TSS 00

Chapter : 00

On an early summer evening, heavy rain poured outside the office window. The patter of raindrops hitting the glass sounded almost loud enough to be annoying.

No matter how much it was the rainy season, wasn’t this a bit too much?

Sitting at his desk, Geonhyung glanced out the window with a worried look. A cute, slightly complaining voice lingered in his mind.

“What should I do… the sunlight might not be enough. I hope the potted plants are okay.”

Hayeon, who usually never complained, was unusually sensitive about the plants. No doubt she had grumbled about them again today.

Come to think of it, when was the last time he had seen her?

Geonhyung gave a bitter smile. Taeseon, who had been subtly observing him, spoke up again.

“……They say they’re naming it SH after the boss’s initials?”

“The kids… and in English, too.”

Crunch. The peppermint candy in Geonhyung’s mouth broke loudly. Taeseon flinched, then cautiously added:

“English sounds kind of… cool, doesn’t it? Better than something like Geonhyung’s style or Taeseon’s style.”

“Better or not, they’re still just druggies. And I told you to watch your mouth—we look like gangsters already.”

“Ah, sir… even if we’re not gangsters, we do have an aura that could rival them……”

Taeseon quickly clamped his mouth shut. Geonhyung’s already sharp eyes narrowed even further. Then came the harsh sound of a desk drawer being opened, making Taeseon flinch again.

“Of course… we’re the kind of righteous organization that… catches those gangsters……”

“Legal business.”

“Ah, yes, absolutely legal, exemplary and ethical to the core… the kind of company that wins the model corporate culture award every year!”

Ese Financial was a family business passed down for three generations. It had started as a loan business established by his grandfather, a famous gangster, who had sworn to raise his descendants honorably. Perhaps that was why the family reacted almost allergically to anything related to gangs.

“Of course, since your father and grandfather were such ‘men of action,’ the atmosphere in the CEO’s office can be… a little, no, quite rough… but……”

“Enough talking.”

Geonhyung clicked his tongue at Taeseon’s explanation. The image people had in their heads was a powerful thing. Despite having strictly enforced rules for speaking in the office, Taeseon was still chatty.

“Anyway… they say the ‘product’ was found even in Minseok’s area.”

Taeseon continued the report. It was news about a recently circulating new type of drug. Rumors had long swirled in the back alleys, but this time it seemed serious. That’s why they were using all their contacts and intelligence networks to investigate. Though there wasn’t much they could do.

…If you wanted to put it lightly, it was the effort of a lawful company to eradicate serious crime.

“We reported it to the police immediately, but our people……”

Taeseon hesitated. With Geonhyung in a foul mood, delivering bad news made him nervous.

As expected, Geonhyung’s brows furrowed violently while rummaging through the drawer.

Uh—an ashtray.

Taeseon shut his eyes tightly in panic.

“Make sure to crack down on them……”

However, instead of the ashtray breaking, the sound of candy wrappers rustling came from the drawer. Squinting, he saw Geonhyung putting peppermint candies into his mouth.

“Yes… crackdown… yes……”

Thank goodness, thought Taeseon. Thank you, Hayeon, for getting him to quit smoking—at least the ashtray is out of the way.

“Just in case, clean the secluded corners thoroughly too.”

After speaking, Geonhyung tossed his jacket over the back of his chair. Taeseon tilted his head, puzzled.

“Leaving work early today, huh… miss?”

Taeseon stopped mid-sentence, realizing he had referred to Geonhyung’s fiancée—and the woman everyone believed without question was Geonhyung’s first love—Na Hayeon.

She had been the source of Geonhyung’s recent irritability.

It had already been a few days since Hayeon had disappeared. Rumors about a possible breakup had even reached him.

“She’s not being held at home or anything… right?”

Taeseon asked hesitantly. Hayeon, small and delicate like a little animal, and Geonhyung, large and imposing like a hunting dog, were a strikingly mismatched but oddly fitting pair.

“Of course not.”

Geonhyung replied dryly, shoving a handful of peppermint into his pocket. Taeseon’s eyes widened.

“What about the candies you bought the other day?”

“I finished them all.”

“All of them? …Wouldn’t it be better if you smoked again?”

“It’s bad for my health.”

“…Honestly, tell me. Hayeon never actually told you to quit smoking, did she?”

Geonhyung paused mid-step toward the office door, as if struck at the core. Taeseon clicked his tongue.

Of course. Hayeon wouldn’t have explicitly told him to quit; she’d probably just said something casual like, “Smoking isn’t good for you,” and left it at that. That one sentence had clearly caused Geonhyung to chew candy like he was going to empty every shop in town.

