Yeonwoo met Lawyer Shin, who had been waiting. Since stalking-related cases were not his specialty, several other officials were present to organize the statement.
Having to voice the details of her victimization in front of so many people was not something Yeonwoo felt comfortable with. Even though there had been no physical harm, describing the sexual harassment and the humiliations she had endured in such raw detail was both disgusting and exhausting.
However, as the interview progressed, Yeonwoo gradually regained her composure. As she answered the questions, she realized she didn’t want to speak vaguely; she wanted to document everything, from start to finish.
Sitting among the experts from various fields while giving her statement, her heart slowly calmed. For the first time, the prospect of bringing this case to a close felt real. The fact that she was—with her own mouth and her own resolve—piling up evidence of Cha Yoonseok’s crimes made her heart, which had been heavy and uneasy for so long, feel significantly lighter.
She felt it was the end. She felt as though she could truly escape.
The moment she believed she had done everything she could, she was finally able to feel a sense of release from the weight she had carried for so long.
Seongheon, who had stepped out to let Yeonwoo give her statement freely, returned. In the office where Yeonwoo and the other officials had just departed, Lawyer Shin sat alone with Seongheon.
“We have secured Ji Yeonwoo’s statement, and the materials are sufficient. There was a voice recorder she carried with her, and with such assets, we can ensure the credibility of her testimony. Also, the recording file submitted from Domyeongjae will serve as excellent evidence.”
“That is a relief. Thank you for your hard work.”
As Seongheon offered the brief greeting, Lawyer Shin took off his glasses.
“I am not a doctor, so I am not entirely sure, but the victim, Ji Yeonwoo’s psychological state, did not look very good. The officials advised that counseling therapy should be conducted in parallel.”
“Was there a serious problem?”
Lawyer Shin hesitated for a moment before answering.
“As I mentioned before, while there was no evidence of specific material or physical damage, it was—as is the case with most stalking crimes—extremely malicious. She must have been terrified.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Yes, Managing Director.”
As Lawyer Shin rubbed his tired eyelids, Seongheon added, “It seems a report has reached the Chairman as well.”
Lawyer Shin froze, then opened his eyes wide and looked at Seongheon.
“The Chairman asked for it herself. She seemed quite interested.”
“How much did you tell her?”
“Pardon?”
Finding it difficult to grasp Seongheon’s intentions, Lawyer Shin asked back. Seongheon began to rhythmically shake his leg and pressed further.
“I mean, how much.”
“Ah… the plain truth.”
“Is that objective, or subjective?”
“Of course, I spoke objectively.”
“The Chairman mentioned Ji Yeonwoo. How did you explain that?”
When Seongheon brought up Yeonwoo, Lawyer Shin swallowed dryly, his mind flashing to Chairman Nam Yoon-young. He remembered the atmosphere of the Chairman’s office that day, which had felt as if a blizzard were raging.
“I told her it was a case of victimization involving a Domyeongjae employee, and reported that it began as a consequence of that.”
“I see.”
“Please let me know if there are any matters I should be careful about.”
When Lawyer Shin asked to be briefed on any nuances he should watch for, Seongheon remained silent for a moment. He uncrossed his legs and raised a hand.
“As you know, Lawyer, I am not a person who sticks his nose into other people’s business.”
“……”
“I am not sure how my aunt will take this situation, where a small enterprise is being driven to bankruptcy over a Domyeongjae employee. Whether she will see her as a mere employee, or as a woman.”
“……”
“My aunt still has a profound interest in my personal affairs.”
“……Ah.”
Lawyer Shin, who understood quickly, let out a sigh and sat up straight.
“You need not worry about that point. I reported that the initial reporter was Manager Moon Ok-rye, and stated that you received the report from her.”
Lawyer Shin was a clever man; there was a reason he boasted an outstanding winning rate.
Seongheon nodded as if satisfied. With an framing like that, his aunt, Chairman Nam Yoon-young, would not look at Yeonwoo with a critical eye.
“The reporting process was quite subjective.”
“It is objective. Please view it as such.”
“Thank you for insisting.”
“Not at all. I just do not want to disturb the Chairman’s mood.”
“Next time, please look after my mood first, Lawyer.”
As Seongheon said it so openly, Lawyer Shin chuckled.
“That goes without saying. Do not worry. The fact that you stepped up without ignoring an employee’s pain is setting a significant example for the company.”
“I wonder. Would I have helped if Ji Yeonwoo were just a Domyeongjae employee?”
“……”
“It seems gender came before affiliation. Because I saw Ji Yeonwoo as a woman.”
The smile disappeared from Lawyer Shin’s face. It was a fleeting change.
He realized he had to treat the weight of Seongheon’s choice in the word ‘woman’ with absolute gravity. Seongheon couldn’t possibly be unaware of the repercussions of that utterance.
“If it had ended as an employee’s affair, I would have accompanied Manager Moon as you said. Of course, I would have provided sufficient legal support, but would it have been easy for me to stand at the forefront? Carrying all these risks?”
“Ah. Yes. I understand.”
“But why am I telling you such things, Lawyer?”
