The Perfect Vol. 5 Chapter 2

“The novel’s title. It hasn’t been long since it was completed, but it was a hot topic in the novel community.”

“What does Sasoonjeong mean?”

“Oh, it’s an abbreviation. The original title is long, you see. Love, Purity? Sperm? And the name was something or other.”

I doubted my ears. Purity, I could accept, but sperm? Forgetting that I was hiding, I stepped out to correct them. No, it’s not that, it’s Love, Purity, Passion…

“Love, Purity, Passion, and the name is The Burning White Rose.”

A woman’s voice provided the correct title. My head turned instinctively. The owner of the voice was a middle-aged woman in her late fifties, standing in line right in front of me. Her short bob was more than half gray, and her makeup-free face bore wrinkles that revealed her age, yet she was strikingly beautiful. She was holding a small book, engrossed in it. But more than her appearance, the voice that had just interjected left a stronger impression. Calm yet gentle, it was remarkably lovely. She continued to focus on her book as if she hadn’t just interrupted, and the people chatting resumed their conversation about Sasoonjeong.

“But is the novel sad? The comments said it’s ‘super sad.’”

“Not sad at all. It’s totally a comedy.”

What are they talking about? There’s not even a gram of comedy in this romantic modern fantasy. This was all because of Bok Woncheong. Cursing him, I felt the urge to correct them again and fidgeted. No, it’s not a comedy…

“It’s a serious story. The genre is romantic modern fantasy.”

Once again, a voice spoke up for me. It was the gentle-voiced woman. I couldn’t help but look at her with eyes full of emotion. Not only did she know the full title, but she also nailed the genre. The world was still worth living in. The divine purpose that led me here today must have been to meet this benefactor. But unlike me, who was wiping away tears of gratitude, the guy in the hoodie and his friend looked quite flustered.

“Dude, what? She says it’s serious.”

The friend spoke, and the hoodie guy frowned, retorting to his friend.

“No way, it’s totally a comedy. I read a bit of the beginning because people were saying it’s weird, and I burst out laughing on the first page. It’s ridiculous.”

“That bad?”

“Yeah, it’s so cheesy. Every single line of dialogue is so cringey and over-the-top.”

I hid further behind the booth wall. Seeing comments online was one thing, but hearing such opinions in person was a whole different level of embarrassment. It was mortifying. But even as I tried to hide, their conversation was still clear as day.

“Well, web novels are all pretty cheesy.”

“No, Sasoonjeong is on another level. But the biggest problem isn’t even the cheesiness. People who’ve read it say the story progresses with completely nonsensical coincidences from start to finish. Like, totally out of nowhere.”

I’m well aware that my story lacks plausibility. Still, having it confirmed by others felt like my heart was burning. It was as if I were standing naked in the middle of a plaza. Forgetting that I was here for work, I just wanted to escape home. As I shrank into myself like an ant, that calm voice interrupted again, as expected. It sounded like a casual murmur, almost like she was talking to herself.

“Life is inherently full of coincidences.”

“What?”

The hoodie guy turned his head and met the gaze of the middle-aged beauty. Her eyes were as gentle as her voice, but they had a firm strength that met his stare head-on.

“Our lives are constantly swayed by the power of coincidence, and we’re always surprised by unexpected events, so coincidence is the very reality of life, as Paul Auster said.”

I didn’t know who this Paul Auster was that the middle-aged beauty mentioned, but I got the feeling he was someone famous. Why? Because the book she was reading was in English. It gave off an intellectual vibe. Plus, when she said his name in that lovely voice, it felt elegant. Even if she had said it was a quote from some guy named Kwak Palbong, I probably would’ve nodded seriously. The two guys chatting seemed to feel the same, as they mumbled, “Uh, yeah,” with stiff expressions. But soon after, they exchanged incredulous looks.

“What’s she talking about?”

“No idea. I told you, Sasoonjeong’s fans are weird.”

“Even that Soondoongi?”

When the friend pointed at the comments, the hoodie guy nodded with a grimace.

“Especially Soondoongi. They’re the weirdest. They’re the only one who loves that novel, so much so that people even speculated the author made a second account to comment on their own work. But it’s not true.”

The hoodie guy glanced ahead as he explained. The middle-aged beauty didn’t seem inclined to interrupt this time and stayed silent. But maybe it was my imagination, because it felt like her hand was gripping the book especially tightly.

“How do you know Soondoongi isn’t the author?”

“Soondoongi’s nickname might be all sweet, but they’re totally unhinged. They managed the comments for Sasoonjeong. They’d pick fights via DMs and even forced people to post apologies. Someone who met them in person confirmed it. They’re definitely not the author.”

“Wow, what a nutcase. Are they insane? With a nickname like Soondoongi?”

“No, they’re not insane.”

This time, it was me who interrupted. I couldn’t help it; the retort just slipped out. I could tolerate criticism of my work, but hearing them insult Director Kook like that was unbearable.

“What?”

The hoodie guy frowned, startled by my sudden appearance. My courage wavered under his reaction, and I took a step back, but my mouth kept defending Soondoongi.

“If the person who fought with Soondoongi posted an apology, it’s probably because they were in the wrong. No one would post an apology if they didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Everyone who clashed with them admitted they’re unhinged. That’s not just my opinion.”

“Well, that’s true. They’re kind of unhinged. But they’re not completely crazy.”

No, Director Kook isn’t insane. He might seem crazy, but his head is clearer than anyone’s. Sure, sometimes even I think he’s nuts, but that’s just the exasperated admiration of someone who knows him well, born from deep frustration. I couldn’t forgive these people who only saw the surface and threw around insults so lightly.

“Kind of unhinged?”

The hoodie guy latched onto a minor detail in my words. I brushed it off lightly and pointed out again.

“And a nickname is their choice, isn’t it? They might actually be a real Soondoongi.”

Maybe because the middle-aged beauty had countered him at every turn, the hoodie guy’s voice rose, as if he had pent-up frustration.

“Fine, whatever about the nickname, but everyone knows they managed the comments, okay?”

“If they really managed the comments, there’s no way 96% of the comments would’ve been hate comments until the novel’s end.”

