Gutter Chapter 2.1

Fourteen years later.

The morning at the equestrian dormitory starts early. Yeonjo opened his eyes in the room where the first light of dawn was just beginning to filter through. His eyes were wet. Tear stains dotted his pillow.

Whenever that day appeared in his dreams, he always woke up crying. Recently, the child’s face and the fire that day were all fading from his memory, but strangely, in his dreams, they were as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.

Yeonjo looked at his swollen eyes in the bathroom mirror and washed his face. He made his bed, filled the electric kettle with water, and opened the window.

The morning air was quite cold, and it caught in his throat. After coughing a few times, he looked up, and his narrow bed came into view.

Perhaps because of the recurring dream, a pang of sadness struck him as he realized his current situation was the same as it had been when he was seventeen. Even after fourteen years…

As he started coughing again, Yeonjo took a tea bag from the kitchen and put it in a cup. After pouring boiling water over it and drinking the tea, his coughing subsided. Yeonjo patted his chest with his fist, trying to calm his churning stomach.

He ate the leftover sandwich from yesterday for breakfast, took a shower, and left the dormitory.

Going straight to the stable, Yeonjo meticulously checked to see if there were any problems with the horses overnight. After observing the horses reacting to his presence and determining that there were no issues, he brought out cleaning tools from the storage room.

Since it was still early and the other staff hadn’t arrived yet, Yeonjo cleaned the large stable by himself. After laying down fresh bedding and feeding the horses, the staff started arriving one by one.

“Good morning, Mr. Yeonjo.”

“You’re here?”

“You’ve already fed the horses?”

A young staff member, who had recently started working at the riding stable, expressed admiration for his diligence. Yeonjo, having simply done what he needed to do, didn’t react much.

Yeonjo was the only staff member living in the equestrian dormitory. The facilities were too poor. All the other staff commuted by car, either from nearby studio apartments or their family homes.

Since Yeonjo had neither a car nor a home, he commuted to work a little earlier than other staff in exchange for using the dormitory for free.

“Mr. Yeonjo, have you finished the lunging exercises with the horses in the front paddock?”

“Not yet. Should I do it now?”

“Let’s get it done quickly together.”

“Then I’ll go and lunge them once first.”

“Okay. Then I’ll check the equipment and today’s lesson list.”

Yeonjo took the most energetic young horse from the stable and led it to the enclosed training arena. It was one of the more strenuous tasks, as he had to hold the lunge line and circle with the horse in the center.

It wouldn’t be too difficult for an average adult male, but Yeonjo’s weak stamina made even training two horses a day a challenge.

After moving at the horse’s pace for a while, he became so breathless that he had to stop the training. He went to the edge of the arena and leaned against the wall to catch his breath when the manager, who had just arrived, approached him, frowning.

“Good morning, Manager.”

“Mr. Cha Yeonjo. Slacking off from work already?”

Yeonjo bowed his head as if he had been caught goofing off.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Did you check the horses’ conditions this morning?”

“Yes. I hung the paperwork at the stable entrance…”

“Oh, I see. So you were lying down here, resting after doing that.”

He was caught. Yeonjo stared at the ground, feeling defeated.

The manager disliked Yeonjo. He particularly resented the fact that Yeonjo often received special consideration due to his poor health. Whenever the owner, very occasionally, showed Yeonjo some kindness, the manager would jump up and down, complaining as if Yeonjo had been given some enormous privilege.

Knowing that arguing back would only make things worse, Yeonjo just kept apologizing.

“I don’t know where you’ve been losing your mind lately, but let’s do our jobs properly. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re getting free food and lodging here, you should at least pretend to be diligent. I don’t know why the owner is so good to you, Mr. Cha Yeonjo. You’re thirty-one years old…”

Yeonjo pretended not to hear the manager’s muttering, clearly intended for him to hear, and quickly resumed the lunging exercise.

Finally, during his hard-earned break, he headed to the break room where the younger staff members were chatting in small groups.

Their conversations mostly revolved around how much they received in tips, which celebrities had visited, and who was a real estate mogul. As soon as they saw Yeonjo, they closed their mouths, turned their heads, and pretended not to see him.

Few staff members were friendly towards Yeonjo. Since the manager, who held the most influence at the riding stable, disliked Yeonjo, most of the staff avoided him to stay on his good side.

“Mr. Myung-gyu, is President Im not coming in today?”

Yeonjo, already accustomed to this atmosphere, approached one of them and asked calmly.

“I heard he has a competition schedule this afternoon, so he’s not coming in…”

“I see.”

Disheartened, Yeonjo hid his disappointment and turned around. He checked his phone, which he had left in his locker, and saw a missed call. The caller ID showed the hospital where his grandmother was admitted. Yeonjo hurriedly pressed the call button and left the break room.

—Hello, this is Somang Hospital.

“Hello. I’m the guardian of patient Park Sunja. I received a missed call from the hospital.”

—One moment, please.

While the hospital staff checked the message, Yeonjo anxiously chewed on his lip. He had been planning to visit Seoul after work today anyway. Had something happened to his grandmother in the meantime?

—Oh, Dr. Lee Daewoong requested to speak with you. He’s currently in consultation, so he can’t take your call right now… I’m supposed to relay the message…

“That’s alright. What… is it about?”

—It seems we’ll have to stop patient Park Sunja’s medication and schedule a surgery date. As soon as possible.

He had roughly expected this. But hearing it directly made his heart sink.

—The cancer cells are metastasizing faster than expected, increasing her pain… it would be best to discuss this with the doctor after you visit.

“I understand. What time does the doctor finish work today?”

As Yeonjo listened to the hospital staff’s explanation, he mentally reviewed his schedule. And he calculated what time he would have to arrive at the Seoul hospital. He would have to leave here early to get there before the doctor left.

“Yes. But… roughly how much would the surgery cost? Including treatment and hospitalization fees.”

—That depends on the coverage provided by each insurance company, so I can’t tell you right now. But generally…

Yeonjo’s expression hardened as he heard the amount the staff member quoted. He didn’t even have 100,000 won to his name, having spent everything on his medication and his grandmother’s medical bills. His entire paycheck went towards paying off his credit card debt.

No matter how much he racked his brain, there was no way he could get the money. He had already taken out several loans and repeatedly defaulted on payments, ruining his credit.

After hanging up, Yeonjo ran his hand through his hair anxiously, trying to come up with another solution. Then he spotted the manager entering the office and approached him.

“Mr. Cha Yeonjo, what are you doing? The clients with lesson reservations will be arriving soon.”

“Manager, is there any chance… I could leave early today or tomorrow to go to Seoul?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the manager scoffed. He looked Yeonjo up and down, as if to say, “What is this?”

“Do you have any conscience?”

“It’s a personal matter… It’s about my grandmother’s hospital situation.”

“Do only you have personal matters, Mr. Cha Yeonjo? Everyone else manages their personal matters and works, okay?”

“…….”

“Last week, you took time off because you were sick, and this week, it’s your grandmother? If you keep asking for time off with every little excuse, when are you actually going to work?”

Since what he said was true, Yeonjo had nothing to say. This is why he wanted to talk to President Im. He would have been understanding, albeit concerned, and would have told him to go, knowing the circumstances.

He knew it was selfish, but Yeonjo thought he had picked the wrong day.

