Chapter 31
“You liked that, remember.”
After hanging up, Woogyeong spoke casually as he cleared the table.
Of course—there was no way someone with a memory like his would have forgotten that day.
You know exactly what a selfish bastard I am. I’m done with being considerate. I’ll do this my way.
From the day he declared that, he had acted like someone walking straight toward her without hesitation.
And she hadn’t hated him for it.
“…Yes. It was good.”
Eunjae nodded and met his gaze.
It was a relationship she had severed against her will. No matter how hard she tried to forget and run, somehow, they had circled back to each other.
She knew they could never truly be together. Still, just once—
Somewhere it was only the two of them. No outside interference. No complicated thoughts.
It should be okay to sit face-to-face with someone you once loved and share a meal.
“…I wanted to come back to Busan again someday. I guess I got the chance.”
At her quiet addition, Woogyeong slowly closed and opened his eyes.
“A chance, huh.”
He rolled her words over in his mind, his expression unreadable as he pressed his lips together.
Room service soon arrived. They sat across from each other with steaming abalone seaweed soup bubbling between them.
“Looks delicious.”
After starving all day, the first bite tasted almost sweet. Eunjae eagerly scooped glossy rice into her mouth.
Woogyeong slid the neatly arranged side dishes toward her.
Soon, even the abalone from his stone pot found its way into her bowl.
“Ah… Prosecutor, you should eat.”
With her cheeks puffed full, Eunjae tried to stop him, but he transferred the rest of the abalone to her soup.
“I don’t need that.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, not refusing. She knew it was useless to protest.
He had always given her the best parts.
The tender fish meat, ribs with the bones removed, peeled shrimp, pasta meticulously stripped of shell fragments.
When they ate cake, even the chocolate decorations on top were hers.
Watching him now felt like stepping back in time.
Eunjae cleared her throat lightly, dispersing the soft, ticklish warmth rising inside her.
“Are you going to keep working after dinner? It’s the weekend.”
“Maybe. What about you?”
“I’m going to the club.”
His eyes sharpened instantly, mid-scoop. Eunjae waved her hands quickly.
“No, not to party! I mean, to look for my bag… the one those guys threw yesterday.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I can just go alone real quick.”
“Jung Eunjae.”
“Ah, then… please come with me.”
He resumed eating, then suddenly looked up again.
“But don’t wear that weird dress.”
“Was it that bad?”
“Yeah. It suits you too well. Annoys me. So don’t wear it.”
“Huh? Oh. Okay.”
Was that a compliment or anger? She couldn’t tell. Either way, she didn’t have the courage to wear that embarrassing outfit in front of him again.
Peace finally settled between them. Eunjae quietly chewed, stealing glances at him.
Why did this feel like sneaking off to a club and getting caught by your boyfriend?
Still, she was relieved. She hadn’t dared ask him to come along, worried he was too busy and tired. But having him there would make her feel safe.
“Prosecutor, while we’re out… can I go somewhere else too?”
“Where now.”
“Just around… near Gwangalli. It seems fun. Ah! But actually, never mind. We can just find the bag and come back to rest.”
As soon as she said it, she regretted it and hurriedly backtracked.
Because a man and woman wandering Gwangalli Beach on a weekend night looking for something fun… that was basically a date.
“Got money?”
He ignored her long explanation entirely.
“Nope. Just your card.”
“Then we’ll go together.”
“Uh… okay.”
Everything was settled simply. The club. The beach. All with him.
Eunjae quickly finished the rest of her meal.
Maybe it was being in such a tight space with a large man, but her stomach kept fluttering, and she wanted to get outside.
“Wow. There are so many people!”
The energy of Gwangalli on a weekend night was overwhelming. Eunjae looked around excitedly like a puppy out for a walk.
“What’s over there? So many people gathered.”
On the beach, a crowd stood gazing up at the sky. Something seemed about to begin.
Eunjae grabbed Woogyeong’s thick arm and slipped into the crowd, momentarily forgetting about the club.
“Oh! It must be a drone show!”
Soon, music played and hundreds of sparkling drones rose in formation into the night sky.
A bright red heart formed, then shifted into the shape of a couple embracing.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Most of the people there were couples holding hands or linking arms.
Would we look like a normal couple to them too?
Eunjae glanced at Woogyeong beside her.
The bangs he usually slicked back neatly at the prosecutor’s office now fell naturally over his dark brows. He looked young enough to be mistaken for a college student.
Maybe it was the white round-neck T-shirt and black slacks instead of his sharp suits.
Then she realized her outfit matched his almost exactly.
Instead of the halter dress, she had chosen a simple white short-sleeved T-shirt and black pants.
What do I do? We look like we’re wearing couple outfits.
Of course, she was the only one embarrassed. He seemed not to care at all.
The music changed, and the drones moved faster.
The couple shape transformed into a massive diamond ring.
The white lights glittering against the dark sky looked like real jewels.
“Wow…”
Mesmerized, Eunjae stared upward as if the Milky Way were pouring down.
The show reached its climax. The drones created intricate shapes before swooping downward like meteors toward the audience.
Eunjae clapped enthusiastically, smiling brightly.
“It’s really pretty, isn’t it?”
Her clear eyes shone as she looked up at him.
It had been a while since he’d seen that innocent smile. Jung Eunjae usually shrank back or avoided his gaze around him.
Did she put stars in her eyes or something?
It sounded childish even in his own head, but he couldn’t think of another way to describe it.
“Yeah. It’s pretty.”
“….”
“Pretty.”
His gaze was fixed on her.
Her clear eyes trembled violently, and she quickly turned her head away.
Even in the dark, he could see the flush spreading down her pale neck.
When the drone show ended, Woogyeong quickly led her away from the crowd.
The club where the incident had happened was only five minutes away on foot.
They walked silently, watching the lights of Gwangan Bridge shimmer.
When they arrived, the club entrance was chaotic with people. Woogyeong pushed through the dressed-up crowd to clear a path.
As soon as they stepped inside, yesterday’s fear resurfaced. She could almost feel the burning pain on her scalp again.
I’m glad I came with him.
Eunjae kept her eyes on his broad back as she walked.
Surprisingly, her clutch was easy to find.
“Oh! That’s mine!”
On the counter in a wide inner area, her clutch sat among other lost items.
After explaining the situation to the staff and retrieving it, she immediately turned toward the exit with Woogyeong.
“Shall we go now?”
They were done, and she wanted fresh air as soon as possible.
But then—
“…!”
Do Seungjun was walking in with his men. Both of them froze.
The official investigation had ended yesterday. If it was discovered that a prosecutor and investigator were still wandering around the club, it would be a problem.
They were secretly digging into his connection with Oh Hyeju.
“This way.”
The moment Woogyeong saw him, he pulled Eunjae toward the wall.
Do Seungjun lingered at the entrance with his men, blocking it for a while.
“Another exit?”
“I didn’t see one. When I ran yesterday, even the beach side was blocked.”
They spoke close to each other’s ears to be heard over the music, their breaths brushing skin.
To make matters worse, people kept passing in front of them, forcing them closer and closer.
Then suddenly, mid-conversation, Do Seungjun lifted his head and scanned the room.
He’s going to look this way…!
Panicked, Eunjae quickly buried her face in Woogyeong’s chest.
Unlike her, he didn’t seem concerned about hiding his face.
“Hurry, we’ll get caught.”
Woogyeong looked down at Eunjae, who had thrown herself into his arms.
Then he lowered his head.
And swallowed her lips whole.
