Chapter 15.2

The campsite was completely empty, and they were the only ones there. EunHa recalled how General Manager Cha had said it was hard to make a reservation here even on weekdays because of the splendid colors of the autumn leaves. She tilted her head.

“It doesn’t seem like this place is packed.”

KyungHyun spoke up as if he had read EunHa’s mind. General Manager Cha was on his way back from receiving the materials required for starting a fire from the campsite owner. Even he had a bewildered expression on his face.

“It seems that a company had reserved this site for their office outing for 2 days and 1 night, but they canceled last minute. But you don’t even like loud places, so I think this turned out for the better.”

Camping maniacs Lieutenant Han and General Manager Cha took out their camping gear and quickly set up their tent. They were letting KyungHyun and EunHa use the bed in the RV, so only one tent was needed. They set up the necessary equipment for their barbecue on top of a simple table. After preparing all the ingredients, everyone gathered around the table and sat down. The sky had darkened around them.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you eating?”

EunHa readily popped the piece of meat dangling from KyungHyun’s chopsticks and deliciously gulped it down. When Lieutenant Han and General Manager Cha saw this scene, they turned away from KyungHyun with an unpleasant expression on their faces.

“I am eating.”

KyungHyun held up another piece of meat with his chopsticks, and EunHa popped it into her mouth. She happily chewed on the juicy morsel. Maybe it was because he had fed her ever since she was trapped inside the YongSung hotel, but EunHa never felt uncomfortable being fed by KyungHyun.

“This is Korean beef, so you can eat as much as you want. Your face looks thin.”

“I got it, so give it to me slowly.”

“Okay.”

KyungHyun wiped her mouth with his thumb before putting it into his own mouth. Watching the PDA in front of them, General Manager Cha did his best to maintain a blank face. However, Lieutenant Han began to shiver as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“SungYeon, put on a jacket if it’s too cold.”

“I’m not cold, I’m just getting goosebumps…”

Despite her protests, General Manager Cha took off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders. EunHa grinned as she watched the newly wedded couple.

“It doesn’t look like you drink a lot of liquor, EunHa-ssi.”

“It’s because I’m in a good mood without having to drink any liquor. It’s been a while since I was able to come out like this and enjoy the fresh air. Anyways, I noticed that Lieutenant Han and General Manager Cha were pretty good at setting up that tent earlier. You guys seem like pros.”

“SungYeon and I have gone on trips together ever since we were young, so we’re pretty used to it.”

General Manager Cha’s eyes were filled with warmth as he looked at Lieutenant Han. EunHa let out a soft exclamation as she stared them in awe.

“Wow.”

“What is it?”

“You both seem so different than when you’re at work. General Manager Cha, how were you able to hold back expressing your love for Lieutenant Han whenever you were both working together?”

“They didn’t hold back.”

KyungHyun, who hadn’t had much to say until now, raised his glass of wine as he answered EunHa’s question.

“What?”

“I’ve caught these two kissing many times.”

“That’s because Superintendent Shin is always popping up out of nowhere…”

General Manager Cha slid his glasses up his nose even though it wasn’t slipping down.

“So I always told you to continue with whatever you were doing and left you guys alone. Thanks to me, you guys were able to fuck as much as you wanted in the office of the KeumOh building.”

“Sunbae-nim, how can you say something like that in front of EunHa-ssi?”

“I don’t mind it at all, though.”

EunHa grinned. Actually, it made them seem more human to her. KyungHyun clasped her hand and grinned as well.

“My girl says she doesn’t mind.”

“Yes, all right. You both suit each other very well.”

“We know.”

Lieutenant Han looked exasperated. She declared that she didn’t know what EunHa saw in KyungHyun to stay with such a rigid man like him as she shook her head.

EunHa replied that she knew he was arrogant, but that his handsome looks made up for it a lot. No one laughed at EunHa’s blunt words. However, KyungHyun wrapped his hand around her face and chuckled softly.

“I guess I should thank my parents.”

“You really need to.”

EunHa fervently agreed as she nodded her head. When he saw her reaction, KyungHyun’s soft chuckle became louder. His large hand softly stroked her head.

