A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 63

Minsu. I’m in the hospital again. Let me know when I can visit.

I sent the text, but there was no response.

Seeing that he hadn’t even read it yet, he was probably too busy to check.

I stared blankly at my phone screen for a moment before sending another message.

I’ll wait. Please, I’m counting on you.

Several days had passed since the incident, yet I still hadn’t been able to see Choi Taejoon.

Director Kim had ordered, “Woo Kyung is banned from visiting the hospital.” And the rest of the organization had no intention of letting me through either.

To them, Taejoon’s condition was entirely my fault.

So, for the past few days, I had been wandering in and out of the hospital, hoping for an opportunity to sneak in.

The only things I could do were linger in the waiting area or ask Kim Minsu to check when it was his turn to stand guard at the hospital room.

Holding onto the faint hope that I might get a chance to visit, I wasted time staring at the television in the lounge.

Just then, a scenic view of Jeju Island filled the screen.

Jeju.

Everything that had happened there… felt like a dream.

A dream that had ended in a nightmare.

“…….”

No.

Today, I’m going to see Choi Taejoon—no matter what.

With that resolution, I stood up.

“Is Taejoon still under a no-visit order?”

“Huh…?”

Startled, I turned my head toward the voice.

A man wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his face was sitting nearby.

“Tsk. Look at your face. You really got the shit beaten out of you, huh?”

“Wh-What the hell? How did you get here?”

“Why else would I come to a hospital? Visiting a patient, obviously.”

With a smirk, he shrugged casually.

“You’re slumping around like a sick chicken. Straighten your back. What, do you actually think Taejoon got stabbed because of you?”

“…….”

“It’s not like you ordered the guy to stab him. Now sit your ass down. Stop fidgeting.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

What the hell is he doing here?

“You don’t want people noticing that you’re meeting me, do you? Then sit.”

As soon as I dropped onto the couch, he cut straight to the point.

“I heard Director Kim told you to take care of the guy who stabbed Taejoon once they find out who’s behind it.”

How does he know that?

At this rate, they didn’t even need a spy planted next to me.

“Ordering a cop to carry out an assassination… these gangsters have really lost their minds. So. What are you going to do? Are you actually planning to kill someone?”

I forced my voice to sound indifferent.

“What else? I’ll do what I’m told.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Did you come all the way here just to talk about this? I’m leaving.”

“Laws exist for a reason.”

Oh, for god’s sake.

What is this? A textbook lecture on justice?

Just thinking about the antacid pill incident he pulled on Park Hahyun made my blood boil.

If it weren’t for the situation I was in, I would’ve let him have it.

Instead, I settled for glaring daggers at him.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

A message.

Kim Minsu

—Woo Kyung, come now. The higher-ups left, and there’s no one here.

—But I can’t guarantee you’ll get in. I can’t do anything about that part.

Now’s my chance.

I quickly replied: On my way.

Then, I stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“To kill someone.”

“Taejoon?”

I dodged Baek’s outstretched hand and ran toward Taejoon’s hospital room.

As soon as I appeared, the guard outside the door glared at me.

“Woo Kyung. Do you have a death wish? What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”

I could practically feel the hostility radiating off him.

Minsu, who had been standing nearby, looked nervous—his gaze darting around, unsure of what to do.

Don’t worry, I won’t get you involved.

“I just want to check on Taejoon. That’s all.”

“Get lost.”

The man shoved my shoulder roughly.

Just then, someone stood up from a nearby sofa down the hall.

A massive figure.

His low, rumbling voice cut through the tense atmosphere.

“Why’s it so noisy over here?”

If it weren’t for his voice, I might not have recognized him at all.

“Team Leader, this bastard keeps trying to force his way in—”

The Head of Security.

His left arm and leg were in casts, and he was leaning on crutches. A neck brace wrapped tightly around his throat—he must have taken a severe hit to the cervical spine or occipital region that night.

No wonder he hadn’t been able to stop Taejoon from getting hurt.

The security team leader glanced down at me, his usual sharp, wolfish eyes unreadable.

Before today, I had never feared that gaze.

But standing here, cornered and powerless, I felt a creeping sense of dread.

“Let him in.”

“…What?”

Not just me—even the guards standing watch were shocked.

“Five minutes. That’s enough, right?”

At his words, I nodded furiously.

“But sir, Director Kim specifically ordered that he—”

“It’s just five damn minutes. Don’t overreact.”

“But—”

“And Director Kim isn’t even here right now. I’ll take responsibility.”

Then, he turned to me.

“Woo Kyung, come here.”

I hesitated for a second before shuffling forward.

