Chapter 98

At around 2:30 AM, the night was quiet, and the daytime heat had dissipated, replaced by a cool, water-like chill.

Inside the car, Park Ji-hoon sat quietly.

The driver was a middle-aged woman with short, neat hair, dressed in a simple, formal outfit. Her lips, eyes, and Park Ji-hoon were very similar, especially when both were pursing their lips and remaining silent, making them even more alike.

"Ji-hoon, are you okay?" Finally, the middle-aged woman, who was Park Ji-hoon's mother, Shen Huiying, put aside her worries and asked first.

"I'm fine, Mom." Park Ji-hoon said softly.

The car suddenly jolted.

Shen Huiying's face showed surprise and disbelief! After so many years, he finally acknowledged her as his mother, and the joy in her heart was incomparable!

"I've caused you trouble, Mom." Park Ji-hoon had undergone a noticeable change.

"Foolish child! How can your matters be considered a trouble?" Shen Huiying said excitedly, completely the doting mother.

"Um." Park Ji-hoon responded softly, saying, "In this world, the ones who truly care are still one's parents and family."

"Is it a problem with your relationship?" Shen Huiying asked sensitively.

"A little bit." Park Ji-hoon said.

After being angry and venting, he returned to calmness and suddenly realized he had taken it too seriously. Was it really because of the success of the movie that he had become a bit lax and complacent? At the beginning of filming "Uncle," he had vowed to focus on his work for the next few years. But unconsciously, he had placed too much importance on his emotions again.

Shen Huiying wanted to ask about his relationship problems but was worried it might upset him. So she said, "It's okay, it's something you'll inevitably experience as you grow. Over time, the feelings will fade, and you'll forget."

"Um." Park Ji-hoon responded lightly.

"By the way! Ji-hoon, congratulations on your movie's success!" Shen Huiying changed the topic.

She had been following the box office performance of "Uncle" every day, even more attentively than Park Ji-hoon himself. In the third week, it was still the box office champion, far ahead of "I Saw the Devil." The total number of viewers had already reached 4.23 million, and breaking 5 million was just a matter of time.

What was remarkable was that the movie was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, pushing Park Ji-hoon's popularity to new heights.

To many, this was a meteoric rise. Many struggling artists in the mid-to-lower ranks were thus motivated to work harder.

Following these reports had become a pleasure for Shen Huiying.

"Um, hehe..." Park Ji-hoon chuckled.

Hearing his laughter, Shen Huiying's face also showed a faint smile.

Park Ji-hoon suddenly thought of Park Min-ah. He took out his phone and sent a text: "Min-ah, are you asleep?"

"Already asleep!" A playful reply came back quickly.

"I'm at Mom's place, don't worry." Park Ji-hoon was afraid she would worry about him, and indeed she did.

"Um." Only one character, but it took longer to receive than the previous two.

"Don't worry. Mom will definitely like you. Besides, I can't bear to part with you. Without you, who will cook for me and wash my socks?" Park Ji-hoon knew what she was worried about.

"So, in your heart, I'm just a nanny?" This time, Park Min-ah replied quickly.

"Um, a lifelong nanny." Park Ji-hoon replied.

"Goodnight, I'm going to sleep!" After a moment, he received Park Min-ah's reply.

"Goodnight." After sending the text, Park Ji-hoon felt a warm feeling in his heart, and his spirits suddenly improved. He played with the new phone in his hand.

He wasn't so greedy as to want a new phone, but since his phone had been damaged, it was only right to get a new one! He didn't want to wait until tomorrow to buy a new one, as he didn't know when he might receive a call.

"Who were you texting, so happily?" Shen Huiying suddenly asked. She had noticed him texting with a slight smile on his lips.

"Min-ah." Park Ji-hoon hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Is that the little genius from Seoul University?" Shen Huiying didn't seem unhappy.

"Um." Park Ji-hoon nodded and said softly, "She values me more than herself."

"I've heard about her mother. She is indeed a very perfect woman, doing things I couldn't do, and taking such good care of you... When you have time, let me meet her." Shen Huiying said.

"Okay." Park Ji-hoon responded.

Shen Huiying drove him back home.

"Have you been alone all these years?" Park Ji-hoon couldn't help but ask, looking at the house that felt more like a dormitory than a home. It wasn't shabby, with all the necessary furniture, but it lacked the warmth of a home.

"Um." Shen Huiying, after checking the fridge, said, "I've been busy with work, often eating out. There's nothing at home. Rest for a bit, and I'll go buy some groceries." There was a 24-hour supermarket nearby.

"No need, Mom." Park Ji-hoon said, "I'll rest early. I have work tomorrow."

"Oh! I forgot, my Ji-hoon is now a director!" Shen Huiying finally realized and hurriedly led him to the guest room. After a few steps, she called out, "Ah! You should take a shower first. I'll go heat up some water for you." Clearly, she was a bit out of practice with daily life, and her excitement made her flustered.

