Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Fate Woven by Chance (2)
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"I'm fine, though."
He had gone out to buy some octopus and ended up getting carted all the way to the city hospital. He needed to get home—his mom would be worried. Jin-hyuk fidgeted restlessly.
Yuk Yeong-gu tried to calm him down.
"The mister called your house already, so they're comin'. Just wait a bit, yeah?"
"Okay."
After the reflex tests and hearing the doctor say it wasn't serious, Yuk Yeong-gu had calmed down a lot. His hands were still trembling, though.
Now, Jin-hyuk was the one with the problem.
'Ugh... hospital smell.'
The smell of a hospital never got any easier to handle. His head, which had survived the blast shock unscathed, was spinning, and his stomach churned. Feeling suffocated, Jin-hyuk wandered around the medical center like a nylon patient.
Being at a big hospital for once reminded him of that day in his thirties when he'd carried a drunken Hong Su-jeong on his back to the ER, making him chuckle. It must have been the day she got promoted to executive director and he to team leader, when they'd celebrated with drinks together.
'She was heaving all over my back...'
Remembering the warm, sticky sensation on his back, Jin-hyuk stopped thinking about it.
That's when he ran into a familiar face in the hallway.
The swelling around the man's eyes had gone down, but there was a dark bruise near his cheekbone. Even without the face, his sturdy build made him recognizable. The man had been staring at Jin-hyuk even before he noticed, with a look that said, 'Who'd you beat up this time to end up in the hospital?'
"You here to see me?"
"No. A friend got hurt. Didn't know you were here."
Mun Seok-il clamped his mouth shut and nodded. Jin-hyuk had asked snarkily, but he got a calm, normal reply instead. It made him feel awkwardly embarrassed.
Tall middle schoolers were common enough, but he eyed Jin-hyuk's solid frame carefully before asking.
"What happened?"
"High-explosive bomb went off. Mortar round."
Mun Seok-il's eyes widened in surprise, then he sighed. Even away from the front lines in Gangwon, kids died or lost limbs playing with duds or landmines all the time. It was odd hearing a student use the term "high-explosive," but that wasn't the point right now.
If a high-explosive had gone off, his life was in danger.
"Must be tough."
"They said just a bit of eardrum damage."
Mun Seok-il was surprised again but didn't ask for details. They weren't close enough for that, and it wasn't his business anyway. From experience, he guessed the kid had been near the blast but shielded somehow, avoiding major injury.
"Your friends?"
"One's here, two in Suwon."
This time, Jin-hyuk nodded.
Kang Hyeon-chang, the one with broken ribs, was probably still here.
Jin-hyuk had questions of his own but held back. Seeing Mun Seok-il's right hand wrapped in a cast, he figured treatment came first.
"I can cover your medical bills."
"No need."
Mun Seok-il slowly shook his head, the corner of his mouth twitching up slyly.
There was plenty they could talk about, but the complicated reunion between the two men didn't last long.
"Waaah—Jin-hyukie—."
"Where's our son!"
Mom was sobbing with red, puffy eyes like a kid who'd lost his mother at the market, looking around frantically. Dad was grabbing passing doctors by the collar and shaking them, their heads flopping like car dashboard dolls. It really evoked the image of an American bison from a documentary.
'Looks like Seong-chan's dad gave a sloppy explanation.'
Bomb went off and Jin-hyuk got taken to the medical center, come quick. That was probably it before hanging up. He could picture it. That's just how their culture was.
Yu-jin wasn't there—probably left with Choi Mi-kyeong and the teens.
He wanted to see his sister, and more importantly, the doctor's life seemed at risk, so Jin-hyuk hurried over.
"Parents are here. See you next time."
He said it clearly. Next time.
"Yeah."
Mun Seok-il unconsciously straightened his legs and placed his hands on his thighs. Why am I doing this? he wondered, tilting his head.
His eyes followed Jin-hyuk smoothly. He watched Son Gwang-yeon fussing over his son's body intently. A few years older than him, maybe—the man hugging and soothing his relieved wife once he knew his son was safe. Just an ordinary guy. But strong-looking.
Why had they told him to bring that guy?
'Gonna find out who ordered it.'
