### Chapter 3:The Man Behind The Shadows

The loud music of the bar echoed through the building as Douyi carried trays of drinks from one table to another.

His body was exhausted.

His feet hurt.

But he couldn't stop.

Every hour he worked meant a little more money for his mother's medical bills and a little less debt hanging around his neck.

"Douyi!"

His manager suddenly called.

Douyi quickly turned.

"Yes, boss?"

"VIP Room 2. They requested service."

Douyi nodded.

"I'll go now."

Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his uniform and walked toward the private room.

The moment he opened the door—

His blood ran cold.

Inside sat three familiar men.

The debt collectors.

Their faces immediately twisted into mocking smiles.

"Well, well."

"Look who it is."

"Our little debtor."

Douyi instinctively stepped back.

"What are you doing here?"

The biggest man laughed.

"What?"

"We can't visit our favorite customer?"

The others burst into laughter.

Douyi gritted his teeth.

"I told you I'll pay everything next month."

"Oh, we know."

One man glanced around the room.

"A gay bar, huh?"

The room exploded with laughter again.

"So this is where you work?"

"No wonder you're pretty."

"Maybe you're actually into men."

Douyi's face darkened.

"Stop it."

The biggest man stood up.

Slowly.

Dangerously.

He walked toward Douyi until there was almost no space between them.

Then he grabbed Douyi's chin.

"Actually..."

"You don't need to pay."

Douyi froze.

"What?"

The man smirked.

"I'll clear all your debt."

"Every single cent."

Douyi's eyes widened.

The man leaned closer.

"In exchange..."

His disgusting smile widened.

"Spend one night with me."

The room filled with laughter.

Douyi immediately slapped his hand away.

"No."

The man's smile disappeared.

"No?"

"I said Let go of me," Douyi said through clenched teeth.

The gangster laughed.

"Not until you agree."

Another man leaned back on the sofa.

"Come on, Douyi."

"We're giving you a good deal."

"One night."

"Your debt disappears."

The room erupted with laughter.

Douyi's face flushed with anger.

"I said no."

The leader's smile vanished.

His grip tightened.

"You really don't understand your situation, do you?"

Douyi winced.

"I'll pay everything."

"Just give me one more month."

The gangster suddenly yanked him closer.

"And what if I don't want to wait?"

Before Douyi could answer—

A cold voice echoed through the room.

"Release him."

Silence.

Every head turned toward the door.

Standing there was the same man from yesterday.

Tall.

Elegant.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

Jeon Jahiyuk.

The room instantly felt colder.

Douyi froze.

Why is he here?

The gangster frowned.

"And who the hell are you?"

Jahiyuk walked into the room without answering.

His gaze landed on Douyi's injured wrist.

The red marks.

The obvious pain.

His expression darkened slightly.

Then he stopped beside them.

"Release him."

The gangster scoffed.

"Mind your own business."

Without warning—

Jahiyuk reached forward and gently pulled Douyi behind him.

Then he looked at the gangsters.

"This person belongs to me."

The room froze.

Douyi's eyes widened.

"What?!"

The gangsters looked furious.

"Your man?"

The leader stood up.

"Who do you think you are?"

Jahiyuk didn't answer.

The gangster threw a punch.

But before it could reach him—

Several bodyguards stormed into the room.

The gangsters immediately stopped moving.

A secretary entered behind them.

"Young Master."

The room fell silent.

The youngest gangster suddenly turned pale.

His eyes widened.

"No way..."

The leader frowned.

"What?"

The younger gangster pointed at Jahiyuk.

"T-That's him."

"Who?"

"Jeon Jahiyuk!"

The room instantly became quiet.

The gangster leader's face lost all color.

"The heir of JH Group?"

The secretary adjusted his glasses.

"The one and only."

Within seconds all three debt collectors dropped to their knees.

"Y-Young Master Jeon!"

"We didn't know!"

"We apologize!"

"Please forgive us!"

Jahiyuk looked completely uninterested.

His attention remained on Douyi.

"Are you hurt?"

Douyi quickly shook his head.

"No."

The secretary glanced at the obvious bruising.

"...Clearly."

Douyi looked away awkwardly.

Jahiyuk then finally turned toward the debt collectors.

"How much?"

The leader blinked.

"...Pardon?"

"His debt."

"How much does he owe you?"

The gangster swallowed.

"It's..."

Jahiyuk's gaze sharpened.

The man immediately answered.

"Fifty million won, Young Master."

The room became silent.

Douyi lowered his head.

Hearing the number spoken aloud always felt humiliating.

Years of hospital bills.

Interest.

Loans.

Everything had piled up.

But Jahiyuk simply raised an eyebrow.

"Only fifty million won?"

The gangsters stared.

Only?

To them it was a fortune.

To the future owner of JH Group it was pocket change.

Jahiyuk looked toward his secretary.

"Secretary Kim."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Pay it."

The secretary nodded immediately.

"Understood."

Douyi's eyes widened.

"W-Wait!"

Everyone looked at him.

"You can't do that."

Jahiyuk turned toward him.

