Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Deal with the Reporter
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“Mind if I step away for a quick chat?”
“Go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on Jeong Woo-min.”
After asking Min Ji-hye to watch Jeong Woo-min, Lee Jae-hyun approached Yoon Min-ha, who was smiling brightly.
Spotting him coming her way, Yoon Min-ha stopped filming and subtly lowered her smartphone.
“Whoever he is, he’s clearly a scammer, right? How’d you spot him and nab him like that? You’ve got some sharp eyes.”
“...I don’t think it’s all that impressive for a cop to catch a criminal.”
“Isn’t catching a scammer as a patrol officer—spotting him right there on the scene and grabbing him on the spot—pretty damn impressive?”
Yoon Min-ha beamed, as if asking for agreement.
Lee Jae-hyun had nothing to say to that.
Honestly, if it had been any other patrol officer pulling off what he just did, he’d probably think, “Wow, a patrol officer did that? Impressive.”
“Asking to see his wife and daughter makes it sound like they’re both in the hospital.”
“...”
“Looks like a scammer who’s been on the run, but he walked right in on his own. Must be tied to that recent big issue. Only one thing comes to mind for me. What about you, Patrol Officer Lee Jae-hyun?”
Yoon Min-ha stared straight at him as she asked.
It was a question where she already knew the answer.
The incident had just unfolded in front of them, and any reporter with a nose for news would pick up on it.
Lee Jae-hyun didn’t bother denying it.
He shrugged and opened his mouth.
“Well, feels like I’ve been caught red-handed myself.”
“Huh? Ahaha.”
Yoon Min-ha burst into clear laughter, as if she hadn’t expected that response.
She laughed for a moment longer, really amused, then brushed her hair back.
“Ah, I couldn’t have imagined that answer. Nearly laughed until I cried.”
“I don’t get what’s so funny.”
Lee Jae-hyun replied with a puzzled look.
He’d just said what he felt, and he genuinely couldn’t understand the humor.
But Yoon Min-ha continued as if it was obviously funny.
“It’s hilarious coming from the guy who just nabbed a scammer.”
“Anyway, let’s move on. About what just happened...”
Whether his answer was funny or not didn’t matter, so Lee Jae-hyun brushed it off quickly.
Yoon Min-ha jumped right in.
“Of course I’ll run it as a story. I saw it myself and even filmed it.”
“Please don’t use the footage. Filming without consent from the subject...”
“I’ll just write the article nice and clean.”
She flashed a grin in response.
Even if she used the footage he’d just shot, Lee Jae-hyun didn’t have many ways to stop her.
There were plenty of loopholes, after all.
But Yoon Min-ha didn’t seem interested in clashing with him and agreed easily.
“And that personal speculation you made? Might be best not to turn that into news.”
“Sure, if that’s what you want, I’ll keep it separate and run them as distinct pieces.”
She nodded along again.
Her ready cooperation made Lee Jae-hyun suspicious instead, and he eyed her quietly.
Meeting his gaze, Yoon Min-ha laid her cards on the table honestly.
“But in exchange, how about a quick interview?”
“An interview?”
“You denied it, but everything points to me being right. Myeong Jin-han, Park Chun-beom, and now this scammer. Oh, wait... Don’t tell me you’re the one who caught the child attempted murder suspect too, Patrol Officer Lee Jae-hyun?”
“...”
Her sudden probing question caught him off guard, leaving him without an immediate response.
The cops hadn’t even started buzzing internally about the officer who nabbed Gu Hyun-seok, the child attempted murder suspect.
It should’ve been impossible for Yoon Min-ha to know... but from that question and his expression, she pieced it together.
“Whoa, nailed it? I was just guessing on that one.”
As she muttered, Lee Jae-hyun let out a small sigh and spoke.
“Interview’s gonna be tough. Got any other angles?”
“Wow, no to this, no to that... You drive a hard bargain.”
An interview felt burdensome, and since he’d never done one even in his past life, it wasn’t familiar territory.
He didn’t like becoming news fodder himself, either.
Who actually enjoys being headline material?
Lee Jae-hyun stared at her, and Yoon Min-ha threw in the white towel first.
“How about we stay in touch now and then?”
“...Sounds good.”
Staying in occasional contact.
He hadn’t been close with reporters in his past life, but he’d kept lines open with a few, so he nodded without hesitation.
No downside to it.
He could toss them tips when big cases broke.
And a reporter might come in handy someday.
‘Who knows how long that’ll last.’
Still, Yoon Min-ha seemed competent enough that it couldn’t hurt to stay friendly.
