After some time, Ji-Ah finally decided she couldn't keep sitting in her room staring at those documents. She slipped everything back into the bag, making sure the medical reports, school records, photograph, and the envelope were all together.
She held the bag against her chest.
It suddenly felt much heavier than it actually was. Not because of the papers. Because of what they might mean.
She stepped into the hallway and walked toward Yoo-Na's room.
A few seconds later, she knocked. "Yoo-Na?"
There was a muffled sound from inside. "What?
The door opened, and Yoo-Na looked up from where she had been sitting.
Ji-Ah smiled. "I'm going to buy something. I'll be back, okay?"
Yoo-Na immediately stood. "Should I come with you?"
Ji-Ah shook her head quickly. "Nah, nah. You don't have to."
Yoo-Na narrowed her eyes. "You sure?"
"Very sure."
Ji-Ah tightened her grip on her bag.
Yoo-Na glanced at it. "What are you buying?"
"Just something."
"What something?"
"Something."
"That's suspicious."
Ji-Ah laughed nervously. "Since when did buying something become a crime?"
"Since you started answering questions like a criminal."
Ji-Ah rolled her eyes. "I'll be back soon."
Yoo-Na still looked unconvinced. "Fine. But don't disappear."
"I won't."
Ji-Ah gave her a small wave and walked away.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, her smile disappeared. Her hand instinctively moved to the bag. Everything was still there.
The photograph. The documents. The medical records. And the name.
Park Tae-Hyun.
She stared at the elevator doors.
Whatever this is... She took a slow breath.
I need to know. Outside the hotel, David's car was waiting.
He stepped out as soon as he saw her. "Ma'am."
Ji-Ah approached.
David looked at her. "Where are we going?"
She showed him the location on her phone.
David stared at the screen.
Then at her. "That area?"
"Yes."
He hesitated. "Are you sure?"
Ji-Ah nodded. "Yes."
David opened the door for her.
She got inside.
As the car pulled away, Vancouver passed outside the window.
The streets were busy.
People walked along the sidewalks.
Cars moved through the intersections.
Everything looked completely normal.
But Ji-Ah barely noticed any of it.
Her fingers remained wrapped around the strap of her bag.
She thought about Ha-Joon.
About everything he'd done for her.
The way he'd treated her ankle.
The way he'd told her she was someone he loved.
The way he'd quietly worried about her.
She lowered her gaze.
For him...
She swallowed.
I could do almost anything.
Not because she wanted praise.
Not because she wanted recognition.
She simply didn't want Min-Ji destroying his reputation.
She didn't want the Kim family dragged into something they didn't understand.
And she definitely didn't want Ha-Joon's life ruined because of someone else's secrets.
The car continued farther from the busy part of the city.
The buildings became older.
The streets quieter.
Eventually, David slowed down.
Then stopped.
Ji-Ah looked through the window.
An old building stood ahead.
It looked abandoned.
The windows were dusty.
Some of the walls were weathered.
The entrance looked like nobody had used it in years.
David stared at it. "Ma'am..."
Ji-Ah opened the door. "Yes?"
"Are you sure this is the place?"
She looked at the building. "I'm sure."
"Who told you to meet them here?"
Ji-Ah paused.
Then smiled faintly. "I'll be fine."
David clearly didn't believe her. "Ma'am..."
"David." She turned toward him. "Please don't tell anyone you brought me here."
He hesitated.
Then nodded. "Fine."
His expression remained worried. "But please be careful."
"I will."
David drove away.
Ji-Ah watched the car disappear down the street.
The moment it was gone, she adjusted the strap of her bag.
She looked at the building. "...Okay."
She took a breath. "Let's do this."
She pushed the door open.
It creaked loudly.
Ji-Ah stepped inside.
The air was colder.
Dust floated through the faint light coming through the broken windows.
Her footsteps echoed through the empty building. "Hello?"
Nothing.
She took another step. "Is anyone here?"
Silence.
Then she noticed something.
A narrow ray of light came from farther inside.
Ji-Ah slowly walked toward it. "Hello?"
Her voice echoed.
Then another voice answered. "Yes."
Ji-Ah froze.
She turned toward the sound.
A figure stood somewhere beyond the next corner.
Ji-Ah's heart beat faster. "Promise me you're not dangerous."
There was a brief silence.
Then the voice answered calmly. "You came here by yourself."
Ji-Ah frowned. "So?"
"If I wanted to hurt you, you wouldn't have made it this far."
She didn't particularly like that answer.
But somehow, it sounded honest.
The man continued. "Trust me. I'm not dangerous."
Ji-Ah hesitated.
Then slowly stepped around the corner.
And stopped.
A young man stood near the window where the light fell across the room.
He looked to be in his twenties.
He wore a simple white shirt beneath a long dark coat. A scarf was wrapped loosely around his neck, and his black trousers were slightly dusty from the abandoned surroundings.
