Fang walked away from the break area.
A cold smile remained on his face.
Seongrim Public High School.
Han Soo Min.
Kang Min Woo.
Interesting.
The rest of the shift passed normally.
Boxes.
Scanners.
Inventory checks.
Nothing unusual.
Yet Fang found himself thinking about the school more than expected.
...
7:34 AM.
The shift finally ended.
After saying a brief goodbye to the workers, Fang left the warehouse.
Thirty minutes later
He arrived home.
The smell of food greeted him immediately.
Seo Yuna had cooked again.
The dishes were simple.
But compared to the empty table from before, it felt completely different.
Noah looked especially excited today.
"Dad!"
"What?"
"I'm going to school tomorrow!"
"Hm."
Noah puffed her cheeks.
"That's all?"
"What else should I say?"
"Something exciting!"
Fang thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Good luck."
Noah immediately smiled.
Much better.
After breakfast, Fang went to change.
The new black suit fit surprisingly well.
Only 3 days of warehouse work had already begun to change his body.
"This body sure has extremely good genes; even I got surprised how I lifted 100kg when I am not in my original body."
The loose look from before had disappeared.
When he walked out of the room, Noah's eyes widened.
"WOAH."
Seo Yuna also looked up.
For a brief moment, she froze.
The suit was expensive.
But it suited him.
Fang noticed their reactions.
"...What?"
"You look different."
"Hm."
Noah pointed dramatically.
"You look like a movie villain."
Seo Yuna immediately laughed.
Fang looked mildly offended.
"hm..'
...
8:28 AM.
Fang arrived outside a large mansion-like house.
The bodyguard's job officially started at nine.
He preferred arriving early.
Thirty minutes early.
A servant opened the gate after confirming his identity.
"Mr. Fang, please come in."
The house was large.
Too large.
Expensive paintings.
Expensive furniture.
Expensive everything.
Fang disliked it immediately.
In his previous life, he had way too much money, but he liked simple living.
Soon, he entered a spacious office.
A middle-aged man stood near the window in a well-dressed white-cream suit with long bread.
Chairman Kang.
Kang Min Woo's father.
The man turned around calmly.
"You arrived early."
"Hm."
"I like punctual people."
"Make yourself comfortable and sit down."
Fang sat down.
The conversation remained brief.
Work schedule.
Responsibilities.
Emergency contacts.
Basic expectations.
Chairman Kang studied Fang quietly.
The office became silent for several seconds.
Most people became nervous under that gaze.
Fang didn't.
That alone was unusual.
Finally, Chairman Kang spoke.
"Park Hyun recommended you."
"Hm."
"How do you know him?"
"Convenience store."
Chairman Kang looked surprised.
"That's it?"
"Hm."
The chairman laughed.
"That's a very Park Hyun answer."
Fang remained silent.
Then Chairman Kang leaned back slightly.
"You know, when he called me, he only said one thing."
"What?"
"'If you need someone reliable, use this guy.'"
Fang looked toward the window.
"Hm."
"Do you know how rare it is for him to recommend someone?"
"No."
Chairman Kang smiled.
"Which is why I'm curious."
He folded his hands together.
"Can you fight?"
"Hm."
"What does that mean?"
"It means yes."
The chairman nodded.
Then his expression became more serious.
"There is a chance my son could become a kidnapping target."
"Hm."
"Not every day."
"Not every month."
"But the possibility exists."
Fang nodded once.
"Understood."
Chairman Kang opened a nearby drawer.
Then placed a handgun on the desk.
A heavy black pistol.
Fang glanced at it.
Then looked away.
Chairman Kang noticed.
"No reaction?"
"It's a Desert Eagle."
"You know it? Can you use one?"
"A little."
The chairman smiled slightly.
"A little? Try holding it."
Fang picked it up.
Checked the weight.
Checked the slide.
Then casually said,
"Magazine isn't full."
Chairman Kang blinked.
"What?"
"Six rounds."
Silence.
The chairman stared at him.
Fang turned the pistol over once.
Then shrugged.
"I've seen enough action dramas and battle royals to recognize one."
The answer came too quickly.
Chairman Kang stared for several seconds.
Then suddenly laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"You're a strange man, Mr. Chung Soo."
"Hm."
The chairman took the pistol back.
"You don't seem nervous about anything."
"I get nervous."
"When?"
"When Noah requests something or when the women I live with stare at me."
