"It was you, wasn't it?"
Pyo Jiwoo glared fiercely at Rou as she spoke.
Aside from him, there wasn't really anyone else who would pull something like this.
He had been suspicious all along.
Keenly probing about Sim Cheongseok, or insisting she come to his birthday party.
If it had been because he wanted to celebrate her birthday with her, she would have gone.
But, if she kept watching, it was bound to show.
Since something like that had happened before, it was only natural she'd keep a close eye on his actions.
It was obvious that what he wanted wasn't her, but someone else.
'Ju Seoyeon'.
"What are you talking about, Ms. Jiwoo? Don't say such scary things."
Rou waved his hand and laughed.
Behind him stood two bulky club guards, but Pyo Jiwoo's momentum didn't die down at all.
'Her guts are no joke.'
To think she could speak so strongly in a situation like this.
Even in a situation where she suspected he did that to Sim Cheongseok.
'From what I heard, she did kendo.'
It was something Pyo Jiwoo had told him directly.
She said she did kendo until high school.
Still, she didn't compete in tournaments; just going to the dojo alone was the extent of it.
He didn't pay much mind since it seemed like she learned it for self-defense, but hearing from the other guys, that wasn't the case.
Anyway, she had the skill to chase away several grown men with just an iron pipe.
"It's my birthday today, so let's avoid making a scene if possible. The VIPs will be arriving soon."
At his words, Pyo Jiwoo felt that her words weren't getting through to him at all.
Should I just slap him once? The moment she was pondering that.
"Ah, but since you're already here, how about it?"
"...About what?"
"Since you're here, there's Seoyeon, you know. Wouldn't it be great if she came too?"
Anyway, his goal was Ju Seoyeon.
He didn't care about anything else.
For him to say that so openly to her when she was clearly in a bad mood, it was practically the same as openly declaring that was his purpose.
"You've been working in this industry for a long time too."
Rou slowly approached Pyo Jiwoo and said.
"Among the VIP guests coming today, there's an executive from the GH Group. You know, right? To do broadcast activities in Korea, you can't get on the bad side of the GH Group."
With just one word from me, you won't even be able to work as an actress anymore.
It was practically him saying exactly that.
"If you want to stay in the industry, you'd better call her quietly."
At Rou's words, Pyo Jiwoo felt her reason snap.
Recently, she had been showing quite a stable demeanor, but fundamentally, Pyo Jiwoo's mental state wasn't that good.
It wasn't for nothing that she was so obsessively fixated on men in the past.
Thanks to Seoyeon, she had gained some patience, but the fact that she lost all restraint when angry remained unchanged.
Seoyeon's past life.
The reason she stormed into a club with over twenty club guards armed with nothing but a kitchen knife was exactly because of that.
"Hey. You stay right there."
"Huh?"
Pyo Jiwoo's hand headed for the bag she was carrying.
And the moment she put her hand inside.
Click.
The door to the room opened.
In the tense atmosphere, everyone's gaze turned towards the entrance of the room.
"Hello."
A girl calmly bowed her head to them.
Ju Seoyeon.
It was the appearance of someone they hadn't expected at all.
***
Actually, before coming here, Seoyeon had hesitated a bit.
She thought sneaking in was the best option since it wouldn't be good if her face became known unnecessarily.
'But then there would be too many restrictions on my actions.'
If Pyo Jiwoo hadn't gone to Shineum first, sneaking in might have been better.
But at the point where she moved first, there weren't many options.
She had to stop her if she tried to cause an accident.
And, that choice turned out to be the right one.
Because she saw Pyo Jiwoo frozen with her hand inside her bag.
"Jiwoo unnie. Just a moment."
Seoyeon grabbed the flustered Pyo Jiwoo's arm and led her straight out of Rou's room.
At the same time, she made sure to look inside his room.
'There it is.'
In the past, there was one place speculated to have had something when the incident broke out.
Rou's private room.
The safe that was there.
A significant amount of gold was stored there, but there were clearly traces of something else being kept as well.
'Ledger.'
The ledger containing information about the VIP users that definitely existed within Shineum was nowhere to be found.
The place where it was speculated to be was exactly that safe.
'...What if it's not.'
The possibilities she timidly raised as she came out thinking, 'That's definitely it.'
Well, what other way is there.
She'd just have to sneak around and search everything.
"Seoyeon, you! Why did you come here?!"
