Chapter 85: Violence Knocks First

Park Man-seok was taken away by Lee Kyung-chal, and Park Hyunjin, who didn’t have the faintest idea that it had happened up to the age of 18, was on her way home after hanging out outside.

She furrowed her brows as she walked the street, recalling what had happened today.

“Annoying bitches.”

The more Park Hyunjin thought about it, the angrier she got, her brows drawing together.

Nothing was going right for her these days.

Because of Song Aram, that idiot, the way people looked at her at school had gotten strange.

And then there was that ghost that suddenly showed up.

Strange things were happening around her at a suspicious rate.

Still, what pissed her off the most was, of course, that Song Aram had reported her to the police.

“Dad said it’s fine, but he seemed pretty stressed out about it.”

Thinking about it again, her blood boiled, and Park Hyunjin swept her hair back.

She really did just play a prank on Song Aram, but…

A lawsuit just because of a little prank?

Her father, Park Man-seok, told her it was fine and that he’d handle it himself, but—

Even Park Man-seok seemed pretty stressed about this incident.

‘If only I could just get Sujin, everything would work out. She’s just being stubborn for no reason.’

Gritting her teeth, Park Hyunjin thought of Sujin.

At first, her plan had been to bully Sujin and get Song Aram to promise to drop the charges.

It was a plan to help her busy father, who was running around for her sake.

Of course, Park Man-seok had said she could just stay out of it.

But for her own pride, she’d thought she’d at least do something…

Sujin, though, even while being bullied, insisted that Song Aram never drop the charges.

A tearful friendship.

Of course, to Park Hyunjin, it was just a shitty friendship.

‘Damn it. What are they even trying to accomplish, acting up from rock bottom like that.’

Before she knew it, Park Hyunjin had arrived at home, but instead of going in, she naturally veered to the side.

A small flowerbed between apartment buildings.

Entering it, she skillfully rummaged through her bag, took out a cigarette and a lighter, and lit up.

Normally, she wouldn’t smoke right before going home.

But right now, she just wanted to shake off her bad mood, even a little.

“Hoo…”

She watched the smoke swirl and let out another bitter sigh.

But no matter how much she thought about it, her mood only got worse.

Finishing off a cigarette in no time, Park Hyunjin immediately pulled out another and put it to her lips, lighting up once more.

One, two…

As Park Hyunjin smoked her way through the cigarettes—

“Let’s go. Now.”

“Huh.”

Several men were moving about busily.

Park Hyunjin turned her gaze toward the direction they came from, and instantly froze.

A police car was parked there.

She immediately dropped her cigarette and ground it out with her foot.

She stuck her head out slightly to check the situation.

“Police? Why are the police here?”

Because of what had happened before, a surge of tension ran through her.

She forced herself to suppress her emotions and walked toward her home, trying to look as nonchalant as possible.

Unluckily, the police who had entered earlier hadn’t taken the elevator yet and were still waiting.

Ding.

Just then, the elevator arrived.

She thought about waiting for the next one, but that would look even more suspicious.

In the end, Park Hyunjin carefully got onto the elevator, squeezing between the officers.

She reached to press the button.

‘Huh?’

Park Hyunjin paused, blinking.

Her floor was 14.

The officers had also pressed 14.

Seeing that, a flurry of thoughts ran through her head.

No way, did they come for me?

Or did something happen to Dad?

“Student. Aren’t you going to press your floor?”

“Oh, sorry.”

Prompted by the officer, Park Hyunjin pressed 3.

The ride up to the third floor was short, but to her it felt like thirty minutes.

“This is the third floor.”

The elevator’s automated voice sounded.

Without even glancing back, Park Hyunjin stepped off the elevator.

Then, she rushed down the stairs, frantically dialing Park Man-seok on her smartphone.

“The person you are calling is not available at the moment…”

“Shit!”

Of course, with Park Man-seok caught at the Police Station, there was no way he could answer.

Hearing the recorded message, Park Hyunjin let out an irritated sigh, hung up, and tried calling again.

No matter how many times she called, he didn’t pick up.

“Did something really happen?”

At this point, cold sweat ran down her back.

No matter how busy, Park Man-seok always took her calls.

But now, even after calling so many times, he wasn’t answering. That meant something had definitely happened.

Having come all the way down to the first floor, Park Hyunjin rushed outside, her expression restless.

‘Anyone here?’

As she stepped out, a familiar face caught her eye.

A female officer standing with another cop below.

Oh Seohyun. No doubt about it.

She was the Detective who’d been a nuisance about Song Aram.

She’d even come to the school.

“Don’t tell me, it’s that bitch Song Aram?”

It was as if the pieces in her head had clicked into place.

Song Aram’s report. If not for that, the police wouldn’t have any reason to come to her house.

“You think I’m just going to let this happen to me?”

With a scowl, Park Hyunjin grabbed her smartphone.

And began making a call to somewhere.

— “Oh, Hyunjin. What’s going on?”

“Uncle. Please help me.”

Park Hyunjin’s eyes were burning with fury.

***

While Park Hyunjin was blinded by rage—

Lee Jaehyun was heading to the Song family Gukbap Restaurant.

He’d thought things over, but for now, what he needed to do was prepare for any unexpected developments.

