Around 10 a.m., a sleek limousine arrived at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2.
As soon as the limousine came to a stop at the VIP parking lot, Jang Young-hee, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, opened the door and got out. He then opened the rear door. Seo Seung-hyun leisurely extended his leg and gracefully stood up from his seat. Jang Young-hee offered him his coat, but Seo Seung-hyun declined with a nod. Lee Young-jin awkwardly and uncomfortably made his way out of the limousine.
The chilly air caressed his cheeks, and they quickly turned rosy red. Seo Seung-hyun noticed this and tilted his head slightly to the side. He reached out his hand towards Jang Young-hee.
“Give me the coat.”
The observant Chief Secretary quickly handed him the coat.
Seo Seung-hyun draped the coat over Lee Young-jin’s shoulders. The cashmere coat, perfectly tailored to Seo Seung-hyun’s physique, appeared oversized on Lee Young-jin. Despite just putting it on, it made him look somewhat comical. However, at least it provided warmth. Lee Young-jin looked up at Seo Seung-hyun.
“Thank you.”
“If you catch a cold before the big event, it’ll be trouble.”
Seo Seung-hyun shrugged and then put his arm around Lee Young-jin’s back.
“Let’s go inside.”
Jang Young-hee followed closely on his left.
But just a few steps in, an unwelcoming voice stopped Seo Seung-hyun in his tracks.
“CEO Seo.”
The voice was dignified yet cheerful at the same time.
Seo Seung-hyun’s lips curled up slightly.
With a natural motion, he removed his arm from Lee Young-jin’s back and turned his body in the direction of the voice.
On the opposite side of the limousine’s rear bumper stood a sleek sports car. A woman in her forties leaned against the convertible’s navy blue body. She was Moon Hee-kyung, a Senior Prosecutor in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. Her hair was neatly tied up, and she wore a slim-fitting gray skirt suit with an unbuttoned thin beige coat. Despite wearing flat shoes, she still appeared quite tall. A bright smile adorned her pale face, making it difficult to read her true feelings.
She approached Seo Seung-hyun with her hands in the coat pockets.
“CEO Seo, is it rare to see you these days?”
“Aren’t you Prosecutor Moon? What brings you to the airport?”
Seo Seung-hyun greeted her with a flawless smile. Moon Hee-kyung, standing before him, smiled back. A faint wrinkle appeared near her lips, and her expression became somewhat ambiguous.
“I’m trying to see where CEO Seo is going… Let’s see. Hawaii?”
“Haha. I’ve heard that even if you can deceive ghosts, you can’t deceive prosecutors. I guess that’s true. By any chance, is Prosecutor Moon also heading to Hawaii?”
She responded with a soft chuckle.
“By the way, CEO Seo, I thought you might be too busy to take time off during the holidays, but it seems that’s not the case.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t be someone who neglects work-life balance, right? No matter how busy I am, I have to celebrate our national holiday.”
“Work-life balance is great. It’s just that… do people like you also take vacations? Isn’t this CEO Seo extending your working hours and Chief Jang while on vacation?”
“Chief Jang won’t be joining us.”
With a smile on his face, Seo Seung-hyun extended his arm and wrapped it around Lee Young-jin’s shoulder.
“This is Chief Jang’s cousin, living in Canada. We’re going to their relatives’ home there. Coincidentally, our flights are on the same day, so we came together.”
“Chief Jang has a cousin living in Canada?”
Moon Hee-kyung gazed at Jang Young-hee with an inscrutable look.
“He emigrated there a while ago. As you know, living in Korea, well… it’s not the most comfortable and easy society.”
Seo Seung-hyun responded instead of Jang Young-hee.
Under the plausible mask covering Moon Hee-kyung’s face, a similarly genuine-looking smile emerged.
“That’s right. Exactly. I know better than anyone. In that sense, when Chief Jang first came to the Central District Prosecutors’ Office, I was glad to have such a reliable junior. I was quite disappointed when you quit.”
“Among the tough and frightening senior prosecutors, our Chief Jang couldn’t endure it in the cutthroat environment. Unlike Prosecutor Moon here.”
Moon Hee-kyung smirked lightly.
Seo Seung-hyun didn’t even glance at the smirk. He consciously raised his wrist to check his watch.
“It’s already this time.”
Looking up from his watch, he met Moon Hee-kyung’s gaze directly. His narrow eyes slightly curved, showing a gentle smile.
“Well then, I’ll leave South Korea in the capable hands of Prosecutor Moon and our proud prosecutors. Boarding time is approaching.”
Moon Hee-kyung stared at him, then lifted her chin slightly and shook her head.
“Go on. I’ve kept the busy CEO Seo for too long.”
After that, she shifted her weight to one foot and tilted her body slightly, looking up at Seo Seung-hyun.
“Let’s meet again after your return, CEO Seo.”
“Anytime.”
Their unfriendly encounter was over.
The private elevator to the boarding area was quiet. The light from the advertising displays flashed on the glass walls of the elevator. The elevator stopped, and the door opened silently. Simultaneously, familiar faces waiting in front of the door rushed toward him.
“CEO Seo, let’s talk for a moment in the lounge…”
“Chief Jang, how is your trip to Panama City related to your departure this time?”
“Director Lee from the main office is waiting in the lounge!”
Jang Young-hee firmly pushed away the people with his sturdy chest and both arms.
“I’m sorry, but it’s already boarding time. I wish you all a Happy New Year and a joyful national holiday. Spend meaningful time with your families and be blessed in the future…”
Seo Seung-hyun kept walking briskly as he muttered to himself, taking advantage of the gap Jang Young-hee created by pushing the crowd away. Lee Young-jin followed him without a word.
“That’s why I always rush to catch the boarding time.”
Seo Seung-hyun leaned slightly towards Lee Young-jin’s ear, whispering in a rather cheerful tone. Suddenly, his breath touched Lee Young-jin’s ear, startling him. He instinctively covered his ear with his palm, and Seo Seung-hyun burst into laughter.
For someone in a hurry, Seo Seung-hyun’s pace seemed leisurely.
Incheon Airport was bustling with people, preparing for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. The corridors and halls were filled with people pulling large suitcases here and there.
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