episode_0026

10 minutes ago.

I arrived at Han Yuna’s residence and got out of the car.

The phone rang.

[Hahn Dongjin]

Lee Hanseok answered the call.

Immediately, curses filled the air.

[Hey, you bastard. What are you up to? What’s your intention! You claim to be a drama producer. Was lying about handling building electricity bills too? Ha Kyung-sik’s suicide is related to you!]

“I’m recording.”

[…]

After a brief silence, Hahn Dongjin spoke in a softened voice.

[…Hanseok. What do you want? Huh? If you tell the truth about yourself, I might consider helping you.]

“Why should I do that?”

“Isn’t this going too far? And why involve innocent Yuna? If you harm Yuna in any way, I will really kill you!”

“Don’t misunderstand. What I want is for your daughter to know your past and who you truly are. That’s all. Remember what you did to Jina? Your daughter should know too.”

[…Why make up lies? Hanseok, is your delusion disorder acting up again?]

He was very conscious of being recorded when he spoke.

“Fine. Keep living like that. Once I show the evidence, it will be over. Your daughter will know what you’ve done. That’s all I want.”

“That’s all? Don’t lie. You threatened Yuna. To expose her on the internet.”

“It’s not exposure, it’s a rightful accusation. Not a threat, but a prior notice. If your daughter suffers because of your actions, it’s not my fault but yours. Seems like you don’t even consider that. And delusional? Then it’s fine to expose you on the internet, right? Huh?”

[…]

“Delusions will freeze. Because I have evidence, suddenly it must be terrifying for you.”

“What evidence? What evidence do you have?”

“None. Your parents completely erased it. But just now, your interest in the evidence was recorded.”

Realizing his mistake, Hahn Dongjin quickly changed the subject.

“You, you said to provide a solution to Yuna. Why threaten my daughter, you damn bastard!”

“It seemed like a misunderstanding. Asking for a solution meant working together with your daughter, but it became an awkward situation, so I asked ‘What should we do?’ Delusional disorder seems to be your thing.”

[Sigh… What do you want, Hanseok? I’ll listen to everything. Please ensure Yuna doesn’t get hurt. I’m begging you. Okay?]

“Dongjin, are you stupid? As a bank branch manager, isn’t your brain functioning properly?”

“What the hell.”

“I’m investing a lot of money to produce a drama. Would the drama lead actor create controversies? Think about it.”

[…]

“Alright, let me summarize. All I need is for your daughter to know you were trash. Stop your external activities and live quietly like a mouse. Don’t even smirk at others. Others are watching too. If things seem strange, posts will immediately go up on the internet.”

“Is that all it takes?”

Hahn Dongjin thought he could somehow cover this up. Even if Hanseok reveals the past to Yuna, he can simply say he exaggerated and lied. ‘Yuna will naturally believe me. If this lunatic bothers me about quitting the broadcast, I can blame it on him.’

“Got it. I’ll stop the broadcast and delete the YouTube channel. I’ll keep quiet. Is that okay?”

“End it and don’t call me again. I’m blocking you.”

############################

“You were exercising, I presume.”

Hanseok opened his mouth upon seeing the mat laid out on the living room floor.

“Yes. Please have a seat.”

Hanseok sat on the sofa.

Han Yuna sat elegantly on the diagonal sofa, crossing her legs.

Her smooth legs were long.

“Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you. Let’s get straight to the point.”

Han Yuna straightened her back confidently.

The aggressive heart that could only hesitate if it were a man throbbed.

She spoke up.

“My father’s past mistakes are not my fault. It’s the burden my father should bear.

But you, Mr. Representative, demanded compensation from me.

Here’s the solution I propose.

First, I’ll listen to what you want. If it’s something I can do, I’ll help.

Tell me. What do you want from me?”

Yuna pretended to check her phone in her hand, deliberately not recording, to lull any suspicions.

A red light was on the recorder hidden under the table.

“Say it.”

Hanseok nodded disappointedly.

“I hope Yuna can make this drama successful this time.

Of course, it will be a good opportunity for Yuna to succeed as well.

That’s my request.”

Yuna widened her eyes.

“What?”

It was a demand that was completely different from what she had imagined, almost foolish.

For Yuna, Director Park Yeon-seong and the drama shoot were a stroke of luck.

She would have been grateful even if they had given her the opportunity.

Hanseok continued speaking.

“And I was a bit disappointed after hearing what you said.”

“…”

“My father’s past mistakes are not his daughter’s fault.

Of course, that’s true.

What disappointed me is…

The discomfort coming from your tone as if you have no idea what that mistake of your father’s is, Han Yuna.”

“…”

“Did you ask what Dongjin did?”

“He… committed school violence during high school…”

The situation was unfolding completely differently from the script.

Yuna’s eyes trembled with anxiety.

Hanseok continued.

“I had a dear friend.

Song Jina. We were close since middle school.”

Hanseok took a deep breath, holding his chest as if suffocating.

“Are you… okay?”

“I don’t want to dwell on bad memories, so I’ll keep it short.

Eight people, including Dongjin.

There was a group of delinquents.

Those eight took turns raping Jin-ah.”

Yuna covered her mouth with both hands in shock.

“Do you know why?”

“…”

“Because she was friends with me. To torment me.”

Yuna’s hands trembled.

“That day, Jin-ah got pregnant by one of those eight.

After that, she disappeared without a trace. Even if we tried to find her, we couldn’t.

It was as if she vanished from the world overnight.

All we heard were rumors of abortion, suicide, or dying while giving birth.”

Hanseok took out his phone.

He played the conversation he had with Dongjin before coming here.

“Do you remember what you did to Jin-ah? I can’t forgive that.”

“…Why are you making up lies again, Hanseok? Are your delusions acting up?”

