Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Suspect Interrogation
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"I'll take that as a compliment."
Yoo Yi-seol smirked at my words.
She probably didn't think it was purely a compliment either.
It made sense to find it odd that the guy uploading nonsense videos looked perfectly normal.
Even I would've been pretty tense if I'd had to go meet someone like me.
"Our handsome client is quite the entertaining one..."
"Where do you get off saying that?"
"Most guys are thrilled when you compliment their looks."
Well...
Of course they'd be happy if a pretty woman like Yoo Yi-seol praised them.
It was only natural.
"I'm not the type to make empty flattery."
You've got to say what you want to say and live your life.
I even spoke my mind freely to a chaebol heiress like Eun Ha-min—what difference would a lawyer make?
"Beyond that, guys always follow up a compliment on their looks with an invitation to grab a meal."
"Better not, since it could lead to misunderstandings. More importantly, you're incredibly pretty yourself, Attorney Yoo. Seeing you in person is a whole different level."
"Oh? Tell me more. How exactly am I pretty? I'm looking forward to this."
Yoo Yi-seol propped her chin on her hand and stared straight at me.
Her eyes sparkled with interest.
I chose my words carefully before speaking.
"For starters, you look way better in person than in your videos. The camera doesn't do your beauty justice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. And you look super youthful—like, really young."
She had to be at least in her thirties, being a lawyer and all.
"Looks can be deceiving. I'm actually thirty-three."
"Huh. You don't look it at all. I'd have guessed twenty-two or twenty-three, tops."
My blunt praise made Attorney Yoo Yi-seol's face flush bright red in an instant.
She fanned herself with her hand, trying to cool off, and it was surprisingly cute.
Even lawyers could be adorable in private.
I'd imagined her as this cool, sharp-tongued type who dropped killer one-liners.
And to be fair, that's pretty much spot-on for Yoo Yi-seol.
She was famous for her straightforward, no-nonsense consultations.
"Th-thank you. I've been working hard to look young."
"Come on, you've gotta have tons of fans."
"I do okay online, but... offline, it always felt like superficial flattery based on me being a lawyer. Your words feel genuine, though. It makes me happy."
Yoo Yi-seol shyly averted her gaze with a smile.
Her job probably made it hard for her to take compliments at face value. What a shame.
I decided to add one more.
"You'd look even prettier without the suit, though."
"The suit?"
"Yeah. It makes you look too stiff. Do you wear that one every day?"
A lead lawyer at a firm should have freedom in her wardrobe.
I was curious why she stuck to something that looked so uncomfortable.
At my question, Attorney Yoo Yi-seol smiled warmly.
It was the look of an older sister gazing at her cute little brother.
"What a cute question."
"Ahem. I can't help my curiosity."
"A suit is like armor for a lawyer. It's a visual symbol that builds trust with clients and shows professionalism. If I showed up in sweats for a consultation, would you even trust me, Min-jae?"
"Hm... If you're skilled, it shouldn't matter."
"What about in court? Think I could argue in front of a judge wearing ripped sweats? I'd get thrown out. Courtesy and decorum matter there."
She had a point.
I pictured a lawyer arguing in torn sweats.
'It'd make a good shorts video character, but... yeah, it'd look bad.'
I nodded, convinced.
"As expected from a lawyer. Your way with words is no joke."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
She threw my line right back at me.
Her wit shone even in moments like this.
Yoo Yi-seol brightly smiled and opened her laptop.
Her expression turned serious.
"Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's get to the main topic."
"Sure."
"Client—or rather, Min-jae—can you walk me through exactly what happened?"
I took a deep breath and explained step by step.
Starting from trying to buy game money, accidentally hitting the handover button and losing the cash.
Then suddenly being labeled a hacker and getting blackmail texts.
And finally, being sued without a shred of evidence.
I laid it all out, nothing held back.
Yoo Yi-seol, jotting notes furiously, touched her chin.
She didn't seem aware of it, but she had a habit of stroking her chin when thinking.
"Hmm... It's coming together."
"What do you think? Any answers?"
"Just to be sure, you didn't actually hack anything, right? Not that it matters—there's no evidence either way."
Her eyes sharpened.
She looked ready to spot any lie instantly.
Still, I nodded confidently.
The AI app handled it all—there was no trace of me.
"Of course not. I'm innocent as hell. No evidence whatsoever."
