The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 225

Hong Gijun wasn’t as clueless as Son Jinhyuk, nor had he lived with Yoo Sera for just a day or two. Even though she might gallop like a wild horse at night, she wasn’t the type of wife to make strange, whiny requests over the phone, so there was no need to misunderstand her rambling.

He just wished she would be a bit more specific.

– You know, that, that thing.

Oh, woman, what is that thing?

He etched the character for ‘patience’ into his heart and waited for his wife’s thoughts to organize themselves.

– I’ll pretend I don’t know about the shady things you’ve been doing lately, so please help me out.

His breath hitched at the unexpected words.

Hong Gijun frowned and pulled his chair closer to his desk.

Could it be that she had noticed he was involved in some shady business?

He was even more flustered because he had been so thorough with security. Although he wasn’t directly involved, if it came out that he was leading the dirty work, the disappointment and betrayal his wife would feel would be immense.

“What I’m doing? What are you talking about?”

He maintained his composure and asked in a low voice.

– You sneak out early on weekend mornings and come back late at night. You go out during the day and come back late at night too. How could I not know…?

Ah, was he caught? Hong Gijun squeezed his eyes shut.

His wife’s listless voice, filled with disappointment, brought a sense of dismay.

– I don’t say anything when you go golfing or fishing without me.

Damn it.

His wildly beating heart rapidly calmed down.

Still, it seemed his disguise, including paying attention to his attire, had worked, which was a relief.

Hong Gijun quietly listened to what Yoo Sera had to say.

– Blah blah blah.

Annoying, furious, wanting to smash everything, and so on.

Elegant and refined language befitting her appearance followed.

“Okay. You’ve done enough. Now I’ll help you.”

It was difficult to describe his wife, Yoo Sera, as simply ‘kind.’

It would be more accurate to say she was arrogant but didn’t abuse her power. A chaebol [a large family-owned business conglomerate] daughter who had grown up pampered but had the basic decency to treat people as people.

Putting aside her charm, if she hadn’t had that minimum level of character, Hong Gijun wouldn’t have given his heart to Yoo Sera in the first place.

As he smiled, thinking of his smart but scatterbrained wife, a rather specific request came his way.

– Just provide some support. I have to do the fighting. It’s my job.

It was a request for support to counter the media’s attacks, simultaneously representing her unyielding nature and independence.

“That’s easy. Just cutting off their ads and sponsorships will make them come crawling.”

There was no greater punishment for a media company that had abandoned pure journalism for profit. They could just get ads from other companies? A single phone call from Hong Gijun would solve that problem.

How many companies would dare to advertise, ignoring Hong Gijun’s warning? Only a couple of competitors remained, and they weren’t in good shape either. The domestic and international economic situations were quite precarious.

‘It’ll be a proxy war.’

He could see where they would reach out. Or Daejeong would make the first move.

– Whine whine whine.

“It’s not cowardly. They’re being cowardly first, so why should we be gentlemen?”

When they go low, we go high?

‘Bullshit.’

One person like that, Son Jinhyuk, was enough.

Hong Gijun had no intention of living so purely.

His decision to use Sakdo’s SSS [Special Security Services] to eradicate criminal organizations, starting with the dismantling of the New Boss faction, was a silent expression of that will.

The reason he was tense when Yoo Sera mentioned ‘what he’s been doing lately’ was because of that. Like a thief locking his own door, it was a situation he didn’t want his family to know about. It wouldn’t look good to the eyes of those living in a safe zone.

That’s why he had reduced the number of times he called Moon Seokil and Yang Gangwook. It was partly because the Sakdo agents had become more elite, but also because he calculated that actively using Moon Seokil would raise suspicion.

After finishing the call with his wife, he pressed the intercom button.

“Have the chief of staff come to my office, and connect me to the head of public relations.”

What couldn’t a powerful person with military might, intelligence, and funds do?

Hong Gijun’s war didn’t give the enemy time to think.

And for those he defined as enemies, a tactic of cutting off their air supply was the winning solution in a speed war.

But Yoo Sera had only requested rear support.

‘That’s a shame.’

He thought they would have a big fight.

Well, there was still time, so he could take it slow.

– Yes, Chairman.

The head of public relations appeared over the intercom.

“You know what I’m going to say, right? Yes. Make a list of media companies and withdraw all contracts.”

But he had no intention of doing it half-heartedly.

“Combine that budget with the sports sponsorship budget and redirect it to SISports.”

If he was going to push, he had to push hard.

Charge forward like a runaway tank.

Knock knock.

The chief of staff, who had been waiting outside the door for the call to end, entered.

He sensed the young chairman’s unusual gaze and straightened his attire even more.

“Tell them to prepare a position for Deputy Manager Min. No, the chief of staff should handle it directly. It seems we’ll need to call him up soon.”

“By when should it be ready?”

