200 IQ Genius Pretends To Be Ordinary Student So He Can Simp For Crush
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00:00At a certain high school, there was an extraordinary academic genius,
00:04a kid who could control his grades with pinpoint accuracy.
00:07While everyone else strived for perfect scores, he deliberately aimed for zero.
00:12Among his classmates, he was known as the king of failing grades.
00:15One day, their teacher announced an upcoming quiz show
00:18and the selection of a student representative to compete for a tempting prize.
00:23Dalpo, the king of failing grades, decided to unveil his true abilities.
00:27The teacher distributed the test papers.
00:29While everyone else diligently worked, Dalpo leaned back and relaxed.
00:33Only when the teacher announced that only 10 minutes were remaining,
00:37did he casually stand up, write his name, and begin the exam.
00:40The teachers began grading the tests, their faces falling with each disappointing score.
00:45Finally, they reached the top two papers, scoring 92 and 96 respectively.
00:51Some teachers suggested they stop grading, assuming no one had done better.
00:55However, the homeroom teacher suddenly looked serious,
00:57and the others gathered around to witness a perfect score.
01:01But when they saw the name on the paper, they were stunned.
01:04It belonged to the notorious king of failing grades.
01:07News spread through the classroom like wildfire.
01:09When everyone learned that the top scorer was the king of failing grades,
01:12they were shocked and skeptical.
01:14Chan Su, the usual top student, felt threatened.
01:17He quickly rallied his group of female admirers and instructed them to spread rumors that Dalpo had cheated.
01:23The rumors quickly gained traction.
01:25Chan Su fanned the flames, insinuating that Dalpo might have stolen the test beforehand.
01:30The rumors escalated from cheating to outright theft of the exam paper.
01:34Everywhere Dalpo went, he was met with scornful glances.
01:37Hearing the rumors, the homeroom teacher called Dalpo aside and publicly reprimanded him,
01:43warning him against dishonest behavior.
01:46But Dalpo refused to confess to something he hadn't done.
01:49Everyone believed he was guilty, except for his niece, Choi In-ha.
01:53Ultimately, the homeroom teacher chose Chan Su to represent the school in the quiz show.
01:58Chan Su, living up to expectations, triumphed in the first round.
02:02He then publicly declared his affection for In-ha, his longtime crush.
02:07The class erupted in cheers, but In-ha's gaze drifted towards Dalpo's seat,
02:11determined to clear his name.
02:13At that moment, the homeroom teacher demanded that Dalpo apologize to the class.
02:17Dalpo, maintaining his innocence, refused.
02:20The teacher became enraged.
02:22Dalpo challenged him, asking for proof of his alleged cheating.
02:26The teacher retorted that the whole school was talking about it.
02:29Wasn't that proof enough?
02:30Dalpo glared at the furious teacher.
02:32And noticed a female teacher printing documents in the background.
02:36A mischievous glint entered his eyes.
02:38I'll make you a deal.
02:39He said.
02:40If I walk out of here, I'll tell everyone you're having an affair with her.
02:44Then you can prove it's not true.
02:46He did it.
02:47He actually did it.
02:48The female teacher exclaimed, aghast.
02:50While the homeroom teacher stood dumbfounded, Dalpo rose to his feet.
02:54You're assuming it's not true.
02:56He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
02:58Then prove it.
02:59A taste of your own medicine.
03:01He turned and walked away.
03:03Leaving the two teachers speechless.
03:05In-ha, determined to clear her uncle's name, rushed to his room to search for evidence.
03:10Finally, amidst a stack of comic books, she found an English textbook stamped with a town library's mark.
03:16A visit to the library led to a crucial discovery.
03:19Every book on the shelves had a borrowing slip with Dalpo's name, covering a vast range of subjects.
03:25She couldn't believe her seemingly academically challenged.
03:28Uncle possessed such a breadth of knowledge.
03:31In-ha began meticulously collecting the borrowing slips, photocopying them, and compiling them into a stack of evidence to bring to school.
03:38Meanwhile, Dalpo arrived at the quiz show headquarters for the preliminary rounds, easily securing a spot in the competition.
03:46Due to his last place ranking at school, he was pitted against the top student, Shan Su.
03:50From the very first question, he stunned everyone.
03:53The host posed the question.
03:55For every 43 people, one suffers from a peculiar condition, wear hiccup whenever they lie.
04:00This condition is named after which animated character.
04:04Dalpo decided to use his only lifeline, choosing Shan Su.
04:07If I beat you in this round, Dalpo addressed Shan Su.
04:10All you have to do is take 10 slaps from me.
04:14Shan Su scoffed.
04:15What?
04:16He exclaimed, then realized.
04:18So, you just want to get revenge for In-ha, even willing to waste your precious lifeline.
04:22You're that confident you'll win this?
04:24Dalpo immediately answered.
04:26Pinocchio.
04:27The host congratulated him and asked if he had ever met someone with this condition.
04:32Dalpo replied that he had and that this person was unique, constantly lying in hiccup, earning the nickname,
04:38The Lying King.
04:39This comment caused ripples of laughter from the live audience.
04:43Directed at In-ha.
04:44Furious, she vowed to teach Dalpo a lesson when he returned.
04:48The second question came swiftly.
04:49According to the 60-year kanji cycle, what year is this?
04:53This question triggered a painful flashback for Dalpo.
04:56He remembered his former life as Ham Yong, a celebrated child prodigy, alongside his older brother, Jae Myung.
05:02They lived a happy life until a devastating fire broke out at a local factory.
05:06His father, the fire chief, led his team to the scene.
05:10A man reported two workers trapped inside, but failed to mention the presence of hazardous materials.
05:15Dalpo's father immediately led his team in, unaware that the two workers had already escaped, and were, in fact, responsible for the fire.
05:23After the firefighters entered, the hazardous materials exploded.
05:27Tragedy struck the fire department, and the blaze raged until the following day.
05:32To avoid responsibility, the man who reported the trapped workers insisted.
05:36He had informed the fire chief about the situation, but the chief recklessly led his men inside anyway.
05:42Strangely, only eight bodies were recovered out of the nine firefighters who entered.
05:46Then, someone reported seeing a figure resembling Dalpo's father in the pouring rain.
05:51As news of the fire broke, unscrupulous media outlets swarmed the scene, twisting a tragic accident into a story rife with suspicion.
05:59Strangely, the public readily accepted the narrative that Dalpo's father was somehow responsible for the fate of his team.
06:05Dalpo and his older brother were hounded by reporters, demanding proof of their father's innocence.
06:10Among them was a particularly malicious reporter, who deceptively edited interview footage,
06:16splicing together a soundbite where she declared,
06:19I'm absolutely certain the man I saw was the missing fire chief.
06:22This manipulated news report ignited public outrage.
06:26Dalpo's family was branded as villains.
06:27Facing scorn and accusations wherever they went.
06:31Unable to bear the relentless pressure, Dalpo's mother took him to see one last fireworks display,
06:36before taking her own life.
06:38When Jae Myung, Dalpo's brother, arrived, he found only a single shoe and a farewell note.
06:43Grief stricken and enraged, Jae Myung lashed out at the media.
06:47But they remained fixated on exploiting the story.
06:50Unbeknownst to everyone, Dalpo was still alive, rescued by an elderly man suffering from dementia.
06:55The old man mistook Dalpo for his eldest son, lost at sea years ago.
07:00This is my younger son, Dalpo.
07:02The old man introduced him.
07:04And this is my granddaughter, Choi In-ha.
07:07Granddaughter?
07:08Dalpo was taken aback.
07:09Suddenly, he had a brother 20 years his senior, and a niece the same age as himself.
07:14Initially hesitant, the older brother accepted Dalpo,
07:17after witnessing his willingness to care for the elderly man out of gratitude.
07:21Dalpo never revealed his true identity, and their bond grew stronger over time.
