The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 229

Min Yong-rak, on his first trip to Thailand, kept snapping photos while sweating profusely.

“Ugh! It’s so hot!”

He was wandering around with a heavy backpack. He must have an energy source like a tadpole’s yolk.

‘Is it because he’s still young?’

His knees looked fine too.

Jinhyuk, who wasn’t interested in sightseeing, waited for Min Yong-rak to have his fill.

It felt like the protagonist had changed, but since they were out, it was good if anyone enjoyed it.

“Jinhyuk, look over there! Wow! It’s amazing!”

His own belly was more amazing, but he didn’t seem to realize it.

“Should we eat that?”

“Yes.”

He couldn’t resist food.

The taciturn team doctor also nodded affirmatively.

“Kuh-toh-oht.”

Min Yong-rak kept saying ‘excuse me’ while Jinhyuk and the doctor followed behind, mumbling words they didn’t understand.

Min Yong-rak, who was cutting through the crowd like a turtle ship [a type of Korean warship known for its sturdy build] with his imposing belly, turned around.

His face was flushed with heat and excitement, but he looked happier than ever.

“But shouldn’t Jinhyuk be managing his condition?”

If only he wouldn’t say such things.

When saying such things, shouldn’t he at least look worried?

“Wow, wouldn’t it be great if Jinhyuk set a world record this time? No, no. A cosmic record.”

Min Yong-rak stretched out his short arms like a baby doing a stretch.

It was a nuisance in a crowded place, but the passersby skillfully avoided him.

‘It would be nice if that happened.’

However, Jinhyuk knew by feeling.

That with his current condition, he couldn’t take the next step.

‘That kind of thing wouldn’t even happen in a movie, would it?’

Track and field wasn’t a point-based sport, so there was no room for luck.

It wasn’t a martial art where he could fight other athletes with techniques, so he couldn’t expect biased calls or unfair judgments.

It was a primitive physical movement where he resisted gravity and wind with his own body.

That’s why it was honest.

*

Even at the January competition in Thailand, his record remained the same.

It wasn’t unexpected, but why wouldn’t that 0.01 second be reduced?

[New Competition Record-.]

Competition record or whatever.

Whoosh-.

The hot air wasn’t welcome, but his body felt light. It was frustrating that his power wouldn’t explode. Anyone who had poured out all their strength in an extremely short time would understand Jinhyuk’s feelings.

‘Condition management isn’t easy.’

It might be because he was in a foreign land with a different climate than his hometown.

Like any junior athlete, his stay was short, making it difficult to manage his rhythm or train properly.

What was encouraging was that he had easily overwhelmed the athletes with home advantage, as well as those from Japan, China, and the Middle East, who were considered strong.

They must have gritted their teeth while watching the back of the tall athlete from Korea. Especially the athletes from Qatar and Bahrain, who looked so tall and old that it was hard to believe they were juniors. But they were still shorter than Jinhyuk.

[Jin-hyuk-sohn-!]

It was an international competition he had entered with great determination, but there were no rivals in Asia. Neither in physique nor in speed.

“Congratulations! You good runner! I’m very very deeply impressed your victorious run!”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

Congratulations, you run really well.

Yeah, thanks.

Well, it’s all English everyone knows.

The competition’s executive committee member, who appeared to be of Indian descent, gave a thumbs up and thumped his chest. Jinhyuk’s run must have been very impressive.

Shaking hands with him finally made him feel like he was abroad. Except for the day he arrived, he had practically lived in his accommodation and the stadium to maintain his condition, and he hadn’t interacted with other athletes, so it was inevitable.

Jinhyuk scratched the gold medal with his fingernail. Biting it would look too cheap.

Scratch-.

‘This is also plated.’

He had a vain fantasy that an international competition would give him pure gold.

It seemed that fantasies were destined to end as fantasies.

‘Today was really close. I need to change my spikes.’

The Japanese spikes supported by SI Sports didn’t hold his feet firmly.

They were fine when used indoors, but it seemed that subtle changes had occurred due to the different environment. Athletes had to be sensitive to such small changes.

‘Find the right shoes, change my training method…’

He listened to unfamiliar music and reviewed what he had to do.

He couldn’t put his right hand on his left chest. Because it was an individual entry, the Korean flag wasn’t raised.

After the awards ceremony, he immediately moved to where Min Yong-rak and the team doctor were waiting.

He glanced around, but the national team athletes who had competed with him were nowhere to be seen, having already left for home.

“You did well! You worked hard! But it must be a bit disappointing.”

“I’m fine.”