"Why not?"

"Because it's my debt."

"I'll pay it myself."

The room went silent again.

Even the gangsters looked confused.

Nobody had ever rejected money from the Jeon family.

Jahiyuk studied him carefully.

"You would rather suffer than accept help?"

Douyi clenched his fists.

"I don't want charity."

The secretary looked surprised.

The bodyguards looked surprised.

Even the debt collectors looked surprised.

Jahiyuk, however, looked amused.

A faint smile appeared.

The first real smile Douyi had seen from him.

"Interesting."

Douyi frowned.

"What is?"

"You."

The direct answer made Douyi's heart skip.

Jahiyuk stepped closer.

"Most people would have accepted immediately."

"I'm not most people."

"I can see that."

For a moment neither of them spoke.

The debt collectors nervously glanced between them.

The atmosphere felt strange.

Almost like everyone else had disappeared.

Finally Jahiyuk looked back at the gangsters.

"Leave."

They immediately stood.

"Y-Yes, Young Master."

"Thank you, Young Master."

"We'll leave right away."

Within seconds they disappeared.

The room became quiet.

Very quiet.

Jahiyuk then gently took Douyi's wrist.

Douyi froze.

The bruises were already turning purple.

His touch was surprisingly careful.

"You call this okay?"

Douyi immediately pulled his hand back.

"It's nothing."

Jahiyuk stared at him.

"No."

"It isn't."

Douyi looked away.

People usually didn't worry about him.

He wasn't used to it.

To hide his embarrassment he quickly stood.

"Thank you for helping me."

"But I need to get back to work."

Jahiyuk remained seated.

Watching him.

The expensive watch on his wrist gleamed under the lights.

Everything about him screamed wealth and power.

Meanwhile Douyi was standing in a cheap uniform with worn-out shoes.

The difference between them felt enormous.

Douyi bowed politely.

"Thank you again, Young Master."

Then he turned to leave.

But before he could take another step—

A hand wrapped around his wrist.

Again.

Douyi turned around.

Jahiyuk was looking directly at him.

"What is your name?"

Douyi blinked.

"My name tag says it."

"It isn't your real name."

Douyi froze.

The fake name on his uniform had fooled everyone else.

How did he know?

Jahiyuk waited patiently.

After several seconds Douyi sighed.

"...Douyi."

A small smile appeared on Jahiyuk's lips.

"Douyi."

The way he said it felt strangely intimate.

As though he were memorizing it.

"That's a good name."

Douyi suddenly felt warm.

Embarrassed.

He looked away.

"Thank you."

Jahiyuk stood up.

Towering over him.

"We'll meet again."

Douyi immediately shook his head.

"I don't think so."

"Why?"

"People like you don't meet people like me twice."

For the first time Jahiyuk looked genuinely surprised.

Then he laughed softly.

A low, pleasant sound.

"You really are interesting."

Before Douyi could answer—

Jahiyuk handed him a black business card.

The card looked expensive.

Simple.

Elegant.

Only one name printed on it.

**Jeon Jahiyuk**

And a private number.

"If you need help, call me."

Douyi stared at it.

"Why?"

Jahiyuk's eyes met his.

For a brief moment something unreadable flashed through them.

Then he smiled.

"Because I want to."

Douyi's heart skipped unexpectedly.

The room suddenly felt too warm.

Jahiyuk walked past him.

The bodyguards followed.

The secretary followed.

But before leaving—

Jahiyuk stopped at the doorway.

Turning back one last time.

His gaze settled on Douyi.

"Goodnight, Douyi."

Then he left.

Leaving Douyi standing there.

Holding the black card.

Staring at the empty doorway.

His heart beating much faster than it should.

And for the first time—

Douyi wasn't sure whether meeting Jeon Jahiyuk had been a blessing...

... ...

...----------------...

That night.

Douyi finally returned home.

The tiny apartment felt unusually quiet.

He collapsed onto his bed.

Tomorrow was his day off.

He could finally visit his mother.

The thought made him smile.

But another face kept appearing in his mind.Jeon Jahiyuk.

His sharp eyes.

His expensive clothes.

His calm voice.

Everything about him felt unreal.

Like a character from a movie.

Unable to resist his curiosity—

Douyi picked up his phone.

And searched:Jeon Jahiyuk.

Hundreds of articles appeared instantly.

"Heir of JH Group."

"Future Chairman."

"mysterious Jeon Jahiyuk."

Douyi kept scrolling.

And then—He frowned.

There were no clear photographs.

Every image was blurry.

Taken from a distance.

Half-hidden.

Blocked by security.

"That's strange..."

Someone this famous should have thousands of photos.

So why doesn't he?

As sleep slowly overtook him—

Douyi stared at the last blurry image.

A mystery.

One he didn't understand.

And somehow—Couldn't stop thinking about.

Within minutes.

Douyi fell asleep.

Unaware that somewhere in Seoul—

Inside a luxurious penthouse—

Jeon Jahiyuk was also staring at a photo.

A photo of Douyi.

And smiling.

**"Interesting"**.

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