Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Ambush in the Parking Garage
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A hulking figure a full head taller than me loomed right in front of me. His eyes were bloodshot, blazing red.
His vibe was anything but normal.
I quickly scanned my surroundings.
'No people around, and it’ll take time to reach my car. If I run, he’ll catch me.'
The facts hit me first. This was a remote corner of the parking lot, and I was loaded down with bags.
Even if I ditched them and bolted, my body was worn out from standing all day—I doubted I could run well.
If Kim Jun-seo snapped and decided to hurt me, I had no real way to stop him.
I forced myself to act calm and casual.
"What brings you here? Got something to say?"
"......"
"Not thrilled about you showing up like this on a personal note."
I flashed a smile to brush him off. Kim Jun-seo hadn’t budged an inch the whole time.
What the hell did he want? Just as curiosity started nagging at me, I spun on my heel, desperate to escape the awkwardness.
"If there’s nothing to talk about, see you at the next filming. I’ll get going then......"
Thud!
That’s when it happened.
Kim Jun-seo grabbed my wrist.
'Busted.'
I’d been hiding my phone behind my back, dialing 112.
The jolt of him grabbing me sent the phone clattering to the floor. I glanced down at the cracked screen, then back to my trapped wrist.
"......Ugh."
I tried to yank free, but it was no use. I didn’t need to look to know his grip had left angry red marks.
"Kim Jun-seo. What the hell are you doing?"
My voice sharpened as I demanded answers. He gritted his teeth and muttered,
"......Think you’re hot shit?"
Our eyes met, and it hit me.
'His eyes are unfocused. He’s not right in the head.'
Realizing he wasn’t in his right mind sent chills down my spine. I had to run. Alarms blared in my head.
"Who the hell are you to look down on people?"
Squeeze.
"......!"
My wrist throbbed. I tried to flee, but with it pinned, there was nothing I could do.
"Lucky break’s all it was, and you humiliated me like a dog."
"Hey, snap out of it. Do you even know what you’re saying?"
"You did it on purpose, right? To ruin me. If this place tanks, I’m screwed anyway......!"
He acted like he couldn’t hear me.
I had no idea what triggered it, but I’d clearly hit some mental landmine. Not a good sign.
"You think I’ll go down alone?!"
My body lurched as my throat suddenly clamped tight.
Gack—my airway narrowed, choking out a ragged sound. Caught off guard by the collar grab, I couldn’t react properly.
His wild, bloodshot eyes stared right into mine.
"Not a chance. Never."
Those burning eyes screamed pure malice.
The thought that he might actually kill me made my spine crawl. In the chaos, I knew I couldn’t just take this lying down.
I tensed my trembling arms.
Thwack!
"Argh!"
I swung the bag full of stuff hard into his elbow, and his grip on my collar loosened.
I stumbled back a couple steps. Kim Jun-seo’s face twisted even angrier.
Daring to hit me? That seemed to be his rage.
They say you should never turn your back on a wild animal.
I backed away slowly, facing him, step by step. Then I whipped around and sprinted toward my car.
"Where do you think you’re going!"
He chased right after. I ran until my lungs burned, but soon my clothes snagged.
"Ugh!"
I spun around, facing him again. This was getting ridiculous.
Luckily, he seemed a bit calmer now. His eyes were clearer.
"Ah, that thing from earlier. If it airs, everyone I know will see it. What am I supposed to do?"
Fear had overtaken his anger.
"What am I supposed to do! Hey, go tell the PD now. Tell him to cut that scene."
He pressed hard.
"We can reshoot! They’ll listen if it’s you!"
He was terrified of nationwide humiliation. Just thinking about it seemed to blind him.
I got his panic, but that didn’t justify the violence. No matter the reason, this was coercion and threats.
"I can’t do that."
"Why? Think I won’t hit you? Need a real smack to get it through your head? Damn it!"
He reared back with his other hand. But I didn’t flinch.
After that first grab, I knew he wouldn’t risk seriously hurting me—not if he wanted his threats to stick.
'Plus, this is the broadcasting station’s underground lot. Remote, sure, but hold out a bit and someone’s bound to pass by.'
Then he wouldn’t dare act rashly.
"Oh? Not dodging?"
My confidence irked him. He yelled "Damn it!" again and raised his hand high.
I stared him down, unfazed.
"......!"
It struck another nerve. His face flushed with shame, anger building.
"This time I mean it. Think I won’t? Come on, let’s see who wins."
Why turn it into a contest? No clue.
But his momentum felt dangerous this time. I braced for the pain.
Whoosh!
I heard the air whistle. Just as I squeezed my eyes shut—
Click!
A flash and camera shutter echoed.
Clicks rang out from all over the vast parking lot. I slowly turned toward the sound.
Do Kyung stood there, phone in hand.
"Stop it."
He wedged himself between me and Kim Jun-seo, stiff as a board.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
Do Kyung glared down at him. The sudden third party made Kim Jun-seo hesitate, flustered.
"Stay out of it and move."
"I called the cops. You should back off too."
Do Kyung’s tone was ice-cold. I’d never seen that look on him.
"Ugh......!"
Gone was Kim Jun-seo’s menace. He slunk back from Do Kyung.
Then voices murmured from afar, footsteps approaching—he bolted like a scared rabbit.
His fleeing tail-between-legs retreat was almost comical.
"Haa......"
Do Kyung watched him go, then turned slowly. The fierce expression vanished, replaced by his usual gentle one.
"You okay? Not hurt anywhere?"
"Yeah. For now."
My wrist stung, though. But why was he here?
I eyed him curiously, and he read me like a book.
"I was heading in for a photoshoot when I saw him enter the lot. Felt uneasy, so I followed......"
Perfect timing to witness this. His gut check saved the day.
"Thanks. You literally saved my life."
Tension drained, leaving my head pounding. Guess my muscles had been locked tight.
Everything ached.
"Who’d have thought he’d pull something like this."
A dry laugh escaped. Total self-own. No one but an idiot would do that.
But idiots existed in this world.
Closing my eyes eased the fatigue a bit. Pressing my temples with my cold fingertips helped too.
"Good thing it didn’t escalate. Let’s report it to the police. I got photos for evidence......"
Do Kyung trailed off, eyes on my wrist.
Ah. My sleeve had ridden up, revealing the vivid red marks. Bruises forming.
I clicked my tongue.
"Of all places, right where it shows."
"That’s not the issue right now!"
He shouted, then clapped a hand over his mouth, startled by himself.
Reflex.
"Not important, then."
"No, that’s not... You said you were fine earlier."
"No major injuries."
Just bruises and soreness. You get that from rough workouts.
"How can you say that when you’re hurt like this... Haa, fine."
Do Kyung sighed deeply.
"What am I gonna say to the guy who shows up to the jungle all banged up like that."
"Why bring up the jungle out of nowhere?"
"If you don’t get it, no point explaining."
I went because it was worth it. If not for the chaos after, no one would’ve known I was injured that day.
"You’re not skipping the hospital, right?"
"Wouldn’t dream of it."
His face lit up.
"Need evidence for assault charges."
"......"
Was it my imagination, or did his expression chill?
Didn’t matter. My head was clearing now.
Mind sharp, I itched to make Kim Jun-seo pay for laying hands on me and getting away scot-free.
"......Think it’ll stick? He tried to hit you, sure, but it didn’t land, and the only injury’s a bruised wrist."
Our laws made harsh punishment unlikely. The threat was real, but injuries minor.
But.
The world doesn’t always run on the letter of the law.
"Just watch."
I grinned.
"I’ll make him regret today to his bones."