TTD 152

“Do you remember me? Do you remember who I am?”

Il-hyun smiled tenderly.

“How could I ever forget you? What happened to make you look like this? It breaks my heart.”

He caressed Ja-kyung’s cheek, and Ja-kyung happily snuggled into his embrace. Then he suddenly got up and climbed down from the bed. He rushed downstairs to share this joyful news with others, and seeing Ja-kyung’s smile, the housekeeper seemed to intuitively know and spoke first.

“Has the CEO regained his memory?”

“Yes! He remembers me!”

“Congratulations.”

Just then, Kang Yoo-jung arrived and upon hearing the news, she too jumped for joy and hugged Ja-kyung. You’ve been through so much. I’m so glad. I was so worried he wouldn’t be able to function without you, Ja-kyung. At that moment, she felt a chill on the back of her neck, and turning around, she saw Kang Il-hyun had come down the stairs.

“Want to let go?”

At those words, Kang Yoo-jung released Ja-kyung and went to embrace her brother tightly. She had worried that Kang Il-hyun might return to his former life, living without knowing what happiness and joy were, spending his life cutting off people’s fingers.

The dining table was set in an instant, and even while eating, Ja-kyung kept grinning at Kang Il-hyun. Il-hyun didn’t believe that he had lost his memory for nearly a week, but as Ja-kyung told him about what had happened during that time, his expression gradually hardened.

“I’m sorry. Though it wasn’t intentional, I hurt you.”

“It’s okay. I realized something because of it.”

“What?”

Since both the housekeeper and Kang Yoo-jung looked curious, Ja-kyung answered in a small voice.

“That I like you a lot, CEO.”

When he confessed and smiled shyly, Kang Il-hyun tried to suppress his laughter and stretched his leg under the table to touch Ja-kyung’s shin. Then Kang Yoo-jung, who was eating, spoke up.

“Stop it. That’s my leg.”

Il-hyun frowned and clicked his tongue, and everyone burst out laughing. After finishing their meal like that, Ja-kyung shared the news with Wang Han and Wang Lun as well. Both were overjoyed and the atmosphere was excited with talk of having a party in the evening.

***

[Recently, there was an incident where a witness committed suicide due to prosecutorial pressure, but it has shocked people as it was revealed to be murder rather than suicide. Mr. Lee, who handled accounting and legal affairs for mob boss Lee, revealed all related facts and stated he would cooperate fully with the investigation. Meanwhile, Lee, the key figure in the case, has fled and his whereabouts are unknown, with police issuing a warrant. Prosecutor Jang Tae-ho, who had faced public criticism at the time, said that his own unjust treatment wasn’t important and that he was glad the truth had finally come to light, earning support from citizens who called him a true legal professional.]

Wang Lun, watching the news on his phone, grumbled.

“People are so fickle. They were cursing him before, and now they’re all busy praising him as an excellent prosecutor.”

“He is an excellent prosecutor though. Righteous, smart, and cool.”

“Our Wei might have become someone like that too.”

“Hyung, you can say that even after seeing that?”

In the direction Lun pointed, Ja-kyung was hitting a punching bag wearing gloves. These days, Ja-kyung was obsessed with martial arts and practiced whenever he had time. He wanted to find a proper instructor for guidance, but was facing difficulties due to Kang Il-hyun’s strong opposition.

After punching the sandbag for a while, Ja-kyung approached the two while wiping his sweat with a towel. While he was drinking water to wet his throat, they showed him the news again, and a smile spread across his face.

Afterwards, the three went out for lunch and witnessed a construction site. At first, they were just digging soil, but now it was gradually taking shape. They had built a house on the round ground and were digging out all the surrounding soil.

From a distance, it looked somewhat like an island, and Wang Lun must have felt the same as he joked about whether they were making an artificial island there.

“No way. Even if CEO Kang is crazy, an island in a place like this? Nah.”

“Look at it. The shape is exactly like that. If they just fill the surroundings with water, it’ll be a completely isolated island.”

The word ‘isolated’ sent a chill down his spine. Once, Kang Il-hyun had joked about wanting to lock up Ja-kyung whenever he had to go on long overseas business trips.

Surely not. Ja-kyung had dismissed it as a joke, but seeing the site before his eyes made him wonder. It was even more unsettling because Il-hyun wouldn’t give a proper answer when asked. If that was an island and if it was meant for confinement, he would throw a bomb and destroy it.

