Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1058. Interrogated (3)

“I’m coming in, noona!”

Han Eun-Sol frowned deeply while opening the front door to Choi Yeon-Ha’s place.

When he thought about it, this seemed like one heck of an achievement on the surface.

Choi Yeon-Ha's home was basically a no-men-permitted killzone. Out of innumerable menfolk populating this Earth, only Han Eun-Sol and Kang Jin-Ho were allowed to set foot inside and keep their lives intact!

If one more man could be added to that list... Well, it'd be Choi Yeon-Ha's father. But that would be it!

However, only Han Eun-Sol knew the access code for Choi Yeon-Ha's home. Simply put... This was a special privilege enjoyed only by her manager!

‘A man who knows the superstar Choi Yeon-Ha’s doorlock code, eh...?’

That might sound like something to celebrate to casual listeners, but the unfortunate truth was... Forget blessing, that knowledge was more like a curse!

Why? Because!

The price of knowing the access code was Han Eun-Sol taking on the hellish assignment of waking Choi Yeon-Ha up every morning... When she was still half-asleep, making her extremely irritable and unimaginably cranky!

However, today was an exception.

‘Right. There’s no way noona is still asleep...’

Choi Yeon-Ha might not be a morning person, but it was three in the afternoon right now. Considering her daily pattern, it was impossible for her to be still in bed!

So, she should definitely be awake right now. Besides, didn’t she say Kang Jin-Ho was visiting her place today? Then, she must be awake for sure.

In that case, why was she not answering her phone and...

“...Huh?! Oh, sh*t!”

Han Eun-Sol reflexively slammed the slightly open door shut and hurriedly stepped back into the corridor.

“...!”

He worked hard to calm his pounding heart, then cautiously pressed his ear to the door.

‘There’s no way... Right?’

When he remembered that a young man and woman, who just so happened to be very attractive individuals, were left alone by themselves and were out of reach for some reason... All sorts of naughty and perhaps sacrilegious thoughts began flooding into Han Eun-Sol's mind.

‘E-eeiii... No way. Seriously...’

Han Eun-Sol immediately erased all those dirty thoughts out of his mind.

If this situation involved some other people? Then sure. However, those two?

They did absolutely nothing to each other while spending the night together in a hotel room in a foreign country. So, it was completely improbable to think that they would do the deed in the middle of the day.

Whether it was Choi Yeon-Ha, who always acted like a tough guy, or Kang Jin-Ho, who always put on a dignified front, they simply didn't have the... gumption to pull the trigger on such a thing.

“Fuu-woo...!”

Han Eun-Sol sucked in a deep breath, then cautiously typed in the access code again. Despite knowing that no sweaty physical activities were taking place, Han Eun-Sol still cautiously opened the door while paying close attention to sounds coming from the inside.

‘Mm? Not in the living room?’

Maybe Choi Yeon-Ha wasn’t home?

Just as Han Eun-Sol closed the front door behind him, his hearing caught the muffled sounds of ‘pow, pow!’ coming from one of the rooms.

“Noona? I’m coming in, okay?”

“Yeah, come in,” Choi Yeon-Ha replied right away.

Han Eun-Sol tilted his head this way and that while taking his shoes off to enter. That was when he noticed the absence of Kang Jin-Ho’s footwear. That could only mean Choi Yeon-Ha was alone.

Han Eun-Sol headed to the main bedroom, then cautiously opened the door.

“...Eh?”

Han Eun-Sol tilted his head again after taking a gander inside. She was standing in the middle of the room, alone. But the state of the room was a bit strange.

Choi Yeon-Ha could almost claim to be a neat freak, so her room was usually well-organized, but... Now, it looked a bit messy. Disorganized.

The most prominent item catching Han Eun-Sol's attention was the large teddy bear that always stayed upright on Choi Yeon-Ha's bed. But now it was crushed head-first into the floor. When he saw that scene...

