Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 82

#81. The Scent of Flowers is So Wonderful

“Player Cheon Sangjin, you pitched well for 6 innings without giving up a run in today’s match against Suwon’s ace, Choi Kyungjae, earning your 4th win of the season. Could we have a few words?”

The game was over.

Cheon Sangjin, who won today’s game against Suwon’s ace and was selected as the MVP [Most Valuable Player] for the first time in a while, is looking at the camera with a calm expression.

The reporter, who usually seemed quite businesslike when dealing with other players, was practically sending hearts with her eyes as she held out the microphone to Cheon Sangjin.

It was obvious that she had a crush on him.

“Ah, if I looked like Sangjin, would I be popular too?”

“You’re popular now, senior.”

“Don’t say things you don’t know. Last year, at the fan signing event, there weren’t many people in front of me to begin with, but they were all middle-aged men who had been drinking. ‘Mansik, have a drink, have a drink,’ that’s all I remember.”

That’s probably because Lee Mansik’s face looks like it’s begging for a drink, as someone once said.

Anyway, Cheon Sangjin and the reporter…….

Well, I guess it’s possible to build a friendship like that and end up dating.

Professional baseball players and broadcasting reporters, journalists, or cheerleaders.

There seem to be many people who have negative thoughts about relationships between them, and I can understand why to some extent.

Because there have been many unfortunate incidents in the past.

But in my opinion, that’s just their business.

I don’t think we need to view love between a man and a woman with prejudice based on their professions.

I told Seonghoon hyung [older brother/friend] that while eating a meal a while ago, and he told me to mind my own business in response.

I don’t know what that means.

Anyway, today we won a thrilling 4-3 victory against Suwon by one point.

Cheon Sangjin pitched well for 6 innings without giving up a run, and Hong Youngshik and Choi Jungsoo managed to hold on for 2 innings while giving up 3 points, and then Yang Gicheol came on and finished the 9th cleanly.

Choi Kyungjae of Suwon, who allowed me a one-RBI [Run Batted In] triple in the first at-bat, only threw balls to me after that and was taken off the mound at the end of the 5th. The pitcher who came up after him also treated me like I didn’t exist.

Thanks to that, I only had one triple and one RBI today, but I think it was a very valuable victory for the team as a whole.

A team that is the youngest of the 10 teams in terms of founding year, but pursues textbook baseball based on sabermetrics [the empirical analysis of baseball]. In a way, it’s very similar to Incheon, but it’s a little lacking in every way.

A team led by ace-level foreign player Rafael Diaz on the mound, led by Choi Kyungjae, who started today, and centered around national team starting catcher Jung Daehan, shortstop Ahn Taegyu, and center fielder Choi Yeonwoo.

If the Warriors advance to the fall baseball season this year, Suwon will be the first team they have to overcome.

And Suwon’s ace kneeled before us once again today.

It was different from the last game.

Last time, it was just Choi Kyungjae who collapsed in the match against Han Suhyuk, but this time, it was a team-versus-team match, a battle between the ace and the 4th starter.

Perhaps if we face Suwon in the postseason, a pitcher other than Choi Kyungjae will come out as the starter.

“Okay, Player Cheon Sangjin, thank you so much for today’s interview! Personally, I was very impressed with what you said when you got your first complete game win. Could you say a word to the baseball fans who are watching TV, and to the amateur players who dream of becoming professionals?”

“Yes, I was a little embarrassed that what I said last time became a hot topic. I was just saying what was in my heart.”

“I see. I think it resonated even more because it was a story filled with sincerity.”

“Actually, I still can’t believe that I’m winning in the professional arena like this, and doing MVP interviews, and throwing balls in front of so many spectators like today. Maybe my heart is still in the empty minor league stadium.”

“Ah……”

The reporter’s eyes became moist again at Cheon Sangjin’s simple words.

It’s certain.

That woman looks like she’d follow him right away if he asked her out for a meal.

Hmm, watching this makes me feel frustrated.