07:26However, fate had a cruel twist in store.
07:29While helping In-ha fix her television, he discovered a devastating truth.
07:33The reporter who had torn his family apart was In-ha's mother.
07:37His demeanor towards In-ha instantly changed, and he began teasing her relentlessly.
07:42But having grown up together, a deep affection had already blossomed between them.
07:46Hearing about In-ha's bet with the top student,
07:49Dalpo unhesitatingly entered the quiz show, and decisively defeated his rival.
07:53With his mission accomplished, Dalpo began his journey home.
07:57Looking at the darkening sky, In-ha knew he wouldn't have an umbrella,
08:00and rushed back to their village.
08:02In the pouring rain, she waited at the bus stop.
08:05Seeing In-ha asleep, Dalpo realized how long she'd been waiting.
08:08Just as In-ha awoke, and saw him approaching with an umbrella,
08:12she noticed it was broken.
08:13As she looked on, puzzled,
08:15Dalpo placed two funnels on her head, looking at her sternly.
08:19Don't get the wrong idea, he mumbled.
08:22Grandpa told me to come get you.
08:23He was worried you'd get wet.
08:25It's not like I care or anything.
08:27Really.
08:28Deep down, Dalpo knew a relationship with In-ha was impossible.
08:32She still cherished her mother,
08:33while he could never forgive the woman who destroyed his family.
08:36Several years passed.
08:38After graduating high school,
08:39Dalpo became a taxi driver to support his family.
08:42In-ha pursued her dream of becoming a reporter,
08:45but her Pinocchio syndrome,
08:47causing her nose to grow when she lied,
08:49made her job challenging.
08:50One morning, she asked Dalpo for a ride to an interview.
08:54Dalpo, amid a pleasant dream,
08:56accidentally grabbed her skirt.
08:58Pervert.
08:59In-ha cried, giving him a swift punch to the eye.
09:01This angered his grandfather,
09:03who scolded her with a spoon,
09:05reminding her never to hit her uncle.
09:07Feeling utterly defeated,
09:08In-ha reluctantly finished her breakfast.
09:11Together, she and Dalpo headed to the location of her 35th job interview.
09:15Seeing her nervousness, Dalpo told her to spend $5,001 on a good luck charm.
09:21Unexpectedly, she received a text message from her mother,
09:24who had been absent for 13 years.
09:26Overjoyed to the point of tears,
09:28In-ha excitedly told Dalpo,
09:30who remained unmoved,
09:32still harboring resentment towards the woman.
09:34Arriving at the interview,
09:35In-ha threw open her arms,
09:37ready to embrace her mother.
09:39But the reunion wasn't the joyous occasion she'd envisioned.
09:42Her mother displayed no warmth,
09:44and the other interviewers,
09:45noticing In-ha's Pinocchio syndrome,
09:47declared her unsuitable for a reporting career.
09:49In-ha couldn't help but retort,
09:51wouldn't a reporter who can't lie
09:53be more trustworthy to the audience?
09:54Her mother, the same woman who had callously ruined their family,
09:58presented In-ha with a test.
10:00If she could complete it without a hiccup,
10:02she'd get the job.
10:03Predictably, In-ha failed.
10:05Her mother promptly dismissed her,
10:07claiming she lacked the necessary qualities to be a reporter.
10:10Devastated, In-ha walked out,
10:12bewildered by her mother's coldness.
10:14She needed to confirm one thing.
10:16Waiting for her mother outside,
10:18she asked about the text message,
10:20only to discover her mother had changed her number long ago.
10:23In-ha was crushed.
10:24For so many years,
10:25her mother hadn't cared about her at all.
10:28Trembling, she whispered,
10:29Mom, I missed you.
10:31The woman briefly embraced her,
10:32and just as In-ha felt a flicker of hope,
10:35her mother uttered,
10:36I've been too busy to miss you.
10:38In-ha's heart turned to ice.
10:39She called the number that sent the text,
10:41demanding to know why they'd given her hope,
10:43only to snatch it away.
10:44The person on the other end remained silent.
10:47Dal Po, waiting across the street,
10:49saw In-ha emerge in tears.
10:51He wanted to comfort her,
10:52but traffic blocked his way.
10:54He quickly called her,
10:55but she sent a text instead,
10:57saying she was with her mother,
10:58and couldn't talk,
10:59seeing her crying from afar.
11:01Dal Po, wanting to protect her pride,
11:04didn't expose her lie and simply texted back,
11:06asking how things were going.
11:08In-ha lied,
11:09saying her mother had treated her well.
11:11Dal Po, deciding not to disturb her further,
11:14drove away.
11:14But halfway down the street,
11:16worried about her,
11:17he turned back.
11:17By the time he arrived,
11:19In-ha was gone.
11:20He spotted her mother waiting for a taxi.
11:23Filled with resentment towards the woman who had shattered his family,
11:26he nonetheless pulled up and offered her a ride.
11:28Meanwhile, utterly despondent,
11:30In-ha gathered all her books and articles on journalism
11:33and carried them to the rooftop,
11:35intending to burn them.
11:36Back at home,
11:37Dal Po's grandfather noticed In-ha's distress
11:39and mentioned it to Dal Po,
11:41who immediately rushed to the rooftop,
11:43fearing the worst.
11:44Finding the rooftop empty,
11:46he anxiously called her name.
11:47Just then,
11:48he heard a muffled sob
11:49and saw In-ha's feet sticking out from behind a wall.
11:53Relieved,
11:53he approached her.
11:54He told her he knew what had happened,
11:56making her even more ashamed to face him.
11:59He had sacrificed his education
12:00so she could pursue hers,
12:02only for it to end in repeated rejections.
12:05Overcome with guilt,
12:06she confessed she never wanted to be a burden,
12:08but reality had proven too harsh.
12:10She wanted to burn the books
12:12to give up on her dream.
12:14Dal Po pulled the books away.
12:15He asked,
12:16do you really want to quit?
12:17She insisted she did,
12:19but her choked sobs betrayed her true feelings.
12:21Frustrated,
12:22she grabbed the books again,
12:23but Dal Po stopped her,
12:25his expression serious.
12:26He declared,
12:28let me help you become a reporter.
12:29Dal Po resolved to study intensely for a month
12:32to help In-ha prepare for her next interview.
12:35Though blessed with a photographic memory,
12:37he knew hard work was still essential.
12:39They practiced on the rooftop during the day
12:41and to avoid his grandfather's notice.
12:44Dal Po studied late at night
12:45under a dim light.
12:46Hearing his grandfather return,
12:48Dal Po quickly hid his studies,
12:50resuming them only after the old man
12:51had retired to his room.
12:53Unbeknownst to Dal Po,
12:54his grandfather had already discovered his secret.
12:57Wise and understanding,
12:58the old man didn't say a word,
13:00only gazing at the sleeping,
13:02exhausted Dal Po,
13:03and gently stroking his hair.
13:05An idea sparked in the old man's mind.
13:07The next day,
13:08he bought a fashion magazine from the library
13:10and took Dal Po to a barber,
13:13selecting a stylish haircut from the magazine.
13:15He then presented Dal Po with a suit,
13:18tie,
13:18and leather shoes.
13:19The transformation was complete.
13:21Dal Po looked incredibly handsome.
13:23Wow.
13:24He breathed,
13:25looking at his reflection.
13:26Who is this?
13:28On their way home,
13:29Dal Po kept checking his reflection,
13:31slightly worried that he no longer resembled
13:33his grandfather's goofy son.
13:35It turned out that a year after rescuing Dal Po,
13:37his grandfather had realized
13:39he wasn't his eldest son.
13:41But to protect Dal Po from being sent away,
13:43he pretended not to know.
13:44He reassured Dal Po,
13:46telling him not to worry about anything
13:48and to simply live his life to the fullest.