“The other staff members here aren’t here to cover for you, Mr. Cha Yeonjo. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

“If you understand, then go and check the clients’ riding lesson schedules. And stop focusing on your appearance all the time. You’re not going to be an actor, so why does a man like you keep putting stuff on his face…”

The manager grumbled and stared at Yeonjo’s pale face. Uncomfortable with the blatant stare, Yeonjo turned his head away.

“Oh, and also…”

“What now?”

“When will the owner be back?”

“Why do you keep asking about the owner? Because you can’t get what you want from me, so you’re trying to bother the kind-hearted owner? Or are you trying to borrow money from him again, Mr. Cha Yeonjo?”

The other staff members glanced at Yeonjo and the manager as they passed by. Since the clients with lesson reservations hadn’t arrived yet, the manager didn’t hold back his words.

Shame flushed Yeonjo’s face. Even for an orphaned and poor person like him, it was humiliating to have his personal circumstances revealed in front of all the staff.

“Didn’t you say you haven’t even paid back the money you borrowed before… You should have some shame, some shame. Tsk tsk.”

The manager shook his head, patted Yeonjo on the shoulder condescendingly, and walked past. Stung by the pitying gazes of the other staff, Yeonjo moved to the far end of the office, as if fleeing.

He barely managed to maintain a neutral expression as he heard the whispers behind him. Checking the schedule posted on the wall, Yeonjo looked at himself in the mirror next to it. The familiar pale face. Unlike what the manager said, he hadn’t particularly taken care of his appearance, but he did stand out among the tanned equestrian staff.

Should he get a tan so he doesn’t stand out? He felt frustrated that his effeminate, almost gigolo-like appearance seemed to draw more animosity.

“Yeonjo! Good morning!”

Snapping out of his thoughts at the sound of his name, Yeonjo turned his head.

“Oh… hello.”

Jo Joowon. One of the regular clients at the riding stable. Sometimes he would bring his wife and young son, but today he was alone.

“Why do you look so gloomy? Are you sick?”

“It’s nothing. You’ll be starting your lesson soon…”

“Don’t lie. You get sick often, Yeonjo.”

“…….”

Unsure of how to respond, he closed his mouth, and Jo Joowon chuckled, as if amused by something.

“Hey, I was just kidding. I’m not here for a lesson today. I just want to practice cantering on my own.”

Jo Joowon, about to ride, was still casually strolling around the office without changing his clothes. Since Yeonjo had to assist him anyway, he decided to wait until he changed into his riding clothes.

“Can you get my clothes from my locker? You know where it is, right?”

Jo Joowon tossed him the key. Yeonjo retrieved his riding clothes from the locker without complaint. Jo Joowon took the clothes and went into the men’s changing room.

Yeonjo checked the time as he waited for him to come out.

“Yeonjo, come help me with my boots for a sec.”

Suddenly, the changing room door opened, and Jo Joowon beckoned him with his hand. Yeonjo looked around and then went into the changing room.

The changing rooms were designed for individual use, so the space was cramped. As soon as Yeonjo entered, Jo Joowon locked the door and began to complain.

“I just bought these, so the leather hasn’t broken in yet. They’re great, but this is a hassle. You know what I mean?”

As he spoke, he placed a hand on Yeonjo’s shoulder and pressed down. Yeonjo obediently knelt down, as if used to this.

Jo Joowon smirked as he looked at Yeonjo’s pale, smooth face.

“Ha, our delicate Yeonjo. Ready to take some dick first thing in the morning?”

At the vulgar words, Yeonjo didn’t reply, simply looking up at Jo Joowon.

Jo Joowon scanned Yeonjo’s flawlessly smooth face, his thick eyelashes, and let out a low chuckle, a shiver running down his spine.

No matter how many times he saw it, he never got tired of that face. He thought to himself, with some regret, that if he weren’t straight, he would have already devoured Yeonjo and made him his own personal cum dumpster.

Such a pretty face, but the back end is a no-go. Clicking his tongue in disappointment, he grabbed Yeonjo by the hair and pressed his face against his bulging pants.

Yeonjo obediently rubbed his soft lips against the fabric.

“Ah, fuck. This is so hot.”

Jo Joowon, quickly aroused by the slight stimulation, yanked on Yeonjo’s hair. His smooth forehead, his well-defined brow bone, and his sharp nose were clearly visible. And then, following the line of his philtrum, his full lips. It was a face that was a pleasure to scrutinize. How did someone like this end up in a rural riding stable?

“Hey. Take my dick out with your mouth.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yeonjo unzipped his pants with his teeth. A thrill ran down Jo Joowon’s spine with every zipper sound.

With his lips and teeth, he gently parted the opening, and his erect penis sprang out from within his underwear. Yeonjo teased it, brushing his full lips against the side of Jo Joowon’s penis.

“Ahh… good boy. Now swallow it whole.”

Still kneeling, Yeonjo placed his hands on his thighs and slowly took the penis into his mouth. His mouth quickly filled, the head reaching the back of his throat.

“More. Tighten your throat muscles. Ugh, fuck… yes, like that… ha…”

Yeonjo suppressed his gag reflex and swallowed the shaft until the man’s coarse pubic hair tickled his nose. He couldn’t breathe. His eyes watered involuntarily, and the man’s hot breath constantly washed over his head.

Only after holding his breath until he felt like he was at his limit did Yeonjo release the penis. And he began to suck in earnest, his saliva coating the man’s penis. As he diligently bobbed his head, taking the penis to the root and then releasing it, the wet, slurping sounds filled the confined changing room.

“Ha, this is why I… ugh… left my wife and kid at home.”

Jo Joowon caressed Yeonjo’s ear as he skillfully sucked his penis. Yeonjo was better at this than most of the hostesses he knew. Maybe it’s because his lips are so plump. His reddened eyes and tear-stained eyelashes gave him a pitiful look. His fair skin flushed easily with the slightest stimulation, which was another small amusement.

It was a great pleasure for him to watch his dark red penis sliding in and out of those translucent, reddish lips.

Yeonjo endured deepthroating without complaint, something his wife, and even most bar girls, couldn’t do. Even as he choked and whimpered, he expertly took the entire length, all the way to the root. The feeling of his throat muscles and the soft tissues of his mouth made it feel like his penis was melting. Strangely, it didn’t feel the same with anyone else.

Jo Joowon, his excitement reaching its peak, felt the veins bulging on his forehead.

“Fuck, as expected. Yeonjo’s mouth is so tight and delicious. Ah, more, more. That’s it.”

Jo Joowon grabbed Yeonjo’s hair and thrust his hips several times.

“Haa… uh… mm…”

“Ha, I’m about to cum. Ugh. Swallow it all.”

Yeonjo nodded slightly. With one final, powerful thrust, he came deep inside Yeonjo’s throat.

“Ugh…! Haa…”

A warm sensation spread inside Yeonjo’s throat as Jo Joowon groaned. It didn’t taste like anything, being so far from his tongue, but he struggled to suppress his gag reflex.

“I’m going to milk it dry, so swallow it all.”

He pulled his penis out of Yeonjo’s mouth and flicked the remaining semen onto his tongue. Yeonjo obediently lowered his gaze and stuck out his tongue. Jo Joowon rubbed the softened tip against Yeonjo’s full lips and the tip of his nose.

