Chapter 17: An Unplanned Destination

“Well.

What kind of relationship should I call it…?”

Hwang Seong-il shook the water from his hands with a meaningful smile.

Seo-wan’s eyes twitched sharply.

“Family.

We’re family.”

Having finally settled on the right word, Hwang Seong-il continued, looking satisfied.

“I don’t know how Ji-won sees me, but to me, she’s my daughter.

I’ve watched her since she was barely toddling around, before she could even walk properly, all the way to becoming a functioning adult like this.”

“You seem quite close to that senior you mentioned.”

“Close doesn’t even begin to cover it.

He saved my life.”

For a brief moment, deep regret flickered through Hwang Seong-il’s eyes.

“Ji-won ended up separating from her father early because of me.”

It was an unexpectedly heavy story.

Come to think of it, the only family listed on Ji-won’s personnel card had been her grandmother.

“Well, it’s something everyone already knows anyway.”

Hwang Seong-il added lightly, as if embarrassed for suddenly getting personal.

“In any case, I owe Ji-won a lot.

You could say I’m fated to clean up after that kid for the rest of my life.”

Shaking the remaining water from his hands, Hwang Seong-il turned and faced Seo-wan directly.

“So, Team Leader.

Please look kindly on our Officer Song.

She’s got a fiery temper and tends to act on impulse, overflowing with enthusiasm and charging ahead without thinking.

But she’s sharp, capable with her body, and more than anything, she has a strong sense of responsibility, so she does her job well.

I’m not saying this just because she’s like my daughter—

it breaks my heart to see such a capable kid wasting away just because she’s gotten on someone’s bad side.

She clawed her way up here all on her own, but without power or connections, she’s always the one getting pushed around and trampled.”

Hwang Seong-il smiled faintly.

“You really do think of Officer Song as your daughter.”

“It’s strange, isn’t it.

I’m always worried she might be lonely.”

Was it because he’d seen a side of Song Ji-won that lay beneath her tough, spirited exterior that he worried so much.

Suddenly, Seo-wan found himself curious about what lay beyond that bright smile.

Perhaps it was because he’d once caught sight of those lonely eyes, shedding quiet tears in secret.

It lingered in his mind.

That phrase seemed to fit best.

“Hey!

Team Leader!

Captain!”

As they stepped outside, Choi Jae-hong greeted them with a wide grin, raising both hands enthusiastically.

Beside him stood Jo Min-jung, still drunkenly rambling to herself, Song Ji-won with half-lidded eyes, and Kang Tae-oh lined up near the restaurant entrance.

“Team Leader!

Thaaank you so much for the amazing meal!

Because of you, we stuffed ourselves with premium beef—

I don’t even know what kind of luxury this is!”

With his tongue thoroughly twisted, Jae-hong clung to Seo-wan’s arm.

Seo-wan stopped and squeezed his eyes shut.

“In that case, let’s go for round two!

Round two!”

Sensing Seo-wan’s face turning icy, Hwang Seong-il quickly grabbed the back of Jae-hong’s neck.

“Hey.

The team leader must be tired.

We’ll go for round two ourselves.”

“Oh!

Right, right!

Sorry!

Team Leader, you must be exhausted, so please head home!

We’ll handle round two!”

“Round two?

Captain, we’re going to round two?”

Jo Min-jung, drunkenly rambling alone, perked up at the mention of round two, her face lighting up.

Even in their completely wasted state, everyone was chanting for another round, making it painfully clear what their usual team dinners were like.

He really shouldn’t have come to such a pathetic gathering.

Seo-wan clicked his tongue.

“Detective Kang, let’s go to karaoke!

You don’t know how well our Detective Jo sings!

She’s insanely good—like a real singer!”

This time, Jae-hong grabbed Tae-oh’s arm as he hovered near Ji-won.

“Ah, but shouldn’t we take Officer Song home?

She looks really drunk.”

“What?”

Everyone’s gaze shifted to Ji-won.

Sure enough, Song Ji-won’s condition was alarming—

her hair was a mess, her head leaned against the wall, and she was already asleep standing up.

