A space familiar to Park Ra Jin, but unfamiliar to him.

Even though it was called a residence, it was still inside a hotel. Moreover, with its open-plan studio layout combining kitchen, living room and bedroom, it was no different from inviting someone to a one-room apartment.

Unlike his mother’s workshop, this was an incredibly commercial accommodation facility that looked comfortable with the bed as its centerpiece. As awkwardness crept into her heart, disguised as clumsy camaraderie, Park Ra Jin’s fingers lost their place.

Park Ra Jin fidgeted helplessly before her eyes met his.

“May I put this here?”

“Ah, yes. It’s embarrassing to call it a dining table, but I’ll set it up there.”

A soft warmth spread across her cheeks.

“May I wash my hands?”

“The bathroom is that way.”

As Park Ra Jin pointed busily in that direction, the corners of Kang Ji Ho’s mouth, who had been staring at her face, curled up slightly.

Why did she feel so unnecessarily flushed? As Park Ra Jin wondered if she needed treatment for her blushing.

Ziiing―.

The phone placed on the table was noisy. For a moment, Park Ra Jin’s brow furrowed deeply.

What kind of special sibling relationship was this, calling at all hours? Why now of all times, when she was meeting with Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho!

She didn’t want to answer, but she couldn’t not answer either. It would be more troublesome if he sent the manager over for no reason. At least these days it was just phone calls; in the past, he would have come to her home.

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

He, who had said he would wash his hands, observed Park Ra Jin’s expression and checked the caller.

“I don’t want to, but I should, right?”

“It would be better to answer.”

With a sigh, Park Ra Jin reluctantly pressed the call button.

[Hey! Shit! Park Ra Jin!]

Before she could even press the speaker button, Oh Jong Hyuk’s shouts and curses rang out loudly.

As if caught exposing a flaw she wanted to hide, Park Ra Jin glanced at Kang Ji Ho’s expression. He remained expressionless, his breathing seemingly calm.

“Why are you yelling?”

[You’re deliberately not answering my calls, aren’t you? It’s not just once or twice. Do you want to see me lose my temper?]

“You haven’t lost it yet, have you?”

[This brat doesn’t back down at all. Where are you!]

“I came to exercise. Stop yelling. People are looking.”

[Hang up!]

As Oh Jong Hyuk unilaterally ended the call, Park Ra Jin felt more embarrassed than bewildered.

Why was he throwing a tantrum with a sudden call? Did he get scolded by Kim Yu Jun? Or was he really angry because she didn’t answer the phone?

No matter how she thought about it, there was no particular reason, and Park Ra Jin was left only with embarrassment.

‘It was embarrassing enough being cursed at in the hospital. Now in front of Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho too.’

Park Ra Jin couldn’t help but sigh.

Should she add that every family has at least one strange person? Should she not? Should she laugh about how fortunate it is that he’s not really blood-related? In this awkward situation, Park Ra Jin just bit her lip. The one fortunate thing was that the awkward atmosphere had completely disappeared with the sudden barrage of harsh words.

“Is Oh Jong Hyuk always like that?”

“Well… he thinks of me as his younger sister. He also takes me for granted.”

His voice, saying “I see,” sounded cold rather than calm. The large man still stood with an expressionless face, his eyes flashing as he put his hands on his waist.

He seemed lost in thought, forgetting even to go wash his hands. Whatever he was pondering, the muscles in his jaw tensed and twitched fiercely.

“Don’t worry about it. He’s just like that for no reason.”

“For no reason?”

“He probably got scolded by Kim Yu Jun. Kim Yu Jun is the only one who can scold Oh Jong Hyuk.”

“I felt this at the hospital last time too, but Oh Jong Hyuk needs to fix his way of speaking first.”

If even her stepfather couldn’t fix that habit, how could it be possible? That was an impossible realm from the start. Unless Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho were to break Oh Jong Hyuk down with the weight of stern laws and punishments and reassemble him anew.

Park Ra Jin shook her head slightly, trying to clear away useless thoughts. Now she needed to focus on Kang Ji Ho, not Oh Jong Hyuk.

“But you’re not in casual clothes like last time.”

“There’s no need for that anymore.”

“Did you… check on the surveillance I mentioned?”

She had been curious about how the manager’s friend, who was said to be good at fighting, was monitoring Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho.

“It was just as you said. They’ve been diligently following my car since the first day. Day and night.”

“Did you use a body double or something?”

“Well, something like that. Right now, they’re probably waiting in front of my maternal grandfather’s house.”

Park Ra Jin smiled at his words, “Like their eyes are about to fall out.”

Although Kang Ji Ho didn’t explain in detail, she could roughly guess how things were going.

The manager’s hometown friend was completely on the wrong track, probably reporting Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho’s movements in detail. While they shouldn’t let their guard down, how satisfying it was inside. Park Ra Jin laughed silently.

“I’m glad nothing bad happened.”

“Those guys must be having a hard time too.”

“Pardon?”

“The one tailing has to work overtime every day just like the one being tailed. Waiting in the car all day, even until dawn, it’s not just a day or two.”

He went on to express concern, saying their bodies must be aching all day. Even if they took turns following, how tedious it must be in the driver’s seat where they can’t even stretch their legs.

Who was sympathizing with whose efforts? Park Ra Jin wasn’t sure whether to laugh or feel bitter, so she just blinked slowly.

“You know how cramped and uncomfortable it is from eating hamburgers in the garage, don’t you?”

Hamburgers in the garage?

