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Chapter 07
I Don’t Have a Hobby of Peeking, But…
It was Saturday.
Jihyeok, who had come to work as usual, was writing documents in his prosecutor’s office. Around 1 p.m., he received a call and went to the chief prosecutor’s office.
“About that drug offender. Joman-deok says he’s going to sue you, Prosecutor Jang.”
The chief prosecutor, who delivered the news, scratched his forehead.
Joman-deok. The large man who had swung a knife at Jihyeok recently.
“It will likely be recognized as justified, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Right. You were cut on the hand by a knife.”
The chief prosecutor rubbed his temple, causing his glasses to shift slightly.
“And that brute ended up with six weeks of treatment and a fractured wrist.”
Jihyeok simply raised his bandaged hand in response.
“I know, I know. But is a drug addict even sane? Anyway, he’s claiming excessive self-defense. He even broke a wooden fence.”
“Excessive response?”
“I heard you’re a 3rd dan in judo. He’s trying to exploit that. Claiming he’s just a weak civilian.”
Jihyeok let out a short laugh.
Joman-deok was of average height, but his build was monstrous.
Even two average men would struggle against him. And the weapon he swung was hardly a mere accessory.
Reading Jihyeok’s expression, the chief prosecutor said,
“Article 11 of the Constitution.”
“All citizens are equal before the law. No one shall be discriminated against in political, economic, social, or cultural life on account of sex, religion, or social status.”
With a deep voice, Jihyeok recited it, and the chief prosecutor closed his eyes slightly and nodded.
“Whether prosecutor or drugged-up attempted murderer, we’re all equal before the law. So let’s handle this easily.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare documentation proving proper legal procedure.”
The chief prosecutor exhaled, removing his glasses to blow on them.
“You know what we need, right?”
“Witness statements and signatures, CCTV footage secured. Objective evidence.”
“Go on.”
Jihyeok immediately returned to his office. He hesitated for a moment about assigning it to an investigator, then took out his phone from his jacket.
He found the number for “Solsol Pet Salon.”
Meanwhile
Da-sol, who had finished cleaning the shop, changed into her going-home clothes and waited for Jihyeok.
With a chime, the sound of dress shoes echoed as she turned around.
Prosecutor Jang Jihyeok walked in.
His sharply tailored suit and neatly styled hair made it clear he had come straight from work.
As expected. It had to be related to a case.
“Prosecutor.”
She greeted him brightly, and Jihyeok stood still, staring at her face.
Even with heels on, she still had to look up at him because of his height. Or maybe it was his intense gaze.
It felt a little overwhelming.
Do I have something on my face?
Maybe a treat from the vet next door got stuck? I should’ve checked a mirror.
She pretended to be calm, turned her head slightly, and casually touched her face.
Then she noticed the bandage on his large hand.
“Is your hand okay?”
“Yes. It’s fine.”
“You got stitches, right? Tendons or nerves okay?”
“Fortunately. It should be fine in a few days.”
He replied calmly.
“Ah, Prosecutor, please sit for a moment.”
Da-sol brought two cups of coffee and placed them on the transparent table where he sat.
“Drink while it’s warm and tell me.”
“Thank you. I will.”
She held her cup with both hands. Her gaze drifted to his large hand.
His pale, smooth skin made him look like someone who had never struggled in his life.
His long fingers had thick joints and looked strong. If those hands grabbed something, it seemed like nothing could escape.
“So what’s the important matter?”
“That drug offender. He’s claiming excessive force and trying to reduce his sentence.”
“What? That’s ridiculous. He had a weapon.”
Da-sol’s eyes widened. Her expressive reactions made her features stand out even more.
“That’s what he believes.”
“So even if it’s nonsense, you still have to respond to it?”
“It’s been filed as an official objection. It has to be recorded and reviewed.”
“But he’s a drug criminal, right? Shouldn’t there be no leniency? Honestly, he should just be locked up so he can’t make a sound.”
She muttered while sipping coffee.
Jihyeok watched her expression quietly.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, Da-sol frowned slightly and looked back at him.
Their eyes met. She flinched.
“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t talking about you. I didn’t mean you’re annoying or anything.”
“I didn’t do anything, though.”
“It was your eyes…”
Jihyeok let out a small chuckle and set down his cup.
“Anyway… since you’re here… ah! You came for the CCTV footage, right?”
She clapped her thigh and brightened up.
“That’s right. And the statement you mentioned. Can you help?”
“Of course!”
She quickly stood up and went to the desk, turning on the computer.
Jihyeok followed behind her. His left hand rested on the chair back, his right on the desk as he leaned in to look at the monitor.
Their faces drew close.
A soft, sweet scent reached his nose.
Click.
“Here it is—ah!”
Da-sol turned her head in surprise, not realizing he was right behind her.
“…This is the footage from that day. If you need anything else, there are folders sorted by date.”
She placed a USB on the desk and returned to the coffee table to write her statement.
On the screen, the first footage showed Da-sol drying a dog with a hairdryer, dancing while holding snacks in one hand and the dryer in the other.
A bright smile suited her well.
Another clip showed the exact opposite—Joman-deok violently swinging a knife.
Jihyeok transferred the file to the USB.
While waiting, he glanced to the side.
Da-sol was writing her witness statement with a pen, holding it tightly.
He leaned on the table, interlaced his fingers, and rested his chin on them, watching her.
A light blue dress.
Her hair tucked behind one ear, the other side flowing down loosely.
A focused, motionless expression.
It felt like looking at a painting.
A rather excellent one.
…Why am I watching her like this? I don’t have a hobby of peeking at women.
He clicked his tongue inwardly and turned back to the monitor. The transfer had already finished.
He removed the USB and sat beside her, glancing at the statement.
It was already filled across the page. The handwriting was neat, with a few lines spilling outside the margins.
“The boxes seem a bit too small.”
Da-sol pressed the pen against her lips.
“Let me see.”
Jihyeok took the statement and read it.
“How is it?”
She leaned in suddenly, her hair brushing his arm as she looked over his shoulder.
Jihyeok turned his head to look at her.
“I haven’t finished reading yet.”
“Ah, please continue. It’s a bit long…”
She had already finished reading it herself.
Still, she stayed close, watching her own writing.
A warm scent spread through the air.
Jihyeok suppressed a smile.
“…Impressive. Honestly, you could skip the footage with a statement like this.”
“Really?”
“You’ve written these a lot, haven’t you?”
“…You’re not being sarcastic, right?”
“It was a joke. You did well.”
Da-sol smiled brightly, unable to hide her joy.
As he placed the statement into an envelope, the bell rang sharply as the door opened.
“Huh? Manager?”
