when the phone rings novel

The already shattered car window completely fractured upon hitting the water. Baek Sa-eon tightly wrapped himself around Hee-joo, curling his body to shield her. In an instant, water rushed into the cabin, flooding it entirely.

"Who said I was going to die?" Baek Sa-eon growled through clenched teeth, his pale cheek brushing roughly against hers.

The icy river water slapped against their faces relentlessly, consuming everything. There wasn't even enough time to take a final breath. The water was so cold it felt as though it could stop their hearts. In the distance, faint police sirens could be heard, but their consciousness began to fade.

His hair floated in front of her, his submerged face pale. And just like that, absolute silence fell.

This man was afraid of water.

At that moment, a desperate voice echoed faintly.

He's afraid of rivers! Please...!

The words reverberated in her mind, striking her fading awareness like a thunderbolt. Her eyes flew open, releasing a stream of bubbles from her mouth.

Just then, the speaker, who had escaped the car earlier, opened the passenger-side door from the outside. Clenching her jaw, Hee-joo dragged Baek Sa-eon's unconscious body out of the vehicle.

Moments later, the man who had also briefly lost consciousness slowly opened his eyes. He began coughing violently, expelling precious droplets of water from his lungs, his chest heaving. His limbs stiffened—a clear sign of panic.

Hee-joo quickly grasped his face and gently tapped her chin with her pinky finger, an intentional gesture.

"It's okay." Tap, tap.

"It's okay." Tap, tap.

I hope you can hear me.

The panicked man looked at her with a dazed expression, as though trapped in a dream. Hee-joo wrapped her arms around him and kicked at the water with her legs.

Breathe. We still have so much to say. Let's use our mouths for everything they're meant for.

The faint glow of the surface began to come into view. Hee-joo didn't stop kicking, pushing toward the light, the sinking jeep fading behind them.

But eventually, her strength began to wane.

"I can't..." she whispered, her voice breaking.

Just as she felt her energy reaching its limit, something brushed against her chin.

"...!"

A newly awakened Baek Sa-eon lightly tapped her chin with his pinky finger.

Ah...!

In that moment, an indescribable wave of emotion coursed through Hee-joo. Finally, now—she had entered his nightmare, bridging the gap to his guarded heart.

Strong arms tightened around her waist. Together, their heads broke the surface of the water in a swift motion.

"Gah...! Hah..."

Hee-joo gasped, her mouth wide open, greedily inhaling the air. As oxygen rushed in, the chaotic sounds of the world returned all at once.

"Hah... Hah..."

She glanced toward the hills, where the government forces had arrived and were securing the scene.

Baek Sa-eon, cradling Hee-joo's hips, waded out of the river at last. His soaked figure loomed over her, his expression a mix of complexity and intensity. Both of them were breathing heavily, staring at each other intently.

"...Baek Sa-eon is no more."

Droplets of water fell heavily from the tips of his hair.

"The real Baek Sa-eon—my damned nephew—is gone. I brought that bastard here."

"...!"

The words left unsaid carried so much meaning. She could understand his resolve, risking a hail of bullets to bring the kidnappers here.

"So, I'm nothing. No name or family to decorate me. I was adopted by the owner of a fishing farm and grew up hating people."

For the first time, Hee-joo clearly saw his true self.

"No privileges, no qualifications—that's my real identity."

No longer the handsome elite, no longer the only son of a political dynasty, no longer the spokesperson of the Blue House. Just a man, drenched to the bone.

"Love at first sight."

Hee-joo used all her strength to lightly punch his arm. "I... back then, I saw you cry..."

She suddenly wiped at her eyes, now growing warm. More than being alive and safe, what thrilled her most was the chance to finally tell this man how she felt.

"I've loved you since I was nine."

"...!"

"Twenty years. For twenty years, I've only had eyes for you."

The man flinched.

"To me, you were never the prime minister's grandson or a politician's son."

"..."

"The person I wanted to see again was the boy crying secretly in an alley, the boy who wouldn't eat properly, the boy who had nightmares."

"...!"

"That person wasn't Baek Sa-eon."