As Lee Jae-hyun thought that, she continued.
“Oh, but honestly, you know it’s weird your story hasn’t blown up yet, right? Everyone’s swamped with back-to-back cases, so no one’s dug in. But I guarantee it: give it a month max, and your name’ll be in the headlines.”
No arguing with that.
A story would break eventually.
Lee Jae-hyun had no plans to block it indefinitely.
He hadn’t committed any crimes himself—just caught them—so no need to go overboard fighting coverage.
Still, he’d prefer it hit after he wrapped the elementary school kidnapping case.
He planned to stop that kidnapping before it happened, which meant quietly searching the scene.
Last thing he needed was the kidnapper spotting him.
A kid’s life was on the line; he didn’t want any wild cards.
With that in mind, he replied.
“I know. It’ll break eventually.”
“Then... how about I break it first?”
“Let me get my head around it. Give me a week.”
“A week? That work?”
“Yeah. After the first weekend of next month, and I won’t say a word.”
He didn’t want the exposure, but getting trashed in some random reporter’s hit piece was worse.
If it was inevitable, better as the patrol officer specializing in major crime busts than some overzealous crackdown controversy.
“Thanks. I’ll make it flattering and drop it after next month’s first weekend.”
“Alright then.”
Lee Jae-hyun gave a slight nod in farewell and turned away.
Yoon Min-ha, having gotten everything she wanted, just smiled and waved without holding him back.
He headed toward Min Ji-hye and Jeong Woo-min.
That’s when Serhen appeared before him.
“That reporter agrees with me.”
Serhen glanced back at Yoon Min-ha as she spoke.
‘On what?’
“That you’re cool, and you’ll be famous soon?”
‘I get the fame part, but when did she say I was cool?’
“I’m a moral, upright demon. You doubting me?”
Lee Jae-hyun ignored her and kept walking silently.
Who wouldn’t doubt a demon?
Serhen chuckled mischievously, then spoke up.
“Fine, fine. No more chit-chat. I’ll eat and make you happy.”
She moved her hand as she said it.
Black energy drained from Jeong Woo-min and flowed into Serhen.
“Man, I really scored with this contract. Thanks always. Feels like I’m just feeding lately, but hit me up anytime you need help later—I’ll return the favor.”
‘Need help... There’s one incident that hasn’t happened yet. Can you help stop it?’
Her offer fresh in mind, Lee Jae-hyun asked about the one thing bothering him most lately: how to prevent the child kidnapping next month.
But Serhen, who’d just offered help anytime, looked awkward.
“Uh... I can’t help with stuff that hasn’t happened yet. Needs evil karma involved somehow... Embarrassing to admit.”
‘No worries. It’s my job to handle anyway.’
“Still, anything else, I’ll help once for free. Just say the word.”
With that, Serhen vanished.
Lee Jae-hyun was already right in front of Jeong Woo-min and Min Ji-hye.
“Ready to head out?”
“Yeah. I’ll drive.”
He replied calmly to Min Ji-hye.
And so, the case that started with the child assault attempt wrapped up completely with the scammer’s capture.
* * *
‘What the hell is with this guy?’
Min Ji-hye glanced at Lee Jae-hyun gripping the wheel, thinking to herself.
Not long ago, he’d been just another quiet guy doing his job.
Like any typical patrol officer, he’d make mistakes now and then, come off a bit green.
He worked hard, but not passionately—just fulfilling his duties.
She hadn’t paid him much mind.
With a grandfather and father both cops, Min Ji-hye was police through and through.
Naturally, she wanted to be close to those with a true cop’s mindset.
By that measure, Lee Jae-hyun had been a decent enough colleague, nothing more.
‘But... these past few weeks, he’s a whole different person.’
Hard to pin an exact start, but things shifted around Myeong Jin-han for sure.
Before the arrest? After? Didn’t matter.
Myeong Jin-han was the turning point.
After that, Lee Jae-hyun showed real “cop” material.
Sometimes, he even seemed more seasoned than veterans.
Today was no different.
He handled the reporter like a pro, knowing exactly which answers were touchy and responding accordingly.
And nabbed a wanted fugitive in the process.
Without him, Min Ji-hye would’ve walked right past Jeong Woo-min without a second thought.
‘Am I even qualified as a senior?’
Forget senior—did she even have the right to call herself police at heart?
The thought crossed her mind briefly, but she shook it off.
It wasn’t her failing; it was him excelling.
Min Ji-hye watched him a moment longer, then turned to gaze out the window.
Hanseong Police Substation came into view.