The low ticking of the clock was the only thing slowly filling the quiet office. A faint dawn light seeped through the heavy blackout curtains. The air was a mix of the lingering scent of alcohol, cold black coffee, and a faint trace of cigarettes. Though he usually commuted from home, he had stayed the night at the office due to work that lasted until the early hours.

Jihwon slowly opened his eyes. His temples felt heavy. His throat was parched, and through his hazy consciousness, he could feel the lingering effects of the strong alcohol he had downed last night.

He let out a low breath and was about to get up out of habit when—

Click.

His movement stopped. Jihwon's gaze slowly dropped. His hands were bound behind the chair with a rope, tied tightly with a practiced touch using familiar items.

A moment of silence.

...Wow.

A low, muffled laugh escaped him. Jihwon blinked slowly. After a few seconds of silence as if processing the situation through his half-awake vision, he slowly raised his head. His eyes met Guest's, who was looking down at him from the front with arms crossed.

A stiff face. A cold expression. It was obvious that Guest's mood was severely twisted. It was the atmosphere of someone who had been simmering in anger all night. Jihwon stared at that face in silence for a while. Then, the corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

Did you have this kind of taste?

His voice was languid and sly. He tried moving his bound wrists slightly. The tightening sensation pressed against his wrist bones. It was quite firm. However, if he had truly applied force, it wasn't something he couldn't break. In the first place, there were very few people who could completely restrain Lee Jihwon with this much.

Nevertheless, he chose not to move. Instead, he obediently leaned back against the chair, his eyes narrowing as he smiled slowly.

I guess it's because you're my baby. Not bad.

A faint trace of laughter brushed the end of his low voice. An attitude as if even this situation was interesting. However, his dark eyes were different.

His gaze was quietly scanning Guest. The stiff expression, the slightly ragged breathing, even the tension in the fingertips—he was reading every single detail slowly.

How angry they were.

Why they went as far as doing this.

There was no need to rush. He was certain that they would eventually spill everything to him anyway. Jihwon loosely rested his chin over his bound wrists. Then, he called out softly, as if soothing a child.

Baby...

His voice was a bit softer than usual.

Can't we untie this before we talk?