Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: People You Shouldn't Mess With
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Kim Ji-su.
Her life, confined within the detention cell, seemed filled only with despair.
Having committed arson, assault, and attempted murder, her crimes were far from light.
Yet even in this utterly hopeless situation, Kim Ji-su refused to give up.
'It's... okay... It'll be... okay. It's just... delayed a little... that's all...'
Though her life appeared completely ruined, she knew the truth.
The laws of this country were surprisingly lenient toward criminals... especially women.
If she shed tears and showed 'remorse,' and pushed the narrative that it was a spontaneous act due to mental instability, reducing her sentence to five years or less didn't seem impossible.
'If I add a story about how that section chief tried to sexually assault me... If I play it right, I can rally public opinion on my side.'
This incident would undoubtedly make massive waves in the media, drawing widespread attention.
In such a situation, stirring up a sex crime controversy would surely ignite public outrage, or so Kim Ji-su believed.
'Truth or evidence doesn't matter. All that matters are the tears of me, the 'victim.' Besides, he tried to keep me apart from Seong-min, so that alone makes it a sex crime and assault!'
If she could actively leverage her gender to sway public opinion to her side,
escaping this 'unjust' predicament might not be impossible after all.
'Yeah... You think my life ends over something like this? I'm no criminal... I'm just a righteous, fragile woman who fought against injustice for love and failed!
I'll get through this crisis somehow and return to Seong-min's side no matter what...'
Believing there was always a way out even if the sky fell,
Kim Ji-su clenched her fist tightly once more as she mapped out her plans in her head.
'First, I need to hire the most expensive lawyer I can afford with what money I have... If I bring in a specialist in this field, matching our stories should be...'
At that moment.
-Clang!
"!"
Fierce-looking police officers entered as the detention cell door swung open.
Kim Ji-su boldly declared to those dragging her off for interrogation.
"Let go of me! I'll walk on my own!"
Having steeled her mind that she was innocent, her steps were full of confidence.
Believing she could steadfastly overcome any hardship ahead, Kim Ji-su prepared herself for trial.
However.
"Wh-what do you mean you can't take the case?... Hello? Hello?"
Lawyers from major firms refused one after another, even when offered her entire life savings.
Despite their experience defending criminals, they all hung up in disgust.
And what was even more suspicious was the media coverage.
Despite the massive incident, the press reported it merely as a fire, with her name nowhere to be found.
As if someone had deliberately erased her existence entirely...
Even the ensuing trial proceeded unusually quietly, attracting neither reporters nor public interest, despite her spreading info through her industry connections.
All her attempts to reduce the sentence—remorse letters, mental instability diagnoses—were rejected on technicalities.
As things grew increasingly off-kilter,
Kim Ji-su's initial confidence gave way to heavy doubt and mounting anxiety.
And then.
"The defendant committed arson without provocation, attempting to take the lives of dozens of innocent people and causing massive property damage in the process. Showing no remorse or regret whatsoever, she is deemed beyond rehabilitation. Therefore, the defendant Kim Ji-su is sentenced to life imprisonment."
"...Huh?"
The trial concluded swiftly and silently to the very end.
And the merciless, crushing verdict that followed.
Unable to believe the pronouncement despite hearing it with her own ears,
Kim Ji-su was dragged away by the police, her face blank and soulless.
To the last, never realizing she had touched people she never should have...
*
A high-rise building overlooking all of Seoul.
In the office at its pinnacle, Lee Seong-min cautiously asked the woman seated before him in a black suit.
"So... you've decided to 'handle' it that way?"
"Handle? What do you mean? I merely ensured the trial proceeded properly.
To prevent any weird public opinion or misplaced leniency—perfectly 'fairly,' of course."
"Mm..."
"Besides, this aligns with Chairman Ha's wishes too. He's furious enough to demand execution, so be grateful we toned it down to this."
She responded calmly to Lee Seong-min's question.
Lee Jeong-hee.
Lee Seong-min's biological mother and the current president of Daeheon Group, a woman in her mid-50s.
Yet despite her middle age, her dignified poise and mature beauty were intact—and at this moment, her face clearly burned with unmistakable fury.
'The sin of daring to target my son... Rot in prison for life and reflect on it.'
Her son had grown into such a fine man.
Even without family backing, Seong-min had risen from the bottom to become one of Korea's top actors—and he was always her pride and joy.
It was only natural to bury that wretch who threatened his life completely from the world.