“That’s right. Your health is important. You’re the face of Ese Group, no, the head, no, the chief executive. But sugar isn’t exactly harmless either.”

“Cigarettes are worse.”

“Even so, in moderation. Right now you’re eating candy almost like you’re breathing it in—what’s worse?”

“It’s sugar-free.”

Crunch. Geonhyung chewed as he left the office. Taeseon sighed. It wasn’t the sugar that was the problem—at this rate, Geonhyung’s jaw or teeth were going to be destroyed soon.

Which would run out first—the candy or Geonhyung’s teeth?

“Well, who can blame him? That impatient temper of his. Who in the world eats candy like it’s chips… wait, sir! You need an umbrella in this rain! Do you even know how expensive that suit is… oh, never mind.”

Taeseon hurriedly grabbed an umbrella and chased after Geonhyung, but he had already disappeared.

A little later, sitting in the driver’s seat, Geonhyung muttered to himself as he looked out at the downpour.

“Damn it……”

How long had he been standing there? His eyes flicked to his phone. Nothing. No notifications, no messages, no missed calls.

Crunch. The candy shattered in his mouth.

“…You expect me to believe that…?”

Since the text suggesting the cancellation of the engagement, there had been no contact. Yet for the past few days, Geonhyung had been wandering near Hayeon’s home after work.

He wasn’t a middle schooler with a crush.

Sighing, he stared out the window.

“It’s raining a lot……”

When it rains, I sometimes feel like going outside…

Hayeon’s shy words came to mind. Did he fail again today? He had hoped, given the rain… but no umbrella?

His eyes narrowed at a figure in the rain reflected on the windshield.

“Damn it, this is insane.”

Muttering a curse, Geonhyung leaped out of the driver’s seat. Maybe it was just a coincidence—but missing her was worse than chasing a ghost.

“Ah!”

Striding forward, he grabbed the woman’s shoulder. She startled and turned around.

He could just barely recognize her. Yes, it was her.

Geonhyung pulled Hayeon into a tight embrace.

“Na Hayeon!”

Her wide eyes blinked rapidly. Raindrops clung to her lashes, falling each time she blinked.

Now he understood why he had trouble recognizing her—her hair was drenched.

“…Geonhyung…?”

“Why are you here!”

Despite having waited all this time, Geonhyung started grabbing at words.

Hayeon, it’s really you, right?

His hands fumbled over her back and got caught in her soaked chiffon. Too cold to be body heat.

When did she get wet? Alarmed, Geonhyung quickly removed his jacket and covered her.

“Crazy, what are you doing… you’re trembling. Aren’t you cold?”

“…Geonhyung… I… I…”

“How long have you been standing there? This won’t do. Home…”

“No!”

Hayeon wriggled from his arms when he suggested taking her home, even lifting her shoulders. Was she crying? Geonhyung stared, bewildered.

Damn it, he couldn’t tell if it was tears or rain.

“I left home.”

“What do you mean? You’ll catch a cold.”

Hayeon’s hands trembled as she clutched his jacket. Feeling sorry, Geonhyung held her close.

She was far too cold. Would warming her with his hands help?

He rubbed her back repeatedly. Trembling, Hayeon stammered:

“…I… I… want you to take me.”

“Alright, home or anywhere. We’ll go. This is serious…”

“Listen to me. Today… take me, Choi Geonhyung.”

Geonhyung’s hands paused. Hayeon, breathing heavily, declared as her shoulders shook:

“Choi Geonhyung, you’re a bastard. But only for me, a bastard.”

For Na Hayeon only, a bastard. Wagging tail, showing belly, a bastard.

It sounded like an insult, but it had been something he had once joked about.

And there had been more.

“You live life as you please, but you want me, you said.”

Hayeon’s words left Geonhyung speechless.

She had repeated things he had said himself, yet through her delicate lips, it sounded exceptionally bold. She looked straight at him.

“So today, just do as you wish. Choi Geonhyung… take me.”

Hayeon buried her face in his chest. Her quiet breaths sounded louder than the rain outside.

The second daughter of the presidential candidate Na Myeongshin. A refined young lady from a proud family. Yet for her, this was too much.

Please… please don’t let me go.

Hayeon prayed silently.

“How long have you waited?” Geonhyung asked her.

“Don’t regret this.”

His voice was lower than usual, unfamiliar. Perhaps more deliberate, like he was exploring.

Her eyes met his sharp gaze again—unfamiliar and frightening. Yet Hayeon was brave.

“If I let you go, I’ll regret it more.”