The savory taste of fries and the sweetness of the shake eaten in the darkness suddenly invaded Park Ra Jin’s mind. As if she had become Pavlov’s dog, saliva pooled in Park Ra Jin’s mouth. Feeling so hungry, she swallowed hard and pointed at the trolley.

“The food will get cold at this rate.”

Kang Ji Ho, with his exceptional understanding, chuckled and headed to the bathroom.

Listening to the sound of water he turned on, Park Ra Jin connected the Bluetooth speaker she had brought before. Just in case the silence returned and things became awkward again. Park Ra Jin pressed firmly on her favorite music in her phone.

She chose a playlist with songs that were moderately upbeat and wouldn’t interfere with conversation.

Then she set out the room service menu items one by one on the round table that was barely big enough for four people.

He came over, exuding a lavender scent, and helped.

“I didn’t know what you liked, so I ordered as I pleased.”

“I don’t have any particular preferences.”

“Ah, I see.”

“This music, is it to your taste, Park Ra Jin?”

This isn’t even a date, is he misunderstanding? Park Ra Jin smiled awkwardly, wondering if she had set the mood too much.

“I was worried our conversation might be heard outside. The TV would be too noisy, and I thought we should mask our voices.”

Her excuse of it being for cover seemed convincing as he nodded.

“Park Ra Jin, you would have fit in well working for the National Intelligence Service.”

“Me?”

“Although your looks might be too eye-catching for that. You certainly have a knack for handling situations.”

Such high praise for an awkward rookie colleague. Thinking she had been complimented, Park Ra Jin’s shoulders swayed as if to the rhythm.

“Here, have this as your meal.”

“You eat too, Park Ra Jin.”

After some back and forth over the simple menu, he picked up his spoon first.

“Did anything happen today?”

He ate neatly, not a single grain of rice visible in his mouth.

“Various disturbances and a call from Kim Yu Jun.”

“Kim Yu Jun?”

“Yes. He invited me to the Myungjin main house.”

Park Ra Jin explained the contents of her conversation with Kim Yu Jun as if giving a briefing. Suddenly, Kang Ji Ho put down his spoon with a clack.

“Not just anyone can enter the chairman’s study, you know. Even Myungjin executives can’t. You can even have tea there.”

“How often did you go to the Myungjin main house?”

“New Year’s and the end of the year. Usually about twice a year for greetings.”

She recalled memories of regularly visiting the Myungjin main house like paying respects to family elders, even when her stepfather was alive.

“The chairman’s study is twice the size of this residence. It has an inner room attached and a door made of steel.”

She added that it was probably a safe. Park Ra Jin, wanting to be of help somehow, rummaged through her hazy memories. If only she had known this would happen, she would have paid more attention back then. How regrettable those thoughtless times were now.

“As you know, the chairman’s study is where everything about Myungjin comes together.”

Strategic reports that determine the group’s future, as well as records of the company’s dirty dealings and bribes.

She had a vague memory of overhearing conversations between her late stepfather and her mother when she was well.

With the chairman still not stepping down, that study would still serve as Myungjin’s heart.

Missing this chance meant only being able to go to the Myungjin main house at the end of the year. By then, the special investigation would be over, so this could be a golden opportunity.

The chairman’s study, like a secret warehouse – if she could enter now, what information should she bring back? Park Ra Jin wanted to discuss this with Kang Ji Ho.

“I know you’ll tell me it’s dangerous, but we can’t let a good opportunity slip away, right?”

As Park Ra Jin emphasized this, Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho calmly met her gaze. The longer his silence stretched, the more Park Ra Jin felt like she was waiting for his permission.

He tapped the edge of the round table. As if pondering something, his usually smooth brow furrowed deeply.

“Park Ra Jin…”

Whenever he called her name, he chose silence again.

“I might seem like I’ll discover something amazing, but actually.”

She was about to say that she might just end up having a meal and nothing more.

Ding dong― A sudden doorbell sound.

Both of them froze simultaneously.

The doorbell rang too urgently to be a staff member coming to retrieve the room service trolley.

While a flustered Park Ra Jin looked back and forth between the door and Kang Ji Ho’s face, he put his finger to his lips. Silently, he moved quietly.

After peering through the peephole in the door, Kang Ji Ho turned back to Park Ra Jin.

“It’s Oh Jong Hyuk.”

He whispered, barely audible.

If he had something to say, why didn’t he just say it on the phone earlier, why chase her all the way here? Park Ra Jin wanted to slap herself for revealing her location to Oh Jong Hyuk.

But there was no time to hesitate. The doorbell was ringing madly.

“Act natural if you don’t want to be discovered.”

Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho quietly picked up his plate and utensils from the table. Then he silently pointed to the bathroom.

If there was a separate bedroom, they could close the door and go in, but with the studio layout, there wasn’t really anywhere to hide.

“Just say something for now. That should keep him quiet.”

Park Ra Jin nodded at his guidance. Then she slammed the bathroom door shut and shouted.

“Who is it!”

“Hey! What are you doing not opening the door?”

“I was washing up. Wait while I put some clothes on!”

At Park Ra Jin’s shout, the noisy doorbell sound abruptly stopped.

Think later, act quickly.

He slipped the plate and utensils he was holding under the bed. Then he went into the bathroom and turned on the shower lever.

With a whoosh, hot steam rose instantly. He sprayed water towards the wall and moved closer.

“I’ll be behind the shower curtain. Pretend you’ve just finished bathing.”

Along with his breath, hot steam enveloped Park Ra Jin’s body.