“Oh. I’ve already been by this place?”
Kangjun wore an expression that suggested he saw no problem with this. Yujung looked at him momentarily speechless. Until now, he had never shared even his address with a woman, let alone allowed one near his home. For Sa Kangjun, who thoroughly concealed himself and remained guarded, this wasn’t a trivial incident. The fact that he, someone who pursued perfection, had broken his own rule carried significance.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Kangjun asked her with an innocent face. Yujung stared at him without answering, then narrowed her eyes at him instead of responding. After a brief staring contest, he finally leaned back on the sofa again as if annoyed.
“You’re so perceptive.”
“CEO.”
“Fine. I want to sleep with Yoo Seoyoung.”
Kangjun placed both arms on the back of the sofa and gave a lazy smile. Yoo Seoyoung strangely stimulated his desire. The emotional waves that passed over her rational appearance were a fresh pleasure to him. It was amusing to see her flustered expression when she learned the truth after being wary, thinking she was seducing him. Her attempts to gather her composure by turning away were reflected in the dark window. She would have been even more embarrassed if she knew he was watching. The scent of her skin mixed with the subtle fragrance of her perfume was also pleasant. Enough to make him want to bury his nose in her neck and slowly rub against it. He was curious about her breasts hidden beneath her blouse. Looking at her legs placed side by side, he also felt the urge to slide his hand from her knees to the inside of her thighs. Yes, he was genuinely aroused. He should have turned on the light in the car. He wondered what expression Seoyoung would have made if she had seen his swollen cock. Seeing his subtle smile, Yujung coldly said:
“She hasn’t even been employed for a month. It’s dangerous.”
“She said she would never betray me.”
“No one says they will.”
“She won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Turns out she’s quite a devoted fan of mine.”
Kangjun declared this with a curl of his lip. Recalling Seoyoung’s words and actions, he couldn’t help but smile. At the restaurant they went to after leaving the prosecutor’s office, Seoyoung firmly stated she wouldn’t betray him. He should believe her sincerity. Even if it wasn’t true, what did it matter? Just as he had always made the people beside him loyal, he could do the same with her.
Yujung was still looking at him stiffly. Kangjun casually dismissed her gaze and softened his tone slightly.
“Don’t worry. I won’t sleep with her.”
Though he had given Yujung the answer she wanted, she didn’t look satisfied.
“When have you ever seen me lie to Office Director So?”
“…”
“I’m a bastard if I break my promise.”
Even after saying this much, Yujung’s expression remained unchanged. Kangjun stood up and placed his hand on her shoulder with a smile.
“Have a good trip, Office Director So. While you’re there, go sunbathing on the beach with my mother.”
She probably won’t be able to return once his mother gets hold of her.
“I’ll miss you,” he said affectionately, giving her a wink.
***
“Haa…”
Seoyoung dropped her bag on the floor and flopped onto the bed. Just thinking about what had happened earlier made her face burn. She had managed to navigate her path in life well enough, but she couldn’t understand why she became a fool whenever she stood before Sa Kangjun.
No, it’s not my fault.
Even when she gave proper answers, in front of him, her words somehow twisted, her expressions crumbled, and her thoughts became powerless. So the reason for her strange behavior was because of that man.
What would Sa Kangjun think of her now? She had been caught thoroughly investigating his personal information under the pretext of preparing for the interview, so there was plenty of room for misunderstanding. Perhaps he thought she was just like the numerous women who had tried to seduce him.
Is that why he threw that playful seduction at her? Because she seemed like a woman he could easily have just by reaching out? When he asked in the car if she still wanted to hear his story, she almost answered “yes.” She wanted to hear his story. She wanted to get closer to him. She wanted to know the truth of the past by traveling back in time through him. In fact, she knew that was the shortest path to reaching him.
But this isn’t right. Getting physically involved with Sa Kangjun is out of the question.
Just as she reached a conclusion, trying to convince herself, a short vibration sounded. Seoyoung pushed aside the blanket and sat up. When she checked her phone, there was a message with no sender information.
“Did you see the envelope?”
The moment she saw the text, Seoyoung instinctively realized. It was a message from Moon Jeonghu, who had visited her a few days ago.
When she turned her head, she saw a gray envelope that seemed to have been left by someone at the entrance. She hadn’t noticed it earlier when she rushed in. Seoyoung picked up the envelope and sat at her desk. After carefully opening the envelope with a knife, several documents came out.
“Gasp.”
The moment she opened the first page, Seoyoung involuntarily covered her mouth.
Autopsy Report of Deceased
Name of Subject: Park Inhye (Female/43 years old)
It was her mother’s name, familiar but forgotten.
“Don’t you want to catch the person who killed your mother? I’ll help you. With whatever else too.”
When Moon Jeonghu first approached Seoyoung with this offer, she didn’t give him a definitive answer.
“There will be personnel changes at the end of this year. The higher-ups intend to send me abroad. Then there will be no one left to catch Sa Kangjun.”
He was saying he was already under pressure from above. Graying hair, wrinkled face, unwavering tone, and stubborn eyes. He was clearly different from Park Haesik of the prosecutor’s office, who only showed his temper. He appeared more secretive, systematic, and persistent. Should I trust this person? Or should I observe a little longer? It could end badly for her if she rashly took the hand of someone she didn’t know well.
“Then show me your abilities.”
“Abilities?”
“I need my mother’s autopsy report and the investigation records from that time. I was adopted, so I don’t have the right to see them.”
At Seoyoung’s words, he quietly looked at her.
“I’ll contact you.”
There had been no contact since that day, and now he had suddenly sent this response. Seoyoung opened the document again with trembling hands. Gunshot wound. Internal organ damage. Massive intra-abdominal bleeding. The words that caught her eye were stark and cruel. Estimated time of death, 7:30 PM. It was the time when sunset was entering through the grandfather clock where she, as a child, was confined. She felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Seoyoung put the autopsy report back. Each letter seemed to stab at her mind, and she didn’t have the energy to read it all.
Next, she took out the investigation report.
- Case Overview
On June 17, 20XX, at around 10:45 PM, the head of the local fishermen’s association, who was patrolling near the coast, discovered a female body floating on the water near the breakwater and reported it to emergency services. The firefighting team that arrived at the scene recovered the body and handed it over to the police. After the violent crime team determined the case’s nature, the investigation was initiated.
“Haa.”
Seoyoung unconsciously bit her lip. Her heart pounded irregularly, and her stomach churned as if turned inside out. Breakwater. Darkness soaked in sea fog, her mother’s body floating on the night sea. The terrible image made her fingertips freeze. It felt as if cold seawater was lapping against her chest.
But even amid all this, there was a careful sprouting feeling in a corner of her heart. Perhaps her mother hadn’t abandoned her but had gone alone to protect her.
Seoyoung wiped away tears that had already fallen and continued reading. However, not long after, her expression froze.
Victim Information and Background
Name: Park Inhye (Female, 43 years old)
Occupation: Former researcher at the development lab of defense company Bantech Co., Ltd.
“What is this?”
Seoyoung’s lips parted. For a moment, she felt as if electricity had sparked in her ears, and then the world went silent as if all sound had ceased. Her mother had been working at Bantech. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. At that moment, a call came in with caller ID restricted. Seoyoung hesitated for a moment but eventually answered.
“These are the documents you requested, Yoo Seoyoung-ssi. Are you satisfied?”
It was Moon Jeonghu. When Seoyoung remained silent, unable to say anything, she heard him chuckle softly.
“Come down. I’m at the coffee shop below.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
