Chapter 145

<Child and Adult (2)>

The current Hong Ki-jun was not just an old man asking his daughter to be taken care of. As a proud member of society and an adult, he was leaving a message for Jin-hyuk.

Jin-hyuk had no reason to rebel.

“I’ll be the minority that doesn’t incite trouble.”

After all, he had no worries about making a living.

Even if he sold just ten pyeong of land a month, he could live comfortably for generations. Why would he crave power? That kind of life isn’t normal. Such power could even harm his family. Without a discerning eye, Jin-hyuk shook his head.

– Right. What you’re trying to do through Team Leader Moon isn’t just about fulfilling your own greed, is it?

After hanging up, Jin-hyuk replayed what Hong Ki-jun had said. Some might call it lingering resentment, but for Jin-hyuk, who had learned the world on his own, it was a method to avoid being left behind.

Every word had meaning, but one phrase stuck in Jin-hyuk’s mind.

– “Just keep doing what you’re doing. You know what kind of person the chairman is, right? People think group chairmen just laze around. They think they just show their faces in front of cameras occasionally, shake hands with politicians, wave their hands at factories, or give lectures at universities, acting all high and mighty. Many do that, so it’s not a wrong perception, but there are also those who achieve important history that isn’t recorded. Our Chairman Son is doing that now, right? Just keep doing what you’re doing. Like a child, like an adult.”

It wasn’t an excuse for Chairman Hong Ki-jun’s past life.

Though the conversation was short, it contained the most profound message Hong Ki-jun had ever conveyed to Jin-hyuk.

‘Chairman Son…’

Even friends call him class president or chairman, so this uncle is following suit?

Is it fun to call him that?

Whatever. No matter what you call him, his existence doesn’t change.

‘Chairman.’

It was clear that he was trying to instill a plausible goal to avoid dreaming of revenge. Even if someone else had heard it, it would have been exciting.

Turning off the computer, Jin-hyuk flung himself onto the bed.

Like the air cleared by the monsoon rain, his suffocating chest felt relieved.

It felt like the excitement of hitting the road with a newly acquired driver’s license.

‘Ah, I haven’t driven much.’

His only experience was driving Executive Director Hong Soo-jung’s car a few times. Was it when they went to Gangneung to eat grilled clams? Anyway, that’s the analogy.

Hong Ki-jun’s voice, brighter and more carefree than ever, was also unusual.

It was clear how much mental anguish Hong Ki-jun had endured.

‘I should have sent a signal earlier.’

Knowing that shadows aren’t restrained unless the existence is directly proven, Jin-hyuk was confident that there wouldn’t be significant restrictions in communicating with Hong Ki-jun.

Face-to-face.

It was a call that redefined their relationship, removing formalities and maintaining a psychological safe distance to have an open and honest conversation.

Knock-knock.

While diligently recording past events, a knock was heard.

Jin-hyuk quickly opened the door.

“Is our Yoo Jin here?”

“Yes, hehe.”

Yoo Jin, who must be tired from running around all day, came to her brother’s room with half-closed eyes. In one arm, she carried a pillow, and in the other, a teddy bear named Ajigom. She felt sorry for Team Leader Yang Gang-wook, so she didn’t name it after him, and Ajigom was too long, so she named it that.

“Now that you’re a big sister, shouldn’t you sleep alone?”

“Brother said it was okay until I go to kindergarten. I’m still a kid.”

“Right.”

Laughter burst out seeing his sister calling herself a kid.

Jin-hyuk was understanding and letting it go for Yoo Jin, who had lost her mother to her younger brother Jeong-won. Even without that, Yoo Jin had her own reasons for seeking her brother.

Now, Jin-hyuk also knew why Yoo Jin was tired and why she came to him. Through memories of Yoo Jin’s past actions, he realized. The moments of uncertainty had finally pieced together like a puzzle.

“Yoo Jin, who did you pet today?”

“I petted Gwang-ma. I went to the back mountain and got bitten by a raccoon.”

Jin-hyuk silently laughed. What a remarkable sister.

Healing a Doberman that got bitten by a raccoon while playing. Gwang-ma, being a guard dog, must have confronted the raccoon to protect Yoo Jin.

Yoo Jin, who exercised a lot, would recover her energy even on tough days and sleep with her brother’s arm as a pillow, her hand on Jin-hyuk’s chest.

“Brother, sleep early.”

“Okay.”

If my sister is growing, I should sleep. Jin-hyuk lay on the bed, covered himself with a blanket, and made space for Yoo Jin to join.

