After leaving Sofia's apartment, Linda headed toward the alleyway where she'd left her bike that day. The street lights buzzed faintly above, casting long shadows as the sky dimmed. She scanned the area but saw nothing—no bike.
Her heart sank.
Just then, an elderly man stepped out from a nearby bookshop, dusting off an old magazine rack.
"Looking for something, young lady?" he asked, adjusting his glasses.
"My bike," Linda said quickly. "I left it here earlier. It's gone."
The man nodded solemnly. "I saw some boys take it. Had snake tattoos on their arms. Looked like trouble."
"Do you know where they went?"
"They usually hang out at the old bus terminal near the overpass," he said. "You'll find them there if you're quick."
Linda thanked him and hailed a taxi, giving the driver the directions. She so lost in thought that she didn't notice the shadow behind her—a figure quietly following her from a distance. It was Jae min back on his mission. He stared quietly as the taxi ride off and then took a short-cut.
When Linda arrived, the place looked exactly as the man explained—graffiti-covered walls, broken-down benches, and clusters of boys loitering around like wolves guarding territory. She spotted her bike immediately, leaning against a wall behind a group of boys laughing and tossing cigarette butts. One of them spun her bike key lazily around his finger, the dangling silver glinting under a flickering streetlamp. Their snake tattoos were hard to miss.
Taking a deep breath, Linda approached with a calm smile.
"Hi," she said gently. "I am sorry to interrupt but I think you have my bike."
The boys looked at each other, then burst into mocking laughter.
"Your bike?" one scoffed. "That rust bucket? Nah, we found it."
"I left it by the bookstore in Sangho alley," Linda explained, her voice still steady. "And I have the receipt right here." She pulled it out of her bag and unfolded it. "Also, the key you're playing with—it matches the serial number on the frame."
One boy leaned in and squinted dramatically. "This receipt could be for anything. You could have printed it."
"I even have a photo of me with the bike," she added, scrolling quickly through her phone and holding it up. "See? Same scratch on the side. Same flower sticker near the back tire."
The boys barely glanced at it. One waved his hand dismissively. "Could be Photoshopped."
Linda's polite smile began to crack.
"What's a little cute girl like you doing with a bike, anyway?" one boy sneered. "Shouldn't you be baking cookies or something?"
Another leaned closer, squinting mockingly at her face. "You ain't from around here, are you?. It's clear with skin colour. Why don't you go back to wherever you came from, jungle girl?"
That last insult pierced her like a dagger. Her lips pressed into a thin line. These boys weren't just being difficult—they were playing a power game. They had no intention of returning her bike. Not because they didn't believe her. But because they thought she was beneath them.
She squared her shoulders, her patience slipping.
"I'm giving you one more chance to do the right thing."
"Or what?" the ringleader challenged, stepping closer. "You gonna cry?"
Linda's fists clenched. But just as she stepped forward, a deep hum of engines cut through the night air.
Everyone turned.
Three sleek black cars rolled in, moving slowly but purposefully. Their headlights lit up the entire terminal. Tires squealed softly as they came to a stop. The doors opened in perfect coordination, and five men in black suits stepped out.
Then a final door opened.
A man in a dark blue designer suit emerged, adjusting his cufflinks. His expression was calm, but his eyes carried weight.
Linda blinked.
It was the man who had once apologized to her on Williams' behalf—the man who'd handed her money when she was soaked and furious.
"Linda!" Secretary Kim called, striding forward with urgency. "Are you alright?"
She stood stunned. "Secretary Kim? What are you doing here? How did you—?"
"That won't be necessary, dear," he said with a warm but firm smile. "The most important thing is that we got here early."
He turned to the group of boys, who were already backing away slowly, their earlier arrogance dissolving.
"We were sent by Mr. Adam," Secretary Kim declared, voice sharp. "And we command that you return this young lady's bike immediately."
The boys froze.
They looked at each other, panicked.
"We… we were going to give it back anyway," one stammered.
"Yeah," another muttered. "Just… playing around."
They hurriedly handed the key to Linda, heads bowed.
She took it slowly, eyes flicking between them and Secretary Kim. "Thank you… I guess?"
Kim stepped forward again, holding out the silver case. "Also, Mr. Adam has a gift for keeping the young lady's bike… safe."
He handed one of the boys a sealed envelope. The others craned their necks, eager to see what it was.
The boy read the card silently. His jaw dropped. He whispered something to the others.
Then, to Linda's utter confusion, they all dropped to their knees.
"Thank you! Thank you, sir!" they said in unison, bowing so deeply their foreheads nearly touched the ground.
Linda gawked. "What did you give them?" she asked, stunned.
"Just something sent by Mr. Adam" Kim said cryptically. "Sometimes words aren't enough."
He then said with a softer expression. " Can I have a word with you"
Jae min watched from the rooftop of an old storage shed, crouched low and silent. His sharp eyes had seen everything. The moment the boys taunted Linda, the shift in Linda's posture, the black cars—every detail was etched in her mind.
And now, he was more confused than ever.
Just who is Mr. Adam?. And what's her connection with him.
As they stood beside one of the cars, Secetary Kim handed her a card with a number written in elegant print.
"Call this if you ever need help again. And also, Mr. Adam told me to thank you__ again."
Linda stared at the number. "Can you at least tell me who Mr. Adam is?. I mean, he told me he was Mr. Fang Leng."
Kim smiled. "I better not say. But… William's father is a good friend of his. And he works under Williams father." He said following the story Mr. Adam had told him to follow.
Her eyes widened slightly. Pieces were beginning to fall into place, but the puzzle remained incomplete.
Before they parted, she leaned toward him. "Tell Mr. Adam… I miss his stay. And I hope he's getting better soon. Also, he should try staying out of trouble."
Secretary Kim chuckled. "I'll make sure he hears that."
As the convoy disappeared down the road, she smiled quietly.
She started her bike and pedaled slowly through the quiet streets, the wind brushing against her face, the weight in her chest replaced by a strange fluttering.
Somehow… she felt seen. Protected.
But more than anything—she felt curious.
Who exactly was Mr. Adam?
And what was his connection with William father.
From the rooftop, Jae min's eyes lingered on Linda's retreating figure. The kindness in Linda's face, the strength behind her vulnerability, was very clear and convincing. But, it was time to focuss on his mission. He brought out his phone and sent all the information he got from the past days.
He then, placed the phone back into his hoodie' pocket and jumped down from the rooftop smoothly. After a brief glance around the area, he walked straight into the dark streets.