Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Summer's End
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The sweltering heat, which had stabbed like a knife, finally began to subside.
Time flew by so quickly that Kang Hyun only managed to wrap up most of his tasks right at the tail end of what had been a sweet vacation.
His tutoring sessions with Im Cheol-su had extended another month for a total of two, and with the case neatly resolved, Im Cheol-su was gradually regaining his daily routine and stabilizing.
"Teacher, please solve this last problem for me."
"Cheol-su, this is an English problem."
"You're the top scorer in the nation. Please?"
"...Fine, let's see."
These days, the kid had the leisure to act so shamelessly.
"...Getting this wrong means you're paraphrasing and skimming over it. If you interpret it like this..."
Scribble, scribble.
And so, the final tutoring session with Im Cheol-su ended with an English problem.
There were no regrets.
Kang Hyun was simply grateful that their tumultuous connection could end so cleanly.
As he stepped out the door, Kang Hyun gave Im Cheol-su a light hug.
"Live well. Keep in touch."
"Thanks for everything. I'll live hard like you, Teacher."
He didn't know when or where they'd meet again, but one thing was certain: Im Cheol-su wouldn't stray down the wrong path and would grow in a better direction.
Meanwhile, Han Hyun-ho's remodeled barbecue restaurant was starting to make a name for itself as a packed hotspot.
Han Hyun-ho was now truly a full-fledged boss.
"Over here!"
"Coming!"
Kang Hyun, apron tied on, dashed over at a customer's call.
He was only helping out during vacation, but he gave it his all in the time he had.
Late at night, when closing time arrived.
"You worked hard today!"
"You too, Boss."
With the other part-timer gone, Han Hyun-ho, who had spread out in his seat, called Kang Hyun over. Kang Hyun finally untied his apron and sat down.
"Want a drink?"
"I quit alcohol."
"Oh? Then have some cola."
As he poured Kang Hyun a drink, Han Hyun-ho said,
"Time really flies."
"Yeah. It's already fall."
"Here."
Han Hyun-ho handed Kang Hyun an envelope as he chugged the drink.
"What's this?"
Kang Hyun eyed the envelope in bewilderment.
Vacation wasn't over yet, and it wasn't payday?
"You're going to the beach with the kids, right? Spend it freely and de-stress."
"...Is this okay?"
A whopping 500,000 won. Way too much for just helping out a few times a week.
"Of course. I'm the boss—what's not okay? Hurry up and grow into a great guy, then hook me up at your law firm."
"Haha, hey! My dream is to be a prosecutor."
"Khaha, then get me a spot next to the prosecutor's office."
Seeing Han Hyun-ho's hearty laugh amid the jokes eased Kang Hyun's mind.
'I need to step it up too.'
Watching him always give his best like this steeled Kang Hyun's resolve.
From opening the shop to getting it established, Han Hyun-ho had poured in relentless effort. There wasn't a single unscarred finger on his hands from going out at dawn every day and coming back late at night.
Hands covered in deep bruises, blisters that had burst and hardened into calluses.
Seeing them made Kang Hyun's eyes sting a bit. He composed his expression and spoke.
"...Thanks."
At Kang Hyun's words, Han Hyun-ho awkwardly turned his head and stood up.
"Is this all the side dishes we have...?"
Watching someone toil beside him kept Kang Hyun from tiring too.
Just like Han Hyun-ho, who stood steadfast and silent, gradually taking root and growing.
Someday, Kang Hyun would spread his wings and soar as well.
For that, there was one more thing to wrap up.
A few days later, in Dean Kim Jong-hwan's lab.
Kang Hyun visited the university early to meet Kim Jong-hwan about the paper.
The work assisting his research was finally nearing its end.
Truth be told, toward the end, there wasn't much left for Kang Hyun to do. The rest was for the grad students.
Knock knock, swing.
"Professor. It's Kang Hyun."
"Good, you're early."
Kim Jong-hwan's face looked brighter today—likely because a response had come in on the journal submission.
"Here, look."
"What? This is..."
"The review response."
"Revise and accept. Rejected?"
"Just make a few changes based on the feedback. It's as good as accepted."
"Accepted? Wow!"
Kang Hyun let out a relieved smile at his words.
"Congratulations, Professor."
"The one to congratulate is you. Coffee?"
"Yes."
Pour.
The words from Dean Kim Jong-hwan, as he brewed the coffee himself, were astounding.
"You'll be the first Korea University undergrad listed as third author on a research paper."
"Third author?"
That was second among the co-authors, excluding the lead.
In multi-author scoring systems for papers, contributions up to third author were considered substantial.
Dean Kim Jong-hwan truly believed Kang Hyun had made a major contribution.
"Yes. It's not just a courtesy credit. Over 80% of the research data you gathered on foot made it into the paper—not an insignificant contribution."
He handed over the warm coffee and continued softly.
It was hard to believe this gentle tone came from the hot-tempered, blunt-talking Kim Jong-hwan.
"You worked hard. I cheer for your smooth road ahead."
In response, Kang Hyun accepted the coffee with both hands.
"...Thank you. I look forward to your continued support."
"Yes. Congratulations again."
Participating as a paper author would land Kang Hyun in the papers again—or maybe an interview.
A burden to some.
But now, these things didn't feel burdensome, nor like he was being pushed into them.
This was Kang Hyun—accomplishing these one by one. This was who he was.
