Chapter 64 – If I Get Grade 6, Double Eyelid Surgery

Beep, beep, beep, beep…

As an unfamiliar mechanical beep rang in his ears, Park Ki-on tossed and turned on the bed as if something was bothersome.

His eyes snapped open.

Park Ki-on tried to spring up, but his body would not move.

A nurse, who was changing the IV, saw this and pressed Park Ki-on’s tossing body down to make him lie back down.

“Excuse me. You must not get up suddenly. This is in a cast.”

In the private hospital room where Park Ki-on was hospitalized, his father and mother sat in silence with dissatisfied expressions, and their secretary stood next to them.

Park Ki-on’s mother, who was nearby, glared at the nurse who laid a hand on her son’s body.

“Never mind that. Just go and bring some drinking water.”

Having ordered the nurse, Park Ki-on’s mother gestured with her hand laden with rings to call the secretary.

“Look, he seems to have woken up now. So, he didn’t drink and fight, right? What is it, who did he clash with this time?”

An irritated tone. The secretary approached Park Ki-on’s mother and spoke.

“To be precise, they say it is still under investigation. For now, they caught a few who could be identified from nearby CCTV,

but they are all minors, and apparently even juvenile offenders. So they were sent home after only being investigated…”

“Juvenile offenders? Oh my… How absurd. What do I care? Tell them to tie them all up in a bundle and send them to prison anyway. By the way, I’m late for my meeting right now. When the nurse comes, tell her to attend to him by his side.”

Park Ki-on groaned as if his consciousness was gradually returning.

Just then, knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the hospital room door from outside.

“Yes.”

A man entered and bowed, greeting Park Ki-on’s father and mother.

“Hello. I am Sergeant Kim Min-woo from the Gangseo Police Station.”

Park Ki-on’s father exchanged greetings with Sergeant Kim Min-woo.

“Mmh. Yes. I heard you contacted my secretary.”

“Yes. I requested and received the necessary information.

However, I came because there is a part I need to tell you in person, Assemblyman.”

“…Go ahead and speak.”

“Yes. First of all, we are conducting further investigation… but your son is in a bit of a difficult situation.”

“What? Difficult?”

Park Ki-on’s father’s voice sharpened.

“I will explain it to you one by one.

First, it is a situation where assault was exchanged with minors, and juvenile offenders at that. It looks like mutual assault.”

“What? Mutual?”

“Yes. As a result of the investigation, the opponent is a first-year middle school student, age 13. That middle school student hit your son first, and in response, your child became enraged and severely assaulted the opponent. The main victim received a diagnosis requiring six weeks of medical treatment, and another received four weeks.”

Park Ki-on’s mother chimed in.

“Six weeks of treatment? Isn’t that on purpose to extort money?”

“There are also broken teeth, and they were rushed to the emergency room at dawn due to abdominal pain. The degree of assault is not light.”

“You know that even a simple single punch can result in four weeks of treatment, right?”

“The problem is that all the kids involved are juvenile offenders. Criminal punishment is difficult, and protective disposition is expected. According to the kids’ claims, it was actually your son who did most of the beating.”

His father’s expression hardened.

‘Another accident… There were several cases in the past where he got into fights and paid settlement money. This time a middle school student… sigh…’

“According to the kids, when your son lost his reason and assaulted one child, two other kids who were watching nearby tried to stop him and got swept up together. However, because the statements clash, we are further verifying the facts.”

Park Ki-on clenched his teeth.

“Then… was I supposed to just take the hits?”

“Stop it.”

His father stopped him firmly.

“And there is an important part.”

Sergeant Kim Min-woo turned the page of the document.

“The parents of the minors who fought have sued your son for assault.”

“What? Sued?”

“Yes. Because it cannot be viewed as a one-sided assault.”

At that moment, a word came out of Park Ki-on’s mouth.

“…Geum Nae-yeong, that bastard definitely ordered this.”

Sergeant Kim nodded.

“Yes. Geum Nae-yeong’s name came up in the statements, but the situation is a bit different.

The kids stated that they went to beat up ‘Attorney Geum Nae-yeong’ but mistook Park Ki-on for him at the scene.

They said that when they called out ‘Geum Nae-yeong!’, Park Ki-on reacted, so they mistook him for Geum Nae-yeong and assaulted him.”

“Then it is that bastard’s fault!”

“However, it is difficult to hold him legally responsible for this matter.”

Park Ki-on’s father adjusted his glasses with an uncomfortable expression.

“Why is that?”

“In order to apply criminal punishment, the act must clearly fall under the ‘elements of a crime’ set by the law.

Simply put, it means it can only be recognized as a crime if it meets the criteria set by the law.

However, as a result of the investigation, Geum Nae-yeong did not directly participate in the assault, nor was he at the scene.

To view it as assault or aiding and abetting, a ‘legal causal relationship’ must be recognized between Geum Nae-yeong’s act and the result of the assault, but if the assault happened by chance after simply providing an address, it is difficult to view that as a ‘legally connected result.'”

Sergeant Kim continued.

“To discuss the crime of instigation of assault, two requirements are necessary.

First, instructing to assault a specific target.

Second, that instruction being the direct cause of the execution of the actual assault.

However, nowhere in the broadcast video where he allegedly gave the address was there any mention of ‘assaulting Park Ki-on.'”

“Then are you saying he has no responsibility?”

“Yes. An instigator only establishes in the case of an intentional offender. Since the concept of ‘negligent instigation of assault’ does not exist… if he did not act with intent but merely made a mistake in giving the wrong address, criminal liability for the resulting assault is not recognized.

If it was merely a mistake of giving the wrong address, criminal responsibility is not recognized for the assault that occurred because of it.

Of course, civilly it could be a separate matter, but in the criminal domain, that is how it is.”

At that moment, Park Ki-on’s secretary chimed in.

“Still, if he gave the address to the kids… couldn’t he have predicted the possibility of someone getting assaulted?”

The investigator tilted his head in doubt for a moment.

“If you look at it that way, there would be room to view it as ‘aiding and abetting assault or willful negligence.’ However, this part is also the same. To be aiding and abetting assault, Geum Nae-yeong must have directly or indirectly helped or induced the assault on Park Ki-on.

Geum Nae-yeong never mentioned your son, and there is no evidence that he explicitly or implicitly instructed anyone to hit someone.

To view it as ‘willful negligence,’ it must be ‘proven’ that Geum Nae-yeong recognized that ‘if I give this address, someone might get hurt’ yet deliberately condoned it.

However… Geum Nae-yeong consistently stated that he ‘wrote down a non-existent address arbitrarily.’

If he arbitrarily presented a non-existent address as he claims… a crime is hard to establish in itself…”

Sergeant Kim closed the documents and concluded.

“It would be difficult to indict with just this level of speculation because it goes against the principle of evidentiary adjudication.

There is no evidence. Evidence that Geum Nae-yeong knew your son would be at that location, or that he foresaw the possibility of the kids assaulting your son.

None of the kids involved in the assault stated that they were ‘instigated,’ and they said they did not know who Park Ki-on was. Therefore, applying charges of instigating or aiding assault to a third party who was not at the scene is legally unreasonable.”

Park Ki-on argued in an excited voice.

“Then are you saying that guy did nothing wrong?”

“In this incident, Geum Nae-yeong thought of it as a ‘non-existent address’ and wrote it arbitrarily in the chat room.

However, by chance, that address was a place that actually existed, and the assault happened to take place there.

It is difficult to see this as his responsibility. There are also no circumstances indicating he instigated this fight. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the people who actually committed the assault.”

“I’m telling you, that guy planned all of this! He originally rolls his head in such a chilling way!”

At Park Ki-on’s voice, the police officer tilted his head again.

“Well. If he is at the level of calculating even the possibility of such a coincidence, he would already not be an ordinary person.

Since it is a case involving the Assemblyman’s child, we are also investigating carefully.

The reason for my visit today is also in the same vein.

We want to make a final check on whether there was any possibility that Geum Nae-yeong intentionally planned for your son, that is, Park Ki-on, to be assaulted.

When we investigated, we found there was absolutely no other point of contact between the two of you.

We also confirmed that Park Ki-on returned from abroad only at the beginning of this year.

That is why we want to ask exactly what kind of relationship you have with each other. How do the two of you know each other?”

“What do you mean how? Obviously, because I beat that guy up when we were young… so he is trying to get revenge…”

“Shut your mouth!”

As soon as Park Ki-on opened his mouth, his father got angry and cut him off firmly.

“Let’s stop here for today. The child is still in pain.”

As his father’s face turned red and blue with anger, Sergeant Kim spoke carefully.

“Um… Assemblyman, if I may say one thing… The other party is a lawyer.

In a situation like now, where there is no evidence at all and the facts are unclear, even if the police submit an opinion for prosecution based on mere possibility, it is a matter the lawyer can sufficiently defend himself against.

The prosecution will also find it difficult to file public prosecution over this matter.

To establish a crime in a criminal case, intent must be proven, and the burden of proof lies with the prosecutor.

In other words, proving intent against a lawyer with mere speculation or circumstances, without clear evidence, will practically not be easy.

Unless Geum Nae-yeong himself admits the inner intent of ‘I did it on purpose,’ the establishment of instigation or aiding of assault is virtually impossible.”

“……”

“Although your son was injured, the degree of the opponent’s injuries is also considerable.

Therefore, in this case, even if you claim self-defense, there is considerable room to view it as excessive defense, and since the crime of assault itself is a crime unpunishable over objection, it can be concluded once a settlement is reached.

However, if it becomes a crime of bodily injury, the investigation will continue regardless of whether they express a desire not to punish, and there is a high possibility it will go to trial.

For your son’s sake as well, it seems better to reach a settlement.”

A brief silence flowed. Park Ki-on’s father nodded.

“Understood. Thank you for your hard work. Please tell Chief Park that I asked to meet with him later.

We will convey our opinion through our lawyer soon.”

Sergeant Kim bowed respectfully and left the hospital room.

Crash!!!!

Park Ki-on’s father threw the book and file he was holding in his hand against the wall.

“You. Are you in your right mind? Geum Nae-yeong?… You’re talking about that guy whose head you cracked in high school, right?”

“…Yes…”

“You crazy bastard. You foolish fool!! What did you think you were doing bringing up the story from back then! Did you stir it up first? Do you know how much money I poured into that!”

As Park Ki-on hesitated to speak, his father shouted again.

“What comes back to you by poking a guy who is eating well and living well!

Don’t you know that his parents are not ordinary people? Besides, that guy became a lawyer??

If he finds out what his parents suffered back then… do you think a guy who became a lawyer would stay still!!!”

As his father’s voice rang loudly through the hospital room, Park Ki-on shut his mouth.

***

“Wow, Manager! What special day is it today?”

Cha Ra-ri opened her eyes wide as she looked at the lunch Manager Kim Mi-yeong had set out.

“What special day… Last time, you see, sigh…”

Kim Mi-yeong let out a sigh.

“Thinking that Ha-yul passed the audition thanks to Lawyer Geum, I made a ton of side dishes and gave them to Lawyer Geum.

Then, saying he would repay that… he sent 50 kilograms of beef ribs.”

“Pardon??”

“It’s an amount that we can’t even eat up quickly. So, I packed some for the employees who live alone, and I showed off my cooking skills to share the rest.”

“Wow… Then is this Hanwoo?”

“Yeah. Whenever Lawyer Geum sends something, he always sends expensive things. I’m grateful, but it’s always too excessive. Always.”

Kim Mi-yeong sighed.

“50 kilograms of Hanwoo beef ribs, and somehow knowing that soy sauce goes into it, he sent as much as 20 kilograms of soy sauce.

He must have thought only soy sauce goes into beef ribs. Haha.”

Just then, the door rattled open and Ju Ha-yul ran in.

“Mom, Mom! Me too, lunch. Uh… is it beef ribs again?”

Clerk Yeom laughed out loud.

“Beef ribs again? Ha-yul’s family must be living well now that even beef ribs don’t catch your eye~ Haha.”

“Mister, I’ve been eating only beef ribs since two days ago. I feel like I’m going to turn into a cow. I don’t want to eat them anymore.”

“Ah, it really is too much at home too.”

Riiip. Clack.

Ha-yul familiarly took out a Yukgaejang cup ramen from the pantry drawer and poured water into it.

Then she looked at her mother and spoke with a serious expression.

“Mom. I wrote something to submit for my performance evaluation… Can you take a look? If I write this well, I might get Grade 7.”

“Performance evaluation? Is it a book report?”

“Yes.”

“But Mom has to go to the accounting office in the afternoon after eating lunch. Ask your dad to look at it first.”

“Is that so? Okay, I understand.”

Ju Ha-yul nodded.

“But really, if I get Grade 6, you’ll get me double eyelid surgery… right?”

“Of course, of course. If you get Grade 6, I’ll book the appointment immediately.”

“Oh my, is Ha-yul getting double eyelid surgery?”

As Cha Ra-ri asked with a laugh, Kim Mi-yeong chuckled.

“Yeah, if she gets Grade 6. But that’s never going to happen.”

“Hmph, I can do it!”

Ju Ha-yul’s mouth pouted.

After the lunch hour, which was filled with the smell of beef ribs, passed, Ju Ha-yul slyly glanced around the office.

Her dad was nowhere to be seen, and she thought sister Ra-ri probably wouldn’t know much about this kind of thing…

‘Hmm… As expected, a CSAT Grade 1 must be the best.’

Knock, knock.

“Yes.”

“Hello, Mister Geum Nae-yeong.”

Ju Ha-yul poked her head through the gap in the door.

“Mister. Mmh. The title has changed.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s words, Ju Ha-yul immediately shot back.

“Of course. Mister, you deducted 25 points from my personality score.”

Geum Nae-yeong stared at Ju Ha-yul without saying anything. Ju Ha-yul suddenly shifted her attitude and smiled coyly.

“Excuse me… I have a favor to ask. By any chance, could you look at my performance evaluation? You just need to check the context of the writing. I want to do well on this and get double eyelid surgery.”

“Double eyelid surgery? Ah. Double eyelid surgery.”

“Yes. Mom said she would get me double eyelid surgery if I get Grade 6.”

“…Opposed.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s firm word.

“Why!! I want to do it.”

“Clerk Ju Yong-hae is your father, isn’t he.”

“Yes. But why?”

“He has double eyelids.”

“Pardon? But what does that have to do with me? No way, are you saying it wouldn’t suit me right now?”

“Give me the performance evaluation.”

“Here.”

Geum Nae-yeong took the tablet Ha-yul handed over, and swish, marked the parts that needed correction with a red pen.

Ju Ha-yul stared at Geum Nae-yeong and said a word.

“But sometimes I really don’t know about you, Lawyer Geum.

You seem like a warm person, yet you also seem like a cold person.

I almost failed the audition because 25 points were deducted from my personality… I barely made the cut on the second round with my dancing. How sad I was when I found out later.”

“That was because you lied, so I deducted 25 points. Dancing is skill, so you passed by your own skill. A lie is a lie. Skill is skill.”

“Hmph…”

Geum Nae-yeong indifferently turned the pages of the tablet containing Ha-yul’s performance evaluation before knitting his brows.

“But what is this? ‘As that child went to Seoul following their waeseungmo…’ Here, what is waeseungmo?”

“Waeseungmo? Waeseungmo is waeseungmo.”

“What is that.”

“Mmh… My uncle’s wife?”

“Ah… Oesukmo.”

“Then what about this?”

Geum Nae-yeong pointed at another line.

“‘…I was really sad when the protagonist entered the old house to escape such a gobsemchui.'”

A red line was drawn straight across gobsemchui.

“Gobsemchui…?”

“Huh? Isn’t it gobsemchui?? That. The cold thing in spring.”

At Ju Ha-yul’s serious face, Geum Nae-yeong muttered something in a low voice.

“…Kkotsemchui.”

“And. ‘In times like this, it would have been much nah-eul to ask them to put money in the goeja account.'”

Geum Nae-yeong shook his head.

“…Account number, na-asseul.”

After quietly correcting the writing, Geum Nae-yeong muttered to himself.

“Double eyelid surgery: impossible.”