# Chapter 71
The black eyes that had been leisurely surveying the situation suddenly blazed.
“What?”
“We just came back from seeing her. If you run away now, you might never see her again, so think carefully before you act.”
It was a threat more villainous than any villain could make.
“She… she didn’t do anything!”
Despite the instantly raised voice, Iyeon laughed nonchalantly.
“Sometimes innocent people get hurt too. The world is quite unfair.”
“…”
“But you’re lucky right now. You can prevent that from happening by cooperating. Right?”
His calm tone made it sound even more threatening.
The merchant bit her lip firmly. Her eyes were filled with hostility toward Iyeon, but her momentum had weakened compared to moments ago.
“What’s your name? And what’s your relationship with Seeun-ssi?”
“…Lee Semi. Lee Seeun is my twin sister.”
After answering, Semi hastily added, worried that her sister might be arrested by association.
“But she has nothing to do with this! I just borrowed her name and face to get in here.”
“How can you prove that?”
“That’s…”
Semi’s face darkened. Without any convincing logic, she just repeated phrases like “it’s true” and “she doesn’t know about this stuff.” Watching her, Iyeon stroked his chin and shrugged. He decided to let it go for now.
“Who made the bracelets?”
“…I did.”
“Why did you lie and say they were made by Morpho?”
“…Because… they sell better that way…”
Iyeon asked a few more questions, but there was nothing particularly unusual or surprising. Semi was definitely the bracelet maker and merchant, which she didn’t deny.
Meanwhile, D.S had calmed down somewhat and, though still unsteady, was able to stand on her own. After finishing various investigations, Iyeon looked around at D.S and Sano and asked.
“Should we call Sua-ssi?”
She would also have something to say to this audacious merchant. At those words, D.S left the bathroom.
However, before taking a few steps, she bumped into someone.
“Noona Deokseon. …Noona? Why do you look…”
It was Heesu who caught her stumbling arm. No, why is the Director here…? As Iyeon’s face turned puzzled, Sua peeked out from behind with an awkward smile.
“I’m sorry. It was getting too difficult to hold him back…”
At the same time, D.S knocked away Heesu’s arm. Heesu looked like he had many questions, but her wariness was so strong that he only hesitated, unable to approach her. As D.S stepped back, Sua approached to calm her, and Iyeon poked his head through the open doorway.
“Director, were you trying to enter the women’s bathroom just now?”
“Did Jung Iyeon-ssi get gender reassignment surgery without my knowledge?”
Iyeon shrank slightly at the intimidating aura.
“Why are you angry…”
“What was that explosion earlier?”
The question was as fierce as an interrogation. It didn’t look good that he was grabbing only Iyeon like catching a mouse while not even asking D.S if she was okay. Iyeon considered whether to tell him that D.S was making a contemptuous expression behind him but restrained himself out of courtesy.
Well, it’s good timing. Now that things have come to this, Heesu should know the situation too. As Iyeon stepped back, Heesu entered as if he had been waiting.
“What is this…”
Astonished eyes scanned the bathroom interior. The messy floor, numerous bracelets, and Semi’s disheveled appearance.
“…Semi? Why are you here?”
He recognizes her right away. He must have been quite close with both twins.
“…”
But Semi avoided Heesu’s gaze. Her firmly closed lips showed no sign of opening. Instead, Iyeon provided the explanation.
“Have you heard of superpower bracelets?”
“What are those?”
“They’re illegal items that forcibly drain the wearer’s gi-ryeok to enable superpower use. I was investigating them on a request and caught her. Lee Semi-ssi is both the manufacturer and seller.”
“…What?”
“But something seems strange.”
Iyeon smiled lightly.
“Is it a coincidence that Lee Semi-ssi’s twin sister Lee Seeun-ssi’s partner is the Director?”
A heavy silence fell. After a considerable time had passed, the only thing Heesu managed to say was a single phrase.
“…I didn’t know.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
Iyeon smiled again.
