A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive

“So, it’s your first time.”

“Yes, of course it is. I’m sure you have a lot of experience, Executive Director, but for most people, this kind of thing is… rare.”

Choi Taejoon’s throat bobbed slowly as he swallowed.

“You think I have a lot of experience?”

For someone like Choi Taejoon, who’s survived numerous life-or-death situations, such an assumption might make sense. But for an ordinary person like me, dying isn’t exactly something you experience easily.

“Well, most people don’t get the chance to experience something like this so easily.”

His gaze locked onto mine, his expression a complicated mix of confusion and disbelief.

“I get it. It must be hard to process. If I were you, I’d be flustered too. I know asking something like this isn’t normal. But legally, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Probably because, once it’s done, there wouldn’t even be a body to find.

Choi Taejoon let out a small laugh, as if something amusing had crossed his mind.

“Hyun Woo Kyung.”

The hand gripping my collar loosened and dropped away.

“If you want to sleep with me, just say so. Don’t beat around the bush with that innocent face of yours.”

“…What?”

I blinked, completely unable to process his words.

“When you say there’s no legal issue, that means you’re not a minor, right? You look young, but not that young. So, I guess I don’t have to worry about that.”

What the hell is he talking about?

“Or are you pretending to be innocent to get something out of me? Money?”

“Money?”

“If we’re spending the night together, shouldn’t I be the one getting paid, not you?”

Spending the night? Money? Now I was the one who was flustered.

“Wait, hold on a second.”

I tried to sit up in the bed, but dizziness overwhelmed me, forcing me to steady myself.

“Do you want to do it here? On a hospital bed? I’ve never tried that before. You must like things a bit unconventional.”

As he pulled at the knot of his tie, his voice took on a teasing, almost seductive tone.

“Unconventional—No! Please, just calm down for a moment…!”

My face burned so hot it felt like it was on fire. I couldn’t believe he’d misunderstood me so completely.

“It’s a misunderstanding! You’ve got it all wrong!”

“So, Director Kang was desperate, huh? Sending someone like you to me.”

Director Kang again. He must have thought I was some pawn sent by Director Kang to spy on him, but I had no connection to that person whatsoever.

“I’ve told you several times already—I have nothing to do with Director Kang. I was dragged into that mess by pure chance. I’m a victim too!”

“If you have nothing to do with Director Kang, then how do you know my preferences? Who sent you? Director Kang’s father?”

He was implying that if I wasn’t linked to Director Kang, the only explanation was that someone had sent me, knowing his preference for men.

Given how everything started off on the wrong foot, it wasn’t surprising that he thought that.

“I told you—it’s a misunderstanding! When I said I wanted you to kill me, I literally meant kill me, not… not in some inappropriate way!”

Choi Taejoon’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“You want to die?”

“Yes, I want to die.”

I’d been saying this for a while now.

“Why?”

“That, I can’t tell you.”

“Fine. If what you’re saying is true, then I’ll kill you right now.”

“W-what?”

I flinched and dodged just as his fist swung dangerously close to my jaw. I barely avoided getting hit square in the face.

“V-violence is bad!”

“You said you wanted to die. Why waste time dragging it out?”

“N-no! I don’t want to be beaten to death. That’s why I’m asking for your help!”

“If you really want to die, what does it matter how you go?”

“Of course it matters! Even if I’m dying, I should have a say in how it happens—it’s my life, after all.”

Well, technically, it was Hyun Woo Kyung’s life, but still.

Choi Taejoon’s lips quirked into a faint, incredulous smile.

“I’ve picked up a lunatic.”

“Ah, wait!”

Thinking I’d successfully avoided his grasp, I suddenly found my legs tangled in the blanket on the floor. Losing my balance, I toppled forward.

“Ahh—!”

Instead of crashing to the ground, I landed against something firm, warm, and surprisingly soft—Choi Taejoon’s chest.

I swallowed a gasp as I felt his solid, muscular build through the thin fabric of his shirt. His body was both warm and sculpted, exactly as described in the novel.

The author had compared him to a sleek Greek statue, and now, with my face practically buried against him, I could see why. His taut muscles were undeniable.

“Get off.”

He pushed my forehead back with his palm, his tone flat.

“If you’re trying to seduce me, you’re not putting in much effort.”

“I-I’m not! That’s not what this is!”

Scrambling back onto the bed, I clutched a pillow and shook my head furiously.

I wasn’t sure if it was his warmth or the memories of the novel that had resurfaced, but my face burned as if it were on fire. Even my ears felt scalding hot, and my vision swam.

“One more thing,” he said, his expression firm and serious. It was the kind of face that demanded honesty.

“How did you recognize Manager Kim?”

Manager Kim? Of all things to ask, that’s his question?

“I already knew him.”

“A low-level grunt like you knows Manager Kim? Let me guess—you read about him in that book of yours?”

