Tossing the note into the trash, Lee Jin-woo got up to shower.
In the mirror, he noticed he'd forgotten to remove the "tattoo." Scrubbing it under water, it stayed put. Shrugging, he left it—too much hassle.
Habits were scary. Once formed, the tattoo didn't seem like a big deal anymore.
"Oh, right, the rewards."
Calculation complete. Rewards issued.
Overall rating: A. Three rewards granted.
Reward 1: Critical Hit Card.
Reward 2: Information Scan Card.
Reward 3: Magical Whitening Oil.
The first two were straightforward, but the oil's description made him pause.
PS: Has a miraculous whitening effect. When used on the opposite sex, it triggers a surge in hormone production.
After last night's "pipe-clearing," Lee Jin-woo was in high spirits. With a fat wallet, he wasn't about to skimp on himself.
He threw on a hoodie, loose sweatpants, and knockoff Putian sneakers from China. Grabbing his wallet and watch, he swaggered out.
First, breakfast to treat himself. Then…
What to do next?
Working for a boss was out, but for himself? One Ferrari a year might be too modest.
I want nobody, nobody but you…
His phone rang. Checking the screen, he stopped mid-step.
Answering, he held the phone to his ear.
Only faint breathing broke the heavy silence.
"Ready to come back?"
"…"
"Not ready? Haven't learned your lesson? I thought you had the guts to stick it out, never touching that card's money."
"That's why you called?" Lee Jin-woo's smirk dripped with sarcasm.
The big shot's aura crumbled in his mind. Calling to mock a junior over this? Pathetic.
This was a tycoon?
More childish than the snotty kid next door.
"Your stubbornness is worthless in reality. Don't think it's noble. Stop being naive."
"You're the naive one."
"If you called to mock me, you've done it. Don't call again."
"We've got nothing to talk about."
Sneering, Lee Jin-woo's good mood soured.
"Hm?"
He paused, muttering, "Am I getting too into this?"
Those events happened to the "original" him, not him. No reason to get so worked up.
"Why let some irrelevant guy ruin my vibe?"
Jeonju, the ancestral heart of the Lee Clan.
Lee Kyu, gray at the temples, set down the phone. "Report."
"The investigation into the young master, as requested through the Seoul Lee Clan, has results."
"He hasn't visited any tattoo parlors, doesn't know anyone in that scene, and has no ties to organized crime. The Secretariat's assessment is a 90% chance the tattoo is fake."
Lee Kyu's expression remained neutral, but his inner worries vanished.
The best news he'd heard all week.
But why only 90%? What about the other 10%?
"Service…"
His face froze, his smile fading.
Normal military service banned tattoos, but his service wasn't exactly standard.
Lee Kyu began to fear that might be the truth.
Ding!
The elevator opened, and Lee Jin-woo spotted a familiar face.
"Jin-woo? Out so early?"
A curvaceous woman in a high-neck sweater, her chest forming a 55-degree slope, forced a smile. Without their neighborly familiarity, she'd never have greeted him. Who wouldn't fear a thug?
"Yup. Big day? That's a lot of stuff." He nodded politely, stepping forward to help.
"No, Jin-woo, it's fine…" She couldn't resist as he snatched most of her bags.
He strode toward her apartment, making himself at home.
Seeing him act as he always had, her fears eased slightly.
She didn't believe Jin-woo had gone bad, but rumors swirled—he'd joined a shady crew, got scary tattoos, and looked tougher than before.
At first glance, she'd noticed a change in his demeanor. He used to be soft, bookish, a gentle student. Now, even his back seemed broader, more solid.
A real man.
Though Lee Jin-woo rarely interacted with neighbors, nothing escaped the building's gossip mill. The chatty housewives always needed something to chew on.
"Hye-na noona, want me to bring these inside?"
At her door, he paused as usual.
"Oh, thank you, Jin-woo, really!" Yoon Hye-na fumbled for her keys.
Eyeing her flustered, curvaceous figure, Lee Jin-woo cursed the original owner's idiocy.
What a moron. A total moron.
Luckily, that moron's good impression gave him an opening.
Tiny waist, peach hips—an S-shaped figure from every angle. Her face, pale from housework, just needed a little TLC to stun anyone.
He recalled her wedding photo from a past visit. Yoon Hye-na outshone any celebrity, especially in figure.
"Alright, come in."
Yoon Hye-na opened the door, stepping back to let him enter.
In the familiar entryway, he set the bags against the wall, turning to leave.
"Jin-woo, rest a bit, have a drink!" She kicked off her white sneakers, padding barefoot inside, insisting he stay for a beverage.
"Sure, then I'll intrude." Keeping polite, he slipped off his shoes and followed.
The apartment was spotless. Juggling a business and a kid, she still kept it pristine.
Maintaining her figure with exercise under such strain? Women's resilience was unreal.
"Here." She set down an iced juice, apologizing, "Sorry, we only have store-bought juice."
Embarrassed about lacking fresh fruit, Yoon Hye-na's face flushed shyly.
Once, she'd lived in luxury, envied by all.
Who'd have thought such a beauty would fall so far?
There was a time she nearly gave up. Her child gave her the strength to carry on.
Now, life was modest but on track, heading somewhere good.
As long as Chang-woo grew up safe and healthy, her life would be complete.
Sss~
A faint trickle of water persisted.
Curious, Lee Jin-woo sipped his juice and asked, "Hye-na noona, is something broken?"
"Huh?"
She blinked, then pointed to the bathroom. "The faucet. It's been leaking since last night. I was about to call someone."
He nodded, rolling up his sleeves. "I'll take a look. Probably the pipe or a joint."
"Can you? That's too much trouble," she said, embarrassed.
He was already in the bathroom, calling back, "Got tools? Bring 'em. Should be quick."
A loose valve—swap the faucet, done.
"Great, I've got some." She handed over a basic toolset from a store promotion.
He'd shut off the valve and removed the faucet. Under the light, the ball valve's rusted edge was chipped.
"As expected, bad valve. Got a spare?"
"No, sorry, I'll buy one now."
"No need, I've got one."
He grabbed an old faucet from his place, installed it, and tested the valve.
It held. He opened and closed it a few times—no leaks.
"Done," he said, setting down the tools.
"Thank you, Jin-woo, I—"
Bang!
The new faucet's valve burst, water spraying like a fountain, soaking them in the cramped bathroom.
"Ah!" Amid her scream, a key turned in the lock.
"Hye-na, you back?"
"Eomma!"
A large hand clamped over Yoon Hye-na's mouth, pulling her half-exposed body back into the bathroom.
"Shh, Hye-na noona, you don't want your family getting the wrong idea, right?"
(End of Chapter)