CHW Ch 2

Jin Yang had been meeting with “Team Leader Baek,” a construction supervisor for an apartment project lately. He was a man in his late forties who had come down from Seoul, but somehow, he was originally from Muguang. In his early twenties, he had fallen in love with a woman, married her after three months, and spent ten years tormented by jealousy until she took her own life, leaving him alone again. After that, he said he had no interest—not even a speck—in marriage or seriously dating anyone. Apparently, he got drunk and cried all night while clinging to Jin Yang, but Minjo couldn’t understand it. If that’s how he felt, then why the hell was he clinging to a woman and crying? Did she seem easy because of the work she did?

Still, the guy seemed decent. Minjo couldn’t know his true intentions, but on the surface, he looked like such a pushover that if Jin Yang set her mind to it, she could probably clean out his entire fortune and then some.

He saw Jin Yang walking back to the car. Beside her was Team Leader Baek, wearing work clothes and a hard hat. Jin Yang opened the back door of the car, loaded the coffee pack first, and said goodbye to Baek.

“Call me when you’re done. I’ll clock out around then.”

“Alright. Think about what you want to eat.”

“Got it. Hurry back inside.”

It was the first time Minjo had heard his voice, and while he expected polished Seoul speech, it was anything but. Well, he had heard Baek moved to Seoul after his wife died, so it would be stranger if he spoke like a Seoulite. But just as Baek turned to leave, Jin Yang suddenly called out urgently.

“Oh, right, oppa. You got any cash on you?”

“Cash? For the coffee?”

“No way. When have I ever charged you for coffee? It’s not that. The kid in front of you is from our café, and he’s a really good kid. Give him some pocket money.”

“Oh, really?”

At Jin Yang’s words, Baek came to the passenger side and opened the car door. Digging through his work clothes pocket, he pulled out his wallet and asked Minjo,

“You look awfully young, though. How old are you?”

“Twenty-three, sir.”

“Just a kid. You got a license and drive, right?”

“Of course, sir. Got it right after graduating high school.”

They said being a driver in the military was an easy gig, so he scraped together every penny he had to get his license right after graduation. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions he ever made.

“Man, only forty thousand. I’d give you more, but this is all I got.”

“No, no, this is already a lot. I’ll take it gratefully. Thank you, sir.”

Minjo bowed and held out both hands to receive the money. At being called “sir,” Baek’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.

“If you ever want to try construction work, let me know. I can easily hook you up with a job.”

“Yes, sir, I will.”

“No, don’t thank me. Your face and body don’t look frail, but [1) do you have some other job on the side?]”

Since he kept talking, Jin Yang urged Baek from behind.

“Oppa, hurry up and go. They’re probably looking for you and raising hell.”

“Oh, yeah, got it. Alright, Eunjin, I’m heading in! I’ll call later, so make sure to pick up!”

Baek made a phone gesture with his hand and jogged off. As soon as he was gone, Jin Yang muttered, “Damn it,” and climbed into the passenger seat. Lighting a cigarette, she asked Minjo,

“How much did he give you?”

“Forty thousand.”

“That’s pretty good. That guy may look like that, but he’s generous with money.”

If this was luck, it was a decent score. Kim Jeongsuk wouldn’t know about today’s haul, so there was no chance of it being taken. As he started the car, Jin Yang, flicking ash out the window, suddenly turned to him.

“You went to Kimoon for a delivery yesterday. Got thirty thousand in tips from Chu alone.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Jin Yang exhaled smoke like a sigh.

“Be careful. That guy doesn’t throw money around for just anyone.”

“Oh…”

“I worked three years at a room salon those guys manage. Chu’s not the type to pay for sex and screw around. Doesn’t spend a dime on tips either. Why would he, when he’s got girls crawling to him for free? Some chick didn’t know better and asked for money, and he nearly killed her, saying, ‘What, you trying to sell me something?’”

“…”

“For a guy like that to spend real cash…”

It means he wants something from you, something big. Before he forces it out of you, you’d better bring it to him yourself.

Jin Yang said this, opened the window, and tossed her cigarette out. The loud sound of the wind quieted as she closed it. Her voice, now lower than before, hit his ears.

“Someone giving you money doesn’t make them a good person. It makes them the scariest kind.”

“…”

“Don’t get caught up in the wrong place and ruin your life. Stay far away, far. You don’t have to do everything Jeongsuk tells you. Bluntly, is that your debt? It’s your mom’s debt. You get what I’m saying?”

“…Yes.”

She mentioned having a younger sibling, and it must be true. Jin Yang’s words always carried genuine sincerity. A sincerity he couldn’t afford to brush off.

🍀

Around two o’clock, after picking up Byeol Yang from a delivery to a pool hall, they returned to the café. Kim Jeongsuk, as if waiting, held out a new coffee pack.

“Kimoon. Get going.”

At her words, Jin Yang, who was sitting in the hall, shot to her feet.

“I told you to send someone else, and you’re still doing this. Fine, give it to me. I’ll go.”

“Damn bitch, you’ve been pissing me off since earlier. Who do you think you are? His wife? You’re nothing, so why do you keep butting in?”

“Damn bitch? Nothing? You just cussed me out? Wanna try something?”

“Hey, Kim Eunjin. I don’t care how much I owe you, I’m your damn boss! Don’t get cocky!”

Furious, Kim Jeongsuk looked ready to throw the coffee pack as she yelled at Jin Yang. Kang Munsu, sitting in his usual corner spot in the hall, got up at the commotion and approached. Jin Yang and Kang Munsu never got along, often clashing. Minjo’s heart raced, worried this would escalate because of him.

“What’s that? What’s all the noise?”

“This bitch is money-crazy. She’s trying to take a job meant for someone else.”

A specific request. It seemed Kimoon had specifically asked for Minjo. With what Jin Yang had told him, his heart sank. He thought the streak of big and small luck would continue, but it looked like the forty thousand was the end of it. Kang Munsu stepped closer, looming over Jin Yang with his large frame.

“Hey, lady. You the boss here? Why do you keep making a fuss?”

“I’m older than you. Don’t get smart.”

“Older, so I should respect you? Want me to call you granny? Hey, granny, if you’re old, go home. Don’t do this kind of work, alright?”

Minjo knew it was a deliberate, childish act to rile her up. Having been burned by Kang Munsu multiple times, he had long figured out the guy’s patterns. A big fight was bound to break out, so he quickly wedged himself between them. No matter how tough she was, Jin Yang was a woman, and Kang Munsu was a man.

“Stop it, hyungnim. Noona, you too, don’t do this.”

Pushing Kang Munsu back and sitting Jin Yang back in her spot, Minjo hurriedly snatched the coffee pack from Kim Jeongsuk’s hand. Forcing a smile, he pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“I’ll be back.”

At his words, Jin Yang let out a hollow laugh, grabbed her handbag, and stood up. As she headed for the door, Kim Jeongsuk shouted,

“Where the hell are you going without working?!”