“Phew…”

It was time for his lesson. Worried that another staff member might come looking for him, Yeonjo licked Jo Joowon’s penis clean. As he buried his face in Jo Joowon’s groin and gently sucked on his testicles, the man shuddered and let out strange moans. He always enjoyed finishing like this.

Not just him, but most men who received oral sex from Yeonjo did.

“You’re really good at this, Yeonjo. Why don’t you consider doing this professionally?”

Jo Joowon said jokingly. He looked down at Yeonjo, who was diligently licking and massaging his testicles and the base of his penis with his full lips, his eyes full of lust.

“Is it because of your weak health? This is why I can’t quit horseback riding.”

Jo Joowon chuckled as he finally tucked his penis back into his underwear. Yeonjo finally let out a fit of coughs he had been suppressing. He hadn’t been feeling well since this morning. He would have to take his medicine after the lesson.

Jo Joowon rambled on about how much money Yeonjo could make if he sold his ass as well. Then, he pulled out his wallet from his back pocket and tossed four 50,000 won bills onto the floor.

“Good job today.”

“Thank you.”

Yeonjo picked up the money and tucked it into his inner pocket. As he wiped his lips, stained with saliva and the man’s semen, with the back of his hand, Jo Joowon spoke again.

“Did you borrow money from the owner, Yeonjo?”

He must have heard what the manager said.

“Why? Are you that desperate for hospital bills?”

Yeonjo hesitated, wondering if he should even bother answering. He occasionally received money in exchange for blowjobs, but he knew Jo Joowon wasn’t exactly rolling in cash.

He was a dentist who had opened his own practice a few years ago, a self-made man, so to speak. He had married a woman from a wealthy family and opened his own clinic with his father-in-law’s help, but he had heard that his wife managed all their living expenses and his salary. He had even seen Jo Joowon arguing with his wife about debt and living expenses at the riding stable a few times.

“I have a family member in the hospital.”

“…That’s tough. You’re not in good health either.”

“…….”

Yeonjo didn’t elaborate. He rarely talked about his personal details, and before working at this riding stable, he had always used aliases.

He was afraid that Director Park might find him, and more than anything, he wanted to erase his past. Especially that day…

He had ended up using his real name, Cha Yeonjo, at the riding stable because President Im had persuaded him, saying he needed a copy of his bankbook and ID card for the four major insurances and tax purposes. He couldn’t refuse after President Im had lent him money for his grandmother’s medication.

“How much do you need?”

But Jo Joowon seemed determined to get an answer, not even opening the changing room door despite his lesson time having passed.

When Yeonjo stubbornly remained silent, Jo Joowon looked at him with pity and scratched his head. He took out his wallet again and gave Yeonjo six more 50,000 won bills.

“Hang in there.”

“Thank you.”

He had earned 500,000 won for one blowjob. Not bad. Yeonjo neatly folded the bills, put them in his pocket, and stood up. Jo Joowon finally opened the changing room door, checked if anyone was outside, and then beckoned Yeonjo out.

Most of the clients who came to the riding stable were genuinely there for horseback riding, and only occasionally would someone like Jo Joowon proposition Yeonjo. When they made advances, Yeonjo would wordlessly oblige. Perhaps because he had been forced into such acts since he was at the orphanage, he didn’t find it particularly difficult.

Ironically, despite having run away from the orphanage after almost being raped, he now casually took men’s penises into his mouth. Yeonjo thought his actions were contradictory.

Several women had approached Yeonjo while he was working as a riding assistant at the equestrian center, but, accustomed to satisfying men, he didn’t know how to deal with women and rejected them all.

Perhaps due to the trauma of the man who had tried to force himself on him the day he left the orphanage, he couldn’t bring himself to attempt intercourse with anyone, male or female.

Fortunately, the riding stable where Yeonjo worked was often used as a social gathering place, so there were few clients who would force themselves on someone who had clearly expressed their refusal or make unreasonable demands. The atmosphere was such that people generally avoided causing a scene, mindful of their social standing.

Should he have tried harder to appeal to Joowon? Then perhaps he could have gotten more help with his grandmother’s hospital bills. Or he should have at least asked for a loan.

But the words asking for a loan wouldn’t come easily. He wasn’t the type to act coy… He didn’t know. He had a naive thought that he might be able to cover the urgent hospital bills with this 500,000 won. Yeonjo resolved to at least try talking to President Im later and walked towards the training arena.

Just thinking about the hospital bills made him feel suffocated. Yeonjo patted his chest and bit his lower lip. His body, having worked since early morning, was already creaking and protesting, nearing its limit. His legs, especially, felt heavy, and his pace slowed down.

The manager, who had been watching Yeonjo, spat on the ground and walked past with a hostile expression.

🚬

In the end, he couldn’t leave work early today. Even if he went to Seoul after work, the doctor in charge would have already left, so he wouldn’t be able to have a consultation about the surgery. He had no choice but to postpone his visit until tomorrow.

Back in his dormitory room, Yeonjo laid out his bedding to go to bed early. After taking his dinner and medication and applying a warm compress to his aching feet, he lay down.

Perhaps because he had given Joowon oral sex while he wasn’t feeling well, he woke up several times during the night, coughing dryly. Later, his chest hurt so much that he had to drink warm tea and take more emergency medication.

Just as he finally managed to fall asleep, his phone rang in the late hours of the night.

“Hello…”

Yeonjo answered the phone, still half-asleep, mumbling. Then, hearing the voice on the other end, his half-closed eyes snapped open.

🚬

Yeonjo rushed into the hospital room. His grandmother, transferred to the intensive care unit within the emergency room, was hooked up to various machines. A nurse came in late, perhaps because it was so early in the morning, and explained the situation.

She said that his grandmother had suddenly lost consciousness and that they had taken emergency measures and administered sedatives. She warned him that today could be his grandmother’s last day.

But despite the nurse’s words, his grandmother regained consciousness two hours after Yeonjo arrived at the hospital.

“Is that my Han-wook…?”

His grandmother barely managed to speak, beckoning with her hand. Her eyes were slightly open, but unfocused.

“…Yes, Grandma. It’s me, Han-wook.”

Yeonjo answered, holding his grandmother’s hand. Her wrinkled hand was rough and dry, like the roots of a tree.

“Where were you… You’re finally here. Grandma… looked… for you…”

Whenever her mind wandered, his grandmother always asked for her real grandson instead of Yeonjo. Having raised her young grandson alone, only to lose him forever, she never called for Yeonjo, even as she lay dying. The only person she called for was him.

“My grandson… I searched… the whole market… looking for you… My Han-wook, my grandson…”

“I’m sorry, Grandma. I won’t go anywhere now.”

Yeonjo lied, resting his forehead against his grandmother’s hand.

“Grandma sold… a lot of fish today… What was it… that you wanted…”

Fourteen years ago, the day the fire broke out in the single room, Yeonjo never found the child. The residents who had witnessed the fire from the beginning said they hadn’t seen a small child running out. The firefighters, arriving late, were certain that the child had died, trapped under the debris.

After that, he had walked, completely lost in his mind. He walked and walked and walked all night until dawn, eventually arriving back at the market where the woman who had given him water sold fish.

The woman, who had come out early to sell fish, was shocked to see Yeonjo collapsed on the market floor, his face blackened with soot, and took him to her shack. But she soon realized that caring for him at home wouldn’t be enough and took him to the hospital for treatment.