Chairman Ha, in a similar plight with his daughter's ribs broken, burned with equal or greater rage.
Feeling the anger still smoldering within her,
President Lee Jeong-hee took a sip of tea to soothe herself.
Meanwhile,
watching his mother's heavy fury,
Seong-min let out a soft sigh and silently wished Kim Ji-su peace in the afterlife.
It was self-inflicted, but he felt a sliver of pity for someone he'd known, now cast into ruin.
With that, Seong-min fully cleared the lingering unease about her from his mind.
At that moment.
"By the way... Are you really okay? Is there anywhere that still hurts...?"
"You saw the full medical results yourself. Nothing wrong."
"I know, but still... just in case..."
"I'm fine."
Unlike the tense mood moments ago, now it brimmed with deep worry and concern.
It was a bit annoying, truthfully, but his heart warmed at her sincerity.
As he watched, one person's face suddenly came to mind.
The woman who had swiftly dealt with Kim Ji-su, then held her young daughter and wept endlessly.
Even after time had passed, the memory remained vivid—and unwittingly, Seong-min grew slightly sentimental.
'Is motherhood like this? Terrified beyond measure when their child is in danger, yet endlessly soft toward them...'
He'd seen Chae Soo-jeong only as a talented actress before, but this incident revealed another side.
With that thought, a strange tickle stirred in a corner of his heart.
At that moment.
"Come to think of it, that Chae Soo-jeong... She's an actress, right?"
"Uh...? Wh-why her all of a sudden...?"
The name he'd just been thinking of popped from his mother's mouth.
Caught off guard, Seong-min faltered as President Lee Jeong-hee spoke lightly.
"She saved our son, didn't she? Since it came up, we should repay her properly, of course. Money works, but... for an actress, maybe investing in a movie or drama role?"
"Mm... I'll handle that myself later. She's already shooting something, so she'll be busy for a while."
"Oh, really? Then make sure to tell her later."
President Lee Jeong-hee smiled at Seong-min's words.
A bit curious at her usually unflappable son fumbling like this.
'Chae Soo-jeong...'
*
"Haa..."
She set down the barbell with a heavy sigh.
Ye Hyo-min, captain of FC Wyverns.
Her clearly defined arm muscles flexed as always, but her face was far from bright.
"Captain, you don't look so good today."
"Something wrong?"
Her gym juniors asked cautiously.
Ye Hyo-min seemed about to speak but stood up instead.
"I'm a bit tired today. Heading out—see you tomorrow."
"Ah... Okay."
"Take care, Captain."
Ye Hyo-min rose and headed to the showers.
Even as hot water poured over her face, one person's image lingered sharply in her mind.
Chae Soo-jeong.
The one who displayed incredible soccer skills in the last match, completely reviving their team's stagnant morale.
She'd planned to promote her from guest to regular immediately... but regrettably, recruitment was on hold.
A fire broke out right next door at the adjacent stadium.
She didn't know the details, but many were injured—including Chae Soo-jeong's young daughter nearly caught in it—leading her to step back from variety shows for a while.
'What a shame... Such a waste... Who'd have thought it'd fall apart at the last minute.'
Family matters—especially her daughter's—were understandable.
And since it was just 'on hold,' another chance would come later.
But the issue was no guarantee she'd join Wyverns next time on Soccer Girl.
With her own wishes plus the random draw and team needs dictating guest assignments,
Chae Soo-jeong could turn from ultimate ally to worst enemy.
Thus, Ye Hyo-min felt tension and the need to act.
'Come to think of it... ZTVC's shooting a new drama, right?'
ZTVC, which had a hit with The Queen Dowager, Sovereign of Deception,
had boosted public interest but still struggled as a mid-tier broadcaster to cast actors.
'My schedule just freed up after wrapping a project... Perfect.'
Bonds between actors formed through acting.
Chae Soo-jeong joined her team initially through ties with Ha Yu-ra, after all.
'For victory... this much is...'
Not even knowing what the project was, Ye Hyo-min called her manager right away.
But...
"Yeah, it's me. That new ZTVC drama still casting? Yeah. I wanna do it. Yeah. Lead role. Why? What's the genre?... What?"
Her manager's response.
The action specialist actress's hand began trembling unwittingly.
"Khmm... I... I said... I'm doing it... Lead... role..."
Thinking this was really too much,
Ye Hyo-min, caught in the momentum, uttered the words anyway.
'F-for... victory... this much...'