LFD | Chapter 01.1

“Excuse me. Coming through.”

Yoongyeon pushed through the crowded subway car, weaving past the packed bodies to move to the next compartment. People shot him sharp glares, but their expressions soon softened at the sight of his bright, smiling face.

‘Sometimes, this face does come in handy.’

Yoongyeon had long since learned to exploit the fact that people rarely stayed angry when he flashed them his disarming smile.

After barely managing to squeeze through the crowd and cross into the next car, Yoongyeon glanced back briefly. Then, he waited for the train to reach the next station. It didn’t take long before the doors slid open, and he stepped out casually.

“Please, let there be something good today.”

Keeping his senses sharp, he passed through the ticket gates and headed for the exit. The midday summer sun blazed mercilessly overhead, the heat oppressive. Sweat beaded on his skin almost instantly, and he ducked into the nearest building for relief.

He made his way to the public restroom on the first floor, checking if anyone was inside. Confirming it was empty, Yoongyeon slipped into the farthest stall and pulled out three wallets from his pocket.

“Hmm.”

He flipped them open one by one, checking for cash. None were high-end enough to fetch a good price, so selling them would be pointless. Clicking his tongue, he rummaged through the rest but only managed to scrounge up around 30,000 won in total.

“Why the hell are there so many cards?”

These days, everyone used cards, making it harder to turn a decent profit. Yoongyeon tossed the useless contents into the toilet and kept only the wallets, stuffing them into the hip bag slung across his chest before stepping out of the restroom.

“Life’s tough. Really damn tough.”

The fact that today had been another bust put him in a sour mood. It wasn’t just today, no matter how hard he worked his fingers, there was never enough to show for it. The rare days he managed to snag a luxury wallet were the only ones that felt remotely lucky.

At this point, most people would’ve considered getting a real job, but Yoongyeon had only ever learned one trade: theft. The idea of earning money honestly had never crossed his mind.

“Maybe I should switch careers.”

Lost in thought, he wandered out of the building and stood blankly for a moment until his eyes landed on a high-end hotel across the street. How much does it cost to stay there for a night? he wondered, exhaling sharply. His gaze trailed up the towering structure before drifting back down.

Just then, a man in a suit stepped out of a car parked at the entrance and strode inside. There was something magnetizing about his figure, and Yoongyeon instinctively moved closer.

From a distance, details were hard to make out, but the man’s entire demeanor screamed one thing: I’m loaded.

“If he’s practically begging to be robbed, who am I to ignore him? It’d be unprofessional.”

Yoongyeon curled one corner of his lips, eyes glinting. As soon as the crosswalk signal changed, he dashed across the street with light steps, tracking the man from afar. He didn’t seem like the type checking into the hotel, more like he was there for business. The brown envelope in his hand stood out.

“Pretty sure he went this way.”

Yoongyeon scanned the hotel’s first-floor café. True to its upscale reputation, the interior design alone was enough to crush his confidence. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city outside, and the sunlight streaming in made the café feel warm and inviting. Even the potted plants in the corner looked expensive, not that he’d admit it out loud.

He spotted the man sitting by the window and was about to enter.

“Is that a person? He’s huge.”

Even seated, the man looked tall enough to be standing. While Yoongyeon was still admiring him, a staff member approached.

“Are you meeting someone?”

Caught off guard, Yoongyeon hesitated before shaking his head. He flashed a smile and asked instead, “Where’s the restroom?”

“It’s down the hall to the right.”

“Ah, thanks.”

He withdrew his foot, still smiling as he backed away. Once the staff member turned around, his eyes locked back onto the man.

The meeting didn’t seem to take long. Soon, two men stood up and shook hands. As they parted ways, Yoongyeon veered toward the restroom.

“Upstairs? Or is he leaving?”

Keeping an eye on their movements, he shuffled backward slowly. The men soon stepped out—exchanging another round of farewells by the café entrance—before the older one exited the hotel. The one Yoongyeon had marked was now walking toward him, still holding that brown envelope.

“Huh? Did I get found out?”

His feet tingled with nervous energy, and for a second, he considered the absurd possibility before shaking his head. No way. The man’s long strides closed the distance fast, and when Yoongyeon finally got a proper look at his face, his breath hitched.

Sharp features, but flawless. Neat brows framed piercing eyes that sent an involuntary gulp down his throat.

