Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Two Suckers (3)
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Jin-hyuk's eyes gleamed as he watched Hong Gi-jun's reaction.
"Doesn't this answer the question you asked before the accident? If you were that person, wouldn't you have noticed?"
Jin-hyuk loaded his gaze with expectation.
But Hong Gi-jun's response was disappointing.
"Hmm... I see. If that's the case, aren't you already enjoying it plenty?"
"Yes... that's true."
Jin-hyuk infused his reply with regret. It felt like casting a line and coming up empty—the fish wasn't biting. He'd held his breath and spun a long tale, but was this uncle different from that old man? When he'd suggested the Olympic rankings bet, he'd been secretly thrilled at the thought that Hong Gi-jun might be a regressor. Now, it just felt lonely.
On the other hand, he could understand.
If such fortunes happened to just anyone, they wouldn't be called fortunes.
"If that's what you mean, then I'm relieved."
Perhaps because he'd heard Jin-hyuk's thoughts at such length and detail—something he rarely did—Hong Gi-jun's face was brighter than ever.
"I was worried you might be lost or wandering, so I wanted to meet. But if it's that, then this uncle has plenty of ways to help. I've even got some plans in the works."
Jin-hyuk nodded absently, barely listening.
It was a habit when he was deep in thought.
'Should I just ask outright? Or would that make me the crazy one.'
He even considered asking like Yu-jin would.
Ehehe, I came from the future? Did you, Chairman? Ehehe.
No, Jin-hyuk shook his head.
It was the kind of line that could land you straight in a psych ward, with a little exaggeration. And people like Hong Gi-jun or his own dad had the pull to make it happen.
'Worst case, I'm done for.'
Yuk Seong-chan's dad and Jo Il-heon had nearly ended up in the loony bin after claiming they'd seen ghosts, dragged there by the village head. Jin-hyuk wasn't the joking type and didn't talk much, so disguising it as a joke was out.
How could he waste his second life rotting in a hospital?
'Boldly blurting it out to kids or adults alike— that's drama stuff, not real life.'
Reality was heavy.
Even one word took guts. Jin-hyuk swallowed the words that wouldn't come.
And even if Hong Gi-jun believed him about regressing, that was a problem too.
'I don't know this uncle's motives, so better to keep it hidden.'
No matter how trustworthy Hong Gi-jun seemed, who knew how he'd react to the truth? There might not be much room for abuse, but if he saw Jin-hyuk as a rival, it could get messy.
'I'll watch a bit longer.'
With that conclusion, Jin-hyuk nodded.
Had he thought too long?
Hong Gi-jun eyed him strangely as he furrowed his brow alone, shook his head, then nodded. There was a hint of hurt in his gaze.
"Aren't you curious what this uncle's planning?"
"...I am, yeah."
Jin-hyuk pouted. He finally got why teenage Choi Mi-kyeong stuck out her lip when talking to him. So that's what it was when you didn't get the answer you wanted. He'd learned one more thing about the world and people.
"I'm thinking of helping you live that ordinary life you talked about."
Why? Our family's doing just fine without you, uncle.
"How much do you know about your mom?"
I know what I need to. He wanted to snap back, but Jin-hyuk had nothing to say.
Both Mom and Dad acted like they had their stories. Jin-hyuk figured the happy present mattered more than painful pasts, so he never pried.
He knew how cruel it was to dredge up old wounds.
He couldn't act like a carefree kid, so he'd swallowed his curiosity and lived with it. He didn't want their pain just to satisfy his nosiness—that would be rude. Curiosity could wait; he was confident in his patience.
"This is a secret, just for you. Haha, your mom asked me to look into it, so I did—no background check, don't misunderstand."
So...
Mom told this uncle what she couldn't tell her own son? Understanding why—worried about upsetting her teenage boy—Jin-hyuk still pitied Hong Gi-jun.
'Our chairman got played by Mom and Dad. Too nice for his own good.'
Dad, glued to Mom every vacation, was probably worse.
Yet here was the ex-group owner, boss of bosses, playing bamboo grove for a farmer couple. He looked kinda pitiful. Maybe that's why Hong Gi-jun's eyes were misty and his shoulders slumped.
"I heard about it when your mom mentioned the false charges against her elder... "
Jin-hyuk learned about Kim Eung-nyeo's past deeds toward his mom—things he'd never heard from her.
"...Can't prove the damages now, and what they took was just jewels. Jade hairpins, pre-reform bills... Even if there were victims, statute of limitations. And since the elder put the second wife's daughter on the family register, hard to call it robbery or theft. Seems like a truly generous soul."
Jin-hyuk sighed involuntarily.
Ah! She hadn't hurt him yet, but she'd done the unforgivable to Mom. Even studying criminal law in high school dorms, he'd thought statutes of limitations were... He shook off the Criminal Procedure Act, dismissing it. Not important now.
Bits he vaguely knew came up too.
"Everyone thinks a village tutor who traveled by oxcart couldn't be involved. Your mom said he mostly met kids and neighbors."
That tracked.
Jin-hyuk's own neighborhood had barely seen outsiders a few years back. Mom's place was deeper countryside.
"Only reason he was dragged off was some tip-off. Back then, more sensitive times—one letter or call, and anyone was a spy suspect. Sorry, uncle doesn't have connections there yet. Can't promise results."