It seemed like Choi Taejoon was fully convinced that some sort of “gangster handbook” existed.

The fact that I had instantly recognized Manager Kim, one of his closest confidants who worked in the shadows, must have raised suspicions.

After some hesitation, I decided to answer truthfully.

“He’s famous.”

“Manager Kim? Famous?”

In truth, Manager Kim and Choi Taejoon had a subtle fanbase among readers of Alcohol Swab, even inspiring fan-made works.

“Yes. He appears a lot. I mean, to us low-level employees, he’s like a role model. You know, the mysterious second-in-command hiding immense power.”

Choi Taejoon’s brows furrowed deeply, clearly struggling to process what I’d just said.

“It’s true. I’m not lying…”

I locked eyes with him, trying to prove my sincerity. Choi Taejoon seemed momentarily startled by my unwavering gaze, inhaling sharply.

“Ha, this is driving me insane.”

Maybe he thought dealing with someone as crazy as me was just exhausting. With a resigned sigh, he let go of my shoulder and ran a hand down the back of his neck.

“Then why the hell did you let yourself get hit by that car instead of me?”

It wasn’t intentional—it just happened. But in the end, the explanation was simple.

“Because it’s better for me to get hit by a car than you.”

So I could die.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise at my words. For a moment, he didn’t speak, seemingly lost in thought.

“So, to sum it up: you’re a lunatic who’s desperate to die.”

I grimaced at his blunt assessment but nodded reluctantly.

Still watching me with cautious eyes, he asked, “Are you terminally ill or something?”

Not in a medical sense, but since my days were numbered, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

“I’m not sick, but… it’s something similar.”

He placed the end of a fresh cigarette between his teeth, his gaze scanning me from head to toe. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke.

“Alright. So what you want is to die.”

“Yes, peacefully. And without pain.”

“Fine. I’ll grant your wish.”

“…What?”

“If someone saves my life, it’s only right to repay the favor.”

“A favor?”

“You called yourself my savior, didn’t you?”

“Oh!”

I guess he meant that since I’d saved him from the car accident, he’d repay me by fulfilling my wish. The irony of saving his life only for him to end mine wasn’t lost on me, but it was exactly what I wanted.

“Manager Kim,” he called out.

Before I could even process what he was planning, he was already making a call.

“Handle the discharge paperwork for Hyun Woo Kyung. And put him in my car.”

He shot me a glance.

“W-wait! Not the trunk—please, not the trunk!”

“The trunk? I hadn’t thought of that. If that’s what you want, I can arrange it.”

“No, no! Definitely not!”

“You’re an entertaining one.”

Though his lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes still held a wary, guarded look as they lingered on my face.

After leaving the hospital, Choi Taejoon’s car merged onto the congested Olympic Expressway, caught in the evening traffic.

Manager Kim, seated in the passenger seat, turned slightly toward us.

“The traffic is heavy, sir. Wouldn’t it be better to head straight to the office?”

“Reschedule the afternoon appointments. We’re going home first.”

“Understood.”

From the rearview mirror, I caught the sharp glint of Manager Kim’s eyes, watching me. No wonder—his character in the original story remained skeptical of Hyun Woo Kyung until the very end. It was clear I was nothing but a nuisance to him right now.

Avoiding his gaze, I turned to look out the window. My eyes lingered on the Han River stretching alongside the highway as I tried to sort out my thoughts.

My mind was a mess. Judging by the situation, it seemed like Choi Taejoon was taking me to his house. This was entirely off-script from the original storyline.

In the novel, there was a scene where, after a heated night, Choi Taejoon drops Hyun Woo Kyung off at his place. But he never brought him home. The only person he’d ever taken to his house was the main protagonist, Park Ha Hyun.

“Hey.”

His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He motioned with his fingers, beckoning me.

“Give me your phone.”

Startled, I shifted in my seat.

Oh, right—my phone. I did have one, though it didn’t have a single contact saved. I hadn’t used it since that call with the police team leader.

“Uh, let me see where I put it…”

He probably wanted to check if I’d recorded anything or had suspicious conversations stored.

“What is this?”

As I handed him my phone, shards of glass fell from its shattered screen.

Of course, given the accident, it was no surprise the phone wasn’t intact. Turning it over in his hands, he examined it briefly before commenting with faint amusement.

“You’ve got good luck.”

Then, without warning, he rolled down the window and tossed it outside. The phone flew out of the moving car, shattering into pieces as it hit the road. I let out a small sigh, staring at him in disbelief.

“Was there important information on it?”

“…No. But littering carries a fine of up to one million won.”

At my deadpan response, Manager Kim’s shoulders twitched slightly from the front seat. Meanwhile, Choi Taejoon brushed his thumb against his lips and asked:

“…Why do you keep talking about fines? Are you a police officer or something?”

“No, I just think it’s better to avoid unnecessary fines.”