Beast, Blue Blood - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It made such a loud noise, as if it might have collided with a utility pole, that all three of them froze for a moment. Among them, Nasiri was the first to regain composure and asked.

“Are you alright, Director?”

Eugene sighed.

It had been a wild day for some reason.

“Go outside and see.”

* * *

“They say there are no serious injuries to the victim.”

Nasiri said as they met in the hospital corridor. Eugene crossed her arms and asked.

“Why didn’t the AACS (Auto Anti-Collision System) activate?”

Self-driving cars are supposed to recognize and automatically stop or avoid objects approaching, but this time, no warnings sounded.

“I think we’ll have to wait until the inspection ends.”

Nasiri added.

“Anyway, there’s no need for you to meet the victim specifically. He seems like a decent young man…”

In other words, it implied that there was no apparent need for legal action.

Eugene uncrossed her arms.

“Still, the car owner should apologize face to face.”

In ambiguous situations like this, one has to be careful of their behavior. Image was important.

Perhaps Nasiri thought Eugene would act that way, as he gestured towards the direction of the ward without further comment.

“Yes, then.”

They entered the ward.

The young man involved in the accident was sitting on a bed by the sunny window, and Eugene’s lawyer was sitting next to the bed, showing and explaining the agreement form on a pad.

“You just need to sign here.”

As the door opened, the young man looked up and glanced toward Eugene.

Dazed after the accident, she hadn’t properly seen him before, but the young man appeared to be of mixed East-West heritage like Eugene. However, his Asian features were more pronounced with black eyes and black hair.

Even sitting down, he looked tall and broad-shouldered. His distinct yet delicate features didn’t make him look particularly young, but his clean, fair face gave off a youthful impression. He seemed to be in his mid-twenties.

Unexpectedly, Eugene was a bit surprised to face an unexpected fact.

‘What? Is this my green ideal type?’

It seemed as if the young man sitting there embodied her ideal type, a mix of boyish charm and masculinity. No, even if she saw and drew him, she couldn’t have drawn him so perfectly.

His eyes, shining with a gentle light, were fixed on her, and Eugene regained her composure and reached out her hand to him.

“I’m Eugene.”

Perhaps due to the aftermath of the accident, the young man blinked his eyes slowly. Then he took her hand. It was already a manly, firm hand.

“I’m Kim Young-soo.”

His voice was low and gentle, and though a bit old-fashioned, it suited his mild demeanor well.

Eugene let go of his hand and asked.

“Are you Korean?”

Young-soo nodded.

“Yes.”

Though he seemed mixed-race, since Young-soo didn’t elaborate, Eugene didn’t press further. In today’s world, mixed-race individuals weren’t particularly unusual to her.

“Here.”

At that moment, Nasiri handed Young-soo a business card. Young-soo accepted it and quickly scanned the card, showing surprise at the name written on it.

<Knox Genomics Int.

Executive Director>

He tried to conceal his reaction quickly, but he wasn’t very good at hiding his emotions. However, having seen such reactions before, Eugene smiled and said.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. Were you very surprised?”

“Oh… no. It’s not… I also have to blame myself for not looking ahead.”

As he said this, Young-soo smiled. He gave off a vibe like a Siberian Husky with the impression of a Golden Retriever.

In short, he was cute. Just his existence alone.

‘Maybe it’s not such a bad day after all.’

Eugene thought and said.

“If you need anything in the future, please contact me.”

She wanted to ask him to contact her, but due to concerns about the company’s image, she regretfully swallowed her words. Besides, Young-soo seemed a little awkward, and she didn’t want to come off as a cougar to a young man. She wasn’t married.

“Um…”

However, Young-soo hesitated and spoke up.

“Can I ask you for one thing?”

Even as he spoke, Young-soo seemed embarrassed. A slight blush appeared on his fair face.

His face was so cute that Eugene tightened her abdominal muscles and smiled more friendly than usual.

“Yes, anything.”

Despite this response, Young-soo hesitated a bit before saying in a hesitant tone.

“Um, are you hiring part-time workers?”

‘Here we go again.’

Standing behind her, Nasiri thought with an expressionless face. It wasn’t particularly surprising since he was used to people making requests.

“…”

Eugene looked at him without saying anything, her face unreadable. Young-soo’s cheeks grew even redder. His fair face made the blush stand out more.

“Oh, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said something unnecessary. Since you’re such a big shot in a big company, I thought maybe you could introduce me to a job…”

After saying that, Young-soo awkwardly smiled.

“It’s a tough job market, you know.”

