Welcome my sexy readers to another chapter
Enjoy
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The lock on my bedroom door clicked shut, but I knew it was merely symbolic.
Outside, in the hallway, two men in black suits were stationed like gargoyles.
Seo-yoon wasn't taking any chances.
She had turned the Han estate into a fortress, and I was the prisoner in the tower.
I sat on the floor of my walk-in closet, surrounded by the debris of the original Jin-woo's vanity.
"Pathetic," I muttered, picking up a limited-edition Swiss watch encrusted with diamonds.
It was gaudy, heavy, and worth more than most people earned in a decade.
"He bought this to impress a girl who didn't even know his name."
[System: And now you're selling it to pay for a massage table.
The circle of life is truly majestic.
By the way, Host, you look like a raccoon rummaging through trash.]
"I'm liquidating assets," I corrected, shoving the watch into a duffel bag along with three pairs of unworn designer sneakers and a gold lighter.
I zipped the bag shut.
It was heavy.
"Okay. Problem one: The goons outside. Problem two: I have no car."
[System: You have Shadow Step.
Use it.]
"And pass out from exhaustion before I reach the main gate?" I shook my head.
"No. I need to be smart about this.
Mana or Stamina is a resource I can't waste."
I changed into nondescript clothes a gray hoodie and jeans.
I looked less like a chaebol heir and more like a college student heading to a PC bang.
I threw the duffel bag over my shoulder and walked to the window.
My room was on the second floor. Below was a manicured garden.
"Too high to jump without a skill," I assessed.
"But..."
I spotted the trellis of ivy climbing the wall. It was sturdy, old growth.
"Manual labor it is."
I climbed out the window, gripping the vines. The rough bark dug into my palms.
It was uncool, undignified, and difficult. My enhanced Strength made it easier, but I still grunted with effort as I descended, my sneakers scuffing against the expensive brickwork.
I hit the grass with a soft thud, immediately crouching behind a hedge.
The garden patrol was light.
Seo-yoon had focused her security inside the house, assuming I was too lazy to climb out a window.
She underestimated my desperation.
I sprinted across the lawn, sticking to the shadows of the trees.
I reached the perimeter wall...a six-foot brick barrier.
I tossed the bag over first.
Then, I vaulted up, muscles straining, and dropped onto the sidewalk outside.
"Freedom," I exhaled, dusting off my jeans. "Now, to the pawn shop."
Downtown Seoul - 4:00 PM
The pawn shop was a grimy little hole-in-the-wall in the red-light district, far away from the places the Han family usually frequented. The broker, a man with yellow teeth and a suspicious eye, looked at the watch, then at me.
"Stolen?" he asked.
"Inherited," I lied smoothly.
"Dad went to prison.
Mom needs rent."
He grunted, not caring if it was true.
"Five million won. Cash."
"It's worth fifty," I countered.
"Five. Take it or leave it.
No papers, no box."
I clenched my jaw. The old me or rather, the rich me would have thrown the watch in his face.
But the broke me needed operating capital.
"Fine," I snapped.
Ten minutes later, I walked out with a thick envelope of cash in my pocket.
It wasn't a fortune, but it was enough to start.
I hailed a taxi.
"Cheongdam-dong," I told the driver.
"The commercial district."
I pulled out my phone and checked the address for Velvet Beauty.
My Aunt Ji-hye.
Memories of her flooded back.
She was my father's younger brother's wife. My uncle was a gambler who disappeared for months at a time, leaving her to fend for herself.
She had been the beauty queen of the family once, but stress and bad marriage had taken their toll.
The original Jin-woo had ignored her.
To him, she was just the poor relative who asked for handouts.
To me, she was a business partner.
Velvet Beauty Salon
The salon was located in a basement unit of a fading commercial building.
The sign above the door was missing the 'V', so it just read velvet Beauty.
I walked down the stairs, the smell of damp concrete mixing with cheap acetone.
I pushed the door open.
A bell chimed weakly.
The place was empty.
Three salon chairs sat vacant, the leather cracked.
Dust motes danced in the dim light.
At the reception desk, a woman was sitting with her head in her hands.
A half-empty glass of white wine sat next to the appointment book, which I noticed was completely blank.
"We're closed," she mumbled without looking up.
