Screech.
The car carrying Yunsin came to a stop in the public underground parking garage of a mixed-use apartment complex near Seocho-dong’s Law Town. Luxury sedans and supercars alike were packed into every corner until it was brimming full.
The entrance leading to the parking garage’s private corridor was decorated with majestic patterns reminiscent of a gallery entrance. Passing through it, one entered a resplendent hall exactly like a Christmas lobby decorated by a famous hotel. If one exaggerated a little, from the apartment’s entrance through the main building all the way to the neighborhood park in the rear, the entirety was like a small kingdom unto itself.
At a glance, it was obvious this extravagant apartment complex was company housing owned by the law firm Doguk.
Doguk boasted roughly four hundred attorneys and a hundred patent attorneys, and including other necessary personnel for intellectual property rights and the like, its formal professional staff alone numbered nearly a thousand.
Those among them who wished could be allocated a floor suited to their rank and reside here. As a welfare benefit, employee families were also accommodated; he had heard that the three complexes, totaling over a thousand households, were nearly full. It seemed Attorney Gang Seheon also lived in the royal floor of Building A, which had the largest square footage. Yunsin had recently moved here as well.
Gathering documents from the passenger seat, Yunsin stopped getting out and took out a copy of his résumé from among them.
‘Can I really do this? I’ve never once been parachuted into a position in my entire life…….’
A few weeks ago, Yunsin had received a call from his older sister.
The siblings had always been close. Their father had raised the two children alone, and his older sister, Yi Gyeong-eun, who was considerably older, had cared for Yunsin almost like a son. Naturally, after their father passed away, they had relied on each other with the feeling that they were the only two people left in the world. Though they couldn’t meet often after she married, his sister’s words remained one of the things Yunsin absolutely had to obey.
So when she asked him to submit his résumé to Doguk, he had been truly shocked. When she even added that she had already secured him a position and he need only show up in person, it was all the more so. It was highly unusual, as she had never once tried to control his life.
‘So that’s why Attorney Gang Seheon came to watch my trial that day with Chief Song.’
His sister wished for him to find economic stability instead of working day and night for paltry attorney fees. She advised him that experience at Doguk would give him power even in the courtroom. He could feel her tender heart worrying about her younger brother in many ways.
Yunsin knew well what kind of law firm Doguk was. It dealt only with profitable domestic and foreign corporations and wouldn’t even offer legal counsel to ordinary people. It was obvious that if he joined, he would be unable to take the public interest cases he had been handling until now. Nevertheless, after much deliberation, he accepted.
Because the one who made the request was none other than his sister.
He had never once told her no.
It wasn’t because he was simply an obedient younger brother, nor merely because their bond ran deep. His sister was a wise and thoughtful person. She hadn’t dismissed Yunsin for being young and had generally respected her brother’s free will. Even when something was difficult for her to accept, she would carefully consider it from Yunsin’s perspective before cautiously advising if there might not be another way. When such a sister recommended first something he would be reluctant to do, there must have been sufficient reason for it.
He intended to endure until she felt at ease, then leave again at the appropriate time. He didn’t think he could last long in that jungle of a firm. If he resigned after doing all he could, she would understand.
“Sigh, I don’t know.”
Yunsin put the documents back into the envelope and got out of the car. He walked toward the majestic parking lobby that he still couldn’t get used to despite seeing it repeatedly for days, when a man getting out of a car happened to catch his eye.
The man’s back was slim yet undeniably solid, strangely familiar.
‘Where have I seen him before?’
Carefully following the man, Yunsin observed him swiping his card key at the entrance. The neatly trimmed, well-shaped nails at the ends of his long fingers were striking. He looked extremely clean, yet at the same time, terribly fastidious. Furthermore, the side profile with sharp, clean-cut lines was quite beautiful. And subtly familiar.
The moment he realized who it was, he forcibly swallowed a gasp.
It was Gang Seheon.
To think he would run into him this quickly.
Fortunately, Seheon didn’t look back at Yunsin. He simply walked on with heavy steps.
In the center of the parking lobby, the path split three ways. It was the intersection leading into each apartment building. The man walked there in silence, then suddenly turned around. Not only that, he blocked Yunsin’s path with a slender arm, controlling his movement. Yunsin had no idea since when Seheon had known he was following behind.
Startled by his path being abruptly blocked, Yunsin looked up at him blankly. Sharp eyes that seemed capable of piercing a person’s inner self, and pale skin, entered his vision first. The moment their eyes met, as Yunsin tried to avert his gaze out of awkwardness, Seheon spoke.
“We meet again.”
At the word “again,” Yunsin momentarily wondered if he meant that brief encounter from long ago. But Yunsin quickly realized that wasn’t it, thanks to swiftly recalling that another incident had occurred in the meantime.
“So it seems. After seeing each other at court…… we meet again.”
“Do you have a moment?”
His low, calm voice proposing conversation sounded terribly attractive. But Yunsin roughly knew that this man’s inner self was not as beautiful as his splendid exterior.
