WAK 16

Chapter 16

Several days passed. Hana didn’t answer her phone.

Whenever Jeonghan went to find Hana, she was never there, as if she knew he was coming.

Jeonghan grew increasingly irritated because he couldn’t reach Hana. And it showed even at work.

Jeonghan’s office had a wall made entirely of glass. Beyond the blinds behind him, the city lights sparkled.

While flipping through documents, he heard a knock.

Jeonghan lifted his head, his face tense and alert.

“Yes?”

The door opened, and Chief Choi, almost like Jeonghan’s shadow, entered.

“Vice Chairman, I brought the documents you requested.”

Jeonghan frowned as he carefully examined the tablet PC Choi handed him.

He was uneasy about a Hong Kong-based insurance company wanting to invest in Daehan Life. Their team had already visited locally and held meetings, and discussions about the investment were extensive.

Jeonghan was wary of Chinese companies that, backed by capital, bought up everything regardless of industry.

This Hong Kong insurance company, in particular, was known for aggressively investing in foreign companies. Last year, it shocked the world by completely buying a British and an Australian insurance company.

China already had significant investment in Korean financial companies. With Chinese influence spreading across services, there were side effects, so any investment had to be considered carefully from a national security perspective.

> “Check carefully how much of our stock is being sold off.”

Jeonghan gave the instruction without looking away from the documents.

“Yes, understood.”

> “Also, find out if there are any employees connected to Hong Kong.”

If there were a connected spy, it would be hard to find. But Jeonghan’s security team could handle anything.

“By the way, Hyunsu went to Singapore.”

“Yes. I think it was for an investment advisory seminar.”

“Did he meet anyone there?”

“Nothing notable yet.”

“I see.”

Jeonghan pushed the tablet aside and approved the paperwork he had been working on.

It was already well past 11 p.m., but the office lights showed no sign of turning off.

After Choi left, Jeonghan sat alone, pressing his temples as fatigue washed over him.

He leaned back in his chair and turned to look out the window.

> He picked up his phone, intending to call Hana, but then put it back down and stood up.

> She wouldn’t answer anyway.

Jeonghan’s phone rang. Hoping it might be Hana, he snatched it up to check the number.

His hopeful expression froze. It was CEO Yoon Jeongho calling.

“Hello.”

[Is it too late to call?]

“It’s fine. I’m at the office anyway.”

[You must be busy. Somehow, Vice Chairman, you seem busier than our lawyers. Ah, except for Kang Hana.]

Hearing Hana’s name, Jeonghan straightened in his chair.

> “Is Lawyer Kang Hana working late?”

[She’s handling divorce cases alone. Ha!]

Jeonghan’s eyes sharpened.

[Anyway, the legal advisory document for Daehan’s new investment product is ready. I thought you might want it, so I’m calling even at this late hour. I’ll send it to the responsible lawyer right away.]

“Thank you.”

[Let’s go to the field together when you have time.]

“Good.”

Once the call ended, Jeonghan put on his suit, grabbed his phone, and left the office.

> “Are you leaving, Vice Chairman?”

> “Go home.”

He hurried to the elevator.

He hoped workaholic Kang Hana would stay in the office until he arrived. His mind was anxious.

—

As Jeonghan hoped, Hana was in the law firm office. She had a habit of escaping into work or study whenever her mind was troubled.

Since realizing her complicated feelings for Jeonghan, she had been working late every day, constantly battling with work.

Exhausting herself this way cleared her mind, but pushing too hard always had consequences.

Hana set down her documents and closed her eyes. Her eyes were strained from reading too long.

Looking at the clock, it was nearly midnight.

> “When did it get this late?”

She quickly organized her documents and stood up.

Suddenly, a sharp dizziness hit her, and her vision went black.

She stumbled, holding onto the desk. While waiting for the dizziness to pass, something liquid ran from her nose.

At first, she thought it was just a runny nose, but it was thicker.

> “Gasp, blood…!”

Hana panicked. Even during law school exams, she had never had a nosebleed.

—

At that moment, Jeonghan entered the law firm.

He passed the dark shared office and approached Hana’s private office. Light leaked from her office.

When he reached the door, he raised his hand to knock. But behind the frosted glass, he sensed hurried movements.

He heard things crashing and saw her silhouette crouching.

Startled, Jeonghan opened the door, thinking there might be an intruder.

Hana had been fumbling for tissues and accidentally knocked over her electronic clock.

The crashing sound added to the chaos.

> Suddenly, the door swung open.

> Hana looked up, startled, and met Jeonghan’s determined gaze, as if he were catching a thief.

Jeonghan immediately understood and stepped forward, supporting her neck.

Hana flinched at his touch.

> “Don’t tilt your head back.”

His voice came from above. She imagined her face—probably covered in blood.

Overcome with embarrassment, Hana flailed her hands in the air.

> “You’ve been working too hard.”

Jeonghan’s scent reached her as he held her, and memories she had buried surfaced.

Hana twisted away from him.

> “Why? Is something uncomfortable?”

His concern annoyed her.

“I’ll do it… huff huff…”

She grabbed wet wipes from the drawer to clean herself. Her sleeves were dotted with blood.

> “Sit down.”

He helped her sit as she cleaned up. He watched, worried and frustrated that she neglected herself.

He noticed a sandwich pushed to the corner of the desk. She had barely touched it.

> “That’s your dinner?”

> “…Yes.”

Hana cleaned up, then went to wash her hands, pale and miserable.

> “Why did you have to come right then?”

She stomped her feet, frustrated at her own misfortune.

—

Back in the office, Jeonghan ended a phone call, then saw Hana standing at the door, looking exhausted.

> “Done?”

> “Yes.”

“Then let’s go.”

> “Where?”

> “You’ve even had a nosebleed; you’re not working all night, right?”

He handed her jacket, and she awkwardly put it on.

Outside, it was raining. The city streets glistened wet.

Jeonghan drove her to a hanok (traditional Korean house) lit with lanterns in the middle of Seoul.

> “Where is this?”

> “A restaurant.”

They were led to a room overlooking the backyard. No other guests were there.

> “But how are we here?”

Jeonghan smiled subtly. Hana immediately understood—money could make almost anything possible, and Jeonghan was top-tier wealthy.

A middle-aged woman in neat hanbok brought them warm buckwheat tea and soon a full meal. The dishes were light and easy to digest.

> “Eat.”

> “…Thank you.”

Hana hesitated but then tasted the food, pleasantly surprised by its subtle yet rich flavor.

Jeonghan also ate quietly, partly to keep her company. They finished quickly in silence.

> “Done eating?”

> He drove her along the quiet streets of the night.

At a stoplight, he glanced at her. She sat stiffly, uncomfortable.

> “Am I uncomfortable?”

> “No!”

> “Can we stop somewhere briefly?”

> “…Yes.”

She felt uneasy but had no reason to refuse after a nice dinner.

Jeonghan drove to Hannam-dong.

> “This is…”

> The apartment where she had bumped into him a few days ago while collecting compensation for clothes.