The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 170

< Unchanging Things >

***

“Teacher, can we fit a bicycle in the car?”

“Huh? Of course. Why even ask? It’s a van, it’ll all fit.”

I wanted to go back to my hometown quickly and see my siblings. From the school break to training and the national competition, I had been so focused on outside events that it felt like too long since I had spent time with my siblings.

Indeed, time is a beast that wields the sword of anxiety when family is out of sight. Hearing their voices every day was some comfort, but it couldn’t compare to seeing and touching them in person.

Still, I am their older brother. I couldn’t go back empty-handed after coming to a city with a department store, so I asked Lee Byungse to stop by. I had bought toys for Yujin in Gongju at her request, but buying them in Seoul felt different.

Since her brother came to Seoul, I wanted to give Yujin at least pretty shoes, if not glass slippers.

‘Even the smell is different in a department store.’

Yum Byeongtaek and Jo Seulchan headed to the women’s clothing section, saying they were going to look at clothes.

Hey, you guys! What are you even looking at?

…But I couldn’t scold them because Lee Byungse’s twitching gluteus maximus looked too excited as he followed the kids.

‘Crazy.’

Sighing, Jinhyuk decided to buy sandals for Yujin first.

Yu Sera, who had her arm linked with Jinhyuk’s, walked with him.

“We have much better things at our department store. And it’s not far.”

“I didn’t think of that.”

Still, Yu Sera looked around with him without showing any disappointment.

Jinhyuk closed his mouth tightly at the sight of her smiling kindly and looking up at him. Someone kept coming to mind.

Yu Sera is Yu Sera.

To Jinhyuk, she was just an adult he knew, but it seemed that others didn’t see it that way.

Seeing a middle-aged man, who appeared to be a high-ranking manager at the department store, rushing over, Jinhyuk realized once again how important the person he was walking with was.

“President Yu Sera, if you had contacted us in advance, I would have greeted you-.”

“Ohoho-. Go about your work. I came to buy something with my son.”

I’m not a mole-. Yu Sera’s eyes curved into a smile as she mumbled like a fool.

He chose white sandals for Yujin, a four-wheeled bicycle, and a tricycle for Jeongwon.

A children’s bicycle was an item Jinhyuk had never had. But because Choi Mikyung, who was a child, often gave way to him, he had often ridden them and never felt the lack of a bicycle. They say ownership brings worries, and Jinhyuk had no desire for material things. That’s why he didn’t buy a car in his past life, even though he had made so much money.

‘I didn’t even need one. I lived near the company, so what was the point of a car…’

Yu Sera made a suspicious move.

While Jinhyuk was looking at other things, she approached a clerk and whispered.

“How much is it?”

It was hardly a whisper, as Yu Sera’s voice was as loud as a frog in the early morning of May’s rice-planting season [a common time for frogs to be very vocal].

Could Jinhyuk, who had recorded perfect hearing in both ears for nine consecutive years in his physical exams, not hear such a loud frog sound?

Jinhyuk said firmly to the clerk.

“I won’t buy it if you take money from her.”

“Tsk-. Caught me?”

Yu Sera, who had been caught trying to pay first, stuck out her tongue.

“I wanted to buy the bikes for my siblings.”

“Okay. Then I’ll go look at bras for our Sujeong-. She’s been growing so much lately, oh my-, her development is so good…”

You don’t have to say that…

Why does she have to say things that don’t need to be said so loudly? There are bodyguards and reporters around.

Watching Yu Sera’s retreating figure, Jinhyuk let out a shallow sigh.

‘Many people change, but she never changes at all.’

Is there a law of unchanging foolishness?

Once a fool, always a fool…

Still, thanks to Yu Sera’s disappearance, Jinhyuk gained freedom.

He could have dragged them, but that would have required him to bend over, so he carried the two bicycles in his hands like trophies and went to the pet section.

“Do you have dog toys?”

The bone-shaped toy that Bomi used to chew on was brought from Seoul, but it had gradually worn out and disappeared without a trace. Who the heck ate it?

Maybe it was General’s doing, hoping that the toy tree would grow.

“Are these all the bone-shaped ones?”

“We have more in the warehouse, sir.”

“Do you have them by the box?”

“Excuse me?”

There was a brief exchange of glances.

‘There are twenty in a box…’

‘I have a dog at home that poops plastic.’

The clerk, meeting Jinhyuk’s serious gaze, quickly erased the bewilderment from his face. The clerk nodded with a stiff expression and headed to the warehouse. Even a sense of solemnity emanated from his expression and gestures.

While the clerk was away, Jinhyuk picked up a frisbee.

‘Ten dog dishes should be enough, right?’

He bought a box of bone-shaped toys and plenty of frisbees. The cardboard frisbees didn’t even last a day. These guys would drool on them and bite them.

He also picked up some dog chews.

