The other party, having cleared their voice, informed him of the purpose of the call in a calm and concise manner.
Because of Assemblyman Hwang’s indictment, Taeryoung had attached someone to him. The watcher photographed the dating scene with Kyungwoo and informed his noona Kyungrok. The shocked Kyungrok barged in on Kyungwoo and raised hell.
Anger and shock, embarrassment and awkwardness. A storm of fierce emotions raged.
“So what did Jung Kyungrok say?”
Jaeha’s voice cracked. It was because he couldn’t handle the extreme anger.
—She said she’d do something to you.
“Ha.”
He let out an exclamation of disbelief without realizing it.
“Who does she think she is? I don’t even know why it’s any of her business what I do with whom. Does she think I’ll just take it lying down?”
As he ground his teeth furiously, a long sigh came from the other end.
—You don’t know what kind of person Noona is.
“Does that noona know what kind of person I am?”
—You’re not exactly a normal bastard either.
“Tell her to try it.”
—Your fighting spirit is remarkable. I just told you. Noona found out by chance.
“So?”
—It was Father who put surveillance on you. Taeryoung Chairman Jung Taeho. No matter how great your abilities are… can you handle it?
“That’s…!”
—Don’t overestimate yourself. Both Director Oh who attached people to you and Noona who accidentally received the report came to me first because they’re afraid of what Father might do.
The powerless voice seeped into his heart. That voice mixed with sighs and trembling made Jaeha want to run right over and embrace Kyungwoo.
—If Father moves, it won’t end with just you. It’s only a matter of time before the entire District Prosecutors’ Office is turned upside down.
“But I can’t just sit still and die.”
—I’ll be finished too.
“You’re blood relatives.”
—If your parents suddenly found out one day that you’re sleeping with a man, would they maintain their composure?
At that, Jaeha opened his mouth but had nothing particular to say. Obviously, the household would be turned upside down. As much as Jung Kyungrok, or perhaps even more.
“My parents wouldn’t do anything to others… a suicide attempt or something like that?”
—Hah.
A small chuckle burst out from the other side. Kyungwoo, who let out another short sigh, continued speaking.
—Compared to that, Noona is rational. She said she’d kill me if Mother somehow found out, but if that doesn’t happen, she won’t tell Father.
“How rational of her.”
—Anyway, Noona will try to ruin your career. Accept whatever proposal she makes as much as possible. That’s the safe path for you.
“I appreciate the warning, but this seems like a problem I should handle myself.”
—If Father steps in, your parents will naturally be swept up too, so put away the bravado. When I say it won’t end with just you, I’m not just talking about the District Prosecutors’ Office. You have to think about your parents and younger sibling.
“You… bastard.”
His eyebrows twitched. His jaw naturally tensed and his molars ground together. His fists trembled.
“Don’t touch my family.”
—I’ll do my best to the extent I can anyway. So you calm down your emotions too and judge rationally.
“I’ll try. Is that all you have to say?”
—One more thing.
As he said that, Kyungwoo let out another deep sigh.
—I’d like us to refrain from meeting for a while.
“What?”
For a moment, Jaeha thought he’d heard wrong.
“Threatening my career over an extremely personal issue isn’t enough, now you want to shake up the relationship too? If you’re going to do that, what’s the point of making concessions by judging rationally?”
—Seo Jaeha.
“So you’ve become a coward who immediately tucked tail just because you got caught by your noona and got scolded. Do you trust me that little?”
—I didn’t say it like that.
Once the floodgates opened, the words didn’t stop easily. Jaeha slammed his fist on the desk.
“Whatever your fancy family says or does, I can’t end this easily.”
—I never said to end it.
“What else is saying not to contact each other?”
—Is suggesting we have a cooling-off period for a while because the situation is difficult really something to get this angry about?
“Cooling-off period? That’s ridiculous. What bullshit. Hey, Jung Kyungwoo. Where did you learn such filthy manners, bringing up half-baked concepts like cooling-off periods and whatnot just because your family opposes it?”
—Calm down.
“Do I look like I’m going to calm down right now? This is a matter of mutual trust. If you’re going to treat it this lightly, why did you suggest dating in the first place?”
—I never threw you away.
“I guess you don’t think of me as a serious lover. That’s your true feelings, isn’t it?”
At the cold question, Kyungwoo fell silent.
“Say something, won’t you?”
—Maybe that’s right.
“What?”
—I don’t even know if this is something to get this angry about. Whew. I said it thinking of you, but I don’t understand why I’m being denounced like this.
“Hey!”
—I’m done talking, so let’s hang up.
“Hey! Jung Kyungwoo!”
He shouted furiously, but the call ended immediately. He pressed redial afterward, but the waiting tone cut off right away, and then it moved to a voice message saying the phone was turned off.
“That bastard. I won’t let him off.”
He sprang up from his seat, grabbed his jacket he’d taken off, and left the office. Administrative Officer Lee and Section Chief Joo with rabbit eyes stared at Jaeha.
