Chapter 114 – Result – Part 22

Chapter 114 – Result – Part 22

While Woojin was shaking the water from his hands, a moment of silence fell over the house.

Only the sound of a drama flowed from the TV, which had quickly been switched channels.

Mom, Dad, and Bomi all just watched Woojin’s back, unable to open their mouths.

Did he hear the news?

Worry washed over them like a wave.

They absolutely did not want the wound that had barely healed to open up again.

Now, their son, her brother, just wanted to be happy.

Soon, Woojin, who silently wiped the water from the sink with a dishcloth, turned around.

And he smiled gently at Mom, Dad, and Bomi, who were looking at him, and said,

“I also bought strawberries and green grapes.”

Dad quickly spoke up.

“Oh! Even dessert! Great!”

Mom and Bomi also chimed in.

“Yay~! Strawberries!”

“Our Woojin is the best.”

It was a relief.

Seeing him with such a gentle smile, it seemed he hadn’t heard the news.

It was truly a relief.

So Woojin ate fruit, chatting with his family about this and that.

It was a harmonious scene, just like usual.

Still, Bomi played a prank and watched her brother closely, thinking he might have heard it and was just acting normal.

And she was able to draw a conclusion.

Her brother was acting no different than usual.

It seemed he hadn’t heard.

“I’m going to take a shower.”

Woojin, taking his clothes, went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the water pour over his face.

Shwaaaa.

He shampooed his hair and washed his body with body cleanser.

Shwaaaa.

Woojin, having thoroughly rinsed off the suds, stood in front of the mirror.

As he wiped away the fog that had whitened the mirror,

the scars that had formed in that confined place were clearly visible.

He suddenly remembered when he first returned home and took his first shower in the bathroom.

That time when he showered with hot water and his body turned red as if it were cooked.

Number 2038, Kim Bangwoon, who had been transferred to a general hospital for treatment, escaped.

Woojin slowly nodded as he looked in the mirror.

He must have caused a commotion due to the pressure from commissary funds and letters. It’s not easy to take your own life in prison.

He must have tried, but it came to nothing, and he caused another self-harm incident and was moved to a general ward.

And then, escape.

Considering his actions and personality, he must have thought of escaping when he was moved to the ward.

Woojin, who had been slowly nodding, murmured.

He didn’t escape to kill himself.

“It’s going to take quite a while.”

Of course, as long as he doesn’t get caught by the police.

Number 2038, Kim Bangwoon, is full of psychological pressure and anger.

Because he made him that way.

He’s not someone who just takes things lying down.

He will likely take a temporary cooling-off period, like hiding in a cave, to formulate a plan.

Woojin didn’t feel the need to specifically look for him.

But if he comes looking for him…

Suddenly, Woojin looked at the mirror with a puzzled expression.

It was because one corner of his mouth was slightly turned up.

Woojin wiped the mirror once with his hand.

His slightly upturned lips were back to normal as if nothing had happened.

“I think it’s natural, but… it seems the unconscious is waiting for you.”

With that murmur, Woojin concluded another observation of himself and the unconscious.

He had finished assessing his state based on his escape and causality.

After organizing his thoughts, Woojin neatly wiped himself dry with a towel and entered his room.

Then he lay on the bed, tossed and turned for a bit, and closed his eyes.

***

A week quickly passed.

Park Inhyeok’s stock price soared, and the criminal who committed the terrible crime faced the world’s anger.

Was it a synergy effect?

Synesthete (film) was surpassing 8 million viewers.

Of course, the movie’s reviews were also very good.

Park Inhyeok, who was spending such busy days, somehow made time to arrange a meeting with Woojin.

At Park Inhyeok’s house, Woojin, standing in the deputy manager’s spot, was blinking a few times.

A sexy and sleek sports car.

It was a wonderful sports car that would surely attract people’s attention if seen on the road.

“Mr. Woojin, it’s a gift.”

“This car?”

Park Inhyeok, who had his hand on the car, smiled.

“I feel like I’ve only been receiving. I’m not that kind of unscrupulous person. Thanks to you, I’ve also cut down on drinking. The car looks good, doesn’t it?”

