PTT - 14

At that moment, a hoarse voice crackled from the speaker just above the emergency call button. It was the anxious tone of a security guard. The man turned toward the sound and responded. 

“Hey, students in there. Are you alright? The doors are open now, right?” 

“Yes, the doors are open now. Thank you.” 

“Goodness, earlier the emergency call connected properly, but no matter what I said, it seemed like you couldn’t hear me. We’ve already called the repair crew, so please hurry out before anything else happens. Yes, um… on the 5th floor, in the central hall. Let’s go check it together.” 

The noise of conversation between the repair crew and the security guard echoed as they continued discussing the situation. 

Still holding her hand, the man gave Yoo Sayeon a slight nod, signaling it was time to leave. 

“Ah, yes.” 

The warmth covering the back of her hand lingered, comforting and tender. As if entranced, Yoo Sayeon nodded and followed him out. By now, the elevator’s LED panel displayed the red words: “Under Maintenance.” 

Having moved to the central hall on the 5th floor, she glanced around. During the semester, the area was always packed with tables and lounge sofas, but since it was winter break, the absence of students made the space feel eerily empty and desolate. 

Unconsciously, Sayeon lowered her gaze to check the time on her wristwatch. The lecture had already started by now. 

Being late on the first day was unacceptable—even if she had a legitimate reason, she didn’t want to face disapproval from the professor. 

But an overwhelming premonition welled up inside her: if she let this man walk away without saying more, she’d regret it for a long time. Nervously fidgeting with her fingers, Sayeon hesitated. 

“Um… could I hold your hand just a little longer…?” 

“Oh. I didn’t realize I was still holding it. Sorry about that.” 

The man smiled gently as their eyes met again. His deep, velvety voice kept stirring something in her chest, like soft puppy grass tickling her heart with delicate rustles. 

This feeling was entirely new to her, and she wasn’t sure how to continue the conversation. Like a robot long deprived of oil, Sayeon stumbled awkwardly. 

“Hmm… first, thank you. Um, how should I address you?” 

“Baek Siheon. Fourth year in Business Administration.” 

“Ah, so you’re a senior! I’m… Yoo Sayeon. A second-year student in the same department.” 

Though she had only just learned his name, she already knew he was a senior in her department. Still, she awkwardly played along and replied. 

Siheon’s lips curved into a smile as he gazed at her with his striking features. 

“Ah, so you’re a junior in my department. No need for formalities—just ‘senior’ is too stiff. Yoo Sayeon… Sa-yeon…” 

He rolled her name softly on his tongue. Though the three syllables were plain and unremarkable, when spoken by Siheon, they sounded unusually smooth and melodic. 

“It’s a beautiful name. Yoo Sayeon, Sa-yeon… I think it’ll stay in my memory for a long time.” 

Caught off guard, Sayeon forgot to maintain her composure and parted her lips slightly. 

Her wide, round eyes brimmed with astonishment. This response was completely unexpected. 

Throughout her life, she had never once been satisfied with her name. While names were given regardless of personal will, Yoo Sayeon’s beginning had been particularly unfortunate. 

“Yoo Sayeon”—a name that literally meant “a person with a story.” During her teenage years, classmates often teased her, calling her “有사연” (a play on her name, implying someone burdened with issues). 

She didn’t blindly believe in the superstition that names could shape one’s fate, but perhaps, from birth, she had been destined to live a life full of complications. 

No one—not even Sayeon herself—had ever thought positively of her name. 

‘This is a first.’ 

But now, here was this man saying her name was beautiful. Perhaps it was just polite flattery, but an indescribable emotion swelled within her chest, filling her completely. 

You are different. Something about you feels unlike anyone else.

Her heart raced. It was a complex emotion that couldn’t be summed up with just the word “excitement.” She wanted to get to know him better, to continue talking with him a little longer. 

Simple yet unfamiliar desires swelled within her like balloons filling with air. 

For a moment, lost in thought, Sayeon gazed at Baek Siheon, taking in his striking features—the elegantly sculpted nose, the subtle double eyelids framing his eyes. 

