Chapter 34 "This Needs to Be Confirmed with My Ability."
I could head straight to the print shop and grill the owner, or fire off questions at Blue Island Media. My ability works anytime as long as I'm face-to-face with them. But both options required filing the lawsuit first. Tossing those questions out before suing would tip them off to expect a courtroom battle. It'd be like handing them time to prepare.
The drama's finale was just one step away anyway. In this situation, the right move was to file for an injunction against broadcasting immediately, followed by the lawsuit.
If Na Eun-seong's scenario had never been printed, sticking Taesik over there for grunt work would be pointless. I'd considered from the start that it might not exist, but if it did, wouldn't it be the most damning evidence?
"...And the schedule's changed."
I checked the actors' fan cafes for updates. There was now additional filming scheduled that hadn't been there last time I'd looked. It was enough time to reshoot two episodes at a glance.
This was proof that Jeong Hyejin had kicked off major revisions right after Na Eun-seong's comparison document went public.
Two hours later, around 8 p.m., Kang Minjae and Na Eun-seong walked into the office side by side. Both looked exhausted. Na Eun-seong especially—her eyes and nose were red and puffy from crying.
"Hello, Lawyer."
Na Eun-seong's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Hello. Feeling a bit calmer now?"
"...Yes. Sorry for the scene I made earlier."
"It's fine. Have a seat."
I was the one who'd told them to bring her to the office once she settled down. While Kang Minjae fetched drinks for us, I organized my thoughts on what to say to her.
Once Kang Minjae sat beside me, I spoke up.
"Na Eun-seong."
"Yes."
"I think we need to move up the lawsuit, just like you said."
"Pardon? I was just venting because I was so down at the time. You don't need to take it so seriously..."
"No. The situation's changed."
I showed her my laptop screen—screenshots explaining the sudden shift they hadn't seen.
"What is this..."
"The drama's ending at episode 20. Our plan was to sue before the finale and ride this public opinion wave, so we dropped the comparison document three weeks before the end."
"..."
"But now it's wrapping up next week. We're short on time. Blue Island Media plans to rewrite the script and pivot the protagonists' backstory secrets in a new direction."
"So before the changes, it followed my plot?"
"Yes. I have the original script."
"..."
She seemed to need a moment to process. Kang Minjae looked rattled too, but he pulled himself together quickly.
"Please go on."
"We haven't nailed down proof that Na Eun-seong's script was printed at the shop. It might never have been. Jeong Hyejin could have it solo."
"...Okay."
"That said, lacking the smoking gun doesn't mean we have no other evidence or witnesses. The similarities are undeniable. She denied intent, but we can hammer her on reviewing character setups. Plus, with pre- and post-revision scripts in hand, we can prove they tweaked it deliberately to differ from yours."
"Yes."
"I believe we should sue before the finale, even without print proof. It carries some risk—a drawn-out fight, maybe even loss. But if you're confident we can win once we get that evidence, we'll do it. Your call, Na Eun-seong."
Even if I had my top plan in mind, the client's opinion mattered most.
"Six days from now, when episode 19 airs. Think it over till then and let me know. We couldn't file an injunction by then, but that's unavoidable—"
"No."
Na Eun-seong cut me off firmly.
"I'll answer now."
She looked us both straight in the eye. For the first time, the timid woman projected real strength.
"I trust you both. Do it your way."
I'd figured she'd hole up crying for six days. A laugh escaped me unbidden. Kang Minjae shot me a look that screamed, I calmed her down.
"Good. We'll proceed with the complaint."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day, we submitted the injunction against broadcasting and the lawsuit complaint. Injunctions typically get ruled on within a week. With less than that left, the hearing would likely be set a day before airtime, deciding the block then.
Proving copyright infringement airtight in days was impossible. Our real goal wasn't even to stop the broadcast.
Topicability. That's all we needed.
⚡ Breaking News ⚡
Aspiring Writer Files Injunction to Halt Your Distance from Me Broadcast... Will It Stick?
Your Distance from Me Faces Injunction Days Before Finale...
LIVE | [Portal Site] — Seoul | Now
📰 Top Search
How Serious Is the Copyright Theft in Your Distance from Me?
Aspiring Writer Sues Your Distance from Me for Copyright Infringement
Your Distance from Me vs. Between Us: Who Wins in Court?
Things were unfolding just as I'd hoped. Portal sites' top searches cycled through them, and netizen battles on boards grew fiercer. Good thing I'd made Na Eun-seong swear off the internet.
— LawNet User
Cha Juhan, who proved Kim Yeonjun's innocence, now takes on Taegwang Law Firm.
⭐ Top Comment
— AnonProsecutor87
Cha Juhan, ex-prosecutor from criminal division, now handling copyright? Against Taegwang no less. Feels like he's grabbing any fame shot... Poor aspiring writer getting used. Everyone knows drama contests steal submissions openly—think they stayed quiet out of ignorance? Winning's like grabbing stars. Even copyright specialists struggle... Cha's overreaching. Looks bad.
Basically turned his back on prosecution...
Iljungilbo interview was too cocky. Whispers in the Blue House someone's backing him...;
ㄴㄴ Criminal lawyer cut off from prosecutors can't eat. Probably pivoted to civil to avoid them.
ㄴㄴㄴ First civil case, huge one with PR blitz... Arrogance off the charts. How's he handle the humiliation if he loses lol
ㄴㄴㄴㄴ Current big firm copyright specialist here. Super tough case, charging in like an idiot... Personally liked Cha from training academy days, but increasingly disappointed.
Lawyers busied themselves dumping on me in comments. Not pleasant, but right on script. I planned to build fame as a lawyer. Fame splits opinions, and peers hate it. But I only cared about a good public image.
Besides, they weren't wrong. I'd give every case my all, but yeah, trials boosted my profile too.
"Lawyer, got a backer?"
Kang Minjae, scrolling communities, chuckled as he wheeled the mouse.
"Wouldn't mind."
He cracked up harder at my reply.
— FanOfJustice
Reactions look rough... I support Lawyer Cha^^
↳ Huhu... You Cha himself? Busy but commenting here...
↳ Sleepy afternoon, leaving with big laughs^^
↳ Epic sense~! lol
These guys must love trashing me.
"Ah, I commented and they think I'm you. What now?"
"That was you, Kang?"
"...Haha."
Then the office phone rang. Leaving Kang Minjae giggling over his keyboard, I picked up.
"Cha Juhan Law Office."
📞 Taegwang Law Firm
Taegwang Law Firm, handling legal for Blue Island Media.
Wooshin Group's affiliates all entrust legal disputes to Taegwang. Blue Island Media was no different. It'd been just two months since I'd rammed Taegwang's Yoon Wonhyeong, and here we were clashing again. They weren't pushovers—top monster firm in Korea.
"Yes."
📞 Taegwang Lawyer
"Dropping articles without prior contact... We should meet."
"Indeed."
Voice unfamiliar—expected for a copyright specialist. No manners calling without intros. Hiding his name to block info beforehand. Pointless trick; it'd come out in person. They clearly underestimated me.
📞 Taegwang Lawyer
"When suits you? Sooner the better. Today works anytime."
They'd likely reviewed since Na Eun-seong's statement hit the net. Prep done, pushing meet before even getting the complaint.
"5 p.m. We'll come to Blue Island Media."
📞 Taegwang Lawyer
"Got it."
I hung up and nodded at Kang.
"Quit netizen games. Prep to head out."
"Yep!"
Them jumping to meet screamed settlement push—withdrawal talks. I had zero interest in negotiating. I just wanted faces from Blue Island Media to check for print copies with my ability.