Dopamine Addiction - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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34.
“…….”
Tanning couldn’t even scream before he crumpled to the ground.
“Damn.”
Minso Mae rubbed his jaw and rose, drawing a knife from his pocket. Click—the blade snapped open. His eyes narrowed with venom as he fixed on Liam.
In that instant, sensing something amiss, Masha faltered and stepped backward. Hee-ju, who had rushed out from beyond the glass partition, stopped short as she moved to follow.
Gripping the baseball bat, she turned to look at Liam. Minso Mae was slashing his blade side to side, closing the distance.
Even so, Liam positioned himself between Hee-ju and Minso Mae, securing her safety.
Hee-ju asked.
“Do you need help?”
Liam glanced at her sideways, then turned his gaze back to Minso Mae and smirked—as if asking silently, ‘Who needs help from whom?’
Fair point.
“Fighting spirit.”
Hee-ju offered a hollow cheer and bolted from the spot.
At the same moment, Minso Mae lunged. Liam leaned back sharply, dodging the incoming blade.
Then, in a flash, he struck Minso Mae’s wrist with his fist. The knife flew from his grip.
Liam kicked the blade skittering across the floor. It spun away, sliding behind him.
“This is really…….”
Minso Mae threw a bare fist. Liam, as if he’d been waiting, seized his wrist and threw his full weight behind a spinning motion.
Minso Mae’s arm bent at a grotesque angle. He screamed.
“Ahhhhh!”
As Minso Mae buckled forward in agony, Liam struck the nape of his neck.
“Ugh.”
Thud, thud, thud. It was a one-sided affair. They numbered five, yet held no advantage in numbers, and landed no meaningful blows.
There was an insurmountable gap in skill between them and Liam.
Rugbi’s face swelled like a rugby ball; blood streamed from the tall one’s temple; Tanning never got up.
Meanwhile, outside the shop, Hee-ju paused and glanced around. She could see Masha in the car, pressing her friend who sat at the wheel.
Masha’s Friend, her face tight with fear, pumped the pedal frantically. But the car only lurched in place, refusing to move.
Noel stood with an awl in one hand, laughing wickedly. It was only then that Masha noticed all four tires had been punctured.
“Hey, Noel!”
Noel flinched. Hee-ju wrenched open the passenger door.
“Get out.”
“…….”
Masha glared silently at Hee-ju. Hee-ju smiled warmly, displaying adult composure. She tapped the car with the baseball bat.
“Will you get out on your own, or should I drag you?”
Masha reluctantly stepped out. She pulled herself up. She didn’t forget to glare at Noel standing off to the side.
“When I’m being nice, open your eyes properly.”
“…….”
“That scary man inside? You think he won’t hit a woman?”
Masha lowered her eyes obediently. Hee-ju stared directly at the girl who had exited the car, pressing weight into every word.
“Apologize to Noel.”
“Why would I apologize to Noel?”
“Didn’t anyone teach you to apologize when you’re wrong?”
Masha snorted, “That’s ridiculous.” The next instant, she shoved Hee-ju’s chest.
Caught off guard, Hee-ju toppled and landed hard on her backside.
Masha bolted toward Noel. Hee-ju scrambled to her feet and gave chase.
“Don’t you dare move!”
The girl who had been at the wheel stepped into Hee-ju’s path. Hee-ju swung the bat at her.
“If you don’t want to get hit, I’d suggest you disappear quietly.”
“Ahhhhh!”
The girl didn’t think Hee-ju would actually swing. She shrieked and crumpled to the ground.
Hee-ju rushed toward the two. Masha had seized Noel by the hood.
Noel reflexively curled up in place, rolling herself into a ball. Like a pill bug.
“This is all your fault!”
Masha yanked Noel’s hood irritably. The small girl’s body flailed helplessly.
Hee-ju clenched her teeth. Heat boiled in her belly. She couldn’t tell if it was rage or pity.
“Let that hand go.”
As Hee-ju’s shout erupted, someone seized Masha’s hand.
“What?”
Masha shrieked sharply and spun around, then froze.
“Lu……cas?”
Lucas regarded her with cold eyes. His voice slipped through gritted teeth.
“What are you doing?”
“Let go!”
