Chapter 73 – If It Is a Third Marriage

Noh Eun-jae’s Couple Counseling Studio

Holding the script, Dr. Noh Eun-jae entered the studio today with light steps as well.

‘Phew… The setting is perfect, and I got good insights from the morning meditation too.

Good. Today’s broadcast will go very well.’

Having accumulated quite a bit of experience from TV appearances, she could now see at a glance how the broadcasting industry worked.

In the middle of the set, which was decorated like a stylish counseling room, a large chair was placed, and seats for panels and cast members were neatly arranged on both sides.

It was the second solo MC program of Dr. Noh Eun-jae, a psychiatrist.

It was a program that focused on public appeal and showed the reality of couples in crisis of divorce, providing them with a kind of self-reflective opportunity to overcome the crisis on their own.

Since it was the first broadcast after the pilot scheduling, everyone looked highly energized, and the PD’s enthusiasm could be felt everywhere.

‘I have a good feeling. Right, let’s do well.’

In the brightly lit studio, Geum Nae-yeong, the attorney scheduled to appear as a special guest today, walked in precisely on time.

Noh Eun-jae approached Geum Nae-yeong, smiled, and reached out her hand.

“Oh, hello. Attorney Geum, nice to meet you. I’m a fan.”

Geum Nae-yeong. A young lawyer who recently emerged in the broadcasting industry.

He had a handsome appearance and a clear identity as a professional. She thought that whoever designed his straightforward character did it attractively and cleverly.

“I enjoyed watching the programs you appeared in, Attorney Geum. Your honest personality was impressive.”

Dr. Noh Eun-jae spoke with a smile, and Geum Nae-yeong replied briefly.

“Yes. Your hair looks cool.”

Noh Eun-jae hesitated for a moment at Geum Nae-yeong’s answer.

‘What is this? What a strange reaction.’

“Ah… thank you.”

Just then, another person entered the studio entrance.

She was Yoo Na-yeong, a divorce specialist attorney at Law Firm Kim & Chang.

Seeing a handsome man talking with Noh Eun-jae, Yoo Na-yeong approached him, thinking he was an actor scheduled to appear today.

“Hello! I am Attorney Yoo Na-yeo…”

The moment Yoo Na-yeong looked up at the man, a chill ran down her spine.

‘Heh… What? It’s the 8.7 billion won Geum Nae-yeong? …Oh, shit… I’m doomed.’

She had heard that one more special guest would appear, but she did not know it would be Geum Nae-yeong.

Yoo Na-yeong instantly had a very clear premonition that today’s broadcast would not be smooth.

As the panels appeared one by one and greeted each other, the FD gave the “3, 2, 1. Cue!” signal and the recording began.

“Now, today’s special guest! We have Attorney Geum Nae-yeong here! Please give him a round of applause!”

At the comedian panel’s shout, the sound of applause spread throughout the studio.

Wow—

In time with the FD’s hand gestures, all the panels clapped their hands simultaneously.

Geum Nae-yeong bowed his head and greeted with a calm face.

“Now, shall we talk about the story of the couple who appeared today?”

At Dr. Noh Eun-jae’s words, the screen slowly transitioned.

As the stage lights illuminated the couple on the cast, their story was beginning.

The wife’s interview screen was played first.

“We are neighborhood friends who have known each other for a very long time. We’ve lived long enough.

Since both of us had had our share of pain, we had a quiet wedding, and it’s only been two years now.

We met promising each other that we would make a truly good family this time.

…But how can someone be that selfish at his age? He’s a total corner-room dictator. I got completely fed up in just two years, you know?”

Soon after, the husband’s interview was played.

“At first, she talked as if there would be no other wise mother and good wife. Back when we were young, she was cute too.

But now, she’s nothing short of a crazy bitch, I tell you.

Her mood swings are too severe. As you’ll see, what she does to me is character assassination, isn’t it?”

A video showing their family life exactly as it was played on the studio screen.

The sharp voice of the wife in the video.

“Honey, I must watch this episode. Cha Eun-soo is in it!”

