episode_0020

A quiet cafe.

Yeonrim was sitting facing her boyfriend, Seokjong.

“What?”

Seokjong’s expression became distorted.

It was because I just heard from Yeonlim that she wanted to break up with me.

“I…… I can’t take it anymore. Let’s just break up…… okay?”

Yeonlim was different from when she had parted ways with Seongwon. This time, she opened her mouth very carefully.

When I dumped Seongwon… At that time, I thought the world was mine while I was two-timing Seokjong.

At that time, there was a reason why Seokjong treated Yeonrim so kindly.

So, he shamelessly kicked out Seongwon after swearing at him and insulting him.

I shouldn’t have said that back then…

Yeonlim felt very regretful.

The image of Seongwon chatting between Bin Hye-yoon and Yoo Seol-hee was vivid.

“What? This is really… You took everything you could and now you want to break up with me?”

As expected, Seokjong’s face was distorted with anger.

“You’re seeing another woman anyway. Is there any point in continuing to date me?”

Yeonrim raised her voice and looked serious at Seokjong for the first time.

“You’re fucking crazy. You idiot. Hey. Who else would take care of a poor bum like you if not me? Huh? ”

As expected, foul language began to flow from Seokjong’s mouth.

Yeonlim thought back to what she had said as she turned away from Seongwon.

I also said such harsh words to Seongwon……..

Why did you treat that kid so badly?

Yeonlim stood up from her seat, resting her hand on her forehead and muttered as if she was tired.

“Okay. Do whatever you want. I think it’d be better to just continue living like a dirt spoon than to meet you. Are you going to hit me again?”

“Hey. If you want to break up like this, then you have to spit out everything I gave you.”

“Okay. I have everything I got from you at home, so I’ll just give it to you. Okay?”

When Yeonrim did not say a word, Seokjong, unable to contain his anger, slapped her.

“This fucking bitch-!”

Yeonlim, who was hit in the face with a thud, fell to the ground.

Soon, Seokjong’s shoes flew towards Yeonrim.

“What the hell is going on? I fed this rag-like bitch and she said what?”

When they saw that it wasn’t going to work, the cafe staff came rushing in and stopped Seokjong.

“Don’t do this. I’ll call the police. Okay?”

“Customer! You can’t do that here! Don’t make a fuss!”

Fortunately, there were male employees at the cafe. They grabbed Seokjong and held him away from Yeonrim.

Yeonlim, who had fallen to the floor, didn’t even shed a tear.

It was so miserable.

And I regretted it.

I was so stupid……. Seongwon.

***

That moment.

Black Emily Building.

Alex’s face turned pale in surprise after hearing Hye-yoon’s words.

“Red Cross Pups……..”

“Yeah. It’s Red Cross. It’s not a joke, since the girl from Hwarang Group asked for this information.”

Alex thought for a moment and then reacted seriously.

“Couldn’t it be possible that Yoo Seol-hee lied intentionally?”

“No. There is no way Hwarang Group will benefit from telling such lies now. Right now, it is to their benefit that I have a firm grip on this industry. We have to consider what Yoo Seol-hee said as true.”

Alex rolled his eyes as he thought, then bowed his head politely and answered.

“Understood, Boss. Then I will greatly strengthen the Boss’s security and find and exterminate the remaining Red Cross members.”

“How do you think they’re going to kill me?”

“We won’t use ordinary methods. Our organization’s information network is wide and dense. We’ll use a method that we’ve prepared for a long time and will hit you in the back of the head in one go.”

“You didn’t waste your mafia experience, did you?”

Hye-yoon stood up from her chair, stood by the window, looked out the window, and muttered.

“How did I get here… It would be a shame if I died by those guys. Alex. You plan out every assassination scenario Red Cross can execute and prepare for every situation. They’re cornered rats right now. I don’t know what they’ll do to kill me. ”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Alex hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be better to cancel all of the boss’s schedules from now on? For safety’s sake……”

“No. I don’t want to be scared by them. If I hide from them and get scared, that’s no different from losing. I’ll do what I always do. I’d rather die than be scared from them and get hidden.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

Alex bowed his head politely once again and tried to leave Hye-yoon’s office.

