The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 73

“Next year, I’ll already be thirty-nine.”

“Then I’ll be thirty-four.”

Yes, as I lived, I’ve gotten quite old.

It was a conversation between a couple, having a heated exchange in the middle of the day, after putting their napping daughter down at a distance.

“Oh my, look at this. The peppers are big and firm, they’re really something. They’re getting dark, it must be the right time for them.”

At his wife’s ambiguous and subtle words, the refined Seoul man blushed slightly.

Even so, his hands didn’t stop. The couple was washing and preparing the peppers they had picked from the field. They were planning to make pepper pancakes and tempura, which Jinhyuk loved. It was a dish made by stuffing minced meat and seasoning into peppers and frying them, and along with perilla leaf tempura, it was Jinhyuk’s favorite snack.

“Peppers are more than twice as expensive as last year.”

“Is that why you planted so many peppers, knowing that would happen?”

“It would be more accurate to say that I hoped it would happen. Predictions aren’t always right, after all.”

Anyway, it looked like they were going to make a fortune again.

Last year, there was a lot of rain during the monsoon season. In the winter, there was a lot of snow, and Jinhyuk and Sujeong even spent the whole day sledding on fertilizer bags. So, this year, he just thought that the rainfall would be low, and the pepper crop would be good.

“They say sesame and perilla seeds are also expected to skyrocket in price this year. Because no one planted sesame this year after not doing well last year.”

Everything he touched turned out well.

It was as if the entire universe was helping Son Gwangyeon accumulate wealth.

“Are you going to buy land again this time?”

“Land can be bought with the leftover money. Let’s take a plane for Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving]. Buy yourself some clothes and makeup, and go see the department stores in Seoul.”

“A plane? Department stores?”

Han Yooyoung’s eyes shook violently.

When Jinhyuk was young, they were poor and couldn’t go anywhere, and she couldn’t easily go to the town market because she was afraid of running into her hateful stepsister. She lived in a big house in a scenic place and didn’t do any hard work, so she thought she couldn’t be any happier, but when she heard the word ‘travel,’ her heart thumped.

“U-u-u-uh, where are we going? Are we really taking a plane?”

“Hahaha!”

Son Gwangyeon laughed, holding his stomach, at his wife’s stuttering; she was so cute. How could she still be like a country girl even after having two children? He felt rewarded for all the effort he had put into courting her back then.

“How about Hawaii?”

Han Yooyoung’s eyes widened even more.

“Hawa-wa.”

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Hawaii. Han Yooyoung pictured the image of Hawaii she had seen on TV in her mind. A blue sea like a jewel, a hot sun, and the sound of waves. The sound of sticky, languid music coming from somewhere.

She didn’t know what was famous there, but the food must be delicious. What if it wasn’t? She could just go around for the fun of dressing up. Han Yooyoung imagined herself wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a fluttering dress. Heh- saliva gathered in her open mouth.

She was imagining with her eyes looking up, when she suddenly glared at her husband.

‘Women are all walking around naked there!’

It was because the last image that came to mind was of women in bikinis.

Son Gwangyeon, not knowing why, shrank back and just touched the peppers at his wife’s rare fierce gaze.

As his wife said, the peppers were big and firm, just right.

These must be spicy.

He had packaged the plan that Gijun had made as the plan of the Seoul man, Son Gwangyeon, and only received a sharp glare from his wife.

***

That year’s Chuseok was in September.

It was more than a month earlier than usual.

“You did well. September is good in Hawaii.”

“How does Jinhyuk know that?”

Oh, dear.

He couldn’t say that he had been there three times in his previous life, what should he do?

This was when a student’s special move was needed.

“It’s in the book.”

Overseas training for excellent employees of Sein Group.

It was called training, but it was actually a package tour. It was given as a carrot to employees with good performance and evaluations, and Jinhyuk had never been left out. So, he had been to famous tourist destinations, from Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, to far-off countries such as Sydney, Hawaii, Czech Republic, Paris, and Spain.

‘Come to think of it, the Great Wizard went as the leader every time.’

Person in charge of the group. For each overseas training, an executive-level leader accompanied them, and because the department Jinhyuk belonged to was excellent, Hong Sujeong was always the leader. So, they had been on the same plane and stayed at the same hotel.

– “Team Leader, would you like to have a cocktail at the hotel bar?”

– “I have to take care of the other team members.”