“I’m taking a few days off! Deduct it from the debt you owe me, damn it.”

Without looking back, Jin Yang spat on the mat at the entrance and disappeared. “That damn bitch!” Kim Jeongsuk started to chase after her, but Minjo grabbed her and gently calmed her down.

“Auntie, hold back. From noona’s perspective, I’m taking her work, so of course she’s pissed.”

No sooner had he said that than Byeol Yang, watching nearby, chimed in, “No way. I’m freaking grateful you’re going to Kimoon. Go every day, every day.” At twenty-five, Byeol Yang had a habit of speaking without reading the room. As if that habit would vanish in a situation like this. Still, since Minjo stayed calm, Kim Jeongsuk’s anger seemed to ease a bit. She straightened his clothes and said, somewhat kindly,

“Take your phone and be careful. Oh, and they said you don’t need to wear dress shoes.”

It was the most grateful thing he had heard today. Not wearing dress shoes would make him feel much more at ease. Chu’s fierce gaze wouldn’t zero in on his ankles either. Kang Munsu swaggered back to his seat, winking at Minjo. The blurry image of Kang Munsu’s bare ass from yesterday flashed in his mind, nearly making him gag.

“Get a good tip today too. Don’t worry about it getting taken like yesterday. I talked to noona real nice so she’ll go easy on you. Gotta have some conscience, right?”

“Easy on me?”

“Yeah, you.”

“…”

He was an idiot for even asking. His expression must have soured, because Kang Munsu cackled. Bringing the ssanghwa tea he was drinking to his lips, he threw out a final jab.

“Whatever you’re aiming to pocket, you better bring in a lot, right?”

Skipping any pleasantries, Minjo grabbed the coffee pack—lighter than yesterday—and headed to the car. The lighter weight meant fewer people were there. Still, the scariest guy would undoubtedly be in his usual spot.

He set the pack in the passenger seat and pulled the phone from his pocket, tossing it into the console box. Despite saying he’d be back confidently, his heart was already racing uncontrollably. Did he think Kimoon wasn’t scary?

🍀

Minjo didn’t know what Chu had said, but they really opened the door just by ringing the bell, without making him stick his foot in the doggy door. Today’s gatekeeper was, as expected, the massive, burly Jeongsik. Jeongsik scanned Minjo up and down after his loud “Hello, sir,” and said,

“Seeing you a lot.”

A thick hand pushed his back inward.

“You know where you went yesterday, right? Same place today.”

“Yes, sir. Don’t worry.”

“Hey, kid, if you’re gonna live off trays, change your whole way of talking. What are you, a gangster?”

“Sorry, sir.”

Thinking what a prick, Minjo kept a smiling face and bowed before turning away. Thankfully, the living room only had two people. The menacing hyung who had grabbed his crotch yesterday and one lackey. Maybe because of yesterday, their eyes naturally drifted to his feet, and seeing his sneakers, they looked oddly disappointed.

“Go on in. Hyungnim’s been waiting a while.”

“Yes, sir.”

Before grabbing the door handle to Chu’s room, he wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. His stomach, which had calmed down, suddenly churned again. Hoping the half-dead guys had been cleared out and the room was spotless without a trace of blood, he cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.

Chu was sitting at the desk right in view, talking on the phone. Unlike his disheveled state yesterday, he was properly dressed today. His slightly long hair, unlike most thugs, was neatly combed back. Except for some unusually dark spots on the floor, the room was fairly clean. But the stench of blood lingered, probably soaked into the wallpaper and floor.

Their eyes met. Reflexively, Minjo bowed deeply and shouted,

“Hello, hyungnim! Uh, I mean, sir!”

Damn it. It was a gangster den, so “hyungnim” slipped out by mistake. Straightening up and cautiously checking Chu, he saw one eyebrow raised.

“Then set the schedule quick. Dragging it out won’t do any good.”

Chu’s gaze, fixed on Minjo’s face, slowly slid down his body to his ankles. Swallowing hard, Minjo saw Chu point to the sofa he had sat on yesterday. Nodding slightly in response, he hurried over.

“I’m a bit busy now, so let’s talk later. I’ll call you back.”

A moment later, the sound of the receiver being set down came, followed by approaching footsteps. Glancing over, he saw Chu wasn’t barefoot. Black socks and indoor slippers. His dress shoes were by the desk. Sitting in the main seat, Chu habitually kicked the table and said,

“Make it cold.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chu’s suit pants tightly hugged his thighs. Above that, he wore a black shirt, its buttons fastened snugly. It looked like he’d struggle to find a size that fit unless it was custom-made. Suddenly, a thought popped into Minjo’s head: which side did Chu tuck that massive dick into? Right or left? It’d probably be obvious if he looked, but then Chu would notice his stare.

“You’re eyeballing me hard.”

The moment Minjo realized what he meant, Chu continued with a completely humorless face,

“Want me to take it off?”

“N-no, sir. Sorry.”

His face burned. He had forgotten that right now, he was the only thing for Chu to look at. Hurriedly shifting his gaze to the coffee pack, his hands trembled as he untied the knot and spread out the cloth. Woo Minjo, you crazy bastard, it’s not your dick, so what does it matter where he tucks it?

He poured coffee into the thermos with ice, added sugar, and shook it. But maybe because he was flustered, he couldn’t remember how many spoons of sugar he put in. Damn, I’m screwed, he thought. Praying his muscle memory had added two spoons, he poured the coffee into a glass, too nervous to look up, and offered it to Chu.

The glass left his hand and went to Chu’s. He downed it in one go, and the empty glass was roughly set on the glass-topped table. Anxiously checking Chu’s expression, Minjo thought, of course, “unlucky Woo Minjo” wasn’t just a saying. Chu smacked his lips, his face half-twisted, glaring at Minjo, making his heart sink. Now he remembered exactly: one, two, three. Three heaping spoons, not leveled.

“…Sorry, sir. I messed up…”

Bowing his head low, he apologized first. Luck, my ass. But surprisingly, Chu only said one thing.

“Don’t do it again. I don’t eat stuff that’s too sweet. Got it?”

Minjo immediately lifted his head, nodding vigorously. “Yes, sir. I’ll remember.”

He expected at least a slap, but against all odds, luck was still on his side. This was luck—what else could it be? Mentally thanking Jin Yang, he firmly etched into his mind that Chu at Kimoon takes two spoons of sugar. There wouldn’t be another pass like this.

“Come closer.”

Chu said this while pulling a cigarette from his pocket. With the cigarette in his mouth, he jerked his chin toward the empty spot on the sofa beside him, urging Minjo. Cautiously moving there, Chu soon handed him a cigarette. Hesitating whether to take it, Chu narrowed his brow and asked,

“Don’t know how to smoke?”

“No, sir, I do.”

“Then you’re rejecting it?”

“No, sir. Give it to me.”

Reaching out to take it, the cigarette suddenly came toward his face, brushing his lower lip. Startled, he pulled back and extended his hand again, but Chu’s face hardened sharply.

