Episode 7 of "Beyond the Bar" unfolds two years in the past, with the shocking occurrence of a hit-and-run. A child, innocently pedaling his bicycle, is struck down by a heartless driver who flees the scene without a second thought. Meanwhile, Cha Yeong-sun, a resident of a nearby apartment building, witnesses the entire harrowing incident and hastily jots down the license plate number. As she rushes out of her building, Yeong-sun stumbles over shards of glass, her mind clouded with confusion as she momentarily forgets her purpose.
Upon her husband's return, the wailing siren of an ambulance pierces through the air, snapping Yeong-sun out of her dazed state. Later, it is revealed that she suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Despite her earnest efforts to hand over the crucial information and relentlessly pursue the perpetrator, the child tragically passes away, having laid unattended on the roadside for nearly an hour.
In court, Seok-hoon finds himself on the opposing side, defending the accused. He mercilessly cross-examines Yeong-sun, highlighting her Alzheimer's condition to the entire courtroom. He exploits this vulnerability to undermine her credibility, casting doubts in her own mind about the validity of her witness account.
Elsewhere, Na-yeon's proposed salary and bonus structure meets with staunch opposition from the senior members of the firm. Seok-hoon stands up for Na-yeon, championing the merits of a meritocracy and lambasting the current system that favors idle senior advisors over productive work. He emphasizes how this imbalance not only burdens the younger employees but also contributes to high staff turnover.
Determined to push through her reforms, Na-yeon proceeds regardless. However, the senior advisors are bent on undermining her, planning to dig up dirt through Seok-hoon, hoping to uncover any potential skeletons in her closet, despite her impeccable record.
This brings us to the climactic moments from the previous episode's denouement, where a photographer captures Seo Hye-jin in a fleeting snapshot as she stealthily makes her way to Seok-hoon's abode in the dead of night. The advisors seize upon the narrative thread of Seok-hoon's alleged romantic entanglements with a second-year lawyer, spinning a yarn that paints him as a manipulative figure wrangling sensitive case details from her concerning MGC Securities.
At the bustling airport, Seok-hoon's attention is drawn to a police escort converging upon Yeong-sun's husband, Chung-hyeon. Tragically widowed, Chung-hyeon finds himself apprehended on charges of aiding and abetting his wife's suicide. Yeong-sun's younger brother, driven by grievance, has filed a complaint, and though Seok-hoon yearns to lend a hand, Chung-hyeon rejects his assistance with a stony silence.
Haunted by the relentless advance of her Alzheimer's, Yeong-sun's flashbacks reveal her poignant plan. Seeking solace in Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal, she yearned to depart this world "on a high note," sparing her beloved husband the heart-wrenching spectacle of her vitality ebbing away.
Determined to rectify this harrowing situation, Seok-hoon visits Chung-hyeon behind bars, driven not solely by the specter of past guilt but by a genuine desire to alleviate his suffering. He presents this predicament to the Yullim team, unearthing uncomfortable truths in the process. Yeong-sun's demise would bestow her entire 1.7 billion won estate upon Chung-hyeon. However, should Chung-hyeon be convicted of aiding her suicide, her younger brother, the very one who initiated the complaint, stands to inherit it all.
Regrettably, establishing a motive proves to be an uphill battle, exacerbated by Chung-hyeon's recent infidelity, casting a dark shadow over their relationship. Matters took a more precarious turn when Chung-hyeon sought a divorce to cohabit with his mistress, a decision that coincided with Yeong-sun's diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Perhaps feeling the weight of his actions in light of her condition, he rescinded his divorce petition.
Through poignant flashbacks, we witness Chung-hyeon's awakening to the severity of his choices upon seeing Yeong-sun's medical results. He, isolated and helpless, realizing his colossal error, terminated the affair swiftly. As time seemingly rewound for Yeong-sun, Chung-hyeon bore witness to her gradual decline, each cherished memory slipping away like grains of sand through his fingers.
