Chapter 125 – Ordinarily – Part 5

Chapter 125 – Ordinarily – Part 5

Reporter Choi Gibae’s body stiffened as if nailed to the floor.

He was the young man who had entered the coffee shop with Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok, then went outside and hailed a taxi.

He had clearly thought the man had rushed out to find him, but no, he really had found him.

He didn’t even seem to have made eye contact with him, who was looking down from the third floor…

“The light will change in a bit.”

Woojin, facing the window, looked down at Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok, who was trying to cross the street.

He looked as if he was about to ignore the crosswalk signal and cross immediately, but there were too many passing cars for him to do so.

Despite Woojin’s presence, Reporter Choi Gibae didn’t even think about running away.

He felt that even if he ran, he would be caught immediately.

Choi Gibae laughed awkwardly.

“Hahahaha! Just playing a prank. A prank.”

He tapped the billiard table and said again.

“I was just going to leave after one more shot. I’m practicing these days. Hahahaha!”

Woojin turned back to him and said,

“The time it takes for the crosswalk signal to turn green is now 10Candle.”

Woojin placed his cellphone on the billiard table.

“I won’t record it.”

Instead, he would persuade him.

His voice was lower than before, and all the muscles in his face relaxed.

As his eyebrows lowered slightly, Woojin’s face, dressed in a suit, felt a little cold.

People can unconsciously tell if the other person is in a bad mood or a good mood.

Woojin created that in-between atmosphere.

“10Candle has passed. Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok will enter the Billiards Hall in 3 minutes.”

“Ha, ha, ha. I’m just kidding, I told you…”

“Reporter Choi has two choices. The former will lead to a pleasant room, but the latter will not end well.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“2 minutes and 32Candle left. Let me explain what I mean.”

***

The Billiards Hall door burst open and Cha Juhyeok entered.

Indeed, Reporter Choi Gibae was sitting weakly next to Woojin.

That surprise lasted only a moment, then Cha Juhyeok snickered and approached Reporter Choi.

“Oh dear… Were you watching here? Our Reporter Choi?”

“Assistant Manager Cha, I think I lost my mind for a moment.”

Cha Juhyeok nodded.

“Yes. It seemed like you did.”

Cha Juhyeok took out his cellphone from his pocket and played the recorded audio.

-Hey, Assistant Manager Cha. I’m not some crazy guy for that… But you know. The unit price doesn’t seem right. Two is a bit… Isn’t it…

Cha Juhyeok put his cellphone back into his pocket and opened his mouth as if to pose a riddle.

What do you call it when you prevent someone from doing something, or scare them into doing something they don’t want to do?

Choi Gibae waved his hand.

Blackmail, you say!? Assistant Manager Cha! Listen to me…

Cha Juhyeok snickered.

Blackmailing people by using their private lives. You’re bringing shame to all reporters by yourself. What do you think will happen if I hand this audio file over to the consulting lawyer? Huh?

I didn’t take any money! Assistant Manager Cha! It was just a joke.

Exactly… You should have been moderately greedy. Then everything would have been fine. You could have gotten 20 million won and eaten something delicious.

Cha Juhyeok pressured Choi Gibae as if he were a blood relative of Shinhwa Group.

He looked down at Choi Gibae as if he were an insect.

Woojin looked at Cha Juhyeok with an observant gaze.

Just then, Cha Juhyeok extended his hand to Reporter Choi.

Give it to me.

Wh-what?

When Cha Juhyeok closed his eyes as if annoyed, Choi Gibae quickly handed over a USB drive from his pocket.

Anything else?

No! There’s really nothing else!

Seeing Choi Gibae’s tearful face, Cha Juhyeok smiled with satisfaction.

Oh, come on. Who’s going to eat you? I hope we don’t see each other again.

Choi Gibae nodded frantically.

Oh! I won’t even loiter around Shinhwa Group. No, I’ll avoid it!

That’s an excellent choice.

Cha Juhyeok immediately turned and headed for the exit. No, he turned back again and shouted.

This isn’t hide-and-seek, what is this during everyone’s busy time! What is this! Tsk.

