The two men grimaced in pain but could only struggle without being able to move.

He dragged the two men’s hair around the pool like a child playing with toys.

Yeo Reum was amazed.

Because he was wearing a black rash guard under his poncho, the thigh muscles that were glimpsed every time he moved were twitching fiercely in anger.

“I really won’t let this go! Do you want to die!”

At the men’s cries, he pretended to give in and let go of his hands.

“This bastard, really!”

The men, rubbing their heads in pain for a moment, lunged at him.

However, he skillfully dodged the fists flying at him from both sides.

‘Look at those steps! And those tight muscles! So cool!’

Yeo Reum stood there with her mouth wide open like a spectator.

At that moment, the woman who had been dazed for a while sneakily approached and lunged at Yeo Reum.

But this time too, Yeo Reum avoided her and grabbed her hair.

“…Ah, it hurts!”

“I don’t know why you keep doing things that hurt.”

As she pulled on the back of her hair like she did with the man earlier, the woman writhed in pain.

Because of that, he glanced over.

Yeo Reum smiled brightly in response.

‘We’re on the same side!’

At that moment, a fist was flying towards his face.

“…Hey!”

The fist that flew in a straight line was caught in his hand.

He grabbed the wrists of the man who had stopped hesitantly in surprise and spun him around like a sweet lover.

Soon the man flew into the pool and fell.

“…S-stop!”

The remaining man shook his head in fear, but he was grabbed by the nape of his neck and thrown into the pool.

It looked so effortless, as if throwing a small pebble.

Yeo Reum, who had been watching him, let go of the woman’s hair.

“How about it, want to continue?”

The terrified woman stepped back and ran away.

The two women who had been following like maids, and the men who had barely crawled out of the pool, were the same.

That’s how the commotion ended.

Yeo Reum, who exhaled briefly, approached the man wearing the poncho.

“Thank you.”

He didn’t answer. Yeo Reum glanced up at the man.

It felt like the universe had stopped for a moment.

Seeing that shaded face under the poncho hood up close, he really was an incredibly handsome man.

Especially his intense gaze seemed like it would suck her in.

Yeo Reum stared blankly at the man as if in a daze.

He too looked at Yeo Reum for a moment, but was about to turn away as if it was nothing.

“…Um, excuse me!”

His steps stopped and he turned around.

“Your hand, you’re hurt…”

Blood was coming from the back of his left hand.

At Yeo Reum’s comment, he lightly clenched his left hand into a fist and shook it off.

Then, seeing Yeo Reum still unable to take her eyes off him, he raised his blood-stained hand and licked it with his tongue.

Yeo Reum froze.

He smirked.

His white, even teeth were like fully bloomed cherry blossoms.

He soon entered the villa with slow steps like a satiated tiger.

*

“We should have a farewell party. It’ll be a shame if we don’t.”

“It’s not like I’m leaving forever. I’ll come visit.”

“These days there are so many crazy people out there.”

The staff who had finished cleaning the pool again instead of having a farewell party due to the uninvited guests seemed annoyed and tired.

So Yeo Reum decided to cancel the farewell party.

“You should all go home now.”

“You should go too. I’ll give you a ride on my way.”

It was the manager.

“No, I can take the subway. That’s faster.”

“Well then, make sure to keep in touch when you get the chance. Understood?”

“Yes.”

They looked disappointed but gathered the cleaning supplies and went outside.

After seeing them off, Yeo Reum turned around to see the villa still brightly lit.

After hesitating for a moment, Yeo Reum gathered her courage and pressed the doorbell of that house.

She wanted to properly express her gratitude that she couldn’t do earlier because she was flustered.

‘Is he asleep?’

There was no response even after ringing the bell twice.

Yeo Reum, who had been peeking inside for a moment, absent-mindedly grabbed the doorknob.

Unexpectedly, the door was open.

What time is it now.

“Excuse me.”

Yeo Reum called out cautiously as she entered.

It probably wouldn’t happen, but since the door wasn’t locked, she felt she should check if there had been an accident.

Yeo Reum’s steps faltered.

He was loosely lying on the living room sofa.

Yeo Reum, who had confirmed his presence, quickly turned back in surprise.

His bare skin could be seen under the white bathrobe.