The hoodie guy frowned again, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Who are you?”

“…A Sasoonjeong fan.”

Ugh, seriously. The hoodie guy turned away from me in irritation. I didn’t have the courage to say more and turned away, only to lock eyes with the middle-aged beauty. I froze for a moment. Why did her eyes seem so full of emotion? It looked like she wanted to say something, her lips trembling slightly, but another sound interrupted.

Wheeee—

A loud siren began to blare. It was the familiar emergency alert sound.

‘Heartless have appeared outside the expo hall, and all exits are being sealed. Please remain inside and follow guidance to move accordingly. Once again, Heartless have appeared outside the expo hall…’

The warning was something we heard during drills, but hearing it in reality always startled everyone. Murmurs and gasps quickly filled the high-ceilinged exhibition hall. Before people could fully process the situation, the announcement continued, echoing through the space.

‘In accordance with Heartless safety protocols, the safety shutters will descend in five minutes. Those inside, please follow the evacuation lines on the floor and calmly move to the nearest entrance without running.’

Only then did people start moving. No matter how much they trained for this, the real thing caused visible panic. Footsteps quickened, and some even started running. Safety personnel tried to control the crowd, but the word “Heartless” made it impossible for everyone to stay as calm as in drills. The problem was that when a few started running, others got anxious, and soon it turned into chaos. Sure enough, shouts and screams mixed with loud curses began to ring out from various spots.

“Move out of the way!”

“Eek! Don’t push!”

I looked around, heading toward the entrance I’d noted earlier, when I spotted the middle-aged beauty crouched on the floor in the distance. She must have been knocked over by the rushing crowd. No, my benefactor who defended my novel! Without thinking, I ran to her and grabbed her arm.

“Ma’am, come this way.”

I led her, pushing through the crowd with one hand to make a path. Instead of heading to the crowded main entrances, I reached a less visible emergency exit. About twenty people, looking shell-shocked, had gathered there, probably having fled from nearby. A man in his twenties was trying to open the emergency exit door, but only a clanking sound came, and it wouldn’t budge.

“What do we do? The door’s locked.”

“Oh my God, did they lock it from the outside? Look, the safety shutter’s coming down!”

As the panicked voices rang out, a grinding noise came from the ceiling as the safety shutter began to descend. Originally fire shutters, they had been repurposed as safety shutters after the emergence of Heartless. But despite the name, safety shutters were essentially confinement shutters for worst-case scenarios. So, when they actually came down and trapped people, it was natural to feel fear.

Still, this area wasn’t too crowded, with only about twenty people. In contrast, the other entrances were chaotic with the shouts and screams of the gathered crowds. Amid the noisy confusion that reached even here, the young man from earlier frantically jiggled the emergency exit handle again.

Clank, clank, clank.

“Goddamn it, they say Heartless are attacking, and they just lock us inside? They should let us escape!”

He kicked the door with loud bangs, cursing. I don’t usually step in, but since I was here as a Special Response Agency employee today, I approached him. After calming him down, I addressed the group.

“It’ll take some time for the situation outside to be fully resolved. So please sit and wait comfortably.”

Thankfully, once the problematic young man settled down, no one protested too much. Still, anxious questions came from various directions.

“How long will it take?”

“Even if they subdue the Heartless quickly, they’ll need to check for any others before opening the doors. As you know, the expo hall is massive.”

“They’ll just dawdle as usual, using the size as an excuse. That’s the Special Response Agency’s specialty.”

Someone grumbled despite my explanation. Still, that agency is keeping you all alive. I swallowed my retort and looked at someone raising their hand like a student.

“What if a Heartless is inside here?”

I shook my head.

“Everyone who entered was screened twice. A Heartless couldn’t have gotten through.”

“Can you be sure? One could’ve slipped through or snuck in.”

No way. I worked my butt off, skipping lunch to do those inspections.

“I’m certain. I was one of the people who conducted the inspections. We thoroughly checked everyone who entered.”

“Huh? Are you an expo staff member?”

“No, I’m…”

I was about to reveal my identity when someone raised their voice with a question.

“But I heard there are Heartless that can pass through safety lights. Variant Heartless, right?”

A few people nodded, saying they’d heard the same. Rumors really do spread fast, I thought, shaking my head.

“If there were such a thing, I would know. I’m a Special Response Agency employee.”

Though I’m just a lowly grunt at the agency with no rank, in emergencies, this job seems to reassure people. Only then did the complaints subside. As I sorted out the situation and looked for a place to sit and wait, the middle-aged beauty caught my eye and gestured for me to come sit next to her. My benefactor was calling, so I quickly sat beside her. She gave me a gentle smile.

“You’re with the Special Response Agency. A professional, then.”

“No, not a professional. Just…”

I glanced around and lowered my voice so only she could hear.

“I’m a low-level office worker.”

“Position doesn’t measure a person’s ability.”

Her elegant voice made me feel like I was at a tea table in a noble’s garden. Of course, I’d probably be the tenant farmer standing nervously before the lord. When I nodded obediently, she looked at me fondly, as if I were a well-behaved student.

“Thank you for helping me evacuate.”

I waved my hands, dismissing her sudden gratitude. She had defended my novel so passionately—I could’ve escorted her to the ends of the earth.

“It was just everyone running together, no big deal.”

“That too, but something else as well.”

Something else? I looked at her curiously, but she only smiled. Her voice, her manner of speaking, and even her expressions—everything about her was refined. I stared at her in renewed awe. Wait, someone like her read my novel? Then her question came.

“You said you’re a Sasoonjeong fan?”

I flinched, caught off guard by the sudden attack, and averted my gaze.

“…Not exactly a fan.”

With an awkward smile, I deflected and turned the question back to her.

“You seem to know the novel too, ma’am?”

“Oh, my nephew told me about it. I had something to check on, and he said reading this novel would help.”

What a wonderful nephew! My heart swelled. To think I have fans like this out there.

“Wasn’t the novel, um, hard to read?”

“It was a bit at first, but once I got used to it, I actually found it fun. I finished it.”

Finished it. The most beautiful word I’d heard all year. I decided the protagonist of my next novel would be named “Finished.” Her words continued.

