The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 64
“Why are you being so nice to me today?”
Cha Eui-jae lifted his head and met those violet eyes. Despite the slight curve of his lips, there was a cool aura about him.
[Trait: Poker Face (B) activated.]
‘Crazy guy. He’s incredibly perceptive.’
Fortunately, the Poker Face trait had automatically activated. Cha Eui-jae, under his expressionless face, recalled his suspicions about Nam Woo-jin. Did he know everything and bring this up intentionally? Did Nam Woo-jin hint something to Lee Sa-young? After all, they were in a cooperative relationship.
However, he soon dismissed his suspicion. Back then, Nam Woo-jin was… purely observing Cha Eui-jae as he listened to Lee Sa-young’s past.
The sudden appearance of Lee Sa-young’s associate should be suspicious, yet there are no questions about his identity or doubts about him— no curiosity about this mysterious figure who appeared out of nowhere with such skill. The white gaze that seemed to penetrate through Cha Eui-jae’s very existence was like…
‘As if he was confirming my value…’
Cha Eui-jae swallowed silently. Though it was supposed to be a reward for the drug incident, giving away two black tickets might have been proof that he had passed Nam Woo-jin’s test or criteria.
Nam Woo-jin seemed like someone thirsty for new knowledge and truth. So, he would have analyzed the newly emerged Cha Eui-jae. But with just a brief observation, the information he gathered would not be perfect enough to be called ‘knowledge.’
Being inherently a scholar, he wouldn’t place an unfinished book in his library. If this assumption were correct, Nam Woo-jin wouldn’t have mentioned their private conversation to Lee Sa-young.
Therefore, Lee Sa-young just had an uncanny knack for noticing things.
So in the end, it was just a reaction to seeing his changed attitude, but he wondered if it was something to be so cautious about, just because he had acted a bit soft due to some nagging feeling. Before he knew it, the slightly narrowed eyes seemed to be asking, ‘Since when did you start giving things like this to me?’
Isn’t it too ironic for someone who claims not to trust people to be so untrusting themselves? Cha Eui-jae was dumbfounded but decided to play innocent for now.
“What’s with ‘being nice’? What did I even do?”
“This.”
Lee Sa-young nudged a paper cup with his gloved hand.
‘This?’
Cha Eui-jae alternated between looking at the paper cup and Lee Sa-young, frowning. If giving him a simple misugaru meant he was being nice, then how low was Lee Sa-young’s threshold for kindness? Cha Eui-jae was about to retort but then noticed Lee Sa-young’s face. Suspicion was smeared all over his delicate features.
Isn’t this guy just… a kid? Though less moody than Park Ha-eun.
“In such a short time, the only thing that could’ve changed your attitude…”
Lee Sa-young tilted his head slightly, muttering.
“…is meeting Nam Woo-jin.”
“…”
“That guy does talk a lot…”
That was true. Even though they’d only exchanged a few words, the way Nam Woo-jin didn’t give the other person a chance to speak and just barreled through with his own words was quite something. Lee Sa-young continued, rubbing the top of the paper cup.
“You’re not someone who listens well to others… so it’s even more suspicious.”
‘Why is he attacking me with words all of a sudden?’
“And what business does that guy have meddling in our relationship?”
What relationship do we have? Isn’t it a contractual one? Cha Eui-jae was about to retort but shut his mouth. Lee Sa-young’s demeanor while saying that was fiercer than he expected.
In the meantime, Lee Sa-young closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them.
“Well… I think I’ve laid out my theory.”
The way Lee Sa-young nodded his head slightly, as if urging for an answer, made Cha Eui-jae quickly think.
It would be better to keep what Nam Woo-jin said about Lee Sa-young’s past a secret for now. Though it was like talking behind Lee Sa-young’s back, it would also be strange to discuss Nam Woo-jin in his absence.
Cha Eui-jae thought about making an excuse but gave up. He ruffled his hair and responded honestly.
