The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 224

Sprint (5)

Was it thanks to Mikyung’s prayer at Fairy Rock? Jinhyuk caused a sensation at the September competition.

Everyone who didn’t know Jinhyuk called it a sensation, so it must be true.

[In the morning, the 100-meter, and in the afternoon, the 200-meter. This concludes the nine o’clock news with the scene of a high school track athlete’s record-breaking sprint in the 100-meter. Thank you for watching.]

Thump, thump, thump-.

With powerful background music, the athletes crouching at the starting line dominated the screen.

Among them, the family’s attention was drawn to the athlete in lane 4, who boasted an unrivaled physique. Even just looking at the back of his head, they could tell whose son it was.

[Ta-aang-.]

If you were to visualize the word ‘overwhelming,’ this would be it. It was a stage more suited to a solo run than a sprint. The protagonist in the blue uniform, number 195, was coloring the red track all by himself.

It was a shame that it wasn’t a lively Olympic broadcast with the camera following the athlete. However, seeing all the athletes in one frame made the gap palpable.

In the center of the screen, the athlete ran, and below, the stopwatch ticked away breathlessly.

[Ta-aang-!]

[Waaaah-.]

A dynamic spurt that seemed to burst out of the TV screen, a finish line crossing that was like a roar. It was a perfect sprint that captivated everyone.

Unlike his usual self, Jinhyuk even did a celebratory gesture. The powerful punch he threw into the sky, raising his clenched fist high, drew cheers from the crowd filling the stadium.

[Waaaaaaaaah-!]

[Pshoo, pshoo, pshoo- Pop, pop, pop-!]

The spectacular smoke fireworks that burst one after another, as if they had been waiting, were also a must-see.

「10.30」

Even on the screen that magnified the record, the crude firework effects exploded.

Kkeuek-.

Son Gwang-yeon, who had swallowed his breath, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and Han Yu-yeong had a dazed look, like a drunk person. The expression on their faces seemed to ask if the athlete who dominated the track was really their son.

It was understandable.

The athlete on the screen was sprinting like a wild horse, while their son was holding his younger siblings with half-closed eyes. Wearing a stretched-out, oversized t-shirt and baggy sweatpants with protruding knees, he looked like just another ordinary country boy.

“Taa-!”

“Aigo, aigo!”

Kyahaha-.

When Jeongwon hit his brother’s thigh or back, he would pretend to die for his younger sibling, and Jeongwon would burst into laughter every time.

He had watched his dad play like that with Yujin when she was a baby and was now copying it. Of course, he had played like that with Yujin when she was little too.

“Taa-!”

“Aigo, aigo!”

Kyahahahaha-!

Jeongwon was still full of energy, but Yujin was not.

“Is our baby sleepy?”

“Uung-.”

Yujin, who was being held by her brother, was dozing off with her eyes almost closed.

She had gone to float leaf boats with her brother after his competition, and they had gone to the sea to catch crabs, so it was understandable. They had also gone to Gubong Mountain last weekend, which was her first climb. Although Yujin’s legs were still short, her lung capacity was excellent, and she climbed the mountain better than Mikyung.

Jinhyuk, who was playing with the eyelashes of the sleeping Yujin with his finger, kept quiet despite his parents’ intense gazes.

‘How embarrassing.’

Still, as he always felt, his parents’ attention was always new and affectionate.

That’s why he was going to run even more fiercely.

“If you set a new record, do you get to go to the Olympics?”

“You can only go to the Olympics if you pass the qualifying standard.”

He hadn’t reached his best record, but his best record was just a reference record set in a familiar and special environment at the bear gym. Of course, it was absurd to directly compare it with official competition records.

Son Gwang-yeon nodded and sighed softly, as if he was disappointed.

“Ah, that’s a shame. If you were just one second faster…”

Is that even a thing, Dad?

Jinhyuk’s mouth dropped open at the absurdity.

