TIOAWN Chapter 29
by Ariana“If you’ve come to your senses, you might want to listen to the report first.”
The chief secretary handed over a water bottle and got straight to the point.
“Go ahead.”
That report or whatever it was.
Song Woo-jin leaned back on the sofa, resting his arm arrogantly on the backrest, and closed his eyes. His still-menacing manhood made its presence known.
Despite the rather indecent sight, the chief secretary showed no change in expression as he checked the tablet and began reading the report.
“Prosecutor Park Seung-ho has contacted us.”
“So, when is he planning to make the arrest?”
Hmm. Hmm. Song Woo-jin hummed as if just imagining it was entertaining. A milky-white liquid dripped, drop by drop, down the IV line in a steady rhythm.
The chief secretary, who had been watching Song Woo-jin reveling in his mood, cleared his throat. At that, the expression that had remained unchanged even when he was completely naked and shaking his hips darkened noticeably.
“He says it’s difficult to summon him for questioning right away.”
What the hell? Acting like he couldn’t hear properly, Song Woo-jin dug his finger into his ear and casually crossed one leg over the other, wiggling his index finger.
When the chief secretary hesitated and stepped closer, Song Woo-jin suddenly grabbed a slipper he had taken off and hurled it. The slipper struck the chief secretary’s shin and tumbled to the floor, making the chief secretary frown slightly.
“That fucking prissy bastard can’t even handle something as simple as that?”
Crack. Crack. Song Woo-jin twisted his neck back and forth with an irritated expression.
“As you know, he’s a meticulous person.”
“Chief Secretary. ‘A meticulous person’? Fuck. Who are you calling ‘a meticulous person’? Huh? Is that bastard your boss?”
Song Woo-jin, as if conscious of Ms. Yang’s presence, refrained from directly mentioning Cha Moo-geon’s name and instead vented his frustration on the chief secretary.
“Tell that prissy bastard clearly. Use that brilliant brain of his to come up with a justification.”
Song Woo-jin tapped his temple with his fingers.
“No, just thinking about it pisses me off. How the fuck did that bastard even become a prosecutor with that brain of his?”
As if he couldn’t comprehend it at all, Song Woo-jin shook his head and gulped down a bottle of water before flinging it away.
“There are just too many useless bastards in this country.”
The water bottle, seemingly aimed, struck the chief secretary’s stomach before rolling across the floor.
The chief secretary shifted his gaze toward Ms. Yang.
He couldn’t even cut off Cha Moo-geon’s subordinates, yet he had the audacity to claim he’d summon Cha Moo-geon for questioning. Should he be commended for such determination, or simply laughed off as a foolish child?
Perhaps he was trying to assert his authority because he couldn’t stand the thought of Cha Moo-geon outmaneuvering him. Whether that would work out as he hoped was another matter entirely.
The chief secretary swallowed a quiet sigh between his lips.
“I’ll relay the message again.”
With a soothing tone, he bowed his head slightly.
“I will take this woman to the hospital.”
Just as the situation seemed to be wrapping up, Ms.Yang interjected.
“She’s not dead. I didn’t kill her. So stop making a fuss, Ms.Yang.”
“There’s bleeding. If we don’t take her to the hospital now, there could be complications.”
Ms.Yang spoke as if she were dealing with any other patient, but Song Woo-jin felt his pride wounded.
It sounded as if he was being mocked for relying on brute force without skill.
Just as Song Woo-jin was about to retort, the chief secretary’s phone suddenly vibrated noisily.
“The chairman has arrived at the office.”
Like a brat who had been acting out, Song Woo-jin immediately straightened his posture and reached out his hand toward the chief secretary.
Once he had dressed himself in the underwear, shirt, and pants that had been prepared, he walked out of the hotel room without hesitation, as if the night’s indulgences were already behind him.
“Take care of it. That’s what you’re getting paid a lot for.”
Leaving the chief secretary standing there, Song Woo-jin strode down the hotel hallway. At the far end, his waiting staff bowed in unison as they greeted him.
***
Moo-geon stepped into the Wonju accident site and meticulously examined the situation. He had stayed up all night, yet there was no trace of fatigue on his face.
His fingers thoroughly sifted through the documents, and his black pupils scanned every single character without missing a word.
“Any parts that could be used against us?”
“There are no issues with the ground stability, and we have never violated the requirement to maintain level ground. The site manager never left his post, and dismantling work was not recklessly carried out under unstable weather conditions.”
Kang-heon handed over a tablet and flipped through a pre-prepared report while explaining the situation.