“So Director, please take responsibility. Make sure she receives a proper investigation and appropriate punishment.”
“According to Lee Semi-ssi, Lee Seeun-ssi has no involvement,” Iyeon added in a murmur. Heesu stared blankly at Semi with eyes full of confusion, but Semi continued to avoid looking at him.
“Sua-ssi, is this okay with you?”
At those words, Sua, who had been beside D.S, approached. Her face was stained with various emotions as she looked at Semi. Anger, sadness, contempt…
Despite this, she smiled at Semi. Without getting angry or raising her fist to hit her, but gently, softly, and firmly.
“Because of you, my sister has been asleep for weeks.”
“…”
“What you did was wrong. I hope you’ll reflect on it.”
At those words, Semi raised her gaze to look at Sua. Sua didn’t avoid her eyes, and Semi soon lowered her head again.
With Heesu having contacted someone and approaching Semi, there was no more business at this hotel. As for Seeun, well, someone passing by would untie her… It was a high-end hotel, so there wouldn’t be power outages or a lack of people, and Iyeon didn’t think Seeun was completely uninvolved as Semi claimed. After all, wasn’t she also wearing a bracelet? That much trouble was light punishment.
After D.S received emergency treatment, the four people left the building and walked the night streets—though Iyeon recommended taking a taxi immediately since there was an injured person, D.S shook her head and said she wanted to walk for a bit. Coincidentally, since they were all residents of the same neighborhood, they were heading in the same direction.
“The Director will handle it properly, right?”
“That guy isn’t particularly cunning.”
D.S, who had been walking quietly, muttered. Coming from a cousin, it was believable. Based on what Iyeon had seen of Heesu so far, it didn’t seem like he would easily let Semi, who had committed a crime, off the hook.
“Everyone worked hard today.”
Iyeon looked around at everyone and thanked them.
“You too, Iyeon-ssi and Sano-ssi. And Deokseon unnie… It was all because of my stubbornness.”
Sua smiled awkwardly. Iyeon said jokingly:
“I actually thought you might hit her at least once, Sajangnim.”
“Oh my, that sort of thing should end in games.”
She answered lightly, but it’s extremely difficult not to get excited when facing someone who harmed your family.
“The rest is for the law to handle.”
It was obvious that Sua had gone through a lot of contemplation during that moment when facing Semi.
“Whatever, if this affects Mirae, I won’t let you guys off either. Just know I’ll charge you for all the hospital diagnoses.”
In response to D.S’s blunt statement, Sua apologetically put her hands together in a pleading gesture. Watching this, Iyeon suddenly spoke up.
“D.S-ssi is a good person.”
“What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?”
D.S frowned, saying not to flatter her while she was trying to extort money, but Iyeon didn’t back down.
“I can see why Director-nim and Mirae like D.S-ssi so much.”
“…”
“I like people like D.S-ssi too.”
His smiling face shone in the moonlight. “Ah, of course, as a friend,” he added belatedly, which made D.S grimace a beat late.
“Oh my, I like Deokseon unnie too.”
Not to be outdone, Sua linked arms with D.S. The impromptu confession party that broke out in the moonlight continued for quite a while. D.S kept saying to stop it, but she didn’t push away Sua’s arm.
“…”
The gazes of Sua and Iyeon, who had been chattering away trying to brainwash D.S into believing she was a good person, naturally drifted to Sano. Seeing their obvious looks, Sano, who had been walking looking straight ahead the whole time, just rolled his eyes to meet their stares.
“Not a chance.”
That’s Je Sano for you. Without anyone starting it, laughter erupted.
*
Ten days later, a call came from Sua. The news was that Subin had regained consciousness.
Sua cried a little while telling the story, and Chageum went to visit. Subin apologized for causing worry and cheerfully laughed, saying she was glad to see everyone again. Sua belatedly showed a message she received from D.S.
“Told you sis Deokseon said there wouldn’t be any problems”
It was a message so typical of her.
