Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1618

The world operates on a system of procedures and steps.

Of course, if you don’t follow those procedures and steps, problems arise in the process. That’s why humans have created societies that adhere to procedures.

However, in any society, there will always be people who ignore those procedures and do as they please.

And the world has called those who ignore procedures and have the power to disregard others tyrants or oppressors.

“Um…”

“What is it?”

Kang Jin-ho lowered his gaze.

‘I just said ‘um’.’

His voice already conveyed a strong unwillingness to hear any objections.

“Is it really necessary to go that far?”

“Oh my, look at this guy?”

Choi Yeon-ha narrowed her eyes.

“It’s for the kids, is there anything excessive about it?”

Kang Jin-ho shut his mouth.

If she puts it that way, there’s nothing he can say…

Kang Jin-ho slightly lifted his head and looked at the drum washing machines being carried in.

“We’ve put in enough already.”

“Have you ever done laundry?”

“…I’ve at least used a washing machine.”

“Yes. That’s when you had your own laundry to do, right? Do you know how much laundry the kids have to do? Yes, of course, we can manage with what we have now. But to handle the amount of laundry that comes out, it’s better to have as many as possible. It also makes it easier to sort and wash them separately.”

Choi Yeon-ha frowned, as if she was full of complaints.

“I’d like to add some dryers too, but the space is a bit awkward, so I’m holding back.”

“There are already three dryers…”

“Do you know how many kids there are?”

Choi Yeon-ha narrowed her eyes.

“You’re thinking I’m wasting money, aren’t you?”

“…No, I’m not.”

Choi Yeon-ha stared at Kang Jin-ho with a strange look. He felt a cold sweat running down his back, but Kang Jin-ho desperately tried to keep a calm face.

“It’s not like I enjoy spending money. Do you know how I earned that money? Flying for over ten hours by plane to China and the US to earn it.”

“Using the gate…”

“Shhh!”

“…Okay.”

Choi Yeon-ha shrugged and continued.

“But if we’re not going to hire someone to do that kind of work, this is the best way. No matter how much someone wants to take good care of the kids, if the time they can spend together decreases, the attention they can give will inevitably decrease.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded.

She was right.

“So, we should use whatever we can, whether it’s a dryer, a washing machine, or a dishwasher. That way, the teachers can wipe the kids’ noses even once more. It’s hard to find people, so we should solve what we can with money. If not, why even earn money, we can live off what we have now.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Choi Yeon-ha with a renewed gaze.

This boldness that Choi Yeon-ha occasionally showed was something Kang Jin-ho found hard to keep up with.

Kang Jin-ho’s concept of money was a bit strange. He would readily spend hundreds of millions, but when it came to spending tens of millions, he would hesitate.

‘Is it because I don’t have a sense of reality?’

After all, whether it’s hundreds of millions or billions, it doesn’t really feel real. It’s just a number on a bank statement or a report.

But tens of millions of won felt like real money, so he would feel a bit burdened every time he used it.

Unlike Choi Yeon-ha.

“By the way…”

“Yes.”

Choi Yeon-ha, who was looking at the dryer being loaded into the elevator, slightly turned her head to look at Kang Jin-ho.

“You want me to take on the position of a foundation director too?”

“Yes. I would like you to.”

“Hmm.”

Choi Yeon-ha made a slight humming sound and then stared intently at Kang Jin-ho.

“Jin-ho.”

“Yes.”

“This might not be my place to say, but we’re not actually a married couple, are we?”

“Huh? Should I propose?”

“Are you crazy?”

Choi Yeon-ha was horrified and stepped back. Her face turned bright red in an instant, and she yelled.

“Why would you propose in a place like this!”

“No, I was just asking…”

Of course, Choi Yeon-ha, who shouted “Are you crazy?” at what she thought was a proposal, wasn’t normal either.

“Are you serious?”

“Well, no…”

Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head slightly.

“I haven’t really thought about getting married, but if I were to get married, it would be difficult to do it with someone else.”

“Ah, that’s obvious. You’d be dead.”

Is she saying yes or no?

A woman’s heart is like a reed, but Choi Yeon-ha’s reed is very different from the reed people generally talk about.

“A-anyway!”

Choi Yeon-ha, who had cooled her face with a hand fan, spoke with her face still flushed.

“Actually, we’re doing business together right now.”

“That’s right.”

“It feels a bit awkward to say it like this. It’s like I’m just freeloading on Jin-ho’s business and making a living together.”

“It’s not that bad…”

“That’s the truth.”

Choi Yeon-ha said calmly.

Of course, Choi Yeon-ha was already planning to establish an agency even if Kang Jin-ho hadn’t started MK, so she was definitely not freeloading on Kang Jin-ho’s business, but it seemed like she felt that way to some extent.

“Anyway, if we do this together, won’t it overlap too much? It’s nice that you’re considerate of me… but I don’t want to just sit in the position of a foundation director without doing anything. Who am I to do that?”

“Please do it.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Choi Yeon-ha and said.

