Cha Min-hyung was unable to enter Seo Won’s estate grounds right away.
“Please wait a moment.”
The security guard standing at the main gate of the estate gave a polite bow and radioed someone. Most likely, he was reporting the situation to a superior within the security team. That person would then directly contact Seo Won.
‘Of course, just because I’ve been here before doesn’t mean they’re going to let me in without a fuss.’
Sitting in his car, Min-hyung calmly observed the four guards stationed at the gate. He also took note of the two security cameras pointed in his direction.
Beyond that gate, the tight security from his previous visit was likely still in place—even though Seo Won, the master of the estate, was currently away.
‘They’ve probably moved past the stage of imprisoning and monitoring Han-gyeom… now it’s just about guarding him, huh.’
The first time he came here, that heavy gate had seemed like prison bars. But now, it felt different—more like the gate of a comfortable fortress.
Maybe it felt that way because he knew what Seo Won was thinking now.
As he surveyed his surroundings, Min-hyung pulled out his phone. Seeing no incoming messages, he immediately turned it off.
‘If he contacts me directly, I might not even get inside. I could be forced to turn back…’
He had shown up without any prior notice. Once Seo Won realized that, he would undoubtedly call him to ask why he’d come.
Rather than explaining his reasons over the phone and having that conversation cut short, it was better to cut off contact altogether.
Like it or not, theirs was a relationship built on secret deals. Seo Won, being who he was, would prefer hearing Min-hyung’s reason for coming directly rather than through a guard. So he would let him in and have him wait inside.
And just as expected—
“He says you can wait inside. Please, go ahead.”
The guards stepped aside and opened the gate.
It was just as Min-hyung had predicted. Once inside the estate, his car passed smoothly through the grounds under the unimpeded guidance of the security team.
After driving past the expansive garden and arriving at the front of the mansion, a familiar face greeted him.
“Welcome, Vice-Chairman-to-be Cha Min-hyung.”
Seeing Jung Ah-young smiling brightly, Min-hyung gave a wry look.
“Are you saying that on purpose?”
“Ahaha, no way.”
Though she said that, there was a distinct edge in the way she emphasized “Vice-Chairman-to-be.”
Unbeknownst to Cha Min-hyung, Jung Ah-young was one of Kang Woo-chan’s closest aides.
And Kang Woo-chan harbored deep hostility not only toward the Esper Association, but also toward Cha Min-hyung himself—his former peer from the First Ability Analysis Research Facility.
Although Cha Min-hyung came from the Ability Analysis Research Facility, he had used that background to propel the Esper Association forward in various ways. As a result, he’d managed to land a high-ranking executive position in the Association at a relatively young age.
Most recently, he’d brought down Kim Cheol-min and was now widely considered the strongest candidate for the next Vice-Chairman. He had been officially representing the Association in press conferences and even during prosecutorial summons.
Naturally, there was no way someone like him would be welcomed.
To Jung Ah-young and Kang Woo-chan’s circle, Cha Min-hyung was nothing more than a despicable man consumed by ambition and selfishness.
But right now, Jung Ah-young was Seo Won’s bodyguard.
Regardless of her personal feelings, she could not afford to be rude to Seo Won’s guest. Not if she wanted to remain in this mansion with Han-gyeom.
Ah-young offered Min-hyung a polite bow and spoke in a cheerful voice.
“My apologies if I upset you.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Only after hearing his response did Ah-young straighten up and open the mansion doors for him.
“I’ll show you to the drawing room. It may take a little while before Director Seo returns—will that be alright?”
“Of course. I’m the one who showed up unannounced, after all.”
Following behind Ah-young, Min-hyung stepped into the mansion.
Compared to the cold wind outside, the interior was pleasantly warm. So much so that the security personnel working indoors didn’t even need thick suits—light dress shirts seemed sufficient.
For some reason, one particular face came to mind.
And when they arrived just outside the drawing room, Min-hyung was greeted by none other than the man he’d just been thinking of.
“Hello, Min-hyung-ssi.”
Cha Han-gyeom approached him, a gentle look in his eyes as he spoke his name.
He wore a light white shirt under a thin cardigan.
Of course, Min-hyung thought, smiling warmly at Han-gyeom.
“It’s been a while. How have you been feeling?”
“Thanks to your concern, I’m doing much better. Thank you.”
“That’s a relief to hear.”
The two exchanged warm, courteous pleasantries. But then Ah-young’s dramatic voice cut in between them.
“Han-gyeom-ssi! Why are you out of bed again?! I told you, you need more rest!”
Her tone had shifted noticeably from when she’d been speaking to Min-hyung. Though she was clearly younger than Han-gyeom, she sounded more like an overprotective older sister fretting over a sickly younger brother.
