As the vibration of the cell phone continued, Gang Jun raised his head.

Ha In, who made eye contact with Gang Jun, knew why he was looking at her even without him saying a word.

“I think you have a call.”

“Yes, I’ll take it on my way out. Detective Choi, I’ll leave first.”

“Yes, you worked hard today.”

Urged by the vibrating sound and Gang Jun’s gaze, Ha In quickly left the office.

“Hello.”

Ha In quickly answered the call, afraid that the signal might get disconnected.

– What are you doing after work?

Ha In didn’t have any special plans for after work.

She thought she would probably read case files since she didn’t have the leisure to sit in the study and read a book.

“I’m going home.”

– What will you do at home?

“I think I’ll spend time in the study.”

– Then how about spending time in my study at home?

Ha In, who was walking briskly, stopped right there.

“I don’t have any case-related news to share with you today.”

– Who said to meet officially? I’m saying let’s meet privately. I miss you.

There was no playfulness in his tone at all. He wasn’t the type to make advances either.

“Why at this hour?”

Although Ha In also missed him and wanted to go to him, she asked him why.

Moreover, even without asking the reason, she knew that he was worried about her and wanted to keep checking if she was safe.

– Well, today, I feel too alone. I really hate that feeling.

It wasn’t the answer she expected.

Je Guk’s honest answer made Ha In’s heart ache. At times like this, she felt that even he, who seemed like he wouldn’t bleed a single drop of blood if pricked, was human.

Today, her feelings for him were more poignant.

Ever since Ha In had a reasonable suspicion that Je Guk’s mother, like her own mother, may have passed away due to Hyun Baek Hap’s scheme, she became more affectionate towards him.

However, she was wary of herself increasingly leaning towards him.

She didn’t want to get hurt.

“I…”

– Come to my study at home.

As Ha In was about to speak, Je Guk spoke as well.

She forgot what she was going to say at the sound of his voice heavy with loneliness.

– I’ll take that as a yes and get off the phone.

The call ended like that.

Ha In stood there blankly for a moment and looked at her wrist watch. It was quite late. It was time to hurry if she was going, and time to refuse if she wasn’t.

A moment later, Ha In’s cell phone vibrated one more time in her hand.

A text message with Je Guk’s home address popped up.

Ha In walked with steady steps to where her heart was leading her.

* * *

After leaving a text for Ha In, Je Guk took out clean cups from the cupboard.

He also picked out a tea pot and good tea, placing them on a wooden tray. Betting that Ha In hadn’t eaten dinner, he also prepared some cookies.

Entering the study, Je Guk headed to the tea table.

His hands were more meticulous than ever in preparing the tea. But even while calmly steeping the tea, all his attention was on Ha In.

Although he left a one-sided notification-like text to Ha In, it was her choice to come or not. He couldn’t force her, but he hoped Ha In would come.

He wanted to see her up close and take care of her.

Around the time the deep yellow tea was steeping, Ha In arrived at Je Guk’s house.

Je Guk went out to the garden himself to greet Ha In, happy to see her. He showed a bright expression upon seeing her.

“I guess the roads weren’t blocked because it’s late.”

“Yes, it’s very late. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Well, I’m not tired today. Let’s go inside.”

Je Guk walked ahead and Ha In was looking at his reassuring back.

What if I get hurt?

At that moment, Je Guk turned around and looked at Ha In. He gestured for her to come quickly.

“Come quickly. What are you doing?”

Ha In, as if under a spell, followed his hand gesture, forgetting the worries she had just moments ago.

Arriving at his study, the scent of fragrant tea drifted through the cracks of the paper smell from the books.

The huge bookstore-like study seemed to lead Ha In to the past Cheonha Group mansion.

To Ha In, Je Guk was like a breathing room even in that hell. Ha In was looking at Je Guk’s back with sorrowful eyes.

Je Guk, standing at the tea table, poured the tea and told Ha In to sit down quickly.

“You probably didn’t have dinner either.”

Before sitting at the tea table, Ha In examined Je Guk’s face. She was worried that Chairman Lee, who was angered by the press conference, might have hit him again.

“Why? Are you worried that Father hit me again?”

Caught with her true feelings exposed, Ha In hid her expression in embarrassment.

Je Guk said that with a laugh. Ha In, who was blatantly looking at his face, just looked too cute to him.

“Sit down quickly. The tea will get cold.”

As she sat down, Je Guk handed her a cup and sat in his seat.

“Thank you.”

Ha In took a sip of the warm tea. Although she was tense in an unfamiliar place, the tension kept loosening. She was worried that she might get sleepy at this rate.

“I guess it’s an occupational hazard.”

“Pardon?”