The burns, now completely healed, had been severe, his whole body red and swollen. The woman had spent all her savings treating the orphaned Yeonjo’s burns. And she took him in, giving him food and shelter like her own grandson.

“…Lego, Grandma. The Lego set with the police car. I cried because I wanted it.”

Even though it wasn’t true, Yeonjo pretended to have whined for a Lego set, just like her grandson would have.

“Yes, that’s it. Grandma will… buy that… for Han-wook…”

“…….”

Her real grandson, whom she had raised alone, had suddenly disappeared a few months before Yeonjo met her, either kidnapped or lost. The woman sold fish during the day and, whenever she had time, went around putting up missing person posters. But she never received a single call saying her beloved grandson had been found.

And so, instead of her missing grandson, she took in Yeonjo. Although they weren’t related by blood, she was now Yeonjo’s only family.

“So… don’t go anywhere… Stay by Grandma’s side… okay?”

“I will. I won’t go anywhere now.”

So please don’t leave me either, Grandma. Yeonjo lowered his head. He had already abandoned that child and run away; he was afraid of losing his grandmother too.

It didn’t matter that the warmth he felt wasn’t truly meant for him. If he could obtain even a semblance of affection in this cold and lonely world, even through such desperate pleas, then it was enough.

🚬

Yeonjo’s face was stiff with tension. Throughout the bus ride back to the equestrian center, he had been agonizing over what to say to President Im.

President Im had built the riding stable on the vast land he had inherited, but he had heard that he also ran another business. Even though neither business was particularly successful, he had taken pity on Yeonjo, who had drifted from job to job, and had been accommodating.

He knew he was being shameless, as the manager had said, but he intended to ask President Im for a loan for the surgery again. No matter how many people he thought of, President Im was the only one who might lend him money.

‘The current surgery schedule is full, so it would have to be next Tuesday, or a month later.’

‘Then please schedule it for next Tuesday, Doctor.’

Yeonjo closed his eyes, replaying the conversation he had with the doctor. He had to get the money by the end of this week, no matter what.

“Oh? Mr. Cha Yeonjo. You weren’t answering your phone, where have you been…?”

“I have an urgent matter, is the owner here today?”

As he entered the riding stable office, one of the staff members stopped him with a surprised look. Interrupting him, he asked about President Im’s whereabouts, and the staff member pointed outside.

“Oh, yes… he’s coaching a new client right now.”

“Hey, Mr. Cha Yeonjo!”

As he was about to go see the owner, the manager quickly walked over and blocked his path.

“Do you know what time it is? What do you think you’re doing, being absent without leave and not even answering your phone!”

“I apologize. There was an emergency in Seoul, so I went there without being able to inform you.”

“Is work a joke to you? Just because the owner is lenient, you think you can do whatever you want?”

“I’m truly sorry. I tried to come early, but things happened, and I didn’t even have time to call…”

“Enough with the apologies! You’re fired, so pack your things and leave.”

Yeonjo, who had been looking at the floor, looked up in surprise.

“What?”

“The owner fired you, Mr. Cha Yeonjo. Don’t you understand what that means?”

“B-But the owner didn’t say anything like that to me. Let me talk to him first…”

“What difference would talking make? Will it erase the fact that you were absent without leave, or your negligence at work?”

At the manager’s announcement of his dismissal, the surrounding clients gathered around. Among them was Joowon, who had just entered the building. Unlike yesterday, he was with his family today.

Ignoring his embarrassment, Yeonjo went straight to the training arena. But he couldn’t find the owner, so he had to come back inside.

He glanced at his locker and saw that everything had been taken out. His uniform and personal belongings were dumped in the trash can next to it.

“Oh my god. He really got fired.”

“Didn’t they say he was having an affair with the owner? He must have been slacking off, relying on that.”

“No way, is the owner gay?”

“With a face like that, even if he wasn’t gay…”

“Hey, shut up. He can hear you. And I often overlap shifts with him, he’s a good worker.”

“You’re defending him too? This is why people should be born handsome.”

“Ugh, still, I’m not into gays.”

The staff whispered openly behind Yeonjo’s back. He also heard Joowon, who had been watching him like a monkey in a zoo, telling his wife to go.

Yeonjo stared blankly at his belongings in the trash can for a long time.

No matter how much he tried to think about what to do next, his mind was blank. Forget about his own health problems, his grandmother’s cancer surgery was scheduled for next Tuesday. Less than a week away, he had lost his job, and he didn’t even have 1 million won.

Where was he supposed to get 5 million won? Should he really grovel at President Im’s feet and beg him?

“…….”

Constantly short of money, he was losing his pride and shame, only his audacity growing thicker.

Listlessly removing the few remaining belongings from his locker, Yeonjo went to see President Im.

🚬

“I’m sorry, Yeonjo. I know you work hard and you’re a good person, but it’s difficult when you keep missing work without notice, especially with our tight schedule. I keep giving you leeway, and strange rumors are starting to spread, so I had no choice. Please understand. As for the money you borrowed… you’ve paid back most of it, and there’s not much left, so let’s just consider it settled. Please pack your things and leave the dormitory.”

President Im was resolute, responding firmly despite Yeonjo’s pleas. Having received so much consideration from him, Yeonjo couldn’t bring himself to push any further and ask for more help.

Back in the shabby dormitory at the far end of the riding stable, Yeonjo packed his things. There wasn’t much to call belongings. Just some clothes, a phone charger, GED textbooks, and an old, second-hand laptop.

The small items like the blanket and fan belonged to the dormitory.

After packing everything into his backpack, the small room looked pathetic. And he, being forced to leave this place, looked even more so.

Without even checking the bus schedule to Seoul, Yeonjo started walking. As he walked quickly towards the exit of the riding stable, someone grabbed his arm from behind.

“Yeonjo, what happened? Were you really fired?”

It was Joowon, who had been with his family just a moment ago. He pulled Yeonjo behind the storage building.

“…I think so.”

“How did this happen? Because of money?”

Instead of answering, Yeonjo turned his gaze to the wide training arena. He was mentally calculating whether he should beg Joowon for a loan.

“Do you have anywhere to go if you leave like this?”

“Joowon.”

Joowon looked at Yeonjo with a dumbfounded expression. Perhaps because they saw each other often and shared a secret, he also seemed taken aback by Yeonjo’s sudden dismissal.

“I… I know this is an absurd situation, but… could you lend me some money?”

Yeonjo asked, clutching at straws. He couldn’t afford to worry about his pride right now.

If he went to Seoul like this, he needed a place to stay, even if it was just short-term, and he had to get the money for his grandmother’s surgery within a few days. Even if he worked his ass off at manual labor, he wouldn’t be able to earn even 1 million won by next week.

As Joowon hesitated, searching for the right words, his phone rang.

“Hello? Oh, honey. I’m just in the restroom.”

He looked at Yeonjo awkwardly and mouthed the word “wife.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be right there. You can start warming up and riding. Don’t push yourself too hard, just walk the horse. Be careful, okay? Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

As soon as Joowon hung up, Yeonjo continued.

“If you could lend me 5 million won… I can’t pay you back right away, but I’ll definitely pay you back within six months, no, three months. Okay?”

“Yeonjo, to be honest, my wife checks every penny I spend, so that would be difficult. I’m sorry…”

“…….”

