Chapter 96 – Result – Part 4

Chapter 96 – Result – Part 4

“I don’t really have a favorite drink, but today is an exception.”

“What is it? I’ll buy it.”

Woojin nodded and said,

“I think everything is best starting tomorrow. Like diets, for example.”

“Hahaha! That’s right!”

Park Inhyeok’s excited tone showed he was ready to buy whatever Woojin mentioned.

The Observation he learned today, in his desire to perfect it, he showed an unsightly side.

When he let go of whatever Actor Unknown had told him and focused on his acting, he felt much more at ease.

His acting flowed naturally like water, finding its way and moving smoothly.

Of course, his own Observation, when compared to Actor Unknown’s in front of him, would be a world of difference.

Because he had only managed to imitate Actor Unknown’s outward appearance.

He also realized for the first time today that he had an obsession with acting.

The reason Park Inhyeok could trust Woojin was like a Fortune Teller, with his current situation, and watching his pupils dilate and constrict in front of him.

‘If it’s an action caused by psychological pressure, caught up in a certain thought or emotion, then I think it’s an obsession. Even more so if you can’t enjoy it.’

Even the fact that he wasn’t enjoying his acting.

At this point, it becomes suspicious.

In fact, I wondered if he might be a supernatural power.

It truly felt like facing him completely naked.

It felt as if the unknown actor in front of me would just quietly stare if I told even a small lie.

As if he knew everything.

Park Inhyeok felt shivers run down his spine again as his thoughts reached that point.

Woojin said,

“Makgeolli.”

At Woojin’s answer, Park Inhyeok asked again, as if he had misheard.

“What?”

“Makgeolli.”

“Makgeolli?”

“Yes. To be precise, makgeolli with buchimgae and jeon.”

Woojin hadn’t had a chance to drink makgeolli.

No, to be precise, he was waiting for the right moment.

He didn’t trust the weather forecast much, but the sky was full of dark clouds.

On a rainy day, makgeolli with buchimgae and jeon.

As Park Inhyeok was silent for a moment, Woojin spoke again.

“Am I thinking differently? Is there another perfect combination?”

“No… that’s great! It looks like it’s going to pour. I know a quiet, atmospheric place with no one around. Shall we go there?”

“Yes. If there’s no one there, is it a hidden gem?”

Park Inhyeok snapped his fingers.

“You’ll be surprised.”

“Can I join in?”

It was Kim Min, playing the role of the Detective.

Park Inhyeok replied with a bright expression.

Kim Min and Park Inhyeok were the same age.

“It would be even better if Min came too!”

Filming continued for a while longer. However, outdoor shooting was impossible due to the rain.

At 7 PM, Woojin left the set and looked out at the falling rain.

He held out his right hand and closed his eyes.

Tap, tap, tap.

Each time a raindrop hit his palm, the sensation appeared and disappeared repeatedly.

The principle of rain can also be explained by Newton’s Laws.

The law of inertia, the law of acceleration, and action and reaction.

The moving film crew and organizers looked at Woojin.

“Wow… it’s a commercial, a commercial.”

“What’s with the mood? He looks like a romantic lead.”

“Don’t you think Synesthete is going to be a huge hit? Everyone’s acting is so intense. I thought they were having an acting competition.”

Just then, Park Inhyeok’s voice was heard.

“Mr. Unknown (Actor), let’s go. You said you didn’t bring your car, right?”

“Yes, I don’t have one.”

“Let’s take my car.”

“Wow! Are our actors going out for a drink separately?”

Jo Jeonghwan, who was approaching with a grin, spoke again.

“I’d like to follow, but I don’t want to intrude on the actors’ discussion about acting, so I can’t. Have a good time.”

***

Kim Taehyun blinked and looked at the woman standing in front of him.

She exuded an aura of wealth even with light makeup and no adornments.

She was an uncommon beauty, Ira, who could be remembered at once.

It was Lee Hyerim, whom he had seen with Woojin when he was hospitalized after being stabbed by the Criminal.

“Sister-in-law, what brings you here…?”

Lee Hyerim said with an awkward smile.

