JL Ch3.1

Only a Kiss

The factory where I worked operated on a three-shift system: five days of daytime work, two days off, followed by night shifts, then two more days off, and finally, early morning shifts. Our waking hours changed every week, so everyone lived in a state of constant fatigue. Since the machines couldn’t be stopped once they started, there were times I found myself working in a daze, almost unconsciously.

Fortunately, in my last few years there, I was transferred to the materials department and worked regular day shifts, but I still never had a proper break on public holidays. Even on my days off, I couldn’t rest properly. My mother had chronic back problems and found it difficult to do housework, so I had to take over whenever I had time off.

So, beyond making a living, I had no room for leisure. Especially, dating seemed like an unattainable luxury. It’s not that I was miserable because I couldn’t date. Honestly, I didn’t think much about it. Seeing others happy in their relationships only made me wonder, is it really that great? But I did have one curiosity.

‘I like kissing the best.’

‘Oh my, do you even remember your last kiss? It must have been over 30 years since you kissed your husband.’

‘Thirty years? It’s only been 29 years.’

One day, the women at the factory gathered and laughed heartily while talking about kissing. Even though I was there, nobody minded. These women had often talked openly about slightly risqué topics in front of me before. This time, though, it was a bit different. Despite sex being a more explicit topic, they were more embarrassed when talking about kissing.

‘Was your husband your first kiss?’

‘Yes, he was my first for everything. That man was really lucky.’

The woman who answered joked about her husband, but her expression softened when she talked about their first kiss.

‘I met him through my uncle, and he was such a shy guy that it took him a month just to hold my hand.’

‘So, did it take a year for the first kiss?’

‘No, we kissed the day he held my hand. I fell for his boldness. Oh, I was crazy back then.’

Despite shaking her head, she smiled as she reminisced. She wasn’t the only one. They all turned into young girls again while talking about their first kisses, vividly remembering the feelings and sensations even after so many years.

It was fascinating that they could go back and feel those flutters of excitement decades later. That’s why I was curious about the first kiss. And it also confirmed that men should be bold. However, the chance for my first kiss or a bold love never came.

I made excuses about being too busy with everyday life to focus on anything else, but in truth, I wondered if I was just a bit clueless about love. There were people I found attractive and my type, but it never developed into stronger feelings.

That’s why it was so surprising that I found myself liking someone now. Of course, anyone would fall for someone like him. He was overwhelmingly handsome for someone like me, and the kiss… the kiss was incredible.

Smooch.

Each movement of our lips made a wet sound.

Haah.

His breath was loud in my ears. And there was the cool scent of wood. Every breath I took filled my body with his scent, as if it was coloring me deeply. Since I closed my eyes the moment our lips touched, all my other senses became heightened.

His breathing, the movement of his lips, his tongue entering my mouth, even the heartbeat from our pressed chests, all made me drown in a sea of sensations. But the most heightened sensation was in my lips. Initially, his lips devoured mine as if consuming me, then slowed down when my mouth opened.

Even though lips are just flesh that slightly depress when pressed, somehow, when his lips pressed against mine, it felt deeper, soft, and incredibly tender, spreading shivers through me. On top of that, they were hot. His lips, his breath, even his breathing were hot.

Compared to what we did at the entrance, just kissing seemed mild, but I was more embarrassed than then. Unlike at the entrance, I couldn’t hide my embarrassed face in this position. My flushed face must have been noticeable.

Embarrassment and heat rose together, but I didn’t want to stop kissing. Even though it was embarrassing, I wanted to continue. I couldn’t keep my mind straight. Like a child entranced by a piper’s tune, all my attention was stolen by the movements of his lips.

His lips parted mine, sucking and then quickly covering mine again from a different angle. Every time his lips pressed against mine, a sensation like goosebumps spread through my body. It was a different kind of pleasure than climaxing. This stimulation was like a feather tickling me, tantalizing and delicate.

Smooch.