Not having expected much, Yeonjo lowered his head. Joowon scratched the back of his head, rummaged through his pockets for his wallet, and took out all the cash inside, handing it to Yeonjo with a troubled and uneasy expression.

“This is all I can do to help.”

“…….”

“Take this, and let’s just pretend this never happened, so there won’t be any gossip at the riding stable. It’s not like we were ever anything anyway… well, anyway. I have my own circumstances, you know? Right?”

“…Is there really no way? I’ll definitely pay you back. I know it’s a large sum, but…”

Joowon’s phone rang again while Yeonjo was speaking. He hurriedly answered the call, lied to his wife that he was coming, and started walking back towards the training arena.

“Wait, Yeonjo.”

Joowon, who had been hurrying away as if fleeing, stopped, hung up the phone, and approached Yeonjo as if he had remembered something.

“Yes?”

Thinking he might have changed his mind, Yeonjo looked at him with pleading eyes.

“Uh… if you’re that desperate for money, try looking for a job.”

“I need it by next week. Even if I find a job now…”

“No, no. Not that kind of job. Y-You know… what I talked about before. I’ve been there a few times for entertainment, and I heard they give out advances of several hundred thousand won.”

“…….”

“If you’re okay with it… I’m not forcing you, okay? I’m just saying this because you seem so desperate.”

Yeonjo frowned, not understanding what he was talking about. The man looked around and then pulled out a business card from his wallet, handing it to Yeonjo.

“It doesn’t seem like that kind of weird place, you know, like how people usually think. Anyway, don’t mention my name after you leave the riding stable… you can just leave and be done with it, but I still have to work here… Well… take care of yourself, even if it’s hard.”

Joowon patted Yeonjo on the shoulder and ran off without looking back, saying he was late.

Yeonjo tilted his head, looking at the business card he had been given.

No matter how closely he read the stylishly designed card with the word “Phoenix” on it, he couldn’t figure out what kind of place it was. It felt like a hostess bar.

Did he really mean for him to sell his body?

“That son of a bitch.”

Yeonjo bit his lower lip and crumpled the business card.

The thought of having to find the money as soon as he arrived in Seoul already made his stomach churn.

Yeonjo looked up and surveyed the riding stable he was about to leave. The training arenas looked particularly desolate. Although he had been suddenly dismissed, he had always been vaguely prepared for the possibility of having to leave this place someday, so he didn’t feel particularly sad or regretful.

He just felt, as always, that his life was bleak.

🚬

“Excuse me… I was referred here…”

Yeonjo opened the door, smoothing back the hair that had fallen over his forehead. The bar, located on the upper floors of a building in the bustling area near Sinnonhyeon Station in Seoul, was cleaner and more luxurious than he had expected. At first glance, it resembled a hotel bar he had only seen on TV.

Perhaps it had just opened, as the man at the counter was busily moving around. He stopped picking up the scattered receipts, looked up, and scanned Yeonjo from head to toe.

Jeans and a lime-colored shirt. Definitely not a customer, judging by his appearance. Ordinary clothes, but an extraordinary face, making him wonder if he was a host from a nearby host bar. But if someone with that face was working in the industry, he would know. It was a rare, beautiful face.

“Come in. Referred by whom?”

Perhaps a client from the entertainment industry. It was still a while before the hostess bar would officially open, but the man greeted Yeonjo with a polite smile.

“Joowon… Jo Joowon.”

“Jo Joo… ah, the dentist? Then you’re a customer?”

“…….”

Embarrassed, Yeonjo blushed and shook his head. Finally understanding the situation, the man let out an “aha.” So, it was a staff referral.

Glancing at the blush spreading across Yeonjo’s pale cheeks, the man quickly stood up.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

He then disappeared down a wide hallway. Presumably to call someone of higher rank.

Yeonjo sat awkwardly on the leather sofa at the entrance and looked around. The interior was dim because the lights weren’t fully on yet, but the spacious, reception-like area was pleasant. The matte floor tiles looked new, clean and without a single scratch.

So this is where rich people come to drink. Yeonjo had such an idle thought as he waited for the man to return.

And he counted the days. It was already Saturday. He had to get the money by Tuesday for his grandmother to have the surgery on time.

It wasn’t that Yeonjo hadn’t tried to get money through legitimate means. After being fired from the riding stable, he had looked into every job he could start immediately in Seoul: department stores, convenience stores, parcel delivery warehouses, construction sites, errand centers, bathhouse cleaning, delivery driver, and so on. But the hourly wage was far too low compared to the amount he needed, and advances were out of the question.

Yeonjo had only two cards left: private loans and selling his body.

He couldn’t bring himself to consider private loans, having suffered greatly for years, both he and his grandmother, after taking one out in his twenties. He didn’t want to experience again the system where the interest alone ballooned to hundreds of thousands of won in just a month.

The only thing left was his body. Countless people had wanted his body, from the orphanage until now. He had actually received money in exchange for sexual acts many times, albeit excluding intercourse.

He had a trauma related to penetration, but even that was a luxury in the face of reality. He wasn’t in a position to be picky about whether it was sex or other sexual acts. As long as he could get the money, Yeonjo had to do whatever it took.

“Who would come at this hour, making me run around like this.”

Yeonjo looked up at the woman’s openly annoyed voice. The woman, who appeared to be in her early forties, was wearing a tight, red, thin dress. Appearing with the man, she stared at Yeonjo sitting on the sofa for a few seconds before speaking.

“Hey, aren’t you going to greet me?”

🚬

The air in the room where he followed the woman for the interview was dry. He felt a tightness in his chest and the urge to cough, but Yeonjo suppressed it, tensing his throat muscles. Experience had taught him that no employer welcomed a sickly worker.

The woman took a long drag from her cylindrical vape and scrutinized Yeonjo for a long time.

“Honey, are you sure you know what kind of place this is?”

“I know.”

“Wanting the money upfront… I wouldn’t mind paying 5 million for a shell like you… but… there are a few things that bother me.”

The woman, who introduced herself as the team manager of this hostess bar, glanced at the ID card Yeonjo had given her.

“You’re thirty-one, but your body is still untouched? Should I believe that?”

It was a voice laced with distrust. Whether she believed it or not, Yeonjo truly had no experience with penetrative sex, with anyone, male or female.

“Hey, Hyungpal. Run a background check on this ID.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

At the team manager’s call, the man Yeonjo had seen at the counter quickly approached, took his ID, and disappeared. When Yeonjo looked surprised, she laughed.

“I’ll just briefly go over your history. Okay?”

She took another long drag from her vape. Even though it wasn’t a strong smell because it was electronic, it wasn’t a particularly pleasant scent either.

“Even though this is a hostess bar, only people with some money come here, so it’s difficult to have someone with a criminal record. Petty crimes are fine, but we can’t have someone who rapes and murders people.”

“…….”

“Anyway…ha…”

The team manager exhaled a long plume of vapor.

“We don’t have many female clients here. Most of them are rich, arrogant men. You okay with that?”

“Yes.”

“Really? You’ll have to spread your legs for dirty, wrinkly old geezers, you know?”

Yeonjo hesitated, unable to answer immediately. Hearing her put it so directly made him reluctant to confidently say he was okay with it.

The woman chuckled.

“Look at this. What a funny guy. Why? You want the money, but you don’t want to spread your legs for old men?”