If he were to stick his neck out and ask ‘Why?’, his head would fly off. Creating an office job was something that could be done by tomorrow, but if the chairman was personally taking care of someone, there would be other things to consider. If he didn’t have that level of work sense, he couldn’t stay in the position of chief of staff.

“Next fall.”

“Understood.”

Prepare a position for a year from now.

It was a big deal.

It meant he was going to create a new organization to fit that person.

Would it be a department or a division? The chief of staff, suppressing his curiosity, bowed respectfully and left.

*

Hong Gijun was one of the most famous and busiest businessmen in the world.

‘I don’t even have time to spend money because I’m working.’

In his previous life, in his early 40s, he had lived as a salaryman, going out to play every chance he got, every holiday. He had to be mindful of his wife and children, but he lived without any headaches, unaware of the worries of the common people.

After the chief of staff left, someone knocked again.

Tap-tap. Click.

The only person who knocked so loosely and cautiously before immediately opening the door was one person. A secretary with a somewhat stuffy appearance and a refined face stepped in and stopped. She then brought her hands together and gently bowed.

“Chairman, Department Head Jeong Sangtae has arrived.”

“Okay. Is there any sikhye [a traditional Korean sweet rice drink]?”

“I’ll prepare it right away.”

Jeong Sangtae liked sweet drinks, and among them, he preferred sikhye the most.

Remembering the preferences of someone he met often was nothing for a businessman. Especially if that guest was someone he had entrusted with a special task.

Watching Jeong Sangtae bow deeply as he entered, Hong Gijun was filled with new emotions.

‘Someone I wouldn’t have had a connection with if it weren’t for Jinhyuk.’

In his previous life, he had felt so disillusioned with the rotten world that he had fantasized about creating a devil’s weapon to clean it up after returning. But he didn’t know how.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried at all. He had secretly investigated and contacted people who could be his sword, such as military officials, prosecutors, police, and underworld bosses, but their ambitions were pathetic, and they were just gutless commoners. On the other hand, the compensation they wanted was excessive. They were the kind of people who fueled his human disgust.

But what about Jeong Sangtae or Moon Seokil?

“Park Daesoon is dead.”

They thoroughly handled the tasks he entrusted to them and didn’t show up unless there was something special to report or Hong Gijun called them. And yet, there were no issues at all.

“Was it an accident?”

“Yes. He fell at a construction site. It’s said to be a slip.”

He had asked them before. Why they worked so hard and obeyed so thoroughly. Moon Seokil and Jeong Sangtae would just smile, and their answers were always the same.

– “It suits my aptitude.”

He knew there was something hidden behind their awkward smiles, but they didn’t have faces that were suspicious enough to doubt.

Because of them, he was able to protect his friend and build a fortress in Sakdo.

He raised his palm to stop Jeong Sangtae, who was about to give an additional report.

The secretary had returned with the sikhye.

Hong Gijun, after quenching his thirst, stared at Jeong Sangtae with emotionless eyes.

“Did you confirm it yourself?”

“Yes, it was an open space and during the day. I couldn’t find any evidence of murder.”

An unwavering answer came back to his question about whether someone had interfered.

Hong Gijun sighed softly and leaned back on the sofa.

“The construction company must have covered it up.”

The circumstances were drawn in chronological order.

Slip, corporate involvement, defense against media coverage.

It was an important report, but it could have been done over the phone.

However, Jeong Sangtae didn’t even trust the secure phone he used. He probably had an anti-eavesdropping device activated in his pocket right now. That’s why he was more trustworthy.

Hong Gijun also thought of another reason why Jeong Sangtae had come to report directly.

“You came to give a completion report.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

A rare relaxed smile appeared on Jeong Sangtae’s lips.

He was clearly from a different world than Hong Gijun, but they always communicated well.

“Is your family doing well?”

“Yes.”

Hong Gijun recalled the old report.

Park Daesoon’s wife was running a pottery shop in Busan, and his daughter and son were attending school.

“His family must be very heartbroken.”

“The funeral is tomorrow.”

Hong Gijun closed his eyes for a moment and tried to understand Jinhyuk’s feelings.

‘Yes, you’re right, he’s pitiful.’

Park Daesoon had abandoned his hometown because of what happened in the dark sea, even though nothing had happened.

Hong Gijun had only warned Park Daesoon that Daejeong wouldn’t leave him alone. It had been more than seven years since he first visited Jinhyuk’s house. Park Daesoon must have felt both guilt and fear at that one word. He must have secretly liquidated his assets and taken his wife and children to run away.

‘Those who know the ins and outs, who exploit Park Daesoon’s weaknesses to make him do dirty work, what wouldn’t they do?’

Park Daesoon must have thought that far as well.

It was because Park Daesoon had that much of a network that he was able to save his wife and children. And he had worked himself to the bone in a foreign land until his legs gave out and his head was smashed.

