By Zephyria 【A recent minor dispute between neighbors resulted in a weapon being brandished. During the investigation, it was revealed that the perpetrator of this incident had murdered his former lover and abandoned the body, causing great shock. Currently, the perpetrator, Mr. Park, has admitted to all charges, and the police have announced that they believe Mr. Park may have committed additional crimes and will conduct an active investigation.】
Lee-eum parked the car on the side of the alley and headed to the snack bar with Nam-soo. As the two entered the snack bar, the owner burst into tears.
“Thank you. Thank you so much. Thanks to you detectives, Jeong-hye can finally rest in peace.”
On the other hand, she also blamed herself, thinking that if she had paid more attention, such a thing would not have happened. In fact, she played a big role in solving the case. While organizing her belongings, she found Lee Jeong-hye’s clothing bag and immediately contacted Lee-eum.
Inside the bag were Lee Jeong-hye’s clothes and a scarf she often wore when she was alive. It was sent to the National Forensic Service, and DNA was extracted from the fibers and compared with an unidentified corpse, revealing that it was Lee Jeong-hye.
She not only thanked them profusely but also made a lot of kimbap and tteokbokki for them to take to the police station. They couldn’t refuse her sincere joy as she made the food, so they accepted it and brought it to the car.
Nam-soo said that the savory kimbap smell wafted throughout the car as they drove to the police station, and the sky was so clear and clean that it felt like they were going on a picnic. Then, when the car stopped, Nam-soo smiled and turned to Lee-eum.
“Sunbae.”
“Yeah.”
“You know, no matter how I think about it, I think I did a good job becoming a detective.”
“Suddenly?”
“There were many times when I wanted to quit because it was so hard. I even wrote my resignation letter a few times and kept it in my pocket. Didn’t you know?”
It was the first time he had heard this. Jeong Nam-su didn’t show it on the outside and was always bright, so he hadn’t noticed. Feeling sorry for not knowing, he asked if that was the reason, and Nam-soo smiled.
“But I was able to endure it because Sunbae was by my side. I mean it. Let’s work as partners for a long, long time. Got it?”
Team Leader Oh had hinted that there would be a promotion announcement soon. Noona wanted him to switch to an office job, and Lee-eum also thought it was right considering his heat cycle. But he didn’t want to leave this place. Would it be greedy to want to stay a little longer? How should he tell Nam-soo? While he was worrying, Nam-soo clung to his arm.
“Why aren’t you answering? Sunbae feels the same way as me, right? Right? Answer me quickly, yes?”
Lee-eum chuckled and nodded. Then, as he looked ahead, he almost screamed without realizing it. Jeong Nam-su was just as surprised. Choi Won-joon was standing there with his hands in his pockets, as if he had been there all along. Judging by the way his head was tilted, he was clearly in a bad mood.
“Oh, you scared me. CEO Choi, why are you here?”
Nam-soo belatedly realized that it was in front of the main gate of Sehwa Construction and quietly let go of Lee-eum’s arm. Nam-soo, just a moment. Lee-eum grabbed the documents from the back seat, opened the door, and got out.
This morning, just as he was about to go to work, Choi Won-joon contacted him, saying that he had left the documents in the living room. He was going to send an employee, but he happened to be in the neighborhood and offered to bring them himself. Even as he handed over the documents, Choi Won-joon was only glaring at Jeong Nam-soo. Jeong Nam-soo, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was fidgeting, and Lee-eum dragged Choi Won-joon away from the car.
“Stop glaring. Your eyeballs will fall out.”
“Do you two always do that? Sticking together and rubbing against each other?”
“What do you mean rubbing? Nam-soo just has an affectionate personality.”
“If he’s more affectionate, will he take off his clothes and have sex?”
Lee-eum snapped at the sarcastic tone and handed over the documents. Here, take it, I have to go to work. Choi Won-joon still had his hands in his pockets.
“When I touch you, you look at me like I’m some pervert, but why are you so nice to him?”
“Don’t be childish.”
“Want me to show you what’s really childish?”
His eyes were fierce, but his mouth was smiling, which was scary. Lee-eum quickly changed the subject, fearing that he might harm Jeong Nam-soo.
“When is Director Lee coming back? His vacation is incredibly long.”
Choi Won-joon frowned.
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m really curious. Ah- I’m dying to know.”
Choi Won-joon clicked his tongue.
“I can’t reach Director Lee.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Lee-eum moved his lips. Why doesn’t he know? I know a hundred, a thousand times over. If I were Director Lee, it would be hard to endure under such a boss.
“Did he run away….”
Choi Won-joon answered without smiling as he muttered to himself.
“Then I have to find him and kill him.”
“Even if it’s a joke….”
“It’s not a joke. This is separate from the promise I made with you. That guy knows the most about my weaknesses, so I can’t let him live. The guy who’s closest to you is the scariest. He’ll hit you hard in the back of the head.”
As soon as Choi Won-joon finished speaking, he glared at Jeong Nam-soo again, and Lee-eum pushed him on the back, feeling that it wouldn’t work out. He was dragged to the lobby before he knew it, and everyone bowed politely to Choi Won-joon. He was suddenly aware of Choi Won-joon’s position. He felt like a jobless bum in the neighborhood because he was always exchanging silly jokes with him.
