The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 144

Anyone can throw out ideas.

In the past, Hong Ki-joon disliked executives who only talked the talk without even presenting a minimal execution plan. Those employees were met with looks of near contempt.

‘Anyone can just flap their lips.’

Frankly, isn’t complaining something anyone can do, even without a brain, as long as they have a mouth?

From early on, Hong Ki-joon often said, ‘Those who have a job and receive a salary can only be called adults when they surpass that stage.’

There was no way Jin-hyuk wouldn’t know Hong Ki-joon’s tendencies.

‘We could host something like a science Olympiad led by the company. It would be great to give scholarships to the winning students and continue to provide them with opportunities to develop their abilities. And even if they don’t win, we could sponsor their original ideas.’

Hong Ki-joon would recognize ideas that could be used in the future. It wasn’t Jin-hyuk’s place, as a student, to presumptuously act as a judge.

‘Our country is indeed weak in science and technology.’

‘It’s not weak. We even win world Olympiads.’

The problem is that people don’t pursue their talents because they’re not seen as profitable. The perception of being a weirdo and the finger-pointing also play a part. Even if they do continue to pursue their talents, they often have no other option but to go abroad.

‘Okay. My job isn’t to point things out but to organize them, find ways to realize them, and report back. What else?’

‘Recruiting after-school teachers. For sports, music, art, and so on.’

Min Yong-rak tilted his head.

After-school classes? Why all of a sudden?

Even in his confusion, Min Yong-rak’s fingers were tapping away, inputting the words Jin-hyuk had spoken.

Jin-hyuk briefly explained the after-school classes for students in rural schools.

The plan was to have people who could teach special skills, even without regular teaching qualifications, guide children in developing their talents, not just at Eodong Elementary School but at all schools in the area.

‘We’ll have to talk to the Ministry of Education about this, right?’

‘To some extent, yes.’

As expected, Min Yong-rak’s brain was quick. His work skills had grown significantly since he first came to Dooder House. He was considering the process without needing much explanation. Just as Jin-hyuk was growing and the Sein Group was taking unexpected steps, Min Yong-rak was also becoming a specialist.

***

It was a day before Jung-won’s first birthday party.

An early monsoon rain soaked the night air.

Jin-hyuk, watching the falling night rain, fell into thought, using the sound of the rain as music. He massaged his tingling elbows and knees.

‘Is it okay to just give orders from behind like this?’

In his previous life, Executive Director Hong Soo-jung had advised Jin-hyuk to utilize people, and in this life, Uncle Hong Ki-joon had told him to enjoy life. Still, Jin-hyuk, who had always handled everything himself, felt restless. Maybe that’s why his joints were aching.

Isn’t that right?

The workaholic who meticulously checked everything from the draft of a report to the detailed execution plan was now just standing by with his arms crossed.

It was especially something he felt sorry for Hong Ki-joon about.

Their positions from the past had been reversed.

The owner of the group was now being guided by a middle schooler. Of course, it wasn’t like Hong Ki-joon, a famous figure, was only doing what Jin-hyuk, a country bumpkin, suggested.

The cool night air, uncharacteristic for the season, seeped in through a slightly open window. He took a deep breath and turned on the computer.

It was a desktop PC equipped with a CPU developed in-house by Sein, and the performance difference was so significant that Intel had reportedly scrapped the development of the Pentium Pro because of this processor.

‘I didn’t use a computer at this age in the past, so I don’t know if it’s good or bad.’

He could only guess that it was better than competing models, given that it was dominating the market despite its high price. Well, it was useful enough.

‘I need to start keeping records too.’

Tap tap tap tap-. His fingers began to dance across the keyboard.

He needed records of past events, not of his current life.

As time passed, his hazy memories of the past were becoming even more blurred.

The fact that his harsh personality was gradually softening was also unfamiliar.

He didn’t even have a hobby he could call a hobby, but at some point, he started to take an interest in various fields. His emotions were always calm, but within them, desires and impulses often stirred.

When he was thirteen and enjoying the spring breeze, he thought it was just hormonal delusion, but maybe this was rejuvenation. The process of a soul entering a young body and gradually becoming younger to harmonize with the body. It was a shame that the memories of indirect experiences were disappearing, but the phenomenon of the gap between the soul and body narrowing was welcome.

