Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: The Heart-Pounding Place
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'Wow, is this for real...'
Honestly, I figured Representative Yoon would have her own car.
But she said she'd rushed to Korea to meet me and hadn't arranged for one.
Which led to this awkward situation.
"Um... Representative Yoon."
"Yes?"
"Wouldn't it be better to just take a taxi...?"
"I'm fine."
No, I'm not fine.
This was someone who dropped hundreds of millions on artwork.
Someone who could buy a car outright if she wanted, not just rent one, riding the bus.
"Korea's buses are really something else."
As she said that, Representative Yoon looked around the rattling bus interior.
"And it's been forever since I was out and about like this."
She gazed intently at the scenery rushing past the window.
That's when Daeun piped up.
"But why did the pretty lady buy Daddy's painting?"
"Hm? Why I bought Painter Kanghyeok Lee's work?"
Uh... haha! Daeun, sweetie, could you save questions like that for when I'm not around?
Of course, she had no way of knowing. And words once spoken couldn't be taken back.
She glanced at me in response to Daeun's question.
Then looked back at Daeun and replied.
"Because I liked the painting."
"Daddy's paintings are good?"
Nod.
"Yes, Painter Kanghyeok Lee's works are a little special. That's why I like them."
My paintings are special? It was a bit out of left field, but I got to hear something new because of it. Who would've thought my art felt special to her.
"Then does the pretty lady like painting pictures too?"
"No, I can't paint. I like looking at them."
"Then the pretty lady!"
Daeun's questions kept coming. She seemed awfully curious about Representative Yoon. But even with the nonstop barrage, Representative Yoon answered every one without a hint of annoyance. Even when there were so many it felt like too much. 'I didn't expect her to be so open.' I'd assumed she kept everything about herself tightly under wraps. So it hadn't even occurred to me to ask about her background. If Daeun weren't here, I probably wouldn't have dreamed of asking even these little things. Rattle. Thud. And just like that, as we rode the bus toward the coffee shop, picking up tidbits about Representative Yoon one by one, we finally... Screech. Arrived at our destination. Step. Stepping off the stopped bus, what came into view was the familiar neighborhood landscape. It was none other than the very place where I'd taken on Director Go's first mission. The same neighborhood where Daeun and I had painted murals for about a week.
"Is this the place Miss Daeun mentioned?"
Representative Yoon had asked Daeun to show her something that made her heart race, and this was the spot she'd chosen.
"Yes! Exactly! This is the heart-pounding place!"
I had no idea what about this place made her heart race, but Representative Yoon was curious, so here we were. 'Well, she did say today's schedule was wide open.' We got off the bus and slowly entered the neighborhood.
"Oh, right—before we head into the alley, there's a coffee shop nearby. Should we grab a cup each to take with us?"
Representative Yoon nodded at that.
"Sounds good. We're heading there to drink coffee anyway."
As she said it, I scanned around for the shop. There it was, a small one visible in the distance.
"Ah, there it is."
We were heading to the little coffee shop at the village entrance to buy some when... Someone approached with an extremely cheerful greeting.
"Hey! Painter Kanghyeok Lee! Daeun!"
It was none other than...
"Oh, Officer Kim."
Officer Kim Sucheol, our point of contact from back when we did the mural.
"What brings you here?"
"Oh, me? Well..."
He held up the camera in his hand at my question.
"I had to write up a progress report, so I stopped by on my way to another site! What about you, Painter Lee?"
"Oh, we're here with an acquaintance to check out the murals we painted. So..."
I wondered how to explain Representative Yoon standing behind us. That's when Daeun stepped in and introduced her for all of us.
"The pretty lady came with us!"
"Yeah, the pretty lady."
Despite the somewhat abrupt introduction, Representative Yoon's expression didn't change a bit. Instead, it was Officer Kim who got flustered and tried greeting her in English.
"Uh, so... Hello! Uh, nice..."
But Representative Yoon greeted him fluently in Korean.
"Nice to meet you. Just call me Representative Yoon."
Officer Kim's eyes widened in surprise at her introduction.
"Wow, your Korean is great."
She replied calmly.
"My mother's Korean."
"Ah! That explains it. Your Korean's so good." Her mother is Korean? Another thing I'd never heard before. Who would've thought Representative Yoon's mom was Korean. That's when Officer Kim spoke up in a cheerful tone.
"Well, since we ran into each other like this, why don't we head up together? I was feeling lonely going alone anyway."
I glanced at Representative Yoon to gauge her reaction. I worried this unexpected intrusion might bother her—she was so unpredictable.
"Then I'll get the coffee."
Fortunately, she didn't seem fazed. I shook my head at her words.
"I was going to buy the coffee. You covered lunch, so coffee's on me."
She stared at me intently and said, "I have a lot of money."
