20
Chapter 20 Someone Without the Luxury to Pretend to Be Kind
The news of Do Minho’s victory, broadcast live, shook the entire country.
“Does that even make sense?”
“No way!”
“It has to be scripted, right?”
“You think that’s possible?”
“But judging from the reactions… it might be real. Look at Joo Youngmin and the audience. It was almost like a broadcast
accident. Even that doctor got involved.”
“No, I’m telling you it’s fake! If that’s real, I’ll burn my own hand! The broadcasting station is just messing with us
for ratings.”
Some viewers couldn’t believe it and treated Minho’s victory as a national-level scam.
“Amazing…”
But most people, as always, simply believed in the word genius and trusted the broadcast.
“His parents must be incredible.”
“Seriously…”
Some even envied Minho’s parents, not knowing whether they were even alive.
“Like they say, you reap what you sow. His parents must be extraordinary. Look at them letting him donate fifty million
won without stopping him.”
“Most adults couldn’t allow that.”
“Raising a child like that… that’s something else. Talent alone isn’t enough to study all that at such a young age.”
“That kid Hyunsu too… I guess parents really matter.”
“I suddenly feel bad for my own kids.”
“Maybe great parents create geniuses like that.”
“My kid is smart too…”
“They try hard… maybe we’re just lacking…”
In the end, what they truly envied wasn’t the parents of a genius, but the conditions of parents who could fully support
their children.
That feeling turned into guilt.
And that guilt made it impossible to doubt Minho.
“Still, talent is the biggest factor.”
“…Right?”
They placed the title of born genius on him.
It was both a defense mechanism and, in some ways, the truth.
The ones who understood this best were the people of Munseon-eup who knew Minho was an orphan.
“Yeah!”
Especially the children at Happiness Orphanage, who had been watching anxiously since Round 1.
“Does this mean we’ll get a new home?”
“Of course! Minho said so!”
“Yay!”
To them, Minho’s victory meant a better orphanage.
But—
“I’ll donate the entire prize.”
The children’s smiles froze.
“Does that mean no new home?”
“Be quiet!”
The older kids snapped.
The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
‘Yeah, maybe for you. But not for us. We’re the ones in need too.’
Disappointment slowly turned into resentment.
Then one child spoke.
“Maybe we’re the ones he meant?”
The room went quiet.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know…”
The younger ones didn’t understand.
The older ones, however, felt something deeper.
‘We don’t know anymore.’
They had always hated being pitied.
Yet now they realized they had wanted that pity.
They felt ashamed.
And confused.
Should they protect their pride, or chase a better life?
‘Maybe it’s for the best.’
‘At least we won’t be pitied anymore.’
Some tried to accept it.
‘It was his money.’
‘He helped us enough already.’
‘At least now people won’t look down on us.’
They tried to find comfort.
But when they saw Minho’s drawing—
‘I wanted to live in a place like that…’
Their suppressed feelings surfaced again.
Still, they remained silent.
In truth, this was a luxury problem.
They had only lost a dream that was unrealistic to begin with.
The ones truly shaken were Minho’s adoptive parents.
“What… what do we do?”
Shin Soyoung, his adoptive mother, trembled.
“….”
Her husband had no answer.
They were both successful professionals from prestigious backgrounds.
They had status, wealth, and support.
But if this became public—
Everything could collapse.
“What about Minjun?”
Their greatest fear was their biological son.
“It’ll be fine…”
Their only hope was that Minho hadn’t revealed his past.
“Will it really be okay?”
“It will… it was just a quiz show.”
“I hope so…”
“I’ll make sure it is.”
But his confidence didn’t ease her fear.
“How is this even possible?”
“He was smart… but not like this.”
“Could it be someone else?”
“With the same name and hometown?”
It was a meaningless thought.
“But maybe… he was always like this.”
“He was special…”
Fear turned into resignation.
“He was too good at drawing.”
“He learned everything quickly. That’s what scared me.”
They had adopted Minho not because he was special, but because he had simply asked.
“I want to be adopted.”
That honesty had moved them.
But later—
That same difference drove them apart.
“What if Minjun grows up under him…”
“I thought the same…”
They feared what might happen.
“Even when he acted normal… it felt like an act.”
“I felt like a bad person just looking at him.”
“I didn’t want him to be a good older brother.”
“What if he changes later?”
“Even real siblings fight. What about strangers?”
“I didn’t want Minjun to grow up in a strange family.”
“I understand…”
They had convinced themselves.
“Everything will be fine.”
But it was just empty hope.
---
On the bus back to Shinseon City.
Minho looked at Director Lee.
“Were you expecting it?”
“What?”
“The fifty million won.”
“What are you talking about? Did you think I’d be happy if you gave it to me?”
“No.”
“Hah. You know me well.”
Director Lee was that kind of person.
“You’re smart.”
“I know. But honestly, I feel stuck.”
“Stuck?”
“I want to stay at the orphanage with you until I graduate.”
“….”
“But that means continuing like this, right? Living poor, not being able to speak freely.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“And we won’t get a new home either.”
Minho’s words were precise.
“If you want, I can send you somewhere else.”
“That’s a kind offer, right?”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“So I can leave, but the others can’t?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I think… you’re a good person, but maybe not a great one.”
“I’m not even good.”
“Maybe. But it’s simple. Just trust me.”
“…What?”
“All the kids here were abandoned. Does that make their parents completely evil?”
“….”
“My adoptive parents abandoned me too. They’re bad, but I understand them.”
“….”
“But your belief… I think it’s wrong.”
For the first time, Director Lee felt challenged.
“Honestly, I think you should be the one leaving, not me.”
His authority meant nothing to Minho.
“The others just left quietly because they’re too kind.”
Minho could no longer pretend to be just a child.
He needed to be recognized to gain the right to speak.
“I think you’re worse than my adoptive parents.”