Chapter 251

Manager Bae paused briefly at my words, but he quickly replied as if trying to hide his agitation from me.

"......Attorney Cha, you're spinning quite the frightening tale."

It looked like I'd properly hooked him.

"Is that so? But didn't you spend your youth at Han Young? And you know every little detail about the family's internal affairs. I don't see that as greed."

He was a close aide to Chairman Seol, but he had no public profile. Right after getting his contact from Lee Se-hwa, I'd searched him up, and his name had never appeared in a single article. At best, there were photos from official events where Chairman Seol appeared, with Bae's face barely visible in the corner, out of focus.

He'd lived as Chairman Seol's shadow for a long time. And for someone with ambition, time spent in the shadows is nothing but endurance.

Above all, if Manager Bae truly wanted to step into the light, opportunities like this didn't come often.

"Besides, didn't you say there was a bug in the reception room too? I don't know what conversations took place there, but if you were overheard backing Executive Director Seol Hyeong-seok, Representative Seol Hyeo-seok might have heard every word. In that case, even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I—who knows nothing—can guess what you mean to Representative Seol Hyeo-seok......"

Manager Bae fell silent. The moment he discovered the bug, he must have instantly recalled what he'd discussed with Chairman Seol there. Being human, he'd naturally feel uneasy, and stoking that unease wasn't hard.

"Still, I don't want to dismiss Manager Bae's concern for all of Han Young as nothing. You probably need a bit more time to think it over, so I'll keep investigating on my end while waiting for your call."

I checked my watch and tossed out a casual wrap-up line. His mind seemed swayed, but I was respecting his pride—he couldn't just say yes right here.

"Even if you don't join me, Manager Bae, I'll make Representative Seol Hyeo-seok pay no matter what. It's already set ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in stone that he'll be charged as an accomplice to murder. I only mentioned it because your help could speed things up. If that came off as rude, I apologize."

Manager Bae shook his head at my words.

"I don't find it rude. If a close friend of yours might ruin his life, you'd have to push hard, Cha. I heard you out today. I'll get back to you soon."

I exchanged brief goodbyes with him and got out of the car. I pulled out a cigarette, thinking of having one before leaving, but in that moment, the drivers—who'd vanished after getting a call from Manager Bae, apparently—rushed over.

"We'll take you back to the office."

The driver who'd brought me here started the car. Calling a taxi would've meant walking far, so I didn't refuse.

On the way back to the office, I pulled out my phone and looked up Dongjin's contact. I wanted to update him on the investigation's progress.

I typed a few characters into a text, then deleted them all. It felt too early to share the situation. There wasn't solid physical evidence yet, and spilling it prematurely only to hit a wall later would just worry Dongjin more.

Instead, I sent a message saying I was still investigating and not to worry too much.

Sanggil closed his phone and sat up in bed. He had to stay put at the hospital until Cha Juhan said he could discharge, so he was still faking illness despite being fully recovered. Occasional headaches lingered as aftereffects, but he'd asked on a Q&A site, and they said to play dead and demand workers' comp from the company—so that's the plan.

Anyway, he shuffled out of the room in his slippers.

"Hello!"

While wandering the ward looking for Gu Sojeong, he greeted passing nurses. They returned it politely, but once they thought he wasn't looking, their faces twisted like they'd eaten shit.

At this point, he suspected Gu Sojeong had badmouthed him to the entire ward's staff.

"Where the hell is she?"

He'd circled the ward once today, but no Gu Sojeong. He knew her off days, even her day/night shifts—she was definitely on today. Maybe in surgery?

Sanggil smacked his lips and cracked open the emergency exit door. Gu Sojeong used it for calls or gossiping with other nurses. How'd he know? He'd once overheard her trash-talking him there.

'Fuck, are these tears?'

Feeling his eyes moisten oddly, Sanggil headed up the stairs. Then—

"What do you want me to do about it?!"

A irritated voice echoed.

'Sounds like Kim Seongwoo.'

Sanggil crept forward silently, step by step.

"You think no one's stressed?!"

"I know, I get it! But shouldn't you pick up when it matters most?!"

'That's Gu Sojeong.'

Jackpot. Cha Juhan had emphasized checking if Gu Sojeong and Kim Seongwoo met. Despite tailing them endlessly, he'd never caught this.

Finally, something solid? Sanggil hit record quick.

Their shadows on the wall ahead meant they were on the next landing. Better stay put.

"You think I'm dodging your calls?"

"Aren't you? I'm dying of anxiety here. You said you'd wrap this up quick. How long do I have to wait? I need some resolution to ease this— what the hell!"

"You think crap like this resolves overnight?"

"It's dragging too long!"

"You think I want that? I'm sorry to Nurse Gu, grateful too. That's why I wanna fix it fastest. Just wait a bit more."

Kim Seongwoo, who'd been snapping, softened instantly to soothe her. Whether deliberate or not, they omitted subjects oddly—smart, considering eavesdroppers, but frustrating.

"How much longer do I wait here? After something that huge—"

"Nurse Gu. I told you not to bring this up at the hospital. What if someone's listening?"

Kim Seongwoo cut her off firmly. Gu Sojeong sighed, her voice deflating.

"Then you should've picked up. Who's making me anxious?"

"We'll talk Saturday. Don't call me out here for this anyway."

With that, footsteps descended. Sanggil stopped recording and bolted out the exit.

'This Saturday. Her off day—they're meeting outside. You're fucked, you two.'

Three days waiting for Manager Bae's call. For a life-changing decision, it'd take time—I wasn't rushing him.

Myungdae Hospital wouldn't touch Dongjin until Han Young decided his fate. And with Manager Bae deeply involved, they'd hold off until he chose.

Dongjin might suffer sidelong glances meanwhile, but he said his workload had lightened, letting him take vacation for once. Probably better for him.

I told him to treat it as catching up on overdue rest. With nothing for him to do now, easing his mind was the best way through this hell.

'Slept long, but still tired.'

Since Dongjin's case broke, I hadn't rested properly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠either. Maybe relaxing as clues unraveled? I'd slept three hours extra.

Brewing coffee, I checked my phone for overnight calls.

"What the."

Missed calls from Sanggil. 10 AM, 10:05, 10:30. I'd been dead asleep, but missing them like this?

He'd found something. I called back immediately.

I wedged the phone between shoulder and ear, booting the computer. Inbox had his email—packed with attachments.

Sanggil's email had at least thirty photos attached. All of Gu Sojeong and Kim Seongwoo, arms linked intimately, entering five different wedding dress shops.