13:51Deeply touched,
13:52Dal Po embraced his grandfather,
13:54tears streaming down his face,
13:56promising to always be his son.
13:58Arriving home,
13:59Dal Po's brother failed to recognize him,
14:01wondering who their grandfather had brought home.
14:03What guest?
14:04The old man chuckled.
14:05This is your brother.
14:07Just then,
14:08In Ha walked in.
14:09She asked,
14:10Is that really you, uncle?
14:11Stunned,
14:12the grandfather beamed,
14:14praising Dal Po's handsome features,
14:16reminiscent of his youth.
14:17Dal Po's brother,
14:19noticing his daughter's captivated gaze,
14:21and reminded of his boast from the previous day
14:23about her being the prettiest and cutest girl,
14:26now felt In Ha pale,
14:27in comparison to the dashing Dal Po.
14:29He couldn't resist scolding her
14:31for her perpetually frumpy attire.
14:33In Ha rolled her eyes,
14:35retorting that he'd once called her more beautiful than Miss Korea.
14:38He grumbled.
14:39That's because I was drunk.
14:41He chided her for her lack of style,
14:43warning her that people would look down on her.
14:45Exasperated,
14:46In Ha declared it impossible for anyone to look down on her,
14:49because Dal Po had never seen her as a woman,
14:52and she had never seen him as a man.
14:54Dal Po, overhearing this,
14:55sadly closed his door,
14:57missing the rest of her sentence.
14:58But someone as talented, kind,
15:00and now handsome as Dal Po.
15:03Well, maybe he wouldn't be such a bad option after all.
15:06The once goofy boy had blossomed
15:07into a remarkably attractive young man.
15:10To prepare for the reporter interviews with In Ha,
15:12Dal Po condensed three years of specialized study
15:15into a single month.
15:17In Ha's 36th interview began,
15:19and Dal Po encountered his biggest romantic rival,
15:22Byom Jo.
15:23It turned out Byom Jo was the one
15:24who had been texting In Ha all these years,
15:26using her mother's phone.
15:28Unaware of this,
15:29In Ha had been pouring her heart out
15:31to her mother for 13 years,
15:33unknowingly causing Byom Jo
15:35to fall for the girl he'd never met.
15:37Learning about In Ha's interview,
15:39he followed her.
15:40The preliminary round began,
15:42and the three of them were placed
15:43in the same interview group.
15:44Noticing Byom Jo's constant glances at In Ha,
15:47Dal Po stepped forward,
15:49subtly placing himself between them.
15:51The interviewer instructed them
15:52to stand in numerical order,
15:54and then report on the contents of a video clip.
15:56Their performance would be evaluated.
15:58This format disadvantaged the first reporter.
16:01Unfortunately, Dal Po was first.
16:03After watching the video,
16:04he delivered a standard factual report.
16:07The next two candidates embellished Dal Po's report,
16:09adding their flair,
16:11and making it more engaging.
16:12When it was In Ha's turn,
16:14she followed Dal Po's lead,
16:16sticking to a straightforward factual presentation.
16:18The interviewers,
16:19puzzled by In Ha's straightforward reporting,
16:22asked why she hadn't embellished the facts.
16:23In Ha honestly replied that she couldn't lie.
16:27Just as she was about to explain her Pinocchio syndrome,
16:30both Dal Po and Byom Jo simultaneously interrupted,
16:33identifying themselves as reporters.
16:35Dal Po argued that reporters should prioritize
16:37factual accuracy,
16:39avoiding exaggeration and distortion
16:41without proper verification.
16:43Byom Jo concurred,
16:44stating that it was better to have a news blackout
16:46than to report false information.
16:49The preliminary round quickly concluded.
16:50While awaiting the results,
16:52In Ha lamented her performance.
16:55Dal Po comforted her,
16:56saying,
16:57If we can't be peas in a pod,
16:59it's better to fail together.
17:00No way.
17:01In Ha retorted,
17:03One pea is better than two.
17:04Immediately realizing her slip up,
17:06she covered her mouth.
17:07Dal Po amused,
17:09pressed her for an explanation.
17:10In Ha tried to escape,
17:12but Dal Po blocked her,
17:14playfully pinning her against the wall.
17:16Left with no choice,
17:17she stammered,
17:17One pea is better than,
17:19two peas together,
17:20and far apart.
17:21Dal Po, however,
17:22countered that being apart
17:23wouldn't be meaningful at all.
17:25Byom Jo witnessed,
17:26this intimate exchange.
17:28The list of successful candidates was posted,
17:30and everyone rushed to check.
17:32Oh, three, four, four, four.
17:33Byom Jo, Dal Po,
17:35and In Ha had all passed.
17:37They excitedly called home with the good news.
17:39Their grandfather was overjoyed,
17:41encouraging them to continue their hard work.
17:43However,
17:44Dal Po's brother,
17:46sitting beside him,
17:47grew increasingly anxious.
17:48Imagining uncomfortable scenarios
17:50of the two working together,
17:52he pictured them tying each other's ties,
17:54having breakfast together.
17:55He angrily threw a pillow across the room.
17:58But as he watched the topic
17:59for the next round of interviews being revealed,
18:01Dal Po's face drained of color.
18:03It was about his father's fire accident.
18:05His father's remains had been discovered
18:0713 years after the fire.
18:08The news that year had devastated his family,
18:11leading to their downfall.
18:12Now,
18:13they were supposed to debate who was at fault.
18:15Dal Po was shattered.
18:16He believed his father had abandoned them
18:18with his older brother,
18:19which is why he contentedly stayed with his grandfather.
18:22Now,
18:23he learned his father had been wrongly accused.
18:25Watching the other candidates express their opinions,
18:28Dal Po struggled to contain his rage.
18:30Then,
18:31In Ha spoke.
18:32She argued that the fault lay with the person
18:34with Pinocchio syndrome.
18:35Because everyone knew he couldn't lie,
18:37his testimony convinced the police,
18:39the media,
18:40and the public,
18:41leading to the tragedy.
18:43She concluded that no one was truly to blame.
18:45It was simply a tragic accident.
18:47In Ha had no idea her words would trigger Dal Po's fury.
18:51He countered,
18:51his voice shaking.
18:53How can you say no one else is to blame?
18:55Pinocchio can't lie.
18:56But what about the reporters?
18:58Shouldn't they have verified the facts?
18:59They should understand their words carry more weight than others.
19:02Shouldn't they be more cautious?
19:04But they clearly hadn't understood.
19:06Seeing In Ha's unwavering stance,
19:08Dal Po finally understood why people with Pinocchio syndrome
19:11couldn't be reporters.
19:12As long as they believed they were right,
19:15they wouldn't hiccup.
19:16Seeing Dal Po's anger directed at her,
19:18In Ha sadly left the interview room,
19:20ignoring the ongoing proceedings.
19:22Byom Jo followed her.
19:24In the elevator,
19:25he tried to comfort her.
19:26In Ha felt a pang of regret.
19:28While she understood the importance of expressing her viewpoint in a debate,
19:32she'd hoped Dal Po would support her.
19:34Sensing her disappointment,
19:35Byom Jo asked if she liked Dal Po.
19:38In Ha instantly denied it,
19:39but immediately her sobs betrayed her.
19:42Meanwhile,
19:42Dal Po went to the rooftop,
19:44learning that his father hadn't abandoned them,
19:46and was, in fact, a hero.
19:48He finally released years of suppressed grief,
19:51sobbing uncontrollably.
19:53Unbeknownst to him,
19:54his brother Jae Myung,
19:55having laid their father to rest,
19:57was consumed by vengeance,
19:59plotting against those who had destroyed their family.
20:01He targeted the man with Pinocchio syndrome,
20:04feigning a fall and,
20:05accidentally,
20:06picking up the man's wallet.
20:08He then used the information in the wallet to lure the man to a secluded location,
20:12pretending he'd left his wallet there.
