I turned off the computer, stretched, and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.
“Hm...”
After lowering my raised arm, I pressed the bell beside . Manager Ma opened the door and entered.
“Manager, what’s Jiyoung been up to lately?”
“I heard she started filming a movie recently.”
“She’s living a busy life too. I should go see her face soti. Check her location for .”
“Yes, sir.”
Before long, Manager Ma returned after checking Cheon Jiyoung’s schedule.
“She’s filming in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.”
I checked the clock again and nodded.
Still, it’s been a while since I last visited. I can’t go empty-handed.
“I can’t just show up. Call Myeongdong Hotel and have them send a catering buffet to the filming site in ti for dinner. Around six o’clock should be good. Pass the ssage to Jiyoung’s manager, and don’t tell Jiyoung about it.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
While I was talking with Manager Ma, there was a knock on the door. At this hour, no one should be coming in except him.
As I looked toward the door, puzzled, it opened and Myungsoo walked in, waving.
“Muhyuk!!”
I stood up in surprise.
“You ca without calling first?”
“I had so errands nearby and thought I’d drop by for lunch. Got plans?”
“No, nothing. Even if I did, I’d cancel.”
“That’s the spirit. Let’s eat sothing simple; I don’t have much ti. How about Chinese delivery, for old tis’ sake?”
Myungsoo plopped down naturally on the sofa with a grin, and I sat across from him.
“Jajangmyeon or jjamppong?”
“Jjamppong, of course. I need a hangover fix. These days it’s all booze. The presidential election’s coming, and I’m practically living in alcohol.”
“Yeah, you’ve been working hard. Manager, order two jjamppongs and one sweet and sour pork. You know where to get it, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
After Manager Ma left, Myungsoo rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.
“Mind if I smoke?”
“You said you quit. Back to it already?”
“It’s the only thing keeping sane. Without it, I’d probably lose my mind from stress.”
I got up and opened the window. Then I filled a cup with water, set it near him, and sat back down.
“I don’t smoke, so there’s no ashtray. Just tap it out there.”
“Thanks.”
He lit up, and the glow of the cigarette revealed deep fatigue in his face.
“Rough, huh?”
“This job’s stressful as hell. Feels tougher than being a prosecutor ever was.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be stupid. You don’t need to apologize. You asked, but I made the choice. I’m a politician now, after all.”
He sucked hard on the cigarette until his cheeks hollowed, then blew out a thick cloud of smoke.
“I checked into what you said — the old n are holding private etings. And Chairman Yoon just watches quietly.”
“Right?”
“Yeah. The etings among senior mbers have increased lately. Even so first-term lawmakers are showing up. Those bastards are the real problem. I can’t tell what Yoon’s intentions are.”
He smoked several more in a row, frustration etched on his face.
I frowned slightly. He must really be burning inside.
“He made the Centrist Party to build a new kind of politics, a new political force — but they’re doing the sa old crap. Lining up in factions, bowing to seniority... it’s all bullshit.”
Disillusionnt colored Myungsoo’s face.
I had no interest in “new politics.”
All I wanted was for the man I supported to beco president and do what I needed done. That’s why I joined hands with Yoon Chang-ho.
Myungsoo might still dream of reform, but it was ti he faced reality.
“Myungsoo. Reality is cold. In the end, politics is about seizing power — fighting, biting, stepping on others to survive. It’s ti you realized that.”
He didn’t answer, only stubbed out his cigarette and nodded silently.
“To give Chairman Yoon a little warning, we’ll need to take out one of his close aides. Anyone you’ve been clashing with lately?”
“No one among his inner circle would openly cross . I still keep in contact with Yoon himself.”
“Really? Then what about among the senior mbers — anyone you wouldn’t mind disappearing?”
I asked casually, but his face showed alarm.
“Hey, what are you planning? You don’t an—?”
“What?”
“You’re not talking about killing soone, right?”
I burst out laughing. What did he take for?
“Do I look like a lunatic to you?”
“Weren’t you? Well, as long as you’re not.”
“Co on. Killing a mber of the National Assembly in Korea? Even for , that’s pushing it. I’ll just have the prosecution ruin him politically.”
Relieved, Myungsoo exhaled and thought for a mont.
“Hmm... then it’d have to be Representative Jeong Chanseong. He’s the one I clash with the most. My senior in college and the prosecution — can’t even yell at him properly. Drives nuts.”
“Jeong Chanseong?”
“Yeah. Third-term lawmaker. A real attack dog, no filter whatsoever. He even talks back to Chairman Yoon, his senior from the prosecution.”
I tried to recall the na, but nothing ca to mind.
If he wasn’t morable, he probably wasn’t important.
“Alright. Then he’s the one.”
“Will the prosecution even move? The primaries for both Progressive and Conservative parties are starting soon. The dia will scream about political manipulation.”
“I’ll handle that.”
The office door opened again as Manager Ma entered carrying food.
He set down the jjamppong and sweet and sour pork on ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) newspaper spread over the table. I signaled lightly with my eyes.
“It’s almost your dinner ti, right? Take my card and go out to eat with the staff tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And bring all the data you can find on Representative Jeong Chanseong of the Centrist Party.”
Manager Ma bowed and left. Myungsoo and I began eating.
I split the wooden chopsticks, rubbed them together, and peeled the plastic wrap off the bowls.
