The Baby Seizes Fortune - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 43

 

Last night, the body of actress Im Su-yeon (24) was discovered in a submerged vehicle in a reservoir in the outskirts of Chungcheong region.

 

The incident came to light around 10 PM yesterday when a hiker passing through the area spotted the car underwater.

 

Fire and police authorities who responded to the report pulled the vehicle from the reservoir and confirmed Im’s body inside the car.

 

No suicide note was found at the scene, and the car reportedly showed no signs of external collision.

 

A police official stated, “The vehicle shows traces of gradually entering the water, and no brake marks or emergency headlight signals were found, so we currently presume the driver chose death on their own.”

 

The exact circumstances and motive of the incident are still under investigation.

 

Im Su-yeon debuted at age 5 as child actress ‘Soon-i’ in the drama ‘Star’s Hometown’ and gained prominence before appearing in various works.

 

Her agency stated, “There were no unusual signs regarding her personal situation until recently.”

 

‘Im Su-yeon is dead…?’

 

After checking the article, I narrowed my eyes.

 

Since media guidelines regarding celebrities’ extreme choices hadn’t been established yet, the content was quite detailed.

 

‘She didn’t seem like the type though…’

 

Her shameless personality that blamed everything on Junho until the end, even after it became known that she was trying to frame him.

 

Even after the truth about Junho’s single father revelation came to light, Im Su-yeon never apologized once. For someone so full of confidence in herself to commit suicide…

 

Though I hated her, she wasn’t someone who had committed a crime deserving death. After closing my eyes for a moment of mourning, I opened them.

 

“Search for more articles about Im Su-yeon.”

 

Soon Noah began digging deeper with his front paws, and several articles spread out before my eyes.

 

Among them were articles that had been written for print in the past but uploaded online through digitization work.

 

Among those, one article suddenly caught my eye.

 

Seoul Gangnam Police Station announced they received a report of physical contact occurring during an argument between Im and her agency manager A at a location in Gangnam District, and are currently confirming the facts.

 

A police official said, “Currently, both parties’ statements are conflicting,” and “We are closely examining the intent of assault and the circumstances of the incident.”

 

Lawyer Gi Seung-cheol (33), who served as Im’s legal representative, defended Im saying, “This is a matter arising from prolonged work conflicts, and it’s difficult to define it as one-sided assault.”

 

“Hah… Gi Seung-cheol…”

 

This bastard shows up here?

 

Could the connection between Im Su-yeon and Gi Seung-cheol be mere coincidence?

 

Gi Seung-cheol, that ominous bastard.

 

“Gi Seung-cheol, please let me know if any articles about this person come up.”

 

[Yes, understood. ૮₍ ･`ᴥ･´ ₎ა]

 

After receiving Noah’s response, I wriggled out of the blankets.

 

It was time to go to preschool.

 

‘Junho…’

 

I let out a small sigh.

 

He must have found out. Given Junho’s personality, it was obvious he would feel guilty, which pained my heart.

 

And there’s one more thing that bothers me…

 

‘The past has changed.’

 

The Im Su-yeon from the era I lived in didn’t end her life this way.

 

Of course, she later fell from grace due to revelations from school violence victims and people who suffered from her abuse of power coming forward one after another.

 

But she had earned so much money that she lived shamelessly well. But that past has changed.

 

‘Probably… because of my appearance.’

 

Is this okay?

 

* * *

 

The atmosphere on the 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 film set was quite subdued.

 

News had spread about the extreme choice of actress Im Su-yeon, who had once appeared in 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 before leaving the show.

 

Junho sat quietly reading his script, but his face was shadowed with darkness.

 

Yeong-il approached him.

 

“Junho.”

 

“Ah, yes, senior.”

 

Junho’s Adam’s apple moved up and down as he looked at Yeong-il.

 

Just by looking, one could guess Junho’s current state of mind.

 

Since it was a sitcom that aired four days a week, they had to film non-stop without even time to collect themselves.

 

“I’ll just be straightforward.”

 

Yeong-il sat next to Junho, cleared his throat, and spoke.

 

“It’s not your fault.”

 

Junho’s hand holding the script trembled slightly.

 

Yeong-il looked at that hand and continued speaking.

