Chapter 101
"...I really don't want to say anything nasty."
Kang Minjae gripped the edge of his desk, his face a mask of confusion.
"Go Jin-ah... she's truly one insane bitch."
The moment the ring was found in Jumin-ji's bag, he'd briefly suspected Go Jin-ah might have ordered the video shoot. But he'd dismissed it immediately—there was no reason for her to blow things up this big.
"The reason we thought it was Chairman Go Sang-kyung's doing... or more precisely, why even if it was him, he wouldn't take any real damage. And why Go Jin-ah, knowing Jeong Yeong-jun was innocent, still pushed for the divorce. It all fits if you plug her in instead."
The video scandal had inevitably tanked Yangjin Group's image and stock price. Chairman Go Sang-kyung wasn't the only one who'd worry about that. His only child and Yangjin Group's sole heiress, Go Jin-ah, had plenty of reason to care too.
But Yangjin Group's image hadn't been completely ruined—it stayed separate from Jeong Yeong-jun, turning into a punchline rather than a catastrophe. The stock dipped, sure, but the 24/7 convenience store acquisition went off without a hitch, and it climbed back up soon after.
So why had she, suspecting Jeong Yeong-jun's innocence, rushed to wrap it up with a no-fault divorce? Not because she feared a prolonged case exposing Chairman Go Sang-kyung as the real culprit. No—she was afraid of herself being exposed.
As Kang Minjae said, everything that fit Chairman Go Sang-kyung fit her just as well. If only they could figure out why she'd escalate it this far.
"Jeong Yeong-jun said from the start that Go Jin-ah wouldn't listen to him. Like she didn't even want to believe him."
"Yeah. Obviously... since it was her setup."
I rubbed my forehead.
Right now, Jumin-ji was probably in the middle of interrogation, insisting she and Jo Hyun-seok were lovers to cover for Go Jin-ah. Otherwise, we would've gotten a call from Lee Ye-jin saying Jumin-ji denied it to the end and demanding we cough up any remaining evidence.
And when I'd tipped off Lee Ye-jin, I'd mentioned the supposed lover angle, so they'd bought Jumin-ji's story.
Analyzing the black box footage, phone, and disk would take time too. Before the prosecutors chased more red herrings, I needed to lay out the truth as I'd pieced it together—and shine every spotlight on Go Jin-ah.
That Jo Hyun-seok list the prosecutors craved? High odds it was with her too.
"Get Lee Ye-jin sunbae on the line."
"She's probably in interrogation by now..."
"Then Team Leader Oh will pick up."
Kang Minjae dialed, sighing heavily.
"How do we break this to Jeong Yeong-jun...? If he hears it before the prosecutors leak it, he might just beg us to bury it."
I pondered his words while waiting for the call to connect. He was right.
Jeong Yeong-jun loved Go Jin-ah so much he'd set aside his innocence and agree to her divorce terms. He'd only changed his mind for his family's sake. But I suspected hatred for Chairman Go Sang-kyung played a part too.
This time, though, the culprit wasn't the chairman—it was Go Jin-ah herself, the woman he loved. The shock would hit him harder than anything before. Obvious.
But burying the real perp? No way.
I'd taken the case precisely because Jeong Yeong-jun was Yangjin Group's sole heiress's husband. I'd figured navigating this mess would yield something useful toward my goals. Burying Go Jin-ah and Jo Hyun-seok's affair? That could be the key to exposing massive corruption. Jeong Yeong-jun's "love" didn't justify silencing it.
Figuring out how to tell him would take work, but the full truth had to come out.
Optimistically, maybe once he knew her crimes, he'd fall out of love and stop protecting her.
"Cha Lawyer, this is Oh Team Leader. Inspector Lee Ye-jin is in interrogation right now."
I was about to hang up when Oh picked up.
"Should I have her call you when it's over?"
"No, I need to meet now. Heading to the office."
"Something urgent? We haven't found anything new yet. The machines are still analyzing..."
"It's urgent. Is Lee Ye-jin interrogating Jumin-ji right now?"
"Yes."
"Then she can toss it to another prosecutor for a bit."
"Sounds critical. I'll pass it on right away—and that you're coming in."
"Thanks."
I hung up, grabbed my jacket from the rack. Kang Minjae looked at me like, What about me?
