The Lawyer Who Reads Tomorrow - Chapter 101

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 101

 

 

The filing dates are the same.

 

“Well, this is…”

 

I examined the report once more.

 

“What a coincidence this is.”

 

Sarcastic words flowed out without me realizing it.

Noh Hae-min also took the report with a bewildered expression.

 

“…This doesn’t make sense.”

 

It’s still unknown when exactly the design was stolen.

It could have been because they rushed to file as quickly as possible.

If not, it was an incomprehensible choice.

 

“If it’s filed on the same day, it has to go to consultation…”

 

Why would they make such a choice?

I spoke to Noh Hae-min, who seemed to have moved beyond bewilderment to curiosity.

 

“This is beyond our understanding.”

“…”

“It’s still at the application stage anyway. They’ll contact us when the examination begins.”

 

I slowly examined the patent firm’s materials again.

 

“Senior.”

“Hmm?”

“Please schedule a meeting once Father is discharged.”

 

Noh Hae-min nodded with a dark expression.

 

“You did tell him that we’re taking on this case, right?”

“Huh? Yeah. Of course.”

“Then that’s settled. We need to meet with the client first.”

 

There was something I had to do before that.

I grabbed the coat hanging on the chair and pushed Noh Hae-min.

 

Being consumed by feelings of betrayal lasts only a day or two.

And when your mind is this complicated, working is much better for your mental health.

 

* * *

 

And, a few days later.

 

“Lawyer Sung Tae-hyun, welcome.”

 

Roh Tae-sung was discharged.

 

He scheduled the meeting I had asked Noh Hae-min for on the very day of his discharge, and looked surprisingly healthy for someone who had been hospitalized for several days.

Unlike Noh Hae-min, he had a very robust build, and above all, he had good color in his face.

 

“Hello, Representative.”

“Representative, what. You’re like a son to me. Just be comfortable like our Hae-min. Be comfortable.”

 

Roh Tae-sung’s house was exactly the same as before.

The furniture with the problematic designs was also still there.

 

As I sat on the sofa following Noh Hae-min’s guidance, Roh Tae-sung first held out a white envelope while drinking tea.

 

“I really have no face to show our son’s friend.”

 

It was a thick envelope.

As I just stared at the white envelope placed on the table, he chuckled and continued speaking.

 

“Well, I received the consolation money you sent as a gesture of care.”

“…Ah. Yes.”

 

That’s right.

He was talking about the consolation money that Ho-shin Senior, I, and Manager Yoon Ha-young had pooled together.

 

“I felt touched by it. I’m grateful just for letting our incompetent son do his share of work.”

 

He took a sip of tea from his tea cup and stared at me intently for a moment.

 

It was a kind expression, as if he truly thought of me as a son.

He might be surprised if he saw my face inside Sung Tae-hyun’s body.

 

However, I faithfully performed Sung Tae-hyun’s role and smiled along with him.

 

“Not at all. Lawyer Noh Hae-min is doing well enough even now.”

 

For instance, like that.

 

Noh Hae-min was cutting rabbit-shaped apples just like he did at the office.

It was an amazing ability to instantly eliminate the stiffness and intimidation that the image of a law office gives.

 

I’m being sincere.

Clients who come to the office are generally exhausted and struggling from being caught up in legal battles.

 

“…Thank you for saying that.”

 

Roh Tae-sung nodded with satisfaction.

 

This much was nothing.

I had seen the speech patterns of old men who made a name for themselves in court more than once or twice.

 

“Still, please accept this.”

“…Representative.”

“It’s a retainer fee.”

 

Roh Tae-sung spoke calmly as if he wouldn’t allow any further objections.

 

The bills glimpsed through the open bag were quite numerous.

And just the fact that they were all filled with 50,000 won bills was enough to gauge Roh Tae-sung’s generosity.

 

“I never even thought about entering the office where our son works as a client, but…”

“Is that so.”

“That’s right. When you reach this age, you’ll understand too.”

 

How could that be.

Various emotions could be felt all at once from Roh Tae-sung’s expression.