"Mom, I'll take care of it myself." Park Ji-hoon said, "You should rest too."

"Um! It's your home, you can take care of it." Shen Huiying, after turning on the water heater, smiled at Park Ji-hoon. After so many years, how could she not be excited?

Park Ji-hoon nodded. Seeing that she had sat down on the sofa with no intention of resting, he suddenly asked, "Mom! Was it you who dealt with S.M. Entertainment?"

Shen Huiying nodded.

"Mom! It's not necessary. It's a thing of the past and doesn't affect me." Park Ji-hoon said, "If it gets out, it will harm your reputation."

"Mom knows the limits." Shen Huiying said with a light laugh.

"Your reputation is important." Park Ji-hoon said. At this stage, if the other party started causing trouble without restraint, it would also harm her.

"Not in a hurry, let's wait a few more days." Shen Huiying was in a very good mood today, especially hearing her child's concern. She had only wanted to warn S.M. Entertainment, or else how could Lee Soo-man have known so quickly who was behind it?

"Um, I'll go take a shower. Mom, rest early." Park Ji-hoon felt relieved. Like his father, he rarely contacted Shen Huiying, but he was aware of her news.

Shen Huiying's profession was somewhat special, with significant power, but her reputation was also very important.

...

At the police station, the unlucky four and the chief entered an office.

The matter had been resolved, and Park Ji-hoon's lawyer had already left.

"Chief Lee, who is that person?" As soon as the door was closed, one of the unlucky four couldn't help but ask. They were already sober, with some bruises on their faces, but no real injuries—Park Ji-hoon was quite "skilled."

What they truly cared about was the owner of the car that had boldly blocked the police station entrance!

"Can't you four be a bit more honest?" Chief Lee, after giving each of them a bottle of mineral water, said somewhat helplessly, "Today, you were the ones who suffered! If the other party had suffered and insisted, you would have been in big trouble!" The act of giving them water showed that they were quite familiar.

"Chief Lee, it's not that we're not honest, but the other party was really unfamiliar! And he always wore a hat." The four complained, "When did we get a new 'rookie' like this?"

Among the younger generation, their status wasn't top-tier, not even first-line, but they knew most of the first-line figures and were familiar with the top-tier figures. Moreover, those people wouldn't come to a bar alone. So, they had been fearless.

They never expected to kick a hornet's nest.

Choi Deok-hwan, Choi Sang-min, Cho Sung-jun, and Park Moon-sik were the names of the four. The first two were not related, with one's father holding a high position in LG Group and the other's father being a prosecutor at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office. The last two's fathers held high positions at Samsung Electronics and Korean Air, respectively.

The four had been classmates in university, mixing together since their sophomore year. Although they were often scolded by their families, they had generally had a smooth life. This was their first such encounter.

Given their status, how could they be content without knowing the other party's background?

"It's not that I can't tell you, but you absolutely must not spread it!" Chief Lee, after some thought, said. These four had been active in his jurisdiction since university, and it was hard not to be familiar with them! Although they had achieved nothing, their character was not bad. The conflict with Park Ji-hoon was just a minor issue. If he didn't tell them, they might start a wild investigation, causing more trouble. Especially since Park Ji-hoon's identity needed to be kept secret.

"We will definitely keep it secret!" The four responded in unison.

"Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office!" Chief Lee said.

The four simultaneously shrank back.

Choi Sang-min's father was a prosecutor, and he knew very well the power of prosecutors in Korea! To put it simply, prosecutors had authority over murder, fraud, official corruption, environmental pollution, economic crimes, and more, covering various aspects of social life! Moreover, prosecutors could decide to initiate, conduct, and terminate criminal investigations, direct judicial police, and change or revoke charges as needed. Any objections to the judgment of a case prosecuted by a prosecutor could not be resolved through ordinary administrative or legislative procedures but could only be appealed to a higher prosecutor and then to the Supreme Prosecutor.

In short, Korean prosecutors were known as the "Tsar of Criminal Investigation"!

And the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was the highest prosecutorial body in Korea.

"Just a prosecutor." After a moment of silence, Choi Sang-min said with a sour tone.

"Just a prosecutor?" Chief Lee almost laughed out of frustration, "This person's resume is already impressive enough, and he could become a senior prosecutor next year!"

Choi Sang-min shrank back again, falling silent.

His previous comment was just out of jealousy. Even if he didn't follow in his father's footsteps, he knew that there was only one Chief Prosecutor, eight Senior Prosecutors, and thirty Prosecutors in Korea.

Offending a future Senior Prosecutor, the four did not have the courage.

"Also, this person has a background!" Chief Lee added, "Um, graduated from Sogang University." To ensure the four would keep their mouths shut, he revealed all the information he knew. However, this was not a secret in the political world.

Choi Sang-min and the others looked at each other, then, like scolded students, they all lowered their heads.