Chapter Text
Truth to be told, Vincenzo has been awake for quite some time, now. Right after he gained consciousness, all hazy memories from last night’s accident—murder—haunted him to the point where he didn’t have any strength to actually wake himself up.
Maybe that was why he fell back to sleep until he heard someone coming into his room, dragging a chair to sit beside his bed.
“The media has painted Dad as a crooked lawyer,” a woman spoke with a raspy voice. Ah, he recognized this voice; it’s Lawyer Hong’s daughter.
Wait, did she just told him the media had ruined Lawyer Hong’s reputation? Right after his death?
“I don’t believe it’s a freak accident, too.” No one did, Miss Hong.
“So I want to do something about this, but I don’t have evidence...” Aw, too bad she’s dealing with an experienced murderer inside a mafia-like corporation. It would be complicated to find enough evidence to put Babel Group in jail, especially when they were backed by competent people like Miss Hong.
“Ah, I’ve promised I won’t cry! Don’t be an idiot!”
Well, if she really wanted to avenge Lawyer Hong’s death, he might be willing to help, but maybe only to a certain extent. He didn’t plan to stay in Korea this long, after all.
“Get up and say something already!” Oh, finally Miss Hong is ending her monologue. “I’m paying for this private room and your hospital bills just to hear your story!”
Judging from the soft pillows and the peacefulness of this room (before the lady barged into his private room, obviously) it must have cost some fortune for her. He can pay her back, though, it would be so easy. Maybe he should wake up now?
“Do you even know how much it cost? I could use it for my own medication!”
“Then let’s go to the bank first.”
“Just pay my bills lat—”
Alright, time to make some impression. Vincenzo sat up on his bed like he did not hit his head in last night’s accident (is it really last night, though? How long has he stayed in the hospital?), stretched his upper body, and plugged out the machinery from his body.
Has he surprised her?
“You woke up so randomly,” she commented. Vincenzo made an internal cheer for the success of his prank. “We need to see if you’re alright!”
“I’m alright,” pointing out that his body is alright, his mind is also in perfect condition, and he did intentionally fall asleep a bit longer just to mess with her.
Panic flashed in her eyes. “How much did you hear?”
“You didn’t sound like an idiot at all, so don’t worry.” And he walked away to add more flair into his dramatic surprise, much to Miss Hong’s frustration.
While Miss Hong struggled to keep up with Vincenzo’s wide stride, the consigliere kept wondering to himself, why did Miss Hong mention medication and ask him to pay some bills?
His question received an answer right after he stood alongside Miss Hong to wrap up the hospital administration. Vincenzo was completing his own forms while trying to pay back the hospital bills when he peeked at Miss Hong’s separate forms.
“So you came to the hospital... because you’re also sick?”
“Don’t tell anyone, though,” Miss Hong answered without glancing at him at all, too immersed in her own paperwork. “Not even my dad or my ex-workmates knew about this.”
“Then why—”
“You won’t stay long in Korea, right?” She submitted her forms to the receptionist and turned to face Vincenzo. “I can help you win Geumga Plaza, I’ve been doing these kinds of cases a lot. In exchange, help me avenging my father’s death.”
“Even though my ways are not... exactly, legal?”
“It’s not like I’m gonna live long, anyway.”
Vincenzo took a glance towards her opened medical record, eyes darting at the point that Miss Hong pointed.
Acute myeloid leukemia.
That explains everything.
(around this time, he has yet to realize how much it would change his life).