ITSN 29

Chapter 29

“…The smell of home.”

The moment she opened the door, her chest tightened at the familiar scent.

They say every house has its own unique bacteria. That’s why even if the same liquor is brewed, its taste differs from house to house.

If that’s true, then her house must be inhabited by the bacteria nurtured over the years she lived with her family—a taste shaped by their shared life.

Crying and laughing, fighting and loving.

They were a family that cherished each other more fiercely than anyone, embracing one another with warmth.

And yet, that family vanished from the world in an instant.

Not just vanished—they tore her heart apart before disappearing.

Her father, mother, and older brother lay side by side as cold corpses.

Burying her face in their bodies, she made a vow.

Absolutely.

She would catch the culprit.

She would uncover who had committed such a horrific act against the people she held most dear.

From that moment, she constantly fretted that she might miss something and fail to catch the perpetrator. In essence, Ju-hong’s time had stopped right then and there.

As time froze, so did her loneliness deepen. The world moved on, but she felt stuck alone. That’s why she became so attached to this small house.

Afraid that the scent of her family might disappear, she couldn’t even throw away a single sock.

She wanted her mother’s makeup scent, her father’s newspaper scent, her brother’s aftershave scent—all to remain as they were.

Drawing a deep breath, Ju-hong slipped off her shoes, collapsed onto the sofa, and let herself sink.

Dust swirled up from the long-uncleaned surfaces, but she didn’t care. She covered her eyes with the back of her hand and held her breath. Tears surged forth uncontrollably.

Three years ago, she had been left alone. And even now, after crossing the river of death, she was still completely alone.

“Isn’t this just too cruel?”

It was painful enough to be left alone, but now she couldn’t even freely have the memories they’d shared as a family of four.

She had to steal them, as if by thievery.

It was simply too much.

Drowning in grief, she lamented and vented, before finally drifting off to sleep. She hadn’t slept a wink all night, and the comfort of her own home had made her guard slip.

She awoke to familiar voices in the hallway beyond the entrance.

“This place will soon be redeveloped, so selling it won’t be easy.”

It was the security guard.

And another voice, deep and heavy, accompanied by measured footsteps.

“Do you think it’s gone up a lot in value?”

“Oh, of course. It’s all about the asking price now.”

“Then what about the house you mentioned earlier? You said there was one, right?”

The man, appearing as though he intended to buy a house, was unmistakably Seo Tae-jo.

“There’s exactly one—unit 711—that’s possible.”

“Ah, 711?”

711? That’s her house.

Cautiously, Ju-hong rose from the sofa and crept toward the entrance.

Now, she could sense them right outside the door.

“This is the house. Recently, the owner had some misfortune, so it’s currently empty.”

The security guard replied, and Tae-jo asked:

“Can we take a look inside?”

“Inside?”

“Is that not allowed?”

Of course it wasn’t. Even if the owner had passed away, entering someone else’s home without permission was wrong…

“Hm, a few months ago, the lady of this house might have left a card key with me.”

…Huh?

Had she left a card key?

Oh no—four months ago. There had been a leak in the ceiling, and she’d given the key for repairs…

Realizing the truth, Ju-hong bit down on her right index finger.

No. Even so, doing this would be illegal. Trespassing is punishable by law.

But the security guard dashed her hopes with surprising ease.

“If you wait here for a moment, I’ll bring it up right away.”

Why, sir? I treated you well… we were on good terms…

“Then, shall we ask for it?”

With Tae-jo’s impeccably polite insistence, the guard’s footsteps faded down the hall.

Ju-hong, flustered, had no idea what to do.

“First the shoes, no… the equipment…”

She quietly went to the living room, carefully gathered her gear, and stashed it in her closet.

“I need to hide too…”

But there was nowhere to hide. She was truly at a loss.

With no other option, Ju-hong locked her bedroom door and curled up inside the closet with her bag.

But that still wasn’t enough.

She needed a plan…

Chewing on her index finger, Ju-hong racked her brain.

A plan. A plan.

Ju-hong, think of a plan!

Three hours earlier

• Boss, she’s stopped.

“Where?”

• At the Jugong Apartments at the end of the road.

The moment he heard Seok Il-du’s report, a chill ran down his spine.

She had gone out claiming to feel unwell, so he had thought she was heading to the hospital. If it were the hospital, he could follow and wait to bring her back.

But the Jugong Apartments in Itaewon?

That was Joo-rok’s house.

The place where Ju-hong had first been seen.

And now, Yoo Hae-in—or rather, a woman wearing Hae-in’s skin—was there.

Could it really be a coincidence?

Of course, it might be.

But if not, he had to consider all possibilities.

Given how premeditated her movements were, the conclusion pointed to one inescapable truth: Yoo Hae-in was Ju-hong.

His chest twisted with unease.

He needed to confirm. Was she really there, or was the location just an anomaly? Had she truly entered Joo-rok’s home?

He rushed to a nearby real estate office. Checking an empty house legally? Real estate offices were perfect for that.

But there were no listings because of the upcoming redevelopment. He couldn’t even go with her.

Every office he visited gave the same result.

“Any movement?”

• None yet, sir.

They had been checking her location every 30 minutes. Luckily, she stayed put.

• Looks like she’s sleeping.

But she could wake up and move at any moment.

He ultimately pressured a security guard.

For a single check, the guard easily committed an illegal act, bringing the confirmation tantalizingly close.

Just as the door was about to open, Tae-jo’s phone rang.

<X>

A new name saved this morning.

Not Yoo Hae-in, but someone else.

A woman whose identity was still unknown.

Someone who, he secretly hoped, was the real Ju-hong pretending to be dead.

His target: X.

Staring at the screen, Tae-jo spoke.

“Wait a moment.”

The guard, holding the card key to the door, paused.

“Huh?”

“Let me take a call first.”

“Oh, yes, go ahead.”

Turning his gaze from the bowing guard, Tae-jo answered.

“Hello?”

• Mr. Seo Tae-jo?

Her voice was urgent, yet intimate.

• It’s me. Yoo… Hae-in.

“Are you feeling better?”

• Yes, I’m fine.

Her prompt reply pleased him. Then she cautiously asked:

• Where are you now?

“Why?”

• I thought I might visit your mother at the hospital.

“You said you’d go alone.”

• I… didn’t think that would be appropriate. You might be discharged soon, and also…

“So now you want to visit?”

• Yes.

Her words cut off briefly, as if she found them absurd, then resumed carefully:

• Could you come pick me up?

“Where are you?”

• I’m…

After a pause, Hae-in answered:

• Where else? At home.

Home. She said home.

“Really?”

Tae-jo’s gaze fell on the dark gray door.

“…Home.”

His eyes fixated on the door as if trying to see inside.

“Home, you say.”

A faint smile spread across his face. He clenched his fist, then, using the elbow’s momentum, slammed the side of his hand against the door with force.

Bang!

The loud noise startled the security guard a step back.

Not only the guard was startled; over the phone, Hae-in gasped sharply.

But Tae-jo focused on a single sound transmitted through the receiver.

‘Bang!’

Even on the other end, the knock was audible.

His eyes narrowed.

He was certain: she was home.