“Is it such a problem even when I’m being nice? It’s funny you think making misugaru for you is being nice.”
“…”
“Alright. I’m doing it because I’m grateful. Why?”
Lee Sa-young’s face showed a look of disbelief.
“Grateful? For what?”
“You took my grandma to the hospital.”
“That was part of the contract conditions and something I proposed first.”
“And… you looked after Ha-eun.”
“…”
Though he still couldn’t believe that Lee Sa-young had done that public service gesture, he had indeed stayed with Park Ha-eun to ensure she didn’t get lost in the library. Cha Eui-jae mumbled on.
“And when I was swept up in that rift… you came to help me, even though that was part of the contract too.”
Thinking about it, when J was active, no one had ever come to help him. He was the one who went to help others. Because he was J. He had to face everything with his own strength. That was natural.
“…”
A brief silence fell, but Cha Eui-jae was too preoccupied to notice it. Saying it out loud made him realize there were quite a few incidents involving Lee Sa-young, and he’d received a fair amount of help from him. Once he started talking, Lee Sa-young’s good deeds poured out like a broken dam.
Cha Eui-jae rubbed his lips, glancing around to avoid Lee Sa-young’s eyes. He happened to catch sight of the self-serve kimchi and side dish bar, with the magic stone shining brightly in the middle.
“The magic stone support was provided by Guild Leader Lee Sa-young of the Pado Guild.”
Damn it, that was also Lee Sa-young? Cha Eui-jae gritted his teeth and quickly added.
“Well… if it weren’t for you… the store would have caught fire, or I might have ended up on the wanted list for ambulance theft… who knows.”
“Were you really planning to steal the ambulance?”
“…”
A short laugh burst out. Lee Sa-young was covering his mouth, laughing.
“I wondered why you asked about the license.”
“…”
“You’re truly a madman.”
Shut up, you don’t know anything. The store almost burned down.
Cha Eui-jae’s face twisted into a frown at being recognized as a madman by another madman, but Lee Sa-young’s face showed a gradual release of suspicion. In fact, he seemed quite pleased. He coaxed gently.
“And?”
“And what? That’s all.”
“Is there nothing more you’re grateful for?”
“What more could there be? I’ve said everything now.”
Maybe he should’ve just repeated what Nam Woo-jin said. Trying to protect his loyalty to someone with nothing to offer, he ended up revealing deep, private matters. The sharp atmosphere from Lee Sa-young’s interrogation had melted away, replaced by a warmer mood. His intense demeanor had softened noticeably.
Cha Eui-jae covered his eyes with one hand, overcome with embarrassment.
“Well… you don’t trust people, but your guard is quite low.”
Though his tone was sarcastic, there was no mockery. Lee Sa-young tapped the table with his fingertips.
“If you’re that grateful, accept my date proposal.”
Fuck, we’re back to square one. Cha Eui-jae gritted his teeth and replied.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I just really don’t want to go.”
Though he had fallen from the top spot, he was still the second-ranked in the country. Lee Sa-young was bound to attract everyone’s attention. The secretary accompanying him would also draw glances, especially with the gas mask on.
“You told me to live quietly. Let me just sell hangover soup here.”
“You can go quietly, I promise.”
Cha Eui-jae had no intention of stepping out of his cozy and slightly noisy hangover soup restaurant to wade into the battlefield. He had already caused too many problems and planned to lay low. But Lee Sa-young seemed determined not to let him off the hook.
“Why do you want to take me in the first place?”
“For a date.”
“Cut the crap about dates. Tell me straight.”
“Hmm, because I’d be lonely going alone?”
Lee Sa-young sometimes threw out the most nonsensical things with a straight face. Still gritting his teeth, Cha Eui-jae answered.
“Isn’t Bae Won-woo going? Your Vice-Guild Leader?”
“Well… yes, he is.”
“Then you can go with him.”
“You rarely say my name but easily call him by his full name.”
“Hah… Lee Sa-young, you’re really difficult.”
