Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Festival Refusal
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"Refusal. It'll be freezing in October."
Kang Hyun flatly stated his position, but Lee Myung-hwan showed no signs of backing down.
"It's not even that cold in fall. You're the pride of our department. Everyone's looking forward to it."
"Looking forward to what?"
"They want to see if you'll show up. The app pre-registrations have already topped 100. We've even gotten a ton of calls from other universities asking if they can come..."
"You're already promoting? Wait, you used me in promotions without my permission?"
"We even used your photo. Because our president said you were in."
"If the president says so, that means portrait rights and photo misuse don't matter?"
"Well, that's... we figured that was fine..."
"Fine. I'll go talk to her myself."
"Hey! W-wait a sec!"
Fuming, Kang Hyun rolled up his sleeves and stormed toward the student council room. Lee Myung-hwan's face went pale as he hurried after him.
Bang!
College of Law Student Council Office.
The other executives were nowhere to be seen; the room was empty. Fortunately, the college student council president Kang Hyun wanted to see was right there.
She sat poised and aloof, one leg casually crossed over the other, as if she'd been waiting for him.
"President, I clearly told you I'm not doing student council."
"Ugh, kid."
The College of Law Student Council President.
She was from the mock trial competition 'Cheonungjae Team'—Kang Hyun's fierce rival.
And now back to her duties as president after the competition.
Dan Chorok.
Her signature ash-gray bob and comfy hoodie gave her a laid-back vibe as she greeted him indifferently. Without even a chance to say hello, Kang Hyun laid into her, still seated at the president's desk.
"President. Are portrait rights, name rights, and privacy protections nonexistent in this university? How can all my personal rights be delegated to the student council without my say?"
"Ugh, making a fuss over nothing. They said you were hot-tempered, but you're worse. Go ahead, sue me if you want."
"Civil Code Article 750, Article 751, Constitution Article 10..."
"I take back what I said about you having potential. Why are you acting so uppity?"
"...I'm busy, President."
"Who isn't? I'm swamped too. And it's a good cause—can't spare a few hours? This is about the future of our law department."
"Just handing out snacks at a booth?"
"Oh, look at you, looking down on it! You have no idea what an amazing event we're planning."
"President... I really don't have time..."
"Every student council president goes through this. You know that and still acting like this? You don't need undergrad stuff since you're going to law school?"
"Even so, I'm not doing it."
"Wow. Rejected twice. First at the competition, now turning down the president nomination. Have some pity on my wounded heart."
"But President..."
Kang Hyun trailed off, shifting his gaze to the wall.
That's when a large calendar caught his eye.
"...You've still got plenty of time. Fall hasn't even come yet—you can find someone better."
"We have the right to pick one candidate from our department."
"Refusing is my right too."
"Ugh, you don't budge an inch. And... we have our reasons."
"What reasons?"
"I might resign early."
"What? Running for total student council president or something?"
At those words, Kang Hyun followed her gaze to a thick stack of documents on the large desk.
Something felt off.
"...College budget execution records?"
"The Total Student Council Representative Assembly launched a full irregular audit. The whole school might switch to an emergency committee. I'd have to step down, obviously, and find a replacement."
The Total Student Council Representative Assembly was the student body that audited student council budget settlements. Their audit meant trouble in the university.
"...President, you don't have anything to hide, right?"
"Hey, what do you take me for? I want to be a lawyer too, you know."
She crossed her arms, explaining seriously like a prosecutor.
"Anyway, seems like embezzlement in the total student council. I demanded a full explanation. So now they're doing an internal audit plus the assembly's irregular one."
"What's that got to do with quitting?"
"I demanded it, so if I'm wrong, I'll take responsibility and step down."
"Whoa... you're really no-holds-barred."
"You wouldn't have done the same?"
"Sigh... so? Estimated amount?"
"About 20 million won."
"If students really pocketed 20 million, that's big trouble."
"Right? Look at this."
The document she spread out was the 'Total Student Council Supplies Purchase Records.' It detailed contractors and items.
"For this festival, they provided supplies from the total council. But items we got for free are all listed in our budget execution ledger?"
"So the books don't match up."
"Exactly! That's where it started! The biggest issue is the liquor provided for the festival. It's not delivered straight from the liquor supplier because there's so much."
"You're saying it's all handled by a consignment company—delivery, provision, cleanup?"
"Yeah. But the payment to that consignment company is substantial, and it's completely missing from the ledger."
Kang Hyun's mind raced.
That meant more should be recorded in the budget execution, but the books balanced perfectly.
Definite ledger tampering.
"They took kickbacks or inflated item costs to skim off the top."
"Right. They siphoned enough—even after paying the consignment full—to make the books balance, so the total council didn't notice."
Dan Chorok rubbed her throbbing head while stealing glances at Kang Hyun.
Her eyes pleaded for his interest in the matter.