He couldn’t help but think it looked good.

Because it was a car that any man would covet.

Woojin replied.

“It will certainly stand out.”

“Yes?”

“It feels like a car that’s incompatible with me.”

Park Inhyeok blinked.

“Incompatible… Is that so? No, it’s fine…”

Even amidst his busy schedule, he had personally gone to see it in person, checked it, and carefully chosen this car.

His manager brother said it was too expensive as a gift, but Park Inhyeok bought it right away.

But she said it was incompatible.

Park Inhyeok opened his mouth as if flustered.

“This is a really good car, it sells well…”

“There aren’t many places to drive in our country.”

“Do you want to sit in it first? If you sit down and hold the steering wheel, you might change your mind.”

As Woojin slowly shook his head, Park Inhyeok said, as if he had noticed something.

“Do you perhaps like sedans? Things like ride comfort?”

Unlike his age.

Woojin spoke as if to drive a nail into the point.

“No. Anything that stands out isn’t ordinary. And I don’t have a driver’s license.”

For a moment, Park Inhyeok stared at Woojin, dumbfounded.

He hadn’t considered that Woojin, who seemed to know everything like a ‘Ask Me Anything’ show, didn’t have a license.

No, he hadn’t.

“Get your license right away. I think Mr. Woojin could get it with his eyes closed…”

“I do want to get it and keep it in the closet…”

It wasn’t the right time.

He planned to get it when he had experienced the world more, acted, and felt like he was ready.

“I prefer public transportation.”

It’s a place where people’s joys and sorrows of life are visible.

He wanted to feel more of the people entangled in causality.

That’s why Woojin liked walking.

Also, walking is very important for people.

More than watching the scenery from a wheelchair pushed by someone, more than sitting and pondering deeply,

a person who walks in circles as if wandering in a confined room or space becomes overwhelmingly more imaginative and has a more activated brain.

Keeping this phenomenon in mind, if you observe a person, you can even determine their personality or the situation they are in.

“That can… be true.”

Park Inhyeok let out a hollow laugh, as if resigned.

I prepared what I thought was the perfect gift, but Woojin looked at the sports car, which would make others drool, as if it were a mere rock.

“Shall we go eat? Is that a good place on the Righteous Path?”

Park Inhyeok had only suggested eating when he made plans with Woojin, without saying anything else.

It was to surprise him with the car.

But in that moment, everything had gone to waste.

Food and the sports car.

Woojin’s interest, as he eagerly looked around, was overwhelmingly on the food.

Still, you never know.

Park Inhyeok opened the car door upwards and said to Woojin,

“Since I bought it anyway, let’s take this car.”

So Woojin got into the passenger seat, and Park Inhyeok took the steering wheel.

Vroom- Vroom-

With the sound of the exhaust, the car glided onto the road.

Park Inhyeok, holding the steering wheel, glanced at Woojin.

Woojin was looking around the car with curious eyes.

‘Just as I thought.’

He thought his mind would change once he rode in it.

“It’s good to ride in, isn’t it?”

“It’s hard. I think bus seats are more comfortable with their cushions. Although there’s the fierce competition for seats.”

Park Inhyeok shook his head and gave up on trying to persuade Woojin.

*

[National Forensic Service]

A splendid inscription was carved on a large rock in front of the building’s entrance.

[The power of science revealing the truth]

Inside the building, an office prominently labeled ‘Genetics Department’ among the various departments of the National Forensic Service was visible.

“This is driving me crazy.”

The Head of the Genetics Department scratched his head.

At Detective Kim Taehyun’s request, he had been keeping quiet about the DNA found at the crime scene, but the pressure was mounting, making things difficult.

The DNA was neither from a criminal nor from someone related to the police.

What was even funnier was that every time that DNA was detected, the cases were quickly closed.

Each time a case was solved instantly at the scene before proper identification could even begin, unidentified DNA was detected.

That happened a total of five times.

The criminals readily confessed, revealing their motives, tools, and more.

The higher-ups, noticing this, began to grow suspicious.

