Chapter 24
"Hello, Lawyer!"
"Kim Yeonjun?"
I spotted a familiar face at the cafe I stopped by before heading to the office. Just like before, he stood at the counter in his uniform.
"Iced Americano, right?"
"That's right. But make it two this time."
"Got it. I'll have them ready right over there."
When I held out my card, Kim Yeonjun shook his head.
"The boss said no more charging you for coffee from now on."
"That's a separate matter."
"No, it's a direct order from the boss. Put the card away. Come on."
His complexion looked noticeably better than it had in the courtroom. Still, it had only been two days since his release, and here he was already working part-time. He probably hadn't even sorted out his parents' affairs yet, and there must have been so much he wanted to handle.
"Here you go—two cups."
"Thanks."
"My shift ends at 1. Mind if I stop by the office after?"
"Sure. There's someone I want to introduce you to anyway."
I carried the two coffees up to the office. Today was Kang Minjae's official first day, but we hadn't even brought in his desk yet. I opened the door, thinking I'd order one first thing.
"Good morning, Lawyer. Nice day, huh?"
A carrier with two cups of coffee sat on the consultation table—the same kind I was holding.
"I got coffee too... Wait, is one of them for me?"
Kang Minjae eyed me with a sly grin.
"Both are mine."
"That's mine."
"Mine."
"Ah, yes. Sure."
He tossed a half-hearted reply and stashed his carrier in the fridge. Before I could stop him, he snatched one from my hand.
"The part-timer at the cafe downstairs—Kim Yeonjun, right?"
"Yeah."
"Small world. The cafe owner where he works is Lee Youngho, the witness from trial? And the building owner too. Right?"
"You even pulled the property registry?"
"I was thinking of buying this place."
"What?"
"Kidding."
I should've used my lie detection on that one—too slow. Brushing past his nonsense, I sat at my desk. I reconnected the phone line I'd set up last night and booted up the computer.
Rrring!
The phone rang furiously before I could even set down my bag.
"Cha Juhan Law Office—"
-Lawyer! This is too much, isn't it?!
The voice was so shrill I pulled the receiver away from my ear. Had I done something to deserve that out of the blue? I pondered for a split second.
The voice carried through the receiver, and Kang Minjae perked up, shooting me a questioning look.
"Who's this?"
-Yun Se-yeon here. I must've called your cell a hundred times—no answer at all?
"...Ah, Reporter Yun. Yesterday was hectic, as you know."
-Still, you could've at least texted!
"Sorry about that."
-Ugh, whatever. I'd rather argue with a wall. Anyway—we still have that settlement, right?
Kang Minjae handed me the morning papers. Every front page was dominated by the Kim Cheolhwan and Ye Hui-sook couple murder case resolution. At the bottom of the Iljungilbo article, the byline read Yun Se-yeon—complete with a teaser for a follow-up piece.
"Saw the article. Good work."
-Thanks. So you saw the follow-up teaser too?
"Yep."
-You promised good sources. Time to deliver.
In exchange for the hospital room where Kim Hyeongjun was staying and Ye Hui-sook's manager's contact, I'd made that promise. I rubbed my temple, recalling her threat to sue if I didn't.
-The trial results are already all over every paper. So what else could it be but good sources?
"Beats me."
-Don't play dumb. I'm coming for that interview.
"Wouldn't interviewing Kim Yeonjun be better?"
-What? He's already said no to interviews.
"Then I'll say no too."
-You're not off the hook. We had a deal. Iljungilbo—no, Yun Se-yeon exclusive. Heh heh heh.
Yun Se-yeon let out a gleeful cackle she couldn't contain.
"Send the questions ahead, and I'll review and get back to you."
-Kaah! Nice! Nice! Thank you! Oh, and can I interview Lawyer Kang Minjae too?
Kang Minjae showing up in court with the USB had been pivotal, but was he that famous?
"Kang. Come here."
"Yes? What's up?"
"Iljungilbo's Yun Se-yeon. Wants to interview you along with me."
"If you do it, I will. But you never do these, right?"
His eyes gleamed like he knew me inside out. Not wrong, really. The old Cha Juhan from 2008 would've never touched an interview. But reincarnated from ten years ahead, I was different. As long as it didn't come off as too boastful, it could boost my career nicely.
"She helped me out this time, so I owe her."
"Then count me in."
"Reporter Yun, Kang too—"
-Heard! Kaah! Yes! Shooting the questions by email now. Text me the address.
"Hold on, Lawyer."
With Yun and Kang both chattering, it was chaos. I switched to speakerphone.
"You two sort it out."
"Reporter Yun? Kang Minjae here."
-Oh, I know, I know. Our Kang—
"Ah, yes! Anyway, separate questions for me, please."
-Ah, gotcha~ Understood.
Yun Se-yeon replied with a knowing lilt. I scooted my chair back, signaling them to handle it, and stepped out to the balcony. Kang Minjae plopped into my chair, switched back to handset, and kept talking. Soon after, he hung up, joined me, and lit a cigarette.
"Kang."
"Yeah?"
"Anything you're hiding from me?"
"Hiding? Nah."
