As the day went on, Kiyonari underwent a series of medical tests to ensure that his injuries hadn't caused any lasting damage. One after another, the results came back stable, no complications and no internal issues. By the end of it, the doctors were satisfied. He was cleared.
Soo-hyun shifted slightly on his bed, leaning back against the pillows as he watched the man. "So they said you're good to go?" He asked.
"Yes," Kiyonari replied with a small nod. "Thankfully, despite the injuries, there's nothing critical. They said once my wounds fully heal, I can return to work immediately."
"That's good to hear," Soo-hyun said, nodding faintly. "But don't rush it. Take it easy for now."
"Of course," Kiyonari smiled. Then, after a brief pause, he leaned forward slightly.
"How about you, Director?"
"Hm?" Soo-hyun turned his gaze toward him.
"How are you doing?" Kiyonari asked with softening tone. "I heard from Dr. Seon that your condition worsened..." His hand clenched slightly. "... because you were forced to take those drugs."
Soo-hyun blinked once, then let out a quiet, bitter scoff. "Those bastards really wanted to paralyze me that badly," he said flatly. "That way I wouldn't be able to resist whatever they planned."
His expression darkened for a moment before easing. "But I didn't give in. So... you could say I'm feeling better now."
"Really?" Kiyonari asked, his voice quieter now and almost hesitant. "Are you really okay, sir?"
Soo-hyun gave a small nod. "Do you not trust Dr. Seon's ability to fix my defective body?" He replied, tone calm but edged with something colder.
Kiyonari stiffened, immediately shaking his head. "No, no, that's not what I meant, sir. I just—"
Soo-hyun sighed, cutting him off. "I understand that you're worried about me, Mr. Soo. But you don't have to be anymore."
"..."
"I'm alive. I'm talking to you just fine. Isn't that enough to tell you I'm better now?"
Kiyonari fell silent.
He simply stared. At a glance, Soo-hyun looked fine—calm even, almost untouched by what had happened. No one would ever think he had been kidnapped, drugged, and nearly broken. But beneath that surface... there was something unreadable Kiyonari couldn't quite grasp. And that alone made him uneasy.
Later, Kiyonari found himself sitting on a bench outside the hospital, in a quiet garden area where patients often went to fresh air. The breeze was gentle, the surroundings peaceful though his thoughts were anything but that.
He exhaled softly, leaning forward slightly as if carrying an invisible weight. After that conversation, Soo-hyun had dismissed him and since then, they hadn't spoken again.
Dr. Seon had mentioned that Soo-hyun would need a few more days before being release. But instead of reassuring him, it only made Kiyonari more worried.
Just one more day... I'll be discharged tomorrow, he thought. And I still haven't talked to Director Je again since that day.
His gaze lowered. I wonder how he's doing right now...
Footsteps approached quietly. "Why the long face?"
Kiyonari lifted his head at the recognizable voice, looking at a familiar face.
"Oh... it's you," he said. "Detective Lee."
"Hi there," Wukyeong greeted with a playful wink. "Nice to see you too, Mr. Soo."
Kiyonari rose to his feet as soon as the man got close, bowing his head politely. "It's nice to see you too," said with quiet sincerity.
Wukyeong waved a hand dismissively, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Hey, no need for that. That's way too polite."
"C'mon, just sit down."
Kiyonari hesitated for a brief second before complying, lowering himself back onto the bench. Even then, he sat upright, posture straight and composed as ever. Wukyeong dropped down beside him with far less formality, leaning back slightly as his gaze drifted toward Kiyonari's arm.
"Whoa... how's your arm?" He asked, nodding toward the cast.
Kiyonari glanced at it briefly. "It's alright now," he replied. "I just finished some tests earlier. They said I'm good to go. I'll be discharged tomorrow."
Wukyeong's expression brightened almost instantly. "That's great, Mr. Soo. I'm glad it didn't turn into anything serious."
Kiyonari smiled faintly. "By the way, what are you doing here, Detective Lee?"
"Just call me Wukyeong, man," he said casually. "I actually went to visit your room to check on you, but they told me you were out here. So I came looking and found you sitting here, sighing like the world's about to end."
Kiyonari blinked, then let out a small, sheepish grin. "I was just getting some air," he explained. "It's not my first time in a hospital but... it still feels stuffy."
Wukyeong chuckled. "Yeah, I get it."
They shared a brief light laugh, the tension easing between them.
"Anyways," Wukyeong continued, shifting slightly. "I got a call saying you finally woke up. Honestly, you almost gave me a heart attack back there collapsing like that. And then I found out you'd been shot in the back too..."
His head shook with a half-smile. "Still, I had a feeling you'd pull through even after being knocked out cold for four days."