– “Ah, okay…”

You fool! Jinhyuk banged his head in his mind. Back then, he had completely closed the door to his heart and lived only thinking about himself. The more he thought about it now, the more he felt like he didn’t understand Hong Sujeong’s feelings at all.

The chairman’s daughter. No one could easily approach her, and it must have been difficult for Hong Sujeong to reach out first. That’s why she must have become lonely in the crowd and talked less. The nickname ‘Great Wizard’ must have been created in that process. And Son Jinhyuk was the only person that Hong Sujeong talked to.

‘I’m sorry, Sujeong.’

I’ll treat you well this time. It seemed like he was already treating her well enough, but he made a promise that he would not turn away from her in the future.

First, he had to do his homework. He also had a Chinese character quiz tomorrow. They were all easy Chinese characters that he knew, but it was always good to review them just in case.

“Mom, I had my milk.”

“Huh? Where are you going? What about the Hawaii talk?”

He had been lost in thought for too long, not even knowing that his parents were watching him quietly.

“Am I going too?”

Wouldn’t it be better for the two of them to go alone?

He didn’t want to disturb them. Watching the lovey-dovey couple made his eyes hurt.

‘It’ll be fine.’

Clark Kent said that airplanes were statistically the safest mode of transportation. And looking back at his past memories, there was no information about major incidents or plane crashes related to Hawaii.

It was the same with Yujin. He would have to take care of her anyway, and it would be much easier to take care of her at home than in Hawaii.

“You two should go. I saw in the newspaper that Mom needs a vacation too. I can take care of Yujin. She has to go to school too-”

“B-but, wouldn’t it be b-better to go together?”

Why was his mother, who had said to go together, stuttering so much?

Cough- his father, who was pretending not to be interested and flipping through his notebook, was also suspicious. It was a blank page with nothing on it.

“But do you have plane tickets?”

“Yeah. We decided to go with Sujeong’s family.”

Ah, so they were going in business class at the very least.

“What about Sujeong?”

“She said she’s playing with her maternal grandfather?”

These people had already planned everything as a couple!

There were no parents to trust in this world. It was good since Jinhyuk wasn’t planning on going anyway.

‘It’s a good time to investigate the suspicious guys.’

The holidays were long, and on the days he had to go to school, Yujin would be taken care of by Choi Mikyung’s mother. Or Jinhyuk could just skip school for a day or two. It would be a shame if he didn’t get the perfect attendance award, though.

As he carried his bag and went up to the second floor, Jinhyuk glanced at his parents’ reactions.

“Heehee-”

The young father’s mouth was stretched from ear to ear.

How happy must he be to be like that?

‘It’s strangely making me feel betrayed.’

I wish it would rain.

***

Seoul, the house of Yoo Myungseon, the chairman of Sein Group.

Each time the soft cloth passed, the deep green leaves shone. From the delicate fingertips and the cautious breathing, one could see how much the elderly chairman cherished the orchids.

“Father.”

The eldest son, Yoo Moonshik, called out, but Chairman Yoo Myungseon didn’t even turn around. Rather, he made the affectionate gaze he had on the orchids even more intense. Yoo Moonshik could only confirm his position, which was worse than the orchids.

‘You useless fool.’

He had sent him to study abroad and even had him take management classes, but he had an affair and was caught by his wife, was scammed in an investment, and was told to start a chemical business but had the core technology stolen. That was Yoo Myungseon’s eldest son, Yoo Moonshik.

The second son, Yoo Junshik, only swallowed dryly at the strange atmosphere between his father and brother and kept his mouth shut. In times like these, it was best to just stay still.

Knock knock-.

A knock on the study door was heard, at a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow.

“Chairman, the young lady has arrived.”

It was Kwon Jehak, the head butler of the mansion’s employees.

“Where is Sujeong?”

Yoo Myungseon asked, still wiping the orchids.

He was even holding his breath, afraid that he might disturb his breathing.

“All three family members have arrived.”

The elderly chairman’s face brightened. The second son, Yoo Junshik, who had been watching closely from beginning to end, let out a faint sigh. His father had many grandchildren, but he only loved his granddaughter.

“Let’s go to the reception room.”

*

Hong Sujeong ran towards her maternal grandfather, Yoo Myungseon.

“Grandpa!”

“Oh my, oh my-. Our puppy has gotten so heavy. How have you been, our Sujeong? How’s school?”