20:14As the man leaned over an open manhole,
20:16Jae Myung slammed the cover shut,
20:18and weighed it down with bricks.
20:20Despite the man's desperate pleas,
20:22Jae Myung remained unmoved.
20:23In Ha,
20:24burdened by her Pinocchio syndrome,
20:26had endured 36 failed interviews.
20:29Dejected,
20:29she worked at a supermarket,
20:31as arranged by her father.
20:32Is it fair?
20:33She sighed to a customer.
20:35He studied for only a month and passed,
20:37while I prepared for three years and failed.
20:40Just then,
20:40Byom Jo,
20:41harboring a secret crush on her,
20:43appeared.
20:44Believing Dal Po was her uncle,
20:45he tried to comfort her.
20:47Returning home,
20:48In Ha saw Dal Po discussing work with his grandfather.
20:51Remembering Dal Po's assertion that she couldn't be a reporter,
20:54she retaliated by dipping his toothbrush in the toilet,
20:56before placing it back,
20:58seemingly undisturbed.
20:59As Dal Po reached for his toothbrush,
21:01she quickly tossed his toothpaste in the trash,
21:03leaving him bewildered.
21:06The next day,
21:07Byom Jo again visited,
21:08In Ha at work,
21:09where her cold-hearted mother also appeared.
21:12It turned out her mother's company was suffering from a tarnished reputation,
21:15and hoped to exploit In Ha's Pinocchio syndrome,
21:18as a publicity stunt.
21:19In Ha refused,
21:20and her mother,
21:21resorting to emotional manipulation,
21:23urged her to reconsider.
21:25Looking at the business card,
21:26In Ha felt conflicted,
21:28wasn't becoming a reporter her dream.
21:30Returning home,
21:31she ran into Dal Po in the elevator,
21:33and led him to the rooftop,
21:35determined to cure her hiccups.
21:37So,
21:37she blurted out,
21:39I like you.
21:40Dal Po was stunned.
21:41He hadn't expected In Ha to reciprocate his feelings,
21:44but this realization terrified him.
21:47Her mother was his family's sworn enemy,
21:49responsible for his mother's death.
21:51He could never forgive her.
21:52In Ha, too,
21:53understood the impossibility of their situation.
21:56In everyone else's eyes,
21:57he was her uncle.
21:58She resolved to find someone else,
22:00to gradually forget her feelings for him.
22:03With that,
22:03she turned and left.
22:05Back in her room,
22:06after much deliberation,
22:08In Ha called her mother,
22:09and accepted the job offer.
22:11What she didn't know,
22:12was that Byom Jo,
22:13driven by his affection for her,
22:15had also joined the same company.
22:17Thus,
22:17In Ha finally became a reporter.
22:19But she and Dal Po were now rivals,
22:22working for competing networks.
22:24When Dal Po returned home,
22:25he saw beef tripe stew for dinner.
22:27The sight instantly triggered a memory,
22:29of a gruesome crime scene from his reporting.
22:32Sending him rushing to the bathroom to vomit,
22:34his family looked on with concern.
22:36Back in his room,
22:37Dal Po found In Ha had left him stomach medicine,
22:40reminding him to take care of his health.
22:42His grandfather also arrived with more medicine,
22:44echoing the same concern.
22:46Before he could finish speaking,
22:47his brother appeared,
22:48also holding a bottle of stomach medicine.
22:51Looking at the three identical bottles,
22:53Dal Po's heart melted.
22:54This bickering pair,
22:55originally intending to work together,
22:57now found themselves rivals at competing news stations.
23:00Dal Po teamed up with 1G,
23:02while In Ha partnered with Byom Jo.
23:04Coincidentally,
23:05both teams were assigned to the same police station,
23:08for their beat,
23:09tasked with digging up newsworthy stories.
23:11Upon arrival,
23:12Dal Po,
23:13noticing the dark circles under the eyes of the other reporters stationed there,
23:16immediately realized this assignment wouldn't be easy.
23:19He ran into an old classmate,
23:21Chan Su,
23:21now a police officer.
23:23They exchanged pleasantries,
23:25catching up on each other's lives.
23:26When In Ha arrived,
23:27Chan Su,
23:28learning they were there to gather information,
23:30led them to a designated rest area.
23:32As he opened the door,
23:341G and Byom Jo also rushed in.
23:36The site before them,
23:38a cramped dingy room,
23:39almost made them drop their jaws.
23:41Byom Jo,
23:42accustomed to a life of luxury,
23:44found it especially hard to accept.
23:46To find leads,
23:47they began questioning the other officers.
23:49After a full round of inquiries,
23:51they came up empty-handed,
23:53even earning a reprimand from a senior officer.
23:55This experience nearly broke Byom Jo's spirit.
23:58However,
23:59In Ha saw a different side of him,
24:01appreciating his persistence.
24:03They observed Dal Po working efficiently,
24:05seemingly having secured a lead from a cooperative officer.
24:09In Ha,
24:10left with no other option,
24:11clung to her old friend Chan Su.
24:13After much pleading,
24:14he finally offered a story about a woman who died from overexertion while exercising.
24:19Thrilled to have a lead,
24:21In Ha and Byom Jo split up to investigate,
24:23one going to the hospital and the other to the gym.
24:26Unbeknownst to them,
24:27this was the same story Dal Po had obtained.
24:29He and 1G also divided their efforts.
24:32The four reporters were now in a race against each other.
24:34A fierce competition ensued.
24:36Whoever obtained the gym surveillance footage first,
24:39would secure the exclusive story.
24:41They all converged on the gym,
24:42but the owner refused to release the video,
24:45fearing negative publicity.
24:46After a combination of pressure and persuasion,
24:49the owner relented but only agreed to let them view the footage.
24:52Refusing to provide a copy,
24:54In Ha and Byom Jo resigned themselves to watching the video and taking notes.
24:591G contemplated asking the owner again,
25:01but Dal Po revealed he had discreetly recorded the footage on his phone.
25:051G was ecstatic.
25:06They had won this round.
25:08The video showed a 330-pound woman,
25:10exercising frantically until she collapsed.
25:13Initial investigations revealed she had been devastated by her husband,
25:17leaving her for a thinner woman.
25:191G was eager to break the exclusive story,
25:22but Dal Po felt something was amiss.
25:24He recalled In Ha's warning,
25:25You're making a big mistake.
25:27Uneasy.
25:28He decided to visit the funeral home to speak with the family.
25:31There, he met the deceased woman's eldest daughter,
25:34confined to a wheelchair and clearly suffering from a serious illness.
25:37Dal Po introduced himself and offered his card,
25:41but the daughter revealed she had already given an interview.
25:44However, she decided to tell him the truth.
25:46She explained that she was suffering from severe liver cirrhosis.
25:50Her mother had wanted to donate part of her liver to save her daughter's life,
25:54but due to her weight,
25:55she needed to lose 66 pounds in a month to be eligible for the surgery.
25:59That's why she had pushed herself so hard,
26:02ultimately leading to the tragic accident.
26:03Before Dal Po could react, his erroneous report aired.
26:07Recently, a woman obsessed with beauty overexerted herself at the gym,
26:11leading to her death.
26:13No.
26:13A voice cried out from the television.
26:15That's not true.
26:17My mom did it for me.
26:18Dal Po was consumed by guilt.
26:20At that moment, the malicious reporter,
26:23In Ha's mother, aired the true story.
26:25It turned out her company had already uncovered the facts,
26:28waiting for their rivals to make a mistake and then deliver a fatal blow.
26:31The incident severely damaged the reputation of Dal Po's news station.
26:35His superiors angrily demanded an explanation,
26:38only to discover Dal Po was missing.
26:40He was grappling with his failure,
26:42alone in the conference room,
26:44where he had once debated with,
26:46in high.
26:46He had criticized her for lacking caution and objectivity,
26:50unfit to be a reporter.