"Plumber's coming tomorrow."
"I'm not the plumber," I said, dropping my duffel bag on the floor with a heavy thud.
She looked up.
Han Ji-hye.
She was thirty-eight, but today she gaudy . Her makeup was smudged, and her roots were showing.
She wore a tight leopard-print top that was trying too hard to be trendy.
Her eyes widened when she saw me.
"Jin-woo?" She stood up, nearly knocking over her wine.
"What... what are you doing here?"
She looked at my hoodie, then at the duffel bag.
"Did... did you run away?" She asked, a flicker of panic in her eyes.
"Is your father okay? Did something happen to the money?"
"Father is in Dubai," I said, walking over to one of the salon chairs and running a finger over the dust.
"And the money is fine. Mostly."
I turned to her.
"I'm here to make you an offer, Auntie."
She blinked, confused.
Then, a weary, cynical laugh bubbled up from her throat.
She slumped back into her chair, reaching for her wine.
"An offer? From you?" She took a gulp. "What is it this time?
Did you crash a car?
Get a girl pregnant?
Need me to hide you until Seo-yoon calms down?"
"I need a venue," I said, ignoring her jab. "And you need customers."
"I have customers," she lied poorly.
"Auntie," I said softly, looking around the desolate shop.
"There's more dust on these chairs than hair.
You're three months behind on rent.
Uncle hasn't sent money in weeks.
And you're drinking Chardonnay out of a coffee mug at 4:00 PM."
She flinched.
The truth hit her like a slap.
Her face crumbled, the anger draining away to reveal pure exhaustion.
"If you came here to mock me, Jin-woo, just leave.
I have a migraine."
She rubbed her temples, her fingers digging into her scalp.
[Target: Han Ji-hye]
[Role: Failed Business Owner / Aunt.]
[Status: Desperate / Migraine / Neck Spasms.]
[Lust: 0% (Too stressed).]
[Favorability: -10% (Thinks you're a brat).]
"I'm not here to mock you," I said, stepping closer.
"I'm here to fix that migraine."
"Unless you have a check for ten million won, you can't fix anything."
"I have something better," I said.
"Five minutes. Sit in the chair."
"Jin-woo, stop playing games..."
"Sit," I commanded.
I didn't use the full force of the Aura, just a hint of firmness.
She paused, looking at me.
She saw something in my eyes, confidence, maturity that hadn't been there before.
With a heavy sigh, she walked over to the shampoo chair and sat down, leaning her head back into the basin.
"Five minutes," she warned, closing her eyes.
"Then you leave."
I stood behind her.
"System," I thought. "Activate Apprentice Massage. Guide my hands."
[System: Skill Activated. Target Analysis: Severe tension in the cervical spine.
Stress knots in the trapezius.
She is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Proceed with caution; she is fragile.]
I placed my hands on her shoulders.
She was tense, her muscles hard as rock.
"Relax," I whispered.
I started with her neck.
My thumbs found the pressure points instantly.
I didn't just rub; I manipulated the energy flow.
I pressed into the knot at the base of her skull.
"Ow!" she hissed.
"Breathe," I instructed.
"Let it go."
I worked the muscle.
It was grueling work.
I could feel my stamina bar ticking down slowly. Sweat pricked my forehead.
This wasn't magic; it was physical labor assisted by supernatural knowledge.
But then, the knot gave way.
Ji-hye let out a long, shaky breath.
Her shoulders dropped two inches.
"Oh..." she murmured. "That... that feels..."
"I'm not done," I said.
I moved to her scalp.
My fingers traced the meridian lines, soothing the headache that had been plaguing her for days.
The sensation for her must have been electric.
The Apprentice Massage skill added a secondary effect: Endorphin Release.
Her breathing changed. It deepened.
The lines of pain on her face smoothed out, replaced by a slack-jawed expression of bliss.
"Jin-woo..." she whispered, her voice sounding slurry.
"Where did you... learn this?"
"I have talented hands," I said, moving down to her upper back.
I pressed my palms against her shoulder blades, applying heat and pressure.
She moaned.
It was loud in the empty shop.
"Oh god... right there... yes..."
[System: Target Ji-hye Status Update.]
[Pain: Decreasing.]
