As the rough breath of her younger brother penetrated her ears, Gusehui’s eyes became moist.

Although the investigator with earphones in his right ear gestured to hide his presence by putting his index finger in front of his lips, Gusehui quickly teased her lips.

“Sejun, the police are at home. I’m not alone now.”

Police or whatever, damn it! That bastard is trying to kill me.

“That bastard? What are you talking about now? Is it Kanghyun? Did Kanghyun meet you?”

Gusehui shouted urgently.

If Taekanghyun was looking for Sejun, she believed he would somehow manage to kill him.

The lump that protruded above the red flesh breathed quickly.
Taeseokgyu sent Director Cho to me! I almost died, sister. That crazy bastard said he would help me hide and then tried to drown me in the sea. Ugh, please save me, sister. I’ll be caught soon; I don’t want to die like this…

“What on earth… Why would the chairman do such a thing to you?”

“He told me to surrender at the nearby police station.”

The detective who was eavesdropping on the call spoke sternly.

“For now, go to the nearby police station and surrender. Report it!”

What should I do? Damn, surrender! I don’t have my phone or wallet. I just came into the supermarket for a moment. I have to move again, I can’t hold on until the police come. And do you think the useless patrolman can save me?

“Sejun, calm down. Calm down, and your sister will somehow…”

Gusehui, who was pulling her hair as if she would tear it out, threw off the blanket and went down under the bed.

She had to go to Sejun and meet him right away.

They’re just trying to cut me off and blame me for everything. Sister, in my office, in the office safe. I can’t die alone.

“What’s there! Sejun, we don’t have time for this! Report to the police, quickly! Hey, detective. He said Sejun is coming to catch him. Let’s go find him now, immediately!”

Gusehui grabbed the detective’s collar, blocking the door, and shook him indiscriminately.

Don’t come, don’t come close, damn it! If I die like this, will you all be safe? Am I a fool? We’ll all get caught up in this! We’ll all die together!

What are they doing in someone else’s store! Oh, my, someone’s dying here!

Thud, thud. The sound of heavy chunks hitting the floor, along with the middle-aged man’s shout, was the last thing heard before the call was cut off.

“Ah! Sejun!”

Realizing that her brother’s life was at stake, Gusehui screamed.

“We’ll locate the position and send detectives. Ms. Gusehui, honestly tell us what happened four years ago.”

The detective looked down at the sobbing Gusehui and calmly dialed Prosecutor Jang’s number.

Checking Hajun’s message, Jian put her phone in her bag and held Kanghyun’s hand.

As the Christmas holiday approached, the main hall of the department store was bustling with a large-scale event market.

“If it’s too big, it’s hard to decorate. How about this size? Have you ever made a Christmas tree? I made it with friends last year.”

“I’ve seen what employees made.”

Not interested in the stretched-out tree, Kanghyun let go of Jian’s hand and put his arm around her shoulder.

“They say we need to be careful.”

“You might bump into others.”

“There are a lot of people, so it could happen.”

“I don’t like it.”

Afraid he might accidentally touch the wound on her lower abdomen, Kanghyun pulled Jian tightly into his arms while scanning the surroundings.
“If you hate being close to people, how are you planning to go to amusement parks and zoos?”

“I’m fine as long as it’s not you.”

“If someone sees, they might think it’s a contagious disease.”

Jian stuck close to Kanghyun, who, regardless of gender, would scrunch his face harshly when someone unfamiliar got a little too close. It seemed like he was so sensitive that even an hour of wandering around might drain his energy. Like a hedgehog covered in thorns.

It was so severe that even this sight seemed cute.

“Be careful around people. It’s not good to get too close to people you just met. Even if they seem kind upfront, you never know what they’re thinking inside. Also…”

Thinking of Kanghyun awkwardly mingling with other employees in the workshop, grabbing the hem of her clothes and babbling, Jian chuckled softly.

It was before she confirmed his feelings.

Since then, did she start liking him, or was it perhaps because she apologized to Han Seoyun? Jian made pleasant conjectures while admiring the tree decorations and lights.

The longer she spent time with Kanghyun, the more she became convinced that his heart was wholly leaning towards her.

Thanks to that, the name Han Seoyun didn’t bother her much.

“Let’s go with a 140cm tree. There are too many pretty decorations; I can’t choose.”

“Do them all.”

“I can’t do all of them. Director, is there a Christmas present you want to receive?”

“No.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Kanghyun shook his head.

“I’ll choose for you.”

“Other than that gift, give me Myeong Hajun.”

“What? You want Hajun?”

Surprised by the sudden mention of the name, Jian’s eyes widened.

Kanghyun tilted his head down and leaned his forehead against Jian’s head.

“Let’s spend this year together without seeing anyone else.”

“…”

“Let’s spend the last day of this year together, just us.”

The Christmas carol, played loudly to enhance the year-end atmosphere, disappeared, and only Kanghyun’s voice echoed clearly in Jian’s ears.

People taking pictures and chatting while admiring the large Christmas tree didn’t enter their field of vision.

Due to her nerves responding only to him, it felt like they were the only two people left in this vast space.

He pleaded so desperately for a request that wasn’t even difficult.

Leaning on Kanghyun’s shoulder, Jian smiled contently.

“That’s what I wanted.”

After receiving a satisfying answer, Kanghyun kissed Jian on the forehead, and he took out his phone from the inner pocket of his jacket, which was ringing.

“Just a moment.”

He tried not to answer unless necessary, but unfortunately, it was Prosecutor Jang Yeonseok’s number.