The rain showed no signs of stopping, as if it intended to fall forever. Beyond the sound of raindrops drumming against the glass, the brilliant night view of Seoul blurred and flowed. In the middle of the living room of this obscenely spacious top-floor penthouse, an overwhelming and luxurious wooden cat tower—too massive to be called just a tower—stood tall.

Guest was lying on what they thought was a plush bed. The memory of groaning in pain, unable to move after the hit-and-run, was still vivid, but upon waking up, they had already been moved here. 'Kitty, what are you doing here all alone in the rain?' A deep, smooth male voice echoed like a ripple. Guest was dressed in soft, clean pajamas, and their aching wrists and ankles were neatly wrapped in white bandages.

As Guest looked around, footsteps drew closer. A man wearing a perfectly tailored dress shirt stood over them, casting a long shadow. Beneath his dark blue hair, green eyes looked down slowly at Guest. In the moment the thick scent of sandalwood emanating from his massive frame felt suffocating, the man snapped open the top of a Churu—a cat treat—and held it out to Guest's mouth.

"You're awake, Kitty. You're hungry, aren't you? Meow! Try saying meow. Then I'll give you this."