Into The Thrill

"Don’t go."
"I just got promoted a little while ago—what if I get fired right away?"

"They can’t fire people easily over there. That’s how the internal regulations are."
"You even know stuff like that?"
"I gave some legal consultation when the Arts Foundation was setting up its internal policy."

"Is there anywhere you don’t stick your nose into?"
"I’m telling you, they can’t fire you unless it’s for some serious disciplinary reason."
So don’t go—Woojin’s arm wrapped around Haewon’s waist and pulled him in tightly. Haewon hesitated, then took a step closer. Their lower bodies were nearly touching. With all physical distance between them gone, he wanted to let go of the last string of rational restraint he was holding onto.

"You said you hate clingy people. But I’m not allowed to be clingy, only you are?"
"I’ll take you."
"Where, to Jeju Airport?"
"You don’t have to leave this early. Everyone’s going to be flustered and wasting three or four hours at the accommodations just getting organized. You could go after all that."

"I’ll really be late. I have to go."
Haewon twisted against the grip holding him.
But the more he struggled, the more intense Woojin’s stare at his lips became, and the arm wrapped around his back tightened, holding him even more firmly.

"At this rate, I’m going to miss the flight."
"Then say you missed it by a hair."
"If you want to see me that badly, just come to Jeju for a bit."

"I’m busy."
"…My work’s insignificant, and yours is the most important thing in the world, huh?"
Woojin, who had leaned in to kiss him, slowly drew back. A harsh chill had settled over Haewon’s face.

"That’s not what I meant."
"I can be late, I don’t have to go, I can just miss it. But you can’t. Because your job is a public office. It’s important. You want only my time to be sacrificed, right?"
"Why are you twisting it like that? I’m the one who likes your performance more than anyone."

When Haewon spoke in a surprisingly firm tone, Woojin unwrapped the arm around his waist and stood straight. Haewon pulled away and opened the front door.
"Haewon."
Not wanting him to leave with hurt feelings, Woojin grabbed his wrist. He wasn’t saying don’t go—he just wanted him to look [N O V E L I G H T] back for a moment and smile. Haewon, halfway through the door, turned back toward him.

"You’re panicking all of a sudden. That’s why I said to let me go quick. I’m really leaving."
"…"
Since Woojin still didn’t seem inclined to let him go, maybe Haewon had only acted cold on purpose. With a sunny, radiant smile that made it clear it was all a lie, he kissed Woojin on the cheek and quickly closed the door behind him.

Woojin stared at the gray door Haewon had vanished through, then frowned and turned away.
"Didn’t work."
∞ ∞ ∞
When the long-overdue public fund repayment made headlines, public opinion began to shift, claiming that the seven-year sentence for President Kim Jung-geun was too harsh. There were some negative voices saying it was just a backdoor attempt to negotiate the sentence with money, but on the whole, the media tone was favorable toward Kim Jung-geun. Woojin placed a newspaper carrying one of those friendly headlines in front of Kim Jung-geun.

"This won’t make the Supreme Court rule in my favor. Do you know how much this is? Such a waste…"
Kim Jung-geun scowled like he had a stomachache, still believing firmly that something which wasn’t even his belonged to him.
He’d been locked up in the detention center for months now, but his complexion had improved. It was the result of a regular lifestyle.

He woke at a set time, ate simple meals, never skipped exercise time, and spent the rest of the day in a private room watching TV or playing indoor golf, claiming it was for lawyer consultations.
"Even if it’s just a year or two, we need to reduce it as much as possible. I’ll put pressure on the Supreme Court however I can."
"You’re having a hard time because of me, Prosecutor Hyun. I heard you’re not getting assigned any cases?"

"The major ones have all been reassigned to other teams. It’s not like I’m completely cut off from case assignments."
"I should’ve listened to you back then…"
Kim Jung-geun spoke with difficulty. If he’d listened to Woojin, he wouldn’t have provoked Park Hyung-soo, wouldn’t have ended up at odds with the prosecution. Regret now only left him with bitter remorse.

"I heard that bastard Jung-woo got out."
"I was going to inform you about that. I’m sorry, but I can’t stay involved in the group any longer. As things stand, I’m likely to be forced to resign. I appointed Executive Director Kim Jung-woo to the Strategy Planning Division without consulting you."
"Why him, of all people? Do you not know what kind of bastard he is? Even if I get out, that son of a bitch won’t give me a single penny. He’s got no blood or tears."

"Since I have possession of your shares, that won’t happen. We can’t entrust HanKyung Group’s survival to just anyone, can we?"
"…"
Even though it wouldn’t collapse that easily, HanKyung in Kim Jung-geun’s absence was at risk of becoming prey to foreign capital. The only one who could fend that off was his half-brother, Kim Jung-woo. The rest were just others who would leave for different places in the end.