Judging by the lack of response despite someone coming in, he seemed to be asleep.

Yeo Reum carefully took a step to leave through the entrance.

“What do you want?”

The deep baritone voice settling down was chillingly attractive.

Yeo Reum saw goosebumps forming on her arms in real time.

“I asked what you want.”

He asked again, but he was still lying down looking at the ceiling.

Only his fingers beckoned as if telling her to come closer.

Yeo Reum hesitantly approached and stood in front of him.

Her face suddenly turned bright red.

His smooth and firm chest was even more visible.

He had a tattoo of plum blossoms blooming on a branch connecting his left collarbone and chest.

‘Is, is he a gangster?’

That thought came to her involuntarily.

But the tattoo suited him well, and even if he was a gangster, he was still her benefactor.

Yeo Reum bowed politely.

“Thank you so much for earlier. And this.”

Yeo Reum rummaged through her bag and held out the disinfectant and bandages she always carried.

His eyes that had been tightly closed opened slightly.

‘Ah, why is he so handsome? It’s breathtaking…’

The black pupils sitting in his slightly sharp-looking eyes were too clean and beautiful.

“I caused you to get hurt, so please use these. And I cleaned the pool again. You can use it now.”

He closed his eyes and said,

“You put it on for me.”

He casually extended his left arm forward.

“What?”

“I’m too tired.”

“…M-me?”

“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”

He exhaled languidly.

Yeo Reum, who had been conflicted by the sudden situation, moved closer and sat in front of the man.

‘Ah, look at this hand. Why are even the veins so handsome?’

His large hand was masculine, but his long and slender fingers were too pretty.

Yeo Reum, who had been admiring the man’s hand for a moment, quickly came to her senses when his hand shook lightly.

She carefully wet the scratched back of his hand with disinfectant on a cotton swab and fanned it to dry.

After that, she carefully applied a bandage with a character print and gave him an extra one.

“Then, goodbye.”

Yeo Reum, who had stood up, bowed to him again.

“Did you secure the CCTV footage?”

He said.

“Pardon?”

“Those guys, they tend to hold grudges.”

“Ah, I reported today’s incident to the front desk, and they said they’d send the CCTV footage tomorrow since the person in charge wasn’t there.”

“You believe that?”

“What?”

“There aren’t many people you can trust in this world.”

“The staff here are all nice. They’re kind. Thank you for worrying.”

Yeo Reum bowed again and was about to turn around.

“Do you like cake by any chance?”

His eyes that had been closed opened to look at Yeo Reum.

Yeo Reum, who had been staring at those eyes as if enchanted, answered a beat late.

“Y-yes. I love it!”

His smooth fingers rose to point at a spot.

It seemed like he wanted her to open it, so she approached and opened the refrigerator.

There was a cake box inside.

“Take it.”

“Why are you giving this to me…?”

“It’s annoying to throw away. If you don’t want it, you don’t have to take it.”

It was clearly an expensive-looking packaging box.

The contents were undoubtedly an expensive cake.

‘Why throw away something so valuable.’

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

Yeo Reum bowed her head shyly.

Then she noticed a small pink card inserted in the cake box.

“There’s a card here, did you check it?”

“No.”

At those words, Yeo Reum took the card and approached him.

“Here.”

He received the card that was handed to him.

But he crumpled it up and threw it towards the trash can.

“You’re not going to read the message?”

“No.”

It was a simple answer.

With nothing more to say, Yeo Reum turned back to get the cake.

The card the man had thrown was at her feet.

Because it was crumpled, the message inside caught her eye.

「 Happy birthday.
―Rin 」

“Is it your birthday today by any chance?”

She asked him, who was still just lying on the sofa.

“Yes.”

“Did you eat seaweed soup?”

“No.”

“Then did you hear a birthday song?”

“There wasn’t any.”

“Did you receive any gifts?”

“No. Why?”

At that moment, for some reason, Yeo Reum said,

“Should I sing you a birthday song?”

His eyes opened and he had a slightly dumbfounded look.

“What?”

“You saved me earlier too. I should repay the favor.”

Yeo Reum approached the man again.

“You know the magpie repaying kindness, right?”