“The reactions from people were harder to deal with.”

Oh, right, the 96% hate comments. My brief moment of joy vanished, and I shrank, feeling guilty.

“The novel does kind of deserve those comments.”

Her expression stiffened, and I quickly added.

“But it has fans who love it too. Like Soondoongi.”

I don’t know why, but she seemed to flinch for a moment. She looked away and let out a long sigh.

“Soondoongi is the real problem.”

“What?”

“She’s too pure, struggling alone amidst all those hate comments.”

Her elegant tone delivered words I couldn’t comprehend. Struggling? She was more like dominating the battlefield. Isn’t that usually called stubbornness, not purity? Unable to find a response, I just blinked, and she spoke faster, her tone slightly raised.

“Fighting all those people to protect a story she loves—how lonely and hurt she must feel.”

I can say with certainty that loneliness is the last thing she’d feel. I’d bet my entire bank account that she dives into keyboard battles with gleaming eyes, relishing the fight. The only ones getting hurt were her opponents. Unable to find words again, I mumbled, “Um, yeah.”

“She’s so pure, I can’t help but worry how she gets through life.”

The world might be in danger because of her existence. To her genuine concern for Soondoongi, I replied earnestly.

“Seeing how Soondoongi keeps commenting to the end, she seems to have relentless tenacity. She’ll probably do better than anyone.”

As someone who’d suffered through her devilish persistence, this was the unvarnished truth. Did my sincerity reach her? Her eyes wavered slightly, reminiscent of the emotional look she gave when I defended Soondoongi earlier. Why does she care so much about Soondoongi?

“Do you know Soondoongi?”

I blurted it out without thinking and immediately regretted it. Knowing Soondoongi means knowing Director Kook, and there’s no way such an absurd coincidence would happen here…

“…”

No response. Huh? Just as I started to grow suspicious, she answered in her calm voice.

“You could say I know her, in a way. You know the six degrees of separation, the Kevin Bacon index? The social theory that you can connect to most people on Earth through six steps. Society is clearly a macroscopic physical realm, but human relationships are more like quantum mechanics. We might think it takes six steps, but sometimes you already know someone without needing them, or you might need all six to connect. If we view relationships through a quantum leap model, it fits better. In that sense, I know Soondoongi.”

I studied her seriously. This woman is definitely not ordinary. The words from the people in line at the publisher’s booth kept echoing in my mind.

‘Sasoonjeong’s fans are weird too.’

It was getting harder to deny. When I didn’t respond, she asked with a hint of suspicion.

“You understand what I’m saying, right?”

“Yes. Quantum mechanics are very important in our lives.”

I nodded, and she smiled but looked at me with a slightly wary gaze. Worried my ignorance was showing, I shut my mouth. And so, the long wait began. Ten minutes, thirty minutes, an hour—time dragged on, and those standing sat down to endure the wait. Some even started to look bored.

The people here seemed to trust me and understand it would take time, but the problem was other areas. As time passed, anxiety grew, and it sounded like fights were breaking out. Shouts and curses echoed even to where we were.

Though it wasn’t screams from a Heartless attack, the noise still made people here uneasy. One by one, they voiced worries, and some pulled out their phones to try contacting the outside. But with the morning crowds, communication lines were down.

“I need to call my mom, but it’s not working.”

“My mom doesn’t even know I’m here. What do I do?”

“I was supposed to get home before my kid gets back from cram school. This is bad.”

Family was the center of their conversations. Come to think of it, I now had someone to contact too. One person came to mind, but I didn’t take out my phone. The signal wouldn’t work anyway, and I didn’t think the situation was urgent enough to warrant it.

Still, just knowing I had someone to contact made me feel like I had a family. It should’ve been a happy thought, but the idea of being alone again later made me a bit afraid. I’d already experienced being alone. After returning from the desert, I felt it in the middle of a crowded city street.

The street was full of people, and I was surrounded, yet the emptiness of that dark desert night—hiding under a truck to avoid bombs—hit me under the bright sunlight. Memories of pain are always merciless. I warned myself. No matter how enjoyable this time with Director Kook is, I can’t let myself get carried away.

“Let’s just enjoy this moment.”

I flinched, startled by the sudden voice. It was probably a coincidence, but it felt like it connected to my thoughts. Noticing my surprise, the middle-aged beauty gave a slight smile.

“Since we can’t contact anyone right now anyway.”

Maybe her words weren’t a coincidence; perhaps she saw the anxiety on my face. I wanted to explain it wasn’t about not being able to contact anyone, but I couldn’t say the real reason either. Hesitating, unable to find words, she spoke first.

“My family is in a situation where I shouldn’t contact them even if I could.”

“What do you mean?”

“I live abroad, but my family in Korea doesn’t know I’m here.”

She added casually, “I came secretly.” Secretly? Her words and actions seem so refined—did she scam her family or something? As I entertained reasonable suspicions, her explanation continued.

“Even though she’s grown, she has a naive side and gets blindly obsessed when she’s into something. It seems she’s fallen for someone, and I was worried, so I came to check.”

Oh, I see. Considering her age, the “she” she’s worried about must be a child or niece. But how naive must she be to make someone come all the way from abroad to check on her?

“Meeting people is important. The world’s tough, and there are lots of scammers. With so many records lost, some hide their criminal pasts too.”

She tilted her head and looked at me.

“If it’s a scammer, you catch them and deal with it. If they’re a criminal who hasn’t learned their lesson, you beat them senseless. People like that are easy to handle, so it’s less of a worry.”

…What?

“It’s just that she’s so soft-hearted, I feel bad thinking she’s pouring her heart out alone.”

Her face looked genuinely sympathetic, so I forgot her earlier words and gave an awkward smile.

“Are you worried she’s being taken advantage of?”

“Hmm, I doubt it. The other person wouldn’t make that mistake. That kind of selfish behavior would only fuel her obsession, making it perfect for getting locked up.”

…Didn’t you say your family member is naive and soft-hearted? Still wondering if I misheard, I asked.

“Then what are you worried about?”

“Well, maybe that the other person will leave?”

