Chapter 77
There wasn't much to call the full story of the incident. Jeong Yeongjun had been living his usual life when, all of a sudden, that video started circulating. Before it even made the news, his wife, Ko Jina, had already come across it.
After watching the video, Ko Jina confronted him immediately, demanding if the man in it was really him. Jeong Yeongjun panicked. He insisted to her that it absolutely wasn't him—that it had to be a deepfake—and suggested they have it analyzed by an expert. But the expert's verdict was clear: the video was genuine, not manipulated.
Ko Jina flew into an even greater rage and shared the video with her family back home—the people at Yangjin Group. Chairman Ko Sanggyeong summoned Jeong Yeongjun separately, slapped him across the face, unleashed a torrent of abuse, and ordered him to divorce immediately. No matter how Jeong Yeongjun protested that it wasn't him, that someone was clearly trying to smear his name, it fell on deaf ears.
He begged them at least to keep the video from spreading further, but his father-in-law and wife wouldn't budge. They said they'd try to contain the family shame, but they couldn't stand how he refused to repent and kept denying it.
Once the video hit the news, Ko Jina demanded divorce every time they crossed paths. In particular, she said, "I know you have nothing but the money you made after marrying into our family, so forget alimony—just agree to a clean divorce."
Being around his wife only made things worse, so Jeong Yeongjun suggested they take some time apart and live separately for now. He pleaded with her to wait just a little, promising he'd find proof it was a smear campaign if she'd only believe in him. But it didn't seem to work.
Soon after, her lawyer contacted him to prepare for divorce proceedings.
"I don't know what to do. I have no idea who did this or why."
The fact that he couldn't fathom the motive meant no one had tried blackmailing him directly with the video. If someone had leaked it without demanding anything from him in return, the goal was probably to destroy his reputation or credibility.
"No business rivals you've crossed? Or even if not a direct feud, someone whose plans you opposed?"
"There might be. But honestly, I'm just a vice president in name only—no real power. Even if I opposed something, it would go ahead anyway. If someone went that far thinking I was the ultimate roadblock... well, then..."
"Nothing's certain yet. I'm just outlining a few possibilities. Don't get worked up."
"...Yes. But what hurts most is that my wife won't even listen to me... Honestly, the video's so humiliating I can barely show my face, but if I can just protect my family, I'll endure it. As long as Jina stays by my side..."
Jeong Yeongjun clutched his head as he spoke. I felt some sympathy for his tragedy. I'd been through divorce myself, after all. Of course, based solely on what I'd heard so far, Jeong Yeongjun seemed devoted to his family with no reason to be divorced—but I had plenty of reasons in my case.
I'd missed countless nights at home chasing work, barely even keeping in touch with my ex-wife. I'd agreed to an amicable divorce even after learning she'd already cheated, for those very reasons. Her affair was my fault. There was no way to hold onto a wife whose heart had turned, and I had no face to do so anyway.
But Jeong Yeongjun was different. He'd lost all trust over a single sex video. If I could just clear up that misunderstanding, maybe we could avoid court altogether.
"Excluding work-related people, is there absolutely no one you suspect?"
"I don't know. It's hard to pin down. I don't even know who filmed it or who the people in it are."
Jeong Yeongjun's voice trailed off weakly. I rubbed my forehead. From what I could gather, it involved him with multiple women.
"Wasn't it secretly filmed with a hidden camera?"
"No, it looked like someone was filming it openly. The video... it felt like, um, a party or something. In a big room... Ha, maybe it's better if you just see it yourselves."
Jeong Yeongjun's ears flushed red as he let out a sigh.
"We haven't seen the video, unfortunately. Would it be okay if we did?"
He nodded slowly at my question.
"...I have the file on my laptop. Next time we meet, I'll bring a USB with it. And any other documents you need."
At that, Kang Minjae jumped up and fetched a handout from his drawer. It briefly outlined the required documents and procedures. I didn't know when he'd prepared it, but he clipped our business cards to it and slipped it into a holder before handing it carefully to Jeong Yeongjun.
"You can settle the consultation fee today, and if you feel like heading somewhere else after going home, just give us a call—no hard feelings."
"Ah, is my case... a bit burdensome for you?"
Jeong Yeongjun asked as he took the holder. Kang Minjae startled and waved his hands frantically.
"No, no. It's just that most people who come here are already set on hiring us... You seem a little hesitant. You might want to commit now, but change your mind later at home. I'm just saying, if that happens, contact us without any pressure."