“I was passing by. Are you all better now?”

Kim Taehyun grinned and patted his stomach.

“It was nothing. But how did you know I work here…?”

They had only met once.

And that time wasn’t long either.

Lee Hyerim’s eyes went upward.

“Well, um… that is… Woojin told me.”

“Woojin did?”

“Yes.”

“Why would Woojin?”

“Well…”

“Don’t just stand there, come over here.”

Kim Taehyun went into the Break Room with her.

Then he handed her a vending machine coffee.

Lee Hyerim took a sip of the vending machine coffee, tasted it for a moment like a fresh tear, then didn’t put it to her lips again.

“It’s the weekend, aren’t you going on a date with Woojin?”

“Huh?”

Kim Taehyun grinned and sat down.

“I thought you two looked good together, you and Woojin.”

“We’re friends. Just friends.”

Kim Taehyun didn’t ask any more questions, he just smiled and brought the coffee to his lips.

Lee Hyerim, who was holding the paper cup of coffee with both hands, spoke.

“I’m glad you seem to be all better.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Detective, by any chance, by any chance, I mean…”

“Yes, please speak.”

Kim Taehyun took the paper cup from his lips and focused on her.

If she needed his legal help, he was willing to offer advice and assistance.

After all, she was an acquaintance of Woojin.

That might be why she sought him out. No, it seemed likely.

However, the words that came from Lee Hyerim’s mouth completely deviated from Kim Taehyun’s expectations.

“Does Woojin also catch criminals?”

It was Hyerim who had overheard talk of criminals at the hospital.

Kim Taehyun smiled wryly.

He was pondering how to explain it to her.

“It’s true that Woojin occasionally helps out.”

Lee Hyerim’s eyes widened slightly.

Words quickly poured from her mouth.

“Like in movies or dramas? Violently? Woojin is a civilian, so isn’t that legally problematic? Shouldn’t that not be allowed?”

Suddenly, Lee Hyerim’s demeanor turned cold.

“Woojin is a civilian, so shouldn’t detectives not do that?”

At her concern, Kim Taehyun raised a hand as if to calm her.

In fact, Lee Hyerim’s words were not wrong.

When he was stabbed, he went to the room salon alone and turned it into a candlelight vigil.

He even beat the criminal to a pulp.

But that was that, and it was a dangerous business.

Kim Taehyun spoke seriously.

“There won’t be any dangerous work like directly catching criminals.”

He would never let that happen.

“It’s dealing with criminals, so how could it not be dangerous?”

“Woojin won’t be directly confronting criminals. He does the profiling from behind the scenes, not in the front room.”

Lee Hyerim was momentarily flustered.

But she quickly regained her composure.

“What about other profilers? Are other detectives incompetent? It sounds like they’re getting Woojin’s help because they’re incompetent.”

Kim Taehyun nodded.

“Yes. I’m also incompetent, and there’s no profiler capable of replacing Woojin. So, because we’re incompetent, we’re acting based on what Woojin teaches us. You know, don’t you? Woojin is truly exceptional. I sometimes feel a pang of conscience. But it’s also something Woojin wants to do.”

“He wants to?”

Kim Taehyun made a bitter expression.

“Yes. Not just me, but our entire team is grateful to Woojin.”

Lee Hyerim asked again.

“He wants to?”

“Yes. You said your name was Hyerim, right? I completely understand your concern. Because I feel the same way.”

“Woojin wants to… It just sounds like you’re passing the buck for getting help.”

From Lee Hyerim’s perspective, that was the only way it felt.

“Instead of talking to me like this, how about you talk to Woojin? And I’m sorry. For causing you to worry.”

“I’m not worried. The drink was good. Well then.”

Lee Hyerim left the break room immediately.

Kim Taehyun watched her retreating back and gave an awkward smile.

There was something he wanted to tell her, but he couldn’t.

He understood why Lee Hyerim was angry.

A murmur escaped Kim Taehyun’s lips.

“For Woojin, it’s a kind of game. He’s a guy who thinks of the world as his playground…”

“Senior, what are you doing here?”

Kim Taehyun sighed deeply at Choi Gicheol, who had approached without him noticing.