The wet sound resonated every time he sucked on me, thanks to the moisture in our mouths. I tried awkwardly to follow his movements, but I couldn’t keep up with his lead. He was skilled, invading my mouth without hesitation. His hot, soft tongue swirled inside like a sword-wielding master. This unfamiliar, disconcerting intrusion made me involuntarily moan from my throat.

“Yeah.”

His arm pulled me strongly around the waist. Our chests pressed together, and his hard erection pressed against my stomach. Strangely enough, even though we had done such a lewd thing at the front door, confirming his erection again made me so flustered that I tried to pull away. But he held me so tightly that I couldn’t breathe. His hand, which had been on my waist, moved down to my butt, pushing me closer, leaving no space between us. I shuddered involuntarily.

“Haa.”

His breath, expelled inside me, was sticky and wet like saliva. Between our lips, he asked,

“Is this your first time too?”

Half lost in the kiss, with his lips sucking mine, I felt embarrassed to answer. It seemed ridiculous that I had never kissed anyone at my age, even if I hadn’t dated much. He seemed to be good at everything, while I was awkward and stiff, making it all the more embarrassing.

His lips parted slightly then. I opened my eyes, which I had closed. His eyes, looking down at me from such a close distance, were too near and intense. Avoiding his gaze, I answered awkwardly, evading the question.

“Wow, you’re really, really good at this.”

“Not really.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah.”

Not really good? I was shocked. So, it wasn’t because he’d done it many times, but just natural talent? Unbelievable. His large hand cupped my face and lifted it slightly. I had no choice but to meet his gaze again. My face grew hot. I wanted to look away, but he held me firmly, not letting me go. At a distance close enough to feel his breath, he whispered,

“Did you like it?”

“Huh? …Yeah.”

“Want to do more?”

This time, my “yeah” got stuck in my mouth and didn’t come out right. I couldn’t understand why such a short word sounded so suggestive. My face must have turned even redder. When we did that at the front door, I was too excited to think clearly, but kissing closely, face-to-face, kept a low excitement going for a long time, so my rationality was still intact.

Therefore, the embarrassment didn’t fade easily. On one hand, Shin seemed fine, but why was I the only one like this, feeling ashamed? We were both new to this, so why was I the only one feeling so embarrassed? Maybe it was because I liked Shin more?

…That must be it. Unbelievable. I unconsciously licked my lips and lowered my gaze. When I felt my breath growing louder in my ears, his lips touched my ear. His breath became rougher. Since it was near my ear, the sound was too loud. My shoulders stiffened, and I bowed my head further, but his lips persistently followed my face.

“Am I your first kiss?”

The question came through my skin. I gripped his shoulders and pushed with some force.

“I had three shifts, and when I had time off, I had to do housework, help my father, and all that.”

It was a foolish answer that went off-topic, but it was the best excuse I could come up with. Swallowing hard, I turned my head further. His lips were about to nibble my earlobe when suddenly, a hot, wet tongue licked inside my ear.

His tongue even slid slightly into the entrance. The wet sound echoed thunderously inside my ear, giving me goosebumps. I shuddered and pushed him away, startled. Of course, my intent had no effect.

“Don’t do such filthy things.”

“So, this is your first time here too?”

His voice was low and hoarse, like a completely different person.

“…Yeah.”

When I finally managed to answer properly, his lips teased the spot above my temple.

“Here too?”

Yeah, I mumbled barely a word from my throat again. Shin took a deep breath and stopped his lips below my cheekbone. His hand gripped my flesh tightly.

“Am I your first for everything?”

“That factory was really busy. At first, I had three shifts, lots of overtime. I wanted to earn more, so… that’s how it was.”

Swallowing again, only the sound of my gulp echoed loudly. He held me tight without moving. With his face buried in my neck, he stayed still. Being held like this wasn’t bad, but it was hard to breathe.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked cautiously, and he responded without taking his lips off my skin.

“It’s a shame.”

Did he mean it was a waste of time?

“Do you have an appointment?”

