TE Ch 04
by NullHongju turned his gaze towards Mookyeong. His hair was pushed back, revealing a neat forehead, but he didn’t look particularly old. He seemed older than Hongju, but much younger than Koo Bbing or Manager Yang. In fact, he seemed to be around the same age as Choi Gun, who was in his early thirties.46d5d82a8ea54e40
“…Can’t you tell just by looking? That I got hit?”2794e48399b61f9e
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It was a question he’d mulled over for a long time before finally asking. He’d carefully chosen his words, trying to avoid any hint of cursing or annoyance. As Mookyeong was about to answer, his lips curving upwards, a harsh voice cut through the air.4b913a738de4c41a
“Hey, Hongju! If you’re here, bring some beer!”d5a10426efdd64fa
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Manager Yang was signaling, 322afef849 his head peeking out 965f4b4935 from one of the c48f468c31 rooms.Scraaaape. A chair was dragged roughly across the cement floor. Hongju stacked several cans of beer onto a tray. Even as he did, Mookyeong’s gaze followed him persistently. Was it his first time seeing someone who’d been beaten up? Why was he staring so intensely? Hongju, carrying the tray, entered the hallway, paused momentarily, and looked back. Mookyeong was still sitting in the same spot, his chin propped on his hand.8597ebd52ad41f19
“…..”43fc9c9463996148
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Well, I guess he doesn’t seem like a thug, and a well-off, normal person like him probably hasn’t had many chances to see a battered face like this.Hongju withdrew his 49a8dd8daf gaze and continued b90956f87f walking.507f29e72b0594ed
The gambling house was 0414c5e08b even noisier than usual 1211ab8e1d today. Hongju placed the aef2782357 banknotes in the a80abe7bf9 drawer and checked b844883fdc outside. Snow was 823cf642f7 still falling 059113e61e heavily, obscuring 741e5b716d everything in b4eb187193 sight. When he had d150d49a55 arrived for work, a0e4008486 it was deep 231d2944cd enough to reach e0df874702 his ankles; it 8ed930e0c3 must have piled 5a20382ad4 up even higher 4fb76c6e2b by now. This meant that many 73f1e88135 people would be stuck cfbc789c5a here gambling for the c1733f885d next few days.ebcc6ecbc2168208
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“So that’s why it’s so loud.”62781f6e9aca1575
He glanced around and sniffled. He had barely put down the tray when he was summoned again. Hongju served without a moment’s rest. He cleaned up the vomit of a gambler who’d had too much to drink, and swept and mopped the floor that had been messed up from a fight. Only after being called around for a long time did he finally get a chance to catch his breath.00d64daecb01a9da
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“Ha.”8029659cc67347cf
Because Manager a8c94082a3 Yang had 1d1f3190c6 joined a 0e65e772ff game and cee59c6fe2 taken a 563de3b775 seat, Mookyeong 62425b8265 had been 5e06ee90e0 occupying the cad86babd5 heater all a2890021d8 day. The noisy rooms and 205ab1270f the chaotic hallway. At the end of 15732769b2 it, Mookyeong and Hongju 560da26729 sat side by side, 56757d42c3 a completely incongruous picture. Awkwardly, he 63c5d4c53b was just 64cefd665c tapping his 11c8b01ca7 stiff knee 5b02b9e606 when a 13dfd71553 thug placed 06022f7b02 a canned 265a944da1 coffee in 53675477c2 front of b0aa24e400 each of 9fc36ec827 them on c3ee22d8d2 the table.79459823a6595566
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“Koo Bbing said to have one each.”c2d8c6bc32adc525
