By Zephyria Emerging from the police station, Choi Won-joon frowned at the glaring sunlight and put on the sunglasses he had prepared. Director Lee was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, and he approached and first handed over the black bag he was holding.
“You’ve had a hard time.”
Won-joon opened the bag, creasing his brow at the sight of the white tofu.
“What’s this?”
“Chairman Choi sent it. Eat it and from now on…”
Instead of eating it, Won-joon tossed the bag into the nearby trash can.
“Seriously, that old man. Always doing useless things.”
“Will you go straight to the company?”
“I have a lot of work piled up, so I guess I have to.”
“How about taking the day off today?”
“Why? Is my face too hideous to look at?”
Director Lee didn’t answer, and Won-joon took off his sunglasses and looked at his face in the nearby car window. After staying up for two nights in the detention center, his eyes were sunken and his face was rough.
“You’re right. I look years older.”
Damn it. I need to look decent to appeal to Kim Lee-eum. As he muttered and walked, two familiar sedans entered in succession.
“Did you call them?”
“No, I didn’t.”
The cars stopped haphazardly, and Choi Won-joon’s older brothers, Choi Ji-seung and Choi Tae-seung, jumped out of the back seats before their secretaries could even open the doors. Forgetting their dignity, they rushed over and meticulously scanned Won-joon from head to toe.
“Won-joon. What’s going on with you? Huh?”
“You should have contacted us first when something like this happened! We didn’t know anything about it!”
“Are you okay? How’s your sleep? Goodness, look how gaunt his face is. Let’s go to the hospital first.”
“Where is that bastard? I’m talking about that detective who sued you.”
“Hyung, that’s later. Let’s get him to the hospital first.”
Won-joon looked at them with a mixed expression of annoyance and gestured. He was about to tell them to please leave because he was embarrassed when someone called out to Choi Won-joon from behind. Turning around, he saw Kim Lee-eum’s partner running towards him with Won-joon’s jacket in his hand. At that moment, his second older brother, Tae-seung, stepped forward.
“Are you the one? The one who sued my younger brother…”
Before he could finish speaking, Won-joon grabbed the back of his second older brother’s neck. Wrong person. Not him. Jeong Nam-su, who had come closer, handed over the jacket with a displeased expression.
“You left it behind.”
Won-joon smiled brightly and accepted it.
“Thank you. You’re Detective Kim’s partner, right? What was your name again?”
“You don’t need to know my name. I’m warning you, don’t you dare come near Sunbae again. I won’t stand for it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. But is Kim Lee-eum Hyung taking a day off today? I don’t see him.”
“He’s not taking a day off, damn it, I almost answered. Anyway, don’t be curious. And I know you carry Sunbae’s picture in your wallet! Take it out right now because it’s bad luck! Do you understand?”
Then, he glared at the four of them in turn and stormed off. Won-joon stared at Jeong Nam-su walking away with a puzzled look. Me, with Kim Lee-eum’s picture? His Hyungs next to him were also curious and began to pry.
“You even carry that detective’s picture in your wallet?”
“Let’s see, let’s take a look at his face. What does he look like?”
Won-joon’s eyes turned cold.
“Not me.”
“Then who is it?”
“I don’t know. Must be someone else.”
In the meantime, a car passed through the main gate and entered. He tried not to pay attention, but the man who got out of the car strode towards Won-joon and his brothers. It was Choi Tae-seung, Won-joon’s second older brother, who recognized him.
“Haha, I see that guy here.”
“Who is it?”
“The guy who tried to send me to jail last year but failed.”
Choi Tae-seung smiled leisurely and waved to Kim Mid-eum.
“Prosecutor, it’s been a while.”
“Choi Tae-seung, President, get lost. I’m here today because I have business with your talented younger brother.”
He looked like he was about to hit him, so Choi Tae-seung blocked him and raised his chin.
“The police released him, so what gives you the right to chase after him and make a fuss?”
“Non-custodial indictment doesn’t mean he’s not guilty, you ignorant son of a bitch.”
“Son of a bitch? Son of a biiitch? This is too much. Hey!”
While the two were arguing, people began to gather in front of the police station entrance to watch. Feeling the seriousness of the situation, Director Lee and the other secretaries tried to step in, but Choi Won-joon grabbed his arm and smiled.
“Don’t stop them. It’s fun, why would you?”
“Are you serious?”
“One more person will come. Wait and see.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a white sedan screeched and slid into the police station. Squeak— It drifted in the parking lot and stopped in front of the three men, and Kim Lee-eum’s Noona, Kim Malk-eum, got out of the driver’s seat.
She strode over, took out leather gloves and put them on, and Choi Ji-seung, Choi Tae-seung, and Kim Mid-eum, who were gathered there, had no choice but to harden their expressions at the Pheromone pressure emanating from her.
Judging it was dangerous, Director Lee tried to step forward, but Choi Won-joon grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.
“Leave it, just leave it.”