“I hear that a lot.”
Satisfied after hearing his name, Lee Sa-young hummed and continued.
“Bae Won-woo will be with other guild members…”
“Join them.”
“I can’t do that. It’s uncomfortable for them to be with their boss.”
Lee Sa-young spoke in a lecturing tone. Since when did you care so much about your subordinates? Cha Eui-jae sighed deeply. Lee Sa-young, who had propped his chin on his hands again, blinked slowly.
“If I tell you this, you’ll have one more thing to be grateful for.”
His voice, mixed with a hint of laughter, seemed to enjoy making Cha Eui-jae uneasy.
“Remember the thugs you rounded up?”
Thugs… he must be talking about the ones he captured at Incheon Port. Still covering his eyes, Cha Eui-jae gave a small nod.
“You were quite reckless back then, diving in first and ignoring my texts.”
His grudge over one unread text was incredibly long.
“Before putting them in the transport vehicle, I messed with them a bit… and they remember you in quite a lot of detail.”
‘Shit.’
Damn it, he hadn’t considered that! Cha Eui-jae pressed his palm against his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut. He had used memory-erasing techniques on the Romantic Opener, but he had only inflicted physical damage on the thugs, forgetting to threaten them with memory erasure.
Until recently, Cha Eui-jae had been wearing a mask every day, relying on it to conceal his identity while recklessly diving into situations. He couldn’t seem to break this habit of believing that his face was covered. His hand pressed harder against his eyes. Lee Sa-young spoke leisurely.
“I contacted the Awakened Management Bureau and even arranged for the transport vehicle… if I had sent them off as they were, it would’ve been a disaster.”
The Awakened Management Bureau. Cha Eui-jae started to reflect on all the things he had overlooked in his frenzy.
Jung Bin thinks Cha Eui-jae is a D-grade Awakened. But a D-grade Awakened took on a gang of 20 thugs by himself and pulverized them? Even a B-grade Awakened? Once that fact is known, he’ll surely be hauled into the Bureau for a one-on-one session with Jung Bin. Cold sweat trickled down his back.
“Luckily, they’re still in our guild’s basement. I don’t know when they’ll be handed over to the Bureau, though.”
“…If they talk about me, won’t you also be in trouble?”
“Well, maybe. But it’s not as big a hit as it would be for you. I have ways to slip out.”
Lee Sa-young was taking an awfully long-winded route to say one thing.
Do you want to die with me, or go to Songdo?
“I wasn’t going to force you to come if you said no…”
“…”
“But seeing you so grateful for the little things…”
A cold leather touch reached his palm, gently prying his hand away from his eyes. Their gazes met up close. The chilly demeanor from before had vanished, replaced by a soft smile on his pretty face.
“It makes me want to do more for you, in many ways.”
‘No need, you bastard…’
Cha Eui-jae learned a new lesson at the age of 28; being honest isn’t always good.
***
The next day, 5:30 AM. Before opening the restaurant, Cha Eui-jae stepped outside with a broom to clear the spots where barnacles might cling. Not long after, a stranger in a thick coat approached, lugging a large box and a smaller one.
Goosebumps…
‘Just like the floral wreath was delivered.’
Cha Eui-jae’s ominous premonition was, once again, spot on. The delivery man, after glancing around, spotted the hangover soup sign on the sliding door and let out an “Ah.”
“Do you work here?”
“…”
“You’ve got a delivery.”
A package this early in the morning? Cha Eui-jae’s expression stiffened, remembering his unpleasant experiences with packages and registered mail. Unfazed, the delivery man handed him the boxes and quickly walked away.
Cha Eui-jae set the broom down and squatted by the door to check the delivery label. It was a high-end brand’s men’s suit and shoes.
The sender was… Lee Sa-young.
Cha Eui-jae realized he had crossed a point of no return.
“Shit…”
A delicate curse dissipated into the dawn air.
Cha Eui-jae, path to becoming a gentleman confirmed.