“Not with your hand, with your mouth.”

“…”

“Open up.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Opening his mouth, the cigarette was shoved in. It was the first time anyone had done this, and it felt really weird. He thought Chu might light it too, but thankfully, he didn’t. Taking the lighter, Minjo turned his head and lit it. Chu exhaled smoke, looking at him.

“From now on, make the coffee here. Don’t sit at the far end.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Chu kept staring at him while smoking. His eyes busily scanned Minjo’s face, lingering especially long on the lips sucking the cigarette, so intently that Minjo couldn’t taste the smoke at all. Unable to keep smoking, he stubbed it out in the ashtray. A moment later, Chu followed suit, but his cigarette was already nearly gone. Their eyes met again.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

The look in his eyes was several times fiercer than before. Something to say. Suddenly, Minjo recalled what Chu had said yesterday: “Next time you come, bring your ID.”

That’s what had been nagging at him. He had been too distracted breaking up the fight to remember.

“Sorry, sir. I was out of it and forgot my ID. I’ll definitely bring it next time.”

This could be his chance to get his ID back. It had been taken by Kim Jeongsuk along with his bankbook, but if Chu demanded it, she’d have no choice but to return it. But it didn’t seem to be the answer he wanted, as Chu’s face grew even colder.

“Something else.”

“…”

Minjo racked his brain, but nothing else came to mind. The shoes weren’t an issue since they told him not to wear them, and the sugar mix-up was forgiven earlier, so what could he be referring to? He had no clue. Soon, Chu shifted his posture, pulled out a new cigarette, and put it in his mouth. Having lit cigarettes for so many bosses, Minjo’s body moved on its own. The lighter was right in front of him.

“Here, a light…”

Half-standing and holding the lighter with both hands, Chu looked up at him. His cheeks hollowed as the flame caught. As Minjo pulled the lighter back, Chu moved the cigarette with his hand, smirked, and said,

“What, damn it, trying to act experienced?”

“Huh?”

Chu looked up at Minjo, who was awkwardly standing, with a crooked gaze. Smoke curled out of his mouth.

“You’ve been doing queer stuff since you were a kid, huh? Since before your head was dry.”

“…Me, sir? N-no, never.”

“Then your boss is messing with me. She wanna die?”

“…”

Minjo was too stunned to speak. Damn it, Kim Jeongsuk. That’s how she dressed up her viciousness?

Chu stared at him piercingly. His eyes were, in local terms, insanely intense and terrifying.

“I’ll ask again. You ever done deliveries or not?”

“…”

“Done it or not?”

“…Well, sir.”

His neck tensed painfully. He definitely hadn’t done queer stuff, but he had absolutely done coffee deliveries. To him, deliveries and queer work were worlds apart, but to Kim Jeongsuk and Chu, they were probably the same thing. Turning to face Chu properly, Minjo had to stand his ground and explain, even if it meant defying a gangster boss.

“I… I don’t know how this’ll sound, but… yes, I’ve definitely done deliveries. But I swear to the heavens, I’ve never gone around doing queer stuff.”

“You did deliveries but not queer stuff. What, is that supposed to make sense?”

Chu’s hand twitched like he was about to hit him. It was terrifying, but that fear made Minjo’s eyes even more resolute. Didn’t courage surge when you were fighting to survive?

“Sir. To you, deliveries and queer stuff might look the same, but to me, they’re completely different issues. Deliveries are just that—deliveries. Queer stuff goes beyond that… how do I put it, it’s like, laughter’s essential…”

“…”

“No, what I mean is, I’ve never once thought of myself as a queer.”

He could’ve just said he did it because of the debt, but no, he had to show off how dumb he was. Too late, the word “debt” came to mind, but Chu was quicker. Frowning like he didn’t want to hear it, he said,

“You trying to convince me?”

“N-no, it was all because of the debt!”

“Debt?”

“Yes, sir. My mom used to run cafés with Kim Jeongsuk in Seoul and Incheon, right? Their money situation got messy back then, and, well, my mom didn’t pay her back and skipped town, so I got stuck in her place… Yeah. Doing what I was told led to stuff like this. But I swear, I only did deliveries, nothing more. And besides that, I did all kinds of other work too. Odd jobs were a given, I went to collect other people’s debts, worked as a server in bars, did dishes. I’m still stuck here for the same reason—”

As his rambling dragged on, Chu raised his hand, cutting him off.

“You could’ve just said you did it because of the debt, but you’re making it real long. This ain’t a speech contest.”

“…Sorry, sir. I’m not good with words…”

“Then your point is, I should ignore what Kim Jeongsuk says and just believe you. Is that right?”

“…Yes. Yes, sir.”

Facing Chu’s angled gaze, Minjo showed firm resolve once more. He nodded as if making a monumental decision. In truth, it was a big deal for him. If sitting here in Muguang’s top spot without passing out wasn’t a big deal, then what was?

“That’s right. You can’t trust a word my boss says, so just let it go in one ear and out the other. You only need to believe me.”

Did he sound too grave? Chu’s eyes narrowed. He started staring intently at Minjo. After a while, he suddenly chuckled to himself, muttering, “Damn bitch…” The raw curse made Minjo’s mouth go dry, and he swallowed hard, though there was barely any saliva. His throat felt like it was burning.

Not long after, Chu softened his hardened expression. At the same time, he reached out and lightly tapped Minjo’s cheek. A snicker spilled from his mouth. Unlike the earlier sneer, it was just a laugh.

“Nice expression. You could star in a school play.”

He slapped his thighs with his large palms. The loud smack—made Minjo’s body flinch in response. Getting hit there would hurt like hell. It’d leave a serious mark too.

“Alright. I’ll do as you say. But you know what happens if you’re lying to me, right?”

“…That’ll never happen. Thank you for trusting me, sir.”

“Clear the table. Yesterday was hectic, so I didn’t even ask your name. I’m Chu Gioh. This place, Kimoon, is named after my father. Chu, Kimoon. What’s your name?”

“It’s Woo, Minjo. Woo Minjo.”

“Minjo. Woo Minjo.”

It was closer to “Min’jo” than Minjo. It sounded funny, but there was no way he could laugh.

Minjo. Woo Minjo. Chu nodded, repeating Minjo’s name under his breath several times. Each time he said it, it felt like something in Minjo’s body was being chewed up, making him feel strange. It was ticklish yet sent a shiver down his spine. Amid this, Chu called him affectionately.

“So, Minjo. How much are you tied up for now? A lot?”

“Uh… it started at thirty-five million, but… I don’t know now.”

“It’s your debt, and you’re not keeping track? Why not?”

“The interest piles up however they want. I don’t even know how much it grows by. And knowing wouldn’t fix it right away… Sorry.”