 

“I’ve worked on three projects with Su-yeon.”

 

“…Senior…”

 

“Su-yeon, that girl, she’s not the type to die just because she got beaten by some rookie actor. She had talent but that personality…”

 

Yeong-il shook his head disapprovingly.

 

“I’ll stop here since saying more would be disrespectful to the deceased, but I can say for certain it’s not your fault, Junho.”

 

Junho looked at Yeong-il with shaking eyes. Then he spoke with a trembling voice.

 

“…I, I…”

 

After hearing the news of Im Su-yeon’s death, he couldn’t focus on anything.

 

He had read the script thoroughly, but nothing stayed in his head.

 

“Even if, hypothetically, she died because she couldn’t handle the 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 situation, the person who pushed her out was me. Not you.”

 

Yeong-il’s eyebrows were deeply furrowed.

 

“But senior…”

 

“So.”

 

Yeong-il placed both hands on Junho’s shoulders.

 

“Get your head straight. Don’t blame yourself, don’t collapse, because we still have our mission.”

 

“Mission…”

 

“Right. To bring laughter to tired viewers at home. Like a cold beer after work, it’s our mission as actors to relieve the fatigue of the Korean people.”

 

“….”

 

“Bury the sadness and confusion in your heart, and let’s look back later. Junho.”

 

At Yeong-il’s words holding him together, Junho looked at him for a long moment as if choked up, then nodded.

 

It was a comforting word for his heart that felt like a massive storm was raging through it.

 

“Thank, thank you. Senior.”

 

“Right. Gu Junho. Let’s have coffee after we finish.”

 

“Yes. Senior.”

 

Just as Yeong-il finished speaking and stood up.

 

A man in a silver-gray suit who had approached with the PD stopped in front of Junho.

 

The PD spoke to Junho with a troubled expression.

 

“Ah, Junho. This person is… a lawyer who was close to Im Su-yeon, and he said he wanted to have a brief conversation with you.”

 

Yeong-il glanced at him.

 

The neatly dressed man handed over his business card and spoke as if to reassure those around him. The name Gi Seung-cheol was written on the card.

 

“It’s not about legal matters. I just had some questions regarding the deceased and wanted to meet you.”

 

Yeong-il’s eyes were wary, but Junho, who had been looking at Seungcheol for a moment, slowly stood up.

 

The eyes visible through his glasses looked sharp and cold, but showed no hostility.

 

“If you’re uncomfortable, you can refuse.”

 

Junho met his eyes and thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

“No, let’s talk.”

 

* * *

 

“It’s quite a nice day.”

 

A fresh spring breeze blew, but Junho’s eyes remained hardened as he stood alongside Seungcheol.

 

Seungcheol took out a cigarette from his suit jacket and offered it to Junho.

 

But Junho shook his head and declined.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

Seungcheol chuckled, put the cigarette in his mouth, and casually lit it.

 

Acrid cigarette smoke rose and disappeared into the spring haze.

 

After a long silence, Junho opened his mouth.

 

“Do you think Im Su-yeon resented me?”

 

Noticing the tremor at the end of his voice, Seungcheol’s smile deepened.

 

“I mean… before making that choice.”

 

Seungcheol exhaled white smoke with a “hah” and looked at him with snake-like eyes.

 

“…No.”

 

At this, some tension left Junho’s clenched fists.

 

“Suyeon was a woman like Desdemona.”

 

“….”

 

“A brilliant woman destined for tragic fate.”

 

Junho looked at Seungcheol. This well-groomed lawyer who seemed somewhat older – could he have been Im Su-yeon’s boyfriend?

 

“Have you read Othello?”

 

“Shakespeare’s work? Yes.”

 

But the content and characters didn’t come to mind clearly.

 

“Mr. Gu Jun-ho.”

 

So Junho could only stare at him for a long while, unable to understand the meaning of his words.

 

“I had a feeling, and sure enough. You’re just a clown.”

 

Seungcheol’s voice contained neither resentment nor jealousy, nor was he acting.

 

“That’s what’s strange. Then who could it be. Who would dare interfere with my move…”

 

He even looked somewhat pleased in a way that felt unsettling, inappropriately so for the situation.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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