The Swallow That Repays Kindness - 1
"Name: Yun Jiyeon, age thirty-five. Both parents deceased, no other relatives. She has a husband, but they've been living separately for ten years now. Currently she lives alone with her fifteen-year-old daughter. The daughter's an idol trainee."
"I already know all that. Give me something new."
"Don't rush me. There's a proper order to these briefings. Check this first."
"What is it?"
"Info on the husband."
"......"
I took the document envelope Geum Gangsan handed me and checked inside. Three sheets of A4 paper, filled with fairly detailed information.
"Name: Kim Jinsu, age forty-one. That bastard's got no parents or relatives either. Similar situations, so your noona ended up getting into trouble with him at a young age."
"Business failure?"
"Ah... this kid's way too fast... I haven't even finished the first page yet...!"
"Just spit it out."
"Huu... Fine, I'll keep it simple and wrap this up. When your noona was a high school senior, her parents died in a car accident. And if you calculate from the daughter's birthday, she got pregnant about two months later."
"And then?"
"The money used for her husband's business startup was the life insurance payout and inheritance she got from her parents' deaths. He probably threw in a little of his own cash too."
"The business?"
"Went completely under, of course~ He quit a perfectly good company to start a business at only twenty-seven—you think he built anything proper? Naturally the insurance money and inheritance all went up in smoke, and the husband went back to being a salaryman. But business is as scary as gambling. Once you try it, it's hard as hell to stop."
"So?"
"He took out a loan against the house she inherited and started another business as a joint investment with a few friends. Of course that one failed too."
"Crazy bastard...!"
Consecutive business failures and a mortgage loan. Was that why the house went up for auction?
"So after pulling that stunt, where the hell is this so-called husband and what is he doing?"
Snap!!
As if he'd been waiting for exactly that question, Geum Gangsan flicked his fingers and leaned forward.
"His business hit it big."
"What?? You said it failed."
"Not the husband's business—the woman he's seeing."
"Woman?"
"Flip the page."
I checked the second sheet. A photo of a woman, taken secretly from a distance, was attached. Personal details and other information were written out in fair detail as well.
"Who's this woman?"
"Jo Seonyeong, age forty-seven. She sells used cars. Your noona's husband is the executive director at her company."
"Executive director?? You need an executive director just to sell used cars?"
"She's not some small-time used-car seller~ She's a big player, a real heavyweight. Most of the used cars heading out to the Middle East and Southeast Asia are her work."
"Ha... crazy... Why would a woman like that get involved with a married man?"
"Didn't you look at the husband's photo? His face is decent. And she might not even know he's married."
"......"
I checked the husband's photo on the previous page again. He was pretty good-looking. On top of that, whether from good maintenance or whatever, he looked more like he was in his thirties than forties.
"Even if this woman doesn't know, this guy—if he's going to see other women, he should just get a divorce and do it openly. Why hasn't he divorced yet?"
"Your noona is refusing the divorce."
"Why?"
"Because of the debt."
"....How the hell do you even find out stuff like that?"
"Mind your own business, customer. Trade secret. But aren't you curious about what you actually asked for? Check the last page."
I checked the third and final sheet. It contained the financial relationship information I'd requested.
"Home mortgage loan of six hundred million won, forty-year term at 6.2% interest. Monthly repayment is around 3.4 million won."
"Is the husband paying this?"
"Are you insane? It's debt left in your noona's name—you think the runaway husband is covering it for her? And that's exactly why she can't divorce. The one who took out the mortgage and spent the money wasn't her, it was the husband. If she divorces, she might end up shouldering the entire debt alone, even more than she already is. For more details than that, go meet the lawyer handling your noona's case. Here's his card. This is as far as I can dig."
"That so-called husband...! This is pure garbage...!!"
If he had a daughter at twenty, that meant he got her pregnant at nineteen. A kid still reeling from her parents' deaths, no less. And not only did he blow through every last bit of the inheritance, he buried her under a mountain of debt and just walked away to live his own life?
"Fuck...!!"
"Look over there."
"At what?!"
"Why are you taking it out on me? Look at that second-floor salon. Your noona works there. Salary's around 2.8 million, and she covers the rest by taking in boarders at her place."
"I know that. I'm one of the boarders."
"What??"
"Don't even think about boarding there yourself. Not if you don't want to see my face every morning."
"Damn it! One step too late...!"
"I warned you clearly. She's someone I'm grateful to."
"I know, man! I was joking."
"Didn't sound like a joke."
"K-khem...! Anyway, I'm done here, so I'm out~ Split the money into two thousand each across accounts one through five~"
Even after Geum Gangsan left, I couldn't calm down for a long while.
Abandoning not just his wife but his child too? No reason on earth could make me forgive that.
I barely slept at all. I was too angry for sleep to come. After staying up all night with my eyes open, I left my room and headed downstairs.
"Who are you...?"