Jin-hyuk felt like he'd been handed homework.
Of course. If even he'd stoop to swindling Dad's land for his sister, couldn't an ordinary son at least clear Mom's grudge?
"Started out worried about you, now I'm rambling. Sorry. Heh heh heh."
Hong Gi-jun looked anything but sorry—totally relieved.
Must've been pent-up with no one to tell.
Executive Director Hong Su-jeong used to get that freed-up look too. Pale and pimply, shuttling to the bathroom, then blooming like moonflower.
'She was beautiful...'
Jin-hyuk rubbed his sneakers on the ground, snapping back from the tangent.
"You mean I should look into it later?"
"Huh? What?"
"Grandpa's story."
"No? Not at all?"
Hong Gi-jun blinked like he'd misheard.
"Even I need someone to vent to, right? You're too young to get it, and the quietest guy I know. Right? Or do you know everything?"
Hong Gi-jun scratched his cheek, eyes darting away from Jin-hyuk's. Now Jin-hyuk noticed—they were similar height, but he was bulkier. Too developed for "kid."
'Am... I the one who got played by this uncle?'
"Eh-heh. Nice weather." Hong Gi-jun stared skyward like an old man.
Nice? Skies were scowling, monsoon brewing.
Maybe Jin-hyuk's narrowed eyes unnerved him—Hong Gi-jun smacked his lips and changed tack.
"Anyway, glad! Thought you were lost or something. One wrong step, and talent turns weapon for evil. That's why I asked about your path."
"I'll do whatever I can. No rule saying pick one."
"Heh heh heh. You got me. True, no need to fixate."
Jin-hyuk took a deep breath, voice firm. His eyes on the middle schoolers racing the track.
"Hope nothing happens."
"Huh? To what?"
"They're still kids. Yun Seong-dong too. Hope they get a chance."
Sounded like a simple wish—no need to elaborate.
Hong Gi-jun nodded silently. Out of Jin-hyuk's sight, his lip twitched up.
'For now, that's how we'll play it. The kids.'
Hong Gi-jun's face lit up genuinely.
Checking his watch after rolling sleeves, he launched another topic.
"This uncle's no genius like your dad. Just good at studying. But couldn't top Son Gwang-yeon. Slept less, studied more—still lost. That guy's day labor, tutoring, cab driving. Never yielded top spot. Ugh, gross."
Yet Hong Gi-jun looked happy recounting it. Deep friendship with Dad.
'Dad had a great friend.'
Hong Gi-jun chattered on beside him, but Jin-hyuk tuned out. Brain churning: repay Kim Eung-nyeo for Mom? His future path? Listening felt like ears bleeding.
"...Live free, no looking back. Just don't cause trouble. You listening?"
"Yes... yes."
Worried by Jin-hyuk's grim face, Hong Gi-jun peered soulfully and added a plea.
"No need to strain. Your mom said they're alive too, gotta live—doesn't want to hurt 'em. Makes her a general... no, a gentleman."
Hong Gi-jun quickly corrected. Why name the dog that?
"If she wanted payback, she'd have told Dad already. Think he'd sit still?"
Jin-hyuk agreed.
Dad's connections could hurt even those law couldn't touch—at least locals. Whatever her feelings, maybe Mom planned to bear it alone.
'Mom's the top adult in our house.'
If that's her will, shelve the past for now.
Forgiveness or revenge—her call.
For now, anyway.
Ignoring Jin-hyuk's vibe, Hong Gi-jun motormouthed again.
"Where was I? Oh yeah, your dad. Pissing in the mudflats, aiming at a crab hole—bubbles rising, crab foam or piss? Kkk hahaha!"
"... "
This time, Jin-hyuk checked his watch. Hong Gi-jun's solo ramble: 20 minutes already. New side of him.
This story, that story.
Too much—soul-draining.
They called it brain rot back home.
'When's this uncle leaving?'
Can't sort thoughts.
Like he was blocking focus, endless spill.
"Huh? Mom? Dad? Not leaving?"
Heading back to class, Jin-hyuk spotted parents touring school. Yu-jin and General naturally with them.
Son Gwang-yeon mumbled blankly-eyed.
"Waited for you."
"I was helping Tae-yang-hyung train."
Jin-hyuk sometimes oversaw Choi Tae-yang, Shin Woo-seong, Lee Seung-hoon's solo sessions.
Today, post-mess-up, Tae-yang twisted logic: help with wrestling since you screwed up. Jin-hyuk clocked him as Mi-kyeong's bro for sure.
"Then Gi-jun'll drive— we'll head out first."
"Uncle left already."
"Huh?"
"Talked with cops, then gone."
"That jerk. Took my car."
Hong Gi-jun's revenge: unintended, but sucker grudge settled in one shot.
Son Gwang-yeon pictured him cackling while driving.
"Son of a—"
Eyed by wife, Son Gwang-yeon shut up.
Seoul man showed too much fool today.
No choice—grabbed a cab.
Skipped bus; General grunted refusal.
Plus, wife and girl—countryside bus smokers deterred.
Cabbie frowned at General.
"Hey, the dog—"
"Ooh, no meter now? Weird? Country cabs? In Seoul—"
"Alright!"
Cabbie, hit by Son Gwang-yeon and Yu-jin's combo, shifted to first.
Grumbling—empty run out.