Chapter 12
“Cha Byeon, you’re here.”
Attorney Choi was the first to greet Woo-kyung with a bright voice.
He was a lawyer who, along with Woo-kyung, was soon to be promoted to senior.
Woo-kyung, who was on his way to work, glanced casually at his watch and gave a short reply.
“What’s up?”
With every step he took, the atmosphere in the office subtly tensed.
“The new interns started this week. Interns, come over here and say hello, will you?”
As Attorney Choi gestured with a flick of his hand, the three interns standing in a line simultaneously bowed.
“Nice to meet you.”
Their voices echoed through the office in unison.
Woo-kyung observed the scene for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
At that moment, Woo-kyung’s gaze stopped particularly on one person’s face.
Neatly tied hair, dressed in a solid-colored blouse.
The moment his eyes met Lee Yeon’s, who was extremely tense, a brief laugh flickered at the corner of Woo-kyung’s lips.
But Lee Yeon, who had finished her greeting while being very nervous, had pupils that trembled slightly.
Their relationship was still unknown within the law firm.
If anyone caught on, it would be a truly troublesome situation.
Feeling a sense of responsibility to keep it a secret during the internship period, Lee Yeon instinctively straightened her back. That tension gradually traveled down her shoulders to her fingertips.
In contrast, Woo-kyung’s expression was as calm and unfazed as ever.
“So, how are we assigning the intern teams? I heard the criminal team is already full?”
Choi Byeon continued, smiling brightly.
Woo-kyung placed the documents he was holding on the office manager’s desk and slowly turned his gaze towards the interns.
“Before that, let’s hear their preferences. Passion is half of it anyway.”
At his words, the interns glanced at each other, and one raised her hand.
“I… would like to learn about corporate advisory.”
“Good. A realistic choice.”
The second intern, who had been sneaking glances, immediately followed up.
“I’d like to experience tax-related cases.”
“That’s not a bad choice either.”
Woo-kyung rubbed his chin lightly and said with a relaxed smile.
Now, only Lee Yeon remained.
But the moment Lee Yeon tried to speak, Woo-kyung abruptly cut her off.
“Well, isn’t everything decided now?”
“Huh?”
A flustered Choi Byeon blinked.
“Since Corporate Advisory is under Choi Byeon, he can take her, and for Tax, we can send her to Han Byeon’s team, who’s out on a business trip.”
“Wait, then—”
Choi Byeon looked doubtful and tried to say something but closed his mouth.
“Once the orientation is over, everyone head to your assigned team’s office. Let’s wrap it up here then.”
The situation was resolved in an instant.
Choi Byeon scratched his head as if he found it absurd.
“Hey, were you always this dictatorial?”
“I’d call it efficient.”
Woo-kyung shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
After that brief conversation, the interns began to disperse one by one.
They picked up their document folders, exchanged brief greetings, and headed to the conference room.
But Lee Yeon couldn’t easily move from her spot.
Unconsciously, Lee Yeon’s gaze naturally turned towards Woo-kyung.
He was still standing in front of the office manager’s desk, leisurely picking up documents.
Woo-kyung’s gaze met Lee Yeon’s as he was about to enter his office with the documents.
Then, the shape of Woo-kyung’s eyes curved playfully.
“Yes?”
His low, relaxed voice lightly cut through the air.
“Did I forget something?”
Lee Yeon’s fingertips tightened around the documents. Unable to continue speaking, her eyes wavered slightly.
Woo-kyung didn’t miss that subtle change.
“Nothing, right?”
The corner of his lips rose slightly higher, feigning nonchalance.
Lee Yeon closed her lips and quietly shook her head.
“Then that’s fine.”
Lee Yeon, holding the documents tightly to her chest, bowed her head.
“Then, I’ll go attend the orientation now.”
As Lee Yeon turned her head towards the conference room, Woo-kyung was still standing in the same spot.
His gaze quietly followed Lee Yeon’s retreating figure.
Woo-kyung let out a small laugh and muttered.
“As expected, your expression is the most honest when you’re nervous.”
A faint smile lingered on Woo-kyung’s lips.
***
Someone knocked *tap, tap* on the door of Woo-kyung’s office as he was reviewing documents to be submitted to the court, flipping through pages.
“Come in.”
Woo-kyung, who was focused, answered without looking up.