“You son of a bitch! I got yelled at because of you!”

As Kim Taehyun raised his hand as if to hit him, Choi Gicheol blocked his face with both arms.

“What are you talking about?”

“Why did you tell Woojin that I got stabbed, you idiot!”

“Oh, when was that! I apologized profusely! And I really didn’t know Woojin would barge in! And! Let’s be honest. If Woojin got hurt and told me, ‘Don’t tell Detective Kim Taehyun I got hurt,’ if I really didn’t tell him, you’d be very disappointed, wouldn’t you, senior?”

“You son of a bitch! Is Woojin a detective!? Why would he chase a criminal….”

Choi Gicheol stepped back, stumbling, and spoke again.

“Not like that! I mean, there are times when people get hurt unexpectedly, right!”

“Come here! Aren’t you coming!? You’re sitting there saying unlucky things!”

Meanwhile, Lee Hyerim, who had left the police station, was immediately calling Woojin.

When Woojin answered the phone, she, who had been biting her lip, spoke.

“Woojin, I need to see you. Right now.”

***

Shwaaaah.

The sound of rain could be heard through the door, all the way to the makgeolli bar.

As Park Inhyeok had said, there were no people there.

“Here, Unknown (Actor), have a drink.”

Park Inhyeok offered a dented kettle to Woojin.

The yellow bowl Woojin held was also dented.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Woojin, Park Inhyeok, and Kim Min clinked their glasses happily.

Woojin, who had drunk the refreshing makgeolli, wiped the foam from his lips and dipped a pumpkin pancake into soy sauce, then brought it to his mouth.

The pancakes were served in a basket and were very generous.

An exclamation of admiration escaped Woojin’s mouth as he chewed.

“Wow… is this real?”

“Yes?”

“On a rainy day, rice wine and pancakes, I never knew this would be the Righteous Path.”

Park Inhyeok and Kim Min didn’t know what to say, so they just looked at Woojin for a moment.

His appearance and atmosphere seemed to have changed 180 degrees from how he was on set.

How should I put it?

If he exuded the image of a brainy heartthrob when giving advice, now he looked like a gentle soul engrossed in gourmet food, perhaps?

“Haha! Right? Nothing beats this on a rainy day!”

Kim Min looked at Woojin with curious eyes.

Director Jo Jeonghwan said that he mainly advised actors on detective acting, and he did get some help.

Still, he was just as full of doubt and didn’t think his acting was worse than the Unknown Actor’s.

He just thought it was because he was new to detective acting, and he moved on.

But today, his thoughts changed.

He let out a hollow laugh when he saw him even advising Park Inhyeok.

Because he seemed conceited.

But it was the opposite.

What did he say to Park Inhyeok, who was overflowing with pride in his acting, that Park Inhyeok didn’t show any reaction and just proceeded with the filming?

It was like he had completely charmed him.

And his acting got better.

Even receiving high praise.

Even now, isn’t Park Inhyeok looking at the Unknown Actor like a pot of gold?

What on earth is his true identity?

Just then, Park Inhyeok opened his mouth. No, Woojin’s words were faster.

“Have a drink.”

Gurgle, gurgle.

Woojin poured drinks for Park Inhyeok and Kim Min, then once again drank makgeolli coolly and picked up his chopsticks.

The jeon he was about to taste this time was pink sausage.

“As expected, it’s pink sausage……”

Woojin shook his head with his hand on his chin and continued,

“I guess we should close the shutters.”

Park Inhyeok said.

“Hahahaha! Should we? Inhyeok, should we rent out the whole place today!?”

“We have to go to the second round! Second round! Actor, I’ll take you to a good place. Ah, by the way, with that observation. Can you also predict what that person might do in the future?”

Woojin lightly nodded his head, looking at the jeon.

“Yes, if I understand the other person.”

“Oh……”

Park Inhyeok’s eyes were filled with curiosity, and Kim Min looked at the two of them alternately as if asking what they were talking about.

Just then.

Slide.

The sliding door opened, and a customer arrived.

It was Lee Hyerim, soaked from the rain.