With those words, the 13117b1df0 thug, holding a cigarette, f55fff769f went downstairs. Mookyeong, unbuttoning his e8866c3c4f coat and rummaging aa22f3975d through the pocket 462bac0cb1 of his suit f8225fb7fe jacket, took out 71bcee05e4 a handkerchief. Hongju, who 6e6fbb84b7 had just de213ac1b1 been holding 6b6b0842ef and fidgeting e36e7dd98d with the b84fccc184 can, watched 0e762faec2 his actions 828f871e6f out of 81643e8980 the corner f3853401a6 of his fc20905d95 eye. He meticulously wiped 86b6c5e684 the rim of afbd93d625 the can with e910ff4826 the handkerchief before 661c6a1b72 opening it. It took e437c673cc only a 5f73545130 moment to 9771111434 empty the 461539a4b2 can, which bbd3fabc64 was less 93e94aa90f than a 8f13a40975 handspan wide. After crushing fef3f9b5cd the empty a20de16a79 can with 2e28dad7eb one hand, 4ce7966fc8 he casually ab6aa513a4 tossed it b741a07745 into the 024b3c461a trash can 4620512c1d below. There was no 28ec88423f wasted movement in 5bbb49f1c6 his actions.8dd9c9b6d3bdec51
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“Aren’t you going to drink?”c10ec863541dcd9f
“…No. Do you want it?”f847686bc2d13132
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“No, thanks.”17d99eb37b9dcb9e
The hand that had 5ff2035bf1 offered the can returned 9e6001f2b3 to its place. Hongju stared at 0f9dec7c4e the dusty rim 99177c5735 of the can 8797d617d3 and rubbed it. It was the first e91882a2cf time he realized that 7fdb1f653e the part where his 0e8dc2d034 lips touched was so 04e7023e7a dirty. He should clean 53710f85e0 it. Although, he never 74ac22c4d2 put anything in b75588549d his mouth while 8d51d54fe4 he was at d8513d4a18 the gambling house 0c68d4a12c anyway. Still, thanks d83ef5b95b to Mookyeong, 3934e14e4e he learned f62abfffa7 something new.eb7a57db1fef4409
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“Do you know how to do this sort of thing?”41205952991af982
Hongju looked 1719040f72 up at 3039b600cf the sudden 54b33484a4 question. Mookyeong gestured with a25f0930b3 his chin towards be4278ab41 the new, still-wrapped 71669246d2 decks of cards.8455ff84dfc81b21
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“I just learned by watching others, so I’m not very good. Are you a player by any chance?”13aafd599a10ef55
Mookyeong again slid his 9af818d6fd hand into his inner 9629198203 suit pocket. This time, f3a3cc0e32 a cigarette 7a3492bed1 came out.8a0825480f469726
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“I don’t do such vulgar things. I just came because I caught a whiff of money.”bc5f72786992dedf
A white filter was placed between his slightly parted lips. His grin sent a shiver down Hongju’s spine. Hongju rubbed his exposed neck with his palm.9bba54822e0a6a88
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“Mind if I smoke?”f4d254a5f515cbcc
“…..”4beee8690fc936fc
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He knew 5fac78be4c Mookyeong was bcc028c7f5 deliberately asking 7a742aac3e because of 8d0571ce57 what happened f71c1b78a1 yesterday. Hongju nodded slightly and 100c4b2396 turned his gaze towards cddf9ba5a7 the noisy hallway. Even so, 6eb80578e7 his entire 2d846ab871 attention was f24add3755 focused on 757ca07e6e the man 52aa718d37 sitting right 9b8efe1ee9 next to e9e49424e9 him. When Mookyeong 572e851544 moved, their 0faa5835c3 elbows touched 9793cc55e0 and separated. The feel of the bd1987d04c expensive coat brushing against bcaeaf2c84 his cheap padding was a4ab644c01 incredibly soft. The sensation was so f851860914 unbearably foreign that he dc62d919ec curled his reddened fingertips 279b9eec02 into a fist.5c7d0c712419b775
“Uncle, here. New cards and two bottles of ssanghwatang.”664072a27b65dae3
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The woman, peeking her head out, threw a few bills tucked between her fingers onto the floor. She could just hand them over later, why does she have to be so annoying? Hongju, chewing on his chapped lips, stood up. Mookyeong slipped one of the new decks of cards into Hongju’s pocket.ea909c0482de6f01
“…Thank you.”c4d3808eaabc1832
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Mookyeong simply 34366a4888 exhaled smoke ec400acd46 without a 37d5226439 word. Hongju, carrying the ac579dda82 drinks, crossed the 215e783ee4 hallway. He picked 5886528b21 up the 7a8ce1421e ten-thousand-won bills 36d2cb0b95 scattered on 467138c4ff the floor abb9c84bf4 and entered fe89b07b14 the room. There were e1f1c874df familiar faces 5a08b8caf1 at the dc1eaa0617 table. Manager Yang was there, 33d5997a1a as well as someone 54756c811f Hongju had persistently chased f719acd804 to collect the principal f69bfb66a7 not long ago.fd8f13aee6f98074