“Raise your arms.”

“Huh?”

“Hands up. Now.”

Confused but obedient, I lifted my arms.

The security team leader, despite his injured state, carefully patted me down, checking my inner pockets, waist, and pant legs—a full security search.

“Don’t take it personally. Everyone has to go through this before they’re allowed in.”

After confirming that I wasn’t carrying anything dangerous, the security team leader finally unlocked the door.

“Make it quick.”

For some reason, I felt tears welling up.

After days of waiting, I was finally going to see Choi Taejoon.

Inside the hospital room, the only sounds were the steady beeping of the heart monitor and the faint hum of medical equipment.

The sharp scent of antiseptic and disinfectant stung my nose the moment I stepped inside.

“Got it. You’re really bringing ‘Alcohol Swabs: The Real Experience’ to life, huh? That’s what this is, right?”

“You can buy those at a pharmacy.”

A dry chuckle escaped my lips. The muscles in my bruised cheeks ached, but I couldn’t help but smile.

Back then, his flat, unimpressed response had felt so absurd.

But now, looking back, it was so unmistakably Taejoon that I couldn’t help but laugh.

Taejoon… I want to see you.

Just a few steps ahead, his hospital bed came into view.

A thick layer of bandages was wrapped tightly around his abdomen, and various monitors were attached to his chest.

As I approached, his low, groggy voice drifted from the bed.

“…Who’s there?”

His eyes were shut, but he was awake.

I was about to respond when he let out a small cough, followed by a pained sigh.

“Director Kim… What’s Woo Kyung doing? Why is it so quiet?”

I froze mid-step.

My heart pounded violently in my chest.

The moment he said my name, I felt my breath catch.

When I didn’t answer, he must have sensed something was off—because his eyes slowly opened.

“……!”

“…Sir.”

The moment he realized it wasn’t Director Kim, his expression shifted—first to surprise, then to something much darker.

His gaze swept over me before his brows furrowed sharply.

“You—what happened to your face?”

Ah…

Right.

My lips were split, my eye was bruised, and a giant bandage covered my forehead.

I must’ve looked like a mess.

His jaw tightened, as if he had already pieced together the situation.

After a long exhale, he lifted a hand and motioned me over.

“Come here.”

I knew he had been badly injured, but seeing him like this with my own eyes—

I could barely hold back my tears.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I stepped closer.

An IV line ran from his hand, snaking down to the drip beside his bed.

“…Does it hurt a lot?”

“Not at all.”

“…You’re not allowed to die before me.”

Taejoon’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“If this was enough to kill me, I’d have died ten times over already.”

And knowing what he’s been through…

I knew he wasn’t lying.

His gaze flickered over my injuries again.

“Your face… the guys did this?”

His eyelashes fluttered lightly, brushing against his cheeks with every slow blink.

Somehow, it felt like he was gently tracing the bruises on my face just by looking at me.

Feeling awkward, I rubbed my cheek and gave a sheepish nod.

“…Yeah.”

He didn’t say anything, but just that gaze alone made me feel like all the pent-up exhaustion and frustration from the past few days was finally melting away.

“Come closer.”

Just as he reached out, a soft knock came from the door.

Knock, knock—

“Sir, it’s me. May I come in?”

“…What?”

My entire body stiffened.

Director Kim’s voice.

Panic shot through me instantly.

“Wh-What do I do?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do you do’?”

“If he finds out I’m here, I’m screwed!”

“Why?”

Before I could answer, the knocking came again—firmer this time.

Taejoon glanced toward the door.

“Come in.”

“Wh— No, wait!”

My mind went blank.

Shit. Shit. SHIT.

If they found me here, I was done for.

And so was the security team leader—he’d get reamed for letting me in.

“Hide me! Please!”

My eyes darted around the room.

Under the bed!

Yes—if I crawled under the bed and waited until they left—

Click.

The door handle turned.

I heard multiple footsteps entering the room.

“I-I swear, I’ll explain later!”

I hurried to duck under the bed, but—

“No. Not there.”

Taejoon’s voice stopped me.

“If they find me, we’re both DEAD!”

“Get up here.”

“What?”

“The floor’s cold. You’ll catch a cold.”

Now that I looked closely, the space under the bed was way too small.

Not only that, but it was completely exposed.

Shit. I’ll be found instantly if I hide there…

But the bed?!

That was even riskier!

“Hurry up, or you’ll get caught. …Unless you’d rather take your chances?”

Damn it.

Screw it.

Just as Taejoon lifted the blanket slightly, I slipped under the covers with him.

“S-Sorry… Just for a second.”