14

Sohyun arranged the files in order. Fortunately for her, Tao wasn't that one who relied on files or references. Even so, it would all be in his head by then. And so, Sohyun's lucky this time. She need not balance and stumble around carrying stacks of files as documents and won't get scolded.

"Tao, do you really think uncle will change and turn over a new leaf?" Hyomin asked worriedly, while Tao smiled and patted her shoulder. "Of course. I'm sure I can change him, and also win this case," Tao said confidently, but once the trial began, his confidence dropped to negative level.

Tao fiddled with his fingers, and Sohyun looked at Tao worriedly, while he kept his gaze on the floor.

Minah was the defense counsel, and of course, she has some tricks up her sleeve.

Tao just didn't thought Minah would dig up all about the past of Hyomin, and dig it real deep.

Minah's evil smile flashed again, sending shivers down Hyomin's spine, as she looked down at her fingers.
Just the words that she spoke had so much authority and power.

"My client is a very impulsive and rough person, and he expresses his anger directly and also harshly. He would scold the victim, curses and forces her to die, but does that really mean he wants her to die? When a couple bickers, they would naturally ask the other party to die. But in their hearts, do they really want the other party to die? It was just a form of expression, and has no intention to harm her,” she explained and Tao rolled his eyes.

"When my client adopted the victim, he was glad to have her beside him to bring him joy. But the victim would rebellious and unruly, which leads him to be stricter and harsh towards her upbringing. He was very disappointed and angry with her, which he has chosen to use the physical way to teach her. As he grew up in a single family, his father did the same method as he did to teach the victim and so my client naturally copied the way of teaching, and applied it on the victim, which has mislead the victim in believing she was being abused."

"If he has a second chance to teach the victim properly, he would still use physical ways to teach her, because he believes spare the rod and spoil the child, because my client only has the thoughts for the victim," she finished.

"Objection to the unsubstantiated accusation made by the defense counsel against my client." Tao shot up from his seat, and glanced at MinAh.

"Objection sustained. This case will be put on hold. Court adjourned."

Tao closed his eyes and took in a deep breath once the judge left. “What rubbish. Spare the rod and spoil the child. Hyomin is already grown up, you mean spare the child and spoil the rod,” he muttered. He slowly walked out of the court with Hyomin and Sohyun following behind him. When they walked out, coincidentally, they met Minah, and the benefactor they were talking about.

Hyomin looked at her uncle, and quickly looked away, while Tao went up to him, attempting to punch him, and Sohyun quickly held him back. Tao glared at him, while Sohyun had a hard time holding him back. "Tao! You're just falling into their trap! They just want to agitate you, then they can charge you with assault. Calm down first," she hissed, and pulled him back, while Tao just glared.

"You tried to charge your own benefactor? Once this ends you are going to get it from me," her uncle hissed and walked away. Tao took in a deep breath, shaking his head and sighed. "Damn. I'll just win this case. For you to see," he muttered and Sohyun looked at him worriedly.

Tao sighed in despair and groaned while massaging his temples. "I can't think of anything at all!"

For the past few hours, Sohyun had been listening to his groans and complaints as he kept slamming the table that was filled with documents and files of Hyomin's case. Plus she had the responsibility to prevent the table from breaking due to Tao's slams.

To be honest, after saying character testimony, Tao wondered what Minah was going to say on the next trial.
But one thing he knew what he was going to say in the next trial, nothing.

His mind went totally blank, and Sohyun would always jump from her seat whenever Tao slams his table in despair. Sohyun had been proposing ideas, but was all rejected by Tao.
"I have no idea what's going on with my mind now! The next and final trial is tomorrow and yet I can't think of anything!" Tao groaned and slammed the table once more, while Sohyun jumped.

The commotion coming from Tao's office led Kris distracted. He slowly lifted his head up to see Sohyun and Tao. And observed how freaked out Sohyun was with all those slams.
He couldn't help but chuckle, then get back to work, without being distracted by his slams.

"Ah. What about the evidence? Can it help?" Sohyun suggested, and Tao looked up at her. "Right. The evidence.. What's the evidence?" Tao asked, and Sohyun rolled her eyes and smiled.

"It's the cell phone. Hyomin was on the phone that day while talking to her friend and your uncle just barged in. The line was still on and it recorded the entire process. It can be produced to court tomorrow," Sohyun explained.

Tsk. Even the trainee lawyer knows the details of the case more than the representing lawyer.

"Ah yes, I remembered the cell phone," Tao nodded his head, then quickly frowned as he searched for the cell phone. "Now where's the cell phone?" Tao slammed the table again, while Sohyun stared wide eyed at him. “Didn’t you have it with you?”

