Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Aiming for a Perfect LEET Score
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Time flew by quickly.
Winter.
With the school on break, the campus was deserted and empty.
Trees and flowers alike huddled up, waiting for spring.
College students were busy with their own time—traveling, making memories, pursuing self-realization, preparing for next year's semester, and so on.
Kang Hyun, a sophomore, would normally have been gearing up for his junior year. Or perhaps spending his time on a part-time job or resting.
But thanks to the help of Kim Jong-hwan and others, he was now challenging the newly created special early admission track for law school.
It was the greatest reward for all his accomplishments so far—a path that proved he was the "genius Kang Hyun."
Early admission to law school.
Given the difficulty and stringent rules, it wasn't some "special privilege" or shortcut for the select few.
It was a special track under Article 23 of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Law Schools, separate from the general admission.
Even if it wasn't the standard route, the required documents were staggering, and the passing criteria were incredibly strict—most people wouldn't even dream of attempting it.
But Kang Hyun was different.
Most of his paperwork was already perfectly prepared. His specs were dazzling, no matter who looked.
His GPA—what people commonly called his undergrad grades—was top-tier.
He took first place domestically in the mock trial competition and swept the individual advocacy award at the international mock trial tournament, a world-class event. On top of that, he had published papers. There was nothing more needed for his admission packet.
And with his name splashed across the news and media, his brilliant track record overflowed in every direction.
So, what remained was one thing.
The LEET score, essential for law school admission.
"All I need is the Law School Admission Test score."
Click.
Kang Hyun sat at his desk for the first time in ages, opening a book and savoring the familiar feeling.
It reminded him of high school days—solving problem sets that clicked effortlessly, the thrill and surprise of it all.
Memories flooded back of those nights spent studying like a madman.
Clunk, roll.
Packing up his things, he placed the laptop borrowed from school and a few books on the desk, sat down in the chair, and closed his eyes for a moment.
The LEET covered three subjects.
Language comprehension, logical reasoning, and essay.
For this early admission, the minimum required score—"Korea University converted LEET score"—was 120 out of 150.
The subjects were unfamiliar to most, the difficulty high, and with law school still in its early days, even law students found it tough to approach.
Studying just to hit the minimum 120 could be a strategic, efficient choice.
But Kang Hyun thought differently.
"Might as well go for a perfect score."
On the wall by his desk at home hung a sticky note boldly scrawled with "LEET 150 points."
This was when his unique tenacity kicked in. Kang Hyun set an extraordinary goal and began preparing to study steadily toward it.
The method was simple: study until it became familiar.
He turned on his computer and gathered every past exam question, predicted problems, and anything related he could find.
Then he started solving them all, without skipping a single one.
The Law School Admission Test truly focused on measuring "application ability" rather than legal knowledge itself.
So in some ways, it felt surprisingly easy; in others, utterly unfamiliar.
But Kang Hyun didn't care about the unfamiliarity.
His body remembered what mattered most in studying.
"Time is the absolute factor."
The longer he sat and studied, the more his skills grew.
Mastering shortcuts and wisdom came proportionally with the time invested.
So at the start, he tackled problems indiscriminately and absorbed theory. That was the study method Kang Hyun had always used—the answer he knew.
The LEET was different in flavor from exams he'd taken before, but the more time and effort he poured in, the more that wall crumbled.
About 30 days until the exam.
Truth be told, Kang Hyun was short on time. Most people prepared for at least a year, sometimes years, for this test—and here he was, starting with just 30 days left.
It wasn't something just anyone could pull off.
But Kang Hyun had confidence now. He had the talent to make it happen.
He believed in the power of effort and trusted his abilities fully.
"Alright, let's get started."
The moment Kang Hyun resolved himself, immersion began.
He'd leave the school library or reading room in the early dawn, past midnight, heading home.
On days when his focus hit peak levels, he'd pull all-nighters studying at home.
The light in Kang Hyun's room never went out, and his books had no time to rest.
Time seemed to be chasing Kang Hyun amid his frenetic study pace.
Thus, the 30 days flew by, arriving at exam day.
Kang Hyun arrived at the LEET testing center—where an entire liberal arts building at Korea University had been reserved—in ordinary clothes, admit card in hand.
This year's unusually late schedule meant winter weather.
Arriving a bit early, he looked up at the sky: flurries of snowflakes drifting down like cotton tufts.
The snow made it feel cozy.
Even though the sun hadn't risen yet. The testing center buzzed with people heading in for the exam.
"It's Kang Hyun!"
"Fight the power, Kang Hyun!"
"Oppa! You're so cool!"
'What?'
It suddenly reminded him of the College Scholastic Ability Test day.
Back then, he wasn't famous enough for everyone to know him. He had no cheering fans, and his busy mom couldn't even come to the testing center.
