After returning to the office, Taeseok quickly called Minbi-seo.
"I need to know more about this person."
"You called for me?"
"Yes."
"I want all the information — where she's living, her family background, any debts, and anything else connected to her. Every single detail."
"You mean right now?"
"The sooner, the better."
"Understood, CEO."
Taeseok slightly raised one eyebrow while twirling his long fingers.
---
9 PM. The day had passed in a blur.
When Taeseok's face briefly appeared in Iseo's mind, she shook her head to get rid of the thought.
'Crazy. Why am I thinking about him?'
Why did she keep getting involved with that man? Iseo's head was a mess, tangled like a thread.
She arrived quickly in the alley.
A dark shadow appeared behind her as she walked to her door.
"You should come home earlier. Don't you know how dangerous the world is these days?"
Loan sharks were waiting at the entrance of her one-room apartment and blocked her path.
As soon as she saw the men, Iseo's body began to tremble again.
Ever since she met Choi Byungtae, she should have been used to this, but each time it happened, her whole body shook with fear and anger.
"Oh? I thought you were dead, but you're alive and well."
"I told you it has nothing to do with me. So why are you here again?"
"If you keep this up, I'll really call the police."
"What do you mean 'nothing to do with you'?"
"Didn't I tell you last time? The police can't fix this. You just have to pay the money and it's over. Stop making it difficult. Just tell us when you're going to pay. And don't even dream of running away again like last time."
Their sharp, dangerous eyes scanned over Iseo's whole body.
"I've told you so many times, I don't know that person! You'll find him faster than wasting time on me, so just leave!"
"So you really don't understand words, huh?"
One man stepped closer with threatening eyes.
The closer he came, the stronger the fear spread through her body.
"I told you, I don't know him! Why are you doing this to me?"
"What is our pretty girl relying on to be so mouthy, huh?"
Just then, something shiny in the man's hand reflected the streetlight.
"Are you crazy?! Are you trying to kill me now?"
"Why would I do that? Killing you won't bring back the money."
The man slowly stepped closer to Iseo.
She had nowhere to run — a dead-end alley.
Iseo grabbed a glass bottle from the ground.
"What, are you going to hit me with that?"
"Why? Think I won't? Don't come any closer. I don't know what I'll do, so just leave."
"You shouldn't wave something like that around."
Before he could finish, Iseo smashed the bottle hard on the ground, shattering it.
"You must be crazy."
"Then let's both die here. I don't even want to live anymore."
"Oh, you really are crazy just because people called you pretty."
"Yeah, I'm crazy. I'll show you what a real crazy woman looks like. Come on. People like you, sucking blood with your ridiculous interest rates, don't deserve to exist."
Iseo started swinging the broken bottle at them.
"Guess we'll have to do this the hard way."
One man rushed toward her.
**Thud.**
A dull sound rang out, and the man with the knife collapsed to the ground.
"What the—who the hell are you?!"
"What are you doing?"
Under the flickering streetlight, Taeseok stood there with a cold gaze.
"Who are you?"
"Me? Just someone passing by. Looked like two men bullying one woman. I'm not exactly warm-hearted or justice-loving, but today I just couldn't walk away."
"You bastard!"
**Smack.**
The man with the knife rushed at Taeseok and slashed at his arm. Blood dripped from Taeseok's hand.
"Well, now I can't just let you go."
With an expressionless face, Taeseok shook off the blood and punched the man, while Iseo hit the other with her bag.
In a short moment, the men rolled on the ground, groaning in pain.
"Ugh…"
"Let's see. So that's illegal interest, threats, assault, a weapon, and attempted murder."
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Who do you think? I'm that woman you threatened — I'm her boyfriend."
"B-boyfriend?"
"Don't make me repeat myself. Look here for the camera. I need to get a good shot for evidence."
As Taeseok pulled out his phone, the men limped away.
"W-we'll be back! Have the money ready!"
As the men disappeared, Iseo rushed to Taeseok.
Her face was filled with shock and worry.
"What happened? Why are you here, Han Taeseok?"
"I had something to do. But I'm glad I came."
Iseo's eyes fell on his bleeding hand.
"You're hurt."
"It's nothing."
But bright red blood was still flowing from his hand.
"That's not nothing. We need to go to a hospital."
Shaking all over, Iseo reached for her phone, but Taeseok grabbed her hand.
"If you don't want to be on the front page tomorrow morning, don't make a scene."
"But you're hurt!"
"I said I'm fine."
"Can't you see the blood?!"
"It's fine."
"This won't do. Come to my place. Let me clean it and put medicine on it."
Iseo quickly grabbed his hand and led him.
---
Soon they arrived at her small place.
With blackout curtains and only one dim light on, the room was dark.
"Wait here. I'll get the first-aid kit."
While Iseo looked for the kit, Taeseok's eyes scanned the room.
The windows were completely blocked from light.
The only furniture was an old desk and bedding in the corner.
"That sounded weird if someone overheard."
"What?"
"Take off your clothes."
"Now's not the time for jokes. I need to disinfect the wound. Take off your jacket first."
When he took it off, his white shirt sleeve was soaked in blood.
"What were you thinking? You should've avoided the knife or run away."
"It just brushed me. What about you? Were you really planning to stab someone with broken glass?"
"Well... Anyway… Are you really sure you don't need the hospital?"
"I know my body better. It's not deep enough for stitches, so don't worry."
Even while Iseo disinfected the wound, Taeseok's face stayed calm.
But her hands shook as she wrapped the gauze.
If Taeseok hadn't been there, something really bad could have happened.
"Do you always like it this dark?"
"What?"
"It's late, but still… The room's too dark. Feels like someone hiding from the world."
At his words, Iseo frowned a little.
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask — why do you keep talking to me less formally?"
"Because I'm older than you."
"You don't even know how old I am. And who says age gives you the right to drop formal speech? We're not friends or neighbors or anything like that."
"Well, maybe soon we'll be closer than friends or neighbors."
At his strange words, Iseo stared at him.
"Just be honest. Why are you here?"
"I have a request for you."
"A request?"
Iseo looked confused, but Taeseok's lips curled into a sly smile.
---