"You've locked yourself in that room," Sun Hee said softly with a smile as she walked away. But her words left Yeo Jun lost in thought.
After silently finishing his breakfast, Yeo Jun started heading back to his room, but his feet instinctively carried him toward the garden.
The place looked even more beautiful than before. There were more flowers now, and roses of all different colors blooming everywhere. He didn't even realize how long he wandered through the space, mesmerized. In the daylight, he could see it all more clearly. The garden was enclosed with railings on all sides—like a greenhouse.
He stood there for a long time, quietly admiring the beautiful roses, until he finally returned to the hall—only to be startled by the sight of Joon Hyunk sitting there.
He hadn't realized how long he'd been outside. It was already evening. A bodyguard stood in front of Joon Hyunk, and they seemed to be in the middle of a conversation. Seizing the moment, Yeo Jun tried to quietly sneak toward the stairs. But Joon Hyunk's calm voice called out to him.
"Come here, Yeo Jun."
He spoke in a soft, familiar tone—like he had a claim over him. Like he was someone deeply close.
Yeo Jun paused for a moment but then moved toward him, thinking, If I don't go to him, he'll come to me. Why invite trouble myself?So he quietly walked over and stood in front of him.
"This is your bodyguard now," Joon Hyunk said."He'll stay here while I'm gone. You don't need to be afraid of him."
Yeo Jun let out a quiet sigh. Hahh... so it's not as bad as I imagined.He quickly glanced at the guard, who responded by greeting him politely.
"Hello, sir. There's no need to be afraid while I'm around. I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Yeo Jun couldn't help but think, How do I tell him that your boss is the real problem here?If someone could keep him away from me, that would be the real safety measure. No one scares me like he does.
He was lost in his own thoughts when Joon Hyunk said to the guard, "You'll stay by the gate." His eyes still fixed on Yeo Jun.
Joon Hyunk understood exactly what Yeo Jun was thinking, and the way he smiled at him—it was as if he was silently telling him:"There's no power in this world that can keep you away from me."
Once the guard left, Yeo Jun turned to go too.But Joon Hyunk called out with a smile, "Wait. I have something for you."
Yeo Jun froze. He shut his eyes tightly, afraid of whatever new 'disaster' was coming his way.He didn't want to see another piece of his own downfall.
Joon Hyunk, without saying anything more, walked away toward his office.A moment later, he returned with a gift in hand—standing right in front of Yeo Jun,
joon hyunk looking at him with a soft, affectionate smile.
Yeo Jun's fear—his flinching, wide-eyed reaction—was something Joon Hyunk found oddly attractive. There was something about the way he looked scared that made him seem just like a cute, helpless child.
Joon Hyunk spoke to him gently, "Open your eyes, Yeo Jun," he said while fixing the collar of his shirt. His touch was so soft that Yeo Jun couldn't even tell whether it was the air brushing past or Joon Hyunk's fingers. Slowly, hesitantly, he began to open his eyes—but his head remained bowed.
When he saw what Joon Hyunk was holding, he was stunned. It was a MacBook, and he stared at it—and at Joon Hyunk—with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"It's way better than your old laptop," Joon Hyunk said calmly.
Yeo Jun couldn't believe what was happening. Is he insane? he thought. He kidnapped me and brought me here, and now he's giving me a MacBook? Doesn't he realize I could contact the police with this?
Still staring at Joon Hyunk in disbelief, Yeo Jun didn't move. Joon Hyunk sat down on the sofa and turned the MacBook on.
"I've enrolled you in an online university," he explained casually. "Same subjects you chose in Italy. If you want to change anything, you have one week to do it. Your first lecture is tomorrow."
He handed the laptop toward Yeo Jun.
"Your university login and password are already saved."
Yeo Jun sat down on the single-seater sofa next to him, listening in stunned silence. But as soon as he reached to take the MacBook,
"Joon Hyunk clasped the MacBook onto his wrist, not giving Yeo Jun a chance to resist—now his hand was tied to it, literally."
