SU | Chapter 5.1

“Manager Gu, Yoo Han isn’t even in the line.”

Although there had been ample time for Yoo Han to enter and find his target, there was still no news from him. Calls and texts went unanswered. Gu Kangsan had Yong check the entry line, but there was no trace of him.

Horangi scratched his cheek and asked, “Could he have already gone in? Maybe he’s just not seeing his phone because it’s hectic.”

“How could he have gone in when there wasn’t a single guy alone in the line to begin with?”

Yong and Horangi bickered back and forth about Yoo Han’s whereabouts.

Gu Kangsan stepped out of the car and lit a cigarette. He contacted the guards he had bribed earlier. After describing Yoo Han’s appearance and asking if they had seen him, a text arrived. It said a man matching Yoo Han’s description had been drinking beer in the club lounge before heading upstairs to the second floor.

“What the hell is he doing?”

Gu Kangsan frowned, looking worried. He quickly instructed the guards to keep an eye on Yoo Han before hurriedly finishing his cigarette. Given Yoo Han’s established trust and loyalty at the detective agency, Gu trusted that he wouldn’t simply vanish.

Just then, his phone rang—it was Ji Youngwon.

“Yes, Director Ji. It’s Kangsan.”

“How’s it going?”

“Ah… I’ve just managed to get Yoo Han inside the club.”

Ji Youngwon seemed to pick up on Gu Kangsan’s hesitation and lightly scolded him.

“What time do you call this, only getting him in now?”

“There are guards inside to take care of him. Don’t worry.”

“Worry? What’s there to worry about?”

Ji Youngwon seemed to be smoking too, judging by the sound of a deep exhale.

“I met Executive Director Shim at today’s meeting. His son was whining so much about being lost… Shit, anyone would think a kindergarten kid had been kidnapped.”

“There’s no problem bringing him back.”

“That’s expected. Just make sure he comes back unharmed.”

After hanging up, Gu Kangsan exhaled smoke anxiously.

“Shit, this is making me nervous…”

—

Lee Sungmin approached Yoo Han with a resentful look. Yoo Han’s face still showed signs of shock.

“Mr. Lee Sungmin, I… I didn’t know.”

“Getting a pardon must be easy.”

Lee Sungmin let out a bitter smile and raised his hand, but Yoo Han tightly closed his eyes. However, there was no sound of a slap—only the click of a door handle.

“Get out. And never show your face to me again.”

Yoo Han slowly opened his eyes. Lee Sungmin limped away, dragging his injured leg. Each step he took toward the sofa was pained, and Yoo Han found it hard to look away.

“…Sungmin-ssi.”

“Shit, didn’t you hear me tell you to get lost?”

Lee Sungmin didn’t turn around but spat out the curse, his voice tinged with a shallow sob. Yoo Han, unable to hold back his emotions, fumbled for his wallet in his pocket. He strode toward Lee Sungmin, who had settled on the sofa, and extended a handful of cash.

“You won’t make any money here today. Bringing this man in was my task for today.”

“What are you doing?”

Lee Sungmin harshly slapped Yoo Han’s hand away. The bundle of money scattered across the table. Yoo Han, undeterred, began to pick up the bills again.

“I’ve received many charitable donations myself. When you have nothing, pride doesn’t leave you with anything.”

“Shit… You see me like this and still talk that crap?”

Yoo Han paused while picking up the money. Lee Sungmin was indirectly admitting that he had been backstabbed after receiving consolation money from his half-brother.

“…I’m sorry.”

Yoo Han, unyielding, placed the money on Lee Sungmin’s thigh.

“Still, this money won’t tie you down. I’ll repay it, so don’t worry.”

It was over a million won. Lee Sungmin eyed Yoo Han warily, suspicious of his enigmatic statements. Just then, a loud noise broke the tension in the room.

“Hey, pimp! I’ve got the money… What the hell?”

Blue Hair barged in, only to freeze at the strange scene before him. Lee Sungmin, his face flushed, was glaring at Blue Hair, while a bundle of money lay scattered around his thighs. Meanwhile, the so-called pimp, who should have been sitting down, was instead facing off with Lee Sungmin across the table.

“What’s going on here? Did you two hook up behind my back?”

Blue Hair scratched his head and closed the door behind him. He sauntered over to the still-motionless Yoo Han, leaning in close.

“Hey, pimp. Ever heard of professional ethics? You were supposed to go out with me today. Now here you are messing around behind my back. How’s that supposed to work?”

“…That’s not it.”

Yoo Han denied it as calmly as he could and slipped his wallet back into his pocket.

“Since you’ve got the money, let’s go. I need to check on the other rooms, too.”

“Hmm…”

Instead of responding, Blue Hair began to circle around Yoo Han. Yoo Han’s eyes darted anxiously between the seated Lee Sungmin and the unpredictable Blue Hair.

‘It seems like I’m about to be caught.’

Yoo Han slid his hand into his pocket, subtly reaching for his phone. He was preparing for the worst.

“Hey, rag. Get up. We’re leaving together.”

Suddenly, Blue Hair gestured toward Lee Sungmin.

“What are you doing? Get up. Leaving you here alone after seeing you take the money doesn’t sit right.”

Yoo Han blocked Blue Hair’s arm, his expression stunned.

“No.”

“What?”

If Lee Sungmin was taken with them, the detective agency staff would immediately recognize his face. Besides, Lee Sungmin had already been assaulted by them before—dragging him along could only worsen his trauma.

