Chapter 70 – Has My Resignation Been Accepted

Before I knew it, I was sixty years old.

I woke up in the morning and stood in front of the mirror.

The newly grown gray hairs in my sideburns particularly caught my eye.

Growing older must mean gradually changing, after all.

But today of all days, I did not care about such things.

Because today was the day to confirm that a spark still remained inside me.

After finishing my shower and wiping my body with a towel,

I held the checkered boxers in my hand and then put them down again.

Yes, briefs are indeed the way to go for a man.

I took out the luxury tie that my daughter bought for me when she got married ten years ago and tied it around my neck.

The sharp line of the tie went well with the stiff white dress shirt.

I slipped on the light-colored blazer I bought on my way home last week because MC Department Store was having a sixty percent sale.

It did not matter that it was a sale item.

What I wanted to show was not the “price,” but “determination.”

I splashed the half-empty men’s cologne onto my neck.

At that moment, a strong masculine energy enveloped my entire body.

Over it, I put on a hiking jacket and pulled the zipper all the way up.

“I’m going hiking. It’s a night hike, so I’ll be a bit late.”

“Okay.”

My wife heard my words, but her gaze did not drift even an inch from the TV.

Quietly, I closed the front door without making a sound.

And at that moment, I felt the vibration of my cell phone.

[Oppa, I’m almost there.]

“Good grief, you crazy bastard…”

As soon as he heard that story, the friend who was listening kicked the man’s shin.

“Are you out of your mind? What are you talking about passion at this age?”

“Hey, why not! I can get a little excited.”

“You jerk, what kind of wife wouldn’t know when you dress up in a suit to go hiking? Are you kidding me?”

“I was in a hurry, so… Anyway, my wife was watching TV in the room. She doesn’t even know what I’m wearing. I put a hiking jacket over it.”

“Sure, she probably didn’t know. But how did you end up with an adultery lawsuit if she didn’t see you? You got caught here and there! What a mess, seriously…”

“Hey, you don’t know. In this heart of mine, a spark is still blazing! It’s burning up!”

“Sigh. How old are you… Anyway, go see this person. He’s the lawyer who resolved a case well for a friend of mine. He appears on TV and is quite famous.”

“Really?”

[Teum Law Firm]

Attorney Geum Nae-yeong

The man nodded as he received the business card, then looked up the office address on his cell phone.

***

Thus, after a long waiting time, the man got to have a consultation with Geum Nae-yeong.

“So to summarize, you are currently sixty years old… and you’ve been sued for adultery, correct?”

“Well, yes. But I don’t consider it an affair.

It was just an honest and gentle expression of my heart, and we only conversed about each other’s feelings.”

Geum Nae-yeong replied without any emotional disturbance.

“Yes. You were photographed entering the Good Night Motel.”

“…Well, I admitted that. Because we are in love.”

“I see.”

“So now, honestly and gently, I want to get a divorce. Rather than acting deviously behind her back, I want to wrap things up cleanly.”

“Hmm… First of all, under the fault-based divorce system, since you are the spouse at fault, it is difficult to file for divorce unilaterally.

If your wife has no intention of maintaining the marriage, it is possible. However, as it stands, you will have to pay alimony.”

“Well, I will bear that.”

“You’ve been married for over twenty years, right? The property division ratio is expected to be 5:5.”

“Is that so? Well, that’s fine. I want to give my wife whatever she wants and start anew.

Because a fresh start is what’s important to me.”

“Good. Giving everything away and starting anew. Simple.”

Geum Nae-yeong scribbled down notes for a moment and said clearly.

“Then, the total ‘gentle affair cost’ is expected to be around 1.86 billion won.”

“What…? Wait a minute, it’s 5:5… Why is it 1.86 billion?”

“Based on the documents you brought, the total assets, including the house, real estate, and the shares in the company you operated with your wife, come out to about that amount.

If you divorce, unfortunately, there is a high probability that your wife will not act gently.

She will naturally demand the maximum property division.

Since the original property division ratio is half, it would be around 930 million won.

However, since you, the client, said you wanted to gently give her everything… I calculated it based on the total assets.”

Geum Nae-yeong stared at the man with expressionless eyes.

“Haha… I see… Gently… 1.86 billion won.”