"More importantly, wait a moment."
Seoyeon pulled out the hand Pyo Jiwoo had put in her bag.
She was certain a knife would be grasped in that hand.
Right now, she had stopped the bloodbath Pyo Jiwoo was about to unleash in Shineum...
"Voice recorder?"
Seoyeon muttered inadvertently upon seeing it.
"There's no knife?"
Seoyeon, who had muttered that without thinking, subtly shut her mouth and looked at Pyo Jiwoo.
It was such a surprising thing that words leaked out of her mouth without her realizing.
"...What exactly do you think of me?"
Pyo Jiwoo sighed at Seoyeon, who quietly averted her eyes to the upper right.
"From the conversation just now... I was trying to bring it up. To tell him not to touch you."
At Pyo Jiwoo's words, Seoyeon gently nodded.
Because it sounded quite plausible.
'But doesn't an unauthorized recording not count as evidence?'
Of course, Seoyeon didn't know the law well, so she didn't know the details.
At least, if she spread it, she could definitely create a controversy.
"What are you two talking about?"
While they were talking outside for a bit, Rou followed them out with a beaming smile.
A fairly decent face.
As the person who drove the popularity of Just X, his looks were definitely outstanding.
However.
'....'
The moment Seoyeon saw his face, she felt her mood sink much more than she expected.
It felt like the embers that had momentarily died down upon meeting Pyo Jiwoo were flaring up again.
Anger.
At that unfamiliar emotion, Seoyeon calmly exhaled.
'Honestly.'
Solving the incident was surprisingly not that difficult.
She had checked on her way here; there weren't many people in this vicinity, and there were no CCTVs.
It must be to hide what goes on here.
So she heard that the spaces where the VIPs could play were all located this way.
That was the information she heard from Ma Yeonwoo on her way here.
'Of course, that person probably said that as a warning.'
Personally, Ma Yeonwoo was a bit uncomfortable in terms of titles.
She couldn't call him 'sunbae', and considering his age, she should call him 'Yeonwoo oppa', but that was still a title she felt resistance to.
Anyway.
Seoyeon repeatedly opened and closed her hands, clenching her fists.
'If I do it, I probably can.'
But.
Sometimes she thought.
Her special power wasn't given just for a reason like this.
She believed there must be another reason.
"You came knowing it's my birthday today, right? Then can you participate in the event later? Ah, and among the VIPs, there's someone who really wants to meet you, Seoyeon. You know the GH Group, right?"
While she was quietly gathering her thoughts, Rou whispered like a devil.
"You've been doing so well lately, Seoyeon. How great would it be if you connected with the GH Group on top of that? It'd be like adding wings to a tiger. Advancing overseas wouldn't be a dream either. I acknowledge your talent, Seoyeon."
Meet the VIP.
Those words definitely didn't sound wholesome.
No matter how naive Seoyeon was, she wouldn't take that at face value.
'What should I do.'
Seoyeon narrowed her eyes as she looked at Rou.
Today, Seoyeon had come up with various plans.
She had told Seohee just in case, and she had thought of several ways to find Shineum's VIP ledger.
Shineum becoming a target of investigation was triggered by Rou's birthday party.
At the time, a journalist who sneaked into the event extracted recordings of Rou and the VIPs, and took pictures of them mingling with celebrities to publish in an article.
On top of that, an expose.
Since the journalist had published the exploits at the time, she roughly knew the method.
'If I can just seize the opening from back then and open the safe.'
Truly a perfect plan.
Therefore, Seoyeon planned to observe the situation first until the time the VIPs arrived.
Because a small opening might appear before that.
"How is it? Do you like it too, Seoyeon? Ah, and personally, I'm also a bit interested in you, Seoyeon."
"Yes?"
"Why are you looking at me like that? I really like capable people."
Saying that, he took a step.
Rou approached Seoyeon.
As Seoyeon quietly looked up at him, Rou smiled brightly.
"You'd also prefer a man who's on your level, right? For example, someone like me."
Rou, who was about to say up to that point, stopped.
It was because Seoyeon's gaze, as she stared quietly, was extremely cold.
Seoyeon wanted to keep her mind relatively light, but as expected, it wasn't easy to maintain her composure when looking at him.
It was inevitable.
Looking at him reminded her of Sim Cheongseok.
What would have happened if Pyo Jiwoo hadn't been there.
