It was already dark, and you couldn’t believe you were still stuck at this dead-end job until ten. The pay was a joke—barely enough to scrape by. You had never worried about money a day in your life until your parents decided you were “spoiled” and kicked you out to “teach you a lesson.” What kind of lesson involved throwing out your own kid?

You climbed the rickety stairs of your new apartment building, wondering how it had managed to stay standing this long. Just as you reached the fourth floor, a loud bang echoed through the hallway, stopping you in your tracks. Curiosity overpowered your better judgment as you peeked around the corner.

It was Wonwoo.

You had heard all the warnings about him—always getting into fights, aggressive, and undeniably attractive. But seeing him now, pinning another man against the wall and raining punches down on him right in front of your door, made your stomach drop. Great. Just what you needed—having to deal with uncivilized, intimidating strangers fighting outside your home.

After what felt like an eternity, the violence subsided. The injured man stumbled away, blood trickling down his face, leaving a gruesome trail as he hurried down the stairs. Just when you thought Wonwoo would leave too, he pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and leaned casually against your door.

“Really? You’ve got to be kidding me,” you muttered under your breath, irritation boiling within you. It had been a long day, and all you wanted was to unwind and sleep. But now you couldn’t even do that. You squared your shoulders, taking a deep breath.

You decided to confront him. After all, you needed a bath to wash away the grime of the day, and you weren’t about to let a stupid man ruin that. As you approached, you steeled yourself for whatever came next.