26:51But now, he had caused a tragedy mirroring his childhood trauma.
26:55How was he any different from the unethical reporters,
26:57who had ruined his family?
26:59Returning home,
27:00he complained to his grandfather about the pressures of being a reporter,
27:03the low pay,
27:04the constant scoldings,
27:06and the endless hours spent traveling.
27:08He wanted to quit and return to driving a taxi.
27:11His grandfather asked gently,
27:12Do you really not want to do it,
27:14or are you running away?
27:15His words gave Dal Po pause.
27:17Lying in bed,
27:18staring at the dozens of missed calls on his phone,
27:21he thought about his promise to In Ha.
27:23He mustered his courage and returned to the station,
27:26ready to face the consequences.
27:27Expecting a harsh reprimand,
27:29he was surprised by his boss's calm demeanor.
27:32You made a mistake,
27:33one that any reporter could make.
27:34He said,
27:35This time,
27:36we'll let it slide,
27:37but don't let it happen again.
27:39Dal Po learned that after the story aired,
27:41the deceased woman's daughter had received an outpouring of support from the public.
27:45He returned to the police station,
27:46where he saw In Ha pestering Chan Su for information about an arson case.
27:51He glanced at the details,
27:52then dismissed it.
27:54Just then,
27:55In Ha stumbled,
27:56and both Dal Po and Byom Jo reached out to catch her.
27:59She pulled away from Dal Po,
28:01allowing Byom Jo to help her outside.
28:03They left together.
28:05Dal Po watched them go,
28:06a mix of uncomfortable emotions swirling within him.
28:09From the police files,
28:10Dal Po noticed a familiar phone number.
28:12Checking his contacts,
28:14he realized it was saved in his phone.
28:15Sensing something amiss,
28:17he immediately called the number.
28:19He arranged a meeting in the town square,
28:21under the pretense of discussing compensation for a damaged car,
28:25intending to investigate whether the person was connected to the recent incidents.
28:28As the figure approached,
28:30Dal Po's expression shifted from anticipation to disbelief.
28:33The man's face was identical to his long-lost brother.
28:37He could hardly believe his eyes until the man spoke.
28:39Ah, I'm Jae Myung.
28:41He was certain this was his brother.
28:43A chilling realization washed over him.
28:46The three victims of the recent incidents were all connected to the false accusations against his father.
28:51And all three had ties to his brother.
28:53He understood.
28:54Jae Myung was taking his revenge.
28:56Seeing that his brother didn't recognize him,
28:59he decided to keep his identity hidden for now.
29:01He said,
29:02I'm Dal Po.
29:03Just then he saw Chan Su approaching,
29:05and quickly pulled his brother away.
29:07But Chan Su caught a glimpse of them.
29:09Dal Po took Jae Myung to a snack bar,
29:11intending to offer compensation for the car.
29:15But Jae Myung refused.
29:16A little scuffle is a good way to make friends.
29:18He said,
29:19Consider us friends now.
29:21Outside, Jae Myung noticed Dal Po's striking resemblance to himself.
29:25If his younger brother hadn't died,
29:26he would have thought Dal Po was him.
29:28Young, Dal Po ventured,
29:30using the Korean word for older brother.
29:32Can I call you that?
29:34Jae Myung, pleased,
29:35agreed and drove away.
29:37Watching him leave,
29:38Dal Po felt a pang of longing,
29:39and hailed a taxi,
29:41secretly following his brother,
29:43wanting to see how he lived.
29:44He had so much to say,
29:46but he feared Jae Myung's quest for revenge
29:48had turned him into a dangerous man.
29:50At Jae Myung's doorstep,
29:51Dal Po hesitated.
29:53He raised his hand to ring the bell several times,
29:56wanting answers,
29:57but ultimately retreated.
29:58He wasn't ready to confront the truth.
30:00Meanwhile,
30:01a man,
30:02stopped by the police for a routine check,
30:04suddenly sped away in his vehicle.
30:06Traffic officers gave chase,
30:07but the man refused to stop,
30:09driving recklessly through the streets.
30:11A young boy was slowly crossing the road.
30:14Seeing the approaching truck,
30:15he tried to hurry but stumbled and fell.
30:17The truck,
30:18now out of control,
30:19flipped onto its side
30:20and headed straight for the boy.
30:22In a dramatic turn of events,
30:23a water truck intercepted the runaway vehicle,
30:26using its bulk to stop the truck's momentum.
30:28The driver stumbled out,
30:30relieved to see the boy unharmed,
30:32then collapsed onto him,
30:33unconscious.
30:34In Ha's news team captured the entire incident.
30:36The story instantly became headline news,
30:39with the water truck driver hailed as a hero.
30:41The driver was Jae Myung.
30:43He sustained minor injuries.
30:45In Ha approached him with her business card,
30:47requesting an exclusive interview.
30:49Jae Myung,
30:50recognizing her as the daughter of his enemy,
30:53gave a chilling smile and agreed.
30:54The damaged truck was towed to a repair shop.
30:57Dao Po,
30:58recognizing it as his brothers,
31:00frantically inquired about the driver.
31:02Learning he was being treated at the hospital,
31:04he rushed there.
31:05He arrived during Jae Myung's interview.
31:07It turned out Jae Myung saw the young boy
31:09as his long-lost younger brother,
31:11which is why he risked his life to save him.
31:14He explained how the false reporting 13 years ago,
31:17which painted his heroic father as a fugitive,
31:19had led to his mother taking his brother and disappearing.
31:22In Ha realized Jae Myung was the victim of the fire incident.
31:26Enraged,
31:26she demanded the name of the unethical reporter.
31:29Just as Jae Myung was about to answer,
31:31Dao Po appeared and pulled In Ha away.
31:33In Ha assumed he was trying to sabotage her exclusive,
31:37but Dao Po warned her to stay away from Jae Myung,
31:39stating he was dangerous.
31:41In Ha, however,
31:42argued that someone who risked their life for a stranger
31:45couldn't be a bad person.
31:47Knowing his brother had begun his revenge,
31:49Dao Po grew increasingly desperate,
31:51repeatedly pleading with In Ha to understand the danger.
31:54Unable to reveal the truth,
31:55he could only beg her to trust him.
31:57Seeing his seriousness,
31:59In Ha finally agreed to avoid Jae Myung after the interview.
32:02Relieved,
32:03Dao Po watched them continue.
32:05Jae Myung greeted the cameraman,
32:07like an old friend.
32:08The cameraman,
32:09flustered,
32:10hadn't expected to encounter Jae Myung again.
32:12Looking at In Ha's card,
32:14Jae Myung asked if she was Reporter Song's daughter.
32:17The cameraman hesitated,
32:18then confirmed it.
32:19Amazing.
32:20Jae Myung mused,
32:22Because of this incident,
32:23I get to meet Reporter Song's daughter.
32:25How interesting.
32:26During the interview,
32:28Jae Myung recounted how an unethical reporter,
32:30had turned his firefighter father from a hero,
32:33into a wanted criminal.
32:34However,
32:35the apology he received from the news station,
32:38felt insincere.
32:39Seeing this,
32:40Dao Po knew his brother wouldn't stop.
32:42He brought flowers to his father's memorial,
32:44where a photo of their family and messages of apology from the public were displayed.
32:48Overcome with grief,
32:49he stood there in silence.
32:51Hearing footsteps,
32:52he quickly composed himself,
32:53and turned around.
32:55Jae Myung still didn't recognize his younger brother.
32:57Assuming he was there to pay his respects.
33:00When he learned Dao Po was a reporter,
33:02his demeanor instantly turned hostile.
33:04He even threw away the flowers Dao Po had brought.
33:07Dao Po followed him.
33:08Asking,
33:09Do you know Ki Deok-su?
33:10Jae Myung's face paled.
33:12Ki Deok-su was the man.
33:14He had thrown down the manhole.