Chairman Kang laughed again.
For some reason, he liked that answer.
The atmosphere became slightly lighter.
Then the chairman's expression turned serious once more.
"There's one more thing."
"Hm."
Chairman Kang sighed.
"...if possible, make him stop bullying other students."
Silence.
"He wasn't always like this."
For the first time, the chairman looked tired.
"I don't expect miracles."
The chairman looked toward the desk.
"Just try."
Fang stood up.
The meeting was ending.
Then Chairman Kang added one last thing.
"If things go well..."
He paused briefly.
"...I'll give you a one million yuan bonus this month."
Fang stopped.
For the first time during the entire conversation
He looked interested.
Chairman Kang noticed immediately.
"...You really only reacted to the money."
"Hm, just for a month."
The chairman laughed helplessly.
Maybe Park Hyun had been right after all.
Chairman Kang observed him.
Then asked,
"Have you worked as a bodyguard before?"
Fang answered without hesitation.
"A little."
If Park Hyun were present, he would probably choke hearing that answer.
Chairman Kang nodded.
Then pressed a button on his desk.
"Send Min Woo in."
A few moments later
The door opened.
A teenage boy walked inside.
Expensive watch.
Expensive shoes.
Arrogant face.
Kang Min Woo.
The boy looked at Fang once.
Then immediately frowned.
"...That's the bodyguard?"
Silence.
His eyes moved toward Fang's suit.
Then he laughed.
"Where did you buy that cheap suit?"
The servant instantly looked uncomfortable.
Chairman Kang frowned.
Fang answered calmly.
"Nearby."
"What?"
"I didn't have time to search longer."
Min Woo blinked.
That wasn't the reaction he expected.
That annoyed him more.
Chairman Kang rubbed his forehead.
"Min Woo."
"What?"
"Behave."
The teenager clicked his tongue.
Clearly uninterested.
...
A few minutes later.
A large black sedan left the mansion.
The black sedan moved smoothly through the morning streets.
Fang drives the car
Fang and Kang Min Woo were alone in the car
For the first few minutes
Silence.
Then Kang Min Woo looked up from his phone.
"So you're my new bodyguard."
"Hm."
"You look poor."
"Hm."
"That suit is cheap."
"Hm."
"I've seen better suits on school teachers."
"Hm."
Min Woo frowned.
Was this guy even listening?
"You know, most bodyguards at least try to look professional."
"Hm."
"I could probably buy 50 of those suits with my allowance."
"Hm."
The teenager clicked his tongue.
Annoying.
This man just sat there looking out the window; it was not like ignoring, but more like I didn't exist.
A full minute passed.
Then Min Woo tried again.
"So how much are they paying you?"
"Enough to get me motivated for 1 month."
"After 1 month?"
"I don't know."
"Did you have a loan or something"
"Well, technically it was not mine, but it is mine"
"What! your wife or parents had a loan or something?"
"No!"
"So, who has?"
"Me, but it's not mine in some ways."
"I didn't get the crap."
"Hm"
"You're really boring."
"Hm."
Min Woo almost threw up his phone.
Five minutes passed like that.
Insults.
Complaints.
Random comments.
Every answer was basically the same.
Finally
Fang looked away from the window.
"Do you know why I took this job?"
Min Woo smirked.
"Money obviously."
"What else would it be?"
"No, it's just been a long time since I've needed this much patience and self-control, lowly trash just came and insultes, even I had to clean up someone else's mess to release this stress. I want someone."
"What are you trying to say?"
Fang didn't say anything
A few seconds later
Min Woo quietly picked up his phone again.
For the rest of the ride
He said nothing.
The entire ride remained silent.
Min Woo stayed busy scrolling through his phone.
Meanwhile, Fang observed the city outside.
Soon
Seongrim Public High School appeared.
From outside, everything looked normal.
Students entering.
Teachers greet people.
Parents dropping children off.
An ordinary school.
Yet Fang knew appearances meant nothing.
As students entered through the gate, one face caught his attention.
A girl.
Black hair.
Quiet expression.
She walked alone.
Han Soo Min.
The resemblance to the warehouse worker was obvious.
Same eyes.
Same face shape.
Bruises.
Small cuts on her arm.
Fang looked toward Kang Min Woo.
Then toward Han Soo Min again.
The cold smile returned.
For some reason,
Kang Min Woo suddenly felt uncomfortable.