Dang… how long have I been asleep?
Eun Wol ran a hand through his hair, further mussing it up as he slowly dragged himself out of bed. His body moved on autopilot—over to the kitchen, where he threw together a simple breakfast: just bread and eggs. No energy for anything fancy. Not today.
He settled in front of the small, worn-out table in the living room, biting into a piece of toast while aimlessly fidgeting with his phone. His thumb scrolled over his phone screen, searching for… something.
A reply. Any reply.
However, there was none.
A soft sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, eyes tracing the cracks in the ceiling. The silence was too loud in his quiet house. He didn't have any plans for the day anyway, just another stretch of hours to waste before his night shift at the bar.
I should clean up a bit.
Eun Wol washed his plate, tossed his laundry in, swept the floor, changed the bedsheets, then crouched over the bathroom to scrub the toilet floor. Time passed without him realizing. A beep echoed from the laundry room.
He retrieved the warm pile from the dryer and plopped onto the couch with it. One by one, he folded his clothes. T-shirt. Pants. Socks. Until—
A stiff corner brushed his fingers.
Frowning, he pulled out a slip of thick paper tucked between two shirts.
A name card.
Kim Gyu In
Executive Director
VALHEN Group & Head of Global Partnership
+82-XX-XXX-XXXX
Eun Wol's eyes widened in disbelief.
VALHEN GROUP?!
He rubbed the card, almost as if trying to erase what he saw. But the words remained—bold, immovable. He ran a thumb over the card again, as if testing whether it was real.
VALHEN GROUP
Industry: High-end luxury conglomerate
Scope: Fashion, cosmetics, jewelry, fragrance, fine living
Tagline: "Exquisite. Absolute. VALHEN."
VALHEN Group wasn't just a company. It was the company.
A globally dominant luxury empire with its hands in haute couture, elite skincare, rare jewels, and exclusive lifestyle products. Celebrities, royalty, and power brokers clawed their way into its front rows. Behind the sleek façades of its glass towers, the empire ran on silence, control, and immaculate reputations.
He had heard of it—everyone in the nightlife and entertainment circuit had. There wasn't a single bar regular, makeup artist, or backstage manager who didn't recognize the name. VALHEN was a shadow giant behind the glitz—its reach quiet but absolute.
Eun Wol widened his eyes in disbelief. He rubbed the name card, half-expecting the ink to smudge off. But the gold-stamped letters remained intact.
VALHEN GROUP.
Still, it was the first time he had met someone like Gyu In in person. It wasn't just the title that shook him—it was the fact that Gyu In had handed this to him. The man was well-known for being elusive—famous for skipping even high-profile meetings. But the power he held... no one could deny that.
And yet, here he was.
His name card now sat in Eun Wol's hand.
What kind of proposition does someone like him even want with me?
His grip around the card tightened.
But… if I manage to make a deal with him—could I ...ask for something in return?
Could I… save my sister?
He bit his lower lip, brows tightening. The card seemed heavier than paper should be.
Am I even in any position to associate with someone of that status…?
He held the gold-lettered card like it might burn him, its weight pressing against his palm and chest. The room felt too still, every heartbeat a warning, every thought screaming caution. And yet… a ragged voice inside him finally gave in. "…I don't have anything left to lose," he whispered, fragile as glass, words barely brushing the air, almost afraid to make them real.
"Sir Kim?" Hae Won asked curiously, "Don't you want to go in first? It's almost 12:30pm. Miss Cho may arrive anytime."
Gyu In didn't answer immediately. His eyes lingered on his Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, the second hand sweeping in its perfect, unhurried rhythm. 12:10pm. Twenty minutes left. He leaned back into the leather seat, the cool touch a deliberate comfort against his skin. The world beyond the tinted glass moved in restless blurs—people, cars, noise—but none of it mattered yet.
"It's only 12:10pm. There's still 20 minutes left." His gaze shifted briefly to the entrance ahead. Too early to go in, too early to start the game. He closed his eyes. "Wake me up in 15."
"Yes, Sir Kim."
The silence was heavy, but not unpleasant. He let it drape over him, listening to the quiet thrum of the engine and the faint tick of his watch. In here, time obeyed him. Out there, it demanded.
Fifteen minutes later, Hae Won's voice came through softly, "Sir Kim, it's 12:25pm."
Gyu In grunted, the sound low, pulling himself from the brief haze of rest. He smoothed his blazer, fingers brushing over the fine fabric in quick, practiced strokes before opening the car door. "I'll call you when I'm leaving."
A faint draft of warm air slipped into the car as he stepped out, the sunlight glancing against his watch face. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, a flicker of impatience tightening the line of his jaw—hidden, as always, behind his composed smile.
He stepped into the Italian restaurant, notified the waitress of his name, and was promptly led to the table. Miss Cho was likely already inside. His polite smile slid into place like a mask he'd worn countless times before, the kind that hid impatience and calculated charm in equal measure. He greeted her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Yerin." He extended his hand for a handshake, which she returned warmly. "Did you have to wait long? The traffic was bad."
"No worries. Hopefully, the traffic didn't disturb your nap."
Gyu In's smile faltered—just a flicker—but he quickly recovered, letting out a low, practiced laugh. "Ah, you caught me. Hahaha."
