The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 262

What do I know? Jin-hyeok avoided Yoo Se-ra’s gaze.

But there was nowhere to hide. Jin Seon-gyu in the next seat, Hong Su-jeong diagonally across, and even the passengers in other sections were all staring at him.

‘Hmm, even Team Leader Yang, who’s supposed to be an elite, is looking at me like it’s news to him. This is awkward.’

It must have been when he was briefly working at Sein Electronics’ US branch in Texas.

He had heard an American employee named Howard say that.

– “Hey, Son. There’s a woman named Melanie waiting in the lobby. She’s pretty hot, huh? Who were you trying to pick up this weekend?”

At that time, it was Sohn, not Son, so it’s understandable that they didn’t call him ‘Thorn’.

Howard used the indefinite article ‘a’ before the name Melanie.

When asked why he used ‘a’, he said it meant ‘a person named so-and-so, or a person called that,’ a similar but different expression. It was used when introducing someone who wasn’t present and whom you didn’t know well, or when referring to a unique individual as if it were a proper noun.

‘Yu-jin is unique, I guess.’

Son Jin-hyeok, a person with no real foreign language skills, just accepted it, never imagining he’d use it like this one day.

“Um… in our language, it’s like saying ‘I am Son Yu-jin, you see…’ It’s a self-introduction with that kind of confident feeling…”

He trailed off, trying to make it sound plausible with his limited skills.

Anyway, that’s not important right now.

Let the people who know a bit of English look at him with puzzled expressions, and let the federation staff who are watching him think whatever they want.

The translation staff member from the federation, who was nodding with their eyes closed, gave Jin-hyeok courage.

“So, Yu-jin.”

“Yes, ehehe.”

Even though she was intimidated by the correction, Yu-jin smiled at her oppa [older brother].

In a place where they were the only family, a space filled with unfamiliar adults except for Yoo Se-ra and Hong Su-jeong, it was a priority to make sure his younger sister, who always looked at him with trust, didn’t feel intimidated.

Because he was her oppa.

“People who are really good at languages understand even if you make a few mistakes. What’s important is how accurately you express and convey your intentions. If you emphasize the key message, they’ll understand most of it. Language is about confidence. You can’t be fluent in grammar and usage from the start. You improve by speaking, speaking, and speaking again.”

“Hehe, like Jeong-won? Like how babies learn to talk?”

“That’s right. You’re so smart.”

Min Yong-rak’s cheekbones became prominent as he kept his mouth shut.

He didn’t react separately because Yoo Se-ra was present, but he agreed with Jin-hyeok’s opinion. Yu-jin was just an ordinary child living in the countryside, so what if she didn’t know much about language? Hong Su-jeong was just too fast for her age.

Hong Su-jeong listened to the siblings’ conversation and nodded, even though Jin-hyeok wasn’t paying special attention to her. It was something she had often done since she was little, listening to her oppa in prison. In terms of how she treated Jin-hyeok, Hong Su-jeong felt like a slightly smaller Yoo Se-ra, or a much bigger Son Yu-jin.

“Mom, when are we leaving?”

“When the documentary team arrives.”

They received a message that they were a bit late because of the filming equipment.

Do they think they’re the main characters? Yoo Se-ra’s lips trembled.

“Isn’t it past the departure time?”

“Honey, does that matter on a private plane?”

Airplanes would be subject to different regulations than cars, but it sounded plausible to Hong Su-jeong. It’s our dad’s plane. Mom said that the president is only for 5 years, but the chairman is forever.

*

Finally, the door closed, and Yang Kang-wook, who had finished escorting the broadcasting staff, approached Yoo Se-ra.

“Chairwoman, the documentary team has completed boarding.”

“Could you please tell them one more time not to turn on the cameras where the children are?”

Yoo Se-ra, with a stern expression, said while keeping her eyes fixed on a magazine.

The foolishness that had been pretending to sleep at her daughter’s difficult question had disappeared, and only the lioness protecting her cubs remained.

“And let them know what happened to the newspaper that secretly took pictures of my daughter last year.”

“Yes, of course.”

Yang Kang-wook, who was usually brave, flinched at the blue edge of the knife coming from her mouth.

The world only knew Hong Su-jeong and Hong Su-hyeok’s names and ages, but because their private lives were not public, they didn’t know their faces.

Because of Yoo Myung-sun’s policy, Yoo Se-ra was also a daughter whose face was not known until she stepped into management. On top of that, with Hong Ki-jun’s strict protection, the only people who knew Hong Su-jeong’s face were her friends.

Thud-.

A drum-like sound came from the speaker.

[Good afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen. Captain Kwon and all of our crew members-.]

Blah blah blah… The announcement flowed, monotone and clear.

Chuck-. Hong Su-jeong burst out laughing.

It seemed like it was because the pronunciation and intonation sounded unnatural.

Yu-jin pulled on Hong Su-jeong’s arm.

“Unnie [older sister], don’t be like that. Our oppa said that what’s important in language is how accurately you express your intentions.”