His shoulders shook slightly as he held me. I heard his low laughter from my neck. His hand slowly caressed my back, grabbing the back of my head. I figured he was going to kiss me again, and in my nervousness, I blurted out anything that came to mind.

“You’re really strong.”

His eyes filled with curiosity. After a moment, the force holding me eased, and his body pulled away slightly. Only then did I take a deep breath. I felt more nervous looking ahead because I didn’t know where to place my eyes. In front of me was his bare chest, which felt like a solid wall when we were pressed together. As a fellow man, I envied his thick, broad chest, and felt embarrassed about my own frail body.

“But why did you take off your clothes just for a kiss?”

He silently curled his lips into a smile. He leaned in close to my ear and whispered.

“To look good.”

The effect was definitely there. He turned his head, catching my gaze that I had intentionally diverted.

“Do you mind?”

As if I could mind. I couldn’t respond and just parted my lips slightly, and he lifted my wrist to kiss it. The touch was so light it tickled.

“Why do you keep doing that there?”

“It’s the hand you hold your pen with, right? So you’ll think of me while you study.”

My face flushed hot again. He cupped my face with his hand.

“I’ll just kiss you.”

It was the same thing he had said earlier, but this time, it didn’t end there.

“Let’s go to the room.”

I stood there, my mouth half open in a daze, but my answer wasn’t necessary. He grabbed my wrist and briskly led me out of the bathroom and towards his room. I hurried to match his stride, my heart pounding with anxiety and excitement.

Shin naturally exuded the confidence and force I only knew in theory. As the large, high bed came into view, my half-dazed mind snapped back to reality. The bed’s imposing presence was overwhelming. I had no intention of having sex with Shin today, so I hesitated, stammering, “Uh, uh,” and stepped back.

But he didn’t give me time to think. He pulled me towards him in front of the bed, crashing his lips against mine. Unlike the kiss in the bathroom, this one was forceful, prying my mouth open. I briefly resisted, tensing my neck, but his hand ruthlessly grabbed my hair, holding me still.

I couldn’t breathe. Overwhelmed by his dominating force, I opened my mouth, and he sucked hard on my lips. Each movement of his lips was loud and pronounced. This kiss was urgent and rough. His hand continued to caress my back and butt, stopping at my waist to pull me closer to him.

His erection pressed against my stomach. Unlike before, it was rock hard, standing straight up and pressing against my stomach like a brand. He moved his lower body, rubbing his erection against my stomach.

Even though I was overwhelmed by his rough kiss, the sensation of his erection rubbing against my stomach was both lascivious and sexy. Unlike me, he didn’t hide his desire at all. If anything, he seemed to want me to acknowledge it, commanding inside my mouth.

“Wrap your arms around my neck.”

I might have unconsciously followed his command. A moment later, I realized when he easily lifted me up, startling me, making me tighten my arms around his neck. He held me like a child, supporting my butt and spreading legs. He lifted me effortlessly, despite my weight.

How much do I weigh, and yet… I was so shocked that a gasp caught in my throat, but his lips sealed it in. The awkwardness of this position, which I experienced for the first time as an adult, brought a sense of helplessness. There was nothing I could do but cling to him.

His erection pressed against me between my spread legs. My heart pounded even harder. He didn’t stop kissing me, holding my thigh tightly against him. He seemed unable to hold back, thrusting his hips shortly and urgently. Even through our clothes, I could feel his erection rubbing between my legs. An indescribable shiver spread through my lower abdomen.

“Haa.”

A sigh escaped through his clenched teeth. For a moment, he held me tightly, and then the world flipped upside down. My body fell backward, landing on a firm mattress. The tension from hanging in the air dissipated the moment I felt the stable surface beneath me.

His heavy weight pressed down on me, and he focused on kissing me intensely. It was heavy and suffocating. I felt trapped with no escape, not even able to turn my head. Despite his actions being just a kiss, the oppressive feeling of being dominated was overwhelming. However, the awkward fear didn’t last long. The forceful kiss’s intensity quickly overshadowed any fear.

“Mm.”