Lawyer Shin looked nervous for a moment. As Seongheon’s gaze lingered on the handwritten statement Yeonwoo had left behind, the lawyer bowed his head.
“Thank you for trusting me. I will bring the results you want.”
“Thank you. You are the only person in this company I can comfortably give my heart to and rely on, Lawyer.”
The clever Lawyer Shin understood the hidden directive immediately: *Watch your tongue carefully in front of Chairman Nam Yoon-young.*
“I leave it in your capable hands, Lawyer.”
“Yes. Please trust me until the end, Managing Director.”
It meant that a dangerous tightrope walk within the Seoryang Group had begun.
*
Seongheon, who had visited the headquarters for the first time in a while, spent a busy day. Even though he had been handling work remotely, there were many problems that required face-to-face resolution.
Things that had been waiting only for Seongheon’s judgment were resolved one by one, and tasks that had seemed dead-ended finally found their leads. The employees, who had been piling up questions during Seongheon’s absence, relaxed as if they could finally breathe again.
It was astonishing how he could untangle such complex issues so smoothly.
Meanwhile, Yeonwoo had left the company and found a nearby cafe. She didn’t know if she should wait for Seongheon or simply head home.
She ordered a coffee and fidgeted with her phone. She should have told him earlier that she had acquired a phone, but the words felt trapped in her throat.
It felt as if she had only made it to give him the number. Since that was somewhat true, it was quite embarrassing. How long had it been since she had fled to Domyeongjae as if dropped on a deserted island? Now, she felt silly for fussing over returning to her daily life.
“Ah, how do I let him know I’m here?”
A thought struck her. Yeonwoo lifted her head abruptly and peered out the window.
She had left the company without a thought because she had nowhere to stay, but she found it hard to find a way to notify him. She couldn’t just walk back in, either. Even if she asked them to let her see the Managing Director, would the guards listen? It would be a miracle if she weren’t treated like a solicitor.
*Ah. What do I do?*
Yeonwoo bit her lip, staring intensely at her phone. Was it okay to wait as she pleased? If he knew she were waiting, wouldn’t he find it absurd?
Conflict stirred in her timid heart. But in the end, Yeonwoo turned on her phone screen. Concluding that disappearing without a word was simply not polite, she pressed his number.
It was hard to even touch the call button. She hesitated, pulled her hand back, and reached out again.
“Aah. I don’t know. I’ll just do it.”
After pressing the button, she made a fuss, tapping her feet, her face flushed red.
Was it because it was an unknown number? He didn’t answer immediately.
There was no way she had remembered the phone number wrong. Every night, she had stared at his business card so much that the digits were engraved into her heart.
Just as she was contemplating whether to call again or leave a message, a return call came through.
Startled, Yeonwoo cleared her throat, letting it ring twice. She wanted to sip her coffee, but she was anxious the call might cut off.
“Yes, Managing Director.”
Since she blurted out the title immediately, the other side seemed to have paused for a moment.
“It’s me, Yeonwoo.”
As she verified her identity, a soft sigh of ‘Ah’ could be heard.
— Whose phone is this?
“Ah, that… it’s mine.”
Was he surprised? There was a brief silence.
— Did you buy a phone? Where?
“I didn’t buy it just now. I had it made at Domyeongjae.”
Again, no words. He seemed bewildered at every turn.
— You had a phone?
“I had it made yesterday. It’s not an old one, I had it made yesterday, but I was so flustered….”
— Where are you now?
Seongheon’s voice was blunt. Yeonwoo rubbed her lips together at the tone, which felt so different from the warmth of his hands holding hers tightly in the car.
— Where are you?
“I’m at the cafe next to the company building. I came here because there was nowhere else to stay, but….”
*Ah. Why can’t I speak any better than this?*
Yeonwoo felt frustrated with herself. She couldn’t speak clearly; whenever she had a conversation with Seongheon, her sentences trailed off as if she were shrinking away. In her thoughts, she wanted to ask, *I’m at a cafe. I came out a little while ago. What should I do now? Should I go?*
But when Seongheon didn’t reply, she felt a wave of regret for calling him. He must be bewildered. What if he asks, ‘So what do you want me to do about it?’
Only negative thoughts clung to her. His silence, which she couldn’t read, was dangerous and fatal to her composure.
— It will probably take about thirty minutes.
“Yes? Ah, yes. Thirty minutes.”
— Are you okay alone? Or you could come up to my office.
Her emotions soared. Yeonwoo shook her legs, an action she rarely dared to perform.
“I can be alone. I just ordered coffee.”
— You’ve grown up. Going to a cafe by yourself.
A laugh suddenly escaped at his meaningful words.
— All right. Then let’s see each other in thirty minutes.
“Yes. I understand, Managing Director.”
Her mouth was dry, her nervous throat moving non-stop.
— Ah, and.
She thought the call would end, but his voice rang out again. She became nervous, wondering what he would say next. He had a talent for making people tense, a way to make her sweat with every word that followed.
— Think of something you want to eat.
“Ah…!”
A fairly loud sigh burst out. As if he found her reaction cute, his professional tone finally relaxed.
— Let’s go on a date.
Click. The call cut off.