I’m Obsessed With the Suspect - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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71

The silence that had been flowing for a moment was broken by Myeongjinhwan’s low laughter.

[Oh my, it seems like this old man is talking nonsense again, doesn’t it?]

“Ah, no. It’s not that…”

What followed was a voice completely drained of laughter.

Cheong-a swallowed her breath.

[They’re children who dedicate themselves to the country and willingly accept sacrifice when necessary.]

“…”

[They’re not blood-related, but they’re all my sons.]

“Ah, I see…”

Only then could Cheong-a understand what he meant.

The reason Yushin could casually mention the Prime Minister’s name during operations was all thanks to Myeongjinhwan’s consideration.

[By the way, one of those guys brought me an interesting story.]

“An interesting story?”

[The story about Detective’s activities last night. Haha.]

Then from Myeongjinhwan’s mouth came the details of what Cheong-a and the National Intelligence Service employees had done last night.

[Thanks to that, an emergency meeting of deputy minister-level officials from related departments was convened this morning. They received information about a large-scale drug smuggling case involving the police, who should be the most righteous. And there’s even an unidentified congressman involved.]

“…”

[We’ve reached the conclusion that this case can no longer be handled by the police alone.]

His voice was calm.

[A task force will be formed with participation from the National Intelligence Service, Korea Customs Service, Korea Coast Guard, and the Prosecution Service.]

A pan-government joint task force was formed under the Prime Minister’s Office directive.

And the list of personnel to be assigned to that team had already been distributed to each department.

[However, police personnel have been excluded. It’s not easy to determine right now how far the line connected to the Foreign Affairs Division Chief extends.]

Cheong-a looked down at the hospital room floor and tapped her feet.

It was an understandable decision. As the Prime Minister said, it was right to exclude all deputy commissioner-level lines from the Police Agency in this case.

The only department that might be worth considering for the task force composition was the Security Bureau under the National Investigation Headquarters director.

‘But they won’t have the capacity for that.’

The Security Bureau would handle Oh Semin’s investigation. Plus, if they added investigating the congressman allegedly involved in drug trafficking, they would be severely short-staffed.

[Ah, except for you two.]

“Pardon…?

[Two people who are essential to us and whom we can be certain are not part of Oh Semin’s line. I’ve already discussed this with the Commissioner, so don’t worry.]

“…!”

Right now, Cheong-a had just received a request from the Prime Minister to participate in the pan-government joint task force. No, it was an order.

Cheong-a bowed deeply to Myeongjinhwan, who couldn’t see her, and hung up the phone. Only then did she begin to feel the nauseating pressure.

‘Ugh. Wait. What does this mean?’

Didn’t he say it was a task force with working-level staff from the National Intelligence Service, Korea Customs Service, Korea Coast Guard, and the Prosecution Service?

She didn’t know who would be there, but it was obvious that distinguished people from their respective positions would gather.

That meant they would be gentlemen with at least 20 years of experience each.

Me, in a meeting with such distinguished officials?

I’m going in there?

Oh, no!

“Ugh, uuugh…!”

Behind Cheong-a, who unconsciously let out a groan, came the sound of giggling laughter.

When she quickly turned her head, she saw Yushin with his eyes closed, laughing softly.

“Why, why are you laughing!”

“You were grabbing your hair and looking so seriously distressed.”

“Is other people’s pain funny to you? Are you a psychopath?”

“No… It’s cute.”

Maybe he slept too long and his mind hadn’t returned yet. With that thought, Cheong-a strode over and placed her hand on Yushin’s forehead.

“Is your mind still not fully back?”

Yushin grabbed Cheong-a’s hand from his forehead and lowered it while laughing again.

“No. I’m fine. I woke up because it was cold from you trying to lift the blanket. Why do you keep fussing with other people’s blankets for no reason?”

At those words, Cheong-a recalled trying to lift the blanket to check and immediately blushed.

I was curious if your precious parts down there were okay. Haha.

She couldn’t say that.

Speechless…

Yushin couldn’t hold back his laughter seeing Cheong-a’s face turn bright red.

“Should I show you?”

“No?!”

After blurting out such a firm rejection, she had to unconsciously add an excuse.

“Uh, I mean, what would you be showing me…”

“Weren’t you curious about the gunshot wound?”

Cheong-a nodded vigorously.

Of course that wasn’t it, but for now, that was sufficient.

“Dummy. I was shot in the back, so how would you see it by lifting the blanket?”

