The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 274

While observing Seo Pil-gu’s uncomfortable expression, Jinhyuk noticed him whispering something into Yujin’s ear.

Yujin’s eyes widened, and her bright voice echoed through the mansion’s dining room.

“Ah! Mister, do you need to poop? The bathroom is that way! There’s one on the second floor and one on the third floor, but the stairs in this house are high, you know? So, you might poop on the way to the third floor-”

Before Yujin could finish her sentence, Seo Pil-gu disappeared as if fleeing.

True to his reputation as a legend in Korean short-distance running, his footwork was impeccable.

‘Wow, I was worried for nothing.’

Jinhyuk, who had been concerned that they wouldn’t communicate well, breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, he understood Seo Pil-gu’s feelings.

It must have been awkward to meet Yoo Se-ra, a person who could be a burden, and as a Korean man who values his image, asking where the bathroom was wouldn’t have been easy. It was unfortunate that Yujin was the one who asked.

“Is grandpa the coach?”

“Hehehe-, grandpa? I’m an uncle.”

“Look, look- you have a lot of white hair?”

“Umm… I took the wrong medicine when I was young.”

Still, she was a bright child who didn’t cause too much of a fuss, and thanks to Yujin, the atmosphere was okay.

How many athletes realize their talent and train and grow on their own?

That was the question Jinhyuk posed to Yoo Se-ra during their meeting after arriving in Atlanta.

To grow the foundation, the athlete pool needs to be diverse, and leaders are needed to guide them. There are youth coaches now, but they need to consider when those athletes grow up. To do that, they need someone with connections to the federation to minimize friction from athlete outflow and someone with excellent conflict resolution skills.

‘Political power should be used for that kind of thing, and that’s the kind of ability needed for that. A shield.’

Kim Hyung-tak’s image of bowing so low that his head almost touched the floor as soon as he saw Yoo Se-ra was vivid in his mind. It wasn’t flattery. It was like a small gang leader bowing to the supreme leader to protect his organization. Others might have seen it differently, but at least Jinhyuk saw that kind of political power in Kim Hyung-tak’s actions.

‘He’s a gentle person. You can tell just by how he treats Yujin.’

Not only that, but he just chuckled when the much younger coach Seo Pil-gu gave him a jab.

Could there be a better candidate than a former national team coach like him?

‘No.’

Coach Seo Pil-gu may not have political power, but he is someone who would be a good role model for the athletes.

Because he is a true genius who debuted in the track and field world at 17 and reigned at the top for 17 years.

– “Please butter him up well. If that doesn’t work, just smiling will do the trick.”

If the atmosphere is stiff even when Yoo Se-ra is smiling, it’s safe to say that the negotiation is already off.

It might seem like he’s using the foundation’s chairman in a strange way, but Jinhyuk was merely making Yoo Se-ra, who had a bizarre negotiation ability that went beyond strangeness, aware of what her greatest weapon was.

‘I heard she threatened Chairman Jeon Kyung-won.’

She’s a mother who has a lot to learn.

Since the meal hadn’t come out yet, and the conversation wasn’t flowing smoothly, Yujin was playing the role of atmosphere maker without anyone asking her to.

“Did mister teach Gyu-samchon [a term for a male friend of one’s parents, like ‘uncle’]?”

“You could say that.”

“Since he was little?”

“That’s not-, not really.”

Kim Hyung-tak was flustered by the sharp question from the little kid who looked just like Son Jinhyuk, with his bulging belly. He couldn’t scold her to go away since she was a guest in an uncomfortable place. What a mess.

“My oppa [older brother] trained alone? If my oppa learns from mister, will he do better?”

“Yujin, don’t bother the coach and sit next to Sujeong.”

“Yes-, ehehe-”

Kim Hyung-tak, who was freed thanks to Jinhyuk, began a serious conversation with Yoo Se-ra.

Since it was the right time, it was a formal conversation related to the Olympics.

“There were no upsets other than Seon-gyu.”