With that resolution, Ja-kyung came downstairs and was eating when he received a message from Kang Il-hyun. He asked him to bring some documents from the bedroom to the company after lunch. Usually, he would have sent another employee, but the fact that he asked Ja-kyung directly made him feel particularly happy.

Ja-kyung headed to the company humming cheerfully with the documents, and when he parked and entered the lobby, Park Tae-soo had come down to greet him. He was going to just hand over the documents and leave, but he took Ja-kyung up to the 28th floor where Kang Il-hyun’s office was located.

Since it was Ja-kyung’s first time in the company, he felt a bit intimidated and looked around, noticing that everyone passing by greeted Park Tae-soo respectfully. Then Ja-kyung was guided into Kang Il-hyun’s office. Kang Il-hyun, who had been reviewing documents, approached with a bright smile.

“Sorry. I was going to send an employee, but I called you because I wanted to see your face.”

“It’s fine. I was bored anyway.”

As they were about to continue the conversation, the secretary brought in tea and placed it in front of them before leaving. Kang Il-hyun told the secretary not to let anyone in and offered tea to Ja-kyung.

“Drink. It has a nice aroma.”

Instead of drinking the tea, Ja-kyung stood up and looked around. Though he had met him in front of the company many times, it was his first time coming to the office, so it was fascinating.

“Can I look around?”

“Of course.”

The office was the size of a decent house, with one wall lined with unfamiliar books, and art pieces like vases displayed in the middle. While exploring, he went to Kang Il-hyun’s desk and looked outside, taking in the panoramic view of the city.

As he stood there lost in thought, Kang Il-hyun came to join him.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s amazing.”

“Want to work here?”

“Of course, I’d be grateful. If there’s someone you don’t like at the company, I could kill them for you.”

Ja-kyung meant it as a joke, but seeing Kang Il-hyun’s serious expression made him realize he wasn’t joking.

“No way, that’s ridiculous.”

“We can create a position, and we’d get to see each other often, so it’s good for both of us.”

“I don’t want to. What would I even do here?”

Kang Il-hyun looked disappointed, but Ja-kyung had no experience with corporate life and wasn’t interested at all. The only things he knew how to do were shooting and fighting, so what could he do here? Ja-kyung especially didn’t want to just sit like a doll staring at Kang Il-hyun. Kang Il-hyun hugged him and complained about feeling hurt, and Ja-kyung laughed as he pushed him away.

“Instead, I’ll buy you something delicious today. Let’s go on a date before heading home.”

“You think that’s enough to make up for my disappointment?”

Ja-kyung bit his lip slightly and took Kang Il-hyun’s hand, placing it inside his pants. Realizing the texture of Ja-kyung underwear was different from usual, Kang Il-hyun’s gaze changed. His lips curved upward as he slightly pulled down his pants to check the lace. When Il-hyun tried to remove them right away, Ja-kyung pushed his shoulders back. Il-hyun looked impatient.

“I’ll wait nearby. When you finish work then—”

Before Ja-kyung could finish, Kang Il-hyun pressed a button on his phone. As soon as the secretary answered “Yes, CEO,” he spoke.

“I’m leaving for the day. Cancel all afternoon schedules. No, cancel until tomorrow morning.”

Ja-kyung’s mouth fell open as he hurriedly grabbed his jacket. He started to worry.

“Shouldn’t you finish your work before leaving?”

“How can I work when you show up like that?”

He took his hand and walked out. The secretaries smiled naturally and greeted them despite seeing their joined hands. Everyone they passed by greeted them while acting completely normal, which was quite puzzling.

“Let go of my hand, it’s embarrassing. People will talk behind our backs.”

“Everyone already knows you’re my lover.”

No wonder people’s attitudes had been strangely respectful since he arrived. Meanwhile, as soon as Il-hyun got him in the car, he captured his lips. Though the rough kiss made his body heat up, Ja-kyung pushed him away as he didn’t want to do it in the car, so Il-hyun started the engine and drove off. He was so eager that the car flew over speed bumps, making Ja-kyung shake his head and laugh in disbelief.

He regretted not taking the wheel himself, but seeing how much Kang Il-hyun enjoyed it made him think that maybe he could do this kind of event occasionally in the future. Of course, it would only be very occasionally.