Chapter : 34
It was only at the touch of his gentle hand that her tension finally eased, and her legs went weak.
It seemed that her muscles had been tense all this time while she was with Choi Muwang.
Lee Seol leaned back against the chair, looking at Taeshin.
“Were you really that worried?”
“Seeing you come back safely like this, I guess I was worried without even realizing it. Now that I think about it, you must have followed him unwillingly and must have been very scared, which is why you raised your voice.”
Her heart fluttered at the thought that he, too, was just as relieved.
After staring at him for a moment, Lee Seol held out her phone.
“Here. Let’s install a location app. Would that make you feel better?”
Taeshin muttered as he took the phone.
“You can lift and drop people like this… a fox wouldn’t be any craftier.”
He opened the screen and downloaded the location app.
“Done. Now it’s connected to my phone, so we can see each other’s locations wherever we are.”
Lee Seol took the phone back and saw the green dot representing Taeshin blinking.
Now I can see where he is anytime.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Instead of answering, he asked a question—clearly unwilling to let the matter slide.
“Why did Choi Muwang take you?”
“It was nothing, really. We just had a meal together.”
“You wouldn’t rent out an entire restaurant just for a meal, would you?”
“Well… actually…”
Lee Seol hesitated for a moment, then honestly told him about Choi Muwang’s proposal.
Since Taeshin had investigated her, he must already know exactly how much debt she had and what the interest was.
There was no need to be embarrassed about it.
“I refused. So you don’t have to worry.”
After a brief silence, Taeshin’s voice softened.
“That’s good. You did the right thing.”
Was it really the right choice?
Now he was asking her to repay the principal too, and the thought of it made her feel completely lost.
“I’ll just stop by my father’s place for a bit. You go ahead.”
“Go see him. I’ll wait for you.”
Watching Lee Seol go up to the hospital room, Taeshin called Kanghoon.
Kanghoon had been the one to tell him that Choi Muwang had taken Lee Seol away.
The organization was currently divided into factions:
Those following Taeshin and those following Vice President Kang Hansoo.
Hansoo’s faction was overwhelmingly larger, and the members loyal to Taeshin had scattered across the country.
They were trying to regroup, but it would take time.
Kanghoon had joined the organization because of his mother’s debt.
Taeshin, determined to eliminate the illegal debt collection openly happening within the company, had brought Kanghoon in and employed him at JS Capital to repay the debt.
Kanghoon was skilled with computers and clever—trustworthy and capable.
Kanghoon answered the call.
- “Is Ms. Yoon Iseol okay?”
“She’s fine. How much exactly is Yoon Sangwon’s debt?”
- “The remaining amount is about 320 million won. Interest is 12% per year, and the repayment period is tight—five years. The principal is 300 million, so she’s barely covering the interest.”
“Tell me more about the private equity fund that took over the franchise and other businesses Sangwon ran.”
After ending the call with Kanghoon, he called his friend and the CEO of the fund, Namhyun.
- “Who is this? You’re alive? There were rumors you got stabbed and drowned. I didn’t believe them, of course.”
“Details later when we meet. I need you to find something out.”
- “What do you need me to do?”
“Track the process by which the restaurant franchise ‘EverDining F&B’ was transferred to the private equity fund ‘Blueline Partners.’ How much was it sold for? What was its financial condition at the time? And what happened afterward?”
- “Blueline Partners? I know them well. They target companies, mess up their finances, then buy them at a bargain. Not a single company they acquire operates normally.”
If it had been sold to a private equity fund, it shouldn’t have gone bankrupt, but borrowing private loans as well seemed odd.
- “Is that all you need?”
“Trace the cash flow. Find out how much money can be recovered and from whom. Do it quickly.”
- “That’s easy. But are you okay? Vice President Kang Hansoo was trying to take over JS Capital completely. He even came to see me a few days ago.”
Namhyun’s voice carried genuine concern.
“I’m fine. Yushin and Jaehyuk are fine too.”
- “Good. Glad to hear it. Need anything else?”
“I’ll call you again.”
After hanging up, Taeshin went into thought.
Even if Taeshin repaid her debt, Lee Seol would never accept it.
So the only way to completely free her from Choi Muwang’s grasp was this:
If money had been siphoned off during the acquisition of her father’s company, someone must be holding it.
As long as she owed Choi Muwang, Lee Seol could never be truly free.
Earlier today, Choi Muwang had rented out the entire restaurant to have a meal with Lee Seol and stationed his men to keep anyone away.
He had even tried to meet her separately under the pretense of reducing her interest.
Just thinking about it made his blood boil.
If she had been even slightly hurt…
A chill ran down Taeshin’s spine. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
“Haa…”
He had nearly exposed his hidden identity today.
Not only he, but Yushin and his subordinates could have been put in danger.
It shouldn’t have happened, yet when Lee Seol was in danger, he lost control.
This was not a simple feeling because she had saved his life.
Desire, and something unexplainable.
Taeshin was restraining himself from touching her.
Her small, soft body in his arms in the darkened room, her unsteady movements asking to be carried while drunk, the fleeting touch of her lips—
Thinking about them made his heart ache.
She was so delicate and lovely.
Fragile, as if she could break under the slightest pressure, yet carrying her heavy burdens quietly and steadfastly—it made him ache with affection and protectiveness.
He couldn’t keep her in his pocket or watch her 24/7.
For now, just being able to check her location whenever he wanted was the only comfort.
A little later, Lee Seol returned with a somber expression.
Her father, Yoon Sangwon, had been paralyzed from the waist down due to an accident.
It was no wonder her mind wasn’t at ease while her father was in a care hospital.
“Did you visit your father?”
“Yes.”
Too heavy a burden for such small, fragile shoulders.
Taeshin, uncharacteristically impulsive, spoke up.
“How about going now? Night fishing.”
Lee Seol smiled faintly.
“Night fishing should happen at night, shouldn’t it?”
“We’ll get there by nightfall.”
“What about your evening work?”
“I have part-timers.”
Lee Seol nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go now. Wait a moment, I’ll call my grandmother first.”
Taeshin started the car, and Lee Seol spoke with her grandmother.
“It’s okay. Nothing happened, really. We just had a meal together.”
- “That bastard! What’s he thinking taking someone else’s granddaughter and feeding her? Nobody asked him to! Should’ve smashed his neck instead!”
Her grandmother’s signature curse reached even Taeshin.
“Grandmother, I’ll be late meeting a friend. Don’t wait—go to sleep. I’m not a child. Don’t worry.”
Taeshin parked in front of a clothing store downtown.
He bought a cardigan, jacket, scarf, gloves, and other clothes for Lee Seol with cash.
He also picked up bottled water, ramen, snacks, and bread.
Lee Seol realized she was completely excited even during this brief shopping trip with him and took a deep breath.
Get a grip, Yoon Seol. This isn’t a date.
After finishing their preparations, they headed for the dock.
By the time they arrived, the sun was slowly sinking beyond the sea.
