Chapter 239
Chapter 239
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: Side Story 1 - Jungeun, Minji Edition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tap tap.
Ugh, this is so boring.
Someone once told me that being a journalist means encountering fresh events every day, so it's always exciting.
But that's only because they don't know what it's really like.
At first, I enjoyed it too.
As an art journalist, I'd dig up talented artists buried in the mud, unable to see the light.
I'd use my articles to help them out.
Whenever a new story broke, I'd rush to the scene first.
And there were all those temptations from the shady side... Wait, maybe not that.
Anyway, creating those kinds of stories gave me a real sense of pride.
Tap tap.
Boring. So damn boring.
Lately, there wasn't any fun in it at all.
That's why I'd been sticking to Kanghyeok like a leech.
He was a college classmate, and he had this adorable presence named Daeun.
When Daeun announced her first solo exhibition, I was over the moon.
I celebrated like it was my own achievement.
Just knowing our little Daeun was a genius made me feel like I'd chosen the right career.
But lately, we'd barely been in touch.
She'd wrapped up the exhibition, and there wasn't much going on.
Word was, the family was heading to the U.S. for a month-long trip.
'Hope they're having a blast.'
I picked up my phone to check in.
But I set it back down and gave up.
No point bothering a family on vacation. They'd just forget about Korea and have fun—that was enough...
Or was it?
When did it start?
I'd stopped living my own life and started mooching off Kanghyeok's.
"Mooching" sounds a bit harsh, but it was the truth.
It was like that back in college, and even after graduation.
When I hit that insurmountable wall of talent and despaired, turning to journalism instead.
I made a vow.
If I was going to mooch anyway, I'd spend my life spreading news about Kanghyeok to the world.
That mindset brought some peace for a while.
I'd stay hidden, never stepping into the light, lurking in the shadow cast by Kanghyeok's brilliance to make him shine even brighter.
But in the process, my own life faded away, and mine became his.
Once, feeling pathetic about it all, I'd asked a senior journalist.
"Is this what being a reporter's life is like?"
To that, he replied:
"That's just how it is."
"Hmm... So that's what a reporter is, huh?"
I hadn't gotten it back then, but now I did.
Reporters are just built that way.
Bzzz.
Right then, the phone on my desk vibrated.
A text.
I glanced over— it was from Minji.
[When you coming home today?]
My face lit up!
The one person who pulled my shadowy existence into the light and made me, Park Jungeun, feel truly alive.
I grabbed my phone and fired back.
[No special plans today, so I can head straight home!]
[Okay, how about beef for dinner?]
[Ooh! Beef! Hell yeah! But what's the occasion?]
[Nothing, just craving it. I'll grab some on my way home. Let's grill it up tonight.]
[Perfect!]
[See you tonight~!]
[Yeah! Love you!]
No prior commitments today, so it should be fine.
Beef, huh.
Just as I was thinking it'd been ages since I treated my stomach right—
Clunk!
The door to the chief's office flew open, and my senior barked at me.
"Hey, Jungeun! Come see me a sec."
"Yeah, why me?"
"What do you mean why? When the chief calls, you come running!"
"You're not about to dump work on me, are you?"
"Quit yapping and get in here. Got something to discuss."
Ah, what now?
The phrasing set off major alarm bells.
My gut screamed not to go.
But what could I do?
It was the chief, my senior...
Click.
I stepped into the office, and he said:
"Head down to Busan for me."
"Aw, come on!"
"Buddy of mine tipped me off—some artist in Busan is passing off his apprentice's work as his own in an exhibition. Go check it out."
"Going now means I won't make it home tonight!"
"Reporters don't get to clock out for home."
"But we're newlyweds! Shouldn't you cut me some slack?"
"Newlyweds my ass. Shut it and get to Busan. I'll text you the tipster's number—call on the way."
I shook my head at the chief's words.
"No way! Not even if the sky splits in two. Wife and I are grilling beef at home tonight."
"Come back and I'll buy you beef. No more whining—go."
"We've got Hanseong! Woojin! Everyone else! Why me?"
He gave me a weird look.
"You're acting off today. It's perfect for you, that's why. That artist—you met him before. Others wouldn't even get a sit-down."
"No. Nope. Absolutely not! Send me tomorrow. Tomorrow!"
"So you won't go, huh?"
"Yeah! Not going! No way!"
I yelled it out, but he was a vet with decades under his belt.
"Fine, don't go. Hell, quit reporting altogether. I'll put in a good word upstairs for ya. Perfect timing—take a nice, long break."
"Argh, seriously!"
"Dead serious, just this once. Go to Busan, and I won't send you out of town for a week. Promise."
"You said that two days ago."
Bribery and threats failing, he went for the kill...
Throwing a tantrum.
"I'm not doing it."
"What?"
"Damn it, I can't take this anymore. I'm quitting as chief."
"What the hell kind of nonsense is that?"
"Juniors won't listen, more climbing the ladder—it's breaking my heart. I'm out. You take over."
"Chief!"
"Your workload's about to spike. Nice—pay bump too. Man, birthing a new chief with my own hands? Epic legacy."
...
It wasn't landing at all.
Screaming was like reciting sutras to a cow's ear.
In the end, I caved.
"Fine... You promised. I go this time, no out-of-town gigs for a week."
"Yeah, yeah—even if the sky splits, I'll keep it. Just this once, please."
Sigh. I'd been gearing up for that belly full of grease.
Damn senior...
"Thinkin' about decking you."
"Yo, keep that in your head."
"Nah, meant for you to hear it."
With that, I spun on my heel and bolted from the office.