I froze without meaning to. She looked at me curiously and asked.

“Is my worry strange?”

Strange? It’s the most normal thing she’s said. But since I’m in the same boat, I couldn’t take it lightly like it was someone else’s problem.

“Leaving is natural, isn’t it? Whether we die or part ways, we’ll all be alone eventually.”

“You’re right. As long as you’re not too afraid of it.”

“…”

“We’re in an era where death feels close because of the Heartless. So it’s become a world where dreaming of a future with someone isn’t easy. I just hope the other person has the courage to truly see my kid.”

I couldn’t respond and looked away. Her wish for her family’s partner was so simple and ordinary that it left me momentarily dazed. I think it hit me harder because I realized that such an ordinary thing wasn’t easy for me. It was just a wish expressed by someone unrelated to me for her family’s partner, yet it made me feel this way, which felt somewhat ridiculous. But the heavy lump in my throat didn’t go down easily.

“Is that all you’re worried about?”

“That’s all.”

“…”

“Why?”

“You seem like a really good person, ma’am. To only wish for something like that for your family’s partner.”

“She has a good eye for people.”

Then she muttered to herself.

“She’s just got good instincts.”

Her words reminded me of someone with good instincts. Oh, instincts. Right, Director Kook has insanely good instincts too. And then a simple truth hit me. If someone with such great instincts likes me, doesn’t that mean I’m at least a little bit okay? A sudden sense of relief washed over me. I don’t trust myself, but I can absolutely trust Director Kook’s instincts to the point of feeling reassured. It was a funny thing, but instead of a laugh, a sigh escaped me.

I hadn’t realized it, but I must have been pretty anxious about this relationship. About the future, about myself. But now I realized something I could be certain of. Director Kook. Right, I just need to trust him. That brazen, selfish guy chose me, didn’t he? Without meaning to, I let out a sigh-like laugh, then noticed her quietly watching me. Embarrassed for getting lost in my thoughts, I gave an awkward smile.

“Actually, I’ve been anxious about something lately, but talking with you now has made me feel a bit relieved.”

“I’m glad I could help. Still, I really want to thank you separately for helping me today.”

No, no thanks needed. I quickly waved my hands, but she seemed sincere as she pulled out her phone.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you give me your number? I’d love to thank you properly once we get out of here, but I have an important errand this evening. Maybe through my family instead…”

No way! I waved my hands even more vigorously.

“I didn’t do anything worth thanking. And I also have an important appointment this evening…!”

It hit me suddenly. Right, I had an appointment. With Director Kook’s scary aunt. Wait, what time is it? I hurriedly checked the time. 6:20 PM.

“Gasp!”

The appointment was at 7:00. And what was it that Director Kook had warned me about?

“Oh, make sure you get there on time. She hates it when people break promises.”

I shot up from my seat. Damn those Special Response Agency jerks! An hour should be enough to catch a Heartless and hold its funeral, but they’re dragging their feet like this! Dawdling is their specialty, isn’t it!

“Is something wrong?”

“Oh, I have an urgent appointment at 7:00. I absolutely can’t be late…”

I stopped mid-sentence, my eyes catching the hairpin in the middle-aged beauty’s hair. Was I staring too obviously? Her hand touched the hairpin.

“Do you need this?”

“What? Um, if it’s okay with you…”

Without hesitation, she removed the hairpin and glanced at the emergency door.

“You’re going to use it to open the door, right?”

I hadn’t explained anything, but she seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. Not only that, she offered to keep watch for me.

“The announcement comes every twenty minutes. It should come soon, so if you time it right, it’ll cover the sound of picking the lock. I’ll keep people’s attention.”

“But…”

“I also have an important errand. I need to get to it by 7:00.”

Guess 7:00 is the hot time for evening plans, I thought, nodding. As she predicted, when the announcement came, I carefully moved toward the emergency door. Meanwhile, she clutched her stomach and sank to the floor. As people gathered around her, murmuring, I quickly picked the lock. It was an old lock, so I bent the hairpin’s tip, inserted both ends, and turned. With a click, the door opened immediately. It had been years since I last picked a lock, but my hands moved on their own.

Creak.

The sound of the door opening drew everyone’s attention. I looked at them and shamelessly shouted.

“Huh? The door’s opening!”

Through the open door, people rushed out. They must have been really fed up. Some were more driven by urgent errands than the fear of potential Heartless outside. A few ran to the bathroom, while others, including me, tried to exit the building. But at every entrance, Special Response Agency staff with guns stood guard. They shouted at us to go back inside. Of course, I absolutely couldn’t go back.

“This is bad. I need to go.”

The middle-aged beauty muttered, looking troubled. Scanning the area, I spotted a familiar face and hurriedly led her toward it.

“Manager Kim!”

Manager Kim, who I’d been working with today at the Special Response Agency, saw me and widened his eyes.

“Huh? Where’d you come from? I was worried about what happened to you. Were you trapped inside?”

There was a lot to explain, but every second counted now.

“I’ll explain later. I urgently need to leave. Is there any way I can get out?”

“Unless it’s an emergency, we’re blocking all exits to the outside.”

“It’s an emergency. This lady is sick.”

Before I finished, the middle-aged beauty clutched her stomach and bent over.

“Ah.”

Her groan was zero percent convincing, but thankfully, Manager Kim bought it. He told us to wait, spoke to the security supervisor, and then guided us to the exit.

“Thank you, Manager Kim.”

“No problem. You got called out suddenly today and had a tough time. Good work, Han Jemyung.”

He’s the one who worked harder. I looked at him with apologetic eyes as he returned to the scene, then turned to thank my escape partner. But the middle-aged beauty was staring at me so intensely it felt burdensome. Why is she looking at me like that? Just as I started to find it odd, she spoke. Her slow voice seemed to tremble slightly.

“…Han Jemyung?”

“Yes.”

Silence followed. Normally, I’d wonder why she was staring at me so intensely, but I didn’t have time for that now. The aunt who hates tardiness was waiting.

“Thank you so much for today. I have to rush off…”

“It’s okay.”

“What?”

“It’ll be okay.”

