Chapter 18

〈Episode 19〉 It’s Time to Let Go of Each Other

Chul-soo slowly walked out of the police station.

No one stopped him as he left.

Considering the dangerous atmosphere from just a while ago, this felt like some strange miracle.

Was it because of that?

He couldn’t bring himself to take a step forward.

This was definitely the place he wanted to escape from, but something felt off.

‘That bastard Yu-jin Kim let me out?’

According to the cops, there was pressure from above.

That didn’t make sense either.

Yu-jin was the one who had him locked up here in the first place—so why would he pull him out now?

‘At least Young-hee is safe… so that’s good, right?’

Thankfully, there was no sign that anyone had touched Young-hee.

Even in this situation, he couldn’t imagine her doing anything reckless.

Because that would ruin his own plans.

-Bang! Bang!

As he was lost in thought and approached the road, a car horn sounded.

A black Mercedes.

A car far too expensive for someone like him to even dream about—but it wasn’t unfamiliar.

It belonged to that guy, Yu-jin Kim.

Under normal circumstances, he’d have ignored it and kept walking.

“Hey, get in.”

But when Biseo Park leaned out the window and called out, Chul-soo turned sharply to glare at him.

Biseo Park wasn’t exactly a stranger—he’d seen him around—but he never expected the man to speak to him directly.

He always seemed like the type to observe silently without interfering.

“Where’s Yu-jin?”

“That’s not someone you should be addressing casually.”

The casual tone carried an undeniable edge of menace.

Intimidating.

Just by hearing his voice, Chul-soo knew he might not stand a chance against this guy, even if he gave it his all.

Is this guy really just a student secretary?

Is Hwagcheon full of people like this?

After staring each other down for a moment, Biseo Park shrugged nonchalantly.

“The young master isn’t here. This is actually a personal favor on my part.”

“I thought you were just the errand boy.”

“Well, normally I’d be. But this… how should I put it… it’s my way of showing loyalty.”

Until recently, Biseo Park’s role had been more of a watchdog.

Assisting Yu-jin while also keeping an eye on him to ensure he didn’t make any mistakes or cross the line.

But lately, Biseo Park had come to recognize Yu-jin as the true successor.

And if that’s the case, then he owed absolute loyalty to his lord.

“A capable subordinate should pave the way for their master without needing orders.”

“Ha! So your brilliant plan involves stealing someone else’s girl?”

“Don’t take it so personally. I’m here because I have something to say to you.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“Hah! So what? Are you going to live your life in ignorance? Even if you’re an idiot, I doubt you’d want to stay clueless forever.”

Chul-soo glared at Biseo Park.

As infuriating as it was, the guy had a point.

Getting angry alone wouldn’t change anything.

All it would do is leave him with more questions.

And the person who could answer those questions was sitting right in front of him.

“Don’t try anything stupid.”

“I won’t kill you easily. I don’t want to interfere with the young master’s plans.”

Chul-soo got into the car.

It immediately drove forward.

“Where are we going?”

“Nowhere in particular. We’ll just drive around while we talk. Though, if you’d like, I can drop you off at home.”

“If you’re going to do that, we didn’t need the car, did we?”

“Go grab coffee together? Nah, I’d rather not.”

With a deadpan expression, Biseo Park handed over a phone.

Chul-soo hesitated but reluctantly took it.

“What’s this?”

“There’s a video inside. Consider it a little present for you.”

Suspicious as it was, he couldn’t ignore it.

Chul-soo pressed play.

His face instantly froze in shock.

– I’ll do anything. Anything I can possibly do. Please, save our Chul-soo…

– I mean it. I swear. I can do anything. Just please…

– I’m sorry. I won’t cause trouble anymore. Please, look after Chul-soo for me.

His hands trembled.

Tiny veins popped in his eyes.

His shoulders shook with rage.

In the video, Young-hee was pleading—for him.

Not with anyone else, but with Yu-jin.

‘This doesn’t make sense. Why would Young-hee… why…’

He didn’t want to believe it.

He thought Young-hee would be fine.

Yu-jin’s ultimate target was Young-hee.

He figured he was just collateral damage in between.

He truly believed she wouldn’t get hurt.

But now anger, confusion, despair, and regret pierced deep into his heart.

