Chapter 36: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE RED DRESS

Inside the bar, Kai was still holding the man’s hand while looking at Diana. His gaze was calm, but there was something in his eyes that made Diana feel safe—as if nothing could hurt her as long as Kai was there. After a few seconds, Kai released the man’s hand and quickly approached Diana, leaving the chubby man with a confused and angry expression.

"I came as I promised," Kai said in a soft tone, his voice gentle and soothing. His eyes looked at Diana sincerely, as if the world around them didn’t exist.

Diana, hearing those words, immediately blushed. Her face, which had been pale from fear, now turned red under the bar’s dim lights. She hadn’t expected that Kai would actually come, especially at a time like this. Her trembling hands slowly calmed down, and a small smile started forming on her lips.

But before the atmosphere could thaw, the man’s loud voice broke the silence.

"Hey! Who are you?! I’m with that woman!" the man shouted, his face red with anger and embarrassment from being ignored. His chubby hands clenched at his sides, showing that he wasn’t used to being rejected like this.

Kai turned to the man with a calm expression. "Sorry, Sir. But I also have an appointment with this woman."

"No way!" the man snapped, his eyes scanning Diana’s body from head to toe with a gaze that made Diana even more uncomfortable. "I already paid for her! At least she should entertain me first before serving anyone else!"

Hearing that, Kai moved quickly. In an instant, his hand had grabbed the man’s shirt collar, pulling his face close until it was only inches from Kai’s. His voice turned into a cold, threatening whisper—the same tone he used when speaking to enemies he was about to kill.

"Listen," Kai whispered, his eyes looking at the man with a gaze that made his hair stand on end. "I don’t want to hurt ordinary people. You’d better leave before a big man comes to pick you up."

After finishing his whisper, Kai pushed the man with a firm movement, making him stumble back a few steps. The man staggered, almost falling, then quickly stood up with a face flushed with shame and anger.

"You dare?! I’ll beat you up!" the man shouted, then attacked Kai with wild, uncoordinated movements.

With great ease, Kai dodged every attack the man threw. His agile, trained movements made the man increasingly frustrated. Kai’s body moved like flowing water—dodging blow after blow gracefully and effortlessly.

Tired and growing angrier, the man started attacking wildly. His large hands swung at the surrounding tables, causing glasses to fall and shatter on the floor. Several women screamed in fear, and the bar atmosphere became chaotic. The soft jazz music that had been playing was now drowned out by the sound of breaking glass and customers’ screams.

Kai, busy dodging, started leading the man out of the main room toward the first room of the bar near the entrance. His measured movements made the man keep moving without realizing he was following the direction Kai wanted.

When the man was throwing his final attack, his hand suddenly felt like it had hit a solid wall. The man blinked, turned around, and there stood the doorman. His large, bulky body made the man have to crane his neck to see the doorman’s face. The man’s shadow covered his entire body, making him look like a child in front of a giant.

The doorman stared at the man with a cold gaze, then without much talk, he immediately picked up the man like a sack of rice. The man’s chubby body looked light in his large hands.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, Sir," the doorman said to Kai in a heavy voice. "I’ll make sure people like this don’t enter this bar again."

Quickly, the doorman carried the man out of the bar. The man’s shouting voice slowly faded as the door closed behind them.

Kai responded by slightly lifting his fedora hat as a sign of thanks, then immediately turned and walked back to Diana.

Diana was still standing in her place, waiting for Kai with an expression mixed between relief and admiration. When Kai approached, Diana bowed slightly as a sign of respect, her face still slightly red from embarrassment and emotion.

"Sorry, Diana. I’m a little late," Kai said while greeting, his voice remaining calm despite having just been involved in a commotion. "There was a little disturbance on the way."

Diana smiled, unable to contain her gratitude. "It’s okay, Mr. Kai. I’m already very grateful for what you’ve done. I don’t know how to thank you."

"Come, Sir, sit over here," Diana invited while gently holding Kai’s hand, leading him to a small table in a quieter corner of the room. The table was made of dark wood with two cushioned chairs facing it, and a small candle burning in the center, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.

When they sat down, Diana looked at Kai from head to toe. Her eyes moved slowly, observing every detail of his appearance—the neat black suit, the elegant fedora hat, the gleaming silver watch, and the shiny leather shoes.