He doesn’t have a girlfriend, he’s not married, and he doesn’t even have the wherewithal to ask her out when she’s showing such obvious interest?

He’s not going to just play baseball and die, is he?

Geez…….

“I don’t know why, but if even one person in the world is comforted by my words, I would like to say this. It’s also my favorite phrase. ‘Passion for baseball is not recorded on the radar gun.’”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s a saying by Tom Glavine, who led the Atlanta Braves to their heyday in the late 90s. He’s a legendary left-handed pitcher who recorded 300 wins in his career and had 20 wins in a season twice.”

“Ah, I see.”

“A reporter asked him how he could achieve 300 wins in the big leagues with a ball that wasn’t very fast. He answered that by saying, ‘My passion for baseball is not recorded on the radar gun.’”

“That’s a meaningful saying.”

“Yes, of course, having a fast ball as a pitcher will naturally put you on a favorable starting line. But what’s more important than that is passion and determination for baseball. A player who only believes in a fast ball will fall into despair when his speed drops. But a pitcher like me, who doesn’t have anything to begin with, doesn’t have to worry about that because I can always protect my passion and determination.”

Cheon Sangjin’s words didn’t end there. He gave the announcer a faint smile and continued his last words while looking at the camera.

“If amateur players who dream of becoming professionals are watching this broadcast, and if you are lamenting your lack of talent, please don’t be easily discouraged. Even if it’s a little slow, if you keep walking steadily, you’ll eventually reach your goal. I will do my best to show you the proof. Thank you.”

The reporter was so moved that she couldn’t move from her spot even after the interview was over.

She was so engrossed in Cheon Sangjin that she forgot to do the closing remarks.

But the senior went back to the dugout with a calm face, whether he knew it or not.

Ha… that guy is so frustrating.

* * *

We did our best in the second game, riding the momentum from the first day’s victory.

But winning consecutive games against Suwon was not easy.

Lee Youngjoo, who started as a temporary starter, faltered, and we lost the second game.

We wanted to win at least the winning series, so we put our desperate will into the third game by moving up the day of ace Ryan Stark’s appearance by one day.

A total war in the true sense of the word, with a total of 10 pitchers from both teams appearing.

What awaited us at the end of that long, long match was a frustrating draw.

Step by step.

Having finished the three-game series with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss, I’m on my way home.

Was it because the last game we could have won ended in a draw? My steps feel unusually heavy today.

“Oh, you’re just coming in now.”

“Ah, yes. Hello. The game ended late.”

“Oh dear… then have you eaten? No matter how young you are, you must eat on time.”

The security guard’s words at the apartment gate reminded me of something I had forgotten.

The fact that there’s nothing to eat at home right now.

What’s in the fridge right now?

If I remember correctly, it’s all chicken breasts and some fruits and vegetables.

Was it a mistake to just take a quick shower and return to Seoul because the game ended too late?

Hmm.

I’m not particularly obsessed with eating, but I want to eat something proper today because my body is tired.

At least I hope it’s not chicken breast.

Should I turn around and buy something now? Or should I try ordering delivery?

Step by step.

Haa…….

It’s still annoying and awkward.

Doing something for my life other than baseball itself is so unfamiliar.

I endured the sudden emptiness and entered the apartment.

Thinking about the cold chicken breast that would be waiting for me in the refrigerator.

‘Hmm?’

But what is that?

There’s a big box in front of the front door.

I didn’t order anything, and no one would send me a package… is it Seonghoon hyung [older brother/friend]?

Just as I was picking up the box with a puzzled mind.

Creak.

I heard the sound of the next door moving. When I turned my gaze, I saw the shadow of someone sneaking into it.

It’s a familiar silhouette.

“……?”

* * *

‘Thump, thump’

Min Yerin, who left the baseball stadium early during the third game against Suwon today, returned to her apartment.

I think this is the first time she left the baseball stadium before the game was over.

But she couldn’t help it.

Han Suhyuk dramatically caught Jung Daehan’s game-winning hit for Suwon in the bottom of the 9th inning.

