MDQ Ch 37
by LuluFortunately, there was no need to waste time explaining. Jung Yohan cut straight to the point.
“Sir, have you tried contacting hyung?”
“No. Why would I bother reaching out to that useless brat?”
“…”
“Ah, my dear Yohan must be so hurt that you came to complain to me? Should I take care of that bastard Hyunseok for you?”
Lee Donghee didn’t seem to realize that Lee Hyunseok had already seen through his true nature.
That while he acted weak only in front of Lee Hyunseok to squeeze money out of him, he was secretly dreaming of a happy future with another woman.
A crooked smile tugged at Jung Yohan’s lips.
“I’ll only say this once, so listen carefully.”
“Huh? Y-yes. Alright.”
Lee Donghee stammered nervously at the frighteningly low tone of Jung Yohan’s voice.
His face was filled only with confusion. It seemed he couldn’t even guess why Jung Yohan had suddenly turned cold.
Of course, just as he’d told Lee Hyunseok, Jung Yohan had no intention of meddling in someone else’s family affairs.
Whether Lee Donghee remarried another woman or leeched off Lee Hyunseok’s back again—it was none of his concern.
But Lee Donghee might be useful, perhaps even the key to making Lee Hyunseok return.
On the off chance that even Jung Yohan’s withdrawal article didn’t stir Lee Hyunseok, he was preparing something more provocative.
“Hyung has disappeared.”
“He must’ve run away in shame after doing something so disgraceful. Tsk, so irresponsible.”
And who was the real irresponsible, clueless one here? Jung Yohan calmly watched Lee Donghee blabber without tact and replied, “I have to find him.”
“Hyunseok? You want me to help?”
At least he wasn’t completely oblivious. Jung Yohan gave a short nod.
“Call him and tell him. Tell him he’s needed right now.”
“That’s easy enough, I can do it right awa—”
Jung Yohan cut him off sharply.
“If he insists on not coming back, tell him you’ll die. That’ll be the surest way.”
“…!”
Lee Hyunseok was weak at heart. No matter how much he hated Lee Donghee, if Lee Donghee claimed he would die, Lee Hyunseok would show up.
There was no more certain method of bringing him back.
Lee Donghee’s lips parted slightly, as if startled by such a violent request.
“Sir.”
“Y-yes.”
“You need to answer me.”
“…”
Jung Yohan’s voice was soft, but his eyes, staring up at him from below, held not a trace of warmth.
That cold gaze made Lee Donghee’s shoulders shrink. He had once liked Jung Yohan because something in his gentleness and mysterious air reminded him of his own son… but now, he seemed like someone else entirely.
It felt like he had let a ferocious beast, hiding its true nature, into his home.
If he didn’t answer the way Jung Yohan wanted, something terrible would happen—that was the feeling that gripped him. At last, Lee Donghee’s lips slowly parted.
“Y-yes… I’ll do it.”
For some reason, he couldn’t stop his lower lip from trembling.
It was the third day in Omyeon-ri, the place people said many came to die.
Though I had slept soundly the first night, last night I was plagued by nightmares. In the dream, faceless people pointed fingers at me and hurled accusations.
The reason was obvious. It was because of something Kang Kimoon had said last night.
“Recently, there was an issue about plagiarism.”
Kang Kimoon’s face had twisted with disgust as he brought up the case tied to Park Saebit. He looked as if he loathed the matter, even while feeling burdened by it.
The kindness he had shown me before—the man who had offered a spare room to a stranger and even warm meals—was nowhere to be seen.
I couldn’t bring myself to ask him about the plagiarism case in detail.
If I slipped even one wrong word, I was afraid he would realize I was connected to it.
All I could do was hide my trembling hands and wandering eyes, praying he wouldn’t notice that truth.
I was innocent. But Kang Kimoon, who barely knew me, had no reason to believe in my innocence.
After that conversation ended awkwardly with me falling silent, we each returned to our rooms.
Even lying in bed, my heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest. I began to think this place wasn’t somewhere I should be.
I had wanted to stay longer, here with the people who had genuinely cared for me… but maybe that had been greedy of me.
From the slightly open window, the sound of crows drifted in.
A sound I had once thought of as nothing more than birdsong now pierced my ears sharply.
It felt like the crows were shouting at me to leave this place immediately.
I covered my ears and barely managed to fall asleep again, only to wake early from yet another nightmare.
When morning came, the unease still clung to me. Finally, I slipped quietly out of Kang Kimoon’s house, hoping a walk might clear my mind.
He wasn’t anywhere on the first floor—likely still asleep.
The countryside dawn felt different from the city.
Though it wasn’t raining, a strange mist rose, blurring my vision. The occasional glimpse of grass through the haze looked eerily grotesque compared to yesterday.
The wingbeats of low-flying crows seemed to brush right past my cheek.
Each time I met their predator-sharp eyes, goosebumps prickled my skin. In no time, a flock had gathered around me.
I kept moving forward, refusing to look around me, as if possessed.
Even with my breath caught in my throat, I couldn’t stop walking because of the crows. Before I realized it, I was surrounded by nothing but thick brush.
The moment I stepped forward, shivering with dread—
“Stop.”
For the first time since leaving, a human voice cut through the silence. At the same time, someone seized my wrist tightly.
I was pulled forward helplessly, my face landing against someone’s chest.
“Careful. You almost fell.”
I lifted my head toward the voice and saw Kang Kimoon’s face.
Unlike last night, he looked slightly anxious.
“Hyunwoo, get a hold of yourself.”
His voice, unlike the distant cries of crows, snapped me back to awareness.
Even the white mist that had clouded my vision seemed to vanish.
And then I realized, startled—a sheer cliff lay directly before me.
What if I had been lured by the crows and plunged straight down?
I swallowed hard. Maybe I wouldn’t have died, but I certainly wouldn’t have escaped injury.
That was when I remembered hearing that this place was notorious as a suicide spot.
“I-I wasn’t really trying to die…”
With trembling hands, I clutched Kang Kimoon’s shirt. He didn’t push me away. Instead, he gave me a rough pat on the back.
“I know.”
“…”
Because he believed me right away, the trembling inside me eased slightly.
I hadn’t realized how much I craved trust, perhaps because I had been betrayed too often in such a short time.
“Let’s go back first.”
I answered with a nod.
The moment we returned home, Kang Kimoon handed me a warm cup of tea. A calming herbal tea, to soothe my shaken nerves.
He even draped a blanket over my shoulders, bare under just a thin T-shirt. Then, he stayed silent until I finished drinking.
Thanks to his thoughtfulness, I was able to calm down quickly. After steadying my breath, I explained what had happened in the morning.
“I just woke up early and went for a walk, but the sound of the crows was too much. I tried to get away from them, and when I came to my senses, I was already at the cliff. The village looked so beautiful, I didn’t even realize such a place was nearby…”
Hearing it out loud, it sounded like a foolish excuse.
But Kang Kimoon didn’t laugh or dismiss me. Instead, he nodded as if he understood.
“You’re not strange. It’s something outsiders who come here for the first time sometimes experience. Don’t blame yourself too much.”
“You mean… people have actually fallen off cliffs like that, just from being lured?”
Kang Kimoon nodded.
“Some even wander into the mist on purpose, hoping to end their lives.”
“…”
“I should’ve warned you not to go out alone on rainy days or at dawn. That’s my fault.”
He even blamed himself for not warning me sooner. When really, I had been the fool running blindly.
“From now on, never go out alone. Only take walks after the sun’s fully up.”
Even his blunt words carried a warmth of concern.