The school bell rang, echoing the end of the day. The sky had begun to darken, and students poured out of the buildings in waves. Lee Chae Min, with his usual calm yet calculating steps, walked toward the small restaurant just outside the school gate. His eyes scanned the area sharply, alert for any signs of a trap.
As he stood by the entrance, a hand subtly signaled him from the corner booth.
Chae Min's eyes narrowed. He walked over, and his footsteps slowed in surprise.
"Harin?" he said, his voice low, surprised but unreadable.
Harin smiled faintly, popping a lollipop into her mouth and gesturing to the seat across from her.
"Yes Professor,Here ,Sit. I already ordered something. Thought you might be hungry after today."
He didn't move for a few seconds, his eyes locked onto hers, filled with suspicion. But then he slowly sat down, his posture guarded, hands resting on the table edge.
The waiter came and placed two steaming bowls of spicy ramyeon in front of them. Harin picked up her chopsticks and started eating casually, as if this were just any other day.
Chae Min didn't touch his food. He kept watching her.
"So you are the one who have been following me."Harin chuckled softly, glancing at him.
"You noticed? I'm impressed. Most people don't even notice I exist."
Chae Min's expression remained cold.
"Get to the point. What do you want?"
Harin wiped her lips with a napkin and leaned forward. Her voice lowered, serious now.
"Well you see,my father… he's being blackmailed by Keunsa Financial Groups. The CEO, Kim Tae Won, has a ledger of his old gang activities dirty deals he did before I was even born."
She looked down.
"They're using him like a dog. Making him clean up their mess, silence people, do whatever they want. I want to end it. He owns a bodyguard company but he is not free and I don't like it"
Chae Min raised an eyebrow.
"And you think I'll help you?"
Harin met his gaze, unflinching.
"You're hunting them too. I've seen it. You're looking for someone… and I think that someone is connected to Tae Won, maybe if you cross path with my dad ledger Tae Won is holding, you can help me get rid of it so that my dad will be free from him."
Chae Min clenched his jaw slightly but said nothing.
Harin continued.
"I don't care why you're doing it. But if we're after the same people, maybe we can help each other. You're strong, fast, and ruthless. But I have information and access to people you won't get near without attention. I can help." Chae Min remain silent for some time as he began to think what to do as he felt pity for Harin who still has a future ahead of her.
After a long silence, Chae Min finally spoke, his tone low and direct.
"If you have that much information, why not report it to the police?"
Harin paused, her eyes dimming as she set her chopsticks down.
"If I do that… they'll kill my father before the police can even say a word to him. Keunsa has ears everywhere. They have this weird connection for a accounting company."
Chae Min looked away briefly, his jaw tight with frustration. The situation was messier than he liked. He hated involving others, especially students. But as he stared at Harin,the once carefree tomboy who always challenged him in class and something in his expression softened slightly.
"You're one of the best in my class," he said quietly.
"You're supposed to become an architect. Not… this."
Harin's lips parted in surprise. She blinked as if caught off guard by his unexpected concern.
Chae Min sighed deeply, then leaned forward.
"I'll help you. But only on one condition."
"Anything," Harin said quickly, sitting up straight."You delete those pictures. And from now on — stay out of it. Don't follow me. Don't interfere. Stay safe and out of the spotlight. This path…" He glanced at the Harin, "…won't end well for people like you and you are still young."
Harin hesitated, but then slowly nodded.
"Okay. I promise. But… I still want to support you. Even from the sidelines."
Chae Min leaned back, eyes narrowed but not rejecting her words.
"Just stay alive. That's enough support."
The tension eased slightly. Harin smiled, a bit of warmth returning to her eyes.
"Thank you… Professor."
Chae Min gets up from the booth, and walks out into the night. His eyes are sharp, aware that the game is only getting more dangerous.
Behind him, Harin watches with a worried gaze, silently hoping she hadn't just sent her teacher into a death trap.
In Busan Metropolitan Police department,Do Hyun was seen entered the station, his steps calm but his mind racing thinking if Chae Min will accept his proposal. Just as he crossed the hallway, Detective Soo Hyuk appeared, walking briskly toward him.
"Hey, Thank Goodness you are here. The station is not at rest since this morning" Soo Hyuk said in a low voice, "The Deputy Police Officer is looking for you. He's pissed and he is saying you've been causing a stir everywhere."
Do Hyun sighed, already guessing the reason.
"Let me guess… the ambassador's office again?"
Soo Hyuk nodded grimly. "I will go see him now",Do Hyun said walking to the DPO office while the rest of the team members was looking at him in pity as he left the scene. Soo Hyuk signed and then walked to his chair, Min Seok said as he got to his own table:"I hope he will be okay".
Inside the DPO's office, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The deputy sat behind his desk, arms crossed, clearly not pleased.
"Detective Kang," the DPO began, his voice sharp. "Any updates on Cha Xiu Min's killer?"
"We're still investigating, sir," Do Hyun replied firmly. "The attacker is good at covering his tracks. No fingerprints, no cameras catching his face…"
"That's not what I want to hear," the DPO snapped. "His father has been breathing down our necks! Do you understand who we're dealing with? You have to find the murderer , that is why you were sent here."
Do Hyun remained silent.