Chapter 59 – Playground – Part 10

Chapter 59 – Playground – Part 10

When blood reacted at the corner of the dining table, the eyes of those around widened.

Woojin, who had been calmly observing the reaction, turned his body and spoke to him.

It seems to be your son’s blood. Is that correct?

His eyes, which had been sharply asking Woojin if he was a police officer, quickly trembled from side to side.

Such micro-expressions were providing Woojin with a lot of information.

Before my son went missing, we had a small argument. Emotions ran high, and I pushed my son, and he hit that. As you can see from the blood reaction, it wasn’t a severe injury. Otherwise, there would have been blood everywhere in the room.

99% truth and 1% lie.

Woojin slowly nodded and opened his mouth.

You’ve studied a lot for a civilian. There was no blood reaction in the bathroom or the sink. Only at the dining table…

Woojin sprayed the Luminol Reagent on the corner of the dining table and the leg connected to it.

The blood flowed down the corner to the leg.

But there was no trace of it pooling on the floor.

Everyone frowned, watching the scene.

If blood had flowed down the leg from the corner, it should have pooled on the floor.

However, there was no blood reaction found around the leg at all.

Woojin spoke.

“As Jonghyuk’s father said, the bleeding wasn’t severe. The problem was what happened after that.”

Woojin held the crystal trophy, standing upright.

And he closed one eye and held it up to the fluorescent light.

“It seems you got a lot of minor scratches when you were the director. But the upper left part is smooth. You must have wiped and polished this part repeatedly.”

“What on earth are you talking about! Are you saying I killed my son now!”

Despite his anger, Woojin looked utterly peaceful.

Woojin’s hand reached the fluorescent light switch.

Click.

As the light went out, darkness fell, and Woojin sprayed Luminol Reagent on the award plaque.

Hiss-

The award plaque glowed vividly, as if shedding tears.

Suddenly.

A video flashed through Woojin’s mind once again.

*

From the living room, Woojin saw Park Jonghyuk, who had gone out, open the front door and enter.

But Park Jonghyuk just blinked his eyes, unable to enter the living room.

This was because transparent plastic sheeting was laid out on the living room floor.

Just then, Father came out of the bathroom.

“Dad, what is all this?”

Slightly flustered by his son’s appearance, Father slipped on the plastic and stumbled.

His center of gravity shifted backward, and his display items crashed down.

At that moment, Park Jonghyuk caught Father, who was about to fall.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

Park Jonghyuk, who had helped Father up, looked at the living room and said,

“Dad, are you redecorating? Why the plastic…”

Now it’s your turn to be a filial son.

Huh?

Park Jonghyuk turned to Father. But then.

Wham!

Park Jonghyuk, who had fallen with a thud, struggled to get up.

He was trying to force himself up, but his brain was rattled, making his movements bizarre.

Park Jonghyuk barely got up, unable to collect himself, and stared blankly.

Dad…….

His hand, holding the trophy, trembled violently.

First, you ruined my business, and then after transferring schools, you beat up a kid and put him in the hospital…….

He raised the trophy high with both hands.

Dad…….

But he couldn’t bring himself to strike.

Because Park Jonghyuk stumbled, collapsing on his own, and hit his head on the corner of the dining table.

Now it’s your turn to be a filial son.

*

Woojin said, flipping the fluorescent light switch back on.

Most criminals hide or discard their tools. But Jonghyuk’s father is the opposite. Did you think the trophy was more valuable than your son?

He is a person with a strong desire to show off.

Conversely, ‘showing off’ can also be interpreted as a deficit, a thirst for a material deficit.

He shouted angrily.

What kind of parent would dismember and kill their son!

Woojin nodded.

A father who struggled to resolve his son’s sexual assault case. Considering the paternal love of an ordinary parent, it’s a plausible facade. But you are not like that. It wasn’t a solution for your son’s future from childhood. It was for your own business. How can a father kill his son…? Thinking of someone like you, it’s possible. There are parents who starve their children to death, and parents who abuse their children and even feel catharsis from it.

Woojin’s languid eyes caught him flinching.

Do you need more examples?

“Not me! Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and get the Criminal…”

Woojin, who had approached him, asked,

“I have a question. Did you plan this a year ago? Or two years ago? How much insurance did you take out for your son?”

Just then, Choi Gicheol, pulling out handcuffs, approached.

“You are under arrest as a suspect from this moment on. You have the right to remain silent…”

“Let go! Let go of me!”

“Let’s go to the Police Station and talk about it. If it’s not related to the case…”

He was dragged away by Choi Gicheol.

Kim Taehyun frowned, fixing his gaze on the trophy Woojin had placed back.

“So you’re saying he hit him with that?”

“Yes.”

“Then why wasn’t there any blood reaction on the floor?”

“It was premeditated. He must have laid down plastic sheets. He’s a man with quick initiative, befitting a former businessman. The place where he dismembered his son is likely the warehouse he used for his business.”

“Why did he deliberately climb over the wall?”

“It was an act. He probably wanted someone to see him. There was a box that looked like a delivery package, and he was dressed like a delivery man.”

The people around looked at Woojin in a daze.

He was throwing out words as if playing detective, spraying Luminol Reagent, and it was all proving to be true, wasn’t it?

It felt like the case had been solved on the day it occurred.