"Wow, Mr. Kai," Diana said with sparkling eyes, her voice full of sincere admiration. "Your appearance is very different from usual. I almost didn’t recognize you. Usually you always look casual with a t-shirt and training pants. But tonight..." She smiled, shaking her head slightly. "You look very elegant."

Kai smiled slightly, a little embarrassed by the compliment. His hand straightened his suit collar, which still felt unfamiliar. "Thank you, Diana. Honestly, I’m not used to clothes like this. But I thought, to come to a place like this, I should dress a little neater."

Diana laughed softly. "And I have to admit, you look very handsome tonight."

Kai smiled, then his eyes looked at the red dress Diana was wearing. The dress was simple yet elegant, with a cut that wasn’t excessive but still captivating. The fabric flowed softly over her body, creating a perfect silhouette under the dim candlelight.

"Your dress is also very beautiful, Diana," Kai said sincerely. "That red color suits you very well."

Diana blushed again, her hand touching the edge of her dress shyly. "Thank you, Sir. This is one of my favorite dresses."

Diana started pouring a drink into Kai’s glass from a glass bottle containing a golden liquid. But before the liquid could touch the glass, Kai quickly raised his hand.

"Sorry, Diana," Kai said politely. "I don’t drink alcohol. It would make me sick. I’ve never been able to tolerate alcohol since... long ago."

Diana blinked, then nodded understandingly. Without saying anything, she immediately replaced the bottle in her hand with another bottle containing fresh orange juice. She carefully poured the juice into Kai’s glass, almost full to the brim. The bright orange liquid looked refreshing under the candlelight.

"This is fresh orange juice," Diana said with a friendly smile. "I hope you like it."

Kai took the glass and sipped it slowly, enjoying the sweet and sour taste spreading across his tongue. "This is delicious, Diana. Thank you."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying their respective drinks. Occasionally they exchanged smiles, and Diana looked more relaxed than before.

"Do you often experience incidents like earlier, Diana?" Kai finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was full of genuine concern.

Diana let out a long sigh, her eyes looking at the glass in her hand. "I experience it often, Sir. But I can’t do much, especially when dealing with men like that. They feel entitled because they’ve paid." She paused for a moment, her hand gripping the glass tighter. "Sometimes, if my boss wants me to entertain VIP guests, I usually refuse. Even though the payment can be very high, the risk is also high. I don’t want to take unnecessary risks."

Kai heard all of that, and in his chest, something stirred—anger slowly creeping in, but also determination starting to form. He couldn’t let this woman keep suffering like this.

Without much talk, Kai opened his wallet. His sudden movement startled Diana. Her eyes widened seeing the old leather wallet full of banknotes. Kai took out several bills with the highest value—money he rarely used for himself—and immediately placed them on the table in front of Diana.

"This is for you, Diana," Kai said firmly. "The rest is a tip for you. You deserve it."

Diana was shocked. Her big eyes stared at the pile of money on the table, then looked at Kai, then back at the money. "Mr. Kai, I can’t accept this. This is too much."

"You can," Kai said, his voice undeniable. "You work hard. You deserve more than this. And I don’t want to see you going through things like earlier over and over again."

Diana looked down, tears starting to well up in her eyes. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the overflowing emotions. Finally, she nodded slowly, taking the money with slightly trembling hands. "Thank you, Mr. Kai. I don’t know what to say."

"You don’t need to say anything," Kai said gently. "What matters is that you’re okay."

To lighten the emotional atmosphere, Diana started talking about her child. Her eyes sparkled when she talked about her daughter, and her smile became wider and warmer.

"Lately, my child has been more cheerful, Sir," Diana said in a lighter voice. "She used to always look gloomy and quiet. But now, she smiles more. She tells me about school, about her friends, about her teacher. I’m very happy to see her change."

Kai smiled hearing that. "Your daughter must be a good girl."

Diana nodded proudly. "Yes, Sir. She’s a good girl. She always tries to help me at home, even though I never ask her to. She’s also smart at school."

Kai sipped his juice, then asked, "What’s your daughter’s name, Diana?"

Diana smiled widely. "Iris. Iris Noa."

Hearing that, Kai was startled. His body tensed slightly, and the glass in his hand stopped in midair. His eyes widened, and he quickly set his glass down on the table, then held Diana’s shoulders with both hands.

