The soft feeling of his lips still lingered on Joon Hyunk's thumb.His mind and heart—both were consumed by thoughts of only one person.He wanted to cage him…Just like a hunter traps a delicate bird in a golden cage.
Beast (Joon Hyunk) muttered to himself with a faint, mysterious smile, eyes still fixed on his thumb,"Your time will come… very soon. And when it does… you'll be mine."
His thoughts drifted back to what Tae had told him earlier.After seeing Yeo-jun today, he was certain of one thing—He wasn't weak or sick.He was just… deeply terrified.
But what puzzled Joon Hyunk the most was this:How could the only son of one of Korea's most powerful and successful politicians be treated this way?Who would dare to hurt him… and why?
He hadn't come here on a whim.He wanted to uncover the whole truth.And what he saw in Yeo-jun's condition tonight confirmed it—Someone had hurt him.Badly.
Tae had mentioned that Yeo-jun had been bullied before.That Yun had tried to protect him…And all Joon Hyunk could think about nowwas ripping those bastards apart who had dared lay a hand on him.His anger boiled quietly, a storm brewing under calm eyes.
The next morning, Yun had called.Yeo-jun couldn't believe he was still in Seoul—For once, something actually felt good.It was Yun's birthday, and he wanted Yeo-jun to come to his party.He was even going to send someone to pick him up.
But just the thought made Yeo-jun nervous.Once again, he'd have to face his fear.A crowd. People. Judgement.
He paced his room, whispering to himself,"How can I stay there alone… with all those strangers?Should I just send a nice gift instead? But he's my only friend…I'll go for just a few minutes, give him the gift and come right back.Yeah… yeah, I can do this. It's just a small thing… right?"
After convincing himself over and over,He finally left the house to buy a gift.
Meanwhile, Joon Hyunk was driving down the same street for some business of his own—when he spotted a familiar car across the road.It was Yeo-jun.Alone.
Joon Hyunk narrowed his eyes in surprise.Where could he possibly be going by himself?
Without wasting a second, he followed.
Yeo-jun had parked in front of a large shopping mall.He stepped out of the car quietly, head down,and walked into the crowd—something he usually avoided at all costs.
But today was different.Today was his best—and only—friend's birthday.
He wore white sneakers, blue jeans, and a white full-sleeved t-shirt.A black mask covered half his face.As always, his messy bangs fell over his forehead,partly hiding the faint scars near his eyes and temple.
His every step screamed hesitation,but still—he walked inside.
Joon Hyunk stopped his car at a short distance, just far enough to not be noticed.
He wore black jeans, a black shirt, and a black baseball cap pulled low over his face.Without a sound, he followed Yeo-jun into the mall.
People naturally stepped aside as he walked past them.His presence alone demanded space.There was something in his aura—unspoken but undeniable power.It was the kind of presence that silenced a crowd without a word.
That was exactly why, in public places, he deliberately dressed down—To not attract attention… or rather, to deceive it.Luxury clothes only made him more noticeable.And attention was the last thing he wanted.
Inside the mall, Yeo-jun had entered a small gift shop.Joon Hyunk stood just outside, pretending to examine something on display.
Yeo-jun, on the other hand, had been feeling the weight of someone's gaze for a while now.It was subtle—but growing.As if someone's eyes had been following his every move.
The feeling made his skin crawl,And he just wanted to pick something—anything—and leave quickly.Still, he forced himself to ignore the sensation and focused on the gifts.
Eventually, a delicate music box caught his eye.It was egg-shaped, ivory white, with tiny gold accents—simple, elegant, and warm.Something yun would definitely love.
As Joon Hyunk saw him at the counter paying for it,He turned away and walked back to his car,Patiently waiting for him to exit.
A few minutes later, Yeo-jun stepped out of the mall.His steps were quick, his posture a little tense.
The breeze outside was sharp and cold.It rustled the soft strands of hair that fell over his forehead,Brushing them back just enough for Joon Hyunk—watching from inside his car—to finally see his face clearly.
Yeo-jun had removed his mask.
From where Joon Hyunk sat, the scars on his face were now in plain view.The first one—just above his left eye, about an inch above the brow—Ran down beside the eye and ended near the cheek.
The second one began two inches above the left corner of his lips,Crossed down across his lower lip,And disappeared an inch below his chin.
Clean cuts. Sharp. Precise.The kind of wounds made by someone who knew what they were doing.A professional.Someone who didn't even flinch while tearing skin.
The scars were brutally clear.And yet, despite how gentle and beautiful his face still looked—The marks stood out like stains.
Maybe now, people no longer found him "attractive."Maybe his beauty had been tainted in the world's eyes.
But not in Beast's.
No.
In his eyes, Yeo-jun was perfect.
There was always a delicate innocence and simplicity on his face—an untouched softness that made Yeo-jun appear far too gentle for the harshness of the world.
Beast's thoughts:
"People say Beast could never fall in love.""To be honest, I used to believe that too.""Up until a few months ago, I was sure that love wasn't something made for me.""In all my 26 years, I've seen countless beautiful people—stunning, flawless even—but I never felt anything like this.""No one ever stirred anything in me. I never looked at anyone and felt… this.""But you…""It just took one glance. One single look. And suddenly, I was yours."
"Yeo-jun…"He repeated the name softly, almost reverently, as though each syllable held meaning he wanted to memorize.He spoke it slowly, letting it linger on his tongue like a sweet secret.Without realizing it, a faint smile curled on Beast's lips—gentle, rare, completely out of place on a man like him.
Beast was known for being dangerous. Powerful. A force you never dared to challenge.But this soft smile?It didn't belong to a beast—it belonged to a prince.That was the magic of love. The kind that transformed even the darkest into something beautiful.