I know, I know you're loaded... It wasn't about having or not having money. It was about gratitude, about treating because of that. She seemed not to quite get it. That's when an unexpected voice chimed in.
"Heh heh, what are you all talking about? As the site officer in charge, I should buy! I got commended for this project, after all! My treat—Americano for everyone, right? Daeun?"
"I'll have chocolate milk!"
"Okay!"
"O-Officer Kim!"
Before I could stop him, he dashed off and bought the coffees with his own money.
"Urgh..."
Even if he was in charge, I'd planned to pay. Just like that, Officer Kim snatched the opportunity away. He came back with coffees in both hands and passed one to each of us.
"Here you go, one for everyone. Murals are best enjoyed with coffee, right?"
He handed Daeun the iced chocolate milk.
"Chocolate milk for little Daeun, of course."
"Yes! Thank you so much!"
Daeun slurped a big sip.
"Wow! Delicious!" 'Well, can't be helped.' He'd stolen my chance, but everyone was smiling and having fun. That was good enough, I figured, as I said to the group, "Alright, let's head up. Time to see the murals."
With that, Officer Kim, Daeun, and even Representative Yoon—who held her iced Americano a bit awkwardly—all started up the alley together.
I'd noticed it last time too, but the alley was incredibly steep.
Still, familiarity made it easy for me, Daeun, and Officer Kim.
The problem was Representative Yoon.
"Huff, huff."
Her breathing was really labored. Maybe she didn't exercise much; her steps looked heavy.
But she kept following us without giving up.
Worried, I said to her,
"Should we take a break...?"
Whoosh!
At the word "break," she turned to me with a blank expression.
It looked blank, but...
'Definitely blank, right?'
The intensity in her eyes was screaming for a rest.
So I had no choice but to say to the group,
"Let's rest a bit."
"Already?"
Naturally, Officer Kim was shocked.
We'd only been in the alley for about ten minutes.
We'd barely made any progress.
But then he noticed Representative Yoon's condition too.
"Ah, uh... yeah, let's take a quick break."
Her face, already pale, had gone even paler as she panted.
Anyone would suggest a break seeing that.
Representative Yoon, still catching her breath, said,
"Thank you."
Then, in a very uncharacteristic move, she delicately sat on a protruding rock midway up the alley.
Her clothes were clearly high-end brands. But she sat right on the dirt without a care for getting them dirty. I pulled an eco-bag from my pack just in case...
"Here..."
But someone beat me to it.
"Oh dear, those look expensive—how can you just sit like that? Get up."
Officer Kim took off his cardigan and laid it on the ground instead.
"Sit."
"You mean... here?"
It was the first time I'd seen Representative Yoon look surprised, just hours after meeting her.
Probably the first time someone had offered their own clothes like that.
"Yeah, it's not expensive or anything, and I was gonna wash it today anyway. Just sit comfortably. I even warmed it up for you. Haha!"
I always thought Officer Kim seemed like a really nice guy.
Representative Yoon eyed the cardigan with a complicated look, then perched lightly on the edge.
'Huh, being careful?'
Like she was trying not to dirty it, sitting oh-so-gently.
He noticed the awkward posture right away.
"You can just sit normally! I mean it, it's fine if it gets dirty!"
"But still..."
"Hey, really, it's okay. Not like it's some fancy cardigan! Think of it as a cushion!"
"No, then I'll stand..."
"Ah, hold on..."
They bickered, and their feet got tangled.
The alley was sloped and narrow to begin with.
As Officer Kim leaned in to insist she sit...
"Eek!"
"W-Wait!"
Representative Yoon's legs buckled, and her body swayed wildly.
Officer Kim threw himself forward in alarm.
And moments later...
Thud.
He ended up under the falling Representative Yoon. Thanks to his sacrifice, she didn't just fall unharmed—she didn't fall at all.
Only one problem.
"Oh my!"
She was sitting on his back.
Even so, Officer Kim laughed good-naturedly.
"Haha, you okay? I'm fine!"
Representative Yoon quickly got up and apologized to him.
"I'm sorry."
It had been sudden for both. Knowing that, he brushed it off like nothing.
"Aw, these things happen. I'm really okay, don't worry! Haha! But man, now I feel bad."
He pointed sheepishly to the side.
"I spilled your coffee, Representative Yoon."
"Yes."
Falling was fine, but spilling coffee was the issue?
Before anyone could say a word...
"Not far, so I'll run and get a new one. Wait just a sec."
He bolted downhill.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
As we all stared blankly at his retreating back...
Representative Yoon called to Daeun.
"Miss Daeun..."
"Are you okay, auntie?"
To Daeun's worried question, Representative Yoon said something unexpected.
"I get it now."
"Get what?"
"What heart-pounding means."
She placed a hand on her chest.
"My heart is pounding like crazy right now."
...What?