“Someone could have been hurt, it’s not something we can just ignore.”

Je Guk said in a serious tone, his anger rising, and Ha In was startled.

She wondered why he was taking it so seriously when it wasn’t something to get so angry about.

It was unlike Je Guk’s usual self.

“Director, please calm down.”

Ha In lifted her head to look at him.

Then she reached out and grabbed Je Guk’s hand holding the phone.

It was an impossible task to stop Je Guk with force, but he moved according to her small gesture.

Je Guk took a deep breath into the air, his anger not subsiding.

He felt even more frustrated that he couldn’t tell Ha In the reason why he was so angry right now.

Ha In was puzzled as to why Je Guk was so angry.

Nevertheless, she shook her head, telling him not to do that, hoping he would calm down.

“Director, he just seemed to be a delivery person. It must have been busy during dinner time.”

Ha In reassured Je Guk once again.

Je Guk dropped his hand holding the phone.

Then he loosened his grip on the arm embracing Ha In and looked into her eyes to see if she was really okay.

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m really fine. We didn’t even collide.”

Only then did Je Guk seem to calm down.

Ha In, who had been looking up at him, made eye contact with him and her pupils shook.

Her mind told her to break away from his embrace, but her body remained still. It was a broad chest that she wanted to lean on so much.

“I’m glad. Let’s get in the car first.”

Je Guk wrapped his arm around Ha In’s shoulders and led her towards the passenger seat. Even after getting Ha In in the car, he was wary of the surroundings.

He desperately hoped that the earlier motorcycle’s rudeness was just a coincidence.

If Ha In had been in an accident, Je Guk probably wouldn’t have been able to forgive himself.

Je Guk held his mind together and got into the car. Then he checked Ha In’s face.

“Your face looks pale.”

It was true that Ha In was startled too.

Not only because of the motorcycle, but Ha In was worried to see Je Guk lose his temper, when he usually doesn’t react emotionally no matter how angry he gets.

She was concerned that he might be under too much stress these days.

“It’s not because of the motorcycle, it’s because of you, Director. I was startled because you got so angry.”

She hoped Je Guk wouldn’t get angry, even if he couldn’t smile.

“Don’t get angry. It’s scary when you get angry.”

Still, she was relieved to hear that Je Guk was the scariest in the earlier situation.

Je Guk was grateful that nothing worse happened.

“I’m a scary person even when I’m not angry.”

Ha In closed her eyes tightly and opened them at Je Guk’s words, a mixture of joke and seriousness.

“Where should we go.”

Je Guk tried to change the subject by moving locations.

“What are you going to do?”

“To have dinner. With Prosecutor Cheon Ha In.”

“Okay.”

Ha In readily agreed.

The shock of the motorcycle sweeping by made her forget her purpose for a moment, but Ha In also wanted to have dinner with Je Guk today.

The more she investigated, the more her heart ached knowing how difficult a time Je Guk must have had at Cheonha Group.

How lonely and painful it must have been, even though he didn’t show it outwardly.

So she suggested having dinner together, thinking it would be nice to have a warm meal.

“Where do you often go?”

Ha In again resorted to the power of search.

“This place looks nice.”

Ha In selected a tranquil restaurant, considering Je Guk’s taste.

“Let’s go there.”

Je Guk’s ears and eyes were directed towards where the navigation was pointing, but all his attention was focused on Ha In sitting next to him.

But he somehow felt like Ha In kept glancing at him.

“Are you still scared? I’m not angry anymore.”

“No.”

As Ha In’s startled heart calmed down, what Hyun Baek Hap did to Lady Yoon Joo Hwa came to mind.

But she had no intention of telling Je Guk about it.

She couldn’t even imagine how much anger and resentment he would feel.

“Then why are you sitting in such an uncomfortable position?”

It took Ha In a moment to find a suitable excuse.

“The alley is too deep.”

“That’s true.”

The restaurant was located deep in an alley.

It was an old house that gave a comfortable feeling. The big advantage was being able to park the car easily without designated parking spaces.

As the car door opened, the cold air touched Ha In’s hand first.

Je Guk, who had already appeared in front of Ha In, held her hand and helped her get up.

“I can do it alone.”

Ha In hesitated, unable to put strength into it.

“I heard you should be careful about getting up too quickly for a while.”

“I didn’t hear that.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. I heard it on your behalf when you were unconscious.”

Je Guk, who only said the right things in detail, felt mischievous.

“Why are your hands so cold again.”

Ha In’s cold fingertips made Je Guk tingle.

