MJ 92

In the theater lobby, Lee-eum studied the musical pamphlet, familiarizing himself with the actors’ roles and faces. He wasn’t usually a fan of musicals, but he was intrigued by the fact that it was about a real-life foreign serial killer.

Jeong Dae-han had received a call from his superior and went outside, but he hadn’t returned after a long time. Was he very busy? While he was thinking that, the atmosphere inside subtly changed. The sound of people murmuring grew louder, and the conversation between a couple next to him was relatively clear.

“Is it true?”

“Yeah, breaking news.”

“Crazy. What kind of guy stabs a second-generation chaebol with a knife? In the middle of the city?”

Silently listening to the conversation, Lee-eum took out his phone and searched the news. It was just a thought, but the moment he saw the words “Sehwa Construction President Choi Won-joon Attacked?” his heart sank. He opened the article, but only the title was there, and no details were given.

【He’s grinding his teeth, saying he’ll get revenge. He threatened me too, but I ignored him. He might go to Detective Kim, so be careful.】

【I’ll take care of my own business, so you should be careful, Chairman Choi. You must have a lot of people you’ve made enemies with. Did I cut off your finger? You cut it off.】

Damn it. He hurriedly called Choi Won-joon, but it was turned off. Lee-eum went outside with the phone in his hand, and ran into Dae-han head-on as he left the entrance.

“I’m sorry, Lee-eum. I was away for a long time, right?”

“Dae-han. I’m going to call a friend for a second. Go inside.”

As soon as he heard the story, Jeong Dae-han’s expression darkened slightly.

“Is it because of President Choi Won-joon…?”

“You know?”

“If you’re worried, I’ll take you there…”

After hesitating for a moment, Lee-eum shook his head.

“No. You don’t have to.”

Dae-han said he understood and went inside, and Lee-eum immediately called Yoo Seol-ah.

【Oh, Lee-eum.】

“Are you off work? I have a favor to ask.”

【Is it because of Choi Won-joon?】

“Yeah, you know…”

【How could I not know? The news is going crazy right now. I asked my father about it. Reporters are flocking to the hospital, and there are police and private security guards everywhere. It’s no joke.】

“What’s his condition?”

【He bled a lot, but it doesn’t seem like there’s any internal damage. The media was saying he was about to die, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the case.】

Lee-eum’s legs gave way and he sat down on the edge of the parking lot. After exhaling, he was afraid his voice would tremble, so he couldn’t speak easily.

【Are you okay?】

“Yeah…”

【If you’re worried, should I go and find out more?】

“No. It’s okay… Thank you, Seol-ah. I’ll call you again.”

After hanging up, Lee-eum rubbed his face and buried it between his legs. Many emotions swirled through him in a short time.

“Ah… I’m glad…”

He seriously considered going to Choi Won-joon, but even if he went, there was nothing he could do. The two had broken up cleanly, and if Choi Won-joon had someone else, he might not like his visit.

After sitting for a while, Lee-eum got up. When he entered the lobby, an announcement was made to enter. As people moved and almost no one was left, Jeong Dae-han was sitting on a corner chair with his head down, fidgeting with his hands.

He looked somehow intimidated, which didn’t suit his size. Lee-eum nudged his shoulder. Dae-han looked up with a slightly surprised expression, and Lee-eum forced a smile, pretending to be nonchalant.

“Let’s go in. The show’s starting.”

❖ ❖ ❖

“The surgery went well. There’s no organ damage, and he’s young and healthy, so you can rest assured. We’re very fortunate it was only this much.”

Madam Lee thanked the doctor repeatedly, and Chairman Choi also sighed in relief. As soon as the medical staff rushed out, his Hyung’s stubbornly turned red and held Won-joon’s hands on both sides.

“Thank you. God, Buddha. Thank you for saving our Won-joon.”

“Oh my. Look how pale his face is. Should we have given him more blood?”

Madam Lee also came closer and carefully examined his complexion. Chairman Choi also came to his side and looked at him worriedly, unlike when he usually scolded him. Won-joon couldn’t hide his tiredness at the family’s fuss.

“Can’t you all please leave? Don’t your Hyung’s have to go to work?”

“You little rascal. Is work the problem now? You’re lying here like this.”

“Yeah, don’t worry about us and get some rest.”

How could he rest when the four of them were surrounding him in a circle? Annoyance gradually appeared on Won-joon’s face. He understood that his family had rushed over as soon as he was taken to the hospital, but he didn’t know why they were all huddled together in the hospital room the next day without leaving. He told them he wanted to rest alone and asked his mother, Madam Lee, but she made an unwilling expression.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“There’s a caregiver and Director Lee is here. I’m fine, so go in and rest. You’re going to collapse first, Mom.”

