Chapter 258.1

Chapter 258.1

Hic!

Channa covered her own mouth and glanced at Wooshin’s reaction.

His expression seemed unable to comprehend the scene before him. His hardened gaze, like someone witnessing something utterly unexpected, was frozen with a mixture of shock, disbelief, and confusion, terrifyingly still.

Even she, who had taken a step back, was breaking out in a cold sweat, so for her husband who had spent days just zooming in on the monitor…. Channa held her breath and only moved her eyes.

“….”

Moreover, the hands that were clinically, yet carefully, stroking the large belly looked strangely affectionate, which was an even bigger problem.

Channa inwardly cursed, ‘Damn it…,’ and made a bitter face, overcome with dismay. Could there be a harsher work environment than this? Serving a supervisor on the verge of exploding, monitoring the supervisor’s wife’s every move, and being exposed to that temper.

How was this any different from being a trembling child under violent parents? Fine then…. A man should be docile by nature.

Shutting her eyes preemptively, Channa stiffened her shoulders tightly, expecting shouting, curses, or a scene to erupt any moment. So, when the dry, monotonous voice reached her ears, she felt something was off.

“It seems he didn’t become Bureau Chief through connections.”

“…Pardon?”

“That method would probably be more effective than preaching surrender with a long-winded mouth. A civilian is better than a government agent, and a couple is better than a single person.”

He had already regained his cold, composed gaze. But seeing his slightly trembling jaw, Channa grew inexplicably anxious and looked away. Just watching him made unease creep in.

“For those bastards in the POW camp, even washing is a luxury. In such cases, showing them something they could absolutely never dream of, directly or indirectly, is the quickest and most certain way. Being locked up in a cramped, filthy place without seeing sunlight for days on end….”

The subtle tension emanating from his broad shoulders and arms…. Channa suddenly realized he wasn’t even breathing. The struggle of a man desperately trying to regain his rationality was weighing down the air in the room.

“If you’re thirsty.”

His sunken eyes scanned the monitor once more.

“You start to want something, you’re made to dare to dream. That bastard who shows an impossible dream, knowing he can’t even properly give it, is the bad one. Still, his judgment isn’t bad, that Bureau Chief person.”

“….”

“I think I would have done the same.”

You have to use everything you can. Wooshin stared intently at Tae Mu-kyung on the monitor.

The Owl’s supervisor, whom he had paid little attention to beyond a basic profile. His gaze toward this man was peculiarly long and persistent.

Channa sensed he would soon demand Tae Mu-kyung’s information by any means necessary.

“Persuading the POWs should wrap up easily.”

Then the mission would end quickly too. Wooshin muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. The Owl returning home soon was a good thing. A good thing…. His breathing was shallow.

But he could neither comfortably accept nor ignore the Owl disguised as a pregnant woman.

For now, erasing his own searing, lava-like emotions was the best course. It was the most rational choice he could make in that fleeting moment.

“—Huh? Wait, right now Unnie’s vital signs are…!”

At that moment, the Owl’s heart rate spiked dramatically. Bureau Chief Tae was poking the silicone belly as if checking it and saying something.

Eyes devoid of any warmth stared piercingly through the silicone at something… and at the Owl.

Seoryeong’s heart rate and body temperature continued to fluctuate. They rose endlessly. A clear signal of agitation.

“What are you doing, Seoryeong? You have to shake it off.”

He recited it like a sinister incantation. Right then, the Owl sharply slapped away the Bureau Chief’s hand.

Channa half-opened her mouth, idly thinking, ‘Are real couples truly of one mind?’

“….”

After that, Wooshin continued to stare at the monitor as if he wanted to shatter it. His suppressed breath seemed to choke him, but he never let it show.

Then, wiping his face, he suddenly turned around. Without a word of farewell, he strode out of the lesson room, almost as if fleeing. Channa followed with a bewildered look.

“You two can get pregnant together! And with that scene playing out, where are you going?!”

“I’m going to wash up and come back.”

“Wash up thoroughly with cold water and get a grip on yourself!”

“….”

“And… ahem….”

Channa felt awkward, trying to offer comfort that didn’t suit the situation.

“Just think of what just happened as practice…. Even with a swollen belly, Unni looks so pret—”

“Try saying one more word.”

After giving her a fierce glance, Wooshin left coldly, leaving only a chill behind. Bang! The force he used made the old doorknob rattle as if it would fall off any second.

Channa closed her mouth tightly with a sigh.

***

Wooshin returned dripping water and, from that point on, handled work with cold, swift efficiency.

He established over five more escape routes, solving a persistent problem, and recruited retired pilots with funds dozens of times greater than before.

He immersed himself so deeply he lost track of time. So much so that even He Channa softened her expression, urging him to take a break.

Every time the Owl visited the POW camp, she removed her ring, watch, and accessories.

The memory of Tae Mu-kyung’s expressionless face as he pointed out her ring at the front door and instead slid on a disguised wedding band made his teeth grind, but he forced himself to let it go with all his might.

Before leaving the house each time, Seoryeong would diligently check the mirror and mouth the words “I’m sorry.” She would also gnaw her lower lip as if troubled, saying she had completely forgotten to mention the pregnancy story.

‘Don’t chew. You’ll hurt yourself.’

Messages he couldn’t convey kept piling up. I wish you wouldn’t be sorry. Seeing her look so dispirited was more torturous and made him anxious for her.

Yet, the way she supported her lower back with one hand and held her lower belly, looking quite comfortable in her full-term posture, made him avert his eyes again.

His insides were burning with rage, but reaching her quickly came first. He would slice that silicone thing to pieces the moment he saw her. The anger would have to come later.