Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Luxury Delivery and Steamy Date
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This spring hadn't seen much rain, but today water droplets were falling in a steady drizzle from the sky.
It was a morning just before summer, with trees and grass soaked full of water, brimming with vibrant green life.
For Kang Hyun—who had played a decisive role in Namyangju's two major cases and was finally enjoying a sweet, long-overdue rest—this leisurely morning felt unfamiliar.
Ding, ding.
"Yes, this is Kang Hyun."
-Prosecutor, are you off today?
"Ah, I took the morning off. Heading in this afternoon. This about the asset forfeiture case?
-That's part of it. Seeing your salary reminds me how hard you've been working! I figured you might take the day off, but no such luck. See you this afternoon.
Click.
"Has it already been a month?"
Kang Hyun stretched his stiff body and paused while checking his salary.
"Wow, that's impressive."
His SNS notifications kept pouring in nonstop. With no sign of letting up, he finally turned them off. He didn't even dare open the flood of DMs anymore.
Articles about Prosecutor Kang Hyun's followers multiplying dozens of times over? No need to read those now.
Kang Hyun simply washed up clean and slipped into workout clothes instead of his work attire.
"Ah, right, salary."
He checked his bank account on his phone.
A small gasp escaped him—a reaction not much different from any other wage earner.
After living expenses and debt payments, plus pooling together his old side gigs and lecture fees from his time as a judicial research officer at the Ministry of Justice training institute, his immediately available cash came to about 8 million won.
Subtract the debt and even jeonse deposit, and he was left with a few million.
"Still, the money's adding up. Around 200k a month..."
A regular prosecutor got civil servant grade 4 treatment: base salary plus special activity pay came to about 4 million won monthly.
Time to scout a nice jeonse place with his overdraft line and take his mother to the hospital.
"Even so, my finances have improved a ton."
For someone whose followers were jumping from hundreds of thousands to millions, being this satisfied was something else.
Yet no one around him questioned his frugality.
They knew that's just who he was.
His fame and recognition weren't from money or status, but earned purely through exceptional skill in cracking major cases.
Coupled with the rising self-esteem from contributing to justice.
That must be why Kang Hyun was happy, those around him figured.
They saw him as someone who transcended money, convinced he was immune to any temptations.
That conviction was Kang Hyun's driving force and strength.
Vroom.
"Huh?"
As Kang Hyun stepped outside, a car pulled up smoothly beside him.
A brand-new black sedan, its coating repelling raindrops even as they pelted it.
It had to cost over 100 million won at least. Even Kang Hyun, who knew nothing about cars, was stunned by the luxury.
Swoosh.
"...?"
"Excuse me. Sorry, but how do I get to this address? These alleys are a maze; I've been circling..."
"Pardon?"
The window rolled down, and the person inside called out to Kang Hyun while showing an address on their phone. He tilted his umbrella and peered at the driver's device.
"Huh?"
Incredibly, it was his own home.
"Um, this is my house. Why are you looking for it?"
"Oh! Perfect! Wait, are you by any chance Mr. Kang Hyun?"
"Yes."
"Ooh... Hello?"
"Ah... Hi. Nice to meet you."
At Kang Hyun's response, the man looked amazed, then flashed a professional smile. He seemed unbothered by Kang Hyun's casual attire—for better or worse.
Then, with a slightly proud expression, he said,
"Your car has arrived for delivery!"
"...Pardon?"
He bought a car? Me?
It was a bolt from the blue on this peaceful, drizzly morning.
What car could a guy without a license even buy?
"Th-this car?"
"Yep. Sorry it's raining today, but it was an immediate delivery request for a ready-to-go vehicle, so no choice. Come by next time, and we'll treat you like royalty."
Then he remembered something—pulling out the key fob, a business card, some documents, and a pen.
"Just sign here on the transfer form."
"What are you talking about...? There must be some mistake."
Kang Hyun shook his head in bewilderment, insisting it was an error. The dealer gave him the strangest look.
"No way. The buyer even requested we handle the title transfer for you."
"Who's the buyer?"
"You really don't know? It's..."
The man made a sly face and cupped his hand like he was whispering a secret. Kang Hyun leaned right into the car window.
"Yoon Haneul. I won't ask more. Heh."
"Wh-what?"
From proudly clutching 8 million won to suddenly having a 100-million-plus car delivered.
Love, sense of duty beyond money—none of that mattered right now.
"Wait a sec!"
"Yes?"
Kang Hyun grabbed the door as the man started to step out.
"First off, I don't have a license? Really sorry, but could you do something about the car...?"
"Yes? What do you mean...?"
"This seems like a communication mix-up or something. Anyway, I can't take the car right now!"
The dealer's face darkened. Kang Hyun desperately tried calling Yoon Haneul while composing himself, but of course, she wouldn't pick up during her busy time.
"Ugh... I don't know the details, but this looks rough... No way... a cancellation?"
"I'm truly sorry. Should I cover towing fees or something...?"
"Sigh... It's already past delivery. Cancellation's possible, but penalties depend on the reason, plus temp plates and insurance issues—it's messy... And..."
Suddenly, the dealer bowed his head deeply and let out heavy sighs. The rain had stopped and the sky cleared, but dark clouds seemed to gather over Kang Hyun's head.
"I never get the rich world... Canceling a delivered car like this? Our loss would be huge... I'd be tearing up..."
"Ah... I get it's awkward for you..."
"How about signing first and thinking it over later?"
