The next day, Jiwon stood in front of the police station where Taeyang worked. She was wearing an oversized hoodie and relaxed jeans, her hair tied up simply. In her hand, she held the business card that Taeyang had given her yesterday. Her eyes stared intently at the building, as if she was considering something.
At the same time, a black car pulled into the office parking lot. Taeyang got out of his car at a leisurely pace. He was wearing a black shirt rolled up to his elbows and chinos that fit his body perfectly. With his signature nonchalant style, he caught the attention of the people around him.
As Taeyang walked toward the office door, Jiwon unknowingly approached. "Hey, Poor Detective!" she exclaimed in a slightly mocking tone, loud enough to make Taeyang turn his head.
Taeyang stopped, looking at Jiwon with a flat yet questioning expression. "You again? Are you following me on purpose?" he asked casually as he stared at the business card in Jiwon's hand.
Jiwon snorted, then stepped closer. "Followed you? No, I just happened to be here. But... do you remember you took a taxi yesterday without paying? I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget."
Taeyang raised an eyebrow, then took out his wallet from his back pocket. Calmly, he pulled out a few bills and handed them to Jiwon. "Here, to pay for your taxi. Sorry, I forgot yesterday."
Jiwon took the money with a confused expression, dissatisfied with Taeyang's cold response. "That's it? You're not going to say anything more? Like a thank you, or a more sincere apology?"
Taeyang smiled faintly, then said, "Thank you for taking me where I needed to go yesterday. And sorry if I gave you a hard time. Is that enough?" He winked one eye in his signature style before walking away.
But before Taeyang could enter the building, Jiwon stopped him again. "Wait! I didn't actually come just for that. I was wondering... if you could help me?" she asked in a more serious tone.
Taeyang paused, then turned his head with a sharp look. "Help you? In what way?"
Jiwon bit her lip, looking hesitant for a moment before finally saying, "I... I have a problem. And I feel like you might be the person who can help me solve it."
Taeyang gave her a long look, trying to read Jiwon's expression. "What problem? If it's something serious, you'd better go in and talk to the police inside."
Jiwon shook her head. "No, no, no. This is too personal. I just want to talk to you. You're a detective, right? You can definitely handle this."
After a few seconds of thought, Taeyang sighed. "Alright, let's talk somewhere else. Wait for me at the cafe up the street. I'll meet you after I get some things done."
Jiwon nodded slowly, feeling relieved. Although he didn't know how Taeyang would help him, he believed that the man was the right person to rely on. Meanwhile, Taeyang went inside the building, trying to understand why the girl had reappeared in his life.
A few hours later, after finishing his morning tasks at the office, Taeyang walked casually towards the cafe Jiwon mentioned. With a black leather jacket and a headset hanging around his neck, he looked like a regular guy, not a detective. From a distance, he saw the girl-still wearing her oversized hoodie and relaxed jeans, sitting in the corner of the cafe by the window with a cup of coffee in front of her.
Taeyang pushed open the cafe door and walked over, giving Jiwon a quick glance before sitting down in front of her without much ado. "So, what's the problem?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
Jiwon, surprised by Taeyang's directness, frowned. "Problem? Wait, you don't even know who I am yet."
Taeyang shrugged, relaxed. "I know you're the taxi driver girl who called me 'Poor Detective.' That's enough for now, right?"
Jiwon gave a small snort, slightly annoyed but also amused. "Alright, then introduce yourself first. Don't just ask questions like an interrogation," she retorted, trying to turn the situation around.
Taeyang let out a short breath, then stuck out his hand. "Lee Taeyang. Detective of the Seoul Police Special Crime Division." His voice was calm, almost expressionless, but the way he introduced himself had a distinctive confident tone.
Jiwon stared at the hand for a moment before finally shaking it. "My name is Kim Jiwon. Psychology major at Hanyang University. And yes, I'm also a part-time taxi driver... as you already know," she said as she released the handshake.
Taeyang smiled slightly. "Psychology, huh? That explains why you're pretty good at reading people, even though you failed to guess the contents of my wallet yesterday," he teased lightly.
Jiwon rolled her eyes, trying to stifle a giggle. "I'm not psychic. And for the record, I don't care about your wallet. I just want to discuss something more important."
Taeyang leaned back in his chair, giving Jiwon a serious look. "Alright, Kim Jiwon. Now that we're acquainted. What do you really need from me?"
Jiwon bit her lower lip, looking hesitant to start. However, she finally took a deep breath and said, "I need your help to find someone. My brother."
Taeyang raised an eyebrow, his eyes sharpening. "Your brother? Is he missing? And why did you come to me instead of the police?"
Jiwon nodded, then stared out the window with a worried look. "She disappeared three months ago. The police tried to find her, but to no avail. They said she might have gone abroad or..." She paused for a moment, her voice trembling slightly. "Or worse."
Taeyang watched Jiwon closely, trying to read her expression and tone. "And you think I can help? What makes you sure?"
"I don't know," Jiwon answered honestly. "But... you look different from the other cops. I feel like you might be able to do something they can't. I just need someone who doesn't give up so easily."
Taeyang was silent, his eyes remaining locked on Jiwon. After a moment, he finally said, "Okay. Show me what you've got."
Jiwon immediately opened her bag and took out several pieces of paper, including a photo of a man. "This is my brother, Nam Joon. The last time I saw him was at home two days before he disappeared. After that, I found this note in his room." He handed the small handwritten paper to Taeyang.
Taeyang read the note carefully. The handwriting was simple yet hasty: "Seoul South Terminal, 11 PM."
"Is this all?" asked Taeyang, frowning. "This note could mean many things. Are you sure it has something to do with her leaving?"
Jiwon nodded confidently. "I'm sure. She never wrote anything like this before. I also found a small map with circles in the terminal area, but the police said it wasn't enough evidence."
Taeyang sighed, thinking for a moment. "Okay. I'll start from here. But remember, it probably won't be easy, and the results won't always be what you expect."
Jiwon looked at him with hopeful eyes. "I don't care. I just want to know what really happened to her."
Taeyang put the photo and note into his jacket, then stood up. "Then, we start tonight. I'm going to the terminal to check on her."
Jiwon was surprised. "Tonight? You're going alone?"
Taeyang smiled slightly. "I prefer to work alone. You just wait to hear from me." With leisurely steps, he walked out of the cafe, leaving Jiwon still pensive on the spot.
As he walked out, Taeyang muttered to himself, "Notes, terminals, and the missing brother. This could be an interesting start."