SU | Chapter 5.3

The conversation revealed they were quite accustomed to Director Ji’s violence. Wincing, Hwangso and Horangi worriedly asked Gu Kangsan.

“Will Yoo Han be okay? He looks like he could faint from just a slap.”

Gu Kangsan, rubbing his swollen cheek, looked at the dawn-lightening sky.

“You guys should worry about yourselves.”

Just then, Yoo Han came out with his prescription and diagnosis in hand and spotted Ji Youngwon standing afar.

“Director.”

Holding a guardian’s necklace in his hand, Ji Youngwon turned at Yoo Han’s call. Without much response, he called over the nurse standing behind Yoo Han. The nurse approached and recited what seemed like a prepared speech.

“We’ve removed a few more pieces of glass that were embedded. Normally, with this depth, there’s a high likelihood of nerve damage, but luckily he was fortunate. For a while, please take the prescribed medication diligently and keep the dressed area dry. It’s best not to use your hand much, so we recommend getting plenty of help. When you come to remove the stitches…”

Yoo Han watched Ji Youngwon listening to the nurse intently, as if fascinated.

“We’ve also added an ointment for bruises; please apply it around the neck and waist area.”

Ji Youngwon furrowed his brows and turned back to Yoo Han, wondering what kind of mess he’d gotten into. Yoo Han could easily interpret the meaning behind his gaze without hearing a word.

After the nurse had finished and disappeared down the hallway, Ji Youngwon snatched the papers in Yoo Han’s hand.

“Hand over your ID.”

Ah… Yoo Han reached into his dirty jumper pocket where his freshly dressed hand was. Ji Youngwon frowned and quickly grabbed Yoo Han’s forearm.

“Idiot.”

Being harshly scolded for the first time in a while, Yoo Han’s eyes widened. Every touch from Ji Youngwon made Yoo Han feel like his chest was tightening, and he struggled to breathe.

Ji Youngwon pulled out Yoo Han’s wallet from his jumper with relentless hands. Inside, arranged by Gu Kangsan, was an ID card. The photo, taken during his school days, showed a much younger and round-faced Yoo Han, filled with gloom unlike now.

Ji Youngwon looked at the photo for a moment before moving to the payment counter. His mood seemed several times lower.

After completing the payment, Ji Youngwon dragged Yoo Han outside. Yoo Han watched Ji Youngwon’s silent march to the parking lot with trepidation. They stopped in front of a sedan.

“Director, where are the Chief and the others?”

“Drive.”

“Uh…”

Watching Ji Youngwon get into the car, Yoo Han hurriedly opened the back door.

“You really want to die, huh?”

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Ji Youngwon growled. Yoo Han, realizing his mistake, quickly got down and approached the passenger side. He carefully opened the door with his uninjured hand and took his seat. This was only the second time Yoo Han had seen Ji Youngwon driving since after the stalking errand. Yoo Han couldn’t believe he was receiving such meticulous care after all his blunders.

Trying not to succumb to sleep, Yoo Han eventually closed his eyes from exhaustion as dawn approached. While his head thudded against the window, the car arrived at the building’s rooftop.

Ji Youngwon looked over the slumbering Yoo Han with a detached gaze after the car stopped. Tapping the steering wheel repeatedly with his index finger, Ji stepped out of the car and headed straight to the rooftop railing to light a cigarette.

“Fuck…”

The lighter was nowhere to be found. Ji Youngwon furrowed his brows in annoyance, chewing on the end of his cigarette. The absence of his subordinate, who usually lit it for him, was beginning to irritate him. Storming out and driving the car himself at this ungodly hour was completely out of character for him. Clearly, something had deeply unsettled him.

The sound of the car door opening drew Ji Youngwon’s attention. Yoo Han, looking groggy and rubbing his swollen face, stepped out.

“Uh… sorry, Director. I must have dozed off.”

Yoo Han approached Ji Youngwon, his voice filled with habitual apology. His eyes still carried the weight of sleep. Ji Youngwon, leaning back against the railing, observed Yoo Han with a dissatisfied expression.

Feeling awkward under the scrutiny, Yoo Han shifted his gaze to the surroundings. Only then did he realize they were on the building’s rooftop, confirmed by the familiar view of the buildings across. The dawn-painted cityscape, with its blend of orange and blue pastels, resembled a work of art.

“Wow… that’s beautiful.”

Yoo Han’s mouth hung open in awe, captivated by the unexpected view.

“Explain what happened.”

Ji Youngwon’s sudden, sharp question snapped Yoo Han out of his reverie. The awe on his face disappeared as he clamped his mouth shut. He had hoped the topic wouldn’t come up if he avoided it—clearly, that was wishful thinking.

“What explanation?”

Ji Youngwon ground out his cigarette under his shoe. The gesture radiated silent pressure, making Yoo Han nervous.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault the job failed…”

“Cut the crap.”

Yoo Han swallowed hard and recited the excuse he had prepared.

“It was my first time at a club… I stupidly walked into the wrong room. That’s when I accidentally got into a scuffle with someone.”

“You didn’t even see the target?”

“Uh… no, that’s not it.”

Yoo Han stumbled through his fabricated story, his nerves betraying him. He realized belatedly that if they ever caught the blue-haired target, his clumsy lies would crumble.

“After that, I found the right room. The target was almost in our grasp. I told him I was there for a deal, and he got excited and said he’d fetch his wallet…”

“…”

“But when he came back, he must’ve realized something. He suddenly shoved me and ran away. That was it.”

