Chapter 138

As soon as I got to work, Alex came over like usual to hover around me, and then ran into Johan.

Noah, more excited than me, introduced Johan.

“This is Jean’s boyfriend.”

After taking a look at Johan from head to toe, Alex twisted his lips slightly.

Alex has a solid build too, but Johan is someone who used to roam the city every night.

Setting aside his height and size, you can tell just from the lines of his thick coat that he has a well-built, muscular body.

‘More than anything, he’s handsome.’

Hidden by his cold aura, Johan possessed a graceful appearance that seemed incongruous with his massive frame.

As a former soldier, he had a solid presence, yet he possessed a serene beauty, like a lake reflecting the moonlit night sky.

The more you look at him, the more your eyes are drawn in.

“It’s Johan. Not my boyfriend, just a friend.”

When Johan’s gaze sank slightly, I quickly added for his sake, “For now.”

“Wow.”

Mandy let out an impressed sound.

“She’s really going for it.”

I straightened my shoulders a little, oddly proud.

Then Johan added from the side, sounding baffled, “I’ve been the one clinging this whole time, yet you’re saying something ridiculous.”

At that, my face flushed bright red.

It’s surprising, since he’s not the type to say things like this in front of others.

“You were the one who left me and went off alone.”

Noah, who had been listening, covered his mouth and his eyes lit up.

I don’t know why Noah is acting like that, not Mandy.

Letting out a short sigh, Johan greeted the restaurant staff, “I’m Johan Müller. I heard the food here is good, so I wanted to try it at least once.”

“I’m Mandy. And this is Johnny, Peter, and….”

Johan greeted each person gently, making eye contact one by one.

If Tristan saw this, he’d be shocked out of his mind, maybe even gag.

“I’m Alex.”

The moment Mandy introduced Alex, Johan looked at him with the same gaze he used on underground organization members, like he would take him out without even listening to an excuse if he stood out.

Alex flinched at that gaze, his body trembling slightly, and I quietly grabbed Johan and pulled him toward me.

“I heard you’ve been looking out for Jean. Now that I’m here, you don’t need to anymore.”

“I, I didn’t really do anything. So you came all the way from Black City to see Jean? You don’t look like a student, so are you working?”

Forcing his hunched shoulders straight, Alex spoke with a wavering voice.

“I manage assets.”

“What?”

The one confused by Johan’s answer was me.

While going around beating up underground organization members every night?

“Asset management? Like finance management?”

“You could say it’s similar. Estates, land, bonds, cash. There’s a lot to keep track of.”

“Ah. So kind of like a butler. But does that kind of job still exist these days?”

Suddenly, Alex regained his confidence. Johan met my confused gaze and added gently.

“For someone like me, it’s my duty to manage inherited assets well and pass them down to the next generation.”

What is he even saying right now? Is he planning to reveal his identity?

Leaving behind Alex, who now looked awkward, I guided Johan to a seat.

“Be careful with what you say.”

“He acts like that because you seem easy to him. Because you’re a woman living alone in an unfamiliar city.”

“And because I don’t look wealthy?”

“Yes. I don’t understand why you just let it go. You were so cold to me….”

“Are you upset?”

“It would be strange if I weren’t.”

A soft snicker slipped out.

When I lifted the corners of my lips into a grin, Johan took the memo pad from my hand.

He slowly scanned the menu.

I don’t usually like classic elements, but watching Johan makes me realize the appeal of classical beauty.

Johan, crossing one leg as he looked over the menu, suited the marble floor, the lighting, and the classical music perfectly.

“Just from the menu, it’s above expectations.”

There was a hint of arrogance about him, like someone who’d lived nobly his whole life.

He organized the order on the memo pad instead of me.

Even though the handwriting was scribbled quickly, it somehow looked well-educated.

“Next time, I’d like to dine with you alone.”

As I took the memo, our fingers brushed.

With his large, long hand, he laced his fingers with mine and pulled me closer.

Then he rubbed his cheek against my hand.

As the soft sensation spread, a ticklish feeling that started in my hand ran all the way to my stomach.

