TTD Ch 43

Ja-kyung looked around his dressing room while Kang Il-hyun was choosing a tie in front of the showcase. In the dressing room, there were numerous similar shirts and pants, reminiscent of a clothing store, and accessories such as shoes, belts, cufflinks, and watches were as diverse as if a store had been relocated. Wang Han, who is obsessed with clothes, would have gone insane if he had seen it.

Kang Il-hyun called Ja-kyung while looking at the clocks.

“Come here.”

Kang Il-hyun put the tie on Ja-kyung’s clothes one by one and picked the one that suits him.

“This is better.”

He took off his black tie and replaced it with a red tie. The knot-making hand gestures were neat. When Ja-kyung looked down at his long, smooth fingers, he wondered how many people he had killed with this hand. Even if it wasn’t, it didn’t appear to be less than him.

“What are you thinking?”

Ja-kyung raised his head and made eye contact with Il-hyun in front of him. He smiled brightly, took a step back, checked Ja-kyung’s appearance, and smiled contentedly.

“Perfect.”

“Thank you.”

What did Chairman Kang call him to discuss? When Ja-kyung received the phone call, he had the feeling it wasn’t just a meal invitation. The tie around Ja-kyung’s neck was becoming uncomfortable. Wang Han was right when he stated that he was not good at acting. When he went there, he didn’t know what kind of expression to use.

“Just go with a light heart. There’s nothing strange, right?”

“…”

“Take your gun just in case.”

Why does he have to bring his gun if it won’t be a huge deal? Ja-kyung couldn’t stop himself, so he turned around and tried to leave without getting noticed.  However, Kang Il-hyun grabbed his arm and pulled him away. He was confused, but Il-hyun went to the showcase and took a box.

When he opened the box, there was a watch. He put it on Ja-kyung despite the fact that it was worth more than a billion dollars. Il-hyun checked the line and asked if it was a little big.

“Why a watch??”

“There is a bomb inside. If you go and talk nonsense, it will explode.”

Maybe it was because he saw Choi Ki-tae’s head in the box during the day, and Il-hyun’s words didn’t sound like a joke anymore.

“Thinking about it, that’s also good. The money stayed, and the person who wanted to kill me is dead.”

When Ja-kyung tried to unlock the watch, he grabbed his hand.

“Just kidding. It’s a gift.”

One of Ja-kyung’s eyebrows rose crookedly.

“I was already satisfied with the gift I received during the day.”

He said that in a tone that didn’t even indicate sincerity, but Il-hyun’s eyes were nicely curved. Is it really feel so good to hear that he was content with Choi Ki-tae’s death? As Il-hyun sought to touch his cheek with his hand, Ja-kyung took a step back and dodged him. Kang Il-hyun rushed forward, and Ja-kyung couldn’t move anymore because of the mirror behind him.

Il-hyun’s hands touching his cheeks travel down his neck, shoulders, and chest. Ja-kyung smacked him hard as he touched his already sore nipples. Kang Il-hyun then laughed quietly to himself.

“Have you become sensitive?”

At that remark, Ja-kyung did not lose his temper and laughed.

“It’s all thanks to you. You’ve bitten me like a dog so many times that it tattered.”

“Are you talking about your nipples? I was talking about your feelings.”

“…”

“I can tatter elsewhere if you want.”

Ja-kyung forced a smile as he forced Il-hyun’s hand that touched his buttocks down. In his mind, he wished to tatter Kang Il-hyun by shooting him in the head. But Kang Il-hyun is an employer. And that’s $15 million, VVIP.

Initially, he intended to run without looking back once this commission was finished, but after further investigation, he was willing to deal with him once or twice more if he ever made the next request as long as he paid a huge sum of money as he is today. The condition is, of course, that his body is not demanded.

Ja-kyung checked the watch he had put on a while ago.

“It’s time to go. I’ll be going now.”

Their lips brushed together as he raised his head. Ja-kyung was going to push him away but he gave up and raised his gaze to the ceiling. Then Il-hyun’s hand groped his body again.  He attempted to put up with only touching his side, but when he grabbed his ass tightly, Ja-kyung couldn’t take it any longer and pushed his shoulder.

Kang Il-hyun smiled despite Ja-kyung glare while wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

“Why is your face red? Do you like it?”

He was clearly a psychopath since he couldn’t tell if he liked it or was angry about it.

“No. To be honest, it was the worst kiss I’ve ever had.”

Ja-kyung said it to make him feel bad, but his eyes became twisted as if it had worked.

“No way.”

“It’s true. Should I say it cools down the fucking hard dick?”

“We can check it out.”

Il-hyun was clinging to him so he pushed him away and walked out of the dressing room. Park Tae-soo looked at him from the living room. Ja-kyung was irritated for no reason, so he purposefully stepped on the stairs loudly and went upstairs.

***

After asking the staff for water, Ja-kyung waited for Chairman Kang in his study. He didn’t say anything during dinner. However, Ja-kyung couldn’t easily touch the food because he was afraid it was poisoned, and he couldn’t raise his chopsticks until Chairman Kang and Seok-joo started eating.

