INTERCEPT

That night, after finishing all the business at the office, Taeyang sat at his neat desk, staring at the small map Jiwon had given him and the notes he had gotten. However, there was one thing he had to settle first-the house he had visited earlier that afternoon. She still felt curious and wanted to make sure that the house really suited her needs. With a slight feeling of hesitation, he picked up his cell phone and called the owner of the mansion that he had taken him to see the property earlier in the day.

"Good evening, this is Taeyang," Taeyang's voice sounded calm as he dialed the number he had saved. "I wanted to make sure, is the house I saw this afternoon still available?"

On the other end of the line was the voice of a woman who was quite surprised to hear from Taeyang. "Oh, Mr. Taeyang! Yes, the house is still available. We're so glad you're interested. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Taeyang sat up straighter, thinking carefully. "I'd like to do a further inspection. If possible, I'd like to visit the house again tomorrow morning, but this time more thoroughly."

The woman on the other end of the line sounded more enthusiastic. "Of course, Mr. Taeyang. We will prepare everything. I will arrange a schedule for you. Is 9am too early?"

"9am is perfect," Taeyang replied curtly. "Thank you."

He hung up the phone and stared out the office window. It was quite late, and although he felt a little disturbed by the mixed feelings about the house, there was something in him that made him want to go further. Whether it was the desire to find a quiet place or simply the desire to have something more than just work and the daily routine.

However, her mind soon returned to a more important case - Jiwon's search for her brother. Even though she had decided to investigate more about Jiwon's brother's whereabouts, she still felt like there was a lot she didn't know.

"I have to find the answer, no matter what," she muttered to herself, quickly preparing some documents related to the case.

As he prepared his things, he realized one important thing-he couldn't ignore his responsibilities as a detective. The house could wait.

The next morning, after a short rest, Taeyang woke up early, feeling his energy drained after a long day of work. Even so, he knew today was going to be important. After finishing a light breakfast, he dressed in comfortable casual clothes, keeping his style low-key-a white shirt, jeans, and a black jacket. Once out of the house, he drove his car towards the luxurious house he wanted to buy. However, his mind kept drifting to Jiwon and her missing brother.

He arrived at the location early, though still a little late for his scheduled meeting with the real estate agent. Upon arrival, she immediately parked her car in the prepared parking lot. The view around the house was still stunning, with a large garden and a very serene landscape.

A few minutes later, a friendly real estate agent came to meet Taeyang. "Good morning, Mr. Taeyang! Thank you for coming this morning. We've prepared this house for you to take a closer look," she said with a big smile.

Taeyang just nodded, not saying much. "Show me what I need to see."

The agent led Taeyang into the house. The interior of the house was very elegant-a spacious living room with large windows overlooking the back garden, and clean, shiny marble floors. Taeyang scrutinized every detail, but there was a calmness about him, as if he knew that even though this house looked perfect, it wasn't what would make him happy.

"Something is missing," he thought to himself.

As the agent led Taeyang to the second floor to show him the master bedroom, Taeyang paused in the middle of the corridor and stared out the window. His thoughts returned to Jiwon, who was now waiting for him out there, with high hopes. Once again, Taeyang found himself in a dilemma. What was more important, finding out about Jiwon's brother or buying a house that he wasn't sure would bring him peace?

"This is the master bedroom," the agent continued as he opened the door to a large room overlooking the spacious backyard. "We think this will suit you very well."

Taeyang nodded, but his eyes were focused on the outside scenery that looked so peaceful. He knew there were a lot of decisions to be made, and they wouldn't be easy.

Suddenly, his cell phone vibrated. Taeyang reached into his jacket pocket and looked at the screen. It was a message from Jiwon.

"I'm at the terminal. Come soon."

A faint smile appeared on Taeyang's face. Without hesitation, he slid his phone back into his pocket and gave the property agent a serious look.

"I think I should go now," he said in a steady voice.

The agent was a bit confused, but soon nodded. "Of course, Mr. Taeyang. We'll wait to hear from you."

Without saying more, Taeyang walked out of the house and quickly headed to his car. He realized that bigger decisions awaited him-and this time, home was not the priority. As he drove towards the terminal, his mind was already full of possibilities about Nam Joon's whereabouts, and how he could help Jiwon.

One thing is for sure-even though the house offers her peace, the world out there still needs her for more than just a luxurious place to live.

Upon arriving at the terminal, Taeyang stopped right in front of the main exit. It was quite crowded, but there was something that made him feel calm, like his instincts were telling him that this was the right place. He quickly got out of the car and stepped into a quieter area where Jiwon was waiting for him.

Jiwon stood with her arms folded in front of her chest, her face slightly tense, like she had something very important to say. Taeyang approached her with sure steps, but still with a flat expression on his face.

"What's wrong, Jiwon?" asked Taeyang, though his tone of voice didn't show much concern.

Jiwon looked at Taeyang with determined eyes, as if she had already decided something. "I've found a new clue about my brother. But this time, I need your help," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Taeyang nodded, but did not immediately respond. "A new lead? Where?"

Jiwon took a deep breath, then pulled out a brown envelope from her bag. "Here," she said, handing over the envelope. "I got information from someone who said that my brother is in a place very far from Seoul. I don't know who sent this, but it seems like this is my last chance to find him."

Taeyang accepted the envelope, opening it carefully. Inside was a map showing a very remote location, far outside the city. There were some handwritten notes that were a bit hard to read, but they clearly showed the destination.

"This place..." Taeyang looked at the map seriously, "It's far away. Are you sure this is what you're looking for?"

Jiwon nodded firmly. "I don't know who sent this information, but I feel like this is the only lead we can trust."

Taeyang sighed, then looked at Jiwon. "We'll go together, but we have to be prepared for all possibilities. This will not be an easy journey."

Jiwon nodded, her expression calmer now after hearing Taeyang's words. She felt a little relieved that she finally didn't have to face it alone. However, in her heart, she knew that this was a journey full of risks.

"Thank you, Taeyang," Jiwon said, her voice low but full of gratitude.

Taeyang smiled slightly. "You have nothing to thank me for. We're friends, right?" he replied, though his words sounded more like a statement than a question.

With their decision made, they both stared at the map together. This trip was going to be harder than they imagined, but Taeyang knew one thing-no matter what, he wouldn't leave Jiwon alone.

"We start this journey tomorrow," Taeyang said finally. "I'll be ready, and we'll meet whoever's behind all this."

The two of them walked toward the car, their footsteps light, but the feelings surrounding them heavy. This trip wasn't just about finding Jiwon's brother, but rather about facing a reality that might be darker than they imagined.