As he bit his lip, Chu’s gaze shifted there. Yesterday it was his ankles; today, his lips were the prey. From what he saw with women, it didn’t seem like Chu was into guys. But the next moment, Chu’s hand shot out and grabbed his chin. His chin was yanked up sharply and shaken roughly side to side. Then a deep, cave-like voice spoke.

“That’s why you’re walking around all beat up.”

“Huh?”

“Your lips are busted, and you look like shit, so I’m asking.”

“Oh…”

He wasn’t looking at his lips with ulterior motives; he must’ve noticed the obvious signs of being hit. Fair enough. Even Minjo would find it hard to look away if the guy in front of him looked battered. With a hangover draining his color and his eyes sunken, how could Chu’s gaze not linger?

“I do get hit pretty often… but not every day. Maybe once every three days? If I’m lucky, a week can pass quietly.”

“Does your boss do it himself?”

“Uh… yeah.”

Strictly speaking, this time was eighty percent Kang Munsu’s doing, but Minjo didn’t want to explain every detail, so he just said it was the boss. Kim Jeongsuk hit him often enough that it wasn’t a complete lie.

Soon, Chu’s hand left his face. He handed Minjo a cigarette. Since Chu stayed still, it seemed he meant for Minjo to smoke alone. Thankfully, this time he passed it normally instead of shoving it in his mouth.

His hand trembled slightly as he lit it. His throat felt clogged, making it hard to inhale the smoke. After three or four puffs, Chu, who had been watching without pause, spoke.

“If it’s tough, tell me. I’ll let you use my money.”

Hastily pulling the cigarette from his mouth, Minjo replied reflexively.

“Thank you for the offer, sir, but I’ll just take the sentiment.”

“Why?”

“Well…”

Because, damn it, Chu Gioh, you’re scarier than Kim Jeongsuk. She’s just a madam, but you’re a gangster who beats people and cuts off ankles. You might’ve killed hundreds of times. But could he confess that honestly and stay safe? He just gave an awkward smile and came up with a quick response.

“No matter who I owe, I have to pay it back the same. I don’t want to trouble you, sir.”

“I won’t charge interest. I’ll give you plenty of time too.”

“…I’ll still just take the sentiment.”

He wasn’t the sharpest, but he could at least tell right from wrong. He’d never heard of a gangster lending money without interest. Who knew if the thirty-five million principal would balloon to three hundred fifty million in a month? It was obviously a sweet-talking trap. A truckload of people must’ve fallen for Kimoon’s money without fear.

“You that scared of getting tangled with me? What’s your deal?”

“…”

“Not saying anything means I’m right, huh?”

Chu furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue. It was the face he made when he didn’t quite get something.

“But don’t you think it’s all a misunderstanding? You’re just clueless, but I’m real nice. You’re probably thinking that because of yesterday, but those guys started it. Normally, I’m real tame. I never touch first or kill unless someone screws up.”

“…”

Why do bad people always think they’re decent? Kim Jeongsuk, Kang Munsu, his mom, his dad, and that damn evil brother, Woo Minsu. It’s like they all got trained together.

“You still don’t want it?”

“…Yes.”

“…”

“I mean, not that—it’s like I said, I don’t want to trouble you… Yeah…”

Chu rubbed his chin with an annoyed look. Then he waved his hand sharply.

“Forget it, damn it. I ain’t desperate.”

“…Thank you for asking anyway.”

“Thanking me after rejecting me? Don’t regret it later.”

“…”

Minjo wanted to leave. It had already been well over fifteen minutes. Quietly stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray, Chu kicked the table leg. Pointing his chin at the desk, he said,

“Go grab my wallet.”

Thinking he’d refuse the tip, Minjo retrieved the thick wallet from the desk. Sitting back down and handing it to Chu, he watched as Chu opened it and pulled out a stack of cash.

“This is for the coffee.”

Minjo meant to take only twenty thousand, but fifty thousand was tossed onto the table. Next came checks. One, two, three, four. Four hundred thousand. If that was his tip, it was one more than yesterday. He meant to refuse, but his heart couldn’t help racing. If only he had a good place to stash it.

“This is your tip.”

He was right. Chu tossed the four hundred thousand next to the fifty thousand. But that wasn’t the end. He pulled out two more checks of a different color and threw them on top. One million each.

Chu looked up at him. Suddenly, he shoved the entire two million four hundred fifty thousand toward Minjo. Unlike before, his eyes were wild, gleaming intensely. Then Chu’s thick thighs spread wide. A veiny, massive hand roughly grabbed his own crotch.

“It’s your first day, so I’ll go easy and only use your mouth today. Why don’t you try sucking my dick?”

His face was one hundred percent serious. Raw lust boiled in his bloodshot eyes. Rubbing his crotch, he said,

“You sucked that cigarette real good earlier. No need to overthink it—just suck it like you did the cigarette. Cigarette or dick, ain’t it the same pulling and sucking?”

So that’s why he kept offering cigarettes. To see how well Minjo could suck.

The image of Chu fantasizing about him flashed in Minjo’s mind. Then the thought of Chu trapping him between his legs and pressing his head down, like he did with Kim Seonjin. His throat felt clogged, his head buzzing.

Come on, it’s the same pulling and sucking? What nonsense. Even a hundred cigarettes wouldn’t match the girth of that dick. This time, Minjo wanted to ask him: Is that supposed to make sense, or is it just booze talking?

As the silence dragged on, Chu pressed him.

“What’re you doing? Not moving?”

This was bad. If a normal boss said something like this, Minjo could’ve easily brushed it off with, “I don’t do that.” But Chu was anything but a normal boss. Every word had to be chosen carefully. After some thought, he mustered the courage to speak.

“Sorry, sir, but I…”

He got that far when the hand rubbing Chu’s crotch froze. The faint scar near Chu’s eye twitched.

“What, gonna say you’ll just take the sentiment again?”

“…”

Chu pulled his hand from his crotch, sat up straight from his reclined position. His bulging front looked ready to burst. One twitch, and the buckle and zipper would snap—ripping apart. After a brief thoughtful look, he rested his elbow on his thigh and leaned toward Minjo.

“Why’re you scared? Think I’ll shove it down your throat?”

His low, rumbling voice carried a tone that felt more coaxing than threatening. The next words confirmed it.

“Don’t worry. I won’t do that.”

“…”

“I’m just saying use your mouth, nothing else. Won’t touch anywhere else. I’ll keep my hands back, like this, like this.”

He mimed putting both hands behind his head. As if that was supposed to be reassuring.

“…Sir.”

“Don’t say no. If you knew how much I’m compromising, you wouldn’t say that.”

“…”

Was there such a thing as a polite refusal? One where neither side lost face, and they could say, “Alright, let’s pretend it never happened.” Did that exist in this world? No, in his world.

He quietly lowered his head. No matter how much Chu was compromising, he couldn’t kneel and suck a dick. It wasn’t just fear of being manhandled—it was the certainty that giving in today would lead to worse demands tomorrow. Mouth or below, he’d protect what was his. With his head bowed, he spoke politely.

