Chapter 10

10. Achilles’ Heel

“It would be best for you to remain hospitalized for a few more days so we can monitor your condition. Given how severe your panic symptoms appear to be, I also believe you should receive treatment from a psychiatrist.”

The doctor who had examined Jiseul carefully offered his opinion.

But Jiseul stubbornly shook her head.

“No. The worst has already passed, and I’d like to be discharged. I have a lot of things I need to do. I’ll definitely see a psychiatrist later.”

“I don’t know about that. I understand your situation, but this could become a serious problem if you’re not careful. You were fortunate this time because the proper measures were taken quickly. There’s no guarantee you’ll get through the next episode safely. It’s better to prepare in advance.”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

Jiseul was completely unyielding.

Neither persuasion nor reasoning had any effect on her.

What exactly was pushing her this hard?

Woohyun silently watched their conversation while carefully observing Jiseul.

One important thing he had learned was that her symptoms had begun three months ago.

The cause appeared to be guilt over his brother’s death.

‘What other choice do I have? Prosecutor Shin died because of me! Because I rushed things!’

‘Then what do you expect me to do? I don’t have money or power! I’m just an ordinary citizen! How are we supposed to fight them? We don’t even know who they are, let alone what’s really happening.’

Based on the phone conversation he had overheard, his brother had likely died while investigating a case connected to Jiseul.

Whether that was actually true or not, Jiseul clearly believed that his death was her fault.

And behind it all seemed to be some mysterious organization.

He had no way of confirming that either.

Woohyun himself had never believed that his brother took his own life.

There were simply too many suspicious aspects for him to accept it as suicide.

The police had behaved strangely.

The way they had hurriedly closed the case without properly investigating it was suspicious as well.

Just how much did Han Jiseul know?

Right now, getting her to reveal the truth was more important than anything else.

As far as he could tell, she was the only person holding the key to his brother’s death.

Except for Investigator Park Jeongbeom from the prosecutor’s office, who had vanished without a trace after Junghyeon’s death.

“Fine. I’ll approve your discharge under a few conditions. But you must keep your promises.”

Eventually, the doctor shook his head and reluctantly agreed to a conditional discharge.

Only after obtaining her promise to undergo a full examination and psychiatric treatment within the month.

Once the doctor left and the hospital room door closed, Jiseul immediately walked to the wardrobe and took out her clothes.

She looked ready to change out of her patient gown and leave the hospital that very second.

Then she glanced around the room for a moment.

Afterward, she awkwardly turned to Woohyun.

“Um, CEO. Do you happen to know where my bag is?”

“It’s probably still at my brother’s apartment. When you collapsed, I rushed out without thinking.”

“Ah…”

“Let’s go to my brother’s apartment first. We’ll stop by there and then I’ll take you home.”

Jiseul nodded slowly.

Then she hesitated before speaking again.

“By the way, CEO.”

“Yes?”

“About the files on Prosecutor Shin’s computer. Most of the folders seem to be password protected. Can you get into them?”

Now that she mentioned it, that was true.

He had copied everything from his brother’s computer.

But most of the files were encrypted.

Breaking through them would take considerable time.

And there was no guarantee of success.

“I don’t know. Password cracking is outside my area of expertise. I’ve been considering sending an SOS to the Head of the Security Team.”

Woohyun shrugged and answered honestly.

Partly because he wanted to see her reaction.

“I have a password recovery program that I wrote myself. It can unlock most folders. The problem is that it’s on the laptop in my officetel. That’s where I keep all my important tools.”

As if she had already forgotten what happened earlier, Jiseul suddenly became enthusiastic.

Only her eyes burned with determination on her pale face.

Woohyun unconsciously frowned.

She didn’t look well at all.

Her stubbornness annoyed him too.

“Are you really okay? Like the doctor said, it would probably be better if you stayed hospitalized for a few more days.”

“I’m fine. I was just startled earlier. There won’t be another situation serious enough to push me that far.”

“…If that’s what you say. Then get changed and come out. I’ll wait outside.”

After saying that, Woohyun left the hospital room.

He couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling in his chest.

Or rather, those eyes of hers bothered him for no reason.

He had never found anyone irritating in his life.

The unfamiliar feeling bothered him.

* * *

“Let’s eat first.”

Woohyun put Jiseul in the car and headed toward her neighborhood.

They needed to retrieve the laptop from her officetel.

It was already eight in the evening, well past dinnertime.

“What do you like? I eat pretty much anything, so you choose.”

“Ah, there’s a great rice bowl restaurant in my neighborhood. The soup and side dishes are really good too.”

“Then let’s go there.”

Woohyun followed Jiseul’s directions.

Along the way, he occasionally asked questions.

“It doesn’t seem like you live with your parents. Did you move out early?”

“Not exactly. They retired and moved to the countryside. They live in Haenam now, so it’s really far away. I only get to see them during holidays. They spend their time tending a vegetable garden and living quietly.”

Jiseul answered readily.

The atmosphere she’d maintained until now, one full of caution toward him, seemed to have relaxed slightly.

“Do you have any siblings?”

“No. I’m an only child.”

“When did you start hacking?”

“Hmm… Let’s see. Third year of middle school. At first, I really wanted access to NASA’s classified space photos. I was kind of obsessed with moon landing conspiracy theories back then.”

Woohyun shook his head.

For someone who looked so innocent and proper, she had quite an unexpected side to her.

“So? Did you break into NASA’s systems?”

“I did, but I couldn’t find the photos I wanted. Still, getting in was easier than I expected. So out of curiosity, I started testing my skills by breaking into different places. Then I tried government agencies and financial institutions that were supposed to have strong security…”

“Didn’t you ever think you’d get caught?”

“I was nervous all the time. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t overcome my curiosity. For me, it was a form of teenage rebellion. I wanted to break the rules created by adults. And I was convinced nobody could catch me. But in the end, I got arrested. My mom was so shocked that she actually collapsed. She had no idea what her daughter was doing shut up in her room every day.”

That was how Jiseul’s story ended.

With the lingering fear that her life might have been completely ruined if she had never met Junghyeon.

By then, they had arrived at the restaurant.

It was a simple rice bowl restaurant that looked ordinary from the outside.

“This place is famous in our neighborhood, believe it or not. During meal times, people have to wait in line forever.”

Jiseul proudly led the way inside.

Even though it was late, the restaurant was still crowded.

Apparently she was a regular because the owner recognized her immediately.

“Well, look at that. You’re not alone today. And it’s not Songi either. What is this? Your boyfriend?”

“No way. Boyfriend, my foot. He’s the CEO of my company.”

Jiseul waved her hands frantically and guided Woohyun to a seat by the window.

The owner followed them with a pitcher of barley tea.

“Really? It’s a waste for him to be just a company CEO. His face is shining so much I thought he was some movie star.”

“I know, right? Our CEO is ridiculously handsome.”

The two women chatted back and forth as if Woohyun wasn’t even there.

“So what’s this about a company? Didn’t you say you were a freelancer?”

“Well, things just worked out that way. I thought it might be nice to try having a real job at least once.”

Jiseul casually answered and sat down.

Then, without asking Woohyun, she ordered a spicy pork rice bowl and a spicy squid rice bowl.

“These are the restaurant’s specialties. Their signature dishes. They’re both amazing, so let’s split them.”

Her face was far livelier than before as she smiled brightly and set out kimchi and pickled radish.

There was no sign of the severe panic disorder she’d displayed earlier.

Other than how pale she still looked.

Woohyun silently watched her.

Then he decided to press directly on her Achilles’ heel.

If he continued pretending not to notice, he’d never get the truth from her.

“Jiseul, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

As soon as he started, Jiseul nodded without hesitation.

A faint smile still lingered on her lips.

“Sure. Go ahead.”

Her pale face still bothered him.

But Woohyun chose to ignore it.

Looking directly into those dark eyes that gleamed like black obsidian, he quietly opened his mouth.

“What exactly is Crow? And what did you mean when you said my brother died because of you?”