After all, the Incheon Seobu Police Station Strong Crime Unit had gone to Park Man-seok’s house.

Park Daehyung was staking out the Daehan Bank Tanyang Intersection branch.

They’d done all they could about the perpetrators—now, the victim needed protection.

After all, the ringleader of the school violence, Park Hyunjin, was focused on getting Song Aram to drop the charges.

It was necessary to prepare for any direct harm to come to Song Aram.

Ding-a-ling.

With a small chime, the glass door opened.

As soon as he walked in, Song Aram, who had just finished the dinner rush and was taking a break, automatically stood up from her seat.

“Welcome, oh…?”

“Hey, Aram.”

“Hello, sir. Didn’t Seohyun unni come with you?”

Song Aram looked around as she asked.

Calling Detective Oh Seohyun “unni” suggested they’d grown close after what happened last time.

“Oh, where’s Seohyun?”

“Seohyun, she…”

Song Aram narrowed her eyes at Lee Jaehyun.

He shrugged and opened his mouth.

“We agreed to be friends starting today.”

As he said that, the Owner emerged from the kitchen.

“You’re here again? I’m so glad to see you often. Come, have a seat. What can I get you?”

“Just one soondae gukbap, please.”

Lee Jaehyun ordered with a smile.

He found an empty seat and sat down, and Song Aram naturally took the seat across from him.

“Just wait a bit. I’ll make it perfect for you.”

With that, the Gukbap Restaurant Owner went back into the kitchen.

Only then did Song Aram continue.

“Did you get close all of a sudden?”

“Yeah, we hit it off after going to a club together.”

“A club? Seriously, can police officers go to places like that?”

Song Aram asked, blinking in disbelief.

Police and clubs. It was certainly an odd combination.

If a police officer, said to be the people’s protector, went around to nightlife spots flirting with women, what would happen?

Obviously, only bad rumors would spread.

“I went as a Detective.”

Lee Jaehyun replied with a smile.

Song Aram blinked at his meaningful tone.

What did police and clubs have to do with each other, anyway?

No matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out.

Unable to make sense of it, Song Aram suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke.

“Don’t tell me they… were caught at the club?”

Lee Jaehyun quickly realized who she meant.

It must be the group of delinquents, including Park Hyunjin, who’d bullied her.

She was quite something, immediately connecting the word “club” to those guys.

“No.”

“Huh… Then something else? Oh, but you said the jurisdiction’s different, right?”

Song Aram asked, sounding confused.

After all, it wasn’t the kids who got caught, and he’d said the jurisdiction was different, so she couldn’t understand why they went to the club.

Lee Jaehyun shrugged and spoke.

“It’s not the kids. You know Hyunjin’s dad, right?”

“Yes. Park Man-seok.”

“We went and arrested him.”

At Lee Jaehyun’s words, Song Aram’s eyes widened.

Catching Park Hyunjin’s father, who had been tormenting her, was a good thing.

But… remembering what Park Hyunjin had said, it was clear that Park Man-seok would easily get out.

So she suppressed her excitement and asked.

“What did he do wrong?”

“A lot. For now, he was caught for Attempted Rape and Drugs.”

Attempted Rape and Drugs.

Actually, she wasn’t sure if “Attempted Rape” would stick legally.

If he denied it, it could get tricky.

But at least there was clear evidence that he tried to use Drugs.

Song Aram knew the power that drugs had.

“So then…”

He wouldn’t be getting out easily. And of course, Park Hyunjin wouldn’t be able to run wild relying on her dad anymore.

“Ah…”

Tears welled up in Song Aram’s eyes.

The situation wasn’t completely resolved yet, but her main reason for considering dropping the charges was Park Hyunjin’s father.

Now, hearing that he’d been arrested, the tension drained away.

Lee Jaehyun, seeing the tears in Song Aram’s eyes, pulled out a tissue and handed it to her as he continued.

“I’ll take care of the other kids one by one too.”

“Really, thank you. Sir.”

“It’s just what the police are supposed to do.”

As Lee Jaehyun said this, the Gukbap Restaurant Owner came out carrying a bowl of gukbap, smiling.

“What kind of trouble are you causing my daughter now, making her cry?”

The Gukbap Restaurant Owner spoke as he cautiously sat down next to Song Aram.

What father could just sit there while his daughter cried?

Still, since something similar had happened before, he was just half-teasing Lee Jaehyun.

“Thank you for the food.”

Nodding at the Owner’s words, Lee Jaehyun picked up his spoon and reached for the gukbap.

Seeing this, Song Aram carefully opened her mouth, about to explain to the Gukbap Restaurant Owner what had been happening, including about Choi Sujin—

Crash!

With a loud noise, the glass door shattered and a fist-sized stone rolled into the restaurant.

“Kyaaa!”

Song Aram screamed.

The Gukbap Restaurant Owner instinctively hugged her, shielding her with his body.

Lee Jaehyun ducked slightly, then turned around.

“Good evening, everyone.”

“Owner, one bowl of gukbap here, please.”

Through the broken glass door, several burly men entered the restaurant.

It was a good thing he’d decided to come to the Gukbap Restaurant.

Clenching his fist, Lee Jaehyun rose from his seat.