Chapter 64: Security Breach

“Alright.
But Juwon, I think it’ll look better if you come in beside Eun-gyeol instead of Junseong.
Uh, check the T-bar once more….
Okay.
From there, walk toward this side.
A bit more energy, please.”

The director’s instructions poured out rapidly.
The actors, wearing gowns over their scrubs, shifted positions according to the cues.
After checking the monitor, the director nodded.

“Roll… ready.
Action!”

The scene began again.
Even though filming had resumed after a long break, Eun-gyeol’s acting was natural and brimming with energy.
Watching Eun-gyeol focus on his work in such a relaxed condition, Han-geon found himself smiling unconsciously.

While keeping a close watch on Eun-gyeol’s every movement, Han-geon also scanned the surroundings whenever he could.
As expected, the longer time passed, the more onlookers gathered.
So far, everyone was staying put outside the barricades and merely watching, but since there was no telling when something unexpected might happen, he couldn’t afford to relax his guard.

Just then, the director, who had been staring sharply at the monitor, frowned and raised his hand.

“Cut.
Junseong!
Your audio overlapped with Juwon just now.
Let’s go again.”

“…Yes, I’m sorry.”

“Is your condition not great today?
Are you feeling unwell, Junseong?”

“No, I’m fine.
I’m sorry.”

For some reason, Yoo Junseong had been racking up NGs today.
He was visibly low-spirited, even looking a little gloomy.
The only people here who knew the reason were probably Eun-gyeol, Han-geon, and Junseong’s manager.

Officially, the reason filming had been postponed by a week was Yoo Junseong.
According to his agency, he’d gotten into an altercation with a civilian during his vacation and was injured, and they had asked the director to keep the matter strictly confidential.
Of course, only a handful of people on this set knew the real reason behind it—and the kind of deal that had been exchanged between the two agencies.

With a heavy heart, Han-geon looked at Junseong’s face.
At least his face looked clean, whether the marks from Eun-gyeol beating him up had completely healed or were simply hidden by makeup.

He tried not to think about it, and yet, despite himself, the moment when Junseong had approached him with that good-natured face and struck up a conversation kept resurfacing.
To think he had planned to bring Cha Eun-gyeol down by using Han-geon’s feelings for him.
The more he thought about it, the more foolish and infuriating the time he’d spent being manipulated by him felt.

The eyes that had been stealing glances at Junseong occasionally shifted to Juwon.
Unlike Yoo Junseong, she was acting with lively energy, but for some reason, a cold wind seemed to blow toward Eun-gyeol.
Normally, between scenes, she would approach Eun-gyeol, whisper something, joke around, and beam at him, but today there was none of that at all.

The drastic change in her attitude was enough to leave even Han-geon baffled.
He couldn’t help but recall how the two of them had gone to a hotel together last time.
Did something go wrong back then?
He couldn’t figure out what had caused her sudden change of heart.

But as always, Eun-gyeol was indifferent to other people’s attitudes.
Whether Junseong kept messing up beside him or Juwon treated him coldly, he didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

He simply did his job perfectly and, in between takes, came over to talk to Han-geon.
Seeing Han-geon, dressed in a suit with an earpiece, carefully turn on a fan for his forehead and hand him water, Eun-gyeol flashed that familiar beautiful eye-smile.

“The suit looks insane on you.
Mr. Bodyguard, aren’t you a bit too handsome?”

The way he spoke sounded just like a punk teasing someone.
Han-geon turned red all the way to the tips of his ears and pretended not to hear him.
Then Eun-gyeol’s hand reached out and lightly flicked Han-geon’s neatly waxed hair.

“And your hair’s prettier than mine.”

“…Don’t do this.
There are a lot of people watching.”

He whispered through clenched teeth, but Eun-gyeol only looked amused, his eyes gleaming.

“So what?
What’s wrong with being close with my manager?”

“Still—”

“Oh, your ears turned red.”

With a mischievous voice, long fingers playfully pinched his earlobe this time.
Han-geon’s face flushed bright red, the heat spreading all the way down his neck.

“You should manage your expressions better, Manager.”

“You’re really….”

“Eun-gyeol!
Let’s go again.”

Juwon, still wearing a chilly expression.
Junseong, almost glaring this way.
And Eun-gyeol, looking carefree, as if none of it concerned him.
Han-geon glanced between the three of them and let out a silent sigh.

Even though an uncomfortable tension flowed off-camera, the moment filming started, they all returned to doing their jobs.
Junseong made a few more mistakes, which delayed things a bit, but overall, the shoot was proceeding fairly smoothly.
Han-geon glanced at the day’s shooting schedule.
Judging by the flow of scenes, it was almost time to move.

