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Chapter 08
A Strange Power
A man in a blue doctor’s coat walked in. Ji-hyeok, as if by habit, shifted his gaze to the embroidery on his chest.
[Dokgo Animal Hospital]
[Director, Chief Veterinarian Lee Jung-woo]
He was a soft-faced man with a round face and gentle impression.
Standing face to face with Dasol, they looked like two puppies staring at each other.
Seeing how warmly Dasol greeted him, Ji-hyeok could roughly infer that they were acquainted.
“Ms. Dasol… would you maybe like to go to a club?”
Lee Jung-woo’s cheeks were flushed, and he couldn’t even properly meet Dasol’s eyes.
A completely smitten expression.
Perhaps because Ji-hyeok had seen so many cases of gentle-looking men with hidden ulterior motives, he didn’t like the vibe at all.
“A club?”
“A regular client at the hospital is an MD at a club in Gangnam. They’re celebrating their 5th anniversary, and a famous DJ is performing, so he invited me. He said he could reserve a good table for us.”
So he’d be glad if Dasol went.
Ji-hyeok clicked his tongue inwardly.
At a glance, Dasol didn’t seem like someone who enjoyed clubs.
“Oh, I see? What should I do, Director? Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m sorry. I don’t really like clubs.”
“…Ah, it’s okay. Actually, I don’t like them either. Yumi kept talking about it all day, so I thought maybe Ms. Dasol might….”
Though he didn’t know who “Yumi” was, the fact that he mentioned her suggested she was someone close to Dasol—and likely familiar with clubs.
The director was leveraging Yumi’s taste in clubs to make his pitch, persisting even while being turned down.
In other words—
He was making a move.
“Oh, Yumi really does love excitement. But Director, aren’t you busy today?”
“Ah, I just finished surgery.”
Hmm. So he came right after finishing.
“Good work.”
Dasol was clearly the type whose emotions showed on her face.
Her polite tone and expression made her seem like someone treating a judge or prosecutor—someone important, someone to admire.
Rather than a simple business connection with the animal hospital, there was genuine respect in her eyes.
“Oh, it’s nothing. But… you have a guest?”
Only then did Director Lee glance at Ji-hyeok.
Pretending to notice him only now, even though he clearly already had.
For a gentle-looking man, he had a sly side.
Anyway, the director’s gaze was clear.
Who are you, sitting here with Ms. Dasol?
“Oh, he’s from the Prosecutor’s Office. He’s just finished his work.”
Normally he would’ve left once his business was done, but being edged out with the word “Prosecutor’s Office” didn’t feel pleasant.
Unaware of that, Dasol delivered the final blow.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Prosecutor-nim. Please contact me if you need anything else.”
“Thank you for your assistance.”
Dasol escorted Ji-hyeok to the door.
At the entrance, he turned and gave a slight nod. Dasol smiled with only her mouth and said, “Please go safely,” before quickly turning back inside.
Ji-hyeok didn’t move immediately.
Through the glass wall, he watched the two of them.
Dasol was smiling warmly, and the director was grinning awkwardly, scratching his head.
It looked like a children’s story illustration—almost as if a rainbow hovered above their heads.
“Hmph.”
Ji-hyeok pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, then turned away.
Afterward, Dasol watched several more crime films.
It was a genre she already liked, but after recent events, she found herself drawn to it even more.
Having experienced something firsthand, she even muttered commentary at the screen while eating popcorn, and felt even more thrill from it.
After each movie ended, she searched whether it was based on a true story.
Today was another such day.
She was keeping the shop, watching a crime/action film titled “Everlasting Snow” by director Seo Chang-sik.
To her knowledge, she had already watched this film 24 times.
“Wait. When is Director Seo’s next film coming out?”
She immediately opened a search page.
The result was disappointing. He was reportedly currently working on a new screenplay.
Ding—
At that moment, the bell at the door rang, followed by Yumi’s bright voice.
“Sol-sol~”
“Oh, Yumi. You’re here?”
Yumi approached the desk and dropped a foil-wrapped kimbap onto it.
“The director told me to bring this to you.”
“He keeps sending things even when I tell him not to.”
“Just accept it already. My ears are tired.”
Then she glanced at the monitor Dasol was focused on.
“What are you staring at so intensely?”
“An article about Director Seo Chang-sik.”
