Ch.118Chapter 118. Gift (4)

“If I were to guess where he’d go… here!”

Following the insistent suggestion of that guy named Tom or Tim, I found myself at a luxury goods section of a department store.

He claimed that if someone was looking for a wallet, they’d definitely come here.

“He’s not here.”

“Uh… why not?”

But it was a bust, as expected.

I knew this would happen.

“That’s strange. My brother would definitely shop at a place like this.”

“Hey. We’re looking for where Cuss would go, not your brother. She’s the one with the money, remember?”

“Those few coins? How could she buy a wallet with that? My brother will probably end up buying it for her.”

“What…?”

Suddenly my hands trembled with rage.

That bastard is going to buy my gift with his money?

I won’t accept it.

No, I can’t accept it.

That son of a bitch better not try to buy me anything.

“Strange. I’m sure I planted that bug carefully so it wouldn’t be detected. How did…”

“…”

Juliane was still in a state of panic.

Though I’d caught her multiple times, this was Cuss’s first time discovering her bug, so the shock was much greater for her.

Thank goodness Juliane doesn’t plant bugs on her investigation targets.

If she did, we’d have a Law Department version of the Watergate scandal on our hands.

“Both of you are completely useless.”

“What! Why don’t you offer some ideas then, mister!”

“Hmm… in my opinion…”

I finished my deduction.

Considering the amount of allowance I’ve given Cuss so far, her budget would be around $14.50.

There’s no leather wallet she could buy with that.

So if we eliminate all wallet stores, what remains is…!

“A stationery store.”

“What?”

“I’m certain. Follow me.”

“Are we really going to check every stationery store in this neighborhood?”

“What? Are you hesitating? Giving up already? Is this the extent of your determination?”

What a weakling.

When a man draws his sword, he should at least cut some beets.

To start tailing someone and give up at this minor obstacle shows such a weak mindset.

Juliane was serious enough about surveillance to plant bugs in advance.

“N-no! Of course I won’t give up!”

“That’s right! Well done, kid! I’ll check the stationery stores on 3rd Avenue! You take 2nd Avenue!”

“Got it, sir! I’ll call you if I find anything! Oh… your phone number…”

“No need for that. I already planted a bug on you.”

“Ah. I see.”

“What…? Ms. Juliane…?”

“…?”

All eyes turned to Juliane, who was smiling sweetly.

Soon realizing her slip-up, sweat began to trickle down her forehead.

“Hahaha! Just kidding! Right, Ms. Juliane?”

“O-of course! Ahaha?”

“That was a funny joke, right? Haha. Now give me your number.”

“Yes. Here… But that really was a joke, right?”

“Of course it was. Don’t you trust me?”

“…”

Why isn’t this punk answering?

Such disrespect.

I quickly exchanged numbers with Tim and we parted ways.

Then I grabbed Juliane’s arm, which was still stiff as a mannequin, and led her away.

“It’s fine. Let’s escape now, Ms. Juliane.”

“W-what should I do? I just confessed to planting a bug on a senator’s son! He’ll search me with a metal detector when I get home…”

“That won’t happen. You said it was a joke.”

“But he’ll find out eventually. I need to retrieve it somehow…”

“That’s why I got his number. We can contact him later, call him out, and retrieve it.”

“Ah…! So Jinsoo had a plan all along!”

Finally, Juliane’s face brightened up.

Please praise me more.

I just saved a corrupt investigator from crisis.

My quick-wittedness…

It was so perfect that even I had to smirk.

“Since it would be suspicious if you approached him, I’ll call him out and retrieve it.”

“Yes, yes. That sounds good.”

“So where did you plant the bug?”

“Oh. I didn’t plant it. I put it in a capsule and made him swallow it.”

“…?”

I stopped abruptly and stared at Juliane.

Seeming to know she’d done something wrong, she kept avoiding my gaze.

“Are you crazy? How are we supposed to retrieve that? And when did you make him swallow it?”

“Uwaaah… I’m sowwy…”

When I pulled her cheek, it stretched like soft rice cake.

Good grief. I can’t live like this.

I’m going to die of high blood pressure cleaning up after this woman’s mess.

Maybe I should write my will in advance.

If I die of a heart attack or cerebral hemorrhage, the culprit is Ms. Juliane.

“Well, at least we can wait a few days until it comes out in his stool.”

“No… It’s specially designed to attach to the stomach wall once it enters the stomach.”

“…”

They’re developing such cutting-edge bugs and giving them to people like her?

Is the Law Department flush with cash these days?

I’m starting to think they need a complete overhaul.

Anyway, there seemed to be only one way to retrieve the bug.

“Cuss, I must make you a doctor.”

