6.
When Lee Seokyeong was castrated by the Hanseo Group and became a “disconnected kite,” he was prosecuted not only for the “X Military Scandal” but also for several other charges and put on trial. Furthermore, the large bribes he had given to high-ranking officials in several Southeast Asian countries for real estate speculation also caused problems.
After the first trial in the country, Lee Seokyeong was ordered to attend an investigation in another country. It was a very unusual case.
The high-ranking officials of the concerned government who were under investigation for accepting bribes were denying the allegations, so they intended to bring in Lee Seokyeong, the donor, for further investigation. Accordingly, Lee Seokyeong was scheduled to be investigated in two countries, Thailand and Malaysia.
Arriving in Bangkok in prison garb, handcuffed and bound with a rope, Lee Seokyeong was taken to a police facility within the airport. This scene was widely reported just a few hours ago in the country.
And the next news was about the murder of Lee Seokyeong.
No matter how you look at it, Lee Seokyeong was cornered. Unable to die alone and driven by resentment, it’s possible he would talk recklessly during the investigations in Thailand and Malaysia. There were certainly people who would be inconvenienced if that happened. There were plenty of people who would feel uneasy about Lee Seokyeong, who had lost his Hanseo Group backing.
From start to finish, as he reviewed the article again, Lee Haeseong turned back to the previous page. In the meantime, dozens of related articles had been newly updated.
In the first report, Executive Director Lee Seokyeong was stated to have been shot in the back of the head, the back of the neck, and the upper back a total of three times while moving from the transport vehicle to the Bangkok prosecutor’s office building, but this was later corrected to five shots.
It was a murder intended not just to inflict pain but to ensure death. If it had aimed at a vague area and the person miraculously survived treatment, it would have been a disaster. It was the clean work of a meticulous professional.
“Hmm…”
Putting down the tablet on the table, Lee Haeseong stubbed out his cigarette in an ashtray.
The cream-colored curtains softly filtered the mid-August sunlight. The tranquil interior, tinged with the late afternoon light, seemed like a space cut off from the outside world. For a moment, Lee Haeseong savored that tranquility, as if enjoying beautiful music.
Then he slowly rose from his seat and left the room. Lee Haeseong’s bedroom was the closest to the master room at the end of the hallway.
Approaching the door of the master room, as always, he hesitated to open the door right away. As if someone were beyond the door. Just like anyone would pause and take a breath before knocking on the door of someone they were concerned about.
One, two, three, four, five…
He counted by folding his fingers one by one before slowly opening the door.
The room was the one Choi Hongseo had used when this house was a residence for the “Layered” members. The room remained as it was when Choi Hongseo had used it during his lifetime.
The desk was equipped with simple gear for composing, the double-sized bed wasn’t very spacious for two people, and the low bookshelf was packed tight with his favorite comic books.
A few movie posters hung above the bookshelf. They were from movies the two of them had watched together. Whenever they saw a movie together, he would give the poster as a gift, but they had only three such movies.
Choi Hongseo had said that they should hang the posters closely together since they would put up many more in the future. But next to the three tightly-hung posters, only a long blank space remained.
The same went for the wardrobe and bathroom areas; nothing was thrown away, not even a single sock or toothbrush.
Ensuring nothing got old or dusty.
As if that boy had just gotten up and left for work from there this very morning.
As if he would return after finishing his schedule by dawn. Although special, meticulous instructions were given to maintain it just so, everything seemed blurry whenever he opened the door. Everything appeared to recede, discolor, and gradually sink.
His heart remained the same, yet it felt as if this space, like Choi Hongseo, was drifting further away, making the wear painful.
Sitting or lying on the bed wasn’t something he could even dare to attempt yet.
Stopping at the entrance, leaning his shoulder against the door frame, Lee Haeseong slowly took in the room, as if it were a space frozen in time from the past.
Executive Director Lee Seokyeong was murdered.
Would this ease some of your regrets?
If only… If only you had held on a bit longer…
Unconsciously, Lee Haeseong bit his lower lip and bowed his head deeply. Inside, he felt a tumult, like a small boat floating on a stormy night sea. His expression of firmness was simply the result of long training to conceal his emotions.
Stepping slowly into the room, he unnecessarily adjusted the perfectly neat pillows several times and quietly left the room, as if someone precious were sleeping there.
As he turned to close the door, he sensed someone approaching behind him. It was Chief Kang.
“Vice President, Miss Jun Ji-in and Executive Director Lee Han have just arrived in the basement.”
Today was the day when Lee Han and his partner Jun Ji-in were returning from their vacation in France and Italy. Since Haeseong had a trip to North America scheduled from the next day, he asked them to spare some time today. Besides Chief Kang, they were the only ones who truly knew about the relationship between Choi Hongseo and Haeseong.
Haeseong nodded, hiding his expression by pressing his lips together.
