By Zephyria 
Lee-eum and Nam-soo stopped by the National Forensic Service, but the person in charge was away, so they took a break under the wisteria trellis. While discussing the case, Nam-soo said he was thirsty and went to get a drink. In the meantime, a message arrived from Choi Won-joon.
【Have you had lunch?】
He had been busy catching up on work as soon as he was discharged from the hospital, and yesterday he left on a business trip. The fact that he worked harder than he looked was always amazing and surprising. As he was writing a short reply, Nam-soo approached and handed him a drink. Thank you.
“Who is it that makes you smile?”
“Huh?”
“Just now. You were smiling while looking at the message.”
Me? He denied it, but Nam-soo kept asking if he had a lover and who it was. Then the conversation went in a different direction, and Nam-soo sat down next to him and held out his phone.
“Have you seen this? It’s hilarious.”
What he showed him was a creator doing a personal broadcast. The man, who had half of his face covered with dark sunglasses, was talking with exaggerated gestures.
【The hottest topic these days is the Kim Ji-cheol case. Kim Ji-cheol tried to kill the youngest son of Sehwa Group. Kim Ji-cheol was originally under investigation for inciting suicide. We need to ask ourselves a question here. Why did Kim Ji-cheol try to kill a chaebol’s son? So, I received a tip, and I want you all to listen carefully to this recorded file.】
Then, someone’s distorted voice came on.
【As far as I know, Choi Won-joon and Kim Ji-cheol used to be lovers. But I heard that Choi Won-joon cheated on him, and Kim Ji-cheol harbored resentment.】
After a brief pause, the creator excitedly exclaimed.
【Did you all hear that? In fact, these two were in a romantic relationship. Isn’t that shocking?】
Lee-eum laughed in disbelief. It is shocking. On the other hand, he was worried about the creator who was broadcasting. He might disappear without a trace. He thought about leaving a comment telling him to be careful, but then he stopped. Come to think of it, Choi Won-joon was too busy to watch this.
Kim Ji-cheol claimed during the investigation that Choi Won-joon had cut off his finger. Of course, no one believed it. Rather, he was even suspected of having delusions due to drug use. The media unanimously said it was a tragedy caused by delusions.
“Kim Ji-cheol’s lawyer resigned. Kim Yong-taek is running around trying to save his son, but it seems like no law firm is willing to take the case. They’re aiming for a reduced sentence, even if they can’t get him acquitted, but there’s so much evidence that they can’t even think about it.”
In addition, Kim Ji-cheol’s right-hand man, his secretary, exposed everything that had happened, and public opinion was that he would not be easily rescued this time.
“Lee-eum!”
He wondered who was calling his name and saw Jeong Dae-han walking towards him from afar. Was this the first time since they saw the musical? He had a friendly face as always, and after greeting Nam-soo, he went to sit on the bench across from them.
“Did you come because of work?”
“Yeah. The person in charge is away, so I’m waiting.”
Just then, Jeong Nam-soo received a call from the National Forensic Service and rushed inside, leaving the two of them alone, and a somewhat awkward atmosphere flowed. Lee-eum offered Dae-han the drink he was holding, but Jeong Dae-han shook his head, saying he was fine.
“You’ve been busy lately, haven’t you?”
He must have known that he had been called in for questioning as a witness. Jeong Dae-han said he was worried, but he was glad that things had turned out well. Lee-eum looked at Jeong Dae-han. He had been about to tell Jeong Dae-han how he felt about him the day they saw the musical, but Choi Won-joon had been stabbed, so he couldn’t.
“Dae-han. Are you free on Saturday?”
“Yeah, I am… Aren’t you busy that day?”
“Me? Why would I be?”
“It’s your father’s seventieth birthday.”
Ah, right… He had completely forgotten.
If his Noona knew, she would have smacked him on the back.
“How did you know?”
“Sunbae, I mean, your Hyung told me.”
“You met my Hyung?”
“Yeah. A few times recently. He asked me to have a drink with him.”
Lee-eum was dumbfounded by the unexpected words.
“What did you talk about?”
“He asked me if I could come to your father’s seventieth birthday.”
“……”
He couldn’t understand it at all. Kim Mid-eum had a strong individualistic tendency and didn’t pay much attention to the affairs of his Hubae or Sunbae. Such a person had met Jeong Dae-han separately and even had a drink with him? And invited him to his father’s seventieth birthday? Why?