Thanks to that defense, the game, which was about to end, continued into extra innings.

But Min Yerin’s interest was no longer in the game’s outcome.

She caught a glimpse of some kind of fatigue on his face.

She didn’t know if it was the accumulated physical fatigue from raising the worst team to 3rd place, or mental fatigue.

But the moment she saw that expression, Min Yerin was able to realize what she had to do now.

‘Come out quickly, oppa [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or male friend]! Take me home.’

‘Huh? Why? I’m having so much fun watching baseball. Yerin, this baseball is more fun than I thought?’

‘If it’s so fun, watch more of it alone later and take me home, quickly!’

At Min Yerin’s urging, her manager took her home without any resistance.

Sometimes she acts too recklessly, but she receives more than twice the salary of a typical entertainment agency manager, while her workload is less than 1/10th.

It’s a god-given job. He can accept this much grumbling.

Having arrived home, Min Yerin frantically trimmed abalone with those doll-like fingers that were selected as the ‘Most Beautiful Hands Among Domestic Celebrities’ by netizens in 2026.

Scrub, scrub.

It’s so hard to remove the dirt stuck between the abalone wrinkles with a toothbrush that her hands are trembling.

But it’s okay. When she thinks about Han Suhyuk eating this, she suddenly feels strength she didn’t have before.

Chop, chop.

Finally, she removed all the dirt, carefully sliced the abalone, put in the carefully scooped out intestines, and made porridge.

That’s it. Although she’s a beginner at cooking, her taste is top-notch.

I made it, but this is a very excellent taste.

She carefully put the carefully cooked abalone porridge in a styrofoam box with a warming function to keep it from cooling.

‘The game is…….’

When she looked at her smartphone, the game had already ended in a draw, and the Warriors players’ commuter bus was probably heading towards Jamsil by now.

She became impatient.

She carefully placed the boxed abalone porridge on the table and ran down to the first floor of the apartment.

And she hid in the middle of a flower bed where she could clearly see the apartment gate.

It’s strange.

She’s already been inside his house twice, and she can even say hello to each other when she sees him sometimes, but she doesn’t have the courage to hand over the directly cooked abalone porridge.

It was the same when she brought the Shinsenro [Korean royal court cuisine] last time. Didn’t she put a note on the front of the house without the courage to face him?

“Who’s there? What are you doing in the flower bed?”

The security guard who was passing by asked Min Yerin, who was hiding in the flower bed, what was going on.

She replied that the scent of flowers was so wonderful.

An ajumma [married woman/aunt] who came out for an evening walk covered her child’s eyes with her hand and said that she couldn’t look at things like that, but she didn’t care about that.

Because she had something she had to do.

How long had she waited?

Finally, Han Suhyuk’s silhouette appeared in the distance.

He has an overwhelming physique and body proportions that you can tell at a glance. There’s no way there’s another person like that in this apartment.

The moment Min Yerin got up from her seat, she hurriedly entered the apartment and clicked the elevator button like crazy.

Her heart started beating like crazy. She feels like Han Suhyuk will appear behind her at any moment, and the back of her neck is tingling.

‘Ding.’

Fortunately, the elevator arrived on the first floor before he entered.

Min Yerin, who quickly went up to the 35th floor, ran into the house. And she picked up the abalone porridge that she had put on the table.

Styrofoam box, hooray. The whole box is still warm. It’s worth doing this stupid thing.

Barely calming her pounding heart, she hurriedly ran out of the front door.

Bang.

Min Yerin, who didn’t even notice that her toe had hit the front door sill, was about to put the box containing the warm abalone porridge in front of Han Suhyuk’s house.

Oh no!

The elevator opened, and a very familiar silhouette walked out from inside.

Why did he come up so quickly?

Barely soothing her heart, which seemed to pop out at any moment, she put the box containing the abalone porridge in front of Han Suhyuk’s house.

And just as she was about to carefully open her door and go inside without getting caught.

“Min Yerin… ssi [formal Korean title]?”

That voice sounded as loud as thunder to Min Yerin.