When he pressed his lips to my fingertips, a sharp tingling spread through me, and as his breath warmed my palm, a subtle tension rising from my shoulders ran down to the end of my spine.

Like a beast watching how prey dies after biting its neck, Johan studied my reaction closely, then narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

“I’d prefer you quit your job, but I won’t force you. I don’t want you to hate me.”

Johan let go of my hand.

My fingertips, my wrist, my palm. There isn’t a single spot that isn’t burning.

Dazed from him, I stood there in a haze, rubbing my flushed hand with my other hand before finally coming to my senses.

I quickly fled to the kitchen and handed over the order.

One of the chefs checking the order made a strange sound.

“Huh—!”

“Wh-what is it?”

“You’re the third person in this restaurant’s history to order this wine. Once nine years ago, and once five years ago. It’s over ten million raphens per bottle, so people don’t usually order it….”

“And this pairing….”

The kitchen junior picked up on Alex’s muttering.

“That’s the kind of combination only someone who’s eaten a lot would order.”

“I-is that so?”

“Jean. Your boyfriend really must be rich. What does he even do?”

“This is all just showing off. Jean, isn’t he overdoing it?”

When Alex sneered, I couldn’t hold back and said, “He’s someone whose home sweater costs more than other people’s monthly salary, so it’s fine.”

Hearing my answer, Alex’s face turned red and he snapped, “Aren’t you working? Move it, hurry up!”

Yikes.

I quickly ran away from the kitchen and went to open the front door.

Right on time, the owner came in today as well.

She looked gaunt, as if she’d been very sick. Did something happen?

As soon as she arrived, she handed out our wages. “This is last week’s pay. It’s a few days late, so I added a little extra.”

“Oh. Thank you!”

Getting paid always feels good.

With this today, I’ll treat Johan to something nice… no, he can already buy good food with his own money, so I should get him a gift instead.

Excited, I stuffed the pay into my pocket.

My eyes met Johan’s from across the room, and I gave a small wave.

He gave a brief cough and looked away.

Johan ate slowly while flipping through a newspaper, occasionally calling the head chef over to ask Alex questions.

“Alex. Why did you use store-bought syrup?”

“St-store-bought syrup…?”

“The subtle sweetness tastes like what you get from store-bought syrup.”

Johan watched as he put Alex on the spot with all kinds of questions, leaving him flustered.

Meanwhile, a strange noise came from the office in the back.

“I have a right to that money too! Divorce? If you want a divorce, split the money first!”

“That was bought with my money. It’s my personal property! There’s no reason to share it with you!”

It was Ms. Laura, the owner, and a man’s voice.

I asked Noah as he passed by, “Someone’s in there?”

“It’s probably the owner’s husband. If you get involved, he’ll accuse you of assault or something, so stay out of it if you can.”

“Even so, it looks a bit dangerous….”

Through the small window on the office door, I could see the man raising his hand and threatening Laura.

Wouldn’t it be better to call the police before something happens?

The people in Blue City, used to peace, seemed to think it would be resolved somehow, but I’m from Mist Island, where violence is the norm, so only negative thoughts came to mind.

Just in case, I reported it first.

“If you don’t want to be charged with obstruction of business, get out!”

“You’re not taking a single step out of here until you sign!”

Bang!

The man kicked the desk.

As the office grew louder, someone came out from the kitchen even though the dining area was already packed and busy.

“I must’ve been out of my mind to live with trash like you!”

When the agitated Laura approached her husband, I quickly opened the door, went inside, and stopped her.

“Please calm down, ma’am. And you, sir. Stop this and leave!”

“Who do you think you are, telling me to leave?”

“I’ve called the police. If you don’t want to be taken away, you should leave now.”

“Called the police? I own half of this restaurant! I came to my own business and you call the police?”

Crash!

The man threw a ceramic decoration from the counter.

Startled, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Are you insane? Why are you causing a scene in the restaurant!”

It was my first time seeing him, but Laura was his wife.

And yet he raised his hand toward her again to threaten her.

The moment I thought of someone like Andrew standing in front of me, anger surged up.

“Stop it!”

Thinking Laura might get hit, I shoved the man to the side.

“What the—!”

Smack!

My head snapped to the side.