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[This morning, Kang Il-hyun, CEO of the Shipping Group, appeared at the trial as a witness. Many reporters had been camped out in front of the prosecutor’s office since the morning. The shipping group has announced that they will undergo a major executive reshuffle and personnel reassignment as part of their image revitalization following this incident.]
Behind the anchor’s explanation, a screen appeared. Kang Il-hyun stood in front of the camera with a cast on his left arm and a suit jacket draped over his shoulder. The weight he lost while in the hospital has been moderately regained, but he appeared a little haggard today, possibly due to the makeup.
“CEO Kang, please give us a statement. What will happen to the management in the future? Everyone is eager to hear what you have to say.” When Il-hyun turned around, the reporters’ shouting quieted down. He pursed his lips and wore a dejected expression.
[I apologize for causing concern to many people. The shipping group will be reborn as a result of this incident. And I will, by all means, reveal the entire truth and… settle my late father’s grudge.]
His voice choked at the end of his speech, and he lowered his head briefly, biting his lips. As if waiting for the sight of his trembling lips, the camera flash went off and the shutter clicked loudly. The corner of his eyes was slightly damp with tears. “Thank you.” He said his goodbyes politely and entered the Prosecutor’s Office under protection.
Wang Han, Wang Lun, and Ja-kyung, who were watching TV, became dumbfounded.
“Isn’t that on par with an actor?”
“Did you see his lips trembling? It’ll be headline news in tomorrow’s newspaper.”
Ja-kyung nodded as he ate his watermelon. Apparently, Kang Il-hyun should do the acting rather than him. He was worried since last night when he heard that Il-hyun was going to appear at the prosecution, but he shouldn’t have been. When he checked the quickly posted articles on the internet, everyone felt pity and sorry for him, and they were also in awe of how handsome he was.
What the hell, they even said he’s sexy. After grimacing, he continued eating watermelon. Wang Lun, who was flipping through TV channels, suddenly spoke up.
“But we… can we continue like this?”
Wang Han looked back.
“What do you mean?”
“Is it okay for us to keep playing around and eat here?”
Wang Han thought for a moment. He realized that Wang Lun’s word wasn’t wrong. Ja-kyung agreed with those words as well. His injuries had healed completely, but there was no mention of work. They should be given work if they were given money. He grabbed Park Tae-soo the other day and asked him subtly, but he evaded his words.
“Wei, what if, he didn’t want you to get hurt again.”
Both of their eyes were drawn to him at the same time. Ja-kyung shook his head. Kang Il-hyun is a person who is sure of his public and private affairs.
“I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean no? It’s obvious. Of course, it’s nice to have fun and eat, but…”
Ja-kyung thought about it deeply. The image of Kang Il-Hyun from a while ago was shown repeatedly on TV. It’s strange to see the person he slept with until the morning on TV. And he wasn’t saying this because he’s his lover, but he’s indeed handsome.
He looked at him in awe and giggled like a crazy person without realizing it.
***
“So?”
“I told them there is none for now.”
“Good job. Keep pretending you don’t know.”
Il-hyun looked out the window. He had already hired people to handle the work for Lee Ja-kyung and the Wang brothers. He didn’t say anything because he was afraid Ja-kyung would leave with that excuse. He didn’t distrust Lee Ja-kyung, but the fear that he might disappear lingered in his heart.
He sighed lightly and leaned back on his chair. He was exhausted after being tortured by the prosecutors all day. They were eager to bite into anything. Il-hyun repeated the same words like a tape recorder.
He was kidnapped alongside Chairman Kang, nearly died there, and barely survived. He was deeply saddened by his father’s death. He had no idea how much effort he had put into acting like a good son despite his not having any real feelings.
Not even an hour had passed when he received instructions from the prosecution’s higher-ups to play along reasonably. How could they dismiss everything he had said with such arrogance? It was an expected outcome. Looking at the prosecutor’s frustrated expression, Il-hyun smiled regretfully and said they would meet again later.
When he arrived at the office, the secretary in front of him had a strange expression.
“Madam is inside, sir.”
Madam? Is it Ja-kyung?
Of course, it couldn’t be him. He opened the door and walked in to find Kim Seon-young sitting on the sofa, facing him. He could sense the tension in her expression as she turned around. It was their first meeting following the funeral and the 49-day memorial service. She still had that haughty demeanor and appeared unruffled, unlike someone who had lost a husband. While the secretary brought them tea, they sat across from each other and exchanged brief greetings.
“What brings you here?”
She lifted her head from staring at the table.
“Seok-joo, you told him to learn how to work in the company.”
Kang Il-hyun had instructed Seok-joo to stay in school for the time being and learn the company’s business the rest of the time. He had been forced to come to the company last week, crying and gritting his teeth. On top of that, he had to report to Il-hyun on his days off.
“What are you up to?”
