Chapter 2 : The Unwelcome Guest

The uninvited guest’s arrival set me off. 

“Woof! Woof woof!” 

Get out of here!

Who do you think you are, showing up like this? 

Sure, I recognized that face—he’d brought snacks a few times—but I hadn’t forgotten what happened a few days ago.

Even from inside the van, I heard every word.

Every single insult he hurled at my master! 

“Hyunjae! Quiet. It’s just Jungwoo.”

“Woof woof woof! Woof!” 

I hate that guy!

He badmouthed you! 

I barked my heart out, but my master only focused on calming me down. 

“What’s got this smart pup so worked up? Hush now, you can’t bark like this at night.” 

“Haha, I’m not a bad guy, buddy. Don’t you remember the treats I got you last time?” 

Jungwoo, wearing an awkward smile, reached out to pat my back, trying to bond.

But the more he tried, the louder I barked. 

“Woof! Woof!” 

Who do you think you’re touching? Get lost! 

“Hyunjae!” 

Realizing I wouldn’t stop, Jaehyun herded me into the kitchen and blocked me off with a fence. 

“Whine…” 

This flimsy fence?

I could knock it over in a second.

But sensing Jaehyun’s distress, I settled for glaring at the two of them from afar. 

“He’s not usually like this.” 

“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” 

Don’t mind?

He was staring daggers at me!

If he tried anything funny with my master, I’d leap over and bite him without hesitation. 

“What’s up?” 

“Let’s sit, have a drink, and talk. You’re not rushing me, are you?” 

“Fine. Wait here.” 

Jungwoo plopped down at the living room table, and Jaehyun stepped into the kitchen where I was. 

Master, kick that guy out.

He’s been bad news from the start. 

I sidled up to Jaehyun, glaring at Jungwoo, but he only stroked the back of my neck gently. 

“Why’re you barking so much? It’s nighttime—quiet down. What’s got you so grumpy, huh?” 

I’m telling you, that jerk was trashing you! For real! 

“Play by yourself for a bit after your snack.” 

I was so frustrated I could barely breathe.

If only humans could understand even a little of what we say. 

Jaehyun grabbed a pile of treats, then pulled a bottle of whiskey and glasses from a drawer before heading back to the living room. 

The two settled at the wide table, sipping whiskey. 

“This place is always so nice.” 

“Work hard, and you could move here too.” 

“That’s the plan. Oh, speaking of, about that project I’m joining…” 

They clinked glasses, slipping into casual chatter.

Talk of projects, recent encounters, hot new movies. 

“Who could’ve guessed that film would blow up? It’s such a niche genre.” 

“That’s that director’s thing—turning a niche into mainstream.” 

“True. But… are those all scripts sent to you?” 

Jungwoo pointed at a stack of dozens of scripts piled in a corner of the living room. 

“Yeah, but most of them are similar roles. Just a lot of the same.” 

“What about those two set aside?” 

Next to the pile, two scripts sat neatly separated. 

“Oh, those? Hyunjae picked them out.” 

Jaehyun pointed at me, and Jungwoo’s eyes flicked between us, confused.

The moment our gazes met, I bared my teeth, growling, but Jaehyun’s sharp “Tch!” made me tuck them away. 

“Huh?” 

“Funny, right? I was practicing picking scripts and showed him a few. Out of all of them, he chose those two.” 

“A dog picked scripts?” 

It sounded absurd, but Jaehyun’s excitement piqued Jungwoo’s interest. 

“Yeah, and they’re good. The director’s a newbie, but there’s something fresh about them.” 

From the way he spoke, it was clear Jaehyun had already made up his mind.

Nothing was set in stone until contracts were signed, but once Jaehyun committed, big investments would likely follow, making the project almost certain to move forward. 

“What kind of project?” 

“It’s not circulating yet, so I can’t show it to anyone… but you can skim it.” 

Jaehyun handed the two scripts to Jungwoo, who flipped through them, captivated. 

This is it. 

The moment he started reading, he knew.

Fast-paced plotting, snappy dialogue, and a clean ending free of the melodramatic clichés audiences hated these days. 

“Hyunjae picked these?” 

“Yup, my boy’s got an eye for it. Pure coincidence, but wild, right? I’m gonna use it as a story for promo later.” 

While Jungwoo only got predictable supporting roles, the real gems always went to the top dogs.

No wonder he couldn’t break through. 

“Coincidence, sure, but that’s cool.” 

“Right? My baby’s a total genius.” 

Jaehyun’s proud, almost parental gushing over his dog felt alien to Jungwoo.

A guy who lived for his work, finding joy in a pet? 

“Hyung, by the way…” 

Sensing Jaehyun’s good mood, Jungwoo seized the moment. 

“Have you thought about what we talked about last time?” 

“Jungwoo.” 

Jaehyun straightened, his voice turning serious as he said his name. 

“I can’t do it.” 

“Hyung!” 

Jungwoo’s voice shot up at Jaehyun’s firm refusal. 

“Jungwoo.” 