He didn’t have the thought that he had reached his limit again.

It was because he knew that progress wasn’t a straight line or a curve, but rather a step-by-step process, like how his height suddenly increased during vacation.

Problems or worries that seemed like they would be solved but wouldn’t, would suddenly be solved, and things he couldn’t remember would suddenly come to mind when he lay down to sleep. The threads of thought would also unravel unexpectedly, as if struck by lightning.

He decided to enjoy the fact that he was running alone among athletes who managed their rhythm for competitions over long periods, sometimes years, sometimes all seasons. Of course, he had no intention of doing it half-heartedly, as many eyes were on him.

“Let’s go home.”

“Okay, this time be careful with your head when you get on the plane.”

Heh-.

Jinhyuk, who let out a hollow laugh, rubbed his forehead for no reason.

Maybe his record was bad because he hit his head on the plane.

*

There were more reporters at the airport than he expected.

He carefully responded to the interviews, making sure not to sound political.

“I don’t know the details of the agency or federation’s issues, and I don’t think it’s something I should comment on.”

“I’ve only conveyed my very basic intention to study and take exams as a student.”

“Yes, it’s disappointing that the Korean flag wasn’t raised.”

He ended the interview quickly for his parents, who were sending him proud looks from behind the reporters, and for his younger siblings, who were in their parents’ arms.

“Okay, okay! The athlete is tired. We’ll replace the detailed interview with the company’s official statement. Thank you, reporters!”

Because Min Yong-rak was there, Jinhyuk was able to reduce the mental discomfort of having to refuse the reporters’ questions.

*

「South Korean High School Student Dominates Asian Short-Distance Track」

「The Second Sohn Kee-chung [a famous Korean marathon runner], Suddenly a Stateless Athlete」

There were articles that mixed patriotism and melodrama appropriately.

「The Athlete Does the Work, SI Reaps the Fame」

「Tax Money Leaking to a Stateless Athlete」

There were still sensational articles attacking Yoo Se-ra.

These were articles written by reporters from media outlets that hadn’t come to the airport.

‘What are they talking about? I didn’t receive a single penny of support.’

He easily ignored the situation where the media was fighting among themselves and public opinion was sharply divided.

After all, in the eyes of ordinary citizens, it was just their own league, not even a storm in a teacup.

‘I’ll just enjoy it my way.’

Enjoy it, but sweat more than others, concentrate on every movement, and think repeatedly. If he trained the same way as others, he would only end up at a similar destination.

The way to enjoy it.

Soo-jung, whom he now talked to about once a week, had said that. It was when Jinhyuk asked her if it wasn’t hard to go to so many academies.

– It’s fun. It’s just all fun. I don’t have a goal, but I’d feel bad if I didn’t do even one, and I feel empty if I rest even for a day, so I go even if it’s hard. But when I go, it’s fun again, so I work hard.

Jinhyuk smiled at the clear voice flowing through the receiver.

Jinhyuk was learning even from Yoo-jin, who was much younger than him. Hong Soo-jung’s calm reflections were another encouragement and motivation for Jinhyuk. It was a mindset he wanted to emulate.

– It’s fun, but also, I chose it, so I have to work hard even if it’s difficult. You said running is fun for you, so that’s why you run every day, right?

Not only was she thoughtful, but her memory was also exceptional.

She was throwing back words he had said when she was so young.

“Soo-jung asked other things back then too. Don’t you remember that?”

– Nope. I don’t.

Even resolute.

“I remember. Soo-jung asked what…”

– I don’t. Even if I remember, I don’t.

That brat, she was embarrassed.

– What did you answer?

“I don’t remember.”

Because he didn’t answer.

– “Do you like running, or do you like Soo-jung?”

That’s what she had asked.

It was already a difficult either-or choice, but asking him to choose between things that couldn’t be compared was like torture.

‘I like both.’

*

Jinhyuk was the only one who didn’t know he was popular.

Because no one had told him.

Choi Mi-kyung had said that if you don’t say it, you don’t know, and those were truly truthful and gracious words.

[I know even if you don’t say it, I know just by looking at your eyes-.]

Jinhyuk shook his head while watching a TV commercial.

‘No, I don’t know. Even if I know, I don’t know.’

Humans react differently just by making eye contact with another person. They might get excited and think, ‘Does that person like me?’ or ‘Is that jerk glaring at me?’

That’s how reality is, so how can you know if you don’t express it?

“Jinhyuk-ahhh.”

“Junior-nim.”

In early February, after the winter vacation ended, interest in Jinhyuk began to heat up in earnest.