I-I’m sorry.

Cha Juhyeok left, and Woojin also followed him out.

As Cha Juhyeok started the car and approached the driver’s side door, Woojin opened the door first.

“I’ll drive.”

“I told you you’re quick-witted, didn’t I?”

He got into the passenger seat with a satisfied smile and moved the shopping bag full of money to the back seat.

Suddenly, Woojin could see his pupils dilate.

And he remembered what he had said at SH Strategy.

‘Perhaps… did someone order you to investigate me? You’re not just a parachute, are you?’

He was analyzing Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok’s non-verbal cues and extracting information in his head.

“I’ll start.”

Woojin, who was in the driver’s seat, was an excellent driver.

He was as stable as someone who had been driving for years.

Meanwhile, Cha Juhyeok, who had finished his call, looked at Woojin with curiosity and opened his mouth.

“How did you know Choi Gibae was there?”

“Assistant Manager Cha set the navigation when he was heading to the meeting place. When he entered the coffee shop, he briefly looked around. This means it was his first time at this coffee shop, so I thought there was a high probability that Reporter Choi had set the meeting place.”

“What?”

Woojin made a U-turn and immediately replied.

“He called me to a designated place and then confidently raised the amount. When Assistant Manager Cha made the call, he spoke as if he knew everything. On the way here, I looked into Reporter Choi’s background. He doesn’t have many articles, and they’re rather trivial. The company he belongs to is also small. I didn’t think Reporter Choi Gibae’s connections would be the same as Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok’s information network.”

Cha Juhyeok instinctively nodded his head, with a look on his face that seemed to say, ‘What kind of guy is this?’

Woojin continued speaking.

“I thought it was just a hunch that Assistant Manager Cha was tracking Reporter Choi’s movements through various professions. But that hunch was very confident. A fellow staff member might have given a hint. However, it would have been difficult to reach them today. He might have brought another cellphone in case of location tracking. Of course, it’s highly likely that Assistant Manager Cha’s contact, Reporter Choi’s colleague, kept silent to Reporter Choi. That’s why Assistant Manager Cha would have called that reporter without hesitation.”

Cha Juhyeok blinked, and Woojin’s words kept flowing.

“When he mentioned contacting a detective, I finished my calculations. He’s watching from a familiar place. A confident and firm tone. Looking down from above.”

Cha Juhyeok felt his hairs stand on end at the explanation he had never heard before.

“Among all those buildings, why a billiards hall?”

Woojin said nonchalantly,

Because the coffee shop is clearly visible.

If you were watching me, you would have known I went to the billiards hall, right?

I took a taxi in front of the coffee shop and made an immediate U-turn.

What did you say?

I was just pretending to go to a different area.

Cha Juhyeok raised a finger and pointed at Woojin.

Hey, you… This guy’s a human navigation system, isn’t he? Huh?

When the light turned red, Woojin turned his head to Cha Juhyeok and bowed slightly.

Thank you.

Then he looked up again and thought.

Reporter Choi Gibae and Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok were no different.

When they think they are superior to their opponent and have dominated them, they trample on that weakness, mock it, and fill their self-esteem with the sense of superiority derived from it.

* * *

Assistant Manager Cha Juhyeok spoke in front of the Chief, as if asking for praise.

So, it was resolved well.

The Chief spoke as if seeing Cha Juhyeok in a new light.

I thought you’d go down to Cheongju like last time because you weren’t wanted, and act clueless, but how did you find him?

I think I used my head a bit. When I thought about it, I figured he’d be somewhere close, so I looked around the vicinity, and he was watching from the building across the street like a pervert.

Yes, sometimes you get that feeling when you’re working. Just do that. Good job. Oh, how’s the Parachute?

He’s not clueless and seems to have some common sense.

The Chief nodded.

We’re people who live by our wits. You need to have good intuition, intuition. His specs seem decent, so don’t be prejudiced just because he’s a Parachute. Make him useful. Since he’s already here, we should at least make him run errands.

Understood.

Alright, you can go.

Cha Juhyeok bowed respectfully and left.