“…Sorry, sir. It’s not that I don’t want to suck yours, but I’ve got this principle I hold onto. No matter how tough things get, I don’t sell my body—”

“Are you nuts?”

Cutting him off, a hand shot out and gripped his jaw hard. Forced to look up, Minjo faced Chu’s utterly contorted face glaring at him.

“What did you just say? Sell what?”

His jaw felt like it was being crushed, and Chu’s face pressed close to his.

“When did I tell you to sell your body? When did I say anything like that?”

“S-sorry, sir. I-I thought because of the big money…”

“It’s a tip, a tip! Money for your hard work! Money because you’re cute! Pocket money! If that’s how it is, damn it, just suck my dick and go!”

“…”

Chu roared, then snorted in disbelief. “What principle?” Then, ignoring all decorum, he glared at Minjo fiercely.

“So you’re saying I treated you like a whore. You see me as some guy who pays to get off. That it?”

“N-no, sir. No way.”

“What? Pissed off? Wanna kill this bastard? Then don’t just sit there, come at me. I’ll give you a fair fight!”

“…No. No, sir.”

“If you don’t want it, just say so, don’t make shitty excuses! Where’s that damn bitch?!”

At the mention of selling his body, Chu reacted like a guy with some trauma, genuinely furious. Minjo wasn’t one to scare easily, but with that scarred face right in front of him, he felt true terror. His face was probably ghost-white. He felt like he might piss himself. If Chu got this mad over something like this, what was all that talk about being real nice and tame?

Chu’s jaw muscles twitched. His hot breath hit Minjo’s lips like it would melt them. It was just his jaw being held, but it felt like his throat was being choked. He could barely breathe. Thinking he might actually shit or piss himself, he begged for forgiveness.

“…I-I messed up. I was wrong, sir.”

Words of apology he couldn’t easily say to Kim Jeongsuk or Kang Munsu flowed like a cassette tape in front of this guy. When had Woo Minjo ever had pride or shame left? All he had was his body.

“…I’ll watch my mouth. Really…”

“…”

Chu’s bloodshot eyes, glaring like they’d devour him, shifted to Minjo’s lips as he finished speaking. A moment later, a sigh-like breath came from Chu’s mouth. The scent that hit Minjo’s nose was the same as the one coming from Chu’s body. A fresh scent, as unbelievable as his clean fingernails. Maybe it was natural, given his even, white teeth.

“I don’t pay for women or take them. I’m a guy who’s got more than enough girls throwing themselves at me.”

“…”

“That’s what small-dicked losers do, losers. And you, damn it, just treated me like a loser. You get that?”

“…Sorry, sir.”

It wasn’t some trauma—it was his sky-high pride that made Minjo’s words grate on him. Lowering his gaze, Minjo apologized properly again.

“…Sorry, sir. I… thought wrong. I’m sorry.”

Maybe his cowering looked pathetic, because the grip on his jaw started to loosen. Soon, Chu let him go completely. It felt like his heart was pounding where the hand had been. Thank god it ended here.

Chu clicked his tongue, picked up the cigarette pack, turned it upside down, tapped it against his palm, and pulled one out. He said gruffly,

“Fine, just go. A loser’s dick is half-dead anyway, so what’s the point of staying? Pack up.”

Dead, my ass—it was anything but. His dick was still raging, ready to tear through his pants.

Seeming uncomfortable, Chu kept adjusting it. Sweat ran down Minjo’s spine. His palms were clammy. Wiping them discreetly on his pants, he grabbed the glass and started packing the coffee pack. He thought he’d need to carry a talisman or something. As he stood with the tied pack, Chu, mid-cigarette, pointed his chin at the money.

“Take it. I don’t give and take back.”

“No, sir. I’ll just take the coffee money today. You already gave me a lot yesterday—”

“Take it when I say take it, don’t make it hard. It’s your pocket money, my sincerity.”

“No, just listen to me—”

“Damn it, fine.”

Since Minjo wasn’t meekly taking the money, Chu cursed, closing and opening his eyes slowly. “You trying to stress me out? Didn’t you already reject me enough?”

“No, sir—”

“Alright, I get it! You’re a real tough one! I’ll give you that! Just take it! Take it!”

“That’s not it, sir.”

“Then what?!”

“There’s a reason I can’t take it!”

Afraid it’d all go to waste, Minjo shouted as loud as Chu had. At his outburst, Chu raised his eyebrows. Minjo stepped forward boldly and, in a hurried but calm tone, continued quickly.

“I want to take this money. Of course I do. Who doesn’t love money? And how am I supposed to earn this much? But, sir.”

He took a deep breath before continuing. There was still a mountain of words to spill. More than that, he realized as he started speaking: the anger inside him toward Kim Jeongsuk and Kang Munsu was bigger than he thought. And he couldn’t keep bottling it up.

Kim Jeongsuk, Kang Munsu. Since I got screwed over today, I’ll specially pull out every ounce of eloquence I’ve got, real or not, and let it rip for you two. You won’t get a single won from the fruits of my effort.

With that resolve, he looked at Chu with the gravest expression he’d ever mustered. Even more than when explaining the difference between deliveries and queer work. The fear from Chu still lingered, but to screw over those two hags, there was nothing he couldn’t shake off.

“Here’s the thing. Even if I take this, I won’t get to use a single ten-won coin for myself. My boss, who’s got a nose like a ghost for money, will show up and take it all. I could hide it and play dumb, but it’s no use in front of her. She reads my face and finds every hiding spot like she’s a damn spirit. It’s so terrifying, my skin crawls.”

“What’re you saying?”

Chu furrowed his brows sharply, but Minjo ignored him and kept going. He had to.

“I don’t not understand my boss. No, I understand her a hundred, a thousand times. She’s got no choice, right? To her, I’m just the guy to collect my mom’s debt from.”

“…”

“I thought I was used to being harassed and chewed out, but as time goes on, she gets more shameless. Lately, she takes money like she’s handling livestock, so I’m scared just looking at it. Splashing water, hitting me, stripping me down to my underwear, even trying to search my ass one day. That’s how she took all the money you gave me yesterday. Every last won.”

Was it because his goal of screwing over Kim Jeongsuk and Kang Munsu was so clear? Unlike earlier, when he couldn’t even think of the word “debt” and stammered, his mind was sharp now. His words flowed so smoothly, it surprised even him. Even if he practiced in front of a mirror all night, he couldn’t do this well. But the real deal was coming.

“But, sir. I’m not saying this because I’m bitter about the money being taken. I blame my parents for my situation, so I’ve got no complaints there. I could take all this money and hand it to my boss myself. But why don’t I do that?”

Chu’s face was quite crumpled. It looked like a habitual frown without much emotion, but there was something oddly indescribable about it. Like, “What kind of guy is this?” Maybe he was exasperated. Just a minute ago, Minjo was trembling like he’d wet himself, and now he was rattling off words like he’d swapped souls. Chu was probably thrown off. With that expression, he didn’t ask anything, just waited for Minjo to continue.