 

Regret, sadness, and among them, emotions like trust and affection toward his son were mixed and revealed.

 

“I understand.”

 

So refusing further would also be impolite.

 

Ho-shin Senior would be pleased.

I answered while putting the bag Roh Tae-sung handed me into my bag.

 

“I’ll discuss the contract with Lawyer Noh Hae-min, draft it, and send it to your house.”

“Good.”

 

I had already organized and sent several documents we had obtained on Noh Hae-min’s side along with the patent firm’s report.

 

Roh Tae-sung silently watched Noh Hae-min and me for a moment.

My face felt hot under his warm gaze, as if he were looking at his son and his son’s friend.

 

“Representative.”

“Ah, no, I told you. Just call me comfortably. Hm? If you’re our son’s colleague, you’re already like my son.”

 

Suddenly, I had this thought.

 

The path Noh Hae-min had shown so far.

So unlike me, his ability to think completely from the client’s perspective was all learned from his family.

 

Just as there was a life like mine, there was also a life like Noh Hae-min’s.

Since it was a life I had never experienced, feeling this curious about it was probably not a strange emotion either.

 

“…I’ll try my best.”

 

I opened my mouth that had been closed.

Roh Tae-sung, who had been waiting while my thoughts continued, was watching me with that same warm gaze.

 

“You don’t know how wonderful it is to have another handsome son.”

 

Roh Tae-sung, who had been chuckling, added a word.

 

“Still, if it’s uncomfortable, you can take your time. I won’t force you.”

 

Anyway, they were people who seemed to have consideration ingrained in their bodies.

I slowly nodded and met his expectations.

 

“I understand. Still, while proceeding with this case—”

“Yes, yes. I know. Sung Tae-hyun.”

 

He gave me the choice while not drawing a line.

Perhaps these kinds of attitudes were the method that had maintained Woo-ah Furniture for over thirty years.

 

“There’s something I’d like to ask first.”

 

Nevertheless, I had something to ask Roh Tae-sung.

 

Now he wasn’t just Noh Hae-min’s father.

He was a client and I was a lawyer who had to protect the client’s interests.

 

“Good. I’ll answer anything honestly.”

 

I pointed to several documents neatly placed in front of the table.

Though it wasn’t enough to complete the entire puzzle yet, it was still sufficient material to target Yoon Sang-do.

 

However, what to do with this depended on the client’s instructions.

 

“I’m curious about the Representative’s true intention.”

 

I asked without beating around the bush.

Roh Tae-sung looked at me silently as if trying to grasp my intention.

 

His aged, faded-looking eyes were staring at me piercingly.

 

“True intention.”

“Yes.”

“Real inner meaning…”

 

Roh Tae-sung had collapsed in his study after hearing the news of Viga Furniture’s award.

So, until then, he probably didn’t know that his designs and all his work had been stolen, and at the same time, Viga Furniture had made identical copies of his work and even submitted them.

 

“…Does that matter.”

 

Roh Tae-sung avoided my gaze for the first time.

Unlike when he had spoken to me earlier, he seemed shaken.

 

“Yes. It’s important.”

 

The amount of materials I had delivered to Roh Tae-sung through Noh Hae-min’s help had been quite substantial.

Yet until now, the employees at the ‘Woo-ah Furniture’ office acted as if they had heard nothing at all.

 

At my words, Roh Tae-sung let out a long sigh.

He still looked like he was lost in deep thought.

 

* * *

 

A few days ago.

 

“Oh my, what brings our young master to the company~?”

 

A sly voice was heard.

The man who rushed out as soon as he saw Noh Hae-min and me was an employee around my age, no, around Kim Wook-han’s age, wearing a Woo-ah Furniture employee ID around his neck.

 

[Management Support Division Manager Lee Seon-ho]

 

“Hello, Department Head.”

“Department Head? Just call me uncle like before~”

 

He grinned and grabbed Noh Hae-min’s hand, pulling him along.

 

I walked a step behind, watching them.

Are they usually this close with the representative’s son?

 

Maybe the principle that all family-run companies are shit might be wrong.

