The next day, Ji Hwan arrived at school with Ji Yeon.
As they entered the classroom, the atmosphere felt strange. All eyes were on Ji Hwan.
Joo Hyuk sat in his seat with a swollen eye and a cut on his temple. Several other classmates also looked beaten up, their cheeks bruised with traces of dried blood.
Ji Hwan scanned the classroom. Raon's seat was empty. So was Seung Woo's.
Before he could ask, the classroom door opened, and Ms. Lee walked in. "Ji Hwan, come with me to the disciplinary committee room."
Ji Yeon looked at Ji Hwan worriedly, but he just sighed and followed the teacher out.
In the disciplinary committee room, Tae Min was already sitting there.
Ji Hwan narrowed his eyes. "You?"
Tae Min smirked casually. "What? Surprised to see me here?"
The teachers and staff began questioning Ji Hwan about the incident from the night before.
Tae Min, with an innocent expression, said, "I don't know anything. Suddenly, Ji Hwan's friends were beaten up, and now I'm being accused? That doesn't make sense."
One of the teachers nodded. "Tae Min is right. Based on the information we gathered, it was actually the gang members associated with Ji Hwan who lured Raon and his friends to a secluded place. Then they were attacked."
Ji Hwan stared at Tae Min sharply. "You're twisting the story against me?"
Tae Min smirked slyly. "I'm just stating the facts."
Meanwhile, in the classroom, Ji Yeon looked at her classmates angrily.
"Are you guys being threatened by that punk?!"
No one answered, only exchanging nervous glances.
Ji Yeon clenched her fists. "Why is Ji Hwan getting trapped in this mess? This is clearly Tae Min's dirty game!"
Back in the disciplinary committee office, Tae Min leaned back in his chair, smirking as he spoke.
"Just call Ji Hwan's parents and arrange a meeting with the parents of both the perpetrators and the victims."
He then turned to the teachers. "If necessary, expel the ones responsible from this school. We don't need troublemakers here."
His gaze locked onto Ji Hwan, sharp and full of provocation.
Ji Hwan clenched his fists under the table, keeping his expression neutral. He knew exactly what Tae Min was trying to do—frame him and get him kicked out.
One of the teachers sighed. "This is a serious issue. We need to investigate properly before making any decisions."
Tae Min shrugged. "Fine. But don't take too long. The longer these people stay, the worse the school's reputation will be."
Ji Hwan finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with tension. "Why are you so eager to kick people out, Tae Min? Afraid the truth will come out?"
Tae Min smirked but didn't respond.
The committee members exchanged glances. It was clear this situation was more complicated than it seemed.
Tae Min stepped out of the disciplinary committee office with a calm stride. Just as he was about to walk away, his phone vibrated.
Jung Ha Joon (Tae Min's older brother) was calling.
Without any expression, Tae Min answered the call.
"Tae Min, meet me at the office. Now."
Ha Joon's voice was firm and left no room for refusal. Tae Min let out a small sigh before replying, "Alright, I'll be there soon."
Meanwhile, back in the classroom Joo Hyuk stood up from his seat, looking at his classmates who appeared hesitant and fearful. With a loud voice, he declared,
"Where is our sense of being gentlemen? Are we really just going to let ourselves be intimidated? Where's our solidarity?!"
Some classmates shifted uncomfortably, exchanging nervous glances. They knew Joo Hyuk was right, but fear still loomed over them.
One of them finally spoke up, his voice filled with concern.
"But what about our families? If we go against Tae Min, they could also be in danger..."
The classroom fell silent. Everyone knew that Tae Min's threats weren't just empty words. They were real.
Meanwhile, at the hospital Seung Woo and Raon were lying on their hospital beds, both looking completely exhausted. Bandages covered several parts of their bodies, and their bruises were still visible.
Raon, despite his condition, sighed dramatically and turned to Seung Woo.
"You know... if I were a cat, I'd already be on my ninth life."