“It’s because I feel sorry to you, sir.”

“…”

“Hearing you say this is for my hard work, because I’m cute, it hit me. I can’t take this money. It’s not just any money—it’s pocket money you gave thinking of me. Rather than let someone else take that precious thing, I’d rather not take it at all…”

“…”

“If you’re human, you follow your conscience and do what’s right. That’s why I can’t take the money you’re giving me. I won’t take it. Not ten thousand, not a thousand, not even a hundred won.”

Did he put too much force into it? After finishing, he thought maybe he should’ve been a bit more emotional. No, this level of appeal was needed to convince Chu and get the result he wanted.

“That’s my heart.”

With a look pleading for Chu to understand his deep intent, Minjo faced him and waited for a response. Chu lifted his chin, staring deeply at him.

“…”

“…”

His crumpled face slowly relaxed, and his closed lips twitched like a smile. No, not just like—he was really smiling.

“You’re right.”

“Huh?”

“This is a speech contest. And you’re taking first place.”

“…”

“Not good with words, my ass. That’s all pure eloquence.”

His lips parted widely, revealing even teeth, and soon he burst into audible laughter.

“So you don’t want it taken? Enough to snitch to me? That’s why I said don’t use my money. What, want me to ask again?”

“…”

As if the silence didn’t matter, he laughed again, more clearly and louder.

“Alright. We’ll talk about that later. For today, just go back empty-handed. That’s it, right?”

His face burned from having his intentions exposed, but it didn’t matter. He felt he could return and happily take a beating from those two. Clapping internally, he bowed to Chu.

“Thank you for understanding, sir. Then I’ll just take the coffee money.”

“Nah, forget that too. Tell them I said I’ll drop by soon and to put it on my tab.”

“…Yes, sir. I’ll pass that along.”

Chu waved him off, signaling him to leave. Even then, Chu’s dick was still waging a fierce battle in his tight pants. It even looked like the zipper had slightly given way under the pressure. The sheer size gave off the mighty aura of the Taebaek Mountains. It made Minjo uneasy for no reason.

“…Then, sir, have a good day and take care.”

Bowing deeply, he backed out from between the table and sofa. Gripping the coffee pack tightly and about to straighten up, Chu called his name.

“Minjo.”

“…Yes?”

“We’ll see each other tomorrow too.”

“…”

“Tomorrow, I’ll make it a bit tougher.”

“…”

The voice adding, “Got it?” was oddly gentle, out of place.

When had he lit it? The filter tip he was sucking glowed red. The fiery ember looked strikingly similar to the eyes staring straight at him.

🍀

Returning without a single won, not even the coffee money, the scene was quite a spectacle. They must’ve been planning what to do with the money they expected to extort, because the moment he showed his empty pockets, their faces twisted instantly. They probably thought he’d bring back at least as much as yesterday.

“Your bad habits kicking in again? I told you yesterday not to hide anything!”

In front of the dim storage room, Kim Jeongsuk growled in a low voice. With customers in the hall, she couldn’t scold him openly, so she was cornering him by the storage room. Red lipstick stained her front teeth. Being so close, his eyes unintentionally flicked there, imagining she’d been kissing Kang Munsu or worse. Feeling nauseous, he quickly shifted his gaze to the bathroom door opposite and answered halfheartedly.

“I didn’t hide anything. I told you everything earlier.”

Soon, Kang Munsu appeared with a face denying reality. He’d been searching the red Matiz Minjo drove like he was hunting lice. The body search was already done. The hand groping his crotch had been so disgusting, he nearly swung at him.

Having flipped even the seats looking for money, Kang Munsu pushed past Kim Jeongsuk and stood in front of Minjo with a furious face. In his hand was the forty thousand won Minjo had deliberately left in the console box—the money from Team Leader Baek this morning. They probably thought it was what was left of the fifty thousand from yesterday.

“You damn bitch, you fucked up big time, didn’t you?”

Kang Munsu grabbed Minjo’s hair like he’d rip out his scalp, snarling darkly. Not wanting to lose, Minjo widened his eyes and shot back.

“No? I acted real queer-like, didn’t I?”

“Then why’s the guy who specifically asked for you suddenly clamming up? He gave you thirty thousand yesterday, didn’t he?”

“How would I know? I’m not some damn mind-reader like Goong Ye. Guess he didn’t like something.”

As expected from someone who hated backtalk, Kang Munsu’s face contorted. “This damn bitch, you’re done for,” he said, raising his hand sharply. Kim Jeongsuk, watching, quickly grabbed it and cut in.

“He said if you mark him up, he can’t work. Even if you’re gonna hit him, he’s gotta be pushed logically.”

Now even the word “logically” was coming up. They’d ragged on Hyeon Yang for being money-obsessed, but they were the ones drunk on cash. Kim Jeongsuk poked Minjo’s forehead with her freshly purple-manicured index finger.

“If a dumbass like you’s gonna scam, do it right. On credit? Don’t make me laugh.”

She snorted loudly, puffing air through her nose.

“You don’t know what kind of guy Chu Gioh is. Chu’s the type who pays for his coffee no matter what. Rain or snow, if he drinks my coffee, he pays on the spot. Got that?”

“Yeah, I know he’s that kind of guy. But today, guess the sun rose backward, because he put it on credit.”

“How old am I? Three?”

“God, I’m so frustrated. He said he’d drop by soon and to put it on his tab! If you don’t believe me, call Kimoon and check if I’m lying!”

“…”

Yelling like he was wronged to death, Kim Jeongsuk pursed her lips and stared silently. Narrowing her eyes, she started peering at him like she’d rip them out, and Minjo knew exactly what she was doing. She was trying to tell if he was lying. It was her go-to method when there was no hard evidence like a hostess bar card, honed from dealing with hundreds of girls who skimmed money, making it pretty accurate. But Minjo was slippery like an eel. He was, after all, a twenty-three-year veteran of a debt-ridden life.

Soon, Kim Jeongsuk relaxed her eyes and tapped Kang Munsu.

“Let him go. There are customers in the hall, so let’s stop here for today. If he’s lying, it’ll come out eventually.”

Since the news he brought was true, she could only see the truth. Kang Munsu, itching to hit him, let go of his hair with a reluctant look. Kim Jeongsuk had a similar expression.

Swaggering back, Kang Munsu switched to mockery.

“Idiot, idiot. You got axed in one day. Know that? You must’ve acted like such a pathetic loser to make him put it on credit. Just quit.”

Since he hadn’t seen Chu’s state with his own eyes, he could talk like that. Letting him ramble, Minjo headed to the bathroom. Kim Jeongsuk and Kang Munsu’s hushed voices carried clearly through the thin door.

“Don’t touch him for now, just watch. We’ll know tomorrow if it’s really on credit.”

“Credit or not, that kid’s definitely hiding something. No way he’d be that bold even if he’s scared of a beating.”

