The Detectives Come Knocking

The next day.

Yeo Ri's mood had gotten better ever since she saw Hyuk again. She started talking and reacting more, and while the amount was barely enough to meet the standards of a normal person, it was definitely better than before.

"Oppa, when do you think I can see Hyuk-oppa again?" Yeo Ri asked Gun. Her tone was more subdued compared to the her before the incident, but she was recovering. Sooner or later, she might be able to regain her previous cheerfulness and vigour.

"Probably after you get discharged? And after he finishes his trial, you'll probably get to see him, I hear," Gun replied distractingly. He was combing her hair carefully, making sure to straighten out every lock without directly fixing them with his bare hands. He discovered that it was pretty hard washing someone's hair without direct contact.

"Hm." Yeo Ri responded to his reply with a noncommittal sound, sounding neither overjoyed nor disappointed.

"There," Gun smiled, finally done with his task. Her hair now shone with a pretty lustre after so many days of neglect.

"Thanks, Oppa," Yeo Ri says as she went back to lying down.

"Tell me if you need anything else, okay?" Gun smiled warmly at the girl.

"Mm," Yeo Ri answered absentmindedly.

"Yeo Ri-ah, those two detectives will be coming later. Will you be alright?"

"Mm."

"If you feel uncomfortable, it's fine to stop, okay? We can kick them out. They won't do anything hurtful, I promise."

"I know," Yeo Ri replied briskly.

Gun looked at her worriedly. He did not want her to do anything that might evoke her bad memories. The incident back then was still fresh in his mind. In addition, it was not as if he was oblivious to the nightmares she had been getting. It was only because she had been taking sleeping pills that she was able to even get some rest, else she would just force herself to stay awake. To be honest, he wished they could exempt her from the case completely.

But of course, that was impossible; she was a victim and also the main witness. And she also did not want Hyuk to get wrongfully incarcerated.

Seeing his concerned gaze, she sighed inaudibly. He was just too darn overprotective. That being said, she felt touched at his overprotectiveness. In this world, only Hyuk and Gun would love and care about her that much. "I'll be fine, Oppa," she told him.

"I'll be right here," he eyed her seriously.

Approximately an hour later, the two detectives finally came.

"Sorry for doing this while you're still recovering, Miss Lee Yeo Ri," Detective Song apologised with a wry smile.

He helped himself to a chair already laid out for the two visitors.

Meanwhile, Detective Pyo placed down the bulky equipment bag he was carrying on the floor. He glanced at the two younger kids, "Do you mind if we record the interview?"

Gun frowned, but before he could refute, Yeo Ri gave her assent, "Go ahead."

"Yeo Ri-ah—" Gun started, looking at her with difficulty. Was it really fine?

Yeo Ri glanced at him placidly, as if telling him that there was nothing wrong with her decision.

"Don't worry; we're pretty strict about privacy. If we ever release the footage, we'll censor her identity," Detective Song says.

Gun looked at him with a hard look, "'If we ever release the footage'...?"

"Ah, don't get me wrong! I mean, if it gets used in court or something, we'll do all we can to protect her privacy."

"So, shall we get started, then?" Detective Pyo quickly intervened after sensing the tension in the room.

He set up the camera and the tripod with practiced ease, then configured the camera, making sure that Yeo Ri was properly inside the frame. Then, he began recording.

"Okay, it's all set." Detective Pyo took a seat next to his partner.

"Your name is Lee Yeo Ri, aged fourteen, correct?" Detective Song started.

"..." Yeo Ri glanced at him briefly before turning away. She closed her eyes for some time before opening them again, gazing pointedly at the window. Having the middle-aged man look at her was really giving her the creeps. Although she knew he was just doing his job, she could not help but feel slightly repulsed.

"Sorry, but can I request to talk to a female officer?"

The two detectives exchanged awkward glances. They had wrestled for the rights to investigate Hyuk's—and by extension, Lee Do Joon's—case from their other coworkers with tooth and nail, how could they just give it away to another person so easily?

"Uh... I'm sorry, but we're in charge of this case, so if it were to be passed to someone else at this junction, it'll be a bit... troublesome," Detective Song reasoned.

"Then, I'll only talk to the younger policeman," Yeo Ri said, avoiding from looking at the older detective.

Detective Pyo felt his sweat dripping from his forehead as he forced a smile. He was a rookie, and his partner who was older and more experience was the primary by default for the case, so he did not know what to say to the girl.

"...Okay, then. Detective Pyo, I'll leave the floor to you, then. Do your best," Detective Song flashed a troubled smile at his partner. Although it did not feel good to be disregarded, he wouldn't do anything that might jeopardise the case. What if the witness refused to testify if he stubbornly insisted to handle the interview? It was not worth it.

Detective Song nonchalantly got up from his seat and moved to sit on the couch of the private hospital room, staying out of her sight.