A sound I didn’t recognize escaped from my throat. Shin’s hand, which had been touching me over my clothes, suddenly pushed up my t-shirt and explored my bare skin. When his hand slid up my side, I shuddered uncontrollably.

“Eep!”

My sides were particularly ticklish, making me react sharply to his touch even amidst the overwhelming sensations of his kiss.

“Why?”

He asked as he persistently rubbed my side, making me squirm.

“Ugh, it’s ticklish.”

“How much?”

“A lot. Please, stop…”

But he didn’t heed my request. Instead, his breathing became rougher as he continued kissing me.

“How about here?”

With that question, his hand slid down from my waist and into my pants. His large hand encompassed my lower abdomen and genitals entirely. He wedged my penis between his fingers and gripped my lower belly.

“Ah!”

This time, I couldn’t hold back the moan that erupted from inside me. It was awkward and disorienting to react this way, leaving me flustered. There was no escape. I squirmed under him, trying to curl my body, but his strength rendered me powerless. He followed my lips with his own, murmuring between kisses, his voice mingled with moist, heavy breaths.

“You’re sensitive.”

“Well, it’s… anyone would be there.”

I mumbled a weak excuse, but every time his hand moved below, my hips jerked reflexively. His touch was overwhelming, making it impossible to think clearly. But isn’t it normal? That area is sensitive for everyone.

I tried to justify my reaction, feeling embarrassed by how hot my entire body felt. He exhaled deeply against my lips, giving a command.

“Lift your hips.”

Hesitantly, I moved my body, and he quickly yanked off my pants and underwear. The force he used to pull off my clothes made my feet hurt where the fabric had caught. The cool indoor air brushed against my now bare lower half. He straightened up, sucking on my lips as he rose.

Freed from his weight, I still found myself unable to move. He knelt over me, looking straight down, and started removing his own pants. The sight left me speechless. I stared blankly at his body, every second and moment filled with embarrassment.

His large, erect penis, brushing against my stomach earlier, now stood fully exposed. It was hard and pointed upward, exuding a potent masculinity. Seeing it clearly for the first time, my face burned with heat. The forcefulness must come from there, I thought numbly.

“…It’s so big.”

“Not really.”

What?

“Don’t be scared.”

I looked up at him with wide eyes. I hadn’t been scared, but his words now instilled a sense of fear. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason, but my instincts told me to feel apprehensive. Maybe it was the sheer overload of events happening today that had my brain in a frenzy.

He lifted my upper body, pulling my t-shirt over my head. Emerging from the brief darkness of the shirt, I found myself in a new situation. He effortlessly lifted me again, placing me on his thigh.

I sat with my knees bent. It felt awkward since I had never straddled anything like this before. But there was no time to dwell on such thoughts. He grabbed my buttocks, pulling me closer to him. I grabbed his arm to avoid falling, gripping tightly. Our lower bodies touched. Bare skin to bare skin, our genitals met.

I had already experienced several moments today where my rationality stretched to the breaking point, snapping suddenly. But never had my mind felt as blank as it did now. Breathing heavily, I felt my body tremble with each thudding heartbeat.

“You said just kissing.”

“Yeah.”

He confirmed, pressing his lips against mine. While kissing, he guided my hand to grasp his penis. Caught off guard, my hand encircled the hot, solid shaft. He took a deep breath, his tongue roughly exploring my mouth.

“Just kissing.”

Despite his murmured words, he placed his hand over mine, making it move. I knew how to masturbate as naturally as eating, yet rubbing his penis under his guidance felt entirely foreign.

But instinctively, I understood everything happening between Shin and me. My breathing quickened, my chest heaving. With each rapid breath, a sharp sensation gathered in my own penis. Amidst my confusion, arousal steadily built, until I was half-erect.

Oddly, touching his penis excited me. As I started to move my hand voluntarily, he released his grip and grasped my penis instead. The moment he did, I bent over, trembling.