A girl froze at the sight of me and asked with a look full of suspicion. Kim Sua, Yun Jiyeon's daughter. A future idol trainee who would one day be ranked among the top-tier girl group members. Taking after her mother, she was already quite pretty.
"I'm Cha Sunwoo. I moved in as a boarder yesterday. Looking forward to living together."
"Okay... Mom—!!"
She answered shyly and bolted for the kitchen. Since I'd come down thirsty myself, I followed her there.
"You're up? This is my daughter, Kim Sua. Sua, say hello properly. This is Oppa Cha Sunwoo, who'll be living with us from now on. He's friends with the unnies you met yesterday."
"Hello... I'm Kim Sua..."
"Hello. Cha Sunwoo."
I exchanged greetings again with Kim Sua, who was clinging tightly to Yun Jiyeon's waist and hiding behind her back. Maybe it was because I now roughly knew what she was going through, but the smile on her face as she hugged her daughter close looked painfully pitiful.
"She's my mom."
"Huh??"
"I said she's my mom."
"Ah... right..."
"Sua, what's gotten into you?"
"Mom, that oppa's eyes look weird. Be careful."
"S-Sua...!! I'm so sorry, Sunwoo. I don't know why she's saying such nonsense..."
"Haha~ It's fine. Of course a daughter worries about her mom. But what's for breakfast today? It smells amazing."
"Kimchi stew. I used tuna instead of pork—you don't hate that, do you...?"
"I'd eat it even if there was nothing else. I'll go wake the others and bring them down~"
What a good kid. Looking out for her mom and everything. But it was a completely unnecessary worry. I wasn't some sexually frustrated mess drooling with lust anymore.
Click—
I opened the door and walked in without knocking, even though it wasn't my room. Ever since that day, Lee Naye had been stuck to my side, so I hadn't been able to hold her again, but thanks to that, Eunsol and I had been carrying on a very secret relationship.
"Sol-ah, wake up."
"Uuung... Sol wants to sleep more..."
"Even like this?"
My hand slipped under the thick blanket, pushed past Eunsol's pajama pants and panties, and went inside. Then it parted the plump flesh and stroked the hole that was already growing wet.
"Hnn...! Hng...! Sunwoo... Sol's sleepy... haah!!"
When my finger pushed in, Eunsol's thighs clamped hard around my arm. She glared at me with eyes full of sleep and resentment.
"I hate Sunwoo... Waking me up like this is against the rules... nngh...!"
"Get up. We have to eat. At a boarding house, if you miss breakfast time, there's no food."
"Really...?"
"Yeah."
"Hiiing... haah...! I-I got up...! Sol got up...! hnn!!"
"This is a free service~"
"Haaah!!!"
I scraped the walls with my deeply buried middle finger as I pulled it out. I wiped the glistening finger with a tissue from the desk, then coolly turned away.
"Then hurry downstairs~"
"Ah.... I really hate you, Sunwoo!!!!"
Leaving the complaining Eunsol behind, I went straight into the room next door.
"Where'd this one go now?"
"What are you doing in someone else's room?"
"Jesus! Make some noise when you walk!!"
"This is my room. What are you doing in here?"
"I came to wake you up and freaked out when you weren't here, why? Where'd you go?"
"Morning jog."
"Ha... You do that too?"
"I've got studying and part-time work to juggle now, so I figured my stamina might not cut it."
"Impressive... But... aren't you cold dressed like that...?"
The tight leggings blatantly showed off Lee Naye's most attractive leg lines. Real eye candy first thing in the morning.
"Hey."
"Huh?"
"If you're that curious, why don't you just touch them?"
"Can I??"
"Like hell you can!!"
"Aaack!!!"
"Get out already! I need to change!!"
"Uwaak!! You snake..."
Thud!!!
Lee Naye stepped on my foot, shoved me outside, and locked the door she'd slammed shut hard enough to break it. I tried opening it again while pretending to be mad, but she was thorough about it.
"I don't know if it'll suit everyone's tastes."
"It's so delicious!! Just as good as when Sunwoo makes it!"
"Oh my? Sunwoo, you can cook too?"
"I'm not great at it—I just get by."
"I see~ A man who cooks is cool. You must be popular, Sunwoo?"
"Maybe a little... haha~"
"Then what about Sol and Naye?"
"Sol can't cook..."
"I'm not good at cooking either."
Lee Naye, fresh from her shower, was the last to join the meal. While we chatted and got to know each other better, Kim Sua was the first to get up.
"Mom, I'm heading out~"
"Okay! Fighting, my daughter~~"
Probably practicing early because it was break. And aside from me, everyone else was busy from the morning.
"Where are you two going?"
"Part-time jobs."
"Starting today, Sol and Naye are working adults too~"
"You only got here yesterday. And you're starting part-time jobs today??"
"Obviously we lined up the jobs before we came. Unlike you, we don't have a lot of money."