“I’m going out. I may be unreachable for a while starting now.”
“Prosecutor? No, where are you going?”
“What’s going on… no, Prosecutor?”
The two followed Jaeha out. While he strode down the corridor, the office phone rang.
“Yes. Prosecutor Seo Jaeha’s office… Ah, Deputy Manager! Yes. Yes. I understand. Um, Prosecutor! Section Chief Joo! Catch the Prosecutor. It’s a summons from the Deputy Manager.”
Standing in front of the elevator repeatedly pressing the button, Administrative Officer Lee shouted. Section Chief Joo grabbed Jaeha’s arm.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but please calm down first, Prosecutor. Let’s respond to the Deputy Manager’s summons first. Okay? No matter how much you fought with your lover, if you go like this, it’ll be an even bigger problem… Oops!”
Section Chief Joo, who received Jaeha’s cold glare, shut his mouth. Overwhelmed by Jaeha’s momentum and having released his arm slightly, he looked at the stopped elevator number and eventually grabbed Jaeha’s waist as he headed toward the emergency exit.
“Calm down, Prosecutor. This doesn’t seem right.”
“Let go, Section Chief Joo. I need to go kill that bastard right now.”
“Murder is not allowed. And what do you mean ‘bastard’ about a woman? Bastard.”
He was about to shout furiously that it was a dog-like male bastard, not a woman, when his last thread of reason blocked his mouth.
Through the open office door, the phone rang again.
“Ah, Deputy Manager. That… well… the Prosecutor urgently needed the bathroom and ran out. Ah, yes. Phone number? Ah? Just a moment.”
He made eye contact with Administrative Officer Lee, who poked her head out from the door. The officer smiled awkwardly while clearly reciting Jaeha’s phone number.
Shortly after, Jaeha’s mobile phone rang. Section Chief Joo spoke carefully toward Jaeha, who was seething while looking at the screen.
“Answer it, Prosecutor. Please answer.”
As he said that, Section Chief Joo pressed the call button himself and displayed unwelcome kindness by bringing Jaeha’s hand to his ear.
—Did you get diarrhea? Still in the bathroom?
“No. I came out.”
—Then come here right now.
Click.
The Deputy Manager, with no thought of considering Jaeha’s circumstances whatsoever, hung up after naming a nearby Japanese restaurant.
It was still a long time until lunch. Even with a rotation system, it was an absurdly early time bordering on work refusal.
“Please let go now, Section Chief Joo.”
At those words, Section Chief Joo awkwardly stepped back. Administrative Officer Lee approached carefully.
“Whew. The Deputy Manager is telling me to come out.”
“Anyway, you’ll be going out. Have a safe trip.”
“Take deep breaths.”
Just then, the elevator finally arrived. Administrative Officer Lee, who was on the closer side, quickly ran over and held it. Jaeha, having caught his breath, went that way while straightening his disheveled sleeves.
“Thank you.”
“Yes. Have a safe trip.”
After receiving an unexpected send-off, Jaeha pressed the first floor. As the door closed, Section Chief Joo asked Administrative Officer Lee.
“But why is the Deputy Manager suddenly looking for our Prosecutor?”
“I don’t know.”
He thought the reason the Deputy Manager was suddenly looking for him was probably because of Assemblyman Hwang’s indictment. He’d known for a while that the Deputy Manager had connections to Taeryoung. The scheme was to attach people to dig up personal weaknesses while trying to ruin his career.
There was no proper parking space at the Japanese restaurant. Instead, because it was very close, people from the District Prosecutors’ Office usually walked.
When he entered the Japanese restaurant and gave his name, he was guided to the highest-grade private room in the very back. In front of the room decorated with a small veranda, there was a pair of men’s dress shoes and a pair of very stylishly designed women’s high heels.
‘No way?’
He opened the door and entered. On one side of the seating structure made by carving out the center below the table so legs could be lowered, Deputy Manager Park sat.
Across from him was a woman with a radiant appearance, Jung Kyungrok.
“Must be because your legs are long. You came faster than I thought.”
On the table for a total of four people, two on each side, various foods including raw fish were already served, and more than half were emptied. There was also a small bottle of alcohol.
“Prosecutor Seo Jaeha. This is President Jung Kyungrok of Taeryoung F&C.”
“We finally meet, Prosecutor Seo Jaeha.”
A greeting asking how she was doing absolutely couldn’t come out. He glared at her and clenched both fists tightly. The Deputy Manager then got angry.
“Hey, won’t you greet her?”
“…I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Seo Jaeha.”
“He’s famous for having no manners. He doesn’t listen to a word. President Jung, please understand.”
“All young people these days are like that. Don’t worry about it.”
Kyungrok, who slightly turned her head, looked Jaeha over from bottom to top.
Unlike common prejudice, those from chaebol families don’t look someone over from head to toe. Instead, other people look them over and submit reports.
That Kyungrok met with the Deputy Manager and called for Jaeha meant either she didn’t have enough leisure to receive a report, or she’d decided she needed to see him directly.
Or both.