“The possibility of faulty materials being used?”
“A morning inspection confirmed there were no issues.”
The current state of Yeocha was completely different from the days when Song Moon-yeol roamed the back alleys, throwing his weight around. Since Moo-geon had taken charge of operations, site supervision had become rigorous.
He never tolerated careless handling of materials, and even in cases of subcontracting, Moo-geon’s subordinates meticulously managed every step.
They were so strict that subcontractors often lamented, pleading for more lenient supervision. Despite project delays and increased labor costs, Moo-geon never batted an eye.
Laws? What laws? In this field, Cha Moo-geon was the law.
“Have you rechecked whether the workers have the necessary licenses?”
Scaffolding assembly and dismantling were strictly regulated. From selecting contractors to verifying worker licenses, there were countless headaches if something went wrong, making it an area Moo-geon was particularly attentive to.
“Yes, all checks have been completed. There was no evidence of falsified or stolen licenses.”
“So, what do you think is the cause of the accident?”
“It appears that someone among the workers deliberately tampered with the bolts. Other than that, we couldn’t find any potential cause for the accident.”
Having worked closely with Moo-geon, Kang-heon had received numerous reports on scaffolding dismantling accidents. After several thorough investigations, it was clear that such an incident could not have occurred without intentional interference.
“Is one of the casualties someone who was under Song Woo-jin’s orders?”
“That is our suspicion. Do you plan to investigate?”
Should they round up the men and interrogate them? Kang-heon, his face serious, asked the question, but Moo-geon scoffed lightly.
“What would be the point of stirring up the victims?”
This might be exactly what Song Woo-jin wanted. Moo-geon casually patted Kang-heon’s shoulder.
“If a prosecutor’s summons arrives, there will be no shortage of people rushing to take advantage of the situation against you, sir.”
He had too many enemies. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone stabbed him while passing by. Not because he had lived wrongly, but because of the weight that Cha Moo-geon carried.
“You’re keeping a close watch on Song Woo-jin, right?”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“Update me with the latest information.”
Moo-geon tossed out the words lightly before striding forward with his long legs. Kang-heon followed behind.
***
“Your meal is here.”
At the hospital staff’s arrival, Joo Hyun-ho tilted his head while scanning the room, and Oh Jae-gyu received the meal tray, scrutinizing it with sharp eyes.
With a flick of his hand, he dismissed the staff and casually balanced the tray on one hand as he walked over.
“Eat.”
Seeing the shoulders in front of him flinch, Oh Jae-gyu added another word.
“It’s here.”
The scent of rice spread invitingly. Sniff, sniff. Oh Jae-gyu unconsciously took a whiff before clearing his throat and stepping back.
Ha-yoon slowly opened her eyelids, wriggled slightly, then lay back down.
No paper. No pencils. No Cha Moo-geon. Which meant there was no way to prove her worth.
Could she eat?
She bit down on her lower lip and hesitantly glanced at the tray.
No, that can’t be right.
A familiar voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
-Even your breathing is not your choice.
The deep, steady voice was imprinted clearly.
Cha Moo-geon.
Ha-yoon lowered her head and gripped the blanket tightly.
Her trembling hands had no strength.
White walls. Drip stands hanging from the ceiling. The hospital gown she never wanted to wear again.
Everything she looked at turned to black and white, and then the voices from her past came rushing over her.
–I fed you so you could draw, and this is what you call a drawing?!
Her father’s voice, filled with anger, rang out sharply. She had spent days drawing, but it seemed her work didn’t please him.
On those days, tears never changed anything.
Bang. A spoon was thrown, and the small tray was knocked over pitifully.
– You can’t eat, Seo Ha-yoon. Starting today, you starve. You don’t deserve to eat!
The three meals that arrived on time weren’t meant for patient Seo Ha-yoon.
He might as well have just not given her food at all.
Being yelled at to eat didn’t make the food any easier to swallow, but now that she was forbidden from eating, it looked unusually appetizing.
As a child, Seo Ha-yoon forced herself to draw just to be allowed to eat. Until the IV fluid backflowed, until her blood leaked, until her hands swelled up.
-Today, your favorite food is here. Hurry and eat before it gets cold.
If she drew dozens of pieces and one was approved, only then was she granted permission.
Would this be her last meal? Or would she be allowed to eat the next one?
Even as she ate hastily, her mind was preoccupied with that thought.
The more she drew, the more her wrists, hands, and arms became dotted with needle marks, blooming like flowers.