* * *
While Hajin was reviewing the documents, Woohyun crossed his arms and observed him. He should be used to Hajin’s audacity by now, dismissing both the legal team and the chief secretary, but seeing such a relaxed expression was still astonishing.
The documents contained a clear compilation of the embezzlement files previously shown, evidence of Fashion Group H’s tax evasion, and recordings obtained from Secretary Kim’s side.
The reason Woohyun showed Hajin the evidence obtained from Secretary Kim was simple.
It meant that if Hajin wanted to make a deal, he needed to bring something even more impressive.
Woohyun had high expectations for Hajin. It appeared that after requesting the summons be sent, Hajin had deliberately leaked articles to the press to shape public opinion and escalate the situation.
Woohyun slowly opened his mouth.
“Why did you confine Yoon Juwon?”
Just then, Hajin, who was skimming through the transcript, tapped the table with his fingertips as he read the content. It contained the conversation between Secretary Kim and Juwon.
Though it would be natural to be surprised, Hajin just considered it as something expected and moved on. Secretary Kim had never intended to get Juwon’s help. He had planned to record the conversation with Juwon and send it to the prosecutor.
And this transcript was likely the decisive factor that made Prosecutor Lee Woohyun, who had been cautious toward Hajin when he first threatened to take Secretary Kim’s embezzlement evidence to other prosecutors, suddenly decide to weigh his options between Secretary Kim and Hajin.
“Haha, so this is why our prosecutor made the relationship between us awkward.”
“Well, you can think of it that way if you like.”
Hajin gave a hollow laugh.
“Prosecutor, you didn’t ask because you’re curious about why I confined Yoon Juwon, did you? You have a real question, right?”
After appearing to consider for a moment, Woohyun asked Hajin.
“Off the record?”
“I’d appreciate that. It seems more necessary for you than for me, though…”
Woohyun stepped outside briefly. He was probably turning off the cameras recording this room. Confirming Hajin’s assumption, Woohyun returned quickly and stated definitively.
“From now on, whatever is discussed here will not be seen, heard, or recorded by anyone.”
Not having expected things to go this smoothly, Hajin remained suspicious until the end. Before showing his hand, there was something he needed to confirm.
“Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask…”
Woohyun uncrossed his arms.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Prosecutor, do you want to be righteous? Or do you want to be famous?”
At Hajin’s direct question, Woohyun swallowed a laugh. Then he answered seriously.
“Isn’t it natural for a prosecutor who upholds justice to become famous?”
Woohyun’s words ultimately meant he wanted to become a star prosecutor. Hajin nodded and began revealing one by one all of Secretary Kim’s weaknesses that he had carefully compiled.
Stock price manipulation, tax evasion, embezzlement, bribery—there were so many incriminating pieces of evidence that it was difficult to organize them one by one. Upon thoroughly investigating Secretary Kim, it became clear that his problems were not limited to him alone. The solicitations involved members of the National Assembly, the tax evasion involved tax officials, and the stock price manipulation involved outside directors with large sums of money.
The prosecutor began calculating in his head. It would be better to catch the big fish that would come along with Secretary Kim as bait, rather than prosecuting just Seo Hajin, against whom there was barely any evidence for a guilty verdict. After finishing his thought, he nodded.
Hajin inwardly laughed at the prosecutor.
‘And I haven’t even shown my final card yet.’
If what he had was sufficient, there was no need to prematurely reveal the evidence he needed to keep until the end.
Hajin meticulously exposed the corruption of major political and business figures connected to Secretary Kim in front of the prosecutor. Woohyun’s face showed undisguisable joy as he looked at Hajin’s materials.
‘Why is this so easy?’
It was pathetic that he had prepared for every contingency.
‘No, this is about Yoon Juwon after all…’
With that thought, he didn’t regret preparing more than enough cards.
* * *
Six hours after the investigation began, the intercom inside the interrogation room rang.
“Yes, this is Lee Woohyun.”
“Please come out for a moment.”
It was obvious who was calling him out without even looking. Only the chief prosecutor would call out the lead prosecutor during an interrogation. The only thing Woohyun was curious about was which side had influenced the chief prosecutor.
