"I trust you. You have to trust yourself..." 

 

He bore his eyes into her, a pleading, trusting and unwavering gaze. She stared back and at that instant, her frantic heart felt at ease. She put her hand atop his and nodded. 

 

"Alrights," she closed her eyes and breathed out a sigh. "Let's do this." 

 

They wasted no time thereafter. Lee Seunghyun helped Jiyong to the room while Yoona started to walk around the house, picking up the things needed to treat him, joining them in the room shortly thereafter.

 

"Bad news," she frowned as she took a seat beside Jiyong who was leaning against the headboard. "The house doesn't have anesthetic." 

 

Lee Seunghyun drew an intake of breath while Jiyong continued to keep his straight expression. 

 

"I'm afraid it'll be too late by the time you return with the anesthetic," Yoona turned to Lee Seunghyun and commanded. "We're racing against the clock now. Every second the bullet is in his shoulder, he's in deeper danger. I need to get the bullet out from him now. But I need you to call Daesung oppa." 

 

"But..." Lee Seunghyun shot an uncertain gaze at Jiyong. 

 

Given this mafia boss's temper, chances of him asking his love rival to treat him is slim. Let alone Yoona is calling Daesung in such an affectionate term. 

 

"There's no 'buts'! Daesung oppa can be trusted. He needs to be here!" Yoona shouted. 

 

"Go," Jiyong breathed out after a few seconds, nodding his head solemnly. 

 

Alrights. He had to give in. It wasn't a time to be prideful now and Yoona wouldn't give him any chance either. Lee Seunghyun nodded and stepped out of the room quickly, leaving the couple behind. 

 

There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other. 

 

"Ji... I've to get the bullet out from your shoulder now. I-It's going to hurt a little..." Yoona drew a breath as she cut open his shirt, revealing the wounded shoulder that was oozing with blood. 

 

"Is downplaying the injury a tactic taught during your houseman years?" Jiyong let out a dry chuckle, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "A little actually mean a lot right?"

 

"You still have the time to joke around?" Yoona chided as she sanitized her hand.  "Yes, it's going to hurt a lot but I'm sure this pain is no big deal for the big mafia boss Kwon Jiyong right?"

 

"Of course~" Jiyong grabbed the towel that was beside him and bite it, his gaze a determined one. "Do it." 

 

"Why do you trust me so much, Kwon Jiyong..." Yoona could feel the tears escaping yet again with his wound and gaze. 

 

"Because I love you Im Yoona..." He took out the gag and reached out to caress her face. "I entrust you with my life..." 

 

It had always been him safeguarding her all these while and even at this point of time when he's badly wounded, he was still the one protecting her, calming her down. 

 

There wasn't a reason for her to afraid anymore. 

 

"Scream it out if you feel the pain. It'll feel better," Yoona's gaze became a determined one too as she placed the gag back between his teeth. "I'll be done in a jiffy." 

 

Jiyong looked at her and nodded. Yoona wore her gloves and picked up the tweezer, heading towards his open wound. She took a last look at him which he nodded and focused all her attention on the wound. 

 

1...

2...

3...

 

Seconds ticked by. Beads of perspiration. Silence. 

 

"Got it!" Yoona exclaimed as she withdrew the tweezers, which held a bullet. 

 

She heaved a sigh of relief and taking a glance at Jiyong, she couldn't help but gave a smile. Living up to his reputation, Jiyong did not scream like she told him to. But it was clear that he was in immense pain; cold sweat was breaking out from his forehead and his delicate features were scrunched up and his face, a pallid colour. Still, he looked dashing and Yoona grumbled in her heart that he, Kwon Jiyong, is definitely a sin. 

 

"I told you you could do it," Jiyong took out the gag and smiled at her, using his free hand to caress her face. 

 

"Don't be too happy yet, there're fragments left inside. We've to get them out," Yoona pouted and stood up, wanting to head out. "What's taking that Lee Seunghyun so long? Daesung oppa should be here already."

 

"Stay," Jiyong cursed under his breath silently as his wound ached the moment he made a slight action. "Don't leave."

 

"I'm not going anywhere Kwon Jiyong," she couldn't help but chuckle at his childishness. "I'm just going to check if Dae-"

 

"Stay." Even if he's badly injured, that demeanour in him roared loud.

 

But before Yoona could reply, the door was opened and in came Lee Seunghyun and Daesung. Looking at the scene of Jiyong holding Yoona's hand, Lee Seunghyun chided in his heart - he's bound to get killed by Jiyong the moment he recovers. 

 

"Dr Kang is here..." He cleared his throat to break the awkward atmosphere.

 

All three of them snapped out of their trance and kept their composure.

 

"Oppa, I'd removed the bullet but I think there's still fragments left behind," Yoona blinked and removed Jiyong's hand, walking towards Daesung, holding his hand up and explained frantically. "I hope I did nothing too grave!"

 

"It's okays. I'd brought my equipment. I'll take it over from here," Daesung tried to hide his expression and nodded professionally, patting her hand. 

 

"Ji, Daesung oppa is here. You'll be fine," Yoona, who totally did not notice Jiyong's darkened expression, beamed as she prepared to leave the room. "I'll be outside waiting!" 

 

And before Jiyong could reply, she had left with Lee Seunghyun, leaving only him with his gritted teeth and Daesung behind. 

 

Im Yoona, you're gonna get it from me. How dare you smile and hold your ex's hand like that.

 

∞∞∞∞∞

 

"Alrights. Spill it."

 

The moment they're out of the room, Yoona's expression changed from jovial to a serious one. She glared at Lee Seunghyun who raised his hands up in defeat. 