Even without Jin-hyuk's request, it was a fated contract.
A contract backed by Mun Seok-il's life, worth more than money.
- 【......I'll be watching. Your life is mine to hold.】
Recalling that voice made him shrink his neck and glance around nervously. Jaw clenched, Mun Seok-il grabbed some bills and a phone card, slipping out of the hospital away from Jin-hyuk's family.
A certain Saturday afternoon.
Whether because he was young or handled it quickly, Seong-chan recovered fast. On discharge day, he and his father Yeong-gu stopped by Jin-hyuk's house, repeatedly thanking him for almost causing big trouble otherwise.
The icebox in Yeong-gu's hands was packed with fresh octopus—they hadn't sold a single one caught over two days, saving it all.
"Seong-chan's dad, you can't do this."
Son Gwang-yeon refused repeatedly. She knew the pain involved in catching this much.
"Nah, nah! No matter how pricey, nothin's pricier than my boy. From now on, forget buyin' octopus—I'll catch it fresh every time. If Yu-jin hadn't said she wanted some, I'd have beaten this kid again—."
Yeong-gu's mouth smiled, but his eyes welled up.
Excited Yu-jin dashed around the yard with General, holding a wriggling octopus high.
"Kyahaha! Flyyy—."
Couldn't read the octopus's expression, but its suckers flailing in the air suggested panic.
Unlike teary-eyed Yeong-gu, Seong-chan grinned brightly, saying he could hear clearly now.
Jin-hyuk had heard about his condition already but sighed in relief again.
Maybe because of his wrinkle-free personality, Seong-chan showed no trauma, peeking at the yard's green persimmon tree with Yu-jin.
"Oppa! Up there! Yu-jin can't reach."
"This one? Is it ripe? Still green? Eatin' unripe ones'll make ya sick—."
"They're supposed to be green? Inside's ripe, right?"
Watching Seong-chan squat and nibble a green persimmon with his front teeth alongside Yu-jin, Jin-hyuk reflected on how much unexplained causality existed in the world.
'If Yu-jin hadn't said she wanted octopus...'
Would Seong-chan have had his fated accident? If the picture book hadn't featured an octopus, if Jin-hyuk hadn't gone... What use were hypotheticals for what had already happened? But the good outcome was a relief. Seong-chan's family back to normal, and what could have been a huge shock for Jin-hyuk passed uneventfully.
After the Yuk father and son left, General groomed his fur in the yard, catching fleas. Quite a few ticks too.
"You need daily showers too. A big girl like you, fleas? Come on."
Calling a mutt "big girl" might be a stretch?
The stream was close—maybe wash him there. Soaking in seawater might disinfect. Brazilian wax him once whoosh? Jin-hyuk's grumbling went on. He always talked more around General.
Heh heh hek—.
Dodging the issue, General clearly hated baths.
"General, if you wanna go to Seoul, gotta scrub off the grime and shine up."
The whole family Seoul trip was only revealed after school. Su-jeong's place meant staying overnight, right? Uncomfortable at someone else's house.
'Huh. Thought Dad was going alone.'
Only heard the plans changed.
Since getting the car, they'd done drives and short trips, but Seoul together was a first.
Jin-hyuk in the passenger seat, Mom took Yu-jin and General in the back.
"We're seeing Su-jeong's grandpa."
Dad, who usually explained reasons first, brought it up awkwardly in the car. That explained the suits. Even if Hong Gi-jun was bigshot, Yu Myeong-seon the chairman held real power—needed to impress. So visiting first.
"Been a while?"
Collecting his thoughts, Jin-hyuk turned to Dad at the wheel.
"Yeah. Just a few greetings when I was a kid. He was always busy."
Busy building Sein Group with the founder father. As Jin-hyuk recalled, Yu Myeong-seon was practically the founder himself. His father just ran a liquefied gas plant.
Dad wasn't the type to fear people. If anyone, maybe Mom. But his voice trembled now, words curt.
'He's nervous.'
Considering Yu Se-ra, Hong Gi-jun, and Son Gwang-yeon's ties, it wasn't an unexpected connection.
'Clue might unravel from an unlikely place.'
