Most wild animals have their own territorial instincts. Species with particularly strong independence, like felines, have a pronounced habit of warning competitors not to intrude on their territory in various ways.

Typical behaviors include scratching high places to mark their presence or leaving pheromones to advertise their territory. This is to prevent other predators from approaching and monopolize prey within their domain.

“Ask me again.”

Choi Gang-hu’s strange behavior also seemed like a kind of territorial marking. The way he deliberately planted kisses all over Ryu Seo-ha’s face, as if to show off, was just like a male beast.

“Politely.”

Ryu Seo-ha’s eyelids fluttered at his demand. Though the words evoking shame were harsh, he couldn’t entirely resent them as he understood the psychology behind it.

It was similar to the reason Choi Gang-hu decorated every space he stayed in with lavish interiors. It was his own way of confirming ownership, like branding.

“…Please. Kiss me every day.”

Ignoring Han Gang-seok’s curious gaze, he finally voiced what his lover wanted to hear. With an expression of transcendence from shame that had surpassed its threshold, he mumbled, and a deep smile spread across Choi Gang-hu’s face.

“I guess I have no choice.”

Choi Gang-hu placed a soft kiss on the red lips trembling slightly with embarrassment, then turned to Han Gang-seok with a satisfied expression.

“How long will it take to analyze once you secure the samples?”

“I-I… ahem, I’ll produce results as quickly as possible.”

Startled by the sudden question, Han Gang-seok’s voice cracked before he answered with an awkward smile.

“Report by tomorrow.”

“But… then other work…”

“I’ll process it as vacation until next week. Special paid leave should suffice.”

“I’ll work my fingers to the bone to write the report!”

Ryu Seo-ha frowned worriedly at the quickly settled conversation. With Han Gang-seok absent, the production research lab wouldn’t function properly.

Regardless of whether he was concerned about Promhell Guild’s work situation, the sample collection proceeded smoothly. Glass vials containing the two’s bodily fluids were neatly stacked in an icebox.

“You can go now.”

While this was happening, Choi Gang-hu unnecessarily adjusted his hold on Ryu Seo-ha, who was nestled in his arms, as if showing off. He jerked his chin towards the door. It was a cold dismissal.

The quick-witted Han Gang-seok bowed his head briefly before swiftly exiting the guild leader’s office. Choi Gang-hu tilted his head sideways and slowly brought his face close.

It was obviously a prelude to a kiss. Ryu Seo-ha swallowed dryly at the sight of him setting the mood, as if he had been waiting for the intruder to disappear. Once he started, he never seemed to know when to stop.

It was a necessary act for survival, and he was grateful to Choi Gang-hu for readily agreeing without asking for anything in return. But in a corner of his heart, an inexplicable anxiety kept growing. What is easily gained is easily lost.

“…This afternoon.”

Unable to push him away, Ryu Seo-ha wrapped his arms around the broad back and brought up a new topic.

“You said you had to go to Jeju Island, right?”

Using the schedule Secretary Jang had informed him of in the morning as an excuse. Choi Gang-hu’s eyes narrowed. It was a gaze that seemed to be gauging his true intentions.

“For the opening ceremony of Gangseong Hotel. I’ll have a meal and come back.”

But instead of asking why he avoided his kiss, he nodded and answered compliantly.

“Then I’ll go to Cheongdam-dong with my sister. The restaurant we went to before.”

Even after experiencing his only family member dying and coming back to life, they hadn’t even thought of spending quality time together. They had been busy pre-emptively sorting out issues that might arise after Ryu Seo-ha’s death.

“I said I’m going to have a meal and come back.”

Choi Gang-hu tilted his sharp jawline crookedly at the careful request.

“Ryu Seo-ha will come along.”

Unfortunately, he seemed to have no intention of letting Ryu Seo-ha out of his sight for even a moment.

❖ ❖ ❖

The grand opening ceremony of Gangseong Jeju Hotel. It was an event that Choi Gang-hu, who had no interest in the hotel business sector, had treated as an important schedule even in the original work. It was due to the whereabouts of the shares his mother had held during her lifetime.

Some were inherited by Choi Gang-hu, but some were transferred to Choi Junwan’s mother via Chairman Choi Geumcheol. As the composition of shares was on par, the significance of attendance increased as the struggle for succession rights intensified.

Since he couldn’t attend last year’s completion ceremony, there was a need to make up for the past absence at today’s event. He had to participate in all pre-ceremony events, unveiling ceremonies, and ribbon-cutting ceremonies to make his presence known.

“It’s quieter than I expected?”

Ryu Jeong-ah, looking around while seated at a round table, spoke in a whisper. While munching on finger foods brought from the cocktail reception set up on one side.

It was true. As it was before the opening declaration, only string music was flowing from the stage area, and neither the host nor the scheduled performers had appeared yet.

However, not only the general guests but also the VIP guests with corsages on their chests and the hotel staff in charge of protocol were all focusing their attention this way.

“I thought they would rush at me or you.”

The person who achieved the resurrection of the dead and the person who personally experienced that miracle. Who wouldn’t be curious when the two protagonists of the topic were gathered in one place?