“No, it’s okay.”

Yeonjo added belatedly. The team manager paused in thought.

She hadn’t planned on hiring more hosts. It wasn’t like the bar had a lot of clients looking for men, and even if she believed him, he was thirty-one years old. He was old enough to be considered past his prime, but the man who had suddenly appeared before her had a face that could pass for early twenties, so she was hesitant.

If this were a hostess bar specializing in male hosts, with a face like that, even in his current clueless state, he could easily become the top earner.

“Referred by Joo-won… but doesn’t that guy only go for women? He sent a dick when he’s a pussy guy himself. Hmm.”

“…….”

A brief silence fell. The man returned, presumably having finished the background check, and handed back Yeonjo’s ID.

“He’s clean.”

“Really?”

After the man left, the team manager seemed to have made up her mind and gestured to Yeonjo with her chin.

“So, honey, would you mind taking off your clothes?”

“Excuse me?”

Yeonjo, who had been sitting stiffly, blinked. The team manager smiled.

“Why are you so surprised? I just want to check if there are any defects with the product beforehand.”

“Ah.”

“What would it look like if I sold you to a client and you had a stab wound on your stomach or something?”

Yeonjo awkwardly stood up and undressed in front of the woman. It wasn’t something he couldn’t do. It was embarrassing, but having come here to sell his body, showing her his naked body wasn’t a big deal.

“Oh my, your nipples and penis are pink? Cute.”

The woman chuckled, her eyes raking over Yeonjo’s naked body. Yeonjo, still wearing his shoes, asked nervously,

“Should I… take off my socks too?”

“No, that’s fine. You can get dressed now. That cheapskate Joo-won brought me something interesting. What a surprise.”

Relieved, Yeonjo quickly put his clothes back on.

“Do you have a place to stay?”

“…No.”

“That’s usually the case with guys who come here and undress like this.”

She said knowingly.

“If you don’t mind sharing a bathroom, you can use the dorm where our staff live. Just be aware that there are CCTV cameras at the entrance and in the kitchen.”

The team manager snatched Yeonjo’s ID card from the table.

“I’ll return this when you’ve paid off your debt. Hey, Hyungpal! Bring the bag.”

“Yes, ma’am!” A voice responded from outside at the team manager’s call. A moment later, the man came in carrying a large shopping bag, the kind you get from a supermarket. It was filled with bundles of cash.

Yeonjo’s eyes widened. The woman put down her vape and took out three bundles of cash from the bag.

“2.5 million upfront.”

“I said I needed 5 million…”

“We’re not an ATM that dispenses money on demand. We need to see what you can do first. What makes you think we’d give you the full amount at once?”

“Then…”

“You’ll get the rest after you service your first client. With a face like yours and being a virgin, there will be plenty of guys willing to spend money on you.”

Actually, it didn’t matter if he wasn’t a virgin. As long as he was new to this industry, it was fine. The team manager stared at Yeonjo’s full lips and smiled.

“When can I get the rest? I’m in a hurry.”

Yeonjo asked, unable to hide his anxiety.

“That depends on when you start working.”

“I can start tomorrow, or even today.”

“You’re very enthusiastic. Can I ask what you need the money for?”

“…….”

“Well, if you don’t want to say, that’s fine. I’ll contact our VIP clients, so go change your clothes and have Hyungpal take some profile pictures. And…”

“Ma’am, can I come in for a sec?”

The man called Kim Hyungpal opened the door and entered abruptly while the team manager was speaking. The team manager, who had been speaking gently, frowned at him sharply.

“Who told you to barge in without permission while I’m talking?”

“I’m sorry. Boss Gu is here.”

The team manager’s expression softened, and she asked, “At this hour?”

Who is Boss Gu? Yeonjo tilted his head, listening to their conversation.

“Yes. I think you need to come see him. He’s in a bad state.”

“Did he get stabbed again?”

Yeonjo flinched at the word “stabbed.”

“Definitely. He’s covered in blood.”

“Then he should go to the hospital, why is he coming here? Ugh, this is a headache.”

“I’ve shown him to a room.”

“Go get the first aid kit.”

“Yes.”

The team manager stood up as if to go herself. Kim Hyungpal looked at Yeonjo cautiously and quickly grabbed the bag of money. Yeonjo also quickly stuffed the 2.5 million won he had received as an advance into his back pocket.

“Uh… ma’am, the owner is calling, what should I do?”

Kim Hyungpal said to the team manager, who was about to leave the room. Judging by her troubled expression as she looked at her vibrating phone, it seemed like an urgent matter on that end as well.

“Why is that bastard calling in the middle of the day? Hyungpal, can you take care of Boss Gu? I need to take this call.”

The team manager lit a cigarette with an annoyed expression. Kim Hyungpal recoiled and shook his head.

“Ew, me? No way.”

“All the girls are fighting over Boss Gu whenever he comes.”

“Not me, ma’am. What good would it do me to see Boss Gu’s face?”

When he refused, their gazes naturally turned to Yeonjo. The team manager snatched the phone from Kim Hyungpal and asked Yeonjo,

“Honey, do you know how to disinfect wounds and apply bandages?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Take care of Boss Gu while I take this call. There’s no one else here right now.”

Kim Hyungpal pointed with his finger, saying, “The room at the end of the hallway.” He also rushed out to get the first aid kit while the team manager was on the phone.

Yeonjo was handed the heavy first aid kit and told to treat this “Boss Gu” person whom he had never met before.

“Oh, just a heads up, Boss Gu doesn’t like chatty people.”

Kim Hyungpal suddenly turned around and warned him as he was walking away, making a gesture of slicing his neck with his hand.

Yeonjo nodded and walked towards the room where Boss Gu was. The hostess bars he had seen in movies had long, complicated hallways, but this place, although the hallway was long, didn’t have many rooms, so the layout was simple.

Yeonjo was quite proficient in first aid. Falls were common in horseback riding. Even outside the riding stable, many of the jobs Yeonjo had done were physically demanding, so he could handle most injuries.

“Excuse me.”

As soon as he opened the door after knocking at the end of the hallway, acrid cigarette smoke filled his lungs.

Cough, cough. Yeonjo frowned, coughing involuntarily.

The large room was thick with smoke, like a fog. It was almost painful to breathe. After blinking several times, his eyes stinging, Yeonjo could finally make out who was inside.

The first thing he saw was the back of a man in a red shirt. He was sitting on the sofa, drinking, and the bottle on the table was clearly labeled Macallan 1947. He had heard the clients at the riding stable mention it a few times, but he never thought he would actually see someone drinking such expensive whiskey.

“I was told to disinfect your wounds…”

The man, Boss Gu, who was sitting with his back to Yeonjo, beckoned with his finger. Presumably, it was a sign for him to come closer. Yeonjo approached him.

“…….”

And he almost dropped the first aid kit he was holding. The man wasn’t wearing a red shirt. It was a white shirt, stained red with blood.

Realizing that what he had seen was all bloodstains, Yeonjo quickly stifled a gasp.

Boss Gu, on the other hand, had a cigarette dangling from his lips and was reading a crumpled document. Even the document was stained with blood. And he was wearing thin black gloves on both hands.

Doesn’t it hurt? Feeling a vicarious pain, Yeonjo clenched his fists.

