Chapter 29 – The Quiz Is Too Easy

That evening, Geum Nae-yeong returned home and told his parents the fact that he was appearing on a quiz program.

“No, so you are going on TV again?”

His mother, who was trimming water dropwort, stopped her hands and asked in surprise.

“Yes. But it does not have my own corner like the morning broadcast. It is a program where I solve quizzes as one of a hundred people.”

“Oh my, really? My goodness… you know Yeong-su’s mother, right? She watched you on TV in the morning, got startled, and called me. She asked if it was really our Nae-yeong who appeared!”

His mother’s expression was excited, and a bit of emotion was also seeped into it.

Her son appearing on TV had a meaning beyond simple appearance. A sense of pride rolled in, knowing he had overcome all of life’s difficulties and succeeded.

“Wow, our son! So you will be solving quizzes and all?”

“Yes. Well, it is almost the same as already knowing all the answers anyway.”

“Dad also really loved watching quiz programs with you when you were young… Do you remember? Back then, I also thought about whether I should try going on something like that, but our son is amazing.”

At his father’s words, Geum Nae-yeong nodded as if remembering those times, and his mother, apparently in a good mood, took out her cell phone and made a call straight away.

“Yes, Yeong-su’s mother, it’s me. Have you had dinner? You know that quiz program, right? The one on KBC on Friday afternoons… I’m telling you, our Nae-yeong is appearing on it!”

While his mother was talking on the phone in an excited voice, his father gave her a quick look from the side and spoke.

“Goodness, she couldn’t even hold it in and made the call… The work isn’t too hard, is it?”

“It is fine.”

His father added. His voice was slightly excited.

“I went to check the store interior with your mother today, you know? When I said a few words showing I know about wallpapering and interior design, they said that if we are in the same industry, they would give it to us without taking a profit margin. Hahaha.”

For the first time in a while, a bright smile spread across his father’s face. It was an expression full of expectation.

***

And the next day.

“Well, I will be going to the Family Court. I plan to head straight to the broadcasting station after it ends.”

When Geum Nae-yeong, who had finished preparation for the morning trial, came out of the office and shared his schedule, Ju Yong-hae nodded.

“You have a tight schedule. That program you are appearing on today is a live broadcast, right? We will all make sure to watch it, haha.”

From the side, Office Director Yeom chimed in.

“That program, 1:100. If you win first place there, doesn’t a prize money of 10 million won come out?”

“Right. Besides, if you solve the quiz as the final survivor, you can also use a phone chance. Attorney Geum, have you decided who to call if you become the final survivor and need a hint?”

When Office Director Ju Yong-hae asked, Geum Nae-yeong tilted his head for a moment.

“Well, I have not thought about it yet. The probability of using a hint is low.”

Cha Ra-ri suddenly poked her head in.

“Won’t it differ by quiz category? If it’s about cars or human psychology, please call me.

I know a bit about the broadcasting side, you see? I can receive it very funnily.”

Manager Kim Mi-young also chimed in and added a word.

“Our Ha-yul is decided to come at lunch later, and our Ha-yul knows questions like neologisms that kids use these days very well!”

“I studied neologisms. A balance-breaking character. It refers to a person like me.”

Geum Nae-yeong answered confidently.

It seemed everyone wanted to appear on the broadcast at least with their voice.

“By the way, it seemed Attorney Seong Seok-ju knows common knowledge questions completely well.”

At Office Director Yeom’s words, Attorney Seong Seok-ju, who was far away, glanced around and looked at Geum Nae-yeong. Attorney Seong Seok-ju shrugged internally.

‘Hmph, still, if a difficult question comes out, he will end up asking me. Since we have become a bit closer lately… if Attorney Geum calls, should I help him or not?’

However, Geum Nae-yeong left the office door immediately after lightly smiling with his characteristic expressionless face without giving any answer.

***

Seoul Family Court, Mediation Room 16.

Two mediation commissioners were seated at the front of the round table, and Woo Na-hee and her attorney sat on the left, while Kang Pyeong-gu and Geum Nae-yeong sat on the right.