“Just a minute.”

Alex, who was about to open the door and go out when Hye-yoon called him, looked back.

“Yes?”

“Today is Seongwon’s interview day. You give Seongwon a ride and bring him here.”

Alex, whose face was covered in a look of displeasure, tried to hide his emotions as he answered.

“…….Yes, I understand.”

***

Interview room.

I was sitting on the chair very nervous.

There were three old interviewers sitting in front of me.

“Hmm… Why did you apply to our company?”

Here it comes. A stereotypical question.

“Because I thought this company was a good fit for my abilities and aptitude. If you hire me, I will make full use of my aptitude to help this company.”

I blurted out the answer I had thought of in advance.

Ugh… This feels good.

One of the interviewers, who was leafing through the documents, suddenly stopped moving and stared at my face.

“Where have I seen your face…….. Where have I seen you? Seongwon, have you been on TV recently?”

“Oh, no. I’m not a celebrity. I’m just a normal person. That never happened.”

Suddenly, the interview room door opened wide and a young female employee came in.

She put her hand to the interviewer’s ear urgently and whispered something in a small voice.

The interviewer’s face became serious after hearing something from a female employee who suddenly came in.

“Ah…… Mr. Seongwon? Well, today’s interview is over. We’ll contact you when you get home.”

“Huh? Okay, wait a minute. We haven’t even started the proper interview yet, right?”

“Don’t be so angry……. Just go home.”

What the fuck……

What the heck? What did that female employee say to you?

I felt dirty, but I decided to endure it for now.

So I turned around and slowly walked out of the interview room.

Then I heard the interviewers whispering behind me.

“No matter what, the mafia is a bit……. right?”

“Yes. Because it can be difficult to hire someone with ties to the mafia.”

“There’s nothing you can do. If you get caught by the mafia, you won’t even be able to find the body.”

It sounded like someone was whispering for me to hear.

Ah……. Right. There were a few broadcasts of photos of Hye-yoon and I together.

Even so… I’m not a mafia.

How do I convince these people?

If I keep getting labeled a mafia member, won’t I never be able to get a job again?

A sense of despair I had never felt before came over me.

I’ve been living comfortably lately, relying on Hye-yoon… but I’m sure I’ve lost something along those lines.

So I was depressed.

I never admired the mafia, nor did I ever want to become one.

It certainly was. I am a person who has lived my life without breaking the law even once.

Do I look like a mafia to other people?

***

When I came out, a familiar face was waiting for me.

It’s Alex.

Alex, leaning against the car and lighting a cigarette, muttered something flirtatious.

“Looking at your expression, I guess the interview didn’t go well. Right?”

“…….”

“Boss’s orders. He told me to take Mr. Seongwon to the headquarters building in the car. Get in.”

“…….Let’s do that.”

I got into the backseat of the car Alex drove.

Alex finished smoking his cigarette, threw the butt away, sat in the driver’s seat, and started the car.

Alex looked at me in the rearview mirror and asked.

“Have you thought about what I suggested last time?”

“You told me to go abroad?”

“Yes.”

I stared blankly out the window and then answered.

“I will refuse.”

“Ha- This is difficult. Mr. Seongwon? I gave you a chance, Mr. Seongwon?”

“What will you do if I stay with Hye-yoon? Will you kill me?”

I got so annoyed that I blurted out the main point.

Alex pursed his lips and then answered calmly.

“Child… It won’t be like that right away. If I think Seongwon is a threat to our organization, I have to take action. Seongwon. Don’t feel bad. Seongwon is an outsider to our organization.”

“Oh? Really?”

I tried to answer calmly.

“Then I guess I should tell Hye-yoon. That loyal secretary Alex made me a strange offer.”

“That, that’s absolutely not possible. Mr. Seongwon? That’s not possible.”

Alex, who always kept his poker face and cool in front of me, showed signs of embarrassment for the first time.