Though I’d experienced this once at the entrance, the stimulation from another’s hand was dizzying. Even as I inhaled sharply, his lips didn’t let me go. Instead, he stroked my penis more firmly, delving deeper with his tongue.

“Mm, ah, ugh…”

I hadn’t expected such obscene sounds to come from my mouth. Once released, the moans couldn’t be stopped, emerging every time he stroked my penis. When he gripped both shafts and stroked them together, my embarrassment vanished, replaced by louder moans.

“Ah! Oh…ah!”

His hard, hot penis was velvet-smooth, the taut skin pulling as it rubbed against mine. Each brush of his pulsing arousal against my own sent tremors through my lower abdomen. The pleasure was overwhelming.

The sharp, prickling sensations gathered in my abdomen, mingling pleasure with a sense of urgency. It grew like a snowball inside me, making my heart race.

Every strong stroke of his hand rubbed our penises together, sending shivers down my spine. The simple act of holding and moving them up and down consumed my entire being. Transparent fluid, likely mine, oozed from my penis, making wet sounds as his hand moved.

“Open your mouth,” he commanded. His lips pursued mine, heated breath washing over me as I complied. Every touch with him felt hot, but his words ignited my body further.

“Why are you so sensitive, huh?”

It was mortifying. Yet, as his hand moved faster, I couldn’t hold back the moans escaping my lips.

“Ah, ugh, ah…!”

With rapid, final strokes, the built-up tension in my penis suddenly coiled into a tight ball before bursting explosively.

“Ah! Ah, ah…”

I gripped his shoulder tightly, trembling. Each spurt of fluid from my penis sent convulsions through my abdomen. It was the most intense climax I’d ever experienced, leaving my mind blank. I didn’t even feel embarrassed about climaxing in his hand.

But I was the only one finished. Suddenly, he pushed me down onto the bed, my legs spread awkwardly over his thighs. Trying to rise was futile; his hand pressed down on my chest, keeping me in place. He began stroking his own penis, not yet having ejaculated. It was swollen and dark, veins standing out prominently.

As my rationality slowly returned post-orgasm, so did my embarrassment. My face grew even redder. Watching him masturbate over me felt more suffocating than his touch had been. Though his hand only held me down, the message was clear: watch me.

Despite being able to turn my head, I couldn’t. The sheer dominance in his gaze pinned me in place.

I could only breathe heavily. The only sound in the room was the slick noise of him stroking his penis, wet with my fluids. At some point, I stopped breathing while his breath grew quicker. I could see him reaching his climax clearly. His chest heaved, and a short, low moan escaped his lips as his brow furrowed.

“Ugh.”

His muscular lower abdomen twitched, his lower body convulsing briefly beneath me. Hot liquid splashed onto my stomach. Shin squeezed the last drops from his long shaft with a few more firm strokes, then inhaled deeply, his chest swelling. He exhaled heavily, not breaking eye contact with me.

Only after his climax did he remove his hand from my chest, leaning down to give me a quick kiss. He lifted his head, looking at me closely. His black eyes were filled with a dark, intense desire. His hand, wet with his fluids, slid between my buttocks. I flinched, my eyes widening with surprise and fear. His voice came out rough and broken.

“I’ll only kiss you.”

But contrary to his words, he spread his fluids around my anus with his fingers, suddenly slipping a fingertip inside. A scream echoed within me. It was then that the doorbell rang.

Kim Shin

Sunday, 5:50 AM. People gathered at the hospital for one apparent reason: the company’s owner, referred to as Chairman Noh, was in critical condition. Though they all seemed to be there out of concern for him, their true intentions differed.

Chairman Noh had an unusual obsession with land. He only bought land and collected buildings as if shopping for them. Despite his immense wealth, few knew his company’s name. The company’s sole business was real estate leasing.

All these assets belonged solely to Chairman Noh. He had almost no family to share his wealth with. Though he amassed a fortune so large people called him a money ghost, he had no luck with family. An orphan, he grew up to marry a kind and beautiful woman who left him early, leaving behind one daughter.

