Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: A New Home
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After Kang Hyun went through a tremendous incident.
May passed busily but peacefully. For Kang Hyun, it seemed like a period of stability was gradually arriving.
Especially for Kang Hyun and his mother, a monumental event occurred: they finally left their old, small house and moved.
For the past few days while packing, Mother's face had brimmed with vitality, and even Kang Hyun found himself humming a little tune.
Vroom!
Thud!
"Shall I move this over here?"
"Oh, where do people usually put it?"
"You'd typically place the storage cabinet on this side."
"Thank you. Then, just leave it there."
Kang Hyun sweated profusely as he carried boxes with the moving company workers, while Mother wiped and scrubbed the floors with an incredulous expression.
It was a standalone house over 40 years old, far south of the center of Seocho-gu in Seoul. A small unit, on a jeonse lease.
They had negotiated repairs with the owner on the crumbling place, and despite all the minor issues, they could finally move in. It was the best they could afford in Kang Hyun's situation, so there were no regrets.
Above all, both of their faces shone with unbridled joy.
It wasn't a semi-basement or a house perched on a treacherous hillside. This alone felt deeply moving and emotional.
The house even had a basement and a rooftop, and it was surprisingly spacious—after filling it with all their household items, it still felt a bit empty.
Warm sunlight poured into the master bedroom where Mother would sleep, and Kang Hyun no longer had to worry about mold in his own spacious room.
Thud! Click!
They laid down mats on the floor and set up an old table. On top, they placed a diffuser gifted by neighbors. A clean, pleasant scent filled the living room.
The bathroom had been repaired well, with water gushing out strongly and no rotten smells wafting from anywhere.
Everything was perfect. Kang Hyun stepped back a few paces and took in the whole house.
"Wow."
A short exclamation escaped him. He had finally obtained a "home" he had dreamed of—one he could casually mention to others.
Once Mother finished tidying up, she sat silently in the living room for a long while, lost in thought.
"Hoo..."
It was a sigh brimming with joy, mixed with the sorrows of the past.
"...Let's eat first."
Her voice thickened as if her eyes might well up, so she carefully spoke and quickly moved to the kitchen.
Kang Hyun fully understood his mother's emotions right now, so he pretended not to notice, sat in the living room, and said in a bright, cheerful tone.
"Should we order delivery? Jjajangmyeon on moving day, right?"
"We have ingredients for jjajangmyeon. We brought them all over."
Kang Hyun playfully turned toward his mother and said.
"I've got plenty of money now."
"Hoho, enjoying the blessings of my son. True, you're a famous person who's even been on TV. Loaded, aren't you?"
"Aw, come on, not like that."
Laughter filled the air between them.
How long had it been since they'd had such lighthearted banter? And how long since Mother had smiled so purely and brightly?
Moreover, since all of this came from Kang Hyun's legitimate efforts, he could feel all the more proud and at ease.
Kang Hyun ordered delivery and checked his bank balance on his phone as he thought.
Tournament prize money. Public service ad modeling fees. Reward for reporting the drug case this time. Various commendation awards.
An astonishing amount for a young man in his early twenties. Over 100 million won in total.
This money had paid off part of the family's 500 million won debt principal and overdue interest, repaid the livelihood support funds Kang Hyun had received, and even made the move possible.
Daijin had been donating 3 million won monthly as charitable contributions, which spread heartwarming stories and brought a steady stream of gifts to the organization's address for a while.
What delighted Kang Hyun most was that his mother now had a bit more breathing room.
She had transferred to a slightly more comfortable job.
Still cleaning for a public institution, but now with early morning starts, afternoon finishes, and weekends off.
With time on her hands, she could visit the hospital and even take interest in flower arranging, which she used to love, tilting her head curiously.
Ding-dong.
-Delivery's here!
Steaming hot jjajangmyeon, jjampong, and tangsuyuk.
Kang Hyun and his mother spread out newspapers on the table, sat on the floor, unpacked the delicious food, and ate together.
Sitting side by side with his mother during lunch to order delivery, or spending a leisurely afternoon—it all felt like a dream to Kang Hyun.
Ding-dong.
After the delivery left, the doorbell rang once more. Both heads turned at the same time. Mother quickly got up and opened the door.
Click.
"Who is it?"
An elderly man who looked advanced in age. A familiar face.
"Auntie, it's me."
He was one of the creditors who had tormented Kang Hyun's family before—the oldest uncle among them.
But the atmosphere was completely different now. Not the angry face from back then. He even carried a fruit basket.
"...I heard you moved and stopped by to congratulate you on my way."
"Oh, what’s this? You didn’t have to bring anything."
Mother showed the broadest mind and warmest demeanor here.
Despite all the scolding, pressure, and torment, she forgave them and steadily repaid the money rightfully.
Seeing this, Kang Hyun felt deep respect and became more cautious in his own actions.
"Ahem, ahem. Congratulations, and I'm truly sorry about the past."
"It's fine. Haven't eaten yet, have you?"
He shook his head vigorously.
"Oh, no thank you! I'll be going now. Take care. But that stu...dent..."
He hesitated as if he had more to say, looking for Kang Hyun.
"I'm right here, sir."
"Oh, K-Kang Hyun's here."
"What is it?"
"Just checking in. Sorry."
"That's a contract in your hand. Not asking me to look it over, are you?"