Whether true or not, the Gang Seheon he had heard of through the grapevine was an opportunist. Arrogant, greedy, and merciless. Rumors circulated that he would accept any backroom deal with anyone as long as it was in a legal form, and sometimes even violated attorney ethics, not hesitating to use expedients. Perhaps because of that, he almost never lost a game.
“Yes. Please speak.”
As Yunsin answered, residents were coming down to the lobby through the inner door. They glanced at the two standing in an awkward atmosphere and moved toward the parking lot. As residents of this apartment, they were surely people connected to Doguk in one way or another, and it seemed they inevitably knew who Seheon was. Yunsin coughed in embarrassment. But Seheon’s expression remained unchanged. He seemed like a man who paid no mind to others’ gazes.
“You know me.”
There would be no one who had rolled around this field for years and didn’t know Gang Seheon. Unable to grasp the intent behind the sudden question, Yunsin readily nodded.
“Of course. I know you. Attorney Gang Seheon of Doguk.”
“Good that you do. I have a few questions.”
“I’ll answer if it’s something I can.”
“I wonder why I am seeing you again here. This is Doguk’s company housing.”
He didn’t know why Seheon was asking this now, after coming personally to court to watch his trial. Wondering if Seheon was displeased about him entering through his sister’s influence, or testing him for some other unpredictable reason, Yunsin answered as evasively as possible.
“Perhaps it was fate that we would meet again.”
Responding as if soothing with a deliberately gentle tone, Yunsin found Seheon’s languid gaze fixing sharply upon him. His pale face was full of keen interest.
“Fate, is it? I don’t believe in that. The cause is too vague, don’t you think?”
“But I believe there is a clear reason…… for us meeting here.”
“There may be one with Doguk, but there shouldn’t be one with me. I opposed it.”
He had thought everything was settled; apparently not.
He had heard that Attorney Song Mihui and his sister had sorted out everything regarding his joining. Because he remembered both of them coming to watch his criminal trial a few weeks ago, he had believed it without doubt. Yet hearing that Gang Seheon, the face of Doguk, had opposed it—even as Yunsin had already moved into the company housing—was deeply bewildering.
As Yunsin couldn’t continue and only moved his lips, Seheon calmly added. His voice was composed, but his expression and tone were subtly cynical.
“You did well at the trial. I also like Charles Dickens. Your use of that passage from Great Expectations was very apt. Your argument had no superfluities, either.”
“Thank yo——”
The well-mannered Yunsin reflexively answered the praise, but Seheon cut him off sharply.
“Save your thanks until I’m finished speaking. You might not want to say them.”
“…….”
“I bear you no ill will, but from what I see, Attorney Do is not the big law firm type. There are still many people out there driven to the brink of freezing to death. Saving them is more in line with your values, isn’t it? Is it not?”
The mocking nuance was quite unpleasant, but there were no flaws in the logic, so Yunsin couldn’t refute it. Joining Doguk was certainly contrary to his own will and values.
Yet the world did not revolve according to an individual’s desires. Meaning, at the very least, he hadn’t joined that law firm because he desperately wanted to. A shrewd attorney like Gang Seheon couldn’t possibly have failed to guess that. Yet the reason he held Yunsin back and spoke to him was exactly one.
This was a kind of warning.
“Why bother saying this to me when my joining is already decided?”
“I very much dislike things happening to me without causal relationships. I wanted to convey that I hope we have no professional matters to see each other about. Let’s only see each other near home like this once in a while. By chance.”
It seemed he had finished all he had to say, for he lightly nodded and unilaterally turned his body. It happened before Yunsin could organize his thoughts. Naturally, he missed the timing to respond.
Having been hit by a sudden frost, Yunsin, who had been about to argue with him, closed his lips as he watched the retreating figure. Seheon took a few more steps and entered in the direction of Building A. His figure heading to take the elevator through the transparent inner door was visible from afar. Soon, the double doors opened their maws and departed on a short journey carrying him.
Once Seheon disappeared from sight, Yunsin’s expression quietly changed from calm to dumbfounded.
‘His expression, tone, attitude……. Ugh.’
Shivering as if a chill were running through him, Yunsin cast his gaze in the exact opposite direction from where Seheon had disappeared. Building C. That was where he had to go.
He waited patiently, caught the elevator, and finally returned home.
Loosening his tie, Yunsin called his sister’s chief of staff. The other party answered quickly.
—Yes, Attorney. What is it?
“Chief, it’s Yunsin. I wanted to ask you something. I ran into Attorney Gang Seheon of Doguk in the apartment parking lobby. But he said he opposed me.”
—Well, there seems to have been some conflict of opinion between Attorney Gang and Attorney Song……. But things will proceed without a hitch. You needn’t worry.
Yunsin’s brow slightly furrowed upon hearing that.
In the lobby a short while ago, Seheon had conveyed a great deal of intention with few words. This place was Doguk’s territory. Saying they should see each other near home by chance seemed to mean that since Yunsin’s joining was already a done deal, Seheon would stand aside. And saying they shouldn’t clash professionally meant that Seheon would tolerate things up to that point, so at the very least, Yunsin should absolutely not hover around in front of him.