“Stop it, that’s enough.”

“Okay.”

Despite his words, his hand didn’t stop. Only when EunHa slightly pulled back her head did he reluctantly rub her earlobe instead.

When a refreshing breeze blew by, EunHa raised her head and cooled her flushed face. Thanks to her client, she had unexpectedly found herself coming on this trip. But it was quite a pleasant night. It had been a while since she left Seoul and had some fresh air. She felt her head clear up as she continued to breathe in the clean air.

“EunHa-ssi, Superintendent Shin killed so many people in China that the higher-ups had a hard time dealing with the repercussions. You heard about that, right? If he had killed Li Kahui in the process, we would have been in big trouble, but thankfully that didn’t happen.”

“Either way, that bastard will be sentenced to death.”

“I heard that the drug cartel has its connections within the Chinese police, so there’s a chance he may come out of this alive.”

“That’s even better.”

Although he had already killed the man who had injected EunHa with that drug, whenever KyungHyun recalled Li Kahui, the one who had ordered it, he felt a fire burn deep inside his chest. Lieutenant Han shook her head as she watched KyungHyun throw back the glass of liquor.

“You beat his face until it wasn’t recognizable, and you’re still not satisfied? I heard the police were sick to their stomachs when they saw the scene. Our boss is this kind of man, EunHa-ssi.”

“The mood was pretty good, so why did you have to break it like this?”

“I’m only letting her know about the kinds of things you’ve done.”

“You’re going to shock EunHa.”

“I don’t think there’s anything that can shock me now. It’s not like I don’t know what your personality is like.”

The night deepened as they talked about the things that happened in China. Even though EunHa was participating in the conversation, she often checked her phone for any new messages.

She had been getting reports from YongJoon as he kept watch, but there were no new messages from him for the past 30 minutes. The last message he had sent her reported that their client was enjoying a friendly glass of wine with her husband.

YongJoon had set up his camera equipment near the villa and was watching over the situation. He grumbled that, at this rate, he was going to watch a live performance of the couple rolling around together. But it seemed that he was still thoroughly doing his job.

“What are you thinking about?”

KyungHyun’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. EunHa turned her head. His sculpted face was close to hers. His breath smelled like wine. He didn’t seem affected by the liquor, so she hadn’t paid any attention to how much he drank. However, she now saw the empty bottle of wine on the ground.

“Stop drinking wine like it’s water.”

“It’s because I’m in a good mood, so I drank your share as well.”

KyungHyun’s lips stretched into a smile. Actually, this was true. KyungHyun had been in an incredibly good mood for the past few days.

“Superintendent Shin doesn’t get drunk, so don’t worry too much, EunHa-ssi.”

The Lieutenant Han couple seemed familiar with KyungHyun’s drinking ability and didn’t try to stop KyungHyun as he drank the entire bottle of wine. EunHa let out a sigh when KyungHyun suddenly grabbed her hand.

“…What is it?”

“Let’s go on a walk. We should leave these two alone.”

She couldn’t refuse his request. General Manager Cha, who had driven them here, seemed to be falling asleep as he slowly leaned his head against Lieutenant Han’s shoulder. One could tell that they had spent a long time together and that they had complete trust in each other.

EunHa wondered if a time like that would come for her and KyungHyun. She looked up at him, and their eyes met. KyungHyun raised his brows and smiled at her.

“What?”

Even though his juniors had told her that he didn’t get drunk, they only said this because they didn’t really know him that well.

Whenever KyungHyun drank, his long eyes became much more narrow, and his lips would occasionally stretch into a smile like right now. If one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t be able to tell if he was smiling or grimacing. It made the spectator feel strange and uncomfortable.

“…It’s nothing.”

EunHa hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. She grabbed his hand. Almost as if he had been waiting for it, KyungHyun tightened his hand around hers. EunHa’s pulse began to speed up as she felt his heat encompass her hand.

“Then shall we walk around for a bit?”

They began to head down the small mountain path behind the campsite. General Manager Cha had said that it was a popular hiking trail in the daytime. As expected, the trail was neat and well-maintained. EunHa recalled how General Manager Cha had explained that there was a small observation deck at the top of the mountain trail where they could see the sight of the village below in one look. They slowly began to climb this mountain path in the dark.

