ALDA 14

Chapter – 14

Save Me Inspector

It was Cha Young-hoon.

The voice that pressed in from behind made Eun-hee’s breath quicken — almost joyfully.
She didn’t know what kind of emotion it was. Maybe her head had gone strange…?
Even though his tone was threatening, she couldn’t help but feel relieved to hear it again.

But before she could respond, Choi Gi-won reacted faster.

He hadn’t bothered to hide his displeasure at the appearance of a stranger —
but once he realized who it was, his attitude shifted immediately.
His voice stiffened with respect as he bowed deeply to Cha Young-hoon.

“Good afternoon, sir.”

Young-hoon gave a small nod in return.

His head tilted slightly to one side.
He casually slipped one hand into the pocket of his trousers.
The back of his navy jacket, creased in soft folds, shimmered faintly in the light.

Young-hoon stared for a few seconds at the prosecutor’s ID hanging from Gi-won’s neck.

He slowly read out the department and name on the tag.

“So, what year are you, junior?”

Young-hoon’s voice was friendly.

“I’m… a first-year, sir.”

“Ah, first year.” Young-hoon let out a soft, almost indulgent laugh — like talking to a child.

“It must be hectic for you, then, junior.”

His tone was considerate, yet both Eun-hee and Gi-won grew increasingly tense —
because his smiling eyes were sharp as blades.

“No, sir. Nothing compared to your department.
The Economic Crimes Division — that’s a place I hope to serve in someday.
It would be an honor to learn from you.”

Gi-won bent his waist again in a deep bow.

Young-hoon smiled kindly, eyes crinkling. Eun-hee knew that smile well.
He was mocking him.

“Is that so, junior?”

“Yes, sir.”

“But what a shame.”

Young-hoon’s voice trailed off as if he had something regretful to say.

As he ran a hand through his hair, it was clear he was enjoying the uncomfortable silence.

Some of the neatly slicked-back strands fell across his smooth forehead, swaying gently in the breeze.

Gi-won looked up at his senior in confusion.

“I’m afraid I don’t have much advice to give. I’m not exactly a shining example.
But—”

“…….”

“I could teach you how to pick up women.”

“……Pardon me, sir?”

Gi-won’s eyes, which had flickered with curiosity, quickly lost focus.

“Take the hint and get lost.”

“…Sir?”

“Now.”

Gi-won’s eyes widened in realization. He looked between Eun-hee and Young-hoon,
his face flushing red.

At a loss for words, he began bowing again and again in panic.

“S-sir! I’ve clearly been rude to you both — I sincerely apologize!”

After several rounds of flustered apologies, Gi-won all but fled the scene.
Eun-hee couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for him.

But the man whose specialty was ruining moments showed no sign of guilt.
As if nothing had happened, he turned toward her and strode closer.

Whatever relief she’d felt earlier had long evaporated.
Her lips were sealed tight, like a locked iron gate.

“Sa Eun-hee…?”

But Young-hoon said her name softly, with a gentle smile —
as though her feelings didn’t matter at all.

Their eyes met — his light brown gaze against her dark, deep one.
Eun-hee forced herself to remain calm as she greeted him politely.

“Hello, Prosecutor. I hope you’ve been well.”

“I’ve seen you here a few times.
Doing one-person protests, right?”

He ignored her greeting as if it were beneath him.

“…Yes.”

His indifference was familiar to her by now.

“But this is new.
A protest with a lunch box?”

Eun-hee subtly moved the shopping bag she was holding behind her back.

His gaze followed her hands for a moment, then lifted back up.
It was an unhurried, probing stare — not a trace of warmth behind his faint smile.

“It’s not a bomb, is it?
Were you hiding out here to throw it at me?”

“I would never… do something like that, Prosecutor.
I’m just here to deliver something.”

Despite his sarcasm, she answered as properly and evenly as she could.

“…….”

The more composed she tried to sound, the more his jaw tensed.
His glare was like a spear — and she couldn’t bring herself to speak further.

“Let’s stop this foolish groveling.”

“I just thought… if I waited long enough, I might see you again.
At least once—”

“Were you trying to toy with me?”

“I… wanted to see you.”

“So this is Park Mi-jung’s idea, huh?
She told you to come here and mess with me?”

His low voice slipped into her ear like poison.
The faint smile on his lips deepened, and Eun-hee’s own mouth clamped shut.
She couldn’t respond.

“How do you think this looks, Sa Eun-hee?
A woman waiting desperately for a man who’s about to get married.”

“…….”

“People would say —
‘That scumbag prosecutor ruined the life of the woman who once helped him.’”

“Ah…”

“That’s exactly what we look like right now.”

Young-hoon smiled crookedly, twisting his cheek.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think that far, Prosecutor.”

Eun-hee bowed her head, again and again, like a broken doll.

But her humiliation did nothing to soothe him.

“As if it wasn’t enough that Park Mi-jung sent you in her place…
You two just keep getting bolder.”

It felt like she was being interrogated.
And maybe she deserved it — because he wasn’t wrong.

He’d seen everything from the beginning.
Of course he had. Eun-hee could picture his mocking face, watching her from afar.

“This is as far as I’ll tolerate it.
If you keep showing up, I’ll assume you’re trying to publicly humiliate me.
And as for your boss, Park Mi-jung —
I think it’s about time she got what’s coming to her. Don’t you think?”

His narrow eyes curved into a small, cold smile.

At that moment, Eun-hee saw — as vividly as if she were there —
Mi-jung’s body, battered and bruised from a man’s violence.

The thought of Young-hoon confronting her made her blood run cold.

A crushing terror poured over her, freezing her where she stood.

“Will you pass my message along to her?
Or should I explain it to her myself — in person?”

Eun-hee felt like she’d been struck across the skull.

She couldn’t let herself lose consciousness.
She forced out a desperate cry:

“Prosecutor…!”

She didn’t even know what she wanted to say —
only that she had to stay conscious, to hold on.

“Please… save me, Prosecutor…”

Her voice trembled with pleading.
She nearly fell to her knees as her forehead dipped toward the ground.

Young-hoon gave a short, derisive laugh.
His eyes gleamed with arrogant amusement.