CNC Ch 6

Facing the overwhelming power of the Hanseo Group, Lee Seo-kyung had fallen into a desperate situation and became known as the “stringless kite.” He faced not only the “X Group Scandal” but also various other charges, leading to his prosecution and trial. Moreover, the massive bribes he had received from high-ranking officials of several Southeast Asian countries for real estate speculation had caused further problems.

Lee Seo-kyung was ordered to appear in an investigation of a case in another country following the first trial judgment in Korea. It was quite unusual.

The reason was that high-ranking officials implicated in the investigation were denying involvement in bribery, and they wanted to bring Lee Seo-kyung, who was the briber, in for questioning. In connection to this, Lee Seo-kyung was scheduled to be investigated in both Thailand and Malaysia

Dressed in prisoner’s clothes and handcuffed, Lee Seo-kyung arrived in Bangkok, tied with a rope, and was taken to police facilities within the airport. This sight had been widely reported domestically just a few hours ago.

And the next news was about Lee Seo-kyung’s death.

No matter how you looked at it, Lee Seo-kyung was undoubtedly in a tight spot. If Lee Seo-kyung was so desperate that he refused to die alone, would Lee Seo-kyung mock others with impunity during the investigation processes in Thailand and Malaysia? In that case, there could be countless individuals feeling troubled. Losing the protective shield of being associated with the Hanseo Group, there could be any number of people who felt disturbed with Lee Seo-kyung.

From beginning to end, after double-checking the article, Lee Hae-seong went back to the previous page. In the meantime, dozens of related articles had been updated.

Lee Seo-kyung was shot while being escorted in a vehicle as he approached the Bangkok Prosecutors’ Office. The bullets struck the back of his head, the back of his neck, and the upper back. The initial report stated that he was shot three times and died on the spot, but this has since been changed to five shots.

It was a murder committed not to inflict pain, but to cut off his breath completely. If they had aimed at an unimportant area and he received medical treatment, he might have survived through some miracle. It was a neat professional workmanship without mistakes.

“Hmm…”

Lee Hae-seong placed the tablet on the table and flicked off the ashes from his cigarette.

The calm cream-colored curtains gently filtered the mid-August sunlight. The tranquil interior, where the late afternoon light was softly descending, seemed like a space disconnected from the outside. Lee Haeseong savored this tranquility for a moment, much like enjoying beautiful music.

Then he slowly got up and left the room. Lee Hae-seong’s bedroom was the closest to the master room at the end of the hallway.

Lee Hae-seong approached the master bedroom door and, as usual, he hesitated before opening it. As if someone was on the other side of the door. Just as you would pause and take a deep breath before knocking on the door of someone you care about.

One Two Three Four Five…

After counting each number by folding his fingers one by one, he slowly opened the door.

This room was the one Choi Hong-seo had used during the time it served as the lodging for “Layered” members. The room remained exactly as Choi Hong-seo had left it.

A desk set up with basic equipment for composing, a double-sized bed that wasn’t particularly spacious for two people to lie on, a low bookshelf brimming with favorite comic books.

Several movie posters were hanging above the bookshelf. They were films the two of them had watched together. Every time they watched a movie together, they would gift each other the poster of that film. But there were only three posters in total.

He had purposely left a small gap between them, saying they needed more space to put in in the future. That’s what Choi Hong-seo had said. However, only a long blank space remained next to the closely hung three posters.

He hadn’t touched the dressing room area near the bathroom either. Not a single sock or toothbrush was discarded.

So that it does not wear out and dust does not accumulate on it.

Just like the child had gotten up and gone to work from here this morning.

When dawn arrived, that child would return here after finishing their schedule.

Despite giving such meticulous instructions to maintain this appearance, whenever he opened the door, everything in this place seemed to blur. Everything was being pushed back, fading, slowly sinking into oblivion.

His own heart remained the same, yet this space seemed to be drifting farther away, making that aging feel painful.

He still couldn’t bring himself to sit or lie on the bed.

Standing at the entrance of the room, leaning his shoulders against the door frame, Hae-seong took his time to observe every corner of the space where time from the past seemed to be trapped.

Executive Director Lee Seo-kyung was murdered.

Did this alleviate some of your grievances?

Just a little… If only you had endured a little more…

Before he realized it, Hae-seoung found himself biting his lower lip and bowing his head deeply. His chest was roiling. It felt like a small fishing boat adrift on a stormy night sea. The seeming solidity was merely a result of years of training not to reveal emotions.

Hae-seong moved slowly into the room, needlessly adjusting the undisturbed pillow several times and then quietly slipping out of the room. It was as if someone, someone very precious, was asleep inside.

A sense of presence approached from behind Lee Hae-seong as he closed the door. It was Director Kang.

“Vice President, Mr. Jeong Ji-in and Executive Lee Han have just arrived in the basement.”

It was the day Lee Han and his partner, Jeong Ji-in, returned from their vacation in France and Italy. Haesung had a business trip to North America starting tomorrow, so he had to ask for time today. Besides Director Kang, these two were the only ones who knew the true nature of Choi Hong-seo and Hae-seong’s relationship.

Hae-seong nodded, hiding his expression behind a composed demeanor.

“Is that so? I’ll go greet them myself. Director, please take some rest in your office.”

“I will go in after offering my greetings.”

“No, it’s a private meeting with the two today, so please don’t worry about it. Think of it as making room for them.”