“The air is cold.”

Ha In talked back, feeling pathetic but not wanting to be treated like a patient.

“Are Prosecutor Cheon Ha In and I standing in different spaces?”

Then Je Guk moved his large hand and transmitted warmth to Ha In’s hand.

“See? My hands are warm.”

It really was. It was a hand so warm that she didn’t want to let go.

Ha In came to her senses, afraid her heart would melt at his body temperature.

Je Guk pulled Ha In up with appropriate force so she could stand up.

“I just wanted to help you up, but your hands are so cold I can’t let go.”

Je Guk walked towards the main gate of the restaurant, holding Ha In’s hand.

Ha In didn’t mind the touch of his skin, but wondered if this was okay.

Je Guk turned his head towards Ha In, wondering if she was cold.

At that moment, a cold wind blew gently. Ha In’s hair fluttered with the wind.

In the background where she stood was a very large, towering tree.

I thought the large, centuries-old tree was what made this shabby yet stylish house stand out, but it wasn’t.

The completion of this place was Ha In standing together.

Je Guk stared at her in a daze, as if appreciating a painting.

It was a captivating scene that made him want to put down everything that had happened outside the gate of this place.

Without realizing it, Je Guk reached out and brushed Ha In’s disheveled hair.

It seemed as if emotion, not reason, was dominating everything.

Startled by his touch, Ha In raised her eyebrows but didn’t reject his touch.

She didn’t avoid his eyes that met hers either. It was a moment of being lost in his deep eyes.

Ha In came to realize reality, putting strength into her body.

She didn’t want to create a situation where she would be hurt by her own delusions, not knowing how far or how long his favor would last.

Ha In also let go of his hand. Then Je Guk’s expression became strangely clouded.

“Shall we go in?”

Ha In tried to take a step, but on the contrary, Je Guk stopped.

“Just now, you drew a line, right?”

Je Guk asked Ha In directly.

Ha In hesitated for a moment and answered yes. She had to draw a line to avoid creating a situation where she would get hurt.

“Why are you drawing a line with me?”

“There’s no reason to cross the line. Between you and me, Director.”

“Ah, you need a reason.”

When he said it solemnly like a mockery, Ha In was at a loss as to how to react.

“I’d like to keep Prosecutor Cheon Ha In a little closer from now on.”

Je Guk was disappointed with Ha In drawing a line with him, but judged that they needed to stay close to each other in a situation where he didn’t know what dangers might come in the future.

“I share case-related information with you frequently.”

“No. The prosecutor conducts the investigation. I’m just playing a supporting role.”

It was a valid point, but he wondered what that had to do with getting closer.

“You’re helping a lot.”

“I set the boundaries for the work I assist with.”

It was a word said out of a longing to be close without drawing lines.

He hoped Ha In wouldn’t get hurt until this investigation was over.

“But if Prosecutor Cheon Ha In draws the line so arbitrarily like this, how would I feel?”

Je Guk grabbed Ha In’s hand again and walked into the restaurant with firm steps.

Ha In felt like she knew what Je Guk was saying, but tried to regain her composure.

She didn’t want to get hurt by a brief sweetness.

Yet she didn’t know why she was being led by his hand.

The two sat in a seat with a clear view of the garden, with glasses of warm water placed in front of them.

“Did you take the prescribed medication?”

Ha In just blinked at Je Guk.

“I’m worried you might collapse during the trial at this rate.”

Je Guk found himself nagging again.

It was also an unfamiliar feeling to worry about someone, not the company.

“They say self-care is also a skill, so I should take care of myself.”

It wasn’t the answer Je Guk wanted.

“You’re already showing enough skill, aren’t you? Not that kind of thing. I hope Prosecutor Cheon Ha In doesn’t get sick.”

Ha In, who was not used to someone’s care, didn’t know how to react.

So she fiddled with the glass of warm water and looked at Je Guk.

“I’m really curious. Why are you being so nice to me?”

Ha In asked Je Guk.

She wanted him to draw a clear line so she wouldn’t get hurt.

Je Guk didn’t answer lightly and pondered for a moment.

Je Guk acknowledged that the conversation they had on the way into the restaurant wouldn’t have cleared Ha In’s mind.

He also knew that Ha In, like himself, liked things to be clear-cut.

Although Je Guk couldn’t tell Ha In about the whole situation, he wanted to tell her his sincere feelings.

“Is it because you pity me?”

He was looking for an answer that would resolve the question she had.

But in that moment, Ha In abruptly threw out an intense question.