Junyoung tousled her long hair and stepped out into the yard. The day was endlessly clear, and in the bathroom, Beomjin was enduring a cold shower to leave the hot water for her. A faint smile played on her lips as she paced outside the door.
I want a sandwich.
Strawberry jam slathered generously, with scrambled eggs that only Kwon Beomjin could make.
A sandwich she hadn’t even thought of making since that day.
As she humd a cheerful tune, the sound of the water stopped, and she instinctively ran her hand through her hair once more. Straightening her clothes, she heard the bathroom door open and lifted her chin confidently.
“Let’s have sandwiches today!”
“What?”
The person who erged, drying his hair with a towel, was not Kwon Beomjin but Samdu. Junyoung’s eyes narrowed as she stared at his muscled arms exposed beneath his short sleeves, her expression quickly turning sour.
“Why are you coming out of there, Samdu? You shower at night. Mornings are for
and Beomjin.”
“Oh, uh, the hot water’s working now, so you can go ahead.”
“That’s not what I’m asking…” Her words trailed off as Samdu bent slightly, his attitude oddly polite. Her eyebrows shot up as realization struck.
“Where’s Kwon Beomjin?”
Samdu’s eyes darted nervously left and right, and he rubbed his head with the towel as though stalling. Finally, he sighed and nodded.
“He went to Seoul.”
A hollow laugh escaped her lips, as if soone had just smacked her on the back of the head. Junyoung clenched her eyes shut before asking in a low, steady voice.
“When is he coming back?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Will he be back at all?”
“I… I don’t know that either.”
“Give
his number.”
Her voice trembled slightly, her anger barely restrained. Samdu stamred, caught off guard.
“Excuse ?”
“I said, give
his phone number.”
Each word was deliberate, practically etched into the air. Samdu’s face twisted as he shook his head furiously.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. Not even if you kill .”
“That bastard told you not to, didn’t he?”
The way she said “that bastard” clearly grated on Samdu, and his eyes instinctively flared. With his solid build and stern features, the atmosphere grew tense in an instant, but Junyoung’s sharp glare didn’t waver.
“What? Does it bother you that I called him a bastard? I’d use worse words if I had a fancier vocabulary. Honestly, running away at a ti like this?”
Samdu, unnerved by her intensity, licked his lips nervously and averted his gaze.
“Uh, it’s not running away. He said he had work to do…”
“It’s the sa thing!”
Her words cracked like a whip, silencing him. He couldn’t possibly argue with her. He wasn’t in a position to oppose her in any way.
As Junyoung paced in agitation, she suddenly laughed, an incredulous sound escaping her lips.
“You know what’s really absurd? Anyone else can disappear on
like this, but not Kwon Beomjin. Giving
the sa wound twice—knowing exactly what it ans? That’s malice. That’s cruel. And for it to be him? How can he just leave without saying a word…”
Her rant ca to an abrupt halt. Samdu, who had been standing stiffly with the towel in his hands, blinked at her sudden silence. Her piercing gaze landed on him, as sharp as a blade.
“Why are you here, Samdu, if that bastard isn’t?”
Unused to hearing his boss referred to so casually, Samdu frowned slightly as he replied.
“Well, the situation with Jung Mansu isn’t fully resolved yet. He told
to stay behind and keep an eye on things.”
“And he told you to shower before
while you’re at it?”
Caught off guard, Samdu coughed awkwardly. “Uh… yes.”
Junyoung’s lips twitched oddly, her frown deepening. With a dramatic sigh, she crossed her arms. Samdu shrank slightly under her direct gaze, his neck involuntarily tensing.
“Anything else?”
“Oh, um, he told
to accompany you wherever you go. If you step outside the company premises, I’m to keep watch.”
“So he left
with a babysitter.”
Her sarcastic laugh made Samdu wince. Finally, he added, “He asked
to take care of you.”
Junyoung stared at him, her expression inscrutable. Samdu, ever straightforward, added hesitantly, “Our boss doesn’t say things like that often.”
The sharp edge in her deanor seed to soften slightly. Noticing the subtle shift, Samdu allowed himself a small sigh of relief. His racing thoughts began to calm.
Even without her steely expression, Junyoung had an air about her—a striking presence that could make her seem cold and unapproachable. If not for Beomjin, he doubted he would ever have dared to speak to soone like her. n always faltered in the presence of an elegant beauty, after all.
And Junyoung was no ordinary person.
In all the years he’d spent by Beomjin’s side, Samdu had never seen anyone treat his boss the way she did. Not n, not won, not even the chairman his boss occasionally referred to as “uncle.”
Kwon Beomjin wasn’t soone you could treat casually.