‘Yes, if I empathize even a little, he’s pitiful and pathetic, just like you said, Jinhyuk.’

The reason Hong Gijun had warned Park Daesoon was simple.

He didn’t want any terrible incidents to happen in the village where his friend, who was like a brother, lived. That was the only reason. It was not for Park Daesoon at all.

He sighed once more and opened his eyes.

“Do one more thing for me.”

“Please tell me.”

Jeong Sangtae had glimpsed Hong Gijun’s intentions but didn’t pretend to know.

It was a proper distance.

Moon Seokil had repeatedly emphasized that people who revealed their intelligence too much would always be dealt with, and that he should be careful with his words.

“I’ll tell the secretary’s office, so go there and get some money. It would be good if you delivered it yourself. Once you’re done, return to your original position.”

After speaking, Hong Gijun reached out his hand for a handshake.

Jeong Sangtae, who hurriedly grasped it with both hands, bowed.

It was so unexpected that Jeong Sangtae was bewildered.

There was a time when he wondered what great meaning there was in a handshake, but after entering the world, he realized that the weight of a handshake varied depending on who was offering it. Praise and trust, gratitude… or farewell.

The task was perfectly completed by delivering the condolence money to Park Daesoon’s family. Thinking of the remote village and his family, he felt a sense of relief. As if comforting him, Hong Gijun’s voice flew softly.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Hong Gijun saw Jeong Sangtae off to the door and sat back in his chair with a light heart.

‘Another one of his shackles has been released.’

Was all that was left to do to let him run wild like a runaway colt?

With this, one of Jinhyuk’s bad relationships was resolved.

***

When the cool breeze blows, the water mist rising from the waterways in the early morning and the colder night air signal the season.

“Ugh, it’s chilly since I got off the bus.”

Choi Mikyung, a teenager, who was walking side by side with him, suddenly went behind him and put her hands under Jinhyuk’s armpits. It was an unexpected attack, but Jinhyuk wasn’t flustered. It was an expected behavior pattern anyway.

When his friend attacked his armpits like inserting a key, Jinhyuk bit his lip tightly to endure the ticklishness. And with his hands in his pants pockets, he tightened his latissimus dorsi and biceps. To warm his friend’s hands. It was something they had been doing since they were kids in the winter.

“Bye, Deputy Manager, sleep well, see you tomorrow!”

“Rest well.”

And wash your hands before bed.

Jinhyuk, after watching his friend go into her house, turned his direction. Towards the sweet home that lit up like a fortress in the darkness.

Sometimes, the late autumn air feels colder than winter, and now was exactly that time. His neck shrank and his spine tingled at the sudden gust of wind. He felt a strange sense of unease, and it wasn’t just that.

“Is that bastard making Cheonma do material things again?”

For some reason, Janggun didn’t come out to greet him.

Was Cheonma a haenyeo [female diver]? Since he was a male, was he a haenam? Since he was a dog, was he a haegyeon? A haegu? Since his name was Cheonma, was he a seahorse?

Jinhyuk grumbled endlessly as he walked along the ridge path.

Clack, clack.

The sound of the dry bean stalks rubbing against each other in the autumn wind was like the sound of drums as he marched forward. The rice harvest was over, but the beans had not yet been harvested.

It felt like just yesterday that he had taken the first bus to school, but already the second semester was less than two months away.

It was when he reached the vicinity of the trifoliate orange fence with the bamboo grove.

Jinhyuk was startled.

“Oppa, you’re here?”

A frail voice mixed in with the autumn wind, it was Yujin.

“Oh my, you scared me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You idiot, aren’t you scared? Why are you here at this hour?”

He didn’t know how she had gotten into the dense bamboo forest, but Yujin was crouching inside.

He pushed aside the thin, stiff bamboo and pulled Yujin out.

Ah, Yujin. Her hands were like ice, as if she had been there for so long. The chilly sensation from his sister’s hand was so heartbreaking that he felt a frost forming in his heart.

Janggun and Hongsi, and Geomma also pushed their way out of the bamboo, panting.

With hollow eyes, as if she had been crying, Yujin was drooling and moving her lips.

“Agemuri, Agemuri… tried to catch me, so I took refuge here. Waaah.”

With those words, Yujin sobbed sorrowfully.

“Where’s Mom? Where are Dad and Jeongwon? Where are the other uncles?”

Yujin, shaking her head with her eyes tightly closed, couldn’t continue speaking.

Jinhyuk hugged and comforted his sister.

Come to think of it, the house, which was always filled with a cozy atmosphere, was strangely quiet.

It seemed that Janggun and the others had been holding their breath to protect Yujin.

‘Who are these bastards…’

Jinhyuk’s eyes exploded with a light so intense that it made a chilling sound as he gritted his teeth.