Then, as if waiting, the door opened and a familiar voice pierced through the office interior.
“Hey, what are you doing? Busy?”
The familiar Attorney Choi walked up to Woo-kyung’s executive desk and asked impudently.
“You have the materials you organized when you were in the litigation team, right? Can you give them to me?”
Woo-kyung, with an indifferent face, reached out and rummaged through the pile of files.
“That one? Just a moment.”
Woo-kyung immediately pulled out the documents, neatly arranged them with his fingertips, and held them out.
“Is this it? The one we organized for corporate litigation last year.”
“I knew you’d have it.”
Choi Byeon laughed as he took the documents and plopped down onto the leather sofa placed in the center of the office.
The heavy sofa compressed, releasing a subtle leather scent.
“Whew, I’m saved.”
He stretched his arms out long, stretched, and then slightly raised an eyebrow.
“Did you see the interns that came this time? They’re pretty good.”
Woo-kyung, still not looking up from the documents, retorted shortly.
“Not busy?”
“I can finally catch my breath a bit. Just wrapped up a tricky case, so I feel great, like I can live again.”
Soon, Choi Byeon crossed his legs leisurely and abruptly asked.
“By the way, there’s that intern named Yoo Lee Yeon, right?”
At those words, the tip of Woo-kyung’s pen, which had been moving busily, gently paused in mid-air.
“The more I see her, the more she’s my type. Sharp, speaks concisely. I just find myself attracted to smart women, you know?”
Woo-kyung’s gaze slowly lifted.
It seemed expressionless, but there was a strangely chilling glint in his eyes.
“She’s still young. Isn’t that something someone working at a law firm shouldn’t say?”
“So what? Age isn’t an issue, she’s just my type, that’s all.”
Choi Byeon shrugged and laughed impudently.
“I’m thinking of asking her out once the internship is over.”
*Thud.*
A rough sound echoed as a single document landed precisely on the coffee table in front of the sofa where Choi Byeon was sitting.
“There’s a mistake in this one.”
Woo-kyung said in a low, subdued voice.
“If you lose this case too, will you be okay?”
“What?”
A look of bewilderment flashed across Choi Byeon’s face.
“Ah, okay. Okay. It was just a joke, you know.”
Woo-kyung closed the document without a change in his expression.
“That joke won’t work in this office.”
Choi Byeon laughed awkwardly, got up from his seat, headed towards the door, and grumbled.
“Picking on every little thing.”
As the door closed, the office became quiet again.
Woo-kyung sat there blankly for a moment, feeling the texture of the paper left on his fingertips.
It wasn’t tiredness, but an inexplicable emotion rose up his throat.
A sigh tinged with irritation flowed out lightly.
‘Ask her out? Who does he think he is?’
His hand, about to pick up the documents again, stopped in mid-air.
He felt as if unnecessary emotions were tangling together like snakes.
But just then, from the hallway outside, as if the intern orientation had ended, the voice of an office employee could be heard.
“Please now move to your assigned teams.”
Hearing the mingling laughter and footsteps from beyond the door, Woo-kyung slowly stood up.
He organized his bag, put the documents inside, and tucked a pen into his inner pocket.
Then, as if on cue, a knock was heard.
“Come in.”
The door opened, but In-young (presumably Lee Yeon) hesitated for a moment at the doorway without entering.
A moment later, Lee Yeon, who entered the office, had a slightly stiff expression, but her gaze was clear.
“Intern Yoo Lee Yeon. I’ve been assigned to the criminal team this time. I look forward to working with you.”
It was Lee Yeon.
Woo-kyung adjusted the cuff of his white shirt and looked up.
“Did the orientation go well?”
“Yes, it finished well.”
With those words, Woo-kyung suddenly stood up and strode towards Lee Yeon.
“Give me your hand.”
“Pardon?”
Lee Yeon blinked, seemingly surprised.
“Since we’re on the same team now, we should at least shake hands.”
A sly smile spread thinly across Woo-kyung’s lips.
“Ah, yes.”
Lee Yeon carefully held out her hand.
The moment their fingertips touched, a short breath was exchanged. And Woo-kyung’s fingertips lightly wrapped around Lee Yeon’s hand as if indifferent.
“Uh? This is…”
Just as Lee Yeon let out a gasp, the silver ring in Woo-kyung’s hand shimmered faintly under the light.