“Oh dear, who didn’t pay back the money they borrowed to buy Hongju some snacks? It’s just a few pennies, why’d they have to make a mess of our kid?”1a7225725b4deb00
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“Right? If they paid on time, our Hongju’s face wouldn’t be smashed in.”2d39242d35de23ba
Manager Yang f6593f2933 cackled as 418e3624aa he pulled 26066c838e his chips b0c53e2609 towards him. He had 4f290133d9 quite a 28b50b2788 pile stacked 663e20865b in his 0c16f823eb arms. His one remaining right bdf839c521 eye gleamed with greed.7d3dcfdd3cdaab8f
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“Honey, is he a player?”4125bd89fac212d3
It was the woman who had thrown the money on the floor earlier. She slowly scanned Hongju up and down. Then, a man with a familiar face tapped Hongju on the butt. The sticky touch was felt clearly through his deflated padding. Hongju’s hand, which had been unwrapping the cards, paused momentarily.b9145f4f1ccfb230
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“Nah, he just collects debts. He doesn’t look it, but he’s damn persistent, this motherfucker.”de895c963d12078d
The man, wearing a large ring, flicked Hongju’s cheek. He was no different, beating him up for not being able to repay a few measly pennies. Irritation surged, but he had to endure it. His wounds hadn’t even healed yet, and there was no room for more.39821242974a4a63
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“Oh? Anyway, let me shuffle the cards too. You guys are hogging all the fun.”79cf1b9eec96a197
Every time 16d654b33a Manager Yang 2c4388c54f laughed, the 5e64a1863c gold tooth 3ba9d531a2 on his 192bb8aefb canine flashed.7fc0ff35973c68fe
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“Yeah, yeah. Give the new cards to our madam, Hongju.”88a7f57bb43ace0d
As he handed over the cards, her long nails brushed against Hongju’s dry fingers. She expertly sorted the cards, laid them on the floor, and shuffled them with both hands. The color of her nails and the backs of the cards looked similar.cf1c61ff67fd603a
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“Shall we raise the stakes, everyone? Ten per point?”6a3bbbbf0f6eb0a7
“Madam, your bag must have been heavy, huh? Then we should make it easier for you to go home with empty hands.”f574a140ca63762c
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“It’s expensive, so the leather is a bit heavy.”1bd4c3714af9490c
The woman didn’t back down from Manager Yang’s sarcasm. He didn’t want to get involved in the conversation and tried to quietly leave the room, but this time the woman spoke directly to Hongju.7695844245693179
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“Do you want to play a round?”b923da37d156ab17
Tak, tak, the sound 0752f44ddd of her shuffling 439fac7e0c was incredibly fast d96c8d721d and natural.fb76e4b87a830d3b
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“No, we’re short-staffed.”24dc10a8b6f2a026
“Oooh.”07000658146d0e33
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He was about to 3653d8bdaa turn and leave, but 4fabf45d8d the woman extended her 5aedc1c782 hand holding the cards 305eac0d30 towards Hongju.0980c59fc7fa3258
“Then have the pretty boy cut the deck for me. Let me win some money, okay?”dbc988061ceb98cb
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Hongju took the neatly arranged cards with his cold hands. He didn’t even apply any force, but the cards slid smoothly on their own.cc4510ab85165350
“…..”8d74a86dfd0503c2