Boss Gu’s entire aura, combined with the stale air, created a heavy sense of dread. Although he couldn’t see his face clearly, the side profile that briefly flashed into view left a sharp impression: a strong jawline and piercing, single-lidded eyes.

Yeonjo swallowed hard, carefully placed the first aid kit next to him, and took out the necessary supplies.

“I think you’ll need to take off your shirt…”

Yeonjo said cautiously. Boss Gu didn’t even glance at him, just spat out the cigarette he was smoking towards the ashtray. Then he tossed the document onto the table.

Yeonjo almost screamed. He hadn’t meant to look, but the words on the document caught his eye, and he read them involuntarily.

—Physical Disclaimer.

Judging by the conversation he had overheard between the team manager and Kim Hyungpal, he had assumed Boss Gu was involved in organized crime, but he seemed even more intimidating than he had imagined.

Boss Gu was so large and imposing that he made Yeonjo instinctively shrink back. He didn’t dare to look up and meet his gaze, keeping his eyes downcast. The glimpse he had caught of Boss Gu’s side profile made him seem rough and formidable.

As Yeonjo took out the antiseptic, Boss Gu unbuttoned and quickly took off his shirt.

“Fuck.”

He muttered a curse in a rough, low voice, as if his vocal cords had been scraped with sandpaper. The harsh sound made Yeonjo flinch. He was tall and powerfully built, like a man forged from steel. Even his smallest gestures felt incredibly intimidating.

Yeonjo soon understood why he had cursed. The state of his back, revealed as he took off his shirt, was horrific.

His entire back was uneven and bloodstained, as if the skin had melted and regenerated. Blood oozed from his wounds every time his firm, thick back muscles twitched. There wasn’t a single unblemished spot.

A tattoo covered his uneven skin. A large dragon covered his entire broad back, easily twice the size of an average woman’s.

“…….”

But due to his scarred skin, it looked less like a dragon and more like a demonic creature. The dragon wasn’t holding a yeouiju (a mythical wish-granting jewel) in its mouth, but a blazing fireball.

A demon that had swallowed a fireball. A shiver ran down his spine. The sight of the deep wounds oozing blood was grotesque.

An unknown anxiety made his heart pound wildly. He could barely breathe.

Yeonjo knew better than anyone what had caused such mangled skin.

Burns.

When skin melts from fire and regenerates over a long period, it becomes like that.

Even though he knew it was absurd, Yeonjo wondered if the man before him was truly someone like him.

After staring blankly at Boss Gu’s back for a few seconds, Yeonjo came to his senses and quickly took out the antiseptic, tweezers, and a clean cloth.

“This might sting.”

Yeonjo said as he wiped away the blood. There was no reply.

His hands trembled slightly from extreme tension. Examining the wounds, Yeonjo realized that simply wiping away the blood wouldn’t be enough. There were shards of glass embedded in the flesh, so he needed to pour antiseptic over them and pull them out with tweezers first.

Even though the antiseptic must have stung, Boss Gu didn’t flinch. Yeonjo carefully removed the foreign objects embedded in his flesh with tweezers. Then he wiped away the blood and antiseptic with a cloth.

“…….”

Only then could he fully assess Boss Gu’s condition. He had thought that the wounds were distorting his perception of the flesh, but that wasn’t it.

As he had initially perceived, burn scars covered his entire back. The flesh that had melted from the burns seemed to have healed long ago, but it didn’t look normal at all. The gruesome dragon tattoo covering the burn scars, the stab wounds… it looked as if the dragon was bleeding in front of the gates of hell.

What had happened to him? The rest of his body seemed fine, but why only his back…?

“What are you dawdling for?”

Boss Gu growled like a beast. Yeonjo flinched as if he had been burned.

“Hurry up and finish.”

Yeonjo barely managed to nod. And he continued treating the wounds. He checked again for any remaining foreign objects, applied ointment, and picked up the bandages. He wondered if he would be able to wrap them around his entire torso.

“Honey, are you done?”

As he was pondering what to do, the team manager entered at the perfect moment. Yeonjo turned to her as if she were his savior.

“I just need to apply the bandages.”

“I’ll do it, you can go. Hyungpal will tell you what to do.”

“Okay.”

“Give me the bandages.”

Yeonjo handed them over to the team manager without hesitation. Boss Gu finished the remaining whiskey in his glass and stretched his neck from side to side, as if urging her to hurry.

“Didn’t you say there were some guys who tried to escape from downstairs?”

The team manager asked Boss Gu as Yeonjo was about to leave the room.

“You couldn’t find them?”

“I caught them.”

“Oh dear… what are you going to do?”

“I’ll break their ankles or something to keep them quiet for a while.”

Boss Gu’s voice was flat as he spoke of mutilating someone.

“What? Then they won’t be able to service clients.”

“They’re perfectly fine except for not being able to walk, so why wouldn’t they be able to? They’ll have to crawl and do it if they have to.”

Click. Cold sweat ran down Yeonjo’s back as he closed the door to the room and stepped out into the hallway.

What had he just heard? Break whose ankles?

Yeonjo stood frozen in front of the door, stunned.

“You’re out? Come this way to take your profile pictures.”

Kim Hyungpal called out to Yeonjo, who was standing there like a statue. Yeonjo, snapping out of his daze, started moving.

Leaving the smoke-filled room, his churning stomach felt a little better. But the words Boss Gu had spoken kept replaying in his mind. They were so cruel and horrifying that he shuddered.

“Didn’t the manager say anything about adding a girl today?”

Kim Hyungpal asked casually as they walked down the hallway. Since he hadn’t heard anything like that, Yeonjo shook his head.

“She didn’t say anything to me.”

“That’s strange.”

Kim Hyungpal added, as if it was unusual. He then grinned at Yeonjo, who was walking silently beside him.

“He’s usually crazy about fucking.”

Kim Hyungpal made a circle with his fingers, inserted another finger, and looked at Yeonjo knowingly.

“Well, I guess fucking even after getting stabbed is a bit hardcore… anyway, have a seat here. I’ll check the camera battery.”

He led Yeonjo into a brightly lit room with several vanities and started rummaging through the drawers. The space, which seemed to be a staff break room, was clean but not as luxurious or stylishly decorated as the client rooms.

Yeonjo sat down, trying to calm his still-racing heart.

🚬

The next day.

The team manager clicked her tongue at the sight of Boss Gu barging in without a word just before opening time. She took the document she had put in the counter drawer beforehand and waved it at him.

“You left your documents yesterday.”

If he had come to retrieve them himself instead of sending a subordinate, it must be quite urgent. The team manager, wearing bright lipstick, smiled at Boss Gu.

“What a surprise. Making such a cute little mistake. Even a boss can be human; you must have been quite hurt yesterday.”

“Cut the crap.”

He snatched the documents and meticulously checked the contents. His large build could have been intimidating standing so close, but the team manager stood on tiptoe, peering over his shoulder to read the document.

“Why Boryeong? Are you going on a business trip?”

“You didn’t take any other documents from here, did you?”

“What do you take me for? By the way, you’re always so busy. Running around here and there. Must be nice being the chairman of Yongho Group.”

Ignoring her taunting, Boss Gu put the documents back in the envelope and took out a cigarette from his jacket pocket. The white cigarette in his gloved hand looked out of place.

“I heard you hired a new host yesterday.”