“That’s not the first time she’s done that, you know.”

Biseo Park watched Chul-soo’s reaction with a smirk.

“Remember when you challenged the young master to a duel and ended up in the hospital?”

“No way…”

“Oh yeah. That time, she begged too. On her knees, head bowed to the floor. Begging for forgiveness.”

Chul-soo stared blankly.

He thought Young-hee was forced into pretending to be his girlfriend under threat.

But what if she asked first? Why?

Of course, the reason was obvious.

To protect him.

“How foolish…”

He thought he was the one protecting Young-hee.

Turns out, she was the one trying to protect him.

Sacrificing her pride, her happiness—all for him.

Damn it.

His chest ached.

It felt like nails were being hammered in and twisted.

Why?! Why does Young-hee have to suffer like this?

She didn’t do anything wrong.

She was just an ordinary girl who laughed and smiled every day.

Why does she have to beg some scum like him just to save someone like me?

“Hey, I’ve got one question for you.”

“What?”

“Are you fighting the young master for that girl’s sake? Or is it because of your own selfish desires?”

Slowly, Chul-soo turned his head.

He hadn’t fully processed what the other man had said.

Biseo Park continued, driving the nail deeper into the prisoner’s heart like a demon.

“You claimed you were fighting to protect her. But look where it’s gotten her. Because of you, she keeps getting dragged into danger, enduring situations like this.”

“To be honest, the young master has both reputation and money. Taking care of a woman isn’t a problem for him. Sure, she might not be happy, but she won’t be unhappy either.”

What Biseo Park said wasn’t entirely false.

Yu-jin may be trash, but he’s not stupid.

He won’t destroy a toy he already owns.

He won’t treat Young-hee poorly.

“And do you think the young master will keep obsessing over her forever? Women are everywhere. Once he gets tired of her, it won’t take long before she’s free. I guarantee it.”

“…”

“But continuing like this will only bring unhappiness. She’s already made up her mind. She knows she just needs to endure it, close her eyes, and wait it out.”

Chul-soo hung his head.

Honestly, it all sounded like nonsense.

Even if it were true, it wasn’t his place to argue.

If she’s just going to be used and discarded anyway, why tell her to endure it now?

People aren’t objects.

She’s someone he loves, someone irreplaceable.

There’s no way he could give her up so easily, right?

‘But—’

He couldn’t find the words to respond.

He lacked the strength to save her, the ability to protect her.

“All you have to do is give up. Then everything will be okay.”

That statement from Biseo Park cut deeper than anything else.

He wanted to deny it.

He wanted to scream that he wouldn’t sit back and watch.

But then what about Young-hee?

How many more times will she have to beg Yu-jin for his sake?

Would he continue fighting knowing that?

Isn’t that selfish?

Can you handle it?

!……!

!…

……

“One last question: What are you trying to protect? Your pride? Or that girl?”

Screech.

The car came to a stop.

“This is a special service. I’ll drop you off at your place.”

Chul-soo remained motionless, staring at the phone displaying the video.

Young-hee continued to cry and plead within it.

“…Why are you telling me all this?”

At Chul-soo’s question, Biseo Park chuckled.

“I move for one reason only: for the young master. That phone is yours to keep.”

Without a word, Chul-soo stepped out of the car.

It sped away without hesitation.

Standing there with hollow eyes, Chul-soo suddenly threw the phone onto the road.

“Aaaaaaargh!”

Crack! Smack! Smack!

He pounded it repeatedly with his fists.

As if smashing it would erase this entire reality.

Over and over again.

Even though he knew deep down nothing would change…

Around the same time.

Alone in her room, Young-hee sat with a vacant stare.

Her gaze landed on a photo.

It showed her and Chul-soo smiling happily together.

A picture taken when they were younger, during a much simpler, happier time.

“Chul-soo…”

She had believed they could find happiness.

She thought she could protect everything.

But now she realized.

Her fate had been decided from the start.

Clack.

Young-hee averted her eyes and covered the photo.

Then she pulled out a pair of scissors from her drawer.

-Snip snip

Her long hair fell to the ground, scattering around her.

With every strand that fell, her expression grew colder and colder.

As if she was cutting away the last remnants of her attachment.

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