Even while being pushed into a corner, Woojin was still making decisions with the company’s future in mind. If he had been acting out of fear of Kim Jung-geun, he never would’ve done it. For Woojin, ideals and practical benefit took precedence over Kim Jung-geun. Ironically, that was why Kim Jung-geun couldn’t help but trust him.
"Soyoung seems to have adjusted well, and I heard my wife will be returning to Korea soon. For some event in Jeju or something. I guess she’s coming back for that. The HanKyung Foundation is one of the sponsors."
"…Ah, yes."
He replied in a dry voice. He had to factor in the possibility that Haewon and Seo Ok-hwa might cross paths in Jeju. Woojin fiddled with his phone.

After finishing the visit with Kim Jung-geun, Woojin exited the detention center’s visitor room. He contacted the tail he’d put on Haewon.
"Did he arrive safely in Jeju?"
—Yes, he’s in the middle of rehearsal now.

"I just sent a photo via text—Madam Seo Ok-hwa of HanKyung Group. She’ll probably be attending this event since HanKyung is one of the sponsors. Make sure she doesn’t come into contact with Moon Haewon."
—Understood.
"Thank you for your work."

Even if the two met, it likely wouldn’t have any real effect. But Woojin didn’t want to stir up unnecessary trouble.
He ended the call and began walking slowly.
Following behind an employee, Woojin passed through a maze-like corridor and arrived at a hidden room. He took off his shoes and entered. The chief secretary, who had arrived first and was waiting for him, turned from the window.

"Good day."
"Please, have a seat. The food will be brought in right away."
The chief secretary said. The staff member standing outside replied and closed the door. Woojin took off his jacket, hung it on the tall coat rack, and sat down across from him.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting so long."
"Let’s see it."
"…"

With a low sigh that hinted at impatience, Woojin took a document out of his bag and handed it over. The secretary’s forehead furrowed as he pulled the documents from the envelope. It was a copy.
"What is this?"
"The materials you requested. I brought them for your reference."

"Didn’t you say you’d destroy the original in front of me?"
"There are multiple copies. Whether it’s the original or not doesn’t matter."
"…"

The chief secretary clutched his forehead and rubbed his face until the skin creaked. Just as he opened his mouth to say something with a frustrated expression, a knock came, and a staff member entered with the food and set it on the table.
Woojin and the chief secretary stared at each other in silence until the staff left. Once they were alone again, the secretary threw the documents onto the table.
"I did everything you asked! How long are you planning to keep your leash around my neck?!"

"I’ve never made a demand that could be called a demand."
"What’s that supposed to mean? Do you know how hard it was to persuade the VIP because of President Kim Jung-geun’s special investigation?"
"I’ll get to the main part now."

Woojin pulled another file folder from his bag and handed it over. The chief secretary took the papers with an irritated motion.
"What’s this?"
"Documents related to K-One Group. This is the list of their upcoming acquisitions. Among them is a mobile payment solutions company called DayPay. K-One is conducting aggressive M&A to dominate the payment gateway market, and they’re funneling all group cash into that."

"So? What does that have to do with me?"
"It doesn’t concern you. It concerns me."
"What?"

"Please delay the short-term finance license K-One Securities has been preparing for years. It’s scheduled to be decided at the next regular Financial Committee meeting, and it will likely be approved."
Currently, only a few of the large-scale securities firms were licensed to issue commercial papers using their own credit. If K-One secured short-term finance business approval, their funding channels would reopen, allowing them to issue massive amounts of CPs and inject capital into their ongoing projects, giving them a clear advantage.
"How am I supposed to get involved in that?"

"The documents I just gave you contain evidence of personal corruption involving the chairman of K-One Financial Holdings—the same issue at the center of the recent FSC disciplinary review. This is enough to qualify as grounds to suspend the review under the Capital Markets Act enforcement ordinance."
"So you’re using me as a pawn in your little chessboard?"
Woojin picked up his spoon. With perfect composure, he ate and asked,

"…How far do you want to go?"
"What?"
"I’m asking what your goal is, Chief Secretary."

"The Blue House appointments will be announced soon. I’ll be stepping down from the chief secretary post."
"You’ll be joining the party too. Planning to run in a sure-win district."
"…"

"You’ll win easily. That district has always been a ruling party stronghold—if you maintain current public sentiment, that is."
"I can’t do anything reckless."
"I’m not asking you to break the law. I’m just saying I can’t do this alone, so I need your hand."

"I really don’t understand. There’s no reason for HanKyung to be baring its teeth at K-One, is there?"
"Let’s just say it’s a personal grudge."
That was as far as Woojin went. He held the chief secretary’s gaze for a long moment, then looked down and continued eating.

There were countless ways to trip him up if one wanted to, but Woojin’s domain of influence was not confined to legal means alone. He could use HanKyung to rattle K-One. He could use the chief secretary or members of the Judiciary Committee to strike at them.
A couple of videos and corruption scandals weren’t enough to control them. Without exposing himself, Woojin planned to eliminate Lee Seok-jung—the K-One obstruction—in his path.
A few days later, during the regular meeting of the Financial Services Commission, the review for K-One Securities' short-term finance license was indefinitely postponed.