“Oh my, oh my. School, academies [private after-school learning centers], hairless boys, I’m so tired, you know?”

“Hahahahaha!”

Yoo Myungseon picked up his granddaughter and laughed like Santa Claus.

“You little thing, you can say anything. You have to use honorifics with your grandfather!”

Yoo Sera narrowed her eyes and scolded Hong Sujeong.

Not missing the chance, Yoo Moonshik sneered.

“She must be ill-mannered like her mother.”

“Are you going to show your twisted nature in front of your father?”

Yoo Myungseon glared at Yoo Moonshik fiercely while holding his granddaughter. When everyone was holding their breath in the cold air, Yoo Myungseon let out a sigh and pointed to the front door with his hand.

It was a universal language, meaning ‘get out’.

“Ah, Father.”

“You’ve caused so much harm to the company, and you’re acting like a pest in my house. I don’t need a guy like you. Get out.”

It was a voice full of anger, but it wasn’t loud.

He spoke as if growling softly, which made it sound even scarier.

“Father! How have I been all this time!”

As the unpleasant atmosphere continued, Yoo Myungseon carefully put Hong Sujeong down.

“Our puppy, go play in grandpa’s study.”

“Okay, Grandpa.”

Hong Gijun’s eyes lit up as he watched his daughter head to the study.

Looking at Yoo Moonshik, he looked very nervous.

Hong Gijun lightly grabbed Yoo Moonshik’s arm with force and then let go.

*

The housekeeper brought refreshments, but only Yoo Sera touched them.

Yoo Moonshik’s face was flushed, and Yoo Junshik had his eyes lowered, as if he didn’t know what he was thinking.

Hong Gijun had come to greet them before Chuseok, but he ended up sitting in an uncomfortable seat. That’s what it looked like on the surface. He had come to greet them before the holiday, but it seemed that wasn’t the case for his brothers-in-law. His brothers-in-law didn’t bring any of their wives or children. His father-in-law must have something to say.

‘I expected it to be a meeting like this.’

He didn’t know what his father-in-law would say. He carefully looked at Yoo Sera’s expression, wondering if she knew anything. But his wife was just stuffing cookies into her mouth like a glutton.

Chairman Yoo Myungseon opened his mouth.

“Moonshik.”

“Yes, Father.”

“How have you been all this time?”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t you ask how you’ve been all this time, and why I’m trying to kick you out?”

“That’s…”

“Should your father tell you?”

When the eldest son, Yoo Moonshik, hesitated, Chairman Yoo Myungseon raised only one corner of his mouth and smiled bitterly.

“Ah, no.”

“What you’ve done! Embezzling company funds! Buying actresses with company funds and playing around! Harassing female employees! Having the chemical core technology stolen by the Japs [a derogatory term for Japanese people]!”

“I’m sorry!”

Yoo Moonshik got off the sofa and knelt on the floor. It was a quick movement.

But it seemed that Yoo Myungseon’s words were not over.

“I told you not to do that, but you even lobbied the political world! You did everything I told you not to do, and you were just watching to see when this old man would die! That’s what you’ve done all this time!”

“P-please forgive me just once-”

“Forgive you? Get out right now! You don’t have to come to the company from tomorrow!”

The eldest son, Yoo Moonshik, was eventually dragged out by the sturdy secretary and bodyguards that the chairman had called.

His voice, calling out for his father, was blocked by the soundproofed middle door and did not reach the reception room.

“Junshik, Sera.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Yes, Dad.”

At Yoo Sera’s answer, Yoo Myungseon turned his head towards his daughter. A happy smile appeared on the old man’s face. No matter what, his daughter was the best. Even though she had married and had children, she still called him ‘Dad’ like she did when she was young. And it was also fun that he told his own daughter to use honorifics.

“There’s only one chance. Just maintaining the status quo is enough to be called a great manager. It would be even better if you could dramatically grow the business, but it would be difficult if you think you’ll be treated well just because you’re the owner’s child. And Moonshik’s desk has been cleared.”

Who else could kick out their eldest son like this? It was a country where the eldest son was favored because he was the eldest son, even if he was lacking and had a bad temper.

Yoo Myungseon’s unconventional actions didn’t stop there.

“Hong Seo-bang [a term for son-in-law], take charge of the chemical business from tomorrow.”

Puhwak-!

Twin flower tea spurted from the nose of the second son, Yoo Junshik.