It takes bone-grinding pain and environmental help to shave off even 0.01 seconds, but one second?

Isn’t 9.30 a record that no one will be able to touch for at least decades?

“So, this time, you didn’t meet the Olympic qualifying standard?”

“Yes. I don’t qualify for the Olympics. But the Olympic qualifying standards will be set based on the records from the year the competition is held.”

“Oh, so that means there’s still a chance?”

Jinhyuk blushed, feeling embarrassed by his dad’s attention.

‘It seems difficult as it is now.’

Overcoming his limits and improving his record were separate issues.

He was already running with all his might, so would it be easy to make a dramatic improvement in a sport where he only had his body without any equipment? It was fortunate that his condition was stable thanks to his strong body, which he had trained for a long time.

“Then who from our country will go to the Olympics?”

“At the current rate, no one will be able to go.”

“Huh? How can that be? There must be a national team.”

“If you don’t pass the Olympic qualifying standard, a national team won’t even be formed.”

That’s the principle that covers many record-based sports.

No matter how good you are in your country, if you don’t qualify for the Olympics, you’re just a local representative.

National team? It’s more like their own league.

“Wow-. The Olympics are really tough.”

That’s why the athletes who compete in the Olympics are respected.

And that’s why they’re desperate to qualify.

Although he didn’t set the record he had aimed for, what was important to Jinhyuk was the fact that he had moved forward. And discovering the possibility of further development was also a great achievement.

‘The headwind was strong, but it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t run. It’s a bit of a shame.’

He chose to feel a sense of unexpected relief rather than blaming the environment.

It was a sense of tension that he couldn’t be complacent or arrogant.

‘It’s still too much for the junior world record.’

Rather than the thrill of breaking the adult record, the reality that he was not yet at the level to compete on the world stage fueled his heart. He needed to be good enough to compete in the Olympics to easily resolve his military service. There were also the Asian Games, but if possible, he wanted to run on the most famous stage.

Soojung had said.

That she would mess him up if he went to the military.

Did she say she would beat him up?

If he ran hard towards his goal and cherished the moment, he would meet that person in the future someday. It wasn’t that he was thinking about one person on purpose. It was just that she came to mind on her own, without him trying to erase her.

“But if you set a new record, don’t they give you anything?”

“I heard that the federation or association gives out prize money.”

“Oh, oh-, how much do they give?”

Han Yu-yeong, who had been proudly watching her son and listening to the father-son conversation, cautiously chimed in.

“I don’t know. Since he has an agency, I don’t know if they receive it there or if it’s given directly to the athlete.”

No matter how much they give, could it compare to the dollars Hong Gijun gave?

Money wasn’t Jinhyuk’s concern. Not in the past, and not now. He thought that it was enough to have enough not to be uncomfortable or poor. He didn’t have a place to spend money, and he didn’t know how to spend it, so he just kept it.

That was a problem to worry about later, and right now, another person was giving him a headache.

‘Ah, Chairman Yoo Sera…’

He was worried about tomorrow’s morning paper.

Seeing Yoo Sera jumping around during the day, it seemed difficult to pass this time quietly as well.

She had even shot three smoke fireworks that cost 5 million won each at once.

Pshoo, pshoo, pshoo- Pop, pop, pop-!

‘I’m getting dizzy.’

***

Huff, huff-.

His legs felt heavy as he ran on the bear gym track.

Son Yujin’s plan for today had gone down the drain.

She had planned to go to Gubong Mountain with Janggun and his friends. It was better to go with her brother, but her brother wouldn’t be back from school until night. She was scared to go alone, but if the five warriors, from Janggun to Geomma, were together, she wouldn’t be afraid.

“Owek-.”

But the heartless sky was pouring rain.

The adults liked it when it rained at the right time, but for Son Yujin, who liked to wander around like a restless spirit, it wasn’t a very welcome guest.

“Owee-.”

