A child who looks like me

A long time ago, after dealing with Kim Jin-goo, Chae Eun-yeob received and kept the phone.

He considered throwing it into the river or smashing and burning it, but he held onto it because he didn’t know what information it might contain. Eun-yeob thought that once his father safely became Chief Justice, he would decrypt the phone’s contents after the urgent matters were settled.

So he kept the phone, setting it to airplane mode even after turning it on, and hid it away securely.

Now, he couldn’t understand how that phone ended up in the police’s hands.

He had hidden it even more securely after being discovered by Eun-bi.

‘Could it be… Eun-bi?’

That couldn’t be. It just shouldn’t be.

This was all because of Eun-bi!

***

Thirty minutes passed in chaos, and the confirmation hearing resumed.

After his son was taken away, Chae Seo-bok returned to his seat, clutching his racing heart. He felt as if he had lost a limb.

“There was quite a significant incident during the 30-minute break,” the chairperson began.

“Candidate Chae Seo-bok’s son has been arrested. However, the charges are not about slush funds; it’s for conspiracy to commit murder,” he continued.

“…We still don’t have the details,” Chae Seo-bok replied, struggling to maintain his composure.

The lawmakers all wore expressions filled with malice. Even those who had received money from Eun-yeob looked no different.

“Have you received a proper explanation from the police regarding the slush fund?”

“They said it’s under investigation,” a representative replied to the chairperson’s inquiry.

“Not having a clear answer means there’s some degree of suspicion, doesn’t it?”

“We need to halt this immediately.”

“It’s really going to be difficult to continue the hearing like this.”

“Let’s suspend it. We can’t go on any longer.”

The lawmakers spoke in unison. The chairperson had to make a heavy decision.

“By unanimous consent of the special committee members, we will suspend the confirmation hearing.”

The chairperson declared the suspension after considering everyone’s opinions.

The confirmation hearing was halted—a historic first.

Chae Seo-bok, who had been preparing to toast his inauguration as Chief Justice, left the National Assembly in shambles.

It felt as if the world had collapsed. He couldn’t even lift his head, yet had to walk upright as if he were dignified, which was both miserable and painful.

Surrounded by reporters, it was the most humiliating walk of his life.

“This is the first time in South Korean history that a confirmation hearing has been suspended. How do you feel about it? Have you heard anything from your son?”

“Is it true that Chae Eun-yeob hired someone to commit murder?”

“My son is not that kind of person!”

Chae Seo-bok shouted in anger.

***

A few hours earlier.

Ji-heon’s hired counselor had contacted him.

[Sorry to bother you while you’re busy. I’ve managed to identify the vehicle that was following Kim Jin-goo.] “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

[Are you familiar with the organization called Cheol-wangpa?] “No, it’s my first time hearing about it.”

[It was a car owned by that organization. I went to the scene and confirmed it, and I’ve sent you the photos via email.] “Did you find out about the relationship between Kim Jin-goo and Cheol-wangpa?”

[According to my investigation, there was no connection. However, it seems Cheol-wangpa is involved in hiring assassins.] “…You’re saying there’s a possibility of murder?”

[That’s a cautious prediction, yes.] “Understood. I’ll check my email.”

[And I’ve also identified the employee from the genetic research lab who was bribed by Chae Eun-yeob. The details are attached to the email as well.] “Thank you very much.”

After finishing his call with the counselor, Ji-heon immediately checked his email.

He confirmed the identity of the genetic research lab employee that Chae Eun-yeob had bribed, as well as the fact that the vehicle that had been following Kim Jin-goo the day before his death belonged to an organization called Cheol-wangpa.

What should he do about this?

He could deal with Han Dae-geun and Chae Eun-yeob first, then look into Cheol-wangpa afterward.

But what if Cheol-wangpa was linked to Chae Eun-yeob? This was something he absolutely could not overlook, and it would be best to resolve it today if possible.

As Ji-heon contemplated this, unexpectedly, Bae Il appeared. He confidently told Ji-heon to let him know if he needed help, as if he were hoping Ji-heon would ask for assistance.

