The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 223

After individually tickling the chins of the gathered dog friends, Choi Mikyung made a ‘purrrr’ sound, like starting an engine, and then began a barrage of nagging.

“Hey, you jerk!”

You stupid idiot, you foolish moron, you pervert, you this guy, you that guy…

Chatter, chatter.

‘Ummm-.’

Jinhyuk sat demurely on the bench, listening to the sea anemone’s nagging.

Leaving aside the expressions that could sound somewhat humiliating if they weren’t close friends, her voice was like a nightingale’s, refreshing to the ears, making him pay attention. Well, it’s not like Choi Mikyung is the type of person who would pick a fight with Jinhyuk for no reason, so he also endures it for that reason.

“Hey, you jerk. If you’re going to beep someone, you should leave your number, leave a voice message, or whatever that code is, or is it a ticket? How scary do you think it is for the person receiving it? Huh? When guys secretly give letters or notes without their names, how pathetic do you think that looks? Huh?”

I don’t know. I really didn’t know.

Jinhyuk has never secretly delivered a love letter, and Sujeong is the first person he’s ever contacted like that.

Would I have done it if I had known? Anyway, I’ve committed a sin worthy of death.

I was just having fun, trying something I hadn’t done before, but isn’t she overreacting? It’s kind of upsetting.

“Hey, it’s a relief that Sujeong is calm. If I had received something like that, with the number ‘4’ repeatedly printed, I would have thought it meant ‘I’m going to kill you.’ I would have told my brother about a guy like that, and he would have broken his back, just like that.”

Choi Mikyung tried her best to awaken this dull friend.

If he can’t even date properly with that handsome physique, and even worse, if he ends up being labeled a pervert for hitting on women, what a waste it would be.

“Man, you’re so slow to become human because you only study and exercise. You only hang out with your family at home.”

When they were young, she didn’t realize it because he was always by her side, protecting her in place of her brother, but after hanging out with other friends, she realized how frustrating this guy was. So, during breaks, she often brings other friends to join their conversations. To make him a human being.

With his friend’s nagging as background music, Jinhyuk’s cheeks gradually puffed up.

‘But what’s wrong with the number 4?’

The long-standing habit of Koreans considering the number 4 as death [due to its similar pronunciation to the word ‘death’ in Korean] seemed unlikely to change.

He was inwardly displeased, but Jinhyuk readily admitted it was his fault.

“My thinking was short-sighted.”

But did Sujeong perhaps ask her father?

If so, Hong Gijun wouldn’t have had any trouble tracking the sender’s number. For such a powerful person, tracking a phone number would be nothing.

Jinhyuk squeezed his eyes shut.

If that were the case, it would be so embarrassing that he wouldn’t know how to face those people in the future.

But he didn’t receive a call or email from Hong Gijun.

He was someone who would have given a hint or advice if something like that had happened.

“How did you know I was the one who beeped? Did Sujeong know?”

“I don’t know! After hearing about it, you were the only one I could think of.”

Whether this was fortunate or unfortunate, Choi Mikyung was truly a friend who knew a lot about Jinhyuk.

“You’re the only one who talks about how Sujeong isn’t coming during break, so wouldn’t I be an idiot if I didn’t know?”

“Ah…”

He had spread more evidence than he thought.

From now on, he should only think things in his head.

“You have so many friends, but now friends are the priority. You’re the same, right?”

“Now that I hear it, it’s true.”

“Anyway, if you’re going to contact someone, you should say something.”

It’s embarrassing.

There’s nothing to say separately.

What can I say to a kid?

He was still in a complicated state of mind.

The person Jinhyuk had in mind was the adult Hong Sujeong. Apart from saying goodbye in his heart, the image of her that had formed in his mind wouldn’t easily disappear.

“You say ‘pretty, I miss you’ to Yujin so easily, but you don’t say those things to Sujeong? If you don’t say it, they won’t know.”

Wasn’t it supposed to be that they would know even if you didn’t say it?

Then what was that Choco Pie commercial?

That was false advertising!

I’m going to go and get those scammer ad producers right now.

“Are you listening!”

Choi Mikyung turned her body and raised her chin.

She was used to talking to herself, but it was frustrating that he didn’t respond at all.

“Yeah. I heard everything.”

Jinhyuk finally lowered his head.

Ugh, this is so embarrassing.

Still, I’m grateful and relieved.

I learned something new today because I have a friend who tells me what to do.

Thinking about it, wasn’t the act of peeking at Hong Sujeong’s SNS in my past life also a kind of voyeurism? Even though I didn’t take any action.

“If you have nothing to say, you can just listen. But don’t contact her too often.”

“Why?”

Jinhyuk expressed his question for the first time in a while.

If he doesn’t know something, he should ask immediately to resolve his curiosity.

