Snake Venom Ch 47

Chapter 47

“Oh my god, did the alert go off?”

Shock, beyond mere surprise, was evident in their reaction.

“Yes, I was really surprised too.”

They didn’t speak any further, but the sudden silence that followed spoke for itself—unease and discomfort. Sensing that fleeting awkwardness, Lee Yeonwoo’s eyes darted nervously like someone who had seen something they shouldn’t have.

Even though the words weren’t directed at him, it felt as if a ping pong ball had dropped into his chest. It bounced violently at intervals, vibrating without pause.

Lee Yeonwoo pulled himself together with effort. Don’t overthink it. His view of the danger level wasn’t any different from anyone else’s. He wanted to react calmly, as if it were only natural—but it was hard to stay composed, as though he’d just caught a glimpse of the life he would one day be forced to live.

It also triggered painful memories. The expressions and voices of those who had once disparaged his genetic makeup.

Would these people have smiled at him just now if they had known he was a mosaic hybrid? Realizing their kindness was reserved only for the unblemished version of himself, his fingertips went cold. The feeling of being a criminal despite doing nothing wrong. That ever-tightening, shrinking sensation prodded at Lee Yeonwoo’s solar plexus every time it came.

I wish we’d get there soon. Though it was only four floors, the distance felt overwhelmingly long.

“……”

“……”

A silent gaze brushed briefly across Lee Yeonwoo’s pale, stiff cheeks before disappearing.

Cheon Wooshin thoroughly examined the rooftop. There was nothing out of the ordinary. From the fourth floor down to the first, it was an extremely ordinary building.

And throughout that time, Lee Yeonwoo had been unusually quiet. He still followed Cheon Wooshin closely and kept his nose alert in case he missed anything, but his usually bright demeanor had completely vanished. Only when Cheon Wooshin’s quiet gaze touched him did he pretend to be spirited, as if to hide that change.

“Let’s check the lower levels.”

Though they had found nothing, it was possible the entire ground level was a façade. Cheon Wooshin decided to investigate down to the second basement parking floor.

They had just passed the first basement and were heading down to the second when Lee Yeonwoo, who had been following Cheon Wooshin, suddenly came to a halt.

“Uh…”

With a dazed expression as if entranced, he slightly flared his nostrils. Cheon Wooshin, watching him quietly focus his sense of smell, spoke up.

“This is the lowest level.”

Even though no question had been asked, he volunteered the information, and a small flicker appeared in the eyes of Lee Yeonwoo, who had been deep in thought.

“If you hid somewhere off the path, you could hold out a bit longer.”

Lee Yeonwoo drew in a deep breath again. His chest expanded greatly.

Exhaling just as deeply as he’d inhaled, Lee Yeonwoo suddenly strode toward a corner of the parking lot. Turning past a concrete pillar, he quickly passed several sections.

His stride, confident as if he knew where he was going, stopped in front of a dusty van. The heavy tint on the windows made it impossible to see inside. Lee Yeonwoo circled around it several times, rubbing his chin. His face showed confusion. Then, all of a sudden, he dropped to one knee. Lowering his body to peer beneath the van, his eyes widened.

“Team Leader.”

This couldn’t be real.

“Underneath this is…”

Clang! A restrained but loud sound erupted above Lee Yeonwoo’s head.

Cheon Wooshin had shattered the window in an instant and reached in. Click—the door opened, and he peered inside.

There was no backseat. Instead, a hole large enough to fit a grown man was connected through the floor.

“……”

“……”

After a moment of silence, Cheon Wooshin turned around. Lee Yeonwoo, standing awkwardly, still looked dispirited.

“Shall I buy you a good meal?”

To bring up food after witnessing such a startling scene—Lee Yeonwoo blinked, his wide eyes full of confusion, and Cheon Wooshin lifted the corners of his mouth. The faint wrinkles around his eyes deepened.

“No, I want to feed you.”

Still standing blankly without a response, Lee Yeonwoo finally scratched his earlobe and nodded.

How can someone smile like that? It was another one of those smiles that made him think that way.

Cheon Wooshin didn’t ask what Lee Yeonwoo wanted to eat. Without saying where they were going, he just drove.

By the time they crossed a large bridge, darkness had fully descended. Thanks to that, the somewhat narrow parking lot was quiet. Getting out of the car, Lee Yeonwoo let out an awed “Wow” as he looked up at the sensuous, Eastern-style garden and tiled house.

