Chapter 289

Jin-hyuk has no money.

It’s not just because he donated all his prize money after discussing it with his parents.

After all, he still gets an allowance from his parents.

“I’ll find my allowance and give it to you when I get back to Korea.”

Some of his school friends react with, “Son Jin-hyuk… an allowance?” And who knows how many others might think the same.

With his physique and social recognition, who would believe it, but surprisingly, Son Jin-hyuk is still a minor. Wow-.

There was something he absolutely wanted to do, and he went back to his childhood to make it happen.

Handing over his bankbook to his mom.

Despite his dad insisting that he should manage it himself from a young age to develop financial sense and disciplined spending habits, Jin-hyuk was stubborn.

Even as a kid, if he received 100 won from the neighborhood adults or picked up 10 won on the street, he would hand it over to his mom. Except for the allowance his dad secretly gave him. Emergency money is emergency money, after all, and it’s precious.

To others, it might seem like a mundane, everyday thing. But for Jin-hyuk, whose daily life is filled with nothing but touching moments, it was a sacred and precious event.

Anyway, the bankbook where he saves his allowance is managed by his mom.

The salary Hong Ki-jun gives him flows into RB.

About $1,500 a month. A pretty hefty sum. But would $1,500 even count as money to that dinosaur investment firm?

Since it’s money he can’t withdraw, Jin-hyuk considers it less valuable than cryptocurrency and thinks of it as just a plaything for Hong Ki-jun, who must be bored. So, Jin-hyuk doesn’t really mind if he doesn’t get paid.

That’s just how Son Jin-hyuk is.

Money is money, and water is water.

…This explanation of him being broke is getting long.

“What are you up to?”

Yoo Se-ra, who had been watching him with a look that seemed to ask why he was taking so long to say something, leaned back on the sofa.

“I want to buy some souvenirs. For my friends and family…”

Only then did Yoo Se-ra smile and nod.

Though she always boasted about him being her athlete, Jin-hyuk, who was focused on the competition, was scarier than anyone Yoo Se-ra knew. Even Jin Seon-kyu, who was his senior, couldn’t get a word in edgewise and just followed him around.

He also sharply pointed out issues and offered constructive opinions about the foundation’s operations. For Yoo Se-ra, who had been riding on fame without a solid short-term business plan, this trip was a big help.

Now that the competition is over, it’s only natural that he’s acting his age again.

“Ah, souvenirs for friends and family? You’re a champion, so you should have that kind of generosity. Much better than being stingy. How much do you need?”

“I think I need to do some market research first.”

You need to know the unit price to set a budget.

Hmm-.

Yoo Se-ra nodded.

They say he’s a model student who’s diligent in his studies, but even when it comes to buying souvenirs, he’s thorough. But how much could souvenirs cost? A few days ago, I looked around and aside from commemorative coins, there wasn’t anything expensive. A $120 backpack was about as high-end as it got.

“Market research? Where?”

“Yoo Jin said there’s a souvenir shop near Centennial Stadium, so I think I’ll check there.”

He thought Olympic-related merchandise would be better since it’s the Olympics.

Jin-hyuk still has the Hodori keychain and doll his dad bought him during the ’88 Olympics.

He doesn’t use them, but when he sees them, he fiddles with them and feels nostalgic, which makes him happy.

That summer vacation when he took care of baby Yoo Jin, got foot massages from Jang Gun-i, and did his homework.

The record of his childhood, rewritten upon his return.

Whenever and wherever he reminisces, it always brings back such happy times.

“Got it. Souvenirs don’t cost much anyway, so I’ll just buy them for you.”

Wow-.

Jin-hyuk’s eyes and mouth rounded like Yoo Jin’s.

He knew, but this level of generosity is something else.

“Really?”

“What’s with the reaction? It’s me, Yoo Se-ra.”

I know it’s you, Yoo Se-ra.

“How much do you think you’ll buy?”

“Souvenirs aren’t that expensive. You didn’t get to rest or have fun because you were so focused on the competition.”

Foreign trips are all about splurging. Yoo Se-ra sighed as she looked at the ceiling.

If asked what the greatest joy of traveling abroad is, Yoo Se-ra would answer without hesitation.

The numbness that comes from spending money like water, when money doesn’t even feel like money, is the true joy of traveling abroad…

She herself was too busy with work to enjoy the trip, so she could understand how frustrating it must have been for Jin-hyuk, who’s full of energy, having already gone through that phase as an adult.

“There’s only a few days left, so go sightseeing and eat something delicious. Ah!”

Yoo Se-ra rummaged through her bag as if she remembered something.

“This is a blank check from our Yoo family. You can use it in the U.S. too. Pay with this. It’ll be billed to me.”

Blank check.

Wow-.

Jin-hyuk’s face turned into Yoo Jin’s again.

He’s seen a lot of promissory notes while helping with his dad’s business, but this is his first time seeing a blank check.

Not a credit card, but a blank check.

‘Old-fashioned, but somehow cool.’

Jin-hyuk held the check with both hands like a knight receiving a sword.

“Thank you-.”

Sss-.

“-Mom.”

Hehe-.

What a consistent person.