Because of that, Janggun, Hongsi, Cheonma, Gwangma, and Geomma were curled up in the cramped doghouse. Geomma, who was peeking at the second floor because the first floor was too small, was even chased out by Janggun.

Moon Seok-il, along with Jang Jin-nam and Yu Tae-hwa, only looked at Son Yujin with admiration and didn’t stop her. So, Son Yujin was able to run without any interference. The occasional nausea was the only thing that bothered her.

“Oweee-.”

She couldn’t see where Haengun had gone.

Because there were kites [birds of prey] living in the neighborhood, she was always worried when Haengun left her arms. The kites were ferocious, and they would tear apart chicks and sparrows with their claw-like talons and beaks, ugh.

Haengun was a smart bird, so she would be safe. She had left the window slightly open, so she would come back on her own when the rain got lighter.

“Owee-. Haigoo-.”

She stopped running and wiped the drool from her mouth with her sleeve.

She had only run two laps, but her stomach was churning, and her head felt stiff.

“Yujin, if it’s hard, don’t run, just walk.”

“I have to run- Owee- to- Owee-.”

Her mom, who was taking care of Jeongwon on the sunbed next to the swimming pool, tried to stop her, but Son Yujin had to wear herself out like this. Her brother had told her that she could sleep well at night if she wore herself out.

The nausea could be solved by stroking her stomach once with her hand.

Rub, rub-, like this.

“Mom, is Jeongwon sleeping?”

“Yes. He fell asleep.”

Jeongwon was so gentle that he fell asleep without knowing the world, even with the sound of splashing water in the swimming pool, the shouts of the uncles doing weight training, and the sound of exercise equipment being dropped.

“Is our Yujin going to become a runner too?”

Her mom smiled like an angel.

“I don’t know. My brother told me, um-, to try everything I want to do. Yes, yes- he said that I have to be healthy to do that, and that I can be healthy if I eat well and sleep well. I’m running to sleep well. Swimming isn’t hard anymore.”

Han Yu-yeong’s smile didn’t fade as she looked at her smart daughter.

She spoke quite coherently, although she stuttered a bit like a child.

“Ayaa-.”

Son Yujin, who was catching her breath, suddenly grabbed her jaw.

It was because of a pain that she didn’t know where it came from.

It was a toothache that she had experienced at school in the spring.

“Yujin, what’s wrong?”

Her mom opened her eyes in surprise.

She shouldn’t worry her, so she had to recover quickly-.

She had to make her hand warm while holding her jaw.

‘Ah, I’m alive.’

The pain that had been tingling from her jaw to her head subsided.

She opened her mouth and found the spot that hurt with her index finger.

“Aya-!”

No way! It was definitely okay, but it hurt again when she touched it!

“Where, let Mom see. Open your mouth.”

“Aaaa-.”

Kind Son Yujin obediently opened her mouth as her mom told her to.

“Is it this? This?”

“Uh-, eh-.”

She nodded her head with her mouth open, causing drool to fall, but her mom didn’t mind.

Her mom put pressure on her finger, and she could feel her tooth wiggling.

“Our daughter, it looks like her baby tooth is about to fall out. When a baby tooth falls out, a permanent tooth comes in.”

Ah, she was graduating from kindergarten, so her baby teeth were disappearing.

But after baby teeth, aren’t there national teeth [a playful way of saying adult teeth]?

Permanent teeth, that’s kind of silly.

Her mom, who had been looking around, smiled gently.

“It’s still a long way from falling out. It’s clean without any cavities, so let’s just leave it.”

“Okay.”

Phew, that’s a relief.

She had heard that if her teeth wiggled, she would have to go to a scary place called the dentist.

“But what is that?”

Steam was rising from the cup her mom was holding.

Son Yujin knew what it was.

It had a fragrant smell and a sweet and bitter taste. It reminded her of coffee-flavored candy. That was coffee.

