Into The Thrill

Woojin felt as if he were devouring Haewon, the wet sounds of sucking flesh making him seem like a beast. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant thought, but his head was hot, and he didn’t want to stop. Rubbing his erection against Haewon’s hip bone, he reached his climax.

As his release soaked the space between them, the unpleasant, suffocating feeling that had surrounded him dissipated, replaced by the rush of pleasure. Only then did he realize the sheer extent of his anger—anger that Moon Haewon had entered a motel hand in hand with someone Woojin refused to even acknowledge as human.
“…Haah.”
He knew it was foolish, yet defiling Moon Haewon with himself brought him satisfaction, a strange and inexplicable sense of fulfillment.

He repeated the same act on Haewon’s naked body about three more times. The more he did it, the more he smeared his semen on Haewon’s lips in childish possessiveness, the more complete his satisfaction felt.
Once again, he stayed by Haewon’s side far longer than planned. After wiping away his traces and dressing Haewon in pajamas, it was already well past 3 a.m. His original intention of simply dropping Haewon off at the officetel and returning to his office had been completely derailed—and erased from his mind. Instead, he spent about an hour just kissing Haewon’s lips before finally leaving the officetel.
∞ ∞ ∞

Fortunately, it seemed that Moon Haewon no longer intended to seek out other people in an attempt to forget him. After all, nearly getting drugged and raped must have been terrifying. When Haewon insisted that he wouldn’t press charges, Woojin had Kim Seok-ho give him a thorough scare in his place.
Kim Seok-ho painted a vivid picture, as if it were a case he had personally investigated—explaining that such drugs could easily cause cardiac arrest, that human trafficking was common in those motels, that victims weren’t merely gang-raped but often had their arms and legs amputated to be turned into living sex toys, unable to resist. He mixed in real cases with urban legends, scaring Haewon as if he were six years old rather than a full-grown twenty-nine-year-old man, teaching him just how dangerous it was to follow strangers.
Thanks to Kim Seok-ho, Moon Haewon didn’t step foot outside his officetel. He took medical leave from the orchestra and skipped his supposed lessons with his professor. The magnet’s hourly reports, just as ordered, arrived without fail, always stating that there were no changes.

When Haewon did venture out, it was only to sit in a café or wander the streets aimlessly. The magnet, unaware of his true relationship with Woojin, even added a useless comment, saying that Haewon seemed like someone nursing a broken heart and that there was nothing of note to report.
Woojin assigned the magnet an additional task—sending photos of Moon Haewon along with his reports. Initially, Woojin had distanced himself from Haewon to focus on work, but instead, he found himself losing time staring at the pictures of him.
There were no more calls from Haewon.

His pride must have been wounded. Woojin could still recall the way Haewon had stared at him in bed, his eyes filled with disbelief, as if unable to comprehend that Woojin would simply leave him like that.
It wasn’t vanity. Haewon had simply never experienced such a thing before.
It was then that Woojin realized—he wanted more from Moon Haewon than just a means to relieve his desires.

"Prosecutor Kim finally went for it. Yesterday, Chief Prosecutor Park Hyung-soo made a scene, saying he’d have Kim Han-se arrested for illegal investigation. The internal inquiry report has been submitted, but it hasn’t been approved yet. It’s bribery, so this isn’t just going to be swept under the rug, right?"
Chief Hwang delivered the news, which Woojin had already heard the day before. Park Hyung-soo had even reached out to Woojin, suggesting they meet. They had arranged to have lunch together.
Woojin slipped on his jacket and said, "I have an appointment. Enjoy your meal."

He left the district office and got into his car. Arriving at the restaurant first, he was led to a private room. About ten minutes later, Park Hyung-soo arrived. Woojin stood up to shake his hand and bowed slightly.
"Sit, sit."
Park Hyung-soo motioned for him to take a seat. After telling the server to bring anything, he poured himself a full glass of water and drank it down in one go.
"Ah, damn, this is frustrating. What the hell is going on? How did Kim Han-se get his hands on that?"

Woojin stiffened his expression, pretending not to know.
"It wasn’t CEO Kim Jeong-geun who leaked it, was it?"
"Why would he? He was the one offering the bribe."

"If it wasn’t him, then who the hell leaked it to Kim Han-se? That crazy bastard has sunk his teeth into my leg and won’t let go."
He chugged another glass of water, exasperated. Only when the food was served did he finally fall silent. Once the server left, his voice grew louder again.
"Have you heard anything?"

"I don’t know where Kim Han-se got it from, but if it was obtained illegally, it won’t be admissible as evidence. You don’t need to worry too much."
"Even if it’s just an allegation, I’m about to be appointed as the Prosecutor General. This will come up in my confirmation hearing, and the committee won’t just let it slide."
If it reached that stage, they would indeed dig into it, but it wouldn’t even get that far.