Jin-hyuk's focus was on who ordered Mun Seok-il's bad deed. Dad said not him, but suspects were limited.
A hunch that this chance Seoul trip would matter big—the top of Jin-hyuk's head heated up.
With Yu Myeong-seon's connections and info network, useful intel possible. Dad's role key.
Checking Mom and Yu-jin dozing in back, Jin-hyuk looked at Son Gwang-yeon.
"Dad. When you see the chairman, I need a favor."
As the appointed time neared, Chairman Yu Myeong-seon grew busy.
When Son Gwang-yeon, back from Hawaii post-Chuseok, called, he'd been skeptical. No face-to-face since childhood. But Gwang-yeon remembered his patron clearly. Patronage was just occasional pocket money via butler, not study abroad like his own kids. Still, not forgetting the favor and visiting warmed the old man's heart.
'Gi-jun must've said something.'
No way scatterbrained Yu Se-ra convinced him. Smart, political son-in-law must've broached it to quench the old thirst. No son luck, but good daughter and son-in-law, he thought.
"Lee housekeeper, this tie look right?"
"Fine even for a new bridegroom. Hohoho."
"Too old for that."
Not displeased, Yu Myeong-seon's mouth quirked up.
The capable housekeeper checked his attire, eyes sparkling. The chairman, who met presidents in just shirt and jacket, was wearing a tie despite hating it.
"No miss coming?"
"Work. Crowds are noisy and bothersome."
Just dinner then to daughter's anyway—no need for fuss. Told Se-ra the same: you come, it's noisy and fancy cookies vanish.
'No sin, yet trembling.'
Met countless people in business since youth. War: People's Army officer gun to forehead—thought this is it, stared down barrel fearless.
With Sein Group's rise via Hong Gi-jun, met politico-business elite, Blue House officials, even presidents—always composed. So why flutter over Son Gwang-yeon?
"Lee housekeeper, dinner ready?"
"Yes. Hope guests like it."
"Your cooking? Anyone would."
"Chairman fussing this much—must be special guests?"
Pacing the parlor with cane, Yu Myeong-seon stopped.
Special guests.
That's why fidgeting. He muttered.
Over 70 years, one thing never understood: human hearts. Money bought things, bodies. But hearts? Tough.
Maybe emotions tracing to that mother. Affection like for little sister, guilt for not protecting. Men never mature, they romanticize it.
Yu Myeong-seon chuckled, yanked off the tie, undid a shirt button, practiced natural expression in mirror. Composed before presidents—why stiff now?
Deflating cheeks with a pffft, he called Butler Kwon.
"Kids coming too?"
"Yes, Chairman. Siblings. Oh, and—."
Kwon adjusted glasses, eyed his notebook.
"A dog too..."
"Ha ha!"
Yu Myeong-seon burst laughing. Face muscles finally relaxed. Dog, huh. Quiet but fun guy since kid.
"Waaah—! So many billboards—."
"Right, right? Tons—. First time in Seoul proper—."
Heh heh hek—.
Admiration from two women and a dog in back.
Jin-hyuk chuckled, peering out window.
'Gangnam Boulevard, right?'
Surreal.
Passing by bus before, now family sedan.
30 years felt in city roads and cars.
Leaving boulevard for narrow uphill, Son Gwang-yeon marveled.
"So high, high. Even birds can't get in. Honey, should we build walls that tall?"
"Ugh, how to live so stuffy."
Jin-hyuk nodded at parents' chat.
Fine: castle. Bad: prison. Walls topped with spikes seamlessly. Frequent thieves with valuables? Saw two patrol cars in 100m. Rare even in town at Tae-yang Army.
'Su-jeong live like this?'
Adult her in officetel or hotel; kid version where? Room to play? Big garden? Loved sea—stuffy behind walls?
Jin-hyuk chuckled at his thoughts.
'Silly me.'
Regret, probably. Past life emotions dulled, clumsy; now realizing missed memories, history-building. Learning to think of others late. Pity not reflected more then.
Heart itched; scratched hard. Dad side-eyed from wheel.
"Jin-hyuk skip bath?"
"I showered..."
Fleas from General? Mumbling inaudibly, Son Gwang-yeon's car finally reached the mountain of ties.