Even after hearing that, the husband snatched the remote control and changed the channel as he pleased.

Click.

—Wow! The fish is already biting! Reel it in quickly!

The highly excited voice of the fishing program host, perhaps over a big catch, echoed loudly in the room.

At that moment, the wife let out a deep sigh.

In an instant, she felt anger boiling up from the very bottom of her chest.

It wasn’t just once or twice; she was sick of her husband’s personality where he had to have everything his own way.

Turning her head, the socks her husband had taken off and left lying around caught her eye.

Those damn socks that were useless to talk about even dozens of times.

Stride, stride.

The wife picked up the dirty socks and stuffed the remote control inside them.

And then she immediately opened the veranda window and threw them ‘whoosh’ into the grass.

Thud!

With the sound of the remote control hitting something like a stone, the TV turned off with a click.

The husband turned around, exploding in anger.

“Hey!!! It’s the weekend, let me watch some TV! I was watching that, why did you turn it off!”

“Then why did you change the channel on what I was watching?”

“You can just watch it on your phone!”

“You can watch it on that!”

“Oh dear, what’s so good about ugly guys appearing? Every single one of them looks like a monkey resembling you, crying and whining!”

“What? A monkey? What about you? Looking like a dried-up squid… Are you watching a squid-catching program to know your place?”

The fight between the two was gradually developing from appearance evaluations to personal insults.

“What did you say? ‘You’ to your husband? Say it again, did you just call me ‘you’?”

“Yes, you! You! If you think about it, I was born six months before you! So I am the older sister!”

“Older sister my foot, what older sister!

If you were my sister, I would have sent you to the washing well long ago to do laundry!

Since you’re living so comfortably, with machines doing all the housework, lying down watching TV and feeling relaxed, complaints just come out of your mouth, don’t they?

Talking back to your husband just to watch programs with ugly kids in them!”

“Washing well? Oh dear, what Chosun era is this?

Even back then, I wouldn’t have gone to the washing well! I am from the Jeonju Gam clan, why would a noble go to the washing well? Only servants go there!

Ugh, why did I marry such an ignorant guy?

If I hadn’t drunk alcohol that day, I wouldn’t be living and sharing a bed with a squid-like guy like that.”

“Look who’s talking! I was the one who drank the wrong way. Alcohol is the enemy, the enemy!

Since I drank, a monkey could look that pretty, I guess?

If I could go back to two years ago, I would quit drinking even if I had to cut off my own wrists!”

“Forget it, let’s divorce.”

The wife rummaged through a drawer somewhere, and actually pulled out a divorce petition.

The husband walked out of the house after immediately putting on a jacket, without even looking at his wife.

And a moment later, the screen showed the wife preparing to go out.

“Oh, the living expenses came in?”

The wife began a relentless shopping spree at the department store.

“Give me this too.”

Bzzzzzz—

Bzzzzzz—

With the wife’s endless shopping, only the sound of card receipts printing filled the video.

That day, the wife spent almost all the money equivalent to her husband’s monthly salary.

And back in the studio.

The host, Dr. Noh Eun-jae, carefully started speaking.

“Yes, we have watched the entire video. The verbal fight insulting each other’s personality is indeed a huge problem.

And… also, our wife’s economic sense is a bit of a problem. Why did it become like this?”

The wife smiled awkwardly as she touched her hair.

“Well… I thought that I should buy what I want first when I have money. Life is short, after all.

Since I had a lot of regrets when I was young… I don’t know exactly how much I spend, but I thought there would be some room.”

The comedian panel asked Attorney Yoo Na-yeong a question.

“In this case, if they divorce, what happens to the debt, Attorney?”

Attorney Yoo Na-yeong looked down at the script and spoke.

“If it is an asset built together by the couple, the debt is also shared jointly.

Even if one side spent all of it, the debt is also subject to division during the settlement process.”

The husband cut in as if it was unfair.

“…This person was like this from the beginning. I didn’t know, but she had over 50 million won in hidden debt.

