“That’s really something,” Sang-woong thought.
While others might not notice, Sang-woong, a perceptive Rank 8 Hunter, didn’t miss the subtle changes in Koo Eun-woo’s expressions.
Whenever someone accidentally brushed against him, Eun-woo gritted his teeth and forced a bright smile, as if swallowing shards of glass. Despite the excruciating pain, he never let out a single groan.
Sang-woong asked himself, Could I endure even a single day of that kind of pain?
The answer was a clear No.
Eun-woo was enduring for the sake of his brother, who worried about him, and to reclaim some semblance of a normal life. Every moment, he swallowed his pain, wearing a mask-like smile.
Sang-woong felt deep awe every time he saw him.
To endure such pain at such a young age… what kind of mental strength does it take?
He was profoundly moved by Eun-woo’s silent resilience in the face of unimaginable agony.
Carefully, Sang-woong picked a few ripe Coral fruits and stored them in his inventory.
Ding-a-ling!
As he exited the gate, the bell on the restaurant door chimed, signaling the arrival of the person he’d been waiting for—Koo Eun-woo.
Wearing a worn baseball cap pulled low, Eun-woo slouched in with sagging shoulders and a swagger, hands stuffed carelessly into the pockets of his baggy jeans, exuding a deliberately carefree vibe.
“Mister, one katsu,” he ordered without looking at Sang-woong, plopping into a seat.
Sang-woong shook his head with a familiar smile. Here he goes again.
He knew why Eun-woo acted this way, thanks to his brother, Koo Yoo-jun. The boy’s tough exterior was a mask—a shield to reassure his worried brother and keep pitying gazes at bay.
Sang-woong placed a bowl of soup, Eun-woo’s favorite fish cake stir-fry, and pickled radish on the table.
“Eat the soup first. Let me know if you need more. I’ll have the katsu ready soon.”
Eun-woo ate the soup without responding.
“Keep acting rude like that, and I’ll tell Ji-an,” Sang-woong teased.
At that, Eun-woo’s tough facade faltered, and he politely said, “Thank you for the meal.”
“That’s more like it. Much nicer,” Sang-woong said with a grin, heading back to the kitchen.
The katsu he prepared was different today. Instead of a salad, there were neatly sliced apples on the side.
Eun-woo ate the katsu absentmindedly. The crispiness caused a slight twinge of pain, but it wasn’t enough to make him give up the delicious dish. He ate diligently, his face expressionless, as if the pain was nothing.
Crunch!
After finishing the katsu, Eun-woo casually popped a slice of apple into his mouth.
To his surprise, the flavor was astonishing. It was enough to break through his forced stoic expression. The sweet aroma and fruity taste that filled his mouth were unbelievable. He had never tasted an apple this delicious.
It instantly washed away the greasy aftertaste of the katsu, leaving only the refreshing crispness of the apple. He almost regretted how quickly the slices disappeared.
“Tasty, right? I prepared those apples just for you. Go on, have more,” Sang-woong said.
Eun-woo, eyes gleaming with anticipation, cautiously picked up another slice. As the apple pieces dwindled, Sang-woong pushed forward a whole peeled apple.
“There’s a special charm to eating an apple whole, don’t you think?” Sang-woong said with a sly smile, his warmth oddly comforting.
“Wow, Mister, me too!” Lee Ji-an, who had just arrived at the restaurant, exclaimed excitedly upon seeing the apples.
“J-Ji-an, you’re here?” Eun-woo stammered, his cheeks flushing at her sudden appearance.
Her unexpected arrival sent a subtle thrill through him.
Sang-woong found the scene amusing but held back from teasing. Embarrassing Eun-woo in front of the girl he liked would only amplify his awkwardness.
“You might not have room for dinner if you eat too many apples,” Sang-woong said with a concerned look.
Ji-an laughed brightly. “It’s fine. I’m on a diet, so apples are perfect.”
“A diet? You’re already so slim,” Sang-woong said.
Blushing but pleased, Ji-an replied, “Hehe, true, but I need to maintain to stay pretty.”
“Maintain what? You’re already plenty pretty. You’ll blow away in the wind if you get any thinner,” Sang-woong teased.
As if agreeing, Eun-woo mustered the courage to say, “Y-yeah, Ji-an, you don’t need a diet. You’re already pretty.”
His ears turned red with embarrassment as soon as the words left his mouth.
“Hohoho!” Ji-an laughed, delighted by their compliments, her bright voice adding warmth to the restaurant.
Sang-woong sliced more Coral fruit and served it to Ji-an on a plate. Her eyes widened as she tasted it.
“Wow, these apples are amazing! Are they really apples?” she exclaimed, astonished by the flavor, and quickly ate them all.
“How do you find such delicious fruit, Mister? The cherry tomatoes last time, the peaches, everything—even the vegetables here are tasty!”