"Ji Eun! Where did you put the evidence?!" Tao called out from his office, and Ji Eun walked in. "What's the matter, Tao?"

"I'm asking you where did you put the evidence? The cell phone. It's important and now I can't find it! I told you to put it on my table and now it's gone!" Tao shouted and slammed the table again, while Ji Eun frowned and huffed. "I placed it on your table a while ago. You can't blame me if it's missing."

"But I can't find it!" Tao said, and searched his desk again. He then saw the tip of the zip lock bag, and slowly smiled. "Found it."

Ji Eun frowned. "And you said you couldn't find it. Irresponsible.." she muttered and stormed out of the room, while Tao looked at her leaving. "Sorry, I didn't mean to.."

"Oh no," Sohyun said, stopping Tao from taking the zip lock bag, containing the cell phone, that was hidden by the stack of files. "Won't it be broken by all your slams?" Sohyun's voice trailed off, and Tao gulped.

"Are you serious?” Tao gulped once more, and slowly took out the zip lock bag, then placing it on the table, heaving a sigh of relief when he found the cell phone was intact. Not a single scratch. "Phew. It's not broken."

Sohyun squinted her eyes and tilted her head."Oh wait. It is broken," she said and pointed, while Tao's eyes rounded in shock and he dropped the evidence on the table, froze on the spot.

Sohyun chuckled, and lifted up the file. "I'm saying the ring of the file! It's broken by all your slams," Sohyun said as she bit her lip and stifled a laugh.

Kris lifted his head up, and saw Tao missing from his chair, while Sohyun was laughing non stop and he couldn't help but chuckled.

--

Surprisingly, Kris followed Tao to Sohyun's house as they ate with her family together for dinner.
BT nudged Tao while he raised an eyebrow at him. "What's wrong, BT?"
BT squinted his eyes at Sohyun quirked his lips. "Are you interested in, Sohyun?" he asked out of the blue while Tao laughed and slapped his thigh. "You really want to know? But it isn't up to me, it's up to Sohyun to decide."
BT  sighed and nodded. "She just rejects every man in her life, I'm really afraid for her marriage," he said worriedly. 

Tao stifled a laugh and nodded his head. Making an 'OK' sign with his fingers he pointed at hi eyes with two fingers. "Watch me."


BT blinked in surprise as Tao slowly approached Sohyun who was preparing the dishes. "Sohyun-ah," he cooed in her ear and she immediately jumped, almost dropping the plates as she sighed. "Tao, please. Don't do that again," she sighed and went into the kitchen. Tao quickly followed her as he slung an arm around her shoulder and pouted sadly. "Sohyun-ah."

Sohyun shuddered and escaped from his grip. "Tao," she said sternly and sighed while Tao whined and puckered his lips, attempting to kiss her cheek while Kris immediately slapped his head. "TAO," he snapped and Tao snapped out of his daze.

Blinking in surprise, Tao scratched his head nervously and Kris immediately shot him a look. "How many times must I tell you to stop that," he said sternly and Sohyun stifled a laugh. "Tao, you were literally invading my comfort zone. How many times must I tell you you are not my cup of tea."


Tao scoffed and was whacked by Kris again. "Go back," he growled while Sohyun stifled a laugh.

Tao went back to BT's side and nudged him. "See? Your granddaughter, she doesn't like guys at all. Find a wife for her instead, BT," he said sadly while BT blinked in surprise. "Then what about her mentor?"

-- 

"BT, Unnie. I'll go over to Tao's place first," Sohyun said and followed Tao, while Kris followed Tao into the house. "Kris? I thought you went back."

"I.. I'm staying to wait for the technician to install the computer for Tao while he discusses the case with you in the study room. I won't bother you," Kris explained, while Tao rolled his eyes. "And if you're free, cook some noodles for us to eat," Tao ordered, and went up the stairs.

"Learn from Tao. He's good," Kris said and Tao swiped his bangs proudly. "I know." He smiled while Kris immediately picked a small pillow from the sofa and threw it at him. Sohyun smiled and nodded. "I will."

"And, don't be lazy," Kris ordered, while Sohyun slowly nodded her head, wondering why he said that. Plus, it's been quite some time since she felt Kris being strict with her again.

Bipolar, she thought and chuckled, going up with Tao.

Kris looked at Sohyun as her figure disappeared when she entered the room with Tao and he sighed in content. "Maybe it is a blessing in disguise to have her as my protege." He smiled, crossing his arms across his chest.

Sometimes he felt proud having this protege of his. Even though sometimes his protege is being borrowed from Tao, but that just proves her worth, and indeed Kris felt proud in front of Tao.

-----