A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 66

“Ha.”

Only Choi Taejoon, dressed in a hospital gown, remained on the bed.

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Seeing that dumbfounded expression on his face made laughter burst out of me like a popped balloon. I laughed so hard I was nearly crying as I walked to the other side of the bed to pick up the blanket that had flown off.

“…What’s so funny?”

Choi Taejoon lay back, staring at me in resignation as I laughed to the point of being breathless.

“Just… everything.”

“…Ha.”

“Haha, I’m sorry. It’s just that… you looked kind of cute.”

“…Cute?”

“Yes, just a little. A tiny bit.”

Avoiding his gaze, I pulled the disheveled blanket up to his shoulders and adjusted the direction of the humidifier slightly.

To think that I would ever witness Choi Taejoon being jealous—it was almost touching.

“Don’t say things like that.”

“Oh, right. Maybe I was mistaken.”

At my attempt to soothe him, he let out an incredulous scoff.

Seeing that his mood had eased a little, I finally voiced the words I had been determined to say.

“I keep feeling guilty, like this all happened because of me. I know that Director Kim and everyone else are acting this way toward me because they care about you.”

I paused for a moment and looked at him.

“So… please don’t get too angry at Director Kim. And… I’ll come back when the timing feels right. Until then, take care and recover well.”

I bowed slightly in farewell.

“How is any of this your fault? I was the one who decided to go to your house.”

“Even so…”

“More importantly, you be careful too. I know you want to die, but that doesn’t mean you should throw yourself into dangerous situations.”

The memory of that day resurfaced, and the lingering trace of my laughter vanished.

“I think I’ve told you this many times. Don’t even think about dying.”

That was the one thing I couldn’t obey.

Dying was the only way to end this and return to my original world.

I couldn’t live forever as Woo Kyung from Alcohol Swab.

But arguing about it in front of someone who was already in pain seemed pointless. Instead, I put on a kindergarten-teacher-like smile and looked at him.

“Okay.”

“You don’t look like you understand at all.”

“I’ll be careful. You just focus on recovering.”

I turned to leave but suddenly stopped.

“Oh, right.”

I took out the small gift I had been carrying in my pocket. I had been meaning to give it to him for days, but in all the chaos, I had almost forgotten and nearly taken it back home with me.

“Here.”

Choi Taejoon stared blankly at what I placed in his hand.

It was a tin case of colorful candies.

“…….”

“You can’t smoke while you’re in the hospital. Don’t ignore the doctor’s orders and sneak a cigarette, okay? I got these for you to have one whenever you feel the urge.”

Since he didn’t seem inclined to take them, I placed the tin on the bedside table.

“I’ll visit again, so you have to recover quickly. Got it?”

Leaving those words behind, I hastily exited the hospital room.

It was just about time for the medical staff to make their rounds.

As the doctor checked Taejoon’s surgical site, he spoke with a concerned expression.

“The surgery went well, and given your strong constitution, your recovery is progressing quickly. However…”

He earnestly warned him not to insist on being discharged prematurely like last time. It seemed to have been quite a headache back then.

“I’ll keep a close eye on him. Don’t worry too much.”

Despite Director Kim’s reassurances, the doctor still looked doubtful.

Once the medical staff left, only Director Kim and Choi Taejoon remained in the room.

“I’ll help you tidy up.”

“I can manage this much myself.”

“I know.”

Director Kim buttoned up Taejoon’s hospital gown, which had been undone for the examination. As always, his expression was calm and composed, showing no emotional disturbance.

Taejoon silently watched the slow movement of Director Kim’s hands and asked,

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

“What about Woo Kyung, who was hiding in my bed?”

There was a slight pause, but Director Kim finished buttoning the gown, straightened up, and adjusted the sheets. His gaze briefly landed on the candy tin on the table before returning to Taejoon.

“…How are you feeling?”

Taejoon clicked his tongue at Director Kim’s typical method of avoidance.

It was clear he had decided to act as if he hadn’t seen anything.

“My body? I don’t know. But my mood is rotten.”

“We’ve secured critical evidence. We should be able to track down the hired perpetrator soon. If you could just be patient a little longer—”

“Enough. Let’s save the unpleasant talk for later.”

“Yes, Director.”

It was convenient—being able to see only what he wanted and erasing everything else without hesitation.

He had always appreciated this trait in Director Kim.

But today, for some reason, it felt unsettling. No—rather, it made him uneasy.