“I’ll keep a close eye for a few days. Munsu, you act like you don’t know.”

“Got it. But noona, it’s not because of the shoes, right? Man, it’s been bugging me. That’s gotta be what pissed him off.”

“No way. If it was, he would’ve told him to wear them.”

Pointless chatter. Not wanting to hear it, he flushed the toilet he hadn’t used and turned on the sink.

Washing his face and hands, the loud water was drowned out by Chu’s deep voice echoing in his head.

“We’ll see each other tomorrow too.”

If another specific request came tomorrow, Kim Jeongsuk would dismiss today’s worries as baseless and be thrilled. Kang Munsu might even insist on dress shoes to ease his own concerns.

But the real obstacle in Minjo’s mind wasn’t the two outside—it was Chu alone. Saying they’d meet tomorrow was no different from ordering him to suck his dick without resistance.

A giant dick appeared like a vision over the rising water. A groan escaped him. Just thinking about it shoving down his throat made tears stream already.

🍀

Every café had set hours for the girls: 8 a.m. to midnight. But hardly any worked the full sixteen hours straight. Barely one in ten showed up exactly at 8, and plenty skipped without a word. Still, owners let it slide because they could tack on the missed time as debt. That was the rule of this world.

Owners started with a daily quota of 180,000 won, fined 250,000 for absences, and charged 20,000 per hour for tardiness. On top of that, they took cuts for supplies and referral fees monthly. After splitting the pay 50-50 on payday, the girls were left with pitiful scraps. The only “good” treatment was that loans to the girls came without interest. That’s why they desperately hunted for easy marks like Jangheung Livestock’s Hwang Nobyung. In other words, café work was just a means to find gullible targets.

So, did that mean Minjo, who started Kimoon deliveries yesterday, fell into that category? Was his target Kimoon Construction’s Chu?

“Damn shame, but that’s how we live together. You take my pocket money, and I get my dick in your mouth. Win-win, right?”

“I’ll handle it, so you just spread your lips nice and wide. Even a little push hits the back of your throat, doesn’t it?”

“It’s all free if you swallow. Spit it out, and you’re dead.”

“Ugh!”

“You puking now? This crazy bastard’s spitting out Chu Gioh’s cum.”

With a thunderous roar and a massive hand smacking his head, his eyes shot open. He bolted upright.

“Huff, huff…!”

Realizing it was a dream, sleep fled instantly. Without thinking, he frantically worked his tongue, smacking his lips. His mouth felt sticky and bitter, almost fishy. Like slimy cum had actually shot into his mouth.

Damn it… He’d stayed up all night worrying, and now he was having filthy dreams. His jaw ached, and nausea rose. Shaking his head to dismiss it as not prophetic, he tried to banish the image of Chu Gioh’s dick still floating before his eyes. Crazy bastard. Crazy dick. Nothing about this guy was easy.

Grabbing the café phone by his pillow, he checked the time: 7:10 a.m. If he’d woken to the 7:15 alarm, he wouldn’t feel this rotten.

“Ugh…”

Sighing, he folded his blanket and got up. Today was Saturday, when the kitchen aunt didn’t come in. So, every Saturday, Minjo opened the café. It used to be Kim Jeongsuk’s job, but it became his the moment he was dragged here. Living and sleeping at the café made it easy enough, just annoying to move right after waking.

Slipping on slippers, he hit the bathroom first to rinse his mouth. Maybe it was his imagination, but a fishy taste lingered on his tongue. Back in his reckless days, he’d tasted his own cum, and it was exactly like that. Rinsing with water wasn’t enough, so he squeezed out a ton of toothpaste and scrubbed his mouth like he was scouring grime. Only then did he feel alive.

After washing his face, he shuffled to the entrance, dragging his slippers. The sunlight streaming through the glass was blinding. Squinting, he unlocked the latch above the door and opened it wide to air out.

Opening the door wasn’t all. He went to the kitchen, tackled the dishes left from yesterday, and organized the pre-washed thermoses and glasses. He grabbed trays and cloths, filled the coffee, sugar, and creamer containers, checked today’s supplies, and restocked from the storage room if needed. With the weather warming up, more people wanted iced coffee, so he had to check the ice too. They didn’t freeze their own but used the stock from the supermarket across the street—Kim Jeongsuk’s call, as it was cheaper than buying a machine. Luckily, the freezer was well-stocked with ice.

Sweeping and mopping the hall was his job from the start, so he did that too. After sweeping with a broom and scrubbing with a wet rag, it was nearly 8 a.m. Soon, Kim Jeongsuk and a couple of girls would show up.

What kind of hardship awaited today? With the mindset of facing an adventure, he grabbed a cigarette and stepped outside. Lighting it while taking in the peaceful morning scenery, so unlike his life, he wondered why he’d ever tried to quit.

Taking long, careful drags, Kim Jeongsuk pulled up in the café car. Parking on one side, she got out and tossed him the keys. He caught them mid-air without a greeting.

“I told you you’d get a beating if you’re still loafing around.”

Today, Kim Jeongsuk wore a tight black sleeveless top and white jeans that hugged her figure, paired with ill-matching open-toe yellow heels. Her exposed toes had black nail polish. Her usually updone hair was let down, maybe for a change, and she wore large hoop earrings. Her makeup… even if he didn’t know much, it was just bad. If she toned down the eye makeup, she’d look decent, but why did madams always go for such heavy looks? He couldn’t get it.

Kim Jeongsuk came up beside him and lit a cigarette. Maybe it was a cheap brand, because she crushed the pack in her hand and tossed it into the drum behind them.

“You know Daehan Motel downtown? Go there, and Byeol Yang and Su Yang will be waiting out front. Pick them up and come back.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Get me some cigarettes on the way. Oh, money.”

Kim Jeongsuk opened her wallet and handed him a ten-thousand-won bill. She added, “Get two packs. And one for you while you’re at it.”

What a rare show of generosity. She must’ve realized she’d been rough on him lately. Puffing hard on her cigarette, she looked him up and down.

“Go to Kimoon dressed like that today. The tight fit looks good. Stop wearing jeans that are so stiff and wear something short, short.”

Watching her walk into the café with the cigarette in her mouth, he mentally flipped her off. Screw you. A few days ago, she’d bought him cheap shorts from the market for less than five thousand, saying to wear them like pajamas. When he wore them out of necessity, she’d said all kinds of crap.

Come to think of it, his pants were yellow too. Feeling like he’d accidentally twinned with Kim Jeongsuk made him sick—worse than the dream of sucking Chu Gioh’s dick. He’d rip them off the second he got back from the errand. With that resolve, he got in the car. Barefoot in slippers, he floored the accelerator and left the café. The breeze through the window felt lukewarm and heavy despite the morning.

Byeol Yang and Su Yang, both twenty-five, were childhood friends from middle and high school. Like Minjo, they ended up here because of messed-up parents. Unlike him, who stubbornly finished school, they dropped out early in their sophomore year of high school and took this path. Too many rotten adults were to blame.

