A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 95

Taejoon barely slept through the night.

At the break of dawn, he glanced at Wookyung, still deep in sleep, before pulling up the zipper of his tracksuit to his neck.

There was no chance of getting more rest, and work wouldn’t hold his focus either.

With everything that had happened lately, he had been skipping his morning routine, but for years, this had been an unshakable part of his schedule, an essential ritual before heading to work.

Three laps around the lake track, followed by a sauna session. Then a light breakfast in the residents’ lounge before heading back home, where Director Kim would be waiting for him in the living room.

“Hah…”

The early morning air was colder and darker than usual.

Taejoon loosened up with a few stretches before jogging along the private trail leading to the lake. The narrow, shadowy path quickly opened up to the wide track that surrounded the water.

“Was it always this beautiful?”

The lake, bathed in the soft glow of dawn, was breathtaking.

Golden leaves scattered across the path, lifted into the air by the wind before drifting back down like snowflakes. The sky, just before sunrise, looked like a painting—too perfect to be real.

As he ran, Taejoon found himself glancing back toward the building where Wookyung was sleeping.

“I wish he could see this.”

Tomorrow morning, he’d bring Wookyung along.

The thought made him smile—an unconscious, unguarded smile. Taejoon immediately pressed his lips together, suppressing it.

He adjusted his earbuds and selected a random track on his playlist.

Fast-paced music filled his ears.

Usually, he listened to news or political commentary during his runs. But today, his mind was too cluttered.

“How did you know?”

“Know what?”

Wookyung’s wide eyes had shimmered with curiosity. That day at the café, Taejoon had unconsciously hummed along to his group’s debut song.

“You were just singing my song.”

How could he not know it?

It was a song he had heard dozens—no, hundreds—of times while living inside Terminal Illness.

For a fleeting second, he saw Wookyung’s bright, beaming smile in his mind before it vanished.

The chilly morning wind brushed past his ears, but it wasn’t enough to cool the heat rising in his head.

Wookyung’s expressions flashed through his mind—his laughter, his tears, his anger, his surprise, his embarrassment.

Every emotion, perfectly preserved.

“Hah…”

Taejoon slowed to a stop, pressing a firm hand to his chest, trying to steady his breath.

The morning had fully arrived.

The mist hovering over the lake had cleared, and the water shimmered under the crisp sunlight.

“…….”

Making up his mind, Taejoon reached into his pocket.

His fingers brushed over the cracked surface of the phone.

Then, without hesitation, he hurled it into the lake.

The device arced through the air before vanishing beneath the surface.

Now, only he and Director Kim knew the truth about Hyun Wookyung’s identity.

And since Taejoon had decided to bury it, Director Kim wouldn’t act on it either.

Besides, Kim had already given his word—if Taejoon chose to believe in Wookyung, he wouldn’t interfere.

It was at that moment—

“You know, illegal dumping is prohibited here.”

Taejoon turned sharply toward the voice.

A shadowy figure stood just beyond the trees.

He couldn’t make out the face, but whoever it was, they were definitely looking at him.

“Article 8, Section 1 of the Waste Management Act—illegal disposal of waste. What was the fine for that again?”

For a split second, Taejoon’s breath caught.

The phrasing reminded him of Wookyung.

But it wasn’t him.

Taejoon pulled out his earbuds and stepped toward the figure.

“Who are you?”

The man’s free hand was buried in his pocket, but there was no threatening aura.

“You can’t just throw your phone into the lake! Even if you’re Vice President Choi, that’s not allowed.”

Whoever this was, he knew him.

As the man stepped into the light, Taejoon recognized him immediately.

“Ah, fancy meeting you here!”

Park Hayun.

He pulled down his hood, grinning brightly as he faced Taejoon.

Why was he here at this hour?

Taejoon distinctly remembered his previous residence—not anywhere near here.

Noticing his confusion, Hayun gestured toward the tower.

“I’m staying in the guest house for a few days. Might even sign a lease soon.”

Taejoon stared at him for a moment before looking away.

