You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 115

You’ve Been Defended – Episode 115

Choi Jong-hyun recognized me instantly.

There were many benefits to appearing on News9, and this was one of them.

I didn’t have to waste time explaining who I was.

“Hello.”

“I’m not doing well.”

Choi Jong-hyun looked at me, openly showing his wariness.

But I was different.

For me, it was a pleasure and an interest to see someone’s younger days, even if that person was a colleague.

Originally, my first meeting with him was supposed to be three years from now.

At that time, he was friendly to me from the start.

Today, I couldn’t expect that kind of reaction because I came on too strong.

Because it was such an urgent matter.

“Have you checked Kim Jung-woo’s location?”

“He’s in the office right now. And his voice is very bright, as usual.”

He was still sharp, as if he couldn’t believe me.

“Let me ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Byun Cha, did you get some kind of divine revelation? A second job?”

Choi Jong-hyun’s question was quite serious, but I couldn’t help but laugh.

In that I know the future, I might be similar to a shaman, but unfortunately, I don’t have a general spirit attached to me.

“No, I didn’t.”

“But why are you saying such things with such confidence?”

Should I have just said I received a divine revelation?

“I can say with certainty that I’ve never seen anyone like Byun Cha in my life.”

His gaze was now on the children playing in the playground.

He clutched his crossbody bag like a treasure, and let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded.

“For someone I’ve never met to suddenly say that my junior is going to commit suicide, and that I’m going to be framed for it… Honestly, I would have thought it was nonsense and ignored it.”

“Why didn’t you ignore it today?”

“First of all, because the other person is you, Byun Cha. Some legal professionals are arrogant and only chase after honor, grinding their teeth and waiting for you to make a mistake.”

“Then why did you come out to meet me, who is arrogant and only chases after honor?”

“You know Reporter Yoon, right? You’ve done a few feature articles with him. I’ve heard things from Reporter Yoon, and Byun Cha, your actions seem to have some common ground with my goals.”

“Is that so?”

“But if what you said to me today turns out to be nonsense, my trust in you will plummet.”

He turned to me and added.

“I just wanted to prevent the impending misfortune: Kim Jung-woo’s death, and Reporter Choi being dishonorably dismissed.”

“Do you think I’ll just quietly get fired if I’m framed like that? I’ll find out the truth and stick around no matter what. It’s true that Iljung Ilbo’s ideology doesn’t align with mine, but I still don’t want to leave.”

In fact, Iljung Ilbo’s direction was not just something that didn’t align with Choi Jong-hyun.

It was safe to say that they were at opposite ends.

From the beginning, Iljung Ilbo was connected to the Wooshin Group through marriage and was a representative pro-chaebol [family-owned conglomerate] media outlet.

Being a part of Iljung Ilbo and exposing the Wooshin Group was like walking a dangerous tightrope.

“Byun Cha, the fact that you know me, yes. I can see that. You might have heard something from Reporter Yoon.”

“I didn’t hear anything from Reporter Yoon.”

“And the fact that I said I would write a book and expose it even if I was stopped from above. I don’t know how you know that story, but yes. I’ll take that as a possibility too.”

Choi Jong-hyun ran a hand over his face, looking confused.

Instead of answering, I followed his gaze to the children at the orphanage.

“But how do you know about this place? Honestly, that’s why I came here.”

The reason I chose this place as the meeting location was because of that.

“How do you know? I’ve never shared anything about the House of Angels with anyone. I’m the only one who suspects this place.”

Kim Jung-woo’s death became a turning point in Choi Jong-hyun’s life in the previous timeline.

He was someone who thought that he needed to have a foothold in a major newspaper in order for people to listen to him, and that he could bring about change from within.

But when Kim Jung-woo died, he didn’t even think about clearing his name and was quietly dismissed.

After that, he wasted time feeling guilty and was only just barely getting his act together shortly before meeting me.

“I think Kim Jung-woo’s case is more important than the House of Angels.”

He might be confident that he’s not someone who crumbles easily, but people are not animals that can perfectly understand themselves.

It was a loss for someone as talented as Choi Jong-hyun to waste his time like that.

“I’m sure that what I know about the House of Angels is much more than what Reporter Choi knows now.”

“So?”

“After I save Kim Jung-woo, I’ll tell you then. How I know about the House of Angels. And I might share what I know with Reporter Choi.”

Choi Jong-hyun’s eyes lit up.

“Okay. So, according to you, all I have to do is make sure Jung-woo doesn’t… damn it, it doesn’t make sense, but doesn’t commit suicide.”

“That’s right.”

“Let’s check it out. According to you, does Jung-woo really have depression? And does he really commit suicide? Seriously, it’s a ridiculous story.”

The method I came up with wasn’t anything great.

Kim Jung-woo takes his own life while he’s away on assignment in Mokpo.

There’s only one way to stop someone from committing suicide.

