Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 254

254. Liar Game

As if trying to prove his innocence, he spoke through sobs, uttering words that were hard to believe.

“And it wasn’t me who received psychiatric treatment, it was Jiae.”

“What, what did you say?”

“……!”

Taekyung and the police were dumbfounded by the sudden statement.

“The doctor asked me earlier if I had ever received psychiatric treatment.”

“That’s right. I asked Mr. Kwak Yongjin.”

“I said I hadn’t because I haven’t. Jiae received it. You think I’m lying? You’re the police, so you can check. It’s true. It’s the truth.”

“……!”

The female officer was speechless at the continued absurd remarks, and Taekyung, who was also present, felt the same.

It felt like being in a scene from a movie or drama.

Watching Kwak Yongjin still sitting on the floor and sobbing, the police felt their minds growing complicated.

Liar Game.

At this point, it was clear that one of the two, Shin Jiae and Kwak Yongjin, was lying.

Crimes of dating violence between men and women were often subtly tricky. This was because the fights grew out of the emotion of love between lovers.

It was even more complicated to settle a case when one side’s feelings were over, but the other’s were not.

The police didn’t think Shin Jiae was lying a moment ago. It wasn’t just because she was a woman.

It was based on her experience and her instincts as a police officer. But as things stood, she couldn’t just keep believing one side’s story.

There was a high probability that Kwak Yongjin’s statement was a lie, but confirmation was needed. As things stood, she hoped evidence would come out of the house quickly.

“Please check it out. Yes. Find out and contact me quickly. Doctor, just a moment.”

The police officer, who had contacted the police station to find out about Shin Jiae’s medical records, called Taekyung aside.

Fortunately, Jang Deukchil was guarding the front of the examination room door in case of an emergency.

“Ms. Shin Jiae, are you really sick?”

Based on the circumstances so far, they didn’t suspect Shin Jiae, but they still needed to confirm.

“Yes, it’s certain. It’s definitely gastroenteritis and she has signs of dehydration. Excuse me, but I don’t think Ms. Shin Jiae is lying.”

Taekyung cautiously conveyed his thoughts to the police.

Spending a long time treating patients in the hospital, you meet people so diverse that it’s hard to believe.

Everyone has their own story, and within that, unbelievably difficult situations arise. Having experienced so many people, Taekyung could tell people to some extent.

No, to be precise, it was more accurate to say that he could tell patients.

At least, he could tell whether the patient was lying or telling the truth through his years of experience as a doctor, and in Shin Jiae’s case, it was the truth.

“I think so too, but I think we need to check that person’s statement and make a judgment after something comes out. I thought it would be over soon, but it’s difficult. Hello?”

The police officer, who was talking on one side, received a call from her senior officer.

“Yes, Sergeant. Have you arrived? I’m in the director’s office right now. Yes.”

After hanging up the phone, the police officer who had gone to Shin Jiae’s house earlier arrived.

Click-

“How did it go?”

In response to the female officer’s question about whether they had found any evidence, the senior officer showed her a photo on his phone instead of answering.

“Oh! You found it?”

“We found three miniature cameras and the front door lock as the victim said. The evidence has been sent to the police station, but there’s a problem.”

“A problem?”

“It’s all bark and no bite [meaning there’s no real substance or threat behind it].”

“Yes?”

“There’s no content. We searched the laptop and the PC, but there isn’t a single video of Shin Jiae being filmed.”

The police station continued to search, but so far there was no evidence video that could be said to have been monitoring her.

Although they found the camera, Kwak Yongjin could not be said to have committed dating violence if things continued like this.

“What about Shin Jiae’s medical records?”

“She had received psychiatric treatment a few years ago.”

“Is that true?”

“It’s all true.”

Kwak Yongjin’s words were all true. As a result of the investigation, Shin Jiae’s medical records actually existed.

“Hey? Police officer? I’m right, aren’t I? There’s no video, right? I installed the cameras because I was so anxious about what would happen if I was away from Jiae. You checked the medical records, so you know what I mean.”

The police officers who were listening to Kwak Yongjin’s words on one side exchanged stories for a while.

Then, they entrusted Kwak Yongjin to the police officer who was waiting outside and headed back to Shin Jiae’s hospital room.

“Ha! I knew it.”

Shin Jiae, who had heard everything from the police, 벌떡 raised her body from the bed and didn’t know what to do.

“Ms. Shin Jiae, have you ever received psychiatric treatment before?”

“He told you that, right? Yes, I have.”

“Kwak Yongjin said that Shin Jiae had a history of trying to take her own life due to stress from work, and that she had received psychiatric treatment and taken medication because of it.”

“He’s crazy.”

“Because of that, he said he installed the camera because he was worried that something bad might happen to Shin Jiae if she was alone, but he hasn’t filmed anything yet.”

“That can’t be! How…….”

As soon as she heard those words, Shin Jiae covered her mouth. She seemed so dumbfounded that she didn’t know what to say.

“It’s true that I received treatment and took medicine, but I have never thought about dying in my life.”

“Then why did you receive treatment?”

“Because of work.”

Shin Jiae, who was working as a model, had been obsessed with her body for a while.

In fact, it was true that models maintained a thinner figure than ordinary people could compare.