Lee-eum handed over the documents and gestured to him.
“Go, quickly. I have to go to work too.”
“I’m warning you,”
“I’m going.”
Lee-eum fled the company. It wasn’t anything else, but it was hard to endure the curious gazes of the people around him. They were dying to know why the two of them were bickering in the company lobby in broad daylight. As soon as he got in the car, Nam-soo asked about the situation, but he couldn’t honestly reveal his relationship with Choi Won-joon.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Well done, Kim Mid-eum. Our star prosecutor.”
Kim Malk-eum’s praise made Kim Mid-eum embarrassed but unable to hide his elation. He had summoned the Chairman of the Taeil Group on charges of creating a slush fund and manipulating stock prices, and the media was saying that even if he was a chaebol, he wouldn’t be able to get away with it easily this time. Even if he didn’t say it, he must have already secured important evidence and witnesses. That’s why he’s pushing forward like a bulldozer.
“Congratulations, Hyung.”
Kim Mid-eum waved his hand at Lee-eum’s words.
“Congratulations for what. You’re the one who’s great. Father even called me after seeing the news and told me that you’re like him and definitely have a talent for investigation.”
Malk-eum nodded at those words.
“That’s right. Our youngest is made for the field.”
Lee-eum hesitated and cautiously brought up the story to Noona.
“So, about that… Can’t I stay in the violent crimes unit for just one more year? My heat cycle has stabilized, and nothing like that will happen again. I’ve grown attached to the people I work with, and I like the field, just like Noona said….”
Kim Malk-eum gulped down her beer and sighed deeply.
“Wouldn’t it be awkward to see Team Leader Oh? Your ranks will be the same.”
“I don’t necessarily have to get promoted…. The station chief knows about it too, so I’ll meet with him and tell him,”
“Hey, Kim Yi-eum. That’s not right? Why are you kicking away the opportunity that fell in front of you?”
Kim Malk-eum made a dumbfounded expression, and Kim Mid-eum smiled and put his arm around Lee-eum’s shoulder.
“As expected of Kim Yi-eum. Our youngest, who has no dreams or ambitions. How pure is he? Huh? He’s fundamentally different from Noona, who’s obsessed with promotion. He’s obsessed with catching criminals to the bone.”
“Shut up.”
“Yes….”
Just as Kim Malk-eum was about to continue nagging, the door of the store opened and someone entered the chicken restaurant. Lee-eum, who was drinking beer, widened his eyes involuntarily. Choi Won-joon naturally came and sat next to Lee-eum.
“Hello.”
Lee-eum was flustered and put down his beer glass after seeing Choi Won-joon greeting his Hyung and Noona. He was about to ask how he knew to come here, but he looked at Kim Malk-eum. Did Noona call him? But she was just as surprised.
At that moment, Kim Mid-eum broke the silence and smiled brightly.
“I called him, I did. CEO Choi, is beer okay? No, do you only drink whiskey?”
“No, Hyungnim. I like beer.”
“Is that so? Oh, your tastes match our Lee-eum so well. Haha.”
While Kim Mid-eum was ordering beer from the chicken restaurant owner, Choi Won-joon received a phone call. “I’m sorry. Excuse me for a moment.” As soon as he went outside the store, Lee-eum and Malk-eum made dumbfounded expressions. Wasn’t Kim Mid-eum the one who was dead set against him just a few days ago, saying that he absolutely couldn’t be with someone like that?
“What’s with you? What’s with this embarrassing change of attitude?”
“No, Father has almost given up too. What’s the point of me opposing him alone? They’re so in love.”
Lee-eum was confused. It’s not that they’re so in love…. But since I don’t dislike it, I guess it’s good. I don’t know if it’s to the point of being so in love. I was wondering if I should explain this to Hyung, when Kim Malk-eum’s eyes flashed like a hawk.
“Tell me honestly. Did you get the Taeil Group’s accounting data from Choi Won-joon?”
“Surely not, Hyung….”
Kim Mid-eum began to make excuses.
“It’s not like I wanted to receive it.”
“Wow, this guy. You just treated me like a woman obsessed with power, and you accepted that?”
“When did I ever say you were crazy? And I couldn’t help it either.”
Kim Mid-eum turned around and, after confirming that Choi Won-joon was outside the store, gestured for them to gather around. As the three put their heads together, he lowered his voice and whispered.
“That Choi Won-joon is crazy. He not only brought the Taeil Group’s accounting books, but he also brought his Hyungs’ books. He told me to throw them in if I wanted to. But he told me not to interfere with him meeting Kim Yi-eum.”
Malk-eum and Lee-eum were speechless and their mouths dropped open, and Mid-eum grumbled.
“What can I do to stop a guy who sells out his own Hyungs? That’s why I’m telling you to accept him. There was no other intention. I hate him because he creeps me out, but if I leave him alone, he might do something even stranger. He told me that he’d even bring me his father’s if I wanted. But I said I didn’t want that. You never know what might happen. What if he marries Lee-eum? Still, he’s going to be my in-law,”
Hyung…! Lee-eum trembled as he held up his beer glass, and Kim Mid-eum averted his gaze and pretended not to notice. In the meantime, Choi Won-joon returned, and he sat next to Lee-eum as if nothing had happened and smiled at the three of them.
“Looks like you were having a fun conversation without me?”