TYS Ch 1

“Damn, Seungwan, life’s been good for you these days, huh? Since no one’s bothering you, your face looks much brighter, man.”

Chief Park from the credit department gave a thumbs-up and chuckled. Seungwan rolled his eyes without responding. Then, he picked up a fly swatter and waved it over the rice sacks.

The fan, spinning noisily, was facing the other direction, so it would take some time before it turned back. Chief Park, seemingly unable to wait even that long, fanned himself with the bank product pamphlet he was holding. He didn’t forget to scold Seungwan.

“This kid’s ignoring me again. Is your mouth broken, or are your ears clogged? Say something already.”

There was no goodwill in the hand gripping his shoulder—it pressed down hard, as if trying to crush him. Instead of resisting, Seungwan let his back collapse under the pressure, causing Chief Park’s firm grip to slip awkwardly. Seungwan didn’t miss the opening. He quickly pulled his shoulder free, glanced at the clock, and stood up.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Huh?”

Chief Park looked bewildered. But Seungwan paid him no mind and started tidying up the display. The agricultural supply store didn’t have air conditioning, making it unbearably hot. Despite sweating profusely, Seungwan maintained a cool expression in front of the supervisor as he organized the invoices and headed to the office. He heard some cursing behind him but didn’t pay much attention.

As they say, when the tiger is away, the fox acts like the king. Chief Park seemed to be going around asserting his workplace hierarchy. It had nothing to do with Seungwan.

Since he hadn’t brought his bag, he was about to head straight home when Manager Song, who was driving the forklift, acknowledged him.

“Seungwan-ssi¹, are you getting off work?”

“Yes, I was just about to head home.”

“Alright, the weather’s hot, so hurry on.”

After bowing slightly, Seungwan continued walking. He hadn’t gone far when he felt a vibration in his pocket. He had a good idea who it was, so he didn’t take out his phone. But as if the caller had noticed, the buzzing continued persistently.

In the end, Seungwan pulled out his phone with slow movements and swiped across the screen. Two messages had arrived in quick succession.

Only then did Seungwan turn his head toward the blue truck parked in front of the repair shop. A man had one arm stretched lazily out the window while resting his head on the other arm, which was hooked over the window frame. When their eyes met, the man banged on the car door—a wordless order to get in.

“…….”

Seungwan slowly changed direction and walked toward him. There was no resistance. It wasn’t like he knew how to send away the debt collector who had come all the way to his workplace again today.

‘From now on, this debt is all mine. You guys shouldn’t poke around needlessly—watch yourselves.’

The man, whose speech still carried a thick dialect accent, had settled the situation before a single cigarette had even burned down. After taking over the debt from Pilseong’s gang, he had bought Seungwan. Seungwan didn’t even know the exact amount. Since then, he had been working for him.

“Did you eat?”

As soon as Seungwan got into the car, the man rolled up the window and turned on the air conditioner. He had been enduring the humid heat of July, the monsoon season not yet over, without even turning it on for himself. Seungwan glanced away when he saw the man’s rough hand adjusting the dial.

“Alright. Let’s eat first.”

It was absurd how the man reached a conclusion on his own without waiting for a response, but as always, Seungwan didn’t react. A large hand reached out—this time, instead of adjusting the dial, it ruffled Seungwan’s hair. The touch was nothing like Chief Chae’s, whose filthy fingernail always scraped against him.

The man rested his hand on the gear shift, made a quick adjustment, and started driving. An outdated idol song requested by someone was playing on the radio. It had been popular back when Seungwan was in high school. The man at the wheel hummed along effortlessly. It was surprising that he even knew the song.

Though the truck rattled a bit, it moved fairly smoothly. Judging by the route, they were headed to the sundae-gukbap² place the man often visited. The owner there had a particular fondness for him. Actually, in this town of Unsan, it was hard to find anyone who didn’t like him. Despite his appearance, he had a good-natured personality and practically made a job out of meddling in people’s business.

Seungwan stole a glance at the man’s thick, coffee-colored fingers as they tapped lightly on the steering wheel, then turned away as if he had never looked. Even with his eyes fixed on the road, the man seemed to pick up on the glance and asked.

“Should I get you boiled pork?”

“……”

“No? Then how about hot pot today?”

Seungwan still didn’t respond, but the man, holding the wheel with one hand, casually picked up his phone from where it had been tossed on the console box and called the restaurant.

Seeing that his phone wasn’t connected to the truck’s audio, it was clear that he had finished all his business calls while Seungwan wasn’t around. He only ever talked about things Seungwan wouldn’t understand anyway, yet he always made a point to keep them hidden.

“Ajum³, it’s me. One medium hot pot, please. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

A sharp voice burst from the receiver—an overly excited reaction from the restaurant owner, who was happy to hear from him. The man responded with a broad grin, his cool lips stretching into a smile. The owner wasn’t even in front of him, yet he was flashing the kind of smile that was too good to give away for free.