“Stay close. There’s a cliff to the side.”

“I have good night vision. I’m used to seeing in the dark.”

Because of SungHo, she had often been locked up in dark places, so EunHa was used to seeing in the dark. As the unpleasant memories began to fill her head, EunHa did her best to swallow the lump in her throat. KyungHyun wrapped his arm around her hip.

“That’s disappointing.”

“What is?”

“I thought that if I took you somewhere dark, you’d cling on to me because you were scared.”

“I’m sorry for shattering your expectations.”

“It’s okay. I can just pull you to me instead.”

EunHa laughed in disbelief as he stuck her even closer to his body.

“Come here.”

The mountain path was still damp from yesterday’s rain. They could smell the dirt. EunHa slowed down and leaned her head against KyungHyun’s shoulder.

“You know…”

“Hm?”

“Walking like this reminds me of the past.”

“What do you mean?”

“That time after we ate at the traditional Korean restaurant. The first time I ever went on a walk with you.”

Back then, KyungHyun was someone who could strike fear in someone’s heart with just one glance. And yet she was trying so hard to get close to him. EunHa heard his slightly husky voice speak in a satisfied tone above her head.

“The day I asked you out on our first date?”

“No matter how I look at it, that was just a company dinner.”

“I don’t go out of my way to spend time with a woman I’m not interested in.”

He rubbed his chin against the top of her head as he replied indifferently. How like him. EunHa chuckled softly as she matched his steps. She was a woman who used to live without knowing what tomorrow would bring. Back then, she wouldn’t have ever expected to be walking in the backwoods of a mountain with KyungHyun like this.

“Even though you knew why I approached you and who I actually was, how could you have been drawn to a woman like me?”

EunHa murmured. KyungHyun pressed his lips to her hair.

“That’s why I spent half a month holding back. If I didn’t do that, I would have seduced you on the first day you entered the office.”

“Seduced me? Haha, do you even know how to do something like that?”

That word didn’t seem to suit him at all. Her breaths puffed out into the cold air as she laughed. The cold, mountain breeze felt good against her face.

“Then what do you call that night I went to your apartment?”

So abruptly opening her locked door and chaotically pouring kisses down onto her face was his way of seducing someone…? It was the world’s most disorganized seduction.

“You were definitely drawn to me as well.”

KyungHyun came to this conclusion and didn’t give her a chance to refute. Either way, no matter what she said, he wouldn’t change his attitude about this anyway.

EunHa took in another cold breath and laughed. KyungHyun slowly came to a stop underneath a large tree. Then he grabbed her shoulders and turned her around so that they were looking at each other.

“What is it?”

EunHa pretended not to know what he was doing as KyungHyun looked her square in the eyes.

“You really don’t know?”

“Are you going to kiss me?”

“Correct.”

EunHa’s hair, which had grown longer, blew in the wind. KyungHyun took his large hand and swept her hair back as he brought his face down to hers. At the smell of his musk, EunHa felt as if her heart had jumped to her throat as it raced.

“And we’re probably going to have sex.”

“Tell me you’re joking.”

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”

“Then endure it for a little longer.”

“…I wish I could.”

The full moon behind his back suited him. The wind ruffled his black hair and caused it to fall onto his forehead. He looked so tempting. The moonlight created sharp shadows on his face.

“Any control I have seems to fade away whenever I’m with you.”

KyungHyun pulled her inside his long coat and wrapped it around her as he hugged her. The large tree was at her back, and the person in front of her was a large man who was as sturdy as a tree.

KyungHyun grinned down at EunHa even though he had effectively trapped her. The familiar body heat of the man gradually surrounded her.

It was warm.

EunHa raised her cat-like eyes as she gazed at him. Then she slowly closed them and opened them.

“It’s dangerous if you continue to look at me like that.”

KyungHyun lowered his voice.

“I know. I did it on purpose.”

At EunHa’s reply, KyungHyun let out a soft groan and licked his lips as if he were thirsty. The smile left his face, and EunHa could clearly see the dark desire swirl in his eyes. This man never hid his desire for her when he was with her.

