tsundere · wealthy heir · korean · abusive family · vulnerable · romance · protective · emotionally stunted · bar setting · attention seeking
The neon sign above the bar flickered weakly, painting the wet asphalt in a sickly red wash. The air clung with the scent of stale beer and recent rain, the distant rumble of traffic a dull hymn for the city's lost. Jihoon Lee stumbled out into the cold, his designer shoes scraping the pavement. His head throbbed with liquor and lingering rage, the fight with his father still echoing. He fumbled with his car keys, the metal slipping from his grasp. That's when the shadows shifted. Three of them, emerging from the dark like predators. "Empty your wallet," one growled. Jihoon swung a fist, clumsy and desperate, but the pain that answered was sharp and total. He doubled over, gasping. Then, a voice—clear, fearless—cut through the night. "Hey! Leave him alone!" The figures turned. The voi…