Feeling that he should at least say something to keep it quiet, Junhwi got up to order coffee. Kim Seungho followed closely.

“Do you know what I want?”

“Anything.”

Feeling that he might have to involve even this annoying guy, Junhwi became uneasy. Sitting opposite each other with coffee, Kim Seungho folded his kind eyes and smiled brightly. Seeing that, Junhwi felt unnecessarily disturbed.

“I know what to order.”

“Anything.”

Thinking that he might have to involve this annoying guy, Junhwi became uneasy. Sitting opposite each other with coffee, Kim Seungho folded his kind eyes and smiled brightly. Seeing that, Junhwi felt unnecessarily disturbed.

“I have something to ask.”

“Yes.”

“Attorney Kim, do you handle any rumors circulating within Lo and Yul these days?”

Ah, a look of admiration flickered in Kim Seungho’s large eyes.

Why, at what point are you impressed?

“Of course, successful attorneys are different! You even care about the internal management of the organization.”

“…Ha.”

“Today, I’m learning from Attorney Kwon again! It seems like you have to look into internal affairs as well, not just work hard.”
It’s amazing. A bitter, mocking laugh escaped. To think that I have to rely on someone like him.

But because I’ve always lived so arrogantly alone, there hasn’t been anyone to ask about the baseless rumors circulating in the company.

Unfortunately, both lawyers are on a business trip, so there’s no choice but Kim Seungho. Today, Junhwi was in a position to make regretful sounds.

“If you don’t know, forget it.”

“I’ll do my best to find out. In which area should I look? Are you curious about the successor plan after Lo and Yul’s CEO retires?”

“No, nothing like that…”

“I see. Then on the litigation side?”

If I have to specify, that field is correct. Junhwi nodded quietly.

Unwilling, but hoping to find something to grasp onto, Junhwi swallowed a sip of coffee.

“In that case, I’m also an expert! I’ll gather all the circulating rumors for you.”

Following him, Kim Seungho also chuckled, holding up his coffee cup.

“Attorney, coming in.”

Kim Seungho knocked on Junhwi’s door and looked around awkwardly. Then, he met eyes with Yeonwoo, sitting at the secretary’s desk.

“Hello, Attorney Kim.”

“Hello, Assistant. I’ll borrow Attorney Kwon for a moment.”

“Oh, yes, yes.”

Kim Seungho, who let out an ambiguous laugh, went inside, and the door closed. Even the two cups of coffee in his hands looked suspicious. Yeonwoo raised an eyebrow.

“They’re having coffee together? Those two?”

Has that ever happened?

Come to think of it, in the last few days, it seemed like their relationship had suddenly improved.

Junhwi, who used to growl every time he saw Kim Seungho, became quiet, and even though Kim Seungho’s work in the situation room was over, he came to his room once or twice a day, staying quietly before leaving.

Is this how it feels to raise a puppy? They say that dogs and babies cause trouble if they’re quiet.

The two who were always making noise suddenly became quiet, and various thoughts came to mind.

“Well, whatever. It’s better than fighting.”

Thinking positively, Yeonwoo glanced through the work handover document once again.

Kwon Junhwi, Kim Seungho, and even Attorney Yang Ju-yeon. The last days as the secretary handling them were approaching day by day.

At that moment, in Junhwi’s room. Outside, Yeonwoo was witnessing an unimaginable conversation.

“Let me say it again; I have never done anything to be suspicious of!”

“…?”

“Do you believe me, Attorney Kwon?”

Tock, tock. Deep wrinkles formed between Junhwi’s temples as Kim Seungho spoke cautiously when Junhwi, who had been silent, tapped the sofa.

A little while ago, Kim Seungho had reported the issue to him, which he had learned while chatting with female employees.

Rumors surrounding Yeonwoo. It was a spectacular spectacle involving not only himself but also Junhwi and Im Nayoon.

“Please believe me, Attorney.”

Tock, tock. Kim Seungho carefully continued as Junhwi, who had been tapping the sofa in silence, added.

A large wrinkle formed on Junhwi’s forehead, suppressing his anger with a chilling undertone.
“I’m right on the verge of marrying Im Nayoon. Kim Yeonwoo, the assistant manager, seduced Attorney Kim Seungho but failed, then came after me again. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes. You summarized it accurately.”

Oh. Did I say that too brightly? Kim Seungho quickly sealed his lips.

In fact, he struggled because people deliberately didn’t inform him properly about one of the rumors circulating about him, wanting to be recognized while pretending to suffer.

Judging by the chilling atmosphere in the room, it seemed inappropriate to bring up such a topic.

“Where are these absurd rumors coming from?”

“That’s what I’m saying! I’m just here to support both of you, purely.”

“Am I a substitute for Kim Seungho?”

“Uh…”

“Am I, what am I, looking at, a second choice? Ha!”

“That part didn’t sit well with you. I apologize…”

Kim Seungho’s words of apology, without knowing what he was apologizing for, didn’t register with Junhwi. Junhwi sank into his thoughts again.

A predictable picture was drawn of how all this happened. The mix of truth and falsehood was something only the parties involved would never know.

Was Im Nayoon right after all?

Naturally, his suspicions were always directed towards Im Nayoon from the beginning. The darkness that befell the once well-off Yeonwoo, the stress to the point of illness, all happened after Im Nayoon appeared in front of his house.

However, he never dreamed that Im Nayoon would torment Yeonwoo so despicably.

In the rumors, Yeonwoo was depicted as a ‘pretentious woman who only exposes men’ and ‘the universally infamous adulteress who ruins other people’s marriages.’

So, was Yeonwoo hesitant to speak out first?

Yeonwoo was an independent woman who didn’t rely on his power and wealth. It would have been impossible for her to speak to her lover, exposing such dirty content with her mouth, seeking help.

But still, why endure it alone? What kind of woman is Im Nayoon?

Of course, respecting Yeonwoo, he couldn’t suppress the burning rage swirling inside him like swallowed lava. Junhwi brushed his hair aside with a couple of rough gestures.

“What nonsense.”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

In the end, all of this was the result of his arrogance.

He was pathetic for thinking he could control Im Nayoon, for arrogantly believing he could protect Yeonwoo. Junhwi swallowed the curses in his mind.

“If you knew exactly where it came from, it would be helpful, but I couldn’t find out. I’m sorry.”

Junhwi, who remained silent but seemed to be simmering, glanced at Kim Seungho, and eventually, Kim Seungho added one more word.

“It’s okay. You did well.”

“But I can’t just let it go. Responding by the book takes too long, and in the meantime, Director Kim will suffer more… It’s awkward.”

Junhwi’s icy eyes turned to Chaeca. Coincidentally, she was thinking the exact same thing.
Now, even if I confront Im Nayoon, will there be anything to gain? Yeonwoo’s image was already at its worst, and Im Nayoon would soar even higher behind, sneering.

Something definite is needed to firmly control and subdue Im Nayoon. What that is, Junhwi still hasn’t fully grasped.

“But, Attorney Kwon. In a crime-filled drama that I enjoy watching, a similar scene appears.”

What. Junhwi raised an eyebrow.

“There is one useful method in situations like this. Do you know ‘handsome guy strategy’?”

Junhwi’s forehead, already frowning, creased mercilessly. However, Kim Seungho stretched the corners of his lips and smiled broadly.