Would it be alright? What if Oh Jong Hyuk notices?

It was pitch black in front of Park Ra Jin’s eyes. This was her first time doing something like this, and her fingertips trembled with fear that Ji Ho hiding in the bathroom might be discovered.

But she couldn’t keep Oh Jong Hyuk, whose patience was paper-thin, standing in the hallway forever.

Park Ra Jin wrapped her hair in a towel given by Ji Ho and dampened her bangs with bottled water. Then she messed up her clothes as if she had hurriedly dressed and ran towards the door.

‘Ah, this sucks.’

As the door clicked open, Oh Jong Hyuk was standing there with wide eyes.

“What about Tae Hyung Sik? Why did you come here alone?”

To suddenly show up and only ask about Tae Hyung Sik. Park Ra Jin let out a laugh at being treated like an idiot who couldn’t go anywhere without a manager. In reality, she could go anywhere, it was just inconvenient because her face was recognized.

“I drove here.”

“Are you crazy? What if you get into an accident?”

“What accident could happen in a 15-minute drive?”

“You’ve barely driven, how can you be so reckless?”

“If you’re just going to nag, then leave.”

Park Ra Jin turned her back, not even wanting to make eye contact with Oh Jong Hyuk.

“You said you worked out, but you ordered room service? Is this how you take care of yourself?”

“This is my first meal today. I had a Seren event earlier.”

Oh Jong Hyuk’s mouth closed as Park Ra Jin recited the schedule he should already know.

“If you had something to say, why didn’t you just call earlier? Why did you come here?”

As Park Ra Jin openly showed her discomfort, Oh Jong Hyuk angrily placed his phone on the table.

“I heard you’re going to Myeongjin’s family home.”

“Did Kim Yu Jun tell you that?”

“Again! Again! Are you going to call him Kim Yu Jun in front of the chairman too? Go ahead, treat him like a friend.”

Did he chase her all the way here because she’s going to Myeongjin’s family home? Just to police her use of names?

How desperately does he want to impress Kim Yu Jun to act like this? Park Ra Jin felt beyond annoyed, she pitied Oh Jong Hyuk.

“I have enough sense for that. Is that really why you came here?”

“Tsk. I came because you never show your face at the company.”

“I’m not an office worker, have I ever missed a scheduled appointment?”

Oh Jong Hyuk’s eyebrows rose like ten past ten at her consistently correct responses. But that was only for a moment before his tone suddenly changed to an affectionate one.

“If I could, your elder brother would like to drive you to Myeongjin’s family home himself.”

“Kim Yu Jun said he’s sending a car, so why bother?”

With Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho left standing in the dark bathroom, here she was listening to Oh Jong Hyuk’s nonsense. The words “Get out right now” rose to Park Ra Jin’s throat.

But continuing this argument would only lead to a tedious war of attrition.

“Ra Jin, your elder brother has to go on a business trip tomorrow.”

“A business trip? What kind of sudden business trip?”

Normally she wouldn’t be curious, but Park Ra Jin showed interest for Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho’s sake.

“I need to take care of some things in LA, and this time I have to go to the Bahamas too.”

“I can understand the U.S., but what’s in the Bahamas? Are you going there to play with a woman?”

“Hey! Do you know how important the work I do is? Haa… nevermind.”

Why did he even come here if he wasn’t going to explain properly? He surely didn’t come just to brag about going to the U.S. and Bahamas. To figure out Oh Jong Hyuk’s ulterior motive, Park Ra Jin pretended to be even more disinterested and took a step back.

“Um… Ra Jin.”

Oh Jong Hyuk called Park Ra Jin as if he were the kindest elder brother in the world. For a moment, goosebumps spread across Park Ra Jin’s entire body. What’s wrong with him, has he finally gone mad?

“What is it?”

At Park Ra Jin’s stiff response, Oh Jong Hyuk abruptly stood up. Then he moved right up next to the bed where Park Ra Jin was sitting.

“Ah, what the hell. Why are you being so creepy? Get away!”

