Episode 6: The Advisor in the Shadows
Rain glazed Seoul's dawn in silver, pooling on CHIPER HQ's glass terrace. Inside, the team gathered around Alex's monitor. The grainy reflection froze mid-frame: Kang Jaewon — dark coat, cold eyes — leaning in close to Lee Sungchul.
> "Ex-military, right?" Dohee asked, lips pressed thin.
> "Special Forces," Kevin confirmed. "Rumored to clean messes for Han Seung's board. If Lee knew something, Kang would silence him."
> "And we just stepped into that mess," Guen murmured, shoulders tense.
> "Welcome to Tuesday," Minjae added, grinning as he peeled a wet jacket from broad shoulders.
---
Kevin's gaze swept the team — sharp, unreadable. "Kang is ruthless. We move carefully. Alex — pull every financial doc Lee touched. Dohee — background on Kang. Miran — check if there's chemical residue at the warehouse blood stain. Minjae, you're with me."
Guen folded her arms. "And me?"
> "You're with me too," Kevin said, eyes holding hers.
Heat prickled under her collar, masked quickly by a scowl. "Don't order me around."
> "Then keep up," he shot back, voice low.
---
They left HQ as drizzle softened. Kevin and Guen rode in silence, tension crackling like static. Finally, Guen spoke, voice tight.
> "Why me, not Minjae?"
> "Because Kang knows Minjae's face," Kevin said, gaze locked on rain-slick road. "And because I trust your eyes."
She blinked. "Just my eyes?"
> "And your stubborn heart," he added, softer, almost unseen.
Guen's chest tightened, pulse fluttering wild before she looked away. "Foolish beast," she muttered under breath.
Kevin almost smiled.
---
They pulled up near Han Seung Group's headquarters — glass tower rising from rain. Kevin's plan: Kang visited a quiet tea house each dawn, same private booth. Today, they'd watch.
Hidden in a black SUV, Guen adjusted her surveillance lens. Kevin leaned close, breath brushing her cheek.
> "Angle higher," he murmured, low voice rough against her ear.
She stiffened. "Don't breathe on me," she snapped.
> "Don't smell so distracting," he shot back, mouth almost brushing her temple.
Guen's heart slammed, heat pooling under ribs. Their eyes caught — dark, electric. Then Kang appeared.
---
Umbrella held by an aide, Kang Jaewon stepped into the tea house. Calm, predator-cold, gaze sweeping the street. Kevin watched every move, fingers tightening on the steering wheel.
> "Same coat," Guen whispered. "Same posture. But look — bruise under his jaw."
Kevin nodded. "Meaning Lee fought him."
> "Meaning Lee might still be alive," she breathed.
Hope sparked — dangerous, fragile.
---
Meanwhile, back at HQ, Alex hunched over lines of code. "Lee was moving company funds into a shell corporation. Name on the shell? Kang Jaewon."
Dohee's brows drew tight. "So Kang was skimming money through Lee."
> "And when Lee wanted out," Alex added, "Kang made him vanish."
Miran, across the table, clutched a mug with trembling fingers. "Then we find the money, we find Lee's leverage."
> "And Kang's motive to keep Lee breathing — for now," Dohee finished.
---
On the rooftop across the tea house, Minjae crouched behind a vent, rain dripping from dark hair. Earpiece crackled.
> "See anything?" Kevin's voice.
> "Nothing but your girlfriend glaring at you," Minjae teased.
> "Shut up," Kevin snapped.
> "Or kiss her already," Minjae added, laughter low.
Below, Miran's voice cut in, shy but urgent. "Guys, focus…"
Minjae's smirk softened. "Don't worry, pretty one. I'm watching."
Miran's heart fluttered, heat brushing her face. "Stop saying things like that," she whispered.
> "Make me," Minjae murmured, grin wicked, though she couldn't see.
---
Inside the tea house, Kang answered a call, face darkening. Guen focused her lens. "He's angry," she whispered. "Someone failed him."
> "Probably us," Kevin muttered. "He'll tighten his net."
Kang rose, left through back alley. Kevin started the car. "We tail him. Stay sharp."
---
They followed Kang's black sedan into Gangseo district — older warehouses, iron gates locked in rust. Kang exited, talking on phone, unaware of shadows.
Kevin and Guen moved closer. A stack of crates hid them; rain masked their steps. Kevin's arm brushed hers; she hissed under breath, "Watch it."
> "Then stop moving like a cat with three legs," he retorted.
> "Foolish beast," she shot back, pulse racing.
He almost grinned — but danger choked humor. Kang's voice carried.
> "…transfer by tomorrow. If not, dump the manager. Make it look accidental."
Guen's blood iced. "He means Lee."
> "Which means Lee is alive," Kevin breathed.
> "For now," Guen whispered.
---
Suddenly, a footstep behind. Guen spun, but Kevin was faster — hand clamped over her mouth, dragging her into shadow. A guard passed inches away, boots splashing in puddles.
Their faces so close, Guen felt Kevin's breath, saw pulse at his jaw. Her heart hammered; his gaze caught hers — raw, molten.
He lowered his hand, but stayed close. "Quiet," he rasped.
> "Don't order me," she whispered, breathless.
> "Then don't look so…" His voice died, rough, eyes dark.
For a heartbeat, the air burned electric — rain, heartbeat, raw want. Then footsteps retreated, breaking the spell.
---
Back at HQ, Minjae returned, soaked. Miran offered a towel, shyly.
> "Thanks," he murmured, grin softer.
> "You're reckless," she scolded, voice tiny. "Climbing roofs in rain."
> "Worried?" Minjae teased, stepping closer.
Miran's face flamed. "N-no…"
> "Don't lie," he murmured, thumb brushing a raindrop from her cheek.
She froze, breath tangled. His grin sharpened, hand sliding to her neck. "Pretty when you worry."
> "Stop," she whispered, pulse jumping.
> "Make me," he breathed, and kissed her — hot, teasing, tasting rain and fear.
Miran gasped, pushed weakly; he let her go, grin wicked. "Later, kitten."
She fled, heart pounding, tears blurring her sight — confused by heat she couldn't name.
---
Kevin and Guen returned, wet, silent. Alex turned. "Find anything?"
> "Lee's alive," Kevin said. "Kang's holding him until money moves."
Dohee's eyes narrowed. "We freeze the transfer, force Kang to panic. He'll lead us to Lee."
> "Dangerous," Guen said, gaze meeting Kevin's.
> "So we go together," Kevin answered, voice low. "All in."
---
Outside, Seoul's skyline bled neon into mist. Inside CHIPER's walls, six hearts beat toward a single vow: save Lee, catch Kang, survive each other.
> And somewhere, just beneath danger, hearts cracked open — enough for heat, for fear, for reckless, rising hope.
---