Yunsin had already been thinking he wouldn’t get along with someone of Seheon’s disposition. Moreover, strictly speaking, he was a parachute hire, so he might not look good in the eyes of a meritocrat like Seheon. But even if it was mutually regrettable, the fact that a partner as lofty as the heavens had deliberately grabbed a mere attorney like himself to warn him was somewhat significant.
He definitely was not welcome. And quite sensitively at that.
He had intended to endure like one dead for a few years as his sister wanted, but the signs were bad.
“He didn’t seem to like me. I hear big law firms have extremely rigid hierarchies. Won’t he disadvantage my appointment? I heard Attorney Gang Seheon’s word is law at Doguk.”
—If you’re truly concerned, shall I relay it to the madam? She will take measures.
“No. If things get distorted, my position might only become more difficult…… I’ll think about it for now. By the way, what about my sister? It’s been quiet since I last met her. Is she doing well?”
The person who had been answering readily suddenly hesitated for a moment. It was a sign of wavering over the answer. Then he soon responded composedly.
—Of course. Um, Attorney. Excuse me, but if your important business is finished, may I end the call now? I have urgent work. If you need anything later, please contact me anytime.
“Ah, I must have disturbed your work. I will. Thank you for your hard work, Chief.”
Yunsin, mulling over the chief of staff’s answer, politely bid farewell and ended the call. He had definitely hesitated when asked if his sister was doing well a moment ago. Moreover, he seemed to have tried to wrap up the call hastily out of worry that this topic would continue. Yunsin didn’t know the exact reason.
Forcefully suppressing his uneasy feelings, Yunsin entered the study first rather than the bedroom. He sat on the horizontally long desk and stared at the acrylic whiteboard placed beside it. On it, some lists of Doguk-affiliated attorneys, foreign attorneys, accountants, and patent attorneys were meticulously written along with photos. He had organized it because he thought he should memorize the faces and positions of key figures who controlled the firm beforehand to avoid trouble.
“Attorney Gang Seheon…… quite an impressive résumé.”
Dragging his gaze upward from below according to rank, Yunsin’s eyes fixed on the partner attorneys directly under the representative. Among the aged attorneys, the sole young Seheon was one of them. Perhaps at a small-scale law office he wouldn’t stand out, but for a partner at a big law firm, he was noticeably young. How rapidly Gang Seheon had risen as an attorney was proven by this fact alone.
Having entered Korea University at the youngest age in history, he graduated from its law school and joined Doguk. After distinguishing himself for several years and going through the junior associate attorney[3] course, he went to study in America. When he returned after acquiring that state’s bar license, his value had jumped considerably.
At the time, most top law firms had attempted to contract with him, but unexpectedly, Seheon returned to Doguk where his alumnus Mihui was. It seemed he even invested capital to become a partner attorney at that firm at a very fast speed.
At a law firm, one word from a capable partner is absolute. Especially to an associate attorney. Naturally, the words he had aimed at Yunsin came to mind.
〈I very much dislike things without causal relationships happening to me.〉
He looked exactly like someone who would say that. How should I put it—he gave a very cold impression, as if he loathed everything that couldn’t be explained by logic. He had heard countless rumors and wondered if they could be true, but after speaking face to face, the thought sprouted that Seheon might be even colder than the rumors.
Even if he entered welcomed by everyone, things there would be headache-inducing; it was troubling that his first impression on Gang Seheon of all people seemed very bad. However, since Seheon was the firm’s most expensive partner, there probably wouldn’t be many occasions to cross paths with him. Moreover, since they lived in different buildings, if their commute times just didn’t overlap, situations to clash would be few.
Even so, the feeling was strangely bad.
“This is troublesome.”
Flicking Seheon’s photo with a finger, Yunsin quietly let out a sigh.
* * *
Seheon and the room’s owner sat facing each other on the reception sofa in Mihui’s office. Seheon sat with his legs crossed, looking at the other person with bewilderment in his eyes. Behind his head, a television monitor was broadcasting the news. On the large screen, the fierce, savage impression of the man who was the second son of Suhan Group and Yunsin’s brother-in-law was visible.
The reporter’s voice continued.
—Representative Yu Jeong-won of Suhan Holdings held a press conference this afternoon in the main conference room of Suhan Group headquarters in Gangnam-gu to state his position regarding the recently surfaced controversy over assaulting employees.
Beep. Seheon turned off the screen behind him with a remote and opened his mouth in the sudden silence.
“I cannot understand at all why you would hire my associate without even a consultation with me.”
At his words delivered in a low register, Mihui showed an awkward smile.
“Seheon, from what I hear about Attorney Do’s reputation, he’s very capable. He sees things through once he starts, meticulous, good at finding precedents, fast at reading investigation records. Plus, he speaks his mind even to much older seniors without getting intimidated. You like kids like that. Ones who work well and have guts.”
