Chapter 179 – Hmm….. – – Part 3

Chapter 179 – Hmm….. – – Part 3

“Crucial moment?”

At Lee Hyerim’s question, Woojin slowly nodded.

Then he raised his glass and clinked it against the Soju glass in front of Lee Hyerim.

“Hyerim, even if you’re lonely, you have to hold on. No matter how strong the wind blows and everything is torn away…”

Woojin quickly emptied his Soju.

Hyerim will be standing in the eye of the typhoon.

She’ll feel suffocated, but she’ll be safe.

* * *

Late that night.

Lee Hyerim, her face flushed red, couldn’t easily fall asleep.

It was because she couldn’t easily understand Woojin’s words that everything would be fine if she just got through the crucial moment.

No, it seemed to be related to Grandfather, but no matter how many times she asked, he only repeated that she just needed to watch.

Tick.

At the chime of the candle clock signaling one in the morning, she sat up.

Then she rubbed her face as if doing a dry wash.

What on earth could it be?

She was surprised when Woojin first said he knew her grandfather’s location, but after hearing the story, she thought it might be possible.

Her grandfather, who loved Go so much, could have contacted Woojin separately.

Even for cognitive rehabilitation while playing Go.

But Woojin spoke of a crucial moment, a big storm that would blow in.

That storm…

Lee Hyerim smoothly swept back her long hair.

Only one thing is certain.

Woojin would help her again this time.

Lee Hyerim threw off the blanket and turned on the light.

Then she plopped down at her vanity and looked at her face.

Suddenly, she remembered the first time she met Woojin at Shinhwa General Trading.

She had called Woojin first.

Very briefly.

‘Hey.’

Woojin, who had turned around, replied like that.

‘What?’

‘But isn’t it class time right now? Skipping class?’

‘I don’t go to school.’

‘What?’

‘I said I don’t go.’

‘How old are you?’

‘Eighteen.’

When Woojin, who had stated his age, turned around and walked away, she stopped him again.

“Hey, wait.”

Lee Hyerim let out a small smile.

Those were truly naive and immature days.

That’s why she spoke to Woojin first, and they became connected, leading them to this point.

And that wasn’t all.

He consistently helped her.

He helped her escape her boxed-in thoughts and showed her a new world.

At first, she thought he was a really strange kid, but gradually she realized that what was truly strange was her own perspective and that of the people around her.

“Haa….”

Lee Hyerim couldn’t help but run her hand through her hair again.

Had she ever been of help to Woojin?

No matter how much she searched her mind and thought, there was nothing.

Just taking him to expensive clothing stores or famous restaurants?

Staying up all night searching for good eateries and going together?

Lee Hyerim chuckled and shook her head.

That was nothing.

Anyone could do that.

Compared to what Woojin had done for her, it was truly insignificant.

“I’m powerless. I haven’t done anything for him.”

Of course, there were things Woojin had rejected, putting up a barrier, but she couldn’t break through it.

‘Woojin, it’s okay.’

Conversely, whenever she refused, Woojin would always smile faintly and say calmly,

‘It will be that way.’

Woojin would cross the barrier she had set up and resolve everything.

‘What Woojin wants is….’

Lee Hyerim decided to think quietly, without rushing.

And not letting emotions guide him.

***

The next day.

Cha Juhyeok was smoking a cigarette on the rooftop, his hands resting on the railing.

Just then, a staff member next to him spoke up.

“Young Master Lee Yohwan’s car accident has been smoothed over.”

Cha Juhyeok furrowed his brows and exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke.

“That stubborn punk never changes. He’s going to get into big trouble again one of these days.”

Like with Prosecutor Kim Cheolung, no, now Assemblyman Kim Cheolung.

“You handled it well so there won’t be any gossip, right?”

“Yes. The settlement was reached amicably. No one was hurt either.”

“Alright. You can go.”

“Yes.”

As the staff member turned to walk away, Cha Juhyeok called him back.

He took out his wallet and handed him a 100,000 Won check.

“Take it.”

“Huh?”

“Take it. You know Nuts Intersection, right? There’s a blood sausage soup restaurant called Suni’s Place there. Go eat it now. If anyone asks where you’re going, tell them I sent you.”

“Ah…”

“What are you doing? My arm is getting tired, hurry up and take it.”

“Thank you.”

“Go straight to eat the blood sausage soup. Now.”

It couldn’t possibly taste bad.

He had tried it himself, and the one who recommended it was none other than Director Shin Woojin.

Oh, he’s an Officer now.

“Thank you!”

Cha Juhyeok watched him bow respectfully and turn away, smiling as he lit a cigarette.

He remembered being like that himself.

When he couldn’t eat on time and had to clean up after the owner’s family’s brats.

Then he met Shin Woojin.

From that moment, his fate began to change 180 degrees.

How anxious he was, like walking a tightrope every day.

He almost got caught more than once or twice.

Copying documents made his hands sweat, and stakeouts and digging for information felt like shooting several movies.

But the rewards were certain.

He was promoted again and again, and now there was only one person above him.

As a cool breeze blew, Cha Juhyeok grinned.

He had run well to get this far.

Pushing through things that seemed impossible.

It felt like only a few months ago he was incredibly busy, but now he finally had time to catch his breath.

That was because Shin Woojin had become an officer.

