's words. "So… a secret from the past between our grandfather and Ji Hwan's grandfather?"
Ha Joon nodded calmly. "That's why Father has been digging into Ji Hwan's family. But no matter what, don't mess with that kid. If we interfere too much, our family's secret could be exposed to the public."
Tae Min leaned back in his chair, smirking slightly. "I don't care about Ji Hwan or his family. But what intrigues me is… just how big is this secret that Father is so afraid of it?"
Ha Joon gave him a sharp look. "Bigger than you think, Tae Min. Don't mess around."
Tae Min let out a small chuckle. "Don't worry, I'm not stupid enough to play with fire without knowing how hot it is."
Ha Joon continued to stare at him for a moment before sighing deeply. "Good. Just make sure you stay in your lane."
Tae Min gazed up at the club's ceiling, illuminated by neon lights, his mind spinning. Their family's secret… Just how deeply was it connected to Ji Hwan's family?
Tae Min stared at his older brother seriously. "So, what does this have to do with your request earlier this afternoon?"
Ha Joon tapped his fingers on the table, thinking for a moment before answering. "I need someone who can stay quiet and move without drawing attention. And you're the best person for that."
Tae Min narrowed his eyes. "Stop beating around the bush, Hyung. Just say it straight—what do you want?"
Ha Joon sighed, then leaned forward. "I need you to keep an eye on someone. Not Ji Hwan, but the people around him. There's a chance they know something that could put us in danger."
Tae Min raised an eyebrow. "The people around him? You mean his friends?"
Ha Joon nodded. "Yeah. Especially those connected to his family."
Tae Min chuckled. "Hyung, you're overthinking this. If they knew something, why haven't they done anything yet?"
Ha Joon gave him a sharp look. "Because maybe they haven't realized what they know. And before they do, we need to act first."
Tae Min fell silent, then leaned back in his chair. "Alright, I'll take a look. But I'm not promising anything."
Ha Joon smirked. "That's good enough for now."
The next morning, in Ji Hwan's room The alarm rang loudly, signaling it was time to wake up for church.
Ji Hwan immediately jumped out of bed like a trained athlete, moving swiftly to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and washed his face, but in his usual clumsy manner, he ended up getting toothpaste foam all over his nose. In his half-awake state, he accidentally splashed water too hard, drenching his hair and pajama shirt.
"Argh! Why does this always happen?!" he grumbled, spitting out the toothpaste while blinking rapidly as water dripped down his face.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Ji Yeon was already dressed and waiting impatiently. She tapped her foot on the floor, checking the time.
"Seriously… What is taking him so long?!" she muttered, sighing in frustration.
After what felt like forever, she finally shouted toward the stairs, "Yah! Ji Hwan! Are you washing the sins off your soul or something?! Hurry up, or we'll be late!"
Not long after, Ji Hwan finally came downstairs wearing an oversized black shirt with the top buttons slightly undone, black jeans, and sneakers. He held a Bible in his hand, looking both casual and presentable.
Ji Yeon glanced at him and sighed. "At least you're not dressed like you're going to a club," she muttered.
They walked to the church since it was close by. As soon as they arrived, Ji Hwan spotted a familiar nun who had known him since childhood.
"Sister Maria!" he called out, waving enthusiastically.
Sister Maria smiled warmly and patted his shoulder as he sat beside her. "Ji Hwan, you finally arrived on time. Usually, you're either late or oversleeping."
Ji Hwan chuckled. "I woke up early today, Sister. That's a big achievement, right?"
Ji Yeon scoffed. "Waking up early once and you already think you're a hero."
Sister Maria laughed softly before saying, "Ji Hwan, did you eat before coming here? Don't let your worship be interrupted by hunger like last week."
After the service, Ji Hwan and Ji Yeon received souvenirs from Busan, given by the pastor. Ji Hwan looked very excited.
"Pastor! You're back?" Ji Hwan quickly ran over with a bright expression.
The pastor chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Of course, Ji Hwan. I was only gone for a short while, but you're acting like I disappeared for years."
Ji Yeon sighed while holding the bag of souvenirs. "He's always like this, Pastor. If there's food or gifts involved, his energy suddenly skyrockets."
Ji Hwan casually slung his arm around Ji Yeon's shoulders. "Come on, Ji Yeon. It's not about the souvenirs—I'm just really happy to see Pastor again!"
The pastor smiled. "I'm glad to see you both still coming to church regularly. So, how have you been?"
Ji Hwan thought for a moment before grinning. "As always, Pastor. I'm still handsome, Ji Yeon is still annoying, and life is full of surprises!"
Pastor and Sister Maria laughed before the pastor spoke.
"How about you serve in next week's Sunday service, Ji Hwan?"
Ji Hwan, who was happily munching on one of the Busan treats, almost choked. "Huh? Me? Serve?"
