You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 429

You Have Been Defended – Episode 430

#430

Before handing over the original documents left by Kang Kwan-woong to me, Kang Soo-il scanned and copied everything.

Kang Min-jae passed these scanned copies to Choi Jong-hyun, Jo Bong-joon, and Manager Oh.

Even though I reviewed them overnight, I only managed to go through the personal information of about one-third of the victims in those documents.

It’s more efficient for several people to divide and conquer the data rather than each person looking at it individually.

Of course, after this initial review, everyone needs to see the entire document.

Most importantly, if everyone has a copy, it naturally backs up the data across multiple people, so there’s no worry about losing it.

The documents Kang Kwan-woong left us were largely divided into three categories: investigation data on how Wooshin lured women, immigration records, and personal information of those sent to Japan.

“I sent the files to the group chat with Bong-joon hyung [older brother/male friend] and Jong-hyun hyung, and they said their eyes are going to pop out looking at the computer screen, so could you print them out for them?”

“I guess so. We need to print ours too. Do we have enough paper?”

“One, two, three, four. We have four boxes left. It’s enough.”

Kang Min-jae started preparing to print, and I made coffee while pondering for a moment.

Kang Soo-il gave me the original data that Kang Kwan-woong had kept, but is it really right for me to have it?

“Kang Attorney.”

“Yes?”

“Stop by my house on your way home from work and take the original data.”

“Yes? Why? My grandfather told me to give it to you. Isn’t that why you took it that day?”

Kang Min-jae asked, looking puzzled, and I shook my head.

“I think it’s safer to keep it at Kang Attorney’s house than at mine.”

I spent a lot of money to move to an expensive villa for security reasons, but considering my previous kidnapping, there are hardly any places under the Korean sky that Wooshin’s hands can’t reach.

Although Kang Kwan-woong is gone, Kang Min-jae’s house, which is publicly known as the former president’s residence, is probably the safest place.

“And the elder took that data from the Blue House [South Korea’s executive office and official residence of the president] and kept it at his private residence for 30 years. It’s better than my house, which looks like anyone could break into.”

“I guess so. I didn’t know, but when I was organizing his belongings, I found a safe I didn’t know about. I only found out after the will was revealed. Soo-il hyung still doesn’t know.”

“There was something like that?”

“Yes. I should put it there.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, Director Kang gave up his inheritance, and he won’t be getting his secretary’s salary anymore. How is he doing?”

Manager Oh asked, taking out the printouts that had just come out of the printer.

Then, Kang Min-jae narrowed his eyes and looked at Manager Oh.

“You’re curious about that, aren’t you? Stories that aren’t reported in the news.”

“Ah, was I being rude? I just, I just said it without any meaning.”

Manager Oh was startled and fidgeted, so Kang Min-jae playfully hit Manager Oh’s arm and laughed.

“How could there be anything like that between us? Um… Originally, my grandfather left quite a bit of stock and real estate to Soo-il hyung. But Soo-il hyung gave it up. So, I became a billionaire right away, but I don’t think of it as all my money.”

“That’s true.”

“So, I talked to hyung about this and that, but he keeps saying he won’t accept it. He just says if I’m so worried about him, I should think of him as a butler and give him a salary.”

“Director Kang is amazing.”

“I know. And hyung says he saved all the money from his secretary’s salary and entrusted it to an asset management company that my grandfather used to deal with, and it’s grown a lot. I don’t know if it’s true though?”

Kang Min-jae said, tilting his head, and Manager Oh, who had been curious about Kang Soo-il, began to ask questions.

“Doesn’t Director Kang want to get married? He’s good-looking.”

“Why? Do you have someone to introduce him to?”

“No, I don’t have anyone in mind right now, but if he wants to get married, I might be able to find someone. Now that the elder is gone, and you’re the only one left, Attorney. If you get married later, he’ll be left all alone, and that’s a shame.”

Seeing him talk like this, Manager Oh is definitely an old man.

“I think I’m destined to grow old with Soo-il hyung in that house.”

“Yes? No, what’s wrong with you, Attorney? You’re handsome, well-educated, have a good job, a lot of money, a good family, and you’re tall. You have everything. Don’t you have anyone who wants to meet you?”

“I’m… I’m a little embarrassed to say this, but there are people who want to meet me. But the meetings don’t usually last. It’s a bit of a hassle… I’ll meet a good match when the time comes. And you should say that to our CEO instead of me. Our attorney is older than me and still single.”

Kang Min-jae turned to look at me, who was leaning against the desk and drinking coffee, and Manager Oh also turned to look at me.

The two people’s gazes flew sharply towards me, and I cleared my throat and asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“That’s right. Our attorney is extremely handsome, well-educated, has a good job, a lot of money, and is tall… No, if I were to list his advantages, it would never end. Why aren’t you getting married?”

Ha.

My parents have been quiet lately, but suddenly Manager Oh is making a fuss.

“I have no intention of getting married.”

I’ve already tried it.

…I can’t say that.

I realized miserably from my previous life’s failed marriage.

Of course, Jo Ah-young was more at fault, but I am not suited for the institution of marriage at all.