Yet Junyoung challenged him without hesitation. She didn’t buckle under his aura, didn’t shy away from standing her ground, and even dared to press her lips against his.
What stunned Samdu most was that his boss allowed it all. That alone spoke volus. Samdu wasn’t dense enough to miss the significance of her uniqueness.
She clearly knew a version of Kwon Beomjin that he didn’t.
“Well, fine. Let’s call it a narrow save,” Junyoung muttered, snapping Samdu out of his thoughts. His eyes widened as he realized she was smiling—a stark contrast to her fiery outburst monts earlier.
Her smile transford her icy deanor, replacing the tension with a light, almost sweet aura. Samdu instinctively stepped back, unnerved.
There are people you should be more cautious around when they’re smiling. Junyoung was the epito of such a person, his instincts told him.
“Well then, Samdu. Since it’s just the two of us, why don’t we spend so quality ti together? I happen to have a bottle of soju.”
“No, no, I, uh… I need to use the restroom. Right now.”
Samdu didn’t need to be told twice. He had a sinking feeling that any attempt to share drinks with her would end with him divulging his boss’s phone number. His spine tingled at the thought, and he bolted for his room before Junyoung could say another word.
“Coward,” she muttered, stretching her arms above her head. “He could’ve just left a ssage. Instead, he leaves a babysitter.”
Looking up at the sky, she squinted against the bright sun. A crooked smirk ford on her lips as the rich aroma of toasted rice from her grandmother’s cooking filled the yard.
***
Mihyang slipped her arms into the jacket held by Chief Kim, letting out a resigned sigh.
"At my age, who would’ve thought I’d still have to attend etings like this?"
"The matter’s sensitive enough that keeping everything confidential is paramount," Chief Kim replied, as courteous as ever. Mihyang nodded, glancing into the mirror. The faint lines on her face were botherso, but her neatly styled hair and flawless makeup gave her a small sense of satisfaction.
Chief Kim hesitated for a mont before speaking again.
"Still, it’s a bit unsettling how little information we have on them."
"I heard the chairman’s wife owed them a favor back when she was fighting for control of the company. That’s why it’s safe. If we can’t dig anything up, neither can anyone else. Anyone who managed to grow a business that respectable, even if they started with private loans, is no ordinary person. And if they were nothing but a thug at the start, that just proves their capability even more."
Straightening her jacket with a firm tug, Mihyang extended her wrist. As he fastened the watch onto her wrist, Chief Kim added, "I’ll have security stationed outside the teahouse."
"Not too close. I don’t want it looking like I’m scared."
"Press this button if you need anything," Chief Kim said, pointing out a discreet button on the watch. Mihyang nodded in acknowledgnt.
"What about Hong? He hasn’t caught on, has he?"
"No."
"And the girl?"
Following behind as Mihyang began to walk, Chief Kim gave his report.
"Deputy Yoon Junyoung is currently on a business trip in Busan. It wasn’t a scheduled trip; she went to handle so issues at the construction site. It’s a two-week trip but might be extended."
"Surely she’s not all upset just because she hasn’t seen him. She managed just fine when he was studying abroad, didn’t she?" Mihyang glanced back at him, her expression skeptical.
"There might be another reason, but I’m still looking into it," Chief Kim replied, lowering his head.
"I just hope she at least shows up at the gallery. With the board’s moves growing bolder, we need to solidify our ties with Myeongin Ilbo before things escalate further."
Before Mihyang could finish sighing, Chief Kim spoke with a calm certainty.
"She’ll be there."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Seungwoon said that?"
"Yes."
Chief Kim’s response was brief but confident. Mihyang, observing him for a mont, smiled warmly.
"You’ve worked your magic again, haven’t you? Well done. Honestly, you’re the only one in my circle who works up to my standards."
At her light pat on his shoulder, Chief Kim’s usually stern eyes softened slightly behind his glasses. With her concerns seemingly lifted, Mihyang turned toward the entrance.
"Has Seungwoon found a place yet?"
"He seems to prefer a 33-pyeong apartnt, but I’ve been steering the conversation toward a 52-pyeong option through the realtor."
"How does he expect to live in sothing so cramped, even if it’s just him? It’s fine to be modest and humble, but there’s a limit. Sera will be visiting soon enough, so put a little more effort into it."
"Understood," Chief Kim replied.
After selecting a pair of shoes from those Chief Kim had prepared, Mihyang stepped into them and made her way toward the door. Chief Kim opened it for her, stepping aside as she walked out with her posture perfectly straight.
The day was unusually bright, sunlight spilling generously over everything. The sound of her confident heels echoed as she made her way forward, the crisp air carrying the scent of purpose.
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