“She’s completely gone.

When she gets drunk, her house becomes her bedroom.”

Jae-hong shook his head.

Just as Tae-oh decided he had no choice and reached out toward Ji-won’s shoulder—

“I’ll take her—”

“Go ahead and enjoy round two.

I’ll drop Officer Song off on my way.”

Without warning, Seo-wan grabbed Ji-won’s wrist and pulled her toward him, speaking flatly as he took out a card.

Jae-hong, suddenly sharp when it mattered, accepted the card with both hands.

“Yes, sir!

Please get home safely!”

Then, bowing deeply toward Seo-wan’s back as he dragged Ji-won away, Jae-hong folded at the waist.

Watching this, Tae-oh pressed his lips tightly together.

“Tae-oh, let’s go!

Noona will sing for you!”

Oblivious, Min-jung—highly excited—jumped up and slung an arm around Tae-oh’s neck in a chokehold.

He’d lost count of how many times he’d asked the same question.

Whether she heard him or not, Ji-won never answered which building and unit she lived in, only mumbling incoherently like she was talking in her sleep.

If she became this completely out of it when drunk, where did all that baseless confidence come from.

He genuinely didn’t understand.

“Ugh….

Hot, hot.”

It was below freezing outside, and he’d even opened the window for her.

What on earth was still hot.

“What should we do?”

The chauffeur glanced at Seo-wan through the rearview mirror, urging him for the destination.

He must have been out of his mind.

Why had he brought her along in the first place.

In the end, giving up on getting a direct answer, Seo-wan pulled out his phone.

Hwang Seong-il would surely know Ji-won’s exact address.

Beep…

Beep…

Beep….

But contrary to his expectations, Hwang Seong-il didn’t answer.

They’d gone to karaoke for round two—

it was probably too noisy for him to hear the call.

Things had gotten more complicated.

He should’ve asked for the address earlier.

Letting out a short sigh, Seo-wan looked at the pocket of Ji-won’s jacket.

Her phone should be in there.

He planned to call her grandmother or someone she lived with to get the address.

With his phone wedged between his ear and shoulder, still calling Hwang Seong-il, Seo-wan reached toward her jacket—

Thud!

Ji-won, who had been limp moments ago, suddenly grabbed Seo-wan’s wrist and slammed her elbow into his chest and shoulder with full force.

Even drunk, her martial instincts were razor-sharp.

This one was entirely his fault for not considering that.

“Ugh!”

Just as Seo-wan frowned and grabbed her to restrain her, something flew out the window and hit the ground with a dull crack.

He slammed the brakes.

“Please stop the car for a moment.”

Getting out, he walked back along the road.

After a few steps, he spotted it.

On the dark concrete by the roadside lay a phone with its screen completely shattered.

Frowning, he picked it up.

It was dead.

The screen was ruined beyond use, reflecting only his own face.

Grinding his teeth, Seo-wan returned to the car and yanked open the passenger door.

As if nothing had happened, Ji-won lay there with her eyes closed, fast asleep.

Seo-wan shoved his hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out her phone.

As expected, it was locked.

He brought it close to her face to unlock it, but no matter the angle, the lock wouldn’t release.

Her eyes were squeezed shut.

“Song Ji-won.

Open your eyes.”

“Ah, shit.

I said it’s not me!”

“Open your eyes—!”

“I said it’s not me, you bastard!”

Was she really drunk, or was she deliberately being a menace.

The more it went on, the more suspicious her intentions seemed.

Then her defense instincts kicked in again, and she started flailing her limbs like weapons.

“Ha.

Seriously.”

Veins stood out on the back of Seo-wan’s hand as he clenched the phone.

Should I just throw this away and leave.

Fighting the urge, Seo-wan frowned deeply.

His head throbbed.

This was a whole new category of stress.

“Um… what should we do?

Where to now…?”

The chauffeur asked again cautiously, taking in the chaos.

Rubbing his forehead, Seo-wan answered with a sigh.

“Just take us to my place.”

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