[Sorry... Got a sudden urgent assignment. Have to head to Busan.]
[So you're staying overnight?]
[No no, won't stay. Might be super late though.]
Even by train, it's a three-hour ride.
Still morning, but round trip time...
Plus reporting...
I'd hit Seoul around midnight.
[Don't push yourself for me. I'm fine—stay in Busan.]
[No, I want to come home. Sleep's best in my own bed. I'll wrap it quick. You go ahead and sleep.]
[Okay. Be safe.]
[Will do.]
Minji's last text dripped with disappointment.
But nothing else I could do.
All I could manage was getting back from Busan ASAP.
'Make it quick.'
If I beat 11 p.m. home, she'd still be up.
Late or not, newlyweds—gotta show face.
With that in mind, I booked the train fast.
Then called the chief's "tipster."
"Hello? Ah, yes—hi. This is reporter Park Jungeun."
Nothing major in the call.
One apprentice spilled that a piece in the show was hers.
Claimed plagiarism, with proof.
These cases usually panned out.
Veteran artists struggle to churn out fresh work every time.
Probably the same here.
"Ah, you're coming to pick me up? Yes—I'll call right after I get off at Busan Station."
Call over.
Lucky—the tipster was picking me up, saving transit time.
On the train down, outline the story angles.
Write the piece on the way back based on interviews.
Plan set—time to move.
I grabbed my stuff and raced to Seoul Station.
Checked Minji's texts in between.
Nothing new.
My job being what it is, we only texted when needed.
Calls for anything real...
'Come to think of it, she texted "something up?"'
Weird.
Normally, she'd call.
Maybe something bummed her out at school?
Clunk.
Headed to Busan, mind a mess the whole ride.
Couldn't drop everything and rush home though.
'Wrap it fast and head back.'
Hit Busan—nonstop frenzy.
Met the tipster, heard the story.
Reviewed questions en route.
Finally faced the artist at the controversy's heart.
Met him once before for a story, so easy access.
"Yes or no?"
"Yeah, well, not sure how it'll sound to you, Mr. Park, but that apprentice was trouble. Snapped pics of my prep work and leaked 'em, even groped another apprentice..."
He could be lying.
But I trusted him instead.
'Huh, too easy a meeting—shoulda known.'
Artists meet reporters easy in scandals for two reasons:
Confident they can snow you.
Or they're legit...
This was the latter.
Apprentice probably spreading lies for revenge on his way out.
"Didn't expect it to blow up like this. Sorry for the wild goose chase."
"No, no—it's my job. I'll write the article to minimize fallout."
"Thanks."
Interview wrapped on an absurd note.
As I finished up notes...
The artist asked:
"You do this out-of-town trek every time?"
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, not every time—a couple times a week maybe."
He looked at me with pity.
"Must be exhausting. Bet you want personal time too."
Whoa... Even the artist cares more than my chief.
Sure, I chose this life.
"I'm good. It's what I do."
Some call reporters "trash press."
Not all are.
Okay, I've had my moments.
But I saw it as symbiosis.
Making artists shine brighter.
To be a real reporter, not trash.
"I'll get going then."
No choice but to dive deeper into the shadows.
Reporter's fate.
Interview done—clock read past 6 p.m.
Panic rising.
Rushed to Busan Station, hopped the train to Seoul.
Wrote the article on my laptop from the fresh interview.
Sent it to the chief.
Five minutes later.
Bzzz.
[Done quicker than expected. That's why I like ya. Good work—see ya tomorrow.]
Day over.
"Phew, barely made it."
Seoul Station—10 p.m.
Rush home, hit 11-ish.
I thought about texting "almost there."
But figured she'd expect later.
Surprise it is—I grabbed my parked car and sped home.
She seemed off earlier.
If she's up, chat over late dinner.
Finally pulled up.
What a long day.
No assignment, I'd have been home grilling beef with Minji by now.
Beep! Beep beep!
Punced the door code, stepped inside.
Hm?
Pitch black.
Dead quiet—Minji must be asleep.
Makes sense—early classes mean bedtime now.
Bit of a letdown, but inevitable. I crept into the dark house.
Heading to the living room...
Flinch!
"Mm... Y-you're back."
Minji stirred on the sofa, rubbing her eyes awake.
"What? Why sleep here instead of bed? W-wait, did you wait for me?"
"Yeah, you said you'd come tonight."
"No, when would I even get here? Go sleep."
"You haven't eaten."
"Yeah."
"You skip meals when working."
Minji knew me better than I knew myself.
She got up, flicked on the kitchen light.
Table set perfectly.
"I waited to eat with you."
"You didn't eat? Why?"
"Had to eat with you tonight."
"Why? Eat first—you must be starving."
"Same goes for you."
I...
She sat at the table, patted the seat across.
"Sit. Let's eat."
She knew me better than anyone, waiting for me.
Nothing big, but it warmed me inside.
"You know, you've always been like this—stubborn in the sweetest way."
"Hey, pot calling kettle."
"Perfect match for stubborn types like us."
"What'd you say?"
Pfft!
"Kidding. Eat up—you're hungry."
I lit the grill plate in the table's center.
Reached for the marbled beef from the fridge...
Minji spoke.
"Know why I waited?"
"To eat with me."
"No—actually, I had something I really wanted to give you."
"What?"
She hesitated, then handed me a small box from the chair.
"Light."
"Light?"
Click.
Thinking maybe a secret surprise gift, I opened it.
"......"
That's when I got what she meant by "light."
Inside the box.
The thing that turned my shadow life into one with a leading role.
"Congrats on becoming a dad, Jungeun."
-End of Jungeun and Minji Edition-