[Lust: 10% (Rising from relief).]
[Thought Process: Is this really my nephew? Why does this feel so good?]
I continued for another minute, working out the stiffness until she was practically melting into the leather chair.
Then, I stopped.
I pulled my hands away.
"Five minutes are up," I said.
Ji-hye's eyes snapped open.
She looked dazed, like someone waking up from a coma.
She sat up slowly, touching her neck.
" It's... gone," she whispered.
"The headache. It's gone."
She turned to look at me, her eyes wide with shock.
"How?"
"I told you," I said, leaning against the counter and crossing my arms.
"I have a talent. And I want to sell it."
She stared at me, her mind racing.
She was a businesswoman, even if a failing one. She recognized a product when she felt it.
"You want to work here?" she asked, skeptical.
"You're a Han heir. Why would you want to rub strangers.backs in a basement?"
"Let's just say I'm looking for independence," I said.
"Here's the deal. I rent the back room.
I set up a private, appointment-only clinic. Golden Hands Therapy. You handle the bookings and the front desk. I take 70%, you take 30%."
"30%?" She scoffed, her old spunk returning.
"It's my shop! 50-50."
"I'm bringing the cash to pay your back rent," I said, pulling the thick envelope from my pocket and tossing it onto the counter.
It landed with a heavy slap.
Ji-hye stared at the money.
It was more cash than she had seen in months.
"I pay the rent," I continued.
"I pay for the renovation of the back room. And I bring in the clients.
All you have to do is answer the phone and pour the wine."
She looked at the money, then at me.
She bit her lip.
"Who are these clients?" she asked suspiciously.
"Women like you," I said.
"Stressed. Overworked. In need of a... release."
She blushed. She wasn't stupid.
She knew exactly what kind of release a massage from a handsome young man could offer, even if it wasn't explicit.
"Jin-woo, if this is illegal..."
"It's therapy," I smiled innocently.
"Whatever happens behind closed doors is doctor-patient confidentiality."
She hesitated for one more second, then grabbed the envelope.
"40%," she bargained weakly.
"30%," I said firmly.
"But I'll pay for a premium wine subscription for the waiting room."
She let out a laugh, shaking her head.
"You really have changed. Fine. Deal."
[Ding! Business Established.]
[Venue: Velvet Beauty Salon (Renamed: Golden Hands).]
[Partner: Aunt Ji-hye.]
[Reward: 500 Lust Points.]
[New Skill Path: Business Management (Locked).]
"Excellent," I said.
"Now, I need to go buy a massage table and some high-end oils.
We open tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" She gawked.
"But the place is a mess!"
"Then we better get cleaning," I said, taking off my hoodie.
"Pass me a broom, Auntie."
Two Hours Later
We were sweating. Real, honest sweat.
I had stripped down to my t-shirt, and Ji-hye had tied her shirt up to keep cool.
We were scrubbing the floors, wiping down mirrors, and throwing out boxes of expired product.
For the first time in years, the salon looked decent.
More importantly, the dynamic between us had shifted.
We weren't Aunt and Nephew right now; we were partners in the trenches.
"You know," Ji-hye said, pausing to wipe her forehead. She was looking at my arms as I moved a heavy cabinet.
"You've really filled out. I remember you being... scrawnier."
[System: Target Ji-hye is checking you out. Lust: 15%.
Warning: Do not engage yet.
She is family, and she is sober.
The Taboo penalty is high without higher Favorability.]
"Puberty hit late," I quipped, not looking up.
Just then, the bell above the door chimed aggressively.
We both froze.
It wasn't a customer.
It was too late for that.
Three men walked in.
They weren't wearing suits like Seo-yoon's guards.
They were wearing cheap leather jackets and gold chains.
They smelled of cigarettes and cheap cologne.
Ji-hye's face went pale.
She dropped her rag.
"Mr. Choi," she stammered.
The leader, a man with a jagged scar running through his eyebrow, grinned.
His teeth were stained with nicotine.
"Mrs. Han," he drawled, looking around the clean shop.
"Place looks nice. Spring cleaning? Does that mean you found my money?"
Loan sharks.
Of course.
I stood up slowly, dusting off my hands.
"I... I need a little more time," Ji-hye said, her voice trembling. She stepped back, bumping into the reception desk.