Ah-young puffed out her cheeks in frustration and glared at the two security guards who had followed behind Han-gyeom. Caught off guard, they both avoided her gaze with awkward expressions.
“He said he wanted to meet his guest, so… ahem.”
The two guards had been watching over Han-gyeom in Ah-young’s absence while she greeted the guest. But their role was merely to protect Han-gyeom, not to restrict him in any way. Seo Won had explicitly ordered them not to.
Han-gyeom stepped forward, almost as if shielding the two guards.
“Don’t be too hard on them. They even gave me permission to go out freely—what, I can’t even take a walk when I feel like it?”
“Ugh, but still…”
Mumbling and groaning, Ah-young finally gave in with a resigned expression that said she understood. She didn’t have the authority—or strength—to forcibly drag Han-gyeom back to his room.
Listening to their exchange, Min-hyung looked slightly surprised and asked Han-gyeom,
“When you say you’re allowed out… do you mean you can actually leave the house?”
“Yes, for now.”
Min-hyung was well aware that Han-gyeom had been confined to the mansion under Seo Won’s orders.
Cha Han-gyeom was the only Guide capable of guiding Seo Won and was a fragile man prone to occasional, dangerous episodes. There had even been a time when he’d been kidnapped after being targeted by terrorists.
So Min-hyung had been understanding of Seo Won’s decision to keep him confined, even if it had been a bit forceful—it was for Han-gyeom’s own safety.
But now, to hear that he’d been granted the freedom to leave?
He knew better than to interpret that as Seo Won no longer caring what happened to him.
Most likely, Seo Won wanted to lift the pressure and control he’d placed on Han-gyeom. To let him move freely, on his own terms.
Or perhaps… so that Han-gyeom could leave the estate anytime he wished, with someone.
Min-hyung unconsciously clenched the phone inside his coat pocket. Though it was turned off, the cold casing pressed sharply against his palm.
A phrase Seo Won had said just a few days ago flashed through Min-hyung’s mind:
“Before I die, I’ll make sure everything’s cleaned up perfectly. And if there’s anything in there you’d want help with, don’t hesitate to call me. I’d be willing to do that much—for Han-gyeom’s sake.”
Maybe there hadn’t been any need to turn his phone off after all. Regardless of what business he had, Seo Won would’ve let him in, if only to let him see Han-gyeom.
“But I haven’t really gone far,” Han-gyeom said casually. “Just around the garden, at most.”
He looked toward a fogged-up window along the corridor. Beyond it stretched a spacious, immaculately kept garden, despite the cold weather.
“Why not go farther?”
“Hmm…”
Han-gyeom hesitated for a moment, then gave a faintly mysterious smile.
“I’m waiting for it to get colder.”
He turned his eyes away from the window and looked directly at Min-hyung.
“I like that kind of cold—the kind that feels like it could slice right through your skin.”
It was the kind of answer that would usually make someone do a double take. Without waiting for a reaction, Han-gyeom walked ahead into the drawing room.
Still chewing on those words, Min-hyung followed him inside.
The two of them sat facing each other on the drawing room sofa, with a steaming pot of black tea between them, brought by a servant. The soft clinking of porcelain and the sound of tea pouring into cups filled the warm room with a cozy, fragrant calm.
Even after the servant stepped out, Ah-young remained beside Han-gyeom, her posture stiff and slightly on edge.
“Ah-young-ssi, sorry to ask, but could you give us a moment?”
“Huh?”
Ah-young blinked in surprise at Han-gyeom’s request, her eyes darting toward Min-hyung.
“I want to ask Min-hyung-ssi a few things before Seo Won comes back.”
“Is it something I shouldn’t hear?”
“Well… Ah-young-ssi, you’re a civilian, after all. I want to speak with Min-hyung-ssi as a Guide.”
“Ah, um…”
Ah-young couldn’t bring herself to insist.
Han-gyeom had already labeled her a civilian, and said he wanted to talk as a Guide. In that context, pressing the issue any further would only make her look suspicious in Min-hyung’s eyes.
If it was truly about security, she could just wait outside the door. Insisting on staying inside would make it obvious she was trying to eavesdrop. And a conversation between Guides, layered in terminology and nuance, would likely fly over the head of any ordinary person anyway.
It would be nothing short of surveillance. It was one thing if it were Han-gyeom being monitored, but keeping tabs on a clear guest like Cha Min-hyung? That was undeniably problematic.
With a face that said she had no choice, Ah-young quietly exited the drawing room.
Left alone, Han-gyeom and Min-hyung now sat together in a still and heavy silence.
Within that quiet, Han-gyeom lifted the warm teacup and finally spoke.
“You can go ahead and tell me now.”
After taking a sip of the black tea, Han-gyeom looked at the perfectly composed Min-hyung and offered a gentle smile.
“You came to see me, not Seo Won—didn’t you?”