His expression twisted, as if he were holding back pain. It was terrifying to see, but she had come this far and had nothing left to fear.

"And the brother who had phone sex with 406—"

Before she could finish, her rounded head was grabbed forcefully. His lips crushed hers as if trying to consume her. He turned her head, kissing her with the kind of intensity that felt like he was trying to steal her soul. His tongue pressed against hers, sweeping deeply through her mouth. It was more suffocating than drowning.

Their lips parted only to come together again, over and over, clinging desperately. Their wet bodies rubbed against each other, their soaked clothes clinging tightly.

"I...!" Hee-joo gasped during a brief separation of their lips. Her chest heaved with the effort of catching her breath.

"When I was a kid, I used to dig through trash cans for snacks."

"What?"

"Oh, and... my farts are really loud."

"..."

"That's my flaw," she said, blushing as she avoided his gaze. "So, what I mean is..."

Why am I so bad at expressing myself? Maybe it's because all I've ever known is how to threaten people, and now even normal conversations feel difficult.

"If we're truly going to be a couple, we shouldn't hide anything from each other. These kinds of conversations... should've happened long ago."

Although his face remained emotionless, Hee-joo pushed on.

"From now on, I want to be my true self."

"..."

"Translating and relaying messages is fine, but we should share more of our own thoughts. We have so much to talk about."

"I didn't know we needed so many words between us."

"What?" Hee-joo was startled by his rejection, a wave of unease rising within her. But she didn't back down.

"No, no, conversations between a couple are important...!"

"I love you."

His voice cracked slightly.

Hee-joo froze.

"I love you, Hong Hee-joo."

The setting sun dipped behind him, casting a strange light on his face. There was no smile—only a twisted expression, as if he were suppressing something, a look that appeared like a scar in the fading sunlight.

Hee-joo couldn't look away. Every second felt precious.

There was no need to say anything more. She clung to him dazedly, and he responded by kissing her again. Their tongues entwined, saliva exchanged.

"Mmm..." Her entire body tingled.

He let out a faint chuckle during the kiss. As the sun disappeared, night began to fall. The two held each other tightly, as if it were the last day of their lives. Their chaotic breaths intertwined, bodies colliding and separating, then colliding again.

A breeze passed, and Hee-joo's body shivered slightly. Sensing this, Baek Sa-eon released her lips first. Seeing her pale face, he clicked his tongue softly.

The man took her hand and began walking toward the open plains. Nearby, soldiers helped the speaker onto a military vehicle. No one stopped them from moving freely.

"Where should we start?"

"Until sunrise."

"What...?"

His eyes glanced at her faintly. Even that small gesture made Hee-joo's body heat up.

"But... I'm a widow," she suddenly said.

He stopped abruptly.

"I've lost my husband. Do you still want me?" He frowned, as if searching for something in her.

"I don't even know your name..."

"675."

"What?"

"Call me 675."

"...!"

"That's the number I chose to match with 406."

Hee-joo paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. Her bright, carefree laughter softened the corners of his mouth into a gentle smile as well.

Just then, a phone started ringing in the distance. Their gazes met simultaneously.

"Did you bring your phone?"

"I did—"

"Turn it off today."

"...Oh, just for today?"

Hee-joo looked up at him blankly, and for a moment, he didn't even blink.

"Do you have a phone too?"

"Of course I do."

"Then keep it off from now on."

"...!"

"I'm completely sick of phones...!"

Hee-joo cupped his face in her hands and laughed.

"From now on, let's only talk with our mouths." She leaned in and gently kissed his cheek before pulling away.

The man lowered his head and whispered something softly into her ear. The sensation of his breath tickling her made her shoulders tremble as she laughed. Then, she raised her arms and cheered:

"675 has fallen in love with 406!"

With that, she began running across the field. He caught up to her and wrapped her in his arms once more, kissing her deeply.

And so, the love-filled conversation between husband and wife continued throughout the night. It was a kiss they had reached after taking the long way around—a language that would forever belong to the two of them.

The End

—-——

will upload 10 bonus chapter soon..

