{ Between the Coldness of Bullets and the Warmth of Lights }
Ian stepped out of the massive car first, then extended his hand to help Tyla out.
At that very moment, the guards lined up in their black suits and bowed in perfect military discipline.
The black cars slowly drove away, leaving behind a lingering tension in the air.
Tyla exhaled the breath she had been holding and whispered with a trembling voice,
"Ian... that was really terrifying. I've never seen anything like that before."
Without hesitation, ian pulled her into his chest,
wrapping his strong arms around her as if shielding her from the entire world. He whispered softly into her hair,
"Don't be scared... as long as I'm with you, no one will ever touch a single hair on your head."
She lifted her head and looked into his eyes, finding that warmth he reserved only for her.
He smiled at her in a way that made her forget the cold gun she had seen earlier. Then he let her go toward her house while he entered his own.
At Tyla's House
Her mother welcomed her with a pale face, worry practically visible in her eyes.
"Tyla! My daughter, are you okay? I saw the news... they surrounded you like savage beasts!"
Tyla smiled despite the lingering tremble in her body and tried to reassure her.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm okay. Ian's guards came just in time... Ian was even holding a gun to protect me.
Can you imagine?"
Her mother let out a deep sigh and stroked her daughter's hair while hugging her tightly.
"That's good... at least I know you're in the hands of a man who can protect you."
At ian's House
Doo Hwan was waiting for him, leaning against the wall coldly, his eyes carefully watching his younger brother.
The moment Ian entered, he asked quietly,
"Brother... are you okay?"
Ian answered shortly,
"Yes."
But Doo Hwan's expression turned serious.
"Among the crowd that surrounded you today...
we spotted one of Gong Nam Min's men. But we lost him in the chaos."
"What?!"
Ian shouted, running his hand harshly through his hair while anger burned in his eyes.
The circle around him was slowly tightening.
Doo Hwan replied seriously,
"We need to fight them... and maybe this will reveal everything to Tyla."
Ian exhaled tiredly.
"I'll protect her... that's all that matters."
-
Somewhere else...
The villain, Gong Nam Min, sat behind his luxurious desk, his terrifying merciless face twisted into a sick smile.
He whispered to himself,
"So... the black monster fell in love."
Then he let out a soft, chilling laugh that filled the room with cold fear.
The Next Day
The press wouldn't stop calling, and celebrities everywhere were talking about the leaked photos.
Ian sat at the kitchen table looking exhausted.
He hadn't slept all night, and his cold expression showed how deeply he was thinking.
Suddenly, he called Ian.
"I have a plan."
His voice was calm and cold.
"Tyla and I will attend next week's event and officially announce our relationship.
That way, my enemies' men will reveal themselves among the guests.
It'll be both a relationship announcement and a trap."
SEO Joon immediately replied,
"Yes, sir. Understood."
The call ended.
Ian swallowed hard, ran a hand through his hair, then called Tyla.
This time, however, his voice was completely different... warm and gentle.
"Tyla... how are you?"
Her sleepy voice answered as if she had just woken up.
"Ian... hey."
He smiled automatically the moment he heard her voice.
"I have an idea."
She rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"What is it?"
He answered softly,
"I want us to announce our relationship... to end all this drama. We'll attend the event next week."
Tyla immediately sat up on her bed in shock.
"Really?!"
Then she added nervously,
"But... I don't like attention or the press."
Ian smiled lightly.
"I'm with you. Don't be afraid... we'll end this."
She stayed silent for a moment before whispering,
"Okay... I agree."
-
After the call ended, Tyla opened her phone and started scrolling through the news.
But her smile slowly disappeared as she saw hateful comments and insults directed toward her.
Then suddenly...
Her eyes froze on one terrifying comment:
"Thanks... now we know the address. Seoul, Gangnam, Street 55... near the small store... fourth house, the black mansion next to it."
Her heart clenched violently.
Her breathing stopped, and her hand started shaking.
She covered her mouth and whispered,
"No way..."
She ran toward her mother in panic.
"Mom! Mom! Look at this comment!"
Her mother grabbed the phone, and the moment she read it, her face turned pale.
"They found us... I told you, Tyla. Sasaengs are dangerous... they always find us."