“It’s because I put my heart into cooking. I’m meticulous about choosing ingredients,” Sang-woong said, lifting his chin slightly with a shrug, as if it were no big deal.
“You don’t seem like the meticulous type, but I can’t deny it,” Ji-an said playfully, impressed by his keen eye for ingredients.
“By the way, Mister, can I use some tools from the storage?” Ji-an asked.
“Tools? What for?” Sang-woong asked curiously.
“I want to build a cat house and a cat tower for Ming. I noticed her belly’s looking round—she might be pregnant.”
“Ming’s pregnant? I had no idea. I thought she was just getting fat from all the treats you give her,” Sang-woong said, surprised.
“It’s not confirmed, but a house would be nice for her. Plus, I’d get to see her more,” Ji-an explained excitedly.
“Alright, use the tools, but be careful not to get hurt,” Sang-woong cautioned.
“Yes, Mister. Oh, Oppa, you’ll help, right?” Ji-an said, turning to Eun-woo.
“Uh, w-well…” Eun-woo hesitated, caught off guard.
Building a cat house with Ji-an sounded great, but he feared the pain it might cause. Using tools could intensify his discomfort. Still, it was hard to refuse Ji-an.
“Okay, let’s do it,” he said.
“Thanks! I was worried about doing it alone, but now you’re here,” Ji-an said, smiling brightly.
Her radiant smile made the pain seem bearable. They got to work immediately, starting by moving delivery boxes.
“Wow, you ordered all this?” Eun-woo asked, seeing five boxes.
“It’s for my dear Ming, so I went all out. I spent all my savings,” Ji-an said proudly, lifting a box.
Eun-woo helped carry the boxes downstairs.
“Where are we setting this up?” he asked.
“Under that tree,” Ji-an replied, pointing to a large, majestic tree near the building, its lush leaves perfect for shelter from rain.
“Nice spot,” Eun-woo agreed.
They moved all the boxes and began assembling the cat house and tower. The boxes contained wooden planks, plastic pillars, screws, and an instruction manual.
“Eun-woo oppa, ready to start?” Ji-an asked, unfolding the manual with sparkling eyes.
Eun-woo carefully studied it alongside her.
“Let’s start with the cat tower. It looks more complicated,” he suggested.
Ji-an nodded eagerly.
But assembling the tower was harder than expected. The manual was mostly pictures, with tiny text that was hard to read. The planks kept slipping, and the screws wouldn’t stay in place.
As Eun-woo diligently turned the screwdriver, he noticed something odd. Normally, gripping and twisting it would cause significant pain, but today, the pain was much milder.
Thank goodness, he thought. He’d been worried about showing pain in front of Ji-an, but this level was manageable.
With his fear of pain eased, the moment felt incredibly joyful. He hadn’t realized how happy it could be to work on something with someone he liked.
The planks kept slipping as he tightened screws, and he nearly pinched his finger. Ji-an laughed, exclaiming, “Oh no!”
Still, they giggled, held the planks steady, and took turns with the screwdriver, slowly building the cat tower.
“You’re doing great, Oppa. We’ll finish in no time,” Ji-an praised.
Eun-woo’s face flushed with her compliment. Trying to hide his shyness, he coughed and picked up the tools again.
Ji-an found his bashful reaction adorable.
Woof! Woof!
A dog’s bark drew their attention. A large dog stood before them—Leon.
Eun-woo’s scent, carrying traces of Sang-woong, had drawn Leon out from playing in the forest.
“Argh!” Eun-woo yelped, startled by the sudden appearance of the big dog.
“It’s okay, Oppa. Leon’s super sweet. Look, even with your shouting, he’s not fazed,” Ji-an said, gently petting Leon.
“L-Leon?” Eun-woo asked.
“Yeah, Mister’s dog. He’s so smart. Right, Leon?” Ji-an held out her hand, and Leon placed his large paw in it.
“We need to build a house for Leon too. I’ll make you a big, cool one,” Ji-an said.
Woof! Woof! Leon barked, as if understanding.
Eun-woo watched in amazement. They played with Leon while finishing the cat house and tower.
“Ming will love this,” Ji-an said.
“Of course. You worked so hard,” Eun-woo replied.
“Thanks to your help, I’ll treat you to something delicious later,” Ji-an said.
Eun-woo smiled happily. Building the cat house and tower was tough, but today felt like the best day ever. This memory would likely stay with him for a long time.
In the dim evening light, in a corner of an old building, Heo Dong-sik sat in his shadowy office. Under flickering lights, he stared out the window with a hardened expression.
He was the sunglasses guy from the black market who dealt with Sang-woong.
“That arrogant punk,” he muttered, grinding his teeth as he thought of Sang-woong.
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