Kang Hyun grinned, meeting Kim Jong-hwan's eyes confidently.
"Oh, and..."
Then, Kim Jong-hwan slowly fetched something and handed it to Kang Hyun.
It was a recommendation letter.
"As you know, our Korea University's law school is only a few years old. It's coexisting with effort, but the law department will eventually be phased out due to the grad school."
"Regulations require schools with law schools to abolish undergrad law programs."
Kim Jong-hwan nodded with a wry smile.
"Yes. So next year, or the year after, there'll be major changes. Lots shifting in the system."
His gaze shifted to the recommendation letter. Sensing the intent, Kang Hyun spoke in slight surprise.
"This is...?"
"Professor Cheon Ung-jae prepared an early admission recommendation. So you can enter law school right after finishing second year and moving to third."
"What? Early admission?"
"But you'll need to take the LEET in your second year and pass. Can you do it?"
Bar exam or judicial exam.
Law school or judicial training institute.
Law school was the trend, but it delayed appointment times. The judicial exam was faster but like clinging to a drifting rope, risking his plans to shake up the legal world.
He'd vowed to pursue both, but timing was tricky, so he'd been delaying the decision amid deep thought.
Now came a proposal that erased all those worries.
A clever move between Kim Jong-hwan and Cheon Ung-jae.
Passing the judicial exam and early law school entry would give him both titles, allowing relatively quick prosecutor appointment.
He'd become an untouchable 'elite' stepping into the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
"It's uncertain if you'll pass, of course. But what you said back then stuck with me."
"What... did I say?"
"That you'd change things."
"..."
"I told Professor Cheon, and he brought this the next day."
Kim Jong-hwan placed it in Kang Hyun's hand.
His expression, tone, words—all seemed casual, but Kang Hyun understood.
This was unprecedented in history.
They were pulling out all stops to let a genius soar, and they'd shoulder all the backlash and criticism.
He had to live up to that.
It would be tough, but the time to run and fly even harder had come.
Having thought it through, Kang Hyun took the letter firmly. And, to meet expectations, he declared confidently.
"I'll do it."
"Good. Keep it safe and submit it with your LEET scores during review."
Kang Hyun bowed silently to Kim Jong-hwan.
Feeling the mood awkward, Kim Jong-hwan stood and spoke in his usual dialect.
"Go on now. Sorry for calling you during vacation."
"No problem. I'll head out."
Click.
Closing the door, Kang Hyun quietly pondered the feeling welling up in his entire body.
Joy.
It was joy surging.
As a college student, he'd run like mad, gaining much and receiving praise.
Overturning school corruption and gaining fame, winning Korea University's mock trial as the first freshman.
Using habeas corpus and odd tactics to make his name known at the distant prosecutors' office through several cases.
Yet, nothing had been a definitive guiding light for Kang Hyun's path.
But this one subtly received recommendation letter spoke to him.
Your path is clear.
'You're doing great!'
He gripped the paper tightly.
Everything he was achieving was right, and he was doing it well.
The end of vacation.
Warm evening filled with fireflies and crickets.
Kang Hyun's steps seemed much lighter as he walked.
Splash, splash.
Caw, caw.
"Wow!"
"The sea!"
"No need to make a fuss. Oh, seagulls! Seagulls!"
"Chae-eun, those are pigeons."
"No way—what pigeons at Sokcho beach?"
U Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim bounced around with wide eyes, while Yu Chae-eun and Yoon Haneul took in the beach with mildly excited poise.
Sokcho, beach.
Along the inlet cove, colorful crowds enjoyed happy times, and a giant Ferris wheel sparkled in the sun by the shore.
Packed with people savoring the last of late summer's eased heat, Kang Hyun's group arrived.
"Shall we take a photo first?"
"Chan-rim, you take it."
"No, sis. Just ask someone!"
"Argh! Everyone quiet. Excuse me, could you take a picture for us?"
Originally, Kang Hyun was supposed to come with U Si-hyung and Yoon Chan-rim. But Yoon Haneul and Yu Chae-eun tagged along, making a bigger group.
Awkward at first, but with compatible personalities blending, the unease faded, and excitement peaked.
A pretty pension with wide windows framing the sea like a painting, perfect weather boasting the best beach.
They snapped photos, ran to the waves, splashed, and basked in happiness.
Kang Hyun, who planned the whole trip.
Watching them fondly, he spoke to his hyped-up friends.
"So, food later—play now?"
"Oh!"
"Yeah. Swim first, eat after!"
To the sea-excited group, the original plan could naturally shift.
Not in swimsuits, they headed to changing rooms in prepared clothes, squeezing through crowds.
Changing room.
"Bro, nice body."
"Huh?"
Yoon Chan-rim sidled up to the changing Kang Hyun and spoke. Kang Hyun glanced at his sturdy build and smiled.
"But, Chan-rim."
"Yeah, bro."
"Were you... always going on family trips a lot?"
"Family?"
"Uh, no..."
"Oh, you mean Haneul sis?"
Kang Hyun turned away, embarrassed by his question, and listened.
"When we were kids, once or twice? It's been so long, first time since we grew up. But sis likes taking photos. Likes water play. Bad at drinking, but loves beach booze."
"...Huh?"
"You weren't asking about that?"
"...Right."
"See?"
Watching Yoon Chan-rim go ahead with a satisfied, piercing grin, Kang Hyun flushed, hit right on the mark.