In Jinhyuk’s group 5, a Nigerian athlete came in second, and a Malian athlete who had committed a foul came in third, advancing to the quarter-finals.

In group 9, where Jin Seon-gyu was, Brazil’s Andre Silva, Britain’s Linford, and Cyprus’s Jisimides went straight to the next round.

“There are athletes who give their all in the preliminaries even though they are skilled like Seon-gyu. Davidson Ezinwa from Nigeria, no, Nigeria, oh dear-”

It was quite a struggle to try to say words that didn’t stick to his tongue, which had become stiff with age.

As Kim Hyung-tak puffed and sputtered, Jinhyuk nodded.

Davidson Ezinwa was the athlete who came in first in group 2, beating Jin Seon-gyu’s best friend, Jonathan Drummond. His record was 10.03 seconds, third in the preliminaries.

Yoo Se-ra’s eyes flashed quite sharply.

“Who do you see as the likely winner, coach? Besides our athletes.”

“I would pick three athletes. Ato Boldon, Frank Fredericks, and Dennis Mitchell.”

Kim Hyung-tak shared his thoughts without hesitation.

Among the world’s top-class athletes, Boldon and Fredericks had been maintaining a steady rivalry recently. Kim Hyung-tak cautiously analyzed that Ato Boldon would be sharpening his knife since Fredericks had always been in the lead.

Dennis Mitchell was not only an ace among American short-distance runners, but he was also expected to have the advantage of being on home ground.

Kim Hyung-tak didn’t have Donovan Bailey, the winner of the last five competitions, or Linford Christie, the winner of the last Olympics, in his mind.

“Donovan Bailey is a similar type to Seon-gyu. He has a lot of ups and downs and can’t perform well in a calm atmosphere. He’s an athlete who shows monstrous power in chaotic situations. From what I’ve seen recently, he seems to be in a slump. Linford is an athlete whose strength is acceleration, but he can’t overcome the weight of time…”

Looking at Kim Hyung-tak’s somewhat sad eyes, it was an expression that deeply sympathized with aging, and it was definitely not a nuance of ignoring Christie.

“I still hope that all of our athletes will shine in the finals.”

Looking at the preliminary records alone, it wasn’t impossible.

Coincidentally, the athletes who came in fourth in groups 5 and 9 became two of the four who were saved by their records, which meant that Jinhyuk and Jin Seon-gyu had survived as first-place finishers in such competitive groups. That’s how the 40 quarter-finalists were decided.

“In the quarter-finals, Seon-gyu will meet Asahara from Japan, who was the strongest in Asia until early this year. I hope he doesn’t get intimidated.”

“What do you think about the Chinese athlete who shook off Jinhyuk’s hand?” Yoo Se-ra asked about an athlete she had been watching with interest.

“That’s as far as he’ll go, isn’t it? The bullet Fredericks is in that group.”

“Hmm…”

She didn’t seem to understand what it meant right away, and Yoo Se-ra trailed off.

“Chen is, strictly speaking, a second-level athlete. There are three top-level athletes in that group besides Fredericks.”

“Ah-”

“He can expect to improve his record, but surpassing them is another matter.”

“Thank you for your insight.”

It was a scathing assessment from a current coach that was hard to hear from a broadcast commentator.

It was a realistic prediction that if Fredericks pulled ahead, the other three top-class athletes would stick close, and the lower-level athletes would have to chase them and aim to break their records.

It was obvious information that those at the stadium could get from the scoreboard, and those who watched on TV could get right after the game ended. However, common stories are better than difficult topics for easing an awkward atmosphere and adding intimacy. What more could be said if that topic was the Olympics, which captures the public’s attention? Even office workers, students, and housewives talk about the Olympics when they get together.

“As expected, a professional coach is different. You’ve already organized it like that. Ohohong-”

“Hehe-, it’s what I should do as a coach.”

If it were a serious person who ruins the atmosphere, they would say, ‘That’s all common knowledge,’ but the language used by a businessman must be different. Especially if they are the ones who set up and lead the meeting.

