Chapter : 8 A Strange Power
A man in a blue veterinarian’s coat walked in.
Out of habit, Jihyeok’s eyes shifted to the embroidery stitched onto the man’s chest.
[Dokgo Animal Hospital]
[Chief Director Lee Jungwoo]
He had a round face and gentle features.
Standing across from Dasol, the two of them looked like a pair of friendly puppies facing each other.
Judging by the way Dasol greeted him, it was easy to tell they were quite close.
“Dasol… um… would you like to go to a club?”
Lee Jungwoo’s cheeks turned red, and he couldn’t even look Dasol in the eye.
He looked completely smitten.
Maybe it was because Jihyeok had seen too many men with innocent faces hiding dirty intentions, but he immediately disliked him.
“A club?”
“One of our hospital’s regular clients is a club MD in Gangnam. It’s their fifth anniversary, and a famous DJ is performing. They invited me and said they’d reserve us a great table.”
As if Jinda Sol would enjoy that.
Jihyeok clicked his tongue inwardly.
Just by looking at her, it was obvious Dasol wasn’t the type to enjoy clubs.
“Oh, really? What should I do, Director? I’m sorry you went through the trouble, but I don’t like clubs.”
“Ah… that’s okay. Honestly, I don’t like them either. Yumi kept talking about it all day, so I thought… maybe you’d be interested too…”
Jihyeok didn’t know who Yumi was, but judging from the way he casually mentioned her, she was probably close to Dasol and someone who knew a lot about clubs.
The director was trying to use Yumi’s recommendation to persuade her.
Even after being rejected, he kept trying.
In other words…
He was making a move.
“Yumi’s always full of energy. But Director, aren’t you busy today?”
“Oh, I just finished surgery.”
Hmm. So he came running over the moment it ended.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Dasol really was the type whose emotions showed plainly on her face.
Her respectful tone and expression…
It almost looked like an ordinary citizen speaking to a judge, as if she were facing someone remarkable.
For someone who merely had a business relationship with the animal hospital, there was unmistakable admiration in her eyes.
“I didn’t do anything special. But… you have a guest?”
Only then did Director Lee Jungwoo glance toward Jihyeok.
You already knew he was here. Pretending to notice him only now?
For someone with such a gentle face, he had a surprisingly sly side.
Still, the look in the director’s eyes was crystal clear.
Who are you, and why are you here with Jinda Sol?
“Oh. He’s from the Prosecutors’ Office. We just finished what we needed to do.”
Since his business was over, leaving was the natural thing to do.
Still, hearing the words Prosecutors’ Office used as if they were politely escorting him out wasn’t exactly pleasant.
Oblivious to that, Dasol drove the point home.
“Prosecutor, I hope I was able to help. If you need anything else, please let me know.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Dasol walked him to the front door.
When Jihyeok turned around outside and gave a slight bow, Dasol smiled politely with only her lips.
“Take care on your way home.”
Then she quickly turned around and went back inside.
Jihyeok remained where he stood, looking through the large glass window.
Dasol smiled warmly.
Lee Jungwoo scratched the back of his head with a wide, foolish grin.
It almost looked as though a rainbow had appeared above their heads.
Like something straight out of a children’s storybook illustration.
Hmm…
Pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek, Jihyeok finally turned and walked away.
After that, Dasol watched several more crime movies.
It had already been one of her favorite genres, but after everything that had happened, she found herself drawn to them even more.
Having experienced something similar firsthand, she now munched on popcorn while criticizing the characters’ decisions on screen.
The suspense felt even more intense.
Whenever a movie ended, she’d immediately search online to see whether it had been based on a true story.
Today was one of those days.
While watching Eternal Snow, directed by Seo Changsik—a filmmaker famous for action and crime films—she sat alone in her empty pet salon.
As far as she could remember, she’d only watched this movie twenty-four times.
Wait… when is Director Seo’s next film coming out?
She immediately opened a search window.
The result disappointed her.
The only news was that he was currently writing a screenplay for a new movie.
Jingle.
Just then, the bell above the door rang, followed by Yumi’s bright voice.
“Solsol!”
“Oh, Yumi. You’re here?”
Walking over to the counter, Yumi casually dropped a foil-wrapped kimbap onto the desk.
“The director told me to bring this to you.”
“I keep telling him he doesn’t have to give me things like this.”
“My ears are hurting. Stop saying that already.”
Then Yumi looked toward the monitor Dasol was watching so intently.
“What are you watching that’s making you frown so hard?”
“There was an article about Director Seo Changsik.”
“That crime movie director? Seriously, stop fangirling so much.”
Dasol shot her a sidelong glare.
Yumi only smiled cheerfully and came over to massage Dasol’s shoulders.