‘...Why is that doll crumpled on the floor like that?’

It wasn't just tossed and crumpled on the floor. Crushed seemed like a better description since someone must've stepped on it several times!

Although figuring out what exactly happened here was impossible right now, Han Eun-Sol’s instincts, honed through various trials and tribulations born out of Choi Yeon-Ha’s antics, began ringing urgent warning bells.

“You're here, Eun-Sol.” Choi Yeon-Ha disinterestedly looked back at her manager.

“N-noona? Why weren’t you answering your phone?”

“My phone?” Choi Yeon-Ha scanned her surroundings, then discovered her phone buried under the blankets. She casually shrugged. “I didn’t hear it ringing.”

“...”

How did that excuse make sense unless she had put her phone in its silent mode! After all, he called her three times in a row already, didn't he!

Of course, Han Eun-Sol had zero desire to voice his thoughts out loud at this delicate stage.

“N-noona, did something happen?”

“Eun-Sol...?”

“Yes, noona?”

Before she answered, Choi Yeon-Ha visibly faltered for a second. And that was when...

‘Hiiiiieeeeek!?’

Han Eun-Sol freaked out at this sight and hurriedly stumbled back a step.

Just what kind of woman was Choi Yeon-Ha! She was someone crazy and ballsy enough to speak her mind in loud voices at the TV station's general manager if something failed to meet her high standards. So, for someone like that to hesitate like this...!

It could only mean Choi Yeon-Ha was about to do something monumental in scale!

“Eun-Sol.”

Han Eun-Sol cautiously replied, “Y-yes, noona?”

“Here. Take this.” Choi Yeon-Ha shoved a piece of paper in Han Eun-Sol’s direction.

Han Eun-Sol tilted his head. “What is it?”

“It's the personal data of someone.”

“Eh?” Han Eun-Sol took the paper and narrowed his eyes. He could see a person’s name and a telephone number written on it. “What... do you want to do with this?”

“I want you to run a background check.”

“...!” Han Eun-Sol’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he urgently alternated his gaze between the paper and Choi Yeon-Ha. “Noona... That’s a crime, you know!”

“I know already!”

“What the heck! Where’s your common sense?! How could you ask your manager to run a background check on someone! This is not a detective agency, okay! Didn’t you say you were setting up a talent agency? When did you decide to become a gumshoe instead?!”

“Eiii, dang it!” Choi Yeon-Ha suddenly began kicking the blanket on the floor.

Han Eun-Sol’s jaw fell slightly.

‘Huh. Well, I’ll be...’

Choi Yeon-Ha's rotten personality of nonchalantly asking her manager to illegally investigate someone wasn't as surprising as her actually displaying some level of interest in a stranger. Judging from the name on the paper, this stranger had to be a woman. To think Choi Yeon-Ha wanted to know more about another woman!

This had to be something very serious, indeed!

“Who is this person, noona?”

Choi Yeon-Ha snapped back. “Why would I ask you to find out if I already knew!”

“Well, you must know something about her at the very least, right?”

Choi Yeon-Ha’s lips quivered weirdly. “...Friend.”

“Huh? Friend?”

“Mister Jin-Ho’s ex-girlfriend.”

“...Oh.”

Han Eun-Sol’s jaw finally fell all the way, allowing his soul to escape. Before he could say something, though...

Choi Yeon-Ha suddenly raised her hand and blocked his face from her view. “I know, so don’t say it, okay! I already know what you want to say!”

“I’m relieved to hear that, noona.”

“Yes, I know I’m being pathetic!” Choi Yeon-Ha began gritting her teeth like an enraged lioness. “And lame! And small-minded! And idiotic! And cheap!”

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“H-hang on, you don’t have to go that far...?”

“But, so what!” Choi Yeon-Ha snapped her head toward Han Eun-Sol and growled. “What am I supposed to do about this anxiety eating away at me! Doing this is way better than pretending everything is hunky-dory, and nothing is bothering me, okay!”