He was about to say a few more words about it when Nam-soo came running from afar with an envelope containing the results. Lee-eum got up. Jeong Dae-han looked at him with regret, but he ignored it and said goodbye, promising to see him later.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Our youngest is so handsome. Hey, it’s a shame to keep him to myself. Mid-eum, take a picture quickly.”
His Noona straightened Lee-eum’s shirt collar and smiled brightly. Both of them were wearing police uniforms for their father’s seventieth birthday, and since most of the guests were their father’s Hubae, many of them were in uniform rather than civilian clothes. It almost felt like a gathering of police officers rather than a seventieth birthday party. Kim Mid-eum, who was constantly greeting the incoming guests, lowered his voice to his Noona.
“What’s this? Weren’t you only inviting a few acquaintances?”
“I didn’t know there would be this many either.”
Kim Mid-eum grumbled that she should have invited fewer people, but when he saw his superior, he quickly ran over and greeted him politely. Malk-eum smirked as he watched.
“That guy is struggling to make a living.”
“Where’s Father?”
“He’ll come out with Mom from over there when the event starts. He’s the star of the show today.”
Come to think of it, the man holding the microphone in front was adjusting the sound, and he looked quite familiar. His Noona had said she had asked an acquaintance to invite a famous comedian, and it seemed like it was true. Hotel staff were moving busily around him, and congratulatory wreaths were lined up on both sides.
While people were taking their seats at the round tables, the back became noisy. Hotel staff were bringing in something much taller than an adult male, covered in white cloth, making it impossible to guess what it was.
Kim Malk-eum and Lee-eum hurried over there.
“What is this? The cake should come out later, shouldn’t it?”
Then, an unexpected man appeared.
“Chairman Choi sent it.”
Director Lee bowed politely and removed the white cloth. Malk-eum covered his mouth, and Lee-eum was also shocked. People buzzed, and Kim Mid-eum, who was nearby, couldn’t help but be amazed and impressed.
“Wow, what is this?”
What appeared before them was a bust of their father’s face. It was gilded and made to look very similar to their father’s face. The three brothers were speechless and could only stare at the statue.
“The President couldn’t attend due to a business trip, but he asked me to convey his sincere congratulations. And he said he wouldn’t accept any donations, so we’ve already paid for all the expenses related to the event.”
Malk-eum waved his hands in horror.
“No, you don’t have to do that. You absolutely shouldn’t. We’ll take care of the expenses ourselves, so please just accept our gratitude. And this monstrosity, oh, I’m sorry. No, what should I call this? I can’t think of the right word because I’m so flustered. This is driving me crazy.”
Kim Mid-eum, who had been watching with interest, intervened.
“Noona, don’t they usually erect things like this when they’re praising a dictator? It’s perfect. Father has a bit of that tendency, doesn’t he?”
“Be quiet. I’m confused right now.”
“On the occasion of the seventieth birthday of our great leader, our republic will…”
When Mid-eum joked, Malk-eum elbowed him in the side to shut him up. Then, the three of them found writing under the statue and their eyes widened. It was a list of Kim Chun-sam’s achievements as a police officer, not their father’s, and surprisingly, there was this phrase in the middle.
―Arrest of Choi Seung-gil, head of the Mirae faction, on August 20, 19.
Lee-eum couldn’t close his gaping mouth. Choi Seung-gil was Choi Won-joon’s father. So, that bastard had written about his father being arrested when he was a gangster as an achievement here. If Chairman Choi saw this, he would beat his son to death.
What was even more surprising was what was below that.
―Kim Yi-eum was born on October 11, 19
Lee-eum scrunched up his face, and Kim Mid-eum shook his head.
“That’s completely crazy. Is Kim Yi-eum’s birth Father’s achievement? There’s even a heart next to it. But Noona and I aren’t there? Were we adopted?”
Malk-eum muttered blankly.
“Would you want to be there?”
“No, I don’t. I think it’s a good thing we’re not.”
Lee-eum scratched the letters with his fingernails, wondering if they would come off. But the letters didn’t come off, and in the meantime, people began to gather one by one. Everyone praised them, saying it was wonderful and that they had such a great idea, and they didn’t spare their compliments, but the three of them couldn’t laugh wholeheartedly.
They were about to return the gift and looked for Director Lee, but he had already disappeared quickly, and an announcement came from the host asking everyone to take their seats. The three siblings moved to their seats, but they couldn’t shake off the shock of the statue.
As the party was in full swing, their father also discovered his statue, and surprisingly, he seemed pleased. Thanks to that, the three siblings couldn’t reveal that it was Choi Won-joon’s gift in the end.