TIN 114

I was planning to leave the house right away. Once the thought to leave became urgent, even being here made me overly anxious.

However, just as I took a step, a strong force roughly grabbed my arm.

“…Ugh.”

My injured leg was truly useless at times like this. Just putting weight on it to maintain balance caused throbbing pain to radiate from my wound. The other person wouldn’t easily let go of me as I stumbled on my feet, about to fall to the ground.

“Let go of me.”

At first, I naturally thought it was Theo. The grip was by no means weak and had a somewhat forceful feel to it. However, the owner of the softly flowing voice was different from my expectations.

“I was trying not to ask anything if possible…”

The calmly settled voice belonged to Lingling, not Theo. Usually slightly nasal and cute, when serious like this, it became quite solemn.

“I can’t just let you go.”

“…”

I turned around a beat late. Delicate fingers were firmly gripping my forearm. How could such slender wrists have this much strength? While thinking such thoughts, Lingling gently asked.

“Bada, what happened in that house?”

Despite grabbing me with such frightening intensity, the question that followed was incomparably caring. The touch that flowed down my arm gently held my wrist.

“You’re the one who endured even when the boss said he’d sell you. But there’s no way you would just leave such a good house.”

That wasn’t true. Even then, I dreamed of escape, I just didn’t show it outwardly. Meaning if Joo Do-hwa hadn’t come to buy me, I would have left Oceans that night.

“So tell me. What’s the reason you left there and are here now?”

It wouldn’t have been difficult to answer that nothing happened. That I ate well, slept well, even wore nice clothes and went to nice parties.

“…”

But why did words suddenly fail me? What was the reason my throat tightened at the sight of those eyes filled with worry?

“…Don’t you think I was just thrown out?”

Can thought Joo Do-hwa had abandoned me. Though I hoped she would think that way when I asked, Lingling just openly scoffed.

“You? Thrown out?”

The hand not holding me rose to my face. Lingling lifted my chin with their fingertips and laughed as if none of this made any sense to her.

“Who would dare abandon someone as pretty as you?”

“Unless they picked up what was thrown away.” Lingling quietly added, nodding toward Theo. As if Theo had actually picked me up.

My gaze followed along and landed on Theo. Standing there with arms crossed, Theo didn’t seem to have any intention of denying Lingling’s words. The quietly silent behavior actually seemed angry.

“You have nowhere to go if you leave like this.”

Lingling spoke once more. When I unconsciously looked down at my captured wrist, the warm sensation became even more distinct.

“So just…”

“I’m sorry but…”

I cut off Lingling’s words with a small sigh. While I might not mind with others, I didn’t want to be this way with Lingling. But it seemed I had no other choice in the matter.

“This has nothing to do with you.”

“…Ah.”

This time, even Lingling didn’t hide her displeasure. Her face crumpled along with a small exclamation. Seeing her purse her lips primly, it seemed her patience had run out too.

At this point, she should give up. Even someone as kind as Lingling must have some minimum self-respect.

What entered my ears as I thought this was a sudden comment from Lingling.

“I ran away from Oceans.”

“…”

It was an abrupt confession, but effective in catching my attention. As my expression slowly hardened, I saw her awkwardly wrinkling her eyes.

“The business isn’t doing well. Most of the girls have been sold, and these days there are hardly any customers. They say the company that was backing us cut off support…I don’t know the detailed circumstances either.”

The explanation that flowed out steadily resolved all my questions. How Lingling got out of Oceans, and why Theo wasn’t going to work.

“But maybe because business isn’t good, the boss is becoming more and more…”

The rest of the words didn’t continue. Only a bitter smile quietly appeared. Along with the sensation of my head turning cold upon hearing the words come out of her mouth, I belatedly noticed Lingling’s attire.

“You know what happens when that person gets angry.”

Lingling, who always wore qipao, was now dressed in a long-sleeved t-shirt and long pants that covered her entire body. While not wearing a uniform was understandable, such clothing in this hot season was strange.

Naturally, there was only one situation I could imagine.

“…Did they hit you?”

That son of a bitch was worse than a dog. I thought that no matter how much he beat employees like dogs, he wouldn’t lay a hand on Lingling. Even if it wasn’t pure love, I thought he had enough affection not to hit someone he liked.

“See.”

“…”

“You’re angry too.”

Instead of answering my question, Lingling spoke plainly. While I was speechless and let out a empty breath, she slightly shook the wrist she was holding.

“Will you still say this has nothing to do with me?”

“…”

I couldn’t say how this was different. I felt certain that no matter what I said, I couldn’t win against Lingling. Even Theo, who I glanced at, shook their head as if telling me to give up.