This was also a life he had never lived.

It was a different feeling from having people like family and friends around him, who hadn’t existed before.

It felt like he was a cog that didn’t fit, spinning alone while people changed and seasons passed, but now he finally felt like a piece of the world.

He was typing away as thoughts came to him when.

Drrrrrrr-.

The secure phone on his desk vibrated. It was a new phone with a receiving function, something that Moon Seok-il had modified from a regular cell phone being developed and tested by Sein into a secure phone.

‘Who is it?’

He had occasionally made calls, but he had never answered a call except when he was testing it with Moon Seok-il.

He cautiously picked up the phone.

‘……Yes.’

– It’s me, Nalsae.

Whoa, you scared me.

Jin-hyuk involuntarily jumped up from the floor.

***

Hong Ki-joon knew what Moon Seok-il’s recent secret report meant. He’d be a fool not to.

– They say we need to destroy Seonggu Bridge.

Upon hearing Moon Seok-il’s report, Hong Ki-joon laughed heartily. He coughed, his chest hurt, and he laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes from the pain.

His instincts were telling him that it was no longer time to be frustrated and act with restraint.

It seemed certain, but should he test it?

‘Nalsae.’

– Yes, Chairman. How have you been?

Hong Ki-joon’s hand holding the secure phone trembled, but his face was flushed. Tears were welling up as if they were about to spill.

‘Don’t worry about the bridge problem. I’ll take care of it.’

– Understood.

‘Do you know about me too?’

– I know that I need to be careful with my words around you.

‘It’s going to be easy to talk. It seems like I sent Min Deputy for nothing.’

– You must be busy, and you wouldn’t have time to deal with just me. I think it was an excellent choice.

Hong Ki-joon, realizing that Jin-hyuk’s tone was different from usual, smiled bitterly.

‘I wish you would treat me as you always have. I’m treating you as Jin-hyuk, not Team Leader Son, aren’t I?’

He could almost see Jin-hyuk hesitating on the other end of the line.

Hong Ki-joon was reminded of the eyes of Team Leader Son Jin-hyuk, who had hesitated on the last day of his previous life, wondering whether to get into the chairman’s car.

If he hadn’t taken him in the car then, Hong Ki-joon wouldn’t have had a second chance either.

– I will.

‘Thank you. And thank you. I’ve always wanted to say that.’

– I don’t know why. Ah, you must have a reason why you can’t say it right now. Please tell me someday.

He was quick to grasp the situation as expected.

Hong Ki-joon’s brow, which had been furrowed in fatigue, smoothed out with pleasure.

‘I promise. Don’t go anywhere.’

– Yes.

Just as Hong Ki-joon was about to wet his lips, feeling relieved, Jin-hyuk, lowering his voice, spoke from the other end of the line after a brief pause.

– Please take care of Shinpoong Department Store too. There should still be time. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to step in.

‘Right, that’s where it was.’

– You don’t know everything, do you?

‘It would be strange if I did. People can’t even list the events of last year. It gets worse as you get older.’

Hong Ki-joon couldn’t bring himself to say 300 years.

– I agree. I’ll send you the records I’ve kept by email.

Still, how happy he was to have someone who could empathize like this.

Hong Ki-joon sank deep into the comfortable study chair.

He folded his legs and sat cross-legged on the chair.

‘Good!’

It was damn good to see him again.

They had met again as a child and an adult, but what did it matter? It was more thrilling than when he had accidentally met a senior who had bullied him in the army and had a fistfight.

The situation where he couldn’t speak openly was a shame, but as long as he was careful, it wouldn’t be a big problem.

‘Just keep doing what you’re doing. Do you know what a chairman does? People in the world think that a group chairman just plays around. They think they just show their face in front of the camera sometimes, shake hands with politicians, wave their hands at factories, and give lectures at universities. Many people do that, so it’s not like it’s a wrong perception, but there are also people who create important history that isn’t recorded. Our Chairman Son is doing that right now, isn’t he? Just keep doing what you’re doing. Like a child, like an adult.’

Hong Ki-joon turned his head to look at the wall mirror. He thought his current appearance was similar to how Hong Soo-jung, when she was a kindergartener, would chatter to her mother after school. He was so excited that even if someone pointed that out, he wouldn’t mind.

