One week later…
Minho was in Seo-Jun's office, which was a complete disaster zone. Papers were scattered everywhere, creating chaotic piles of documents that seemed to mock his frantic search. He was holding a few sheets in his hands, flipping through them with a wild urgency, his messy hair sticking out in all directions. He looked like a madman on a quest, desperately trying to extract something—anything—from the jumbled mess around him.
In a moment of sheer frustration, he shouted, "EASY MY ASS! I AM NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS!" The sound echoed in the small office, a testament to the mounting pressure he felt. It had been over a week since he had set foot in Seo-Jun's house, and despite his careful plans to gain Seo-Jun's trust, he felt like he was running in circles. He had meticulously mapped out a strategy to search the entire house, convinced that there was crucial information hidden within those pages. However, to execute his plan, he needed a crucial amount of time—an hour or two when the cameras would be off.
To create that opportunity, he had made up a story about a power outage that was supposedly going to hit the street where Seo-Jun lived at that very hour. After he published the news, Seo-Jun had seen it and warned Minho about it just the day before. And to really carry out the plan proficiently, Minho had gone to the basement of the house earlier that day to locate the power panel. With careful precision, he turned it off, ensuring that there wouldn't be any suspicions if Seo-Jun decided to check it. Yet, despite all his efforts and careful plotting, he still hadn't uncovered anything useful. The frustration was palpable, and Minho felt the weight of his failure pressing down on him as he continued to sift through the endless papers, hoping for a breakthrough that seemed just out of reach.
Frustration bubbled up again as he shouted, "I did all of this power-cutting thing, and still I didn't find anything useful!" In a fit of anger, he threw the papers across the room, the sound of them scattering echoing in the silence, and smashed his head down on the table beneath him, feeling the weight of his failure.
After a moment of stillness, he glanced at his phone, which lay on the table next to him, its screen glowing softly in the dim light. "I still have 20 more minutes before I turn the power back on. What should I do?... Why can't I find anything here?!" he muttered, his voice tinged with desperation. He began shuffling through the papers again, the crinkling sound filling the air as he rifled through the mess. His mind raced with thoughts of what he might be missing. "It is impossible not to have any illegal deals... such a big gang like his... There must be something around here!" he exclaimed, his determination reigniting like a flame. He stood back up with renewed energy, his eyes scanning the chaotic spread of documents, hoping to uncover the crucial evidence that would lead him to the information he was seeking.
Each paper he turned over felt like a potential key to unlocking the secrets hidden within the gang's operations.
As he was looking at the documents, Minho couldn't help but read aloud the titles that caught his eye: "Motorcycle deliveries, bar renovations..." His irritation mounted with each paper he flipped through, tossing aside the ones that held no relevance to his search. The clutter around him was overwhelming, and with a growl, he muttered to himself, "I will soon hit something." feeling the frustration growing with each document.
Just then, his phone vibrated, breaking through the haze of his anger. He glanced at the screen and saw the name "Mom" flash before him. A message appeared, asking, "How is it going?" Instead of typing a response, he opted for a call, needing to hear a familiar voice. When the call connected, a low, steady voice came through the speaker, "Hello?"
Minho took a moment to steady himself before responding. "Hi, Jin hyung. I can't find anything useful here." he said, trying to keep his tone casual. He had cleverly changed Jin's contact name to "Mom" to throw off any suspicion from Seo-Jun, who might be watching his every move.
Minho continued talking, his voice thick with frustration, "Either he is not keeping it in the house, or he simply doesn't have any illegal deals, or moves, or whatever." He shifted his gaze to another pile of documents on the floor, the chaos around him mirroring his chaotic thoughts. The papers were a jumbled mess, and he could feel his patience wearing thin as he rifled through them, hoping for a clue that would lead him to answers.
Jin replied thoughtfully, "I don't know either. But this big team, such as his..." His voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.
Minho quickly responded, his tone urgent, "Yes, I thought about that too. It's almost impossible." He let out a heavy sigh, straightening his back as he resolved to keep searching. "I will continue looking." he declared, determination fuelling his movements.
Jin then suggested, "If you don't find anything there, try going in his gang's mansion… if you get an opportunity to do so."
Minho paused at that, a chill running down his spine as he considered the danger. "There? They will kill me at the entrance." he replied, incredulity lacing his words. He leaned back down, diving into another pile of papers, the thought of that mansion looming in the back of his mind, a reminder of the risks he was facing in this tangled web of danger.
Then Jin said quickly, "Try convincing Seo-Jun to go with him there. If you are together, no one will dare to harm you." His voice was full of determination, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling in Minho's mind. He couldn't help but think to himself, "Easier said than done." The weight of the situation pressed down on him, making it hard to see a clear path forward.
After a minute of silence, Jin's concern broke through again. "Just be careful, okay? And try whatever you can." Minho sighed, feeling the pressure of his friend's worry. "Okay." he replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt. Hanging up the phone, he muttered to himself, "Well... I should at least try to get closer to him and his friends. Maybe they know something more... Joining the motorcycle team was a great idea, but... my attempts were in vain." His frustration bubbled up as he continued to read through the document in front of him, the words blurring together as his thoughts drifted.