After facing Han Dae-geun, Ji-heon confided in Bae Il about his concerns, revealing past events.

After being released, Kim Jin-goo had threatened Eun-bi, and for some reason, he believed that Ji-heon was following him. Ji-heon learned that on the day of Kim Jin-goo’s death, he had received an email from him that contained information about someone pursuing Kim Jin-goo.

“This isn’t an ordinary case, is it? Kim Jin-goo was ruled as an accidental death,” Bae Il remarked.

“Did I mention it was ruled an accidental death?” Ji-heon replied.

“…Yeah. You did earlier,” Bae Il answered in a lowered voice. Ji-heon, feeling a bit dazed, easily accepted this. He then revealed that the car chasing Kim Jin-goo was owned by Cheol-wangpa.

Bae Il believed everything Ji-heon said. Just having that trust made Ji-heon feel reassured.

Bae Il took Ji-heon back to the Criminal Investigation Department to review the electronic records concerning Kim Jin-goo’s death.

“The phone went missing from the scene. It’s likely sunk in the reservoir,” he noted.

“I’ve heard that,” Ji-heon replied.

“Have you tried calling this number since Kim Jin-goo’s death?”

Bae Il pointed to Kim Jin-goo’s phone number as he asked. Ji-heon chuckled, thinking the question was a bit odd, and replied.

“If I call, it’ll either say the number doesn’t exist or that the phone is turned off.”

Still, his fingers instinctively dialed Kim Jin-goo’s number. It felt like a natural action. But then—

Ring, ring.

“…Huh?”

“…”

“There’s a dial tone?”

Ji-heon, who had dialed the number without any thought, was also taken aback. The call waiting tone was playing. However, no one picked up the phone, and it went to voicemail.

“…I can’t take your call right now, so you’ve been connected to voicemail.”

“Someone might have inherited Kim Jin-goo’s phone number. If not…”

“…”

“The person who took the phone might have accidentally turned it on.”

At Bae Il’s calm suggestion, Ji-heon felt a chill run down his spine.

Bae Il quickly tracked the location of Kim Jin-goo’s phone. It was in Seoul. Ji-heon recognized the building.

“…It’s Chae Eun-yeob’s house.”

While they couldn’t tell which floor it was on, it was definitely the mansion where Eun-yeob lived.

Upon Ji-heon’s confirmation, Bae Il immediately stood up. After hearing all the details from Ji-heon, Bae Il began to have reasonable suspicions.

“I’ll hand this over to the team in charge and head straight to Cheol-wangpa. The team will figure out why Kim Jin-goo’s phone is there, and if they can’t get a satisfactory answer, they’ll search this building right away.”

Ji-heon was momentarily stunned by Bae Il’s quick actions, then clenched his fists just like Bae Il did.

That smart, energetic boy from long ago had become a reliable, sharp-witted, and fast-acting police officer.

“Thank you. Really, thank you.”

“I’m just doing what I should.”

“…”

“It’s going to be a long day. I hope you stay safe.”

Bae Il said his goodbyes and left.

Two hours later, Bae Il contacted Cheol-wangpa and quickly secured a statement about Kim Jin-goo. He acted as if he had been ready with several weaknesses of the organization for today. It was confirmed that Cheol-wangpa had acted under Chae Eun-yeob’s orders.

The police, having secured the statement from Cheol-wangpa, immediately searched Eun-yeob’s residence. Kim Jin-goo’s phone was found sealed inside the air conditioning unit.

It showed clear signs of careful concealment, but there was a very foolish mistake: the phone was turned on. That’s why they were able to find it so quickly.

As Ji-heon watched the situation unfold and Eun-yeob being taken away, a large question mark remained in his mind.

“Did Chae Eun-yeob really leave the phone on?”

A powered-on phone? The meticulous Eun-yeob wouldn’t make such a mistake.

It felt like a message saying, “Please notice me, come take me away.”

Eun-yeob wasn’t that kind of person.

So who had turned it on?

There was another surprising aspect. All the unresolved issues that had lingered for so long were neatly resolved in just one day. Of course, Ji-heon’s presence at the police station and his pushing for action played a big role.

