The first person whom Jungkook and Lisa met in the afternoon was the second son-in-law Lee Minho. He was in charge of the food and beverages segment of the company.
Lee Minho sat opposite the two of them in a delicate, elegantly decorated office whilst looking very composed. While he was already thirty-seven years old, his fair skin and good looks made him seem as though he was still in his early thirties.
"What can I help you with?" He smiled vaguely. His tone was polite yet distant.
Jungkook looked him straight at him in the eye as he spoke, "Following protocol, we need to know about your itinerary during the day of the incident."
Lee Minho nodded lightly.
His statement was very simple and clear - he had a dinner that day and ate until a little past nine. After this, he arrived home before ten and slept until the morning.
When questioned about Jisoo, he answered, "I don't know her well. With the exception of work-related matters, we basically don't contact each other."
After they were done talking to Lee Minho, Jungkook and Lisa shared the same conclusion that he was not nervous, and although he had a rather indifferent attitude, he answered every question smoothly without thinking, so he did not seem suspicious - at least, not at first glance.
Nonetheless, as they considered Misun's traits, they felt that there was still the possibility that the husband and wife had conspired to commit the crime together. However, they needed to meet everyone to analyze their theory further.
The second person they met was Jung Jia, the third child.
Among the children of Jung Family, she looked the most outstanding. Since the day of their marriage, Jung Jia and Kim Jiseok were known as the perfect scholar and the ravishing beauty - they were the model couple of the Jung Family, their names well known throughout Lin City.
Jungkook asked her, "Where were you at 7.00pm on the night of the incident until 5.00am the next day?"
"I had dinner with a friend until 9.00 pm, then I went home." Jung Jia replied plainly. "I woke up at 7 the next day for work."
"Were there any unusual movements in the house that night?"
"No." Jung Jia looked at him unpleasantly. "I don't quite understand what you are asking. What movements could there be?"
Jungkook smiled, then he changed the topic. "How's your relationship with Jisoo?"
Jung Jia took a cigarette out from the cigarette carton on the table, then lit it up and took a drag. "Our relationship is pretty normal."
Right then, Lisa cut in and asked, "Do you know if Jisoo had conflicts with anyone? Did Jisoo have a lover?"
Jung Jia took another puff and replied faintly, "I don't know of any of Jisoo's conflicts as I wasn't very familiar with her personal life."
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The evening sun was beautiful and warm as Jungkook and Lisa stood in front of the quiet green area on the ground floor. Jungkook lit a cigarette and asked, "Any questionable points?"
Lisa nodded. "Yes. When she answered other questions, she was calmer, but when we mentioned Jisoo, she subconsciously answered much slower and clearer, which instead made me feel that she was intentionally controlling her emotions. Perhaps she's hiding something."
Jungkook nodded. "There's something else, judging from her movements, I suspect that she probably hasn't been smoking for long."
Lisa's heart jumped. Normally, adults who were suddenly addicted to smoking and drinking mostly did so to fulfill their needs and to release stress.Jungkook smiled. "Young, beautiful, rich. The information we have shows that she's healthy, and the departments managed by her perform excellently as well. What other reason would cause a woman like her to suddenly start smoking?"
Lisa pondered for a while before answering. "Stressful family issues. Are you saying that her husband might have had an affair?"
"I can't say for sure, but it's a possibility."
The two of them fell silent for a while as Lisa looked at the wisp of smoke dancing coyly around Jungkook's fingers. "What about you? Why do you smoke?"
Jungkook's gaze also fell on the cigarette that was quietly burning in between his fingers.
He started smoking when he first entered the Criminal Police Unit. He was in his early twenties when he was forced to face corpse after corpse. He ended up in terrible shape and had insomnia due to the cases, which was why he turned to cigarettes. Later on, it became a habit and he continued to smoke from time to time. He could not cut the habit, but also never even gave quitting it any thought.
Those fleeting thoughts passed through his head for a brief moment before Jungkook looked at Lisa and asked, "Why, you don't like me smoking?"
Lisa looked at him, slightly shocked.
In her heart, Jungkook had always been a superior, a mentor, a colleague, and a senior worthy of her respect, but she had never thought of him as, 'Jungkook is a twenty-eight-year-old handsome, single man who is closely associated with me.' Even so, she still felt that Jungkook's words were a bit off. They were almost like... a tease from a man to a woman?
The strange thought quickly crossed her mind as Lisa subconsciously looked at Jungkook's eyes and observed his expression. Nonetheless, since Jungkook was such a matured and experienced person, she was never able to see read his emotions. At that moment, all she could see was the calmness and coolness emanating from his eyes.
Lisa naturally felt relieved and concluded that there was no deeper meaning behind what Jungkook had asked - he was literally asking her whether she liked his smoking habit or not. Hence, she nodded. "I don't like it. It's best that you don't smoke since it endangers your health."
When Jungkook was about to reply Lisa's phone rang. It was a notice from the secretary that they could now meet Kim Jiseok.
Based on their information, Kim Jiseok was the second son of another renowned entrepreneur in the city before he married Jung Jia. Aside from that, he also held a master's degree from Europe. At the moment, he was responsible for a real estate spinoff of two joint ventures, the project's potential for revenue was so high that he essentially dominated half of the Jung Group.
His office, on the other hand, was painted with cold tones which made it seem sturdy, extravagant and luxurious. Kim Jiseok wore a jet black suit and turned around slowly under the lights. There was a joyous look on his face as he greeted them. "Officers, sorry for the wait."