That daughter, resembling her mother, was Chairman Noh’s only joy. He would do anything for her. However, she also died young, leaving behind a young son. The only blood relative left for Chairman Noh was his grandson. The executives gathered at the hospital were waiting for this grandson.

“Why did he go home when Chairman Noh is in such a critical condition? Shouldn’t he have stayed at the hospital all night?”

None of the executives had ever seen the young man who might become the new owner of the company. They had come at the secretary’s call to make an impression, but the person in question was absent. Everyone looked at the chairman’s secretary, who had been dozing in a corner and opened his eyes at their gaze.

“Chairman Noh’s condition was stable last night. That’s why he went home briefly.”

The secretary defended the grandson, but no one believed him, laughing dismissively. Briefly, my foot. He probably couldn’t stand it even for a moment. Everyone had an idea of what he might be like based on his mother.

“It’s a relief if he didn’t go off to do drugs.”

One executive sneered, and another laughed.

“If it were alcohol or women, maybe, but not drugs. I heard he was a cop.”

“Being a cop means he can hide it better. Blood doesn’t lie.”

They nodded in agreement. Yes, blood doesn’t lie.

“But if he became a cop, he can’t be all bad, right?”

“Who says he’ll stay a cop? Once he gets his hands on Chairman Noh’s wealth, he might quit even being President. Right?”

The speaker looked at the secretary, who provided a brief update after surveying the executives.

“He already quit the police.”

A moment of displeasure flashed across the executives’ faces. They had little information about the grandson. After his daughter’s death, the grandson was raised by his father, who had a terrible relationship with Chairman Noh. Meetings between the chairman and his grandson were rare and eagerly anticipated.

Because of this, and perhaps due to losing his daughter early, Chairman Noh kept his grandson hidden and cherished, rarely talking about him. However, the cherished grandson not staying even one night while his grandfather lay critically ill didn’t sit well with them. It only reinforced their bias. After all, hadn’t Chairman Noh’s daughter been notorious for causing trouble?

“The young guy isn’t planning to run the company himself, is he?”

“He already quit the police, didn’t he?”

Everyone felt bitter. One of them directly asked the secretary.

“Do you really not know anything about him? What’s his personality like?”

“I’ve only met him a few times.”

“What was your impression of him?”

“He’s taciturn.”

Taciturn? Is he shy? Timid? Despite growing up with his father, it was possible that his grandfather’s overprotectiveness could have made him like that. So, he probably led a simple public servant’s life. Everyone speculated about the grandson in their own ways when suddenly someone appeared, hurrying down the corridor.

Everyone stood up in anticipation, but it wasn’t the grandson they expected. However, the tension in the room grew because it was Chairman Noh’s lawyer. His presence indicated that Chairman Noh’s condition was indeed serious.

The lawyer, in a hurry, only nodded briefly in greeting before rushing into the hospital room. The gathered executives tried to peek into the room but were blocked by the private security guards, who allowed no glimpse inside. There wasn’t anyone who would truly mourn if Chairman Noh died. The real issue was the critical contract negotiation deadline by tomorrow.

A prominent company, A Corporation, had long tried to purchase a piece of land from Chairman Noh, known as the golden site in the city center. This land, which he bought early in his career, was particularly cherished, and all previous offers from A Corporation had been rejected.

However, due to recent health issues and a change of heart, Chairman Noh had initiated talks about selling the land. If the deal went through, it would be one of the most significant transactions in the country. But Chairman Noh collapsed before signing the contract.

Rumors of him being on the brink of death spread. The deal was so massive that everyone involved stood to gain a substantial commission if it succeeded. Therefore, the deal had to go through. Despair set in when they heard about Chairman Noh’s critical condition, thinking the deal was doomed again. Then, suddenly, a new decision-maker emerged.

Information came that Chairman Noh intended to leave this matter to his grandson. Perhaps he wanted to prepare him for inheriting his wealth as his death approached.

But no matter how brave someone was, the scale of this deal would intimidate anyone. They needed to push the grandson at the right moment. This was the real reason the executives gathered at the hospital so early.