It was probably because the country was briefly excited by the news of his two gold medals at the Asian Games.

“Give me one more here. I’m going to give it to my cousin.”

“What’s your cousin’s name?”

“Ooh, you’re going to write the name too? Kim Eun-mi.”

A girl’s name.

“Eun-jung, your name is similar.”

“Because she’s my cousin.”

Even the know-it-all Kim Eun-jung was making quite intelligent remarks now that she was a high school student.

After signing autographs and taking pictures together, the chatter would begin.

It was during these days that he finally learned that even men who weren’t old had their energy go to their mouths. Not to mention the female students.

“Jinhyuk, did you hear about that?”

“No.”

“Jinhyuk, did you meet her?”

“No.”

“Oh, she’s so pretty.”

“No.”

“My cousin’s family is super rich.”

“No.”

Who liked him, who wanted to go on a blind date with him.

Some of them were friends whose names he knew. A blind date with people he already knew? When he pictured it in his head, it created a strange and subtle situation. It was like sitting across from his childhood friend Choi Mi-kyung at a blind date and clearing his throat, ‘Ahem, ahem.’

‘Ugh, how corny.’

Just imagining Choi Mi-kyung pretending to be demure made him feel like he was going to throw up the pho he had eaten in Thailand. Uwee-.

Around that time, he had a mischievous thought.

To be precise, it was a petty and mean thought to test the little kid Hong Soo-jung.

“It seems like blind dates are popular in high school these days.”

– What are you talking about? Elementary school students, oh, this year they’re called elementary school students. Elementary school students also go on blind dates.

Hong Soo-jung said it nonchalantly. In that tone, he could smell the scent of the new employee Hong Soo-jung, who had subtly treated Jinhyuk like an old man.

Is it because it’s Seoul and there are a lot of people? As expected, kids in Seoul are fast!

“No, I mean, I’ve also received such offers…”

I was wondering if I should go…

– Have you never been on a blind date?

“Of course… I have.”

– What do you mean, of course? I go out once a month?

Hey, let’s break up.

No, that’s not it.

It was shocking.

Not that an elementary school student was going on blind dates, nor that the person was Hong Soo-jung.

‘Why do I feel sad and heartbroken?’

It was because of the strange feeling.

He was silent for a long time after experiencing such a strange thing.

– Why aren’t you saying anything?

“Oh, is that so? I was worried that someone might be upset if I went on a blind date…”

– Why would I be upset? You’re funny, oppa [older brother, used by females to address older males]?

Wow. It was the moment when his heart was truly wounded.

Still, how could she talk like that?

She was more hateful than Choi Mi-kyung, who had made Yoo-jin cry.

They had never dated, but it felt like it was time to break up.

– When you go on a blind date, all you do is eat hamburgers, drink milkshakes, and go to the arcade. You just meet new people and talk, and see how they live. That’s all.

Uh-huh? Is that how it is?

Come to think of it, Jinhyuk didn’t know anything about what to do on a blind date.

It was natural since he hadn’t paid attention to what his friends were saying.

Choi Mi-kyung was a precious person who didn’t seem to go on blind dates.

– Are you worried that I might get a boyfriend? What’s wrong with you? I’m Yoo Se-ra’s daughter. Do you know how high my standards are? It’s just a way to clear my head.

Ah, I see.

So, Yoo Se-ra’s daughter goes on blind dates for healing purposes.

I understand-.

Okay, let’s break up.

– Did you think that if you went on a blind date, you’d meet another woman and start a family?

Soo-jung, you…

You’re really good with words.

As expected, Seoul women are scary.

– But, oppa, you know.

“Yeah?”

Hong Soo-jung’s voice caught Jinhyuk, who was playing the drums and cymbals alone, following the steps of a sad-ending, pathetic romance.

– It’s all a lie. I’m so busy with lessons on the weekends, and Mr. Cheol-min is with me all day, so what blind date? Those are all stories I heard from friends who have been on blind dates. I was just trying to play a prank on you.

Hong Soo-jung had a talent for playing with people.

She was a promising talent, and it seemed like he would have to be on his guard in the future.

– Go on a blind date. If you want to…

It sounded like ‘if you want to die.’

It might just be his own delusion, but Jinhyuk’s sharply honed upper dantian [an energy center in traditional Chinese medicine] was warning him. Even if he was a bit clumsy, Jinhyuk knew the truth that a moment’s choice could determine his life.

He also knew that he had to think carefully when answering and choose his words appropriately.

Especially with someone he had a special relationship with.

“Okay. I will.”

– Hey.

It seems like she still doesn’t know.