Office Room 613, Reed Building.

Beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-beep

[Caller ID: CEO Ahn Seo-eun]
Asset Manager Gu Se-ju saw the name flash across his phone screen and was startled.

He had received her business card while with Haesu and saved her number, but he never expected her to actually call him.

Clutching his surprised chest, he quickly pressed the answer button.

“Yes! This is Asset Manager Gu Se-ju speaking!”

-Hello, this is Ahn Seo-eun.

“To think CEO Ahn Seo-eun would personally call me—what an honor for my family!”

-Likewise, to be welcomed so warmly by you, Manager Gu, is my honor. It's nothing much, but…

Through Gu Se-ju’s help, Ahn Seo-eun arranged a meeting with the manufacturer.

Making equipment for public safety using government funds isn’t exactly a hot project—especially since the materials are specialized and rare, making it expensive and requiring new manufacturing methods to be developed from scratch.

But government money provides just the right environment for backdoor deals with lawmakers. So to prevent leeches from sneaking in, Commissioner and Congressman Oh Seong-ju needed to be convinced, and the rights to manufacture had to be secured independently.

Seo-eun, taking their social positions into account, reached out personally.

-…It’s good news that you’re interested, but I’m someone who doesn’t even want my hem brushing up against corporate suits. Business is money, and money mixing with police never ends well. I hope you understand.

-…Meeting with a corporate CEO about making protective vests during such a sensitive time? People will one hundred percent say the Commissioner, the Congressman, and the CEO are plotting to pocket government money. I have to wonder—why is Daeseong suddenly interested in this? Anyway, goodbye.

Click.

The call ended. Seo-eun hung her head helplessly.

‘As expected… this’ll attract flies.’

The two men are known for being exceptionally clean. They hardly have any acquaintances in the corporate world. They’re like poster boys for "outsiders" among high-ranking officials and politicians.

Seo-eun, understanding their reaction fully, still tried to explain via email, but they didn’t even open it.

Holding her throbbing head, she left the office for her next appointment.

She took the elevator to the first floor and spotted a large-framed man stuck in the entrance gate.

“Haesu?”

He had tried to slip through without a pass and gotten caught. With an awkward expression, he stepped back, making the gate shake as if it might break.

“Hello.”

“Oh, yes, hello? What brings you here?”

An unexpected meeting in an unexpected place always amplifies the joy. Seo-eun’s voice was louder and higher than usual.

“Ah, I was passing by nearby and thought it was time for Haru to finish work, so I came to go together.”

“Ah… I’d love to live there too.”

“Pardon?”

“Just saying. Anyway, things aren’t going smoothly with the protective vest.”

“What’s the problem?”

“Hmm, well… the will of the Commissioner and Congressman Oh Seong-ju is key, but for transparency and fairness, they’ve completely cut off communication.”

Haesu nodded seriously.

“Makes sense. Since you’re a businessperson, I should be able to handle that part.”

“Pardon? Ah, right—since you’re also police, they’ll listen to you? But actually, Congressman Oh’s will matters even more…”

“I had some interaction with him during my time as a special instructor at the Police Academy. I’ll try to meet with him.”

“Really? You’re something else, Haesu.”

“Was that a compliment?”

“I don’t know.”

To Seo-eun’s cryptic response, Haesu just decided to take it positively.

After seeing Seo-eun off, not long after, Haru came out surrounded by men.

Her gaze was fixed forward, while the men’s eyes were all fixed on her.

Haesu frowned unconsciously and approached her.

“W-What?”

“Why are you blocking the way?”

The bodyguards, wary of Haesu’s intimidating presence, tried hard to maintain their pride.

At that moment, Haru quickly approached Haesu and said,

“Landlord! What brings you here?”

“L-Landlord?”

“Landlord…”

“Not boyfriend, not sweetheart, not oppa…”

"Landlord" felt like an insurmountable wall in many ways.

“I had something nearby after work, so I came to pick you up.”

“Came to pick her up”—those words signified that he wasn’t just a landlord renting out a house, but someone who actually lives with her.

The men who had held onto faint hopes naturally backed off, and Haesu left with Haru.

That night, Seo-eun stood by the window of her darkened room, staring out at the garden, deep in thought.

‘Even if he has connections, he’s still just a detective with good performance. Can he really move the Commissioner and the Congressman? Maybe I should prepare a backup plan just in case…’

At that moment, her phone rang. It was Congressman Oh Seong-ju. Seo-eun quickly answered.

“Yes, this is Ahn Seo-eun.”

-I got a call from Detective Shin. I didn’t think CEO Ahn Seo-eun could sway him. What’s your relationship with him? Are you engaged?

“No, Shin Haesu and I…”

Seo-eun answered honestly. It wasn’t some behind-the-scenes scheme, and the more trustworthy allies you have, the stronger your defenses later.

She explained with sincerity that she wasn’t seeking profit but wanted to support Detective Shin on his mission to cleanse the nation.

-…I never imagined a businessperson could have such a noble mindset. Well, from the moment Detective Shin told me to entrust it to you, the decision was already made. Still, I’m glad to know there’s a company I can trust to handle this.

“Thank you. We’re not doing this for money either. If profit becomes the main motive, safety—which is the most important—might be compromised. That’s why, even if it brings less gain, I’m determined to take this on myself.”

-You're right. That was my biggest concern, but now that it’s resolved, I’m actually the one who’s grateful.

"It is an honor for me as well to get to know an assemblyman who shares the same intentions."