“Prosecutor Cheon Ha In is like that, and last time Prosecutor Choi Gang Jun was like that too. Our legal team leader also has that gaze. The unique eyes of prosecutors.”

Ha In thought her gaze might have been rude to Je Guk and was about to apologize.

“But at the end of Prosecutor Cheon Ha In’s gaze, there is warmth. Were you worried about me?”

Je Guk said that while tearing open the cookie packaging and placing it in front of Ha In.

“I was worried.”

Ha In mumbled in a small voice, fixing her gaze on the teacup. Je Guk was very grateful even for that small voice.

Ha In, who doesn’t easily express even the smallest feelings, honestly said she was worried, so he was just too grateful.

“Thank you.”

At those words, Ha In raised her head and looked at Je Guk.

“I should ask ‘why again?’, right?”

At Je Guk’s teasing remark, Ha In just blinked her big eyes without a word.

Now, Je Guk felt like he knew a little about what expressions Ha In makes in what moods.

“The people around me, especially those who follow me, have never thought that they follow Lee Je Guk himself. It’s probably thanks to me being born with a silver spoon.”

Ha In found it so painful to hear that Je Guk thought that way.

“It could be sincere.”

“Why? Let me ask the reason too. Why do you think so?”

This time, Je Guk asked Ha In back.

Ha In pondered that reason for a moment. Not because she was at a loss for words, but because she wanted to think carefully and answer him.

“Because you are a good person.”

She said, looking straight at Je Guk, and he was captivated by those eyes.

Je Guk suddenly choked up and smiled. Then he picked up the teacup in front of him.

“Thank you.”

Je Guk was sincere too. He had never been insincere to Ha In, but he was really grateful. It was a great comfort to his lonely heart.

Je Guk, who gained strength in his heart, looked at Ha In again. Her pale white face fueled Je Guk’s concern.

“Are you taking your medication well?”

Ha In hesitated to answer.

“Show me your hand.”

This time too, Ha In hesitated without holding out her hand.

“If you want to ask ‘why again?’, you can ask.”

Urged by those words, Ha In held out her hand with the back of her hand visible.

Then Je Guk wrapped his large hand around the back of Ha In’s hand. He then circled his gaze in the air and looked at Ha In again.

He wondered what to do if her hands were this cold when the study wasn’t even chilly.

“Is it something like cold hands and feet syndrome?”

Ha In was about to melt again at his warm touch.

It seemed like that body temperature was climbing up her hand, from her wrist to her elbow, then her shoulder and neck. It was a not unpleasant shudder.

Ha In tried to pull out that hand for fear of getting soaked up by him, but he firmly grasped her hand.

“Your feet must be even colder, right?”

Then he pulled a chair in front of Ha In’s knees and sat down, still holding her hand. Ha In’s gaze also soared up and sank down following him.

Ha In was startled to see Je Guk sitting in a chair he pulled in front of her knees.

He looked like he was going to take off her socks. The thought of showing her bare feet to him made Ha In’s face hot and her toes curl.

“Your wrist doesn’t even fit in my hand. What do you think about that?”

Je Guk asked, pressing down on Ha In.

“It’s my constitution.”

“The medicine they gave you at the hospital then…”

“I’m taking it well.”

“Not ‘I ran out’, but ‘I’m taking it well’?”

At Je Guk’s interrogation that wasn’t quite an interrogation, Ha In became like a mute who ate honey. According to Je Guk’s calculation, the medicine should have already run out.

Je Guk’s expression became serious.

“I’m a bit sensitive about health.”

Ha In looked at him intently, curious about the reason. Then, before long, she figured out the reason.

Guessing it was because of Madam Yoon Joo Hwa, she didn’t ask and just understood.

Je Guk just watched her very subtle changes in expression.

He longed for the day Ha In would cry and laugh.

If she sheds tears, what kind of eyes will she have, and if she laughs, how prettily will the corners of her mouth rise? He looked forward to it.

Now, he could only gauge Ha In’s mood by the force on her brow, the trembling of her eyes, and the force on her lips.

Judging from her temperament, she would want to ask ‘why?’, but seeing that she doesn’t, Je Guk thought it was Ha In’s consideration.

Ha In also knew well the reason why Je Guk’s mother left this world.

“I have a lot of guilt that I couldn’t protect my mother.”

Je Guk’s eyes saddened as he said that.

Ha In wanted to tell Je Guk that it was absolutely not like that. But she closed her mouth because she couldn’t tell him the basis for it.

“Ah, I’m saying all sorts of things. I guess I’m getting sentimental because it’s night.”

Feeling his heart wavering, Je Guk tried to let go of Ha In’s hand as he stood up from his seat.

Then Ha In put strength in her hand and held onto him.