Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: BBQ Banter and Amusement Park Adventure
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Han Hyun-ho's BBQ joint.
"Man, now your face is plastered all over the newspaper like a billboard."
"Who...?"
Kang Hyun, who had been chewing on a piece of meat, asked Han Hyun-ho, who was holding up the paper.
"Isn't this you?"
"...Yeah, it is."
"Whoa... Korea University Mock Trial Competition's youngest winning team? I don't get all the details, but words like 'upset,' 'stunning victory,' 'Korea's genius.' All that jazz... This is huge, dude! And... whoa! Winning team prize money: 30 million won?"
"Nah, three of us competed, so 10 million each. But per Income Tax Enforcement Decree Article 87, for prize money in competitive events, 80% is deductible as necessary expenses, and 22% tax on the rest. So exactly 9.56 million."
"Whoa! That's still a fortune!"
"That's why I'm treating you to meat. Bismuth's got a 100 million prize, though."
"Bis... what's that?"
"World championship."
"Whoa... as expected! You're the man, Kang Hyun! I gotta hustle in business and open franchises worldwide."
Han Hyun-ho took a sip of soju, then gave Kang Hyun a thumbs-up with a tipsy grin.
After the victory.
There weren't massive changes in Kang Hyun's life, but the prize money was a welcome gain.
His fame had skyrocketed even more, with his face popping up in newspapers and news now and then, drawing even closer scrutiny to his every move.
The calls poured in endlessly.
From high school acquaintances he barely remembered to Reporter Jeong Eun-seong, Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min, and folks from the Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Everyone showered him with congratulations and praise.
Plus the competition prize.
The full 10 million won he proudly handed to his mother brought a brief wave of abundance to their home.
She held back tears, vowing not to cry anymore, and rejoiced with him, beaming with pride.
Pride swelling, he offered the money, but she refused at first. Kang Hyun insisted until it was in her hands.
He hoped it would let her stand tall against the creditors, even if just for a while, and earn some envy from the neighbors.
That was Kang Hyun's happiness.
Sure, he could've flashed the cash to show off or blown it all on wild nights. But no—seeing his mother's joyful face, meat on the table with home-cooked sides, and sharing pork belly and soju with a friend was enough for him.
But the joy was short-lived.
Next month brought midterms.
Professor Kim Jong-hwan's research continued, mock trials with Woo Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim were ongoing, and part-time work didn't stop.
His busy life rolled on, no slowing down toward his goals.
Yet before all that, one exciting thing remained.
"Hyun-ho. Actually... never mind."
"What? Why's the great Kang Hyun hemming and hawing?"
When Kang Hyun trailed off, Han Hyun-ho reacted like it was the end of the world.
Kang Hyun finally spilled what he'd been holding back.
"...You ever had a girlfriend?"
"Huh? What?"
He clunked down his chopsticks, stroked an imaginary beard, and replied solemnly.
"'Bout a hundred, I'd say."
"What? A hundred?"
Kang Hyun burst out laughing at the obvious joke.
But sensing something, Han Hyun-ho teased in a sly tone.
"Why? Got a crush?"
"No! Just a friend. But... we're going out somewhere."
"A girl friend?"
"Yeah, just a female friend."
Kang Hyun had always been surrounded by guy friends in high school, not many girls.
The one exception by his side?
Yoon Haneul.
But to Kang Hyun, their relationship was special—undefined.
They listened to each other, hung out a lot, but never quite labeled it.
Right after the competition, she'd sent her congrats: mobile park tickets.
Amusement park all-access passes.
"But..."
Before Kang Hyun could continue hesitating, Han Hyun-ho deliberately clinked his spoon next to his chopsticks.
"Bam! As an expert, I'll school you."
"On what?"
"Duh! How to get a girlfriend! So, where's the date?"
"It's not a date. Just celebrating the win at the amusement park..."
"Amusement park!"
Han Hyun-ho suddenly bowed his head and clapped.
"You're done for!"
"What is?"
"She's totally into you!"
Kang Hyun stared, confused—he hadn't given anything away.
Han Hyun-ho spread his arms wide, ready for a long explanation.
"What girl goes to an amusement park with a guy she doesn't like?"
"Is that so..."
"Obviously!"
Voice dropping conspiratorially.
"A real man protects his girl. No showing fear on those rides. Protect her! Oh, you good with rides?"
"...Never tried, so no clue."
