Chapter 15
The woman, apparently not expecting such a reaction, faltered mid-sentence with an awkward “Ah…” After blinking rapidly for a moment, she turned toward Seohui and bent at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
“Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I got my part-time pay back.”
She even added the unnecessary detail that her boss always paid wages in cash.
“I’m Shin Jooyoung. Senior in the Department of Law.”
Shin Jooyoung. The name made Seohui’s eyes glimmer—it was familiar.
Her mind raced. A face she’d once seen on the news flashed before her eyes.
“Everyone is equal before the law. That should apply equally, regardless of wealth. In this special investigation, I will uncover the corruption of Shinsung Electronics.”
True to her reputation for never letting go once she bit down, Jooyoung had relentlessly gone after Shinsung Electronics. How could anyone forget?
Shin Jooyoung—the first female prosecutor in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Violent Crimes Division. She’d skyrocketed to fame after resolving a drug case involving a conglomerate heir and the child of a National Assembly member.
A “tenacious female prosecutor” who endured tremendous pressure yet still secured convictions—that was how the media described her. She’d even played a key role in the Shinsung Electronics special investigation and had reportedly been assigned a major homicide case involving her grandfather.
To think she’d meet her like this—of all ways, through such a coincidence.
“As thanks for helping me get my wages, I’m treating you both to a meal!” Jooyoung declared brightly.
“I have class, so I’ll go first,” Woo-hyuk said, drawing a clear line once again.
Well, of course—he’d barely done anything, and even a simple thank-you made him uncomfortable. No way he’d let someone treat him to dinner.
“Han Seohui,” Woo-hyuk said, turning toward her.
“If you haven’t finished reading that book, you can return it later.”
He said his piece and left without hesitation—so quickly that Jooyoung didn’t even have time to stop him.
“No take-backs later! I said I’d treat you, and you refused, so that’s on you!”
Jooyoung shouted after him with a grin, her tone so cheerful that Woo-hyuk was already too far to hear.
“Han Seohui?” she said, looking back at Seohui.
“That guy just now called you that, right?”
“Yeah. Han Seohui. Senior, Business Administration.”
“Oh? Then you’re Class of 2006?”
When Seohui nodded instead of answering, a smile spread across Jooyoung’s face.
“I’m Class of 2006 too. Guess we’re friends! Mind if I drop the honorifics?”
She’d already done so anyway, but now she was asking for permission after the fact. Clearly not the shy type.
“Ah… sorry. Did that bother you?”
Impatient too, apparently—Seohui hadn’t replied right away, and Jooyoung was already second-guessing herself.
“No, it’s fine. We’re the same year, so we can talk comfortably.”
Seohui normally wasn’t the type to speak casually with people she’d just met. But lately, she’d been trying to change that part of herself.
“You don’t have class, right?” Jooyoung asked, eyes full of expectation, as if determined to repay her somehow.
“No.”
She did, technically, but skipping one class wouldn’t hurt—especially since it was one she shared with Han Isu.
“Perfect. Let’s eat. I know a fantastic place nearby. I’ll even order two servings to make up for that guy’s share.”
Like an old friend, Jooyoung linked her arm through Seohui’s. What should have been a quick thank-you was turning into something more.
After confirming once again that Seohui really didn’t have class, Jooyoung led her to a nearby restaurant. Even though the lunch rush had passed, the place was packed.
“The kimchi stew here is amazing. Total rice thief. Or maybe a soju thief too.”
Promising just a good meal, Jooyoung also ordered a bottle of soju with a playful grin.
“It’s just a light drink—one shot with good food is good manners, right?”
Every word came out with laughter and energy. Seohui didn’t mind it at all.
In the past, she’d only ever had one real friend—Isu. Looking back, she wondered if that had been part of Isu’s plan too.
The lonelier she was, the more she’d rely on Isu—and that made her easier to control.
“Want a drink?”
Jooyoung looked way too excited over the side dishes. Seohui held out her empty glass.
“Since fate brought us together, let’s toast properly!”
All this over catching a petty thief? What a funny person.
Without realizing it, a small smile appeared on Seohui’s lips.
“Oh? You smiled.”
“…”
“I was wondering if that was just your usual blank expression.”
Seohui quickly lowered the corners of her mouth and raised her glass.
“Hey now, no drinking alone.”
Jooyoung hurried to clink her glass with Seohui’s.
“Thanks again for today. Let’s get along from now on.”
Being grouped together with Shin Jooyoung didn’t seem like a bad thing. She might turn out to be a powerful ally one day.
Smiling again, Seohui tapped her glass against Jooyoung’s.
“Nice to meet you.”
