Chapter 2 - Unforeseen Meeting

Yoonshin knew very well about Doguk’s reputation. Their clients were only international and domestic corporations that were guaranteed to bring in money, and they didn’t even consider consulting average individuals. It was self-evident that if he entered the firm, he would no longer be able to take on public interest cases. Even so, he accepted the offer after long and deep consideration.

This was all because his elder sister asked this of him.

He had never refused her before. That wasn’t because he was a docile younger sibling nor because they had a close relationship.

Ikyung was as wise as she was considerate. She didn’t disregard Yoonshin because he was young, and she acknowledged her brother’s free will. Even when it was difficult for her to accept, she thought long and hard from Yoonshin’s perspective, and only afterward, she very carefully suggested other options. That was her personality, so if she suggested something that Yoonshin was unwilling to do, there was bound to be a good reason for it.

However, he was planning on hanging on until she felt at ease before resigning at the right moment. He didn’t think he could last very long in that jungle of a firm. If he did the best that he could before resigning, she would understand.

“Hah… I don’t know.” Yoonshin shoved the document back in its envelope and got out of his car. After that, as he walked toward the regal parking lot lobby that he couldn’t get used to despite seeing it constantly over the last few days, he happened to see another man get out of his car.

His slim yet sturdy back was strangely familiar.

‘Where did I see him again?’ Yoonshin, who was quietly following the man, saw the other lift his keycard to the entrance. His long fingers adorned with neat and well-shaped nails left an impression on Yoonshin. He looked quite sanitary and extremely particular. Additionally, his sharp but clean profile was quite elegant. Yoonshin felt like he had seen the other before.

He was hit with the realization and had to swallow back his gasp.

It was Sehun Kang.

He never thought he would run into Sehun this early on.

The one blessing in this unfortunate situation was that Sehun didn’t turn around and see Yoonshin. He merely marched forward.

In the center of the parking lot lobby, the hall split into three paths. This was the junction that led to the different buildings of the apartment complex. Sehun walked up to that point wordlessly before he suddenly turned around and extended his lean arm to block Yoonshin’s way.

Yoonshin didn’t know when Sehun realized that he was behind him.

Yoonshin was astonished that he was stopped in his tracks out of the blue and stared up at the other. The first thing he saw was the sharp eyes that looked like they could see through another’s head and his pallid complexion. The moment their eyes met, Sehun addressed Yoonshin before he could avoid eye contact in awkwardness. “We meet again.”

When he said “again,” Yoonshin wondered for a moment whether the other was talking about the time they had briefly met a long time back. However, Yoonshin soon realized that was not the case. He quickly recalled that there was another event that happened between then and now. “Right. After we met at the courthouse… we meet again.”

“Do you have some time right now?” Sehun’s deep and composed voice asking him for a conversation sounded quite charming. However, Yoonshin knew somewhat that, despite his splendid outer appearance, Sehun couldn’t be considered beautiful on the inside.

Yoonshin couldn’t discern the authenticity of the rumors, but he had overheard that Sehun Kang was an opportunist. Sehun was arrogant, avaricious, and heartless. If it had a semblance of legality, he happily traded under the table with anyone, and sometimes he went against his professional duties and resorted to shortcuts, or so the malicious rumors told. Perhaps it was thanks to that, Sehun rarely lost his game.

“Yes, go ahead.” While Yoonshin replied, other residents were coming down to the lobby through the middle doors.

They snuck peeks at the two and the awkward tension surrounding them as they made their way to the parking lot. As long as they were residents of this apartment, they were related to Doguk in some fashion whether deep or shallow, and the passersby seemed to recognize Sehun. Yoonshin cleared his throat uneasily. However, Sehun’s expression never changed. He seemed not to mind the eyes of others.

“You know me, right?” Sehun asked.

There was nobody in this profession who worked for a few years who didn’t know Sehun. Yoonshin couldn’t infer the intention of this sudden question, so he decided to simply nod. “Of course, I know you. You’re Mr. Sehun Kang of Doguk.”

“Good that you know. I wanted to ask you a few questions.”

“I’ll gladly answer if I can.”

“I was wondering why I had to meet you here, of all places. This is Doguk’s residences.”

Yoonshin didn’t understand why Sehun was asking this when Sehun personally went to watch Yoonshin’s trial. It was either because Sehun didn’t approve of Yoonshin entering the firm using his sister’s influence, or he was trying to test him for another unfathomable reason, so Yoonshin replied in the most roundabout manner possible, “Perhaps this meeting was fate.”

He answered appeasingly, in the gentlest way possible. The other’s languorous gaze stuck to Yoonshin. His pale visage was filled with amusement.

“Fate, you say. I don’t believe in that. Don’t you think the cause is too vague?”

“But there is a definitive cause to why we met here… as far as I know.”