Chapter 71: “I’ll Take You With Me”

“I’m fine, so worry about yourself first.”

Hyunwoo spoke in a deliberately gruff tone.

If he wasn’t careful, something stupid might slip out of his mouth.

Right now, the priority was to get Seunghyeok out of the police station.

Hyunwoo turned to the officer who had been awkwardly standing beside them.

“Can the witness statement be taken later?”

“Pardon? Ah—yes, yes, that’s fine.”

“Then I’ll be taking Lee Seunghyeok with me.”

“Ah, well… that might be a little…”

“Why?”

“That is… um…”

The officer couldn’t answer and just fumbled.

It was obvious.

Cha Kwon-oh had interfered.

Hyunwoo narrowed his eyes sharply at the officer.

“Isn’t non-detention the basic principle during investigation?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“His identity is verified, he has a clear residence, there’s no risk of destroying evidence, and no reason to flee.”

“That… is true.”

“And judging by his injuries, this wasn’t one-sided assault. It clearly supports mutual violence more.”

“…Yes, I see.”

“Then is there any reason he should stay here?”

“…….”

The officer went silent, then let out a sigh.

Perhaps he, too, had simply been forced to follow orders under pressure.

But Hyunwoo didn’t care.

Whatever corruption existed here meant nothing compared to the exhausted, bruised state of the person in front of him.

“Ahem… Understood. You may proceed with the witness statement anytime later.”

“Good.”

Hyunwoo gave a curt nod and immediately led Seunghyeok out of the station.

“Mm?”

The moment they stepped outside, a few drops of rain fell from the cloudy sky.

Just as expected — it would start raining soon.

They needed to go to the hospital first.

Hyunwoo turned toward Seunghyeok.

“We’re going to the hospital.”

“I told you I don’t want to go. Let’s just go home—”

“No. We need the medical report.”

“…….”

Who knew what Cha Kwon-oh would pull next.

They needed a diagnosis on record — treatment and documentation — to prepare.

“If I go to the hospital, what do I get in return?”

“What?”

Get in return?

He’s doing all of this for him.

Hyunwoo stared at him incredulously.

“Are you finally going to blow on my cheek this time?”

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Then I’m not going.”

“…….”

Hyunwoo stared at the stubborn, childish man in front of him.

Why was he acting so ridiculous?

Did something happen in the holding cell?

Did Cha Kwon-oh hit him in the head?

After mentally cursing through several possibilities, Hyunwoo finally sighed.

“Fine. If I do it… you’ll go to the hospital without complaining?”

“Yes.”

“…Ha. Come here.”

“……!”

Hyunwoo curled a finger toward him.

Surprised, and afraid Hyunwoo might take it back, Seunghyeok hurried over.

“…….”

He really wanted this?

Hyunwoo was speechless inside, but kept his expression dull and bored.

He leaned in slightly.

“…Hoh.”

“…….”

“Done.”

Hyunwoo barely even pretended to blow and immediately stepped back.

Seunghyeok looked at him with a deeply offended expression.

“Was that even remotely acceptable?”

“What? I did it.”

“…….”

Seunghyeok stared at him like he couldn’t believe this injustice, but Hyunwoo remained shameless.

He was not going to actually blow on him like a baby.

“Let’s go. Hospital.”

“Tch.”

Hyunwoo took hold of Seunghyeok and began walking.

There was still far too much to deal with.

He clicked his tongue and exhaled heavily.

“This time it’s someone else getting treated, I see.”

“…….”

At the doctor’s calm remark, Hyunwoo gave an embarrassed smile.

“You don’t really need to personally examine him…”

“Why not? The Director brought him in himself.”

The doctor winked, then glanced at Seunghyeok — whose face was bruised but expression calm.

“Tsk, tsk. Where did you get beaten like this? Your face is a mess.”

“…….”

It was Seunghyeok being scolded, yet Hyunwoo felt offended instead.

He pressed his lips together, visibly irritated — because seeing Seunghyeok injured made him angry all over again.

“The guy who hit me looks way worse.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Seunghyeok’s voice was flat.

The doctor let out a small laugh.

Right — the one he fought was Cha Kwon-oh.

If Cha Kwon-oh’s injuries were worse…

Good.

Hyunwoo recalled how Seunghyeok had once beaten the stalker into the floor.

He might seem calm normally, but once he snapped — he didn’t stop.

Serves him right.

Hyunwoo couldn’t help the faint upward curl of his lips.

Even though he hated seeing Seunghyeok hurt — imagining Cha Kwon-oh’s swollen face helped.

“This looks like it needs a bit of dressing. Nothing severe.”

“Hm, hm. And the medical certificate…”

“Of course. I’ll write it properly.”

The doctor winked knowingly.

Hyunwoo relaxed.

He watched quietly as Seunghyeok had his wounds cleaned — without so much as a flinch.

Did he not feel pain?

Even Hyunwoo prided himself on endurance — but compared to Seunghyeok, it was nothing.

“Keep water away from the injury, and take the antibiotics I prescribe.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“And don’t get into any more fights.”

“Haha…”

Hyunwoo laughed awkwardly and shot a glare at Seunghyeok.

But Seunghyeok didn’t respond at all.

Tch.

He could at least say “I won’t.”

Otherwise, it sounded like he fully intended to fight again.

Hyunwoo rubbed his temples with a sigh.

“Ah, the Pheromone Department contacted me earlier.”

“…The Pheromone Department?”

“Yes. They recommended a detailed exam, but it looks like you postponed it.”

“Ah—well…”

Why did the internal medicine discussion reach this surgeon?

The doctor’s gaze sharpened.

“I’ll clear a testing room. Let’s do it now.”

“I really don’t have time tod—”

“What do you mean ‘no time’?”

“……!”

Seunghyeok’s voice cut sharply.

Hyunwoo flinched.

“It’s nothing important.”

“If it’s nothing, they wouldn’t ask for a detailed exam.”

“I said it’s not serious.”

“…….”

The more Hyunwoo insisted, the darker Seunghyeok’s expression became.

Cold sweat formed — Hyunwoo couldn’t look him in the eyes.

Bzzzt—

“……!”

His phone vibrated.

Jung-hoon.

Hyunwoo snatched the phone up.

“I need to take this call.”

“Hyung—”

“It’s urgent!”

He escaped the room.

Walking down the white hospital hall, Hyunwoo finally breathed out.

“…Ha—hello?”

—Director, it’s me.

“What’s the situation?”

—Well…

Jung-hoon explained what happened after the lawyer arrived.

Just as Hyunwoo expected, Cha Kwon-oh had pressured the police to treat it as one-sided assault.

But when Hyunwoo offered to testify, they had no choice but to treat it as mutual.

“And Cha Kwon-oh? What is he planning?”

—As you predicted, he intends to sue Lee Seunghyeok for assault.

“…Tch. Assault, is it?”

When it was mutual?

More than that — the bastard’s crimes were clearly worse.

Hyunwoo grit his teeth.

“We’ll claim mutual assault. And we’ll also sue him for pheromone attack. Proceed.”

—They may attempt to propose a settlement.

“No settlement.”

—But then our relationship with L&S might—

“No. Settlement.”

— …Understood.

Cha Kwon-oh had crossed too many lines.

The whiskey incident, the pheromone attack, and now hurting Seunghyeok.

No matter what happened with the company ties—

This was the moment to crush him.

Hyunwoo clenched his jaw.

His eyes burned cold.