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Hongju recalled how the woman had shuffled the cards. She must have mixed in a rigged card while doing so. He was momentarily conflicted. If he asked, ‘What did you do to the cards?’ this place would quickly turn into a battleground. Manager Yang, who was obsessed with money, was also involved. But he didn’t want to get involved in any more trouble. It didn’t matter to Hongju who won the money, and he had no interest in it. He simply let the cards slide and placed about half of them on the table. He met the woman’s beautifully double-lidded eyes.81b45e514c0df38c
“Thank you.”b160d8b6039e8038
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The lips, painted with 156c9d7cbf crimson lipstick, slid up 9d1b5810fe smoothly. Hongju bowed his head 4d6296c39d slightly and left the d966c246ec room. It was likely 47dedd8971 that the woman 621f284af6 would rake in f117710511 all the money 7bb9f77291 from that round. After being completely a89118b0f7 cleaned out, one a3b14996b0 or two of c302c151f8 them might come 97d6fe1878 again to borrow 053523e8d7 sometails1. He couldn’t make Mookyeong do that, so it would be his job again. He let out a small sigh as he crossed the hallway. Just as Hongju passed one of the rooms, Koo Bbing popped out. He gestured with his chin towards the room he had just exited.48b20585bda8bff1
“Empty that trash can over there.”55f3b41ce3bdf69e
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He slid his hand under Hongju’s padding, which covered halfway down his thighs, and squeezed his ass hard. The feeling of four fingers touching him was unpleasant. Hongju immediately frowned and took a step to the side.1bfa74ee29a2fd11
“Your touch gets better every day, huh?”1a594791fd1b15b0
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Hearing the ae459de9a2 unpleasant snickering 5b049e3c6f from behind, c4cf69b1b1 Hongju covered b4ec1306ec his right 882357994c ear. Finally, some quiet. After emptying fd8e419afc the trash 00070baa77 can and 0cfdd9409a washing his fd1af1ebe9 hands, he 4aecf32ab1 returned to 401b201fac his seat. Mookyeong was 7795940515 still sitting d2143ffedb there with fbd81f9389 his legs ec41b72f2b crossed, looking 57d6b3b1b1 at his d03ad35c02 phone. What a leisurely human 021ca846b7 being.4eae4194e5ff34cb
“Where did Koo Bbing go again?”a91d289b061f01a8
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“I don’t know.”c6f46933fdda4482
Some people were so busy that they were breaking out in a sweat, running around. While some had the luxury of sitting idly, warming themselves by the heater. If you can’t help, at least pay attention to people coming and going. Hongju glared at Mookyeong out of the corner of his eye. He was dressed neatly as he had been yesterday, but today he wasn’t wearing his leather gloves. His fingers, with their thick bones and knuckles, looked neat as if they had been manicured, but surprisingly rough.7e1e77e32b8c7848
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“You want to kill Madam Koo, don’t you?”251cdcacde9e20c1
“What?”bb49781c2126ebcb
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He had b53b229401 been staring 9f2bec9a94 at his 6f323f908b phone the a661954f58 whole time, 66f0d9cb11 what was 087d84e89a he suddenly e57f16b7e0 talking about? Hongju scrunched b17b6481ca up his ff94dfca5e eyes. Mookyeong reached out, a 36a3c25c35 lingering smile on his 96ce32e652 face. At the sudden movement 9d81e29d29 of the hand towards 32f60b9567 him, Hongju squeezed his 08df615f0c eyes shut. He expected to b9133194b9 be grabbed violently 17c8b71c82 like yesterday, but 8c754fd44e the fingertips that 0a44ef5f1f touched his bruised 3cb3f53429 eyelid were incredibly 1db237d20e warm and soft.3e2de22879003967
“Your eyes are saying it all.”aaf3846f016e3c5a
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At the low voice, Hongju slowly opened his eyes. His eyelashes fluttered. Mookyeong had a calm expression, as if he could see right through Hongju’s soul.c15c31a0fe8a9af7
“…..”029a16acd16fd891