“Why? I want to discuss this with Hye-yoon. ”

“No. Then let’s pretend it never happened. I was talking to a man. Are you going to go around saying things like that? Yes?”

It’s a melon.

I rolled down the window a little and felt the breeze coming in from outside.

There was silence for a moment.

Now that I think about it, I can understand Alex’s concerns.

Hye-yoon is destined to die at any moment, and… if a civilian like me, a nobody, were to hover close to her boss, she would feel uneasy.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll just run away.

“I understand what Mr. Alex is worried about.”

I opened my mouth like that.

Then Alex glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

“I’ve known Hye-yoon longer than Alex. I think I know Hye-yoon better than anyone else. So I’ll do my best not to cause any harm to Hye-yoon or the people who work with her. Don’t worry too much.”

“That sounds good. Well. It’s not very pretty, but… Hmm.”

Alex accelerated his car with such a displeased expression.

***

That moment.

Hwarang Group Building.

Seol-hee, sitting in Secretary Choi’s office, was staring at the photos of Woo Sung-won and Bin Hye-yoon.

Then, Secretary Choi came up to me and asked.

“What are you thinking about so intently, Miss?”

Seol-hee covered her mouth with one hand and thought intently, then answered after a while.

“People’s emotions are truly unfathomable.”

“Yes?”

Seol-hee said while placing Bin Hye-yoon’s photo on the clipboard and placing it on top of Woo Sung-won.

“I always thought Bin Hye-yoon was unilaterally playing with Woo Sung-won. Whether it was power or money, Bin Hye-yoon was overwhelmingly superior in everything. Woo Sung-won clearly had no power, right?”

“That’s right.”

Seol-hee continued talking, changing positions and placing Woo Sung-won’s photo on top of Bin Hye-yoon’s photo.

“……But in fact, the one at the top might be Woo Sung-won. In the end, I think Bin Hye-yoon is awkward at expressing her feelings, so she treats Woo Sung-won like that. Woo Sung-won is such an innocent person, so it’s a problem.”

“Yes?”

“Bin Hye-yoon may be a surprisingly innocent and fragile person. She relies a lot on Woo Sung-won…. in that way. Of course, the only person Bin Hye-yoon can show her true self to is Woo Sung-won.”

“Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that Bin Hye-yoon is a dangerous person.”

Seol-hee nodded at Secretary Choi’s dry words that summarized the situation simply.

“That’s right. Even so……. Woo Sung-won…….”

Seol-hee smiled faintly and whispered.

“Maybe we can control Bin Hye-yoon towards us.”

“Yes?”

Seol-hee continued speaking while looking at Secretary Choi with a charming smile.

“Because Woo Sung-won is on my side.”

***

Hyeyoon’s office is big.

My eyes grew wide and I looked around the office.

It was a fairly minimalistic and clean-designed office.

A desk and bookshelf that match the white wallpaper. Even a black sofa that contrasts with the white.

“How is it? I work here every day.”

Hyeyoon shrugged her shoulders and made a proud expression.

Well… since you live in such a big house, your office must be big too.

I was in a bad mood because I drank water during the interview, so I sat on the sofa and slumped over.

Then Hye-yoon, who was standing in front of me and holding my knees with both hands, asked with sparkling eyes.

“You look upset? Did you fail the interview?”

“Yeah. But……”

Should I tell my interviewer that I drank water because I was involved with the mafia?

I hesitated for a while and then didn’t answer.

I didn’t want to blame Hye-yoon now. After all, it was the life I chose up until now.

Instead, I covered my face with both hands and answered in a tired voice.

“I keep falling, so I’m going to turn around. Seriously. Should I just open a street stall somewhere?”

“What is the street vendor… Are you good at making bungeoppang?”

“There’s nothing you can’t do to make a living. I know how to make hotteok.”

I must have looked very tired. Hyeyoon looked at me and smiled slightly melancholy.

Hyeyoon coughed and sat down next to me.

Hyeyoon sat down unusually quietly and opened her mouth very carefully.

“You’re here. Do you want to join our organization?”