Masha shook off Lucas’s hand roughly. He held her gaze a moment longer, then turned to Noel with a worried expression, extending his hand.
“Are you alright, Noel?”
“Hee-ju…… unnie.”
Noel lifted her head, her face tight with fear. Hee-ju rushed over, crouched down, and gathered the small girl into her arms.
“You’re okay.”
“…….”
“You’re okay, Noel.”
Lucas, seeing Noel’s face mottled with bruises, furrowed his brow. Then he turned to Masha.
“How did this even happen?”
Just then, a tremendous crash echoed. Lucas recognized the sound came from the pawnshop and turned his head.
A large man came flying through the open door and hit the ground. It was Rugbi. Masha’s face went visibly pale.
Hee-ju rose slowly and walked toward Masha.
“So you relied on that thug and thought you could mess around? Now that he’s useless, what will you do?”
“Who are you? How dare you interfere and ruin everything!”
“Me?”
Hee-ju smiled with adult ease, tapping Masha’s solar plexus with the bat repeatedly like a villain. Because true adult composure, it seemed, came straight from a baseball bat.
“Noel’s older sister.”
“That’s a lie. Noel has no family.”
“No family? She’s standing right here.”
Hee-ju leaned in close. She locked eyes with Masha and spoke each syllable deliberately.
“If you bully my sister even one more time, I will actually kill you. I’ll chase you to the very ends of hell.”
“…….”
“I know your school, your house, your family, your SNS. Everything about you. If you want to vanish in the dead of night without a trace, just try it.”
Hee-ju’s eyes held no warmth. Cold dread crawled down Masha’s spine. She swallowed hard without meaning to.
Hee-ju extended her hand toward her.
“Your parents’ contact information.”
“Why would you need that?”
“Because you trashed someone else’s shop, you’ll pay for damages. Or do you want me to make this a big deal? If you prefer, I can contact them through a lawyer.”
Masha bit her lip, glaring at Hee-ju. Hee-ju continued calmly.
“I should call your school too. How do they manage their students? At minimum, you’re getting suspended. And that’s just the beginning.”
No, it wasn’t calm at all. Beneath each measured word ran an icy current of rage.
“I’ll appear at every critical moment of your life. Your university admission, your job interview, your wedding day. I’ll show up and expose everything you’ve done. I’ll make sure everyone knows how petty and cowardly you are.”
“That’s impossible. What right do you have to——”
“Impossible? Why is it impossible? When you bullied someone else, didn’t you prepare yourself for this? Or did you think Noel would suffer and you’d just sail along?”
Masha’s face drained of color. She couldn’t tear her eyes from Hee-ju. She understood those weren’t empty threats.
Her hands trembled. Even though she clasped them tightly together, the shaking only grew worse.
Who is this woman? Why is she taking Noel’s side?
Then Lucas spoke.
“I know your parents, Masha. We’re neighbors.”
“Lucas!”
Masha called his name, her voice cutting with betrayal.
“So what? Are you going to tattle to my parents?”
“I didn’t know you were like this, Masha.”
Lucas’s expression was openly disappointed. Masha went rigid, as if struck on the head. Her eyes quivered.
Hee-ju understood the reason well enough.
‘Not my problem if I’ve been wagging my tail at Lucas or not.’
But she felt no pity for Masha. It was her own grave she’d dug. All Hee-ju had to do was cover it with earth and pack it down with her heel.
So she could never do the same thing again.
Lucas continued in a composed tone.
“I’ll take responsibility for visiting them myself. They’re reasonable people—they’ll compensate adequately for the damage.”
“Lucky for us. The daughter’s a disaster, but the parents are reasonable.”
Then Liam emerged from the shop. He kicked the squirming Rugbi aside and walked toward Hee-ju.
Masha flinched and stumbled backward. Hee-ju grabbed her collar and dragged her forward.
Masha was pulled along, her face twisted in fear.
“Apologize.”
“…….”
“Compensation is compensation. But you still owe an apology.”
Masha flinched again. She glanced at Liam and reluctantly opened her mouth.
“……I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t hear. Say it properly and include Noel’s name.”
“I’m sorry, Noel.”
Hee-ju had already taken out her Mobile Phone and started recording. She released Masha’s collar and turned to Noel.
“She apologized, but you don’t have to forgive her.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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