The silence in the driveway was deafening. Mr. Park's face was a mask of pure disbelief. "Boss? Chairman Han Dae-Jung? What are you doing at my home?"
Chairman Han smiled, a calm but piercing look in his eyes. "Mr. Park? So... it turns out the young man who saved my daughter's smile is your son? The world is truly small."
Araya blinked, looking between them. "Wait, you work for Mr. Han's company?"
"Yes, Araya," Seongjii's father replied, still stunned. "I've worked under the Chairman for years."
Seongjii shook his head, a smirk forming. "Talk about an unexpected plot twist."
"Your son is a hero, Mr. Park," Han Dae-Jung stated, his voice commanding respect. "He did something for Rika that no amount of money could buy. This BVM M5 is just a small token of my gratitude."
"But Sir!" Mr. Park protested. "This is too much. Rika is Seongjii's friend. He didn't do it for a reward."
Mr. Han laughed, a deep, rich sound. "Like father, like son. Your son said the exact same thing minutes ago. But I won't hear any more excuses. Consider this an order from your Boss—accept the gift. And," he added with a wink, "I expect to see you driving this to the office tomorrow."
"Understood, Sir," Mr. Park bowed, unable to hide his pride.
Before they left, Seongjii dashed inside. He returned a moment later with the massive gold trophy from the competition. He handed it to Rika through the window. "This belongs in your room, Rika. It'll look much better there."
Rika beamed, clutching the trophy. "Thank you, Seongjii! Bye!"
As the Chairman's limousine rolled away, leaving the matte black beast behind, Mr. Park looked at the key in his hand. "Well... who's up for a long drive?"
"Dad? You know how to drive a beast like this?" Seongjii asked, surprised.
"Honey, when did you learn to drive a supercar?" Mrs. Park teased.
"The Chairman ordered me to get my high-speed license months ago for emergencies," Mr. Park said, puffing out his chest. "I've handled his luxury fleet before; this 'Bavarian Beast' is just another Tuesday for me!"
Suddenly, a muffled voice came from inside the car. "Hurry up! I've been waiting for ten minutes!"
It was Araya. She was already tucked into the leather seat, her eyes wide with excitement. "I need to feel the soul of this Beauty and the Beast combo. Move it, mortals!"
Seongjii chuckled, sliding in next to her. "Patience, Araya. The best things come to those who wait."
Mr. Park pressed the Start button.
ROAR!
The V8 engine didn't just start; it screamed. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the quiet neighborhood, and one by one, the lights in the neighbors' houses flickered on. The exhaust notes were like thunder. With a smooth shift into gear, the M5 tore into the night, leaving nothing but the smell of burnt rubber and pure adrenaline behind.
They sped through the neon-lit streets of Seoul, the matte finish of the car making them look like a ghost drifting through traffic. Eventually, they pulled up at a late-night ice cream parlor.
"Today has been a dream," Mr. Park said, leaning against the warm hood while holding a cone. "First the 10 Million Won, now this M5... all because of you, Seongjii."
"It's like a cherry on top of a very expensive cake," Araya added, licking her ice cream.
"Actually, Dad," Seongjii said quietly, "I asked for this car specifically for you. My last wish was for your comfort. I just didn't expect Mr. Han to be the one delivering it."
Mr. Park looked at his son, his eyes softening. "But I have the scooter, son. You didn't have to—"
"Uncle," Araya interrupted, her voice unusually soft. "He saw your back pain after work. He saw how tired you were. He didn't want a car for status; he wanted it so you wouldn't have to suffer on that old bike anymore."
The silence that followed was warm. Mrs. Park wiped a small tear. "Honey, don't say another word. Your son loves you."
Mr. Park placed a heavy, proud hand on Seongjii's shoulder. "Thank you, son."
Seongjii leaned into the touch, smiling. "No worries, Dad. I'm your son, after all."
As the moon reached its peak, they piled back into the car. The taillights of the M5 faded into the distance, two red streaks of light cutting through the dark as the Park family headed home in their new, silent guardian.
To be continued...