"Your car was literally parked right beside the restaurant. Almost everyone could see you." Yerin smiled, though her tone wasn't judgmental. "I know you weren't really intending to show up today. I myself was only notified two hours ago."
"Oh? Then I'm slightly better than you—I knew this morning."
Yerin chuckled softly. "Ready to order?"
Without hesitation, Gyu In called for the waitress and placed his order. The rhythm of taking control came naturally—if nothing else, he always dictated the pace.
To his surprise, the lunch went smoothly. Realizing neither was invested in this blind date, they treated it like a business meeting—straightforward, cordial, without the unnecessary frills.
"You know, if we'd met under different circumstances, I might've fallen for you."
"Wow, what an honor to have your interest," Gyu In said with a smirk, sipping his licorice black tea. "But gaining a strong potential partner seems to be a wiser choice, don't you think?"
Just then, a small vibration buzzed from Gyu In's pocket. He smiled apologetically. "Sorry, excuse me."
[Unknown Number]
Received: Is this Mr. Weird Man from the bar?
Gyu In chuckled. Heh, Mr. Bunny is really cute. Another message popped up before the amusement faded.
[Unknown Number]
Received: What proposition were you talking about?
"Must be someone special for you to laugh like that at a message," Yerin commented.
"A potential boyfriend, maybe?" Gyu In replied playfully, watching her reaction as if it were part of a game.
Yerin was taken aback but quickly composed herself. "Are you sure it's alright to say that?"
"Mhmm, who knows?" Gyu In slid his phone back into his pocket. "I guess you've earned my trust, Miss Yerin."
They finished lunch around 2pm. Gyu In offered to walk Yerin to her car, but she declined. No need for formalities.
A sleek black car pulled up, and Gyu In opened the door to step inside.
"Sir Kim, how was lunch?" Hae Won asked. "We're heading back to the company. You have a team meeting in two hours."
"It was good. Really good," Gyu In replied.
Hae Won glanced in the rearview mirror, surprised to see Gyu In smiling while typing on his phone.
[Unknown Number]
Sent: Let's meet and talk about it. (;
Ah, this is going to be fun.
[Mr Weird Man]
Let's meet and talk about it. (;
-Where? What time?
Eun Wol nearly dropped his phone. His chest tightened—not from fear, exactly, but from the jarring reality that he was texting the executive director of VALHEN Group.
[Mr Weird Man]
Received: Rumbling Thunder? You working tonight?
I really don't want him showing up at my workplace. It's already bad enough being associated with him—whatever he even wants from me.
Eun Wol speed typed, "Not rumbling thunder. Maybe after my shift if you don't mind? There is a 24 hours café opened nearby. Around 2am." He groaned as he realized that he hit the send button. 2am on a weekday?! Ahh should have just asked to meet him during lunch or something. But his panic didn't last long, another message popped up.
[Mr Weird Man]
Received: Hehe you want to meet me so late at night! >< I am blushing!
!!! What the hell is he talking about? Is he really THE executive director of VALHEN Group? Or was he just a scammer?
*Ding
[Mr Weird Man]
Received: No worry, I can wait. (: Let's meet tonight then.
Eun Wol let out a breath of relief and he said to himself, "It will be fine. If he tries anything funny, I will just run." With that saying, Eun Wol decided to get ready for his shift work. He pulled on his cap and adjusted the mask over his face — a familiar shield. Almost like clocking into a version of himself that didn't have to feel too much.
The neon sign above Rumble Thunder Bar flickered as Eun Wol pushed open the back door, slipping into the dim prep room. Another night, another shift. The bass pulsing faintly through the walls barely registered anymore.
He changed into his uniform.
Orders came and went, the usual chaos of drinks and laughter filling the room. The bar was loud, but the work was automatic—his hands moved while his mind drifted.
During a rare quiet moment, Soo Young slid up beside him, balancing two freshly mixed cocktails.
"Long night, huh?" Soo Young's voice was soft, almost an anchor in the noise.
Eun Wol gave a small nod, forcing a tired smile. "Same as always."
Soo Young shrugged. "You doing, okay?"
"Yeah... just tired."
Soo Young didn't push. Instead, he set the drinks down and clapped a light hand on Eun Wol's shoulder. "I got your back."
That small gesture stayed with Eun Wol as the hours passed and the night stretched thin.
At 2:00 AM, he clocked out, pulled on his hoodie, cap, and mask, and stepped out into the quiet streets.
The message tone buzzed again in his pocket
[Mr Weird Man]
Received: I am waiting~
Eun Wol swallowed hard and started walking toward the 24-hour café. The night was still, but his thoughts weren't—each step carrying him closer to whatever this was going to become.
*Ting ling…
The bell above the café door chimed as Eun Wol stepped inside. The space was quiet—just the low hum of a heater and the soft clink of someone stirring a drink. Only one customer sat by the window, wrapped in a smart wool coat, waving with an easy grin the moment their eyes met.
Eun Wol exhaled slowly, bracing himself. His legs moved before his thoughts could catch up, feet carrying him toward that familiar stranger.
Gyu In leaned back slightly in his seat, confidence radiating even in the stillness. His gaze was sharp, but his tone came smooth.
"Hi," he said, that knowing smile tugging at his lips. "We meet again."