Episode 6 of "Beyond the Bar" commences with an exquisitely crafted montage, weaving a tale of love between Seol Eun-yeong and Jung Han-seok. However, this idyllic romance takes a dark turn as we uncover Han-seok's true colors – a deceitful and arrogant CEO of a mobile game company named Marble Soft, who wields his influence to seduce women.
On the streets, Eun-yeong stumbles upon Han-seok in a compromising position with another woman. Three months have passed since their heart-wrenching breakup, yet the pain still lingers deeply within her. Determined to seek justice for the abuse she endured, Eun-yeong arrives at Yullim Law Firm with her case in hand. Her back is marred with scars, remnants of their intimate encounters.
Eun-yeong possesses sensitive skin, making her more prone to keloid scars, which have unfortunately become a constant reminder of her ordeal. As a model, these scars pose a significant threat to her career, effectively ruining her chances in an appearance-driven industry.
To further complicate the situation, Han-seok cunningly manipulated Eun-yeong into signing a consent form for physical intimacy. Consequently, Yullim must meticulously argue whether his actions constitute assault beyond mere consensual bedroom activities, navigating a delicate legal tightrope.
Hyo-min contends that Eun-yeong's unbridled affection and impaired judgment could indicate she was in a compromised mental state when she signed the agreement. This assertion is unconventional, yet Seok-hoon ponders it deeply before concluding that they might be onto something significant. The reasoning holds water, especially considering Eun-yeong's aversion to masochism and their breakup when she declined to continue. He subjected her to emotional manipulation, transitioning from intense passion and overwhelming affection to a sudden, icy indifference. A month later, he reached out, and they reconciled, only for the abusive sexual encounters to resume. Eun-yeong, believing she had no alternative, felt compelled to comply. Their chances of prevailing in this legal battle appear slim, but their sole plausible argument hinges on Eun-yeong's lack of mental capacity.
Intriguingly, Han-seok bumps into Hyo-min at a bar that very night. He attempts to engage her and her friends in conversation after buying them drinks. Hyo-min, slightly flustered, even allows him to manipulate her slightly, as she loosens her ponytail and lets her hair cascade down. Meanwhile, Na-yeon has settled comfortably into her role as the new Director of the company. She seems poised to stir things up at Yullim Law Firm, notably as the first woman in her 40s to lead the organization. Seok-hoon stands firmly by her side, but Na-yeon has a bullseye on her back from dissatisfied partners who are unhappy with her at the helm. The firm needs to press ahead with restructuring, a process that promises not everyone will emerge unscathed.
Seok-hoon and Na-yeon delved into the numbers, only to discover (hardly a revelation) that the compensation and bonus system of most senior advisors and former officials was severely disrupting the balance. They realized the urgency of making swift changes. That evening, the team embarked on a night out filled with drinks and dining, but Seok-hoon was conspicuously absent until later, arriving precisely as Hyo-min, tipsy and slurring her words, was in full swing. Obligingly, he agreed to escort her home, though she was in quite a state. While looking after her, Hyo-min, clutching his handkerchief comically, made no secret of her affection for him.
Among those joining the night's festivities was Jin-woo, who reached out to Min-jeong for assistance. This was the moment when we delved deeper into the life of Heo Min-jeong, uncovering her past with a manipulative spouse, Dae-won. Once upon a time, Min-jeong struggled with weight issues and lacked motivation. Dae-won, unsympathetic, sought a divorce from her, complicating matters further by being entangled in an affair with another woman. To add insult to injury, they had a daughter, So-hyeon, together, who nevertheless wished for her parents' divorce. All this transpired seven years ago, prompting Min-jeong to shed her excess weight, adopt a healthier lifestyle, and embark on a fitness journey.
Ironically, the woman with whom Dae-won was having an affair was none other than the same individual who had approached the firm in earlier episodes, seeking Min-jeong's oversight for her divorce case from Dae-won. This revelation explained Min-jeong's vehement refusal to entertain the idea. In the morning, Lee Jin-woo awoke at Min-jeong's place, his mind racing with the worst possibilities. However, Min-jeong cleared the air, teasing him about his feelings for her and even confiding that she had a 20-year-old daughter.
Back at the firm, the abusive ex-partner case took an awkward turn when Han-seok showed up for the preliminary hearing. Hyo-min struggled to meet his gaze, but he called her out, insisting on a private conversation with her, excluding everyone else from the room.
The conversation unfolded with Han-seok casually handing Hyo-min a blank cheque, urging her to fill in any figure Eun-yeong desired. His tone was unexpectedly convincing, especially when he reassured her that he was neither a pervert nor a sadist, merely desiring to keep his "erotic escapades" confined to their secret realm. In return, Eun-yeong would be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA),发誓从此缄口不言。
To further complicate matters, Han-seok revealed that he had secretly recorded their encounter, possessing video evidence of their intimate moments. Later, after a private exchange with Hyo-min, Han-seok crossed a boundary, boldly undoing her hair once more, leaving Hyo-min completely flabbergasted. Seok-hoon, observing this scene, was visibly upset—perhaps tinged with a hint of jealousy?—and scorned her as an unethical attorney who had overstepped her bounds.
Hyo-min had initially intended to gauge the characters of those involved, but the situation had undeniably turned awkward. Similarly, Seong-chan was also shaken, ringing Hyo-min at the office only to hang up abruptly, puzzled by her connection with Han-seok. She, as expected, declined to elaborate.
That evening, Hyo-min and Seok-hoon sat over coffee, delving into the complexities of the case. Seok-hoon speculated that this lawsuit was driven by deep emotions, echoing Hyo-min's initial pitch to him in episode 1—people often resort to legal action when their pain becomes unbearable.
He advised Hyo-min to scrutinize the NDA and present it to Eun-yeong, as long as it was fair and mutually beneficial. Following his advice, Hyo-min examined the agreement and, recognizing that this dispute was more about pride and hurt than money, she proposed covering only her medical and legal expenses with the cheque.
Eun-yeong stood her ground against Han-seok while signing the revised NDA, which now favored her as well. Han-seok attempted to charm Hyo-min once more, but this time she firmly put him in his place.
Later that night, Seok-hoon returned home only to be met by an unexpected visitor at his doorstep...
