A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 25

“Th… thank you.”

With trembling hands, I clutched the jacket and pulled it up to my shoulders as if wrapping myself in a blanket. The lingering warmth of Choi Taejoon made it feel comforting. Only then did the shivers running through my shoulders start to subside, and my anxious heart began to settle. His expression also softened.

“Executive Director.”

It was at that moment. Just as Choi Taejoon was opening the driver’s side door, Chief Kim approached.

“What is it?”

“Where are you going?”

Chief Kim’s appearance was a mess, his clothes disheveled—clear evidence of the scuffle he had been involved in with Kang Jaewook’s men. It was the first time I had seen him so unkempt since knowing him.

“Go home. You’re off duty.”

Lowering his voice, Chief Kim continued,

“I need to speak with you. If you’re planning to head home…”

His gaze flicked toward me in the passenger seat. The distrust and wariness in his eyes made my shoulders shrink involuntarily.

“Miss Hyun Wookyung is badly injured. It would be best if she didn’t accompany you home.”

“The hospital isn’t necessary. Dr. Kim can check on her at my place.”

It seemed he had misinterpreted Taejoon’s words, thinking he meant taking me to a hospital instead of home. Just as we were about to get into the car, Chief Kim blocked the way again.

“Executive Director. That’s not what I meant…!”

“…….”

He gripped the driver’s door tightly, his expression tense, almost resolute.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Forgive me. But you know there are too many suspicious factors at play here.”

“Suspicious?”

“It would be better not to take her home.”

“Explain yourself clearly.”

Taking a deep breath, Chief Kim looked directly at me and spoke with conviction.

“Miss Hyun Wookyung might be a police informant. The informant from Director Kang’s side—there’s speculation that it was her. This claim comes from their side, so we still need confirmation, but it’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Finally, he said it. The words I had been dreading.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

It felt like my heartbeat was hammering against my eardrums. My breath quickened, and my mind sent out frantic warning signals.

Run, Hyun Wookyung!

I had barely escaped from Kang Jaewook, and now it was happening all over again? Things had been deviating from the original plot all this time—so why was it suddenly snapping back into place now?

In the original story, this was where Chief Kim reported his suspicions, leading Choi Taejoon to interrogate me himself.

No matter what, I had to avoid that.

At the mention of “police,” Choi Taejoon glanced at me briefly before turning his gaze back to Chief Kim.

I gripped the door handle tightly, ready to bolt at any moment. Running was the best option. Escaping before I got exposed.

I thought of the boat tied up at the dock.

That’s it. I had to take that and flee. It was better than getting caught and dying at their hands.

“Police?”

Choi Taejoon muttered as if swallowing back a sigh.

“Don’t accuse an innocent person.”

“I already reported it. You know why Director Kang had her brought here.”

They were keeping their voices low, but I could still hear everything.

This meant Chief Kim had gotten his information from Kang Jaewook’s side. It was similar to the original plot, yet fundamentally different.

I hesitated for a moment before finally interjecting.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but…”

I had been dragged here against my will. That much was undeniable.

I rolled down the window just enough to stick my head out.

“This whole thing—was a setup orchestrated by Director Kang Jaewook.”

Both men turned to look at me at the same time.

“A setup?”

“Yes. Both I and Kim Minsu, the guy in that warehouse, are just scapegoats. Completely, utterly innocent victims.”

At my protest, Chief Kim let out a scoff of disbelief.

“Director Kang himself admitted it. He wanted everything—drugs, money, all of it. So he framed me, trying to pin it all on me. You have to believe me. He said it himself!”

As I rattled off my explanation at top speed, both men frowned.

“Director Kang may be an idiot—ah, apologies. Even if his head is completely empty, he wouldn’t do something like that.”

I wasn’t sure which was worse—calling him an “idiot” or saying he had “an empty head”—but Chief Kim corrected himself nonetheless.

This was driving me insane.

“I understand why this is hard to believe. But I’m telling the truth.”

Of course, Kang Jaewook was absolutely the type to do something like that. But from their perspective, my claims must have seemed just as dubious.

Neither side was trustworthy.

In the end, it was just two equally suspicious stories competing for credibility.

Breaking the silence, Choi Taejoon finally asked.