“…Fine, you’re right. I did run away.”

Having no other choice, I let out a small sigh and said that. She wouldn’t let me go until she heard what she wanted anyway.

“But it’s not for the reason you think. I wasn’t particularly beaten.”

Though now Joo Do-hwa would probably kill me if he caught me again. No, I’d probably die even if I wasn’t caught.

“I left on my own and don’t want others getting caught in the crossfire. Getting anyone involved would only make matters more dangerous…”

I knew it in my head. That there was a way to explain the situation reasonably, placate them with nice words, and then leave.

The reason I couldn’t was because I had a feeling that would make Lingling even less likely to let me go. Unnecessarily kind Lingling couldn’t just stand by and watch someone in trouble walk away.

So it would be better not to say things like ‘You’ll be in danger.’

“Honestly, this is troublesome.”

“…”

At my coldly delivered words, Lingling pressed her lips tightly together. I could feel her hand holding me tremble slightly. Though her reaction made my mood sink too, I added one more line pretending nothing was wrong.

“So just let go.”

Finally, the strength drained from Lingling’s hand. She said she ran away from Oceans, didn’t she? Now I noticed her manicure that used to match her qipao color was cleanly removed. After staring blankly at their darkened nail tips, I dropped her awkwardly clinging hand.

However, unfortunately, I couldn’t walk out the entrance leaving her behind this time either. 

Theo, who had been quiet all along, flatly spoke up in an emotionless voice.

“Do you have a way to get to the sea?”

He usually wasn’t one to meddle like this. Strictly speaking, asking to be sent to the sea was a request, so it wasn’t a topic to bring up in front of a third party like Lingling.

“Even if your name means the sea, you absolutely can’t go alone.”

“Theo, please…”

Why are you doing this too?

Though I looked at him with those feelings fully conveyed, Theo didn’t even blink. He just made an unexpected proposal with his still expressionless face.

“I’ll do it without additional charges.”

“…”

My face wrinkled involuntarily. Seeing my reaction, Theo kindly explained.

“The favor you asked, I’m saying I’ll do it for just the money you have now.”

It was a revolutionary proposal. For Theo, who never took losses like a proper merchant, this was equivalent to accepting a big financial hit.

“Consider yourself lucky. Lingling came to find me today for a similar matter.

“Right, Lingling?” When Theo sought agreement, Lingling nodded her head to confirm. Though I didn’t know the details, she must’ve figured out that I had asked Theo for help getting me to the sea. And perhaps Lingling also…

“If you go like this and end up found as a corpse somewhere, it’ll leave a bad taste in my mouth.”

“Why, would you hold a memorial service for me if I die?”

It wasn’t exactly a curse to be found dead. I retorted, finding this whole thing absurd, but it didn’t work on Theo as expected. He just showed two fingers while wearing his merchant’s mask.

“2 weeks. The trains will run again within that time.”

The express train to the sea was one of 4HAE Group’s businesses. Even for 4HAE, they couldn’t suspend it for too long. Furthermore, there would still be some limitations at Joo Do-hwa’s level as just the heir.

“You’ll only find scammers if you look elsewhere. And I don’t often get money-making opportunities this good.”

It was surprisingly persuasive. The money I had saved wasn’t small, so I was essentially a big customer to Theo in any sense. If the road to the sea hadn’t been blocked, they would have readily accepted without any trouble.

“Think carefully. You need to act wisely.”

Honestly…yes, it was tempting. I wouldn’t have to pay extra, and I wouldn’t have to find a way by banging my head against the wall. I knew this was the most stable method since Theo was a reliable broker.

However, the reality I just realized was too harsh to fall for such sweet temptation. I couldn’t know ahead of time what might happen in places unknown to me. Just like how Kei immediately stopped his favorite hobby, things you couldn’t predict were bound to happen.

Naturally, all that came out of my mouth was a small sigh and these words, “That’s my line.”

Surely, I don’t have two lives. The ones who need to act wisely aren’t me but the two of you.

“Act wisely, both of you.”

What are you thinking, making an enemy of 4HAE?

Swallowing those words, I finally turned around without hesitation. Even this much delay was honestly dragging it out. If only Lingling wasn’t here. No, if there had been just one of them, this wouldn’t have happened.

“I’m leaving.”

Fortunately, or should I say thankfully, no one grabbed me this time. I finally let out a sigh of relief as I walked out the entrance.

Still, I should be able to do something with this money. I vaguely held onto that hope.

***

One week later. A wanted notice was issued across the city. It was an announcement directly from 4HAE Group, looking for a beta male named ‘Bada.’

The bounty on my head was exactly ten times the money I had saved.