“Of course I like kids like that. Provided they understand what I’m saying.”
“Gang Seheon, with a more open mind…….”
“If you wanted an open mind, you should have asked my opinion first. You already gave him company housing?”
With nothing left to refute, she slightly closed her mouth, and Seheon added.
“I clearly said I didn’t like this. If you’re going to hire him ignoring my opinion, you shouldn’t send him to me. He won’t fit. He can’t work under me. ‘This violates the law,’ ‘This goes against morality,’ ‘Don’t you feel sorry for the employees of the company being devoured in this M&A?’ He’ll obstruct everything. I can’t stand watching an associate goggle-eyed and rushing in, wasting my time. Send him away.”
“It can’t be helped.”
“Then send him to the litigation team. He’d fit better there. I can’t keep him. Is this a joke?”
Mihui, gazing steadily at the stubborn Seheon, answered as if persuading him.
“Chief Kang—no, Team Leader Gang Seheon. Every team has work juniors need to do. But your team is the only one without juniors. There’s no junior associate in the corporate law team, the firm’s most important team. Why is that?”
“Because there’s no brat who catches my eye.”
“Exactly! All the kids sent directly under you have surrendered! Your personality is absolutely insane, so they get intimidated, cry, and quit. How many times has that happened? Your team has no young ones, only durable seniors, you know? Attorney Do was accepted because he fits your description. No, you should have at least one or two juniors to do menial tasks!”
Even at these words, when he seemed about to retort that he couldn’t accept it, Mihui promptly stretched out her hand to block his next words and picked up the interphone. She contacted the secretariat.
“Is Attorney Do waiting? Tell him to go to Attorney Gang’s office. I’ll send him within ten minutes.”
She finished the brief conversation, put down the receiver, and gestured with her chin toward Seheon. Having watched this scene in full, he let out a hollow laugh.
“So that’s how it is.”
“Seheon, try him out first. It’s not too late to talk after trying. He’s very smart.”
“That’s exactly why. He’s the first parachute hire Chief Song has brought since I joined Doguk. Even if not as much as me, there must have been value in bringing him. But our firm has more than one or two partners, and over twenty departments; there’s no need to thrust him in front of me when I said no. There must be another reason to keep him by my side beyond his abilities.”
It hit the mark. Mihui, who hadn’t thought she could pull the wool over quick-witted Seheon’s eyes from the start, smiled awkwardly once again. Thanks to that, he seemed to grow even more confident in his judgment.
“You can’t even manage your expression.”
“Don’t be so difficult. I suspected he was our professor’s son since I started observing him at court. Professor Do, who taught civil procedure at Korea University Law School. He resembles him a lot.”
“I don’t work with such personal feelings. Do you think I don’t know how much I’m worth as an attorney?”
“It’s not personal feelings. The stakes are very high. Professor Do’s son also means he’s the only younger brother of Suhan Group’s second daughter-in-law, Do Igyeong. You saw Ms. Igyeong at the professor’s funeral before. Remember?”
Seheon, recalling that day carefully, suddenly clamped his lips tight and grimaced. A faint displeasure rose on his face. Noticing his reaction was different from before, she asked gently.
“Gang Seheon, what’s wrong?”
“Mind your own business.”
“Anyway. Seheon, you have to yield on this. For the firm. You know I don’t ask you for favors like this usually. That’s how important this is.”
By the profit structure of a law firm, conglomerates were absolutely inseparable and the most important clients that must never be lost. What earned money for a legal company wasn’t minor disputes requested by individuals. Most profits came from resolving corporate disputes, or legal consulting for investment or divestment purposes. Especially, the chairman of Suhan Group among domestic corporations had a connection with Mihui’s father, who was the representative of Doguk. Thanks to that, since the firm’s opening, many areas of work within the headquarters had been entrusted here. They had also recommended entrusting some legal consulting for affiliates’ projects. Considering those, it was a request the firm couldn’t possibly overlook.
Staring at her blankly, he leaned his back against the sofa with a thunk. As if his furrowed brow couldn’t fully express his feelings at this moment, irritation was present even in his hand gestures.
“Is it Suhan? Or Director Do Igyeong personally?”
“Isn’t Suhan essentially Do Igyeong? I’m a special counsel there, and our firm works with Suhan affiliates dozens of times a year. We can’t ignore it.”
“They said they’ll sever retainers if we don’t take the younger brother?”
“They didn’t say it like that, but if we refuse this proposal, we should be prepared for such steps. They want you to keep her younger brother under you and teach him how to survive in hell.”
Eventually, a hollow laugh burst from his mouth.
“Is this a school? I just realized I obtained a teaching certificate instead of a law license.”
“The surface reason is that, but I think there’s also a desire to build a fence and protect you because you work without regard for your own wellbeing. In that regard, Gang Seheon is quite a decent shield everywhere.”
“So they wanted a nanny, not a teacher. I have no interest in childcare, either.”
“Stop that and run the numbers.”