At this point, Yuna bowed her head deeply.

Her father’s despicable face, quickly fabricating words upon realizing the recording.

Followed by his urgency at the mention of evidence.

Ending with a subdued threat to keep quiet out of fear of exposure.

Yuna could discern the truth from the familiar tone.

Hanseok stopped the playback of the recording.

“Since Jin-ah disappeared, I’ve been reciting the names of those eight every night before bed.

An Sung-chul, Jang Min-jun, Kang Jae-hoon, Han Dong-jin, Ban Seok, Lee Jong-man, Choi Won-sung, Jin Hyun-woo.”

“…”

“How about it, Han Yuna?”

“…”

Hanseok’s eyes were bloodshot, bulging.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t tear your father apart.”

Tears welled up in Yuna’s eyes after hearing the shocking story.

Simultaneously, guilt washed over her.

Wearing revealing clothes and leaving the recorder on.

And the presence of a father so repulsive she couldn’t bear it.

When she asked her father what she had done wrong, he hesitated and said that a few slaps were all he had done.

Anxious, she wiped her lips with her tongue.

Avoiding eye contact.

The discomfort she felt there.

If what Lee Hanseok just said was a lie, this person would have to act, and if all of this was a manipulation, it was a well-crafted plan that deceived the mind.

Every genuine emotion was being fully conveyed.

Her chest felt tight.

Lee Hanseok spoke.

“Do you know what I do?”

“You’re a drama producer…”

Yuna sniffled in response.

He lowered his head.

“I invest because I have money. The people who receive the investment call me a producer to make them feel good. Do you know why I have a lot of money?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“I have a great sense.”

“What?”

“My gut tells me that Yuna will hit it big in this drama.”

“Thank you. I’ll work hard. About my dad-”

“And.”

Interrupting, Hanseok took something out of his pocket.

It was a switch with a red button.

“My gut also says, that you are his daughter.”

He pressed the button.

Beep. Buzz.

Silence filled the room.

Noise emanated from under the wooden table in front of the couch.

Hanseok and Yuna’s gaze turned towards the table.

Hanseok flipped the table over.

Thud.

Under the overturned table, a recorder was emitting a red light.

Hanseok glared at Yuna.

“Oh. This. No. This, this is… that.”

Yuna, untangling her crossed legs, looked flustered.

Hanseok sighed, running his hand over his forehead.

“How should I deal with people like you? How much should I tolerate?”

It was a forced suppression of anger.

Yuna felt her heart sink.

‘I didn’t want this.’

She had become human trash recording in front of a real victim.

Desperate, Yuna got off the couch and knelt in front of Hanseok.

“I didn’t understand the situation… I just thought I was being threatened… I’m really sorry. I was wrong. If I knew about what you just said, I would never have recorded anything. Please believe me. I’m sorry.”

She bowed deeply.

As Hanseok clenched his teeth, a grinding sound could be heard.

“Wearing revealing clothes on purpose, leading to strange demands from me, then recording to try something backfiring, right?”

…

Hanseok exhaled sharply.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.

“I’ll ask again. Listen carefully, Yuna.”

It was a stern warning.

Yuna raised her head, showing a face willing to do anything.

“Your father. Han Dongjin.”

“I’ll cut ties with him. I don’t want to call someone like that my father if they’ve done such things.”

“What nonsense. Act as usual with me. Don’t show any signs and pretend nothing happened between us.”

“What? Then…”

“The most precious thing to Han Dongjin is you.”

“…”

“I have to take you.”

Yuna felt her heart drop.

In the end, is he demanding her body?

‘But isn’t this man better than Sungmin, the same trash? He’s a bit pitiful. And he’s handsome. What would it feel like to touch those muscles? If it’s with this man, maybe once…

What am I thinking? Get a grip, Yuna.’

Lee Hanseok said,

“The condition is 5 minutes.”

“…What?”

“For 5 minutes, I’ll be inside you. If you accept, I’ll forgive your attempt to record while wearing those clothes. And in the future, when I take revenge on Han Dongjin, I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt at all.”

“Are you asking for my body?”

“I want you to feel that I have the most precious thing to your father. It will be a catalyst for you to trust that you can leave your father and work with me. I won’t move, so you just have to stay still for 5 minutes.”

“Yuna. We have a drama to shoot. I hope our relationship stays clean.”

“You know it too. You’re perfect for that role.”

“Is there no other way?”

“There isn’t. But if you agree to the conditions, I’ll make you a star.”

“A star.”

Yuna’s clear eyes sparkled.

“If I become a star, I can easily handle BD200 without any problems. A life different from now…!”

Yuna had used the money she earned to buy BD40s for her mom and dad.

She appeared on variety shows and was called a filial daughter.

Suddenly, Han Yuna felt it was too wasteful to have allowed her father, or rather that human trash, to be hit with a 200 million-won BD40.

“After the concert we’re preparing for is over, I’ll make sure the girl group disbands. You’re better off as a solo artist. You want to go solo too, don’t you?

And you can act as well. You have talent in acting.

I’ll make sure everything goes well for you.

It’s not a lie; I saw it through your members last time.”

“…Just stay still and don’t resist.”

“Yes. I won’t lay a finger on you.”

“But we still need protection, contraception.”

Yuna said, avoiding eye contact.

“Here it is. EX69. Don’t misunderstand.

Originally, I bought it as a gift for you.

I thought you might use it with Fave Sungmin.

That guy hates taking contraceptives.

Jung Nari had an abortion last year because of that.”

“I broke up with that trash.

Thanks to that, I avoided a disaster.”

“So, what’s your answer?”

Han Yuna glanced briefly at the recorder attached to the overturned table.

The recorder was turned off.

There was no other way out.

She got up from her kneeling position.

“Just for 5 minutes.”