"Kang Byeon. I'm going to meet sunbae. You handle that bag first."
"Yes. Go Jin-ah's bag, right?"
"Yeah. Confirm it's truly one-of-a-kind."
"I know a guy who's an expert on luxury brands. I'll call him."
"Expert?"
Expert or not didn't matter. Prosecutors could just ask H Company. The issue was if H refused—but given the stakes, they wouldn't.
"I'll come too. I can call on the way."
Kang Minjae snatched his keys and bolted out. I followed.
"Give me the keys. I'll drive."
"I can."
"Focus on the call."
"Roger. Honor to ride shotgun and get driven by you, Lawyer."
He grinned awkwardly and slid into the passenger seat. As I drove toward Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he made the call.
They caught up briefly. Then he cut to the chase.
Conversation flowing, he flashed me an OK sign, smiling. I pulled into the prosecutors' office lot, scanning for a spot. Cars packed it tight—signs urged public transit on summonses for suspects and witnesses, but I knew a hidden space.
He hung up as I parked.
"Confirmed. Custom-made. Standard custom order takes two months minimum. Fashion show unveiled that tassel design March 2nd—if ordered right after, earliest delivery late April, probably early May."
Kang Minjae rattled it off fast. Jo Hyun-seok picked it up late April—perfect match.
"Reliable source? Sharing with sunbae now."
"Solid. Guy I called gets every new H drop delivered home. Said he'd never seen this bag. Called the H manager right after the article pics dropped—told him it's custom."
He stretched casually. H Company—top-tier luxury—shipping new releases home? Serious money.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Uh, just... an acquaintance."
He noticed my glance, added quickly.
"Cool."
"And we're not that close."
Got chewed out for long time no talk—not close? Sure.
"Got it."
My phone buzzed. Lee Ye-jin calling.
"Cha Byeon. Me. Something urgent?"
"Parking lot now."
"Come up with a visitor pass?"
"Don't wanna bump into anyone. Come to our car. Kang Byeon, plate number?"
"8190."
Minutes later, Lee Ye-jin yanked open the back door, panting as she slumped against the seat.
"Swamped. What's so urgent you drag me out?"
Kang Minjae handed her the printed article instead of answering.
"What's this?"
"Jumin-ji isn't Jo Hyun-seok's girlfriend."
"What? Then who—? She swore she was, said she had no idea he was that kind of guy, just normal dating, no ties to Yangjin Group. Said the articles made her feel betrayed, like he targeted her on purpose—she was furious. Not that I buy it, but..."
Lee Ye-jin gaped, unfolding the printout. Top photo: Go Jin-ah full-body shot. She stared at us before even reading.
"...Go Jin-ah?"
She skimmed the comments under the pics, hand over mouth.
"No way—this the bag Jo Hyun-seok bragged about custom-making for his 'girlfriend' during interrogation?"
"Yes. Tailed him post-release, confirmed at H store pickup—pics secured. Seeing it with Go Jin-ah seals it."
"...Right. Ring—we saw it on Jumin-ji, but you said it fell when you bumped her."
"Yeah. Couldn't wear it daily, so probably left it with her secretary."
Jumin-ji was Go Jin-ah's constant shadow secretary. Hand it off, pick it up only for Jo Hyun-seok meets. Safer than home or office.
"Hold on."
Her phone rang.
"Yes, Team Leader. Out meeting Cha Byeon. Yes. Right. Huh? For real?"
Calm at first, her voice cracked sharp. Forgot she was in the car—jumped up, banged her head on the roof.
"Ow... no, fine. Heading in now. Gotta see it myself. Yes, Team Leader."
She rubbed her head, hung up. I eyed her; she hesitated, then spoke.
"Damn, keep making me spill on my own screw-ups. Jumin-ji's car black box caught Jo Hyun-seok's white Carnival 9932. Even women piling out of it."
"Jo Hyun-seok's white Carnival?"
"The one he used hauling women. Burner plate, scrapped—dead end. Gotta check it out."
Jumin-ji's car catching Jo Hyun-seok's Carnival? Slam-dunk she was in on the sex bribes. If clueless as claimed, why hang with a car full of women?
"Huh, what else?"
Lee Ye-jin paused mid-exit for another call. Oh again.
"Yes, heading up now. Yes. ...Go Jin-ah?"