“It’s not that I’m just creating a position for you, but I need someone I can trust and work with. Among the people I’ve seen so far, you’re the only one who truly cares about the children.”

“I want to work with someone I can trust to take care of the orphanage while I’m away. Please.”

Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes wavered slightly.

“Would you have asked me even if I wasn’t your girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“…You’re a really strange person.”

Choi Yeon-ha frowned.

She also knew that Kang Jin-ho wasn’t someone who lied. So, those words were all sincere.

“Why did you decide that?”

“I told you…”

“I mean, what’s the basis for that judgment?”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“If you go to Seongsim Orphanage and ask the kids who should be the director, nine out of ten would say Choi Yeon-ha’s name.”

Oh….

That’s probably true. The orphanage is already under her control.

Kang Jin-ho said firmly.

“Kids’ eyes are surprisingly accurate. They don’t like someone just because they spend a lot of money. They know like ghosts whether someone really cares about them.”

“Wait. That’s because it’s Seongsim Orphanage. Where do you get the confidence that I’ll do the same at other orphanages?”

Kang Jin-ho silently turned his head to look at the appliances being carried into the orphanage.

The two, who had made eye contact again, were silent for a while.

Choi Yeon-ha, realizing that she had been completely defeated in logic, said hesitantly.

“No, that’s just…”

Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth.

“You don’t have to do it like Seongsim. I’m against you taking on that kind of burden. Just do it comfortably. You’ll still be better than others.”

“Hmm.”

Choi Yeon-ha glanced at Kang Jin-ho and then turned her head away with a cold face.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Yes. I’m counting on you.”

She was doing her best to manage her expression, but Choi Yeon-ha’s heart felt like it was about to take flight.

It was because she knew what the orphanage meant to Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho was currently engaged in various businesses. MK, the General Assembly… none of them were unimportant to Kang Jin-ho.

But this welfare foundation was completely different from the others.

If the other businesses were ‘things that Kang Jin-ho had to do,’ this welfare foundation was ‘something that Kang Jin-ho didn’t have to do but wanted to do.’

Kang Jin-ho himself probably didn’t know it well, but it was obvious which work held more weight in his heart.

The fact that Kang Jin-ho had chosen Choi Yeon-ha as the person to do that work with was very significant. If it was simply to speed up the work, Cho Gyu-min or Lee Hyun-soo would have been much more helpful.

Kang Jin-ho had chosen Choi Yeon-ha as his partner, even though she might sometimes hinder the quick processing of work.

This was more than just Choi Yeon-ha gaining Kang Jin-ho’s favor as a girlfriend. It was about being recognized as a person, not just a lover.

“I’m a bit busy… and, well, it feels a bit old-fashioned to be in a position like a director at my age, so I don’t like it…”

“But you’re already a director, aren’t you?”

“…That’s true.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“Anyway, please think about it. I want to work with you.”

Seeing Kang Jin-ho smiling softly made her heart flutter slightly.

Choi Yeon-ha looked at Kang Jin-ho with a sullen expression.

“Where did you learn to smile like that, you weren’t like this before.”

“Keep your eyes half-closed, so you don’t attract any clumsy people. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

Choi Yeon-ha narrowed her brows.

‘It’s a good thing that a person is becoming softer….’

But not for Kang Jin-ho.

No, her boyfriend, Kang Jin-ho, shouldn’t be like that.

The reason why Kang Jin-ho could completely block women’s approaches even with that face was because of the aura and fundamental coldness that emanated from him even without opening his mouth.

That’s why even people who had a liking for him couldn’t easily approach Kang Jin-ho.

‘But if he goes around smiling like that, it’s a different story.’

She decided that she needed to pay more attention to his behavior.

“I’ll consider it positively.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Then let’s go.”

“No. You go, Jin-ho. I have things to do.”

“Huh? What things…”

Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes blazed with determination.

“No, even though I fed them so much, they still look at me with caution! These brats are so impudent!”

Usually, that’s not how you would describe it as ‘impudent’.

“So, this time, I’m going to properly show them who I am. If food doesn’t work, I’ll have to win them over with gifts. I’m going to take them all out for a trip!”

Kang Jin-ho smiled gently.

He didn’t want to ask where she was going. Knowing would probably give him a bigger headache.

“Should I send someone with you?”

“It’s okay. The security guard is in good shape, I’ll just take him with me.”

“Ah…”

That’s right.

“Anyway, so…”

Choi Yeon-ha rolled up her sleeves.

“I’ll take care of things on my own today.”

“Okay…”

“Be careful on your way!”

Choi Yeon-ha didn’t even wait for Kang Jin-ho’s reply and strode towards the orphanage.

Kang Jin-ho, who was watching her, burst out laughing.

‘She said she’d think about the director position.’

Shouldn’t it be wrong for someone who has no relation to the orphanage to take the children out?

Kang Jin-ho, with a smile, glanced at the orphanage.

Normally, the orphanage should stop such a thing, but that wouldn’t happen. The teachers and the director of the orphanage were already half on Choi Yeon-ha’s side.

“She’s such a headache.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and turned around.