"So... that's why I'm desperately asking you. If I resign, take over for our department as next candidate, okay?"
"No thanks. You won't have to quit anyway. Your raise seems legitimate."
"I don't know. I'm sure, but nothing's turning up."
She tapped the calendar firmly.
"Audit started on the 1st, three weeks in, and not even a peep about submitting documents."
"They must have their reasons."
"What reasons? 'Reasons' aren't for times like this..."
But then.
Rrring. Rrring.
It was Dan Chorok's pocket. Her phone, apparently.
"Hang on."
She pulled out her phone, staring at the number with a grim expression.
Rrring, rrring.
Her eyes turned to question marks, then she sharply answered.
"Hello?... Yes, yes. Yes?"
Her tone rose higher and higher until she grabbed the phone and ducked into the inner break area.
Slam!
"...?"
Kang Hyun could only tilt his head in bewilderment and wait.
One minute, two...
The call dragged on, and after nearly 10 minutes, the door finally opened.
Click.
"President...?"
She emerged furious, face flushed red like when Kang Hyun had bested her at the competition.
"What happened?"
Kang Hyun asked again, but she stayed silent for a long while.
Then, as if her brain short-circuited, she bit her lip, deep in thought.
Finally, she spat out a curse.
"Those damn bastards..."
"Why?"
"Never mind. We'll talk tomorrow. You decide quick, got it?"
She hurriedly packed her things.
"Huh? What is it, President?"
Ignoring his questions, Dan Chorok prepared to head out somewhere.
She didn't say why, but Kang Hyun sensed something urgent had come up.
She tried to look calm, but her trembling fingertips and flushed face betrayed her.
Something outrageous had clearly happened to her.
* * *
"I'll explain tomorrow, okay?"
"There is no tomorrow."
Kang Hyun doggedly followed Dan Chorok as she strode out quickly, ignoring her protests until they boarded the bus together.
Rumble, vroom.
'Wait, this route...'
Finally, noticing her shaken pupils, Kang Hyun guessed her destination.
She was heading to the Seocho Police Station.
"...Why the police station, President?"
"How'd you even know that?"
"This bus only goes that way. Anyway, you're not denying it's Seocho Station."
"Hah, you're a ghost. Fine, say I am—why are you following?"
"But... sniff sniff, hey! Did you drink yesterday?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah..."
"Wow, the great Kang Hyun drinks? Still reeks. Why's a guy stinking of booze chasing me instead of going home?"
"I'm worried. Why are you going to the police station?"
Grateful for his concern despite telling him to leave, her eyes wavered slightly at his worry.
"It's personal."
"What personal business would you have at a police station?"
"Ugh, drop it."
Dan Chorok gave up shooing him home and turned away, lost in thought and silent.
"..."
Kang Hyun didn't press, just looked out the window.
They weren't close, but their mock trial connection meant they knew each other casually.
Worried for her, he couldn't just head home alone.
Squeezed on the packed bus, Kang Hyun gripped the strap and headed to the station with her.
"..."
Glance.
Looking at her, her troubled feelings were plain on her face.
Finally, the bus stopped at Seocho Police Station, and they stood in front with awkward expressions.
"I've been here recently, so I know the layout. Traffic accident investigations are in the main building, citizen affairs in the annex, reception on the right. Where to?"
"...Right?"
"President, you filing a complaint?"
"Huh?"
"...Or did someone file on you?"
"Uh... huh?"
"You've been complained against."
No need for more words.
Pondering her destination, she'd unwittingly answered his offhand question, letting Kang Hyun nail her purpose instantly.
Driver's licenses, fines, criminal record checks—typical civilian errands.
But for complaint filings or verifications, it's the citizen affairs reception.
Her instinctive reaction gave it away.
"I'm just here to check something."
"You just said annex right. What do you need at complaint reception?"
"..."
Trapped by his trap, she had no choice but to spill.
Dodging his eyes like at the competition, unable to retort—Kang Hyun pressed her like a prosecutor.
"It was that call earlier. They wouldn't summon you on the spot. They notified you a complaint was filed?"
"..."
"You're here to confirm a complaint filing?"
"..."
Unlike the competition win or rejecting the presidency, this time he was prying to help—but it bruised her pride just the same, so she clammed up.
Still, he liked her because she was upfront, righteous, unyielding on principles.
And quick to bend when needed—empathetic.
"Sigh... fine."
Kang Hyun felt her evasive gaze straighten as she composed herself.
Knowing who he was and that he was trustworthy, she chose to open up rather than hide.
"First, wait over there a sec."
[Citizen Consultation Room]
She pointed to a small consultation space for citizen guidance.
"Why?"
"It's... hard to explain just the key points."
"So?"
"Let's consult."
Police station citizen affairs consultation room.
There, Dan Chorok called in not a cop, but Kang Hyun.