Tyla immediately called ian, her voice trembling.
"Ian... I sent you the picture. Look at it... they found us."
Ian pulled the phone slightly away from his ear and stared at the image. His expression instantly turned frighteningly cold.
Then he spoke calmly,
"Tyla... listen to me carefully. Don't be scared."
He immediately hung up and called SEO Joon.
"Bring the guards now."
His tone was harsh.
"I want men surrounding both houses completely. Full weapons. No mistakes."
He paused for a second before adding mercilessly,
"And anyone who gets close... kill them."
"Yes, sir."
-
Exactly four minutes later...
The street filled with black cars.
Men dressed in tactical clothing stepped out as if they were military forces,
carrying advanced weapons and spreading through every corner.
Tyla looked out the window and gasped.
"Mom... what is this?!"
Her mother covered her mouth in shock.
"What's happening...?"
Then suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Tyla gasped nervously and opened the door with shaking hands...
Only to find ian standing there.
He entered calmly and said,
"The guards will handle everything. Don't be afraid."
Tyla stared at him in disbelief.
"You brought them?"
"Yes."
"But... did you call the police? This looks like an army!"
Ian hesitated for a moment before replying,
"No... they're just private guards."
She looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
But ian quickly changed the subject.
"Tyla... have you started preparing for next week's event?"
She sighed.
"But the sasaengs know our address now... how are we supposed to leave?"
He stepped closer and answered calmly,
"Don't worry about that. I'll protect you. Just don't leave the house, and don't let Han Seoul leave alone either.
When we go to the event, the guards will be with us."
She slowly nodded.
"Okay... I trust you."
He smiled at her, but his heart hurt.
Because he was lying to her.
He wasn't just an ordinary YouTuber, and the enemy wasn't just obsessive sasaeng fans.
This was something far bigger than she could ever imagine.
Tyla's mother smiled gently and patted ian's shoulder warmly.
"My son... I trust you. You protect Tyla well."
Then she hesitated before asking,
"Ian... would it be better if we returned to Singapore?"
He immediately shook his head.
"No... stay here. I'll handle the rest."
-
A few hours later...
Ian sat alone inside his secret headquarters hidden within his house.
He sat behind his massive desk, staring at the silver ring in his hand engraved with the letter T.
His thumb slowly brushed over it as if silently swearing to protect her.
He whispered quietly,
"I'll protect you, Tyla... even if it costs me my life."
He closed his eyes briefly and leaned back against the luxurious leather chair while his fingers touched the metallic key necklace hanging around his neck.
He slowly rocked the chair back and forth as if drowning in dark thoughts.
Then he opened his eyes again.
Standing up quietly, he walked toward the wall across from him.
Dozens of photos were pinned there... photos of different men, most of them marked with a red X over their faces.
His eyes darkened, his expression cold and merciless.
His fingers moved across the photos until they stopped on one man in his fifties,
gray hair slicked back, eyes filled with cruelty and evil.
Ian's grip tightened around the picture until its edges crumpled.
He whispered the name with disgust and pain,
"Gong Nam Min..."
Then continued in a tired voice,
"You took everything from me... my family, my childhood, every single thing that could've made my life happy."
Silence filled the room for several long seconds.
Then he whispered one final sentence.
"But this time... I won't let you hurt the last thing that gives meaning to my miserable life."
"Tyla."
-
Later...
Ian carefully watched the security camera screens, but the street seemed calm.
Meanwhile...
Tyla stood near the window, staring at the guards surrounding the house.
There were so many of them, and the weapons in their hands made the scene look strange and unsettling.
She whispered to herself,
"Why do these guards feel strange...? They look more like a mafia than security."
Her mother's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Tyla! Come eat."
She turned around quickly.
"Okay, Mom."
And the rest of the day passed in cautious silence.
The Next Morning
Tyla sat on her balcony drinking coffee while the cold air brushed against her face.
A message from Ian appeared on her phone.
Good morning, babygirl.
She smiled automatically and replied:
Good morning, Cooky.
On the other side, ian smiled at the screen without realizing it.
Despite the cruelty of his life... she was the only thing capable of bringing him peace.
He sent another message:
Come over. I want to have breakfast with you.