At those words, his father was shaken and hurried them to leave. I guess his wife is more important than his son. Even after that, they couldn’t leave, and they looked back several times at the hospital room entrance. After his family disappeared, the hospital room became quiet, and Won-joon tried to get up, but the area where he was stabbed pulled, and he frowned.

Director Lee, who was watching, hurriedly came and stopped him.

“You shouldn’t move yet.”

Won-joon sighed and groped the wound with his hand. Shit. I should have stabbed him gently. It fucking hurts.

“What happened?”

“Yes?”

“Kim Yi-eum.”

Director Lee pursed his lips. Choi Won-joon, who was taken to the hospital and finished the surgery, looked for Kim Yi-eum even when he briefly regained consciousness. He told him that he would come if he waited, but he didn’t show up even after a day had passed. There was a reason why Choi Won-joon was uncomfortable all the time.

“The fact that he didn’t come to me means he went on a date with that prosecutor bastard, right?”

“They just watched the show and broke up right away.”

“Then why isn’t he coming?”

“……”

“Did he come and see the police and get scared and leave?”

Director Lee didn’t answer this time either. Kim Yi-eum went home yesterday and went to work this morning and said he was working. He didn’t even come near the hospital, but he couldn’t tell Choi Won-joon the truth.

Then there was a knock. It was the bodyguard guarding the front, who approached Director Lee and whispered something to him. While listening, Director Lee’s gaze was directed at Choi Won-joon. Choi Won-joon had an expression of anticipation, thinking that Kim Yi-eum had finally come.

“Chairman… Yoo Seol-ah, a friend of Kim Yi-eum, has come to see you.”

Choi Won-joon immediately remembered the name. She was the friend who appeared when Kim Yi-eum was in heat cycle at the motel. When he told her to come in, the door opened and Yoo Seol-ah appeared. She was holding a box of drinks in one hand.

“Hello, you remember me, right? I’m Lee-eum’s friend, Yoo Seol-ah.”

Yoo Seol-ah handed the drinks to Director Lee and looked around the hospital room, muttering to herself. Wow, it’s much better than our hospital. Choi Won-joon stared at her. He said he dated Kim Yi-eum. Did he like this type when he was a Beta? Before he knew it, his pheromones became aggressive, and Yoo Seol-ah frowned and stepped back. Won-joon withdrew his pheromones and put on a friendly smile.

“What brings you here? Did Kim Yi-eum send you?”

“Huh? Haha, no way. I came to see my father and stopped by. He’s in this hospital. Lee-eum wouldn’t come here. You broke up, right?”

Won-joon’s eyes became fierce, and Yoo Seol-ah flinched.

“Do you talk about things like that when you two meet?”

“I can because I’m his doctor… In many ways, I need to know Lee-eum’s condition.”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding, we haven’t broken up.”

“That’s strange. He said it was over, and that President Choi had someone else.”

Choi Won-joon smiled only then because he had a hunch.

“Is Kim Yi-eum angry? Because I met someone else? That’s why he’s not visiting me?”

“Um… I don’t think so.”

“He’s not?”

“No, he’s not.”

Seeing Won-joon’s distorted face, Yoo Seol-ah asked, just in case.

“President Choi. Let me ask you one thing. You’re not pretending to have someone else to make him jealous, are you?”

“……”

“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re old and have social status and prestige, so you wouldn’t do that… It’s a childish thing that even elementary school students don’t do. Haha.”

“……”

“Well, even if you did, it wouldn’t work. The chances of getting back together are slim.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve been watching him for a long time. Once Lee-eum’s relationships are over, they’re over. He’s very kind and warm-hearted, but when he breaks up, he’s cold as ice. And if there’s someone else involved? He’s just out. There was a kid who made a fuss about dying, but he never accepted him. When I see him like that, he’s ruthless, even though he’s my friend. Oh, of course, I’m not talking about President Choi, so don’t misunderstand.”

As Won-joon shot lasers from his eyes, Seol-ah looked around and slowly backed away.

“I said some unnecessary things, but anyway, I’m glad to see you’re healthy. I’ll be going now. Get some rest.”

After Yoo Seol-ah ran out of the hospital room as if fleeing, Choi Won-joon’s expression became fierce. Director Lee was also trying to escape outside, pretending to be on a phone call, but Won-joon called him to stop and finally sat up.

“Ji-hoon. Bring me my clothes.”