The man bowed low, looking troubled yet pleading, and only entered after Kang Hyun gestured for him to come in. He then shoved forward a crumpled piece of paper.
"W-Well... I've started a tiny little business, but something seems off..."
"...Sigh. Hand it over, then."
This was happening because he had surpassed being just a top student and was now famous as a legal genius.
It felt like just yesterday they were suffering under these creditors.
Now, they respected Kang Hyun and his mother, no longer belittling or pressuring them. Kang Hyun had kept his promises, transforming hostile relations into ones of mutual support through hardships.
On one hand, it was astonishing to Kang Hyun. At first, he had wanted to kill them all—and if he could have, he would have.
But now, stepping forward by gaining righteous power and strength through the law, Kang Hyun no longer harbored such thoughts.
He had matured. And grown stronger.
Dusk.
As sunset faded into darkness, another guest arrived.
Ding-dong!
This time, an expected visitor—a friend he hadn't seen in ages, one he especially wanted to introduce to his mother.
"Han Hyun-ho. You made it."
"Whoa, congrats! The legal world's big shot Kang Hyun lives here now."
"Big shot, my foot."
They hugged tightly.
The protagonist was his friend from high school days.
Now, Han Hyun-ho had struck it big with a barbecue restaurant, opening branches all over Seoul.
"Hyun-ho, you came? It's been so long."
"Yes, Mother! Hope you've been well! I brought some meat."
"Oh my, you didn't have to... I already set the table."
"But I'm the barbecue restaurant boss now. Haha."
"Shall we eat on the platform, then?"
"Oh!"
"Ah, should I set up upstairs?"
With Han Hyun-ho visiting Kang Hyun and his mother after so long, the house atmosphere shifted once more.
A connection from high school days. Lately, it had been just occasional check-ins, but showing up on a day like this—that's what friends were for.
Sizzle.
A simple setup on the rooftop. Meat grilling on the hot plate.
Dinner with Mother and a close friend.
It was night, but the weather was mild, and the sky over Seoul's outskirts seemed to faintly reveal stars. It was wonderful.
To Kang Hyun, it was perfect happiness.
"Hahaha! So this guy back in high school..."
"Yeah, I think Hyun-i told me that story too."
Joyful conversation flowed on. At one point, Kang Hyun looked up and scanned the neighborhood.
It was quiet but warm. Loving this moment so much, Kang Hyun fell into thought.
He would grow more, become even more famous. Naturally, he'd earn more money too.
Living without money worries had been his first goal since gaining this ability.
But Kang Hyun knew it deep down.
He would never forget this exact time, right now.
This was the power of family and friends. Nothing was more precious or valuable.
Kang Hyun smiled faintly. His heart swelled with fulfillment; he wished time would stop, he was so joyful and happy.
Knock knock.
-Come in.
"Dean, it's Kang Hyun."
-Mm, come on in.
Having accomplished all this.
The end of Kang Hyun's university life was drawing near.
The early admission process for second-year law school entry proceeded systematically, with results to be announced after the second semester break—early September.
With his achievements so far, passage was practically a given. His career was beyond reproach.
His grades were, naturally, top of the class without a single flaw. Starting with his name on a prestigious academic journal paper, he dominated mock trials domestically and internationally—the pinnacle of the field. President of Korea University's student council, competing with the world's best.
The massive cases resolved in his name were too numerous to count with mere commendations.
Who else but Kang Hyun would benefit from this early law school admission system?
Now, at the top school, receiving systematic education while standing above those who fancied themselves the best in the world.
He knew exactly what he had left to do.
"Then, I'll come in."
He swung the door open.
Still the sunny south-facing professor's office. But a gloomy atmosphere hung over Kim Jong-hwan's desk.
It had been a long time since they'd met, but Kim Jong-hwan's expression was notably dark. Piles of documents suggested he'd been wrestling with them, looking utterly fatigued.
As if expecting this, Kang Hyun calmly sat beside him and waited for him to speak.
"Hmm..."
Kim Jong-hwan pondered the documents in silence for a while.
"Yes, have a seat."
"I'm already sitting."
"Ah, right. Sorry. This is just..."
Kang Hyun felt inwardly satisfied seeing the materials he'd submitted to Kim Jong-hwan after days of agonizing still clutched in his hands.
As student council president, as Korea University student president, and as a future prosecutor.
It was a proposal submitted with concern for the future, braving difficulties.
"Aren't you supposed to prepare for the LEET?"
"I'll wrap this up first."
"If you fail the Legal Education Eligibility Test, you can't enter law school even if you pass the review!"
"That won't happen."
Kim Jong-hwan, the dean, sighed heavily and pressed his hand to his forehead, lost in thought for a moment.
It seemed to be about the agenda Kang Hyun had brought up this time.
"...Frankly, I'm against it."
"I figured you would be."
"Korea University's Law Center is already firmly established on campus, and now you want to create a 'Legal Clinic'?"
Legal Clinic.
It was the on-campus autonomous organization Kang Hyun aimed to establish right before leaving university.
Its model was the recent system where law school students provided free legal consultations and support to the public without lawyer fees.
Kang Hyun planned to borrow the name "Legal Clinic" to create an organization where undergraduate students, under supervising professors, offered legal consultation volunteer services.
Regardless of the organization's functions, this was clearly an act of defiance against the Law Center, led by Gong Hyun-jeong.