Kang Minjae, oblivious to the label hovering over his head, brazenly changed the subject to the weather. Perfect day, cool breeze, sky's so blue—clichés galore.
"Kang, you're getting better at lying."
As I stubbed out my cigarette, his face turned desperate.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
He trailed after me back inside.
"You're not canceling my hire or anything, right?"
"No."
"I'll tell you everything later. Just didn't feel like it now. It's no big deal, really."
Everyone has secrets. No different for me. If whatever Kang was hiding didn't harm me directly, I didn't care.
"Fine."
"Lawyer, you mad?"
"No. Let's do the contract."
I printed two copies of the employment draft I'd prepared at home.
"Read it over. Speak up if you want changes. And did you submit your resignation to Taegwang?"
"Of course. Approved yesterday."
"Yesterday?"
He'd prepped it assuming I might reject him—ready to flop dramatically.
"Yeah. Action-oriented, that's me."
"Freelance contract till the office stabilizes. Percentage of fees, then full-time with benefits once we're set."
"No need for benefits. But won't you lose out this way?"
"How?"
"Fees are gonna pour in. Giving me this cut? Total loss. I said minimum wage is fine."
"Can't pay a Taegwang lawyer minimum wage."
"Then tweak the percentage. 10% per case."
"On a low-fee case, you might walk away with less than 100,000 won."
He chuckled.
"Taegwang gives seniors 30%. Junior like me? 10%'s fair. Gotta run the office. You gotta eat too."
Kang Minjae struck through the percentage, wrote 10%, and inked his seal. He shoved it over for mine. Looking up at him, I'd seen plenty demanding more—but less? First time.
We'd bickered over pay during drinks last night and again today. Time to compromise. I stamped it.
"No other changes. Just this and we're good."
"Sign everywhere. Fill in your resident number and details at the bottom, sign there."
With his contract done, I remembered his desk.
"Need to order your desk?"
"Already did. Matches the office design. Spot picked out."
"...Seriously. Bring the receipt for reimbursement."
"It's fine. Freelance, so I'll cover furnishings—"
"Kang."
He beamed, slipping his copy into his briefcase, and looked at me.
"I get your family's loaded, but office assets. Receipt. Got it?"
"...Ah, yes. Sorry if I overstepped. I just—"
"I'll give it to the office manager when you quit."
"I'm not quitting."
"Who knows the future."
"I said I'm not!"
Another round of bickering was brewing when—
"Excuse me."
The door opened. A man hauled in a desk wrapped in padding.
"Desk delivery. Where to?"
* * *
Kang Minjae set up in an empty corner. He'd even had a nameplate made—he pulled it from his bag and placed it proudly. He looked thrilled.
Plugged in the outlet, set up his laptop, installed dividers for files, stocked law books and docs. Stretched like his work was done.
While he buzzed around, I reviewed Yun Se-yeon's questionnaire. Six pages of questions in a Word doc—I struck through most, leaving about two pages.
Rrring!
Just as I thought to relax—another call.
"Cha Juhan Law Office."
-Finally picking up. Hello, SBC 9 o'clock news team. Interview request—?
"No time. Sorry."
-We'll come whenever suits you. Anytime—
"Sorry."
I hung up. The phone erupted again immediately. Yun's call must've leaked somehow—interview frenzy round two.
"Kang, unplug the line."
"Sigh, again?"
He yanked it muttering.
"How're we supposed to take client calls like this?"
"They'll come in person."
The Kim Yeonjun case was basically pro bono. To keep the office running, we needed new ones. But with the line open? Buried under interview requests.
"Lawyer, lunch when?"
"What time is it?"
"12:55."
"Kim Yeonjun at 1. Eat after."
"Pick a menu? Preferences?"
As I mentally scanned nearby spots—
The door opened. Kim Yeonjun and Lee Youngho entered together.
"Lawyer, Kim Yeonjun's here."
Kang Minjae bounced up, guiding them to the table.
"Saw you this morning, now again. Lawyer."
"Cha Lawyer, I tagged along."
The building owner Lee Youngho grinned sheepishly, sitting beside Kim Yeonjun.
Kim Yeonjun blinked wide at Kang Minjae next to me.
"The customer from the cafe this morning?"
"Yes. Kang Minjae, attorney."
"Ah, working with Cha Juhan Lawyer? Nice to meet you."
He shook hands warmly as Kang offered.
"This guy helped crack your case. Starting here today."
"I see. Thank you so much."
"I'm the one who crashed court with that video during recess. Haha."
"Really? Sorry, took me this long to recognize you."
Like I'd noticed earlier, Kim Yeonjun was a total 180 from his detention days. Innocent yet vilified by the world—now flooded with interview requests asking how it felt. Easy to grow cynical, but he seemed positive.
"Thanks to Cha Lawyer, our Yeonjun's cleared... So grateful. Thought you'd refuse when I said meet him, but you took the case. Huge relief."
"Kim Yeonjun did nothing wrong."
"Lawyer."
Kim Yeonjun, who'd been beaming between Lee Youngho and me, cut in.
"They say discuss fees first at consult. Usually retainer upfront, success fee later. I was out of it then, so..."
He pulled a white envelope from his bag and set it on the table.
"Here's the retainer."