As the high-performance battery lay on the bed, Yoo Jin turned off the light.

“It’s a secret to everyone else. There aren’t many people with such skills, so always be careful. And take just a little. Brother has to go to school tomorrow-.”

“Ttandog, Lorb Nim-.”

“Brother’s words aren’t-.”

-Not finished yet.

Ah, Yoo Jin.

Could the strange words Yoo Jin was muttering mean to just shut up and sleep?

Without time to think, Jin-hyuk’s neck relaxed, and his head turned.

Kaa-.

***

Son Jeong-won’s first birthday party was held as a neighborhood feast.

The village youth association set up tents over the yard and lawn, and tables were laid out. SSS agents also helped from the morning, wiping tables and setting utensils.

‘Ah, just take the envelope.’

Hating his father for deciding not to accept congratulatory money, Jin-hyuk roamed the garden.

With a camera around his neck and a camcorder in hand, he moved around the house, filming the star of the first birthday party.

The host parents had to greet guests, and at such family events, it was customary for an uncle to handle the camcorder. Well, not an uncle, but an uncle-like brother, but since it was a task that Son Jin-hyuk, as a family member, should handle, he didn’t complain.

“Early on, this family made the village worthy of its sunny name, and that glory continues through generations······.”

Elder Cheon Gil-ryong, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, recited a congratulatory speech. Villagers closed their eyes during his speech, but Cheon Gil-ryong proudly showcased his stamina by reciting all 5,500 characters.

‘Did he read for about twenty minutes?’

‘Seems like it.’

‘Is old man Watchke’s stamina better than ours?’

If it weren’t for the tents, someone might have collapsed from heatstroke due to the early summer sun. During Cheon Gil-ryong’s speech, the SSS medical team remained tense, ready to assist the host’s event.

Though it was a first birthday party, it was a relaxed neighborhood feast without any special ceremonies.

Before lunchtime, the villagers filled their stomachs with food prepared by Han Yu-young, Jang Jin-nam, and the neighborhood women, quenching their thirst with cool makgeolli and beer, their eyes widening.

“Uh? What’s that?”

“Looks better than Chairman Son’s car.”

Five black luxury sedans lined up.

Precious guests from Seoul had arrived. Any guest would be precious, but for Son Kwang-yeon, it was someone special. It was Chairman Yoo Myung-sun.

Chairman Yoo Myung-sun and Hong Ki-jun’s family, accompanied by entourage, had visited.

While Son Kwang-yeon and Han Yu-young, holding Yoo Jin’s hand, greeted the Seoul guests, Jin-hyuk tirelessly pointed the camcorder.

“It’s a nice place you live in.”

“I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

“What’s hard about an old man moving when he’s not busy? Just put the body in the car. I hope I didn’t disturb the young people’s playtime.”

Ahem-.

Then, behind Son Kwang-yeon, Cheon Gil-ryong gave a disdainful look. As if saying, what young person is talking about young people? Cheon Gil-ryong was a full ten years older than Yoo Myung-sun.

The villagers buzzed.

It’s the person from TV, I saw him in the newspaper, isn’t he as famous as the president, is he famous because of his name······.

Yoo Myung-sun, bowing to the guests, offered a handshake to Cheon Gil-ryong.

“Ahaha, I didn’t realize the elder was here. I was rude.”

“Ahem! What elder? Since you’re here, let’s have a drink of makgeolli together, old men.”

Jo Il-hun, who had come to the feast with Gwak Hyang-rim, stood up abruptly and guided Yoo Myung-sun to a seat.

To the SSS agents who had accompanied the chairman’s family from Seoul, it was a strange sight.

A guest guiding another guest, carrying food together.

Privately, they had used banquet halls or funeral homes, and accompanying chaebol families, they had only attended hotel banquets. For them, it was a fresh scene.

Behind sunglasses, the entourage’s eyes busily rolled, met by Yang Gang-wook and Moon Seok-il.

When Yang Gang-wook offered a handshake, the SSS Seoul team leader shook hands with restrained movements.

“Team Yang Gang-wook of SSS.”

“Honored.”

Seeing SSS founding member Yang Gang-wook and training captain Moon Seok-il, the entourage straightened their backs again.

“Let’s eat comfortably.”

At Moon Seok-il’s suggestion, the Seoul team leader glanced at Hong Ki-jun. Seeing Hong Ki-jun nod, he advised the agents to sit comfortably.