The group’s stock price fell over 10%. Their financial branch plummeted by over 20%.
Having already stretched their limits with aggressive mergers and acquisitions to keep up in the cutthroat market, and expecting smooth license approval, they had even taken out loans. The damage was severe.
When Woojin arrived in Yangpyeong, a chilly drizzle was falling. He parked in the bunker-style garage and deliberately stepped on the paving stones set between the grass so the mud wouldn’t splash onto his pant legs.

Cars that had arrived earlier gleamed faintly in the darkness. Shielding his head with his hand rather than using an umbrella, Woojin walked briskly toward the stairs behind the villa. He stopped at the sound of his phone ringing.
He switched it to vibrate, stepped under the eaves, and answered.
It was Haewon.

"Did rehearsal go well?"
"Hyung, I’m in trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"

"Our concertmaster was supposed to perform the violin concerto solo the day after tomorrow. But while closing the hotel door… he slammed his fingers."
"And?"
"He was seriously hurt. Lost a whole fingernail."

"Must’ve hurt a lot."
His face showed no concern, but his voice was warm.
"It’s not just about the pain."

"Then?"
"There’s no one left to play the solo."
"There are dozens of violinists. No one else can play it?"

"There are, of course. The problem is… Madam Seo Ok-hwa—I mean, Chairwoman Seo Ok-hwa—told the conductor to have me do it…"
"What?"
Woojin’s eyes locked on a fixed point in the darkness, hardening.

"The chairwoman told the conductor to force it through… and so I agreed to do it."
"You know the piece?"
"Of course I do. It’s a famous one."

As if wondering why Woojin would even ask that, Haewon replied, slightly scolding him. Woojin’s voice remained calm, but his displeasure was openly visible on his face.
"Then just do it."
"I don’t like playing in front of people. It’s not my thing."

"If anyone starts panting while staring at you, call me. I’ll be there in a flash to smash their head in."
"I’m not joking. I really don’t want to. I haven’t played a solo since high school."
"I wasn’t joking either."

Woojin didn’t make those kinds of jokes. If anyone were to approach Haewon like that, he fully intended to respond with something even more severe.
"Haha, seriously, hyung… I’m not confident. It’s been so long since I did a concerto, and I barely have any time to practice… what am I even going to do…"
As Haewon continued to ramble nervously, Woojin looked down at his wristwatch.

Someone else must’ve arrived—the sound of an engine shutting off came from the direction he’d come from. It was Im Hyosang, grandson of a major loan shark from the Myeongdong loan market.
Im Hyosang stood under the awning, saw Woojin on a call, and waved at him.
Woojin lifted a corner of his lips and gestured with his chin for him to go ahead inside.

"What, you on the phone with your boyfriend? I heard you had one. A cousin or something? What kind of bastard comes to a place like this when he has a lover? Tch, trash."
Just like Woojin, Im Hyosang wasn’t using an umbrella. He shielded his head with a hand, brushed past Woojin with a sneer, and disappeared up the stairs to the bunker.
Woojin let out a low sigh and looked up at the black sky over Yangpyeong.

"Who was that?"
"Huh? No one. Just some drunk asshole passing by, mumbling nonsense."
"Anyway, I was wondering if I could do well… and suddenly I really wanted to hear your voice, so I called. Where are you?"

"I just left the prosecutors’ office. On my way to dinner."
"By the way, she’s lost a lot of weight. I mean, Chairwoman Seo Ok-hwa."
Trying hard to avoid another slip of the tongue, Haewon added the title quickly.

Woojin found the entire situation irritating. As expected, putting physical distance between them made it harder to control Haewon.
"She’s a board member of the arts foundation, so I get that. But try not to get too close. She makes me uncomfortable."
It struck Haewon where it hurt. Seo Ok-hwa was Woojin’s dead fiancée’s mother.

Whenever you talk about her, I can’t help but think of my ex-fiancée—he laid that sentiment bare in a low voice without trying to soften the discomfort.
"Ah… sorry. I didn’t think about that."
There was a brief silence. Then Woojin changed the mood with a shift in tone.

"It’s just one concerto. You know the piece, so there’s no reason to refuse."
"Got it. You must be hungry. Why are you eating so late?"
"I’ve been running around all day."

"Yeah. Go eat."
He looked up at the black sky above the rainy Yangpyeong villa.
"Haewon."

"Yeah?"
"I miss you."
"…Me too."

"I miss you. If I told you to come up, would you?"
"There you go again. You come down."
"Should I come?"

"Really?"
"I’ll come to you."
"Don’t. You’ll just drain all my energy and leave me useless the next day, right?"

"As if."
"Seriously, don’t come. If someone hears my playing with their body instead of their ears, I’ll call you. Then you can come."
"Okay. Do your best."

"Yeah… I’ll call you tomorrow."
After ending the call, Woojin ran a hand through his hair irritably. Then he called the tail assigned to Haewon.