Jjaenggeurang—.
At the sharp shattering sound, I looked down and saw the mug I had been holding just moments ago broken into countless pieces, scattered across the white marble floor. I had only spaced out for a brief moment, but I hadn’t expected to drop the mug.
The orange-colored tea that had been inside seeped into my shoes. As I carefully lifted my foot to step away from the shards, a sharp pain flared in my ankle.
“Ah….”
A streak of red blood was visible at my ankle. It seemed a shard had grazed me when the mug shattered. I rolled up the hem of my pants slightly and saw a long, horizontal wound with blood welling up in small beads.
A deep sigh escaped me. It was already ridiculous that I had dropped the mug because of a fleeting lapse, but now I had even managed to hurt myself. Was today some kind of warning to be more careful?
This place might not be a prison, but in the end, I was still trapped in this mansion. If the warden of Sector 1 didn’t allow it, I couldn’t even return to Sector 5. Had I been too complacent? A sudden wave of tension gripped me.
“Seo-yul hyung.”
Right then, Vin appeared from somewhere, carrying a change of clothes. His eyes widened when he saw me standing in the middle of the glass shards. Dropping the clothes he was holding, he rushed over and began fussing over me, asking if I was okay.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry.”
“But you’re bleeding.”
“It’s just a scratch. Nowhere else is hurt.”
Even as I said that, the worry on his face showed no signs of easing. Pushing aside the shards, Vin knelt on one knee and placed my foot on his thigh.
“What are you doing?!”
Ignoring my startled protest, Vin stared intently at the wound on my ankle. He gently wiped the blood that had soaked through my white sock, his face twisting in distress. I was the one hurt, yet he looked like he was in more pain than I was.
“Can you walk?”
“This isn’t enough to stop me from—hey!”
Before I could even finish speaking, Vin suddenly stood up and lifted me into his arms. As if I were nothing more than a bundle of cotton, he carried me effortlessly and strode toward another spot.
Unnerved, I instinctively clung tightly to his neck. His steps, which had momentarily hesitated, resumed immediately. Soon, we reached the bed, and Vin gently set me down.
Being carried by someone three years younger than me was embarrassing enough, but on top of that, I had clung to him out of fear. Of course, Vin had done it out of concern for my injury, but the lingering shame made my voice come out more curt than I intended.
“That was dangerous.”
“Why? It wasn’t dangerous at all.”
“If you had dropped me, I would’ve been hurt even more.”
“That wouldn’t happen. Seo-yul hyung is light, so I’d never drop you.”
…Was he calling me small just now? I narrowed my eyes and glared at Vin, but he only laughed like he found the whole thing amusing. He really wasn’t teasing me—he meant it.
Vin gently took hold of my foot and slipped off my shoes. His fingers brushed against my ankle bone as he touched the blood-stained sock, and I flinched involuntarily.
Once he pulled off the sock, Vin stared intently at the wound on my ankle. Then, he lifted his gaze and met my eyes. A small flicker of fire wavered in his irises, and without realizing it, I turned away.
“You’re hurt pretty badly,” Vin murmured in a low voice.
The moment he finished speaking, his scent rushed over me, tinged with a faint anger that soon faded. His careful fingers touched around the wound, and I hesitantly looked back at him.
“It’s not that bad,” I insisted.
“…If you think about it, Seo-yul hyung is always indifferent to his own body.”
“I’m not indifferent.”
It wasn’t my fault Han Seo-yul’s body was as fragile as a damn sunfish. I actually took good care of myself. I hated pain—really, really hated it. This time was just… an accident.
“Then don’t get hurt.”
“I don’t want to get hurt either.”
“Be more careful. I don’t want to see you injured.”
As soon as he said that, Vin withdrew his fingers from where they had been brushing over the blood-streaked skin and instead held my foot gently. Then, he bowed his head deeply.
I had no idea what he was planning, so I just watched him quietly. But when he moved next, I was utterly shocked.
“What the hell are you—!”
The moment I saw his lips press softly against my wound, my words cut off.
Vin glanced up at me, pausing for a brief second before continuing.
I should have shouted at him to stop. Kicked him away. But the fiery color of his eyes held a silent warning—don’t move. And just like that, my body froze as if I had been put under a spell.
His lips hovered stubbornly over the wound, tracing around it like he was applying some kind of medicine. Slowly, they became tinged with red, the color growing more vivid, like it was being painted on.
