Chapter 139
The entrance to the VIP ward resembled a hotel reception desk. The marble and high-end wood interior was one thing—unlike other floors—but even the designs of the nurses' uniforms passing by were different.
"How may I help you?"
The staff member at the desk stood up and said.
"I have an appointment with Go Yunseong in room 1803 at 4:30. I'm from Cha Juhan Law Office."
She picked up the internal phone line. Probably to verify what we'd said.
"May I see some ID? We'll exchange it for a visitor's pass, and you can swap it back when you leave."
This wasn't the prosecutor's office. I had my complaints, but I obediently placed my ID on the desk.
"I'll escort you."
"Sure."
"No, that's fine."
Kang Minjae answered briskly, but I shook my head.
"I'm planning to smoke a cigarette first. Just tell me where the smoking area is."
"Ah, I see. Go straight down the hallway ahead, and you'll find an outdoor rest area. There's an ashtray on one side, so you can smoke there."
The staffer pointed it out without suspicion and returned to her desk.
Kang Minjae looked at me quizzically.
"You smoked before we came up."
"If she tags along, we can't scope out the layout."
Like the location of the staff lounge, for instance. Or where the cleaning contractors gathered. Go Yunseong had been here for a month and a half. He might've snuck home without drawing eyes, but given his personality, he wouldn't have behaved himself quietly. In this boring VIP ward with hardly any patients, the arrival of a loose cannon like him would've given them endless gossip fodder, 24/7.
"……."
As we walked, I spotted a narrow hallway to the left of the rest area's entrance. Probably designed not to bother VIP patients, it had no lighting. A large potted plant blocked it too—if you weren't looking closely, even long-term patients might pass by oblivious.
Deeper in, light leaked from a room.
Female Staff Lounge
"Nurses' lounge, looks like." Laughter and murmured chatter spilled out from inside.
"What're you gonna ask in there? They won't say a word."
Kang Minjae eyed me staring at the lounge.
Of course they wouldn't talk if asked outright. I pulled a small recorder from my jacket pocket. I'd brought it to tape Go Yunseong, but my phone would suffice for that. I tucked the recorder into the potted plant.
Having just passed reception as his visitors, they'd inevitably mention him, even briefly. Staff lounges were gossip hotspots anyway—especially a hidden one like this. A hundred percent chance. At minimum, something like, "Heard Go Yunseong got a visitor?" With luck, I might learn about his usual behavior here.
"Whoa. Wiretap?"
Kang Minjae whispered.
Well, wiretapping was illegal. But as long as it wasn't used in court?
"What're you talking about?"
"That recorder—"
"I just dropped it. Bag was heavy."
"……."
"I'll grab it later."
I tidied up casually and headed to room 1803 where Go Yunseong waited. No need to check the door numbers carefully—the spot with guards lined up was obvious.
"How may I help you?"
A guard blocked us at the door.
"We're Oh Sanghyeon's lawyers. We have an appointment."
Kang Minjae flashed the visitor pass.
The guard said to wait, then went inside. How many checks just to see one person? What a VIP.
"Come in."
The room was quiet. Steam billowed from multiple humidifiers, and alcohol disinfectant hung in the air.
Go Yunseong lay in the central bed, head bandaged, arm in a cast. The rest was hidden by his gown, but he didn't look sick. Unlike Oh Sanghyeon, pale and gaunt after weeks here, Go Yunseong looked vibrant.
"Hello."
As Kang Minjae greeted him, the lawyer seated by the bed stood and approached. We shook hands, swapped cards, and he tried guiding us to the sofa area.
"Shouldn't we greet Go Yunseong first, see how he's doing? He's the victim, after all."
Go Yunseong just glanced at us, silent.
The lawyer hesitated, then leaned close to him, murmuring. Then he directed us to chairs by the caregiver spot.
"Director, these are Oh Sanghyeon's lawyers."
Go Yunseong looked our way and nodded once.
"Hello. I heard you switched lawyers."
He scanned me up and down.
"I heard you were badly hurt. You still look unwell."
"After a beating like that, you don't recover quick."
Go Yunseong touched his chest irritably, grimacing like he was in pain. His act was a bit overdone. Eight weeks' injury was serious, but at six weeks in, he should've improved. No need to ham it up like he was dying.
"Heard your face took a hit. Could've been bad if misplaced. Glad you're this okay."
Go Yunseong scowled at my words.
"Did that bastard admit it? He denied landing even one punch to the end!"
"Director, calm down. I'll handle this."
As Go Yunseong bolted upright yelling, the lawyer grabbed his arm. He sat up easily too. Healthy indeed.
"If Oh Sanghyeon finally admitted the assault, you'd know. He kicked you, you hit your head on the wall. The escorts said the sound was huge. Lucky it was just concussion."
The lawyer tucked the blanket over Go Yunseong and continued.
"We're open to settlement if Oh Sanghyeon apologizes sincerely. Money's not the issue—we've got treatment covered."
As expected. They wanted the magnanimous forgiveness photo op.
I nodded slowly.
"Whether Oh Sanghyeon faked it or pinned his own injuries on you—we don't know. But if he repents now, we're willing to show mercy."
Mercy. Out of all phrases, that condescending one. No wonder I never meshed with chaebol scum from birth.
"I see. We're still piecing it together ourselves. He admits some contact, but not assault."
The lawyer's face twisted at my words.
"We're here because it's time you admitted Go Yunseong assaulted our client en masse. Pity you won't."
I eyed Go Yunseong's bandaged state. I'd love to whack that cast with a big stick to check the arm—or press his chest while pretending to steady the bed, since the case photos showed bruises everywhere. Wishful thinking.
"……Didn't you come to settle?"
"Oh, a little misunderstanding. Kang here's still green."
I patted Kang Minjae's shoulder.
"We figured you wanted to settle. Go Yunseong committed group assault; our client got seven weeks' injury. Unlike you, he needs treatment funds."
"Cha Lawyer, you joking? Go Yunseong's the victim here, Oh Sanghyeon's charged with injury. Why would we settle with him?"
The lawyer raised his voice; the room's guards eyed us. Intimidating.
"So Go Yunseong still won't admit the assault."
I grabbed my briefcase and coat. I bowed silently and turned to leave, then paused.
"Something's been bugging me; had to ask."
"……What."
"Isn't that a PlayStation? Knew you were a Tekken maniac, Director, but didn't realize this hardcore. With a broken arm."
I pointed at the joystick behind the TV setup box. Go Yunseong's eyes widened. The lawyer looked flustered too—clearly unaware of the console. Go Yunseong seemed shocked I knew his game.
In my past life, he'd been caught playing Tekken on PlayStation in his hospital room while faking illness before a prosecutor's summons—total embarrassment. I'd stalked Go Sangjun's kids like a creep; how could I miss his favorite game?
"Love Tekken so much you tested moves on Oh Sanghyeon in real life?"
"Pfft!"
Kang Minjae couldn't hold back his laugh. He covered his mouth quick, but the other lawyer was at his limit.
Better bail before sparks flew.
"We'll be going then. Call if you want to settle."
I left without looking back.
"Exit's this way."
As we headed the opposite direction, the door guards extended arms to block us.
"Gonna smoke first."
I pointed toward the rest area. They nodded heavily and stepped aside.
"Go ahead."
Heading out, I casually reached into the planter and pocketed the recorder. About thirty minutes recorded. Hope there was something juicy.