Hearing the verdict, the man with the crew cut's face contorted into an expression of mingled shock and rage.
His body struggled involuntarily, as if trying to break free from its restraints, while his mouth spewed a barrage of curses at Choi Eun-ho.
“Aish! You scum!
Judge! I’m reporting him for planting evidence and using violence in law enforcement!!”
“Don't touch me! Let go!”
“Silence! Silence!”
The chief judge pounded his gavel, his voice loud and firm, attempting to restore order to the courtroom.
Choi Eun-ho held the document, his gaze filled with disdain, completely ignoring the crew cut man's angry tirade.
Choi Eun-ho bowed deeply to the judges on the platform and the audience in the gallery, a gesture of respect.
With a sweep of his wide sleeves, he strode directly out of the courtroom, at this moment he was like a fearless, righteous prosecutor.
…
…
Because he had run into Kim Young-sun before the hearing, Choi Eun-ho didn't leave immediately but turned and entered an adjacent courtroom. This was the venue for the public trial of the Kim Seok-woo case.
Due to Choi Eun-ho's fame, most of the audience in the gallery had been drawn to his trial, leaving this courtroom relatively empty.
Choi Eun-ho entered quietly through the back door, cautiously bending over and taking a seat in the front row.
The proceedings had reached the stage where the prosecutor was presenting the charges and outlining the facts. Kim Seok-woo sat slumped in the defendant's chair, a lawyer of considerable experience by his side.
Clearly, Kim Seok-woo was implicated in serious crimes. Chae Jae-jin, to ensure nothing went wrong, had specially brought in this lawyer to attempt to shift all the blame and charges onto illegal sales of contraband drugs, thereby covering up the crimes involving human organ trafficking.
Choi Eun-ho scoffed at this, a smirk playing on his lips. He calmed himself down, prepared to see how Kim Young-sun would exercise his talent for defense.
………
………
Jang So-sik's gaze nervously flitted across her wristwatch, anxiety welling up in her heart.
She had finally released the weight of her worries and had let her guard down, only to fall asleep until three in the afternoon.
She hurriedly looked at the court's bulletin board, searching for Choi Eun-ho's name.
But the records showed that the case Choi Eun-ho was responsible for had already been decided.
Dejected, Jang So-sik was about to leave when a familiar figure appeared before her.
Park Gook-chang, Choi Eun-ho's right-hand man, had met Jang So-sik at their wedding a few days ago. Now he was smiling as he asked:
“Mrs. Choi, are you looking for Prosecutor Choi?”
“Ah, right… is Oppa still here!” Jang So-sik stammered.
“He's in the gallery of Courtroom 3.”
Park Gook-chang chuckled softly, “Mrs. Choi, you should head over there quickly. Prosecutor Choi seems to have been waiting for you for a long time.”
After thanking Park Gook-chang, Jang So-sik rushed towards Courtroom 3.
After showing her judge's badge to the bailiff at the entrance, she pushed open the back door with the utmost gentleness.
Her gaze swept across the room, immediately falling upon the figure clad in a judicial robe sitting in the front row.
She tiptoed, carefully approaching Choi Eun-ho's position, her body slightly bent, moving her hips with caution, making every effort to remain silent.
Looking at the tall figure in the wide judicial robe, Jang So-sik unconsciously reached out her hand, wanting to touch his broad shoulders.
Choi Eun-ho had his legs crossed, his right hand casually resting on his knee, while his left hand was extended behind him, resting on the back of the chair.
He was completely focused on the trial, seemingly oblivious to the person approaching him quietly from behind.
Kim Seok-woo was being unfairly saddled with additional charges, and he was frantically trying to defend himself.
The judge tapped his gavel against the table, producing a clear, crisp sound.
“Dong!” The sound of the gavel resonated in the air.
“Silence!”
Jang So-sik was startled. She quickly retracted her hand, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes revealing conflict and turmoil.
She looked at Choi Eun-ho's back, her heart filled with self-blame and guilt.
She really had misjudged Oppa.
Not only had she misjudged him, but she had also gone to investigate him with Kim Senior, and even used the silent treatment on him.
It was all Kim Senior's fault! Jang So-sik also blamed herself inwardly.
Would Choi Eun-ho accept her apology? How could she apologize to him?
Jang So-sik remembered that she had always been a cold and proud person, rarely associating with others.
Her thoughts became increasingly chaotic, her emotions increasingly restless.
Jang So-sik covered her face with both hands, unable to restrain a low, muffled sound of distress.
“Uh~” Her voice was filled with helplessness and turmoil.
…
…
Choi Eun-ho's gaze was distant, his mind filled with plans for the future. His thoughts were drifting on the blueprints of tomorrow.
Then, a familiar voice came from behind, breaking his reverie.
Although the voice was faint, it was incredibly familiar to Choi Eun-ho. It was Jang So-sik's voice.
His curiosity compelled him to turn around. Jang So-sik was still wearing that Tiffany blue knitted home dress. Her hands were pressed tightly against her cheeks, and around her slender neck hung a white gold pendant necklace.
From the skin showing between her fingers, it was clear that her face was flushed red like a ripe apple.
Choi Eun-ho feigned surprise and asked, “So-sik? What are you doing here?”
“Ah, ya.”
Jang So-sik suddenly realized that the surrounding noise had abruptly stopped. An unusual atmosphere enveloped the entire courtroom.
Her heart raced, and she felt that all eyes were on her.
The judge's gavel struck the wood, producing a clear sound. His tone was stern and solemn.
Gallery, please maintain silence!.
Jang So-sik's head dropped instantly. Her delicate, small ears instantly turned as hot as ripe apples.
Ah! What a disgrace!!
Choi Eun-ho watched her embarrassed appearance, secretly amused.
Thinking back to the first time he met Jang So-sik, her cold and haughty demeanor stood in stark contrast to her shyness now.
So she was a girl who was outwardly cold but inwardly warm.
Choi Eun-ho was curious to know just how warm she was!
He quietly deleted the text message Park Gook-chang had sent and then gently bent down, turning to sit beside Jang So-sik.
He leaned closer, his lips curving into a smile, he whispered:
I've been waiting for you for a long time. Why did it take you so long to get here?