"One thing, Yeo Jun," he said, his voice low. "This is only for your education. Don't try anything stupid."
There it was again—that same look in his eyes, that devilish glint that made Yeo Jun afraid of him in the first place.
Yeo Jun nodded quickly, just like a scared little child agreeing to behave, giving the impression of an obedient and innocent boy—one who would do exactly what he was told.
Then Joon Hyunk added, almost casually:
"Since you've accepted the MacBook... I'll be taking two hours of your day, every day."
It was a command, not a suggestion.
Yeo Jun stared at him with wide, horrified eyes. Two hours? I can't even handle two seconds around him—how am I supposed to survive two full hours?
Joon Hyunk looked at the fear flickering in Yeo Jun's big eyes and the way his bangs hung over his forehead. With a small smile, he stood up and started walking out—he had somewhere else to be.
"I—I..." Yeo Jun wanted to say something, anything, but couldn't get the words out. Anger rose inside him—not at Joon Hyunk, but at himself for being so helpless.
He hated that he couldn't even speak properly in front of the man.
But this was Joon Hyunk. This was his empire. And in this world, only his rules mattered.
Still lost in his thoughts, Yeo Jun slowly stood up and followed after him.
Joon Hyunk had only brought him out to meet the guard. Now he was preparing to leave again. Yeo Jun saw the chance slipping away from him. So, squeezing his eyes shut, he forced out the words in a single shaky breath:
"I... I... I c-can't do it!"
Joon Hyunk turned back at his words and began walking toward him. When Yeo Jun opened his eyes and saw him approaching, he instinctively stepped back, but within moments, Joon Hyunk was standing right in front of him.Joon Hyunk was extremely close, and Yeo Jun stood there holding his breath in fear, pressed up tightly against the wall.Joon Hyunk placed both his arms on either side of the wall around him, caging him in. Joon Hyunk wasn't used to hearing "no"—and he never left anyone in a position to say it twice.
"Yeo Jun… this game you're playing with me will cost you dearly," Joon Hyunk said in a deep and heavy voice, so close that Yeo Jun felt the vibration of his breath right next to his left ear. There was no softness in his tone—only power.
Yeo Jun didn't even dare lift his eyes to look at him. His head was bowed in fear, and his whole body trembled. He was terrified—afraid that Joon Hyunk might touch him, because he knew he wouldn't be able to stop him. And more than that, he knew he wouldn't be able to endure someone's touch. If Joon Hyunk touched him… Yeo Jun wasn't sure he could hold himself together.
A few seconds passed before Joon Hyunk spoke again, even closer now, his voice a whisper against Yeo Jun's ear."The air you breathe is mine… your every breath belongs to me. You… belong to me."
Yeo Jun had pressed his tiny fingernails hard into the palms of his hands, as if hoping that physical pain might distract him from the other pain he feared was coming.
Finishing what he had to say, Joon Hyunk left him there, trembling. Yeo Jun stood against the wall for a long time, shaking and trying to calm himself, but no matter how much time passed, his body wouldn't stop trembling.
It was 8 PM now, and he had finally begun to feel a little more stable. Since returning to his room, he hadn't dared to look outside. He sat with his back turned to the door because he didn't want to see it—what if Joon Hyunk walked through it again? He didn't even want to imagine what could happen then.
Joon Hyunk had terrified him so badly, he had completely forgotten about the MacBook. Even now, he could still feel the heat of Joon Hyunk's breath on his ear and neck. When the memory of that moment came rushing back, he placed his hands over his ears. He didn't want to feel that warmth again.
He remembered how close Joon Hyunk had been… how his arms had caged him in like a prison.Joon Hyunk had taken over his thoughts entirely
his mind was constantly consumed by those dark eyes, now turned dark brown, that haunted his every moment. Even now, it felt like Joon Hyunk was still right there beside him… far too close.
Joon Hyunk usually returned home after midnight, but tonight he came back earlier—by 10 PM. When he entered the house, the MacBook he had given was still lying untouched on the sofa.