Later that day, around 11 p.m., Minho found himself stepping into the familiar bar, Moonlight, the heavy atmosphere wrapping around him like a thick fog. The moment he crossed the entry, it was clear that something weighed heavily on him, his face was filled with sadness and frustration, and his eyes were fixed firmly on the ground, as if he was trying to avoid the world around him. The loud music and the chatter around him faded into the background, completely unnoticed by him as he walked in, his steps slow and deliberate, almost as if he were searching for a lost piece.
In the centre of the bar, Seo-Jun sat confidently, exuding an air of authority. He spotted Minho immediately, a glint of recognition flashing in his eyes, almost as if he had been waiting for him to enter. A smirk danced on his lips, a mixture of amusement and anticipation, as he stood up, ready to confront him. Minho, still lost in his thoughts and the weight of his emotions, barely caught a glimpse of Seo-Jun before he felt the pull of the moment.
"Look who is back." Seo-Jun announced loudly, his voice cutting through the cacophony of the music. Minho didn't respond, he remained silent, his gaze still mixed on the ground. Seo-Jun, undeterred by Minho's indifference, continued with that same smirk, "Sorry, but I stand by what I said to you that night." With each step he took toward Minho, the tension in the air thickened.
As Seo-Jun closed the distance, he caught the faint sound of soft crying, a sound that pierced through the usual atmosphere of the bar. It was almost silent, yet it resonated with an undeniable weight. His heart twisted in a mix of surprise and annoyance as he realised the source of the crying: Minho, who sat hunched over, refusing to meet his gaze, his shoulders shaking ever so slightly.
Unable to suppress his annoyance, Seo-Jun let out a low, mocking laugh that echoed in the air. "You are crying… over this?" he taunted, leaning in closer, invading Minho's personal space. The smirk on his face grew wider as he added, "You must have missed me a lot, haven't you?" His words dripped with sarcasm, meant to belittle Minho's vulnerability and to assert his dominance in the situation.
But then, something shifted. The tension in the air thickened as Minho suddenly fell to his knees, the weight of his emotions crashing down around him. His cries grew louder, raw and unrestrained, as he struggled to contain the torrent of feelings within. "They... kicked me out..." he managed to murmur between sobs, each word a painful revelation. The confession hung in the air, heavy with the truth of his situation, as he sniffled, tears streaming down his face.
Seo-Jun, quite unbothered by Minho's sudden fall, leaned back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "You what now?" he said, his voice low and dripping with sarcasm, eyebrow raised as if he found Minho's plight utterly ridiculous.
Minho, mustering the strength left in him, kept his gaze glued to the ground, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. "They found out that I was... having sex with you for the past weeks..." he admitted, his voice shaky as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. He sniffed, fighting back tears before continuing, "And... they thought I have feelings for you and that I have betrayed them in order to be with you..." His words tumbled out in a rush, each one laced with desperation as he felt the sting of betrayal from those he once called friends.
As the tears streamed down his face, Minho's voice cracked, "I tried to explain to them that it wasn't true and I don't have an affair with you… but..." The sorrow in his tone was palpable, his heart breaking under the weight of his teammates accusations.
Seo-Jun, however, remained unfazed. He rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed by Minho's emotional outburst. With an exaggerated sigh, he placed a hand on his head, as if to emphasise how tiresome this all was. "Oh, please, I doubt the leader of Phoenix will kick out his own son from his gang." His hand fell away, revealing an evil smirk that suggested he found the entire scenario amusing rather than tragic, his cold demeanour contrasting sharply with Minho's vulnerability.
Seo-Jun's sudden words pierced through Minho's defences, prompting him to drop the act, if only for a moment. "He knows this too. He probably knows everything about me. I have to be careful. I am very sorry, Dad, but I have to say this for the team's sake..." The tears that began to fall were not just from sadness but from a deep-seated frustration that had been building inside him. This whole performance was his last desperate attempt to get under Seo-Jun's skin, and he was willing to lay bare his vulnerabilities to achieve that.
As the sobs wracked his body, Minho recalled the painful truth of his situation. "He did... after adopting my cousin Jae, he... made him the main leader of our team. He only cares about him now... and after finding out about me and you, he kicked me out from the mansion and the gang like I was nothing." His voice trembled, and despite his efforts to calm himself, the anger simmered just beneath the surface, threatening to erupt.
Seo-Jun, however, remained unyielding, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched Minho's performance with scepticism. "So what exactly do you want from me?" He leaned down, his tone dripping with mock curiosity. Minho sensed the opportunity to dig deeper, to exploit the cracks in Seo-Jun's mind. "I don't have anything now... I don't have a place to stay... I don't have any money..." With a sudden burst of boldness, he reached out, grabbing Seo-Jun's pants with two fingers, his heart racing as he finally met Seo-Jun's gaze. The vulnerability in his eyes was palpable as he whispered, "Please... Seo-Jun... help me..." The tension thickened, the stakes rising as both of them played their parts in this intricate game of manipulation and desperation.
