The morning sun poured into the dining room as Mrs. Kim, the head maid, moved gracefully around the table, her experienced hands serving breakfast with quiet elegance. The atmosphere was subdued yet curious, the clinking of utensils filling the air until Dino entered.

A small, nervous smile tugged at his lips as he greeted the room, "Morning."

The hyungs glanced at him, their gazes assessing. Mrs. Kim offered him a kind nod as she refilled S.Coups's coffee.

"Ready for the big task, Dino?" Hoshi teased, leaning back in his chair with a knowing smirk.

"Yeah," Dino replied, his voice steady but tinged with nervous energy. "It's just a house tour."

"You'll do fine," S.Coups said, his tone carrying quiet authority.

Jun remained quiet, his brow furrowed slightly, while Hansol avoided Dino's eyes, staring at his plate with a faint edge of envy. Wonwoo, on the other hand, offered a rare smile. "Don't forget to keep it simple for him."

"I won't," Dino promised, his excitement bubbling beneath his calm exterior. He finished his breakfast quickly and stood. "I'll see you guys later."

As Dino left the room, his steps purposeful, the hyungs exchanged knowing glances.

Hoshi's eyes sparkled with curiosity, his lips curling into a subtle smirk. "Let's see how he handles this."

Wonwoo's amusement was quiet but evident in his soft smile. "He's really grown."

Jun sat still, concern flickering in his gaze, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. His usual calmness wavered.

Hansol, watching from his seat, felt a pang of envy, his eyes momentarily darkening. "Lucky kid," he muttered, barely audible.

S.Coups, though, looked relieved, his gaze steady and thoughtful. "He'll be fine," he murmured, trusting Dino to handle it.

Mrs. Kim, observing the dynamics with her seasoned eyes, moved to clear Dino's plate, her presence a stabilizing force in the tension that lingered in the room.

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Dino hesitated at the door of Jeonghan's room, finding him sitting by the window, staring out with an unreadable expression. He stepped forward, breaking the silence. "Hey, remember me? From the amusement park?"

Jeonghan blinked, his eyes slowly shifting toward him. A brief flicker of recognition crossed his face, followed by surprise and a hint of amusement. "You," he said quietly. "You're the one who had the panic attack."

Dino laughed nervously, embarrassed. "Yeah, that was me. Didn't handle that too well."

Jeonghan's lips twitched, his amusement evident now. "I didn't think you were that scared," he teased, softening the air between them.

Relieved, Dino chuckled and tried to keep the mood light. "Guess I'm not as brave as I look."

After breakfast with Mrs. Kim serving them with grace, Dino guided Jeonghan through the mansion, offering bits of his embarrassing stories along the way. Jeonghan seemed to warm up to him with every laugh, his expression softening and becoming more genuine.

They reached the garden, a place devoid of life, much like the house itself. Jeonghan's eyes softened, a trace of sorrow replacing his usual curiosity.

Dino stood beside him, his voice low but filled with meaning. "There's a lot in this house that's dead. Places, hearts... people," he said, glancing at the neglected garden. "But I think you're the one who can change it. You might be the key to bringing it all back."

Jeonghan, stunned, looked at him, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, to Dino's surprise, he pulled him into a hug. Dino froze, caught off guard by the warmth of it. But slowly, he wrapped his arms around him, feeling a sense of comfort, he hadn't realized he needed.

Jeonghan pulled back, a soft smile on his face. "Thank you," he murmured.

Dino smiled back, his chest full. "You're not alone here. We'll fix this place together."

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The Kwon Mansion 

The basement was dimly lit, a single bulb swinging lazily above, casting flickering shadows on the concrete walls. The air reeked of blood and fear. Viktor sat comfortably in a weathered chair, one leg crossed over the other, a knife glinting in his hand. His sharp eyes gleamed with twisted delight as he dragged the blade across the trembling man's arm, slicing the skin with deliberate precision. The man screamed, his voice raw and desperate, but it only seemed to amuse Viktor more.