"My husband... he said he would send it next week."
"Your husband is in Macau," Mr. Choi laughed.
"And word is, he lost his shirt. So, the debt falls to you, sweetheart."
He walked closer, picking up a bottle of shampoo and examining it before dropping it on the floor. It burst open.
"Five million won. Plus interest.
That's... eight million now."
"Eight?!" Ji-hye cried.
"It was five last week!"
"Late fees," Choi shrugged.
He looked at his two goons.
"Boys, maybe we should take some collateral? The equipment looks worthless, but the owner..."
He looked Ji-hye up and down with a lecherous grin.
"She's a bit old, but she cleans up nice. Maybe we can work out a trade."
Ji-hye flinched, terror in her eyes.
I stepped in front of her.
The movement was casual, but it placed me directly between Choi and my aunt.
"Gentlemen," I said calmly. "You're interrupting our renovation."
Choi blinked, looking at me. He looked at my jeans, my t-shirt. He saw a college kid.
"Who's this?" he scoffed. "Your boy toy, Mrs. Han? Didn't know you were into cradlerobbing."
The goons laughed.
I didn't laugh.
My stamina was low. I had used energy climbing the wall, doing the massage, and cleaning. I couldn't afford a long fight. I had to end this quickly, and brutally.
"The debt is eight million?" I asked.
"That's right, kid. You got eight million in your piggy bank?"
"No," I said. "But I have a proposition."
"I don't listen to propositions from broke kids." Choi reached out to shove me.
[System: Threat Detected.
Combat Mode Initiated.
Stamina: 30%.
Recommendation: End it in one hit.]
I didn't dodge. I let his hand touch my chest.
Then, I grabbed his finger.
Just his index finger.
And I twisted.
Not the way I twisted Ji-hye's neck for relief. I twisted it to break.
Snap.
"ARRRGH!" Choi screamed, dropping to his knees instantly.
The pain of a broken finger is blinding. It shuts down the brain.
The two goons froze, stunned.
They hadn't even seen me move.
"My finger! You broke my finger!" Choi wailed, clutching his hand.
I looked at the goons.
"Take him to the hospital," I said, my voice bored. "Before he goes into shock."
One of the goons reached for a knife in his pocket.
I took a step forward.
Just one step.
But I activated [Commanding Aura].
It flared. It wasn't the seductive aura I used on Yuna.
This was pure, concentrated killing intent.
"Do you really want to find out what I break next?" I whispered.
The goon hesitated.
He looked at his screaming boss, then at my cold, dead eyes.
Fear won.
"Crazy bastard," he muttered, grabbing Choi by the arm.
"Let's go. We're leaving."
They dragged their leader out of the shop, the bell chiming cheerfully as they fled.
Silence returned to the salon.
I let out a breath I had been holding.
My legs felt like jelly. 30% stamina was dangerously low.
I turned to Ji-hye.
She was staring at me.
Not with fear, but with something else.
Shock. Awe. And... safety.
For a woman who had been abandoned by her husband and hunted by sharks, seeing a man actually protect her was a potent drug.
"Jin-woo," she breathed. "You..."
"Add eight million to the operating costs," I said, leaning heavily against the counter to stop myself from falling over. "We have a lot of work to do to pay that off."
She didn't speak. She just rushed forward and hugged me.
It was a tight, desperate hug.
Her breasts pressed against my chest, her face buried in my neck.
She smelled of cheap wine and expensive shampoo.
[System: Target Ji-hye Favorability Increased significantly.]
[Favorability: 40% (Protector).]
[Lust: 20%.]
[Note: She is clinging to you.
Do not push her away.
Let the Hero Complex set in.]
I slowly wrapped my arms around her, patting her back.
"It's okay, Auntie," I whispered.
"I've got you.
Nobody touches what's mine. And this shop... is mine now."
She sobbed into my shirt, nodding.
"Yours," she whispered back.
"It's all yours."
I smiled over her shoulder.
The Massage Parlor was officially open for business.
Author's Note:
Jin-woo is playing the long game!
But he is BROKE. Like, negative money broke if you count the debt.
The Golden Hands clinic needs customers fast.
DEARIES support with power stones and collections.
Your love makes me live