With that, she took my hand. I knew I didn’t have time for this, but I couldn’t pull my hand away from hers. She held it with both hands, enveloping it. It wasn’t cold, but her hands felt unusually warm. For a moment, I had the illusion that this stranger I’d just met wasn’t a stranger but family. Like a mother holding my hand. How ridiculous. I don’t even have memories of holding my mother’s hand.

7:28 PM. I ran like my lungs would burst and spent my last card limit on an expensive taxi, but I was still late for the appointment. With the desperate resolve that I’d accept broken ribs or worse, I entered the café where we were supposed to meet. It’s fine, it’s not like I need to have kids.

“Han Jemyung?”

A woman in her early fifties stood up from a nearby table. She was tall and beautiful. More than pretty, she had a striking, androgynous charm. And she looked oddly similar to Director Kook. No, the more I looked, the more she was a female Director Kook. Anyone could tell she was his aunt. If not, the Kook family should adopt her. The problem was her gaze, sharp like the first time I met Director Kook.

“I’m Gibok’s aunt, here to meet you today.”

“I’m Han Jemyung. I’m so sorry for being late.”

I bowed, apologizing first. I couldn’t lift my head until she permitted it, but no response came. Should I have knelt? As I wavered, I heard a mutter.

“Double crown.”

I flinched. I quickly lifted my head, pretending to brush my hair and messing it up.

“D-double crown?”

“My nephew’s car was heavily damaged recently, and I heard the culprit had a double crown.”

I flinched again, my shoulders trembling. Thankfully, she was too angry about the damage to Director Kook’s car to notice my reaction.

“I heard they still haven’t caught the shameless scumbag who did that to someone’s car. And you have a double crown too?”

“No, absolutely not. I don’t have a double crown.”

“You don’t?”

She raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

“No. My hair’s just parted because I didn’t wash it.”

It was a pathetic excuse, but it worked. She nodded, accepting it.

“It does look a bit greasy.”

I was sweating from running to avoid becoming a eunuch, okay? I wanted to boast about my dry scalp that stays fresh even after three days, but I barely held back. My legs were shaking, so sitting down was the priority. I sat across from her, bowing my head again, careful not to show my crown.

“I’m really sorry for being late, ma’am.”

“It’s fine.”

Her response was light. I’d prepared for the worst, so I was slightly puzzled. Did Director Kook give me bad info?

“You were late for a reason, so I understand.”

How does she know I had a reason? As I looked confused, she smiled and asked.

“Did you get delayed for no reason?”

Her lips smiled, but her eyes didn’t. The eunuch threat loomed again.

“There’s a clear and definite reason. Let me explain why I was late…”

“No need for boring explanations.”

I hadn’t even started! I realized once again that she was Director Kook’s blood relative. He was definitely raised by her.

“The Heartless showed up, and the useless Special Response Agency handled things so slowly that you got delayed, right?”

She was right about the Heartless and the agency’s slow response, but her words had an extra edge.

“Useless Special Response Agency?”

“From what I heard about what they did to our Soondoongi, it’s obvious. I heard the scumbag who did shameless things to our Soondoongi’s car hasn’t been caught because the Korean Special Response Agency is covering it up. Oh, and I heard you were at the scene, Han Jemyung?”

Hello, I’m that scumbag. Swallowing my self-introduction, I looked away, pretending to recall.

“I was there, but I was so out of it that I can’t really say I was there.”

“Oh, so you got screwed over by the agency too?”

No, I got screwed over by your Soondoongi.

“But I understand there were reasons for what the agency did to Director Kook.”

Defending my company a bit made her expression turn cold.

“What reasons could they have for blocking even my mom’s grudge?”

My mom’s grudge? I blinked in confusion, and she let out a chilly voice.

“I heard some vile human used the T-shirt my mom made for Soondoongi as a rag.”

That was me too.

“And not only that, the Special Response Agency shot up the T-shirt, right? Thankfully, I heard Soondoongi dealt well with the brainless fool who fired the shots.”

Whether it was “well” is debatable, but he did return it. I recalled the bald special agent from the anthill, then snapped back at her angry, lowered voice.

“I could let other things slide, but the vile human who used my mom’s keepsake as a rag—I’ll find them no matter what. I’ll track them down, skin them with a knife, turn their insides into a rag, and throw them into the desert for coyotes.”

“…”

“Are you cold? You’re trembling.”

“I have a noisy constitution.”

She nodded and continued.

“Soondoongi said the vile human is suspected to be an agency employee, but the agency hasn’t helped at all. Next time I come to Korea, I’ll find every agency employee who was there and pull their hair out. If they won’t give DNA, I’ll take it myself. How dare they touch my mom’s keepsake. Is your head itchy?”

Instinctively, I lowered the hand I’d raised to protect my hair and nodded.

“It’s sudden extreme dryness.”

She gave me a slightly odd look but, true to the Kook family, glossed over the most suspicious part.

“Oh, by the way, what do you do? It seems you’re connected to Soondoongi through work.”

“…”

“Han Jemyung?”

“Well, I’m with the Special Response Agency…”

“The agency?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You’re an agency employee?”

“…Do you know the six degrees of bacon? According to the leap theory that combines bacon and quantum mechanics, you could say I’m an employee.”

Her eyes grew more suspicious. Thankfully, it was suspicion of my intelligence, not worse. It had only been five minutes since meeting her, but I felt like I’d crossed life and death dozens of times. Then she glanced at her watch and suddenly spoke faster.

“I came here to see you, Han Jemyung, but it’s not for any special reason. Our Bok is so naive that I worry a bit, but if the other person is a scammer deceiving him, I can thoroughly punish them when they part ways, so there’s no need to act preemptively.”

The tension hit like a combo. First, “our Bok” likely meant Kook Gibok, and the lesson that I, who’d deceived him a few times, must never part ways with him to avoid punishment. No, before that, I needed to hit the salon to cover my double crown with a perm. Should I live with an afro forever? As I pondered, she looked aside.

“So I came without much thought. I act the strictest in front of Bok, but I know the one who worries the most is someone else. That’s why I came even though Bok told me not to. I just followed…”

She trailed off, her gaze lingering to the side, so I glanced there too. What’s there? Followed?

