"Wanderline 4ever!"

The next day, they took a break at the school canteen. As they were chatting and laughing, Junho suddenly stormed over to Minhyuk. His face was red with anger, and he made a direct demand.

"Minhyuk, I want to talk to you after school," Junho said, his voice low but tense.

Minhyuk, trying to remain calm, just nodded casually. "Sure, whatever."

After school, Minhyuk had planned to go home with his friends, but he suddenly made up an excuse. "I have some stuff to do, you guys go ahead," he said, causing his friends to look at him with raised eyebrows. It was unlike Minhyuk to avoid spending time with them, but they didn't press it, and left him to whatever business he had.

Later, Minhyuk found himself in an alleyway, where Junho and a few of his friends were waiting for him, their eyes filled with hostility. Minhyuk smirked and took a moment to observe the scene. It was clear that Junho had been plotting something for a while, but Minhyuk wasn't worried. In fact, he almost felt entertained by the situation.

Without warning, Minhyuk jumped down from the top of a nearby wall, landing gracefully in front of Junho and his gang. With a mischievous grin, he said, "You know, Junho, it's a little obvious when you're jealous."

Junho looked taken aback, his fists clenched. "Jealous? Of you? You're nothing but a rich kid who gets everything handed to him," he spat.

Minhyuk raised an eyebrow, not even flinching. "If you're trying to intimidate me, you're doing a terrible job of it. But go ahead, do what you must. I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince you of something that's not true."

Junho's anger flared, and he took a step forward, trying to get in Minhyuk's face. "You think you can just get away with everything, huh? Wait until the event later. I'll make sure you regret it."

Minhyuk chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "You think you can beat me, Junho? I'm not the same person you can easily push around. You've been warned." His voice was calm and calculated, but the threat was clear.

Junho growled in frustration, clearly irritated by Minhyuk's cool demeanor. "We'll see about that."

Minhyuk simply shrugged, unfazed by the threat. "You'll get caught in your own trap. Don't say I didn't warn you."

With that, he turned to walk away, leaving Junho and his friends standing in the alley, their plans now feeling less certain. As Minhyuk walked off, a small smirk appeared on his lips—he knew exactly how to handle situations like this, and Junho was about to make a very big mistake.

Junho swung his fist at Minhyuk, but with lightning speed, Minhyuk effortlessly blocked the punch. His movements were smooth and precise, demonstrating a level of skill that was far beyond ordinary. It was clear that Minhyuk wasn't just a rich kid with a carefree attitude—he had trained in martial arts, and it showed.

Junho, taken aback by how easily Minhyuk had countered his attack, tried to throw another punch, but Minhyuk swiftly dodged and countered with a gentle yet firm push that sent Junho stumbling back.

"Is that all you've got?" Minhyuk said, his voice calm and taunting. He stood there with a relaxed stance, his eyes sharp and focused.

Junho, now frustrated and even more furious, lunged at Minhyuk again, but Minhyuk was always one step ahead. With a swift movement, he deflected the attack and effortlessly took Junho's arm, twisting it behind his back in a painful but controlled manner.

"You're not even close," Minhyuk said quietly, his grip firm but not cruel.

The gang members who had been watching were now silent, staring in disbelief. They had underestimated Minhyuk, not realizing that his calm demeanor was backed by serious skill. Junho, now realizing the situation he had gotten himself into, tried to break free, but Minhyuk maintained his hold effortlessly.

"Do you still want to continue?" Minhyuk asked, his tone almost bored. "Because I'm getting kind of tired of this."

Junho gritted his teeth, his pride hurt, but he knew he was outmatched. He hesitated, looking around at his friends, who were equally stunned.

Minhyuk released his hold, standing up straight. "I don't have time for this," he said before turning to walk away. "Think twice before you challenge me again."

As he walked off, Junho and his friends stood there, realizing that Minhyuk was not someone they could mess with so easily.

As Minhyuk slowly regained consciousness in the hospital, he winced at the throbbing pain in his head. The bandage wrapped around it felt tight, and his vision was blurry for a moment. As his senses cleared, he noticed the presence of his family and friends gathered around him.