“Anyway, have you thought about coming to the club with us?”
“No.”
“Come on, just once. I’ve asked you so many times.”
“No. I hate noisy, chaotic places.”
“The movies you watch are even noisier. At least clubs have music. Your movies are half screaming and swearing.”
Dasol simply laughed.
After chatting for a while longer, Yumi pouted and headed back to the animal hospital.
“Yaaawn…”
Feeling sleepy, Dasol stretched her arms high.
When you’re drowsy, nothing beats an iced coffee!
Thinking she’d buy coffee for the staff at the animal hospital too, she left the salon.
Cold winds carrying the last traces of winter brushed against her as she walked toward the café.
The café stood across from the courthouse, with the Prosecutors’ Office just to its right.
She glanced at the building, which somehow felt much more familiar than before, then stepped inside.
The rich aroma of coffee and the warm air welcomed her.
Another customer was using the kiosk, so she looked around while waiting.
Huh?
Someone she recognized was sitting by the window.
An elderly gentleman wearing a faded baseball cap.
It was Director Seo Changsik.
No way! I can’t believe I’m meeting Director Seo here!
Her body reacted before her mind did.
She practically flew over to him.
“Hello! You’re Director Seo Changsik, right?”
The director looked up over his old-fashioned glasses.
The large patches of white hair sticking out beside his ears spoke volumes about the hardships of his profession.
“A rookie actress? You’ve certainly got the looks… but contact my office about auditions.”
His tone clearly said he couldn’t be bothered.
Well, he was a famous director.
Completely understanding, Dasol smiled warmly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“No, I’m actually your fan! I’ve seen Sorrowful Night, Catch That Guy, The One Without Blood or Tears, Eternal Snow, and Crime Is My Strength. I’m a real fan. I’ve watched them all in theaters and on Netflix, and I even own every Blu-ray!”
Only then did the director’s expression brighten.
“Oh my! Well, isn’t this wonderful! Nice to meet you.”
He broke into a broad smile, showing his teeth, and offered his hand.
With flushed cheeks, Dasol shyly reached out and shook it.
Just then—
“Ahem. Ahem.”
Someone sitting across from the director cleared his throat.
Only then did Dasol turn her head.
Sitting opposite Director Seo Changsik…
…was Jihyeok.
“Oh? Prosecutor Jang Jihyeok!”
“Hello, Ms. Jinda Sol.”
“What a surprise, Prosecutor. I never expected to run into you here.”
“Well, since this café is right in front of the Prosecutors’ Office, the odds are fairly—”
Before he could finish, Dasol turned back to the director with an excited smile.
“You two know each other?”
The director looked back and forth between Jihyeok and Dasol before chuckling.
“I heard from an old classmate that this prosecutor dramatically captured a drug criminal here not long ago. Haha.”
That was the reason for today’s meeting.
The director needed to interview a prosecutor who caught drug criminals as research for his new screenplay.
At those words, Jihyeok’s expression stiffened slightly.
The truth was, he hadn’t wanted to come.
He had declined the interview.
But after a deputy chief prosecutor—who happened to be Director Seo Changsik’s high school classmate—asked the chief prosecutor to order him to attend…
…he had no choice.
Taking a sip of coffee, Jihyeok looked at Dasol, whose eyes had grown round with surprise.
“Oh my! What a coincidence! Director, I’m the owner of that pet grooming salon.”
“Oh, really? That’s perfect! If you have time, why don’t we all sit together and tal—”
“I’d love to, Director!”
Before he could even finish speaking, Dasol hurried over and squeezed herself into the seat beside Jihyeok.
As she sat down, her thigh brushed against his.
His leg immediately tensed as hard as stone.
Dasol, however, didn’t seem to notice at all.
Jihyeok rubbed the inside of his mouth with his tongue and subtly shifted his body to the left.
“Haha. You two could both be actors. Such a handsome man and beautiful woman.”
The director casually tossed out the kind of joke everyone had heard before, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
“So then, how about having Prosecutor Jang Jihyeok play the lead in this movie himself?”
Dasol clapped her hands and burst into cheerful laughter.
Watching her laugh so sincerely at such an ordinary joke, Jihyeok couldn’t help letting out an amused chuckle himself.
“I heard you wiped out that drug ring right after transferring to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division. Is that true?”
“That’s correct.”
The director asked all kinds of questions.
Jihyeok answered them one by one.
Even so, his gaze kept drifting toward Dasol, who listened with unwavering attention.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her skin like flawless white jade.
Her brown eyes shimmered with reddish highlights, overflowing with life.
They were passionate.
There was…
…something strangely captivating about those eyes.
Setting down his coffee cup, Jihyeok finally forced himself to look away.