Sometimes, at the recommendation of the agency or at the request of the brand selected for the show, they had to lose more weight.

Shin Jiae was the same.

She lost weight by reducing her food intake not only through exercise but also through extreme diets, but she was not satisfied with herself and became more obsessed with dieting.

Then, she thought that she couldn’t go on like this and went to see a psychiatrist. She wanted to stop tormenting herself.

She took medicine in the beginning, but she didn’t take it for long, and she met a good doctor and was able to cure her obsession with being thin.

Shin Jiae told Kwak Yongjin all about this story in the early days of their relationship.

He comforted her, saying that she must have had a hard time alone, and promised to be her strength in the future.

But she never thought that he would turn her diet obsession into a suicide story and lie to the police.

“Is that true?”

“It’s all true. You can check with the hospital I was treated at tomorrow. I love my work and I’m proud of it. Why would I decide to commit suicide? Rather, I feel like I want to die because of that bad guy.”

The two police officers were getting a headache. Currently, there was no evidence to call Kwak Yongjin a dating violence offender.

“Sob!”

The police and Taekyung were sharing their opinions when suddenly they heard a sob. When they turned their heads, Shin Jiae was crying.

“Are you okay, patient?”

In response to Taekyung’s question about whether she was okay, the sound of sobbing grew uncontrollably and turned into a wail.

“Sniff! Ha!”

Shin Jiae cried madly to the point where she couldn’t control herself.

“Patient, calm down and take a deep breath. Slowly!”

She was breathing so hard and crying so badly that she seemed to be hyperventilating.

Seeing this, Taekyung quickly calmed her down.

“Follow me. Hoo! Take a deep breath in and out. Good. Nurse Im, please bring some warm water here.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Let’s do it one more time. Slowly. Good. Drink some water. Are you okay?”

“Yes…….”

Shin Jiae, who had calmed down with quick action, wiped away her tears and calmed her mind.

“I’m okay now. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“It’s okay. More than that, I think the patient needs to stabilize first.”

“No, Doctor. I don’t think it’ll work if it’s not now.”

Taekyung was talking to the police when Shin Jiae hurriedly said.

“I know definite evidence.”

“Definite evidence?”

“……Yes.”

“What is it?”

“…….”

Shin Jiae was silent at the police’s question. No one urged her to speak quickly because of her actions, which seemed to indicate that she had something difficult and painful to say.

Everyone was just waiting until she was ready.

“I didn’t want to say this.”

After 5 minutes passed and another 10 minutes or so passed, Shin Jiae broke the silence and began to speak with difficulty.

“Officer? Can I ask you one thing before that?”

“Of course. Ask me anything.”

“If there is definite… really definite evidence, and you two feel that way, is punishment possible?”

“Of course. The punishment for dating violence is imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine of up to 5 million won [approximately $3,700 USD], and if you inflict physical injury, the punishment is even higher.”

“At that time, it’s imprisonment for up to 7 years or a fine of 10 million won [approximately $7,400 USD].”

The two police officers kindly explained to Shin Jiae’s answer.

“Could you please call Kwak Yongjin here?”

“Yes? Mr. Kwak Yongjin?”

They had deliberately separated the two in preparation for a possible situation, but now they were asking to call Kwak Yongjin again.

The police and Taekyung wondered what Shin Jiae was talking about.

“We are currently investigating Mr. Kwak Yongjin separately from Jiae.”

“I know. I feel more comfortable and grateful that I don’t see that bastard’s face. But if we don’t do this, that bastard will think of an excuse to run away and another victim may be created. So I want to talk in the presence of Kwak Yongjin.”

A moment ago, when she heard that the camera had been found but there was no video inside, Shin Jiae was convinced that Kwak Yongjin had deleted the video.

If things continued like this, she felt like she was being played by his hands again. Moreover, she felt that this opportunity would not come again, so she made a big decision.

“Kwak Yongjin will think that I’m afraid and scared of him. I want to show him that he’s wrong.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay. I didn’t want to bring this up, but it’s a mountain I have to climb eventually.”

Eventually, the police decided to bring Kwak Yongjin in, reflecting Shin Jiae’s opinion.

In fact, as a result of the investigation so far, there were considerable discrepancies in the two people’s testimonies. Therefore, it was necessary to call the two people together and listen to their stories and make a judgment.

Click-

“Jiae? Are you okay? I don’t know what you’re talking about when you say you sued me.”

As soon as Kwak Yongjin entered the hospital room, he looked flustered and expressed his concern.

“Mr. Kwak Yongjin, don’t get close.”

“You’re the one who said I tried to commit suicide? I was worried about you, so I installed the camera. Don’t say ridiculous things.”

“Jiae, I thought you told me that at the time…….”

“Don’t lie. I never said that to you. You’ve already deleted the video of me being monitored, right?”

“Video? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend to be innocent because it’s disgusting. Kwak Yongjin, can I tell you a secret? There’s one fact you don’t know. Can you lie about this too? Officer?”

Suddenly, Shin Jiae’s hands and lips began to tremble.

The words that came out of her mouth after swallowing dry saliva were shocking.

“Officer, that person has… illegally filmed s*x videos.”