Chapter 108: Uninvited Buyer
"Huh?" The man was startled by the lewd sight.
Chloe stood behind the man too stunned to move, while Remi poked her head from the side.
"Close the door!" Mia screamed.
"Oh... sorry..." The guys said taking a good look at her breasts before finally shutting the door.
"Why is she the one screaming like they should be doing something like that here?" The worker sighed.
___
After a while, they finally stepped out, Yohan tugging his shirt back on as Mia tried to fix her clothes in silence. He gave a quick, embarrassed apology to the worker, but it did little to soften the outcome, the man still banned them from ever coming to the haunted house.
They walked out with an awkward silence, everyone including the usual easy going Remi seemed like they had a lot on their mind.
"I think I’ll just take a cab home from here," Chloe finally said, her voice flat.
"Aren’t we all heading back together?" Yohan asked carefully.
She turned, shooting him a glare so sharp it made his chest tighten. Without another word, she raised her hand, flagged down a cab, and slipped inside.
"I’ll join Chloe," Remi said after a moment, her tone unreadable, before following her into the car.
Yohan watched the car drive off, he could tell the two girls were affected by what they saw, especially Chloe.
But that was a mission for another day, right now he wanted to finish what he had started, he turned to Mia putting his arm around her waist
"Why don’t we head home and continue where we left off?"
But Mia wasn’t in the mood, she shifted his hand and pulled away,
"Sorry Yohan, I also just want to get home right now,"
He sighed, there was no need to press her too much.
"Okay... see you later,"
She called a cab and got in,
"Oh my God, what did I do?" Mia muttered, covering her face with both hands, her cheeks burning red as the scene from earlier replayed again and again in her mind.
Yohan stood there for a while, watching the car vanish. He could tell that things had shifted between all of them in a way that couldn’t be undone.
"Well, there’s nothing I can do about that now," he sighed. "I should head back to the shop and see if the cleaners are done."
When he got there, he noticed an old man standing just outside the entrance. The man leaned lightly on a walking stick, though something about him made it seem more like a prop than a necessity. Dressed in a black coat, he looked strangely out of place.
"Excuse me, are you here for a massage?" Yohan asked carefully.
"No," the man replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I’ve been waiting for you."
"Waiting... for me? Why?"
"My name is Mr. Hatoru. I was a friend of your uncle’s. I heard he got himself arrested for trying to burn down this place." He gave a low chuckle, as if the memory amused him. "Your uncle has always been one crazy fellow. I remember—"
"Excuse me, sir," Yohan cut in, his tone sharp. "Could you just get to the point?"
For some reason, Yohan felt it in his bones—this man was trouble. Everything about him radiated a quiet wrongness, as if danger hid beneath that calm smile.
Mr. Hatoru seemed momentarily startled by Yohan’s blunt tone, but he quickly exhaled and let the smile return to his face.
"Well, your uncle promised to sell me this place for a fair price. I can’t imagine why he got desperate and tried burning it down for the insurance money..." He gave a soft chuckle. "Anyhow, I was ready to pay him quite a bit—"
"I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time," Yohan cut in. His voice was firmer now. "This place was never up for sale."
Hatoru’s smile faltered, just for a breath. "But... your uncle—"
"You said it yourself," Yohan interrupted again. "The man has a few screws loose. Sorry he wasted your time."
"It’s no problem at all," Mr. Hatoru replied with an understanding nod. Then his tone shifted, low and steady. "So, how much are you selling it for?"
The sudden weight in his voice made Yohan’s skin prickle. He caught the change instantly.
His brows pressed down. "Did you not hear me, sir? I said my shop isn’t for sale."
"Yohan," Hatoru said smoothly, as if scolding a child, "you shouldn’t be so quick to decide."
Yohan stiffened. "H-how do you know my name?"
A faint smile curled Hatoru’s lips. "I told you, I was a friend of your uncle. He mentioned you once or twice." He waved it off casually, then leaned a fraction closer. "But that isn’t the issue here. This place is rightfully mine."
"What are you talking about?" Yohan shot back, his voice rising.
"Your father managed to steal it from me," Hatoru said, his calm now edged with bitterness. "I’ve been patient, even offered to buy it back... but you’re making things unnecessarily difficult."
Hatoru sighed, then added almost lazily, "Your father was difficult too. And then... something terrible happened to him. Don’t be like your father, Yohan. Be smarter."
Yohan’s eyes widened. "Wait—what do you mean by that?"
"Nothing, honestly." Hatoru waved it off with a dismissive flick of his hand, though his smile never reached his eyes. "But you should know, I don’t take ’no’ for an answer."
He adjusted his coat and turned to leave. "Think of a price and get back to me. And remember..." He glanced over his shoulder, grin sharp now. "...keep your windows clean. It’s the secret to attracting customers."
Yohan stood frozen, watching the man’s figure fade into the street. His legs refused to move, his mind replaying every word.
Did that man just imply he had something to do with my parents? The thought sent a chill crawling up his spine.
"No... it can’t be," he whispered to himself, voice trembling. "They died in an accident... out of town." He repeated it like a mantra, as if saying it enough times would make it true.
His phone buzzed suddenly, snapping him out of his daze. The screen lit up with an incoming call.
’Gunjoo the Loan Shark’