If it was Hajin, who had agreed to work with him, things would go smoothly, but if it was Director Kim’s side, it would complicate matters as he’d be on bad terms with the chief.
“You’ve come? What’s the matter…”
“No, nothing special… Just seems like we’ve kept Seo Hajin too long. Have you found any charges?”
At the indication that the person who had collaborated with the chief prosecutor was Hajin, Woohyun inwardly smiled with satisfaction.
“Well, nothing significant. I’ll wrap up appropriately and let him go.”
“Good, I like that our Prosecutor Lee understands so well.”
* * *
[Early this morning, the lengthy investigation of Fashion Group H’s Director Seo Hajin concluded. The prosecution stated they found no significant charges against Director Seo Hajin but maintained they would do their best to uncover any wrongdoing, noting that the investigation is not completely finished.]
[The prosecution hinted at sending a summons to Director Kim Cheolwoo, former chief secretary to the chairman and current internal director of Fashion Group H, to uncover Director Seo Hajin’s alleged wrongdoings, but no exact schedule has been announced yet.]
The news had been reporting about Hajin all day long. From the moment Hajin stopped coming home, all of Juwon’s attention was focused solely on news and articles.
Hahyun sat on the sofa, staring at Juwon who couldn’t take his eyes off his phone. Juwon’s brow was deeply furrowed, as if he had seen unfavorable news about Hajin.
“Ah, I guess not.”
Juwon muttering to himself while reading articles was cute, but Hahyun’s insides began to boil knowing that he wasn’t the object of Juwon’s attention.
To redirect Juwon’s attention to himself, Hahyun called him in a calm voice.
“Juwon hyung.”
Juwon’s hand, which was reaching for the remote control, stopped. When Juwon lifted his head and shifted his gaze toward Hahyun, the boiling inside him subsided a little.
“Yes?”
Hahyun pondered what to say to capture Juwon’s attention, but all that came to mind were things Juwon hated, such as, ‘Don’t trust Hajin hyung,’ ‘Look only at me,’ ‘I want to be with you all day tomorrow,’ ‘Please do it with me tonight too.’
Afraid that such words would spill out the moment he opened his mouth, he bit his lip hard, which earned a rebuke from Juwon.
“Are you trying to cry for no reason again? If you cry now, we’re sleeping separately.”
Hahyun shook his head as if that wasn’t the case and quickly spoke.
“What would you like me to do, hyung?”
Surprised by the unexpected question, Juwon looked at Hahyun with an expression that seemed to ask why he would suddenly say such a thing.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a bit confused because of you, hyung.”
Juwon, who had been half-lying down, raised his upper body and opened his eyes wide.
“…I understand. If I feel this way, how much worse must it be for you? You said you weren’t worried, but you’re also concerned about Hajin, aren’t you?”
At those words, Hahyun had to bite his teeth even harder. Since Hajin’s investigation, Juwon had been responding halfheartedly to whatever Hahyun did, but now he was responding sincerely to a single mention of confusion, assuming it was about worry for Hajin. It made Hahyun feel sad.
But grateful for even that kind of attention, Hahyun hid his true feelings and nodded.
“I thought so. Even though you pretend otherwise, Hahyun has a tender heart and is kind.”
The touch that suddenly came to caress his cheek was affectionate. Hahyun bowed his head deeply and leaned it against Juwon’s chest. The hand that had been caressing his cheek moved down to his neck, shoulders, and back. Though he tried to hold them back, tears came again.
“…I’ve been thinking, and it’s too difficult and hard. I want to help Hajin hyung, but I don’t know how to help, and Secretary Kim is so scary. Even the model hyungs and noonas who used to be kind to me are now whispering among themselves that I stole Hajin hyung’s position.”
“Oh, I see.”
Juwon’s voice was full of concern. At this moment, Hajin wasn’t in Juwon’s heart. He had finally captured Juwon’s heart completely after several days. Hahyun buried his face in his hands and cried, his shoulders shaking. Usually, whenever he cried, Juwon would scold him to stop, but today, strangely, he just silently comforted him.
“On top of that, several people visit me every day to convince me that I need to trust Secretary Kim to protect my assets and keep the company safe. The model hyungs tell me to trust Hajin hyung, and other directors say I should trust Secretary Kim, so I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t tell me you’re wavering?”