***

Jin-hyuk pictured Hong Ki-joon on the other end of the line.

He was probably sitting cross-legged on the chair, patting his knees. It was Hong Ki-joon’s habit when he relaxed and had a pleasant conversation. He might even be rolling up his pants and massaging his calves.

‘I have a question.’

– I’ll tell you everything except what I can’t.

‘Did you originally know who my son was?’

He wanted to know.

Why had he been so good to him in his previous life?

– It would be more accurate to say I didn’t know. There are more than one or two people with the same name. You can recall that person just by looking at the documents, but you need evidence to identify them specifically, right? I just speculated.

His sincerity was palpable.

That made him even more grateful.

However, Jin-hyuk didn’t miss the fact that Hong Ki-joon’s answer implied that he had found out later.

‘Did you come to find me, or did you come to find my father?’

– Both.

It was certain.

‘Did you know before we died?’

– Hmm……

It was a heavy sigh.

Jin-hyuk waited silently for Hong Ki-joon’s answer.

– The question is wrong. But if I correct it, I think I’ll be in danger. Anyway, the answer is ‘no.’

So, something had happened after the accident.

He couldn’t remember it. Jin-hyuk also seemed to vaguely understand the meaning of the sealed memories that the shadow or the fool was referring to.

‘Since I didn’t die, the memories of the past remained. That’s why I became an old man despite my physical age.’

He remembered the day when Chun Gil-ryong had suddenly come and scolded him, telling him not to wander because the soul was one. Chun Gil-ryong had said that the soul was over once it died.

‘About Daejeong……, do you know?’

– I knew before you did. I can’t yield to you. I’ve already started working on it. Hahaha-!

Jin-hyuk laughed awkwardly and covered his mouth with his fist.

Hong Ki-joon had taken the lead for the Son family. He felt a mix of gratitude and guilt.

– You might not have anything to do. Is that okay?

‘Well……, I was actually wondering what to do. If I just rush in with enthusiasm, I’ll get into trouble, so I needed time to plan.’

It was a natural concern for Jin-hyuk, who hadn’t received group management training.

Jin-hyuk was a person specialized in work, not in management. He had never been close to the core of power, so he hadn’t accumulated enough experience to understand the political and strategically advanced nature of the group.

– I’ve thought about how miserable the life of someone who only dreams of revenge would be. What could someone do after achieving that goal and having nothing left to do?

‘I guess so……’

Jin-hyuk naturally agreed with the words that were meant for him.

In many ways, Hong Ki-joon was a much more amazing person than he was. He was considering not only political calculations but also the positions of others.

– It doesn’t seem like I need to worry since you’re not rushing to kill anyone right now. But still, leave the revenge to the adults. A child should live happily.

Jin-hyuk’s head drooped down, unable to hold it up any longer.

Was that why he kept telling him to live happily whenever he saw him? Was he worried that he would run wild to take revenge?

‘Did you know? About me.’

– I was suspicious, but I didn’t know. I found out when Team Leader Moon started talking about bombs.

So it wasn’t that.

Was it just a blessing?

– Now it’s my turn to ask.

‘Yes.’

– Are you interested in politics?

‘If you’re asking if I plan to become a politician, then no, not at all.’

– Okay. I’ll leave that side alone.

‘I think Father would be good at it.’

– Politics is when a minority uses plausible words to manipulate the majority for their own benefit. Regardless of the form. As you know, I’m a negotiator, not a manipulator.

‘But there’s also the idea of collective intelligence to counter that.’

– Nonsense. The moment a few people hiding in collective intelligence mislead it, collective intelligence becomes madness. Don’t forget. The majority is always used by the minority.

It was difficult for Jin-hyuk, who had not been interested in worldly affairs. He understood it in his head, but it didn’t resonate with him. However, he didn’t want to deny Hong Ki-joon’s thoughts either.

Rather, he was grateful for his continued interest.

In the past, Chairman Hong Ki-joon would often share casual conversations and tell Jin-hyuk, who had grown up without adults, about the world. Just like Yoo Myung-sun did with Son Kwang-yeon.

– You must become a thorough minority. No, become the only one. This is what I can tell you, and what I can help you with.

Was this what it felt like to communicate with someone in outer space?

The message itself was warm, but the voice that echoed hollowly in his mind sounded like a will.