The already shattered car window completely fractured upon hitting the water. Baek Sa-eon tightly wrapped himself around Hee-joo, curling his body to shield her. In an instant, water rushed into the cabin, flooding it entirely.

"Who said I was going to die?" Baek Sa-eon growled through clenched teeth, his pale cheek brushing roughly against hers.

The icy river water slapped against their faces relentlessly, consuming everything. There wasn't even enough time to take a final breath. The water was so cold it felt as though it could stop their hearts. In the distance, faint police sirens could be heard, but their consciousness began to fade.

His hair floated in front of her, his submerged face pale. And just like that, absolute silence fell.

This man was afraid of water.

At that moment, a desperate voice echoed faintly.

He's afraid of rivers! Please...!

The words reverberated in her mind, striking her fading awareness like a thunderbolt. Her eyes flew open, releasing a stream of bubbles from her mouth.

Just then, the speaker, who had escaped the car earlier, opened the passenger-side door from the outside. Clenching her jaw, Hee-joo dragged Baek Sa-eon's unconscious body out of the vehicle.

Moments later, the man who had also briefly lost consciousness slowly opened his eyes. He began coughing violently, expelling precious droplets of water from his lungs, his chest heaving. His limbs stiffened—a clear sign of panic.

Hee-joo quickly grasped his face and gently tapped her chin with her pinky finger, an intentional gesture.

"It's okay." Tap, tap.

"It's okay." Tap, tap.

I hope you can hear me.

The panicked man looked at her with a dazed expression, as though trapped in a dream. Hee-joo wrapped her arms around him and kicked at the water with her legs.

Breathe. We still have so much to say. Let's use our mouths for everything they're meant for.

The faint glow of the surface began to come into view. Hee-joo didn't stop kicking, pushing toward the light, the sinking jeep fading behind them.

But eventually, her strength began to wane.

"I can't..." she whispered, her voice breaking.

Just as she felt her energy reaching its limit, something brushed against her chin.

"...!"

A newly awakened Baek Sa-eon lightly tapped her chin with his pinky finger.

Ah...!

In that moment, an indescribable wave of emotion coursed through Hee-joo. Finally, now—she had entered his nightmare, bridging the gap to his guarded heart.

Strong arms tightened around her waist. Together, their heads broke the surface of the water in a swift motion.

"Gah...! Hah..."

Hee-joo gasped, her mouth wide open, greedily inhaling the air. As oxygen rushed in, the chaotic sounds of the world returned all at once.

"Hah... Hah..."

She glanced toward the hills, where the government forces had arrived and were securing the scene.

Baek Sa-eon, cradling Hee-joo's hips, waded out of the river at last. His soaked figure loomed over her, his expression a mix of complexity and intensity. Both of them were breathing heavily, staring at each other intently.

"...Baek Sa-eon is no more."

Droplets of water fell heavily from the tips of his hair.

"The real Baek Sa-eon—my damned nephew—is gone. I brought that bastard here."

"...!"

The words left unsaid carried so much meaning. She could understand his resolve, risking a hail of bullets to bring the kidnappers here.

"So, I'm nothing. No name or family to decorate me. I was adopted by the owner of a fishing farm and grew up hating people."

For the first time, Hee-joo clearly saw his true self.

"No privileges, no qualifications—that's my real identity."

No longer the handsome elite, no longer the only son of a political dynasty, no longer the spokesperson of the Blue House. Just a man, drenched to the bone.

"Love at first sight."

Hee-joo used all her strength to lightly punch his arm. "I... back then, I saw you cry..."

She suddenly wiped at her eyes, now growing warm. More than being alive and safe, what thrilled her most was the chance to finally tell this man how she felt.

"I've loved you since I was nine."

"...!"

"Twenty years. For twenty years, I've only had eyes for you."

The man flinched.

"To me, you were never the prime minister's grandson or a politician's son."

"..."

"The person I wanted to see again was the boy crying secretly in an alley, the boy who wouldn't eat properly, the boy who had nightmares."

"...!"

"That person wasn't Baek Sa-eon."