“Dr. Kim said that since you have a strong constitution and a firm will, you’ll recover quickly. However, the wound was deep, and the surgery was difficult. So this time, please don’t rush your discharge and follow the hospital’s instructions…”

“Dr. Kim has probably patched up enough holes in my stomach to be an expert by now. Tell him to stop whining.”

Taejoon gestured with his fingers.

“Pass that to me.”

“This… is candy?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t eat sweets.”

It was an item that felt out of place in Choi Taejoon’s hospital room.

“Woo Kyung gave it to me.”

Director Kim frowned, looking reluctant to hand it over.

“Would you like me to check for poison first?”

“Quit the lame jokes and give it to me.”

With an unreadable expression—somewhere between a smile and something else—Taejoon took the tin case. Even without opening the lid, he could almost smell the sugary sweetness.

“…I don’t trust Woo Kyung.”

“You don’t have to. I trust him.”

“…Why do you trust him so much?”

“Why don’t you?”

Director Kim remained silent, his gaze fixed on Taejoon’s wound.

The countless incidents and accidents since Woo Kyung’s appearance were reason enough.

Director Kim’s expression spoke volumes—he was beyond frustrated.

Two car accidents in the past few months. A stabbing.

And each time, Woo Kyung had been there.

“This isn’t about trust. Woo Kyung is dangerous.”

Taejoon’s expression slowly turned cold. Only then did Director Kim rein in the sharp edge of his gaze and lower his voice.

“As I said before, Woo Kyung’s whereabouts after high school remain unclear. Even when asked, he claims he doesn’t remember. And furthermore…”

Director Kim hesitated for a moment.

“Before meeting you, Woo Kyung had ties to Kang Jae-wook. He claims to be a victim, but that’s just his side of the story.”

Taejoon rattled the tin case, the candies shifting inside with a soft clatter.

Bringing up Kang Jae-wook’s name—it was meant to get under his skin.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Woo Kyung had certainly made an impression on Director Kim.

“So, what’s your plan? Are you going to get rid of him? Kill him?”

This time, Director Kim clamped his mouth shut.

That unwavering, resolute gaze—it was just like him.

Director Kim had always been strict but sharp, unwaveringly loyal in his own frustratingly stubborn way.

When that loyalty was on Taejoon’s side, it had been reassuring.

It had always been that way.

But now, seeing him speechless in response to that last question, Taejoon could tell—his mind was already made up.

Suppressing the unease creeping in, Taejoon deliberately spoke in a relaxed tone.

“Wait. There’s no rush.”

“…….”

“It’s fine. Until I say otherwise, don’t lay a finger on him.”

Director Kim remained still, his expression unreadable as he bowed his head slightly, waiting for Taejoon’s next words.

“That’s my decision. Don’t overstep. That’s an order.”

“…Understood.”

At that moment, Taejoon desperately wanted a cigarette.

How did Woo Kyung even know to bring something like this?

“It’s a non-smoking facility.”

Taejoon laughed.

“Sometimes, you’re downright creepy.”

Director Kim could read him too well—knew exactly what he wanted, how he felt, just from his gaze.

For a brief moment, Taejoon recalled The Terminal Illness version of Director Kim but dismissed the thought just as quickly.

Then, he tossed the tin case toward Director Kim.

“Open it.”

The moment the lid popped open, the air filled with the sweet scent, making his mouth water.

“Director.”

“What?”

“…Can I ask why you’re protecting Woo Kyung? Why do you trust him so much?”

Inside the tin, pastel-colored candies coated in fine sugar filled the space. Taejoon picked one and popped it into his mouth.

Glancing at Director Kim—who was waiting for his answer—he finally spoke.

“Intuition.”

“…Intuition?”

“The same way I trusted you when everyone else was against it. That kind of intuition.”

After all, Director Kim had once been a police officer with a supposedly lost memory—yet Taejoon had still chosen to keep him close and trust him.

Watching the subtle shift in Director Kim’s expression, Taejoon felt a little relieved.

After saying all this, he wouldn’t act recklessly—at least not for now.

As the candy melted, sticky and sweet on his tongue, Taejoon closed his eyes.

“…And Woo Kyung.”

Just thinking about him made Taejoon unconsciously clench his jaw. Without realizing it, he bit down hard on the candy. Then, in a voice so quiet it was barely audible, he muttered,

“Everything he does is just… yeah.”

Cute.

“…I didn’t catch that. What did you just say?”

Instead of answering, Taejoon gestured toward the window.

“It’s hot. Open it again.”

He was clearly dodging the question.

And he didn’t even realize he was smiling.

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