33:15He lied.
33:16I don't know him.
33:18Dao Po continued.
33:19He slandered your father years ago.
33:21His two accomplices have also met with unfortunate accidents.
33:24Jae Myung turned sharply.
33:26They deserved it.
33:27He spat.
33:28Death isn't enough to atone for what they did to my father.
33:31Dao Po seized on the opening.
33:33I only said Deok.
33:34So was missing.
33:36He pointed out.
33:37How can you be so sure he's dead?
33:38He pressed further.
33:40Do you want an apology,
33:41or do you want revenge?
33:43Jae Myung's voice was cold.
33:44If I have to choose between the two,
33:46I choose revenge.
33:47He snatched Dao Po's recording phone,
33:49and threw it into a nearby fire.
33:51Dao Po remained calm.
33:53The phone was a decoy.
33:54He had been recording their conversation with a device hidden in his tie clip.
33:58He didn't intend to give the recording to the police,
34:00only to convince his brother to stop.
34:02Meanwhile, the cameraman showed In-ha the footage of Jae Myung's interview from 13 years ago.
34:08In-ha was horrified to discover her mother was the reporter who had destroyed his family.
34:13The idealized image of her mother crumbled before her eyes.
34:16The cameraman warned her that something about Jae Myung felt off and urged her to be careful.
34:22Then, a pair of shoes in the video caught In-ha's attention.
34:26The cameraman explained they belonged to Jae Myung's younger brother.
34:29In-ha suddenly remembered Dao Po owning an identical shoe.
34:33She rushed home and showed the shoe to her grandfather,
34:36who explained that it was the reason he had taken Dao Po in.
34:39Everything clicked into place.
34:40Why Dao Po had suddenly turned cold towards her.
34:43Why he teased her relentlessly.
34:45Why he opposed her becoming a reporter.
34:47And why he'd been so furious during their debate.
34:50In-ha's heart ached.
34:51She couldn't bear to imagine the pain Dao Po had endured.
34:54Your real name, it's Jae Myung, isn't it?
34:57Dao Po, his face etched with pain, simply asked,
35:00How?
35:01How did you know?
35:02Public opinion could create heroes,
35:04turning dangerous individuals into national icons.
35:07But it could also invisibly destroy lives,
35:10turning a heroic firefighter into a fugitive and shattering a family.
35:13Knowing her mother was responsible,
35:16In-ha decided to seek justice for Dao Po.
35:18During her mother's public speaking event,
35:21in the final Q&A session,
35:23In-ha confronted her.
35:24Thirteen years ago, she began, her voice trembling.
35:28During the fire incident,
35:29you prioritized sensationalism over truth,
35:32driving Ki-ha Myung's family to ruin.
35:35The room erupted in murmurs, but In-ha wasn't finished.
35:38Because of your misleading reports, she continued,
35:41her voice rising.
35:41The entire nation turned against them.
35:44Don't you understand how dangerous a report lacking truth,
35:47and driven solely by sensationalism, can be?
35:50Her mother, even now, refused to accept responsibility,
35:53placing the blame on the man with Pinocchio syndrome.
35:56This reminded In-ha of her earlier debate with Dao Po.
35:59His words had silenced her then.
36:01Now, she looked at him, echoing his accusations to her mother.
36:05Everyone thinks reporters simply convey the truth, she said.
36:08But whether you have Pinocchio syndrome, or you're a reporter,
36:11you have to understand, people will believe your words unconditionally.
36:15In-ha's blunt words struck a chord with the malicious reporter,
36:19leaving her speechless.
36:20Even the executives observing the event were stunned.
36:23Only 1G voiced her support, praising In-ha's courage.
36:27After the event, In-ha worried about the repercussions,
36:30fearing she would be fired.
36:31Dao Po questioned her actions.
36:33He asked,
36:34Why did you do that?
36:35She replied,
36:37I just couldn't stand it anymore.
36:38He pressed further.
36:40Do you not care about your mother's feelings?
36:42In-ha tried to avoid the question,
36:44but Dao Po gently held her arm,
36:46preventing her from leaving.
36:47She admitted she cared, but her mother was wrong.
36:50And if Dao Po wanted to pursue the matter,
36:53she wouldn't stand in his way.
36:54After they parted ways,
36:56Dao Po received a call from Byung-jo,
36:58warning him that Jae-myung might be at the MSC broadcasting station.
37:02Dao Po immediately rushed back.
37:04Jae-myung had indeed targeted In-ha-meri.
37:06As she stepped out of the elevator,
37:08he grabbed her,
37:09demanding to know how she knew so much about his family.
37:12In-ha refused to implicate Dao Po.
37:14Just then, Dao Po arrived,
37:16pulling his brother off her.
37:18Are you okay?
37:19He asked In-ha.
37:20His voice filled with concern.
37:22As Jae-myung rose to his feet,
37:24they struggled.
37:25Suddenly, Dao Po revealed his identity.
37:27Hyeong, he cried.
37:29It's me, Ha-myung.
37:31Jae-myung stared at him in disbelief.
37:33He'd always believed his younger brother had died,
37:36because of the reporters.
37:37In-ha confirmed Dao Po's identity.
37:40You lied to me.
37:41Jae-myung accused him,
37:43his voice breaking.
37:44You said dad would come back.
37:46You said you would come back.
37:47We would watch fireworks together,
37:49and things would go back to normal.
37:51You promised.
37:52Memories flooded back to Jae-myung.
37:54Before setting out to avenge their father,
37:56he had repeatedly promised his younger brother
37:58he would return.
38:00But an unforeseen incident had prevented him
38:02from coming home that night,
38:03leading to their mother's desperate act.
38:05He finally recognized the man before him
38:07as his younger brother,
38:09Ha-myung.
38:09The brother he had mourned for 13 years was alive.
38:12Overwhelmed by joy and disbelief,
38:14he embraced him tightly.
38:16They went to a restaurant.
38:17Jae-myung still remembered his brother's preference
38:19for pizza with more vegetables than meat.
38:22Touched by this small gesture,
38:24Dao Po listened as Jae-myung asked about his life.
38:26He recounted his rescue by the elderly man with dementia,
38:30who had treated him like a son.
38:31People approached Jae-myung for autographs.
38:34Seeing his brother celebrated as a hero,
38:36Dao Po felt a bitter pang.
38:38Jae-myung chuckled dryly.
38:40It's ironic, isn't it?
38:41He said,
38:42Reporter Song ruined our family,
38:44and now she's made me a hero.
38:45He urged Dao Po to continue living as Dao Po,
38:48asking him to keep their relationship a secret.
38:51Dao Po, confused, questioned him.
38:53Did you?
38:54Did you cause those deaths?
38:55He finally asked.
38:57Yes, Ha-myung.
38:59Jae-myung replied,
39:00his words piercing Dao Po's heart like a knife.
39:02He had suspected the truth,
39:04but clung to a sliver of hope.
39:06Now, his worst fears were confirmed.
39:08He couldn't bring himself to expose his brother.
39:10Later, during a news team meeting,
39:12Won-ji suggested focusing on Jae-myung.
39:15While gathering information at the police station,
39:17she'd overheard officers discussing him as a suspect
39:20in several missing person cases.
39:22Jae-myung was currently a hot topic,
39:24and exposing the dark side of a national hero
39:26would generate unprecedented publicity for their network.
39:29Their boss immediately assigned Won-ji to the story.
39:32Panicked, Dao Po approached his boss,
39:35confessing the truth about his brother.
39:37He promised to convince Jae-myung to turn himself in,
39:40creating an even bigger scoop.
39:42His boss agreed,
39:43reassigning Won-ji,
39:45and giving Dao Po full responsibility for the story.
39:48Won-ji was furious.
39:49Why did you steal my story?
39:51Dao Po could only apologize,
39:53leaving Won-ji to drown her sorrows in alcohol that night.