“You see each other often, hear each other’s voices, and get used to it. Then you get tired of it.”

“Ah… I was going to call and explain.”

“Don’t do that either. Just let it go this time. Listen to your older sister.”

Is it because Sujeong is still young?

When they worked together, I didn’t get tired of seeing her every day, but maybe that’s because she was an adult then.

But I’m curious.

“But why would Sujeong tell you that?”

They’re comfortable with each other, so why would she complain to Choi Mikyung about something that’s not difficult to ask?

“Because she’s comfortable talking to me. And she’s busy and tired these days.”

“What does that-.”

Jinhyuk scratched the back of his head, not understanding.

“Women, they only want to show their pretty side. They don’t want to show their haggard and tired selves to others. She has so many friends and goes to so many academies that she can’t even count them on her fingers, right? How tired do you think she is? If she gets annoyed while talking on the phone with a tired body, her image will be ruined, right? ‘Ah, let’s just not contact each other,’ that’s how it goes.”

“How do you know so much?”

Jinhyuk’s eyes were filled with surprise.

“What are you talking about, you jerk! I know because I’m a woman!”

Ah, that’s right.

I often forget that this guy is a woman, but now I understand.

‘Sujeong is young, but she’s very deep.’

Hong Sujeong, the executive director, was also a person with the patience to hold back what she wanted to say. The problem was that when she drank, she would say ambiguous things as if pushing out her pent-up emotions. It was so out of the blue that Jinhyuk would struggle to understand her true intentions. He was too dull, so he never figured it out.

Ha…

Anyway, the more I listened, the more embarrassed I became.

It felt like I had become a more immature child than that little kid.

“I’ve said this to my brother too, but men are too impatient. If they don’t see you for a while, they think you’ve run away, and if they don’t hear from you, they worry if the woman doesn’t like them. But everyone has their own life.”

Oh, that’s right. That’s it.

Jinhyuk was amazed, like someone who had discovered an amazing fact.

New discoveries always inspire admiration.

“Women are walking animals, but men are running animals. If you’re out of sync like that, the woman following will get tired or fall. Then they give up. Don’t play around with a little kid like that, be mature, you hear? And don’t get too far ahead.”

Little? Sujeong is taller than you.

Anyway, I understand.

If I run too fast alone, Sujeong will have a hard time.

I hadn’t thought about the truth that we can only reach our destination together if we walk together and run together.

Even while acknowledging and accepting reality, time seems to flow slowly at times like this.

I want to run quickly, but time, which is said to be so fast, was still holding Jinhyuk tightly.

“It’s complicated…”

“It is complicated. The most complicated thing is people’s hearts, and especially women’s hearts. You want to ignore that complexity and do what you want as a man? That’s a thug.”

As she said that, Choi Mikyung swung her fist in the air like someone who had a grudge against men.

“Don’t try to understand women. Is it just women? Everyone is different, but if you think everyone is like you and calculate based on your standards, you can’t use them.”

“That’s right.”

That was a thought that Jinhyuk had held for a long time.

Now he realized that he was doing something that violated that thought.

“Seunghoon is-.”

“I’m educating him properly, you jerk. He’s calm and obedient, and he listens very well. It’s wrong to say that students should only study. You should learn everything you can so you don’t become a pervert or psycho later. You should listen to your older sister too.”

Choi Mikyung also added that he should wait within reach, where he can see her.

That way, she won’t fall behind and will follow.

“Thank you.”

“You’re such a weirdo, saying all sorts of things.”

In the past, Jinhyuk had no one to talk to, but now there are people he can rely on everywhere.

From Grandpa Cheon Gil-ryong, to his parents, Jo Il-heon, Moon Seok-il, and Choi Mikyung for dating advice.

If you’re a human being who lives among people, it’s right to learn like this, one by one.

That must be the blessing that only those who live together can enjoy.

After gaining a deep realization, he was grateful for his new life.

As his thoughts cleared, his gaze went to the plastic bag next to Choi Mikyung.

“What’s that?”

“Ah, that’s right! I brought this to eat together.”

As if she had just remembered, Choi Mikyung jumped up.

Rustle- Shhh-.

Small hands moved busily, removing the plastic bag.

“Tada! Mugwort rice cakes!”

“Ooh-.”

Jinhyuk’s eyes, full of pig-like energy, widened and sparkled.

Mugwort rice cakes are a food that is eaten a lot in the spring.

When you take a bite, the chewy texture and the fragrant scent of mugwort make you feel good.

“I made this in the spring, but I’ve been saving it to eat later.”

“It’s not spoiled?”

“I wrapped it up tightly and put it in the freezer, then thawed it. I did it for you.”

No matter what, Choi Mikyung is the best. She never forgets to bring Jinhyuk’s favorite food.