 

"Spill what?" Lee Seunghyun sighed inwardly. That's the aftermath of being the cold mafia boss's woman for too long. Even the innocent Im Yoona now has this cold and fierce demeanour of a female boss. 

 

"What happened?" 

 

Lee Seunghyun contemplated about telling her the truth. Jiyong might not like it. He never did want Yoona to get involved in the triads stuff and with the complication of her resembling Krystal Jung and had Choi Seunghyun's eyes on her, Jiyong was even more determined to keep her out of everything. But he'd belittled the willpower of Im Yoona. Yoona was as stubborn, if not more, than he is and once she set her eyes on something, she would safeguard it till the end. 

 

That explained her quitting school and getting tattoos, wanting to blend into his dark life. 

 

"It's Choi Seunghyun isn't it?" Yoona spoke up again after receiving no reply from him. 

 

It wasn't that hard to guess. Jiyong has many enemies but few have the capability to harm him. If Kwon Jiyong doesn't give you a chance to harm him, you would never get the chance. And after listening to his story, Yoona was all the more certain that beside her, Choi Seunghyun was his weakest link. He would do anything to redeem his guilt and mend the relationship with Choi Seunghyun.

 

"Yes..." Lee Seunghyun sighed. This woman was getting smarter and smarter. "TOP hyung had asked him out since a month ago but they were both caught up with the triads. And when things died down, they set another meeting date. And well, it so happen to be the day after you patched up with him and had a nice date~" 

 

So that explained why his note to her sounded weird. He had the thoughts of not returning to her side anymore. Yoona shuddered at the thought of him leaving her. 

 

"And he shot him?" 

 

"Doubt so. I don't know much about the details because it was stated that both parties wouldn't bring any underlings. But I think this issue is more than that. It seems to involve the police as well." Lee Seunghyun shrugged his shoulders. "I only received the call from Jiyong hyung asking me to pick him up and when I arrived, TOP hyung and Soohyuk hyung had already left and Jiyong hyung was injured." 

 

Yoona listened to his recount and found her heart wringing. God knows what had happened. Did they have a heated argument? And the police... Was that why he couldn't go to the hospital? What exactly happen? She knew Jiyong would not tell her but she was determined to get an answer out from him. 

 

"Oppa! How's he?" The sound of door opening was heard and Daesung came out, removing his mask. 

 

"Any minute later and he can say goodbye to his right arm," Daesung replied. "The bullet hit the shoulder which links it to his arm. Count himself lucky. It scrapped pass the artery." 

 

Yoona took a breath in at Daesung's comment. If it really did hit the artery... 

 

"But all is well now," Daesung smiled and patted her shoulder. "You did a good job in removing the bullet in time, Yoong. That's why I always say you're born to be a surgeon."

 

Yoona smiled sheepishly, her heart swelled with pride. Even though she'd decided to forsake the light and to become Kwon Jiyong's woman, she still loved her course of study. She loved medicine and saving people's life but she guess she doesn't have to be a doctor to do that but, receiving praise from the senior she respected and admired, definitely pleased her. 

 

"I-I just did what I remembered in school," Yoona smiled shyly, face a light shade of red.

 

"Not planning to return to complete your course? It's such a waste you know," Daesung ruffled her hair. "The medical field has lost one talent."

 

Yoona had her head bent down and bit her lips. She didn't know what to say. A part of her wanted to continue being a doctor, but another part of her didn't want to. She wanted to just stay by Jiyong's side and be the woman behind his back. And in order to do that, she still have so many things to learn. 

 

"You flattered me oppa..."

 

"Alrights alrights. I guess I should get going," Daesung chuckled. "See you around then? Or we should at least finish our lunch date?" 

 

"Oh right! About that day..." Yoona hadn't even have the chance to explain to Daesung about the restaurant incident. "I..."

 

"Don't worry. Seungri had explained to me," he gave a bright smile. "I understand already." 

 

Yoona shot a glance at Lee Seunghyun who smirked proudly at her, giving her the 'you-should-definitely-thank-me' look. She snorted at him before turning to Daesung and smiled brightly. 

 

"Sure. I'll inform you when I've the time!" She beamed. "And I'll make sure I won't leave halfway." 

 

"I'll hold you to your words," Daesung took a step forward and gave her a friendly hug. "It's nice to talk to you again Yoong..." 

 

Yoona returned the hug. It no longer held any fluttering feelings, just a pure brother-sister relationship she held for him, a senior she respects. 

 

Lee Seunghyun walked Daesung off and came back, with Yoona folding her arms across her chest and raised her brows at him.

 

"What?" 

 

"What did you tell Daesung oppa?"

 

"He was hesitating to come here at first so I told him you needed his help badly and that you didn't intentionally left without any words the other time because you were kind of being forced," Lee Seunghyun shrugged his shoulders. "And he was totally happy. Man, what did you feed those guys with Im Yoona? First is Jiyong hyung and now Daesung too."

 

So that's why Daesung had a 360-degree change in attitude. Yoona facepalmed herself inwardly. He had mistook that he still has a shot in getting back with her. 

 

"I don't know to strangle or to thank you, Lee Seunghyun," Yoona sighed. 

 

"Before you think about that, I think you better go look at the guy inside first," Lee Seunghyun smirked and pointed at Jiyong's room. "My guess is he's not asleep and has heard every single word that you'd said."

 

Yoona's heart lurched.

 

"T-That can't be! H-He should be anesthetized! He should be s-sleeping now!" Yoona stuttered miserably.

 

"Jiyong hyung rarely uses anesthetic. He's that tough as it is," Lee Seunghyun explained.