By evening, Tae had come to pick up Yeo-jun to take him to Yun's birthday party.Yun had asked Tae to bring Yeo-jun, and now the two of them were on their way.
What Yeo-jun didn't know was that the entire party—every detail, every arrangement—had been planned by Beast himself.He had secretly hosted it at his private bungalow.And it wasn't just for Yun's birthday… it was all so he could finally introduce himself to Yeo-jun.
No one at the party knew the bungalow belonged to Beast.No one—except Min jae .
Yeo-jun sat quietly in the car, his mind full of questions.He couldn't understand how Tae knew Yun's brother, Mr. Hawan.He had always found Yun's brother unsettling, hard to like.
Finally, he asked.
"How do you know Yun's brother?"
Tae explained simply, "My brother Min jae is friends with Mr. Hawan."
And with that, a few things clicked into place for Yeo-jun.
Still, he felt uneasy. New places, unfamiliar faces—they always made him nervous.But having Tae with him made things easier. Tae was one of the very few people Yeo-jun trusted.In fact, apart from Tae and Yun, he didn't think he trusted anyone.
He chuckled quietly to himself, realizing how much overthinking he was doing again.Lost in thought, he hadn't even realized how quickly they'd arrived at the destination.
Tae stopped the car and they stepped out.In front of them was a beautiful lawn, and beyond it, a massive, elegant bungalow that looked more like a palace than a home.
Yeo-jun stared in awe, taking it all in with visible excitement.Just then, he saw Yun approaching and hurried over to him.
Yun was his only true best friend, and Yeo-jun greeted him with a bright smile, handing him a gift bag.
Right then, Mr. Hawan joined them, standing nearby to greet the arriving guests.
Yeo-jun had never interacted with him directly, but he knew well enough—Yun's brother wasn't someone he liked.The two brothers couldn't be more different.
Where Yun was kind, warm, and genuinely helpful,Mr. Hawan was cold and hard. Whatever goodness existed in him, it was buried deep.
But if there was one redeeming quality, one thing Yeo-jun could acknowledge—it was this:For all his flaws, Mr. Hawan truly loved his younger brother.
Perhaps… that alone made him human.
Yun began introducing his friends to his brother one by one, and the evening slowly unfolded...
The four of them began walking into the bungalow.
The moment they stepped inside, the first thing Yeo-jun noticed was through the tall double doors on the far end of the hall—a breathtaking view of a flower garden bathed in soft light.
He froze for a second.
He loved flowers. Always had.Especially roses.
At the party, he was also introduced to Tae's brother, Min.Unlike most people, Yeo-jun found Min rather likable.
The main reason?
Min never stared at his face the way others did.He didn't ask strange, uncomfortable questions.He simply treated him… normally. And that was rare.
For a long time, Yeo-jun had wanted to explore the garden.So when he noticed Tae and Yun deep in conversation with another guest,he quietly slipped away, making his way toward the soft glow beyond the doors.
And when he stepped fully into the garden—he could barely believe his eyes.
It was stunning.
Unreal.
Like he had stepped into another world entirely.
Flowers bloomed everywhere, some of which he had never seen before in his life.If he had a choice, he thought, he'd spend his whole life in a place like this.It was the first time in a very long time that he felt peace—genuine, quiet peace.
The garden was illuminated with delicate string lights hung all around,casting a soft golden glow that made the colors of the flowers even more vivid.
At the center stood a beautiful white gazebo,its pillars wrapped with vines of blooming flowers, gently swaying in the night breeze.
He glanced around.
No one else was there.
He was completely alone.
With a faint smile, he slowly walked toward the gazebo, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, in a hidden room upstairs, Beast was watching.
He sat quietly in his office, eyes fixed on his laptop screen, where footage from the mansion's secret security cameras streamed in real time.
And there, on one of those screens, was Yeo-jun—sitting alone in the gazebo, bathed in moonlight and soft shadows.
But Beast's mind wasn't calm.
He still didn't know who had done that to Yeo-jun—who had hurt him, scarred him so deeply.And he wanted answers.
For that, he believed Yun might be the key.
If Yun was truly Yeo-jun's friend, he'd know something.
But Yun was still busy mingling with guests, so Beast waited…until he saw him heading toward the restroom, alone.
Exactly the moment Beast had been waiting for.
He rose from his chair, left his office, and silently followed him down the hallway.He reached the area just outside the restroom just as Yun turned the corner.
"Yun," Beast called.
His voice was low but sharp—enough to make Yun freeze instantly.
Yun turned slowly. Beast was already standing behind him.
"I need to ask you something," he said."It's about Yeo-jun."
Yun stiffened.
"I don't know anything," he replied quickly, eyes lowering. "And even if I did, I wouldn't say."
The answer wasn't what Beast wanted to hear.
In a heartbeat, Yun found himself pinned against the wall.Beast stood in front of him, blocking any escape.
His voice dropped colder.
"If your life means anything to you, you'll answer my question."
But Yun remained silent.
Without hesitation, Beast pulled a sharp blade from his jacket and held it against Yun's throat.The steel kissed his skin, and Beast's gaze flickered with something dark—not rage… but calculation.
He was thinking.Whether to slice his throat first…or cut out his tongue.
He tilted his head slightly, watching Yun carefully.
The only thing stopping him from making that choice—was one simple fact.
This boy, at some point, had helped Yeo-jun.And that was the only reason his life was still his.
"You should be grateful," Beast said coldly, lowering the knife just an inch."Because if you hadn't done Yeo-jun a favor in the past…you wouldn't be standing here breathing after refusing me."