🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 36
“Has he already finished investigating my background?”
Chief Choi muttered quietly while rubbing his fist.
It seemed that Seung-beom had already completely chosen In-hye as his target.
“Insp—Chief… what should I do?”
In-hye’s hand holding the phone trembled slightly, and her lips shook with fear.
“Don’t worry too much. Nothing will happen. And about tonight’s appointment, maybe you should cancel it—”
“No. I’ll go.”
After thinking for a moment, In-hye suddenly stood up and picked up her handbag and jacket.
She didn’t want to step back in fear because of someone like Kim Seung-beom.
No… her pride simply wouldn’t allow it.
“Doctor, please don’t push yourself.”
Chaerin tried to stop her with a worried face.
“Yes, Doctor Jung. You don’t have to go. If we just find the witness Chaerin discovered—”
“No. This might actually be a better opportunity to catch decisive evidence of Kim Seung-beom’s crimes.”
“Still, don’t meet him.”
“Chaerin, don’t worry too much. Chief, Chaerin must be tired, so please take good care of her.”
Even now, In-hye was worrying about Chaerin instead.
“Then let’s go together. I’ll follow you from behind.”
Chief Choi said while turning the office door handle.
“No. Chief, you should go find the witness Chaerin discovered first. If you follow me, he might notice right away.”
“But—”
“Don’t worry. Like you said earlier, nothing has happened yet.”
In-hye gently placed her hand on Chief Choi’s hand that was holding the door handle and pushed it down slightly while smiling.
“Then call immediately if anything happens. Don’t push yourself.”
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
Looking slightly flushed, In-hye glanced at the two of them and firmly opened the office door.
* * *
In front of the hospital elevator.
Next time I should just take the stairs alone. This is so awkward.
Chaerin stood there watching the slowly changing numbers on the elevator display.
But Chief Choi felt just as awkward.
“Oh… looks like the building’s regular fire inspection starts tomorrow. Hmm… fire inspections are important.”
He pretended to carefully read the notices on the bulletin board, mumbling random things.
[Ding—The door is opening.]
At that moment, like a savior coming to rescue them from the awkward silence, the elevator doors opened.
“Going home?”
“Yes.”
[Going down.]
But both of them knew that a second round of awkward silence would soon begin inside the elevator.
After the short conversation, they quietly stood in opposite corners.
“My car is on the second basement floor.”
Chief Choi pressed the B2 button and took a deep breath, preparing for the long ride down from the 10th floor.
Just then—
♬-♩♪
His phone rang loudly.
Chief Choi and Chaerin looked at each other at the same time.
The phone ringing felt like the sound of a trumpet sent from heaven to break the awkward silence.
Their tightly closed lips slowly relaxed.
“It’s Detective Kim.”
Even though it was unnecessary, Chief Choi spoke while answering the call, a smile already spreading across his face.
He had never been this happy to receive Seong-jin’s call before.
“Yeah. Did you find anything?”
* * *
“Nothing at all. They already burned everything.”
Seong-jin walked out of the garbage disposal site, brushing dust off his dirty clothes.
His face looked both irritated and disappointed.
[“Nothing? Anyway, good work. I’m taking Chaerin home now and then going to find the new witness. Come there too.”]
“A new witness? Who is it?”
Hearing the word witness, Seong-jin suddenly stopped walking.
[“I’ll explain when you get here. I’ll send you the address.”]
“Yes, understood. But what about Dr. Jung? Is she okay?”
[“She went out to have dinner with Kim Seung-beom.”]
“Alone? You let her go alone? Chief! Why would you do that?!”
Seong-jin’s eyes widened as he raised his voice while starting the car.
[“Why are you yelling? I’m dropping Chaerin off and then going there too.”]
“But that’ll be too late! What if something happens before that? Where did they go?”
Seong-jin slammed the accelerator.
* * *
A luxurious French restaurant.
“I really enjoyed that movie. Did you like it too, In-hye?”
Seung-beom skillfully led the conversation.
His wide knowledge of politics, economics, and culture, mixed with just the right amount of humor, made anyone who talked with him naturally like him.
“Yes. It was one of the most interesting movies I’ve seen recently.”
But there was something different tonight.
Every topic in their conversation was carefully matched to things that In-hye liked.
“Really? We have a lot in common.”
“It seems so.”
Seeing Seung-beom smiling like an excited child, In-hye also smiled brightly without realizing it.
Could someone who looks this pure and kind really be a murderer?
Even though she knew the ugly truth hidden behind that gentle smile, her heart was strangely shaken.
“Does the food suit your taste?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
“But why aren’t you eating much? Is the meat tough? Give it to me. I’ll cut it for you.”
At that moment, Seung-beom smiled while holding the shining knife.
Suddenly, In-hye’s mind snapped back to reality.
Jung In-hye, wake up. The person in front of you is a murderer.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll do it myself.”
She refused his kindness coldly.
“Ah… alright. I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable.”
Seung-beom’s lips twitched slightly, feeling that his kindness had been rejected.
For a while, only the clinking sounds of forks and knives filled the silence.
“Excuse me. One bottle of wine, please.”
Seung-beom suddenly broke the silence.
“But you drove here.”
In-hye lowered her fork in surprise.
Was he starting to reveal his true intentions?
Without realizing it, she tightened her grip on the knife.
“I can call a substitute driver. Don’t you like wine?”
“It’s not that…”
She lifted her water glass to hide her uneasy expression.
“Are you afraid I might do something to you?”