The smile instantly disappeared from the team manager’s face.

“Who snitched already?”

Strictly speaking, this room salon was under Boss Gu’s management, so it was natural for the news to reach his ears quickly. However, unlike the more relaxed managers of other districts, he tended to check even these minor changes tightly.

Even though he managed more than a few bars, he always set strict standards. The madams shuddered at the mention of Boss Gu, saying he was possessed by a money demon.

“This wasn’t in the original plan. This place isn’t a bar that specializes in host bars, is it?”

“That’s true. But he came looking for it himself, which is rare.”

The team leader answered, recalling Yeonjo. Of course, there were often people like Yeonjo who suddenly came looking for work because they were desperate for money, but they didn’t usually come prepared to sell their bodies right away for a second round.

Usually, they were introduced by an acquaintance who acted as a wingman next to someone in difficult circumstances, or a broker would bring in aspiring models or idols through specific routes. Phoenix was picky about appearances since the price of drinks and companionship was high, so a verified procedure was necessary.

Boss Gu, who knew this better than anyone, found it very suspicious that someone had been brought in unplanned like this.

“They said he’s 31 years old. Did you lose your touch for spotting younger guys?”

“That’s true, but this one definitely looks like he’s in his early twenties. Trust me.”

The team leader confidently explained, running her hand up and down her own face.

“…….”

Boss Gu chewed on the cigarette in his mouth and remained silent. Anxious, the team leader added an excuse.

“He looks pretty hot.”

“The ajumma?”

“Of course not. Do you think I’d hire someone to sleep with myself? I hired him so the customers, who come here all the time, can have someone to screw.”

“There aren’t many guys looking for other guys.”

“That’s true, but… he’s got the kind of face that’ll draw customers in even if they weren’t looking.”

Boss Gu lit the end of his cigarette and inhaled deeply, his cheeks hollowing. His long, narrow eyes stared sharply at the team leader’s.

Even though she hadn’t done anything particularly wrong, the team leader felt uncomfortable. He was a much younger man, though she didn’t know his exact age. The naive bar girls sometimes harbored childish feelings like infatuation for Boss Gu’s intimidating yet handsome appearance, but he wasn’t someone to be swayed by such child’s play. He had something about him that made people tense, which was unusual for his age. That’s probably how he got to his position.

“Bring me his paperwork and ID.”

It seemed he was going to check everything while he was here. The team leader had also hired Yeonjo impulsively, so it would be troublesome if Boss Gu started to nitpick.

In a room salon like this, frequented by wealthy men, one or two extra people, male or female, wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Anyway, the young bastard is shrewd. Cursing Boss Gu inwardly for scrutinizing every single won of loss, she shouted from behind the counter.

“Hey, Hyungpal! Bring me Cha Yeonjo’s ID and paperwork!”

“Yes, noona!”

“What?”

Boss Gu, who had been leaning against the wall with his legs crossed, twitched his eyes. He ran a hand through his short, wavy hair. The team leader instinctively flinched at his narrowing, chilling gaze.

“Why? Weren’t you asking for the paperwork…?”

“Not that. The new guy’s name.”

“Cha Yeonjo?”

“…….”

Boss Gu, who had been smoking, stopped abruptly.

“Do you know him? It’s not a common name.”

Curiosity laced the team leader’s voice. It was rare to see a reaction from the man who wouldn’t blink even if a knife was plunged into his massive body.

“Noona, here it is…. Oh, hello, Manager.”

Kim Hyungpal bowed 90 degrees to Boss Gu and respectfully offered the papers.

Without looking at him, Boss Gu took the papers and ID and checked the contents.

—Cha Yeonjo. 31 years old. No criminal record. No room salon experience (presumed). No family (presumed). Worked at a horse ranch from 20××—20××.

The team leader tilted her head as Boss Gu concentrated on the photo and the few details listed.

“What? Did you actually know him? He said he’d never worked in this business before.”

“…….”

“The funny thing is, he’s a virgin down there. I don’t really believe it, though.”

“Make sure you use him well so we don’t lose money.”

Boss Gu tossed the papers and ID back to the team leader. He then continued to smoke his tattered cigarette.

I thought there was something there, but there wasn’t? The team leader examined Cha Yeonjo’s ID card, wondering if there was anything unusual about it.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. It’s not like I’m new to this.”

He didn’t seem to want to pry further, heading to the laptop on the counter and slouching down to check yesterday’s sales.

The team leader was inwardly relieved that Boss Gu didn’t press the issue. Yeonjo’s face was truly stunning. That’s probably why he didn’t say anything. Boss Gu probably wouldn’t care whether Cha Yeonjo was actually a virgin or not. In this line of work, that kind of experience was just something to hang on your ear or your nose; it didn’t matter much.

“Do you know where he’s staying?”

“Our staff dorm.”

The team leader answered, immediately understanding who the subject was.

“Keep an eye on him so he doesn’t run away.”

Boss Gu finally stood up after taking a picture of the sales sheet with his phone. As he headed for the exit, the other employees nearby all bowed deeply.

“Please go in, Manager!”

“Have a safe trip!”

The automatic doors opened, and as he left the store, the team leader shrugged.

“He’s so ridiculously meticulous, even when he doesn’t need to be. That’s why he has so many enemies.”

🚬

The accommodation provided by Phoenix was a familiar setup for Yeonjo. It wasn’t particularly good or bad, just a place to sleep and a bathroom, optimized for the word ‘accommodation’. Sharing a bathroom and kitchen was a bit inconvenient, but bearable.

The Phoenix staff at the dorm didn’t approach Yeonjo or acknowledge him first. This, too, was something he had experienced countless times, so he didn’t think much of it.

Saturday passed by uneventfully.

Sunday morning, he visited his grandmother’s hospital room. His grandmother, whose mind had somewhat recovered, welcomed Yeonjo warmly and even peeled fruit for him. He couldn’t refuse, even though he insisted he was fine.

Watching Yeonjo munch on the apple, his grandmother boasted to the people in the room about how handsome and pretty her grandson was. She seemed unaware that whenever she was near death, she would talk about finding the grandson she had lost 14 years ago.

Yeonjo smiled silently. Her surgery was on Tuesday, and he just hoped she could stay at ease.

As Yeonjo was about to leave the hospital room after the visit, his grandmother grabbed his hand and cried, saying he was suffering because of her. He never knew what to do when she held or hugged him like that. The affection and warmth that touched his skin felt so good that, ridiculously, he wished everything would just stop.

But his grandmother didn’t have much time left. She could no longer bend over and sell fish at the market all day like she used to, and she couldn’t chew and swallow meat on her own unless someone minced it for her. She couldn’t cook for Yeonjo in the cramped, cockroach-infested kitchen of their shack, and she couldn’t let him rest his head on her lap and chat for hours.

On the other hand, Yeonjo wanted to do those things for her, but now even controlling her own body was difficult for her. Every time he was reminded that his grandmother’s time was running out, Yeonjo felt his heart break.

It didn’t matter if she didn’t think of him as her real grandson, and it was okay if she was sick and had to stay in the hospital for a long time for treatment. No matter how much money it cost or how long it took, as long as she stayed by his side.

But was even that too much to ask for an orphan like him?

Leaving the hospital, Yeonjo forced down the sense of loss that washed over him daily and headed to work at the room salon.