Chapter 39
The buzz-cut man curled up one corner of his mouth.
“Oh, so you’re that lady’s boyfriend, huh?”
“Yes, that’s right. So please, stop and leave.”
The buzz-cut man strode toward Siwan. He glared up at him, eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean, stop and leave?”
Siwan took a deep breath.
‘He looks even scarier up close.’
The buzz-cut guy was at least a head shorter than Siwan, but the pressure he gave off was overwhelming.
Siwan’s heart pounded so loudly, it felt like it was about to leap out of his throat.
These men looked dangerous—one glance told you what kind of business they were in.
“I meant—please don’t bother my girlfriend and just walk away.”
The buzz-cut man frowned like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Excuse me? Don’t bother her?”
Siwan was so tense he felt like the man might attack him any second.
If he was this scared, how terrified must Hana have been? Determined to protect her, Siwan spoke with more strength.
“If you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to call the police.”
A man with a long horizontal scar across his face tapped the buzz-cut man on the shoulder.
“Boss, he’s asking nicely for us to leave. Says he’ll call the cops if we don’t. Pfft! It’s cause you look so damn scary, boss.”
“Scary, my ass. It’s you lot swaggering around that makes me look like a thug.”
The other two men laughed, mimicking Siwan’s words mockingly.
The buzz-cut man let out a chuckle and lightly tapped Siwan’s arm.
“Alright, alright. We’ll leave. You’ve got guts, kid.”
Then he glanced back at his crew.
“Let’s go have a smoke.”
As he swaggered away, the others followed behind like ducklings after their mother duck.
Once the ‘gangsters’ disappeared around the corner of the building, Siwan quickly turned to check on Hana.
“Chief, are you okay?”
“……”
When Hana didn’t answer, Siwan bent down to look at her face.
Bright red cheeks.
Shallow, rapid breaths.
Trembling eyes.
Messy hair.
Siwan’s heart dropped.
‘Is this hyperventilation? A panic attack?’
She had the fragility of a rabbit, and she’d just been surrounded by wolves. Of course she’d react this way.
“Chief, try taking slow breaths. I know it was scary, but let’s try to calm down.”
“…Okay…”
She answered in the faintest whisper.
Siwan pulled out his phone.
In emergencies, the first thing to do was act fast. He began to dial 119 while leaning closer to check her condition—
Then suddenly!
“I—I’ll go in first!”
Hana shouted and bolted into Snack Heaven.
Snack Heaven was a single-story building, not too big and not too small—just the right size.
It was currently 1:40 p.m.
Since it was a weekday, the lunch rush had just passed, and the restaurant was nearly empty.
The owners, a married couple, called this hour their “Happy Time.”
It was the only time of day when there were no customers—meaning they could rest.
But by 3 p.m., the elementary schoolers would arrive.
By 4 p.m., the middle schoolers.
And by 5 p.m., the high schoolers.
After that, the dinner crowd would come in.
Other restaurants in the area had a break between 3 and 5 p.m., but Snack Heaven couldn’t afford that luxury.
Kids came in with 2,000 won to get popcorn chicken.
Middle schoolers pooled 3,000 won for tteokbokki, fried snacks, and soondae.
High schoolers pitched in 5,000 won for the “Luxury Fiery Rosé Tteokbokki Set.”
They all came between 3 and 5.
Ding-a-ling!
The chime on the door jingled as someone burst in.
It was Ju Hana, the only daughter of Snack Heaven’s owners.
Her face flushed bright red, and she let out a strange “Aaaahhhh!” as she sprinted toward the kitchen.
Her face was a mystery—crying, laughing, shocked, embarrassed, delighted? It was impossible to tell.
Her father, Ju Pyunghwa, a certified daughter-doting dad, jumped up, alarmed.
“Hana, what happened?!”
He opened his arms to hug her, but Hana twisted her body and dodged him, rushing into the employee break room at the back.
Jang Shinyeong, who’d been washing dishes, wiped her hands on her apron and asked her husband,
“What’s with her?”
“No idea. She went ‘Aaaahhhh!’ and ran off.”
