362
“It’s because you’re from Korea University, Professor.”
I realized it later.
That Son Min-ho’s dismissive attitude towards students stemmed, in part, from his alma mater.
A moment ago, when I overheard in the hallway that my advisor was looking for me, I had some idea why.
So, I briefly considered what I would say.
But the deliberation didn’t last long.
It was because the memories of Son Min-ho remained vivid in my mind.
The way he treated the students; the answer was right there.
Disregard.
That was his behavior, justified by his Korea University background.
So, this time, for the same reason—to prevent him from dismissing students because he’s from Korea University—that was the solution Hyun-sung found.
That’s why Hyun-sung brought up the ‘Korea University’ affiliation.
Son Min-ho, caught off guard, tilted his head and asked immediately.
“Wait, what does that mean? Because I’m from Korea University? What does that have to do with my choice of school?”
“Why wouldn’t it matter? It’s Korea University, of all places!”
Hyun-sung deliberately emphasized ‘Korea University.’ After all, everything started there, and to use Son Min-ho, the prestige of Korea University was necessary.
But Son Min-ho, unaware of this, smiled slightly, looking a bit perplexed, and continued.
“Haha, am I lacking in understanding… I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m sorry, but could you explain the reason?”
It was the response I had been waiting for anyway.
Hyun-sung nodded and immediately continued.
“Yes, I understand. There are two reasons.”
“Two reasons?”
“Yes, first of all, your skills as a professor have already been proven.”
Hyun-sung started with the most basic aspect.
Skills.
The reason was that he knew it was the pride of Korea University that Son Min-ho valued most.
Perhaps that’s why.
I could sense Son Min-ho’s expression brightening.
He smiled lightly and immediately continued.
“Haha, proven skills?”
“Yes, that’s right. In some ways, it’s the most important part. Don’t you think?”
“Well, it is, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the most important…”
“No. At least for me, that part was the most important.”
Hyun-sung emphasized the importance of skills once more, even before Son Min-ho finished speaking. To thoroughly leverage Son Min-ho in the future, it was absolutely necessary for him to have pride in being the best himself.
And who wouldn’t like to have their skills acknowledged?
As expected, the effect was immediate.
Unlike his earlier passive smile, his laughter grew louder.
“Haha, hahaha… I understand, I understand. Since you think so, let’s move on. So, what’s the second reason?”
“Expectation.”
“Expec… tation?”
Son Min-ho tilted his head again, as if he hadn’t anticipated this, and looked at Hyun-sung.
Then Hyun-sung continued immediately.
“Yes, the expectation for someone from Korea University.”
Hyun-sung emphasized Korea University again. As expected, to achieve his goal, Son Min-ho’s Korea University background was absolutely necessary.
Son Min-ho’s reaction was similar to before.
“Haha… I must be getting dull. I still don’t understand what you’re saying. I’m sorry, but could you explain it again?”
“It’s as it sounds.”
“As it sounds?”
“Yes, the expectation that comes with being from Korea University. The belief that you will lead the students well, just as your proven skills suggest.”
“Belief?”
“Yes, I believed that there would be no disappointment, at least. Because that’s the value that Korea University holds, I thought. The absolute value unique to Korea University.”
Hyun-sung emphasized Korea University one more time. This time, he even added the term ‘absolute value.’ He needed to push Son Min-ho into the framework of Korea University to that extent.
Then Son Min-ho showed an interesting reaction.
“I feel like I’m being cornered, what is this?”
“Pardon? Cornered?”
“Yeah, I feel that way. Am I being too sensitive…?”
“Haha, Professor…”
Hyun-sung forced a laugh, trying not to show any emotion. He couldn’t let his feelings show here.
Everything has its limits.
Moderation.
But Hyun-sung emphasized Korea University twice, mentioning it as if trying to engrave the fact that Son Min-ho was from Korea University.
So, it was natural for Son Min-ho to react sensitively.
‘Humph!’
Hyun-sung laughed inwardly.
It was a calculated move anyway. From the moment he received Son Min-ho’s call, Hyun-sung chose this method to ensure that Son Min-ho himself was bound by the shackles of Korea University, so he wouldn’t be ignored as he had been in his past life.
Hyun-sung stopped laughing and looked at Son Min-ho, asking.
“Why do you think that way?”
“Well, I don’t know, I just felt that way. How should I put it… it’s like feeling the pressure of my alma mater after a long time.”
“Pressure?”
“Yeah, perfectionism. Now that time has passed, I’ve become much duller, but when I first stood on the podium, it wasn’t easy.”
“…”
Son Min-ho looked out the window for a moment, as if reminiscing about the past.
Hyun-sung remained silent, simply waiting quietly. He felt that he shouldn’t disturb the emotions Son Min-ho was feeling, at least at this moment.
After a while.
Son Min-ho turned his gaze to Hyun-sung and asked.
“What’s the reason?”
“Pardon?”
“The reason you’re emphasizing the fact that I’m from Korea University so much. At first, I thought it was just the reason you came to this school, but after thinking about it again, I realized that’s not all. Am I wrong?”
Smirk.