EunHa’s heart began to beat faster. His sharp nose slowly lowered down to hers. The chilly night air contrasted with his feverish heat. KyungHyun kept his eyes locked on hers as he slowly parted his lips. Then their breaths clashed together in an instant.

His tongue easily parted her lips and entered her mouth. He sucked on her warm tongue, causing a moan to escape her throat.

“Hnng…!”

The large hand that had been caressing the back of her head gripped it tighter. Their lips pressed even harder together. His sharp nose poked against her cheek as they exchanged breaths.

“Haa…”

EunHa gasped for breath. Her wet lips parted, and her tongue flashed behind them. EunHa continued to pant as she gazed at KyungHyun. He stretched out his hand and lowered it down towards her face. His hard chest rose and fell with his own labored breaths. His gruff voice left his mouth.

“…I knew this would happen.”

KyungHyun took off his coat and put it on her. Then he pulled up her sweater and grabbed her breast.

“Haa, w…wait a minute…”

“Stay still.”

KyungHyun replied as if by habit. Then he raked his hand through her hair. His other hand had already made its way inside her bra. EunHa’s body trembled from the tingling pleasure. It looked like KyungHyun really wasn’t planning on stopping until he went all the way to the end.

There had never been a time it had ended with just a kiss. For her man, a kiss was just a step leading to sex. KyungHyune softly caressed her breast as if it belonged to him and sucked on the nape of her neck.

“Haaagh…!”

Vrrrr.

A cellphone was vibrating. It surprised EunHa, causing her eyes to open wide. She had completely forgotten about the reason why she came here.

“Wait… hnng… Wait a minute.”

KyungHyun continued to squeeze her breast and left bite marks along her collarbone. It didn’t look like he was going to stop anytime soon. He was like a stone statue that craved her body. EunHa pounded her fist against his shoulder. She barely managed to pull away and quickly reached her hands into her pockets. However, there was nothing inside. She had forgotten her cellphone at the campsite in her haste to get out.

“What was that? It sounded like a phone.”

KyungHyun clicked his tongue and took his phone out from inside his coat pocket. Then he looked down at the screen and let out an angry curse.

“Ah, fuck…”

He answered the call with a frown.

“What is it?”

KyungHyun brought the phone to his ear. He furrowed his brow. Suddenly, EunHa saw a light flickering far away.

Rustle.

EunHa turned her head at the sound. Although this was a hiking path during the daytime, no one would be walking it at this time of night. No one should have been here other than them.

“Honey, I’m scared. Let’s go back, hm?”

KyungHyun ended his call and began to pull at her arm. EunHa’s face hardened underneath the shadow of the tree. No way.

“What’s there to be scared about? We’re only going on a walk.”

“Then I want to go back by myself. It’s so dark, I can’t see… I can’t see very well.”

The thin voice traveled with the wind. EunHa recognized this voice. When she heard the tearful voice of her client, EunHa’s eyes widened in the dark.

She knew this would happen. She thought it sounded strange from the start. As expected, her client’s husband had brought her client here to carry out his dangerous plan. It was her mistake relaxing when she got YongJoon’s report saying that the couple was enjoying a nice glass of wine together.

“That bastard seriously…”

EunHa clenched her teeth and was about to run over to them when KyungHyun held her back.

“Do you know her?”

EunHa quickly answered him in a low voice.

“She’s my client. Her cheating husband suddenly asked her to go on a trip together. I thought it was strange and decided to follow them here.”

“So that’s why you wanted to come here.”

KyungHyun’s low voice sounded slightly disappointed. Even if he was angry that she hadn’t told him sooner, she would have to explain it to him later. Right now, it looked like the scene unfolding before her eyes was about to get serious.

“I’ll tell you the details later.”

“Wait.”

He held EunHa back just as she was about to run towards the couple. KyungHyun shook his head. EunHa saw that his phone was currently video recording the couple. She frowned.

“If you want to make sure he can’t get away with it, we need to make sure there aren’t any loopholes.”

“If we wait any longer, it’s going to get dangerous.”

