Chapter 269.1

Chapter 269.1

“―!”

Their teeth crashed together violently. The aircraft had suddenly banked hard in midair.

Lee Wooshin’s expression hardened at once. He gripped her chin and carefully checked her front teeth one by one. Jaw clenched tight, he shot an irritated glare toward the cockpit.

Even so, he did not lash out right away. He swallowed his anger several times, as if he knew the pilot would not be easy to handle.

Seoryeong, who had been rubbing her front teeth with her upper lip tucked in, also leaned forward and glanced toward the cockpit.

He was the expensive new pilot recruited by Yuz Company. What had Lee Wooshin said about him? That he was skilled?

The pilot wore a headset and black sunglasses and had not even bothered with a polite greeting. Still, his control was exceptional. Even on a short, abruptly cut runway, the plane had not wavered.

He had remained indifferent and quiet even when they boarded with a body bag. Seoryeong had thought a taciturn expert like that would be a great asset to Lee Wooshin.

Then—

“Ah, ah.”

In the cramped cabin that could barely seat three or four people, the pilot’s voice echoed crudely over the mic. “Mic check. Mic check.”

“Do not behave indecently on my plane before I throw you out.”

“Want me to drag a four hour flight into eight?”

Lee Wooshin stretched his long leg and slammed it hard against the back of the cockpit seat. The young pilot snickered and deliberately jerked the controls, swinging the aircraft side to side.

When Seoryeong’s body slammed against the cabin wall, Lee Wooshin finally unbuckled his seatbelt with a sharp motion and strode straight into the cockpit.

He yanked the privacy panel shut as if dividing the space and did not come out for a while. Fragments of rough conversation mixed with English and curses drifted out. Seoryeong quickly lost interest and fell into a deep sleep.

She thought it had been a difficult and painful first mission.

***

“…Agent Joo Seoryeong!”

Pulled from her thoughts, Seoryeong rose from the waiting room, carrying Director Tae’s remains.

She walked slowly to meet the NIS officials. As she followed her guide down the corridor, several cold gazes pierced her back.

Rookie agent Joo Seoryeong. The suspicious figure who had left with the youngest director in NIS history and returned alone.

Should they call her extraordinary for beginning her career by losing a director level superior? Or should they say she was so unlucky that everyone would avoid her? Only time would tell.

Eventually, she entered with heavy hands and came out empty handed. Dragging her exhausted legs, she stepped outside the building.

The bright sunlight made her raise a hand to shield her eyes. Right on cue, her phone rang. It was her husband, who had already slipped back into daily life.

Her drained day felt instantly refreshed. As Seoryeong answered with a faint smile, he spoke first.

“Codename Mother Owl. I have chosen the rendezvous point.”

Ah. She glanced around instinctively, covering her mouth as she whispered.

“So where is the rendezvous point, Father Great White Shark?”

“Tower Hotel. Suite Room 2701.”

She lifted her gaze and looked up at the tall building stretching into the sky.

“I understand. What about preparations?”

“….”

“Hello?”

“…What preparations… This time we do not need any preparations at all, Seoryeong.”

Lee Wooshin, who had been speaking coolly, let out a hollow laugh. Seoryeong replied with an innocent face.

“I wondered if there was a special dress code or something.”

“…I am going to lose my mind.”

“Yes?”

“Nothing. Go on.”

His lowered voice scraped against her ears.

“Since you are laying the groundwork first, it sounds like you want to ask me for something.”

At the hint of amusement in his tone, Seoryeong straightened her back. He had hit the mark.

She hesitated, rubbing the back of her flushed neck as she thought about how to say it. No matter how she tried to dress it up, there was no way to say it indirectly. She squeezed her eyes shut.

“I want the Kim Hyun mask.”

“…What?”

“Where did that come from? Did you have it made and keep it?”

His breathing turned ominous, but Seoryeong gathered her courage and continued.

“When I saw you wearing it again after so long… well… it reminded me of the past….”

“….”

“I have never done it with Kim Hyun while keeping my eyes open. It might feel different….”

“Sorry, Mother Owl. Cancelled.”

“What?!”

“Cancelled for today.”

His voice turned abruptly cold.

“Let us meet Mother Owl another time, when I am in a bright and pleasant mood.”

“No, wait, Instructor!”

“Seoryeong, you think it would feel different if you keep your eyes open with Kim Hyun?”

“….”

“I spent the whole day polishing and cleaning myself to have sex in my own skin, and that is what you say to me?” He grumbled.

“Po-polishing?”

“I cannot let this go. It humiliates me.”

“….”

“This is cheating, you know? It hurts me, and it hurts our baby owl too.”

“We do not have a baby yet…”

She tried, however faintly, to clarify the facts, but it was nowhere near enough to calm Lee Wooshin, who had already begun to fume.

“Think about how you are going to be punished.”

Seoryeong’s face crumpled in dismay. Immediately, his nagging voice followed.

“Do not scrunch up that pretty face.”

“What is this even…!”

She pouted, glancing around without realizing it. From the other end of the phone came a strange, strained sound.

If she let time drag on like this, Lee Wooshin would act however he pleased. Before that could happen, Seoryeong spoke first, as if accepting a punishment.

“For thirty minutes… I will… do it for you….”

“Up or down. Which.”

Seoryeong lowered her voice and whispered.

“Down….”

“But only thirty minutes? Who is that supposed to satisfy? Kim Hyun?”