Chapter 47: Paying for Kindness

Nightclubs thrived on indulgence.

Let loose, and even broke, it's paradise.

But for a dork like Choi Man-sik, it's hell.

Torture, pure torture!

Past midnight, the full-throttle vibe overwhelmed him.

In half an hour, the lights and music had him ready to puke.

Bolting out the door, he stood on the crowded street, gasping. Rich people's lives weren't as great as he'd imagined.

"Man-sik, you okay?" Seeing him hunched, dry-heaving, Lee Jin-woo didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He'd brought him to have fun, but he looked like he'd been beaten.

Aish, really…

"Hyung, can we go somewhere else? Back in there, I'll die."

Gulping fresh, cold air, Choi Man-sik came back to life.

"Oh, your call."

Patting his back, Lee Jin-woo said, "How about a street stall, some soju?"

"Perfect, awesome." Choi clapped, thrilled.

Strolling down the street, the bustling crowd amazed him. "Hyung, what time is it?"

Glancing at his watch, Lee Jin-woo said, "Not quite 1 a.m."

"These people don't sleep? No work tomorrow?"

"Oh, spending their parents' money, no worries."

"Aish~ Nice life!"

Choi stopped dead, staring at the street's right side.

A woman slumped against the wall, a man sprawled like a broken doll, legs splayed, head down, lifeless.

He froze because someone was rifling through the women's hair, inspecting them like merchandise.

Two guys zeroed in on a drunk girl in denim shorts, black tights, and mid-calf boots—sexy at a glance.

"What're they doing?" As one crouched to carry her, Choi asked, worried and curious.

"Corpse-picking. Snatching drunk women, out like corpses." Lee Jin-woo smirked, hooking his shoulder. "C'mon, hot kimchi soup's waiting!"

"Hyung." Choi blocked him, dead serious. "How can we let them take her? What if…"

"Man-sik-a, that's normal here. This is Itaewon—booze, lights, living the dream."

"You know how it is!"

Choi faltered. He knew Itaewon's rep.

Seoul's biggest, fanciest, most notorious red-light district.

Despite media gloss and government cleanup, some things never changed.

"But that doesn't mean she wants to be taken! That…"

Panicking as the men carried her off, he stammered.

"Aigoo, our Man-sik's so kind… Knowing robbers lie ahead but still going, shouldn't you be ready to get robbed?"

"Or do adults need others to guard their safety?"

"Hyung~" Choi, no match for him, floundered.

Seeing him frantic, clutching Jin-woo, staring after them, Lee Jin-woo sighed. "Aish, do what you want. I'll handle it."

"Hyung, quick, they're getting away!" Choi sprinted off.

"Wait, yah! You two punks, stop!"

About to shove their prize into a car, the men froze, turning to see Choi charging.

"Yah, kid, talking to me? Oh!"

"Yeah, you, no-manners punks! What're you doing?"

"Ha~" They laughed, stunned. Where'd this reckless fool come from?

"Hey, c'mere." One, licking his lips, beckoned cockily.

"Yah, didn't hear? Get over here!" His buddy roared.

Choi hesitated, as if spooked by their menace.

"Look, he's scared. Pfft, thought he was tough—just a loud idiot."

"Hey, shibal, crawl over, or we'll mess you up, arasseo?"

Choi wavered, glancing at Lee Jin-woo approaching. "Hyung, big trouble, huh?"

"Yeah, big trouble, so you should—"

Before he finished, Choi lunged like a hyena.

Thud, clang~

In five seconds, both guys were down.

Curled up, clutching their groins, faces twisted in agony.

A bottom-rung hyena, scraping by in the muck, didn't know manners or rules.

For a hyena, hit hard, hit vital.

Get it done, avoid trouble or injury—best choice.

Hyenas had no spare "food" for doctors.

If hurt, it's over.

Dealing with the trash, Choi pulled the woman from the taxi.

The fed-up driver cursed, peeling out.

Left with the girl in his arms, Choi stood, dumbly staring at Lee Jin-woo, the two groaning punks on the ground.

"Here, see a doctor, go!" Tossing 200,000 won, they limped off.

Choi's head drooped.

But the pale cleavage and boozy scent forced it back up.

"Jin-woo hyung, sorry… I'll pay you back."

"Aish…"

Raising a hand, Jin-woo snapped, "Pay back? Shibal, wanna die?"

Choi grinned, eyes still clear, bright.

Good or bad, everyone wants kind people around.

That kindness was worth paying for.

"Man-sik-a, that money wasn't for you—it bought kindness. No burden. Figure out what to do with her."

Choi's smile froze. He'd saved her but forgot responsibility didn't end there.

Dumping her on the street? Same as letting her be taken.

Glancing at the still-buzzing lanes, couples multiplied, more "hunters" picking prey, passersby blind to it.

Choi got why Jin-woo had stopped him.

Why he'd said, "That's normal here…"

Driving him to a motel, watching him carry her out, Jin-woo nearly lost it.

"Hey, you staying? Got some scheme, huh?"

"Hyung!" Choi couldn't handle the tease.

"Arasseo, arasseo… Be careful. Report to the company tomorrow!"

"Hyung, I said I'm not joining your company."

Beaming, Choi said, "Money's nice, but I care more about you, hyung!"

"Aish, so cheesy… Fine, handle it."

Checking his wallet—too many surprises today, under 100,000 won left.

He handed it over. "Borrowed. Pay me back when you're flush."

"Aish, hyung, you said no 'borrow' between us. I'm taking it, gone!"

Watching him enter the motel, Jin-woo shook his head, cursing with a grin. "Damn punk, hasn't changed a bit!"

Checking the time, he headed to his golden den.

Public parking was gone this late.

Better park in the underground garage.

Waking, he flipped on the TV to Entertainment Times, then hit the bathroom.

"IU, dubbed a dark horse, has drawn wide attention for her unique three-octave high notes. Her debut single 'Good Day' is a smash hit… Industry insiders say this year's song awards could see an upset, a rare solo debut in music…"

Done washing, he called Yoon Hye-na. "Saw the news?"

"Ne, I booked SBS's Chief Han. Meeting at a café this afternoon."

"We launched late, just three months. Qualifying's fine, but ranking's tough. See if you can dig up others' sales."

Work assigned, he planned to stay home.

Work out, figure out the apartment's gadgets, call New York.

Before lunch, meet Choi Man-sik.

"Who are you? What'd you do? Aish, why am I here?"

In the room, the drunk woman woke.

Strange room, strange man. She'd been out with friends—how'd she end up here?

"Miss, calm down… Nothing happened. I slept on the floor. Look."

Choi's calm explanation pointed to a pillow and blanket on the floor.

She checked—clothes intact. Her panic and anger eased.

"Where'd you… find me? No one with me?" Rubbing her head, she couldn't believe it.

When Choi tactfully explained, she exploded.

"Shibal, those damn bastards… Friends? Trash punks, aish, I'll kill them!"

The roaring lioness made the hardened hyena back off quietly. Best not to poke her now.

One hour till noon. A bit more patience.

(End of Chapter)