“Furthermore, since the adultery lawsuit is separate, we have to add another 10 to 20 million won for the alimony to be paid to that side.”

“Ah…”

“However, since you, the client—that is, the spouse at fault—are being very gentle, I can calculate further so that we can give your wife as much as possible.”

“Ah… Yes? More?”

“Since you said you would give everything you could.

I will also do my best to calculate so that we can give more to your wife. Therefore, if you have any hidden assets, please let me know now.”

“Pardon??”

Hearing Geum Nae-yeong’s words, the man fell into deep thought with a dark expression.

Soon, he nodded and said.

“…I will think about it first and come back.”

“Yes. Please think about it and come back.”

The man gathered his jacket and left Geum Nae-yeong’s office.

A fleeting moment of passion that set his heart ablaze.

Realizing that the cost for it was by no means gentle.

Leaving the office, the man muttered lonely to himself.

‘For now… would it work if I go home and beg on my hands and knees…?’

***

[Speech Announcer Academy]

Inside the brightly lit classroom, the sound of clear pronunciation practice was echoing.

“Eui-eui-eui, woo-ah-woo-ah-woo-ah…”

The average age of the announcer applicants was a bit younger than hers, but even so, Cha Ra-ri did not want to give up on her dream.

Before turning thirty, it was a dream she wanted to challenge at least once in her life.

‘I, Cha Ra-ri. Ever since I was young, my sociability was second to none.

If there were a CSAT for sociability, I would have easily ranked first in the nation! No, even first in the world!’

But to think there is no such subject. Isn’t the Korean educational system seriously problematic?’

The world always evaluated talent only by studying. Although that was frustrating, she had always found her own path with a smile.

In fact, she had never once failed “in an interview” until now.

Not long ago.

While watching a program featuring Attorney Geum Nae-yeong, her gaze suddenly stopped on a phrase at the bottom of the screen.

[JTBS Announcer Open Recruitment]

“An announcer? If I pass the written exam, the interview is as good as done! As for the written exam, I’ll manage somehow! Yes, let’s do it!”

With her confidence being the best in the world, Cha Ra-ri laughed excitedly and threw in her resignation.

“Oh, Chae-min. You arrived early today!”

“Noona! You are so bright today as well! Have you looked at the past exam questions?”

“Yeah, I flipped through a few pages. Aren’t you doing a study group today?”

“I am. But I’m planning to do one more study group for Introduction to Broadcasting.”

“Really? Let me join too.”

“Sure, Noona.”

Naturally blending into the conversation, Cha Ra-ri became close friends with the study members in the blink of an eye with her characteristic sociability.

At the sight of her speaking and befriending anyone without any sense of distance if given just five minutes, the new study members admired her, saying, “That Noona’s energy is really the best, her sociability is at max level.”

And they all agreed that Cha Ra-ri would score extremely high in the actual interview.

That evening.

Beep-beep-click.

“Mom, I’m home!”

Having finished her academy classes, Cha Ra-ri entered the house. Her mother slapped Cha Ra-ri’s back as if accustomed to it.

Smack!

“You brat! I told you to organize your clothes before going out! I’d think a ghost lives in your room. How old are you…”

“Mom! I quit my job.”

“What? What job did you quit? You… No way. You aren’t talking about that company you’re attending now, the one with a monthly salary over ten million won, right?..

Quitting that and saying you’ll challenge something ridiculous… Please… don’t say something that even a runaway dog wouldn’t say. Daughter, it’s really not that, right?”

Contrary to her mother’s hopes, Cha Ra-ri grinned and said.

“I’m going to be an announcer.”

Unlike Cha Ra-ri’s bright face, her mother’s expression soon changed from disappointment to anger.

“An announcer? You? Oh my goodness, do you know how hard that is? A kid who didn’t even study is going to do that? You really quit the company? A perfectly fine company with proper four major social insurances?”

“Yeah!”

“…Come here!! You brat! How old are you and still so immature..! Go back to the company quickly and beg that attorney!! Tell him you went crazy for a moment! Hurry!”

And soon, her mother’s palm flew swiftly toward Cha Ra-ri’s back.

Cha Ra-ri nimbly dodged the hand.

“Once I pass the written exam, the interview will be mine to win.”