His mother, Seo Yura, was sitting by his side, looking worried, while his father, Hyunwoo, stood near the bed, his arms crossed with a stern expression. His aunt and uncle were there too, looking concerned but also slightly relieved to see him awake.

"Minhyuk, are you okay?" Seo Yura asked softly, her voice laced with concern.

Minhyuk nodded, although he still felt a bit dizzy. "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little headache. Nothing serious," he said, trying to reassure her, though his voice sounded a bit weaker than usual.

Hyunwoo, however, didn't look convinced. He raised an eyebrow and spoke sternly. "What did I tell you about causing trouble? Are you going to start another fight?"

Minhyuk flashed a playful smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, they started it first, I just gave them a little taste of their own medicine. I'll get them back later," he joked, but there was a slight edge to his voice as he remembered the scene earlier.

Before anyone could respond, Joonseok, who had been standing by the door, spoke up. "Minhyuk, you really need to be careful. Two days from now is our performance. We can't afford for anything to go wrong."

Minhyuk blinked at him, realizing what he meant. "Oh, right... The school event," he murmured, rubbing his forehead. He was still trying to process the fact that his head was aching and his plans for the performance were now in jeopardy.

Sangwoo, who had been silent until now, stepped forward with a more serious expression. "Don't worry, Minhyuk. We'll manage. But you need to rest. You can't perform like this."

Minhyuk looked at his friends, feeling a bit guilty. "Yeah, you're right. I'll rest up, I promise. I won't let this stop me."

Hae Rin, who had been quietly standing at the side, smiled and patted Minhyuk's shoulder. "You've got this, Minhyuk. Just focus on getting better, and we'll handle everything else."

Minhyuk nodded, trying to smile, though the pain in his head was still there. "Thanks, everyone. I'll be ready. We've got a performance to rock."

The group exchanged glances, agreeing that they needed to get through the next few days and make sure Minhyuk was at his best for the event. It wasn't just a performance, it was their moment to shine, and they couldn't afford any more distractions.

"Rest up, Minhyuk. We'll take care of the rest," Hyunwoo said, his stern tone softening just a little. "And no more trouble, understood?"

Minhyuk chuckled weakly. "Understood, Dad."

As the group began to leave the room, Minhyuk lay back on the hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the situation settle in. He had to recover quickly, for himself and for the band. The performance was just around the corner, and it was time to give it everything he had.

The day they had all been waiting for finally arrived. Minhyuk, still feeling the remnants of his injury, gathered the strength to remove the bandage from his head. He glanced at himself in the mirror, his reflection showing the still-visible bruises, but his resolve was firm. "I'm not going to let this stop me," he muttered to himself, taking a deep breath.

With a determined look on his face, Minhyuk joined his bandmates for the performance. His heart raced as he walked to the backstage area, nerves starting to hit him again. But this time, they weren't from fear of the stage—they were from the overwhelming desire to make this performance count. He couldn't afford to disappoint his friends or his family.

On the other side of town, Hyunwoo, Minhyuk's aunt and uncle, and several of the restaurant staff were busy setting up the new restaurant that Minhyuk's uncle had just opened. The space was vast, filled with elegant furniture and bright lights. There was a lot of movement, as the staff worked hard to get everything in order before the grand opening.

Minhyuk's uncle, exhausted from the heavy lifting, paused for a moment to catch his breath. He leaned against the counter, wiping sweat from his brow, and sighed. His eyes looked moist with emotion. He looked up at Hyunwoo, who was nearby, checking on the setup.

"Hyunwoo... I don't know how to thank you. All this, it's all possible because of your help," Minhyuk's uncle said, his voice trembling slightly.

Hyunwoo stopped what he was doing and walked over, giving a slight smile. "There's no need to thank me. You should thank Minhyuk. He's the one who really made this possible," he replied, his voice full of sincerity.

Minhyuk's uncle looked confused for a moment. "Minhyuk? But—"

Hyunwoo interrupted him gently. "He's the one who pushed me to help you, the one who believed in you when no one else did. He's the one who believed this restaurant could become a success, and now look at it."