The place they arrived at turned out to be an upscale Korean barbecue restaurant—beef, no less. The pleasant aroma of natural charcoal, free of chemical additives, filled the air. Even from the outside, the atmosphere was striking, but the interior—elegant and traditional—was even more overwhelming. Lee Yeonwoo trailed behind Cheon Wooshin in a daze.

‘Isn’t this a mistake?’

Once they were led to a private room and he saw the menu, Lee Yeonwoo couldn’t hide his surprise. The price per serving, regardless of the cut, was far more than a regular meal at an average restaurant. He had expected it to be expensive, but not this expensive. This wasn’t a level where he could even promise to return the favor in the future.

When the cost of Cheon Wooshin’s order surpassed tens of thousands, Lee Yeonwoo couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Can I possibly get an advance on my salary?”

He had to contribute something, anything.

Cheon Wooshin took a slow sip of the traditional tea served by the staff and looked up.

“If you want, I’ll arrange that. But this meal is on me.”

“Still, this is just too…”

Even saying it was expensive felt inappropriate. His own lack of wealth and experience seemed especially glaring in contrast to Cheon Wooshin’s.

“You more than deserve it.”

“……”

Deserve it. That word hit hard. Lee Yeonwoo, who had been sinking under the weight of his own inferiority for hours, pressed his lips tightly together. Seeing that shrinking reaction, Cheon Wooshin’s mouth curved slightly.

“Or… am I mistaken?”

He was asking if Lee Yeonwoo might want to reconsider. Silently, Lee Yeonwoo reflected on the day. He had managed to do two things he’d never done before. Despite not knowing how to handle a gun, he had nearly hit every target, and he had found the hidden entrance to a disguised building. How many times in his life had he felt such a sense of accomplishment?

“I don’t think so—no, definitely not.”

Cheon Wooshin remained silent, and eventually, Lee Yeonwoo bowed his head.

“Thank you… for the meal.”

So our team leader compliments like he’s offering premium beef. Embarrassed, Lee Yeonwoo wiped his flushed cheeks with the back of his hand.

As expected of such a high-end place, the staff personally grilled the meat with clean hands. They placed a single piece on the heated grill, and the savory scent spread in all directions.

Staring intently at the meat, Lee Yeonwoo felt lightheaded. Was he this hungry? He had forgotten all about it in his desperate attempt to do his best. But not wanting to show how inexperienced he was, he drank only water.

The staff, seeing this, placed a properly cooked piece on his plate and told him to try it. The surface had just lost its pinkness and was glistening with juicy fat. As soon as Cheon Wooshin took a bite, Lee Yeonwoo quickly followed suit.

“Oh my god.”

He forgot all about his embarrassment, overwhelmed with emotion. He nearly cried. Even Cheon Wooshin, usually indifferent, gave a short laugh at the reaction.

“Looks like it suits your palate.”

“My palate doesn’t even deserve…”

The taste was so rich, it was beyond what his modest tastes could comprehend. Could something really melt in your mouth like this? Everything he had eaten before this wasn’t even real meat. It was so incredibly, unbelievably delicious that he was at a loss for words. Lee Yeonwoo glanced at the menu again, memorizing the restaurant’s name. He didn’t know when, but he vowed to return one day.

The pace of the grilling perfectly matched Lee Yeonwoo’s chopstick speed. Once he was nearly full, he leaned back in his chair, and the staff asked,

“Would you like rice now?”

Cheon Wooshin answered for him. With a promise to prepare it, the staff left the room.

While sipping water to cleanse his palate, Lee Yeonwoo suddenly flinched inside. He had been so focused on eating that he forgot to monitor the scents. He made a mental note to inspect them closely on the way out.

“How are you feeling?”

“No different than usual.”

Just looking at his face, that seemed true. What a relief. Lee Yeonwoo smiled broadly, filled with deep contentment, and Cheon Wooshin placed a piece of his own meat on Lee Yeonwoo’s plate.

“Ah, something so precious…”

His heart, softened like the tender beef, affected his behavior. Unconsciously, he began to act more playfully. Cheon Wooshin’s eyebrow twitched at the sight. Though he didn’t laugh, a pleased look settled into his expression.

He checked the time. An hour had already passed. As he sat with his full stomach and relaxed posture, a sudden glint passed through Lee Yeonwoo’s eyes.

But his brows furrowed right after. Maybe it was just the smell of grilled meat. He watched Cheon Wooshin, who was putting on his coat, with eyes that couldn’t hide his lingering attachment.