Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: I Trust You
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Kang Hyun grasped the situation in an instant.
To sum it up once more: a major scandal following the scandal.
Right after the dating rumors between Yoon Haneul and Kang Hyun broke, another scandal erupted with her and some other guy.
The two incidents would merge into one, snowballing and growing, naturally dealing Yoon Haneul a massive blow.
"...I'm going."
"Wait, Haneul."
Yoon Haneul's expression was far from normal.
She seemed to recognize how dire the situation was for her.
Whether Kang Hyun called out or not, she pulled her hat down low again and started walking toward the man called Team Leader Seo.
"...I'll make sure this doesn't harm Mr. Kang Hyun in any way."
At the same time, Team Leader Seo gave him the same polite bow he'd offered earlier before turning and leading Yoon Haneul away. Kang Hyun just stood there, frozen.
'Damn it.'
Was it right to just let her go like this? Kang Hyun found himself once again in a moment where he could only watch her leave, just like before.
He had to think.
Should he let them handle burying this situation themselves and maintain his stance as someone completely uninvolved in the incident?
Or should he grab them and help Yoon Haneul?
It didn't take Kang Hyun long to make his decision.
'I have to go now.'
Kang Hyun quickly turned and ran toward where the car was parked. For some reason, Yoon Haneul and Team Leader Seo were still standing there.
Thwack!
"I'm not going."
Yoon Haneul sharply swatted away Team Leader Seo's hand as he tried to usher her into the car, glaring at him fiercely.
Team Leader Seo closed his eyes in embarrassment, like a car stalled out.
"Haa... If you disappear again now, even I'll be in a tough spot."
"That's why I told you to get out of my sight! Why did you even come here making a fuss?"
"You have to say something so the agency can issue a statement..."
"It was never great to begin with. I'll pay the penalty and terminate the contract, so you find your own path too, oppa."
"Do you know how many times you've said that?! You don't mean it. The penalty won't end at just a few hundred million."
"So what? I'll live in debt. Stop meddling in my life."
"Let's not do this. We can sort it out slowly. Just swallow your pride this once and do what the agency says. If you keep this up, the rest of the people will leave too..."
"The ones who were going to leave already have. Don't you get that I ruined everything? So you go too."
Her voice was chilling, as if icicles were dripping from it.
That was right. From what Kang Hyun could see from afar, Yoon Haneul was utterly cold now.
She was prickly, burdensome, and fussy in a way that made everyone around her deeply uncomfortable.
Like a princess buried in perennial snow, frozen solid—haughty enough that no one could touch her with a single word.
The kind of person you didn't even want to see unless it was business.
That was the kind of person Yoon Haneul seemed determined to become. The spring-like Yoon Haneul he remembered was nowhere to be seen.
He had to step in. Without the slightest hesitation now, he inserted himself between the two.
"I absolutely cannot allow this."
The two looked at Kang Hyun as if wondering what was going on.
"...?"
"I was going to leave, but I can't."
"Mr. Kang Hyun."
"Explain. If it's a defamation issue, explaining the situation to me takes top priority. I'm not letting this slide either."
Taken aback by his intensity—like he was ready to put a bullet in someone's head—Team Leader Seo flinched and stepped back a bit.
In contrast, Yoon Haneul glared at Kang Hyun and snapped at him.
"...What does this have to do with you?"
"It's my business too. This time."
"I'll handle your rumors so they don't spread, even if it kills me, so you stay out of it."
"Don't say that."
"What do you mean don't say that? What are you even to me?"
Kang Hyun had rolled around in the world of lawyers and judges long enough—a realm where even a stab wouldn't draw a drop of blood. He'd seen countless people like her and had never once been cowed by their momentum.
So even against Yoon Haneul's cynical words, Kang Hyun showed no expression as he turned to Team Leader Seo and asked.
"As a prosecutor handling a defamation case, let me question you. What's the full story here?"
"...That's."
"Don't say it."
"...Haneul."
"Tell me. I'm a party to this too."
Team Leader Seo looked troubled, glancing back and forth between Kang Hyun and Yoon Haneul.
Then he finally began explaining.
"...After the dating rumors with the prosecutor broke, another scandal hit 30 minutes later. It looks like someone pre-planned it and rushed to release it—it's obviously fabricated... They probably didn't expect the dating rumors with the prosecutor."
Yoon Haneul abruptly got into the car.
Clunk!
The car door shut with a thud.
"...."
Once Yoon Haneul had left the scene, Team Leader Seo let out a deep sigh.
"What's the content of this new scandal?"
"...It claims she spent the night in a hallucinogenic party with the idol Jack Daniel, who's been controversial lately for marijuana use. That they're lovers."
"Ha. Jack Daniel? You're linking Yoon Haneul with someone like that?"
Kang Hyun's pent-up anger exploded. Team Leader Seo was trying to explain step by step.
"He's a famous idol and rapper. He has significant recognition and popularity among young people. In short, he's on the rise. Just the marijuana issue..."
"...'Just the issue.' Is the entire entertainment industry like this?"