Haah. Seheon’s eyes, exhaling a breath of helplessness, grew damp with complicated signs. Mihui, keenly realizing how his mind was turning now, added.
“From the perspective of a corporate hunter like you, having the wife of Suhan’s younger brother under you? It’s not a losing business. This field is a war of information. From a certain perspective, a goose that lays golden eggs has rolled in. They’d entrust us with big cases since her brother is here. They won’t treat us badly. Right?”
Having heard up to there, Seheon narrowed his eyes.
“So this is ultimately a request from Suhan. And a coercive one at that.”
“Let’s call it transactional. Because what we gain is very large in exchange for paying a small salary.”
Setting aside judgment of Yunsin, if only looking at positive aspects, it wasn’t a very bad deal from his position either. For almost all of humanity without exception, family is a weakness. Thus, he would be grasping Suhan’s weakness. There might be no fruit to harvest immediately, but it would at least serve as an opportunity to sow seeds for the long term. Since Seheon was also Professor Do’s disciple, the mutual justification was solid.
But he still wasn’t very satisfied. Rather, he felt uneasy.
Why him of all people?
The sister couldn’t possibly be unaware of her younger brother’s upright disposition. In that sense, Seheon was neither a suitable teacher nor a nanny.
“Ways to survive……. Was that all they requested?”
“One more thing. They want him under you, but with only pro bono[4]-level cases as the focus for a few months until he adapts to the big law firm system. They said he’s not yet skilled at solicitation cases.”
“As expected, she knows her brother well. Then sending him to me is even more suspicious.”
“They know your abilities. Partners have to fill a certain amount of pro bono hours every year, and you’ve never filled yours once, so it’s perfect. How about assigning the time you should do to him for the time being? Free legal consultations or pro bono cases. Attorney Do’s rate should be fine too; put the record under your name and have Attorney Do handle the litigation or actual consultations, right?”
“Shouldn’t donating every year be enough? Do I have to do volunteer work I don’t even want to do in such a petty way?”
Mihui shrugged.
“Too bad, it’s firm policy. The upper stream must be clear for the lower stream to be clear. You know?”
“Change the regulation.”
“Even if it changes, you have to do it. You only make others do good things. Your last restructuring case created far more unemployed people than expected, so public opinion was terrible. We need to give the external impression that Doguk is reflecting.”
Seheon, wondering if they had to go this far to hire Do Yunsin, closed his mouth. Of course, from Mihui’s position, it was certainly possible. But in fact, he didn’t have great attachment to Doguk. Wherever he went, he would have achieved this much. If something he didn’t want to do came up, he could just quit.
But there was one problem. He still owed a debt to Mihui, a distant senior from his alma mater who had financially supported him throughout his school days.
He loathed being bound to others by ties of loyalty, friendship, or a sense of debt. Emotions were a kind of weakness, after all. If he granted this favor, he might be able to clear all his debts until now and reset their relationship to zero.
“Serving a young master isn’t on my task list. You suggest a compromise. I’ll hear you out.”
“Let’s raise your profit-sharing ratio a bit. You won’t be disappointed.”
“Trying to solve this with money. You have no idea how hard childcare is.”
Mihui flared up.
“You’re the highest-earning lawyer at our firm. It’s already set absolutely in your favor. Do you know how hard I worked to convince my father to raise your profit-sharing rate? A partner title isn’t free, you know. It’s an expensive title given to make you invest in the firm.”
“It’s not like I’m trying to embezzle anyone else’s money. Aren’t you ashamed to act generous with my money? Forget the profit share. A law firm needs to operate. You need to pay the associates’ salaries too.”
“Then what do you want?”
“From now on, don’t interfere with anything I do at the firm.”
She flinched, fidgeting with her dry hands. Sweat quickly formed. She knew better than anyone just how effectively Seheon would wield this abstract condition, though she couldn’t guess exactly how.
“If I say okay now, that means I get tangled up with you, Seheon, doesn’t it?”
“Negotiations are for those with something to lose. Testing the waters won’t help you much.”
“You daylight robber.”
He responded as if he had been waiting for exactly that reaction.
“Then quit.”
The moment he half-rose from his seat, she urgently waved her hand.
“Fine. I get it. But the word ‘everything’ leaves room for interpretation….”
“I’ll send the specifics in writing.”
Mihui looked at him with displeasure, then soon snapped her fingers as if she had no choice. Since she had expected from the start that he wouldn’t accept anything less than a radical condition, the shock was relatively mild. Having lost the negotiation, she tried hard to regain her composure, catching her breath. Seheon watched her silently and continued in a calm tone.
“First, I’ll run a few tests. If he proves useful, I’ll teach him one thing at a time. Capable manpower is always necessary.”
“Don’t just shove him into pro bono work. Mix him in with your team matters too. I’ll draft the documents soon.”
He immediately blocked her as if that wouldn’t be happening.
“No, don’t send them yet. Since Madam Suhan designated me, if I refuse, there’s no reason for Do Yunshin to work here. Let’s watch him for a month or two first. If he seems fine, we’ll talk again. We’ll draw up the contract then. Just pay him a salary in the meantime.”