Seung-beom laughed mischievously.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Honestly, she felt like throwing water in his smiling face.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take you home safely. Here—have a drink.”
Seung-beom poured wine into her glass with a bright smile.
“Well…”
“Then shall we make a toast? To our wonderful connection.”
Reluctantly, In-hye raised her glass.
As she slowly tilted the glass to drink, her slender neck was revealed.
Seung-beom’s strange gaze fixed on it.
* * *
What’s wrong with me…?
After several glasses of wine, In-hye’s cheeks turned red as she lightly slapped them.
The more she repeated to herself that she must not get drunk, the more her body seemed to slip out of her control.
“Shall we leave? You seem a bit drunk.”
Seung-beom placed his glass down and smiled.
“Maybe… I haven’t had wine in a long time.”
In-hye quickly stood up, slightly staggering.
“Are you alright? Let me support you.”
“No. I’m fine. I just need to go to the restroom.”
She pushed away his hand and walked toward the restroom.
Seung-beom watched her and raised one corner of his lips.
“Right… it wouldn’t be fun if it were too easy.”
* * *
Outside the restaurant, they waited for the substitute driver.
Even though it was a short time, a strange tension filled the air.
“In-hye, you look quite drunk. Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
It felt like an invisible battle between them.
Seung-beom wanted to make her his tonight.
And In-hye refused to let that happen.
“I think I’ll just take a taxi. I had a good time today. Please go home safely.”
In-hye made the first move.
She wanted to leave as soon as possible.
“What are you saying? It’s late. I’ll take you home. Oh, there he is.”
Seung-beom had no intention of backing down.
“Did you call a driver?”
“Yes. In-hye, get in.”
“It’s really okay. I’ll just take a taxi.”
“Come on, get in.”
Seung-beom grabbed her arm.
“No, I’ll just take a taxi— Ah!”
While struggling lightly with him, In-hye suddenly lost her balance and fell backward with a cry.
At that moment—
A strong arm suddenly appeared and caught her waist.
“Thank you. I guess I made too many mistakes today because I drank wine after a long time. I’m sor—Ah!”
Thinking it was Seung-beom, In-hye turned her head.
But when she saw the unfamiliar man’s face, she screamed in surprise.
“Is my face really that scary?”
Seong-jin said calmly while helping her stand.
“Detective Kim? What are you doing here?”
Her heart was still racing from the shock.
“In-hye, are you alright? Detective Kim, what brings you here?”
But the one who looked truly shocked was Seung-beom.
His expression quickly turned unpleasant.
“Kim Seung-beom, we meet quite often these days. How have you been?”
Seong-jin looked him up and down casually.
“Well… thanks to you. But first, remove that hand.”
Seung-beom frowned while pointing at Seong-jin’s hand on In-hye’s waist.
“You should be more careful. You don’t look like it, but you’re surprisingly clumsy.”
Seong-jin removed his hand and smiled lightly.
“Th-thank you.”
“How do you know In-hye?”
More than Seong-jin’s sudden appearance, Seung-beom was irritated by the fact that the two seemed to know each other.
“Recently I’ve been receiving stress counseling from Dr. Jung.”
Seong-jin stared directly into Seung-beom’s eyes.
“Because some murderer bastard has been pissing me off.”
At the word murderer, Seung-beom unconsciously bit his lip.
“You know the motel alley murder case that was on the news? That’s the one. If you know anything, please tell me.”
Seong-jin stepped closer, his eyes burning.
“Unfortunately, I can’t help you. Why would I know about something like that?”
Seung-beom pushed past him and grabbed In-hye’s arm.
“In-hye, get in the car.”
“You’ve been drinking. I’ll take Dr. Jung home. You should go rest.”
Seong-jin slammed the car door shut deliberately.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
Seung-beom’s gentle face twisted instantly.
“Wow… scary. So you can make that kind of face too. Hmm… I feel like I’ve seen that expression somewhere before.”
Seong-jin tilted his head.
“Stop it.”
Seung-beom spoke slowly, as if he might strangle him at any moment.
“I’m warning you. Don’t make that face in front of me again. It’s not fun.”
Seong-jin’s playful tone suddenly disappeared.
He glared at Seung-beom as if he might kill him.
“What are you two doing? Stop it. I’ll just take a taxi home.”
In-hye quickly stepped between them and waved down a taxi.
“I’ll see both of you at the hospital later.”
“In-hye—”
“Dr. Jung, I’ll take you—”
But she quickly got into the taxi and left.
The two men stood there silently, watching the taxi disappear.
Then they slowly turned and glared at each other again.
“In-hye?”
Seong-jin spoke first.
“We’re quite close.”
Seung-beom smirked.
“I should get going anyway. By the way, how is your trial preparation going? Looks like things are going well if you have time to drink wine like this.”
“There’s nothing to prepare. I’m innocent. But I’m more worried about you, Detective Kim. You still haven’t caught that murderer. Do you think you can?”
Now Seung-beom mocked him.
“Of course.”
Seong-jin clenched his teeth.
“I’m going to catch him very soon and throw him in prison.”
“I hope you do. If you can.”
The tension between them sparked again.
“Take care going home. Be careful at night.”
“You should be careful too, Detective Kim.”
They turned and walked in opposite directions without looking back.
At the same time, both of them clenched their fists and muttered quietly.
“That bastard Detective Kim… I won’t let him get away with this.”
“Kim Seung-beom… just wait. I’ll definitely put you behind bars.”