“Yeah, sorry. But still, that ahjussi [older man] is so hard to understand. That’s why I laughed.”

The intonation was monotonous, and the retroflex consonants were so bad that the pronunciation was inaccurate.

It must be the speaker.

“Excuse me.”

Yoo Se-ra gestured to a flight attendant.

“Yes, ma’am. Is there anything you need?”

“We’re the only passengers, so why is the announcement in English?”

Wow, you’re right.

Jin-hyeok realized the oddity just then.

“It seems like it’s because we’re following our airline’s manual. If it’s uncomfortable for you-”

“No, it’s okay. I was just curious.”

Habits are scary. Yoo Se-ra nodded and muttered.

Yu-jin seemed a bit nervous about her first flight.

“Yu-jin, they’re taking off soon. Come next to oppa.”

“It’s okay. I’ll stay next to unnie.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I promised mom. Um, I promised to be brave even when I’m away from my family. She also said that oppa is going to do important work, so I shouldn’t bother him.”

What more could be said?

She was so mature and independent, it was right to respect her.

***

Oppa is an important person, so he’s the busiest.

He kept having meetings with Yoo Se-ra ajumma [aunt], Min Yong-rak samchon [uncle], the federation ahjussis, and the foundation unnies. The rest of the time, he talked to other athlete samchons, and he seemed happiest then.

No.

“So, Su-jeong, you want to be a manager?”

“Yes. It’s fun talking about work with dad. But I also like dancing and singing.”

“You can study and dance. And sing too.”

“Like oppa?”

Oppa seems to like talking to Hong Su-jeong unnie the most.

Even while they were talking quietly, it was all over his face, and his hand never left her head.

“Let’s go over there.”

“Okay, let’s go over there.”

He also walked around the plane holding Hong Su-hyeok, who had woken up from his nap, and seeing that made me think of Jeong-won, who was left at home.

‘While I’m gone, who’s going to brush my little brother’s teeth if he eats dirt?’

Even while patrolling the cabin non-stop, oppa didn’t neglect to look after Son Yu-jin.

“Is the food good?”

“Yes! Airplane food is delicious!”

“That’s good.”

He doesn’t smile often, but oppa is the coolest when he smiles.

According to Cheon Gil-ryong’s words, the reason oppa doesn’t smile often is because his heart is tired. It must be because he’s tired from having meetings, studying, and exercising. Oppa is still glaring at the paper he printed out at home.

Son Yu-jin knows what that is.

‘It’s like a chain letter.’

It’s a letter that Hong Ki-jun ahjussi sends only to oppa.

To give oppa good luck.

「Oppa doesn’t rest.」

Scribble scribble-.

Son Yu-jin recorded everything she saw, heard, and felt.

“Yu-jin, are you writing a diary?”

“Yes. Don’t you write a diary, unnie?”

“I write sometimes. Only when there’s something to write about.”

Hong Su-jeong unnie also looks tired.

Yoo Se-ra ajumma said it’s because her body is growing so fast.

Is that why unnie doesn’t smile often? But it’s amazing that she smiles when she talks to oppa. Oppa is a cool person, not a funny one. Unnie has unique taste.

‘I’m bored. In English, it’s I am a…’

The shaking of the takeoff was only for a moment.

The sea of clouds beyond the round window, which she had been amazed by, became boring after looking at it for a while.

The snacks that the flight attendant unnie gave her were sickening.

They didn’t taste good, and they made her throat dry, so she kept drinking water. But she was afraid to go to the bathroom, so she was reluctant to drink water.

Swoosh! Swish-swish-poo-poo-!

She was seized with terror as if her hair was being pulled out when she flushed the toilet.

Screech-! When she screamed, oppa tried to break down the door.

「Airplane toilets suck you in.」

The plane lights went out, and she covered herself with a blanket, but she couldn’t fall asleep.

The humming sound made her head dizzy, and the cold, dry air made her eyes sting. It was the same even when she closed her eyes.

Min Yong-rak samchon was worried that it was because her eyes were big.

Ding-.

When that sound came and one of the lights above her head turned on, the captain ahjussi spoke like a robot.

[Our plane will be arriving at Honolulu Airport shortly.]

She asked Hong Su-jeong unnie, who was blinking her cat eyes and having trouble sleeping next to her.

“Honolulu? What is that?”

“It’s the name of a city in Hawaii. They said we’re stopping by.”

Oh! Hawaii!

It’s Jeong-won’s ‘eheum-keoheum’, the place that her parents and oppa called that.

So, what is ‘eheum-keoheum’…

「Hawaii is Jeong-won’s hometown. I don’t know where my hometown is.」

Hawaii is American land, Dokdo is our land! Tsushima is also our land!

She heard her dad say on the phone that oppa also had land in Hawaii under his name. Then Hawaii is oppa’s land!

Son Yu-jin is a smart Son Yu-jin, so she knows that too.

[Our plane will be stopping in Hawaii-.]

But it seems like the plane eats gas like Jjorongi ahjussi’s truck.

Our dad’s car uses gasoline.

