Chapter 16: He said he’d protect me lol
Just then, before either of them could react, the hand that had been lifting Cheon Areum into the air was violently thrown off. His body jerked midair, but he didn’t fall. Instead, he felt a steady grip catch the back of his shirt, holding him up effortlessly. The woman stumbled a step back, momentarily off balance, her arm swinging uselessly from the force of the interference. Her eyes snapped toward the source. Yoon Seoyul stood between them, his expression unreadable, eyes sharp like glass about to crack. Without a word, he gently lowered Cheon Areum to the ground.
"Ha!"
The woman scoffed dramatically, pressing a hand to her head in disbelief.
"To think you could seduce the Yoon Seoyul with your pretty little facade... No wonder your head’s been in the clouds. Must be nice having someone of his status supporting you from behind. Even if I report him to the police for injuring my employees and kidnapping—nothing will happen, is that it? If you say you want to kill me and take Rian’s custody that way, will he do that for you too? Murder."
She leaned forward slightly, emphasizing her final word in a trenchant, high whisper—each syllable like a dagger cloaked in velvet. Cheon Areum’s fists clenched at his sides, trembling not from fear but from restraint. Thin traces of dark energy seeped out between his fingers before he quickly curled them tighter, hiding the ominous mist beneath his sleeves. His eyes, undiluted, revealed the purple hue usually buried deep in his irises, now fully surfaced—vivid and unfiltered—as he looked up at Yoon Seoyul.
Yoon Seoyul’s eyes had widened slightly as he stared at her. He wanted to avoid being seen as a potential threat to humanity—for now, at least. For the protagonist, the need to save the world came before anything else. If he considered something a hazard endangering the human population, he would go after it without a second thought. That was how he was wired, and for someone who had yet to reawaken as an S-Class, making enemies of the same level wasn’t ideal.
"Cheon Areum..."
Yoon Seoyul spoke, regaining his full attention.
"Cheon Areum is not dating me. I had a debt to settle with him. We’re even now, so I won’t be doing any more favors for him."
He’s way too pure for this world. She clearly meant we were having a fling, but that possibility didn’t even occur to him. Wait, no—that’s not the important part here. What do you mean you won’t do anything for me now?! Have I already been thrown to the deranged and unsavable lot??
Yoon Seoyul’s gaze flickered downward, caught off guard by the gentle tug. Cheon Areum’s hand gripped his sleeve—not tightly, but enough to anchor him. He pleaded with his eyes, blinking repeatedly and forcing his lips into a downward smile to garner whatever sympathy he could.