Yoo Yi-seol nodded and reviewed the whole story again.
As she wrapped up, she downed her iced Americano.
"This is a clear case of insufficient evidence. No way they'll prosecute."
"Knew it."
"Yeah. The complainant's 'evidence' is just a few screenshots of 1:1 chats. That's not proving squat. Impossible."
"Phew... I figured, but hearing it from you makes it real."
Pros really were on another level.
Nothing like the basement-dwelling 'experts' spamming my shorts comments.
"Hmm. On the contrary..."
Yoo Yi-seol paused, then smirked faintly.
She looked like a predator spotting prey.
"What if... the complainant fabricated evidence to sue you?"
"Huh? No way they'd go that far..."
"You never know. If so, we could have a case for false accusation."
"Whoa, really? False accusation?"
"Yep. Reporting false facts to get someone criminally charged. If we can, would you?"
She leaned forward, dead serious.
I nodded without hesitation.
No mercy for anyone who messed with me.
"Absolutely. If possible, I'd make them suffer so bad they'd wish they were dead."
"Good. Knew you'd say that."
She grinned wickedly, like she wasn't from this world.
Yoo Yi-seol looked pleased, as if she'd been waiting for that response.
As a lawyer-slash-YouTuber, this was prime content bait.
Satisfied, she snapped her fingers.
"I'll cover all lawsuit costs. Clean sweep, start to finish."
"For real?"
"One condition, though."
"Condition? What's that?"
She beamed, locking eyes with me.
"We meet weekly for consultations. You buy the meals."
"Weekly..."
No reason to refuse.
A top lawyer working pro bono? A meal was nothing.
"What do you say? Gonna turn it down?"
"Nah. But Saturdays are booked."
Saturdays were for Lee Soo-yeon.
Unless it was flexible like with Eun Ha-min, fixed days were off-limits.
"Sundays work, then?"
"Yeah. Weekly Sundays it is. Just make the other side hurt as much as possible. Make 'em beg for death."
Her smile turned devilish at my request.
"You're really growing on me, Min-jae. Truth is, I became a lawyer because I hated someone enough to want them dead."
"Ha, whoever it was, sounds like we're kindred spirits."
She extended her hand.
"Let's get along."
We shook firmly.
And just like that, I acquired my rogue blade.
After my consultation with Attorney Yoo Yi-seol, I headed home.
Summer was winding down, so the sun set earlier than usual.
"Sigh. Another day slips away."
Wasting time on this lawsuit.
If I'd met Lee Soo-yeon today, we could've had way more fun...
I parked A-bang in the underground lot and got out.
Locked it with the smart key and started walking, spotting a red sports car parked far off.
"That..."
Looks familiar.
But seeing it here was weird, so I tilted my head.
Then the driver's door opened, and someone stepped out.
The silhouette emerging from the shadows was familiar.
"Soo-yeon?"
Wait, why was Soo-yeon here...?
How'd she even know my address...?
Oh, right—she'd driven me home before.
Would've been weirder if she didn't know.
Lee Soo-yeon spotted me and walked over briskly.
She stopped right in front of me, sighed deeply, and crossed her arms.
Her face didn't look happy.
"Where've you been?"
"Ah, just consulting a lawyer."
"...Attorney Yoo Yi-seol?"
Huh?
How'd she know?
As I looked surprised, she sighed again.
"Haa... She commented on your 'Truth of the World' video saying she'd help. As if I wouldn't see that."
"Oh yeah, she did."
I scratched my head.
Lee Soo-yeon was a loyal channel viewer, keeping up with videos and comments.
"Soo-yeon, eaten yet?"
"You think I can eat right now?"
She snapped, fuming.
Then she bit her lip hard.
She seemed to have something to say, hesitating before suddenly grabbing my wrist.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Somewhere quiet."
Lee Soo-yeon dragged me off relentlessly.
We ended up in a secluded corner of the lot, behind a pillar.
CCTV blind spot.
I was about to ask what was up when—
Thud.
She shoved me against the wall.
Cold concrete hit my back.
"Wha... Did I do someth... Mmph!?"
Before I could react, her face closed in.
Hot breath and soft lips pressed against mine.
Lee Soo-yeon's lips.
My eyes widened in shock, but she ignored it, prying my lips open.
