Crave You Forever
Chapter 43: Apple dumplings

Chapter 43: Apple dumplings

"Shut up and rely the intel to me, don’t complain when you volunteer.." Yeongsoo paused and placed the glass on the table, crossing his legs. "Let’s get to it. Relay the intel to me. I want the full rundown."

Sean’s carefree demeanor didn’t completely fade, but his expression turned more serious as he pulled out his phone. "Alright, boss. Here’s the key info." He opened a secured folder and slid the phone across the table to Yeongsoo.

"The mission went smoother than I expected. Our contact on the inside was able to gather everything we needed without raising any suspicions. We’ve got access to their financials, their routes, and the names of key players. They’re operating out of three main hubs—two in the city, one overseas. And they’ve been laundering money through dummy corporations to cover their tracks."

Yeongsoo’s eyes scanned the screen as Sean spoke, his mind piecing together the puzzle. "Their overseas hub... that’s the one we’re targeting first, right?"

"Exactly," Sean confirmed, taking another sip of his drink. "It’s the most vulnerable. We hit that, and we cripple their supply line. They won’t see it coming."

Yeongsoo nodded, handing the phone back to Sean. "And the timeline?"

Sean stretched his arms out. "We’ve got about a two-week window to strike before they regroup. After that, their security tightens up. We’ve got teams on standby, just waiting for your signal."

"Good." Yeongsoo leaned back, his mind already planning out the next steps. "I want everything in place within the next few days. No room for error."

"You got it, boss." Sean pocketed his phone and relaxed back into his seat. "I’ve already prepped the team. They’re eager to get started."

"And they’ll get their chance soon." Yeongsoo stood up, draining the last of his whiskey. "I’ll handle things on my end. You make sure everything stays on track."

Sean gave a mock salute, grinning. "As always. You know I’ve got your back."

"Make sure of it. No loose ends this time." There was a weight in Yeongsoo’s voice, a seriousness that Sean had heard many times before.

"You can count on me, boss. No loose ends." Sean’s grin softened into something more genuine. He always took the job seriously when it came down to it.

Yeongsoo nodded once, already turning to leave. "I’ll be in touch."

As he made his way toward the door, Sean called out after him, his tone playful again. "And hey, next time, bring that mysterious hyung-nim with you! I’m dying to meet him!"

"... not going to happen.."

Leaving the private room, the usual bustle of the hotel’s top floor greeted Yeongsoo as he made his way toward the elevators. The mission was moving forward, and now that Sean had delivered the intel, it was just a matter of execution. Still, his thoughts kept drifting back to Haeun.

As he rode the elevator down, he found himself wondering what Haeun was doing—probably still playing Edge of the Shadows, immersed in his character customization and enjoying the distraction. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth at the thought of Haeun naming his sect "Apple Dumplings." Only Haeun could come up with something so out-of-place, he guessed when the game when global Haeun would probably have the most unique name.

The elevator doors opened, and Yeongsoo strode through the lobby, greeted by respectful nods from the staff. Once outside, the crisp night air hit him, a stark contrast to the warm atmosphere of Red Phoenix.

He headed to his car, the mission details running through his mind again. Everything needed to move smoothly. There wasn’t time for mistakes or delays. They would hit the overseas hub first, and with Sean already handling the groundwork, it was up to him to make sure everything ran like clockwork.

He slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, the hum of the car almost soothing as he began the drive back to the penthouse. His phone buzzed in the center console, and a quick glance showed a message from Sean.

Sean: "You know I was just kidding earlier, right? I’ll keep it professional about your hyung-nim. But for real, good luck with him. Seems like you’re pretty serious."

Yeongsoo let out a small sigh, shaking his head. He didn’t need Sean digging too deep into that, but he also knew his second-in-command meant well. Despite Sean’s playful nature, he was one of the few people Yeongsoo trusted completely. That trust was what had kept them both alive on more than one occasion.

As he approached the penthouse, his thoughts shifted to Haeun again. He knew he should tell him more about the things going on in his dealings—the missions, the risks—but there was always that hesitation.

Protecting Haeun meant keeping some distance between him and the darker parts of his life. He wasn’t ready to pull him into all of that.

When he finally arrived at the building, he parked the car and made his way up to the penthouse. The soft glow of the lights inside welcomed him as he entered, the air was warm and quiet.

Walking through the hallway, he could hear faint sounds coming from the study—Haeun was still playing the game. A small smile formed on his face as he stepped quietly toward the doorway. Peeking inside, he saw Haeun, completely engrossed in his screen, his face slightly illuminated by the game. The sight was somehow calming. Haeun had a way of bringing peace into his otherwise chaotic world.

"Back already?" Haeun’s voice startled him, though his eyes didn’t leave the screen.

"Yeah," Yeongsoo replied, stepping inside the study. "How’s the sect-building going? Apple Dumplings conquering the world yet?"

Haeun let out a chuckle, pausing the game to look at him. "Not yet. But I’m working on it. I’ve been customizing my character too. Think I’ve got the perfect look down."

Yeongsoo moved closer, leaning against the desk. "Show me."

Haeun unpaused the game and turned the screen toward him, revealing his character—dressed in black robes, with long flowing hair and an imposing, yet oddly charming, appearance. The sect name "Apple Dumplings" floated proudly above the character’s head.

"Nice," Yeongsoo said, nodding in approval. "Though I still can’t get over the name."

Haeun smiled mischievously. "It’ll throw off my enemies. No one’s going to take ’Apple Dumplings’ seriously until it’s too late."

"Devious," Yeongsoo teased. "Remind me never to cross you."

Haeun’s smile softened, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps a subtle appreciation for the lighthearted moment after what had likely been a tense day. "How did the meeting go?" he asked, though his tone was casual.

"Smooth," Yeongsoo replied, his gaze steady on Haeun.