Son Yujin had also begged her brother to taste it once before. Son Yujin was a sensitive child, so she knew that too.

“Mom, just a sip-”

“Yujin, if you drink this, you won’t be able to sleep. You said you were exercising to sleep well.”

She had tried to get a taste after a long time, but her mom was firm.

“Yes, ehehe-.”

Too bad.

She only realized that her tricks didn’t work on her mom.

***

Shabang, shabang-.

Sunlight shone brilliantly through the half-open pink curtains.

It looked like a princess’s room, but with a large desk, a luxurious chair that looked like it belonged on a throne, and sofas arranged like guards, it was a queen’s room – no, an office.

A pitch-black, thick potion, the essence of black magic.

The vapor born from that darkness was drawn into the two tunnels hidden inside her sharp nose as if bewitched.

Huuuung-.

Like the law of action and reaction, a strange nasal sound soon leaked out of the tunnels.

“Woooah-, kill me-.”

Yoo Sera had enjoyed espresso since her studies in Italy.

The rich coffee aroma that warmed her heart seemed to relieve even her shoulder stiffness.

“You guys. You picked a good title.”

A phrase as fragrant as coffee pleased her eyes.

Yoo Sera’s eyes, which were smiling, scanned the morning paper.

「The Future of Korean Track and Field!」

「A New Star Emerges Like a Comet in Korean Track and Field Sprints!」

「A Masterpiece by Yoo Sera, the Maverick of the Sports World」

A maverick, what a rebellious and innovative expression.

At this moment, the smell of the newspaper was more fragrant than espresso.

Seeing that they had been publishing fragrant newspapers for several days now, it seemed that the newspaper company guys had been managing the printing press quite well.

However, Yoo Sera’s face, which had been reading the article with a pleased expression, gradually began to distort.

Because of another article that was making a creaking sound.

‘What is this.’

A sigh, no, a puff of air escaped her mouth.

It was a hot yet deflating wind, like when you burst an egg fry that was boiling on a hot pan with chopsticks.

「Long-Term Investment in Elite Sports, Bearing Fruit」

「As Expected, the Talent Chosen by the Track and Field Federation Was Different.」

「Is SI Sports Planning to Let the Athlete Rot Domestically?」

The hand holding the small espresso cup trembled.

“You son of a…”

-Ding. She barely suppressed her curse and closed her eyes tightly.

Ha-, she let out a long breath to release the heat that was trying to take over her forehead.

Those who had a job and a position could not let their emotions get heated up. One of the things she had learned from her father, the famous chairman Yoo Myung-sun, who had poured all his reason and intelligence into his adolescence, was mind control.

Thanks to that, Yoo Sera was able to solidify her cold image to the outside world.

She reached into her jacket, took out her cell phone, and pressed speed dial 1.

She had done all she could, but since there were still malicious forces trying to shake her, she was thinking of relying on her hero husband.

It was okay to do that now.

Click-.

– I saw the newspaper.

The person who answered the phone as if they had been waiting was so welcome. He had already figured out the purpose of the call. Yoo Sera’s lips curled up at her husband’s voice.

– What do you want me to do?

Oh? She hadn’t thought that far.

Ah, if it weren’t for that damn adolescence.

“Oh, oppa-. I have something to tell you-.”

– Do you want the federation, or the media?

Oh, Jesus Christ Super Hero-. Is this powerful man really my husband?

A sense of faith suddenly rose from deep within her lower abdomen.

It was a sweet faith that melted away the stress and humiliation she had recently received from her daughter. She had to go back to the church she had only gone to for baptism. But what was my baptismal name?

– You’re thinking about something else again, aren’t you?

He was even sharp.

How could she not respect him?

“Haa- my head is so hot right now, I’m going crazy. That, that. Do that for me.”

– Ha-, really….

A sigh-like sound came over the receiver. To be precise, it was read as a disapproving reaction.

It seemed like there was some kind of misunderstanding.