By Zephyria 
A second-hand store in Gwanak-gu, dealing in watches, golf equipment, and all sorts of luxury goods.
According to the store manager, who said Cha Gyu-min had consigned the watch, he had seemed quite anxious.
‘Actually, most customers who bring items here are like that. Some come because they’re tired of using them, but many also come because they need quick cash and want to sell them for cheap. I didn’t think much of it. But…’
The manager tilted his head.
‘I’ll know for sure after appraisal, but when I told him he could get at least 50 million won, he seemed very surprised. For such high-value watches, customers these days know the market price better. They know the price they bought it for, and they don’t want to lose money, so they research thoroughly. He was surprised he could get so much, and then he said he’d sell it for 30 million won and asked me to sell it quickly. That was very strange.’
Showing Yoon Joo-ho’s watch, the manager continued.
‘If you had come just a little later, it would probably have been sold. Although it’s high-value, it was priced so well compared to the market price that several customers had already inquired about it.’
Hearing that Cha Gyu-min had put Yoon Joo-ho’s cherished watch up for sale at a low price, Song Hyun-soo’s anger flared even more.
The owner, upon hearing that stolen goods had been registered at the store, returned immediately from an outing. Director Bang explained the situation to her and requested her cooperation. The middle-aged owner, who had a stern appearance, readily agreed.
‘Selling stolen goods only causes trouble. Even if we didn’t know we were selling them, the police or whoever would come and bother us so much. Since we know in advance this time, it’s better. We’ll cooperate as much as you want, just don’t involve us with the police.’
Thus, working together with the store staff, they summoned Cha Gyu-min.
A precise appraisal revealed a problem with the watch. It was suspected to be a fake. It seems you’ll have to come to the store in person. — This is how Cha Gyu-min was contacted.
He was furious, shouting that it was impossible for a watch gifted by a famous person everyone knows to be a fake, and asking who he was trying to scam. He repeatedly warned them not to touch the watch and said he would be there within an hour, and was rushing over.
Song Hyun-soo and Director Bang waited for Cha Gyu-min in the office at the back of the store. Security guards from a private company affiliated with Look Planning were on standby in a van parked in front of the store.
“Hyun-soo-ssi, but how did you come up with this idea?”
Director Bang took a sip of his iced americano through a straw, twirling the cup holder, and looked at Song Hyun-soo.
“Director, you said that Cha Gyu-min would probably consign the watch. So, I thought if we find out where he sold it, we could trace it back.”
“No, no, that’s not what I mean. How did you even get the idea to find Cha Gyu-min? You could have just let it go.”
“He’s a thief. If there’s a way to find him, we should find him.”
Song Hyun-soo answered as if it were obvious, then picked up his coffee and continued.
“Senior told me to forget about it as if it were nothing, but I don’t like it. This isn’t about money.”
Director Bang, sitting on the sofa opposite him, gazed at Song Hyun-soo’s face with a pleased smile.
“Why… why, Director?”
“Just, because I like it.”
“This situation right now?”
You like this situation, being here to catch the guy who stole from you, your manager of eight years?
“No, it’s that someone like Hyun-soo-ssi came to be by Joo-ho’s side.”
“……”
Taken aback by the unexpected words, Song Hyun-soo forgot about drinking his coffee and just fiddled with the straw in his hand.
“There are many good people who have worked with Jooho for a long time. That’s true. But there were also just as many, perhaps even more, difficult times. Some people think Jooho earns an unfair amount of money. If they keep nurturing that thought, at some point, it feels as if Jooho became rich by stealing their money, and they develop hostility.”
“What strange people.”
“It must have been a big shock and disappointment, especially since it was someone we had with the company for eight years. Though he pretends he’s not. They say he’s just holed up in the hotel gym in Paris, but still.”
“Senior… he’s just exercising in Paris?”
“That’s what they say. Normally, he’d go out shopping, eat at his favorite restaurants. But this time, he’s barely leaving the hotel, to the point where the bodyguards are bored.”
Song Hyun-soo’s head drooped. If Yoon Joo-ho was only exercising at the hotel, unlike his usual self, it probably wasn’t just because of Cha Gyu-min. They had parted ways like that on Monday.
A sense of relief that he, like himself, wasn’t entirely comfortable, and yet, a sorry feeling that he wished him well. Two contradictory emotions were divided within Song Hyun-soo, like a half-and-half pizza.
“Still, we were saved this time because our Monroe came. In the past, he would have just stayed holed up in his room, or gone out drinking. But now he has Monroe. Seeing him spend time with Monroe puts my mind at ease a little.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“And who was it that made it possible for him to bring Monroe? It was you, Hyun-soo.”
“……”
“So you’re a lucky charm.”
“That can’t be right. Senior, I think you dislike me.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve known Jooho since he was a teenager, and I’ve never seen anyone care for and cherish someone as much as you do!”
Perhaps Director Bang was talking about Yoon Joo-ho cherishing Song Hyun-soo as a ‘junior actor,’ but he still felt good.