Cha Juhyeok returned to his seat and placed a hand on Woojin’s shoulder, who was sitting still.

“Why are you so frozen?”

Woojin stood up from his seat.

“I’m not.”

He was watching each person.

It was to understand them.

“No, you’re completely frozen. Sit down. Now, what you’re going to do from now on is…”

“Assistant Manager Cha.”

As someone with a higher rank approached him, Cha Juhyeok stood up.

“Young Lady Hyerim is going shopping. Go with her and assist her.”

“Huh?”

Cha Juhyeok’s eyes widened.

Because even if it was anyone else, Lee Hyerim had never done this before.

More than anything, the department store staff members always attended to her.

Ah…

Considering her personality, she did dislike having people follow her around in a line.

“Didn’t you hear? Go and help her…”

He, who was continuing his sentence, suddenly looked at Woojin.

“We can send him. YH Department Store in an hour.”

He threw out the words and disappeared somewhere.

Cha Juhyeok turned his head to Woojin.

“You heard that, right? It actually worked out well. Since you’re already acquainted. I’ll tell you the main points. Always use the title Young Lady and never talk back. Do whatever she tells you without question. Move on your own, understanding the situation. Easy, right?”

“Understood.”

“Don’t open your mouth until Young Lady asks first. Even if you’re acquainted, don’t ask questions.”

“Understood.”

If it wasn’t Woojin receiving the instructions right now, but someone else, they would have been imprinted with who Lee Hyerim really was.

If the shopping takes longer than 7 PM, you can leave from there. Report before you leave, of course. Your departure time will be decided by Young Lady Lee Hyerim. Understand what I mean?

Yes, sir.

Go now.

Yes!

As Cha Juhyeok waved his hand, Woojin turned around.

Then Cha Juhyeok called Woojin back again.

Just in case, take the car.

Cha Juhyeok tossed him the car keys. Of course, it wasn’t his car, but a company car.

And it was a luxury foreign sedan.

He told him the car number.

Keep the receipt when you get gas.

***

Lee Hyerim looked at Woojin getting out of the foreign car and said,

You look unfamiliar.

Is that so, Young Lady?

Lee Hyerim blinked.

What are you talking about…

Then she swept her hair back and laughed as if she understood.

Hey, Shin Woojin. You don’t have to do that.

There are many eyes watching, Young Lady.

Lee Hyerim brought a finger to her lips, making a playful expression.

Is that so?

Yes.

Alright. Then follow me.

As Lee Hyerim moved with light steps, Woojin followed her.

The two immediately got into the elevator, and Lee Hyerim spoke.

“I knew you’d come.”

She knew that if it were any other older sister or brother, they might not have given her a new recruit, but with her, they would.

It was obvious.

“As expected, you have foresight, Young Lady.”

Lee Hyerim laughed again.

It felt like…

She was having a secret relationship, but as soon as that thought crossed her mind, Lee Hyerim shook her head and dismissed it.

The place they arrived at after getting off the elevator was a luxury suit shop.

“Everyone there will be decked out in luxury brands, so you can’t be intimidated.”

“It’s alright, Young Lady.”

Lee Hyerim smiled sweetly and said,

“Didn’t I tell you not to talk back to me there?”

“My apologies, Young Lady.”

Lee Hyerim said to the Waiter,

“Please show him a few things that suit him. Shoes too.”

“I’ll escort you this way.”

Lee Hyerim sat on the sofa and crossed her legs.

And she looked at the dressing private room Woojin had entered.

Had 10 minutes passed?

Woojin came out wearing a suit.

Lee Hyerim, who was carefully watching Woojin, shook her head.

Woojin went back into the dressing private room, and under Lee Hyerim’s gaze, he repeatedly changed suits and came out.

In this way, he was able to get three suits tailored, along with shoes.

“Thank you, Young Lady.”

“How? I think I’ll be working late today.”

Woojin’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“It’s fine. I’ve also prepared a gift for you, Young Lady.”

Woojin looked at his wristwatch.

Tick. Tock. Tick.

The time bomb was counting down.