His expression twisted, as if he were holding back pain. It was terrifying to see, but she had come this far and had nothing left to fear.

"And the brother who had phone sex with 406—"

Before she could finish, her rounded head was grabbed forcefully. His lips crushed hers as if trying to consume her. He turned her head, kissing her with the kind of intensity that felt like he was trying to steal her soul. His tongue pressed against hers, sweeping deeply through her mouth. It was more suffocating than drowning.

Their lips parted only to come together again, over and over, clinging desperately. Their wet bodies rubbed against each other, their soaked clothes clinging tightly.

"I...!" Hee-joo gasped during a brief separation of their lips. Her chest heaved with the effort of catching her breath.

"When I was a kid, I used to dig through trash cans for snacks."

"What?"

"Oh, and... my farts are really loud."

"..."

"That's my flaw," she said, blushing as she avoided his gaze. "So, what I mean is..."

Why am I so bad at expressing myself? Maybe it's because all I've ever known is how to threaten people, and now even normal conversations feel difficult.

"If we're truly going to be a couple, we shouldn't hide anything from each other. These kinds of conversations... should've happened long ago."

Although his face remained emotionless, Hee-joo pushed on.

"From now on, I want to be my true self."

"..."

"Translating and relaying messages is fine, but we should share more of our own thoughts. We have so much to talk about."

"I didn't know we needed so many words between us."

"What?" Hee-joo was startled by his rejection, a wave of unease rising within her. But she didn't back down.

"No, no, conversations between a couple are important...!"

"I love you."

His voice cracked slightly.

Hee-joo froze.

"I love you, Hong Hee-joo."

The setting sun dipped behind him, casting a strange light on his face. There was no smile—only a twisted expression, as if he were suppressing something, a look that appeared like a scar in the fading sunlight.

Hee-joo couldn't look away. Every second felt precious.

There was no need to say anything more. She clung to him dazedly, and he responded by kissing her again. Their tongues entwined, saliva exchanged.

"Mmm..." Her entire body tingled.

He let out a faint chuckle during the kiss. As the sun disappeared, night began to fall. The two held each other tightly, as if it were the last day of their lives. Their chaotic breaths intertwined, bodies colliding and separating, then colliding again.

A breeze passed, and Hee-joo's body shivered slightly. Sensing this, Baek Sa-eon released her lips first. Seeing her pale face, he clicked his tongue softly.

The man took her hand and began walking toward the open plains. Nearby, soldiers helped the speaker onto a military vehicle. No one stopped them from moving freely.

"Where should we start?"

"Until sunrise."

"What...?"

His eyes glanced at her faintly. Even that small gesture made Hee-joo's body heat up.

"But... I'm a widow," she suddenly said.

He stopped abruptly.

"I've lost my husband. Do you still want me?" He frowned, as if searching for something in her.

"I don't even know your name..."

"675."

"What?"

"Call me 675."

"...!"

"That's the number I chose to match with 406."

Hee-joo paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. Her bright, carefree laughter softened the corners of his mouth into a gentle smile as well.

Just then, a phone started ringing in the distance. Their gazes met simultaneously.

"Did you bring your phone?"

"I did—"

"Turn it off today."

"...Oh, just for today?"

Hee-joo looked up at him blankly, and for a moment, he didn't even blink.

"Do you have a phone too?"

"Of course I do."

"Then keep it off from now on."

"...!"

"I'm completely sick of phones...!"

Hee-joo cupped his face in her hands and laughed.

"From now on, let's only talk with our mouths." She leaned in and gently kissed his cheek before pulling away.

The man lowered his head and whispered something softly into her ear. The sensation of his breath tickling her made her shoulders tremble as she laughed. Then, she raised her arms and cheered:

"675 has fallen in love with 406!"

With that, she began running across the field. He caught up to her and wrapped her in his arms once more, kissing her deeply.

And so, the love-filled conversation between husband and wife continued throughout the night. It was a kiss they had reached after taking the long way around—a language that would forever belong to the two of them.

The End

—-——

will upload 10 bonus chapter soon..