It reminded of our college days — eating takeout together just like this.
Myungsoo must’ve thought the sa because he smiled.
“Been a while, huh? Just the two of us eating delivery like this.”
“Yeah. Feels nostalgic.”
“Brings back mories.”
“College, right? Rember when you tried to grab two pieces of sweet and sour pork and got smacked on the hand?”
At the embarrassing mory, Myungsoo shot a look and started eating. I took a bite too.
“Not bad. What do you think?”
He nodded and popped another piece into his mouth.
“Good. Ah, I feel human again.”
“Then eat up.”
We ate, talking about nothing in particular. Myungsoo left half his noodles but drained the soup.
“You sure that’s enough?”
“Yeah. I’ll be eating and drinking again tonight anyway. Look at this belly — all from booze, man.”
He lifted his shirt to show his belly jokingly.
I laughed loudly.
“You should start exercising.”
“I will. After the election. Otherwise, I’ll drink myself to death. You done?”
I nodded and put down my chopsticks.
“Yeah.”
“Then I’m having one more smoke.”
“Coffee?”
“Perfect. Make a mix coffee. Haven’t had one you made in ages.”
He lit another cigarette. If a friend asked for coffee, I could at least oblige.
I walked to the water dispenser.
As I poured hot water into a paper cup, I couldn’t help smiling faintly.
Whenever I was with Myungsoo, I always rembered our college days — though back then I hadn’t exactly been diligent.
“Thanks. Damn, even this coffee brings back mories.”
“Yeah. We used to drink this to cure hangovers every morning.”
He smoked while drinking, chain-lighting one cigarette after another.
When the coffee cooled a bit, he finished it in one go, set the cup down, and stood up.
“Thanks for the al and the talk. I needed that to clear my head.”
“Co by anyti you need to. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Ha, yeah, sure. Anyway, see you. Oh, and that guy I ntioned before — I’ll set up the eting soon.”
“Alright.”
He waved, then left without hesitation.
Right after, Manager Ma and the assistants ca in to clean the table.
“Myungsoo seems really exhausted. Did I push him too far with my ambitions?”
Manager Ma looked up at , a trace of curiosity in his eyes. I added, almost defensively,
“Politics is filthy. The fact that such a gentle guy is holding out this long — I’m amazed.”
“Is that so? I think the Secretary-General’s political ability is remarkable. Even with your backing, holding that position as a young first-term lawmaker is no small feat. I wouldn’t worry too much.”
“Really?”
Unexpectedly, Manager Ma praised him. I couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“Yes. You know how it is — you can say things in front of a friend you’d never say elsewhere. ‘I’m tired,’ ‘I can’t take it.’ Just venting. That’s all.”
As expected of Manager Ma. Simple words, but comforting nonetheless.
I nodded, my expression easing.
“Alright. Let’s tidy up and review Representative Jeong Chanseong’s file. We’ve got about two hours before visiting Jiyoung.”
“Yes, sir.”
After clearing the table, he and his team left the room.
I turned on the computer, typed “Jeong Chanseong” into the search bar, and hit enter.
More articles ca up than I expected. A typical ex-prosecutor politician.
Three consecutive terms in Pohang. Moved from the Conservative Party to the Centrist Party. For a senior mber, he seed to lack weight.
As I scrolled through the search results, Manager Ma entered holding a file.
I took it from him.
“What kind of man is he?”
“A textbook political prosecutor type.”
“Has he ever taken our money?”
“Yes, a few tis.”
I nodded and opened the file. A dry laugh escaped my lips.
So that’s what “attack dog” ant — he took bribes aggressively too.
“Poor family background, maybe? His financial dealings are ssy. Took money from conglorates and fixed their complaints.”
“How many lawmakers haven’t taken chaebol money? It used to be the norm — campaign funds, political expenses.”
“Hmm. Not quite enough to ruin him yet...”
Not strong enough to bring down a three-term lawmaker. Korea was surprisingly forgiving about bribes.
“Any record of him accepting sexual favors or drugs?”
“Not in the files we have here.”
“...Then I’ll need to check the Pyeongchang-dong archive tonight. Tell the intel team to dig deeper into his interest connections.”
I closed the file. Half asures wouldn’t do — not when sending a ssage to Yoon Chang-ho.
I stood and grabbed my coat.
“Let’s go. Just you with tonight — keep it quiet.”
We left the Myeongdong office together.
By the ti we arrived at the film set where Cheon Jiyoung was shooting, the evening sun had already faded into twilight.
It looked like they’d built a full set. The scale was impressive.
“Quite the production.”
The catering team from Myeongdong Hotel had already arrived — the dining area was bustling.
I walked slowly, looking for Jiyoung’s manager.
“Sir, you’re here.”
Her manager hurried over and bowed deeply.
A few people glanced our way, but I ignored them.
“Where’s Jiyoung?”
“She’ll be out any mont.”
“You didn’t tell her I was coming, right?”
“No, sir. I kept my mouth shut as you instructed.”
Just then, Jiyoung ca out of the set. As she glanced around the noisy scene, her eyes caught mine.
I raised a hand and waved.
“Huh? Oppa!”
She ran over quickly — completely ignoring the stares around us — and looped her arm through mine, chattering brightly.
“What, you should’ve told you were coming! When did you get here? That catering— you sent that, didn’t you?”
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