“Hyun Woo Kyung. Are you a cop?”

The words hit me like a brick, and my mouth clamped shut mid-sentence.

“…What?”

“Say it yourself. Did you infiltrate Taeseong Industries as an undercover cop?”

“…….”

It wasn’t hesitation over whether to lie and deny it.

It was the unsettling feeling that Choi Taejoon already knew the answer.

I bit down on my lip, tasting the sharp saltiness of blood. The sting jolted me back to my senses. Stay sharp, Woo Kyung.

“No! Absolutely not.”

I muttered, keeping my head down, unable to meet his gaze.

“I’m really not a cop. Like I said before, I have nothing to do with Director Kang’s case either.”

A short but deep sigh escaped from Choi Taejoon’s lips. I hesitantly lifted my head to look at him.

“You’re saying you’re not?”

“Yes.”

It felt like walking a tightrope over stormy waters.

“You heard her,” Taejoon said, straightening his posture as if to drive his point home. He turned his gaze to Chief Kim.

“Executive Director.”

“Do you have any other proof that she’s a cop?”

“A direct report came from Director Kang’s side.”

“And you believe what Director Kang says?”

Chief Kim’s expression twisted in frustration.

“Then what do you want to do? Drag her out of the car and beat the truth out of her?”

Chief Kim’s eyes flickered. That was exactly what he wanted.

He was trying to convince Taejoon that separating me from him and verifying the truth first was the safest course of action.

A wave of panic surged through me, and I gripped the seatbelt tightly. No. No way. I can’t get out of this car.

“Executive Director. If there’s even the slightest chance that Hyun Woo Kyung is—”

Before Chief Kim could finish, Taejoon cut him off.

“If Hyun Woo Kyung is a cop and I choose to protect her—then I’ll take full responsibility.”

“Executive Director!”

“When have I ever failed to handle the consequences of my own choices?”

“This is different. You know this could be a threat that no one can fix.”

“A threat…?”

Choi Taejoon turned to look at me.

“You’re saying she’s dangerous? Look at that clueless face and say that again.”

I stretched my lips into the dumbest grin I could muster.

Yes, that’s right. I’m an idiot.

Chief Kim’s gaze wavered.

It wasn’t that Taejoon’s words convinced him—more like he realized that no matter what he said, Taejoon wasn’t going to back down.

“Executive Director.”

“Now let go of the door.”

Reluctantly, Chief Kim released his grip on the car door and took a step back.

“…I’ll be waiting at the office, as you instructed.”

“Good. Handle the cleanup.”

Chief Kim didn’t respond, only giving a stiff nod.

As we pulled away, I glanced at the side mirror. Chief Kim was still standing there, frozen in place, as if rooted to the spot.

I’m sorry, sir. You’re right. I am an undercover cop. And not just any cop… a lieutenant.

I couldn’t see his expression, but it was obvious that Taejoon’s reaction had shaken him.

Chief Kim’s unwavering loyalty and blind admiration for Choi Taejoon were well-documented in the original story. Taejoon also trusted him deeply. Their bromance was so intense that it lasted until their tragic end.

In fact, their dynamic was such a fan favorite that there were plenty of side stories pairing them together.

Given that, it was almost unheard of for Chief Kim to challenge Taejoon so strongly like this.

Even Taejoon seemed slightly shaken by it, his silence stretching long.

His mind must have been tangled with thoughts—so much so that it completely shut him down.

That silence remained unbroken all the way until we passed the Seoul tollgate.

The warm car interior, after an entire night of being tormented by Director Kang, made my eyelids feel heavy. My eyes stung with exhaustion, yet sleep refused to come.

I wished I could just drift off in this suffocating atmosphere, but the more I tried to force it, the more awake I felt.

The silence between us lasted until I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable.

Just as we crossed Jamsil Bridge, Taejoon finally spoke.

“You’re awake?”

“…Yes.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“My whole body aches.”

“Ha… that bastard Kang Jaewook…”

Taejoon let out a deep sigh and tightened his grip on the wheel.

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

“Oh! Right. Thank you for saving me.”

“Not that.”

I turned my eyes slightly to the side, stealing a glance at his profile as he drove.

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