Ju Pyunghwa waved his hands, imitating her expression and dramatic scream.
The impression was eerily accurate—but the massive difference in face and body proportions made it… off.
If Hana was a startled Maltese, then Ju Pyunghwa was a prairie dog protesting loudly.
Jang Shinyeong glanced toward the break room, concerned.
“It’s been ages since Hana acted like that. What on earth happened?”
Just then, Ju Pyunghwa’s eyes sharpened—his instincts from his days in violent crimes unit kicking in. Arms crossed, he muttered like a smug detective:
“She probably couldn’t bring the guy. She told us she’d bring him, even told the uncles, but now she’s embarrassed.”
“You mean… that guy? Do-seobang?”
Even Hana’s mom had started calling Siwan “Do-seobang” (a term for a son-in-law).
“Yeah. She said she was bringing him to try the food before some wedding fair or baby fair.”
It wasn’t a wedding fair. Definitely not a baby fair either.
Just Ju Pyunghwa’s wishful thinking, distorting reality.
The Loyal Violent Crimes Group Chat
Hana has a guy now. He’s handsome, polite, even a director. Calls me ‘Father’. And tomorrow, she’s bringing him to the restaurant.
This was the message Ju Pyunghwa sent to a group chat with his fellow detective uncles.
The reaction was immediate:
IronfistCheoldoo:
Who’s the bastard hitting on our Hana?!
You want us to take care of him, boss?
Sangpil:
Name and date of birth, Chief. I’ll dig up everything on the punk.
The messages sounded more like mafia talk than cop banter.
But it was all from affection. These uncles loved Hana like their own niece.
They even came to Snack Heaven two hours early, pretending it was for an investigation.
Jang Shinyeong frowned, feeling sorry.
“Oh dear. Poor Hana. Go check on her, hon. You’re good at that.”
“Let’s send the guys off first. Maybe they teased her.”
“Ugh, those uncles are such rascals.”
Just then, the door opened again—and in walked a tall, dashing man.
Ju Pyunghwa’s face lit up like he’d seen Buddha descend into Hell.
“Do-seobang—ah no, I mean, Director Do! You came!”
Siwan blinked in confusion.
‘Wait… why is Chief Ju’s dad here…?’
He quickly gathered himself and bowed politely.
“Good afternoon, Father!”
“Yes, yes, long time no see! Or is it? Hahaha!”
Ju Pyunghwa laughed heartily while Jang Shinyeong nudged him with her knee—clearly telling him to introduce her.
He quickly stepped aside.
“This is Hana’s mom. Honey, this is Director Do.”
This time, “Do-seobang” wasn’t a slip—it was an intentional slip. A loaded one.
Seeing Siwan for the first time, Jang Shinyeong’s face lit up like fireworks.
‘Whoa. He’s really good-looking. Sharp eyes too. My daughter sure has high standards.’
She clumsily tossed her apron aside and grabbed Siwan’s hand, speaking in a soft, sweet voice—nothing like her usual tone.
“Oh my! Hello there! I’m Hana’s mom. I’d heard you were handsome, but wow—you’re even better in person!”
“Haha, thank you, Mother.”
At the word “Mother,” Jang Shinyeong’s jaw practically unhinged.
“Our Hana’s just changing clothes real quick. Would you mind waiting a bit?”
Changing clothes? At a restaurant?
Siwan’s brain revved into overdrive.
Chief Ju and his wife were here.
His wife had just taken off an apron.
And Hana was changing clothes.
Gasp!
Everything clicked.
Back on the subway, during one of their usual morning commutes, Siwan had once asked her if it was tough waking up so early.
She had replied:
“I go to the early morning market with my parents a lot. For restaurant ingredients. They run a snack shop.”
This was it.
Snack Heaven was Hana’s parents’ restaurant.
She had brought him here—intentionally.
Why?
His heart started pounding wildly.
And then—ding-a-ling!—the door opened again.
In came the buzz-cut man and his gang from earlier.
Spotting Siwan, the buzz-cut man grinned.