Kang Hyun swallowed hard as the pen and papers were thrust at him again.
Day two of dating Yoon Haneul.
For the first time since becoming a prosecutor, Kang Hyun faced a dire crisis he couldn't resolve himself.
They clearly needed to talk about each other's finances and spending habits.
"What the hell is that car?"
"Is there an S-Class new model at the government office?"
"Man, it's slick. Wanna bet on whose it is?"
"Not a visitor's? Why park in staff lot and make a fuss."
Staff trickling in after lunch tossed comments as they passed. Some even clustered by the car, sipping sweet coffee.
"Prosecutor..."
"Ah, Captain. What about today's workout?"
"Don't dodge..."
Seong Tae-o sidled up to Kang Hyun with bulging eyes.
"What's with that car? Seized it somewhere? Or special circumstances...?"
"Yeah, uh, circumstances. They asked to leave it here... since I can't drive..."
Bang!
"Ms. Choi. No need to rush..."
"Happy afternoon! You see the prosecutor, sir? Some psycho parked an S-Class in the prosecution office staff lot!"
"Ah, yeah..."
"That's why we hear corrupt prosecution, dirty prosecution. Where do civil servants get that kinda money? Boldly rolling up like that? Must be gobbling bribes from back channels, numb to it all... Sigh, worlds apart from our integrity captain prosecutor..."
"Uh, excuse me, gotta take this call."
"Huh? Sure!"
Unable to stomach Choi Tae-ri's rant to the end, Kang Hyun bolted.
Leaving Seong Tae-o and Choi Tae-ri to bicker, he fled to the rooftop like a refugee with nowhere else to go.
Explaining felt off, and it stung a bit.
Up on the prosecution office rooftop.
"Huh? Kang, for a smoke?"
"No! Uh, wait, Senior. H-hello...? Busy? Phone okay now? Yeah, me too. So, uh... I actually really like it too!"
Staff watched, puzzled, as Kang Hyun brushed past Kim Si-hwan and ducked behind the vent.
"Uh, yeah... I really do like it, but under the revised Inheritance and Gift Tax Act, gift tax rate for under 100 million is 10% of the tax base, over 100 to 500 million is 20% minus 10 million. Basically, taking the car means I pay like 30 million in gift tax. Yeah, can't cover that."
Kang Hyun's voice pierced the massive central fan's roar, perking up everyone's ears as they tilted their heads.
"Yeah! I appreciate the gift. But situation's tricky right now, so I'll request cancellation. Thanks. Me too. See you tonight! L-love... Huh? Hello?"
As Kang Hyun hung up and headed to the railing, people exchanged glances, pretending not to notice.
'Yoon Haneul, huh.'
'Whoa.'
Signaling each other done, they busied themselves casually. Only Kim Si-hwan approached Kang Hyun.
"I'm really jealous of you, man."
"Pardon?"
"Nah, forget it. Fight on!"
"Ah. Sure."
Kang Hyun shrugged, nodded nonchalantly, and left the rooftop.
Something about his retreating figure seemed awe-inspiring. Kim Si-hwan rubbed his eyes and muttered.
"Is that a halo? Or balding so shiny? Damn, jealous of everything..."
"So movie theaters are like this these days..."
"Yeah."
Kang Hyun whispered softly to Yoon Haneul, and she murmured back.
1:55 AM.
The first date spot chosen after deep thought since becoming a couple.
Not intentional, but dead last row.
Their armrest-free couple seat felt like it was floating red hearts over their heads.
Just being there together made romance bubble up.
'Why's no one here?'
Plus, with the movie starting soon, no one else entered besides them.
By the ads, it was just the two.
"You didn't buy out the whole theater, did you?"
"I ain't that rich."
Easy to suspect after she sent a foreign luxury car the day after confessing. Yoon Haneul hesitated, then spoke in an embarrassed whisper.
"I just wanted to show I'd made it."
"I know you're successful without the car."
"I'll ask before gifting next time."
"Nah. I liked it. Just surprised..."
"Honestly, still don't know how to treat you right..."
Unlike their stiff, awkward talk, their bodies honestly drew closer.
"Me too... Can't we just hang like old times?"
"Forgot how we used to. Figuring it out..."
"You've got big shoots next week. I'll scout spots, so don't worry."
"You're busy too."
Squirming, her hand groped for his and clasped it. Hearts pounded.
Too dark to see faces clearly, but Yoon Haneul's scent reaching Kang Hyun drove him wild. Same for her.
"You're less busy than me. Back then, you picked everywhere?"
Yoon Haneul leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. Kang Hyun felt his whole body stiffen like stone.
"I like choosing."
"...Yeah?"
Kang Hyun released her hand, slid his arm behind her waist, and pulled her in. Her breathing grew ragged.
"Like receiving too."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
They'd only vaguely known it was a romance flick,
-Die, die, die!
-Gack, gack...
But to them now, even thriller vibes felt romantic. Movie kicked off with deaths, but they couldn't care less.
"After movie?"
"...I'll pick."
Her breath tickled his ear roughly with every word. Kang Hyun nodded, nerves on edge.
-Save me!
-Into the room, quick!
-Then, I didn't know. What awaited us in hotel room 301.
Narration rolled on. Suddenly, Yoon Haneul lifted her head to gaze at him, arms already around his waist.
"Wanna hit a hotel?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah!"
-Creeeak! Slam!
Movie played on, but their seats sat empty now.
-Save me!
Yeah. For these fiery young lovers, killing time in a theater till late dawn? Not happening.