They questioned whether the unidentified DNA actually belonged to the criminal, or if not, insisted on identifying the person.

Various pressures were being applied.

The Head of the Genetics Department, who had been running a hand through his hair in frustration, eventually brought his cellphone to his ear.

He was calling Detective Kim Taehyun.

“Oh, it’s me. Detective Kim.”

-Oh, sir! Long time no see!

“I’m calling after a long time, but I think I have to deliver some bad news.”

Detective Kim Taehyun desperately wanted to hide his unidentified partner, that is, his DNA.

-Oh dear… I may look tough, but I’m a sensitive man, so please break it to me gently.

“Well… about Detective Kim’s partner. The unidentified DNA, the higher-ups are making a huge fuss trying to find out about it.”

-……

“I can’t help it this time. If the higher-ups decide to pursue this legally, your partner could get into trouble, you know? They bother people even if they’re innocent, right? So I’m telling you in advance. It’s better to reveal their identity before things get troublesome.”

-Sigh…

“I can’t help it either.”

-…Understood.

“Alright, alright. Let’s grab a meal sometime.”

-Yes. You too.

*

“Oh…”

Woojin was eating the pasta as if it was the most delicious thing in the world.

“It tastes good, doesn’t it? I don’t think any other place makes pasta like this one.”

“It’s amazing. Really.”

Woojin once again twirled the pasta and brought it to his mouth.

As Actor Park Inhyeok said, it seemed to be the best pasta he had ever eaten.

Woojin fully enjoyed the taste, thinking he should make it for his family someday.

Meanwhile, Park Inhyeok, who had pulled his hat down and covered his face up to his chin with a mask, ate his pasta and watched Woojin’s reaction.

Woojin said it was fine, but he didn’t feel good about settling things with just a plate of pasta.

More than anything, given what Woojin had shown so far, he felt as if he would be punished if he didn’t give such an extraordinary Woojin a suitable gift.

He even felt like his soaring popularity might plummet all at once.

Had he ever considered someone’s gift so delicately and seriously before?

Definitely not.

“Woojin, is there anything you like? Or anything you need?”

Suddenly, a strange light gleamed in Park Inhyeok’s eyes.

It was because Woojin, who had been eating pasta, had closed his eyes and was chewing.

It clearly looked like he was thinking about his question.

Soon, Woojin swallowed the pasta, opened his eyes, and said,

“Oh… This pasta never gets old. There is something I want.”

Park Inhyeok’s upper body leaned slightly toward Woojin.

“What is it?”

“Can I order one more? It tastes good, but the portion is a bit small.”

Park Inhyeok’s blank stare dropped to Woojin’s plate.

The plate that had contained the pasta was perfectly empty.

“Of course.”

Park Inhyeok awkwardly smiled and pressed the doorbell.

Just then, Woojin received a call.

It was Detective Kim Taehyun.

“Yes, Detective Kim.”

-Woojin, I think I have to apologize. It’s all my fault. Ah…

“What happened?”

-Well, you see…

Kim Taehyun reluctantly recounted what had happened with the Head of the Genetics Department.

Woojin slowly nodded, listening to Kim Taehyun’s words, which were filled with genuine regret.

-I’m so sorry, I don’t know what else to say. It seems unavoidable this time. So, if we go to them first, it won’t be as troublesome…

Contrary to Kim Taehyun’s feelings, Woojin was not at all uncomfortable.

He had created the cause, and now the results were approaching.

This was true for Lee Hyerim’s brother, Lee Yohwan, the Middle East business, and also the number of visitors mobilized for the Synesthete exhibition.

He had created the cause like a law of physics, and the results were naturally following.

The content of Detective Kim Taehyun’s call was also among them.

Woojin, holding the cellphone to his ear, turned his gaze towards the window.

Through the falling leaves, he could see people passing by leisurely.

Then he opened his mouth.

“That’s what I wanted.”

National Forensic Service.

If he had revealed his identity from the beginning at Candle, he wouldn’t have been able to enter, but he sparked their interest and drew them in.

“There was something I really wanted to try.”

-…