His dark hair fell naturally across his forehead.
He looked nothing like the threatening figure Ji-Ah had imagined.
He looked tired.
Almost like he'd been waiting for a long time.
The man looked at her.
Then gave her a small smile. "Hi."
Ji-Ah stared. "Who are you?"
His smile barely changed. "I am Park Ji-Hoon."
Ji-Ah's breath caught.
"Park..." She looked down at the bag in her hand. Then back at him. Her voice came out quieter.
"Park Ji-Hoon?"
He nodded. "Yes."
Ji-Ah's eyes widened.
The name wasn't Tae-Hyun. It wasn't the name she'd expected.
And yet... Something about him told her this meeting was connected to everything she'd discovered.
She swallowed.
"How do you know my name?"
The young man smiled faintly.
"I've known about you for a while."
Ji-Ah's stomach tightened.
"Why?"
He took one slow step closer.
"Because you're the person who finally found the documents."
Ji-Ah's fingers tightened around her bag.
The man looked directly into her eyes.
"Nice to finally meet you, Park Ji-Ah."
Meanwhile, on the other side of Vancouver, Ha-Joon and Min-Ji were nowhere near the hotel.
They had followed the schedule Madam had arranged for them, walking through one of the busier parts of the city.
People passed them constantly.
Some glanced at Ha-Joon twice.
Others recognized him.
A few whispered to each other as they walked by.
"They look good together."
"Are they married?"
"I think they're engaged."
Min-Ji heard every word.
And she smiled.
She moved a little closer to Ha-Joon, her hand lightly holding onto his arm.
Ha-Joon glanced down at her hand but didn't comment.
They continued walking.
Min-Ji pointed toward a shop window. "That looks pretty."
Ha-Joon followed her gaze. "What is it?"
"A bracelet." She stepped toward the shop. "Wait here."
Ha-Joon nodded. "Take your time."
Min-Ji disappeared inside.
Ha-Joon remained outside, hands in his coat pockets.
For a moment, he simply watched the people moving around him.
Then, without thinking, he pulled out his phone.
He scrolled through his contacts. Ji-Ah.
He pressed call. The phone rang. Once. Twice. Three times. No answer. His eyebrows slowly drew together. He tried again. Still nothing.
Ha-Joon lowered the phone. Where is she?
He glanced toward the hotel district in the distance.
She said she was going to rest.
His expression became slightly concerned.
Maybe her ankle was worse.
Maybe she had fallen asleep.
Maybe she was "Sir?"
Ha-Joon looked up.
A woman standing beside a small stall was holding a neatly wrapped package. "Your order."
He blinked. "Oh."
He'd completely forgotten he'd been waiting for it.
The woman smiled. "You seem distracted. Is everything alright?"
Ha-Joon glanced at his phone.
Then toward the shop where Min-Ji had gone.
He gave a small shake of his head. "Nothing. Thank you."
He accepted the bag and handed her the money. "Thank you, sir."
Ha-Joon nodded.
He looked down at his phone again. Still nothing.
He sighed quietly.
She probably put her phone somewhere and forgot about it.
Then his expression softened.
Or she's annoyed.
He remembered earlier.
Ji-Ah refusing to let him help her.
The stubborn little expression on her face.
The way she'd insisted she could walk.
He almost smiled.
Maybe she's still angry that I wouldn't let her walk around freely.
His lips curved slightly.
She's cute when she's angry.
He froze.
The smile disappeared. "...What?"
He looked around as if somebody might have heard him.
He stared at his phone.
What was I just thinking?
His eyebrows furrowed. "She's my secretary."
A pause. "Obviously."
Another pause. "...Why am I explaining this to myself?"
He shook his head.
"No." He slipped the phone back into his pocket. "Absolutely not."
He turned toward the shop.
At that moment, Min-Ji stepped outside.
She was holding a small shopping bag and speaking quietly on her phone.
Ha-Joon watched her for a moment.
She didn't notice him immediately.
Her voice was low. "Yes... I understand."
A pause. "No. Not yet."
Another pause. "I'll tell you when I can."
Ha-Joon's expression became slightly curious.
Min-Ji turned away from him while continuing the call.
He didn't interrupt.
After a moment, she ended the call.
She turned around. "Oh, Ha-Joon."
He looked at her. "Ready?"
Min-Ji smiled. "Yes."
She walked toward him. "Let's go."
Ha-Joon nodded. "Alright."
They began walking again.
Min-Ji slipped her arm through his.
Ha-Joon allowed it.
But as they walked, his hand briefly moved toward his pocket.
His phone.
He glanced at it once more.
No message.
No missed call.
Nothing from Ji-Ah.
His expression remained calm.
But somewhere beneath that calmness, a small worry had already taken root.
And he didn't understand why it bothered him so much.