“What are you doing now?”

Drunk, Blue Hair shoved Yoo Han hard. Yoo Han lost his balance and fell onto the table. *Crash!* Amid the sound of something breaking, Yoo Han let out a grunt as the jagged neck of a broken bottle pierced his waist. Sticky liquid and fruit juice seeped into the expensive clothes Ji Youngwon had bought for him.

As Yoo Han struggled to stand, sharp pain radiated through his palm.

“Ouch…”

Shards of glass were embedded in his hand. He winced, quickly plucking out the pieces. Blood dripped down, staining the floor.

“This is shit…”

The scene was a mess. Yoo Han felt his anxiety spike as his carefully laid plan spiraled out of control. His attempt to lure Blue Hair out had completely failed.

As Yoo Han sighed and steadied himself, something unexpected happened.

“Hey.”

Lee Sungmin, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, suddenly spoke. Yoo Han bit his lip and turned toward him.

“He’s from the detective agency.”

But Lee Sungmin’s words weren’t aimed at Yoo Han—they were directed at Blue Hair. Blue Hair, confused, furrowed his brow.

“What?”

“He came looking for you.”

“…”

“So stop messing around and run, you idiot.”

Lee Sungmin casually stuffed the bundle of bills into his jacket pocket. Blue Hair froze for a moment before glancing back at Yoo Han. Their eyes locked.

“…”

“…”

It was as if the pieces finally clicked into place for Blue Hair. His expression darkened as he cursed under his breath.

“This fucking bastard…”

It was over. Yoo Han sighed and closed his eyes. After spitting out a few more curses, Blue Hair bolted for the door. The slowed-down club music thumped in Yoo Han’s ears. The electronic beats, mixed with saxophone notes, were strangely beautiful despite the chaos.

*Bang.* The door slammed shut behind Blue Hair. Yoo Han stared at the space where he had been, his gaze hollow.

“Don’t resent me. Normally, the money he owes me is more than what you gave him.”

Lee Sungmin’s sharp voice broke the silence. He looked up at Yoo Han with a warning.

“If you interfere again next time, I really won’t let it go. Understand? Now get lost, too.”

Yoo Han wiped the blood smeared on his forehead with his sleeve.

“…Sigh… Don’t worry. I won’t be seeing him again.”

The words were heartfelt. Yoo Han knew, deep down, that this would be their final conversation. He walked wearily toward the door. But before stepping out, he paused and turned back to Lee Sungmin.

“Really, don’t go easy on yourself. There’s a difference between having your life messed up by others and screwing it up yourself. At the very least, you have to be on your own side.”

Lee Sungmin didn’t respond. His face remained impassive, his eyes averted.

Yoo Han left the room with a heavy heart.

His seventeenth case had ended in failure. Whether the bitterness he felt stemmed from the failure itself or from the realization that his story wasn’t so different from Lee Sungmin’s, Yoo Han couldn’t quite tell.

***

Ji Youngwon received the message from Gu Kangsan at half past two in the morning.

[I apologize. I’ll reorganize and take on the task for Executive Director Shim’s son again.]

Sighing, Ji Youngwon pressed the heels of his hands against his temples, a gesture of exhaustion. He put down his glass of water and immediately called Gu Kangsan. After a few rings, Gu answered.

– Yes, Director Ji. This is Kangsan.

“Are you telling me you didn’t catch him?”

– …Yes, I apologize.

“Why didn’t you include a report on the circumstances?”

Failing a task was rare, but if it did happen, a brief report of the situation was an unspoken rule. However, Gu offered no excuses or further explanation.

– I’m sorry.

It was obvious why Gu wasn’t able to report properly. It was Yoo Han who had been inside the club, and it seemed he wasn’t willing to speak up.

“You said Yoo Han went in alone.”

– Yes, that’s correct.

“You were supposed to send him in with a cam. Bring me that footage.”

– ……

Ji Youngwon’s face hardened as the silence stretched on.

“Fuck, you didn’t do it?”

He rose from his seat in disbelief.

“Where are all of you right now?”

Ji Youngwon growled, his voice thick with irritation. Gu stammered, sounding tense.

– …We’re on our way to the emergency room with Yoo Han. Uh, on the way.

“What?”

The word ‘emergency room’ twisted Ji Youngwon’s mouth into a scowl.

– He’s not badly hurt. There might have been a scuffle because there are some scrapes on his palms…

Ji Youngwon didn’t even have the energy to curse. He ended the call and walked straight to the dressing room.

Yoo Han was sitting quietly in the waiting room, and Gu Kangsan, looking pallid and serious, was nervously checking his phone. Yoo Han tapped Gu’s shoulder.

“Manager Gu.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you think Director Ji is very angry…?”

The atmosphere of the phone call he had partially overheard on the way to the hospital had seemed quite serious, and the sight of Manager Gu’s pale, worried face was troubling.

“It’s really my fault. I’m truly sorry. When he comes, I’ll apologize thoroughly to Director Ji. You and the others aren’t to blame; it’s all on me…”

“It’s not about that, man.”

Gu shook his head as if to dismiss the concern. Ji Youngwon wasn’t someone who usually got worked up over ‘failures’ if there was a reasonable explanation for them. However, he had a strict adherence to basics and was merciless when it came to needless mistakes in handling tasks, especially when the proper equipment was not used.