Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: First Day Back
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The media outlets' requests for tips sparked a hotter response than expected.
Because the name Kim Ji-hoon was already gaining fame even in Korea.
Tips about his past actions began pouring in.
Among them, what really made the reporters' eyes light up was, without a doubt, the story of his marriage and divorce.
The deeper they dug, the more intriguing facts emerged.
He had filed for divorce after two years of marriage.
And although the court had ruled on property division, he hadn't paid a single penny, liquidated all his assets, and fled to America.
In other words, before becoming America's hero, he was a 'deadbeat debtor' who had defied a Korean court's order and run away.
The media outlets went wild over this sensational content.
They didn't even need to dig deeper.
Fact-checking?
That could wait.
What mattered was the frame: 'America's hero's ugly past.'
They started pumping out articles as if they'd been waiting for this.
America's celebrated hero had a dark past.
The Korean media was ready to tear down his reputation, as if they'd been waiting for it.
No matter the truth, nothing was as stimulating as a hero's fall.
The moment Kim Ji-hoon rose as America's hero, calls from every Korean media outlet flooded Kim Ji-su.
She already knew from the news that her ex-husband had achieved something huge in America.
And... she had seen the white-haired wife by his bedside in the hospital, wearing sunglasses.
Beauty so unreal it pierced right through the sunglasses on screen.
A black jealousy surged deep in Kim Ji-su's heart.
'Why would a woman like that be with a guy like Kim Ji-hoon...?'
What shameless audacity.
Other people's rice cakes always looked bigger, it seemed.
"I have no comment."
Kim Ji-su flatly refused every interview request.
There was no upside to drawing attention.
She was the one who had cheated, after all. Digging into the past would only hurt her.
Besides, the lawsuit in America was just getting started.
She had to avoid creating any unfavorable evidence.
But the media was persistent.
When Kim Ji-su wouldn't talk, they unleashed speculation-based articles on 'gut feelings,' as if waiting.
'If not, oh well' style.
The Korean media's favorite tactic.
Pull in clicks with sensational headlines, then dodge responsibility with magic words at the end like '...is speculated.'
'It is speculated-dor.'
Modern-day Gung Ye bastards, weren't they?
How they pulled off that Gung Ye nonsense so well.
Just like that, they turned Ji-hoon into a shameless human scum overnight.
Ji-hoon's parents were furious.
They called every media outlet, protesting vehemently that it wasn't true.
But the responses were all the same.
"We only reported based on the tips we received."
Retractions? Of course not.
Biased reporting.
The chronic disease of Korean media ignoring facts unfavorable to them.
Ji-hoon's family was driven to madness by the frustration.
That evening, in the living room of Ji-hoon's family home.
The TV news was still spewing sensational coverage about their son.
"Those bastards really!"
Kim Sung-tae slammed the table as if to shatter it.
"Can they just make up lies like that!?"
Choi Mi-hee couldn't contain her anger either.
"It's unbelievable... We've told them it's not true so many times!
Tips? Who would tip off such nonsense!?"
The eldest son Ji-hyuk chimed in from the side.
"They're just doing it to pull aggro, Dad. They'll end it with 'if not, oh well' later, obviously."
"Even so! They've made him out like trash!"
Choi Mi-hee's voice rose.
"Ji-hoon will be so heartbroken if he sees this..."
"Can't we sue them?"
Kim Sung-tae asked.
"It'd be pointless. They've got all the escape clauses built in..."
Ji-hyuk said bitterly.
The family could only watch helplessly as their son was trashed, drowning in frustration and rage.
The living room filled with heavy silence, broken only by the hollow echo of the TV anchor's distorted voice.
In truth, Ji-hoon was completely unaware of what was happening in Korea.
Why?
He didn't care.
He didn't even want to piss in Korea's direction.
Heh heh heh.
I've become a citizen of a great power!
The Korean Peninsula, fidgeting nervously surrounded by superpowers.
Having left that place to be reborn as a citizen of Earth's hegemon, it was natural he had no interest.
His family probably kept quiet, not knowing what he might do.
And... the inevitable arrived.
The lawsuit hit America.
Ji-hoon immediately hired David and contracted him to handle all responses.
David's attitude was worlds apart from the first consultation.
"To meet Berkeley's hero again... it's an honor."
Embarrassing words, but he figured he'd get used to them.
"Haha, please take care of it, David."
"I'll show them hell."
His confident grin looked utterly reliable.
Hmm~ Next week is the medal ceremony, right?
The U.S. government had contacted him.
They'd present the medal at the White House next week.
He felt a bit nervous.
Apparently, the Presidential Medal of Freedom was one of the highest honors for American civilians.
And it didn't come with direct cash or material benefits.
Well, what of it?
Wasn't it proof of his contribution to America?