Seung Woo groaned, barely opening his eyes. "Shut up, Raon. My head hurts just listening to you."
Raon smirked. "Come on, at least entertain me. We almost died, you know? Shouldn't we be grateful we're still breathing?"
Seung Woo rolled his eyes. "I would be more grateful if you just let me rest in peace."
Raon gasped, pretending to be offended. "Are you saying you want me to die?! How heartless!"
Seung Woo exhaled heavily. "No, I meant—never mind. Just shut up and sleep."
Raon pouted but eventually chuckled. "Fine. But if I die in my sleep, make sure to avenge me."
Seung Woo groaned again, pulling his blanket over his head. "I swear, dealing with you is more painful than the beating I took."
At Kang Dae Ho's office Ji Hwan's father received a message from the school regarding the incident involving his son. He read the message with a neutral expression before letting out a small scoff.
"That kid… always getting into trouble," he muttered. But deep down, he knew this wasn't Ji Hwan's doing.
At school Ji Hwan walked out of the disciplinary committee room at a slow pace, his mind running through everything that had happened.
"My body is already sore from training this morning, and now I have to deal with this mess. Damn it," he thought as he stretched his stiff neck.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Incheon Bupyeong High School, Park Yoon Ho stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing into the distance. Ji Hwan's childhood friend and right-hand man smirked slightly.
"Looks like things are starting to heat up," he murmured.
Back in the classroom As Ji Hwan stepped back in, the whole class fell silent. His classmates stared at him with concern, and Ji Yeon immediately approached him with a worried look.
However, Ji Hwan simply smiled cheerfully.
"I'm sorry, everyone. You all got caught up in this mess because of me. Don't try to help me, okay? You know what Tae Min is like. So, I'm really sorry."
He lowered his head in apology before grabbing his bag.
Ji Yeon grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?"
Ji Hwan grinned playfully. "I got suspended for a week. But don't worry, I'm still a student here. Relax, okay?"
With that, he turned around and casually walked out of the classroom, making his way down the hallway as if he had no worries at all.
At the Office – Tae Min and Jung Ha Joon
Jung Ha Joon sat across from Tae Min, his expression filled with frustration.
"You're starting to go overboard," Ha Joon said, arms crossed.
Tae Min leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "You're the one who told me to dig into Ji Hwan's family through his close friends."
Ha Joon slammed his hand on the table, making Tae Min flinch slightly. "Yeah, but not like this! If our father finds out, you're done for! If he scolds me, fine—I can handle it. But you? Can you accept the consequences? This is dangerous for you too, Tae Min. Stop acting like it's nothing!"
Tae Min clenched his jaw, but he didn't argue back. Ha Joon's words lingered in his mind, planting a small seed of doubt.
Meanwhile, Ji Hwan Ji Hwan walked toward Incheon Bupyeong High School, stopping in front of the gates. He sighed, looking down at his uniform, which was clearly different from the school's dress code. If he tried to walk in like this, he'd be thrown out immediately.
His eyes scanned the students passing by until he spotted a skinny guy with glasses. Smirking, he called out, "Hey, glasses guy! Mind if I borrow your uniform for a bit? Just a quick swap, I swear."
The student froze, his face turning pale. "W-what?!"
Ji Hwan waved his hands. "No, no, don't freak out! I'm not a criminal! Relax, man!" he said playfully, laughing at the student's panicked expression.
After some convincing (and a few promises to return the uniform), Ji Hwan changed and entered the school unnoticed. As he walked down the hallways, whispers started spreading.
"Isn't that the gang leader? What's he doing here?"
"Do you think he's looking for Park Yoon Ho?"
While students murmured about his presence, a familiar girl accidentally bumped into him.
It was Ha Rin—the girl who had served him at the store yesterday.
Ji Hwan quickly apologized, "Oh, sorry about that." But he didn't stop, continuing his way toward the rooftop.
A group of girls watched him from afar, some of them blushing.
"He's so cool…" one whispered.