“Jooho isn’t the type to keep someone he dislikes by his side and torment them. He just treats them as if they don’t exist.”
Of course, if they bothered him, he would take action. Director Bang added this, and as he reached for his coffee cup, the office door burst open. The manager, with a flushed face, poked his head in.
“He’s here! He just got out of a taxi!”
Song Hyun-soo and Director Bang, exchanging glances, rose from their seats.
Listening intently through the door leading to the store, they could hear Cha Gyu-min’s agitated voice.
“My watch is fake? Hand over the watch immediately! Aren’t you people complete swindlers? You swapped my watch, didn’t you?”
“Customer, please calm down. Where did you purchase the watch?”
The owner stepped forward himself to deal with Cha Gyu-min.
“The, the purchase location… How many times do I have to tell you I received it as a gift? Forget the purchase location, just give me my watch! Do you know who gave me this watch to be calling it fake?”
“So, who exactly did you receive the watch from?”
“Th-that…”
As Cha Gyu-min, unable to speak the truth, stammered, Director Bang and Song Hyun-soo opened the door and stepped into the store.
“Manager Cha.”
Cha Gyu-min, who had instinctively looked up in the direction of the voice, turned pale upon seeing Director Bang’s face.
“D-Director.”
“What are you doing here? You’ve been absent from work without leave for days.”
“Ah… that… I’m sorry. Something very urgent came up at home. So I couldn’t contact you… My father was very ill.”
“Your father, who had his sixtieth birthday recently? The father Jooho sent a generous congratulatory gift to and wished a happy birthday via video call? He looked very healthy then.”
“Something happened after that…”
Cha Gyu-min, lowering his head and glancing around, suddenly turned around. He seemed to be contemplating escape, but before Cha Gyu-min could notice, four bodyguards were already guarding the store entrance.
Director Bang took a watch out of his pocket and held it up.
“You didn’t come for this, did you?”
Cha Gyu-min’s mouth fell open, unable to tear his eyes away from the watch.
“Manager Cha, we’ve worked together for eight years. Was there any time the company treated you unfairly?”
“It’s not that, Senior. I thought you weren’t using it, so I just wanted to borrow it for a bit and return it…”
“If Jooho doesn’t use it, you can take it? Is that how it works?”
“I thought it was fine since it was an item you weren’t using…”
“That’s not all. You also used the corporate card freely and took company cars for joyrides, didn’t you?”
“No, Director! I never did that!”
Cha Gyu-min jumped up and waved his hands as if he were being wronged.
Song Hyun-soo, who had been watching from behind Director Bang, chimed in.
“You even took things out of the bags in Joo-ho Sunbae’s Escalade. Isn’t that right?”
“Ugh…”
Cha Gyu-min’s facial muscles twitched towards Song Hyun-soo.
“I’m sorry, Director.”
Cha Gyu-min, bowing his head deeply, mumbled in a barely audible voice.
“Saying sorry isn’t enough. What you did is theft, and theft of property exceeding 100 million won!”
“Director, please forgive me just this once! I lost my mind for a moment… You know I’m not that kind of person, Director. I’ll return all the money and items!”
Sensing that he was headed for prison, Cha Gyu-min knelt and began to plead.
“Please believe me! I really didn’t know the watch was that expensive! I thought it was a Rolex, maybe 20 million won at most…”
Director Bang, walking out from behind the display shelves, lowered himself and grabbed Cha Gyu-min by the collar.
“What the hell are you babbling about, you son of a bitch? Is it okay to steal if it’s less than 20 million won? Is there a limit to how much you can steal?”
Cha Gyu-min’s head dropped so low his chin touched his collarbone.
“That’s not what I meant… I’m sorry.”
Director Bang, unlike someone who had worked as a manager for a top star in the entertainment industry for a long time, had a gentle impression and was always smiling. He seemed like a soft-hearted uncle. Song Hyun-soo, who only knew him in that capacity, couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Stay away from Jooho, live quietly where you can’t be seen. Don’t even dream of working in this industry again. You know I have the power to do that, right, Gyu-min?”
Cha Gyu-min, kneeling, trembled and nodded.
“Jooho doesn’t want this to escalate, so we’re letting you go this time. Don’t misunderstand. It’s not because Jooho is afraid of you. It’s because you’re annoying and bothersome. But I’m not afraid of this kind of thing, nor is it bothersome to me.”
Several bodyguards accompanied him to retrieve the money and items from Cha Gyu-min. Dragged away by the bodyguards with slumped shoulders, Cha Gyu-min looked like a suspect being taken in by the police.
After thanking the store and handling the aftermath, Director Bang offered to give Song Hyun-soo a ride home.
Sitting side-by-side in the back seat, they were silent for a moment. Then, Director Bang took something out of his inner jacket pocket and handed it to Song Hyun-soo.
“Keep this and return it to Jooho yourself, Hyun-soo.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s watch was inside the black velvet pouch.
“Me?”
“We got it back thanks to you. You should be the one to return it.”
Director Bang smiled with the face of an understanding uncle. He had returned to the familiar face Song Hyun-soo knew well.