39:56However, when she woke up,
39:58she found herself in the newsroom
39:59and overheard that Jae-myung would be giving a special interview.
40:03She excitedly shared this information with Dao Po,
40:06who felt a growing sense of unease.
40:08He received an anonymous tip,
40:09accusing his brother of murder.
40:11Fearing the worst,
40:12he raced to find Jae-myung.
40:14He asked,
40:14Are you planning to take your revenge during the interview?
40:17Jae-myung confirmed his intentions.
40:19Dao Po pleaded with him to turn himself in,
40:22promising to secure a lenient sentence.
40:24He couldn't bear to lose his brother again.
40:27Jae-myung refused,
40:28aware of Dao Po's feelings for In-ha,
40:30not wanting to make things difficult for him.
40:33He turned and left,
40:34but Dao Po wasn't giving up.
40:36He confronted his brother again,
40:38declaring he had given up on In-ha.
40:39He then issued an ultimatum.
40:41If Jae-myung didn't agree to let him expose the truth,
40:44he would give the evidence to the police,
40:46preventing him from participating in the interview.
40:49Jae-myung finally relented.
40:51The brothers joined forces,
40:52devising a plan to expose the malicious reporter.
40:55She remained blissfully unaware of the impending danger.
40:58The interview began,
40:59and Dao Po set out to gather evidence against his brother.
41:02The reporter,
41:03intent on bolstering Jae-myung's heroic image,
41:05played a clip of his passionate plea for justice
41:07for his father 13 years prior,
41:10hoping to evoke sympathy from the audience
41:12and boost ratings.
41:13As expected,
41:14the clip generated significant public interest.
41:17However,
41:18things took an unexpected turn.
41:20Jae-myung questioned
41:21why they hadn't aired the original, unedited video.
41:24His interview from years ago
41:25wasn't intended to garner sympathy.
41:27The reporter,
41:28realizing her manipulation had been exposed,
41:30recalled how she had selectively aired
41:32only the most emotionally charged segments
41:34of Jae-myung's interview
41:35to maximize outrage.
41:37She attempted to change the subject,
41:39but Jae-myung pressed on.
41:40Reporter song,
41:42he said,
41:43his voice chilling.
41:44You used clever editing
41:45to turn my father into a villain.
41:47How interesting.
41:48She tried to deny it,
41:50blaming the immaturity of the media landscape back then,
41:53and offering a hollow apology.
41:55But Jae-myung wasn't letting her off the hook.
41:57Truly fascinating,
41:58he continued,
41:59his voice dripping with sarcasm.
42:01You turned a heroic firefighter into a fugitive,
42:04and then transformed me,
42:05a dangerous man,
42:06into a national hero.
42:07Silence fell over the studio,
42:10followed by a wave of murmurs.
42:11If you don't believe me,
42:13Jae-myung challenged.
42:14Watch the news.
42:16At that moment,
42:17Dal Po,
42:18reporting live from the locations of Jae-myung's crimes,
42:21exposed the truth.
42:22The public was stunned.
42:23Moments ago,
42:24Jae-myung had been a national hero.
42:26Now,
42:27he was being exposed as a dangerous criminal.
42:29After his report,
42:30Dal Po revealed his true identity
42:32as Ki-ham-yung.
42:34His grandfather and brother,
42:35watching the broadcast,
42:36finally learned his real name.
42:39Dal Po then appeared outside the broadcasting station,
42:41where police cars were waiting for Jae-myung to surrender.
42:44Jae-myung emerged,
42:46and the brothers,
42:47reunited after 13 years,
42:48now faced another separation.
42:50Dal Po,
42:51filled with remorse,
42:52apologized repeatedly.
42:54Jae-myung cupped his face.
42:56Today is just the beginning.
42:57He said,
42:58From now on,
42:59you have to face Song Cha OK alone.
43:01Show her,
43:02and me,
43:03what a real reporter is.
43:04Jae-myung knew
43:05he couldn't take down someone
43:06as powerful as reporter Song.
43:08He had to entrust that task to his brother.
43:11Returning home,
43:12Dal Po packed his bags,
43:14preparing for a long battle.
43:15He bid farewell to his grandfather,
43:17his heart heavy
43:18as he formally severed their adoptive ties.
43:21His grandfather didn't want him to leave,
43:23but Dal Po knew he couldn't stay.
43:25Not while he was pursuing In-ha's mother.
43:27He couldn't face In-ha.
43:29Listening to his footsteps fade away,
43:31In-ha,
43:32hidden behind her door,
43:33wept silently.
43:35Jae-myung was quickly escorted
43:36to the crime scenes
43:37for identification.
43:38Surrounded by a throng of reporters,
43:40the scene mirrored the media frenzy
43:4213 years ago.
43:43But this time,
43:44they weren't victims.
43:45They were enacting revenge.
43:47The same reporter
43:48who had used her words
43:49to turn a hero into a fugitive
43:50and a dangerous man
43:52into a national icon
43:53now faced her reckoning.
43:55She hadn't anticipated
43:56a national hero
43:57confessing his crimes
43:58on live television,
44:00accusing her of prioritizing
44:01ratings over truth,
44:02While this single act
44:03didn't destroy her career,
44:05it severely damaged
44:06her credibility.
44:07Over time,
44:08other instances
44:09of her fabricated reporting
44:10were unearthed.
44:11Public outcry erupted
44:12on social media
44:13and protests demanding
44:14her resignation
44:15gathered outside
44:16her company's building.
44:17Then,
44:18another victim
44:19of her false reporting emerged.
44:20Mr. Park,
44:22a former bus company owner.
44:23One of his drivers
44:24had embezzled funds
44:25and the following day,
44:27he died mysteriously.
44:29Without any evidence,
44:30the reporter published
44:31a story claiming
44:32the driver had taken
44:33his own life
44:33due to the dismissal,
44:35leading to a boycott
44:36and the eventual bankruptcy
44:37of Mr. Park's company.
44:39Now,
44:40Mr. Park,
44:41holding the driver's
44:42death certificate
44:43stating he had died
44:44of a heart attack,
44:45demanded an apology
44:46and a retraction.
44:47This new development
44:48put the reporter
44:49under intense scrutiny
44:50from her superiors.
44:52Learning she hadn't even bothered
44:53to verify the cause of death,
44:55they furiously demanded
44:56a solution,
44:57threatening to replace
44:58her as chief editor.
44:59They dispatched
45:00Inha and Byom Jo
45:01to investigate,
45:02while Dal Po
45:03and Won Ji
45:04were also assigned
45:04to the story.
45:05Dal Po informed
45:06his brother
45:07about the situation,
45:08realizing that
45:09if reported truthfully,
45:10this could be
45:11the final blow
45:11to the reporter's career.
45:13Inha and Byom,
45:14Jo reached Mr. Park first,
45:17eager to understand
45:17the truth.
45:18Dal Po and Won Ji
45:19arrived soon after,
45:21and Mr. Park agreed
45:22to speak with all four of them.
45:24He revealed
45:24he'd recently learned
45:25from the driver's brother
45:26that the death
45:27was due to a stroke.
45:29not suicide,
45:30and produced
45:30the death certificate.
45:32With the document in hand,
45:33the next step
45:34was verification.
45:35The four reporters
45:36decided to cooperate.
45:37Inha would verify
45:38the death certificate,
45:40Byom Jo would interview
45:41the driver's colleagues,
45:42Won Ji would speak
45:43with the driver's family,
45:45and Dal Po
45:45would confront the reporter.
45:47Dal Po didn't waste any time.
45:49He demanded,
45:50On what basis
45:50did you conclude
45:51he committed suicide?
45:53There were many indications.
45:54She responded defensively.
45:56Did you see
45:57the death certificate?
45:58Dal Po pressed.
45:59There was testimony.
46:01She began.
46:02Did you see
46:02the death certificate?