Yoo Han skillfully weaved truth with lies, avoiding any mention of Lee Sungmin.

“How did he realize?”

“…I guess I just really can’t act.”

Ji Youngwon smirked bitterly at the poor response.

“You’re bad at acting?”

“…”

“And the cash you were carrying—who did you hand it over to?”

Ji Youngwon’s tone remained calm, but Yoo Han felt like he was undergoing an intense interrogation.

“I didn’t hand it over. It was so crowded; I think someone pickpocketed me.”

“The wallet that’s worth more than the cash is still with you, though. Does that sound believable to you?”

Yoo Han felt a cold sweat as he struggled to maintain his story.

“I don’t know. Just the cash is gone. I promised to repay Manager Gu later.”

“Ha.”

Ji Youngwon scoffed, his patience thinning at Yoo Han’s unconvincing lies.

“What kind of nonsense are you running through that head of yours?”

The low, irritated tone made Yoo Han’s jaw clench. His bloodshot eyes, red from sleeplessness, looked as though they might spill tears at any moment.

“Just cry.”

Ji Youngwon pressed his index finger into Yoo Han’s dirty forehead, pushing his head back. Yoo Han stumbled, retreating slightly with his eyes cast downward.

“…I’m not crying.”

“Don’t test me. I’m not in the mood for games.”

It was the truth. Ji Youngwon had been suppressing his anger ever since he arrived at the hospital and saw Yoo Han’s disheveled state.

Yoo Han shifted uncomfortably under the hostile atmosphere. Finally, he raised his gaze from the ground. When their eyes met, Yoo Han felt a lump form in his throat. Ji Youngwon’s predatory glare held an intensity that made him choke.

“There won’t be any bell-run jobs for a while. Just so you know.”

Yoo Han froze.

“…Why?”

It was just one failure. Ji Youngwon’s merciless decision darkened Yoo Han’s expression.

“You really don’t know?”

Ji Youngwon gestured with his chin toward Yoo Han’s hand, but Yoo Han didn’t catch the signal. He dropped his head again as a cold dawn breeze swept across his face.

“It was just one failure.”

Yoo Han muttered with a defeated sigh.

“I’ve done everything you’ve asked until now…”

“Shut up.”

Ji Youngwon turned away, his face lined with exhaustion. Leaning against the railing, he let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t even know what’s going on…”

Yoo Han murmured softly, his head bowed. The lingering image of a hurt Lee Sungmin weighed heavily on his mind. Having never deliberately hurt anyone in his life, he found his emotions difficult to control. The resentful looks, the blaming tone, the vicious curses—Lee Sungmin’s lonely back as he walked away, deciding to let Yoo Han go, haunted him.

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

It was the resigned gaze of someone who had no strength left to resent the world or stand up again. Yoo Han knew that feeling all too well, and his heart tightened unbearably at the thought of inflicting the same pain on someone innocent. Even breathing felt like a burden of guilt.

But what felt even worse was this moment—his existence and worth being dismissed by Ji Youngwon over a single failure, leaving him to stew in misery.

“That’s too much.” Yoo Han suddenly resented Ji Youngwon.

“You’re not so great yourself, Director.”

His words were shockingly blunt and unexpected. Ji Youngwon tilted his head at the audacity, slowly turning back toward Yoo Han.

“All that ‘necessary evil’ stuff—it’s all lies, isn’t it?”

The situation was just as sudden for Yoo Han as it was for everyone else. He couldn’t stop himself, even though he knew he should. Perhaps it was the bitterness of being excluded from future jobs, but his words kept spilling out like a spell forcing him to speak the truth.

“In fact, as long as it makes money, you’re fine with it. So now that I’m useless, you want to throw me away.”

Ji Youngwon’s expression twisted fiercely as he listened in silence. He stepped closer to Yoo Han, who kept babbling like a madman.

“Go on.”

Yoo Han failed to recognize the warning in his voice and continued muttering, as if possessed. Lack of sleep clouded his mind, and his reasoning faltered.

“Violence is bad. No matter what, it’s wrong.”

“…”

“You’re rich, Director. You could just take the good jobs, and that’d be enough…”

His gaze was fixed on the rooftop floor when suddenly his face was jerked upward.

“Ouch!” Yoo Han yelped as Ji Youngwon violently grabbed his face, gripping his jaw and chin.

“Keep talking.”

“Ah! Let go…!”

Yoo Han struggled, hitting at Ji Youngwon’s wrist as he fought to free himself. Ji Youngwon gritted his teeth, his fist trembling with restrained fury. Yoo Han’s resistance was fiercer than expected.

“What the hell happened at the club, and you still can’t get it right?”

“Let go! Let go…!”

“Who are you to lecture, huh?”

“Ugh…!”

“Just because I let it slide, now you think I am an easy target.”

Ji Youngwon growled, his voice low and menacing, as though he were about to lash out. His grip tightened, making Yoo Han’s eyes brim with tears of misery.

“Good jobs?” Ji Youngwon let out a low, incredulous chuckle.

“I told you. Even your request to find Kim Minjae wasn’t normal.”

“Ah…!”

“You knew this place was filthy from the start. You knew and still clung to your spot just to survive. And now you’re acting clueless, pretending to be all innocent, throwing a tantrum—what’s the point? What does that change?”