What was supposed to be a quick drink turned into a long one.
“Such a shame,” Jooyoung said later, face flushed red from all the soju. “If I’d met someone as nice as you sooner, that would’ve been great.”
She was clearly tipsy, her words slurring slightly.
Meanwhile, Seohui—who had drunk just as much—remained perfectly composed. She wasn’t a heavy drinker, but her tolerance was solid. Her neat posture stood in stark contrast to Jooyoung’s rosy cheeks and loosened manner.
“We’re in different departments, so we probably just never crossed paths.”
“Still, people meant to meet will meet eventually, right?”
“That sounds like something a guy says when he’s flirting.”
“Who says you can’t use it to make friends?”
“Well, I guess there’s no rule against that.”
The alcohol had lightened her mood, loosening her tongue even with someone she’d just met.
By the time two bottles were empty, Jooyoung’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Hey, so…”
The way she drew out her words made it obvious she had a question.
“Hmm?”
“That senior from earlier.”
“Jin Woo-hyuk?”
“Yeah.”
Ah—so that’s what she was curious about. No wonder she’d seemed a bit disappointed when he left so suddenly.
“Are you close with him?”
Even though it sounded innocent, Seohui could tell what Jooyoung was really asking. She shook her head.
“No. We just talked for the first time today.”
“Really?”
Disappointment flickered across Jooyoung’s face, followed by an absurd confession that made Seohui realize she’d completely misunderstood.
“The T-shirt that senior was wearing? It’s a limited edition one! Eunhyuk oppa—my favorite idol—wore it too.”
So that was it. She’d only been interested in the shirt.
“I mean, it could be a fake, right? He probably couldn’t get the real one. Do you think you could ask where he bought it?”
Seohui could only shake her head, thinking how strange it was that someone could meet Jin Woo-hyuk and focus solely on his clothes.
Jooyoung babbled on regretfully. Eventually, their conversation wound down naturally as the mood mellowed.
“Heading home?”
“Still deciding.”
“Deciding?”
It was only late afternoon—they’d started drinking early. With classes over for the day, there was no reason to go back to campus.
And she didn’t particularly feel like going home either.
“What about you?”
“Dorms. I should study—second exam’s coming up soon.”
So she’d already passed the first bar exam.
“Then you’re going back to school?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll come with you.”
She still had to return the book to Woo-hyuk. He’d said later, but the fact that he’d given her his contact information suggested some urgency.
“Perfect! I didn’t want to go alone anyway.”
Whether it was the alcohol or just her natural personality, Jooyoung sounded genuinely cheerful as she pulled Seohui along. Despite meeting only today, they already seemed close.
Han Isu would probably faint if she saw this. The thought of Isu’s face when she found out Seohui had befriended someone else made her chuckle.
Just then, her phone vibrated inside her bag. Speak of the devil—it was Isu calling.
She rarely called first, but now she was dialing obsessively, clearly anxious. Should Seohui pick up or not?
“Aren’t you gonna answer?” Jooyoung asked when Seohui stared at the phone but didn’t move.
“It’s fine. Not an important call. Let’s go.”
Seohui stuffed the phone back into her bag and urged Jooyoung forward. Since they hadn’t gone far from campus, the school gates were already in sight.
Leaving the Humanities Building, Han Isu’s face twisted with irritation. The automated voice on the phone kept telling her the call couldn’t be connected.
“What’s wrong with her since yesterday? Did she take something?”
People who change overnight don’t usually live long—Han Seohui was acting exactly like that.
“What am I missing here?”
Skipping class without notice wasn’t like her. Nor was embarrassing Isu in front of her grandfather, or suddenly deciding she wanted to study business. None of it fit.
Something was definitely going on, but Isu couldn’t tell what.
“Maybe I should use Park Jaemin again…” she muttered under her breath.
Just then, she looked up and spotted Seohui walking through the main gate—arm in arm with another woman, smiling brightly.
Frowning to see clearly, Isu confirmed it was indeed Han Seohui. When had she made a friend without her knowing? The smile on Seohui’s face didn’t fade, not even for a second—she was clearly enjoying herself too much to notice Isu’s presence.
Isu strode toward her quickly, raising her voice in an all-too-familiar tone.
“Unnie! Seohui unnie!”
At the loud call, Seohui turned her head. The woman beside her—Jooyoung—also glanced over.
Closing the distance in moments, Isu spoke in her usual, calm tone.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone? You didn’t come to class either. I was worried, you know.”
“Sorry. I didn’t notice it was ringing.”
At Seohui’s composed lie, Jooyoung’s eyes gleamed for just a second.
