Outside the police station, the scene was no calmer than it had been in front of the hospital.
Cameras were raised, voices clashed, and journalists jostled for a scoop, while angry fans demanded a harsh sentence. In the midst of the chaos, Minsoo entered... in disguise. With difficulty, he made it through the gate, where he was met by a grim-faced officer. The officer nodded silently and led him through the cold corridors until they stopped in front of the interrogation room.
"Five minutes only."
The door opened.
Inside the room... the girl sat with her head bowed. Her fingers were clenched, and her shoulders trembled slightly. She didn't look up. Minsoo sat across from her, calmly. His voice was low, yet clear:
"Hardworking... quiet... wouldn't hurt a soul."
He paused for a moment.
"A good reputation... and highly skilled with a knife."
Silence. The girl didn't move.
Then, she spoke with a forced coldness:
"I told you... no one is threatening me."
At that moment, her eyes fell on the bandage on his hand. She froze. She raised her head slowly—then, a layer of hardness masked her features again.
"You..."
She gave a faint, mocking smile.
"You know a lot about me... but you forgot the most important part."
She leaned forward slightly.
"I've been cutting meat for years. This is just my trade... nothing more."
She paused, then added,
"Why are you here? Wasn't the stabbing enough?"
She laughed, but her voice sounded broken.
"I did it on purpose."
Minsoo didn't move. He just watched her.
"Are you being threatened?"
The question came out calmly, but it struck a nerve.
"No."
The reply was too fast—far too fast.
"I did it because I hate you."
He leaned in toward her.
"Your words say one thing... but your eyes say another."
She froze for a second.
But he continued,
"When you stabbed me... you apologized."
A brief silence followed.
"That voice... it wasn't a lie."
"I was just angry!" she snapped, her voice suddenly rising.
"I wanted to disfigure you!"
She pointed at him agitatedly.
"You're only famous because of your looks! There are people better than you!"
Then she whispered, as if trying to convince herself,
"I wanted the world to know who I am... that's all."
Minsoo exhaled slowly.
"The world will know you... yes."
He looked up at her.
"But not in the way you imagine."
Her body stiffened.
"I am not a judge," he said quietly.
"But I understand how this world works."
He looked at his bandaged hand, then back at her.
"The law... will not be kind to you."
She faltered.
"I'm a minor..."
"And you learned very well how to handle a knife," he countered without hesitation.
Silence fell between them.
He leaned in a bit closer; his voice grew softer.
"You still have a choice."
She slowly raised her eyes to meet his.
"But you have to decide... which story is going to be told about you."
She caught her breath.
"The story that destroys you..."
He paused.
"...or the story that gives you a second chance."
He stood up.
He walked toward the door, then stopped for a moment.
Without turning back, he said:
"No one survives on the truth alone... and no one survives on lies alone."
He opened the door.
"Choose carefully."
Only a few minutes had passed...
But outside, everything was on the verge of exploding.
One of the journalists caught a glimpse of a familiar shadow by the side entrance. He froze for a second... then his eyes widened.
"Wait... is that—?"
He didn't even finish his sentence. He suddenly lunged forward, the camera trembling in his hand.
"Minsoo! It's Minsoo!!"
It was as if a spark had been dropped into a dry field. In a single instant, everyone moved.
The sound of trampling feet, screams, cameras being hoisted, and microphones jostling for space filled the air.
"Make way!"
"Get the shot! Film him!"
"He's actually here!"