“…That’s true. But why… if you were shot in the back, shouldn’t you be lying face down? Lying like this… wouldn’t it hurt more?”

“It’s the acute phase. Pain control and prevention…”

Medical terms that were a bit difficult for Cheong-a to understand came from Yushin’s mouth, then abruptly stopped. He shook his head very slightly.

“Yeah. I’m in a lot of pain. So hug me.”

“Why should I?”

“What do you mean why? That’s too much. I protected you and even took a bullet for you. I need oxytocin.”

“…”

Yushin took a waiting posture with his eyes closed, and Cheong-a had no choice but to approach him hesitantly.

Right, no matter how important the task force is right now, I can’t be shameless enough to abandon someone who saved my life.

‘Five minutes should be enough, right? Let me endure just five minutes.’

But how should she hug someone with fractured ribs so it wouldn’t hurt?

Cheong-a tried moving her arms this way and that to find the right position, but it wasn’t easy.

While she was pondering this, Yushin reached out and pulled Cheong-a into his arms.

“Ugh.”

However, the moment their bodies touched, he frowned deeply and let out a short groan.

“Ah, it hurts. Are you okay?”

After taking several short breaths to steady his breathing, Yushin soon held Cheong-a a little tighter in his arms as if he was fine.

“I’m okay. I’m okay. It’s much better than when I got hit by the mop.”

“Ugh.”

“Let’s just stay like this for a bit. I want to sleep a little more. You won’t go anywhere, right?”

“Uh, I have to go to the task force now. It’s completely serious. Really, really high-ranking people are coming, so I can’t be late.”

“Don’t lie. You can stay a few more hours before going.”

At those words, Cheong-a couldn’t hold out any longer and gently rested her forehead against Yushin’s chest. Only then did Yushin show a satisfied, comfortable expression.

“You said you had insomnia, liar.”

“Mmm. Is that so… I’m just getting sleepy. Let’s sleep for 30 minutes.”

“…”

Some time later, the hospital room door quietly opened and people came to visit.

It was Chamkkae and Yeonhui.

The two looked at each other seeing Cheong-a and Yushin embracing and sleeping on one bed.

Yeonhui quickly covered Chamkkae’s mouth and pushed his back to quietly leave the place. And she very gently closed the door.

“What, we came all this way and you’re leaving without even saying hello?”

“Be quiet. You tactless fool.”

“Hey, noona. Instead of calling me that, please call me Sejin like I asked?”

“Alright. Our cute Sejin. You have to listen to noona, okay?”

Sejin nodded with a flushed face and followed Yeonhui’s steps.

***

The faces gathered in the TF meeting room were more overwhelming than Cheong-a had expected.

Assigned to a corner seat, Cheong-a had to bow politely and greet everyone each time the door opened and people entered.

At the seat with the National Intelligence Service nameplate, Doksah stood with his back straight, hands clasped behind him in an at-ease position.

And the other person from the National Intelligence Service sitting in front of him had frightening eyes.

Doksah was said to be someone of fairly high rank. Just how high-ranking must the person who made him so stiff be?

From the Korea Customs Service side, the director himself was present. The hastily prepared paper nameplate read 【Director Lee Gil-mo】.

He kept shuffling through the documents he had brought as if he were busy, continuously exchanging words with the working-level staff behind him.

From the Korea Coast Guard, the Police Commissioner attended.

‘Unnie, isn’t that person the Coast Guard Deputy Director…?’

‘Don’t make eye contact.’

‘…’

Fortunately, she couldn’t recognize who the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative and the prosecutor dispatched from the prosecution were. It was fortunate too. If she found out that those people were also of very, very high rank, her heart probably wouldn’t survive.

And just as Myeongjinhwan had said, there was no one from the police side except for Cheong-a and Yeonhui.

Yeonhui positioned herself standing behind Cheong-a.

While other departments had influential people accompanied by impressive working-level staff, Cheong-a and Yeonhui were just lowly inspector and senior officer.

No, of course the ranks of inspector and senior officer were nothing to be ashamed of. They were both proud results filled with traces of living earnestly.

Still, looking at the people before them now… it was intimidating.

Taking advantage of a moment when the office became bustling, Yeonhui’s hand quietly reached over and firmly grasped Cheong-a’s hand. Cheong-a also briefly squeezed the hand she held with Yeonhui’s, then relaxed.

Both their hands were quite damp.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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