“I understand. Alright then.”

Director Kang lowered his head lightly and moved to one side of the hallway so that Lee Hae-seong could lead. Lee Hae-seong, who was walking past Director Kang and toward the front door, suddenly slowed down.

“Director Kang.”

“Yes, Vice President.”

“It’s about the movie. Director Kang Woo-hyun’s work.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s push forward with the production again.”

“…?”

There didn’t seem to be any particular determination in Hae-seong’s voice. It flowed peacefully, like releasing words that had been pent up in his heart for a long time. Director Kang’s face as he turned to look at Hae-seong was much the same.

Rather, Director Kang showed a rare look of surprise.

It was because now that Choi Hong-seo died, let alone investment, he thought that Lee Hae-seong would no longer want to be involved in this film in any way. In fact, the movie has been in a state of no progress for several months after the death of Choi Hong-seo, who was cast in the main character role.

“‘I didn’t decide to invest because I wanted to look good to you,’ that’s what I told Hong-seo. I would be lying if I stopped investing now. I don’t like that.”

“All right.”

Director Kang didn’t express any displeasure.

Lee Hae-seong’s hardened expression softened and smiled in an instant. However, it was only a brief moment. The smile soon turned into a complex expression and faded away.

He turned back again and walked toward the entrance to welcome the guests.

The couple Jeong Ji-in and Lee Han, who returned from a two-week vacation in France and Italy, were beautifully tanned.

“You both look very healthy. Have you become more handsome?”

“My brother became more handsome, so I had a hard time.”

Lee Han sighed and joked in response to Lee Hae-seong’s greeting. They seemed to have a lot of interesting stories to tell during the trip.

Lee Hae-seong guided them to the dining room. For guests who had just completed a long flight, a dinner table was set with light dishes and champagne for easy drinking.

“You must be tired from the trip. I’m sorry for calling you out today.”

“We live right nearby. Han is on vacation until tomorrow, and I’m unemployed until the next project is decided. Don’t worry about us.”

Jeong Ji-in replied with a soft smile.

Throughout the revelation of the ‘Mr. X Scandal’, the death of Choi Hong-seo, and the prosecution and trial of Lee Seo-kyung, Jeong Ji-in had completely changed his career from a drama actor to a theater actor, which was his original dream.

Although the method was different from Choi Hong-seo, Jeong Ji-in was also one of the victims of Executive Director Lee Seo-kyung, and because he cared for Choi Hong-seo a lot, Lee Hae-seong was grateful to him and had a special sense of comradeship. He thought that he had received significant help from both Jeong Ji-in and Lee Han.

“It’s been enjoyable living so close for once. But I’m already worried about whether it will feel empty once the two of you go to Europe.”

“Well, we still have at least another year left.”

Han smiled as if implying that a year is quite a long time.

Han and Jeong Ji-in were planning to move to Paris, France, after Han finishes the project he’s currently working on at the company. While it was a good opportunity for them, Lee Hae-seong was already feeling a bit sad about their departure.

Once they leave, the frequency of topics about Choi Hong-seo will probably decrease, and perhaps his memories of that child might fade little by little… That thought was agonizing to him.

“By the way, did you hear the news…?”

Unlike Lee Han, who was cheerful as usual, Ji-in, who was scrutinizing Hae-seong’s expression as if he had something to say, cautiously brought up the topic.

“Huh? Oh… yeah, I heard.”

Hae-seong nodded, putting down the glass of champagne he was drinking.

The assassination of Executive Director Lee Seo-kyung.

It was a significant event for all three people gathered here. It was awkward not to bring it up. However, Lee Hae-seong did not want to attach meaning to it as if it were a great event. He casually asked the two with a nonchalant voice.

“Did the two of you hear about it after getting off the plane?”

“Yes.”

“At first, they announced it was three shots, but there was a revised article a little while ago saying it was actually five shots.”

Lee Hae-seong’s voice, as he spoke like mentioning the weather or sports news, was equally indifferent. Han also talked about the incident with an expression and tone that showed no signs of shock or disturbance.

“The work of a top-notch professional. The perpetrator probably won’t be caught. They must have paid at least several hundred thousand dollars for this.”

“Maybe even over a million dollars.”

Hae-seong said indifferently while bringing the glass of champagne to his lips, as he corrected the commission cost that Lee Han had guessed.

The simple meal they had prepared was nearing its end. Han stretched and offered Ji-in a cigarette.

“Since I’ve been holding back since the plane, I really want to smoke one now. Want to join me?”

Upon hearing the mention of cigarettes, Ji-in’s expression showed his own craving for smoking.

“Hyung, can I go smoke a cigarette too?”

“Sure. Take your time.”

After the two of them affectionately left the dining room, Lee Hae-seong called someone to open a bottle of red wine instead of champagne. It was one of the precious wines he planned to drink on special days or occasions to celebrate.

He thinly sliced ​​the warm roast beef with a fork and knife. As he carved, the juices and sauce flowed out from the meat onto the plate, making it a succulent sight.

He put the cut meat in his mouth and chewed on the meat, and then lifted the glass to swallow the deep red wine.

The seat Ji-in and Han had been sitting in, across from Hae-seong, offered a stunning view of Seoul at night, with the Han River in the background. Hae-seong chewing the meat and drinking wine overlapped with hazy images of the scene.