“Really? I’ll go greet them myself. Chief, you can take some time to rest in your private quarters.”
“I’ll at least pay my respects before I go in.”
“No, today is a private meeting with them, so don’t worry about it. Consider it as giving us some space.”
“Understood, then.”
Chief Kang bowed his head lightly and stepped aside along the corridor to let Haeseong go ahead. As Haeseong walked towards the entrance, he suddenly slowed his pace.
“Chief Kang.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
“About the movie. Director Kang Woo-hyeon’s project.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s push forward with the production again.”
“……”
There was no sense of special resolve in Haeseong’s voice. It was peaceful, as if he were naturally releasing words long stored in his heart. His face was the same as he looked back at Chief Kang.
However, Chief Kang rarely showed a surprised expression.
After Choi Hongseo’s death, he thought Haeseong wouldn’t want to be involved in the movie in any way, let alone invest in it. In reality, the film had been at a standstill for months with no progression after the death of its lead actor, Choi Hongseo.
“I had told Hongseo that I wasn’t investing to gain favor from him. Stopping the investment now would make me a liar. I don’t want that.”
“Understood.”
Chief Kang didn’t add anything further.
Haeseong’s long-practiced rigid expression softened into a brief smile. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a complex, fleeting look.
Turning his back once more, he walked to the entrance to greet his guests.
The couple, Lee Han and Jun Ji-in, who had returned after enjoying about two weeks of vacation in France and Italy, looked pleasantly tanned.
“You both look very healthy. You’ve become even more handsome.”
“Hyung became more handsome, making it difficult for me.”
Han joked, showing that he had fun stories to share from the trip.
Haeseong guided them to the dining room. For guests who had just completed a long flight, a light meal and champagne were prepared for dinner.
“I’m sorry to have asked you to come over today despite your travel fatigue.”
“It’s right near our house. Han is on vacation until tomorrow, and I’m unemployed until I decide on my next project, so don’t worry about it.”
Jun Ji-in responded with her characteristic gentle smile.
Following the “X Military Scandal” exposure, Choi Hongseo’s death, and Lee Seokyeong’s indictment and trial, Jun Ji-in had completely switched from a drama actress to a theater actress, which had been her original dream.
Though her path differed from Choi Hongseo’s, Jun Ji-in was also one of Executive Director Lee Seokyeong’s victims and deeply cared for Choi Hongseo. In this regard, Haeseong felt gratitude and a unique sense of camaraderie with her. He believed he owed a lot to Jun Ji-in and Lee Han as well.
“It’s been enjoyable having you live so close. But I’m already worried about feeling lonely once you move to Europe.”
“We still have at least a year.”
Han laughed, indicating that a year was plenty of time.
The couple planned to move to Paris, France, once Han completed his current project’s job at the company. Though it was fortunate for them, Haeseong already felt regret.
After they leave, references to Choi Hongseo would diminish, and he feared that memories of the child might gradually fade… the thought pained him intolerably.
“By the way, did you hear the news?”
Unlike his usual cheerful self, Lee Han carefully broached the subject, observing Haeseong’s response.
“Oh? Ah… yes, I heard.”
Nodding, Haeseong put down the champagne glass he was drinking from.
The murder of Executive Director Lee Seokyeong.
The event held significant meaning for all three people gathered there. Not mentioning it felt strange. However, Haeseong did not want to treat it like a monumental event. He asked in an unremarkable, casual voice as if mentioning the weather or sports news.
“Did you hear about it after you got off the plane?”
“Yes.”
“They initially reported three shots but later corrected it to five in the recent articles.”
Haeseong’s tone, as he spoke, remained as undisturbed as if he were discussing everyday news. Lee Han, too, spoke about the event unemotionally.
“It’s the work of top-tier professionals. The perpetrator will never be revealed. It probably cost at least hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
“It might have been over a million dollars.”
Bringing the champagne glass to his lips, Haeseong casually corrected Lee Han’s estimated cost for the contract.
The light meal was almost finished. Stretching, Lee Han offered a cigarette to Jun Ji-in.
“I’ve been holding off since the flight. Want to join me for a smoke?”
Hearing about cigarettes, Jun Ji-in’s face also showed a desire to smoke.
“Hyung, can we go for a smoke?”
“Of course. Take your time.”
After the couple left affectionately, Haeseong called someone to open a bottle of red wine instead of champagne. It was a valuable wine, one he had planned to drink on special occasions or important days.
Using a fork and knife, he sliced thinly through the warm roast beef. Every time his knife cut through the block of meat, juices and sauces oozed out.
Chewing a bite and sipping the crimson wine, he gazed opposite where Jun Ji-in and Lee Han had been sitting, at the dazzling nightscape of Seoul across the Han River. The reflection of Haeseong chewing the meat and drinking wine blurred over that scenery.