"Then just say 'You okay?' and 'This is fun!' No matter what."
"You okay? This is fun?"
"Exactly!"
He slapped Kang Hyun's shoulder heartily.
"Good vibes? Confess! Have fun!"
"Con...fess? She's just a friend."
Han Hyun-ho, spotting an opening, kept up the relentless teasing.
Kang Hyun played it off as a joke, but his ears perked up anyway.
"When'd you even start this flirt-fest? You're always slammed."
"Flirt-fest?"
"Friends-plus, but too scared to date yet! Classic almost-there stage!"
At Han Hyun-ho's words, Kang Hyun's flushed face from a few drinks turned a shade pinker.
It hit too close to home.
"Think about it. Is she really just a friend... or more?"
In front of Han Hyun-ho's sipping, Kang Hyun nodded subtly, like he'd made a quiet vow.
"Gyro Swing, Bungee Drop, Freefall Ride, Atlantis, Gyro Swing."
Yoon Haneul checked her phone itinerary, muttering excitedly.
The usually calm girl was fidgeting impatiently—it was kinda funny, so Kang Hyun chuckled.
"You said Gyro Swing already."
"That's for evening, no line, one more time."
"Really?"
"Obviously!"
The amusement park brimmed with cheerful songs and happy crowds.
Yoon Haneul, in vibrant outfit with cute fox ears headband, spun around in front of Kang Hyun like a drama lead, light on her feet.
Kang Hyun marveled again at her rainbow of expressions.
The more he saw her, the more he learned—sides only he knew.
And today, a new one.
"Eek!"
"Hngh!"
Screaming in thrill, Yoon Haneul looked like she owned the world.
But Kang Hyun? He couldn't even scream properly, mind blank. First rides hit like that.
Swoooosh.
"Eek! Best ever!"
"Huff, huff... Fun...?"
"Yeah! Freefall next."
"Okay..."
Splash!
"Eek!"
"Hngh!"
Sliiiide.
"How was it?"
"...Fun."
"Right? One more? Nah, line's too long."
"...Tough... no, fun."
"Then that one?"
"Yeah, sure..."
Was it the rides or his reactions? Yoon Haneul was at peak energy, dragging him everywhere.
Half a day like that.
Kang Hyun had worried about the crowds since early morning, but he was getting into it.
Rides scary at first? By the end, arms wide, screaming joy with her.
"Argh! Awesome!"
"Right!"
When she unconsciously grabbed his arm or held his sweaty hand post-ride like nothing, his heart skipped.
But she didn't care, or notice. So he played it cool too.
Click! Click!
Amusement park meant photos.
They hit Instagram-famous spots on breaks. Selfies, shots for each other.
Even asked a dating couple to snap theirs.
Everything was a blast.
The park transformed with time.
Morning vibrancy turned moody and dazzling at dusk.
Sun down, lights flickered on everywhere in a blink.
"Dark makes it prettier!"
"Yeah, it does."
Sparkling carousel, straight out of a fairy tale.
In front, Yoon Haneul struck a glamorous celeb pose, stunningly pretty.
Kang Hyun framed shots tirelessly.
"Good one?"
"You bet! See?"
"Whoa! Your photo skills are leveling up!"
"Right?"
"Yeah!"
Her praise made him grin back proudly.
Thus faded Kang Hyun's first amusement park day.
Hunger hit amid snack-and-dinner crowds; they snagged seats, scanned noisy menus.
"What to eat?"
"Lunch was pizza, so chicken?"
"Yeah! Sounds good!"
She ditched the headband, fixed her messy hair.
Evening lights on dim park made her look like a fairy-tale princess, Kang Hyun thought.
A mystical, dreamlike vibe.
Thump, thump, bam, bam.
Festive music neared from outside.
"Huh? Parade."
"For real."
Festival vibes.
Here, no worries, no stress.
Total opposite of Kang Hyun's turbulent life so far.
Plus Yoon Haneul's smile made him all the happier.
Songs, music, dance.
If he succeeded ahead... and things went even better...
Would she be there then? The thought flashed.
"Haneul."
"Yeah?"
"Anything else you wanna do down the line?"
"Why?"
"Just. Fall hits, we're slammed again. Might not get days like this."
She lowered her phone from photo pose, looked at him.
Then whispered in his ear.
"We can come every year."
The night's dark mixed with twinkling lights hid her face details, but she was definitely smiling.