Han Eun-Sol almost reflexively began applauding just then. After all, he was genuinely impressed by Choi Yeon-Ha. Her level of shamelessness was so high that it definitely deserved to be called confidence instead!

He thought he knew everything there was to know about her, yet here she was, unveiling as-yet unexplored depths!

The way she jutted her head back and thrust her tummy forward in a superhero pose was... Confidence, personified!

At least on the surface, that was!

“Noona... If we get caught secretly investigating someone behind their back, you can kiss your public image goodbye.”

“You think I have any public image left to salvage at this point?”

“Well... Let me get back to you on that one.”

Honestly? Han Eun-Sol didn’t think Choi Yeon-Ha’s public image was already beyond salvageable. That didn’t mean he could tell her that to her face, though!

He groaned loudly again. “Whatever this situation is... I can’t do it.”

Choi Yeon-Ha angrily yelled, “Why not?!”

“What would Mister Jin-Ho think if he finds out?”

“...He’ll probably want to break up with me.”

“At least you know, noona.”

“I-isn’t there a way to do this without Mister Jin-Ho finding out? You know I believe in your abilities, Eun-Sol!”

“Don’t pull out your ‘I believe in you’ card here, noona. I ain’t gonna do it.”

“Tch...!”

Choi Yeon-Ha kicked the blanket again in visible irritation. Han Eun-Sol could now guess that the state of her room was the result of her practicing her soccer skills indoors.

“Noona, just what’s gotten into you? You think Mister Jin-Ho’s gonna cheat on you or something? No!”

“Of course not! You know he’s not that type of a guy!”

“That’s what I’m saying, noona!”

Han Eun-Sol just couldn’t understand Choi Yeon-Ha’s overreaction.

What she worried about could happen with other people, sure, but with Kang Jin-Ho? That would be impossible. Even if every person on Earth decided to cheat on their partner one day, Kang Jin-Ho was not the type to join in on the festivities!

Even if he had the opportunity to cheat with a woman more gorgeous than Choi Yeon-Ha and not get discovered by anyone, he’d still not do it. In fact, he’d dismissively shoo the woman away even if she was practically throwing herself at him!

‘Dammit! If that’s how you're gonna waste your looks, give them to me instead!’

Han Eun-Sol desperately tried to understand how that was even possible, but Kang Jin-Ho staunchly proved he was a living Buddha beyond the power of comprehension of mere mortals.

Since that was the case, why was Choi Yeon-Ha being so anxious about some other woman to the point of trying to do something illegal? When she knew Kang Jin-Ho was like an unyielding boulder!

Crack, chew...

“...! Ehheeei! Noona, your nails! I told you not to chew on your nails!”

Choi Yeon-Ha primly took her thumb away from her mouth, then muttered anxiously. “No wonder my sixth sense was acting up. I should’ve known!”

It was at this point that Han Eun-Sol gave up on calming Choi Yeon-Ha down. He knew this was a lost cause. So, he shifted his priorities from that to preventing her from creating another unholy mess.

“Noona, how about you stop this and just openly tell Mister Jin-Ho not to get involved with that girl? Because it’s been bothering you? I think that’s for the best.”

“No! That’s gonna ruin my image, okay!”

“...Huh? But didn't you ask me about what's left of your image earlier?”

“No, I can’t do it! Women don’t care about strangers calling them insane b*tch as long as their boyfriends think of them as kind and considerate, okay!”

“Noona, I’m pretty sure not all women think that way.”

“Well, at least I do!”

“...” Han Eun-Sol genuinely couldn’t think of a retort to that frank admission.

Choi Yeon-Ha tutted loudly. “I gotta look cool, at least on the surface, okay?”

Han Eun-Sol groaned softly. “Noona...”

“Yeah?”

“Can’t you, like, be actually cool? And not just superficially? Does it matter what happened in the past? When it’s over already? The way I see it, this matter doesn’t deserve this kind of overreaction.”