Everything fell into place as if it had already been prepared. It felt as though the heavens had opened a path for Jeong Ji-heon, allowing things to proceed smoothly.

It was such an extraordinary, almost miraculous occurrence that it was hard to believe it was mere coincidence.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

“Chae Eun-yeob, the eldest son of Chae Seo-bok, arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.”

“Unprecedented: Suspension of Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Hearing”

“Supreme Court Chief Justice Nominee Chae Seo-bok Evicted from National Assembly, Claims Ignorance of Slush Fund”

“Which Lawmaker Received Orders from Chae Eun-yeob?”

The world, which had been saturated with news articles about the Serene Group, quickly changed its tune. Every newspaper highlighted articles about Chae Eun-yeob and Chae Seo-bok.

Public opinion, which had been clamoring for a boycott of Serene Foods, now erupted with demands for a special investigation into Seo-bok.

As the commotion escalated, evening fell.

Bae Il seemed busy organizing the events of the day. Ji-heon left the police station without even being able to thank Bae Il.

While he handed over the criminal charges to the police, there were still company matters to clean up. Ji-heon headed to the headquarters instead of going straight home, where he held a meeting with the group’s executives to discuss how to wrap up the incidents.

That night, the subsidiaries of the group would release a final statement regarding the series of events, and all of it would be covered in the news. By the next morning, everything would likely be sorted out.

After the meeting, Ji-heon exhaled deeply, his tension finally easing. He patted his brother Ji-tae on the shoulder, who had worked hard. Behind them, Chairman Jeong Jae-gwang gave a satisfied nod and issued a directive.

“Now you can stop working at the advertising agency and come into the group headquarters.”

“Excuse me?”

The relaxed expression on Ji-heon’s face tensed up again.

In that moment, he realized he had messed up.

He had been pursuing a leisurely lifestyle, always revealing only half of his abilities, but for the past week, he had worked incredibly hard.

Ji-heon shook his head vigorously, alarmed.

“No, I can’t do it.”

“Why not?”

“Father, I just met my brother again after seven years.”

“So I got you married to stay close.”

“I did that on my own, you didn’t force me!”

“Anyway, you just need to be at home. Why do you have to stay at the office too?”

“If I go to headquarters, you’ll just have me working all the time and won’t let me come home.”

His voice turned desperate all of a sudden.

“I absolutely can’t do it. I don’t have the ability. I don’t have the qualities of a leader like my brother.”

“Stop talking nonsense and sort this out.”

Jae-gwang, who had been closely observing Ji-heon, wouldn’t budge.

The fact that Serene Foods, which started as a snack factory, had grown into a large corporation was largely due to Jae-gwang’s insight in placing the right people in the right positions. He was confident in his instincts once again: Ji-heon was an excellent talent.

“I’ll eliminate your position in that company by next month.”

As Ji-heon persisted in his stubbornness, Jae-gwang had no choice but to be equally resolute. Ji-heon gazed at his father for a long time with narrowed eyes, then forced a wry smile, lifting one corner of his mouth.

“Father, you really shouldn’t do that to me.”

“What’s wrong with that? Who are you to say?”

“Yena’s dad.”

“……”

“You shouldn’t do that to Yena’s dad.”

“……”

“Don’t you want to keep in touch with your granddaughter?”

At Ji-heon’s provocation, Jae-gwang’s eyes widened for a moment. However, his voice softened as if he were nervous.

“…Is Yena doing well?”

“I’ll have to go check on her. She seems upset because I didn’t say hi when she went to daycare the past few days…”

“Oh dear. How cute…”

While the father was worried that the child might be upset, the grandfather was delighted, imagining the cute pouty face of his grandchild.

Granddaughter love, world peace.

In any case, Ji-heon managed to evade the crisis thanks to the child.

“Come over and play with Yena. You can stay the night.”

Jae-gwang shared a simple wish with Ji-heon, who was about to leave.

“Sure.”

It had been a long day.

After ending the conflict, he was finally on his way home.