KyungHyun was waiting for the right time because he was trying to gather evidence. EunHa knew that.

“Just wait a little longer.”

KyungHyun was always careful and rarely made mistakes. It wouldn’t hurt to listen to him. EunHa had experienced this herself. But…

“Honey, please…!”

EunHa heard her client as she was dragged away. She nervously chewed on her fingernails. She knew better than anyone what her client was feeling just by hearing the fear in her voice.

“Stop your whining. I’ll send you off well, so don’t worry.”

“Aagh!”

As the man grabbed her wrist, the client burst into tears.

“Why are you doing this, honey… Huu!”

“‘Honey’? That’s hilarious. Cry out like that as much as you want once you’re dead.”

“Honey, please don’t do this. Honey!”

The man dragged the woman off the trail and brought her to the edge of the cliff.

“You’ve had me followed. Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Sleepwalking, depression… You have every kind of mental illness known to man. You should have thanked me for marrying a crazy bitch like you. And instead, you had me followed? And you even gave those bastards 100 million? Fuck… Do you know how shitty it feels to have to receive an allowance from you?”

“Huu…”

“If you died from falling off the cliff, I’m sure your family will be secretly happy. They’ll think you did it, and they’ll be happy to be rid of a sniveling crazy bitch who’s always holed up in her room all day. No one will be saddened by your death. I wonder how everyone will feel when they find out that your share of the inheritance has been handed over to me. Hey, you stupid bitch. Do you even know how loud your trusted lawyer can be in bed? It’s not even close to how you lie there like a corpse…”

EunHa couldn’t take it anymore. There was enough evidence, and this piece of trash needed to be punished. She shot out from behind the tree like a bullet and let out a shrill cry.

“Hey! You fucking son of a bitch, shut your mouth!”

The man turned around and his face twisted into a scowl. He grabbed the woman’s arm and began to walk faster.

“Aagh! Let go!”

EunHa quickly moved towards the sound of her screaming client. Then she grabbed the man’s body.

“Who’s this crazy bitch?!”

“I’m a ghost who came to kill you, you dirty bastard… Agh!”

The man swung his arm and his elbow hit the side of EunHa’s face hard. She shot daggers at him through her disheveled hair.

“…You’re dead, you son of a bitch.”

The man unconsciously flinched as EunHa glared at him.

“Has this crazy bitch seriously lost her mind…?”

Bang!

The sound of a gunshot rang in the air. EunHa had kicked him in the shin, and the man had grabbed her by the throat. However, his body suddenly shrank at the sound of the piercing gunshot.

The man clearly heard the bullet lodge itself inside the bark of the tree next to him. His shocked eyes began to tremble as a large shadow loomed over his head. He felt someone seize the hair on his head.

“Ugh!”

KyungHyun pulled back his large hand before slamming it down onto the man’s face. The man grabbed his broken nose as he let out a shriek. Red streaks of blood began to flow down his hand.

“Aaaagh!”

“Lift your head.”

KyungHyun hissed through his clenched teeth. EunHa decided to leave the man to KyungHyun and raced to her client, who was still collapsed on the ground in shock. EunHa helped her up.

“Are you okay?”

Slam!

EunHa herad a loud thud behind her and turned around. The man had completely collapsed onto the ground. The man managed to land a blow on KyungHyun’s head. KyungHyun grabbed the man’s throat and slammed his fist down onto the man’s face once again.

“You fucking son of a bitch…”

“Ugh! Haagh!”

KyungHyun’s curses were drowned out by the loud cries coming from the man. As KyungHyun continued to indiscriminately punch the man’s face, the man was unable to fight back. Once, twice, three times… Every time a blow landed on his face, the man’s leg flinched on the ground.

“…Are you okay?”

“Yes… yes…”

EunHa frowned as she gazed at her client who was crying as she watched this scene unfold in front of her eyes. It didn’t look like she was fine at all. Even though her client wasn’t fine, she needed to pull her attention back to the man being beaten by KyungHyun. She felt that she had to stop KyungHyun before things got worse.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

At this rate, KyungHyun was going to lose his mind and end up killing the man. He was a deputy commissioner of the police force now, but he was still a man who spent 10 years as a top figure of a criminal organization. EunHa recalled how he hadn’t even hesitated to use a knife when they were trapped inside the drug factory in China. She remembered what Lieutenant Han had said about KyungHyun beating Li Kahui almost to the point of death. EunHa felt a shiver run down her spine.”