*

Having unexpectedly solved his money problem, Jin-hyuk headed to the kitchen to quench his thirst. He also needed to calm his heart, which was racing from the shock of the blank check.

Thud-, thud-.

The sound of footsteps on the dark wooden stairs.

He leaned forward to find the source of the sound.

‘Did you eat ramen and fall asleep again?’

The owner of the footsteps only twitched their swollen eyelids, unable to open their eyes.

One hand gripped the railing, while the other scratched their neck as they fumbled down the stairs one step at a time.

“Did you sleep well, Soo-jung?”

At the sudden voice, Hong Soo-jung’s eyes snapped open.

Her gem-like eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Ahhh-! Noooooo-.”

Thud thud thud-.

Screaming like she’d seen a ghost, Hong Soo-jung bolted upstairs.

‘Cute.’

RB investment.

The investment firm Hong Ki-jun set up.

No one knows what RB stands for.

Hong Ki-jun only told Jin-hyuk via email.

「I’m disappointed you don’t know. It’s the name saved in contact number 0 on Team Leader Son Jin-hyuk’s phone.」

Ruby.

Red Soo-jung.

It was a childish idea, but Jin-hyuk gave it that nickname.

Still, it felt rude to just use her name since she’s his superior, and adding her title made it seem too impersonal.

Actually, not knowing the origin of RB was only in the early days when he first learned about the investment firm. Jin-hyuk had a hunch. Hong Ki-jun, who used Jin-hyuk’s English name, Steve, as the owner of RB, probably didn’t stray far from that idea.

Hong Ki-jun is a man, and Son Jin-hyuk is a man.

Childish men communicating in their own way.

Anyway, that Red Soo-jung is quite the actress in front of her oppa in prison.

“Soo-jung-.”

“Yes, yes?”

It seems she didn’t go back to her room but was hiding, as Hong Soo-jung peeked her head out after disappearing up the stairs. As if waiting to be called.

“Your right pant leg is rolled up.”

“I know!”

Why do people who just woke up always have one pant leg rolled up?

It’s a mystery that will never be solved.

‘So fun and peaceful!’

The return to everyday life after the big event of the Olympics is welcome.

Ah, it’s not over yet.

***

[We will now proceed with the medal ceremony for the men’s 200 meters.]

Once again, the South Korean flag was raised to the top of the main stadium’s flagpole.

The flags of Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago flanked it on either side.

After stepping down from the podium and exiting, he exchanged final greetings with Fredericks and Boldon, who had become much closer.

Thanks and apologies should be given without hesitation, even if it’s a bit excessive, as Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong taught him.

A person’s character is determined by such small expressions. Apologizing helps you realize your shortcomings and learn, while expressing gratitude teaches humility, as Cheon Gil-ryong taught.

He expressed his gratitude once again for their participation in last night’s event.

“Hyungs, am very thanks for joining me last night.”

It’s broken English, but they’ll understand, right?

Since they’re foreigners, calling them “hyung” wasn’t difficult.

“He young?”

“Is he young?”

Ato Boldon tilted his head.

“Son’s English is fine for communication, but there’s something off about it.”

Uncharacteristically, Fredericks spoke at length, fiddling with his silver medal and shaking his head.

“It’s the word ‘brother.’”

“Ah, brother.”

“Oh yeah-. Not sister.”

Ato Boldon, who was walking with a swagger, chimed in.

Usually, Ato Boldon is like a fighting rooster, but around Fredericks, he’s like a little bell.

“Frank, Ato. See you in Athens next year.”

“At the World Championships, don’t follow me. It was tough.”

“Remember. Trinidad and Tobago ostriches are sprinters.”

Ato Boldon’s joke made Jin-hyuk’s cheeks puff up.

People watching on TV would think, ‘What are they talking about so happily?’

“Yeah. Let’s leave what happened at the Olympics at the Olympics.”

“Oh-, that’s a cool expression.”

It’s a line from a movie I saw once. Ah, has that movie not come out yet?

When they reached the end of the red carpet, Boldon tapped Jin-hyuk’s shoulder.

“Son, the closing ceremony is the day after tomorrow. Are you attending?”

“Yeah. Probably.”

“What are you doing today? Want to go drinking?”

“I’m still not old enough to drink.”

“Bullshit.”

“It’s true.”

“I know your age. That’s not the point.”

He probably means that there are teenagers drinking secretly everywhere.

“There’s meaning in following social norms.”

Oh- shiiiit······.

Ato Boldon made a tired face.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Am gonna······.”

What’s “spending money like crazy” in English?

Spend a lot of money? Spend money in a crazy way? English just doesn’t capture the feeling.

Jin-hyuk’s weird English is born this way. To preserve the flavor of his native language.

“Am gonna spend money like crazy.”

“Spend money like crazy?”

What’s that?

Ato Boldon stared blankly at Frank Fredericks. He felt that Fredericks, who’s more sociable than him, might know a bit more about Son.

“Hey, Ato. Even I don’t understand Son’s words.”

Judging by the pronunciation, I think it’s French, Ato. Fredericks, who had no clue what it meant, just shrugged.