The chaotic meeting ended, and Jin-hyuk saw Hong Soo-hyuk’s face for the first time.

He was pointing the camcorder at the birthday boy.

‘He looks like Soo-jung, but not quite.’

Does he take after his mother?

The gently drooping eyes and wide earlobes also showed Hong Ki-jun’s face. The plump cheeks made him superior to Jeong-won. Even now, Hong Ki-jun, holding Hong Soo-hyuk, was sweating profusely.

With many people and a chaotic atmosphere, it wasn’t appropriate for small talk, so Jin-hyuk only exchanged brief greetings with Hong Ki-jun. Hong Ki-jun patted Jin-hyuk’s back, and their brief eye contact was all, but it was more special and affectionate than ever. A moment of meeting heart to heart beyond sight wasn’t unpleasant.

But.

‘Why is this kid like this?’

Hong Soo-jung only glanced at Jin-hyuk, her mischievous demeanor gone.

She had grown so much, becoming tall, but that didn’t matter.

The kid who always came first, fooling around, was now quiet and awkward.

But Jin-hyuk didn’t hide his joy at meeting her after a long time.

“Soo-jung, have you been well?”

“Yes, hello······.”

Wow.

Hello?

Hong Soo-jung even bowed while greeting.

Jin-hyuk, speechless at the sight of the once mischievous Hong Soo-jung now so demure, unconsciously stepped back. Could she have changed so much in just two years? Even if they hadn’t seen each other’s faces, they had talked on the phone just a few months ago.

“Sister, let’s eat and play.”

“Okay, sure.”

She even spoke maturely to Yoo Jin.

Hong Soo-jung carefully looked after Yoo Jin and toured the changed countryside house.

‘This is disappointing.’

Tsk.

Jin-hyuk followed Hong Soo-jung with his eyes, suppressing his disappointment. The kid who used to sleep with her arm around him every vacation suddenly acting so reserved was inevitable.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

I didn’t do anything particularly strange.

This was also a new experience, something he hadn’t gone through before.

“Wow! She might become a judge!”

As the guests watched, Son Jeong-won grabbed a hammer, and Jang Jin-nam raised his voice.

It was a hammer that replaced a gavel, but to Jin-hyuk, it seemed like he grabbed it because the popping sound was fascinating. Well, that’s also more about interpretation than the dream.

‘Kid. Just grab the thread. You don’t have to succeed or anything.’

Yoo Jin grabbed a stethoscope during her first birthday, and Jin-hyuk grabbed a bill.

Even the preferences of siblings from the same parents were so different.

As the feast neared its end, Jin-hyuk was alone again.

Why wouldn’t he be?

The dads grouped together, the moms grouped together, and the daughters grouped together.

The birthday boy Son Jeong-won and Hong Soo-hyuk were hugging and babbling under the watchful eyes of their mothers.

“Bae-! Tte-tte!”

“Eo-woo-woo-.”

When Hong Soo-hyuk screamed, Jeong-won comforted him, and the mothers clapped and laughed.

Jin-hyuk’s camcorder captured it all. The stars were the babies.

‘Who do I play with······.’

Now that I’m used to mingling with people, I can play together, but my peer Choi Mi-kyung was busy chatting with Gwak Hyang-rim, who was set to marry Jo Il-hun in the fall, and Jang Jin-nam was mingling with the SSS Seoul team, chatting away. Min Yong-rak was busy running around with his beloved camera, clicking the shutter.

‘Is my only friend Jang Gun-i······.’

As most guests left and the feast was winding down, Jin-hyuk generously packed food into a plastic bag.

But when he found Jang Gun-i, he trembled with betrayal.

This bastard’s stomach is going to burst.

Jang Gun-i was lying under an acorn tree, panting, his stomach bulging more than when he had puppies. Beside him, Gwang-ma, with an equally bulging stomach, stood guard, while Hong-shi and Cheon-ma seemed to have gone swimming to escape the heat.

‘Ah, damn······.’

So annoying.

The loneliness of the crowd.

Even though I’m not always the main character, every time a sibling is born, Jin-hyuk gets pushed further down the priority list.

Handing the camera and camcorder to his father, he decided to clean up the table.

Doing something is better than just sitting around to lessen the loneliness.

As he silently cleaned up, Hong Soo-jung approached.

“Hey-.”

Hey, what, why.

Hmph! Act cold.

I’m not in a good mood right now!

The sulky Son Jin-hyuk turned to look at the child Hong Soo-jung.