Even Lisa, who was not easily moved by men's charm, was slightly stunned when she first saw him. This was because both his looks and demeanor were extremely polished and he was radiating with the elegance of a mature man.
"Mister Kim, sorry for bothering you." Jungkook smiled and shook his hand. As Kim Jiseok looked at him, his smile widened. "Detective Jeon, It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Lisa looked at Jungkook's handsome and pronounced side profile, which was different from the strong aura given off by Kim Jiseok's gestures. Jungkook looked very collected and natural, which made him seem much more grounded. There was a hint of a reserved steadiness in the way Jungkook moved that was missing in the other man.
When questioned about his itinerary that night, Kim Jiseok was unflustered. "I had a meeting until eight in the office that night and reached home before nine. As for my alibi after that, I really can't provide any."
He answered the remaining questions accordingly, but when Jisoo was mentioned, he furrowed his brows a little. "I really admired her, it's such a pity."
Jungkook only had one evaluation regarding Kim Jiseok. "Water tight. He didn't accidentally release any information he didn't want to."
Lisa on the other hand frowned. "If I was Jisoo, then I would choose Kim Jiseok for sure."
Jungkook instantly paused as he was about to light a cigarette, then he looked at her and said unhurriedly, "Your assumption is not valid, but your deduction does make sense. Let's go back to the police station first and gather with the others to discuss."
In the evening, Jungkook and Lisa first returned to the police station before heading to a small restaurant nearby to await Old Wu and Rosé.
Jungkook tossed the menu to Lisa then went outside. After pondering a long while under the night sky, his thoughts cleared up, so he became more relaxed.
When he returned to the restaurant, Lisa looked at him as she was waiting to go through their conclusions for the day.
Jungkook sat down and spoke. "So far, the second couple and third couple are our best bets. That being said, Kim Jiseok has the highest possibility of being Jisoo's secret lover and ally."
Lisa nodded. "Whether it's his character, ability, or his powers in the Jung Group, he's obviously the best target for Jisoo. On top of that, Jung Jia's behavior further proves this theory."
At that moment, the waiter brought them their dishes as Jungkook held the menu up and asked for a pot of tea. Lisa was not as relaxed as he was, so she frowned and continued, "Well, whatever we're discussing now is just a relative possibility as there's no proof."
Jungkook held his teacup up and shrugged faintly. "There is proof. The proof is on him."
Lisa raised her eyebrow upon hearing this. After all, she was less experienced, so she was clueless about what proof Jungkook was talking about. Nonetheless, she knew that Jungkook must be certain since he said this, so she was overwhelmed with admiration.
The night sky outside the window was dark blue in color, whereas the lights inside glowed an auburn color. Jungkook looked at her distinctive clear eyes, which were clearly filled with admiration as his heart skipped a beat. Everyone else always said that she was a dull person, but her eyes were truly eyes that could speak. It was just that... she herself did not talk much.
Jungkook's smile curled upward more at the corner of his lips as he shocked her even more. "By tomorrow, the proof will fall into our hands and the case should be solved within three days. The station chief requested that we crack the case within a week's time so there shouldn't be any delay."
Lisa's jaw dropped as she stared at him unblinkingly.
Jungkook could not help but laugh as he tapped on the chair beside him. "Sit over here, I'll explain it to you."
Lisa was desperate to know the answer so she did not think about the unnecessary requirement of "sitting over here" so that he could "explain". Instead, she immediately stood up and sat beside him, then looked up at him expectantly.
Jungkook naturally placed his arm over the back of her chair, then took his lighter out with the other hand and lit a cigarette. He took a drag then exhaled smoke rings. As he was going to start his explanation, he saw Lisa looking at the smoke rings whilst frowning. "Didn't you just say today that you'll quit smoking?"
Jungkook looked at the little lady who was just half a foot away from him, and replied leisurely, "Lisa, only my girlfriend can control me, my apprentice can't."
When Lisa heard this, she tilted her head sideways and looked at him curiously.
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On that same peaceful night, in the same city, someone was heading down the path of happiness, whereas for somebody else, every minute that passed was tormenting.
In the skyscraper of Jung Group, the third child Jung Jia stood in her office as she pondered.
Looking down from the full-length french window, the bustling life of the streets below looked like an endless abyss. She smoked a cigarette in front of the glass, and as she was going to put it in her mouth, somebody snatched it away abruptly.
She turned at once and looked at the man in front of her who was forcing a smile. As usual, he looked tall and handsome, his pronounced features that were exceedingly charming reflected faintly off the window. His presence was both irresistible and intimidating at the same time.
Kim Jiseok looked at his wife who was terrified but trying hard to act calm. He smiled at her calmly then threw her cigarette into the dustbin.
Jung Jia's face kept changing until she eventually looked as pale as ghost. Suddenly, she grit her teeth and blurted out two words, "You barbaric animal."
Kim Jiseok immediately stopped smiling. He hooked her waist as Jung Jia tried hard to push him away, only to cause him to grip her even tighter. As he looked at her delicate body trembling in his arms, Kim Jiseok could not help but suddenly laugh as he lowered his head and bit her neck. "Jisoo's not as beautiful as you, has less shares than you, and she's not as obscene as you in bed. Now that she's dead, what are you still dissatisfied about?"
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