Woojin had dirt on Park Hyung-soo that even Kim Jeong-geun wasn’t aware of. He had simply been holding onto it.
Park Hyung-soo was under suspicion of accepting bribes. HanKyung Group and its CEO, Kim Jeong-geun, who had offered the bribe, would inevitably be dragged into the investigation as well. Woojin’s plan was to give Kim Jeong-geun the incriminating information on Park Hyung-soo instead of handing it to Kim Han-se.
Wanting to escape prosecution for offering bribes, Kim Jeong-geun would undoubtedly use the materials Woojin provided to blackmail Park Hyung-soo, severing ties to protect himself. If he didn’t comply, Kim Jeong-geun would expose Park’s corruption and crush him completely. Their long-standing alliance would shatter.

Park Hyung-soo would seethe with fury. He wouldn’t let Kim Jeong-geun go unpunished.
And in the process, Woojin would finally uncover the true identity of "Take 2."
Through this, he would determine whom Kim Jeong-geun was connected to within the Supreme Prosecutors' Office or, if not the Prosecutor General, who in the Blue House was backing him. He couldn’t afford to make the same mistake as he did with Kim Ha-young and waste this opportunity.

"I’ll find out exactly what Kim Han-se knows and what he’s holding onto."
"The media is all over Kim Han-se, making this an even bigger headache. We can’t touch him carelessly."
Park grumbled over his meal. Woojin discreetly pulled out his phone under the table to check the ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) latest report and photos from the magnet monitoring Moon Haewon.

In the picture, Haewon, wearing a baseball cap, stared blankly out the window, looking pale, almost sickly. He seemed even thinner than the last time Woojin had seen him. That peculiar, absentminded expression—one so common among artists—gnawed at Woojin's insides.
"Why? Did some important information come in?"
Noticing Woojin staring at his phone, Park Hyung-soo asked. Woojin looked up from the screen and shook his head.

"It’s nothing."
A call came in from the magnet reporting on Moon Haewon’s every movement. Woojin ignored it.
“This case will be handled by two teams. Just follow the lead of the Chief Prosecutor. You’re dismissed.”

The illegal activities behind the establishment of the Federation of Business Leaders were likely connected to the previous administration’s policy planning office, making this a highly sensitive investigation. The other prosecutors in the room listened to Special Department Chief Prosecutor Lee Seung-min before quietly leaving the conference room.
Woojin gathered the files on the table. As he was about to step out, Lee Seung-min subtly grabbed his arm.
Despite the room emptying, making it seemingly safe to speak, Lee still lowered his voice to ask discreetly:

"Did Kim Jeong-geun and Park Hyung-soo clash? What's going on?"
"It's under investigation."
"I heard Kim Han-se asked about it. Was it you?"

"Why do you think so?"
Chief Prosecutor Lee Seung-min knew Woojin's nature better than anyone else. He also knew exactly what Woojin was focused on. Woojin had been working under him for three years now.
"Take 2 is Kim Jeong-geun, isn't it?"

"It's not me."
"You can tell me. I'm just here to sit back and watch the fireworks. What, were you planning to corner HanKyung Group and then swoop in like 'ta-da' to save them? You two staged a fight on purpose, didn't you? Why go through all that trouble? Kim Jeong-geun already treats you like a son-in-law."
They said family, they said he was treated like a son-in-law, but in reality, Woojin and Kim Jeong-geun had no connection at all. In the end, the arm bends inward. A mountain of data confirmed that fact.

"Don't be too curious. It's going to be quite an interesting spectacle."
"Let me know if you need anything. Should I pull you out of this Federation of Business Investigation?"
"Just leave it. I'll take care of it along the way."

Hearing Woojin say that he'd handle both the Federation of Business and the former Blue House Minister of Strategy and Finance in passing, Lee Seung-min chuckled awkwardly and nodded. It was a signal for him to leave.
Lee Seung-min watched Woojin's back as he exited the office. Having this subordinate prosecutor was more burdensome than having a superior. With someone as exceptionally capable as Woojin under his wing, he had managed to climb from deputy chief to the head of the Special Investigation Department. That made him all the more cautious.
Lee Seung-min was aware that Woojin assigned numbers to things he deemed important. He set clear priorities and worked with a distinct sense of purpose. Though he didn't know the exact number, he was sure Kim Jeong-geun was on that list.

Did he really need to go this far with Take 2?
He could never quite figure out Woojin's true intentions. Lee Seung-min shrugged. All he had to do was watch Woojin dance his knife dance, pick up whatever scraps fell his way, and play it safe. That way, he'd get promoted again. He withdrew his interest and turned his gaze away from Woojin's retreating figure.
As soon as Woojin stepped out of the chief's office, he called Jaseok.

"What's going on?"
At this point, it almost seemed better to forgive Moon Haewon out of sheer exhaustion and meet him again. Wasting mental energy like this was more of a distraction.
—I'm at Incheon Airport now. The target has moved to the airport.

"Airport? Does he have any overseas plans?"
Haewon had taken a sick leave from the orchestra. There were no official schedules. Back in his office, Woojin rummaged through the papers piled on his desk. He found a sheet listing HanKyung Symphony's schedule for the month. Even on a second look, there were no overseas events.
—He's alone. Looks like he's traveling.

"Where is he going?"
—Bangkok. His flight is at 6:20 PM. What should we do?
The possibility of Haewon leaving the country hadn't even crossed his mind. If he left, he'd be completely out of Woojin's control. It was better to keep him under Jaseok's watch.

