PV Ch.3 Part 1

#3. Twisting the Original (1)

Today, Shi Yu-hyeon had to be extra mindful to keep his gaze from straying. The bar where he worked was located in one of the most expensive areas in Seoul.

The bar itself was housed in an unassuming, almost shabby building, with no sign to announce its presence. However, once you descended the stairs and stepped inside, you were greeted by a lavish interior, where even a single painting on the wall could fetch tens of millions of won.

Softly lit, the air hummed with the murmur of conversation, gentle laughter, and the strains of classical music. 

It was a place known by word of mouth among ability users, influential figures from the political and business worlds, and even celebrities. 

The bar’s fame stemmed from several factors. First, it offered a selection of rare and expensive liquors. Second, its layout was a harmonious blend of open tables and secluded booths with curtains, offering both a sense of community and privacy. 

“Order here, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lastly, only those with exceptional looks, like Shi Yu-hyeon himself, were employed. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to consider a career change?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m content with my current life.”

Shi Yu-hyeon expertly returned the proffered business card to its owner, offering a polite smile for good measure.

The card proclaimed the man to be a director at a renowned entertainment agency. Such occurrences were commonplace here. Shi Yu-hyeon had received countless casting offers and sponsorship proposals over the years. 

It was one of the reasons many aspiring celebrities worked here. Those simply motivated by money often found wealthy sponsors, trading their youth for a life of luxury. 

“Let me know if you change your mind. I’ll have my usual.”

Despite the gentle rejection, the man lingered, his thumb subtly rubbing against the back of Shi Yu-hyeon’s hand as he pressed the card into his palm.

Shi Yu-hyeon’s gaze flickered towards the man’s protruding belly, barely contained by his expensive suit, before he offered another dazzling smile. The sight of the man’s face, flushed even in the dim light, was enough to make his empty stomach churn. 

“Please wait a moment.”

He tucked the card into his pocket and turned towards the counter.

“Table 12. One bottle of A-17.”

“You alright? You look pale.”

“It’s nothing new.”

The man behind the counter was the bar manager, a close friend of the owner and a C-rank Esper.

“Take a break. Go sit at an empty table. Your indigestion hasn’t cleared up yet, right?”

One of the reasons Shi Yu-hyeon continued to work at the bar, despite the constant stream of unpleasant encounters, was the manager. Of course, the generous pay, far exceeding what he could earn juggling multiple part-time jobs, was a significant factor as well. 

“I’ll take a 30-minute break then.”

“Take your time. The others are busy flirting with customers, wasting time anyway.”

Despite his words, everyone knew the manager cared about his employees.

Shi Yu-hyeon offered a small smile in response and made his way towards a table that had been drawing his attention.

He’d never seen the man sitting there before. And it wasn’t just Shi Yu-hyeon who was subtly watching him.

Everyone in the bar, from the staff to the customers, was stealing glances, their gazes lingering. 

The man was undeniably handsome, but beauty was hardly a rare commodity in this place. 

What drew their attention was the aura he exuded, a sense of fragile vulnerability, like a flower blooming on the edge of a precipice. It felt as if he might disappear at any moment. 

“Haa…” 

A soft, weary sigh reached Shi Yu-hyeon’s ears, sending a shiver down his spine. The man’s face, with its delicate features, was clouded with a profound sadness.

His eyes, a light pink that almost seemed to shimmer with unshed tears, only added to the melancholic air surrounding him.

“You seem to be alone. Care to join me for a drink?” 

One of the men who had been circling, waiting for an opportunity, finally made his move. Shi Yu-hyeon’s gaze sharpened, taking in the man’s appearance from head to toe.

It was Jin Myeong-hun, the grandson of the chairman of J Group, the fifth largest conglomerate in Korea. Despite his handsome face, Jin Myeong-hun was notorious for his bad habits. More than one employee had ended up in the hospital after accepting his “sponsorship.”

The manager was trying to find a way to ban him from the bar, but it was proving to be difficult. The only consolation was that the staff now avoided him like the plague. 

Having exhausted his options, Jin Myeong-hun was clearly looking for fresh prey. 

“I-It’s okay…”

The man’s voice, small and trembling, lingered in the air, sending a strange thrill through Shi Yu-hyeon. There was a curious irony in the way he trembled, his fragile demeanor at odds with his almost ethereal beauty. 

He was the perfect target for Jin Myeong-hun’s twisted desires. 

The leisurely smile vanished from Jin Myeong-hun’s face, and he licked his lips, a hint of impatience in his eyes. Ignoring the man’s protest, he pulled out a chair and sat down, his arm snaking around the man’s slender shoulders. 

“Don’t be shy. How old are you? You look young.”

The man’s eyes widened, startled by the sudden familiarity. He bit his lip and tried to shrug off Jin Myeong-hun’s arm, but the grip tightened, pulling him closer. 

“I… I should get going…”

His hand, trembling visibly even from afar, reached up to push at Jin Myeong-hun’s arm. 

Jin Myeong-hun was a C-rank Esper, and his hobby was mixed martial arts. While the man wasn’t particularly short, he was slender, almost fragile-looking next to Jin Myeong-hun’s bulk.

“You’re here alone, which means you must be lonely. I can take care of you.”