“Goddamn it, are we really doing this? Come on, three hundred million is nothing to you!” 

The whiskey was getting to him, and Jungwoo’s emotions flared. 

“I know, three hundred million wouldn’t hurt me. But I’m not lending it to you.” 

“Why? You’re swimming in cash! Can’t you spare that for your dear little brother?” 

There’d been no promise of a loan, but Jungwoo had assumed it was a done deal.

Betrayal surged through him. 

“You borrowed half a million from your manager yesterday, didn’t you? What’d you do with it?” 

Of course, he’d blown it on gambling in no time. 

Damn it, how’d he hear about that?

Jungwoo’s mouth clamped shut. 

“What’d you do with it?” 

“Fine, I gambled it! Everybody does it these days!” 

Jaehyun sighed at Jungwoo’s childish defense.

He’d always babied him, and sure, Jungwoo could be reckless and immature, but Jaehyun had hoped the industry would shape him up.

Clearly, nothing had changed. 

“Jungwoo, please. You’re twenty-seven. You can’t keep acting like you’re seventeen or eighteen. You’re at an age where you need to take responsibility for your actions.” 

“I’m trying to take responsibility!”

“Woof woof! Woof woof!” 

As their voices rose, I took it as a fight and barked from the kitchen, probably to protect my master. 

“Hyunjae, hush.” 

“God, that damn dog won’t shut up.”

“What?” 

“That damn mutt you picked up off the street, barking like it owns the place.” 

His words insulted me, but his eyes were locked on Jaehyun. 

“Hey. Watch it!” 

Ding-dong. 

The intercom buzzed just as Jaehyun was about to snap back.

He shot Jungwoo a look, stood, and picked up the receiver. 

“Yes, this is the management office. We got a complaint about your dog barking too much.”

“I’m so sorry.” 

“It’s late, so please keep it in mind.” 

“Yes, sorry about that.” 

Hyunjae was unusually on edge today, enough to prompt a complaint. 

“Wait here.” 

Jaehyun scooped me up from the kitchen and carried me to a room.

I planted my butt on the floor, resisting, but I was no match for him. 

“Did you just say that to get at me?” 

“What are you talking about?” 

Jungwoo shrugged at Jaehyun’s question, downing the whiskey in front of him. 

“I got to where I am on my own.” 

“Pfft, you really believe that?” 

Jaehyun’s brow furrowed as Jungwoo burst into laughter. 

“Your uncle picked a filthy orphan off the street and made you into something, and now you’ve got the nerve to act like this?” 

“What?” 

“They say you don’t take in strays for a reason.” 

“Yeah, and that orphan’s making bank for you now, isn’t he? What about you? Kicking away the lead role I got you because you didn’t like the actress?” 

Jungwoo’s recent fiasco—demanding a co-star be replaced and losing the role instead—was already a running joke in the industry. 

“Why the hell are you bringing that up?”

“Know your place, Jungwoo. You’re lucky to even get supporting roles.” 

Continuing would only hurt them both, so Jaehyun moved to end it. 

“Leave. I’ve got nothing more to say.” 

As he turned to clear the whiskey glass in the kitchen, a shattering crash rang out.

Red liquid began trickling from Jaehyun’s head. 

“Ugh… what the hell…?” 

Turning, he saw Jungwoo gripping a blood-stained whiskey glass. 

“You’ve always pissed me off, acting all high and mighty. You’re nothing.” 

Jaehyun touched his head, his hand coming away wet with blood. 

“You… you’re actually insane… I…” 

As he fumbled for his phone to call for help, Jungwoo shoved him lightly.

Disoriented, Jaehyun collapsed to the floor.

Jungwoo began pouring the remaining whiskey over his face. 

“Gah—what… what are you—argh!” 

The liquor flooded Jaehyun’s mouth and nose, the pouring relentless until the bottle was empty. 

“Call the cops if you want, hyung. But no one’s gonna believe you when I say I spiked your drink earlier.” 

“Ugh—what? Cough! Gag!” 

Jaehyun coughed violently, struggling to cling to consciousness. 

“You know how it is in this industry. Drunk driving, gambling—those are fine. But drugs? That’s a line you don’t cross. All this over three hundred million.” 

“You… crazy bastard…” 

“You should’ve handed it over when I asked nicely.” 

Leaving Jaehyun on the floor, Jungwoo began ransacking the house.

He grabbed luxury watches, bags, cash—anything valuable. 

“I’ll take these for now. But send me three—no, ten billion when you’re feeling cooperative.” 

Returning to the living room, he spoke to Jaehyun, who lay still, eyes closed.

A chill ran through Jungwoo.

He cautiously nudged him with his foot. 

“Hey. Hey.” 

No response. 

“Get up already.” 

Anxiety creeping in, Jungwoo shook him hard with both hands. Jaehyun didn’t budge. 

“No way… no way.” 

There’d been some blood, sure, but they’d been talking, and Jaehyun had walked just fine. 

Like he’d seen on TV, Jungwoo held his hand under Jaehyun’s nose. 

That’s when it hit him—he’d done something irreversible.