There was a long pause, and Minhyuk's uncle's expression softened. "You're right... It's Minhyuk who made all this happen. I'll be sure to tell him how grateful I am when I see him again." His voice cracked as he said it, a tear slipping down his cheek.

Meanwhile, back at the event, Minhyuk stood backstage, his heart beating faster with each passing second. The crowd outside was buzzing with excitement, and he could hear the muffled sounds of cheers from the audience. He and his bandmates exchanged final words of encouragement before they were called to the stage.

"Minhyuk, ready?" Taehyun asked, giving him a reassuring smile.

Minhyuk nodded, trying to push aside his lingering doubts. "Yeah. Let's do this."

The moment they walked onto the stage, the crowd erupted into applause. Minhyuk felt the energy of the audience wash over him. His nerves were still there, but they were now replaced by adrenaline. His bandmates played the first few notes, and Minhyuk gripped the microphone. As he began to sing, his worries seemed to fade into the background. He gave everything he had, his voice strong and his guitar playing solid. This was their moment, and he wasn't going to waste it.

Back at the restaurant, the work was almost complete, and Minhyuk's uncle smiled through his tears as he looked around at the beautiful space they had created together. "This is it. We're finally going to make it."

As the opening event neared, he couldn't help but think of Minhyuk. Everything was happening because of him, and he had no idea how to properly thank his nephew for his unwavering belief in him.

At the performance, as the band finished their last song, Minhyuk's heart was pounding in his chest, but he couldn't help but smile. The cheers of the crowd were deafening, and for the first time in a while, Minhyuk felt truly alive. His thoughts drifted to his family—his mother, his father, his uncle—and he knew that no matter what happened next, this moment was worth everything.

The lights dimmed, signaling the end of the show. Minhyuk took a moment to catch his breath before looking at his bandmates. "We did it," he said, a wide grin on his face.

Taehyun, Sangwoo, and Joonseok nodded, equally exhausted but proud of what they had just accomplished.

"Yeah, we really did," Sangwoo said with a smile, clapping Minhyuk on the back. "Now, let's go celebrate."

But Minhyuk had something else in mind. He quickly took out his phone and typed a message to his uncle: "I hope you're watching, Uncle. This one's for you."

As the night wound down, the celebration at the restaurant continued. Hyunwoo, Minhyuk's mother, and his aunt all watched with pride as Minhyuk's uncle toasted to the success of the restaurant. And in that moment, everything felt like it was falling into place, a dream slowly coming true for both Minhyuk and his family.

As Minhyuk and his bandmates celebrated their successful performance, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and laughter. The cheers of the crowd still echoed in their ears, but the real joy was shared among themselves. They had worked hard, and now they could finally enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Just as they were about to step off the stage, Hae Rin approached them with a big smile, holding up something in her hands. It was the official Wanderline merchandise—custom-made shirts for the band.

"I brought the new official Wanderline shirts! For all of you!" she exclaimed, handing each of them a shirt with the band's logo on it.

Minhyuk smiled, feeling a sense of pride swelling in his chest. "Wanderline 4ever!" he shouted, raising his hand in the air.

"Yeah!" Taehyun, Sangwoo, and Joonseok all joined in, their voices full of enthusiasm. "Wanderline 4ever!"

Hae Rin laughed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is just the beginning, right? You guys are amazing!"

Minhyuk nodded. "We've worked so hard for this, and it's only the start. Wanderline is just getting started."

As they all gathered together, Hae Rin raised her glass for a toast. "To Wanderline, and to the incredible journey ahead!"

"To Wanderline!" they all echoed, clinking their glasses together.

The celebration continued well into the night. For Minhyuk and his friends, this was more than just a performance—it was a symbol of their hard work, determination, and the bond they shared. They knew this was only the beginning of something much bigger.

And so, with a sense of pride and excitement for the future, they celebrated their success. "Wanderline 4ever!" they cheered once more, their voices rising in unison.

The and....