Before registering the marriage, she said her assets were 500 million won, but that was all a lie too.”

The wife retorted.

“Oh dear, I might choose not to say that, or I might not be able to! And I am also trying to pay it off.”

Dr. Noh Eun-jae nodded and summarized.

“Yes, that could be the case. It might not have been intentional, but from the husband’s perspective, who was unaware of the debt, it must be a great difficulty.”

She turned her head and asked.

“What do you think, Attorney Geum?”

Without holding the microphone, Geum Nae-yeong fell into thought for a moment. The PD’s words before the broadcast flashed through his mind.

“Attorney, I will tell you beforehand, you don’t need to follow the script exactly.

Just as you did on other broadcasts, please do it very honestly and in a fun, straightforward way.”

“…Honestly.”

The PD put a significant amount of effort into this program. He barely managed to cast Geum Nae-yeong, who was popular these days, by utilizing whatever connections he had.

Since Geum Nae-yeong was appearing anyway, he had to extract a scene that would make a big hit.

Because Geum Nae-yeong’s key point was to strike quickly with a straightforward blow in unexpected parts, his script was left rough on purpose.

A moment later, the red light on the camera turned on.

“Hmm…”

Geum Nae-yeong adjusted his grip on the microphone and continued.

“Yes. Regarding the part you asked about, I will honestly state my personal opinion.

Although the video only shows one side, looking at this alone, the wife is making a very simple calculation error.”

Dr. Noh Eun-jae asked back with surprised eyes.

“A calculation error?”

“Yes. Under the state of potential divorce, instead of saving money, the debt is increasing.

If you divorce in this state, what remains in the end is only debt. If you are keeping a future remarriage in mind, the current consumption pattern is highly inefficient.”

“Re… Remarriage?”

“Yes. If you want to live while spending money well, you must save at least for now.

It is much more advantageous to let your husband accumulate assets first, and then request a division of property with that money.

After that, you can meet a husband who is handsomer than a squid with that money.”

The wife was surprised and waved her hands.

“No, what on earth do you mean by that? I don’t have such thoughts…”

“If the purpose of marriage is looks as you said in the video, with your current asset status, you are highly likely to meet an even uglier person as your next spouse.

Everyone feels burdened if there is a lot of debt. Moreover, since it will be a third marriage now, the other party will be much more cautious.”

At Geum Nae-yeong’s straightforward comment, the air in the studio instantly turned cold.

Dr. Noh Eun-jae maintaining a smile with effort, threw a comment to play the next screen.

“Next, let’s watch the husband’s video.”

On the monitor, a scene of the husband shouting with an angry face appeared.

“Hey! What is this! Why aren’t you listening to me! And why do you keep calling like that!”

Crash!!

The sound of something falling to the floor and breaking. Following that, a few curse words were mixed in.

Dr. Noh Eun-jae spoke carefully.

“No matter how angry you are, husband, you should not act like that.”

The husband bowed his head.

“Yes… I lost my reason for a moment.”

“I understand the situation, but that is too violent a response.”

“Ah… yes. I… sometimes get so angry that I can’t even control myself, so I just snap.

What should I call it… a psychopathic temperament?”

When the husband smiled as if embarrassed, Geum Nae-yeong immediately opened his mouth resolutely.

“Husband, you are not a psychopath. I know well.”

Quickly sensing the atmosphere, Noh Eun-jae smiled softly, cut in, and said.

“That’s right. We must use such terms very carefully.

We shouldn’t judge someone carelessly with such terms, right?”

Noh Eun-jae lifted the mood slightly.

“Then, unrelated to medical diagnosis, shall I give you a fun test question?”

“A test?”

The comedian panel tilted their heads.

“Yes, it’s just for fun. Originally, the concept of a psychopath is not a concept that has been given a medical diagnosis in psychiatry.

It can be seen as closer to a forensic concept.

How about it? Thinking of it as a fun psychological quiz, would you like to take a psychopath test?”

As she showed a playful smile in her familiar hosting tone, all the panels exchanged glances with each other.

“Sure, let’s do it!”