Young-shik, you son of a bitch! She screamed and ran towards him, and it was already too late when Kim Mid-eum and Choi Tae-seung tried to stop her. She put her full weight into a punch to Won-joon, and with a thud, Choi Won-joon staggered backward.
“Ugh….”
It wasn’t just painful, his head was throbbing. The pain itself was different from when he was hit by an ordinary guy. No wonder Kim Lee-eum is afraid of his own Noona. When Director Lee tried to stop her, Won-joon gestured for him not to come, and Kim Malk-eum swung her fists in rapid succession, as if she couldn’t contain her anger.
Kim Mid-eum and Choi Tae-seung, and even Choi Ji-seung joined forces to try to pull Kim Malk-eum away, but she was so strong that all three of them fell away in turn, and the police station front yard instantly became a mess.
“Wait a minute. Calm down for a second, ugh, damn it. Is she a bison or a person? What strength!”
“Noona, calm down. Nothing good will come of this. Why are you doing this, really! Get a grip.”
“If you do this, we’ll sue too, ack! Why are you hitting me? Ouch, my jaw, my jaw is dislocated!”
In the chaotic situation, even the police ran over to stop Kim Malk-eum, and when they finally managed to pull her away, quite a bit of blood was flowing from Choi Won-joon’s mouth. As Director Lee urgently applied pressure with a handkerchief, Kim Malk-eum took out her business card from her wallet and threw it at Choi Won-joon.
“Charge me for the hospital bill and I’ll pay for everything, so sue me as much as you want. And don’t you dare come near my younger brother again. If I see you again, I’ll grind your head into the asphalt. Got it?”
Choi Tae-seung, who was listening, became furious and grabbed Kim Malk-eum’s arm.
“This person is really! Are you a gangster? How can the police treat people like this…”
Kim Malk-eum completely twisted Choi Tae-seung’s arm and grabbed the back of his neck, pressing him down.
“Don’t you dare touch me, you bastard!”
“Arm, arm! Ugh!”
When Choi Won-joon approached Kim Malk-eum, she released Choi Tae-seung, whom she had been holding, and glared at Choi Won-joon as if she would kill him. A tense atmosphere hung in the air, and people’s attention was focused on them. Choi Won-joon bowed politely.
“I’m sorry. If hitting me will relieve your anger, then hit me as much as you want.”
Ha, Kim Malk-eum laughed in disbelief, and at the same time, Choi Won-joon gushed blood from his nose and collapsed to the side. Kim Malk-eum, who was watching, flinched, and the people who were gathered there also murmured in surprise.
The Choi brothers turned pale and desperately called out their younger brother’s name, and Kim Mid-eum despaired that his Noona had finally lost her temper and killed someone.
In the meantime, only Director Lee was calling an ambulance with a relatively calm expression.
❖ ❖ ❖
When Won-joon opened his eyes, he saw a white ceiling and Director Lee standing beside him. Director Lee approached with the same expression as usual and examined his complexion.
“Are you alright?”
“What happened?”
“He fainted due to lack of sleep.”
Won-joon blinked slowly. When was the last time he got a good night’s sleep? Even if he tried to calculate the date in his head, his mind kept fading. Looking closely, he saw a needle stuck in his arm.
“It’s a sedative. Please get some more sleep for now.”
“Did anyone come?”
“Your Hyungs stayed until a little while ago and then left after receiving a call from Chairman Choi. Kim Lee-eum’s siblings also checked on President and went back. I’ve silenced the people who were at the scene, so the word won’t get out.”
“No, not those people.”
“Yes?”
Won-joon frowned.
“You didn’t contact Kim Lee-eum, did you?”
Director Lee hesitated for a moment.
“Should I have…?”
Won-joon closed his eyes and sighed.
“Ji-hoon. You’re good at everything, but sometimes you lack tact at the most necessary moments. Like now.”
“It’ll be hard for him to come even if he knows.”
Won-joon opened his eyes. When he asked why, Director Lee brought over a tablet and handed it to him. Won-joon sat up and read the article, his eyes turning somewhat sharp.
“Kim Da-hyun’s father passed away the day before yesterday.”
Reading the article titled ‘Grief over losing his daughter leads to suicide,’ Kim Lee-eum, who had received a phone call in front of the detention center and ran out, came to mind.
“The situation is fucked up.”
“……”
“Where’s Detective Kim?”
“He’s at the funeral home. His relatives refused to take custody of the body, so he decided to hold the funeral instead.”
Won-joon returned the tablet and unbuttoned his hospital gown one by one.
“Are you going?”
“I have to go. He must be a mess inside.”
President, if you go, he’ll be even more of a mess inside? Director Lee couldn’t bring himself to say that Kim Lee-eum probably wouldn’t be happy about it. Moreover, if this matter reached Chairman Choi’s ears, it was obvious that it wouldn’t end with just a scolding.
However, knowing that he couldn’t stop him, he quickly concluded that he should rather prepare the clothes he would wear.