Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Yoon Haneul Faces the Media Storm
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"Whoa..."
"It's a celebrity."
"She really showed up."
On a typical late afternoon, a black car pulled up in front of the Namyangju Branch Prosecutor's Office.
Yoon Haneul stepped out and strode confidently toward the building.
Click, click!
The staff at the Namyangju office rubbed their eyes in disbelief at the sudden appearance of the famous figure entering the naturally formed line, unsure if this was real life.
Employees peering down from windows, others abandoning unrelated tasks just to catch a glimpse and help manage the line.
It was chaotic yet brimming with energy, hectic but festive in atmosphere.
All because of one person's arrival.
The reporters and bystanders were no different.
-Over here, just one look, please!
-Hand heart, just once!
Even amid the somewhat unpleasant requests, a subtle smile lingered on her softly upturned lips, and her posture remained flawless, accustomed to the cameras.
She wasn't wearing dark sunglasses like some actress or hiding under a hat and mask like a criminal.
Just like on any film set or at a showcase.
She paused briefly at the photo line crowded with reporters, flashing a relaxed, wide smile that drew gasps and screams from the crowd.
-Kya!
-I love you!
Tall stature, slim figure, long hair.
Even in trendy, lightweight clothes that weren't overly revealing or tight, her effortless charm exuded sexiness and sensuality.
The epitome of "I'm a celebrity," apparent in every detail.
That was Yoon Haneul's current image.
If the reporters were staring at her on the makeshift photo line in stunned silence, what more needed to be said?
Despite the shocking scandal and media uproar, her on-site popularity made all those rumors feel irrelevant.
Yoon Haneul, who had already topped global charts, had shot to fame like a comet, become a celebrity, and been "reverse-exported" back to Korea.
The scale of the entertainment companies and advertisers trailing her movements was beyond imagination, so it was no wonder she might not show up at a small branch office like this.
Yet there she stood before countless microphones, her pale face and rosy lips delivering her precious voice to all directions.
"I'll cooperate fully with the investigation."
Click! Click!
Dozens of cameras flashed so intensely it could blind someone, but she didn't blink, offering only a small smile.
-Is it false information spread?
-Any clarifications on the scandal?
Amid the barrage of questions, she offered no answers, merely smiling consistently.
This was all per Kang Hyun's prior advice.
"Alright then."
As she nodded and turned to continue walking,
"Did you enjoy an intimate night with lead prosecutor Kang Hyun on this case, then head straight to Jack Daniel's drug party? Is that story true?"
An utterly rude question.
It was the TBS reporter.
The same one who had been cheeky with Kang Hyun was now latching onto her with filthy questions.
The topic was so provocative that Yoon Haneul instinctively turned to look at him.
"Pardon?"
"Kang Hyun the prosecutor and Jack Daniel. Rumors are emerging about you two-timing both. What's the truth? Why would you do that?"
Yoon Haneul finally started to falter.
"No... no, that's not true. Nothing like that happened."
Murmurs erupted.
-Did you attend a drug party?
-Are the circulating scandals real? How do you feel right now?
This was her first verbal response, sending reporters into a frenzy, questions pouring in and paralyzing the entrance to the prosecutor's office.
The reporter, proud of halting Yoon Haneul, puffed up his shoulders and pressed on.
"Word is there's already a lot of evidence. Is that why you're here in person to explain?"
"No, I..."
At that moment.
"Ask those questions to me."
The TBS reporter turned at the familiar voice.
The noisy chaos at the Namyangju Branch entrance quieted, the crowd parting like the Red Sea to form orderly lines.
"Direct any case-related questions to me. Nice to see you again, reporter."
Kang Hyun.
The lead prosecutor on the case and the man at the center of the dating rumors with Yoon Haneul.
A person who handled massive, astonishing events effortlessly, holding all the keys to this matter.
He had personally appeared at the media-packed front of the office to face them head-on.
"Gasp."
The reporter's smirk faded as he stepped back hesitantly.
It wasn't just him.
The disorderly actions of everyone there deflated. A truly astonishing sight.
Everyone who had assumed Yoon Haneul would be the star of the show now saw Kang Hyun arrive with an even greater aura, greeting all involved as the true master of the prosecutor's office that day.
They couldn't help but sigh in admiration and surprise at the sight of him.
His charisma dominated the scene.
And his immediate declaration.
"Ladies and gentlemen, for victim protection, the investigation will now switch to non-public from this point."
Switching the previously public investigation to private the moment the victim appeared—a somewhat shocking announcement.
"What?"
"Oh..."
But those present had witnessed the chaos firsthand, the rude questions and criticisms pouring down.
The reporters couldn't protest Kang Hyun's statement and naturally complied.