Choi Yeon-Ha scoffed derisively. “Listen, Eun-Sol.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Maybe you’re too young to understand this, but here’s the thing, okay?”

“...Okay?”

Choi Yeon-Ha jutted her chin out. “Humans are never that logical.”

Well, she had a point there. Humans were illogical creatures, weren’t they?

“My head says I don’t have anything to worry about, but my heart can’t stop getting anxious, okay?” Choi Yeon-Ha tutted loudly again.

“Understood, noo-nim. My thoughts were foolish.”

“This won’t do. We gotta find a countermeasure!”

“I’m telling you, noona!” Han Eun-Sol cried out in exasperation. “Mister Jin-Ho isn’t the type!”

“Eun-Sol!”

“...Noona, you don’t have to call my name every single time.”

“I’m not fretting because I think Mister Jin-Ho’s gonna cheat on me. Everyone knows he doesn’t have the guts to do it, anyway!”

“Then, why?”

“Mister Jin-Ho isn’t the issue here, okay? I’m more worried about that girl!”

“Ehh?”

Choi Yeon-Ha loudly gnashed her teeth. “They broke up a while ago, okay? And she hasn’t even bothered to contact Mister Jin-Ho for a long time, but she suddenly wants to get in touch again? Isn’t it obvious what she wants?! She’s trying her luck again!”

“...”

“I can’t let this be. I will not let that happen under my watch! It’s gonna piss me off way too much!”

Han Eun-Sol began smiling contentedly.

‘Yup, I knew it. She still doesn’t lose to anyone in the rotten personality competition...’

As expected of Choi Yeon-Ha, in other words!

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at Han Eun-Sol. “Wait. Maybe I should call her myself?”

“Eh?” Han Eun-Sol tilted his head. “What do you want to say to her?”

“Something like, be gone, you wicked thot! Wag your tail elsewhere...!”

“Uwaaah?! Wait a sec!” Han Eun-Sol hurriedly rushed over and snatched the phone out of Choi Yeon-Ha’s hand. “Noona! Please calm down!”

“How can I calm down!”

“Hang on. Please, just...” Han Eun-Sol groaned deeply. For now, he needed to find a way to diffuse this situation. “If you’re right about this, that ex-girlfriend should try to contact Mister Jin-Ho soon.”

“Yeah, and she will!”

“When that really happens, you have my permission to call that woman or even tear her hair out. Whatever you want. But right now? Don't do anything, okay? What if this whole thing turned out to be a whole heap of nothing burger? You'll become a laughing stock, noona! And Mister Jin-Ho's opinion of you will drop like a rock.”

“You think so?”

“Yes! Definitely.”

“Mm...” Choi Yeon-Ha groaned, her thumb sneakily heading toward her lips.

Han Eun-Sol cried out, “Ah, ah, ah! Hand!”

“Tch!” Choi Yeon-Ha hurriedly lowered her hand, then nodded. “Fine! I'll behave myself, for now. However! If she really does call Mister Jin-Ho or shows any other sign, Imma tear her hair out! Like you said!”

“...Sure. Suit yourself.” Han Eun-Sol grandly sighed.

‘I wish Mister Jin-Ho was here to witness this scene...’

Choi Yeon-Ha must’ve acted kind and considerate in Kang Jin-Ho’s presence. Han Eun-Sol could only apologize to Kang Jin-Ho in his heart since he was still Choi Yeon-Ha’s manager. He had no choice but to side with her.

“Now that’s sorted out, can we go to work now, noona? Please?”

Choi Yeon-Ha pouted. “Fine.”

Han Eun-Sol sighed in relief, thinking that another crisis had been averted, at least for now. Unfortunately, he had no idea. No idea that what he said today would come back and hit him in the face like a boomerang!

He didn’t know that life moved at a faster, more vicious pace than he could ever imagine!