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Honestly, he lived with that thought every day. He had tried to escape, struggled and said he wanted to die, and even tried to kill Koo Bbing with a knife. He didn’t want to live like this because of a debt he had never even touched. But all he got in return was brutal violence. He was beaten to the brink of death, and when he regained consciousness, the violence would start again. That’s when he lost hearing in one ear. After being beaten so often, he naturally realized that Koo Bbing didn’t actually intend to kill him. After 15 years of this, all that remained was resignation. He didn’t know how many more decades he would have to live like this, but all he wanted was to escape this damn gambling house.4b8262f49832d998
“…They said you’re a boss; don’t you have to go to your company?”1296ccc020b0a853
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Hongju changed the subject, avoiding the answer. He couldn’t bring himself to say ‘no.’07f8662b14994328
“I’m not a boss.”aec3ff9594391bbf
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He thought he had said he wasn’t a boss yesterday, too. Looking at his hands, it seemed like he had gone through some hardship, too. Hongju’s gaze scanned Mookyeong, seemingly indifferent.133cd1e78688052a
“Then… are you a gangster?”80aedf3dbc58b647
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Haha. Mookyeong burst into laughter e506745fd6 as soon as the 684b12a40a words left his mouth. Seen this way, 4c671f2135 his face was 87f99e64e6 completely different from 8fd78250d8 those who had 8622a3de70 hollow eyes, watching fafff0fd9d the comings and c4335e5fb2 goings of the 7baa7284b4 gambling tables. He was 188d9ed2ad big and 4bbc8691fc looked intimidating, 0dea7e3c3c but he ae99be9331 had the 8332207eed kind of 495433fb92 face that 74b09d6826 people would 44c7b17445 likely give a3df4a4c3b a second c0f2f44878 glance.ae16316ef204fc4c
“Do I look like a gangster?”49bc3e68c2b66bc8
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Mookyeong muttered, stroking his chin. Hongju’s gaze lingered on his unblemished cheek and neat fingertips.7641de6fe5048d3a
“I don’t do such vulgar things.”12fa83f0239b9180
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He snapped back 41f804a45e to his senses 9b5c141a79 at the low 3687d30222 voice. How long 4f53b4c3c2 had he 978a613c09 been staring 6b4d098ff6 so blankly? Hongju quickly averted his a7ffeb3836 gaze and pulled his 1d02f63d2e chair closer, sitting upright.Screeech. The chair legs 419f9bed1b dragged on the 8d85aa686d cement floor, leaving faf816d686 a white line. This time, 7a07d6d5e1 Mookyeong leaned 18a9df898d his elbows c7b0109cf5 on the 89681f6caf table and 1185a129f0 tilted his 99c53d20b3 upper body 5baedf3f5f towards Hongju. As his large 1617501a72 body drew closer, 89b575716b Hongju instinctively moved badc0dc3ab to the other 4f65d9f46e side.7b09e50617774185
“You think I’m a swindler, don’t you?”b96894f8c993202e
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Even though 10fee95b74 he smoked 5b777c7ba5 so much, 3a8f465f71 there was edc503fee5 no stale 214985fcd6 smell. Instead, a 5319c831b5 pleasant scent, cbae95b70e out of a88e1b122e place in 1f76f59baa the gambling 6d59321403 house, emanated 5f5ad5e26b from him.fcdfe8b922db1ce4
“No.”15ee5f95985de8dc
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“Yes, you do. I can see it all over your face.”e9a2b6107002c191
Hongju’s eyelids, which had been stubbornly staring at the end of the hallway, trembled slightly. Even amidst the noise, the sound of his low laughter was clear.59450190f3ef5cdc
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“Gamblers can tell just by looking into someone’s eyes.”311b1af7d08ca3e1
“…..”9bdd0aedf4bc243a
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He said he didn’t gamble because it was vulgar, so what was he talking about, knowing gamblers? It also felt unpleasant to hear such a thing from a swindler. Hongju remained silent until the end. He thought it would be better if he was constantly called for errands instead of this.992bae4180ba24f9