The man drew closer. Yoongyeon whipped around and bolted for the restroom, darting inside to pretend he was washing his hands. He’d done this countless times, but today, his nerves were frayed.

Trying to mask his tension, he ran wet fingers through his hair, smoothing it back before adjusting his cap. When he stepped out again, the man was nearly at the restroom entrance. Seeing the undone button on his jacket, Yoongyeon thought, Now’s the chance.

“Yes, the contract’s been finalized.”

The man’s deep voice carried a polite, measured tone, yet it had an undercurrent that put people on edge. Hearing it, Yoongyeon briefly considered backing out. Somehow, he felt more unnerved than the person on the other end of that call. But after today’s dry spell, he couldn’t just walk away.

Yoongyeon moved nervously, less smoothly than usual.  The man continued his call, heading straight for the restroom. In seconds, they’d be within arm’s reach.

One.

Two.

Three.

Thud.

“Oof— S-Sorry, my bad.”

“……”

“You okay?”

Yoongyeon casually brushed off the man’s jacket, slipping a hand into the inner pocket. In the blink of an eye, the wallet was his.

The brown envelope the man had been holding now lay on the floor. Still on the phone, the man looked down at Yoongyeon. Even from afar, his height had been obvious, but up close, he felt like an impenetrable wall. His large hands, one still gripping the phone, were impossible to miss.

‘If he hits me with those, I’m dead.’

Quickly stuffing the wallet into his pocket, Yoongyeon gave the man’s suit another perfunctory dust-off before snatching the envelope off the floor.

“It’s nothing. I’ll call you back later.”

The man ended the call and stared silently. Yoongyeon pretended to wipe nonexistent dust off the envelope before handing it over. The man accepted it slowly.

“Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention…”

Even his most charming smile earned no reaction. Yoongyeon rolled his eyes discreetly, gauging the situation. Normally, people would brush it off and laugh along. This guy showed no sign of doing either. Awkward, he scratched the back of his neck and retreated.

The man watched him wordlessly. Feeling the weight of that gaze, Yoongyeon ducked his head and hurried away.

As Yoongyeon’s back retreated, the man slid a hand into his inner pocket.

“…Ha.”

Letting out a dry laugh of disbelief, he started after Yoongyeon. His body, honed by years of physical training, moved fast.

“Hey.”

The deep voice calling from behind made Yoongyeon’s shoulders jerk. He figured it out way too quick.

The moment he cleared the entrance, the sound of dress shoes clicking against the floor sent him spinning around. Instinct kicked in, and his legs moved faster.

“Why’s his intuition so sharp?!”

“Hey.”

Yoongyeon had no intention of stopping. He sped up, footsteps pounding like an alarm. The man matched his pace effortlessly. Suddenly, they were in a full-blown chase. Years of this work had honed Yoongyeon’s legs, even cops rarely caught him. Today, that skill was being tested again.

But the man’s relentless strides ate up the distance between them.

“What the— Hah, fuck! How’s he so fast?!”

Glancing back mid-sprint, Yoongyeon realized something was wrong. More men in suits were pouring out behind the first, closing in.

“Stop right there!”

“Haah, if it were you—haa—would you stop?!”

Yoongyeon poured every ounce of strength into his legs, eyes flicking to the railing beside him. The gap narrowed. One more second, and the man would grab him.

“Ah, fuck! Stop chasing me!”

Out of options, Yoongyeon vaulted over the railing and into the river below. The drop was at least three meters. He hit the ground hard, rolling on impact.

“Ugh!”

“Whoa! Jumping down there—?!”

An old man gaped at where Yoongyeon had leapt, only to flinch at the furious face peering down. The man’s glare silenced him mid-sentence, and he turned back to Yoongyeon, now sprawled on the ground, panting as he pushed himself up against the wall.

“Move it, you brats!”

One of the men barked from above. Getting down here would mean taking the long way around or jumping like Yoongyeon had.

Relieved, Yoongyeon stumbled forward. He turned back once, meeting the man’s eyes. Reflexively, he smiled.

The man’s expression ignited.

“Ah… that wasn’t what I meant to do…”

If anything, it seemed to piss him off more. Yoongyeon winced and turned away, limping into the crowd until he vanished.

“Ha… Almost died back there.”

The man and his lackeys were nowhere in sight. Still, he didn’t dare relax, putting as much distance between them as possible.