“But Han Jemyung.”

Her suddenly strong tone made me quickly look back at her. I tensed. She scanned me with a serious look, then gave a disapproving stare.

“You’re quite cute.”

“…Pitiable?”

“Oh, you’ve got humor too.”

She sighed as if exasperated. I was the one who wanted to sigh. Is she still jet-lagged or something?

“I knew our Bok had high standards, but I didn’t expect you to be this cute, so I’m a bit thrown off.”

My confusion was nothing compared to hers.

“Do you need time to adjust to jet lag?”

When I cautiously probed for a reason for her mental state, her eyes narrowed.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just, um, I was worried.”

“Do you always worry about others like that? Even with our Bok?”

All my senses screamed: This is a test! I need to answer carefully! I opened my mouth, hyper-alert.

“Not at all. I’m too busy with my own problems. But since you’re Director Kook’s family…”

“You can’t trust all family. What if I said I’d pamper you for life because you’re my type and told you to come to this noona’s arms?”

“…What?”

“Even if not, that cocky cousin of ours who bothers Bok was apparently hanging around you.”

The cousin? Director Na? I shook my head, puzzled.

“Not at all. He’s way too busy.”

“You know his schedule?”

I gripped my wits and answered tensely.

“There’s a heavy talker at the 4K office who constantly shares Director Na’s schedule, so I know it against my will.”

She nodded, looking satisfied.

“Good. Keep that attitude, stay wary of others, and only look at our Bok.”

As soon as she finished, she stood up abruptly. Wondering what was happening, I stood too, and she quickly said goodbye.

“I’m leaving before our Bok gets here.”

“Director Kook?”

“Yes. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

For some reason, I trusted her. I scanned the café door seriously. He wouldn’t actually show up, right?

“If Bok asks about me, please cover and say we didn’t meet.”

“If Director Kook gets a hunch, he won’t believe me.”

She laughed as if I’d said something absurd.

“Of course he’ll believe you. It’s the person he likes talking. Even if you insulted him, he’d hear it as praise.”

With that, she really left. Like the wind, she was gone. What the hell just happened? As I stood there dazed, less than ten seconds later, the café door burst open, and there he was. Director Kook himself. His sharp eyes scanned the café, making the customers tense, then widened slightly when he saw me.

“Why are you here?”

That’s what I want to ask. I glanced at what I assumed was the café’s back door, where his aunt had disappeared, and asked back.

“What are you doing here, Director Kook?”

“Just a hunch.”

No way. Even with his great instincts, he found this random place just like that?

“My lawyer was acting weird, trying to hold me up, so I checked his phone and saw this café’s name. I had a feeling I had to come.”

He explained dryly, then came to my table and glanced down. Across from me was the cup his aunt had used alone. Next to it was a small paper that looked like a receipt. I broke into a sweat, hoping it didn’t show a card that wasn’t mine.

“There’s Han Jemyung. …Who were you meeting?”

His voice was the same as usual, but it gave me chills for some reason. Come on, is meeting family such a bad thing?

“No one. I was just drinking alone.”

He looked at me quietly, then plopped down across from me. Staring at the cup, he asked.

“Really?”

“I was just about to take a picture. I moved the cup to make it easier to snap.”

I offered a lame excuse while pulling the cup toward me. With my other hand, I quickly grabbed the receipt and crumpled it in my palm. Unlike me, who was worried about the receipt, Director Kook’s gaze followed only the hand holding the cup.

“What were you drinking?”

I froze. I was about to put the cup down but quickly looked at it. A very light brown liquid filled it halfway. Tea? No, these days, with coffee being expensive, some cafés make it this weak by stretching one shot across multiple cups. Like they just dipped a single coffee bean in it. So, coffee? I should’ve taken a picture, but my mouth wouldn’t open. I gave Director Kook’s expressionless face a clumsy smile.

“Want to guess?”

“Why should I?”

His curt response was cold. Dude, why are you being so scary? I forced my fading smile to stay.

“If you guess right, there’s a prize.”

One of his eyebrows twitched slightly. Not missing the chance, I quickly added.

“If you guess, I’ll do the dishes for a week.”

“…”

“And cleaning too.”

He still just stared at me without reacting. I was wondering if I should offer cash as a reward when he spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear and pierced my ears with a chilling edge.

“Who’s the guy?”

“What?”

“Was it Jinwook?”

I was more shocked that he used informal speech with me than the fact that he mentioned Director Na’s name. As I blinked, unable to respond, he spat out the words like he was chewing them.

“I’m asking if the guy you were with was Jinwook.”

Why is Director Na’s name coming up? And this vibe—it’s like he thinks I cheated on him or something. But that’s ridiculous.

“You don’t think I’d actually cheat…”

The rest of the sentence—right?—didn’t come out. His murderous glare confirmed it. He really suspects me. Not because I might’ve met his family, but because of this. Realizing it, I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

“Whoa!”

I knew I had to clear up his misunderstanding first, but I couldn’t stop the burst of awe. He thinks I’d cheat! With Director Na, no less!

“Sorry, but you thinking I’d cheat means you see me as someone capable of that? Wow, that’s huge. Do I really seem like I have that kind of game? Seriously?”

Unlike my slight excitement, he let out an exasperated sigh.

“You’re driving me nuts.”

He muttered, running a hand through his hair, then asked in his usual tone.

“It wasn’t Jinwook?”

“Suspecting Director Na means you think I’m on that level?!”

If so, I’d lived a successful life. Plain old Han Jemyung getting this kind of treatment. Being accused of cheating felt so thrillingly validating.

“It wasn’t Jinwook.”

“Haha, could’ve been Director Na.”

My excited joke made his softened expression harden again. I quickly ducked.

“Absolutely not. No man sat in front of me.”

“Then a woman?”

“…No.”

Caught off guard, I answered a beat late. With his uncanny instincts, Director Kook noticed immediately and tilted his head curiously.

“There wasn’t any woman hanging around you.”

I wanted to respond to his mutter. The only thing hanging around me is Heartless.

“I was really just drinking tea alone.”

“Why alone?”

“…I was on a café tour.”

