Chapter 32
She wasn't an entertainment reporter, but Cha Juhan figured she'd find this plenty intriguing. He could toss her a source from their own side and strike a deal, or at the very least, give her affiliate internet news outlet some easy fodder for articles. Either way, it gave her something worth bragging about.
"Oh my, Prosecutor—no, Lawyer Cha. Calling me this late? What's up? You're not complaining about that interview article now, are you? We pulled every punch we could."
"Let's talk."
"Hahaha! Sorry, I was joking too long? So happy to hear from you. What's going on?"
"I've got something good. A tip for you."
"A tip? You're not using me, right?"
"Call it mutual benefit."
"Alright, spill it."
"Jeong Hyejin's novel The Distance Between You and Me is plagiarized."
"What? I loved that book! Why?"
"I'll send you some links—check them out yourself. If it seems newsworthy, it'd be great if you could run a few pieces online."
📞 Yun Se-yeon
"What the hell, it's way too similar. Is this for real?"
"Yes."
📞 Yun Se-yeon
"You've taken this case, haven't you, Lawyer Cha? The posts are too polished. Feels like a pro cleaned them up."
"No comment."
📞 Yun Se-yeon
"Taking on Jeong Hyejin and Blue Island Media won't be easy. Especially since they're married."
"Did you know about this too, Reporter Yun?"
📞 Yun Se-yeon
"Huh? You knew too? This is some high-end intel. You've got good sources."
"Anyway. Will you run the story or not?"
📞 Yun Se-yeon
"Let the posts rack up some views, then I'll push an online article tomorrow morning."
Na Eun-seong, who had been listening on speakerphone, let out a deep sigh of relief. Cha Juhan wrapped up politely and hung up.
Kang Minjae handed Na Eun-seong a teacup. "From tomorrow, steel yourself a bit more. Jeong Hyejin's fans are gonna come at you hard. We'll monitor reactions, so stay off the boards. If you check, just look at view counts."
"……Okay."
"In civil suits, the plaintiff's mindset is key. Stay tough to go the distance. Crumble, and you lose. Got it?"
"Yes. I'll do my best."
"Good. You've worked hard."
They saw her out, then returned to their seats. Kang Minjae refreshed the viewer boards endlessly with a steely gaze, tracking rising views. Cha Juhan stepped out to the balcony for a smoke. The real fight started tomorrow.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day, Cha Juhan spotted the headlines on the portal sites.
📰 Breaking News
Soaring Ratings Hit by Plagiarism Scandal: The Distance Between You and Me!
📰 Breaking News
Hitmaker Jeong Hyejin Accused of Stealing Amateur Work?
📰 Breaking News
Who’s the Real Author of The Distance Between You and Me?
📰 Breaking News
Aspiring Writer Questions Jeong Hyejin: When Did You Write The Distance Between You and Me?
Reactions trickled in on the broadcaster's drama boards and various sites. Starting with Yun Se-yeon's Iljungilbo online piece, smaller internet outlets piled on. Drama boards demanded explanations. Communities erupted in fierce debates: plagiarism or not? Jeong Hyejin truly was a star—fans swarmed to the ends of the earth denying it in comments.
"Going as expected."
"I hoped for a milder reaction, but this is blowing up more than I thought."
Kang Minjae pulled a chair beside him. They watched in real-time as their comparison doc spread across blogs, cafes, everywhere. Blue Island Media must be sweating bullets by now. Would they ignore it? Deny it outright? Cha Juhan was dying to see.
Ignoring it worked fine too—play up the agony of a writer tortured by a giant corp's silence. A flat denial? Even better; it'd be the noose tightening around their necks.
"Netizen reactions will tell, but if it gets too big, Blue Island might rewrite the script. That shrinks our list of similarities."
"True."
"Shouldn't we tamp down the fire a bit?"
Cha Juhan shook his head. A new angle had opened up since then.
"Taesik's helping at the print shop."
"Huh? I thought he was just dumpster diving."
"Guess they hit it off. He pitches in when busy."
Updates came every other day by phone—of course, Taesik bragging and cackling.
"No way?"
"Script changes mean actor fan cafe schedules update, and the bindery rushes prints. Taesik grabs pre- and post-revision copies."