“How can you do that when you’re going to put him to work?”
“I choose my own clients. But this situation, where Managing Director Do suddenly appeared and handpicked me, is extremely suspicious. I’m only enduring this because I owe Lawyer Song a debt. I can’t compromise any further than this.”
“Seheon.”
“You want me to quit? Then let’s talk about it right here. I’ll vacate the office, recover my capital contributions, and collect all my retained cases. It’ll all be resolved in a day.”
Seheon was not the type to back down easily; once he said something, he followed through unconditionally. If he was taking such a hard line, Mihui had no choice but to retreat.
“Please treat him nicely. He’s my direct junior from law school, and the son of the respected Professor Do.”
“I don’t respect anyone pointlessly. Unless they respect me, perhaps.”
“He was the only admirable adult we knew. Even the fact that he died advocating for victims in poor labor conditions makes for such a perfect life story. We may be much richer, but at least he did things you and I could never do in our lives. Let’s pay back even a little of that emotional debt this way.”
“I just cleared the only debt I had, so I don’t owe anyone anymore. You go pay back Lawyer Song instead.”
He answered coldly, then rose and walked out as if there was nothing more to discuss.
Left behind, Mihui shook her head as if admitting defeat.
* * *
Yunshin entered Seheon’s office, guided by the secretary, and carefully sat on the reception sofa. When he greeted the secretary with a glance, the man returned the greeting and quietly slipped out.
Only once alone did he finally have the leisure to look around.
The space was visibly much larger and more comfortable than the other partners’ offices he had glimpsed. Yet strangely, his own shabby former office felt far more comfortable.
*What is my sister thinking?*
“Why did it have to be Kang Seheon?”
There was a Jewish proverb he liked.
Be the master of your will, and the slave of your conscience.
Seheon was the type who kept the former half of this maxim but thoroughly ignored the latter. Though this was the first time they had met and formed a connection directly, rumors about the senior Kang Seheon had been grating on his ears since law school. Stories about him were practically urban legends.
A snake in a well-tailored suit.
Trash that would do anything to win.
And what truly mattered was that he always seized victory.
His methods were sometimes rational, sometimes despicable. In short, he had no principles. Corruption intelligence was his hobby, and exploiting it was his specialty. Yunshin had heard countless rumors that Seheon would dig up weaknesses on anyone—witnesses, lawyers, prosecutors, corporate officials—and pressure them shamelessly. Surprisingly, most juniors criticized him yet wanted to be like him. Yunshin was one of the minority who reserved judgment.
But he had never imagined that he, one of that minority, would end up waiting for him in this room.
From what he had heard from Lawyer Song, his sister had practically forced Seheon to take him. Of course, there would be things to learn from him. Winning meant strength. But he kept doubting whether they, who were polar opposites, could stand each other. The fact that Seheon had personally warned him not to stand out not long ago only made him more anxious about how this ill-fated meeting would progress.
As he thought this and anxiously surveyed his surroundings, a book on the desk suddenly caught his eye.
It was Charles Dickens’s *Great Expectations*.
*Could it be because of me?*
Just as Yunshin quietly began to rise and approach the desk—
—the door burst open, and the beast he had been waiting for entered the cage. His gaze was as cold as ever today. Yunshin sprang to his feet and bowed politely.
“Hello. I’m Junior Associate Do Yunshin.”
Instead of the sofa opposite, he perched on his own work desk and looked at Yunshin. He tilted his head as if to say sit down, and when Yunshin took a seat, Seheon looked down at him from above. Yunshin forced himself to hide his discomposure and met his eyes. Then his red lips slowly, languidly parted.
“We meet often.”
His words were brief. Instinctively sensing the hierarchical gap, Yunshin lowered himself even more.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my word about not seeing each other publicly.”
“Already not following instructions. How suffocating.”
“My apolo—”
“Forget it. Let me ask you a few things first. Is there a cause and effect in this situation that I can accept?”
His handsome eyebrow revealed his suspicion, doubt, and displeasure at the picture of Yunshin ending up in his team among so many departments in Doguk. Yunshin chose his words carefully.
“I don’t think you’ll be convinced.”
“You don’t think so. Why?”
“Because this isn’t the will of two people—you and me—but of a third party: my sister. She desperately wants me to work here. Unfortunately for you, I’m an obedient brother. That’s all I know, and that’s everything.”
Thanks to Yunshin’s unhesitating answer, Seheon’s expression turned peculiar.
“You reveal all your cards even with your sister in the middle. No defense in conversation. I thought you were a fairly useful lawyer even if you didn’t fit Doguk, but I need to rethink that. You’re disqualified.”
“I do modulate my pace when necessary.”
“Are you sure there’s no hidden joker?”
“If I find one, I’ll let you know that too.”
Warm-colored irises that made his impression look kind and gentle turned directly toward Seheon. As if reflecting his upright attitude, Yunshin’s eyes were clear. Rather than saying he could be trusted, he sent Seheon a composed gaze containing his most honest heart.