Was my excuse too flimsy? He gave me a look with a different meaning. His aunt said he’d believe anything I say, but there’s no way he’d buy this nonsense. Then Director Kook replied brusquely.

“Do tours together.”

His face was still expressionless, but the sharpness was gone, replaced by a hint of sulkiness. Is he actually believing me? I pressed my lips to keep from laughing and replied.

“Traveling solo is the real deal.”

“You must be rich. Staying in a single room.”

“No, a guesthouse…”

“Sleeping with other guys?”

“…I’ll take out a loan to get a single room.”

Only then did the murderous vibe leave his face. Still sounding a bit miffed, he tossed out.

“If you go with me, you can use my room for free.”

I couldn’t help but grin. Free, huh? That’s the highest form of kindness he could offer, isn’t it? Just yesterday, it felt like he was extorting me for meal costs. Remembering I’m still paying off that card debt killed my smile. Damn it, I’ll make sure to stay in a free room if we travel together. But my resolve faded in two seconds. Director Kook, who’d been looking to the side, suddenly sniffed the air. Then he sharply turned toward where his aunt had disappeared.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just remembered—that’s my aunt’s perfume.”

I instinctively took a deep breath to smell it, but my average human nose caught nothing. Not just instincts, but a super sense of smell too?

“Director Kook, you’re like a dog.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty loyal, cute, and popular with everyone.”

Like digging water from dry ground, he mined compliments from it. Then he tilted his head again.

“Huh?” He stood and took a few steps toward where his aunt had gone, making me hurriedly follow.

“What’s wrong?”

“My mom’s scent too.”

I let out a hollow laugh, tension easing.

“No way. Why would your mom’s scent be here?”

“It’s coming from around that spot.”

He pointed to a place. It was where his aunt had glanced during our talk. Hidden by a large plant, there was a table. Come to think of it, I vaguely recall someone being there.

“It’s definitely my mom’s shampoo scent.”

“Does your mom use a special shampoo?”

“No, just regular stuff.”

“Then how do you tell?”

“It’s just different. You’re different too, you know.”

Oh, cucumber soap. Come to think of it, Director Kook’s scent is distinct too. He uses just soap, but his soap smells unique. Especially right after a shower when he climbs into bed, his scent is stronger. Maybe because of the heat from his bare body. I pictured it without meaning to. I lifted my gaze from staring into space. I hadn’t said anything, but my thoughts must’ve shown in my eyes. Director Kook’s gaze deepened as he looked down at me.

I could clearly see desire filling his eyes, almost magically. In these moments, tension spikes. The air feels taut like a rubber band, making it hard to breathe. Knowing this feeling is shared, not just mine, makes the moment special. With him, even the smallest trigger creates this tension. It’s so easy. That’s why I’ve ignored and avoided it. Especially now, in public.

“Director Kook, are you tired?”

“No.”

“I’m tired.”

The heat in his eyes swelled and then deflated like a popped balloon. His expressionless face looked oddly disappointed. He must think I’m preemptively rejecting him. Man, he’s been so cute lately. I almost patted his head. The old me would’ve freaked out, but I swallowed the urge and looked down.

“Today was a really long day. Work was a lot, so I was tense and on edge the whole time.”

That made it even more exhausting. At this point, I just wanted the day to end. Until just a moment ago. But the end was different.

“So I want to soak in warm water.”

Muttering, I saw his hand in my peripheral vision. Larger than mine, tanned from the sun, and covered in faint scars. His marks of hardship and effort were too significant to say he became a great hunter just from good instincts. I could now see parts of him others didn’t. So I understood his inexplicable jealousy and anxiety. The words, expressions, and emotions that came from him liking me turned this exhausting day into something amazing.

“Wanna get in together?”

I didn’t look at his face after asking. Instead, I saw his hand reach for me. The hand pulling me was scorching hot.

Since we started seeing each other, I’ve always insisted on the bed for intimacy. Part of it was because I hadn’t fully accepted this relationship. Being with someone felt like revealing a side of me that wasn’t usual, which was awkward. It didn’t feel like me. Maybe it’s the habit from childhood, suppressing instincts to face enemies, always on guard 24/7. So I compromised, letting my guard down only in a confined space.

I used to think the past me, suppressing fear and terror, wasn’t the real me. I thought the current me, writing childish romances and shrinking from the world, was the real Han Jemyung. But the me who shows instincts in bed is different from both. In front of Director Kook, I’m bold like my past self and shy like the current Han Jemyung. In bed with him, the boundaries between past and present me collapse.

“Haa…”

When his hot flesh filled me, goosebumps ran up my spine, making my hair stand on end. His large, hard shaft pushed in relentlessly, as if piercing through me. The rear entrance was numb from endless friction, but my lower abdomen tingled, climbing toward climax. I couldn’t breathe. No matter how wide I opened my mouth, gasping, my chest felt tight. Even my racing heart couldn’t handle the rising pleasure, feeling like it would burst.

Slap, slap, slap.

The sound of flesh colliding as Director Kook thrust into me echoed loudly in the bathroom. I clung to his shoulders, but the height difference forced me onto my toes. One leg was hooked over his arm, making balance tricky. If I weren’t leaning against the cold bathroom tiles, I’d have collapsed. But that wouldn’t happen. The man in front of me, harder than the wall, wouldn’t let me go. Busy pressing his lower body between my spread legs, he held one leg over his arm.

Slap! Slap!

The wet entrance made lewd sounds that echoed in the bathroom.

“Ugh!”

My moans, bursting with my breaths, matched the rhythm. Leaning against the wall, with one leg lifted and his thick shaft relentlessly thrusting between my spread legs, balance was nearly impossible. Plus, water from the shower we hadn’t turned off still flowed on the floor. It was slippery. To avoid falling, I dug my nails into Director Kook’s shoulders. Unfazed by the pain, he lifted my leg higher and sped up. At some point during sex, he’d focus purely on rapid thrusting without finesse.