Her soft tongue wrapped around mine.
My mind went blank in an instant.
I'd felt it when Eun Ha-min kissed me too—getting invaded like this whites out your brain.
'Well, we were gonna kiss anyway...'
I closed my eyes and let her take over.
Swish.
Then her hand slid up my thigh.
The touch climbing my inner thigh was bolder than expected.
This was getting dangerous.
But I let it be for now.
It wasn't bad.
"Pha..."
After thoroughly exploring my lips, Lee Soo-yeon pulled back.
Her eyes were misty now.
She panted roughly, looking up at me—her expression so beautiful I couldn't look away.
"Min-jae... Why are you so good at this? At receiving kisses?"
"Huh...?"
"It's annoying..."
She sniffled, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
Then muttered in a small voice.
"I was so worried today."
"Soo-yeon..."
"I tried everything to help... But as a doctor, I don't know law, so I spent all day asking around..."
She clutched my hand, kneading it as she recounted her day.
She'd run around everywhere for my sake.
"Finally found a solution and came over, but you weren't home. Phone off too."
"S-sorry. You could've at least texted."
"If... if I texted first... it'd make me look desperate."
Is that how it works?
Women's logic escapes me.
Anyway, I stroked her head for all her efforts.
She didn't pull away, just accepted it quietly.
Her face reddened more and more.
"..."
An awkward silence fell.
The intense kiss had left the mood strange.
Lee Soo-yeon, usually so mature, felt younger today.
'Hm... Maybe tease her a bit to lighten things up?'
I tossed out a joke.
"The kiss I get, but why the thigh? Kinda pervy."
"...!"
Her eyes flashed.
A mix of embarrassment and anger.
"Sh-shut up!"
"Uwup..."
She grabbed my chin.
And covered my lips again.
Harder, more insistently than before.
Wet sounds of tongues tangling echoed through the underground lot.
This changes the signal entirely.
A few days later.
I stood in front of the police station with Attorney Yoo Yi-seol.
For my suspect interrogation.
The clear sky irritated me today.
'Rain your heart out already.'
Cry, sky.
Lost in silly thoughts, my mood lifted a bit.
"Relax, Min-jae."
"I'm not tense."
"Your face says otherwise."
She patted my shoulder.
Glancing over, she poked my cheek with her finger.
Her childish antics contrasted her perfect lawyer look—suit and briefcase.
"They should be the nervous ones—the investigators and complainant. Not me."
Not long ago, I'd gotten a call from Detective Park Cheol-su, who'd gone radio silent.
Gone was the rude tone from our first call.
[Ah, yes. Kim Min-jae?]
[This is Detective Park Cheol-su from before...]
[Calling about your suspect interrogation schedule.]
[When's a good time for you...?]
Polite and gentle as could be.
I thought it was customer service.
Makes sense.
His voice—distorted—had hit 58 million views in that viral video.
Plus, other videos featured the Gangnam Police Station repeatedly.
Hard to pinpoint from outside, but inside? Must've been a shitstorm.
Detective Park Cheol-su probably got reamed from above.
'Serves you right.'
Worth using it as video fodder.
His excessive groveling annoyed me more.
"Min-jae, remember this before we go in."
"Got it."
"No matter what they ask inside, don't answer until I say so. Clear?"
"Crystal."
With her stern warning, we entered the station.
At the info desk, I stated our business.
"Here for suspect interrogation. With counsel."
"Yes, one moment. ID please?"
After checking, they pointed to the citizen services room.
Short wait, then directed to the detective division.
Heart raced a bit in the elevator.
Finally meeting that jerk.
Opened the detective division door—classic drama-scene interior unfolded.
A man spotted us and jumped up.
"Ah, Kim Min-jae? You're here. We've been waiting."
Detective Park Cheol-su.
As polite in person as on the phone.
"Yes. Detective Park Cheol-su, right?"
"Ah, yes. That's me. Sorry for the trek. This way."
He led us to the interrogation room.
Yoo Yi-seol sat beside me, pulling a stack of documents from her bag and organizing them neatly.
"Let's begin."
Park Cheol-su flinched at her icy tone.
With a 400k-sub lawyer YouTuber in tow, he was deflating fast.
Oh, right—recording.
Ding~♪
A loud ringtone blared through the room.
Of course, Detective Park Cheol-su didn't complain.