By the time Choi Min-jae got home, the winter sky over Seoul had already folded into a deep indigo, the city lights blinking awake one by one. His apartment was quiet—too quiet after the chaos of the station and the warmth of Hye-rin's presence at the mansion.
He kicked off his shoes, loosened his collar, and dropped his keys on the console table with a soft clink. For a moment, he just stood there, staring at the dim living room.
It had been a long day.
Kang Dae-shik's panicked eyes.
The lawyer's stiff posture.
Hye-rin's soft, worried expression when she'd asked about Joon-hyuk.
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
His phone vibrated just as he was about to collapse onto the couch.
Police Station – Seoul flashed across the screen.
He straightened immediately and answered. "Choi Min-jae speaking."
"Mr. Choi, this is Inspector Han," came the familiar voice. "Calling regarding Kang Dae-shik."
Min-jae's tone sharpened. "What about him? Did he finally talk?"
