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Chapter 22 - Difference in Ethics
They hid crucial or potentially harmful pieces of information. It was commonplace for clients to confound their lawyers at the last minute when this critical fact was uncovered by the opposing party’s lawyer. Clients also couldn’t make up their minds even though this was their business and muddy their stance, giving their lawyers a crisis.
Yoonshin presumed that this was Sehun’s way of putting Yoonshin into a confusing situation of that sort to see how he would overcome this obstacle. However, Yoonshin was still unskilled in hiding his feelings, and his opponent was too seasoned in this area.
Yoonshin’s mind was in chaos as he attempted to compress his doubts and questions about Sehun.
While thoughts flew in his mind, Sehun asked, “Why don’t you move aside now?”
“Wait, Sehun Kang sunbae.”1
Sehun was raising his hand like he was about to push Yoonshin away to get out if the other man refused to move. Then, for some unfathomable reason, he pushed Yoonshin’s slender body against the wall without warning.
Thud! Yoonshin’s back hit the marble wall and he grimaced. That wasn’t all. The other’s two large and fair hands roughly clutched his bony shoulders with quite the force. Yoonshin couldn’t understand why Sehun was doing this because he remained expressionless.
“Ugh, it hurts!” Yoonshin exclaimed.
Facing Sehun directly, Yoonshin could see that the other was significantly taller. Because of that, Sehun’s towering shadow was cast down upon Yoonshin’s pale face. Sehun was devoid of emotion, but his voice was more subdued than usual. He warned in a sinister whisper, “Don’t call me by my full name. Don’t call me sunbae. I never permitted you. Just call me by my work title.”
Depending on their circumstances, people could act sensitively to this matter. Yoonshin could understand not wanting to be called by one’s full name. He knew the firm’s culture was not like that, but the habit from outside this firm kicked in—he had just caught his mistake himself.
However, acting overly defensive after being called sunbae was something he couldn’t understand at all. It wasn’t only because Sehun was Yoonshin’s senior as a lawyer, the older man also graduated from the same law school. Perhaps it was because his quizzical look tangled with the pain on the surface of Yoonshin’s face, Sehun loosened his grip and kindly explained, “I don’t like defining my relationships on a personal level with someone I don’t know very well. You can only call me by three titles: Attorney Kang, Senior Attorney Kang, or Team Leader Kang.”
“I-I’ll keep that in mind,” Yoonshin replied, hands trembling. He clutched the wet towel in his hands tighter for no reason. He glanced down at his wrist, but Sehun saw the other man glancing and quickly took a step back. Still, the distance between the two was close.
“Yesterday, you asked me how I brought the business partner to court, right?” Sehun asked.
At the random question, Yoonshin flashed back to yesterday. When he nodded calmly, Sehun continued, “I didn’t give her anything.”
“Ridiculous. Going there was crazy, especially if there was nothing to gain.”
“Instead, if she didn’t appear and tell the truth, I threatened her that I’d send out the evidence that her only son was getting together with the chief officer of the security team. Fourth-year, a mother’s love always gives me results far beyond my expectations.”
Yoonshin tilted his head in confusion, not understanding Sehun’s explanation. He narrowed his eyes, deep in thought until he came to a rational conclusion.
So, instead of bribing her with money, was Sehun saying that he blackmailed her with her family member?
This method forced her to voluntarily step foot into the lion’s den to protect her family.
It was a low and dirty method beyond his imagination, so even though Yoonshin thought his expectations were so low that there was nothing more to be disappointed about, he was quite disappointed. ‘This piece of trash…’
“Did you have to go as far as to find and use such a weakness?” Yoonshin’s clear eyes were full of genuine reproval. Sehun, who was looking down, bit his moist lips. His eyes turned cold as if he had heard the worst, most vulgar insult. His face turned icy. Although it seemed to never waver, his visage was in turmoil.
“What, do you think you’re Jesus or someone? If you want to act high and mighty, you should have gone to a religious organization. Why did you come here?” Sehun snapped.
“That’s not what I meant! I just mean at least you could have—!” Yoonshin was about to clarify his criticism, but at that moment, the other firmly grasped Yoonshin’s tie just like he did a few days ago after barging into his room. Then, he pulled the knot up tightly and threateningly.
“Sir? Urgh!”
“I didn’t know you were in a tie-sharing relationship with Secretary Tak.”
“How did you—? This is…”
“You want to explain yourself? That’s not what I want. Shut up.”
Yoonshin’s bewildered eyes shook, losing focus. However, Sehun didn’t care about the other’s panic and simply gripped the fabric in his hands even tighter.
Eventually, instead of the strip of fabric, the pressure given by the rather large hands made Yoonshin distressed. The sturdy back of Sehun’s hand pushed on the younger man’s Adam’s apple. It was futile for Yoonshin to squirm and struggle despite being gradually suffocated. Sehun acted violently without a trace of leniency.
“Please let go first. Urk, I can’t breathe!”
“Even if you can’t breathe, you can still hear, so listen carefully. ‘Going that far’ is my way of survival. I had nothing, so it was also the only method I could use. If you’re so disgusted at these methods, I have nothing to teach you. I’m the native here, and you’re the alien. I won’t stop you. Get out.”