Jinhyuk thought that Yoo Se-ra’s straightforward way of speaking had become much more indirect.

“Where is ‘should’? There’s no one who recognizes it, but you still work so hard, hohong-. Our athletes will work harder so that the whole nation knows.”

“Hehehe-. Thank you, Chairman.”

Just then, Seo Pil-gu returned from the bathroom.

As he sat down, Yoo Se-ra straightened her back. Her eyes were shining with energy, her face still had a smile, and her voice was full of power.

“Let’s get straight to the point. After the Olympics, I would like you to take on the role of general director of basic physical education at our foundation. I propose the position of track and field coach to Coach Seo Pil-gu.”

“Oh my, thank- hic!”

Kim Hyung-tak’s body bent to the side as he tried to accept Yoo Se-ra’s offer.

Seo Pil-gu had poked him in the side.

“Please give us time to think. Now is the time to focus on the Olympics.”

Yoo Se-ra smiled and nodded.

Jinhyuk could see why he thought highly of Seo Pil-gu.

“I won’t push you for an answer right away either. But let me make one thing clear. I will treat you better than any coach in the world.”

Seo Pil-gu and Kim Hyung-tak’s eyes lit up with doubt at the same time.

That wouldn’t be easy, would it? Do you know the salaries of American track and field coaches?

“Isn’t the treatment of a coach determined by the athlete? If the athlete becomes the best, the coach should also receive the best treatment. Don’t worry about securing athletes. If there’s money to be made, talent will gather. There’s a good model here, right?”

When Yoo Se-ra pointed to Jinhyuk and added, the coach and the director relaxed their shoulders.

A performance-based pay system where the athlete’s performance determines the coach’s salary.

That way, there’s no burden of being a salary thief, and it’s a motivating condition.

“I’ll have to hear the details later, but I think it’s a good condition.”

Jinhyuk smiled contentedly at Seo Pil-gu’s answer.

The fact that he postponed it to a later date meant that today’s meeting between Yoo Se-ra and the coaching staff was positive.

While the conversation was going on in a friendly atmosphere, a Korean feast was brought in on carts from the kitchen.

‘What is this-.’

On the other hand, the athletes’ diet was in stark contrast.

Jinhyuk and Jin Seon-gyu’s eyes, which had widened for a moment, became glazed over.

‘Ah… they said the diet changes during the competition.’

During training, it was plentiful enough to make their stomachs burst, but during the competition period, it changed drastically.

It was a special diet prepared by the manager dispatched by the foundation for the athletes, so they couldn’t complain.

‘Isn’t this torture? They could have set up a separate table.’

At the contrasting menus, Jinhyuk and Jin Seon-gyu’s eyes were filled with deep sadness.

A meadow that spread out before their eyes, making them feel refreshed.

Was the concept to eat grass like wild horses and run?

Our table, green, green.

They insisted that the main athletes shouldn’t be left out and forced them to join the table, but the athletes’ diet was extremely healthy. That doesn’t mean they were complaining. They had to play another game in 7 hours.

Lunch was light, with fruit, vegetables, a little rice, and dry meat.

Even though a savory soybean paste stew made with 된장 (doenjang) [fermented soybean paste] by Han Yu-young was served in the middle of America, the fact that Jinhyuk could only eat half a bowl of rice was an ordeal for him.

However, no matter how good his digestion was, he couldn’t eat his fill for the evening game.

“Yujin, eat a lot. Sujeong too.”

He just chewed on grass while watching his younger siblings eat.

*

After lunch, Jin Seon-gyu and Jinhyuk did stretches barefoot in the garden. It was a process to release the gas that had built up from the meal. Some people might wonder what that means, but what athletes fear more than an empty stomach or a full stomach is gas. The silent assassin.

Pooong-.

“Ooh yeah-, I feel alive.”

Jin Seon-gyu, who had forcefully released gas, shook his warm butt with his hand. With a blissful expression.

The gas that fills the stomach travels up the esophagus, through the trachea and nasal passages, and up to the head. Headaches caused by constipation are due to that. Even minor external factors can cause stress for athletes and affect their records, so how much worse would a throbbing headache be?