The pastor smiled. "Yes, you. You always say you want to contribute more, right?"
Ji Yeon smirked. "Oh, this should be fun."
Ji Hwan shot her a glare but then turned to the pastor. "I'll think about it."
Meanwhile, at another place, Seung Woo checked his phone and saw a message from the debt collector. His eyes widened in shock.
"Paid off?" He quickly opened the attached photo. It was a picture of a check with the name Han Mi Jung—Ji Hwan's mother.
Seung Woo's hands tightened around his phone. "Ji Hwan's mom paid my debt?!"
Flashback to the night before—after watching the basketball match, Ji Hwan had gone home first. He had begged his mother endlessly, practically on his knees, until she finally agreed—though at the cost of cutting his allowance.
Back to the present—Seung Woo, still in shock, immediately called Ji Hwan. But the call didn't go through.
At that moment, Ji Hwan had just entered his room and noticed several missed calls from Seung Woo. He raised an eyebrow. "What's up with him now?"
Ji Hwan pressed the call button and dialed Seung Woo.
"Yeah... Weee??! Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" Ji Hwan teased.
On the other end, Seung Woo sighed in frustration. "Come meet me at the diner. You're so annoying, Ji Hwan!"
Ji Hwan yawned and flopped onto his bed. "Geez, I just got back from church, you know. Give me a break."
"No way! This is important!" Seung Woo shot back quickly.
Ji Hwan glanced at the clock on the wall and let out a sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll come. But you're paying!"
Seung Woo laughed sarcastically. "After what you did? Keep dreaming!"
Ji Hwan groaned in frustration but finally got up to get ready. "Fine, I'll be there. But if I get hungry, I'm ordering a lot. That's your problem!"
Seung Woo just chuckled before hanging up.
Meanwhile, Tae Min met Raon and asked, "Do I have to use violence first before you tell the truth?"
Raon, who knew some things about Ji Hwan's family but not everything, looked hesitant.
After being tortured, Raon finally typed a message in the group chat:
"Ji Hwan, you need to be careful. Tae Min forced me to say something about your family… and he tortured me. Are you looking for trouble with him again??"
At the diner, Seung Woo stared at Ji Hwan and asked, "Did you ask your mom to do this?"
Ji Hwan nodded while continuing to chew his food.
Seung Woo suddenly snapped, "Why were you so reckless?!"
Ji Hwan looked at him, confused by the sudden outburst, while everyone in the diner turned to look at them. (Funny moment)
Ji Hwan then shouted back at Seung Woo, "Hey! You sekki! Do you want to fight?!"
Seung Woo, exhausted from dealing with Ji Hwan's childish behavior, let out a deep sigh and said, "I'll pay it back later."
Ji Hwan immediately refused, "No need!"
Seung Woo opened a message on his phone and showed it to Ji Hwan. "Then what is this? Explain!"
Ji Hwan raised both hands in surrender and said, "I swear, I don't know anything! I'm not looking for trouble!"
Seung Woo narrowed his eyes. "Seriously?"
Ji Hwan casually continued eating, completely unbothered. "Who cares about that punk? Let him do whatever he wants."
Seung Woo let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples. "Ji Hwan, this is serious. Tae Min isn't someone you can just ignore."
Ji Hwan smirked while taking another bite. "Then let him come to me. I'll deal with him when the time comes."
The class group chat was buzzing with messages.
"That bastard Tae Min!"
"He's really pissing me off!"
"Ji Hwan, what the hell is going on?"
Meanwhile, at home, Ji Yeon read the messages on her phone and muttered, "Ah, that sekki..."
Not long after, Uncle Kang Ryun arrived, dragging a suitcase behind him. He was greeted warmly by Mi Jung at the door.
"You're staying here?" Ji Yeon asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kang Ryun chuckled. "Yeah, for a while."
Ji Yeon sighed and mumbled to herself, "Looks like Ji Hwan is about to start martial arts training again..."
After finishing his ride, Ji Hwan casually stopped by a small store to buy something. He wasn't even sure who the food was for—he was just following his instincts.
As he entered the store, a girl briefly glanced at him. Her eyes studied Ji Hwan's face with a hesitant expression, as if she recognized him from somewhere.
But Ji Hwan didn't care. He completed his purchase, got back on his motorcycle, and rode away.
One of the older women standing nearby turned to the girl and asked, "Who was that? Do you like him?"
The girl quickly shook her head. "It's not like that," she replied.
In her mind, she recalled something—a rumor she had heard at Incheon Bupyeong High School. If the guy from earlier was really who she thought he was… then he wasn't just any ordinary student.
That young man was Park Yoon Ho, Ji Hwan's childhood friend before Ji Hwan started hanging out with Jin Woo, Seung Woo, Joo Hyuk, and his current classmates.
But what was even more shocking was a truth that not many people knew.