Under a familiar bridge, his usual hideout, Yoongyeon pulled out the wallet from his pocket.

“If I went through all that for nothing, I’d lose my damn mind.”

But the moment he opened it, his frustration evaporated. A grin spread across his face.

“Damn, our customer’s loaded.”

Even without cash, the wallet alone could fetch a few hundred thousand. Delighted, Yoongyeon leaned against the wall and rifled through it.

“Holy shit, who carries this much cash? Crazy bastard.”

Despite his words, his smile widened. His lips twitched. He even patted himself on the back for picking such a good mark. Stuffing the thick stack of 50,000 won bills into his pocket, he checked for anything else.

“Hmm. Joo Dojae?”

Pulling out the ID, he studied the face again. Even the photo radiated unfair handsomeness. Born with looks and money. Must be nice. Not that Yoongyeon was bad-looking himself, but the lack of funds made him resentful.

“Bet he gets all the girls.”

Grumbling, Yoongyeon’s eyes widened as he stared at the ID.

“Wait, 36? Dude’s ancient.”

A smirk returned to his face. Seeing the age gap, he felt like he’d won at least one thing. Nodding to himself, he pocketed the ID.

“Thanks, old man.”

With a mock bow, he tucked the wallet away and hummed as he crossed under the bridge.

The thrill of today’s success had him practically skipping, legs swinging without a hint of pain. His light footsteps and cheerful whistling filled the empty space beneath the bridge.

“I should treat myself to meat tonight.”

Grinning, he patted his now-bulging pocket. A random phrase from some forgotten literature book popped into his head.

“A lucky day. Guess that’s what today is.”

Even if the original meaning wasn’t this, Yoongyeon laughed, convinced today was his lucky day.

Unaware of the misfortune barreling toward him.

Blissfully unaware of what awaited him, Yoongyeon stumbled out of the barbecue joint, patting his full stomach. A toothpick dangled lazily from his lips, the picture of insolence.

“Ptooey.”

He spat out the toothpick while digging through his pockets. Today’s haul should’ve had him grinning, but an uneasy itch crawled up the back of his neck, souring his mood.

“The hell? Feels like I forgot something. Or… did I? Ugh, why’s this so damn unsettling?”

No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t pin it down. It was like someone had grabbed him by the scruff and yanked. His eyes narrowed to slits, face scrunched in irritation. Maybe it was just the meat sitting heavy in his gut.

“Whatever. It’s not like I did anything wro…”

Yoongyeon trailed off mid-sentence. Claiming innocence felt ridiculous given the number of wrong things he’d done. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he continued walking. As he ambled along, someone suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked.

“Urk—!”

He wobbled off-balance before righting himself, scowling at the offender.

“What the hell?”

“Huh?”

The guy, Kim Minhyuk, sniffed at him like a damn bloodhound, nose twitching. His arm stayed slung over Yoongyeon’s shoulder like they were best buds.

“Did you seriously go eat barbecue by yourself?!”

“What the hell are you talking about? Let go, asshole.”

Yoongyeon shoved him away, but Minhyuk tailed him, nostrils flaring.

“Smells like beef, doesn’t it?!”

Somehow, he’d found Yoongyeon like a ghost. Yoongyeon picked up the pace, but Minhyuk matched him step for step, relentless.

“Hit the jackpot today, huh?”

“Minhyuk, piss off. I’m not in the mood.”

“No loyalty, this guy. What, you happy hogging all the meat?”

Despite trying to ditch him, Kim Minhyuk wouldn’t go away.

Kim Minhyuk was a friend who grew up in the same orphanage. They weren’t close at the orphanage, but after coincidentally meeting after entering society, he kept clinging to Yoongyeon. Though annoying, for Yoongyeon who had no friends, Minhyuk was the only person he could somewhat call a friend. Plus, since they were both broke, they somehow ended up living together.

As Minhyuk kept nagging about loyalty and betrayal, Yoongyeon suddenly stopped in his tracks. Minhyuk, who’d been relentlessly criticizing Yoongyeon, stopped and looked back at him.

“Hey.”

“What, you traitorous bastard?”

Minhyuk glared sharply. Clearly he was seriously upset about the solo meat feast. Seeing Minhyuk’s expression, Yoongyeon realized he wouldn’t let this go easily tonight. He’d probably keep complaining all night.