Dressed in tracksuits with no makeup, they looked far younger than their age. They could pass for students in school uniforms. The irony was, older folks tried to look young, while the young fretted over not looking mature. Anyway, he picked them up, bought cigarettes at a nearby convenience store, and was heading back to the café. As they entered the alley by the supermarket where he’d once downed two bottles of soju, Su Yang’s phone rang. From the conversation, it seemed to be Kim Jeongsuk.

“Yeah, auntie, we’re on our way. Now? By the supermarket. No—right in front.”

Saying “Yes, got it,” Su Yang hung up and poked Minjo’s shoulder. “Your auntie says to haul ass. Says it’s crazy urgent.”

What could be so urgent? A delivery? If so, she’d have told Byeol Yang or Su Yang to hurry, not him. With last night’s dream lingering, he felt uneasy.

Rounding a curve, with the café just a few dozen meters away, he saw the scene ahead. Everyone in the car, including Minjo, muttered at once.

“What…?”

“What’s that?”

“What the hell?”

The small parking area in front of the café was packed with black cars. Three luxury sedans and two vans. The tight space forced them to spill onto the road. Seeing it, his breath caught. Spotting someone getting out of a van’s driver seat, he slammed on the brakes.

Jeongsik, decked out in a sharp black suit, waved at Minjo as the car screeched to a stop. Behind him, Byeol Yang and Su Yang whispered in shock.

“What’s that lunatic doing here this early? He nuts?”

“No, doesn’t look like he’s alone. So many cars. What’s going on?”

“Shit. Did auntie use Kimoon’s money?”

“Her? No way. Probably that bastard Kang Munsu. Bet it’s a ton.”

Minjo’s heart raced uncontrollably. His thoughts were completely different from the girls in the back.

Even if Chu said, “We’ll see each other tomorrow,” wasn’t this too early? And he didn’t even call for Minjo—he came straight to the café.

Jeongsik bellowed, waving like he was directing traffic.

“What’re you doing? Sleeping? Move it! Hyungnim’s waiting!”

Pushed by Jeongsik, the youngest, Minjo stepped into the café, and the scene was even wilder than he’d imagined. The hall, never full even once, was packed. All eight four-person tables were crammed with suited big guys. His eyes naturally darted around for Chu Gioh.

Chu Gioh sat with his back to the window at the innermost spot, standing out instantly due to his size. Beyond his bulk, he was the only one in a dark gray suit today, making him even more noticeable. He was facing two older men, flipping through a file folder and talking. The three luxury sedans were likely theirs. They had the air of people who held big positions somewhere.

Kim Jeongsuk, at the kitchen counter, shot Minjo an urgent look, signaling him to go greet Chu Gioh. Knowing Jeongsik was outside, he backed toward the entrance. Who in their right mind would walk into that suffocating place willingly? Shaking his head and retreating, Kim Jeongsuk mouthed, “You damn bastard?” But his feet only moved backward.

That’s when it happened. A guy at the table next to Chu Gioh, one Minjo had seen twice—the one who’d grabbed his crotch—raised his hand and beckoned him over. Chu Gioh, flipping through papers, noticed the gesture and whipped his head around. Suddenly. With fierce eyes. They locked onto Minjo.

Grinning at him, Chu patted the empty seat beside him. His cave-like voice filled the small café.

“Come here quick. I saved your spot.”

🍀

Including Chu Gioh, there were twenty of them. And every single one ordered ssanghwa tea. Well, except for one guy. That guy always, every day, drank cold black coffee with two spoons of sugar.

The sofa was narrow, and Chu’s thighs were each as thick as Minjo’s waist, so they had no choice but to sit pressed together. To make matters worse, he was wearing short shorts, so their bare skin touched, and the warmth was unmistakable.

“Here…”

Careful not to mess up like yesterday, he set the properly made coffee in front of Chu. Closing a file labeled “Muguang Golf Course Construction Plan” with a snap, Chu dropped his right hand under the table and immediately grabbed Minjo’s thigh. Ah… The strong grip made him groan involuntarily. He quickly bowed his head and bit his tongue. He could feel Chu glancing at him.

Chu’s hand was so big it could envelop Minjo’s thigh entirely. He deliberately kneaded the inner thigh muscles. All the while, he looked only at the directors in front of him, carrying on a casual conversation. His touch was sometimes gentle, sometimes suddenly rough with force. Each time, Minjo’s body twitched like it was electrified.

Soon, Su Yang brought out two glasses of ssanghwa tea. Maybe from rushing to make nineteen, her cheeks were faintly flushed. The whole café reeked of ssanghwa tea. Pointing his chin at the tea in front of the directors, Chu said,

“Drink it while it’s warm. They say it’s the priciest here—got pine nuts, egg yolk, and all sorts of stuff in it.”

“You should have some too, Mr. Chu. It’s morning, gotta fill your stomach. Coffee’s not enough, is it?”

“Nah, I can’t handle hot stuff. Took after my dad—even soup, I eat it cold. This suits me just fine.”

Holding up the cold black coffee Minjo made with his left hand, Chu spoke. After a sip, he finally looked at Minjo properly. His hand was still kneading Minjo’s thigh.

“Well made today.”

The hand rubbing him suddenly squeezed painfully and stayed still for a while. Minjo couldn’t dare look at him, just sitting there silently. He was too scared to guess what expression Chu had.

After what felt like an eternity, Chu’s head turned forward again. Finishing the coffee in one gulp, the grip on Minjo’s thigh loosened. Glancing down, he saw Chu’s fingers fully inside his shorts. A little higher, and they’d graze his balls or dick.

They kept talking business until the hot ssanghwa tea was gone. It seemed Chu had a schedule later, so they’d met early to inspect the golf course construction site. Seeing this, even a gangster crew didn’t just do illegal stuff. Still, to Minjo, Chu Gioh, sitting beside him, didn’t seem any different. He was still the terrifying guy who cut off ankles.

The two directors, having finished their tea, stood first. Nodding at their request not to see them out, Chu stayed on the sofa. A few big guys went to escort them. Moments later, a laugh came from right beside him.

“So. You wore this knowing I was coming?”

“…Huh?”

“Showing off both legs. Asking to be touched.”

“…”

The blatant touching started again. This time, he grabbed exactly there. The moment his dick was kneaded, Minjo’s back arched. Chu’s thumb pressed precisely on the tip.

“Sir…!”

“What.”

His massive body pressed closer, whispering in Minjo’s ear. It was eerily similar to yesterday’s voice ordering him to suck his dick.

“What? You called me, so say something.”

“Y-your hand…”

“Hand what.”

“If you could let go…”

“Of what.”

His low, chuckling words prompted Minjo to say, “Th-there.” He almost said “dick” or “cock” out of habit, but that felt too crude. At his words, Chu leaned even closer to his ear and whispered.

“Where’s there? Dick? Cock? Or pecker?”