"I know, right? But he totally ignored us," another pouted.
Ji Hwan didn't care. His focus was only on one person.
On the Rooftop Ji Hwan stepped onto the rooftop and immediately locked eyes with Park Yoon Ho.
Yoon Ho smirked. "You always come looking for me, don't you, Ji Hwan?"
Ji Hwan exhaled, crossing his arms.
Yoon Ho continued, "By the way, what about your classmates? I already told you—don't drag them into this."
Ji Hwan rubbed his temples. "I don't know why Tae Min attacked them. I swear, I've never even had a problem with him. I never retaliated, even when he kept messing with me. Hell, he even swapped my flu medicine with drugs once—"
Yoon Ho's expression darkened instantly. "That bastard did what?!"
Ji Hwan quickly raised his hands. "No, no, calm down—that's not what I meant!"
Yoon Ho clenched his fists, barely holding back his anger. "Just tell me, Ji Hwan. Is that true?"
Ji Hwan hesitated, then finally sighed. "Yeah… but I didn't tell you because I knew you'd be furious. I was afraid things would spiral out of control."
Yoon Ho took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, fine…"
After a pause, he asked, "What about Jin Woo and the others? Are they safe? If this mess spreads, the guys at Technical High School could get dragged in too."
Ji Hwan shook his head. "I don't know… I feel like I dragged them into this too."
Yoon Ho stepped forward, slapping Ji Hwan's shoulder lightly. "Hey, where's that cheerful grin of yours? Listen, you were set up—this isn't your fault."
Meanwhile Ji Yeon and Joo Hyuk sat in class, both lost in thought about Ji Hwan. They were worried because Ji Hwan always acted on his own without saying much.
Joo Hyuk opened his phone and saw a group chat notification. His eyes widened as he saw a picture of food sent by Ji Hwan, along with a message:
"I'm going to the hospital. This is for Seung Woo and Raon."
Ji Yeon, sitting next to him, peeked at the screen.
"Huh?! He went to the hospital alone?!" Ji Yeon immediately stood up.
Joo Hyuk sighed. "Seriously, Ji Hwan. He never tells us anything."
They exchanged glances. One thing was clear—Ji Hwan was definitely up to something unexpected again.
Meanwhile, Ji Hwan arrived at the hospital with Park Yoon Ho. They walked casually inside, carrying plastic bags filled with food.
After finding Seung Woo and Raon's room, Ji Hwan pushed the door open and walked in casually.
Raon, lying in bed, immediately turned his head. His eyes narrowed when he saw the unfamiliar face next to Ji Hwan.
"Who are you?" Raon asked suspiciously.
Ji Hwan grinned and threw his arm around Park Yoon Ho in a friendly manner. "This is my best friend! His name is Park Yoon Ho!"
(Funny moment—because Ji Hwan seemed too relaxed in this situation.)
Raon still stared at Yoon Ho with a weird expression. "This guy is your best friend? Isn't he…?"
Seung Woo, who was also in the room, glanced at Yoon Ho with the same confused look.
Yoon Ho gave a small smile and looked at Ji Hwan with a lazy expression. "See? Even they're confused about why you're friends with me."
Ji Hwan chuckled. "Oh, don't think too much about it. What matters is that we brought food, so let's eat!"
Raon and Seung Woo were still skeptical, but the delicious smell from the food bag started to tempt them.
Seung Woo sighed. "Alright, whatever. But if anything weird happens, I'm blaming you, Ji Hwan."
Ji Hwan just laughed happily. "Relax, bro!"
Raon narrowed his eyes at Park Yoon Ho, still feeling suspicious.
"Wait a minute… isn't he the guy who—"
Ji Hwan quickly stuffed a piece of food into Raon's mouth before he could finish his sentence.
"Eat first, talk later!" Ji Hwan grinned, acting as if nothing was wrong.
Raon choked a little but eventually chewed the food. "Ugh… fine."