His mind suddenly became busy. There was no legitimate reason to hold back someone with no charges against them. And if he did something too obvious, Haewon might realize he was behind it.
—Should we impose a travel ban?
Jaseok, who firmly believed Haewon was a criminal suspect, suggested it.

"That requires approval from the Ministry of Justice. We can't request it immediately, and he doesn't meet the conditions for a ban. Did he take his violin?"
—Yes, he even bought a separate seat for it.
"Hold for now. I'll get back to you."

He had to stop him no matter what. Clutching his phone, Woojin fell deep into thought before quickly making a call. He pressed his phone to his ear as the line rang. The tightness of his necktie was suffocating, so he loosened it. His throat felt dry. He grabbed a half-empty water bottle from the cluttered desk and downed it in gulps.
"This is Prosecutor Hyun Woojin from the Central District Prosecutor's Office, Special Investigation Division 3. Please connect me to the Legal Affairs Team Leader at the Planning and Coordination Office. It's urgent."
A moment later, the call connected.

"Hello. This is Prosecutor Hyun Woojin from the Central District Prosecutor's Office, Special Investigation Division 3. I’m calling because we urgently need to detain someone. A suspect in our investigation is attempting to leave the country through Incheon Airport today, carrying an expensive instrument. If the evidence is taken overseas, the investigation itself becomes difficult. Yes. His name is Moon Haewon. He's on the 6:20 PM flight to Bangkok. This is a confidential investigation, so the suspect must not be alerted. That... I’m still considering, so please hold for a moment."
He had to detain Haewon without his knowledge. The airport official asked how that was possible without alerting the suspect. Woojin tugged at his loosened tie, but the suffocating sensation didn’t ease, so he unbuttoned his shirt collar.
"The Daemyung Cultural Foundation provides instrument rentals, correct? Claim that it's a stolen item from an expired contract with Daemyung Foundation. I'll send an investigator. Just hold him there until then. You only need to prevent him from leaving today. Please take care of it."

Woojin ended the call and sent a message to Jaseok, informing him that Haewon wouldn't be able to leave today. Instead, he ordered him to follow Haewon on the next flight. Having Jaseok on his tail was at least some reassurance.
After securing Haewon’s delay, Woojin focused on his work. He was deep into reviewing financial statements when the Planning and Coordination Office at Incheon Airport called him back. Since they were calling his office, it seemed they had checked whether his claim was true.
Haewon must have put up quite a fight. From his perspective, having an instrument he had used since university suddenly deemed stolen would have been infuriating.

"Offer him a first-class ticket. Is there another flight tomorrow?"
—He's already flying first class. He even booked an extra seat for his violin, and tomorrow's flights are fully booked. Frankly, a warrant would be easier to obtain.
Even his damn violin got a first-class seat.

Yet somehow, this same man had once crawled into a run-down motel holding hands with a stranger. The memory of that moment resurfaced, making Woojin’s mood turn foul.
He was already seething at the thought of Haewon throwing his body around recklessly.
And now, to his own surprise, the irritation from Haewon’s actions ignited a sharp surge of arousal. A hunger clawed at him.

—He says he'll bill us per minute for the flight ticket, hotel, and lost time. Also, he’s not going to Bangkok anymore. He just called a lawyer.
"He's not going?"
—He said he's not.

Woojin took a deep breath. It felt as if Haewon knew everything and was deliberately toying with him. This was ridiculous.
"Hang up for now. I'll deal with the lawyer myself. Have them contact me directly."
Woojin set down the receiver and let out a long, weary sigh.

"Ha... That guy does whatever he wants."
It was exhausting. And yet, Woojin realized he was enjoying this. He took pleasure in tormenting Haewon, in provoking a reaction out of him.
Hearing from Jaseok about Haewon’s desperate attempts to forget him was thrilling. So Woojin made a game out of it.

Whenever Haewon planned something, Woojin blocked it. If he went out for a change of scenery, Woojin cut off his route. If he went drinking, Woojin sent in the inspectors. If he went to a PC cafe, Woojin had it shut down.
He ensured that no matter what Haewon did, he ended up back in his officetel, thinking only of Hyun Woojin. Trapped, with no escape.
And exactly two weeks later, on a night marked by the first winter rain, just as the season began to change, Moon Haewon showed up at Woojin’s officetel.

Jaseok reported his location, and Woojin dismissed him, rewarding him generously for his efforts. Then he deliberately waited until after 4 AM. If Haewon gave up and left, it meant he wasn’t ready. In that case, Woojin would restart his campaign of interference.
Since the door lock code hadn’t been changed, Woojin assumed Haewon would be waiting inside.
Unexpectedly, he was standing outside the door.

It was already freezing, and the rain made it worse. Even indoors, Haewon was soaked, shivering uncontrollably. His face was deathly pale, his lips tinged blue from the cold.
Woojin ignored him and walked inside. He turned on the heater, letting the warmth spread through the room. Then, he leaned against the door, looking down at his watch, stalling.
He needed to wait. He had to endure.

But seeing Haewon, stripped of everything, waiting outside his door like that—he had already won.
So he opened the door.