She also comes to see him every break at school, chats with him, and eats with him, and thanks to Choi Mikyung, Jinhyuk has many female friends.

He took the mugwort rice cake his friend offered and took a big bite.

“Woong-, it’s delicious-.”

“Right? Let’s eat this and go to Gubong Mountain.”

Something came to mind at those words, and he swallowed the rice cake.

“Ah, that’s right. We couldn’t go last week.”

It rained too much during Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving], so they couldn’t go to the Fairy Rock, and it seemed like Choi Mikyung was bothered by that. He wondered why the girl, who usually wore rubber-band pants or workout clothes on her days off, had come in jeans and a t-shirt today.

Jinhyuk also had a visit to Fairy Rock in mind, so it would be nice to go together.

“Let’s pray to your grandmother to help you win first place in the competition.”

Pray? That’s like a request.

It didn’t seem like a bad intention, so Jinhyuk just nodded.

He didn’t forget to break off pieces of the mugwort rice cake and share them with his five dog friends, from General to Geomma. It was something his friend had cherished and brought, but they were dogs who loved to eat, so how disappointed would they be if he didn’t give them any?

“Ehehe-. Is it delicious-?”

At the voice coming from the high ground, the two friends looked up at the same time.

Yujin, with Haengun on her head, was smacking her lips on the rooftop railing. When it came to pig-like energy, she was second to none compared to her brother.

“Yujin! Do you want to go to the mountain with your sister?”

“If you give me a rice cake.”

Beeeep-.

***

They packed the leftover food and sikhye [a traditional Korean sweet rice drink] from Chuseok.

Thanks to Kim Eung-nyeo’s family visiting for the holiday, there was more food than usual. It was natural since there were three more people cooking.

One big person, one small person, one smaller person, and a titmouse on the small person’s shoulder. And five dogs.

The party members, who had increased in number, set out to climb Fairy Rock.

They were passing the reservoir, munching on rice cakes.

“Please do one, two, three!”

Yujin, holding her brother’s and sister’s hands in each of her hands, shouted excitedly.

“One, two- three!”

As Jinhyuk and Choi Mikyung shouted that and put strength into the hands holding Yujin, Yujin would lift her legs and dangle or kick forward with force.

The trick to lifting from both sides at this time is important.

A child with insufficient muscle and weak joints could dislocate their shoulder.

Fortunately, Yujin was strong, and Jinhyuk and Choi Mikyung were used to it, so they had enough skill.

Unlike Jinhyuk, Choi Mikyung, who used both hands to lift Yujin, couldn’t last for two seconds and cried out.

“Ugh! When did Yujin get so heavy?”

For a high school girl who was healthy but not used to physical labor, Yujin’s weight was difficult to handle.

“We should only do this for kindergarteners. It’s dangerous.”

“Why-? I’m not dangerous? I’m strong?”

Yujin showed a somewhat disappointed look.

Choi Mikyung, pointing her index finger at Yujin, closed her eyes like an old person and shook her head silently.

“That’s not what I mean. I’m the one who’s in danger.”

She could hurt her shoulder or back from using her strength. She could even pee her pants, for all she knew. Choi Mikyung muttered like Cheon Gil-ryong.

Leaving aside Choi Mikyung, who was muttering strange things, Jinhyuk stepped forward.

“Yujin, do you want to ride on my shoulders for the first time in a while?”

“Yes!”

Yujin quickly climbed onto her brother’s shoulders, who was squatting down.

Choi Mikyung smiled as she watched her break off pieces of rice cake and feed them to her brother.

“It’s like feeding a running horse.”

Saaah-.

The well-grown rice swayed majestically in the early autumn wind.

The harmony created by the sea of rice filled with grains always made his heart flutter.

Somewhere between the seasons that he would never have realized if he had lived in the city.

Choi Mikyung, a rural teenager, also sniffed with a happy face in the middle of it.

Jinhyuk thought she looked like General.

“Hiyah-, the wind is nice, the smell is nice-.”

“The sky is very high-.”

It was happiness that his friend and younger sister were both happy.

The rice cake was also delicious.

He stopped for a moment and looked back.

They had clearly walked side by side, but there was no trace left.

It wasn’t just because it was a paved road.

Happy times pass too quickly.

***

Another week passed, and Jinhyuk returned after finishing the scheduled September competition.

Only the sound of the TV was loud in the living room.

The crickets that had been rustling near the fish tank also fell silent.

[…This concludes the sports news.]

Son Gwang-yeon and Han Yu-yeong seemed to have forgotten that they had to blink.

Even after the microphone was handed over to the main anchor, Jinhyuk’s parents did not open their mouths.

Yujin, who was dozing off on her brother’s lap, thought.

‘The Fairy Rock prayers are working well.’