Keep watching that person, and stop them when they try to commit suicide.

Since he said that Kim Jung-woo committed suicide while Choi Jong-hyun was on assignment in Mokpo, he must have heard about Kim Jung-woo’s death and gone back in the middle of it.

I don’t know how long he was stationed in Mokpo, but I don’t think it was a very long time.

It didn’t seem like we needed to watch him for that long.

And if Kim Jung-woo is constantly under our surveillance, he might not take his own life.

But at least Choi Jong-hyun will have a chance to see how much pressure and depression Kim Jung-woo is under.

If we’re lucky, we might find a way to solve it.

“Let’s keep a close eye on him.”

“How?”

“Reporter Choi, you live alone near Gwanghwamun anyway, right?”

Choi Jong-hyun laughed when he heard my words.

“You’ve done a lot of background checks on me.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Ha, well, fine. You know everything about me, so that kind of information is nothing. So? I live alone, so what?”

“For a while, invite Kim Jung-woo to your place and live together. And stay with Kim Jung-woo 24 hours a day.”

“Ha…”

He kept chuckling, as if he found it funny that he was going along with my nonsense.

“Reporter Choi also needs to sleep, so I’ll take turns with you. Reporter Choi will watch him at the company, and I’ll take over after that.”

“…Are you saying Byun Cha will be at my house too?”

“Isn’t it a two-room apartment? I’ll be in the living room.”

“Are you a stalker or something…?”

I got up from my seat.

Choi Jong-hyun glanced up at me.

It was a look that seemed to say, ‘What is it this time?’

“Today is Friday, right? Do you work on weekends too?”

“Not this week.”

“Then that’s good. Invite Kim Jung-woo to your place. You can make up an excuse.”

In the end, Choi Jong-hyun reluctantly followed me.

As we went down the stairs and arrived at the parking lot, he approached a dented SUV.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen the car.

I was just surprised that the car had been in this condition for three years.

“Did you bring your car?”

“Yes. If you give me the address, I’ll follow you.”

I wanted to go in Choi Jong-hyun’s car if possible, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the car would break down in the middle of the road.

* * *

It was well past dinner time when we arrived at his two-room apartment near Gyeongbokgung Station.

Kim Jung-woo, who had already arrived, was pacing in front of the gate.

“Senior! Why are you so late?”

He quickly put out the cigarette he was smoking and approached Choi Jong-hyun.

Kim Jung-woo was a man with a kind impression.

He seemed to be the same age as me, or maybe a year or two younger.

In my previous life, I had only heard about him from Choi Jong-hyun, but he was exactly as he had described him.

He seemed to genuinely follow Choi Jong-hyun.

I could feel it just by looking at his tone and expression.

As I parked my car next to his SUV, which looked like it was about to collapse, Kim Jung-woo stared at me.

“…Oh? You’re Attorney Cha Joo-han, right?”

“Yes. Hello. Nice to meet you.”

Even if I was on the news, I wouldn’t think he would recognize me so easily.

“Ah, yes. I’m Reporter Kim Jung-woo. I’ve heard a lot about you from Senior Yoon Se-yeon.”

How much has he been talking about me?

“Do you live here too, Attorney?”

At Kim Jung-woo’s question, Choi Jong-hyun exclaimed and put his arm around his shoulder.

“No, this guy… Never mind. You’ll see. Anyway, that guy will be staying at our house for a few days.”

He shook his head as he pressed the password for the main entrance.

His house, which we came up to together, was cleaner than I thought.

There were piles of books and documents on the floor and desk, but the rest of the furniture was well-organized.

Choi Jong-hyun kicked the books blocking the way and led us inside.

“No, why are you telling me to stay at your house when my house is right around the corner?”

Kim Jung-woo, who was sitting blankly on the sofa, asked.

“Just because, you idiot. I’m bored living alone. I thought it would be less boring if I saw you act cute.”

“Haha, act cute? But what about Attorney Cha? What brings you here?”

“…That guy,”

“We have something to work on together, so it can’t be helped.”

I cut him off because I thought Choi Jong-hyun was going to say something unnecessary.

“Oh, then can I help you too?”

Then Kim Jung-woo smiled brightly and asked.

“No, you can’t. Have you eaten?”

“No, not yet. I was going to eat with you, Senior. Haha.”

“Then let’s eat ramen. Cha Byun, you don’t have any objections to ramen, do you?”

“Oh, then I’ll chop some green onions. Do you have green onions in the fridge? Should I buy some?”

“No, you can’t. Go sit down.”

I think I knew why Choi Jong-hyun continued to remember him even though it had been three years since he died.

His appearance of following Choi Jong-hyun around in the kitchen as he prepared to cook ramen felt familiar for some reason.

It was like seeing Byun Kang.

What if Byun Kang couldn’t withstand the stress from the pressure from above because of me and took his own life?

I thought about it for a moment, but I shook my head.

I didn’t want to imagine it.