Fate Online: Shadow

Night, around 7 PM.

Jong Woo and Mike arrived at Octagon Entertainment after a shooting with a popular variety show that they were invited to.

Both of them had just entered the building when a burly man suddenly appeared before them with a ferocious expression on his face, and stared down at them.

Instead of cowering and lowering his head like Mike, Jong Woo stared back with the same ferocity, which just made the burly man chuckle to himself as everyone knows how Jong Woo hates them to the core but can't do anything but to endure the abuse.

Which is just pretty pathetic in their eyes, as they thought he's similar to a dog who can't do anything but suffer the abuse from its abusive owners.

"The boss wants to see you two little brats" said the man with an arrogant smirk.

Known for his short temper, Jong Woo was about to curse at the man when he felt someone tugging his shoulder.

"Jong Woo, let's just go. I-it's not worth it"

Looking at his cowardly friend, Jong Woo couldn't help but groan inside as he still can't accept that the once lively and outgoing Mike had become very timid ever since they joined this black hearted company!

"Hmmp!"

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Jong Woo turned around with a snort as he followed after Mike.

'Just you wait, your days are already numbered!' Jong Woo thought angrily, and when he remembered the SMS he received a couple of hours ago, he couldn't help but smile in anticipation and excitement of what's to come!

[Tomorrow.]

Of course, when he read that single text message, he was quite annoyed at first, but his spirits were quickly lifted when he understood the meaning behind that one single word, making his day brighter!

After all, he knows that bright days are ahead of him!

Arriving and embarking the elevator, Mike turned towards his friend and asked, "Do you have any clue why he wants to see us?"

Leaning on the side, Jong Woo had a worried look on his face and replied, "Probably about another work again. That bastard just doesn't let us rest at all and keeps our schedule packed. Does he think we're zombies and not humans at all?"

Hearing what he said, Mike slumped back on the side and said with a voice of helplessness, "God, I hope not. We barely get breaks in between, I'm too tired"

Jong Woo smiled slightly and said, "Endure it, our hard days will soon be over"

With a question mark floating above his head, Mike slightly tilted his head to the side with confusion and asked, "What do you mean?"

Ding!

Jong Woo just smiled at him and didn't say anything before alighting from the elevator.

"H-hey! Wait up! What do you mean by that!?" said Mike in a flurry as he hastily followed after Jong Woo as they arrived at the top floor of the building.

Jong Woo looked back and gestured for him to shut up with a finger on his lips.

"W-what?"

Jong Woo didn't want to elaborate on what he said earlier and just continued onwards with Mike behind him who's still confused and thinking about the reason behind jong Woo's words.

Inside the CEO office.

"I heard you two are doing great work on shows lately, and there's already a few PDs and directors that wanted to invite you two in their shows to either be a guest or a regular member" said Lee Chang Yoo as he stood before the glass wall and gazed through the street below them.

Mike was lowering his head as he stared at the floor, while Jong Woo just looked ahead and answered without any hesitation in his voice, "Yes. After all, this is also for the sake of our future as we're still young, so we need as many exposure to the public as we need so we can always stay in minds of the people and not forget about us"

Lee Chang Yoo rubbed his chin and said, "Is that really it?"

Hearing the meaning behind his words, Jong Woo's heart couldn't help but skip a beat before he hurriedly calmed himself down as he didn't dare to let Chang Yoo notice that there's something amiss so he hurriedly opened his mouth and replied, "Pardon? What do you mean?"

Lee Chang Yoo suddenly turned around with a start and briskly walked towards the two young men and stood before Jong Woo's face as he stared straight towards his eyes.

"Is it...really?" said Lee Chang Yoo with a devious grin on his face.

Mike was so frightened that he took a couple of steps back, while Jong Woo on the other hand was also perturbed, but he was already gotten used to it, so he just narrowed his eyes and stared back at him even though his back is already full of cold sweat, but it showed that his title as a mad stubborn dog of the company was not unfounded, as he is truly crazy to stare back to his boss who is known for his cruelty!

Lee Chang Yoo couldn't help but smirk looking at his expression and said, "Do you really not know?"

Truly confused about what he's trying to get from him, Jong Woo couldn't help but frown and replied, "What do you mean?"

Seeing the confusion in Jong Woo's eyes, Chang Yoo couldn't help but feel doubtful inside and thought, 'Was I thinking too much? Then what is this uncomfortable feeling that I have been feeling a couple of days ago that coincided with the change of attitude of this bastard?'

Riiiing~!

Lee Chang Yoo was about to say something when the phone on the desk suddenly rang and interrupted his thoughts, so he just narrowed his eyes before turning around and picked up the call.

"What is it? Okay, tell them that I'm available now" replied Chang Yoo on the phone before hanging up and turned around to face the two youngsters, where one was already frightened and shaking on his boots, while the other person was still stubborn standing straight like a tree as he kept looking ahead with fists clenched.

"Leave"

Like it was some kind of word of salvation, Mike suddenly became energized and snapped out of his fear and quickly grabbed Jong Woo's arms and quickly pulled him out of the office like a frightened cat saying, "Let's go!"

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Lee Chang Yoo watched them as they left his office while thinking to himself, 'That brat is certainly hiding something from me. Jong Woo, don't even think of ever getting away from my grasp!'

When they were a little distance away from the office, Jong Woo couldn't help released a sigh of relief as the stifling feeling on his face finally disappeared when he faced Lee Chang Yoo earlier, because deep inside, he knows that he's still scared of that person but he wanted to always show a tough and stubborn attitude for his friend who's slowly losing his grip to his reality, as he knows that he's the only person that Mike could rely on inside the company full predators and herbivores like tigers, giraffe or impalas.

"Are you okay? It was a good thing he didn't beat us up like he always does," said Mike, mixed with worry and relief that they came out of that place unscatched.

Jong Woo laughed and hooked his arms around Mike's neck and ruffled his hair and whispered saying, "It's going to be good times from now on"

"Shut up, you kept saying cryptic things I can't understand!" replied Mike with a laugh, as both friends made their way towards the elevator in a jolly atmosphere, whose happiness came from different things.