Jin Myeong-hun leaned closer, his lips brushing against the man’s ear as he spoke. The man flinched at the contact, his shoulder lifting instinctively to shield his ear. 

Realizing he couldn’t escape Jin Myeong-hun’s grip, he looked around, his gaze desperate, seeking help.

But no one intervened. They simply watched, sipping their drinks, the scene unfolding before them nothing more than entertainment. No one wanted to cross Jin Myeong-hun, his family’s power and influence too formidable to risk a confrontation. And besides, what Jin Myeong-hun was doing wasn’t that bad, not yet. 

Only the manager looked concerned, his gaze fixed on the table, his hand hovering over the button that would summon the guards. He hesitated, torn between his responsibility to protect his customers and his fear of escalating the situation. 

“P-Please… Let go…”

Tears welled up in the man’s eyes, his pale face streaked with fear. Jin Myeong-hun’s gaze gleamed with predatory satisfaction.

“Ahh…”

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” 

Jin Myeong-hun’s hand tightened around the man’s jaw, forcing him to meet his gaze. The man could only stare back, his eyes filled with helpless tears. 

Just as the manager reached for the alarm, Shi Yu-hyeon moved. He crossed the room, his steps measured and precise. The man’s eyes widened as Shi Yu-hyeon approached, his gaze flickering nervously.

Shi Yu-hyeon was struck by the way the man’s eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, seemed to glint like polished obsidian. He tore his gaze away, forcing a smile as he turned towards Jin Myeong-hun. 

He even inclined his head slightly, a gesture of respect meant to appease the irate Esper. 

“I apologize, Sir, but this gentleman has a prior engagement with me.” 

“With you?”

Jin Myeong-hun had tried, and failed, to win Shi Yu-hyeon’s favor on multiple occasions. The only reason he didn’t force the issue was that there were many others who shared his desire for the beautiful bartender. 

And then there was the manager, who was particularly protective of Shi Yu-hyeon. 

Jin Myeong-hun’s gaze swept across the room, taking in the faces of those watching the unfolding drama. He noted the way their expressions shifted, the amusement replaced by apprehension as they realized who had intervened. He couldn’t afford to cause a scene, not with his reputation already hanging by a thread. 

This was a place where his grandfather’s power and influence meant little. There were others here with even greater backing. 

“I’ll remember this.”

He couldn’t back down without a fight. He glared at Shi Yu-hyeon, his words a veiled threat, before turning and stalking out of the bar.

“Come on, get up.”

“T-Thank you…”

“Let’s get you out of here. If you stay, you’ll just end up in a worse situation.”

The man bowed his head repeatedly, his soft, silky hair shifting with each movement, brushing against the pale skin of his neck. 

Shi Yu-hyeon’s lips tightened, a strange feeling twisting in his gut. The man pushed himself to his feet, his hand gripping the edge of the table, then his brow furrowed, and he swayed, his eyes fluttering closed. 

“…Sir?” 

Shi Yu-hyeon caught him before he could hit the floor, his arms instinctively wrapping around the man’s slender frame. The feeling of the man’s weight against him, the warmth of his breath against his neck, sent a shiver down his spine. 

“Yu-hyeon, you can go home early today.”

“Manager.”

He looked up as the manager approached, his gaze lingering on the man’s pale face, his heart skipping a beat. 

“You’re not feeling well, and this gentleman… it’s not safe for him to stay here. Take him home, look after him until he wakes up.” 

“Okay.”

“I’ll have a car waiting for you. Take it.”

“Thank you.”

The manager trusted him. He knew Shi Yu-hyeon wouldn’t take advantage of someone unconscious and vulnerable. As an added precaution, he assigned one of the guards to escort them.

“Sorry for the commotion, everyone. To make up for it, I’ll be serving everyone a complimentary glass of A-7.”

A-7 was a limited-edition liquor, highly sought after and hard to come by. The bar had strict quotas to ensure everyone had a chance to taste it.

Those who had missed out on their chance to try the prized drink cheered, whistles and applause filling the air.

Shi Yu-hyeon nodded at the manager and left the bar with the guard. A black sedan was parked out front. It was the same car Jin Myeong-hun drove. 

So he hadn’t given up. He’d probably been planning to approach the man again once he left the bar alone.

As soon as they stepped outside, the sedan sped away. Shi Yu-hyeon suspected the manager had anticipated this, taking steps to ensure their safety.

“This way, sir.”

“Thank you.”

The guard opened the back door of a waiting car, and Shi Yu-hyeon slid inside, the unconscious man still cradled in his arms. He’d noticed before, but the man was shockingly light, his body alarmingly thin. 

He sighed softly as his gaze fell on the man’s delicate wrist, the bones almost protruding beneath the skin. 

“Where to, sir?” the guard asked.

He gave him the address of his apartment, which wasn’t far from the bar. 

The city lights blurred past the window as Shi Yu-hyeon stared at the man’s sleeping face, his gaze drawn to the soft curve of his lips. He noticed the way the man’s breath, warm and shallow, fanned against his neck, sending a shiver down his spine. 

“We’ve arrived, sir.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll get the door for you.”

The car rolled to a stop, and the guard hopped out, opening the door for them. Shi Yu-hyeon nodded his thanks and hurried inside the building.