It was rather strange that they weren’t immediately swarming over to ask this and that. It was as if a defensive barrier preventing people’s approach had been set up around them.

Ryu Seo-ha glanced up at Choi Gang-hu, who was sitting next to him with an expressionless face. He had been gently emitting magical power ever since they went out. With amazing control, taking care not to make Ryu Seo-ha and Ryu Jeong-ah feel any pressure. It was the same at the emergency board meeting.

“Maybe the media just made a fuss for nothing?”

Ryu Jeong-ah, who had been practically confined for the past few days due to safety issues, grumbled softly as if feeling wronged. Though she said that, her expression was bright. As always, she didn’t show it at all, but the shock and concern must have been great, and she seemed somewhat relieved that the surrounding reactions were less intense than expected.

“But you feel less stifled now, right?”

“Of course. This is my first time at a place like this. But this is delicious.”

“You’ll regret it if you eat too much. There’s a buffet prepared too.”

“Oh, a buffet? When do we eat that?”

“After the first part of the event is over.”

When shown the pamphlet with the order of events, Ryu Jeong-ah quickly grabbed it and examined it, licking her lips. Ryu Seo-ha let out a small laugh at the sight of his older sister, who seemed disappointed that she couldn’t eat right away.

He thought it was good that he had asked Choi Gang-hu if his sister could come to Jeju Island together. Though he didn’t expect her to accompany them to the official event. He even prepared not only seats but also table name tags.

“Introduction of guests, commemorative speech, congratulatory telegrams and speeches, progress report… Why are there so many pre-ceremony events?”

Ryu Seo-ha silently pushed his share of refreshments towards her. He couldn’t bring himself to retort that all corporate events are like this to the dejected Ryu Jeong-ah. Then he noticed Choi Gang-hu’s eyes narrowing slightly.

“Why don’t you rein in your magical power a bit?”

Just as he was about to ask if there was anything uncomfortable, a familiar but unwelcome voice approached. It was Jung Woo-bin, the S-rank spatial hunter. He didn’t seem to have attended this event in the original work…

“Everyone’s uncomfortable, aren’t they? Isn’t it inconsiderate?”

Though it seemed like he was picking a fight, his words were actually correct. Due to Choi Gang-hu’s magical power emission, no one around could approach this table.

“Get lost.”

Choi Gang-hu, who had been acting as a human pest repellent, issued a low dismissal without changing his expression. But Jung Woo-bin sat down opposite Ryu Seo-ha without showing any sign of being offended.

“Hmm, you should try to get on my good side.”

At his next words, Choi Gang-hu furrowed one eyebrow as if to say, “What nonsense?”

“I just became a major shareholder of Gangseong Trading, you know.”

Jung Woo-bin showed his phone screen with a triumphant smile. The words “Financial Supervisory Service” caught the eye briefly. If the content of his words was true, it would be the disclosure according to the 5% rule for common stocks.

Ryu Seo-ha’s brow furrowed slightly. To gather enough shares to meet the requirements, he must have poured in an enormous amount of funds. He must have also struggled quite a bit with the acquisition due to the shortage of volume.

In a situation where he couldn’t even aim for price differentials, Ryu Seo-ha couldn’t understand why Jung Woo-bin, who wasn’t even a special related party of the group, would go to such lengths. Then Jung Woo-bin’s subtle gaze turned towards Ryu Seo-ha.

It’s because of me. Ryu Seo-ha bit his lip at the answer his intuition provided. Choi Gang-hu seemed to have drawn a similar conclusion, as the temperature of the air seemed to drop gradually with each breath he took.

“Hunter Jung Woo-bin.”

Sensing that something might happen, Ryu Seo-ha abruptly stood up.

“If you don’t mind, let’s talk separately.”

“Of course, of course. Certainly.”

Jung Woo-bin stood up quickly, his face beaming. Choi Gang-hu’s cold gaze and Ryu Jeong-ah’s concerned look touched both of Ryu Seo-ha’s cheeks.

He patted his older sister’s shoulder reassuringly and looked at Choi Gang-hu as if seeking permission. Having already left a record of running away once, he had no choice but to be cautious even for minor movements.

“I’ll be right back.”

Ryu Seo-ha smiled softly as if confident he could gain cooperation in a short time.

“No.”

But Choi Gang-hu expressed firm refusal and blocked him. It was a reaction he had fully anticipated. Just as Ryu Seo-ha was about to try persuading him again, his eyes suddenly widened. It was because Choi Gang-hu suddenly launched himself through the glass window.

With a crash, people screamed in surprise at the broken glass.

Thump─!

Choi Gang-hu’s feet landed on top of a car after a high-speed fall from 17 floors above. Standing on the completely crumpled hood, Choi Gang-hu’s arm pierced through the car’s roof as if it were soft tofu.

“Ugh!”

The person pulled out through the torn roof plates, grabbed by the collar, let out a painful groan. It was Go Young-hoon, the president of YH Capital, who had disappeared without a trace after the kidnapping incident.