She quickly replied:
Okay, I'll come in an hour.
But only fifteen minutes later...
Tyla had already finished getting ready.
She wore a short comfortable white skirt with a light green tube top that highlighted her soft beauty. Her hair was tied into a messy bun, and she wore large hoop earrings, comfortable sandals, and light makeup that made her look naturally adorable.
She opened the front door...
Only to freeze at the number of guards outside.
They looked intimidating, their weapons making the area feel more like a military zone.
The moment she stepped outside, one of the guards stopped her seriously.
"Miss, you can't leave. It's dangerous."
She sighed.
"I'm only going to ian's house."
The guard pressed the earpiece in his ear and spoke quietly for a few seconds before nodding respectfully.
"Yes, ma'am."
Then he escorted her all the way to ian's house even though the houses were practically next to each other.
She whispered to herself in disbelief,
"Wow..."
She entered the house after typing in the password she already knew.
But the living room was completely empty.
She whispered softly,
"Ian?"
No answer.
She walked further inside before hearing the sound of running water.
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"He's showering."
A playful smile appeared on her lips.
"I'll surprise him."
She walked upstairs to his room and sat on the edge of the bed, absentmindedly playing with her hair.
Five minutes passed...
Then she flopped onto the bed dramatically.
"Ahhh... he's taking forever."
She swung her legs childishly while waiting before the sound of water finally stopped.
Her eyes lit up immediately.
"Finally."
The bathroom door opened, warm steam spilling into the room.
Ian stepped out while running his hand through his wet hair carelessly-
Then froze the moment he saw her.
Tyla gasped loudly and instantly covered her eyes.
Meanwhile, ian's eyes widened in shock.
"Yaaah!"
He rushed back into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.
"What are you doing here, Tyla?!"
he shouted lightly from behind the door.
She covered her eyes tighter.
"I'm sorry! I was just waiting for you!"
Then squealed in embarrassment,
"I want to rip my eyes out!"
Ian burst out laughing.
"Is my body really that scary?"
A few moments later, he stepped out again-this time with only a white towel wrapped around his waist.
His wet hair fell over his forehead dangerously attractively while droplets of water slid down his neck and chest.
Meanwhile, Tyla still sat on the bed completely flustered.
She mumbled shyly,
"It's not your body... the situation is just scary... although maybe your body is a little scary too."
Ian smirked mischievously and leaned closer to her.
"And what exactly is scary about it?"
A few drops of water landed on her face, making her even more nervous.
She swallowed hard before hurriedly changing the subject.
"Ian! Why do you come out of the shower like that without the towel?" This is the second time I've seen you like this!"
He laughed softly.
"I live alone. I didn't know you were here."
She clapped her hands awkwardly and laughed nervously.
"Ah... right. How did I not think of that?"
Silence fell for a few seconds.
The only sound in the room was the rapid beating of her heart.
Without realizing it, her eyes wandered over his muscular arms, his tattoos, his wet body,
and the overwhelming masculinity radiating from him.
She swallowed again before his voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Tyla... do you want to touch my muscles?"
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
He laughed softly.
"If you want to, come here you always love to touch it."
Excited like a child, she moved closer and sat beside him on the bed,
gently touching his arm and stomach muscles with fascination.
She laughed softly.
"This is my favorite thing to do.
Ian laughed and closed his eyes, enjoying her soft touches.
Her fingers traced over his chest and shoulders before she kissed his cheek lightly.
"Wow... your body is full of muscles. You always amaze me."
He opened his eyes and laughed.
"Thank you. You know I work out a lot."
Then he stood up and smiled.
"Come on, let's go eat breakfast."
She instantly smiled.
"Okay, I'll wait downstairs."
Tyla went downstairs and sat on the couch scrolling through her phone while Ian put on loose blue jeans and a simple black shirt before drying his hair and joining her.
The moment she saw him, she ran straight into his arms.
He instinctively lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist before giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Hurry! I want food. I'm excited."
He laughed while carrying her toward the kitchen.
"Alright, princess."
He sat her down on the kitchen counter and started cooking breakfast while she watched him with a soft smile...
Completely unaware that behind this warm morning, a massive storm was slowly approaching them both.