"Ah...."
"Then Sunwoo, you stay home and watch the house~~~"
"......"
What the hell? Why did I suddenly feel like the house dog? Should I find something to do too...?
"Sunwoo, you're not doing a part-time job?"
"Ah... well... not really..."
"I see... Then go look around the school and the neighborhood~ See you this evening~"
"Yes, have a good day."
Once Yun Jiyeon left for work last of all, I was truly alone in the house. But it wasn't like I had nothing to do. If anything, I was quite busy.
"Yes, Uncle. Can you take over a case another lawyer is handling? Not a firm, just a solo practitioner. Yes, yes. Ah... then I'll have to put in a little work myself? Got it. I'll try that."
I asked Lawyer Choi Myeonghun for help. The one who made the mess should be the one to clean it up, after all.
"Oh my? Sunwoo??"
I arrived at the salon where Yun Jiyeon worked. I needed a haircut, and I had other business too.
"You work here?"
"Yes. Did you come for a haircut, Sunwoo?"
"Just a trim."
"Then sit over here~ Our best stylist is cutting right now, so..."
"Just have you do it, Auntie."
"Me?? Umm... Don't complain later if you don't like it~"
"Of course not."
I sat in the seat she guided me to, and the cut began with the soft snipping of scissors. Her scissor work was so professional I couldn't understand why she'd tried to hand me off to someone else.
But then.
Bzzzt!! Bzzzt!!
The phone vibration made the scissors stop.
"Sunwoo, just a moment."
"Take your time."
"Then... Yes, Lawyer. Yes?? R-resignation..?? How can you suddenly do this...! What am I supposed to do if you just...!"
She lowered her rising voice and continued the call, but the end of that conversation was already decided.
"L-Lawyer...! Haa... Why... why.... sob.."
Yun Jiyeon dropped her phone on the floor and covered her face with both hands as she sobbed. Customers and other staff all turned to stare, but she didn't seem to have the composure to care.
"Auntie."
"Ah.. I'm sorry.. Thank you..."
I stood, undid the cutting cape covered in hair clippings, and picked up the phone from the floor first. Yun Jiyeon took the cracked phone, quickly stuffed it in her pocket, and wiped away the tears that had spilled with her hand. I carefully spoke up.
"Do you need a lawyer, by any chance?"
"No.. You don't have to worry about it, Sunwoo.. Sit down, I'll finish the cut."
"Here."
"......"
"It's the card of a lawyer I know. He represents one of the top five law firms in the country. And he happens to want to take on a pro bono case."
"Pro bono..?"
"It means a large firm provides free legal representation for the public good, no conditions attached."
"Sunwoo..."
"Give him a call. It seems more urgent than my haircut."
"But..."
"Hurry~ Someone else might snatch the case~"
"Ah..! Th-then excuse me for a moment!"
From now on, Yun Jiyeon's case would be handled by Hanul Law Firm. Of course there was no guarantee everything would work out perfectly. But at least she'd avoided useless lawyer fees and put her case in the hands of more reliable experts. That alone would be a huge help.
But what the hell was this bastard now?
"Yun. Are you going to keep working like this?"
"I'm sorry.."
"Go apologize to the customer right now and finish the cut."
"Yes, Director.."
"Hold on."
"Yes??"
"How can you walk around with this stuck on you?"
"Hup!!"
The so-called director's hand grabbed Yun Jiyeon's ass. It was by the hallway leading to the bathroom, out of sight of other staff and customers.
"D-Director..!"
"Anyone watching would think I was sexually harassing you. I was just brushing off the hair, wasn't I?"
"....You could have just said so.."
"Ha... Yun, if you keep misunderstanding me as a bad person, I'll be hurt~ Do you think there's another salon in Seoul that pays nearly three million to a mid-thirties ajumma who can't even cut hair properly?"
"......"
"Don't make me feel bad~ And make sure you come to the company dinner tomorrow. The building owner will be there too. You know we're renewing the lease this month, right? I'm not asking for much from you, Yun~ Just come to the dinner tomorrow, butter up the building owner a little, and while you're at it get along with me too—who knows? I might even raise your salary?"
Yun Jiyeon turned her head to avoid the face shoved close and flinched, frowning at the breath puffing against her ear.
"Ah.. There really are a lot of bastards in this world."
One more thing to take care of.
I paid and went straight up to the third floor. A real estate office.
"Welcome~ Looking for a one-room?"
"I want to buy this building. How much?"
"Pardon..?"
"Immediate purchase terms, and I'll pay twenty percent over market. Can we close by tomorrow?"
"J-just a moment! Let me contact the building owner... No! Sir, please have a seat over here first! What can I get you to drink??"
"Make the call first. If we can close by tomorrow, I'll throw in an extra two percent on the brokerage fee."
"Don't you worry!! I'll have that building owner bastard run over here right this second!"
Looks like I was about to become a building owner I never asked for.