It might have ended with a simple assault, but bad thoughts still crossed her mind.
Thinking of that, the scale in Seoyeon's mind made her choose the easy way out.
She could understand why Jin Yeonseo did what she did in
Anger stems from displeasure and fear.
The thought that if she left Rou alone, the people around her would also suffer.
Probably, Jin Yeonseo had a similar mindset.
Now, Seoyeon could understand that feeling a little.
That emotion and anger.
'!!'
Rou's gaze was stolen by the distinct red eyes directed at him.
At the overwhelming presence that couldn't be shown from such a small body, Rou even forgot how to breathe.
'Dangerous...'
Something is dangerous.
The moment he thought that.
Seoyeon to Rou.
Right when Rou was focusing his gaze on Seoyeon.
"Is there nothing left for you to touch that you're now even going after high school girls?!"
Pyo Jiwoo's fist, clutching a voice recorder, struck Rou's jaw accurately.
"Ugh."
There wasn't even a scream.
The moment he was hit in the jaw, Rou fell straight backward.
Reflexively, Seoyeon hurriedly slipped her hand in right before his head hit the floor, managing to block it.
She almost stared blankly because he fell so dramatically.
Because if he fell unconscious, his life could be in danger.
This action was closer to being for Pyo Jiwoo's sake than Rou's.
Seeing the fainted Rou with his eyes rolled back, Seoyeon's pupils shook.
'Huh, one hit?'
Next, Pyo Jiwoo's face, fuming with anger, came into view.
The fist she used to slug him, still holding the voice recorder, was bright red.
The anger filling her chest subsided, and panic rushed in.
Wait, what about my plan then?
"Isn't she just a crazy bitch?!"
Due to the sudden turn of events, the guards behind him couldn't even react.
So they charged at Pyo Jiwoo, who had punched Rou, a beat too late.
And in less than 5 minutes, they were lying on the floor.
Seeing Pyo Jiwoo panting heavily, Seoyeon remained frozen in the posture of supporting Rou.
There was no room to intervene.
She thought about stepping in, but she fought so well.
Seoyeon asked with a flustered mind.
"Did you TS, unnie?"
"What? What are you talking about?"
No? Then why are you so strong?
Even if the club guards were off guard, to think she'd take them down instantly with just her fists without a sword.
"...I worked out a bit in the past."
"For someone who did, you were dragged away helplessly by me."
"So I trained even harder. My pride was hurt because I was dragged away by a frail girl like you."
At those words, Seoyeon couldn't help but flinch.
Her actions had changed various things from her past life, but she never imagined this kind of result.
To think her existence would make Pyo Jiwoo even stronger.
It was quite flustering.
What should she do now.
Should they just knock them all out and leave?
Of course, unlike the flustered Seoyeon, Pyo Jiwoo was spitting on Rou's head and trying to stomp on him.
"Wait, that'll be a big problem."
"It's fine. I'll kill this guy and just go to prison. So can you move?"
Ah, so this is her mindset.
Seoyeon realized that her own anger was a very docile anger.
She didn't even change her expression, but her eyes were bloodshot, looking purely red.
It felt like it wasn't simply about Seoyeon, but the emotions she had built up so far, including Sim Cheongseok, had exploded all at once.
Above all, they were somewhat seeing each other(?), so for her to show this side as well.
'This is killing intent.'
Seoyeon swallowed dryly without realizing it.
'I thought a dispute might occur.'
That's why she sprinkled the bait beforehand that she was going to film.
Call it insurance.
So even if they were witnessed, it wouldn't feel like reality.
She tried to resolve it as peacefully as possible, but there really is a "what if", isn't there?
Still, isn't it fine against guys like this?
She definitely had those thoughts, but looking at Pyo Jiwoo, she realized once again.
Violence is dangerous.
For some reason, nothing went according to plan, but it seemed like this was just better.
"Ah, no. More importantly, more importantly, I need to open that safe."
"Why?"
"It's suspicious."
"It is suspicious."
"If that's there, they won't be able to mess with you either. ...Probably."
Seoyeon hurriedly headed to where the safe she saw earlier was, along with Pyo Jiwoo.
And, scolding Pyo Jiwoo as she explained how she intended to resolve things today.
What if she suddenly used her fists, she tried to resolve it peacefully but wouldn't this cause a commotion.
Pyo Jiwoo, listening to Seoyeon's nagging, thought:
'Isn't this just planless?'