“Is this a snack?”

“Yes, it’s made with Australian beef, it’s very delicious-.”

What are you talking about? Have you tried it?

Now as then, Jinhyuk thought he didn’t fit in with department stores. There are too many clerks talking nonsense.

“Give me a box of these too.”

“Would you like them gift-wrapped?”

Would General like it if it was wrapped?

“Yes.”

Well, it’s a gift, after all.

*

‘I’m several times more tired than when I exercise.’

Finally, he stopped by the toy section and bought two laser guns for Yujin’s friends. Jinhyuk, who had grown up without many toys and was unfamiliar with the toy world, just nodded as the clerk recommended them.

Yujin was so admirable that she had asked for gifts for her friends even when she returned from the Gongju competition. Her brother, remembering that heart, decided to be generous to his sister once more.

“Would you like them gift-wrapped?”

“Yes.”

Even the dog chews looked good when they were wrapped, so the kids would be even happier to receive wrapped toys.

Shopping is simple, just get the target items!

It had been about 20 minutes since he had been in the department store, and it seemed like he had bought everything he needed.

He treated Yu Sera to a cold drink, grateful for her kindness in attending the game, the contract, and accompanying him to the department store.

“Don’t feel pressured about the contract or anything, just do what you want to do. This mother will always support you.”

“Thank you. I will work hard.”

She always looks at him with loving eyes. That must be why he feels good when he makes eye contact with her. Her black eyes make him feel particularly comfortable.

When they finished shopping and were chatting with Yu Sera, his friends, who had finished looking around the women’s clothing section, joined them.

Jinhyuk’s eyes narrowed as he saw his friends with shopping bags in both hands.

What the heck did these guys buy?

“Grandma’s clothes and tracksuits.”

“I got a game console, tracksuits, and a hat…”

His friends listed their purchases, aware of Jinhyuk’s gaze.

Fortunately, there was nothing strange. Like a ‘mya mya’ cover… [referring to a popular character or item that is not relevant to the story]

“Let’s go home.”

“Yeah-. I even massaged grandma’s legs, and the weekend is already over-.”

“Ugh-, I miss my sisters.”

Home.

Having a place to return to, and people waiting for you there, is truly a happy thing.

Peace settled on the faces of the children at the end of their long journey.

They said goodbye to Yu Sera, who had been with them despite her busy schedule.

She had stayed by his side without interfering, even though she had an appointment with reporters, which was not an easy kindness to show.

“Why don’t you stay a day, Jinhyuk? Sujeong would like it.”

It wasn’t like Jinhyuk to hesitate, but he paused for a moment.

When he talked to Hong Sujeong, who was disappointed that she had come in second place in the kendo competition, he had laughed like a proud father. He had even felt like pinching her cheeks and teasing her.

“I have to go to school tomorrow…”

Since there were many things to carry, it seemed better to travel together while there was a car, and since he had come with his friends, it seemed right to go back with them.

“I’ll call Sujeong again.”

He also felt strangely uneasy.

Not to the point of being ominous, but he had a feeling that something might happen.

‘Nothing will happen.’

He wanted to go home.

***

Han Yuyoung sat in a rocking chair in the living room, knitting.

From Son Gwangyeon’s sweater to Jinhyuk’s vest, Son Yujin’s gloves, and Son Jeongwon’s hat. There were many things she wanted to knit, but she also had many other things to do. Therefore, the time she could spend each day was limited.

‘Let’s see, to finish before it gets cold…’

It wasn’t like she could calculate it, but she narrowed her eyes and counted on her fingers.

She quickly finished the calculation.

‘Well, I guess I can finish it if I knit hard enough.’

She poked the needle, wrapped the yarn, and pulled it out again. She tapped her head to the rhythm of her daughter Son Yujin’s voice, not stopping her hands.

Even though it was Sunday, Son Yujin, wearing her kindergarten uniform, was on the phone, chatting away.

With all sorts of sports and tutoring, Hong Sujeong was probably busier than anyone else, but she would stay put when it was time for Son Yujin to call.

“Today? Did unnie [older sister] go to the track meet too? My oppa [older brother] went the day before yesterday and went today.”

– No, not that, I mean unnie’s mom went to the track meet. Unnie was talking about her school day yesterday. Today was the kendo competition.

Hong Sujeong patiently corrected Son Yujin’s disorganized words.

It was frustrating, but on the other end of the phone, Hong Sujeong was a kind older sister with patience.

“Ah-, I see. I went to kindergarten yesterday too. My oppa quit school. He’s going back on Monday.”

– That’s not ‘going back’, it’s called ‘going to school’. Oppa was just absent for a while because of the competition.

“Ah-, I see. Unnie, come by bus tomorrow.”

– I have to go to school tomorrow-.

Han Yuyoung chuckled as she listened to her daughter’s conversation.

