As another long day of work drew to a close, Shan Wolf kept his promise. He walked beside Mei Yoo Jun through the fading evening light.
He couldn't help scanning the neighborhood as they went. Elegant iron gates fronted wide lawns, each house more imposing than the last. Here and there, warm golden lights shone through tall windows framed by ivy.
"Huh," Shan thought, lifting his eyebrows in mild surprise. "Didn't see this one coming. Mei Yoo Jun living in a rich neighborhood…"
But when he glanced at her, the realization faded. She looked different tonight. Small, almost frail. There was a fear in her expression he had never seen before.
Mei Yoo Jun slowed her steps and looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes wavering with uncertainty.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice so soft he almost didn't hear. "You're the only person I could think of asking."
Shan waved it off with a light shake of his head. "You don't need to be sorry, Yoo Jun. Honestly, I could use the walk."
Her lips curved into a shy smile, the tension in her shoulders easing a little. The sight of him there, steady and unbothered, made her feel safer.
"Still…thank you, Mr. Wolf," she whispered.
They reached her home, a modern two-story house behind a sleek metal gate. A garden lined the walkway, shaded by small lanterns that flickered gently in the breeze.
They said their goodbyes at the entrance, but just as Mei Yoo Jun turned to punch in the security code, she froze.
A cold shiver ran across her back, making her skin prickle. It felt like something—someone—was watching her.
Her breath quickened. She couldn't see anything, but she felt eyes on her, felt them slithering across her skin.
Panicked, she turned and hurried back to Shan's side. Without thinking, she pressed herself against his back, clutching a handful of his jacket like a frightened child.
"Yoo Jun?" Shan asked, his voice low with concern as he looked over his shoulder.
She didn't answer right away. Her heart was beating too fast, her voice caught somewhere in her throat.
"Um…can you…can you stay with me until my parents get home?" she finally whispered, her cheek resting lightly against his shoulder blade. "I…I feel scared all of a sudden."
Shan gently pried her hands from his coat and turned to face her. Even in the dim light, he could see how she trembled. He placed a comforting hand on her head and smoothed her hair.
"Don't worry. I'm here," he said quietly.
They stepped into the house together. Mei Yoo Jun locked the door and set her bag aside, moving around the entryway with a kind of distracted caution.
"Something…bad happened to me," she said after a while. She spoke in a small, halting voice but carefully left out any mention of her ex-boyfriend. "I just…can't shake the feeling someone's been following me."
Shan nodded, listening without pressing her for details.
"I'm sorry if I'm being annoying," she added, staring down at her hands.
"Oh no," Shan chuckled softly, trying to lighten the air. "You've been to my place before, remember? I've always been curious to see how you live."
Her fingers fidgeted together, her face downcast. Seeing her like that made Shan search for a distraction.
"Say, Yoo Jun…if you don't mind me asking, is it true Korean families sometimes look through childhood photos when guests visit?"
She blinked, startled out of her anxious fog. "I guess so…"
"May I see them? It's actually my first time as a guest in a Korean household. You know, being Malaysian and all."
Her eyes widened. In that moment, she seemed to remember he hadn't always been here—that he'd only transferred to Won Group three years ago.
"Oh—I didn't know that," she said, flustered.
Gathering her composure, she stood up and beckoned him toward a low cabinet near the living room. Together, they started pulling out old albums.
As they flipped through the thick pages, Shan pointed to a photo of a little girl with a round face and short hair, hugging a massive stuffed bear.
"You looked like a teddy bear yourself in this one," he teased gently.
Her cheeks flushed pink. "Oh no…I was so fat back then…"
"No, you were cute," Shan insisted, turning another page.
He paused, studying a glossy picture of her in a crisp school uniform, her hair longer and her smile shy.
"And here…you look like an idol, Yoo Jun."
She covered her mouth and let out a flustered laugh. "No, that's ridiculous…"
For the first time all night, her face relaxed completely. A little warmth returned to her eyes. She seemed happy again—calm.
"Mr. Wolf…you being here makes me feel relieved," she said softly.
"Really?" Shan replied, smiling. "That's a relief."
They kept turning pages, each photo a window into her younger self. Then, Mei Yoo Jun's hand darted forward.
"Wait—this one is embarrassing," she said quickly.
"Why?" Shan asked, curiosity piqued. "Let me see."
Before she could protest further, he pulled the album toward him.
It was a summer photo—her in a black tank swimsuit, her hair tied into pigtails, black thigh-high stockings hugging her legs.
"Wow…you looked cute in this," Shan murmured, genuinely struck by how different and yet familiar she looked.
Mei Yoo Jun covered her face with both hands, mortified.
"No… I had no shame with those pigtails…"
He reached out and patted her head again, his voice low and reassuring.
"They don't look strange at all. They suit you just fine. Honestly…" His gaze drifted across her features, softer now. "Even now, you still look good."
Her eyes widened behind her fingers, her blush deepening until it touched the tips of her ears.
"R…right now?" she stammered, her voice breaking a little.
She lowered her hands and fidgeted, as though weighing something in her mind.
"Right now…might not be the best time," she whispered, her eyes flicking aside. "Because of everything that happened earlier…"
But then, she looked up at him again. This time, there was something different in her expression. Something she hadn't let herself show in a long while.
"But…if it's something you want…" She swallowed hard, her voice dropping to a hush. "I'll gladly oblige, master…"
Shan felt his breath catch.
"Wait…where are you going?" he asked as she stood up abruptly and walked toward her bedroom wardrobe.
She didn't answer.
A few minutes later, she returned.
Shan's eyes widened.
She wore the same outfit from the photograph. But now, her figure had matured—soft curves filled out the black swimsuit, the fabric stretching lightly across her hips and chest.
The thigh-high stockings hugged her plump legs, the faint outline of her belly visible beneath the smooth material.
He could only stare. Bewildered. And more than a little moved by her sudden, vulnerable boldness.
Slowly, Mei Yoo Jun approached. She slipped gracefully onto the couch between his knees, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders.
Her lips parted, her breath warm against his cheek as she leaned in. Her eyes gleamed with a pleading, hungry look.
"Master…" she whispered, her finger coiling playfully through a lock of his hair.
"How…do I look?"
---
Chapter 47 End