He glanced at his phone again, seeing the time slip away. "I should tidy up here and go turn the power back on." he said, trying to shake off the feeling of helplessness. With a resigned sigh, he began the tedious task of organising the scattered documents. Carefully, he matched each paper to its corresponding folder, ensuring the names lined up perfectly. It was a small act of control in a chaotic situation, but as he worked, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was running out of time to act.
And just like that, the next day came quickly, not letting Minho think straight. His mind was a whirlwind of different strategies to get into Seo-Jun's gang, each one more convoluted than the last. As he prepared breakfast for Seo-Jun, who was predictably sitting in the same spot at the table again, Minho felt a mix of anxiety and determination. He thought to himself, "Now, I must try to convince him again to go to the racetrack with him. It is the closest thing I can get to for now... It's morning, so he shouldn't get angry... I hope so..."
While flipping pancakes and scrambling eggs, he couldn't shake off his frustration. "Honestly, I am sick of all this trying. I don't want to see any motorcycles anymore... But I must try again. This time I will try to sound more natural, and since I have a tiny bit of his trust, it should be easier." The thought of giving up crossed his mind, but he quickly brushed it aside, knowing how much he wanted to be part of that mission.
Then, as he was mixing the batter, an idea struck him like a bolt of lightning, making him pause mid-motion. "No, actually... I will try making him bring up the topic." A smirk crept onto his face as he envisioned the plan unfolding. With renewed energy, he fast-finished cooking the breakfast, determined to steer the conversation in a way that would lead Seo-Jun to mention the racetrack first. It was a risky move, but Minho felt a flicker of hope—maybe this time, things would go his way.
Minho quickly placed the plates on the table, the clatter echoing slightly in the otherwise quiet room. He settled down next to Seo-Jun, his heart racing with a mix of intensity and nerves. Seo-Jun, however, was completely absorbed in his tablet, tapping away at the screen, seemingly indifferent to the atmosphere thickening between them. After a moment, he sensed the tension radiating from Minho without even glancing up. With an annoyed, cold voice, he said, "If you have anything to ask me, go ahead. I hate the tension you exude."
The sudden break in silence made Minho flinch, caught off guard. "Ah... I just..." he stuttered, searching for the right words. He tried to maintain a casual demeanour, desperate to avoid sounding suspicious, but nothing felt right. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, and after a minute of internal struggle, he finally surrendered, his face hardening into a cold, steady expression laced with annoyance. "Fine, look. It is really boring in this house. I have been locked in here for more than a week, and I haven't gone out once, even to the grocery shop!"
Seo-Jun raised an eyebrow, finally turning his gaze to Minho, his expression remaining impassive. "You have a whole gym and swimming pool at your disposal, and still you want more." he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. A mocking laugh escaped him as he turned back to his tablet, adding, "Arrogant indeed." Minho felt a surge of frustration, realising that breaking through Seo-Jun's indifference would be a challenge, but he was determined to find a way to change the monotony of their situation.
However, Seo-Jun wasn't wronged. His house had a unique setup, with a part that was connected to the living room, featuring a large indoor swimming pool and a spacious gym area directly opposite the pool. The ambiance was luxurious, yet Minho found it stifling. He leaned back in his chair, frustration growing over the room as he said, "I've already tried everything. I work out every day, and sometimes I go swimming in the pool. But it's still boring. All I do is clean, cook, work out, have sex with you, sleep, and eat."
Seo-Jun barely glanced up from his tablet, his face a mask of indifference. "Sounds like a perfect routine to me." he replied, his tone flat. Minho shot him an angry look, taking advantage of Seo-Jun's distraction. Inside, he was seething, thinking to himself, "Perfect my ass! I have never experienced such boredom." He let out an exasperated sigh, grabbed his fork, and began to eat, sulking as he pushed the food around his plate.
After a minute of silence, Seo-Jun finally looked up, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. He sighed, breaking the tension. "Then, since this lifestyle does not appeal to you, I will allow you to go out for two hours every Saturday." With that unexpected concession, he returned to his meal, leaving Minho in a mix of surprise and contemplation.
Minho flinched as he put his fork down, the clink of metal against porcelain echoing in the tense atmosphere. He thought to himself, "Well, it was not what I expected... but I will take it! It will do the work for now." A small smile broke through his apprehension as he bowed his head slightly, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease. "Thank you, sir." he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in his mind.
Seo-Jun, however, quickly interrupted him, his expression turning icy. "But again, if I catch you going to your gang, I won't be this good and generous to you." His smirk was laced with malice as he resumed eating, the casualness of his demeanour contrasting sharply with the threat underlying his words.
Minho's heart raced at the warning, but he quickly composed himself. "I won't. I don't have any reasons to go there anymore." he replied, trying to sound convincing. To sell the act, he exaggerated his sadness, lifting his fork with a heavy hand and eating slowly, deliberately looking miserable.
Seo-Jun's gaze was piercing, and for a few seconds, he stared at Minho, enjoying the display of vulnerability in front of him. Minho felt the weight of that stare, a mix of discomfort and irritation bubbling within him. "What is he staring at?!" he thought, desperately trying to avoid Seo-Jun's gaze by looking aside.
But Seo-Jun, realising he had been caught staring, shifted his attention back to his plate, his cold face returning as he finished his meal.