His appearance alone was enough to capture anyone’s attention, but it wasn’t just his looks that drew her in. 

There was something deeper, more primal… 

Finally, she took a step closer to him and opened her eyes wide. Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. For Yoo Sayeon, there was only one choice. 

“…I’d like to know how to contact you. Senior.” 

At her words, Siheon let out a small chuckle. A warm breeze from the heater brushed against his cheek. 

/// 

On the 7th floor of the National Intelligence Service, inside a multipurpose conference room with blackout blinds fully drawn, Ray’s report was underway. 

Hood pulled over his head, he clicked the mouse as if to draw attention, then snapped his fingers. Instantly, photos of a certain woman filled the state-of-the-art screen. 

“That guy, Cheon Sung-won? He’s quite the social butterfly, I’ll give him that. It took almost a week just to dig through everyone around him. Going through all these profiles to figure out who to target was tough.” 

“So… this is the one you finally chose?” 

“Yeah. There are probably more Russian acquaintances too, but… for now, this foreigner seems most important. Natasha Borisova. She’s 26 years old and currently lives in Vladivostok.” 

Information about her appeared alongside the photo—place of origin, alma mater, family relations, and a list of acquaintances. Siheon, seated at the head of the table reviewing documents, finally spoke. 

“What’s the reason for investigating her?” 

“Man, you’re impatient… Listen. I hacked into Cheon Sung-won’s email. He wasn’t using some regular portal site but some weird secret platform, so accessing it was tricky. Anyway…” 

Ray tapped the screen twice like knocking on a door, and the display naturally filled with Russian text. 

“He exchanged emails with only one person through that secret account—about two or three times a week. Considering how busy he claims to be, the fact that he wrote such long messages meant there had to be something going on.” 

“Very passionate. Shakespeare would cry.” 

“Auntie Mabel, don’t spoil it! I was about to say that.” 

Mabel, chin resting on her hand, watched the screen with interest. Fluent in Russian, almost like a native speaker, she didn’t need any translation. 

Beat to the punch, Ray scrunched up his face in irritation and muttered in a sulky tone. 

“Anyway… like Auntie Mabel said, the content of the emails was pretty detailed. Seems like Cheon Sung-won has feelings for this Russian woman, but from what I can tell, she doesn’t seem interested. Unrequited love, huh? Kind of sad.” 

Ray rambled on with unnecessary commentary. Watching him, Siheon gave a pointed look, signaling him to stay on track. 

“The important part is… after digging deeper, it turns out this woman is the daughter of the mafia boss Cheon Sung-won funds. Or rather, she appears to be the only child of the boss.” 

“So there’s a connection like that. I think I understand now.” 

“Well, my dad’s not exactly advertising himself as a mafia boss, so it’s still uncertain. But there’s about a 95% chance it’s true.” 

As always, Rock listened silently and nodded in agreement. Sayeon and Mabel, seated side by side, also wore expressions of understanding. 

But one person—Siheon—continued tapping the documents lightly with his fingertips. 

“A 95% chance means there’s still a 5% possibility the information is wrong. Find more concrete evidence, Ray. With the mafia involved, we need to be cautious. Creating diplomatic trouble won’t do us any good.” 

“…Well, actually, it’s closer to 99%. I haven’t done a DNA test, but everything else checks out at 100%, I swear.” 

“I see. You’ve done well to uncover this much, but I know you can do even better. I have no doubts about your abilities.” 

Siheon’s firm voice carried a gentle charisma.

Throughout the history of operations conducted by the National Intelligence Service, there had been several instances where inaccurate information led to dangerous situations. Therefore, verifying the source and reliability of intelligence was a given necessity. 

Ray pouted slightly but nodded in agreement. Though he often appeared cheeky and lighthearted, when their team leader showed this side of his leadership, it was impossible not to follow. 

Soon, Baek Siheon stood up from his seat, drawing everyone’s attention. 

“Alright, listen up.”