“Haa, haa, ugh! Haa…”

“Huk, huk, huk…”

Words vanished, leaving only breaths. Neither of us thought to adjust the awkward position. Instead, Director Kook pushed me harder against the wall, like a final sprint. My right foot, barely supporting me, lifted off the floor. I gripped his shoulders tighter, but sandwiched between him and the wall, I wouldn’t fall. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist. A pleased chuckle reached my ears. It was brief, and his breaths filled my ears again.

Thud!

As he pounded to the root, the rapid slaps shook my body faster and harder. I felt like I’d die. The relentless stimulation, pushing past ejaculation, sent the tingling from my abdomen to my fingertips and toes, tensing my body. Haa, haa, my breaths mixed with my pounding heart, resonating through me. I felt like dying. My head went numb. It was the signal that the final stage of climax was near. This moment was so intense, so damn good, that I forgot my shame and let out scream-like moans from my open mouth.

“Haa! Ah! Ah!”

The moment I felt I couldn’t breathe anymore, the tight tingling exploded. It was like fireworks every time. But it wasn’t the end. His hot shaft kept stimulating my oversensitive body, pushing on. Too much stimulation was painful. No matter how much I pushed, his unyielding body pressed me, thrusting relentlessly.

“Huk, huk, huk…”

Director Kook’s quickening breaths turned beastly. I shook helplessly, unable to handle the post-climax stimulation, holding my breath and tensing my whole body.

“Haa, stop, ugh, stop, ah! Ah!”

“Huk, huk, fuck, huk, fuck.”

Ignoring my words, he let out curse-like exclamations, moving his hips faster.

Thud, thud, thud!

After rapid thrusts, he buried his shaft deep inside me, trembling.

“Ugh! Haa, haa…”

Ejaculating long inside me, he groaned, breathing heavily, chest heaving. My shaking body finally stopped. But I still couldn’t breathe. Director Kook hugged me tightly, as if binding me, pressing me against the wall. Unlike earlier, when there was some distance, my chest was now compressed. I dropped my chin onto his shoulder and muttered.

“I can’t breathe.”

“Your nostrils are clear.”

He shut down my complaint, hugging me harder, as if it was absurd. Still using informal speech, huh. That meant it wasn’t over. His shaft, still large post-ejaculation, suggested a long night. But this position was uncomfortable. I pushed him, shifting my upper body. Unintentionally, I clenched my hips. As my insides tightened, his shaft still inside me twitched. A small shiver ran up my pelvis and faded.

“Wanna go again right now?”

Ignoring my resistance, he kissed my forehead and asked.

“No. Pull out, please.”

“Can’t.”

Not won’t, but can’t? I stopped pushing and looked at him, dumbfounded.

“Why? Overloaded and broken?”

I used formal speech, worried informal would signal I wanted to keep going. Though, I do want to.

“Not yet. But I want to break it.”

He muttered, lowering his lips to mine. I tilted my head to dodge and pushed again.

“Let me down first. This position is uncomfortable… Ah!”

I yelped, eyes wide, as he bit my cheek. What’s he doing? Shocked, I looked at him, and he gazed down with smiling eyes.

“Cute.”

“…Guess presbyopia hit you early.”

He grinned, tilting his head.

“You know what’s even cuter?”

He thrust upward. My body jolted, and I clung to his waist with my legs. A soft chuckle reached my ears. Then I flinched as he nibbled my ear. He’s not a cat—why does he keep biting?

“That hurts.”

A lie, but I said it hoping he’d let go. Instead, he brushed his lips against my ear, adjusting his position and pressing his lower body closer.

“When your insides twitch, it feels like they’re gripping my dick. It’s so cute.”

Normally, he’d let go if I said it was uncomfortable. But today, he was clinging more.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m cute.”

My half-hearted reply made his lips pause.

“Fuck.”

What, I can’t admit I’m cute? As I struggled for a response, his sharp mutter came.

“Every other guy must think you’re cute as hell too.”

Unless my dead grandma reincarnated, no one else in the world would think I’m cute. At this point, my own lie made me uncomfortable. So, stuck in this awkward position between him and the wall, I tried to confess.

“Actually, about my past…”

“I won’t kill them.”

“Who? What? Ugh.”

I slipped into informal speech from shock, and his sudden tight hug added a groan. Was this an affection-disguised murder attempt? I pounded his back.

“Breathe… I can’t…”

“I’ll spare those lucky bastards you met before. But not anymore.”

“Ah, I’m crushed against the wall… Ugh, my back, my spine…”

“Anyone showing interest, I’ll gouge their eyes for looking at you, rip their mouths for talking to you, and chop their fingers with an axe for touching you.”

“Before that, my body…”

“Fuck, why are you so cute?”

“No, that’s not it, I lied… Mmph!”

I couldn’t tell the truth again. This selfish guy, saying only what he wanted, silenced me with a kiss and started thrusting again. Man, you’re really… I grumbled inwardly but wrapped my arms around his neck. His big body, clinging to me like a child, made it impossible to push him away. My heart felt strangely warm. In this moment, I was someone needed.

“Han.”

I faintly heard my name. It was a sound in my sleep, but my body, still carrying past remnants, jolted awake. Whenever that name was called, I had to react. At first, to catch up with my team; later, to protect them. When “Han” was called, I always snapped my eyes open. Like now.

“Huk.”

Raising my torso quickly, a hand pressed my shoulder, and I reflexively raised my hand. But seeing the face before me, I let out the breath I’d held. Director Kook. Haa, damn it. As I relaxed, he eased the pressure on my shoulder.

“Sleep more.”

“What time is it?”

My voice cracked, but I didn’t care, looking for a clock. 3:40 AM. When did I fall asleep? My sluggish brain realized I’d slept only about two hours.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

I squinted, asking, though I knew the answer. He was probably watching me again. I don’t know why, but he often watches me sleep. Rubbing my face, I looked up when no reply came. He gazed at me with an odd look and muttered.

“Weird.”

“What?”

“Before, no matter how many times I called your name, you didn’t wake up. This time, I didn’t even finish saying it, and you woke instantly.”

He must’ve called “Han” faintly beyond my consciousness. I thought enough time had passed, but while memories fade, the tension etched in my skin, muscles, and bones remained vivid. I couldn’t respond, and a sharp voice cut through.