Woo Na-hee, wearing a flashy dress, glanced at Kang Pyeong-gu out of the corner of her eye, then crossed her legs with a swish and turned her head away as if she hated even the sight of him. Seeing Woo Na-hee like that, Kang Pyeong-gu pouted his lips as if hurt and frowned.

Seeing Kang Pyeong-gu pout his lips made Woo Na-hee even more annoyed.

‘Ugh, I hate the sight of him. Dumbass. Now even his expression is annoying.’

Woo Na-hee had never loved Kang Pyeong-gu. Because from the moment he appeared in Woo Na-hee’s life until now, Kang Pyeong-gu was a sucker, nothing more and nothing less.

She thought that once they filed the marriage registration, she could hold out in married life for about two or three years.

However, Woo Na-hee overestimated herself too much and underestimated her mother-in-law. She had no patience, so she had never done anything to the end, and her mother-in-law was a person who acted wildly without common sense beyond imagination.

Woo Na-hee, who came out of the honeymoon home to get a divorce, downloaded a divorce complaint from the internet and wrote down the amount at her own discretion. 10 billion won. She thought it was money her husband’s family could sufficiently pay since it was their property.

‘100 million won for one verbal abuse from the mother-in-law.’

She deemed that was enough for the price of verbal abuse.

However, Kang Pyeong-gu and the mother-in-law, far from thinking of giving the money, hired a lawyer first, and she had no choice but to hurriedly find a lawyer as well.

The mediation commissioner said as he turned the pages of the documents.

“Looking at the plaintiff’s mediation proposal, it is 300 million won in consolation money, 5 billion won in division of property… But what about the defendant’s side?”

The mediation commissioner tilted his head.

“You did not submit a mediation proposal?”

Geum Nae-yeong replied calmly.

“Yes, there is no mediation proposal.”

For a moment, the mediation commissioner wore an expression as if he did not understand, and Woo Na-hee’s attorney continued.

“Well, as you know, the marriage period is not long. We also do not intend to make a large demand.

Mr. Kang Pyeong-gu is not a person without property, and we believe this level we presented is a reasonable level.”

At those words, Woo Na-hee nodded as if satisfied. With that, she could start over from the beginning with Su-bong while running a small clothing store. Although it was a smaller amount than she thought for the trouble of living with a man she didn’t even like.

Then Geum Nae-yeong opened his mouth as he looked at Woo Na-hee.

“We plan to claim 100 million won in consolation money.”

“Yes?”

The mediation commissioner asked back with round eyes.

“You said you did not have a mediation proposal.”

Geum Nae-yeong nodded.

“Yes, not for this case, but for another case.”

“Another case?”

The other mediation commissioner raised his eyebrows.

“We plan to file a lawsuit for annulment of marriage and consolation money. The amount of consolation money is 100 million won.”

‘What? 100 million won in consolation money?’

At that moment, Woo Na-hee’s face stiffened hard. She hurriedly whispered to her lawyer.

The lawyer also asked back, looking puzzled.

“What do you mean by that? An annulment of marriage must have a cause.

And currently, we are the ones demanding a divorce. As you can see, the mother-in-law’s verbal abuse and abuse. That was almost at the level of a psycho. It is clear that Woo Na-hee received extremely unfair treatment during her married life.”

When the lawyer’s words finished, Geum Nae-yeong lightly took out a document and set it on the table.

A written statement that had even finished notarization.

Flutter.

He turned the cover of the notarial deed, and Woo Na-hee’s attorney began to read the contents.

The moment he read the first paragraph starting with, ‘I am Yang Do-hee, the madam of a room salon. I run a room salon named Golden…’, Woo Na-hee’s eyes shook violently.

The money she had ripped off from the madam, and the things she boasted about regarding the marriage registration with Kang Pyeong-gu flashed through her mind in an instant.

Woo Na-hee’s attorney, who read the document to the end, asked in a flustered voice.

“H… how… how did you get this?”

Geum Nae-yeong replied shortly.

“With my ability.”

Woo Na-hee’s expression was already beyond stiff and was pale with fear. She hurriedly asked her lawyer for a solution, but the lawyer, sensing that there was already no way, only shook his head silently.

“As you know, the marriage period is only about six months, so property division is difficult.

Moreover, according to this statement, the mother-in-law’s unfair treatment is not the problem, but Woo Na-hee’s intention of marriage, this marriage itself for the purpose of money was wrong.

It is also difficult to accept Woo Na-hee’s claim for consolation money. If we go to trial in this situation, Kang Pyeong-gu wins 100 percent.

Rather, if we go to a marriage annulment lawsuit, Woo Na-hee might even have to pay consolation money to Kang Pyeong-gu and his parents.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s words, Woo Na-hee’s face became tearful.

‘Ah…’

“Make your choice. Whether to end the marriage amicably with mediation now, or to end it with a marriage annulment after paying 100 million won in consolation money in a few months.”

Geum Nae-yeong added expressionlessly.

“Ah, and park the Ferrari in front of Kang Pyeong-gu’s house as soon as mediation ends today. Otherwise, provisional attachment will be placed immediately along with a lawsuit for transfer.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s cold words, Woo Na-hee could not open her mouth anymore, and instead, her lawyer quietly nodded and spoke.

“Let’s end it with a divorce, with nothing given or received from each other.”

Geum Nae-yeong looked at Kang Pyeong-gu.

“Do you agree?”

Looking at Woo Na-hee who was on the verge of tears, Kang Pyeong-gu hesitated for a long time. But even in that situation, Woo Na-hee never looked at Kang Pyeong-gu.

“………Okay.”

In the end, Woo Na-hee signed the mediation proposal presented by the judge without pocketing a single cent, and Kang Pyeong-gu’s case ended cleanly enough to feel anti-climactic.

As they left the mediation room, Kang Pyeong-gu offered a greeting to Geum Nae-yeong.

“Thank you, Attorney. It… ended well, but it feels more empty than I thought.”

Geum Nae-yeong smiled indifferently and replied.

“That is how lawsuits originally are. They drag on long, or they end quickly like this.”

“I am sorry. I should have done exactly as you advised before…”

“There is nothing to be sorry to me about. The important thing is the result. Because it was resolved well. There is nothing better than cleaning up mistakes well.”

Kang Pyeong-gu nodded and let out a long sigh.

***

After wrapping up the trial, Geum Nae-yeong immediately caught a taxi and headed to the broadcasting station.

“Now, let’s do a check. Is the Jimmy Jib height okay?”

The studio was busy with broadcast preparations. Thanks to his face that received the screen well, Geum Nae-yeong was assigned to seat number 25, which was easily captured by the camera.

The writer handed him a simple script while setting up his microphone. As a person of topical interest, a short interview time was prepared.

‘Wow, that attorney receives the screen well.’

The PD wore a satisfied smile when Geum Nae-yeong was caught on the screen.

Soon, the FD raised his hand high and spun it around to send a signal.

“One, two, three!”

The announcer’s voice rang out.

“Quiz show! Brain Survival 1:100, begins!”

Wow—

The 100 participants clapped and cheered at once. Geum Nae-yeong stared at the camera with an expressionless face.

“Today, we are with Seo Yoon-woo, who is an idol and an actor. Please greet our viewers.”

“Yes, hello. I am Seo Yoon-woo, who is here today as an actor.”

“For what occasion did you visit our Brain Survival 1:100 today?”

“Yes… shall I speak a bit bluntly? Haha. The drama I appeared in this time…”

The broadcast started smoothly with the interview of actor Seo Yoon-woo.

“Then the first question goes out.

Which of the following is a local administrative district name named after a celebrity’s name or nickname that does not actually exist?

Number 1 Gimsatgat-myeon, Number 2 Jeongyakyong-myeon, Number 3 Baksugeun Maeul-ri… “

Even before the host could finish reading all the options, Geum Nae-yeong immediately pressed the correct answer button.

‘Answer, Number 2.’

The expression as if it was ‘too easy’ was captured exactly by the camera.

“Now, everyone pressed the answer button, right? Then let’s verify how many people got the correct answer in this question.”