Scribble scribble-.

It was starting to get boring, but it was a trip with so much to fill in her diary.

That must be why they say you broaden your horizons when you leave home.

Scribble scribble-.

「Airplanes eat gas. I have broadened my horizons.」

*

Yoo Se-ra and Hong Su-jeong have similar sleeping positions. They lay their heads to the side and drool from their gaping mouths, but Yoo Se-ra’s secretions were more abundant. It must be because she’s an adult.

「If Jang-gun acts up, Bbomi and Hongsi watch. Yoo Se-ra ajumma is like Bbomi. Hong Su-jeong unnie is Hongsi. They’re both Hongs.」

They were the same, from yawning, rubbing their eyes, stretching, to turning their heads to look at people passing by.

“Um, stewardess? I’m just asking, but we wouldn’t have time to go to Waikiki, would we? Ohohong-”

“Oh, mom. I can’t live with you. And it’s stewardess, not stewardius.”

“Honey, didn’t you hear what oppa in prison said? It’s okay as long as they understand. Anyway, there’s a really good hot dog place there.”

She ate a hot dog there, and our Su-hyeok came out. She quickly closed her mouth, holding back her foolish words.

“I’m sorry. Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”

Hong Su-jeong sent the embarrassed flight attendant away.

「Hongsi is more mature than Jang-gun. Hong Su-jeong unnie is also more mature than Jang-gun.」

“We originally planned to rest in Hawaii for about two days…”

Yoo Se-ra, who was buried in her seat with her arms crossed, grumbled.

With so many people accompanying them besides the foundation staff, it was inappropriate to show personal desires. Even though she was immature and impulsive, Yoo Se-ra was capable of that much judgment.

“Have a good time.”

Yoo Se-ra, who had finished her schedule in Hawaii by waving her hand to the foundation staff who were leaving for vacation, had a look of a person who had lost their country.

“Mom, don’t be too sad. We’re not going to play. You’re going to work, mom.”

“Yeah. Mom’s okay.”

Let’s think of it as a president taking her employees to a vacation spot. Sniff-.

Scribble scribble-.

Son Yu-jin moved her pencil to record as much as possible before the lights went out.

「Yoo Se-ra ajumma likes to snack. So she got scolded by Hong Su-jeong unnie. Jang-gun also likes dog treats. So he runs away with it. Then Hongsi barks. Yoo Se-ra ajumma is a Jang-gun like Bbomi.」

*

Jin-hyeok, who had been watching Yoo Se-ra and Hong Su-jeong bickering and Yu-jin recording them, chuckled.

‘It’s nice to see. It’s a good picture.’

Jin-hyeok, who was smiling without knowing that his image was being captured by Min Yong-rak’s camcorder, naturally recalled his memories of Hawaii.

‘Is she talking about that place with the green sign, the hot dog place?’

Maybe it was around 2012.

It was a place he had entered when he was walking alone at night and craving a beer.

Without any prior information, just following his feet.

‘I knew it, but I was lonely even there.’

Sigh-.

When he returned to Korea, his KakaoTalk was full of invitations to the Anipang game [a popular mobile game].

At that time, he wasn’t a team leader yet, and he had just been promoted to section chief. He felt like he was being taken advantage of by his friends and colleagues.

‘What if I can’t eat a hot dog?’

The Hawaii he was briefly stopping by now was happier.

There were no Anipang invitation attacks.

The plane took off again, and when he looked around because it was quiet, most of them were asleep, but only Yu-jin was blinking her eyes.

He straightened his backrest and moved next to his younger sister.

‘Come out.’

He placed his hand on Yu-jin’s forehead and called someone in his mind.

He could tell by the throbbing in his head and the chest pain that was squeezing his heart.

He had summoned him without replenishing his power, so the pain was expected.

Jin-hyeok clenched his jaw and maintained consciousness by breathing through his narrowed airway as much as possible.

【What.】

‘Please look after my sister. I have to move separately, so I won’t be able to protect her. There are bodyguards, but-.’

【That baby has grown a lot. I am not a nanny.】

‘You can do it. Even if you’re a warden or whatever, that’s what you are.’

【I only move by contract.】

Ha, that little rascal. He said he was bound by some contract with Hong Ki-jun ahjussi too. He really likes contracts. Does he get sales figures if he makes a contract?

Is he a branch manager instead of a prison warden?

Jin-hyeok, who had overcome his headache, chest pain, and annoyance, calmly asked again.

‘What are the conditions? Is there anything you want from me?’

【Well. My connection with you is purely out of my goodwill. I want nothing from you. And you are boring.】

A guy without a body is giving me a fact bomb.

‘Please take care of her for a month. My sister has the power of creation or whatever, so she can help in an emergency. It’ll be fun if you’re with my sister.’

【Fun…】

A deep longing was evident in the monotone, emotionless voice.

【Fun… I’m intrigued. For example?】

‘They’re going to Disneyland. Disneyland is a place where, I’ve never been there myself, but there are many rides and many people-.’

【I accept the offer.】

Suddenly?