Seung Woo, still lying in bed, watched the exchange with amusement. "I swear, Ji Hwan, you always bring in the weirdest people."
Park Yoon Ho, who had been silent, finally spoke. "You guys sure talk a lot for two injured people." He smirked slightly, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Raon scoffed. "Well, excuse me for being beaten up!"
Ji Hwan clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough about that! Let's focus on recovering, okay?"
Raon frowned. "Easy for you to say! You're not the one who got beat up!"
Ji Hwan nodded in agreement. "True, but I did get suspended for a week, so technically, we're all suffering in our own ways."
Seung Woo raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you got suspended?"
Ji Hwan shrugged casually. "Yep! Tae Min set me up, blah blah blah. But don't worry! I'm used to stuff like this."
Raon threw a pillow at Ji Hwan's face. "Idiot! That's not something to be proud of!"
Ji Hwan caught the pillow and grinned playfully. "Hey, at least I still have my handsome face intact!"
Seung Woo sighed. "So, what's your plan now? You're not just gonna sit around and do nothing, right?"
Ji Hwan's grin slowly faded as his expression turned serious. "Of course not. I'm going to find out what Tae Min's real goal is… and why he's doing all of this."
Park Yoon Ho finally stepped forward, his usual smirk gone. "And if things get worse?"
Ji Hwan cracked his knuckles. "Then, I'll make sure he regrets ever messing with me."
Raon and Seung Woo exchanged glances, sensing that Ji Hwan was truly determined this time.
Despite his usual playful attitude, they knew when Ji Hwan got serious, things were about to get interesting.
Evening Inside the luxurious Jung Corporation office, Jung Dong Wook, Tae Min's father, sat with a serious expression. Across from him, Jung Ha Joon stood with a tense look on his face.
"So… all of this happened because of your orders?" Jung Dong Wook's deep voice carried a heavy weight.
Ha Joon nodded slightly. "I only told Tae Min to dig deeper into Ji Hwan's family. I never expected him to go this far."
His father clicked his tongue softly. "You are smart, Ha Joon, but too impulsive."
Ha Joon clenched his fists. "Then are you just going to sit back and do nothing? If Ji Hwan starts digging deeper, he'll uncover the truth we've been hiding all this time!"
Jung Dong Wook gazed out the window, looking at the city as it darkened. "Ha Joon, you're still too young to understand this… But you must know, the feud between our family and Ji Hwan's is nothing new."
Ha Joon frowned. "What do you mean?"
Jung Dong Wook took a deep breath, then began to explain.
"It all started during our grandfathers' generation. Your grandfather and Ji Hwan's grandfather were once powerful business partners. They built an empire together, supporting each other. But greed ruined everything."
"Ji Hwan's grandfather discovered evidence that our grandfather was involved in multiple financial scandals and was about to expose him to the public."
Ha Joon's eyes widened. "Don't tell me…?"
Jung Dong Wook nodded slowly. "Yes… our grandfather acted first. He framed Ji Hwan's grandfather in an embezzlement case he never committed, making him lose everything."
Ha Joon swallowed hard. "So… our family was the one who started this feud?"
His father stared at him sharply. "That's not something you need to question now. What you need to understand is that if Ji Hwan learns the truth, he won't stand still. And if he starts digging even deeper, our lives will be in danger."
Ha Joon remained silent, his mind in turmoil.
"Tae Min needs to be controlled before everything spirals out of control," Jung Dong Wook continued. "I don't care how you do it, but Ji Hwan must never find out about this."
Ha Joon bit his lip. He knew that things were starting to fall apart, and now, he had to find a way to stop Tae Min before it was too late.
At Ji Hwan's House
Ji Hwan had just returned home and headed straight to the kitchen. The delicious aroma of food filled the air, making his stomach growl. He saw his mother focused on cooking.
"Eomma, I'm home!" he called out cheerfully.
His mother glanced at him briefly before giving a small smile. "Have you eaten? Or do you want to eat now?"