“Aagh… Aaah… Sir, please save me… Please save… Ugh…”

“No. You just need to die.”

The man was beaten to a pulp, but KyungHyun grabbed his head once again. EunHa quickly ran over to them and kicked the man on the ground. Then she shouted at KyungHyun, who was panting for breath.

“He’s already half-dead, so let’s just leave this to the police. Hmm?”

KyungHyun turned his head and saw EunHa’s red, swollen cheek. His face was covered in blood splatters as he slowly blinked his eyes. He finally spoke up in a languid voice.

“…But I’m police.”

His voice sounded shockingly cold and calm. EunHa swallowed, but her mouth was dry. She did her best to smile at him.

“Just endure it. You’re not in your right mind right now.”

“No, I’m extremely clear-headed.”

KyungHyun’s face looked extremely cold as he smiled back at her. No, that couldn’t be called a smile at all. EunHa knew that very well. And so she felt even more scared.

Just because she had been hit across the face once, KyungHyun had beaten the man to this state. If she had left him for a moment longer, he might have strangled the man to death and still be left unsatisfied.

“Until the police, no, I mean, until the other policemen come, endure it for a little longer. If you do, I’ll give you some good news.”

However, the fierce gleam in his eyes didn’t disappear.

“I don’t need it.”

“You’ll probably regret saying that. Are you sure?”

EunHa looked at him and quickly answered back. KyungHyun let out a deep breath. His chest began to rise and fall with his ragged breaths.

“Superintendent Shin!”

“EunHa-ssi!”

EunHa saw the approaching blurry silhouettes of Lieutenant Han and General Manager Cha as they panted for breath. It looked like they had rushed over here from the campsite as soon as they heard the gunshot.

“Ah, damn it…”

EunHa looked back and forth between KyungHyun and the man who had been beaten to a pulp underneath him. She began to chew her lip. She already felt bad enough for following the newly-wed couple on this camping trip. She didn’t want to make it even more complicated for them.

“Clench your teeth.”

KyungHyun lifted a brow and gave her a strange look.

“Hurry. I’m warning you.”

EunHa pulled back her fist. She slammed it down onto his face.

Bam!

Because she had wanted to finish it in one blow, she had used too much power and caused KyungHyun’s head to whip back from the force. He frowned at her as he swept his tongue over his lip. When he felt a small, bleeding cut in his lip, KyungHyun burst out into quiet laughter. It looked like he had finally come back to his senses. This smile was not the same as the one he had given her when he was in the process of beating up the man beneath him.

“Superintendent Shin, did something happen? Did you shoot your gun? You didn’t, right?”

Lieutenant Han panted as she asked frantically. After seeing the man who had been completely beaten up, her face twisted into a grimace.

“It was an attempted murder, Lieutenant Han. That man was trying to push this woman off the cliff.”

EunHa answered in KyungHyun’s stead as he got up from the ground and began to brush himself off.

“Even if that was the case, how could you beat a man to this state?”

With her brows furrowed, Lieutenant Han looked extremely frustrated. General Manager Cha was kneeling on the ground as he placed handcuffs on the man’s wrists. Then he quickly got up and made a phone call.

“It was in self-defense. Look. He was hit too.”

EunHa raised her voice and pointed to the cut on KyungHyun’s lip with wide eyes. KyungHyun took EunHa and began to lead her away.

“I’ll leave you two to handle the rest.”

KyungHyun tossed his cellphone with the evidence of the couple’s conversation over to Lieutenant Han before lifting EunHa into his arms.

“This is useable evidence, right?”

“You can even hear EunHa’s and my voice, so don’t worry.”

Lieutenant Han finally seemed relieved. KyungHyun turned around and began to walk away from the scene.

“Let me down. I can walk by myself.”

KyungHyun didn’t say anything. EunHa let out a sigh. She looked up at the sparkling stars in the night sky.\n