Time flew by as he sat nervously in his study room. Unlike the one in the living room, there was a picture of the family on the wall that appeared to be quite old. Kang Il-hyun was not difficult to find. He appeared much younger than he is now, and he had a face that said he didn’t want to be photographed.

While he was looking around, the door opened and Chairman Kang entered with a cane. A staff member followed, placed the tea in front of him, and walked away. Chairman Kang took out a thick cigar and lit it as soon as he sat down.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yes… It was delicious.”

“I’m glad you liked it. Would you like to smoke a cigarette?”

“No… I’m okay.”

He let out a friendly smile.

“Actually, what’s the point of learning things that are not good for your body? It’s really hard for me to quit smoking.”

“Yes… haha.”

“I don’t know how stupid humans are. Even if I know, I can’t avoid it.”

Ja-kyung was silent.

“Isn’t it inconvenient to live with Director Kang?”

“As I told you last time, the Director is good to me…”

“I’m glad. I’ll be ashamed of your grandfather if you aren’t comfortable.”

He wondered if he had thought about it. Because as you get older, you become more suspicious.

Whatever it is, he must pretend to be an insider for the time being. He told several stories. From Zhang Yi An’s father to his grandfather Zhang Myung’s relationship.

A secretary entered while they were still smiling and responding appropriately. He was a young man with glasses, and he gave off an unhappy vibe.

“What about the wreath?”

“Yes, I will send it today.”

“Take care of it. It’s Seok-joo’s friend, so I’m not sad.”

That’s right. Chairman Kang looked at Ja-kyung after the man said goodbye and left.

“Do you know him? His name is Choi Ki-tae. You must have seen him while hanging out together with Seok-joo.”

Ja-kyung nodded his head. Yes.

“He was found dead in the office today. I don’t know who it was, but he cut off his head and took it.”

Chairman Kang clicked his tongue and stated the end of the world. Ja-kyung couldn’t think of anything to say. He assumed it was done quietly, but he had no idea Il-hyun would leave the torso in the office. When asked with a slightly surprised expression, Chairman Kang expressed regret.

“He is so young, it’s too bad.”

“You’re right.”

“It’s a scary world. You shouldn’t be like that.”

The hand holding the teacup stopped. Ja-kyung turned to face Chairman Kang. He smiled and tapped the ashtray with the cigar he was holding. The smoke rose and the fire went out. Ja-kyung wondered what he was thinking when he said that.

“Who would have done such a bad thing?”

Chairman Kang looked through Ja-kyung intently. Ja-kyung didn’t try to avoid those stares. He relaxed his eyes as much as he could and pretended to be the innocent Zhang Yi An, asking him a question. Who the hell is that bad guy? Chairman Kang reverted to his good-man image, opened the box, and handed a candy to Ja-kyung.

“I don’t know. But there is a saying that I heard one day.”

“…”

He uttered each word slowly as if carved into his bones, as he looked at Ja-kyung.

“There are people I believe will not harm me. I call them corpses.”

The clasped hands under the table got stronger. Chairman Kang smiled and asked if he knew who told him that saying. Ja-kyung was unable to respond.

Chairman Kang took up the teacup and savored the tea.

“You seem to have a lot of secret time with Director Kang these days.”

It was a direct question as if he knew everything.  Is there a spy among the people working in the house? He kept his mouth shut and didn’t say anything. Chairman Kang then set his teacup down and smiled strangely.

“Don’t trust too much. Whoever it is.”

The smile was so similar to Kang Il-hyun that he realized that he was his father.

***

Steam came up from the coffee cup he was holding. The sky had been dark all afternoon, and rain started pouring down from the sky as if there had been a hole in it. Il-hyun’s eyes looking out the window also resembled that sky. The voice of Chairman Kang, who was in the main house, was being played through the speaker on one side.

[There are people I believe will not harm me. I call them corpses.]

“He is playing.”

Il-hyun blatantly ridiculed Chairman Kang. That’s what he once said to Chairman Kang. Lee Ja-kyung was extremely quiet in the speaker. It was natural for him in the circumstances.

[Don’t believe too much. Whoever it is.]

Il-hyun turned off the speaker and walked over to the sofa. Park Tae-soo was already seated. He was the one who told Chairman Kang about Kang Il-hyun and Zhang Yi An eating together. Chairman Kang invited Zhang Yi An to his home right away. The meal was just an excuse, and doubts were probably sprouting in his mind.

“Will you be all right? The chairman will start to doubt you.”

Il-hyun smiled happily while smoking a cigarette.

“I wish so. That way he would make a move, right?”

Chairman Kang hired a contract killer as a secret deal, and the evidence has been cleared. It wasn’t enough just to get shot. Il-hun must find additional evidence that Chairman Kang is trying to kill him. To do so, he must use the agitated mind. When you are being chased, your heart becomes impatient, and those who are in a hurry tend to make mistakes.