In court, Chung-hyeon articulated a captivating metaphor involving a rainbow, drawing parallels between its myriad hues and the multifaceted nature of love. Though it was a beautiful testament, it also posed numerous legal quandaries, particularly from the defendant's perspective. His actions, though driven by love, collided with the unyielding laws The regulation prohibiting suicide, making it almost impossible to substantiate, even with an explicit wish from the deceased. The prosecution demanded three years of imprisonment for Chung-hyeon, and despite the defendants' fervent efforts and Seok-hoon's astonishment, the court decreed a one-year sentence.
This entire case struck a chord with Seok-hoon, particularly the analogy of love encompassing all its vibrant hues. His own painful breakup with Yeon-a had left a sour taste, marked by her handing him divorce papers and describing their relationship as "barren and devoid of love." Moved by the courtroom analogy, Seok-hoon reached out to Yeon-a, sharing it with her. She concurred, acknowledging that their love had evolved from a fiery red to a more serene orange and yellow.
Certainly, here's a more expressive and vivid rendition of the given text:
Of course, that ship has long departed, and Seok-hoon makes a definitive decision to wash his hands of the matter – once and for all. He instructs Yeon-a not to trouble him with any more cologne or soap, and urges her to take care of Hash, before turning and striding away.
Meanwhile, Jin-woo and Min-Jeong venture out together in search of sustenance, reminiscing fondly about their shared memories. However, their peaceful moment is interrupted when Seok-hoon beckons them to come and meet him. Seok-hoon and Min-Jeong share a complex history, with the former having once offered her a helping hand when she was at rock bottom.
Hyo-min, a character whose presence has been sparse in this episode, suddenly appears at Seok-hoon's office with a brief that evening. She stages a pretend conversation between them, with Seok-hoon lavishing praise on Hyo-min and referring to her as his protégé. The scene is rather amusing, particularly as Seok-hoon happens to be within earshot, listening intently to their fake exchange. He chimes in, catching Hyo-min off guard.
True to their usual routine this season, the duo settle down together for a late-night hot drink. They delve into a heartfelt discussion about Yeon-a and her impact on Seok-hoon, including his struggle to let go of the person she once was. He longs for the long, meaningless chats they used to share.
Hyo-min listens attentively and gently assures him that with time, those feelings will eventually fade. This heart-to-heart strengthens their bond, drawing them even closer together.
That same night, Min-Heong is haunted by a nightmare involving her late mother and awakens in tears. The loss of her mother, who passed away when Min-Jeong was just 23, still haunts her deeply. Jin-woo, who is sleeping on the sofa, rushes to her side and nestles beside her, vowing not to make any advances. However, when he reaches out to touch her face, mistaking her for being asleep, she summarily boots him out of bed.
Back at the firm, the team stumbles upon a damning review file for the defendant in an upcoming case, MGC Securities, tucked away among their briefs. The report contains a divergent analysis, and Seok-hoon quickly realizes that it has been strategically placed to ensnare them.
Seok-hoon is determined to thwart any investigation into the source of the breach, yet the situation appears far from favorable. Matters at the main entrance are scarcely any better. Min-jeong's ex-husband arrives with his former mother-in-law, storming into the firm to confront her. They demand reimbursement for all the tuition fees and living expenses they incurred during Min-jeong's residence with them. It's pathetic to witness this man relying on his mother to fight his battles, and the entire spectacle is playing out in the open, an embarrassing spectacle for all involved.
Min-jeong dismisses them as lowlifes and instructs security to "dispose of the trash." The scene is incredibly gratifying to observe, as Min-jeong fiercely vows to ruin them should they persist on this contentious path. Jin-woo witnesses the entire ordeal and seeks Min-jeong out in her office afterward. She adopts a hard stance with him, refusing to spend any time with him outside of work, but Jin-woo's fondness for her is unmistakable. Whether Min-jeong reciprocates his feelings remains uncertain, but she intends to maintain a formidable barrier between them.
An emergency partner meeting is convened, yet notably absent is Seok-hoon. The partners recycle their fabricated narrative about him adhering to the organization's ethical standards. When Seok-hoon and Na-yeon finally arrive, the atmosphere remains perilously tense, hanging by a fragile thread.