46:04He interrupted.
46:05We found a suicide note.
46:06She tried again.
46:08Did you see
46:08the death certificate?
46:09Dal Po repeated firmly.
46:11It wasn't necessary.
46:13She retorted.
46:14Her composure
46:14finally cracking.
46:16There was other evidence.
46:17The usually unflappable reporter
46:18was visibly agitated.
46:20Dal Po smiled inwardly.
46:22She was losing control.
46:24He later learned
46:24from Byung Jo
46:25that the driver's colleagues
46:26confirmed his history
46:27of heart problems.
46:29Won Ji also returned,
46:31confirming from the driver's brother
46:32that he hadn't taken his own life.
46:34However,
46:35Dal Po still felt uneasy.
46:37While all the evidence
46:37pointed to the reporter's fabrication,
46:40something felt off.
46:41They just needed In Ha
46:42to confirm the authenticity
46:43of the death certificate,
46:45and the reporter
46:45would have no way out.
46:47The consequences
46:47of her false reporting
46:48would finally catch up to her.
46:50But In Ha
46:51hesitated to release the document.
46:53Dal Po called her,
46:54but she didn't answer.
46:55She texted him,
46:56saying she was fine,
46:57but he remembered her
46:58saying the same thing
46:59after meeting her mother.
47:01Even though she'd been crying,
47:02worried,
47:03he went to look for her
47:04and found her standing
47:05outside the newsroom,
47:07clearly conflicted.
47:08It turned out In Ha
47:09had learned from the doctor
47:10that Mr. Park's death certificate
47:12was forged,
47:13missing a crucial section.
47:15She had obtained
47:15the real certificate
47:16from the doctor.
47:17Not wanting to disappoint Dal Po,
47:19she was about to tear up
47:20the documents
47:21when she saw him approaching.
47:23In Ha turned and ran.
47:24Dal Po chased after her,
47:26demanding to know
47:27what she was doing.
47:28She hesitated,
47:29unable to speak.
47:30Well?
47:31He pressed.
47:32What happened?
47:33Was it wrong?
47:34Did your mother
47:34report it incorrectly?
47:36In Ha reluctantly
47:37revealed the truth.
47:38The death certificate
47:39was forged.
47:40The driver
47:40had committed suicide.
47:42Dal Po was stunned.
47:43They were so close
47:44to exposing her,
47:45but the truth
47:46had shattered their hopes.
47:47Arriving home,
47:48Dal Po found his grandfather
47:49and brother waiting.
47:51He had intended
47:51to maintain his distance,
47:53but 13 years of familial bonds
47:55weren't easily broken.
47:56His grandfather,
47:57worried about him living alone,
47:59had come to check on him,
48:01fussing over the heating,
48:02sealing the windows
48:03against the cold,
48:04and reminding him
48:05to eat properly.
48:06Dal Po was deeply touched.
48:07His brother also left
48:08the neighbor's phone number,
48:10urging Dal Po to call him
48:11if he needed anything.
48:13Before leaving,
48:14his grandfather reassured him,
48:15I will never abandon you.
48:17Remember that.
48:19No matter what anyone says,
48:20you will always be my son.
48:22Later,
48:23Dal Po opened the bag
48:24his grandfather had brought,
48:26finding a persimmon,
48:27a scarf,
48:28and a note reminding him
48:29to eat regularly
48:30and take care of his health.
48:31Clutching the scarf,
48:33he felt the warmth
48:33of their love.
48:34The next morning,
48:35protesters gathered outside
48:36the reporter's company building,
48:38demanding an apology.
48:39As her car arrived,
48:40they surged forward,
48:42blocking her path.
48:43She remained calm,
48:44stepping out to face them.
48:46Reporters swarmed her,
48:47questioning her
48:48about the inaccuracies
48:49in the Mr. Park story.
48:51Watching the scene unfold,
48:52Dal Po was reminded
48:53of his own childhood trauma,
48:55but he felt no satisfaction.
48:57If he stood by
48:58and did nothing,
48:58how was he any different
48:59from the unethical reporters
49:01he despised?
49:02He couldn't stand it any longer.
49:04He stepped forward,
49:05presenting evidence
49:06that exposed Mr. Park's lie.
49:08The original certificate
49:09stated the cause of death
49:10was a drug overdose.
49:12He revealed,
49:13Why did you forge it, Mr. Park?
49:16Exposed, Mr. Park fled the scene.
49:19The reporter stared at Dal Po,
49:20stunned.
49:21Why was he helping her?
49:23I did what a reporter should do.
49:24He explained,
49:26What you should have done
49:2613 years ago.
49:28That's why.
49:29Even when you're telling the truth,
49:30no one believes you.
49:31His words hit her hard.
49:33Dal Po had fulfilled
49:34his promise to his brother,
49:36showing her what a real reporter was.
49:38In Ha, watching them,
49:40felt a sense of quiet satisfaction.
49:42The truth, however painful,
49:43had finally come to light.
49:45To everyone's surprise,
49:46the reporter held a press conference,
49:48publicly apologizing
49:49for her past misconduct,
49:51announcing her resignation
49:52as chief editor,
49:54and expressing remorse
49:55for her actions.
49:56Even Dal Po was taken aback.
49:58By helping his enemy
49:59escape public condemnation,
50:00he had inadvertently
50:01prompted her to step down.
50:03As she packed her belongings,
50:04she dropped a box of items.
50:06In Ha helped her gather them,
50:08asking what she planned to do next.
50:10The reporter didn't answer,
50:11simply telling In Ha
50:12to be a good reporter.
50:14Not like her.
50:15Dal Po found In Ha
50:16and apologized
50:17for his past behavior,
50:19finally confessing his feelings.
50:21In Ha didn't blame him,
50:23expressing her concerns
50:23about their relationship,
50:25given her mother's history
50:26with his family.
50:27Dal Po pulled her close,
50:29holding her tightly.
50:30Time passed quickly.
50:31As the new year approached,
50:32both Dal Po and In Ha
50:34thrived in their careers.
50:36Although living separately,
50:37they commuted to work together
50:39every day,
50:40their phone calls lingering
50:41even after they reached
50:42their respective stations.
50:43Their love was undeniable.
50:45Then came a pivotal moment.
50:47Dal Po's brothers
50:48showed their grandfather
50:48childhood photos of Dal Po
50:50and In Ha,
50:52expressing his support
50:52for their relationship.
50:54He revealed that Dal Po
50:55had harbored feelings
50:56for In Ha for 10 years,
50:57but had honored his father's memory
50:59by maintaining
51:00the uncle-niece dynamic.
51:01Touched by Dal Po's loyalty
51:03and gratitude,
51:04despite their earlier agreement
51:05to dissolve the adoption,
51:07the grandfather realized
51:08they were still legally family.
51:10He had an idea.
51:11The next day,
51:12he met with Dal Po
51:13and officially annulled
51:14the adoption.
51:15Dal Po was surprised.
51:17He asked,
51:18What's going on, Grandpa?
51:19His grandfather,
51:20his voice thick with emotion,
51:22explained his decision,
51:24restoring Dal Po's legal name
51:25and identity.
51:26Thank you, Grandpa.
51:27Thank you, Dad.
51:29Dal Po said,
51:30embracing him.
51:30It wasn't just Dal Po
51:32who was grateful
51:33for their time together.
51:34His grandfather was equally thankful
51:35for having him as a son.
51:37Later,
51:37he took Dal Po
51:38and In Ha wedding dress shopping.
51:40He beamed at the sight of them
51:41while Dal Po's brother
51:42excitedly snapped photos.
51:44In Ha finally asked the question
51:46that had lingered in her mind
51:47since middle school,
51:48Why did you fight for me back then?
51:50Dal Po smiled.
51:51Because I liked you.
51:53The story concluded
51:53with their beautiful wedding ceremony.
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51:57for more heartwarming stories.