Perhaps because she was a girl, she spoke well, but the topics of conversation, which could jump anywhere, were difficult for a rigid adult to follow. It made her forehead throb when she listened, but was it because the children understood each other? Hong Sujeong and Yujin’s friends seemed unfazed.

‘The world of children is complex.’

They would talk excitedly, fight, and shout, but as soon as their attention turned to something else, they would quickly focus.

“Eommaaa- [Mom].”

“Did our Jeongwon poop? Nuna [older sister] is coming! Ah, I think Jeongwon pooped. Unnie, hang up.”

Even now, she changed her attitude when she saw Jeongwon walking around the living room, pretending to take off his diaper. She was obsessed with talking to Hong Sujeong, as if she was replacing her brother, who had been busy for over a month with training and competitions, but she was also a sister who would jump at the chance to help her younger sibling.

‘Yujin will grow up quickly like that too.’

Children are different in the morning and evening.

Her eldest son, who had returned from Gongju, was surprised at how much Yujin had grown. He said she had grown so much in just a few days.

It wasn’t just a matter of time.

Even if they tripped over a stone, got stung by a bee, or bitten by an ant, it seemed like children were meeting opportunities for growth.

They would cause trouble, think, realize, and eventually express it in words.

No one could measure the impact of a single event on a child’s growth.

Her son Jinhyuk had also suddenly grown taller when he was nine years old, so she thought it wouldn’t be long before Yujin did too.

It was a phenomenon that parents should naturally accept, but it was a shame to lose their cuteness. It was probably a contradictory feeling that all parents had. They wanted their children to grow up enough to take care of themselves, but at the same time, they always wanted them to be cute like babies.

“Our Jeongwon, change your diaper and play with mom. Nuna has to meet her friends.”

“Yujin, you know you can’t go far since your uncles aren’t here, right?”

“I know.”

Should she be thankful that she was smart and didn’t whine like other children?

Even though her way of speaking was strange.

“Yujin, there are a lot of bees these days. You have to be careful of bees, okay?”

“Yes-. It hurts if you get stung by a bee. You have to put soybean paste on it.”

Han Yuyoung, who had been maintaining a motherly smile, began to feel a throbbing in her forehead.

She was thankful that her daughter was smart, but that was also why she often said strange things.

Choi Janghwan had said that.

That Jo Ilheon had ruined several kids in the neighborhood.

Han Yuyoung had been watching him for over 15 years, and it was amazing how consistent he was in trying to influence the neighborhood kids even at his age.

***

Three children wearing yellow clothes sat around the porch of Son Yujin’s house.

Kim Hojin from An Village and Lee Dongho from Baemgol had come to play.

All they did was sit in the shade, drink the tomato juice that their mothers had made, and eat puffed rice, but Son Yujin was happy. Her dad had said that having many friends was a good thing, and it seemed like he was right. He also said that friends were the greatest asset.

“Kim Hojin and Lee Dongho, take one of these.”

“What is this?”

“My friends, what do you think this is?”

The object that Kim Hojin and Lee Dongho questioned at the same time was a toy that looked like a camera. If you pulled it out by hand, the lens area would protrude, and if you put your eye to the viewfinder and pressed the shutter, it would make a clicking sound and the pictures would change in order.

“Wow-. They don’t even have this at the terminal toy store!”

It was a new item that even Lee Dongho, who was relatively knowledgeable about city goods, was impressed by.

It was a toy that her brother, who had gone to the city, had bought as a gift, and Son Yujin had asked for it for her friends. It was when her brother had called home before returning from Gongju and had asked to speak to Yujin, that he had hesitantly brought it up.

– S, s, s- my beloved Yujin, is there anything you want?

– “Heeheeheehee-! I just need an Ajji bear.”

Whether she was pregnant or had gas in her stomach, her belly was big, but Bear Team Leader Ajjijji said that a good bear was a famous bear.

Instead, she asked for gifts for Kim Hojin and Lee Dongho, who played with her every day.

Her brother had a lot of money, so he was someone who could do that much.

Son Yujin was a smart kindergartener, so she knew that too.

She had already realized the truth that 5,000 won was five 1,000 won bills.

Her brother had said that when he was in kindergarten, he could eat sugar-coated jelly with just 10 won, and he was happy. Son Yujin liked having more than 10 won. Hong Sujeong unnie said that mothers in the world hide money so that children can’t choose their own Children’s Day gifts.

That’s why she asked her brother. Her brother didn’t hide money like her mom, and he had a lot of money.

Jjorong Ajjijji said that if you want to become a chairman later, it’s good to feed people in advance. If you feed them in a hurry later, they will get indigestion. Ah, was it indigestion or arrest?

Anyway, that’s why she was feeding these guys juice and puffed rice and giving them toys.

‘Eat up.’

Future voter children.