Kang Minjae spilled the words in a rush by way of explanation, and Jeong Yeongjun gave a faint smile.
"Ah, I see. Very considerate. Got it. I'll call tomorrow or the day after."
Jeong Yeongjun and his younger brother stood together, and Kang Minjae saw them out to the door. I sat down at my desk. I'd lost interest in Jeong Yeongjun's sex video scandal after it first blew up, so I planned to check how things stood now.
But Kang Minjae came over and snapped my laptop shut as I opened it.
"So, lawyer, you really gonna take this case?"
"Isn't it getting old, you asking that? If I say yes, I do it. Guess you still haven't figured me out."
"I have. But do you really believe Jeong Yeongjun? I'm curious why you're taking this."
Kang Minjae looked exasperated. Truth be told, the nature of Jeong Yeongjun's case wasn't all that appealing to me. It wasn't my specialty, and emotional entanglements like this were especially tough for someone like me with low empathy in that area.
But the real reason I'd agreed to take it without consulting Kang was simple: the opponent was Yangjin Group, a subsidiary of Wooshin Group. The client was the husband of Yangjin's sole heir, Ko Jina.
In my previous life, Jeong Yeongjun had accepted divorce without conditions, so it never became an issue. But this time might be different. Investigating the case or dividing assets could uncover something.
"No, lawyer, you seem way too quick to trust anyone these days."
"What're you talking about?"
"I heard from Kim Yeonjun and the café owner—you told Kim Yeonjun right away he was innocent the moment you met him."
"And? You came to me out of the blue saying the same thing about him."
"I said that after seeing the second autopsy. But you judged it before even looking at the report. Same here. Jeong Yeongjun... yeah, he seems wronged. But you know better than anyone how many people lie about stuff like this."
"Like you, claiming you'd handled a copyright case without batting an eye?"
"Why bring that up? Anyway, what's your basis for judging?"
I couldn't very well say I could tell if someone was lying or telling the truth.
"Just a hunch."
"A hunch, from you?"
"I follow my gut sometimes."
"Huh..."
Kang Minjae trailed off with a sigh, at a loss for words.
"You don't wanna do this case?"
"Not that I hate it—if he's really innocent, I'd want to help. But if he's just some player, I don't wanna defend him. That's why I left Taegwang—I hate defending guilty scum."
"Right? Then remember what I always say."
Kang Minjae scowled.
"...Bow out?"
"Spot on. Good memory."
"No, seriously! Argh!"
Kang Minjae stomped his foot and tore at his hair. I propped my chin on my hand and looked up at him. It'd be nice if I could just come clean, but I preferred not to reveal my ability unless necessary. From now on, I should prepare some basis for why I deem someone's words true. No helping it this time.
"Kang."
"Yeah?"
"You trust me. You said you wanna learn from me."
"...Yeah."
"Then trust my hunch too."
Kang Minjae stared me down. Just as I wondered if he wanted a staring contest, he let out a deep sigh.
"Lemme think it over. This is big. Legal circles hate us already, probably out of jealousy. We're all about righteous justice, right? But if we suddenly defend a national pervert, our image tanks."
"Go ahead."
Kang Minjae trudged out to the balcony, and I reopened my laptop. Jeong Yeongjun had seemed flustered by Kang Minjae's suggestion to think it over. And when I said I'd take the case, visible relief washed over him. He'd call back tomorrow.
Until then, I needed to brainstorm possible causes for this mess. I pulled out a scrap of paper and picked up a pen. Just as I was about to write...
"I've thought it over!"
"It's only been three minutes."
"...That little?"
Kang Minjae scratched his cheek sheepishly. I set down the pen and looked at him.
"So, in or out?"
"If we prove Jeong Yeongjun's innocent, it'd be huge. Letting you hog all the glory alone would be dumb."
A chuckle escaped me at his slightly sulky tone.
"Why're you laughing?"
"Just..."
"Ah, yeah. Right. I begged to learn from you, crying my eyes out to join, and here I am doubting your judgment—like an idiot. Yeah! That 'hunch' thing is probably something I need to learn from you too! You're never wrong! Happy?"
He'd never cried or begged, but I nodded. It was intriguing how a little laugh and "just..." drew out his true feelings. I picked up the pen again. As I poised it over the paper, a minor curiosity struck.
"Kang."
"Yeah?"
"You're not doing this just to watch the video without moral qualms, right?"
"N-no, not that."
Guess that was part of it too.