He just looked at the crime scene and figured it all out.

Just then, one of the Forensics Team Members, who had been looking at Woojin with distrust, approached.

He was a middle-aged person with a receding hairline, and he narrowed his brows, speaking as if he couldn’t understand.

“How… how is this possible? Such… such an absurd Deduction?”

“It just appears to me.”

“You mean you observe?”

“Yes. I also see other things.”

“Something else?”

“It’s also visible in the suspect’s voice, actions, and expressions.”

He blinked.

“Are you talking about their psychology?”

“Yes.”

It was incredible profiling.

He had seen Woojin twice.

Even if the first time was a coincidence, the second time wasn’t just playing detective.

Most importantly, it was as accurate as last time.

His pupils gradually dilated as he looked at Woojin.

He was staring at Woojin with curious eyes.

Even for him, being part of the Forensics Team, it was the first time he’d seen someone deduce a criminal and throw out questions and answers as if they already knew the answer.

Should I say he was toying with people?

Just like playing with dirt freely in a playground, or assembling Legos to one’s liking.

“Is your future dream to be a profiler?”

Woojin naturally shook his head.

“No.”

“To say no, your talent seems too wasted…”

“I believe anyone can have talent, excluding physical limitations. If you know more about one field than others, that becomes your talent. The difference will emerge depending on whether you enjoy it or work hard at it.”

“Then should I assume Woojin has studied people more than others?”

“No. I observe without seeing.”

Just as his brow furrowed even more, wondering what he meant, Kim Taehyun spoke.

“It’s a headache to understand Woojin’s words. Just think, ‘Oh, that’s how it is.'”

* * *

Time flowed like water, and Woojin was no longer an intern at Shinhwa General Trading.

The filming for Brain Food was finished, and only the Room Young work remained.

And there was one more thing left.

That was, Jessica’s Korea Room opening was in one week.

Woojin said it would be good to treat Department Head Shim to a Korean traditional meal.

Being adventurous, she was naturally very interested in the cuisine of CEOs from other countries.

Woojin planned for Lee Hyerim to also attend that meeting.

This was to create connections with Jessica and to bring Department Head Shim into Lee Hyerim’s network.

Then the Professor said,

“Today’s lecture ends here.”

As the Professor left, Mansu approached Woojin like the wind.

“Look, the Professors don’t ask you questions anymore.”

Conversely, Woojin also didn’t ask questions, which he thought was a natural flow.

“Woojin, your brother here set up an amazing gathering, you know?

“I’m envious.”

Woojin, who answered briefly, began to organize his writing tools.

He didn’t look envious at all.

Mansu smiled bitterly and spoke again.

“A meeting has been set up, Woojin! A 2-on-2 meeting, let’s go!

“A meeting?

“Yes! It’s not an everyday opportunity, you know? With pre-med students! Future Doctors!”

Mansu whispered, covering his mouth with his hand.

“Most importantly, they’re pretty. Very pretty.”

“Right.”

Mansu was startled and stumbled backward.

His wide eyes even had bloodshot veins.

I thought he’d definitely refuse….

“Really?”

“Yeah, when’s the meeting?”

“T-tomorrow at 7… You’re really going, right?”

Tomorrow was Saturday.

“Yeah.”

“Wow… Woojin, if there’s someone you like, give me a signal. I’ll totally help you out.”

“Thanks.”

I heard it was a mandatory rite of passage for university students.

That’s why I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

My interest was piqued.

I was very curious about the atmosphere of the meeting and looked forward to what would happen.

And there was one more thing.

So, on the day of the meeting.

Bomi was looking at her older brother standing in front of her with satisfaction.

Woojin was wearing a thin pink shirt and ripped jeans, and Bomi, who had styled him, nodded and said,

“You could’ve just worn a white T-shirt. As expected, the face completes the fashion. Aren’t you nervous for your first meeting, big brother?”

“No.”

“As expected, a Heart of a Beast. If things go well for you, you have to show me that woman, okay? I’m the judge. I’ll decide if she’s worthy of meeting my older brother. Hehe.”

“It’s reassuring to have Bomi.”

Woojin nodded lightly.

Bomi, who dreamed of being a doctor, also wanted to know how much difference there was between Bomi’s knowledge and that of a pre-medical student.

“Fighting!”

Encouraged by Bomi, Woojin headed to the meeting place.

The place Woojin arrived at after an hour was Hongdae.

Mansu, who had arrived earlier and was waiting, approached.

Mansu spoke, as if urging.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

“Mansu, can’t we just eat one of those strawberry tanghulu over there before we put on our masks?”

“That’s not important…”

Mansu couldn’t finish his sentence.

It was because Woojin’s eyes were burning with desire.

When Woojin looks like this, he absolutely has to eat.

Mansu quickly bought a strawberry tanghulu and handed it to Woojin.

“I was going to buy it.”

“It’s not that much. Let’s go.”

Woojin brought the strawberry tanghulu to his mouth as he walked.

A reflexive remark flowed from Woojin’s mouth as he tasted it.

“It’s sweet.”

And soon, they saw two women dressed in a one-piece dress and jeans.

Their eyes fixed on Woojin, wearing a pink shirt and biting into the tanghulu.

Only Woojin’s outward appearance was visible.