When their sharp gazes met and touched, their lips sealed as if by prior agreement.
Silence fell.
At that very moment, Yunshin felt the cold air surrounding Seheon waver ever so slightly. As if to prove it, Seheon, who had been sitting on the desk without a twitch, suddenly slowly adjusted his posture. He crossed his arms and leaned crookedly, then stared at Yunshin with his pupils boring into the eyelids densely lined with lush eyelashes.
In his mind, about three minutes of silence passed.
Or perhaps it was much shorter, but it only felt that way. While Yunshin fretted over what to do, fortunately, Seheon opened his mouth first.
“Why do you think Managing Director Do Ikyung sent you to me?”
Relieved that an unexpected, peculiar lull had broken, Yunshin quickly replied.
“She told me it was because she wanted me to become economically independent.”
He had always kept the doors open for free legal consultations, and his fees were adjusted to the lowest possible according to the client’s circumstances, so his income was quite poor. However, he had inherited a small sum from his mother who had died right after giving birth to him, so he had no need to be greedy for money. His sister also provided support with housing or a car when needed, which only reinforced this. Seheon seemed to roughly grasp this situation.
“Predictable enough.”
“But the real reason is probably my father. He was a lawyer like me, but in his later years he went down to the countryside and spent his time helping those in need. He passed away from overwork a few years ago.”
Their only medium had been his father. Long ago, they had met at the funeral hall on the last day of his father’s life. Whenever Yunshin saw Seheon on the news, he would vaguely recall that day. But that was all. The moment had been far too brief to revisit often.
However, as he spoke, he ended up probing whether Seheon remembered that encounter.
Embarrassed, Yunshin closed his mouth and gazed at him. Before long, Seheon’s lips opened.
“I know that too. My condolences.”
He had been inwardly tense about what response would come from those smooth lips, so Yunshin felt a bit deflated. During the short wait for Seheon’s answer, he had thought he would rather Seheon forget the embarrassing sight he had shown back then. But when it actually happened, he didn’t know why he felt disappointed.
Well, it was already a distant memory from long ago. It was only natural that Seheon, who met countless clients every year and had so many things and people to remember, would let such an incident slip by.
Hiding his disappointment, Yunshin answered calmly, his lips red.
“You’re probably afraid I’ll end up like my father. That’s why you want me to learn how to face reality more directly. In my sister’s eyes, I must have always seemed precarious, chasing only ideals. Perhaps she thought Lawyer Kang was the most realistic person you know.”
“You think you’re an idealist?”
“In a sense. Though I wouldn’t say my sense of reality is zero.”
Unexpectedly, Yunshin was far more composed and better at reading the room and his opponent than Seheon had expected. A look of displeasure yet simultaneous interest colored his eyes. For a moment, he seemed to feel that way, but he quickly erased such signs and answered indifferently.
“There are three things I haven’t done at all in recent years. Pro bono cases, criminal cases for ordinary clients, and all volunteer work done by our firm’s non-profit corporation. You’ll be doing these for the time being.”
Perhaps because it was a proposal he had never imagined, Yunshin’s eyes sparkled. Seheon didn’t miss it. His expression brightened at the thought of doing what Seheon detested. As expected, their work compatibility didn’t seem very good.
“I can do it well. I also have a talent for understanding victims.”
“I don’t need an associate with useless talents that don’t make money. I also have no hobby of serving some chaebol brother-in-law young master. Don’t you have a more convincing declaration of intent?”
“I’m really good at finding precedents. I’m quite a fast reader too, and I have good interpersonal skills.”
“More.”
“It’s hard to list them one by one… I’m confident I can do anything you ask. If I do well, my sister can rest easy, so I’ll stake my life on it. Just give me anything.”
“Use you for now? How confident.”
“I’ve heard well that you’re very shrewd about profit and loss. I don’t think this will be a one-sided loss.”
*Profit and loss?*
At a loss, Seheon let out a hollow laugh. But since Yunshin wasn’t talking nonsense, he didn’t blame or reproach him. Instead, he gestured as if telling him to get up now.
As Yunshin calmly rose and greeted him politely at the command, Seheon straightened his waist and walked over with heavy steps. Soon Seheon stood tall beside Yunshin and suddenly gripped his smooth jaw. Their skin where they touched was soft.
His gaze as he observed Yunshin’s harmonious features, as if embroidered, was quite obsessive. He lingered especially long on the gentle corners of his moist eyes.
Unable to guess what he was thinking, Yunshin nervously swallowed dryly. Then, without realizing it, he grabbed Seheon’s arm. Seheon glanced down at Yunshin’s two hands on his wrist and shook off the body heat. Then he removed his own hand from Yunshin’s jaw as well.
A frigid gaze was added on top of that.
“Don’t touch me.”
“But you touched me first… I was just exercising my right of defense.”
“I hate having someone else’s skin touch my body by their will. Only I’m allowed to do that. Not you.”
