Chapter 196.2

Chapter 196.2

Today has to be different. No matter what, it must be different.

Seoryeong, who had been mechanically sorting laundry since early morning, suddenly froze.

Something sticky brushed against her palm. Her hardened gaze dropped to the bundle of clothes she was holding.

“…!”

What is this?

A peculiar, viscous dampness…

Usually, his clothes were either soaked in sweat or stained with blood, but suddenly, she felt a rush of blood pressure surge to the back of her head.

Seoryeong stared intently at his underwear without blinking. Something faintly whitish and crusted over. Her eyebrows shot up sharply.

Could this be… what I think it is? Her pulse spiked, and a wave of heat surged up her nape. Feeling like she’d just witnessed something she shouldn’t have, she glanced around quickly.

Was there someone else with the same mission besides Natalia? Traces of intimacy from last night?

“…”

As Seoryeong examined the evidence with an icy expression, the sharp tapping of a cane echoed down the hallway in steady rhythm. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice until the sound drew close. Someone was approaching.

Even with his eyes wrapped in bandages, their gazes met, and her face went crimson.

Startled, Seoryeong hurriedly stuffed the underwear into the laundry basket and tried to steady her pounding heart. But Lee Wooshin took a step back. His avoidance had grown almost reflexive.

“Хозяин…!”

Now was her chance. Master…! she called out in Russian.

Unaware that Na Wonchang was panicking on the other end of her earpiece, Seoryeong pushed the tray forward and closed the distance between them.

– Na-Natalia Yegorova is sniffing the team leader’s underwear! I-I can’t believe this! Retreat! Retreat! I knew she was suspicious the moment she walked in with her buttons undone…! What did she just say in Russian? Khazayin? Master? Did she just call him Master!?

Lee Wooshin frowned. He’d heard a lot of crazy things in his life, but this was new even for him. He pushed at his cheek with his tongue until it bulged like a piece of candy.

As he winced at Wonchang’s frantic voice, the sound of her laundry cart wheels grew louder, rolling toward him like they were offended. Both earpieces crackled with noise again.

–  She’s definitely made up her mind! Run, Team Leader! She’s charging straight at you without blinking! She’s got to be a trained agent!

–  Heuh…! Look at that glare, not normal at all! She’s definitely that Siberian hellcat!

– She’s tidied up her act a bit lately, but she’s still a lioness, make no mistake, team leader!

More than the operatives stationed around the mansion, these two idiots were the real problem.

Still, Lee Wooshin had grown more cautious, distancing himself from everyone just in case those fools ever slipped up and mentioned something to Owl.

Even without their constant noise, no one but Seoryeong could ever draw his attention. Physical flirtation felt more irritating than tempting.

As he made his way down the stairs, the rattle of the laundry cart followed close behind, refusing to stop.

“Master! Master!”

Lee Wooshin clicked his tongue and walked even faster. He wasn’t even using his cane now.

–  What does she keep trying to do to you, Team Leader? Huh?

“Just shut up.”

Idiots. She was just calling me “master.” Yeah, it sounds a little strange, but still…

Seeing how his subordinates treated Natalia Yegorova like the plague, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“The woman I want doesn’t come… and instead, I get this…”

He didn’t know why he kept running, yet even now, he couldn’t stop thinking of his wife. The one who, while wearing a stranger’s face, perfectly reproduced the combat techniques he himself had taught her.

His face twisted with bitter longing. Seoryeong, where are you now? Where did you disappear to again?

“―!”

At that moment, the steel tray following him tipped over with a loud crash, and Natalia tumbled to the floor. His brows twitched, and his chest throbbed sharply.

Was it because I thought of Seoryeong just now? His nape stiffened. Still, Lee Wooshin coldly turned away.