“Cut.
Good work, everyone.
We’ll move to the cafeteria now!”

At last, the director called out loudly.
Eun-gyeol, who had been immersed in affectionate eye-acting with Juwon, turned his body without hesitation at the cut signal.
Juwon’s expression hardened even more behind him.
Han-geon pulled out his radio and signaled to the team.

“We’re moving.
Stay close.”

–Yes, understood.
–Got it!

They were currently at the East Wing.
After exiting the large main entrance of the East Wing, they would need to cross a small crosswalk and walk a long way west to reach the cafeteria.
And outside, fans and people who had come to watch the shoot after hearing rumors were already stationed there.
This was the most critical point in today’s schedule for Eun-gyeol’s safety.

At Han-geon’s command, the team members, including Geonho, all closed in, surrounding Eun-gyeol protectively.
Soon, the entire filming crew and cast began moving toward the West Wing.

The moment they stepped out of the East Wing’s main entrance, the fans and onlookers waiting outside came into view.
Camera shutters erupted in a barrage.

“Holy shit.
Look at Cha Eun-gyeol!
That face is unreal.”

“Wow…
I hit the jackpot today.”

“I think his face is smaller than mine.”

Beads of sweat formed on Han-geon’s forehead as he positioned himself as close as possible to Eun-gyeol, shielding him protectively.
Excited voices rang out, and now and then, hands or smartphones suddenly thrust forward, trying to get closer or snap photos right in front of his face.
Each time, Han-geon carefully extended his hand, stopping them with a polite yet businesslike tone, making sure not to use excessive force.

“I’m sorry.
We’re passing through.
Please don’t touch.
Excuse us.”

“I’m sorry, we’re passing through.”

Repeating the same words over and over, Han-geon hid Eun-gyeol behind his back—even though Eun-gyeol wasn’t completely hidden.
Amid the commotion, Eun-gyeol’s soft laughter brushed against the nape of his neck.
With actual medical staff, patients, and guardians mixed in among the spectators, it took quite a while to push through the main entrance, even with the filming crew’s security taking the lead to clear a path.

They were waiting for the signal at the crosswalk on the hospital road when Eun-gyeol muttered from behind in a dark voice.

“f*ck…
Omega scent….”

“Huh?”

“The omega scent is overwhelming.”

What did he mean by that?
The moment Han-geon turned back toward Eun-gyeol, a man who had been mixed in with the crowd burst out with a harsh, scraping shout.

“Cha Eun-gyeol!”

Shoving people aside mercilessly with his shoulders, the man emerged.
He was about the same height and build as Han-geon.
Seeing his bloodshot eyes, the cap pulled low over his face, and hearing his desperate voice, Han-geon instinctively knew the man meant to harm Cha Eun-gyeol.
Every nerve in his body went taut as explosive strength surged up inside him.

“Cha Eun-gyeol!
Hyung really loves you.
f*ck, look over here.
Huh?!”

As the man charged toward Eun-gyeol without hesitation, Han-geon stepped in front of him.
As if he’d anticipated it, the man’s eyes flashed dangerously.
In an instant, he pulled a blade from his clothes, and screams erupted around them.

“Aaah!”

“Is he crazy?!
That guy has a knife!
A knife!”

“f*ck, look at me!
You won’t look?!”

Han-geon’s gaze sharpened.
The man lunged forward, pointing the knife toward Eun-gyeol and Han-geon blocking his path.
Han-geon immediately raised his hands and grabbed both of the man’s wrists.

The panicked screams of the crowd rang loudly in his ears.
The pounding of his heart drowned them out.
Is Eun-gyeol okay right now?
Did he see the knife up close…?
Worried about Eun-gyeol behind him, Han-geon felt like he was going out of his mind.

Without realizing it, he turned his head toward Eun-gyeol.
It was only a split second.
Their eyes met.
Eun-gyeol stood frozen in place, not moving an inch.
Seeing his face stiffened like stone, murderous fury boiled up inside Han-geon toward the man.

He turned back to face him.
The man let out a deranged scream and poured strength into the wrist Han-geon was holding.
The grip, fueled by madness, was frighteningly strong.
Still clutching his wrists, Han-geon struggled in a fierce contest of strength.

The trembling knife tip, vibrating under the force, slipped past Han-geon’s face in an instant and tilted toward Eun-gyeol standing behind him.
At that moment, Han-geon drove his knee up with all his strength into the man’s groin.

“Ghk!”

The man’s eyes rolled back as his body lurched violently.
Han-geon’s eyes flashed like blades.
Twisting the man’s wrist outward, he forced it down, and the knife fell from the man’s weakened grip.
As the man screamed with his hand still restrained, the security guards rushed in all at once.