Ji Hwan walked over to the dining table, swiftly snatching a piece of food before his mother could stop him. "Mmm, this is so good!" he said, munching happily.
His mother narrowed her eyes. "Wash your hands before eating anything!"
Ji Hwan chuckled and then turned to the housekeeper, who was cleaning the kitchen. With a playful tone, he said, "Noona, will you cook for me someday too?"
The housekeeper laughed and playfully waved a dishcloth at him. "Keep dreaming, young master!"
Ji Hwan laughed in amusement before heading upstairs to his room. But as he reached the top of the stairs, he suddenly froze.
In front of his bedroom door, Ji Yeon was sitting on the floor, holding the PlayStation remote, wearing an expression like a predator ready to strike.
"Ah… you're finally home, Ji Hwan~," Ji Yeon said with a sly smile.
Ji Hwan immediately sensed danger. He glanced at his PS, then at Ji Yeon, who looked way too relaxed.
"Hey… Hajima…" Ji Hwan said hesitantly. "Don't tell me… you touched my save data?"
Ji Yeon grinned even wider and casually lifted the controller in her hand. "Well, who told you to be gone for so long?"
Ji Hwan stood frozen in place. Today had already been rough, and now he had to deal with yet another disaster.
Interrogation by Ji Yeon and Joo Hyuk
Just as Ji Hwan was about to grab the controller from Ji Yeon, suddenly, Joo Hyuk appeared out of nowhere.
"Oh, great timing, Joo Hyuk!" Ji Yeon smirked. "We need to interrogate this guy."
Ji Hwan raised an eyebrow. "Hah? About what?"
Ji Yeon and Joo Hyuk ignored his question and immediately started a group video call with their classmates.
"Ji Hwan, spill it. What exactly happened with Tae Min?" Joo Hyuk demanded.
Ji Hwan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Why are you guys so obsessed with this?"
Joo Hyuk's expression turned serious. "Because all of us were threatened, and when we were beaten, we had to answer truthfully… about your family."
Ji Yeon froze mid-sentence. "Hah?? Our family??"
Ji Yeon and Ji Hwan locked eyes, both sensing the weight of the situation.
Just then, Ji Hwan's phone rang, making everyone pause. Without a word, he darted out of the room, down the stairs, and straight out of the house before answering the call.
"Yah, Jin Woo! What's wrong? Are you guys in trouble?" Ji Hwan asked.
There was a short silence before Jin Woo hesitantly replied, "Uh… not exactly…"
Ji Hwan frowned. "Then what is it?"
Jin Woo finally spoke, "Did you… Did you really step down as our leader and let Park Yoon Ho take your place?"
Ji Hwan sighed again, already expecting this reaction. "Yeah. I don't want to involve you guys anymore. I've decided to step away. But don't worry, I'll still check on you all, okay?"
"And about the gang under my father's control," Ji Hwan continued, "they'll still look after you guys if Yoon Ho is busy or if anything happens."
Suddenly, Dong Il's voice cut in angrily from the other side. "YAH, Ji Hwan, ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
Ji Hwan chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "You guys are still my friends. I'll visit often and bring delicious food. I promise."
Before anyone could argue further, Ji Hwan ended the call and went back inside, where Ji Yeon and Joo Hyuk were waiting impatiently.
Ji Yeon crossed her arms. "Done running? Now, back to the interrogation!"
Not long after Ji Hwan returned home, his bedroom door swung open abruptly.
Kang Ryun, their uncle, had just come back from his university and entered with a serious expression.
"Hey, what are you guys gathering here for?" he asked, glancing at Ji Yeon and Joo Hyuk, who were still sitting with suspicious expressions.
However, before they could answer, Kang Ryun's sharp gaze immediately locked onto Ji Hwan, interrogating him instead.
"Ji Hwan, I heard something bad about you. Be honest, what's really going on?"
Ji Hwan scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh… just a small problem, Hyung."
Kang Ryun frowned. "A small problem? Don't lie to me. Who is Tae Min? Whose son is he?"