Reaching to his side and pulled out a small red shopping bag and placed it between them. "That's why I got you this!" He said with a bright grin.
Kiyonari looked down at it, eyes widening slightly. "Red ginseng tea...?" He murmured, both confused and surprised.
"Yeah," Wukyeong nodded. "It's pretty well-known. I heard it helps with recovery, boosts energy, and can improve blood circulation... stuff like that. Good for someone who just lost a ton of blood," he added lightly. "So give it a try, alright?"
Kiyonari looked a bit flustered, scratching his cheek faintly. "You really didn't have to bring me anything."
"Come on now," Wukyeong said, resting his arms casually along the back of the bench. "You expect me to show up empty-handed after all that? Not happening."
A wider smile spread across Kiyonari's face this time. "Thanks... I appreciate it."
Wukyeong blinked, then let out an amused snicker. "Now that's more like it. You're finally talking to me casually. I like it!"
Before Kiyonari could react, Wukyeong reached over and casually ruffled his hair. "Say my name this time. Go on—Wukyeong!"
Kiyonari immediately brushed his hand away, frowning. "What? I can't possibly do that."
"Why not?"
"Because we're not that close."
"Meh," Wukyeong shrugged dismissively. "What's the difference? We can just get to know each other and be close."
Kiyonari shot him a sidelong glance. "Now you're starting to gross me out."
Wukyeong burst out laughing.
*****
Kiyonari looked straight ahead, surprise flickering across his face. "There were that many people involved?"
Wukyeong let out a sharp breath and nodded. "Yeah. A lot of them were elites. People with money, power, names everyone would recognize." He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on his knees. "But don't worry too much. Thanks to your help, the investigation's moving smoothly."
He reached over and gave Kiyonari a firm pat on the back, a wide grin stretching across his face.
Kiyonari let out a quiet breath and shook his head. "What is there to thank me for? It's all because of you. This operation only worked cause you spent almost a year undercover, didn't you?"
"Oh, come on!" Wukyeong groaned dramatically. "Give yourself some credit, will you?"
Kiyonari only offered a small shrug and a faint smile. "I don't think I deserve that credit."
"Even though you were the one who saved Director Je?" Wukyeong asked this time, tone firmer.
Kiyonari blinked at him. His expression shifted, the small smile fading as he looked away.
"Ever since I woke up," he began quietly, "I've had people come up to me saying I deserve some kind of reward for saving my boss... when honestly, I probably should've just let the police handle everything."
Wukyeong stayed silent, letting him speak.
"And believe it or not," Kiyonari continued, his voice lowering, "I didn't do it because I wanted something in return."
A brief pause passed. His fingers tightened slightly against his lap.
"That's what I'd like to say." He let out a soft, humorless laugh. "But... some people wouldn't take it that way, and would think otherwise."
He ran a hand through his hair and lowered his head. Makes me think how they could think so low of someone like me.
"I almost got him killed..." His voice grew quieter. "I guess, I'm just glad I was the one who got shot instead of him."
A bitter smile curled at the corner of his lips. This time, when Wukyeong patted his back, it was much gentler.
"I think I get it," he said softly. "You did it out of goodwill, or maybe because of your feelings. But no matter what your reason was, people will always misunderstand it."
Kiyonari turned to look at him.
"Honestly, I have a fair share of people thinking the same way when I do my job right that includes saving an elite in distress."
Wukyeong smiled not teasing, warm and sincere.
"But for what it's worth," he said, "I think you did the right thing."
Silence settled between them again. But it wasn't uncomfortable.
The late afternoon sun stretched golden light across the small hospital garden, warming the stone paths and the bench beneath them. Leaves swayed softly in the breeze, and somewhere nearby, the faint sound of birds filled the quiet air. It was peaceful, the kind of calm that made the world feel slower and lighter... if only for a little while.
*****
The next day began quietly, the hospital wrapped in its usual calm, soft footsteps echoing along the halls, hushed conversations, the steady rhythm of a place meant for healing. But that fragile peace was soon disrupted.
A group of tall men in black suits strode down the corridor, their presence alone enough to draw attention. Their movements were synchronized, deliberate and at the center of them walked a man whose aura commanded silence. There was something cold and undeniably intimidating about him that made people instinctively step aside.
Whispers began to spread among the staff. It was rare to see him in person, despite his name being well-known for years, especially in the business world.
They came to halt in front of a VIP room. With a slight gesture from the man, one of the bodyguards stepped forward and opened the door without hesitation. Inside, Dr. Seon turned toward the sudden intrusion and froze.
Her eyes widened in shock as if they might fall right out of place. "Ah...! You're..." she managed, but the rest of her words caught in her throat. She quickly stood up straight and greeted the man with a deep bow.
"Hello, headmaster. It's nice to see you, sir."