Hyun-sung laughed inwardly. He had expected it to some extent, but Son Min-ho’s judgment was much faster than he had anticipated.
That’s why he felt even better. It meant that the time to achieve his goal would be shortened.
Hyun-sung continued.
“No. You’re right, Professor. There was another reason.”
“Another reason… Alright, what’s that other reason?”
“Respect.”
“Respect?”
Son Min-ho tilted his head and looked at Hyun-sung. Even at first glance, he couldn’t grasp what that meant.
Son Min-ho asked immediately.
“Suddenly respect? What does that mean?”
“I’m asking you to respect the students.”
“Haha, respect the students? That sounds like you’re saying I’m ignoring the students, am I right?”
Of course, that’s right. He was that kind of person.
But he couldn’t say that fact as it is now.
“Of course not. How could you, Professor, ignore the students? That’s absurd!”
Hyun-sung spoke loudly, with an exaggerated voice.
Then Son Min-ho chuckled and continued.
“No, you don’t have to raise your voice like that. It makes the listener feel awkward…”
“It’s just that it’s such an absurd story that I couldn’t help but raise my voice.”
“Haha, is that so? Well, that’s that, but why did you bring that up suddenly?”
“I heard a rumor.”
“Rumor? What rumor did you hear?”
Son Min-ho looked at Hyun-sung, curious.
Then Hyun-sung continued immediately.
“That you’re ignoring students from local universities.”
“Haha, who would do such a thing…”
“That’s what I’m saying. It’s like spitting in the face of someone above you. Don’t you think?”
Hyun-sung looked at Son Min-ho as he spoke.
Then Son Min-ho subtly avoided his gaze, cleared his throat, and nodded.
“Ahem, that’s right. We should respect each other while being in the same space, we shouldn’t do that.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“But you know…”
Son Min-ho paused for a moment and then continued.
“There’s one thing I’m curious about, does that have anything to do with Korea University?”
“Ah, it’s the opposite.”
“Opposite?”
“Yes, I heard that there are no such professors from Korea University. Rather, it seems that there are occasionally such professors from other schools.”
“Hmm…”
Son Min-ho nodded without saying anything else.
Hyun-sung smiled slightly as he looked at him. Of course, he didn’t forget the sense to subtly cover his mouth with his hand.
Now, at least Son Min-ho won’t ignore the students in the future. In his past life, he openly ignored them even during class. As a result, the students and professors could not become one, like water and oil.
Respect, not disregard.
That was the primary goal so far.
But what would be the point if it ended here?
The important thing is practical change. The ultimate goal of Hyun-sung’s attempt to engrave Son Min-ho’s Korea University background until just now, was because he was thinking of another change.
Just as Hyun-sung was about to say something.
Son Min-ho spoke first.
“Will you try it?”
“Pardon?”
“Will you join hands with me?”
“…?”
Hyun-sung was so surprised that he couldn’t say anything for a moment. It was because of Son Min-ho’s eyes. Son Min-ho’s eyes now were so intense that it felt like he was looking at someone else, not the person he had been talking to until just now.
Hyun-sung cautiously opened his mouth again.
“Pardon? What do you mean…””I have a feeling that if it’s you, I might be able to start again.”
“…”
“It was five years ago. So…”
Son Min-ho continued.
He said he came to Gangsang University five years ago. Of course, he said he came because he wanted to. He said he chose this place near the sea because he hated the stuffy city.
And the first thing he tried after coming down was running a civil service exam preparation class. The reason was simple. He thought that the only way to succeed in a local university was that way.
He said the beginning was good.
But he said he started to feel a sense of futility after three years. He said it was because of the students.
At first, they seemed to be working hard, but as time went on, he couldn’t help but feel helpless in the face of their declining motivation.
After two more years, he said that there was only one student left. In the end, the civil service exam preparation class was dissolved at the end of the second semester of last year.
It was a fact he didn’t know. He had never heard such a story in his past life.
Hyun-sung nodded and said.
“That happened.”
“I really wanted to prove that even a dragon can rise from a small stream.”
“…”
“But I realized in five years that it was meaningless. I thought that it wouldn’t work here after all.”
“…”
Hyun-sung quietly waited for him to speak.
Then Son Min-ho opened his mouth again.
“My friends in Seoul told me. They told me not to be pathetic anymore. They said that was enough.”
“…”
“I said I understood. I had no choice but to admit it. I made a resolution myself. That what’s not meant to be, isn’t meant to be.”
“Hoo…”
Hyun-sung couldn’t help but sigh.
Now I seemed to know. Why Son Min-ho had ignored the students so much in his past life.
Son Min-ho continued again.
“I didn’t want to get hurt again. It hurt too much.”
“…”
“But you know, this place has been getting strange again since a few days ago.”
Tuk tuk.
Son Min-ho lightly tapped his chest with his fist.
Then he continued again.
“Do you know when it started?”
“…?”
“It was that day.”
“That day?”
“Yeah, the day you sang at the opening party and reached out to me.”
Son Min-ho smiled at Hyun-sung.
Then he immediately continued again.
“How about it? Will you be pathetic with me?”