Yet there was no isolation or loneliness.
Because he had people cheering him on back then—colleagues and mentors who helped him focus on studying.
'I was just as cool back then. The best.'
Today, though not people he knew personally, supporters had gathered for him. Realizing that, Kang Hyun's steps quickened twofold.
"Ah, thank you! I'll do great!"
"Whoa! He waved!"
"So cool!"
Embarrassment mixed with gratitude.
'They're doing well.'
Kang Hyun flashed a grin and entered the testing center.
For those people back then—and for the ones with him now.
He'd give it everything.
Sizzle.
A pretty hand holding a shot glass hovered over the grill where meat sizzled.
"Here! Another round! Cheers!"
"Chae-eun, isn't the pace a bit too fast?"
As Yoon Chan-rim chided her flushed-faced Yoo Chae-eun, her voice only grew louder.
"You punk Yoon Chan-rim, days like today are for drinking! Right, Si-hyung oppa?"
"Yeah! Today for Chae-eun's promotion, Hyun's law school acceptance, Chan-rim wrapping up student council... what else?"
"Yoon-ha unnie blowing up overnight, and her magazine pictorial!"
"Wow, how are you all doing so well? Nothing for me."
"Aw, oppa, you're dating though."
"Heh. True?"
"You know what Si-hyung oppa calls his girlfriend?"
"Whoa?"
"Hey! Chan-rim, don't say it!"
"Jjongs, it's Jjongs!"
"Ugh! So cringey! Jjongs, seriously?"
"I said don't! Let's drink first!"
Glasses clinked—Kang Hyun, Yoon Chan-rim, Woo Si-hyung, Yoo Chae-eun—the clear sound rolling like beads.
Year-end.
In just one year, the people around Kang Hyun seemed to be finding their places.
Each carving out their values, choosing their paths, and charging toward their goals.
Yoon Chan-rim had successfully finished law school student council and was prepping for the next year; Woo Si-hyung had formed his own debate team and was making waves.
Yoo Chae-eun, established as a police officer, was on the cusp of sergeant promotion after passing her exam; Han Hyun-ho was expanding his business, run off his feet.
Yoon Haneul? She was busier than ever, hard to even catch sight of.
Naturally, time with Kang Hyun dwindled. Casual workouts or park strolls like before weren't easy anymore.
Fame brought complications if they didn't guard their privacy.
"Man, no idea how long it's been since we all gathered like this. Anyway, where's Haneul?"
"She'll be here any minute."
Kang Hyun swirled his glass, face impassive.
Even so, Woo Si-hyung—his first school friend—read the subtle expression, squinting as he asked.
"You got something on your mind?"
"Huh? What worry?"
"Like your future plans."
"Nah, I've decided everything."
"Fair. Head to law school quick, grind the classes..."
"I'll time my law school graduation to pass both the bar exam and Judicial Examination."
"Right, stuff like that... wait, what?"
Everyone around the round grill table froze in shock at Kang Hyun's bombshell.
"You're really... gonna do it?"
"Hyung, that wasn't just talk?"
"Oppa, you know how brutal that'd be?"
"Just a thought. Passing both might give more freedom."
Kang Hyun shrugged. Seeing his attitude, they nodded, figuring it was just talk.
"No wonder Hyun says that. With bar exam and Judicial Exam grads at each other's throats right now. Feels like a storm."
"Heard Judicial Exam alumni profs are refusing to grade the bar exam?"
"Law schools are protesting with pickets to repeal the four-year Judicial Exam moratorium bill."
"All that infighting over principles. Meanwhile, us cops are dying of exhaustion."
Frank talk flowed, followed by sighs.
But Kang Hyun's worry was elsewhere.
'Yoon-ha's been off lately. It's worrying.'
Her messages had grown sparse. Busy was one thing, but the gaps lengthened; sometimes a full day passed without a word.
This week, three days of silence until a late message on their appointed day.
Felt like she was avoiding him.
She seemed guilty somehow. Kang Hyun couldn't miss it.
'What is it?'
Work stress? Being bullied? Struggling with school?
No clue.
He wanted to ask outright, but at this point, broaching it casually felt off.
Even with walls down between them, they stuck to "protect what needs protecting."
Ring ring, ring ring.
Phone ringing. Kang Hyun's cell.
"...What're you thinking, Hyun hyung?"
"Huh?"
Yoon Chan-rim snapped him out of his daze, and he finally picked up.
It was Yoon Haneul.
"Gotta be Haneul. Be right back."
"Sure."
Kang Hyun shot up.
He hurried out the restaurant door.
"Hello? Haneul?"
-...
"Hello?"
-I felt like I should tell you first.
"What?"
Her voice was off.
Not depressed or sad. But laced with guilt, heaviness.
And resolve.
-I'm going to study abroad.