‘…You’re crazy. What are you doing right now? That man is not your brother, he’s a man you just met today. And you’re saying you’ll sing him a birthday song? Yeo Reum, come to your senses!’

But the words that came out of Yeo Reum’s mouth were different.

“There’s still five minutes until midnight so I’ll do it for you. But what’s your name? How old are you?”

“Are you hitting on me right now by any chance?”

“It’s not hitting on you, I’m trying to sing you a birthday song.”

He smirked.

The more she looked, the more it was a million-dollar smile.

“I’m thirty. My name is Gu San Ha.”

“I see.”

“If you’re going to do it, why don’t you give me a gift too?”

“What?”

He lightly shook both arms.

“Dance while you sing.”

“Should I?”

Yeo Reum flung the bag she was carrying onto the sofa opposite him. Then she cleared her throat.

“Ye, Ye, Happy Birthday Gu San Ha! Check it out now!”

She beatboxed with her mouth and performed the broadcast dance she had learned for a month.

As she moved her body hard and even did an amateur moonwalk, he, who had been lying down looking at the ceiling, turned his body sideways.

“Happy birthday to you, Ye. Happy birthday to you, Ye. Happy birthday dear Gu San Ha. Ye, Ye, Ye!”

Seeing his widened eyes, Yeo Reum got more excited and shouted.

“One More Time!”

Now she was not only jumping around the sofa, but also playing air guitar with a cushion and headbanging with her long hair loose, spinning wildly.

At some point, he had sat up on the sofa.

Seeing that, Yeo Reum sang and moved her body more intensely.

His laughter burst out.

Somehow, Yeo Reum felt happy.

“Now that I see, you were a singer?”

After singing an unidentifiable celebratory song, he said.

“That’s right. I can sing pretty well.”

Seeing his refreshing smile, she thought that even her crazy act was worth it.

At that moment, looking at the clock on the wall, Yeo Reum picked up her bag.

“Are you leaving?”

“I have to go before the trains stop running. And I’ll enjoy this, thank you!”

Yeo Reum smiled brightly at him and bowed her head.

Of course, after taking the expensive cake, she went outside.

*

Coming out of the morning shower, Yeo Reum opened the refrigerator in the kitchen and felt perplexed.

Seeing the cake box prominently displayed in the center, yesterday’s events flashed before her eyes like a panorama.

And she realized what she had done.

What kind of loud outburst was that in front of a man she had just met.

The more she recalled the memory, the more her face felt like it would burst from embarrassment.

She took out the cake box and placed it on the table.

The contents were indeed a beautifully made cheesecake.

For a moment she felt dizzy, as if it was the product of yesterday’s embarrassing incident.

“No, no. I was just repaying a favor.”

That’s right.

It wasn’t that she was enchanted by that man, it was purely the act of a magpie repaying kindness.

But when the man’s beautiful face and sensual body flickered before her eyes again, Yeo Reum took a big bite of the cake in front of her with a fork.

‘Ah, why is it so delicious.’

The taste was also supreme.

It was undoubtedly made by a master pastry chef.

Maybe because she ate something sweet, her mood suddenly improved.

Yeo Reum cut the cake into pieces and sorted them well into side dish containers to put in the refrigerator, and also put three chunks in a separate ziplock bag.

‘I should share it with the people at the office.’

She put the ziplock bag in her bag while humming cheerfully.

At that moment, the ‘Rin’ written on the card flashed through Yeo Reum’s mind.

Somehow it sounded like a woman’s name.

A very pretty woman at that.

‘How could such a handsome and cool man not have a girlfriend.’

But did they fight?

Feeling envious, she took a big bite of the remaining cake.

‘Ah, it’s really delicious.’

She quickly became intoxicated with happiness and kept scooping it up with her fork.

At that moment, the phone placed on the table rang.

She ignored it because it was an unknown number, but it kept ringing and then stopped.

Shortly after, a short sound rang indicating that a text message had arrived.

Yeo Reum’s eyes widened as she checked it casually.

「 This is Chief Inspector Kim Sang Moon from the Investigation Division 1 of Haeundae Police Station. I am informing you that Jung Yeo Reum has been reported for assaulting Kang Ha Eun at Woarium Resort last night. Please call when you receive this message. 」