A low chuckle escaped his lips, then a giggle, before he leaned closer to admire his handiwork. Blood trickled down the man's arm, pooling on the cold floor. Viktor's sick smile widened as he whispered, almost tenderly, "Such fragile little creatures. All it takes is one cut, one tear, to remind them of their place in the food chain."

The man sobbed, his head slumping forward, but Viktor grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up. "Ah-ah, don't pass out on me now. The fun's just getting started."

The sound of footsteps interrupted the macabre scene. A tall woman entered, her heels clicking on the concrete floor. She carried herself with a composed elegance, despite the grotesque display before her. Her name was Sofia, Viktor's personal assistant. efficient, loyal, and disturbingly unshaken by his depravity.

"Sir," she began, her voice steady, "we've received some updates on Yoon Jeonghan."

Viktor's hand froze mid-slice, his interest piqued. He looked up at her with a sly grin, tilting his head. "Oh? Do tell, Sofia."

"Jeonghan hasn't been seen for days. His flower shop is being handled by his friends, and S.Coups' men have been spotted patrolling the streets around his area. They appear to be on standby," she reported, her tone betraying neither judgment nor fear.

Viktor sat back in his chair, spinning the knife in his hand with practiced ease. His grin stretched unnaturally wide. "A house arrest, is it? How adorable," he mused, his voice dripping with mockery. "The big, bad mafia boss keeping his delicate little flower under lock and key. Romantic, if not entirely pathetic."

Sofia stood silently, awaiting further instructions. Viktor's eyes darkened, his playful tone evaporating as he leaned forward, the knife resting against his lip in thought. "Tell our men to stay alert. Any sightings of Jeonghan, any slips by S.Coups' goons, I want to know immediately. The boy is a pawn in a much bigger game, and I don't intend to lose my advantage."

"Understood," Sofia replied crisply.

Viktor waved her off with a flick of his hand. "Now, leave me. I have unfinished business."

As Sofia exited the basement, Viktor turned his attention back to the bleeding man before him. His smile returned, more sinister than ever. "Where were we? Ah, yes," he said, raising the knife again. "You were about to tell me how much pain a man can endure before he breaks."

The screams echoed in the confines of the basement, but Viktor's laughter was louder—gleeful, chilling, and utterly devoid of humanity

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The Flower Shop 

The morning at the flower shop was bustling as usual. With Seungkwan and Seokmin on their semester breaks, they were helping out alongside Taehyung. Jisoo and Taehyung worked efficiently, arranging vibrant blooms into artful displays, while Minghao and Seungkwan meticulously went through the orders, organizing them with practiced ease. Woozi, however, was in his usual spot, seemingly focused but visibly lost in thought, his fingers absently straightening a petal on a rose.

His mind was elsewhere, replaying yesterday's events. The brief, intentional touch, the intense, tiger-like gaze, it haunted him through the night, leaving him restless and unexpectedly giddy. His heart fluttered against his will at the memory, a warmth spreading in his chest despite the cool morning air.

They all missed Jeonghan. His calming presence, the gentle way he brought order to their chaos. Taehyung was the first to voice it. "I miss braiding Jeonghan's hair and making flower crowns for him," he sighed, his lips forming a pout as he tied off a bouquet.

That single comment broke the shop's rhythm, making everyone pause. Even Woozi snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze flicking to Taehyung. Silence followed as unspoken longing filled the room.

Minghao was the one to ground them. "He'll be back soon," he said firmly, his calm voice cutting through the melancholia. "But if we don't do our work right, he'll have questions when he returns. Focus."

His words brought a sense of purpose back, and the shop fell into its familiar rhythm again. Jisoo and Minghao headed out later in the morning—Jisoo to college and Minghao to his clinic. Woozi stayed behind to help with the shop, though his thoughts lingered. Somewhere, in the quiet corners of his mind, he still felt that piercing gaze.

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