Yunshin was about to ask what kind of logic that was, but he soon apologized meekly. Despite their few brief encounters, his instincts told him that trying to understand Seheon with common sense was futile.
“I’m sorry.”
“I roughly understand the situation, so get out for now. Let me organize my thoughts.”
“My office is the room across. I look forward to working with you.”
Whether it was a habit ingrained in him, Yunshin bowed deeply once more with polite greetings and left the room.
Click. After the door closed, Seheon watched through the window as Yunshin’s back disappeared across the secretarial office toward the opposite room. His friendly greetings to other staff along the way were exactly the scene he had imagined.
What Yunshin’s sister, Managing Director Do Ikyung of Suhan Group, wanted exactly was still unclear. However, what mattered was that he hadn’t designed this board himself. Seheon was a man with many enemies. The process of checking for traps was absolutely necessary.
*Suhan Group… but I don’t have any cases from them this year.*
The moment Yunshin finished greeting the staff and fully entered his room, Seheon picked up the intercom phone. When he contacted his assigned secretary, Secretary Tak, a voice answered immediately. From across the window, he matched gazes with him.
—Yes, Lawyer. This is Secretary Tak.
“Where did that kid Do Yunshin graduate from undergrad? I think he went to Hanguk University Law School.”
—He’s from Dongdae. His major was social welfare.
“Social welfare….”
*Where did they find someone exactly like that?*
Seheon clicked his tongue at a result that deviated not an inch from his expectations. Then he added:
“What bar exam cohort is he? Tell all his classmates at the firm—no, everyone within one or two cohorts above and below—to come up to the conference room. If the junior associate from the recruit team doing copy runs is in the building, bring him too.”
—Understood. Shall I call them now?
“Call them right now. And shake down that associate’s entire life for information. From basic profile to family, friends, classmates—everything. All cases he’s handled so far, his interests, his shoe size—scrape up everything you can on your own level.”
—Will do. Is there anything in particular to watch for?
With a light slap on his desk, Seheon deliberated for a fleeting moment before opening his mouth again.
“Cross-check thoroughly whether there were any cases handled by that kid and the late Professor Do that were connected to me, even by a fingernail’s worth.”
Outside the window, Secretary Tak tilted his head, unable to readily agree.
—But both Lawyer Dos handled almost exclusively public interest cases. There shouldn’t have been any overlap. Besides, if there had been, you would know, Chief.
“Investigate anyway. There might be a clue we’ve missed. Dig into Managing Director Do Ikyung of Suhan too. Whether there were any matters, big or small, connected to me. And if any inconveniently entangled facts come out during the investigation, tell Do Yunshin he doesn’t need to come in from the next day.”
—Understood for now.
Seheon kept his gaze focused beyond the window after the call ended. His room faced south and got good sunlight. Yunshin’s office on the opposite side seemed relatively dark even with the lights fully on, as if it couldn’t compare. Moreover, perhaps because of the window placement, Yunshin’s figure sitting at his desk was clearly visible from where Seheon stood. Perhaps the reverse was also true.
Lost in thought, he observed Yunshin for a while. Inevitably, the brazen words Yunshin had left him with earlier came to mind.
*Perhaps because Lawyer Kang was the most realistic person you know.*
On the surface, these words seemed like praise, but they were far from the truth.
It was, in fact, clear criticism to the point of being insulting. It meant that Seheon stood at the opposite pole from the father Yunshin respected and loved. Do Yunshin acknowledged him but despised him. He might be overflowing with the will to learn, but he would die before ever respecting Seheon.
*I’ve heard well that you are very shrewd about profit and loss.*
He had said he could adjust his pace when necessary, yet he didn’t seem to feel the need to hide his true feelings before Seheon.
“Where did such an idiot come in?”
As if deciding to get settled, the Yunshin beyond the window took off his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. Momentarily captivated by the sight of his bony wrist revealed, Seheon moved his gaze inward, deeper and deeper, as if walking a steep slope.
His gaze reached the Adam’s apple and climbed steadily upward without stopping. The moment it touched his eyes after passing over his lips, pale cheeks, and bridge of his nose, Seheon chewed his lips in annoyance. Because Yunshin, feeling the gaze, had looked this way, and their eyes met fully.
Yunshin tilted his head as if puzzled, then soon gave a polite nod in greeting. Seeing that, Seheon immediately picked up the remote and pressed a button. The blinds descended with a clatter, blocking both space and sight. Now perfectly alone, he couldn’t hide his suddenly surging anger and hurled the remote with his large hand.
Crack! The remote control, half the size of his palm, struck the wall, bounced off, and fell at his feet.
The object was already split in two like a wrecked ship.
“Damn it.”
Harsh criticism directed at him was familiar. He could even say it was the driving force that had elevated him to this point. He mostly ignored it, and sometimes used it to his advantage when appropriate, so it didn’t bother him at all.
But for some reason, he couldn’t let Yunshin’s words slide.
*Why do that bastard’s words piss me off?*
Seheon stared blankly at the broken remote, then soon crushed it neurotically with a stomp.