He didn’t care whether Hayun moved here or not.

Hayun said something else, but Taejoon had already put his earbuds back in and turned up the volume.

He had no interest in hearing it.

The mere fact that he had momentarily thought of Wookyung when he saw him was irritating.

Without another glance, Taejoon resumed his run.

Fortunately, Hayun didn’t follow.

Normally, he would have completed another lap and done a few sets of strength training before heading to the sauna.

But not today.

The only thought in his mind was to shower quickly and wake Wookyung up for breakfast.

When Taejoon entered the sauna, there was already another occupant inside.

Steam filled the room, making it difficult to see clearly.

The person had a towel wrapped around their head, obscuring their face, but something about them felt… off.

For a brief moment, Taejoon considered leaving.

But instead, he sat on the opposite bench.

“Well, what a coincidence—”

Taejoon’s brow furrowed slightly.

It was Park Hayun again.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I came to use the sauna.”

He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“I had a coupon, and it expires today.”

“Do you have business with me?”

“Business? Not at all. I already told you—I’m staying here for a few days while looking for a place. If anything, it seems like you’re the one following me around.”

Hayun casually pointed out that he had arrived at the sauna first.

Taejoon was already tired of this. He got up to leave.

“But what was that phone you threw into the lake?”

“That has nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, I just thought it might be Wookyung’s.”

Taejoon froze mid-step, his hand gripping the sauna door.

His heart slammed hard against his ribs.

“Why would I throw Hyun Wookyung’s phone into the lake?”

“I don’t know. Maybe… to destroy evidence?”

Taejoon narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Ha Hyun’s expression.

Was he fishing for information, or did he actually know something?

If he overreacted, he might give himself away.

“What evidence?”

“I wouldn’t know. But I figure it must’ve been something no one else should see, if you had to sneak out at dawn to dump it in the water.”

Ha Hyun grinned brightly, as if he were making idle conversation.

But his words had an unmistakable edge.

Taejoon let out a short sigh, forcing a smirk.

“Why don’t you mind your own business?”

“What do you mean, my own— Oh!”

Ha Hyun suddenly let out a startled yelp.

Following Taejoon’s gaze, he looked down at his thigh—his towel had slipped off and fallen to the floor.

“Did you… Did you see?”

Taejoon ignored him and shrugged.

But this was becoming an annoyance.

Seeing him witness the phone disposal wasn’t the problem—it was his irritatingly persistent questions and smug attitude.

“This means we’ll be seeing each other more often once I move in.”

Seeing him more often?

Under the red sauna lights, Ha Hyun’s eyes seemed to gleam unnaturally.

Taejoon suddenly recalled that he and Wookyung had dated back in high school.

Was he moving here just to be near Wookyung?

“Are you moving because of Hyun Wookyung?”

“No way. You think I’d relocate just for him? That’s not it.”

Not because of Wookyung?

Then why the hell was he moving here?

“I wanted to live here because you live here, Vice President.”

“Me?”

What the hell was he talking about now?

Taejoon stared at him, incredulous.

Ha Hyun’s lips curled slightly.

“I want to live near you.”

It was so absurd that even scoffing felt like a waste of effort.

If Taejoon asked why, Ha hyun would no doubt come up with some ridiculous excuse.

“If we become neighbors, we can grill pork belly together, have wine nights—I mean, doesn’t that sound fun?”

When Taejoon remained stone-faced, Ha Hyun continued with an innocent smile.

“I’m great at grilling meat, you know.”

“Hah… Stop spouting nonsense.”

Fed up, Taejoon left the sauna.

He didn’t care whether Ha Hyun moved in or not.

But the thought of him hovering around Wookyung made his stomach churn.

If possible, he wanted to prevent it altogether.

Maybe it would be better if he moved instead.

With both the police and this leech sticking too close for comfort, there was no longer any reason to stay here.

After all, the only reason he had chosen this place was because of Vice Chairman Gil.

And now, that reason no longer existed.

Support A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive