Chapter 67 – A Personality That Cannot Live in Debt

“Do not worry, Assemblyman.”

The lawyer spoke with a smile.

A gold light flashed from his lawyer badge.

“Do you know that?

How a capable lawyer reaches a settlement.”

As soon as his words ended, he opened a bag prepared in advance.

And he took something out from inside.

Slide.

Thud, thud, thud, thud

Tightly bound bundles of 10,000-won bills. One-million-won bundles were placed on the consultation table one by one. Ten, fifteen, thirty.

The sound of the weight of the accumulating money. That drew people’s attention.

The lawyer neatly placed the last bundle and then picked up the intercom.

“Deputy Kim Min-woo, come in for a moment.”

Yes. Did you call, Lawyer?

The employee bowed to greet him. However, his gaze was soon sucked into the bundle of money piled high on the table.

Heh.

The lawyer laughed softly.

“You saw it, right? I am the one who called you, but your eyes went to the money.”

The lawyer waved his finger to send the employee back out.

Briefly tapping one of the money bundles with his finger, he spoke.

“A settlement is like this. No matter how much someone says ‘absolutely no settlement,’ if you show the money right in front of their eyes, their gaze goes there.

And once their mind starts to shake and they begin to hesitate…

at that moment, we add a little more money.”

The lawyer placed twenty more bundles on top of the already piled bundles of money.

Thud, thud, thud

“Then it’s over. 50 million won. Settlement completed.”

Park Ki-on’s father slowly raised the corners of his mouth as if satisfied.

It had been sufficiently convincing.

“This is why one uses an expensive lawyer.”

***

“Make that punk take direct responsibility for his own actions! Don’t try to buy an apology with money!”

Contrary to the lawyer’s confidence, once the settlement money was delivered, Geum Nae-yeong’s father pushed the money away with his hand just like that.

The lawyer showed more bundles of money, but his father did not make even a slight movement.

And from that day on, he rolled up his sleeves with his wife to personally solve his son’s school violence problem.

He went to argue with police chiefs and organizations that wouldn’t even conduct a proper investigation, and even protested holding placards in front of Park Ki-on’s father’s office.

“They are a totally crazy family. Making a fuss in the world. The parents are out of their minds.”

Park Ki-on’s father mobilized power to strike back.

The result was harsh.

What came back to him was a dismissal notice under the pretext of ‘neglect of duty.’

Ultimately, they had to pull out their housing deposit to prepare Geum Nae-yeong’s surgery fees, and the family eventually had to move to a shabby basement villa.

His father silently set out for work every day at two in the morning, doing wallpapering work he had never done before, and his mother had no time to rest from morning till night.

Washing dishes in restaurant kitchens, rolling gimbap, she endured the day without even being able to straighten her back properly.

All the money earned went into Geum Nae-yeong’s surgery and rehabilitation fees.

Nonetheless, the two of them never once showed they were having a hard time or made any complaints in front of Geum Nae-yeong.

***

At dawn, lying in the basement room, Geum Nae-yeong familiarly heard the sound of his father leaving and his mother preparing Geum Nae-yeong’s meal.

Clack.

At the sound of his mother leaving and the door closing, Geum Nae-yeong slowly raised his body.

A small space embarrassing to call a living room.

When he pulled back the newspaper covering the table, it was fully set with grilled ham, kkakdugi, and several side dishes, and a memo written in crooked handwriting was visible.

[Eat your meal and make sure to take your medicine — Mom]

He folded the memo left by his mother and placed it nicely to the side.

Geum Nae-yeong cleared his food clean without leaving anything.

When a child is sick, parents reduce their sleep and work without a break.

It was nobody’s fault, but it became that way.

Since that incident, Geum Nae-yeong established one principle.

He must not be beaten by anyone. Only then could Mom and Dad rest.

Therefore, he did not run away.

Instead, he made it so they could not beat him.

To a child who lost emotions after brain surgery, that was the most reliable way of survival.

And to him, family was that kind of thing. The only single thing in the emotionless, colorless world. The precious, only single shining color to protect.

***

Law Firm Teum, afternoon.

Manager Kim Mi-yeong, who cleanly finished the bookkeeping, had light shoulders for the first time in a long while.

Elated by that feeling, she walked around the office, starting light chatter with the employees.

“Oh my, Deputy Kim. The ribs I gave you last time are still in the freezer, right? It’s obvious.

Sigh, what would a man living alone cook for himself? Cut it into small pieces later when you make kimchi fried rice and put it in, it’s really delicious.”

“Ah, really? Thank you for the great tip.”

As Deputy Kim replied with a laugh, Kim Mi-yeong put her hand on her chin and continued speaking again.

“But you know, Lawyer Geum is really strange. Even if someone helps him just a little, he always repays them several times over. Is there some formula?”

“That’s right.”

Cha Ra-ri agreed, crossing her arms.

“Last time, a coffee came out wrong at Starbucks, so I just gave it to the lawyer, you see?

Then the next day… he sent a gift card that could buy 20 cups of coffee.”

“See, I told you.”

Kim Mi-yeong burst into laughter.

“So it’s also a bit burdensome to do anything for him. It’s nice that he appreciates the heart, but looking at it again, it seems he calculates too sharply. It seems he has his own ‘repayment formula.'”

Clerk Yeom said with a laugh.

“It seems Lawyer Geum has a personality that cannot live in debt. There are sometimes people like that.”

“I hope he treats Ju Yong-hae generously when negotiating his salary later. So our Ha-yul can do whatever she wants to her heart’s content, hahaha.”

Kim Mi-yeong’s laughter spread through the office.

Attorney Seong Seok-ju, who was watching that sight from a distance holding a mug in one hand, nodded with a smile as if some thought had occurred to him.

That day at 6 PM.

Knock, knock.

“Yes, come in.”

The door opened, and Attorney Seong Seok-ju poked his head in.

“Lawyer Geum, are you leaving work?”

“Yes, I am leaving work. What is the matter?”

“If you’re not busy, let’s have a meal together after work.”

“A meal? …Not interested.”

“Pardon?”

“Unless it is stir-fried spicy pork, there is no reason to eat together.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s flat refusal, Seong Seok-ju laughed, “Haha,” as if it was absurd.

“Then how about pork belly? Besides… I have something to talk about.”

“Pork belly…”

‘Since it is before seasoning, it is not a preferred food, but… pork. 69 points.’

Geum Nae-yeong’s eyes moved slightly.

“Still a refusal. But what is this talk you mentioned? Do it here.”

“Hey, we’re hungry, let’s eat while talking. Lawyer Geum. Don’t calculate too much and let’s go.”

***

A pork belly restaurant in Seocho-dong.

“Three servings of frozen pork belly here, please.”

The employee greased the grill and placed the frozen pork belly on it.

Sizzle-

The meat began to cook as grease splattered.

The rolled-up pork belly unfolded, turning into squares, and began to change from gray to golden brown.

Geum Nae-yeong’s eyes alternately stared at the cooking meat and the plate of rolled-up frozen pork belly.

“Boss, one bottle of soju here!”

Clack, rattle.

Seong Seok-ju poured soju and held up the bottle.

“Would you like a glass?”

“I do not drink alcohol. My cerebral cortex’s…”

“Aigo, fine. I get it. Then drink something similar. One cider here, please!”

As if he had anticipated it, Seong Seok-ju ordered a cider with a laugh.

“Your taste buds are completely like a child’s… Doing social life without drinking soju is, in a sense, remarkable.”

Once the meat was cooked golden brown, he lifted a piece of pork belly with tongs and gently placed it on top of Geum Nae-yeong’s rice.

“Here, try it. They say it’s the most famous place in Seocho-dong.”

Then he lightly dabbed red chili paste, placed it on pork belly, put it in his mouth, and tossed back a glass of soju.

“Ah. Good.”

Geum Nae-yeong also quietly lifted the meat and tasted it.

Surprisingly, the taste was decent.

He ate a few more pieces without a word.

“So, what about the talk?”

Seong Seok-ju hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Well… regarding my associate contract. Although it was implicitly renewed, anyway, I will end it here and quit.”

“Mmh, I see. But that was a story that could have been sufficiently told in the office.”

“Mmh… There is one more thing. I talked with my father.

Now ‘Teum’ has also grown to a certain extent, and I wonder if we should do it properly this time.”

“Properly?”

“Let’s become a law firm. Hire more lawyers. It’s not small now either, but since we’re doing it… let’s grow it properly big.”

“Mmh…”

Geum Nae-yeong thought for a moment, then picked up a piece of cooked pork belly and answered shortly.

“That’s a good idea. Then what is the structure of the corporation?”

“First, I will take the representative attorney position, and I plan to ask for the other lawyers’ opinions.

Lawyer Geum as a partner attorney. How about it?”

Geum Nae-yeong immediately put down his chopsticks and spoke.

“I refuse.”

“Pardon?… Why?”

“I will be the representative attorney.”

“No, why would you be the representative, Lawyer Geum? I am the one who made this plan.”

Geum Nae-yeong quietly raised one hand and created a large distance with his other hand.

“Number of accepted cases, winning rate, business network. Even by points, Attorney Seong and I have a difference of th—is much.”

“Pardon?”

“The representative attorney… is what the number one does. And Attorney Seong is still my associate. I cannot be lower than Attorney Seong.”

Seong Seok-ju snorted as if it was absurd. And he placed one more piece of meat on Geum Nae-yeong’s rice.

“Well… let’s think about that slowly later. Come on. Eat a lot, Lawyer Geum.”

After a moment.

The moment Geum Nae-yeong picked up one more piece of meat and put it in his mouth, Seong Seok-ju suddenly pushed his chair and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

Without even replying, he headed to the counter.

“Here, checkout please.”

Screeech.

Along with the card-swipe sound, a receipt came out. Seong Seok-ju smiled widely and waved the receipt.

“Lawyer Geum, I paid. For what you ate.”

“Pardon? Then I will give you half.”

Geum Nae-yeong began to accurately calculate the amount of food he ate.

“I was counting. 12 pieces of frozen pork belly per serving. I ate 6 pieces, and we haven’t even touched two servings yet. Therefore, I will give you the price for the amount I ate first, including a bowl of rice and a bottle of cider.”

“No. It is my treat, so eat to your heart’s content.”

“…Pardon? Treat?”

Geum Nae-yeong tilted his head in doubt.

Seong Seok-ju said with a gentle smile.

“Yes. Since I bought the meal, now a debt has been created. For you to me, Lawyer Geum.”

At those words, a subtle wariness rose on Geum Nae-yeong’s face.

“In exchange for buying the meal… let me ask one favor, Lawyer Geum.”

“…A favor?”

“I heard you don’t go on broadcasts much lately because you’re too busy?”

“…Yes. What about it?”

“My junior is a broadcast station PD, and apparently his program is in a bit of trouble lately. He casted you, but you rejected him.”

Seong Seok-ju continued.

“Just appear on it once. A brief legal consultation. It’s a program where two lawyers appear,

and it would be so great if you appear. Won’t there be a difference to the extent that you can’t be compared with other lawyers? Because you are number one anywhere, Lawyer Geum.”

Seong Seok-ju laughed calmly.

“They say the program’s name is ‘Noh Eun-jae’s Couple Consultation.’ If you go on this, we’ll consider today’s meal price called even. Set-off.”

Geum Nae-yeong thought blankly for a moment, then muttered.

“…Then by any chance… did you set a trap for me deliberately from the start?”

Seong Seok-ju poured cider into Geum Nae-yeong’s glass without a word.

Glug, glug.

As the glass filled, bubbles broke.

“A trap?”

He smiled.

“It is just a difference in strategy. Between you and me, th─is much.”

Seong Seok-ju made a distance far apart with his hands.

The pork belly caught between Geum Nae-yeong’s chopsticks lost its strength and dropped with a thud.

The item ‘Interpersonal Relationship Principles’ in the notebook inside Geum Nae-yeong’s mind floated above his head.

☑ One must repay the favors bestowed by others.