The rest of the morning passed in a blur for Ahn Soo Bin.
Paperwork.
Introductions.
Names she was sure she would forget in the next five minutes.
But no matter how hard she tried to focus…
Her eyes kept drifting back.
To one person.
Kim So Hee.
"Hey."
Soo Bin flinched slightly.
A man leaned casually against her desk, arms crossed, watching her with amusement.
"You're the new intern, right?"
"Yes!" Soo Bin straightened immediately. "Ahn Soo Bin."
He smirked.
"Kang Shin Jae. Senior officer here."
Soo Bin nodded politely. "Nice to meet you, sunbae."
Shin Jae glanced past her—toward So Hee.
Then back at Soo Bin.
"…Be honest," he said, lowering his voice slightly. "You were staring at her earlier, weren't you?"
Soo Bin froze.
"I—I wasn't!"
Shin Jae chuckled.
"Relax. Everyone does."
He tilted his head toward So Hee.
"She has that effect."
Soo Bin followed his gaze.
So Hee stood near a desk, speaking with another officer. Her expression remained calm, serious—but there was something about her presence that made everyone around her seem… smaller.
"Lieutenant Kim," Shin Jae continued, "top of her class, fast promotions, perfect record."
"…Perfect?" Soo Bin repeated quietly.
"Pretty much," he shrugged. "And yeah—half the station has a crush on her."
Soo Bin's heart skipped again.
Half the station?
"That includes you now, doesn't it?" he added teasingly.
Soo Bin turned red immediately.
"No!"
Shin Jae laughed.
"Sure."
"Officer Kang."
Both of them turned.
Kim So Hee stood a few steps away, holding a file.
Her sharp eyes moved from Shin Jae… to Soo Bin.
Shin Jae raised his hands slightly. "I wasn't slacking, Lieutenant. Just welcoming the intern."
So Hee didn't look convinced.
"Then finish your work."
"…Yes, ma'am."
He gave Soo Bin a small grin before walking off.
Leaving her alone.
With Kim So Hee.
Soo Bin swallowed nervously.
So Hee stepped closer.
Up close… she was even more intimidating.
"Intern Ahn," she said calmly. "Come with me."
"Yes, ma'am!"
They walked side by side through the station.
Soo Bin tried to match her pace, but So Hee's steps were confident and quick.
"Today, you'll observe," So Hee said. "No unnecessary talking. No interference."
"Yes, ma'am."
"If you don't understand something, ask after."
"…Yes, ma'am."
So Hee stopped suddenly.
Soo Bin almost bumped into her.
"You're nervous," So Hee said.
It wasn't a question.
Soo Bin stiffened.
"A little…"
So Hee looked at her for a moment.
Then, unexpectedly—
"That's normal."
Soo Bin blinked.
"Huh?"
"Just don't let it affect your judgment," So Hee added before turning away again. "Come."
Soo Bin stood there for a second.
Her heart softened slightly.
"…She's not as cold as I thought," she murmured.
Their first assignment of the day wasn't anything major.
A report had come in about a missing bag near the station entrance.
By the time they arrived, a middle-aged woman was pacing anxiously.
"My bag! It has everything—my wallet, my ID…"
"It's okay," Soo Bin said gently, stepping forward before she could stop herself. "We'll help you find it."
So Hee glanced at her.
Soo Bin froze.
Right. No interference.
"…Sorry," she whispered.
But So Hee didn't scold her.
Instead, she turned to the woman.
"Where did you last see it?"
The investigation was simple, but watching So Hee work…
Soo Bin was completely captivated.
She was calm. Precise. Observant.
She noticed things Soo Bin wouldn't even think to look for.
Within minutes, So Hee had already figured out what happened.
"A man in a grey jacket," she said. "He took it when you weren't looking."
"How do you—?" Soo Bin started.
So Hee pointed slightly.
"A camera."
Soo Bin followed her gaze.
CCTV.
Of course.
Not long after, they tracked the man down.
The bag was recovered.
The woman burst into tears of relief.
"Thank you so much! Thank you!"
Soo Bin smiled brightly.
But So Hee simply nodded.
"Be more careful next time."
On the way back to the station, Soo Bin couldn't hold it in anymore.
"That was amazing."
So Hee glanced at her.
"You figured everything out so quickly."
"It was basic."
"It wasn't!" Soo Bin insisted. "At least… not for me."
So Hee studied her for a moment.
Then—
"You'll get there."
Soo Bin blinked.
Encouragement?
From her?
Her face brightened instantly.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Back at the station, Soo Bin sat at her desk, trying to organize her notes.
But her mind kept replaying everything.
The way So Hee spoke.
The way she worked.
The way she looked at her earlier.
Soo Bin placed her pen down slowly.
"…I really am in trouble," she whispered.
Because this wasn't just admiration anymore.
It was something deeper.
Something dangerous.
And she had a feeling…
This was only the beginning.
Across the room, Kim So Hee stood quietly, reviewing a report.
But for a brief moment—
Her eyes shifted.
Toward Soo Bin.
Watching her.
Just for a second.
Before looking away again.