Soo-hyun, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed. If anything, his face looked almost expectant and had known this would happen. It was only matter of time.
"You can go now, Dr. Seon," Soo-hyun said calmly, voice steady. "I have a guest. We can continue our discussion later."
Dr. Seon hesitated, clearly unsettled by the sudden appearance. She let out a quiet sigh before preparing to leave.
"You don't have to go, Dr. Seon." The man had stepped inside.
"Huh?" She paused, blinking in confusion.
"I didn't come here just for the patient," he continued, his tone firm yet controlled as he walked further into the room. "I also need to speak with you regarding his condition."
Soo-hyun's gaze followed him, expression unreadable as he pressed his lips together slightly. He batted his eyelashes as and spoke. "It's good to see you too, father."
There was no warmth in his voice. No relief. Just a flat almost detached acknowledgement.
Yes, indeed, the man standing before him was none other than Je Doohyuk—the CEO of Soo Electronics. And Soo-hyun's father.
[Moments later]
"Pardon, sir?" Dr. Seon tilted her head slightly, unstable to hide the confusion in her expression. Still uncertain how the situation had turned into this. One moment she had been checking patient charts, and now seated across from the CEO himself in her office, having what felt less like a conversation and more like an interrogation.
Je Doohyuk shifted in the chair with quiet authority, settling more comfortably as he crossed one leg over the other and leaned back. Even in silence, his presence filled the room.
"Like I said, Doctor," he repeated calmly, voice smooth and controlled, "is there any way we can make Soo-hyun's pheromones stronger? And have his heat come earlier."
Her eyes blinked once. She was utterly baffled and stunned. Of all the things she expected to hear from him, that had not been one of them.
On the surface, it sounded like concern as though he cared deeply about Soo-hyun's condition. But knowing the Je Group, an ambitious family, calculating, always viewing people as assets before individuals. His question felt less like concern and more like strategy.
It unsettled her immediately.
Still, she maintained a professional smile, carefully masking the discomfort. "Um... no, there are no other methods" she answered cautiously. "Doing this impulsively, that's not something I can simply prescribe to Director Je."
Doohyuk's gaze sharpened. "So there is."
Dr. Seon stiffened faintly under the coldness in his eyes.
"... May I ask why you want to know, sir?"
He stared at her in silence for a moment, unreadable.
Then, slowly, he lowered his foot to the ground and let out a quiet breath.
"I assigned you to be his private doctor," he said, tone still calm but heavier now. "I trust you're doing your best to find a solution for us... sooner rather than later, Dr. Seon,"
Her stomach tightened. Those words weren't just words. It was a warning. A clear reminder that if progress was delayed any further, her position could disappear just as easily.
Dr. Seon swallowed hard and said quickly. "Of course, it will be done as soon as possible. But I need you to understand, forcing that process more efficiently isn't really possible."
"Then," he replied without missing a beat, "is there any way we can make it happen faster?"
Dr. Seon exhaled quietly, already regretting the answer she was about to give.
"This is something I wouldn't recommend," she said carefully. "Especially if you have... other plans for Soo-hyun."
Doohyuk's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you trying to imply, Doctor?"
She cleared her throat softly, choosing the to say words with precision.
"Well..." she began, "It's the only solution I can think of."
Doohyuk said nothing and simply listened.
The silence stretched long enough to make the room feel smaller.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Doohyuk stood from the chair and adjusted the buttons on his coat with an unreadable expression.
"We'll discuss this further next time, Doctor," he said. "I apologize but I can't stay long."
"No." Dr. Seon replied, standing as well. "It's alright, sir. I know how busy you are."
As Doohyuk made his way toward the door, he paused. "Oh, that's right."
Head turned slightly over his shoulder.
"I was informed that there were two people from the incident admitted here."
The doctor's pulse quickened.
"Hm?"
"I'm curious about someone named Soo Kihyun." His eyes settled on her. "Do you know anything about him?"
She flinched just barely.
Then flashed a smile. "Oh, you mean Director Je's newly appointed secretary," she said smoothly. "I don't know much about him. Soo-hyun recently just told me that he hired another one after his former secretary left."
Doohyuk's gaze lingered.
"Is that so?" He asked, tone carrying quiet suspicion.
Dr. Seon's smile widened just enough.
"I just thought you would've already knew about him, since he was hired by the Je Group."
Doohyuk barely sneered. "You're right. It must've been my great wife's doing then." He flashed a polite smile before leaving though the door.
"Thank you for your time, Dr. Seon."
"Please take care on your, sir." Head bowed in a polite manner.
Finally, Dr. Seon could breath easy as she sighed deeply in relief.
Crap! For a moment there I thought, I'd suffocate just from speaking to him. She thought to herself.