He was more than satisfied with that.
Downtown's star.
That was me.
"Try some of this, Hoon!"
I was on my way back to the shop after mostly recovering.
Today, I planned to just man the counter and greet customers.
But along the way, shop owners kept offering food and throwing flirty glances(?).
Entering the shop, preparations were already done.
"Hey~"
I raised my hand high in greeting.
"Boss~!"
The staff turned to me with bright smiles.
"Everyone do well?"
Then Dong-hyun emerged from the kitchen, apron on.
What's with that mom look?
Those dark circles—what are they? Down to his cheeks almost.
"Dude, what's with that zombie face?"
To my words, Dong-hyun stared at me with hollow eyes.
"Heh heh heh... You'll feel it soon enough."
Leaving that ominous line, he shambled like a zombie to check the napkin holders on the tables.
Damn, what the hell.
Something felt seriously off.
And at lunchtime, I faced the source of that unease head-on.
Ah...
Nothing else to say but 'Ah...'
In an instant, every seat inside filled up, and an endless line stretched outside.
I rushed out to manage the queue.
Berkeley students, locals, and new faces drawn by the buzz—all swarming in.
Aaah!
Dong-hyun's dark circles were as long as this line, huh.
"Alright~ Single file, please~ Take a number~"
I monitored inside from the front, ushering people in one by one as seats opened.
Traffic control, basically.
Among the line, plenty of familiar faces too.
"Oh my~ Hoon~! Long time no see!"
Jessica, the woman who occasionally flirted with me.
"Hey~ Jessica, yeah, been a while."
"What~? Heard you got married? Too much! I dropped so many hints!"
"Haha. Back off. I've got a loving wife."
At my iron wall, Jessica pouted sadly.
"Hmph~ Should've been more aggressive~ Thought your shyness was cute, so I was gonna eat you up slowly~"
Watching her smack her lips, it didn't sound like a joke.
"Yeah, go eat your food inside. What do you mean eat me up. Hurry in."
I shooed her inside with a wave.
She went in giggling.
"Ah! Hoon!"
Before entering, Jessica called me.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for saving Berkeley~"
She winked and slipped inside.
Today, lots of people thanked me upon seeing me.
Aah, hero treatment.
Tastes great.
Korea could learn from this culture.
A nation that truly loves its heroes.
The civic pride in respecting those who sacrificed for them was worth respecting.
And there were faces I hadn't seen in ages.
"Whoa~ If it isn't Berkeley's beloved man, Hoon?"
"Hey! Lucas!"
I gladly shook Lucas's hand and bumped shoulders.
"Heard you went far away—trip go well?"
"Haha! That was ages ago. Shop kept closing, felt so slighted. Heard about your big ordeal and clapped like crazy?"
Haha.
Always a fun guy.
"Man, first time getting shot. Thought I was dying from the pain."
"Haha! How many did you take? Miracle you're alive."
To Lucas's joke, I flashed a V-sign with my fingers.
"I've got two holes in me now too."
"Haha! Be happy with two. Three and it'd hurt my gang pride."
Turning 'don't get shot again' into humor.
"Haha. Will do."
"Oh yeah, married now? That white-haired girl from before?"
"Yep. Super lovable woman."
"Cute. Matches your cuteness. Haha."
What, this guy.
Mocking my height?
Moment of confusion, but let it slide.
I'll believe it's not.
Being out at the shop after so long, I was busy greeting people.
New customers recognized me and rushed for photos.
Of course, I happily posed with them.
Gotta do some fan service.
"Aah... Just kill me."
After closing, sprawled at a table alone with Dong-hyun for the first time in ages.
Staff had all gone home.
"......Good work."
I spoke first.
"Tell me about it. If I'd known it'd be this busy, I'd have come back sooner."
Dong-hyun stared blankly at the ceiling.
"What's the point of saying it? Telling you it's busy would just make you feel bad while resting."
Words laced with consideration for me.
Hearing that, I thought.
A bit grateful?
A tiny bit.
"What... hire more people?"
Dong-hyun shook his head at my suggestion.
"Current staff's enough anyway. Just hope the kids don't burn out..."
Today's workload alone was murderous.
Burnout was a real risk.
Gotta give fat bonuses this month.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Lawsuit came?"
Aah. He noticed since I mentioned seeing the lawyer.
"Yeah."
"Ugh, that bitch is cursed."
"What can ya do. Must be a bolt from the blue for Ji-su."
I chuckled.
If I'd stayed in Korea, my assets would've been seized already.
"You're cursed too, man."
Dong-hyun eyed me.
"Fleeing to America just to avoid paying up—where do you get that mindset? Not your average guy."
His tongue-clicking gaze.
Felt oddly proud.
Aa. Acknowledged.
And so, my first day back ended in a whirlwind of busyness.