The man chuckled as he guided us to a small conference room on the third floor of Woo-ah Furniture headquarters.

 

“Here we are. Green tea for our young master. And for the lawyer who came with him—”

“The same is fine.”

 

At my words, the man in front of me, Manager Lee Seon-ho, smiled with his eyes.

 

“Ooh~ Okay. Green tea~ Here you go, young masters~”

 

…The company atmosphere is very good.

To put it nicely, it’s good, but to put it badly, it’s hard to adapt to.

 

After confirming that Noh Hae-min and I had each received a cup of green tea, Manager Lee Seon-ho sat on the sofa across from us.

So, I had stopped by Woo-ah Furniture headquarters with Noh Hae-min for investigation purposes.

 

“But, is the Representative’s condition really that bad?”

 

Manager Lee asked in a lowered voice.

 

The third floor was all conference rooms, and since no teams had meetings scheduled at this time, the entire third floor was empty except for the room Noh Hae-min and I were guided to.

Nevertheless, Manager Lee deliberately spoke quietly as if having a secret conversation.

 

“Some bad rumors are going around.”

“…Rumors?”

 

When Noh Hae-min asked, Manager Lee waved his hands dismissively and said.

 

“It’s not that serious… but to some extent it is. The atmosphere has been ominous lately.”

 

The news of Biga Furniture’s award must have reached them, so that’s understandable.

However, I heard that the design itself created by the team directly under the representative wasn’t shared within the company.

 

Still, had rumors leaked to other employees?

 

“What kind of rumors?”

 

At my question, Manager Lee sighed heavily.

He seemed like he was dying from a headache.

 

“Well… they’re all groundless rumors. Like the Representative selling the company for a cheap price…”

 

Manager Lee subtly watched Noh Hae-min’s reaction.

Perhaps Noh Hae-min had also become somewhat stronger by the time we got here, as he didn’t waver.

 

He just quietly looked at his tea cup and the man.

 

“That’s really just a groundless rumor.”

 

He didn’t forget to add a comment.

When the representative’s son said that, the man who had seemed somewhat anxious burst into hearty laughter.

 

“Hehe, right? I thought so too. What kind of person is our Representative~”

“…What about other rumors?”

“Well, that… um…”

 

The manager lifted the tea cup he was holding in his hand.

Then he gulped it down aggressively.

 

“There was also news that our Young Master Hae-min is getting married.”

“…What?”

 

This time even Noh Hae-min couldn’t hold back and raised his voice.

Manager Lee giggled as if it had been a joke.

 

His continued stalling gave me a bad feeling.

 

“Well yeah. There’s also talk that we committed design plagiarism.”

“…?”

“That, Lee Jin-seop you asked me to look into.”

 

Manager Lee looked around once more.

Even though no one was there, he kept glancing around nervously, really looking like he was telling a secret he didn’t want anyone to overhear.

 

“…That Lee Jin-seop came to our head office behind our backs not too long ago and met with the employees.”

 

…He came to the head office?

After sending me content-certified mail requesting I stay away, he had the nerve to come all the way to Wooa Furniture’s head office.

 

An incredulous laugh escaped me without realizing it.

Department Head Lee Seon-ho laughed along with me, then scrunched up his face again.

 

“Really, I shouldn’t be doing this when I think about the Representative.”

“What happened?”

“Well…”

 

Lee Seon-ho let out a long sigh.

 

“It seems he called out several employees he used to work with.”

“And then?”

 

Noh Hae-min couldn’t wait and asked urgently.

 

“Who do you think I am? I’m Lee Seon-ho, the one who knows all the employees at Wooa Furniture inside and out.”

“…Department Head.”

“Alright, alright. Anyway, our young master has gotten quite impatient, hasn’t he?”

“…”

 

Department Head Lee Seon-ho spoke in a low voice.

 

“…He proposed job transfers.”

“What?”

 

As Noh Hae-min froze, Lee Seon-ho drove the point home once more.

 

“Those friends who worked directly under the Representative with Lee Jin-seop, he met with all of them one by one and-“

“…”

“He proposed job transfers, I’m telling you.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————