Returning to the office, Line sat down and let out a deep sigh, releasing the air built up between her cheeks and lips. Despite her attempts to shut out external noise during the investigation, she couldn’t help but learn a lot about Na Songgang, the executive. He was inevitably a person of interest.
She knew he wasn’t an easy target but didn’t expect him to probe her conscience as a prosecutor, nor unsettle her with his perplexing words.
“Line, if you leave without even getting the interrogation report signed, what will you do?” Juhyeok asked as he returned and sat down.
“Oh, right,” Line responded, startled, and quickly stood up. The signing was crucial for the validity of the report.
“I took care of it. There wasn’t much content anyway,” she said, slumping back into her chair.
Juhyeok understood why Line was so affected by Songgang’s words and knew her well. Despite her fearsome reputation, she was committed to not wronging anyone within her investigative authority, using any means necessary within legal boundaries.
There were rumors: “Did you hear Line pursued aggravated charges even when a senior asked her to go easy?” and “I heard the defendant in a case she was investigating chose an extreme path after the summons. She still continued the investigation to the end.”
Though not all these whispers were trustworthy, they contributed to solidifying Line’s formidable character. Unconcerned with these inflated rumors, Line just focused on her work.
Juhyeok, contrary to the gossip, knew Line was a true prosecutor. Despite being her junior, he had come to respect her greatly.
After the latest interrogation with Songgang, Line’s mind was even more clouded. She couldn’t focus on her work.
Juhyeok, having consistently observed Songgang through the monitors, realized his inner strength was formidable. He had underestimated Songgang’s silence, mistaking it as a mere defensive tactic rather than a strategy to engage Line.
He wanted to ask Line about their off-record conversation but restrained himself.
Approaching Line, Juhyeok noticed her lost in thought, staring blankly into space.
“Na Songgang may be in a difficult situation, but I hope you don’t get too shaken by it,” he advised.
Had she been shaken? If her senior colleague thought so, it might be true.
Line turned her chair towards the window, gazing at the horizon where the orange sunset stretched endlessly.
“I apologize for leaving in a hurry without properly concluding. I guess I didn’t pay attention to the interrogation report, thinking this session was a failure too. I’ll be more attentive next time,” she said.
Juhyeok hadn’t intended to reprimand her, but her response made him feel guilty.
He snapped his fingers near her face to bring her back to reality.
“Let’s go. How about a beer?”
He paused, looking around the office filled with daunting piles of evidence.
“I can’t read any more today,” he declared.
Line looked up at him and, unexpectedly, laughed.
They both got up, ready to leave. Despite their bold departures, they always ended up at Line’s place, where they could relax with beer and fried chicken. It was their most comfortable moment, especially since taking on the Tae Sung case, marking their first chicken and beer time in a while.
Sitting down with fried chicken and canned beer, this simple moment was the most relaxing time for them. It had been a while since they last had this chicken and beer time, especially since taking on the Tae Sung case.
As usual, Juhyeok took care of the trivialities like draining the water from the chicken radish and opening the beer can for Line. She had become accustomed to this kind of attention.
At first, she would insist, “I can do it, Senior,” but it wasn’t efficient, and Juhyeok didn’t really want her to do anything beyond her work.
Even when they went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch, it was his job to mix the Jajangmyeon. During this time, Line would still be engrossed in reading documents.
She wasn’t always this way, but when she did mix her Jajangmyeon, it was hard to tell whether she was mixing or mashing it. The noodles would either be pale white or completely mushy, leaving Juhyeok no choice but to do it for her.
Her vulnerability, visible in these moments, had gradually endeared her to Juhyeok. Had she been perfect in every aspect, he might have felt left with nothing to contribute.
They clinked their cans together. Both drank their beer eagerly, as if starved for the touch of alcohol. It seemed to wash away some of their accumulated stress.
Juhyeok placed a plump chicken drumstick on Line’s plate.
“You barely ate lunch today. Eat up.”
Line nodded and began peeling off the batter of the chicken with a fork before putting it in her mouth.
“Line, there’s more to chicken than just the skin.”
Juhyeok always nagged her to eat properly. Given her thin frame and her habit of neglecting meals for work, he couldn’t help but worry.
Line lifted her beer can.
“This is made from barley, too.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
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