"Iris Noa?" Kai repeated, his voice full of surprise. "So you’re Iris’s mother?"

Diana blinked, confused by Kai’s reaction. "Y-yes, Sir. Iris is my daughter. Why? Do you know her?"

"Wait a minute," Diana said, her mind starting to work quickly. "Mr. Kai... Mr. Kai is the very popular teacher at my daughter’s school. So you’re Iris’s teacher?"

They stared at each other in silence. Then, slowly, laughter started to break out from both of them. Light laughter, laughter full of wonder and happiness.

"Turns out the world is small, isn’t it?" Diana said while laughing, wiping the tears at the corners of her eyes that appeared from laughter and emotion. "Who would have thought that the person who helped me at the apartment is my own daughter’s teacher."

Kai shook his head in amusement. "I didn’t expect it either. I’ve wanted to meet Iris’s parents for a long time, but I never imagined it would be you."

Diana smiled, and for the first time, there was genuine happiness in her eyes. She reached out her hand, gently holding Kai’s. "Thank you, Mr. Kai. Because of you, Iris now enjoys her school days more. She’s happier. And it’s all because of you."

Kai smiled slightly, returning Diana’s handshake. "It’s my duty as a teacher to make sure my students enjoy their school days. Iris is a good girl. She has great potential. And I’m happy to see her developing."

They started chatting more casually. Diana told him about her life, about her struggle raising Iris alone since her husband left. Kai listened carefully, occasionally nodding or asking questions. Kai also told her about Iris at school—but he slightly changed the story to keep Diana calm. He didn’t tell her about Iris’s habit of pretending to be sick or her manipulative behavior. He just said that Iris was a smart student who was starting to show good spirit.

"What about your life, Sir?" Diana asked. "You live alone in the apartment, right?"

"Yes," Kai answered. "I’m used to living alone. But lately, my life has started to feel more meaningful. My students make me feel... alive."

Diana smiled. "They’re lucky to have a teacher like you."

They continued chatting, enjoying the warm togetherness. But suddenly, a loud sound from the wall clock in the middle of the room broke the atmosphere. The clock chimed, signaling that it was already late at night.

"Ah," Diana said, turning toward the clock. "It’s time for me to switch shifts with someone else. I have to go."

Kai understood. He stood up from his chair, straightening his suit. "I should go home too. Thank you for receiving me tonight, Diana."

Diana smiled, standing up as well. "Thank you too, Mr. Kai. And thank you for everything."

Kai walked to the cashier counter near the door. Diana followed behind him, her hand still holding the money Kai had given her. At the counter, Kai paid quickly, then turned to Diana.

"See you, Diana."

"See you, Mr. Kai. Take care on the way."

Kai stepped out of the bar. As soon as he passed through the door, the large doorman greeted him respectfully. "Good evening, Sir. Have a pleasant journey."

Kai lifted his hat slightly in return, then continued on his way out.

The cold night air greeted him as he stepped out of Heaven in Heaven. Streetlights flickered in the distance, creating long shadows on the sidewalk that was starting to empty. Kai walked slowly, his mind still filled with everything that had happened tonight.

The meeting with Diana. The revelation that she was Iris’s mother. The laughter they shared. And everything Diana had told him about her struggles.

But suddenly, Kai remembered something. He remembered Iris’s words when he met her at the school gate some time ago. When Iris whispered in his ear and said, "You were amazing that night."

Kai stopped in the middle of the road. His eyes widened.

So that’s what she meant, Kai thought. Iris saw me that night. She saw me saving her mother from the debt collector. She knows I helped her family. That’s why she said that.

But another question arose in his mind. Does Iris know about her mother’s work? Does she know that Diana works at a bar like this? Does she know what her mother has to go through every night?

Kai shook his head. He didn’t know the answer. But one thing he knew: Diana couldn’t keep living like this. She couldn’t keep working in such a risky place, facing irresponsible men every night. And Iris, who was starting to be happy at school, shouldn’t know that her mother was struggling this hard for her.

Kai made up his mind.

I have to help Diana. I have to help her find a way to earn decent money, so she doesn’t have to work in a place like this anymore. I have to help her achieve her dreams, whatever they are. Because Diana is Iris’s mother. And Iris is my student. And I won’t let both of them suffer anymore.