Joo Hyuk answered without hesitation. "He's Jung Dong Wook's son."
Kang Ryun's eyes widened instantly.
"WHAT??"
Kang Ryun clenched his fists, his face turning tense. He stepped closer to Ji Hwan and asked in a sharp tone, "What did he do to you?"
Ji Hwan hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. But finally, he took a deep breath and said,
"Tae Min manipulated everyone, set me up, threatened my friends, and got me suspended for a week. Maybe… after tomorrow's committee meeting, I might be expelled."
Silence filled the room.
Kang Ryun clenched his fists even tighter, his jaw tightening.
Then, suddenly, he asked in a serious tone,"Does Kang Dae Ho know?"
Everyone froze on the spot.
Ji Yeon, Joo Hyuk, and Ji Hwan exchanged looks, trying to process the strange question.
Kang Ryun realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself, looking a bit embarrassed.
"I mean, does your dad know?"
Ji Yeon burst out laughing, while Ji Hwan shook his head with a wry smile.
Joo Hyuk facepalmed. "Hyung, you were being so serious, but then you messed up the name."
They all remained silent for a moment, before finally chuckling softly, despite the tense situation.
Not long after, Mi Jung, Ji Hwan's mother, called from downstairs.
"Ji Hwan! Ji Yeon! Kang Ryun! Come down, dinner is ready!"
Ji Hwan glanced at Joo Hyuk and patted his shoulder. "Come on, have dinner with us before you go."
However, Joo Hyuk shook his head with a small smile.
"I'll head straight home. I already made plans to have dinner with my mom and grandma," he said while adjusting his bag.
Ji Hwan nodded in understanding."Arasso... Take care on your way home."
Joo Hyuk smiled, raised his hand in farewell, and left Ji Hwan's house.
Meanwhile, Ji Hwan, Ji Yeon, and Kang Ryun headed downstairs to the dining room, where Mi Jung had already set up a warm meal on the table.
As Ji Hwan sat at the dining table, he looked around and noticed something.
"Where's Dad?" he asked, glancing at his mother.
Mi Jung sighed softly as she placed a bowl of soup in front of him. "Your father will be home late. He's busy with work, so just eat first."
Ji Hwan leaned back in his chair, exhaling. "Figures..."
Ji Yeon, sitting across from him, nudged his foot under the table."Don't sulk. Just eat."
Kang Ryun, who was calmly picking up his chopsticks, glanced at Ji Hwan."Seriously, just focus on eating. You'll need the energy for tomorrow."
Ji Hwan sighed again but eventually picked up his spoon, deciding to drop the topic.
As the three of them started eating, a calm yet slightly heavy atmosphere lingered in the air.
Meanwhile, at Jin Woo's hideout, the group looked confused as a delivery order arrived.
"Who ordered this?" Dong Il asked, frowning.
Jin Woo opened the food package and found a neatly folded note inside. His eyes widened as he read it.
"Sorry for everything that happened. I hope you all eat well."
— Ji Hwan
Jin Woo paused for a moment before smiling slightly. "That guy..." he muttered.
At the hospital, Seung Woo and Raon also received the same food delivery.
Raon opened the package and immediately noticed the small note inside. He read it slowly and then looked at Seung Woo.
"He's really thoughtful, isn't he?" Raon said with a small smile.
Seung Woo simply nodded.
At Park Yoon Ho's house, he had just stepped out of his room when someone in his household handed him a package.
"You got a food delivery, Yoon Ho."
Yoon Ho raised an eyebrow and took it. When he opened the package, he found Ji Hwan's note inside.
"Hah… did he really send food to everyone?" he muttered, chuckling.
At each of Ji Hwan's classmates' homes, the same thing happened. They received food with an apology note tucked inside.
It turned out that before Ji Hwan went home that evening—before being interrogated by his family—he had ordered food for everyone, with a special request to include a handwritten apology in each package.
A quiet way of showing that he still cared.