“But since it’s Son saying it, it’s probably not a curse or slang. It’s definitely French.”

This kid’s a lunatic, but he’s not a foul-mouthed jerk like Jonathan, right?

Don Girar.

Doesn’t it sound like a luxury brand?

“Denis said Son has a bad habit of mixing English and Korean.”

“Am sorry-.”

“See?”

Fredericks shrugged, and Ato Boldon nodded with his lower lip pouted.

If the usually quiet Frank says so, then it must be true.

Don Girar, Don Girar. Thanks to that, I learned a fancy French word.

*

By the time they left the stadium, it was lunchtime.

When there were still events to attend, all he had to do was take care of himself. But with free time, the number of people he had to look after increased.

Though Yang Gang-wook and Min Yong-rak were there, he couldn’t just push the responsibility onto them. Amid the bustling crowd, he took care of Hong Soo-jung and Yoo Jin and looked for a souvenir shop.

“Oppa, should we get hot dogs? The hot dogs that lady makes are delicious-.”

Yoo Jin, who’s more aware of the surroundings than her oppa who’s focused on the competition, took on the role of guide.

“Hot dogs sound good.”

Jin-hyuk, who had been strictly managing his diet for conditioning, brightened up.

Chomp chomp chomp-.

“Wow-, it’s delicious.”

This is why you come to the Olympics!

I’ll have to come again.

He quickly devoured two and picked up a third.

Unaware of the sauce on his face, Jin-hyuk’s eyes met Yang Gang-wook, who was standing blankly.

“Team Leader Yang, aren’t you having any?”

“Just coffee for me.”

Yang Gang-wook feels something rise in his throat at the sight of hot dogs.

It’s not just because he’s been eating one a day thanks to Yoo Jin.

People who had been watching Jin-hyuk munching on hot dogs slowly approached.

“Son? Is that you?”

“Can I get your autograph?”

“Can I take a photo with you?”

Yang Gang-wook tried to stop them, but Jin-hyuk waved him off and obliged every autograph request.

‘This is exhausting.’

Acknowledging and accepting the reality you have to deal with is one thing, but actually doing it is a whole different story.

Still, he didn’t want to disappoint anyone, so he did his best to fulfill their requests. With a friendly smile.

“Congratulations on your two gold medals!”

“Thank you!”

After pushing through the crowd and overcoming various obstacles, they finally found the souvenir shop.

“Ugh-. It’s still ugly no matter how many times I see it.”

“Oppa, it’s scary-.”

Izzy. The Atlanta Olympics mascot, Izzy.

Hong Soo-jung frowned at the sight of the 6-foot-tall mascot, and Yoo Jin hid behind her oppa.

Some American kid reportedly burst into tears upon seeing that mascot.

“There might be other things inside, so let’s go in.”

As he tried to calm the hesitant kids, Yang Gang-wook stepped in to help Jin-hyuk.

“There’s nothing scary inside. Go take a look. We’ll wait outside.”

After bowing slightly to Yang Gang-wook, who stayed outside with Min Yong-rak, Jin-hyuk stepped into the store.

A female clerk with a waist wider than her shoulders was yawning.

The clerk, who had been standing with a blank expression, perked up when she saw Jin-hyuk.

“Oh, Son-. Welcome-.”

“Hello-. Do you have any souvenirs other than Izzy?”

“Ah-, of course. We have a variety of products. Dolls, T-shirts, keychains, badges, bags, and so on. What are you looking for-.”

As the clerk stumbled through her response.

“Yoo Jin, isn’t this pretty?”

“Ooh-. It’s pretty. It looks like Haengun-i.”

What Hong Soo-jung and Yoo Jin were looking at was a T-shirt with a phoenix design.

But where on earth does it look like Haengun-i?

“What are those kids looking at? It looks like a phoenix.”

“Ah! That’s Blaze, the mascot for the Paralympics, symbolizing Atlanta. It’s a phoenix.”

Ah, after the Summer Olympics, the Paralympics will follow. The Paralympics opening is about two weeks away.

As Jin-hyuk and his group showed interest in Blaze, the clerk continued her explanation.

“Izzy was a flop. Completely. So we’ve kept only the most basic items and phased out the rest. Instead, we brought in the Paralympic mascot early.”

He liked it.

The fiery design, dominated by yellow and blue with touches of red and other colors, exuded a dynamic vibe.

Most importantly, the image of a phoenix gave endless inspiration.

“I’ll go with Blaze.”

“Oppa, how many are you going to buy? Jeong Won would love it too.”

“Three thousand five hundred should do.”

Middle school, high school, dad’s company employees, SSS and village folks, Yeondong Elementary, training center staff, Yoo Jae-woon and other health center staff… Ah, if I run into reporter Kim Yoo-deok, I should give him one too. We’ve crossed paths in ways big and small.

“Hehe-. Lee Dong-ho and Kim Ho-jin would love it too-.”

“Yoo Jin’s friends are counted as school members, and parents are counted as village folks.”

“Wow! Our oppa is so cool!”

Watching the rural siblings casually checking out thousands of purchases, Hong Soo-jung’s mouth dropped open.

It’s not cool, it’s crazy.