Right after hanging up with the assemblyman, a call from the Commissioner came, and it was decided in advance that as soon as the production plan passed, Seo-eun would take it on.

Unlike the full-body stab-proof suits worn by Haesu and the detectives at Gangjin Station, this stab-proof gear would be produced in the form of a vest — a mass-distributed, simple version.

At Shin Haesu's house, Haru was lying at an angle on the living room sofa, holding her phone. It was late summer, so she wore dolphin shorts, fully exposing her long legs.

Haru's face, as she tapped on her phone, looked blissfully happy.

"You came at me first and now you’re getting wrecked! Feelsbadman? Mad, huh? You want revenge but can’t do a thing, huh?"

Beep— click.

At the sound of the door opening, Haru threw her phone into the corner of the sofa and quickly stood at the entrance.

"You're home? Did you bring the yogurt?"

Haesu had only gone to the convenience store, but seeing Haru greeting him with hands clasped in front of her belly, he raised the plastic bag in his left hand.

"I brought it. Peach flavor."

Haru’s face noticeably brightened when she saw the peach-flavored yogurt in the bag.

Recently, Haru had become hooked on the yogurt she happened to try at Daeseong Guard.

"Thank you!"

Haesu watched Haru's delight with curiosity. Judging by how he couldn't recall the taste of the yogurt, it seemed he had never tried it before.

'Is it really that good?'

Curious, he took one out to try, but saw that the lid had a lot of yogurt stuck to it. He stared at it in contemplation.

Swipe, slurp, swipe—

Just then, he saw Haru licking the yogurt lid clean like a cat.

Watching her, Haesu made a decision and slowly brought the lid to his lips.

But the moment he saw Haru turning her head, he quickly put it down and started eating the yogurt with a spoon instead.

Haru tilted her head and approached.

"This part is the best, why aren’t you eating it? Can I have it?"

"Uh, sure."

"Thank you."

Haru licked Haesu’s yogurt lid clean too.

"Are you doing well with your training?"

"I’m getting through without causing trouble. Everyone is nice except for a few."

"Those few... are they women by any chance?"

"How did you know? As expected, you can see a thousand miles while just sitting still, house owner-nim."

"Where did you even learn to say that… Still, it’s exactly people like that you should be nicer to. With sincerity."

"Understood. With sincerity."

Haru nodded firmly, not even realizing she had yogurt on her lips.

The next day, at the Daeseong Guard fitness training room.

"Seo Ah-rin, would you spar with me?"

"Huh, huh? Me? Me? Suddenly?"

"Yes."

Being kind to Haru meant helping her grow stronger. Haru faced her with sincerity.

Thud! Thud! Slam!

Seo Ah-rin, who had been spreading nasty rumors about Haru behind her back, was mentally shaken by the consecutive over-the-shoulder throws.

Others watched with sympathy, but Haru's overwhelming energy made it hard for anyone to step in.

'So that’s how she’s been releasing everything she bottled up.'

'I thought she was just a clueless bear, but she knew all along.'

'S-Scary… better not mess with her…'

Whatever the method, Haru ended up getting along decently with the other female peers or seniors — at least on the surface.

After three months of training, including joint lodging, it was time to be assigned to real duty alongside senior guards.

Haru was the last to be called.

"...Seo Ah-rin to Daeseong Entertainment Actor Team, and Haru… huh?"

The senior guard reading the list paused, and the team leader approached.

"What? What is it, huh? CEO-nim?"

The team leader looked at Haru with curious eyes and asked,

"Haru, are you acquainted with CEO Ahn Seo-eun?"

Haru figured there was no need to hide it now that she had passed and completed training. But defining what kind of relationship they had wasn’t easy.

"Friends?"

"Whoa."

"Why are you only saying that now?"

"No one asked?"

"What the..."

The senior guards were visibly shocked, and those who had been bad-mouthing her behind her back clutched the back of their necks.

Daeseong Guard’s uniform consisted of a white shirt, black tie, black suit, and black shoes.

When Haru entered the office wearing the Daeseong uniform with her bangs neatly tied back, Seo-eun’s jaw dropped.

Haru’s usual dry expression and cold eyes radiated an aura that could easily intimidate most men.

"Wow, you look like a completely different person. You really give off the elite bodyguard vibe."

"My training scores are indeed fitting of an elite."

"Haha, that sounds even better coming from me. But Haru, while you're by my side, you're an undercover guard. Today’s concept is friend."

Haru shrugged slightly and asked,

"Friend? If I’m already a friend, why is the concept 'friend'?"

Seo-eun had never clearly defined their relationship, but it sounded quite nice to hear Haru just naturally say they were friends.

"That’s true. But during work hours, you're a bodyguard, so it’s the ‘friend concept’ bodyguard. You probably don’t have civilian clothes, so I’ll lend you some of mine."

"Understood."

Inside Seo-eun’s CEO office was a small break room with spare clothes.

Haru came out wearing a pink round-neck T-shirt and a white tennis skirt picked by Seo-eun.

But since she was more than 5cm taller than Seo-eun, the skirt looked quite short.

"Ah, it’s a bit small. Are you okay?"

"It’s fine. If it’s short, my legs stand out more."

That was one of the charm points Seo-eun had taught her. Seo-eun chuckled and linked arms with Haru.

"Let’s go. Today’s plan is a department store tour."

As Seo-eun and Haru strolled through Daeseong Department Store, a man was watching them from afar.

"Target confirmed. One bodyguard, one civilian."