“You have some cash, right?”

With all the money she’s earned for him, why is he asking for cash here? Park Ra Jin’s expression hardened coldly.

“Am I a bank? What cash?”

“Your elder brother needs some cash to do proper business on this trip.”

“What kind of business requires cash?”

“How can a businessman have empty pockets?”

She almost burst out laughing. He’s doing that precious business of his thanks to whom, and now he wants her to hand over the money she has? Park Ra Jin’s insides twisted in an instant.

“It would be complicated to exchange a large sum for dollars, with reporting requirements and all. If I borrow it there, you can send it to my Korean account.”

“Doesn’t the company have a general affairs department?”

An official trip, normal travel expenses. Leaving aside the most sensible and safe way, why this? Park Ra Jin gently prodded Oh Jong Hyuk’s suspicious behavior, trying to uncover his true intentions.

“Company money has to be reported to the tax office. Hey! Tsk. Can’t you do this much for your elder brother?”

“How much do you need?”

Park Ra Jin asked about the amount first. She could decide after consulting with Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho.

“Two big ones.”

“You don’t even have 20 million won in your account?”

“Ha, why is a top star’s scale so small? Of course I mean 200 million. Not 20 million.”

The money Oh Jong Hyuk had extorted from her so far already amounted to hundreds of millions.

Coming all the way here to extort cash, as if he were some thug. A vein popped up on Park Ra Jin’s temple. She didn’t even want to ask why he needed such a large sum of money for a business trip, or what it was for. Oh Jong Hyuk wasn’t even worth nagging anymore.

“Where would I have that kind of money?”

“Why not? You have the down payment from the Seongjin Mart commercial, don’t you?”

“Elder brother. I spend over 10 million won a month on mother’s hospital bills. And do you know how much tax I paid this time?”

“Hah, only our poor father who passed away unjustly is pitiful.”

Park Ra Jin’s head turned involuntarily at that tiresome talk of blood money.

The reason Oh Jong Hyuk chased her here before even going on his trip, and the 200 million in cash he was asking to borrow. Park Ra Jin had no intention of lending it to him even if she had money to burn. She’d rather donate that money instead.

“There’s Kim Yu Jun. Why are you doing this to me when you have a rich chaebol next to you?”

As she muttered that it was burdensome, Oh Jong Hyuk burst out shouting.

“Don’t you dare open your mouth to the director!”

Seeing Oh Jong Hyuk jumping up and down, it seemed this was a secret from Kim Yu Jun.

Is there something that would be troublesome if Kim Yu Jun found out? Looking up at Oh Jong Hyuk’s fuming face, Park Ra Jin was seized by a strange feeling. What if this could be a trigger to break the trust between Kim Yu Jun and Oh Jong Hyuk…

If so, it wouldn’t be a bad choice to take a step back here and buy some time.

For now, the priority was to send Oh Jong Hyuk away and consult with Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho.

“Who just keeps cash on hand like that? It’s all tied up. But… I’ll think about it.”

“Really?!”

“I just came out after barely washing up and haven’t even eaten. I can’t make a decision here.”

As Park Ra Jin pointed to the cooling food, Oh Jong Hyuk’s mouth opened wide.

“Oh, right. Well, we’re all just trying to make a living. Go ahead and eat.”

“I’ll get indigestion before I can even pick up a spoon. Stop pestering me and go. I’ll contact you by tomorrow morning.”

As she complained that she couldn’t even dry her hair properly, Oh Jong Hyuk got up cheerfully.

“Have you ever seen your elder brother beg you like this? Just help me out this one time.”

“Ha, I’m getting dizzy. Hurry and leave so I can eat.”

“You’re always so prickly. Chew your food well, and call me tonight if you decide.”

Park Ra Jin pushed Oh Jong Hyuk’s back as if chasing him out.

“About the director…”

“Say one more word. I’ll call Kim Yu Jun right now.”

“The director will have a hard time living with you in the future too. How can you not back down even once?”