Suddenly, Eugene pointed to the empty chair next to the bed where the lawyer had stood up earlier.

“Can I sit?”

“Oh, yes. Please…”

Young-soo hurriedly said, unsure if ‘please’ was appropriate in this situation. His confusion was evident on his face. Finding his thoughts adorable, Eugene wanted to laugh, but she held it in and sat down, asking.

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-five.”

Young-soo answered quickly like a job applicant standing in front of an interviewer.

If he’s twenty-five, he was just within the margin of error. He can cover about ten years or so.

“Do you have any previous job experience?”

Young-soo scratched the back of his head hesitantly.

“Nothing I could call a proper job… Just various short-term part-time jobs, delivery gigs, and recently, I’ve been working at construction sites.”

“What about college?”

Young-soo looked embarrassed again.

“I couldn’t go. Family circumstances weren’t favorable.”

Eugene looked at him intently and commented.

“With a face like yours, you could have made it in entertainment, too.”

“What?”

Young-soo’s eyes widened in surprise. But Eugene didn’t respond, indicating she wasn’t joking.

“I don’t really like being in front of people. And not just anyone can do that.”

Young-soo replied with a modest smile, looking like any ordinary upper-class youth if well-dressed, making Eugene almost moved to think such young people still existed in today’s world. However, that was one thing, and Eugene had to say something.

“Objectively, it might be a bit challenging for you to work at our company.”

It was a company that screened people from top universities worldwide. There was a joke that even janitors had to come from a four-year program. Well, it wasn’t just a joke.

“I see.”

Young-soo quickly admitted as if he had been waiting for that.

“I’m sorry. Please just forget about it.”

“But coincidentally, I needed someone at my house.”

Eugene interrupted and said. Nasiri, who was listening absent-mindedly, looked at her in surprise.

“What?”

Young-soo also asked with a puzzled face. Eugene smiled at him.

“How about it?”

* * *

“It’s suspicious.”

Nasiri asserted. Eugene agreed as well. But she shrugged her shoulders and said.

“It’s just a part-time job. It’s not worth commendation.”

Nasiri briefly glanced at Eugene, who was standing in front of the car waiting at the hospital entrance. He had an expressionless face, but he felt an undeniable pressure. If she were a bit younger and less experienced, he might have inadvertently poured out his true feelings.

“You like the look of him.”

Nasiri stated confidently.

“Do I?”

However, Eugene innocently replied. Nasiri narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

Of course, he didn’t think Eugene couldn’t distinguish between work and personal matters, but the timing wasn’t good. It was an important time when the succession of the family and company was at stake.

When Nasiri looked uncomfortable, Eugene smiled.

“What are you worrying about?”

Well, it was a needless worry. Eugene wasn’t the type to make mistakes at such an important time.

Nasiri bowed his head.

“Excuse me.”

At that moment, among the many people coming out of the elevator beyond the glass entrance, Young-soo appeared. As he walked towards them, Eugene chuckled and said to Nasiri.

“Don’t bow your head so easily. It’s the 21st century.”

Young-soo shuffled over through the lobby’s revolving door.

“Oh, um…”

She knew he was tall, but seeing him up close, he was truly towering. Eugene herself was 172 cm tall, even taller in her high heels adding 5 cm. Her gaze rose.

“I hope you’re okay and don’t need more hospitalization.”

When Eugene said, Young-soo awkwardly smiled.

“Yes. Actually, I slipped and fell because I was surprised…”

Then Eugene turned to Nasiri.

“Please take him home first.”

Upon hearing this, Young-soo waved his hand.

“It’s okay. Just tell me the address, and I’ll find my way. I need to pick up my things…”

Nevertheless, Eugene told Nasiri.

“Please stop by Young-soo’s place.”

Then she looked at Young-soo.

“Your home?”

“I’m staying at a friend’s place.”

Even at this, Eugene smiled without any change in expression.

“See you later then.”

After saying that, she got into the waiting car ahead. Young-soo continued to stare at the departing car’s rear.

“Mr. Kim Young-soo.”

Nasiri called out, but Young-soo didn’t respond, still fixated on the car.

“Mr. Kim Young-soo?”

“Yes?”

Only when he called again did Young-soo seem to snap out of it. Nasiri spoke expressionlessly.

“Shall we go?”

Then he gestured towards the car parked where Eugene’s had been.

“Oh, yes.”

Young-soo awkwardly got into the car. Nasiri briefly glanced at him through the rearview mirror. He had a naive face.

‘He doesn’t seem to have any other thoughts…’