TL | Chapter 16 | Someone Who Knows Seowon

“Falling apart? Iden? From what I see now, that doesn’t seem likely,” Seowon thought, doubting the idea.

“On the day we found you, I was worried because he wouldn’t leave, not even at that late hour,” Min continued, casting a thoughtful look. “I feared he might do something reckless.”

Min added that this was why he couldn’t leave Iden’s side for a moment. Even though he didn’t truly believe Iden would do something extreme, he wasn’t acting like himself, and any snap decision wouldn’t have been surprising. Most people assumed Iden was quietly simmering in grief, having lost a loved one. But Min, who observed him closely, saw it differently. Iden’s gaze often drifted into the distance, as if focused on something unreachable. The longer he delayed his return to the U.S. after coming to South Korea, the more uneasy Min grew. Though Iden seemed calm, he hadn’t accepted the loss of his partner at all, and Min believed that was why he clung to staying in Korea.

What would have happened if they hadn’t found Seowon? Although he couldn’t shake his complex emotions when looking at Seowon, Min was ultimately grateful for his presence. Otherwise, he would still be anxiously watching Iden, wondering what he might do next.

Of course, Seowon’s presence brought its own issues. He could be a source of new confusion. But Iden’s eyes had changed, and that was enough to make Min feel slightly relieved.

“Just because he seems fine on the surface doesn’t mean he actually is,” Min remarked, glancing toward the conference room.

“Everyone thinks the Director is cold and calculating. But that wasn’t the case with you, Mr. Seowon.”

Seowon turned to look at Min, who met his gaze and shrugged slightly.

“He’s admittedly a bit obsessive,” Min added with a smile.

Seowon continued to watch the conference room as Min’s words sank in. “Iden’s attachment to ‘Seowon’ was unique. He cherished him more than anyone.”

“So please, be careful not to get hurt.”

Min looked at Seowon’s profile, his voice taking on a sincere tone. “If you get hurt, it’ll make life difficult for everyone around you.”

Though Min made it sound light-hearted with a wry smile, Seowon didn’t fully grasp the meaning of his words at the time.

The meeting lasted longer than expected. During the wait, Seowon, with Min’s assistance, checked the security measures around Iden. Initially, he thought Iden didn’t have any security, considering he wasn’t in the U.S., but he was wrong. Every window, whether at the company or his home, was bulletproof, eliminating the risk of a long-distance shot. The car Iden traveled in was also thoroughly armored.

At Iden’s home, CCTV cameras were installed everywhere. Any unauthorized attempt to open doors or entry by an intruder would trigger a defense system capable of firing on the spot. Seowon realized that if he’d meddled with anything unknowingly, he could have been in serious trouble. The thought that they hadn’t fully explained this system to him was shocking, but on reflection, Iden had rarely let him out of his sight at home. Min explained that the house’s security system specifically recognized both Iden and Seowon and would never target them.

During car trips, only Min was allowed to drive. Despite being personally selected by Luciano’s organization, Iden didn’t fully trust anyone else. No one but Min was permitted in such close quarters with him in the confined space of a vehicle.

For official outings, bodyguards were assigned, but they always maintained a set distance. When moving through exposed areas, any nearby building from which a shot could be fired was checked by guards in advance.

Seowon was impressed by the thoroughness of the precautions. He’d worried about exposure, but they had more than adequate defenses. Seeing Seowon’s amazement, Min gave a rueful smile.

“This building was designed by Luciano’s team with security in mind from the start. It’s not surprising the home you shared has extensive security too, but we didn’t start actively implementing these counter-sniper measures until we found you. Before that, he seemed indifferent about it.”

Indifferent, as if he wouldn’t have cared if he were killed in an attack. Seowon, considering Iden now, couldn’t understand that attitude. But he understood that losing “Ha Seowon” had left Iden uncharacteristically vulnerable.

The weight of that feeling pressed on Seowon’s chest. Having experienced the hopelessness of losing someone firsthand, he couldn’t deny that sense of despair.

“Will the meeting be long?” Seowon asked.

Min’s complicated expressions when he looked at Seowon made sense now. It also felt heavy to hear Min’s repeated pleas for Seowon not to get hurt, though Seowon’s intentions were in the opposite direction of Min’s wishes.

“I’m not sure.” Min checked his watch, then shook his head.

“I’ll step out for a bit.”

“That might be…”

“If anyone’s after us, they’re after the Director, not me,” Seowon replied, cutting off Min’s attempts to protest. Min, looking troubled, stopped arguing and only frowned.

“I won’t go far, so don’t worry.”

“Still…”

Min seemed restless, but it wasn’t just about potential threats. Seowon then realized the problem was his appearance itself, not just the risk of being targeted.

“I’m just going to buy a mask at the convenience store,” he clarified.

Finally, Min reluctantly nodded.

On the way down to the lobby, people’s stares and whispers followed him. It seemed no one in this building was unaware of “Ha Seowon.” It left him with a strange feeling, realizing how closely he’d been tied to Iden.

When he exited the building, he was relieved to spot a convenience store nearby. Inside, as he browsed for a mask and checked the sizes, he sensed someone’s intense gaze. Thinking it might be someone from Luciano’s team, he ignored it, but the person stood right beside him, staring so intently he couldn’t pretend not to notice.

“If you have something to say—”

Turning to look, Seowon froze when he recognized the person beside him.

“Ha Seowon!” she gasped, calling his name aloud, her face twisting in shock.

Oh, damn… It was too late to hide his face.

“It’s really you, Ha Seowon?” She reached out, grabbing his arm to confirm it was him. Denying it now would have been pointless.

“How are you…? This doesn’t make sense.” She shook her head in disbelief, yet tightened her grip as if afraid he’d vanish.

“Ji-an.”

As he said her name, her large eyes instantly filled with tears, and she began to sob.

“Feeling a bit calmer?” Seowon handed a cold can of soda to Ji-an as they sat on a bench outside Luciano’s building. She looked up at him with reddened eyes.

“This isn’t a dream, right?”

It was her third time asking the same question. He understood that seeing him alive was hard to believe.

“I even went to your funeral. But here you are…”

She murmured, staring at him in confusion. Seowon stayed silent, uncertain of their relationship in this world.

In his own world, Ji-an had been a college friend and one of the few who knew about his relationship with Iden. She’d been the person most supportive of them and had been there for him after Iden’s passing. If she’d known he’d thrown himself into the lake, she probably would’ve been the first to yell at him.

However, in this world, he didn’t know how things stood. Judging from her tearful reunion, they hadn’t been on bad terms. If things weren’t too different here, then she was probably still a friend.

“When you told me you were going to the U.S…”

Her voice trailed off, and she clamped her mouth shut, trying to keep her emotions in check. Her jaw clenched, the tension clear in her posture, before she let out a deep breath.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but…”

She looked genuinely perplexed, furrowing her brows.

“Does it even matter? What’s important is that you’re here, alive.”

He couldn’t help but wonder if people just accepted inexplicable things or if they’d given up trying to understand them. Her response raised strange questions in his mind.

“But if I ran into you here… does that mean you’re still tied up with Luciano?”

She asked, her tone and expression showing clear disapproval.

“Even after all that’s happened, are you still with him?”

It wasn’t hard to guess who she meant by “him.” She was obviously talking about Iden. Unlike the Ji-an he knew, who had supported his relationship with Iden, this Ji-an seemed to harbor resentment toward him.