Having quit the company so boldly, Cha Ra-ri prepared for the announcer exam despite her mother’s opposition. And soon, the day of the first written exam arrived.

***

[JTBS Announcer Open Recruitment Written Exam Venue]

Click.

As soon as Cha Ra-ri arrived at the exam venue, she took a commemorative photo and checked her admission ticket.

Then she opened the door of the exam room.

Rattle.

As she entered, a few examinees raised their heads, then bowed them again, holding onto their final review notes and checking to see if they had missed anything.

Cha Ra-ri also took out the past exam notes from her bag and flipped through them.

“Now, the exam will begin. Please put away all items on your desks.”

The proctor’s voice echoed, and the exam papers were distributed.

‘The most important thing in a written exam is the first question. If I slip up on number one, I’ll keep slipping to the end. I’ll do well! Fighting to myself!’

Repeating self-suggestions, Cha Ra-ri opened the exam paper.

Flip.

* Current Events & General Knowledge

1. The following is a scene from the movie . What is the historical event depicted in this scene?

“Grand Prince Suyang killed Kim Jong-seo~~~!!!”

① Gyeyu Jeongnan ② Byeongja Horan ③ Imjin War ④ Jeongmyo Horan

‘This is obviously number four.’

Having checked it immediately, Cha Ra-ri moved on to the next question.

2. What is the four-character idiom that means ‘an awl in a pocket,’ indicating that a person of outstanding talent will naturally make themselves known even if they try to hide?

① Nangjungjichu ② Gyoeonyeongsaek ③ Gumilbokgeom ④ Anbunjijok

‘Hmm… since an awl is sharp, is the answer number three?’

She checked the answer, but the questions were trickier than she had thought.

She had indeed received past exams while doing the study group. Perhaps because of that, the questions looked familiar.

However, she had not expected them to be mixed and presented in this manner.

‘Sigh… I only remember chatting with the study group members…’

10. What is the term for a document submitted to the court to object to a court decision that has not yet been finalized?

① Statement of Grounds for Final Appeal ② Notice of Appeal ③ Petition for Change of Date ④ Complaint

‘…Huh? This, I’ve heard this before…’

Although what Office Director Ju Yong-hae had said faintly came to mind, the memory was hazy.

‘What was it… He said to submit something to the court… What was it…’

While she was worrying,

“Ten minutes remaining.”

“What? Ten minutes?”

Cha Ra-ri looked at the clock. Twenty of the thirty minutes had already vanished.

Just like that, she literally ruined the exam.

***

‘Sigh… it was much harder than I thought…’

Leaving the exam venue, Cha Ra-ri quickly assessed the situation.

She immediately took out her cell phone.

Tap, tap.

Cha Ra-ri: Attorney, by any chance… has my resignation been accepted?

Attorney Geum Nae-yeong: Who is this?

Cha Ra-ri: Did you delete my number already? It’s Cha Ra-ri.

Attorney Geum Nae-yeong: Yes. The resignation has been fully processed. And since you are a former employee, I deleted your number immediately.

Cha Ra-ri: Attorney, you’re too much TT TT I worked hard in my own way, but there was so much work lately that I just needed a temporary rest.

I’m sorry, but you haven’t hired a new employee yet, right? Can’t you overlook it just this once?

Attorney Geum Nae-yeong: I do not know what you mean by overlooking it, but I do not text with strangers.

Cha Ra-ri: You’re too much TT TT Please rethink just this once. Instead, I’ll bring in lots of Gankyeok cases! I will work really, really hard!

Attorney Geum Nae-yeong: That is impossible. Solicitations as well. If you wish to work at our firm, submit your resume through JobKorea.

“Geez, he is really too much!! It’s not like he hired a new employee yet!”

Cha Ra-ri put down her cell phone, grumbling in dissatisfaction.

However, she soon pulled herself together.

‘Right, with Attorney Geum, what is impossible is impossible…’

She immediately opened JobKorea, typed in the search bar, and checked the announcement.

[Teum Law Firm Hiring Office Staff]

Application Requirements

• Gender: No restriction

• Education: No restriction

• Age: No restriction

Preferred Qualifications

• Law majors

• Those with marketing experience

• Counseling psychology majors

• Those who will work for a long time

• Those without too many dreams