She had turned her brain a bit, but hearing it, there were various holes.
Of course, this was because she didn't know the future information Seoyeon possessed.
'...It might feel a bit sloppy.'
Actually saying it out loud, Seoyeon also felt a bit embarrassed.
Compared to coming so full of confidence, there wasn't much to explain.
"But I still need to open the safe."
"Don't you need the password for this?"
"There's a way to open anything."
Seoyeon had already practiced on a few safes before coming.
Her sensitive ears could precisely distinguish the sound of the parts interlocking as they turned inside the safe.
Using that, she could open an ordinary safe without a problem.
"This is an electronic lock?"
"...."
An electronic lock operated by pressing buttons.
It was hidden from her view earlier so she couldn't see it properly; she never expected it wouldn't be a dial lock where you turn to match the password.
Facing an unexpected formidable enemy, Seoyeon's face turned serious.
As she pressed the buttons while pressing her ear against it.
The password was entered incorrectly 5 times, and it started blaring a fierce alarm.
Seoyeon had no choice but to hurriedly punch it to stop the sound.
"If you break that, you can't open it."
"No, you can just pull it open, but I figured it would make a loud noise."
You can pull it open?
Pyo Jiwoo looked at Seoyeon.
More importantly, didn't she just smash the electronic pad with her fist?
"Then what do we do."
"We'll carry it."
"?"
Pyo Jiwoo couldn't believe the words she just heard.
The weight of that safe was easily 50kg.
Saying she would calmly carry it away sounded like a joke.
"And, I slipped out telling Ma Yeonwoo I was going to the bathroom for a bit, so we need to move it quickly and go back."
"This?"
"Yes."
"But what if what we need isn't in here?"
She hadn't thought of that.
"Then we'll have to come look for it again."
"...."
"It's okay. It will be here."
Of course, it didn't take long to realize that those words were not a joke.
***
Rou couldn't believe this situation.
When he fell and woke up, the safe in his private room had vanished entirely.
'How did it not get caught on CCTV?'
It was impossible unless they jumped out the window carrying the safe.
Whether it was the front door or the back door, it should have been caught on camera.
If he had known this would happen, he should have installed CCTV in the private room regardless.
"You, incompetent bastards."
Rou ground his teeth.
Even the guards he had left to guard it seemed to be lying down with him.
Just who took it.
Ju Seoyeon? Or Pyo Jiwoo?
They were definitely there, but they couldn't have carried the safe away.
They're women, aren't they?
Even if he claimed that to the police, they wouldn't listen.
Likewise, they would say he got beaten up by Pyo Jiwoo.
Several grown men were assaulted by a single woman?
Even if he said it, no one would believe it.
Moreover, depending on how Seoyeon, who was present at the time, testified, the situation could change.
There was a high possibility of a backlash.
In these matters, South Korea tended to side with women.
Even if he tried to pressure her agency, the fact that she was close to Ju Seoyeon weighed on his mind.
Being close to Ju Seoyeon meant there was a chance this would reach Jo Seohee's ears.
If nothing else, he absolutely shouldn't mess with Jo Seohee.
"Did Ju Seoyeon just go back after that?"
"Uh, yeah. Given the situation, she said she'd head back first. She also left a message saying happy birthday."
Considering the time, it took less than an hour. She came, took a few photos, and went straight back.
If anything, it felt like she just promoted
At Rihyeon's words, Rou ground his teeth.
Naturally, because of that incident, the birthday party was canceled, and he had to bow his head and apologize to the VIPs.
Naturally, the event was postponed as well.
"Damn it, where the hell did it go."
What kind of method did they use to carry the safe away so entirely.
More than anything, what was inside was important.
Leaving aside the gold bars, the ledger was right in there.
'Yeah, even if that gets into the hands of the police, they won't be able to do anything.'
The VIPs wouldn't be easy to touch even for the police.
However, that was only the case if it simply fell into the hands of the police.
For example, someone who could utilize it.
If it fell into the hands of someone with money and power, it would be a different story.
"Hmm."
And one of the few people capable of that.
Ranking within the top 5 of the business world, and the South Korean cultural industry.
Someone who could hold the broadcasting industry in the palm of his hand and shake it.
Newlike Group's Chairman Jo Seokhwan let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the documents in his hand.
Looking at the blade he now held in his hands, nothing but laughter came out.