Her eyes were sharp. Her decision to marry Chairman Kang was never motivated by love. Furthermore, after discovering that he frequently exploited younger girls than his own daughter, she despised him. She simply didn’t show it because she didn’t want to let go of what she owned. She was not mourning the loss of a spouse, but was only concerned about her and her son’s future well-being.
“I asked you. What do you plan to do with Seok-joo?”
Il-hyun drew a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. The doctor advised him to stop, but it did not work as intended. Especially on a tiring day like today.
“He’s my younger brother, are you worried I’ll kill him?”
“You think I didn’t know? Your father’s situation was your doing.”
Il-hyun smoked and smiled as he looked at her venomous expression.
“Think whatever you like.”
“Just don’t touch Seok-joo. I can’t stand that.”
“Mother.”
Il-hyun calmly continued to speak.
“I told you before. I don’t hate you. But I don’t like Seok-joo, and to be honest, I want to bury him somewhere, but I’m putting up with him because he’s my brother.”
She bit her lower lip.
“I can’t keep him involved in drugs forever. If Father were still alive, he might ignore it, but I can’t stand it. Don’t worry; I’ll take him under my wing and teach him.”
It was sincere to some extent. He thought about leaving Kang Tae-han and Kang Seok-joo alone if they were not greedy enough to take his place. Even though he despised Chairman Kang, he found it amusing that he looked just like him. She must have sensed it as well because her ferocious spirit softened slightly.
Furthermore, Il-hyun did not hate Kim Seon-young. He actually envied Kang Seok-joo when he was younger because of how deeply she cared for her own child. Of course, Kim Seon-yeong would never think of it.
Kim Seon-yeong left the office after receiving confirmation that he would ensure Kang Seok-joo’s safety. Il-hyun then untied and discarded the cast he was wearing. Just then, he had just received a message from Ja-kyung asking when he would be leaving work.
The fact that someone was expecting him at home made him feel incredibly happy. Ja-kyung also mentioned watching him on TV and thanked him for his hard work today. He definitely started to express his feeling much more than before. He’d initiate kisses, approach him, and hug him.
“I wish my hand had been cut off instead.”
Il-hyun clicked his tongue in regret. If so, he could have been a little more pampered. He put the cast back on and sighed.
“Fuck. How long should I wear this?”
It’s been a while since his arm has recovered. However, when he wears it, Lee Ja-kyung allows him to do whatever he wants, so Il-hyun intends to wear it for the time being. Of course, if he was caught, there would be chaos. A smile spread across his face as he replied.
***
Ja-kyung brought shampoo, squeezed it into his hands, and rubbed it on Il-hyun’s head as he lay in the bathtub wearing a shower robe. He carefully wiped the foam from his hair after covering his cast with a towel to prevent any water from reaching his arm.
Kang Il-hyun’s eyes looking up bend into a curve. Ja-kyung put his head on the headrest and said not to move when he pursed his mouth to kiss him.
“Something seems off.”
“What is it?”
“Usually the cast comes off in a month or so.”
“I was severely injured, so the bones took longer to heal. You heard what Kang Yoo-jung said.”
I heard it. Ja-kyung nodded. Il-hyun suppressed a laugh. He didn’t even dream of Kang Yoo-jung stepping out and telling a lie. After washing his hair carefully, they went into the shower booth together. As Ja-kyung removed Il-hyun’s gown, gunshot wounds were evident on his abdomen and shoulder.
Ja-kyung’s eyes sting and his heart aches every time he sees those scars. He lathered it up and rubbed it around the injured area. Il-hyun gently guided Ja-kyung’s hand to a certain place.
“Here too.”
Ja-kyung frowned and swatted it away. Il-hyun’s arm hasn’t healed yet, but the teasing didn’t stop. He pushed him away, but he kept sticking to him today. As the switch on his back was pressed, water poured down from above. Worried that his casted arm would get wet, Ja-kyung pushed him away in surprise, but it was too late. His body ended up completely soaked.
Il-hyun pulled him close, sticking out his tongue and hungrily sucking on his chin and neck, like a starving person.
“Wait, wait.”
“Got it.”
“What got it, ugh, your arm is wet. Your arm!”
Il-hyun pulled out the cast and threw it aside. Ja-kyung’s eyes widened. Il-hyun pulled his waist towards him with his previously injured arm, strong and unaffected. What. Ja-kyung was dumbfounded and glared at him, but ended up being engulfed by his lips.
Ja-kyung tried to argue, but it was useless as the voice was swallowed up. Il-hyun’s thighs dug into the center, pushing and stimulating him. It had been a while since they had sex, and Ja-kyung’s body responded eagerly. In the brief moment that their lips parted, Ja-kyung grabbed his face and narrowed his eyes.
“You scoundrel.”
“Sorry. I’ll listen to your scolding after this.”
He chuckled excitedly and captured his lips again. It was an apology without any sincerity, but it felt good nonetheless. Their wet shirts were peeled off and fell to the floor, and his back hit the booth’s glass window. Their bodies began to heat up, and their breathing grew rougher with each passing moment.