It was an absolutely intolerable assumption. She’d rather grow old as a lonely senior than live with Kim Yu Jun. Park Ra Jin stood holding the door, trying to chase Oh Jong Hyuk out.

“Should your elder brother drive you home?”

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“Drive carefully. Don’t scratch that pretty face for no reason.”

Park Ra Jin answered with a deep sigh.

“Ra Jin.”

Oh Jong Hyuk, his body half out the door, called softly. Then he sniffed the air like a dog catching the scent of a treat.

“What are you doing? Right now?”

Park Ra Jin’s eyes widened as she reached out as if to push Oh Jong Hyuk’s face away.

“Did you change something?”

“What would I change? Get away from me.”

“Why do you smell different today?”

The bastard acts like a dog but his nose works fine. He must have caught the lingering scent of Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho hiding in the bathroom.

“I didn’t even have time to get out my own cosmetics with you hounding me. I just used whatever hotel amenities I could grab.”

“I thought. Maybe you had found another man.”

“Would you like it if I met someone other than Kim Yu Jun? If you say so, I’ll think about it.”

As Park Ra Jin spoke seriously, Oh Jong Hyuk shook his head.

“Aish. You’re so harsh, can’t even take a joke.”

“Let this harsh person eat. Hurry up and go.”

Park Ra Jin pushed Oh Jong Hyuk’s shoulder and slammed the door shut. Ignoring the short curse from outside the door, she ran to the bathroom. Then she locked the bathroom door.

“He’s gone now. Are you alright?”

When Park Ra Jin drew back the shower curtain, Ji Ho’s face came into view as he stood in the bathtub.

His sharp nose, even more distinct beneath the dim light half-obscured by the shower curtain. His bangs, damp from the bathroom’s humidity, fell across his forehead.

The man’s gentle gaze from just moments ago now looked as cold as a fierce storm sweeping through midwinter.

“Are you alright?”

Park Ra Jin asked, sensing his unapproachable aura.

“Are you alright, Park Ra Jin?”

Despite his cold expression, his voice was full of warmth as he asked in return.

“As you can see.”

Only then did Park Ra Jin pull off the towel she had been wearing as a disguise. Her long hair, suddenly freed, cascaded like a waterfall over her slender shoulders.

“You heard everything, right? About Oh Jong Hyuk.”

Ji Ho nodded at her confirming question. Then he sat down on the edge of the bathtub.

“Oh Jong Hyuk might still be outside the door, so stay here a bit longer.”

It couldn’t hurt to be careful, since Oh Jong Hyuk had mentioned the unfamiliar scent.

“Sit down, Park Ra Jin.”

As Ji Ho patted the spot next to him, Park Ra Jin moved slowly.

Close enough to feel each other’s body heat. As he leaned forward, the refreshing scent of a man brushed Park Ra Jin’s nose. As if swallowing a sedative, she slowly took a deep breath.

“I had many thoughts while behind the curtain.”

His serious voice resonated softly.

“Not missing a single word of that contemptible Oh Jong Hyuk’s story.”

“I shouldn’t have said I came to work out. I’m sorry for inconveniencing you.”

Ji Ho calmly met Park Ra Jin’s eyes at her apology.

“I was so focused on one thought the whole time, I didn’t even notice any discomfort.”

Park Ra Jin’s gaze followed as the large man moved.

“Just overhearing this was disgusting. How painful must it be for the person facing it directly?”

His fingers touched Park Ra Jin’s disheveled hair.

“How did you endure…”

“…”

“…such difficult times?”

Park Ra Jin wanted to say it was nothing, that she was immune to it now and didn’t mind.

But her lips only quivered slightly before stopping, as if something inside her was broken.

This time her eyes seemed to malfunction too, as his face blurred and then wavered. Finally, Park Ra Jin’s pent-up tears burst forth all at once. As if she had been lost and wandering, and finally found someone she knew…

“You’ve been through so much.”

At his words of acknowledgment, Park Ra Jin’s heart crumbled in an instant.