“That crime film director? Stop obsessing already.”
Dasol shot her a sideways glance.
Yumi ignored it, smiling brightly as she walked over and massaged Dasol’s shoulders.
“Anyway, have you thought about going to the club?”
“No.”
“Come on, I’ve asked you so many times.”
“No. I hate noisy, chaotic places.”
“The movies you watch are louder than that. Clubs at least have music—yours is half shouting and screaming.”
Dasol just laughed.
Yumi pouted for a moment and then returned to the animal hospital.
“Ahh…”
Feeling drowsy, Dasol stretched widely.
When you’re sleepy, iced coffee!
She decided to buy coffee for the animal hospital staff as well and left the shop.
The cold wind carrying the end of winter brushed against her as she walked toward the café.
The café was located across from the courthouse, and to its right stood the prosecutor’s office.
Her gaze lingered on the building, now strangely familiar, before she entered the café.
The rich aroma of coffee and the warm heated air welcomed her.
She waited behind a customer at the kiosk, glancing around the interior.
Huh?
A familiar figure sat by the window.
An elderly gentleman wearing a worn cap pulled low.
It was director Seo Chang-sik.
Oh my god! To meet him here!
Her body moved before her thoughts did, and she rushed toward him.
“Hello, you’re Director Seo Chang-sik, right?”
The director lifted his eyes behind his old-fashioned glasses.
His white hair sticking out around his ears showed the burdens of his profession.
“A rookie actress? Your looks are impressive… but auditions should be arranged through my office.”
His tone was annoyed.
Well, he was a famous director—it was understandable.
Dasol looked at him warmly and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“No, I’m your fan. I’ve watched all of them—Sad Night, Catch That Bastard, No Mercy for the Cruel, Everlasting Snow, Crime Is My Strength. All of them. I’ve seen them in theaters, on Netflix, and I even own the Blu-rays!”
Only then did the director’s expression brighten.
“Oh! I see! What a pleasant surprise.”
He smiled broadly and extended his hand.
Dasol, flushed with excitement, shyly took it.
Then—
Ahem. Ahem.
A throat-clearing sound came from across the table.
Dasol finally turned her head.
Seated opposite Director Seo was Ji-hyeok.
“Oh? Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyeok!”
“Yes, Ms. Jin Dasol.”
“Nice to see you again, Prosecutor-nim. Meeting like this here.”
“The café is in front of the Prosecutor’s Office, so the probability is hi—”
Dasol didn’t even wait for him to finish and turned back to the director with a smile.
“You two know each other?”
The director chuckled, looking between them.
“I heard from a classmate that this prosecutor here dramatically caught a drug offender recently.”
This meeting had a purpose.
The director needed an interview with a prosecutor who had arrested a drug offender, for research on his new screenplay.
At the director’s words, Ji-hyeok’s expression stiffened slightly.
Truthfully, he hadn’t intended to come.
He had refused the interview, but a senior prosecutor—who turned out to be the director’s high school classmate—ordered him to attend through the chief prosecutor.
Ji-hyeok lifted his coffee and glanced at Dasol, who was staring wide-eyed.
“Oh my! What a coincidence. Director, I run an animal grooming shop.”
“Oh, is that so? Perfect! If you have time, let’s talk together—”
“Yes, Director!”
Before the director could finish, Dasol slid right next to Ji-hyeok and sat down.
Her thigh brushed against his leg, and his muscles tensed like stone.
Dasol, however, didn’t seem to notice at all.
Ji-hyeok pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek and shifted slightly to the left.
“Wow, you two could be actors. What a handsome pair.”
The director threw a light, cliché joke, trying to keep the atmosphere going.
“How about it? Should the next film’s lead be Prosecutor Jang Ji-hyeok?”
Dasol clapped and laughed brightly.
Ji-hyeok let out a dry laugh, looking at her amused reaction.
“I heard you took down a drug syndicate right after moving to the anti-corruption division?”
“That’s correct.”
The director continued asking various questions, and Ji-hyeok answered them.
But even as he spoke, his attention kept drifting back to Dasol.
Sunlight poured through the window, illuminating her porcelain skin.
Her brown eyes carried a reddish glow, full of life and energy.
There was something strangely powerful in her gaze.
Ji-hyeok set down his coffee cup and looked away.