I was too stunned to react when—click—the sound of a turning doorknob reached my ears.
Vin immediately lifted his head and turned toward the door. It swung open, and Han Jae-hoon strode inside, his gaze landing directly on me.
“Aga, there you are.”
Jae-hoon’s voice snapped me out of my daze. I quickly pulled my ankle free from Vin’s grasp.
Vin, who had wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb, stared at it for a moment before licking it away.
‘What the hell is wrong with him?’
I had no idea why he was drinking my blood, but my mind was starting to spin. And yet, despite everything, I still had the presence of mind to focus on Vin’s face—the way the vivid red stained his lips so perfectly.
…What kind of bastard am I to be noticing his face at a time like this? A wave of self-loathing crashed over me.
“Baby.”
Han Jae-hoon approached as he spotted Vin and me on the bed. I quickly pulled the blanket over my injured ankle. If Jae-hoon found out I was hurt, this wouldn’t end with just a brief fuss. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with unnecessary exhaustion over a minor wound.
“Father.”
I greeted him with a smile, pretending nothing was wrong. Jae-hoon had been smiling as he walked over, but when he saw Vin, his face briefly stiffened. Vin merely gave him a slight nod before standing up from the bed and stepping aside.
Jae-hoon naturally took the spot Vin had been occupying and raised his hand to press against my forehead. It was a habit he had developed after recent events.
“Why were you so late?”
“The conversation dragged on a bit. But everything has been settled.”
I wanted to ask exactly what had been discussed, but Jae-hoon looked too exhausted. I decided to save my questions for later.
Not that I expected a completely honest answer even if I asked now, but at the very least, he would tell me how things had generally concluded. I’d have to find the right moment to subtly bring it up later.
“As soon as I wrap up a few urgent matters, we’ll be able to return. Start preparing in advance.”
“Really?”
We could go back soon? That meant things had gone much smoother than expected. I had no idea what Luis Shining had demanded, but from Jae-hoon’s assessment, it must not have been anything too difficult.
“You seem happy.”
“Yes, I’m really happy.”
Just knowing I could return to Sector 5 lifted my mood. Of course, Sector 1 had plenty to see—breathtaking sights that could leave anyone mesmerized—but I preferred the small, cozy mansion in Sector 5.
“I can’t wait to go back and eat the sandwiches the chef makes.”
“I’ll make sure to have them prepared as soon as we arrive.”
After lowering the hand that had been stroking my hair, Jae-hoon turned around. He locked eyes with Vin, who had been standing silently, watching us. Then, in a voice far colder than the one he had used with me, he said,
“Leave us for a moment.”
“…Understood.”
Vin hesitated for a second before giving a small bow and quietly exiting the room. Jae-hoon watched until the door fully closed before turning back to me, his expression noticeably more serious.
“Baby, listen to me carefully from now on.”
Even before he got to the point, unease began creeping up my spine. The words Can I not listen to this? reached the tip of my tongue, but the atmosphere made it impossible to refuse. So, I simply nodded.
Noticing how tense I was, Jae-hoon slightly softened his stern expression. It didn’t make much of a difference, but at least his voice returned to its usual gentle tone.
“Baby, I’ve always tried to give you everything you wanted. Maybe you felt it wasn’t enough, but that was the best I could do.”
“No, Father, you’ve always been perfect. Truly.”
To others, Han Jae-hoon might have been different, but to Han Seo-yul, he had always been the perfect father.
Hearing my firm and unwavering response, Jae-hoon gave a faint smile and said,
“Thank you, baby.”
After his weak reply, a heavy silence followed. I didn’t know what he was about to say, but it was clear he was hesitating—something very unlike him.
“First, can you make me a promise?”
Breaking the silence, he extended his pinky toward me.
The sudden request for a promise caught me off guard, and I hesitated, unable to raise my own pinky right away.
“A promise?”
“Yes. No matter what happens, you’ll do what I ask this time.”
The phrase no matter what happens felt suffocatingly restrictive.
My mind was already rejecting it, screaming that I should refuse, but the desperate look in his eyes made it impossible for me to say no.
‘Would Jae-hoon really ask me to promise something unreasonable?’
Holding onto that fragile belief, I nodded a little too late.
Jae-hoon curled his outstretched pinky into a fist and, with great difficulty, finally spoke.
“Leave that child behind.”