Click-clack.

Everyone turned at the sound of footsteps. Their first thought was, ‘Who is it?’ The approaching figure was tall. Some tall people shrink to avoid attention, but not him. He was completely unfazed by the stares, exuding an imposing presence. It wasn’t just his physique; his cold gaze made everyone flinch. His first impression was overwhelming. They wondered if he was a new bodyguard. Despite their speculations, they couldn’t help but feel cautious. But then, the secretary ran over to him.

“Please go in. The lawyer just arrived as well.”

Why is the secretary saying that to him? They only wondered briefly before he passed them and entered the hospital room. The guard who had checked the lawyer’s ID bowed and opened the door for him willingly. The executives, dumbfounded, watched until the door closed.

“No way, that person…”

“Yes, he is Chairman Noh’s grandson.”

The secretary’s words hit them like a hammer. That person? He didn’t seem like a troublemaker, nor was he timid or a simple public servant.

He seemed rather formidable, like someone heading into battle. The executives, with hardened expressions, stared at the closed door. No one spoke until it opened again.

Director Hong held a senior position but had been doing the same job for 20 years—assisting Chairman Noh. It was time to pass on duties to the secretarial team, but no one understood Chairman Noh’s moods better than he did. Even now, as Chairman Noh lay with an oxygen mask, he recognized the situation.

“Thank you for coming back, even at this early hour.”

Director Hong greeted him, but Chairman Noh’s grandson silently stared down at his grandfather. His reaction was starkly different from the concern he showed when he first received the call last night. Director Hong, observing him, added cautiously.

“Chairman Noh would be pleased to know you’re here.”

Kim Shin glanced at him, making Director Hong’s heart skip a beat. The question slipped out involuntarily.

“Did something bad happen?”

As soon as he asked, he realized how foolish his question was. The grandson had been at the hospital since last night, only leaving late to catch a couple of hours of sleep before returning. It was unlikely anything bad had happened in that short time.

However, the atmosphere was quite strange. Although nothing showed on his face, a chilling aura permeated the room. His silent presence only heightened the tension.

“I’m sorry to have woken you up so early. His condition suddenly worsened. The doctors were adamant that we need to monitor even the smallest reactions closely, especially right after his surgery last week,” Director Hong explained.

Despite Director Hong’s words, Kim Shin remained unmoved. Even the lawyer, who had arrived earlier, sensed the unusual atmosphere and exchanged a concerned look with Director Hong. Is Chairman Noh’s condition really that bad?

“It’s not so critical as to cause alarm, but as you know, Chairman Noh hasn’t fully recovered yet. His condition could deteriorate suddenly, so we called you just in case,” Director Hong continued.

There was still no response. Director Hong, worried that Kim Shin might bore a hole into Chairman Noh’s face with his intense stare, felt uneasy until Kim Shin finally spoke.

“He’s wearing an oxygen mask?”

“Yes, on the doctor’s advice…”

“Even after the surgery, he only used a nasal cannula and was breathing on his own for a week without any device. Did his respiratory condition suddenly worsen in the last few hours?”

Director Hong, who had learned to hide his surprise after many years as a secretary, was momentarily at a loss for words. He responded a beat late.

“The doctors must have prescribed it because they deemed it necessary. They said it’s not as severe as last week’s situation.”

Despite Director Hong’s explanation, Kim Shin didn’t take his eyes off his grandfather’s face.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Kim Shin?”

“I wondered if the mask was to cover his face.”

“Why would Chairman Noh want to cover his face? He’s unwell and resting.”

Director Hong tried to clear up the misunderstanding with an awkward smile. But perhaps because Kim Shin was staring so intently, the supposedly unconscious Chairman Noh groaned and turned his head to the side.

Director Hong glanced at Kim Shin and then looked at the lawyer for help. The lawyer, who had been silently questioning what was happening with his eyes, stepped forward.

“It would be a big problem if Chairman Noh doesn’t wake up. The executives are all here because of tomorrow’s contract.”