The next day, Minjin couldn't sleep after the stressful events of the previous night.
Bang Eun-Kyung had informed her that the police were investigating to determine whether Minjun was in a romantic relationship with Han Aera. This news made Minjin feel even guiltier, especially since the hospital had placed him on leave until the investigation was resolved. Although Minjin had confirmed with Han Aera that Minjun was not her lover, she still worried about him, knowing that he intended to file a complaint if he was proven innocent.
She intentionally refrained from taking her sleep medication, hoping to find a way to resolve the situation she had created. She had not informed Tae-sung about what had happened to Minjun or her role in it. Nevertheless, he had asked her for Baek Sooyeon's phone number and office address.
Minjin decided to buy a wig to conceal her hair color. She also dressed in semi-formal attire to cover her forearm. Wearing vintage round sunglasses, she went directly to the law firm's front desk.
Clearing her throat, she bowed her head slightly and asked, "Annyeong haseyo, is Baek-nim in her office?"
"Annyeong haseyo. Do you have an appointment, agassi?" the front desk woman asked.
"I don't, but you can inform her that Park Minjin wants to speak with her," Minjin replied.
The front desk woman's eyes widened in surprise. "N-ne?"
Minjin removed her sunglasses and smiled. "My name is Park Minjin."
The front desk woman covered her mouth in shock before she could respond. She bowed deeply this time. "Annyeong haseyo, gyusonim. Of course, I will inform Attorney Baek that you are here. Kindly take a seat for a moment," she said, gesturing toward the couch on the side of the lobby.
Minjin bowed her head in thanks, put her sunglasses back on, and took her seat.
The woman at the front desk quickly grabbed the phone to dial Baek Sooyeon's office number. When someone answered, she urgently informed the secretary about Minjin's presence. After hanging up, she rushed over to Minjin with a respectful demeanor.
"Gyusonim, please follow me. I'll take you to her office."
Minjin stood up and followed the front desk woman as they walked toward the elevator. The front desk woman gestured for Minjin to enter when the door opened. Upon reaching the designated floor, Minjin exited the elevator, followed closely by the front desk woman.
From the hallway, a woman rushed toward her and quickly bowed. "Annyeong hashimikka, gyusonim. My name is Choi Hyeri, the secretary of Attorney Baek," she said, extending her hand for a handshake.
Minjin bowed her head and shook her hand. "Annyeong haseyo, I am Park Minjin."
"Please follow me," Choi Hyeri said, gesturing respectfully for Minjin to proceed.
When they reached the office, Choi Hyeri opened the door for her, and Minjin thanked her with a bow. They both entered, but Attorney Baek Sooyeon was not there.
"Gyusonim, please take a seat. Attorney Baek is currently attending to a client. She'll be—" Before she could finish, the door suddenly opened, and it was Baek Sooyeon.
Baek Sooyeon's eyes widened in surprise as she slowly approached Minjin. "Unnie?" she whispered.
Minjin removed her sunglasses and smiled at Baek Sooyeon. "Oraenmaniya, Sooyeoni."
Baek Sooyeon's face broke into a wide smile. "Unnie!" she exclaimed, rushing over to hug her tightly.
Choi Hyeri smiled at the sight of their reunion. She slightly bowed to excuse herself. "I'll bring some snacks, Baek-nim," she said before leaving.
Minjin attempted to embrace Baek Sooyeon in return and gently tapped her back. "How are you, Sooyeoni?"
Baek Sooyeon finally let go of her and touched Minjin's shoulders. "Omo, unnie! Why are you surprising me like this?!"
Minjin chuckled softly. "Mianhae, I wanted to call you, but I thought speaking to you in person would be better."
Baek Sooyeon gestured for her to sit. "Take a seat first, unnie." Minjin settled onto the main couch while Baek Sooyeon sat at the side, leaning over with her elbows resting on her thighs.
"First, I want to thank you, Sooyeoni. You were a huge help with all my troubles." Minjin stood and deeply bowed her head. Baek Sooyeon quickly rose from her seat and returned the bow. "Aniya, unnie… you don't have to thank me."
"Aniya, thank you for saving my stubborn self," Minjin smiled, wrinkling her nose.
That brought a smile to Baek Sooyeon's face. "I missed that smile of yours, unnie. Everything I fought for was worth it. Please take your seat, unnie."
They both sat down again.
"I'm sorry for not being able to come sooner. You know how much I suffered from public scrutiny," Minjin said.
Baek Sooyeon smiled gently. "I understand, unnie."
Minjin hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Oppa is currently in the hospital. He had surgery, but he's stable now."
"Really?! What happened to him?" Sooyeon asked, alarmed.
"Minjun said he had fluid on his brain," Minjin explained.
Baek Sooyeon frowned slightly. "Are you talking about Kang Minjun?"
Minjin chuckled softly. "Minjun is Oppa's surgeon."
Baek Sooyeon's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Is that just a coincidence?"
Minjin wrinkled her nose as she laughed. "Yeah, it is."
"Then I think I'll pay him a visit, maybe tonight," Sooyeon decided.
"Sooyeoni, I need your help again," Minjin said.
"What is it, unnie? Is someone harassing you again?"
Minjin gently shook her head. "No, it's just that Minjun got into trouble."
Baek Sooyeon's eyes widened, and she quickly chuckled in disbelief. "Unnie, what are you doing? Do you still care for him?"