At that time, Choi Jong-hyun told me that if I had loved Jo Ah-young very passionately, she might have been more important than work.

As he said, I honestly didn’t love my ex-wife passionately.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like her.

The reason I married her was partly because I thought she was a suitable match, but on the other hand, I definitely wanted to live with her.

If there hadn’t been a difference in values, and if Jo Ah-young hadn’t had an affair, we might not have divorced.

Of course, if that had happened, that married life would have been monotonous and lonely for Jo Ah-young, unlike me, who was busy being obsessed with revenge.

At first, I thought I didn’t have the bandwidth to fulfill another role as someone’s spouse because I was obsessed with revenge, but now it’s different.

I’m just someone who shouldn’t get married.

Even if it’s not revenge, I don’t know how to pour affection into someone or share my time.

I’m not good at expressing emotions, and I don’t know how to appeal to my charm.

In many ways, I’m a failure as a man in sexual terms.

“No, why not? I, I sometimes imagine having one of you attorneys as my son-in-law…”

Manager Oh said shyly.

I know that Manager Oh’s second daughter hasn’t been working for very long, but me becoming his son-in-law…

Is he telling me to become a thief [implying he’s too old for her]?

“Who would you rather have as your son-in-law, me or Attorney Cha?”

Kang Min-jae asked Manager Oh subtly, as if feeling competitive.

Then, Manager Oh fell into serious thought.

“Hmm… Both of you are perfect in terms of conditions, so putting that aside, if I only think about personality… Our Attorney Kang has a good personality, so I think he would live happily with my daughter.”

“Right? Attorney Cha probably wouldn’t express himself enough.”

“My daughter might feel a little lonely.”

“Then I’m the winner?”

“Ah, but Attorney Kang might be a bit annoying to my daughter. I think she’d prefer someone like Attorney Cha, who is more laid-back…”

“No, annoying! I’m laid-back, you know?”

Kang Min-jae shouted, flustered, and Manager Oh distorted his expression as if asking if he was serious.

“Honestly, Attorney Kang acts like a puppy wagging its tail to someone he likes. My daughter doesn’t like men who are too aggressive.”

“Me? Ha, when have I ever?”

“If you don’t know, that’s fine. Anyway, I don’t know. If either of you said you liked my daughter, it would be an honor for my family.”

“Even if it’s Kang Attorney, I’m too old to marry your daughter.”

At my words, Manager Oh tilted his head and said.

“Hmm, someone like you, Attorney, would be fine even with a bit of an age difference. You don’t look that much older anyway.”

“Don’t say such nonsense… Stop flattering me.”

“Anyway, forget about my daughter, both of you should get married. You should have daughters and sons and live happily. Raising children is a lot of fun.”

“I don’t want to raise a child like me.”

“Me neither.”

At my and Kang Min-jae’s words, Manager Oh shouted as if he couldn’t understand.

“I’d raise 100 children like you attorneys. You don’t know because you’re surrounded by so many great people. Both of you grew up so well. You studied well, and you make a lot of money. Not getting married might be a bit of a concern, but that’s about it.”

“I don’t know. Anyway, I think I’m destined to grow old and die with Soo-il hyung, looking at it. It’s been too long since I’ve been in a relationship.”

“I’ll look into some introductions. For Attorney Cha too. Ah, now that I think about it, Prosecutor Lee said he went on a blind date with that Attorney Jo from Taekwang [a large law firm]? Did anything come of it?”

“Attorney Jo from Taekwang? Was that the person on the defense team for the Kim Hwa-young case? The person you went on a blind date with was her?”

Kang Min-jae frowned and asked.

And he looked at me with eyes that seemed to disbelieve that I had met someone from Taekwang.

I feel unpleasant.

He was once affiliated with Taekwang, but he’s treating me like I met someone from Taekwang.

“Nothing came of it. Attorney Jo and I are not compatible.”

“Wait. Looking at it, don’t you both have too high standards?”

“I don’t have high standards at all.”

Kang Min-jae said, waving his hands wildly.

I…

I don’t know.

Whether my standards are high or low.

I’ve been in relationships before, but I’ve never been the one to approach someone because I liked them first.

“Geez. I really don’t understand you people.”

“Whatever the case, now is not the time for me to be in a relationship.”

I approached the printer and lifted the documents that had piled up.

“I’ll think about it again when Go Sang-joon is in jail.”

“Me too.”

Kang Min-jae clenched his fists.

“Wow, the printer is going to catch fire.”

Kang Min-jae said, shaking his hand after touching the printer that was spitting out the heated papers.

“It says 12 percent left. Should we go home after this is all printed?”

“Let’s do that.”

Kang Min-jae put the printed papers on the table and started sorting them.

But strangely, Manager Oh wasn’t helping Kang Min-jae and was just looking at his phone.

“Manager, aren’t you going to help me?”

“Just a moment.”

Manager Oh seemed to be busy typing something.

Kang Min-jae sneaked behind Manager Oh and peeked at Manager Oh’s phone screen.

“What! Why are you telling my wife about our blind date stories!”

“I feel it’s such a waste. Your youth. If I were you two, right now,”

“I don’t want to!”

Me and Kang Min-jae shouted at the same time for the first time in a while.