The rumors about Yoon Haneul now were the worst. A relationship with a famous idol, a hallucinogenic party, and then cheating on Kang Hyun with him.
It was obviously nonsense, but people would go crazy over it. It was sensational and attention-grabbing.
"...We need to respond as quickly as possible, but Haneul won't talk... We have to verify the facts first."
Kang Hyun closed his eyes briefly. A few seconds of silence.
Then he opened them and spoke.
His voice carried the weight of a firm vow.
"Defamation by spreading false information."
"Yes?"
"Defamation isn't something I've handled just once or twice. Whoever publicly states false facts that damage a person's reputation shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years, suspension of qualifications for not more than ten years, or a fine of not more than ten million won.
The motive is clearly malicious intent to defame the victim, causing or likely to cause serious harm, the false statements aren't minor, and there's a high possibility of active involvement. Therefore, aggravated to one year and six months. I'll find the spreader of the false info and slam them with six years and six months as soon as possible..."
Kang Hyun stared straight into Team Leader Seo's eyes.
"Entrust the case to me. I'll check on Yoon Haneul briefly."
The air around him was oppressively heavy, beyond words. The other man took a step back.
"...W-Well, it's ultimately up to the client, so... p-please go ahead and check on her."
Team Leader Seo stepped aside, and Kang Hyun walked toward the idling car.
A hazy silhouette flashed in the back seat, but her face wasn't visible.
She might still be crying like before, or enduring silently with her eyes closed. Or maybe staring blankly at nothing, feigning indifference.
"Ha...."
For years, Kang Hyun had left her like this out of respect—and understanding.
He'd regretted it afterward, vowing next time he'd help, meddle to the point of annoyance, make sure she overcame everything. And repeated the cycle.
This was the result.
Things had to change.
'Even if she hates it, I have to help this time.'
Kang Hyun resolved to protect her until she told him to stop because he was annoying, to shield her until she called him stubborn and tenacious.
With that determination, he yanked open the car door.
Bang!
As the door flew open, Yoon Haneul's pale face emerged from the dark interior.
"...."
Her face was flushed red, and her makeup was slightly smudged, probably from teary eyes.
She was trying her hardest to glare sharply, but to Kang Hyun, her big eyes just looked like those of a wounded teddy bear, raw and vulnerable.
"...Haneul."
"You go too. I want to be alone."
"Whatever your relationship with that Jack Daniel guy is, I don't care..."
"Yeah. You'd say the same."
"What's the same?"
"You don't trust me either."
"Haa. Is that even worth saying?"
Kang Hyun fixed his gaze on Yoon Haneul and stood motionless. She did the same.
Now, locked in mutual stares, frozen in place.
Only the stars twinkled in the night sky, blanketing the heavens—no one shone here.
But one thing was certain.
Their hearts were connected, if only for this moment.
In that instant, Kang Hyun spoke lowly but firmly.
"I trust you."
As he said it, Kang Hyun truly vowed.
To restore everything to how it was, to protect her from any danger.
He'd come back from a long, winding road, but he'd charge down this uncertain path with conviction. He wouldn't let her slip away again.
Hoping that resolve reached her, Kang Hyun murmured softly.
"Anything involving you—whether reports or complaints—bring them all to me."
"...."
"I don't care if you hate it. I'll handle everything. You just watch what I do. Nod if that's fine."
At Kang Hyun's words, Yoon Haneul looked up at him with even wider eyes.
For a brief moment, she seemed to forget her sadness and worries, her face reverting to the expression they shared as kids.
Their paths had diverged, but they'd run hard toward their goals. There were misunderstandings, sparse contact, conflicts, and plenty of hurt feelings.
But Kang Hyun and Yoon Haneul had never looked at anyone else, never glanced elsewhere. That one truth felt shared between them.
"..."
Seconds passed, then more seconds.
Finally, she responded to his words.
Nod.
That tiny nod felt like stars pouring from the sky. Like a storm surging toward Kang Hyun.
Yes. She felt the same as him.
They just needed to uncover the reasons for their distance one by one, resolve the conflicts, heal the pain.
'I won't leave you alone this time.'
And do better from here.
Kang Hyun gazed down at her silently.
That silence was his answer to her nod.
In that moment, as May began, it seemed like a shooting star flickered across the sky.
They had to make a wish. Right now, their wishes were surely the same or very similar.
Morning, 9 AM, Room 323 prosecutor's office.
Bang!
Choi Tae-ri, who had clocked out late on Sunday night and arrived right on time, rushed over to Kang Hyun in a fuss.
"Prosecutor! What on earth happened?!"
"Yes?"
"The defamation case—that Yoon Haneul case—you're taking charge of the investigation?"
"Yes. I received the complaint directly."
"What?! But you're a victim too!"
"Not completely. We have to separate the facts into before and after..."
"...Huh?"
Choi Tae-ri rolled her eyes at Kang Hyun, deep in thought.
"So the dating rumors are real?"
"It's a lie, but..."
"What? Then?"
"...I do have feelings for her."
"Gasp."
Choi Tae-ri was too shocked to continue. Then she exchanged glances with Sung Tae-o nearby.
'Wow.'