Shin Woojin, who became an officer as if to say, “throw common sense to the dogs”.

Sometimes he seemed to understand, but he was also a guy who did truly incomprehensible things.

He was literally ‘extraordinary’ itself.

Well, he himself kept saying he was ordinary…

Just then, his phone vibrated.

Cha Juhyeok smiled as he checked the caller ID.

[Director Shin Woojin]

“It’s the tiger. The tiger.”

Regardless, he was a person he was grateful for.

“Yes, I’ve answered.”

-It’s me. Shin Woojin.

“Yes. Please speak.”

Cha Juhyeok looked up at the sky.

Although the string he was holding was Young Lady Lee Hyerim, he wanted to go all the way with this person as well.

-I need something.

“Just name it. Excluding the stars and the moon, I’ll try anything I can.”

-I do want to see and touch a meteorite directly. It’s an easier task than that.

Cha Juhyeok listened to Woojin’s words quietly.

And then he began to scratch his head vigorously.

The movie Mission Impossible naturally came to mind, and his head throbbed.

The difficulty level was that high.

Woojin said something else at the same time.

-I have enough money. The first target should be Ms. Lee Jeongmi’s driver, Mr. Kim Jonghyuk.

Cha Juhyeok rubbed his forehead with one hand.

Kim Jonghyuk had been Lee Jeongmi’s driver for 10 years.

He wondered if he could be bribed with money.

-If you show Mr. Kim Jonghyuk the might of SH Strategy, you can increase the possibilities. Mr. Kim Jonghyuk has the four major insurances and earns a little more than others, but he is not treated with respect. Take good care of him and offer a generous amount so he can raise his two children proudly. Tell him you’ll even provide a new job if needed. When the buyout happens, I hope Mr. Kim Jonghyuk’s feelings are not hurt.

“Understood. I’ll contact you.”

-It must happen simultaneously.

“I’ll try.”

-Thank you. Good luck.

After finishing the call, Cha Juhyeok put another cigarette in his mouth.

Hiss-

The cigarette smoke he exhaled rose like a ghost and disappeared.

The clear sky, unlike before, made him feel as if it were the calm before a storm.

With the Board Meeting showing no particular action at the moment, Shin Woojin moves once again.

The Officer, that is.

Cha Juhyeok brought his cell phone to his ear, making a call somewhere.

“It’s me. Let’s have some fun. The chances of losing our heads are higher than before, but what is life? It’s all or nothing.”

It was about stirring up the owner’s family of Shinhwa Group.

And it was orchestrated by SH Strategy, which handles Shinhwa Group’s secret affairs.

* * *

A few days later.

Woojin, dressed in a police uniform, was having a private meeting with a bodyguard from the villa where Chairman Lee was staying.

He was a hand-picked private bodyguard, not one of Chairman Lee’s close associates.

“I hope you’ll accept a bribe.”

He frowned and let out a chuckle.

He quickly drank the iced Americano in front of him, then looked at Woojin and spoke.

“Are you telling me to take a bribe in front of someone hired as a bodyguard?”

He was a funny police officer.

Someone had told him that a person would come to him, offering money if he watched over Chairman Lee.

And to be bribed by that person.

Woojin said,

“Yes, you’ve understood correctly. Of course, we’ll compensate you. They’ll give you money too… you can receive money from both sides.”

“What do you take me for…?”

Woojin nodded his head.

Observing his actions and micro-expressions, he seemed to be feeling uneasy.

“There will be no legal responsibility asked of you whatsoever. Just a moment.”

Woojin made a video call to someone.

And soon, the other person answered.

It was none other than Assemblyman Kim Cheolung.

The bodyguard’s eyes widened.

The prosecutor, who seemed to hunt down and eradicate criminals like pests, had become a National Assembly Member. He had often shouted at unsatisfactory civil servants, seemingly without his sharp edge dulling, and had even uncovered corruption more than once or twice.

Woojin said,

“Assemblyman Kim. This person doesn’t seem to believe me. Please vouch for me.”

Kim Cheolung, who had a momentarily bewildered expression, smiled awkwardly and said,

-Uh… I don’t know who… No, Officer Shin Woojin is right. I’ll vouch for him.

The bodyguard blinked and asked Kim Cheolung,

“Is that really true?”

-Oh my… It goes without saying. Hahahaha!

“Can I record this on video?”

-Huh? Yes… well… Hahaha! Go ahead.

The bodyguard really did record a video, and Woojin said to Kim Cheolung,

“Thank you. I’ll contact you again later.”

-Woojin, over there…

Woojin ended the call right there.

Then he said to the bodyguard,

“Again, this is for the purpose of crime prevention.”

“Really? Can I trust you?”

“Yes. If I’m wrong, and even the slightest mishap occurs, report Assemblyman Kim. And me along with him.”

The bodyguard, who seemed to be contemplating for a moment, nodded.

“There really won’t be any trouble later, right?”

“Yes. No mishaps will occur. I promise.”

The bodyguard slowly nodded his head once more.

Given what Assemblyman Kim Cheolung and the police officer said…

He wanted to do something good.

“I won’t accept any money.”

Woojin nodded with a faint smile.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

Woojin left the Coffee Shop after talking with him a bit more.

He looked back once more at the path he had taken to find the Villa.

Woojin opened his mouth, thinking of someone.

“Come.”