When last we left our Prosecutor and his new Investigator, there was slightly bloody hate-kissing going on.
But Chaeha is most bothered by Taeseon belittling him
Taeseon has two proposals: One, no more respecting each other. It makes him sick. Two, Chaeha has one week to read a mountain of cases and prove himself.
Later, Taeseon visits Soyeon’s niche in the columbarium.
Back in 2020, she was investigating Chaeha’s Dad’s case. The victim, Woosung, was the casino’s first boss. After he died, Ohsong Construction won the bid for the casino hotel.
Chaeha’s Dad, Gilyoung, was Woosung’s driver and friend. Supposedly, he killed him for 1 million won, but his salary was much higher. So that makes no sense.
Soyeon thought something shady was going on with Ohsong Group, and wanted to talk to Gilyoung’s son. Then she died by suicide.
As Taeseon leaves the columbarium, he sees Director Tak, who is visiting a sister who died while young. Director Tak tells him to forget about the past and not to seek pain.
Chaeha’s former coworkers openly bully him over his promotion
Taeseon sees it and walks away.
It’s been a week, and Chaeha has stayed late working on those cases, but Taeseon is not impressed. The work is fine, but not special. He wants Chaeha to resign.
Chaeha tries to prove himself by bringing up a case where the murder weapon at the scene didn’t match the injuries. The murder weapon was an awl, again. So many awls.
But Taeseon points out Chaeha only has that, and no answer for why the elderly murderer with no record confessed. Nor does he have any new thoughts on why Mr Kim had that needle mark.
A new bully arrives!
Chaeha’s Uncle verbally abuses him and implies he needs money. Chaeha politely puts up with everything.
Taeseon watches and nearly intervenes when Chaeha’s Uncle seems about to hit him.
But the Uncle only tells Chaeha to suck it up. Which is exactly what Taeseon told Chaeha.
After the Uncle is gone, the traffic department calls to verbally abuse Chaeha for asking for CCTV footage. Taeseon takes the phone and tells them to apologize to Chaeha.
I think Chaeha just fell in love.
Thanks to Taeseon, they get the footage. It shows Jahyeon, the woman who poured booze on Chaeha, standing on the detectives’ desks and acting erratically.
The cops in that station are known to take bribes from the casino and Ohsong Construction. They didn’t administer the drug tests on time, so they can’t charge her. But Taeseon still wants to see those test results.
Chaeha wonders if she was on meth and the case is related to Mr Kim.
Taeseon still wants Chaeha to resign. Chaeha wants another chance, so Taeseon gives him one: His father’s case. Back then, his father died by suicide before the trial result was out, leaving things open.
Chaeha VOs that he wanted Taeseon to acknowledge him, but… This was all a trap set by Taeseon.
Because Taeseon is Woosung’s Son
Dun dun dun!
Back in 2001, a half-asleep Taeseon heard Gilyoung bring his drunk father home and leave. Then, there’s a knock at the door. Later, Taeseon discovered his father’s body, an awl in his neck.
This is why he hates murderers so much. And wants to destroy Chaeha, who went on with his life as if nothing happened.
But seeing Chaeha endure abuse without complaint, he realized the murder broke Chaeha too. He didn’t enjoy Chaeha’s suffering. Instead, it hurt him.
Back in the present, Chaeha is Not Happy. He doesn’t think the perpetrator’s son can investigate the case.
But that’s why Taeseon wants him to investigate. He needs someone who cares and wants the truth. He tells Chaeha that he’s trapped in that day, letting people mistreat him to prove he’s not his father. But the truth will, er, set him free.
Internally, he wants them both to escape that day. He doesn’t know why, but he wants to be happy with Chaeha.
The next day, Chaeha fondles Taeseon’s blue rubber thimble
Chaeha, you are a mess, and I love you. Taeseon is also a mess and loves Chaeha (maybe). He catches him doing this and gives him the thimble.
Time for a new case! A man was stabbed to death in bed. The wife is certain the murderer is her husband’s friend Hyunsoo. The two were drinking together before the murder, and Hyunsoo’s knife has the victim’s blood on it.
A strangely blunted knife, because Hyunsoo feared sharp objects. No awl for him.
Taeseon and Chaeha take a break, where, don’t ask how, Taeseon feeds Chaeha a bite of hot dog on a stick.
Anyway, despite the evidence, they think the wife is suspicious. She knew her husband was stabbed, despite his injuries being hidden under a blanket.
Chaeha wonders if, like that earlier murder they discussed, the murder weapon was switched. The wife could have planted evidence using Hyunsoo’s knife.
They find a man who remembers a woman asking him to blunt a knife’s tip. His shop even has a security camera. To their surprise, the recording also shows Mr Kim walking by with a suitcase.
Mr Song nearly takes Chaeha home
Just because they live in the same building.
Taeseon says nope, and takes Chaeha to dinner. Mr Song is not invited. He warns Chaeha not to trust anyone except him.
At dinner, Taeseon gets Chaeha very drunk. When he takes Chaeha home, drunk Chaeha goes in for a kiss!
Taeseon tells him he started it, and CONSUMES Chaeha with kisses. But he doesn’t want him to look at his face while they have sex. Kinky!
I’m so glad I’m re-watching this carefully
These episodes are short, yet there is SO much going on and SO many names.
But never mind the Ohsong group, I’m understanding Chaeha and Taeseon’s relationship better.
Honestly, it’s not hard to see why Taeseon likes Chaeha. He’s adorable.
But why would Chaeha like Taeseon when he’s just another in a long line of bullies?
It’s the respect that Taeseon hates so much. And worse, Taeseon’s mistreatment is proof of Taeseon’s strong feelings about truth and justice. This only makes Chaeha want his approval more. If he gets Taeseon’s approval, it REALLY proves he’s a good person.
Also, I think he finds Taeseon’s intensity sexy.
And Taeseon is sincere when he asks him to investigate his father’s crime. It’s not punishment. He cares about the truth AND Chaeha.
IRL, “being hard on you for your own good” makes me want to throw rocks at people, but I’m buying it here. Maybe it’s the height difference?
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