Seo-Jun felt a rush of pleasure wash over him at the sound of Minho calling his name. It was a sensation that ignited something deep within him, making it impossible to ignore. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he caught Minho's face, squeezing it lightly while teasingly asking, "What kind of help are you implying?"
Minho, overwhelmed by his emotions, was desperate to regain control. Tears welled in his eyes as he forced the words out, "Let's continue our deal! Let me live with you... I can do anything you want me to... I can cook for you, clean, everything..." His voice trembled, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface, but he swallowed it down, focusing solely on Seo-Jun.
Seo-Jun's laughter echoed, a sound that sent shivers through Minho. He released his grip and straightened his posture, hands casually slipping into the pockets of his pants. "Such arrogance." he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as he faced Minho, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You sure want a lot." With that, he turned his back but didn't take a step away.
In a moment of desperation, Minho lunged forward, grabbing Seo-Jun's leg tightly with one hand. "Please! I will do anything!" he shouted, his voice a mix of pleading and determination.
Seo-Jun paused, turning his head to face Minho with a smirk that was filled with pure evil. It was a look that suggested he cared for no one but himself, driven solely by his desire for Minho's voice and body. The bar was alive with music and laughter, but in that moment, it felt as if time had stopped. "Anything?" Seo-Jun asked, his tone dripping with intrigue, each syllable laced with the promise of danger.
Minho, taken aback by the question, felt a surge of urgency and shouted, "Yes! Anything!" His heart raced, fuelled by a mix of hope and fear. The eagerness in his voice was palpable, and Seo-Jun's grin widened, revealing the power he held in that moment. The tension crackled in the air, making it clear that this was no ordinary exchange, it was a negotiation steeped in risk and temptation.
Meanwhile, around the centre of the bar, Sam and Seo-Jun's other men that had accompanied him observed from a distance, their eyes flickering between Minho and Seo-Jun. Most were engrossed in the music, careful not to draw attention to themselves, fully aware that interfering in Seo-Jun's affairs could lead to dire consequences. But Sam was different, his instincts screamed at him to act. His eyes were locked onto Seo-Jun and Minho, concern etched on his face. Sensing that Seo-Jun might be crossing a line that could spark serious trouble for the Bloodline's gang—and for himself—he began to approach them slowly, his heart pounding as he prepared to intervene before things escalated into total chaos.
Seo-Jun then turned around to fully face Minho, his expression shifting to one of seriousness. "I don't believe a word you said about your 'dramatic family life in a mafia gang' story…" he stated bluntly, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Minho, who stood there, still recovering from his earlier tears. "But... when I think about it… I can really make good use of you." With that, he leaned slightly down, bringing his face closer to Minho's, emphasising his authority in the moment.
Minho flinched slightly, the remnants of his tears still glistening in his eyes, but he had already stopped crying. Seo-Jun continued, "You see, my main maid, who was also my personal chef, got fired the other day. I've been looking for someone to replace her presence…" Hope surged through Minho, and with newfound determination, he quickly shouted, "Yes, I can take her job!" His voice was filled with eagerness, a stark contrast to the vulnerability he had just shown.
Seo-Jun smirked, a playful glint in his eyes as he grabbed Minho's chin, tilting it slightly upward to catch his gaze. "Wait, wait, wait... Not so fast. You still haven't heard what your main priority will be." Minho's thoughts raced, a stone-faced expression masking his internal struggle as he mused to himself, "I can guess it..." He quickly snapped out of it, realising he had to comply with Seo-Jun for the time being. With renewed determination, he replied, "I will do that too! I will... have sex with you whenever you want to..."
Seo-Jun's smirk widened at Minho's response, and in a swift motion, he slapped Minho gently yet firmly on the cheek, saying, "Good."
Seo-Jun straightened his body, a confident posture radiating authority as he pointed his hand upward, declaring, "Then... I think we have a deal." A smirk instantly spread across his face, a mix of satisfaction and mischief dancing in his eyes. Minho, still brushing off the remnants of his earlier vulnerability, felt a surge of determination and relief wash over him, ready to embrace the opportunity that lay before him.
Just as the moment seemed to solidify, Sam's voice sliced through the air, sharp and filled with skepticism. He had overheard the exchange and couldn't shake off his suspicion regarding Minho's true intentions. "Boss—" he began, but Seo-Jun's demeanour shifted instantly. With a flicker of irritation, he interrupted, "I am not talking to you, Sam." The coldness in his voice was visible, silencing Sam and forcing him to take a step back, his expression a mix of concern and frustration as he processed the tension that had suddenly enveloped the place.
Then, with a swift motion that conveyed both urgency and excitement, Minho reached out and grabbed Seo-Jun's hand firmly. His voice was filled with enthusiasm as he declared, "Deal! Thank you so much, sir!" A radiant smile broke across his face, illuminating the tension that had previously clouded the atmosphere. He bowed respectfully, the gesture a blend of gratitude and newfound confidence. In that moment, the heartbreaking act from earlier felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the promise of this deal. Minho could feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through him; this was the moment he had been waiting for, the opportunity that could reshape his rule in Phoenix's team and set him on a path toward the unknown future...