Chapter 33
"We're preparing to file a copyright lawsuit against author Jeong Hyejin right now."
"A copyright lawsuit? Which work? Fuck, it's so absurd that I even have to ask which one, given how many there are."
"I don't know about the other cases, but we're going with Your Distance from Me."
As Kang Minjae answered, Seong Minjeong let out an "Ah!" like something had just clicked.
"I saw it in the internet news before coming out today. That one? The entry for the Blue Island contest?"
"Yes. Do you happen to know anything about the Your Distance from Me case?"
"Not really. The article said it was an entry from last year, but I'd already quit before the contest even started. Ha, that bitch Jeong Hyejin still hasn't kicked her old habits."
Had Seong Minjeong been living like this—a total wreck—for a whole year because of Jeong Hyejin? That was a problem in itself.
"Have you ever thought about filing a lawsuit yourself? I heard there are a lot of assistant writers like you who handed over manuscripts expecting a debut promise."
"An exposé? Come on. Sure, I've decided to quit the drama scene, but others are still hanging on, thinking she'll let them debut someday. Or they're scrambling to enter broadcast contests just to debut somehow and can't leave the industry. What good would it do if I exposed it alone?"
Kang Minjae's eyes were sparkling; he looked ready to suggest suing her for damages on the spot. I grabbed his thigh hard.
"Ow!"
"I see. Then, at least testify about what happened to you. We have to stop Jeong Hyejin from doing this again, right?"
"Sure, let's do it. When's the trial?"
"We haven't filed the complaint yet. We'll contact you once the schedule's set. Keep it secret until then."
"Of course. I wouldn't miss a chance to screw over Jeong Hyejin."
Her hollow expression had vanished; now she was beaming with sharp eyes and a cheerful tone. [Truth] floated above her head, naturally.
In the old days, I'd have worried if I could really trust her, if she'd flip her story in court. But ever since getting this ability, all those risks vanished. It was an absurd power, no matter how I thought about it. Unbalanced, you could say. If other legal pros knew, how utterly defeated they'd feel.
"We'll be in touch soon."
We handed her a business card and left the café. Kang Minjae shuddered as he started the car.
"Seong Minjeong seems like one tough lady. Or did she snap because of it?"
"She stuck it out under Jeong Hyejin for a long time. Can't blame her."
I buckled up and pulled my phone from my inside pocket.
> Na Eun-seong: 15 missed calls
> Na Eun-seong: 7 missed texts
It was right around when we were talking to Seong Minjeong. With this many calls and texts, something must've happened. I dialed her.
"Lawyer... Why didn't you pick up? Really..."
"What happened?"
"I'm going crazy. I want to die..."
"Tell me so I can help."
"Everyone's cursing me on every site, digging up my blog to insult me, sending hate emails... I'm losing my mind."
Her choked-up voice drew a sigh from me before I knew it. I'd specifically told her not to check comments after posting.
"Na Eun-seong, we told you not to check reactions."
"I know. I know, but... I didn't expect emails too. Double curses, calling me a crazy bitch, money-grubbing—everything. Can't we sue for this?"
"Calm down first. You knew this was coming. Let's meet. If it's hard to come to the office, we'll visit you."
Truth be told, I hadn't expected her to actually avoid checking reactions as we advised. Human psychology being what it is. Unless you've been through hell like I did in my past life and reached enlightenment, the shock is inevitable. To us, pro-plagiarism opinions seemed dominant, but to her, the hate stood out more. In times like this, someone warm like Kang Minjae was better suited to comfort her. We'd planned on handling the mental care from the start.
"I just want to sue fast. Sob sob. Lawyer, sue them quick—us. Waaah."
"Na Eun-seong, we'll come to your place. Give me the address."
Kang Minjae kept staring at me with question marks all over his face. Without speakerphone, he didn't know her situation—just guessing from my soothing tone. I switched to speaker.
"Sob sob. Both of you coming?"
"We'll send Lawyer Kang. I'll focus on rushing the complaint. Better for you that way, right?"
"...Yes."
"Got it. I'll tell Lawyer Kang. Text the address."
Finally off the phone, I leaned deep into the seatback.
"Wait, Lawyer. Where are you sending me? Na Eun-seong's place?"
"She's having a mental breakdown."
"What's that?"
"...Her mental state's collapsed. She's losing it."
"You shorten words weirdly. Anyway, you want me to go care for her?"
"Yeah. You're better at it than me."
I lit a cigarette after rolling down the window. Kang Minjae sighed deeply.
"Fair point."
"..."
"...No, not that you can't do it. Haha. But it feels like you praise me then dump all the tough jobs on me... Right?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"For real?"
"Yes."
He'd forgotten the days he begged to be taken on and used freely.
After sending Kang Minjae to Na Eun-seong, I returned to the office. Sitting at the computer, I started transcribing the Seong Minjeong recording.
Vrrr. My phone buzzed. Call from Taesik.
"Lawyer, something's off here."
He shouted before I could even say hello.
"What."
"They're suddenly reprinting episodes 19 and 20. We finished those already!"
"Original scripts for 19 and 20?"
"Snuck a peek."
"Good job."
"Not sarcasm?"
"Dead serious. Peek at the new 19 and 20 prints too."
"Roger. But the vibe... They said 20 is the final order. Wasn't it 24-episode finale? Pulling a 24-episode show to 20 and revising 19-20?"
I hadn't expected an early end, but revisions were anticipated. Tweaking the point where the leads' pasts unravel and beyond to dilute critical similarities.
"Exactly. Save the pre-revision scripts as-is. Get the rest too. Anyway, the Na Eun-seong scenario print—no luck?"
"They have a spot for brag-worthy prints from their stuff, all scripts—but no Na scenario."
"We need that fast. It's the key."
"Wh-what if we can't? No MO then?"
"So find it."
"Shit... We've searched everywhere so far."
"Oh, and I'll send an address. Put a guy on protection duty."
"Protect who? Why? Big incident?"
"Just in case. Seong Minjeong. Witness protection—stick a kid on her. Check if Blue Island Media contacts her. Same for Na Eun-seong. Block contact naturally, like big bro or uncle."
"Ah, got it. Extra pay, you know."
Before the nonsense dragged on, I hung up.
Once the complaint flies, Blue Island Media will rush to contact Na Eun-seong first. They'll want to exclude us for control. I'd instruct her not to meet, but with her fragile state, who knows.
"This is..."
I gathered my thoughts and logged into the portal site. The real-time search term on the main page had shifted to 'Your Distance from Me.'
With a 24-episode plan, I figured we'd submit print logs for the remaining 6 episodes over 3 weeks as evidence. But ending at 20 meant next week. With netizens leaning pro-plagiarism now, we needed to file before finale to seize public opinion. This acceleration!
'...No way.'
Anxiety surged, and the assistant director's words flashed back.
What if—just maybe—Blue Island deemed Na Eun-seong's work crap and bounced it in round one? No print history? If Jeong Hyejin snagged it solo? It hit like a sucker punch; my jaw hung slack.