“What? Suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden. This is all because of you.”

“Uwaaah! That hurts, Jinsoo!”

I stretched both of Juliane’s soft cheeks like rice cakes.

To retrieve the bug, we’d need to dig into Tim’s stomach.

The only way to do that would be with an endoscopy.

So the conclusion was that Cuss would need to become a doctor and be in charge when Tim came in for a health checkup.

I’ll support you, Cuss.

The fate of our family rests on you.

***

“Jinsoo, Jinsoo.”

“Hmm?”

Cuss approached me timidly and tugged at my collar.

I sensed the moment had come.

I pretended not to know anything and turned to face her.

“What is it?”

“Come here for a moment. Close your eyes.”

“…”

So it really has come.

I squeezed my eyes shut and let Cuss lead me by the sleeve.

I wondered what she had bought.

Would it be Hello Kitty or SpongeBob?

How should I react?

While I was lost in these thoughts, I found myself in Cuss’s room.

“What is it?”

“You can open your eyes now.”

“Wow…!”

My jaw dropped as soon as I opened my eyes.

This little…

The hourglass that had been in the room was broken, and the floor was a complete mess.

So that’s what that cracking sound was earlier.

“I tried to clean it up myself, but I couldn’t…”

“You idiot. Give me your hand.”

“Umm…”

“Why would you try to clean up glass with your bare hands, you fool? This is driving me crazy.”

“…”

See?

Her finger was slightly cut from the broken glass, with a bit of skin peeled off.

Blood was slowly pooling.

I quickly got a bandage, cut it to the right size with scissors, and put it on.

What are you, some delinquent girl?

Walking around with bandages all over your arms and legs.

Actually, maybe you are a delinquent.

“Seriously. You’re going to be the death of me. If you drop something like this, call me right away! Got it?”

“Yes… I understand…”

I shooed the dejected Cuss out of the room and got a broom.

Why would this foolish girl try to handle such a major accident by herself?

Just as I was almost finished cleaning, Cuss tugged at my collar again.

“Hey, there might still be glass fragments. Go outside…”

“Jinsoo. This. It’s a gift.”

“…”

When I turned around, Cuss was holding something with both hands.

Something wrapped in shiny wrapping paper.

It looked like it might contain a wallet.

I put down the broom and received the gift with trembling hands.

It was probably a cheap wallet from a stationery store.

She couldn’t even look me in the eye, hanging her head low—it was obvious.

Still, I should at least accept her sentiment.

Rip, rip.

As I tore the wrapping paper, a black object reflecting light appeared.

What is this? Plastic? Why is it shining?

“Huh…?”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

This is from the same company as the one I’m using now.

The design is slightly different, but looking at the logo, there was no mistake.

And it’s not even a knockoff.

How did she buy this?

“You! Where did you get the money for this?”

“I saved up the allowance you gave me…”

“Don’t lie! How could you buy this with that money?”

“I bought it from a store that sells secondhand items…”

“Ah.”

A secondhand store.

I hadn’t thought of that.

Come to think of it, there’s no authenticity certificate inside.

But for a secondhand item, it looked as good as new.

To find such a high-quality item, she must have searched for a long time…

“Cuss. Look up.”

“Hm?”

I stroked her head and made her look up.

Finally, I could meet the eyes of the hesitant Cuss.

She seemed to think I didn’t like it.

“I love this gift.”

“R-really?”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“No…!”

“Thank you, kiddo.”

“Huu!”

I knelt down and hugged Cuss tightly.

Somehow… I didn’t want to show my face right now.

I knew everything all along.

I knew she was saving her allowance to buy me a wallet, and I was even prepared for it.

But something kept welling up inside me, making it impossible to control my expression.

After calming down a bit, I released Cuss from my embrace.

“Jinsoo. I love you. I’ve always loved you. I want you to know that.”

“…”

What’s with this cheesy talk?

As I was about to get up, Cuss grabbed my collar.

“What about you?”

“Ah. Should we finish cleaning up now?”

“Don’t avoid the question. Answer me.”

“I love you too, silly. I’m sure I’ve said it before.”

“I wanted to hear it again. It’s a strange phrase. The more I hear it, the better I feel, hehe.”

“You little…”

“Eep?!”

Brrrr

Her giggling face was so cute that I couldn’t resist blowing a raspberry on her cheek.

After I pulled away, Cuss wrapped her arms around my neck and stood on tiptoe.

“Uuuu, Jinsoo. On the lips too… on the lips…”

“Sigh, tsk.”

We shared a perfectly normal expression of affection between father and daughter.

Her chest definitely seems to have grown.

It used to be loose, but now it’s tight.

I thought I should definitely buy her a new one.