Minjin smiled, wrinkling her nose before replying. "Yeah, I still do. I'm asking for your help because I feel responsible for him."
Baek Sooyeon sighed. "What did you do this time, unnie?"
Before Minjin could respond, there was a knock on the door. Choi Hyeri entered, carrying a tray of refreshments. She bowed her head before placing the tray on the coffee table.
"Please have some drinks, guys." Choi Hyeri said while she slightly bowed her head.
Minjin returned her gesture and thanked her before Choi Hyeri left them again.
Minjin turned to Sooyeon with a smile and said, "Do you remember Chen Zheyuan? He manipulated a girl for Minjun, and together, they toyed with his feelings while he was in a fragile state." She let out a deep sigh. "It was my fault that they could play with Minjun's emotions. When I found out, I confronted the woman, who is now a doctor. However, her husband accused Minjun of being her lover."
Baek Sooyeon sighed in disapproval. "Unnie, why are you still acting this way about Kang Minjun? Tae-sung-oppa told me that you didn't want any of your friends to get involved in your legal battles, especially not Kang Minjun."
Minjin gave a faint smile. "I had suddenly left everyone, especially Minjun. There was a lot of unfinished business, and it all needs to be resolved now."
Baek Sooyeon finally nodded. "Araso, I understand. What do you want me to do?"
Minjin responded with a silly smile, scrunching her nose in amusement.
###
After meeting Baek Sooyeon, Minjin stayed at a coffee shop, sipping a dark mocha frappe. She wore her wig and vintage sunglasses and sat near a glass window, positioned so she could see the entrance door. When the door opened, Kim Aecha scanned the area, looking for Minjin.
When Minjin lifted her head from her phone, she said, "Aecha-ah!" and waved her hand.
Kim Aecha turned and frowned as she approached. "Minjin-ah?"
Minjin smiled and took off her sunglasses. "Yeah, it's me."
Kim Aecha continued staring at her as she sat across from her. "Why are you wearing a wig?"
"I went to see Sooyeon."
Kim Aecha frowned again. "Why? Is there a problem?"
Minjin sighed before leaning forward. "None of you informed me about Han Aera."
Kim Aecha's eyes widened in shock. "How did you find out about her?"
"Ya, how could you do this to me?"
"Minjin-ah, their relationship was disgusting; I wouldn't want you to know. I knew how much you loved Minjun-ah." She frowned again as she stared at her. "What did you do this time, Minjin-ah?"
Minjin smiled with her wrinkled nose and said, "She confronted me, and then, of course, I fought back."
"Bo?! She confronted you? How did she find out it was you?"
Minjin sighed and rolled her eyes. "Chen Zheyuan manipulated her, and she took the opportunity to play with Minjun's fragile feelings."
"Bo?!" Kim Aecha exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief and annoyance. "That girl! How could she do that to Minjun? Ah… I understand now. Chen Zheyuan had his revenge on Minjun for what he did to him."
Minjin sighed again. "Yeah."
"Ya, how did you find out about this?"
Minjin smirked. "I met Chen Zheyuan in China when he came to the hotel where I was staying. He never matured," she said, shaking her head.
"Whoa, that jerk!"
"Ya, don't tell Minjun about this, araso?"
Kim Aecha then sighed. "Araso."
"But…" Minjin said, toying with the straw in her drink. "I did something reckless again."
Kim Aecha sighed in exasperation. "What now, Minjin-ah?"
Minjin turned to her. "I told you I confronted Han Aera, right? The next day, her husband came to Minjun and accused him of being her lover. Now, they are investigating whether Minjun is really involved with her. The hospital has already taken action; Minjun is on a two-day leave of absence."
"What?!! What the hell—why are you just telling me about this now?"
"I'm sorry… I don't know what to do. I started the fire, and now Minjun is suffering because of it."
Kim Aecha sighed deeply and massaged her temples before turning to Minjin. "How is everyone at the hospital? I bet they're all talking about it."
"I think they are. Even though I know Minjun would never get involved in adultery, I'm still worried about how this will affect his reputation as a respected surgeon."
Kim Aecha then smiled teasingly at her. "Ya, aren't you being a little too concerned about him? You're acting recklessly again because of him."
Minjin couldn't help but smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm still overly protective of Minjun. Are you happy now?"
"Ya, you were once married. How come you haven't moved on yet?"
Minjin chuckled gently. "I care for him, but that doesn't mean I haven't moved on. Have you seen Minjun? He's lifeless. He was boring before, and now he's become even worse."
Kim Aecha chuckled in amusement. "Now that you are back, you are bringing him chaos, and you don't want him to know."
Minjin couldn't help but chuckle with her wrinkled nose. "I didn't mean it that way."
Kim Aecha chuckled in amusement. "You and Minjun still have a strange relationship. But he'll probably confront you if he discovers what you did."
Minjin suddenly straightened her back and said, "Ya, don't tell him about this. Araso?"
Kim Aecha smiled and nodded. "Araso."
Minjin took a sip of her drink as she contemplated her situation. "I don't know what I should do. I need something to cover up the issue, but I can't figure out how," she said, looking out at the glass wall while sipping her drink.
Kim Aecha's eyes sparkled, and a smile spread across her lips while Minjin wasn't looking. "Ya, Minjin-ah," she called.
Minjin turned to her, still holding her drink.
With a playful smile, Kim Aecha asked, "Do you trust me?"