"Proof of similarities, plus evidence they're spooked. Way better."
Spot on—if Taesik didn't screw up. Above all, the prime goal was tracing Na Eun-seong's script print history. That had to pan out first; no word yet. Plan was to drop the complaint on the finale's airdate, episode 24. Time was ticking—other evidence piled up, but not the key piece.
Hiding unease, Cha Juhan eyed Kang Minjae. "Oh, Na Eun-seong said yesterday she got inspiration from Iyang-gu in Samchang-dong."
"Yeah?"
"Forgot to mention sooner. Sorry."
"Fine. Got work today—you're coming too."
"Huh? What?"
"Jeong Hyejin's ex-assistant writer who got screwed. Meeting her today."
While polishing Na Eun-seong's posts that week, he'd tracked assistants. Assistant director helped big-time. Now quit, vowing no more film world, he had no qualms spilling on unrelated dramas. Probably hated the broadcaster most—the one that aired The Distance.
"Why bring me?"
"You're good at sweet-talking."
"……Thought you needed my skills."
"Sweet-talking is a skill."
They met at a cafe near her place. Hair unkempt like days without a wash, tied back roughly, she looked wrecked from the jump. Dark circles to her chin, bare face, bloodshot eyes aching to see.
"You're buying coffee, right?" She flashed her empty tracksuit pocket, signaling broke.
"Of course. What'll it be?"
"Chocolate frappuccino. Venti. Sugar crash."
"Got it. Any bakery?"
"Bread too. Caramel, extra whipped cream."
"On it."
Kang Minjae stepped away; silence fell. She stared out the window, avoiding eyes.
"Seong Minjeong, right?"
"Yeah."
"Credited as assistant up to Jeong Hyejin's previous work."
"Quit after that."
"Mind sharing why?"
"Everything's shit. Broadcasting world's shit. Drama world's shit. Writers, staff, production—all shit. Sigh, fuck. Can we move to the smoking room? Need a cig."
"Whatever's comfy."
She chain-smoked, eyes fixed outside. Zero chat vibe.
"Seong Minjeong?"
"Yeah."
"Can I ask questions?"
"Sure."
Her hollow face flicked to Kang Minjae. Cha Juhan started steady.
"You said broadcasting, dramas, writers, production, staff—all shit."
"Yeah."
"What's the shitty part?"
Kang Minjae poked his side—softer words—but Cha Juhan just echoed her vocab.
"You heard from the director, right? Why I left Jeong Hyejin."
"Heard she trades assistants' scripts for debuts. You too?"
"Yeah. But no debut. Fuckin' bitch."
She spat in the ashtray, muttering.
"Haha, you're pretty pissed."
Kang Minjae tried softening her edge, but got glares.
"Wouldn't you be? That Kim Kyung-in drama of hers, House of Secrets."
"Oh yeah, huge hit. Three, four years back?"
"My prep work. Promised debut in two years, handed it over—fuckin' waited four, quit. She rakes cash; I get peanuts. My script, barely tweaked!"
Her shout turned heads in the smoking room.
"So, quitting drama writing altogether?"
"What choice? Can't learn shit under a hack who breaks promises. Her creative tantrums—ugh."
"No other writer's assistant gig?"
"Nah. Jeong Hyejin stink follows; others wary. Means crossing Blue Island."
"I see. Plans ahead?"
"Told Blue Island I'm out—they cut me loose, maybe hush money or script fee, whatever. Unemployment benefits for now. Maybe director's film intro, or... online romance novels? Hell if I know. No savings—hunting part-time."
[TRUTH]
Everything she had said so far was true.
Everything rang true. One lie, and he'd pivot to another assistant. Good pick from the AD.
"Romance novels could work."
Web novels boomed in the future—even failed drama hacks thrived more than assistants. House of Secrets: one of her hits. That talent would succeed. If she fixed her prickly attitude and defeated vibe.
"So, you've got plenty pent up against Jeong Hyejin."
"My dream. Half the slaps and hair-pulls she gave me, returned. Pray for it nightly. Let her get hers. Amen."
"Would you testify in court?"
"Testify? What?"
Tense at "court," she stubbed her cig. AD must've skimped details—just trash-talk Jeong Hyejin.