Park Yoon Ho was Ji Hwan's right-hand man.
Who would have thought?
That Ji Hwan had such a connection?
It was a big secret.
Ji Hwan stopped in front of his father's headquarters, frowning in confusion.
"Damn, the address is wrong?" he muttered while rereading Jin Woo's message.
He had gotten lost for a bit before finally finding the right location. When he arrived, he parked his motorcycle and walked inside.
Inside, Jin Woo immediately waved at him with a relaxed expression. "Took you long enough!"
Meanwhile, Dong Il casually grabbed the food Ji Hwan had brought without asking.
"Hey, at least ask before taking it!" Ji Hwan protested.
Dong Il just grinned. "Ah, you always bring good food. No way I'm letting this go to waste."
Ji Hwan sighed, tossing his motorcycle keys onto the table before plopping down on the couch.
"So, what's our business here?" he asked, looking around curiously.
Jin Woo sat beside Ji Hwan, opening the food packaging. "Relax, we're just talking. You're too tense."
Ji Hwan glanced at him lazily. "I just got back from church, then Seung Woo dragged me somewhere. I thought it was something important, but it turned out to be annoying. And now, you're telling me to come to my father's headquarters? Of course, I'm suspicious."
Dong Il chuckled. "Come on, you're always so cautious. Do you think we'd sell you off or something?"
Ji Hwan scoffed and grabbed a bottle of water from the table. "Not that. But usually, when you guys gather here, something is up."
Jin Woo shrugged. "Well, you're not entirely wrong. But this time, it's something more serious."
Ji Hwan raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Jin Woo tossed his phone to Ji Hwan, showing him a new message in their group chat.
"Look at this. Tae Min is making his move."
Ji Hwan read the message, his expression turning cold. "I know. I already sent Seung Woo to check on Raon."
Dong Il put down his drink, now looking more serious. "Are you sure he's okay?"
Ji Hwan sighed. "I don't know. That's why I told Seung Woo to check on him. If Tae Min really went too far, I won't just sit back and watch."
Jin Woo gave Ji Hwan a knowing look. "Are you planning to strike first?"
Ji Hwan didn't answer immediately. He grabbed his phone and checked for messages from Seung Woo—still no reply.
"It depends on Raon's condition. If Tae Min has crossed the line… I'll make sure he regrets ever touching my people."
Hyun Woo smirked as he leaned back in his chair. "Wow, it's rare to see Ji Hwan this serious. Should I be impressed or worried?"
Ji Hwan shot him a look. "This isn't a joke, Hyun Woo."
Hyun Woo chuckled. "Relax, I get it. But honestly, we all knew Tae Min would pull something like this sooner or later. The guy's got a twisted way of doing things."
Jin Woo crossed his arms. "The problem is, we don't know how far he's willing to go this time."
Ji Hwan checked his phone again, still no reply from Seung Woo. His jaw clenched. "If Seung Woo doesn't respond soon, I'm going to find Raon myself."
Dong Il sighed. "And what are you gonna do if Raon's in bad shape? Start a war?"
Ji Hwan's eyes darkened. "If it comes to that, I won't hesitate."
They all glanced at Ji Hwan with cautious expressions.
Ji Hwan chuckled and raised his hands. "Relax, I was just joking."
Jin Woo sighed and shook his head. "I knew it. Ji Hwan will always be Ji Hwan."
Dong Il smirked. "Yeah, but your jokes almost give people heart attacks."
However, before they could continue their conversation, Ji Hwan suddenly stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes.
In the corner of the room, two unfamiliar men were eavesdropping on their conversation.
One was a bald man with a scar on his eyebrow, while the other was a chubby guy wearing an oversized jacket, looking suspicious.
Jin Woo noticed it too and whispered, "Ji Hwan, looks like we have uninvited guests."
Ji Hwan slowly turned toward them and spoke in a relaxed yet sharp tone, "Oi, you two. Want to join the conversation properly?"
A message from Ji Yeon popped up on Ji Hwan's phone.
Startled, he immediately stood up. "Ahh, I'm dead!"
He glanced at the bald man and the chubby man, then turned to one of the older men in the room. "Uncle, I'm leaving them in your hands. Help me keep them in check if they cause trouble. I have urgent business to take care of."
Without waiting for a response, Ji Hwan rushed out.
When he arrived home, he immediately checked the guest room and saw a large suitcase.
His eyes widened. "Don't tell me..."
He hurried downstairs and found his uncle sitting comfortably in the living room.
"Aaaahh!!!" Ji Hwan let out a dramatic scream before suddenly dropping to his knees, then lying flat on the floor with a frustrated look.
Staring at the ceiling, he groaned, "I'm going to be sore for the rest of my life..."
Ji Yeon, standing nearby, smirked and teased, "Hah! Look who's acting like a delinquent now?"