“I’m coming with Seungwan, so drinking might be a bit tough. Next time, next time… Ah, come on, I mean it. You don’t trust me?”

What had the owner said in response? Had she gone with, “Of course, I trust you,” or… Seungwan kept picking at the hangnail beside his thumbnail with his index finger.

The man, still holding his phone wedged between his shoulder and ear, reached out and covered Seungwan’s hand, as if telling him to stop.

“Mm, we’ll be there soon.”

Even with the lingering dialect in his speech, his voice sounded gentle. No wonder all the older women in town were crazy about him.

Without a second thought, Seungwan jerked his hand away. The man let go without comment as he ended the call. Tossing his phone carelessly onto the console box, he smoothly turned the rattling truck’s wheel.

“Wan-ah⁴.”

“……”

“What are you sulking about now?”

A surge of irritation flared up, and Seungwan shot him a glare. But even under the fierce stare, the man kept his eyes ahead, focused on the road.

“Didn’t get enough sleep? Should we grab some condoms on the way?”

“……”

His stomach was in knots. This overwhelming affection was like a swamp—the more he struggled, the deeper he sank. The only reason condoms were needed was because of him. Seungwan had been living off the man, both then and now. And yet, he couldn’t understand how the man could so easily promise sex with him just because of a little insomnia.

But the man didn’t pick up on Seungwan’s silence. Even if he did, he didn’t let it show.

“I don’t know why you’re mad again. Hyung⁵ was wrong.”

It was nothing but an empty apology. The man looked troubled, as if he wanted to soothe Seungwan, but how could his feelings possibly be the same? Seungwan pressed firmly against the corners of his burning eyes.

The man who saved Ha Seungwan that day was a total jerk.

Part 1: More Humid

It was far too much like midsummer.

“Goddamn it, grab that bastard!”

“Ugh! Hold him down so he can’t fight back!”

His father’s name was Ha Gongcheol. His mother, Eo Suhyeon, ran away when he was fifteen. Seven years later, their only son, Ha Seungwan, found himself hunted down by debt collectors—because he couldn’t pay off money he had never even used. It was the inheritance Ha Gongcheol had left behind.

“Tie him up. Damn it, why is this brat so strong? Ah, shit, is he really an Omega?!”

“I told you, boss! I checked more than once!”

The men bickered among themselves. Seungwan used every ounce of strength to break free, but the thick hand pressing down on his nape remained firm. It was as if the world itself was telling him he’d never escape anyone’s grasp. Flopping like a fish pulled onto land, all he could do was laugh.

“This little fucker, what the hell are you laughing at?”

The man pinning Seungwan down panted heavily as he grabbed a fistful of his hair and slammed his head into the ground. His forehead struck the stone slab repeatedly, dizziness setting in from what was likely a mild concussion. The sound of a belt unbuckling rang out.

“You fucking bastard, today’s your initiation. Gotta pop your cherry first so you can whore out your ass without trouble. Hey! What the fuck are you doing? Hold him down properly!”

“Ah, boss, but if Pilseong-hyungnim⁶ finds out we took a bite out of the merchandise before him…”

“Quit your fucking whining. As long as we sew this bastard’s mouth shut, no one will ever know. Or what, you planning to go blab yourself? Huh?!”

“That’s not what I meant…”

The man’s eyes were crazed as he panted, his cock pressing against Seungwan’s buttocks. Disgusted by the searing heat of it against his skin, Seungwan struggled. Yet, even as they bickered, the men never loosened their grip on him.

Chirp, chirp. The sound of insects filled the front yard.

In that old house where his father, Ha Gongcheol, and his mother, Eo Suhyeon, had both abandoned him, Seungwan was now on the verge of being discarded by fate itself. Sweat pooled on his forehead, trickling down into his eyes until his vision blurred. It was the height of summer.

“It’s hot as hell. What are you all doing?”

The hinge on the gate screeched, as if letting out a scream. It was as if the hinge itself was startled by the sudden arrival of an unexpected visitor.

With his cheek pressed against the burning ground that had yet to cool from the midsummer heat, Seungwan turned toward the voice. Sweat had gathered at the corners of his eyes, distorting his vision.

Yet, one thing remained unmistakably clear—a massive man leaning against the gate frame, peering into a cigarette pack. Broad shoulders, towering height, a thick neck, and a gaze directed straight at them. Even with someone’s cock grinding into him and his face mashed against the floor, Seungwan instantly knew that man was an Alpha.

The man finally picked out a slender cigarette, as if selecting the one that had been waiting just for him. Holding it between his lips, he grinned.

“I’ve got a debt to collect too.”

In other words, that summer was just too much.