"We applied in advance. Where do we go?"
"Find Magazine reporter here! We applied too!"
"Us too!"
No one dared complain as people exited or entered per Kang Hyun's control.
"I'll take questions right here after the scene is cleared, in a press conference format. Please follow the directions."
Rustle.
No sooner had Kang Hyun spoken than burly men burst from the office to set up lines.
Most were staff from his prepared office team.
"Everyone, move to the side, please."
"Reporters, take your seats in the press area and show your pre-approved press passes."
In an instant, the noisy, disorderly front cleared, leaving only the fit men directing traffic outside and Prosecutor Kang Hyun overseeing it all.
"NBS Park reporter, Han reporter—this way."
"Find Magazine, Top Daily—reporters from where exactly?"
*'Good thing I prepared in advance.'*
A dramatic strategy.
First picture: Hype the media with a public investigation, then switch to private on-site citing victim protection.
If it had been private from the start, speculation and suspicions would run wild, to Yoon Haneul's disadvantage.
In short, minimizing damage and winning the psychological battle with the press—Kang Hyun's move.
"Are you alright?"
Even amid the ongoing cameras as the scene cleared, Kang Hyun politely asked Yoon Haneul standing opposite him.
Relaxed, confident gestures. An unwavering smile.
Kang Hyun welcomed her as if inviting her to a ball he had orchestrated, ever the gentleman, impeccably polished.
Nod.
Like a lifeless doll suddenly springing to life with a click, she softly replied.
"I'm fine."
Relief bloomed petal by petal from each syllable.
In truth, as she rapidly rose to stardom, had she not faced such situations countless times?
Facing rude questions, criticism, and abuse in official settings visible to the public was hardly new to her.
Yet her eyes held a slight surprise, unaccustomed to it.
Not because the media attacks were fierce, but because no one had ever blocked the criticism aimed at her so decisively before.
This sense of being protected.
It was a first for her.
"Please escort her. Investigator Choi Tae-ri."
"Ms. Yoon Haneul, this way."
At Kang Hyun's words, Choi Tae-ri dashed out to support Yoon Haneul. She carefully ascended the prosecutor's office steps under the guidance.
In that moment, Kang Hyun whispered just loud enough for her ear alone as he passed.
"Rest first. It might take a while, so if you're busy, you can slip out the back."
"...Yeah."
Nod.
Her retreating figure wobbled slightly, mirroring the awkward situation, her expression subtly off.
But Kang Hyun had no time to watch.
With Yoon Haneul and him tag-teaming the baton pass, he now had to proceed with the press conference as promised.
The reporters still eyed him hungrily, teeth bared, and as the lead prosecutor, he needed to deliver a flawless briefing.
A briefing surpassing expectations from seniors and juniors like Park Min-seong, Kim Jeong-min, Hwang Jae-eun, and others—one that left no room for criticism, suspicion, or uncomfortable scrutiny.
Regardless, Kang Hyun brimmed with composure.
*'Now, let's get started.'*
This situation.
The timing was perfect.
Makeshift seats were set up in the open space, microphones ready.
Unlike typical indoor press conferences or briefings, this bold outdoor move signaled: See for yourselves, hear for yourselves.
This was the second picture.
"I'll take questions."
The moment Kang Hyun sat, reporters shot up hands competitively.
"Seoul Ilbo, Kim reporter. A word on the shocking incident unfolding?"
"Your wording is off. This is no shocking incident. It consists of the dating rumors between celebrity Yoon Haneul and myself, and the scandal between Yoon Haneul and Jack Daniel. The former will be corrected via official report within the week, and we'll summon and investigate the latter."
He answered purely as a prosecutor. But as expected, one reporter latched on.
"NBS here! It's known that a lead prosecutor like Kang Hyun handling the case directly raises legal issues. A party to the case participating in the investigation violates..."
"There are no systems for recusal, avoidance, or disqualification of prosecutors. Criminal Procedure Act Article 17 specifies restrictions only for judges in cases where they are the victim, victim's relative or had such relation, acted as witness, expert, victim's representative, legal guardian, supervisor, prosecutor, or judicial police; or in prior hearings, trials, or related investigations."
"No ethical concerns?"
"None. As stated, the dating rumors with Yoon Haneul are mere happenstance, so I'm not a party to the case. Moreover, Yoon Haneul's side filed only for defamation over the 'Jack Daniel' scandal. Her agency ES concurs. Thus, we'll investigate solely the defamation by false statement for the latter."
One question in, tenfold response out.
No stumbling, no evasion.
No hiding or shame.
Thus, Kang Hyun's words carried devastating, unyielding power.
An astonishing verbal battle against nearly seventy, nearing a hundred reporters.