‘There was a guy jumping around in the waiting room this morning too. Trying to get rid of gas.’

A behind-the-scenes story that can only be encountered in the athletes’ waiting room.

An athlete jumping around like a pogo stick before a game?

It’s safe to say that one of the two is using a trick to release gas.

Pshhh-.

Jinhyuk waved his hand, spreading the colorless, odorless assassin throughout Atlanta.

Let anyone who drinks it pass out!

‘Did Sujeong see?’

Fortunately, Hong Sujeong was playing with Yujin on the second floor, and only their giggling could be heard.

He did knee raises in place at a slow pace, walked around the garden in that position, and did freehand exercises with mountain climbing and burpees.

He stimulated the muscles that had been surprised by the morning game and spread nutrients evenly.

“Is this enough?”

Uweee-.

Jin Seon-gyu answered with a gag reflex.

Once their body temperature rose and they were covered in sweat, the next step was to shower and move to the sauna.

Thanks to the foundation’s support, they were able to use a training sauna even in the United States. It was a convenience that other national team athletes couldn’t even dream of.

Now that he was used to Jinhyuk’s method and realized its effectiveness, Jin Seon-gyu asked again.

“Do you always do this?”

“Yes. That way, the muscles don’t get surprised and become stronger.”

How much stronger are you trying to get? Jin Seon-gyu flicked his tongue like an anteater.

Training, shower, sauna, cold bath, sauna, cold bath, sauna, cold bath.

“It wouldn’t have been training that anyone could do. It costs a lot of money.”

“It’s thanks to my dad.”

He didn’t bother to say that it was thanks to the sponsorship of Yoo Myung-sun, the honorary chairman.

“My dad is very generous.”

“Tall, and generous…”

Jin Seon-gyu trailed off.

Jin Seon-gyu’s gaze, which had been glancing at Jinhyuk’s naked body from head to toe, stopped somewhere. Then he mumbled like a woodlouse.

“You’re all grown up…”

Jinhyuk, who was enjoying the heat of the sauna, looked at his body and tilted his head.

“Did you say I’m dark?”

Sigh-, that’s strange, my skin is rather fair.

Ah, is he saying that the aura I give off is gloomy?

I even tried hard to make jokes to lighten the mood, even though I’m not good at it.

***

They had a light lunch to maintain their condition, but they needed to replenish their energy for the evening game.

Brown rice, gochujang [Korean chili paste] stew with plenty of pumpkin and tofu, unseasoned grilled beef sirloin, and kimchi. And ginseng-scented black-boned chicken stew. Now, the descendant of Chicken Johnson, whose generation they didn’t even know, had flown all the way to America. With its feathers plucked.

“Your whole family is working hard. This is the kind of treatment that baseball players receive in our country.”

That was Jin Seon-gyu’s reaction to the explanation that most of the ingredients were prepared and transported by Han Yu-young.

‘That’s right. All for me.’

Is it just family?

The village, the company, and now even the country.

They rolled up their sleeves to make one person’s dream come true.

Support and affection that he had never felt at any point in his past life.

‘First, I have to repay them with results.’

If I’m a human being.

*

In the van moving to the quarter-final game in the evening, Jin Seon-gyu asked.

“How far do you want to go? I guess everyone has the same goal, but still.”

Before answering, Jinhyuk felt that Jin Seon-gyu had become too calm.

The over-pace in the morning, the meal and rest, the exercise, and the rest. He seemed to have returned to his usual self after following his daily routine. That wasn’t a bad thing. If he continued to be in a heightened state, his mind could become exhausted as a reaction. But now, before the game, they needed the genius Jin Seon-gyu, the half-crazed lunatic, not the calm and kind Jin Seon-gyu.

‘He’s a senior who needs a lot of attention.’

The longer the answer was delayed, the more Jin Seon-gyu’s expression became tense.

Jinhyuk smiled like Yujin’s clown doll.

“My goal is-“