Power & Sex, and... 85

Shortly after arriving at the office, Supreme Committee Member Jeong Sang-won showed up with Assemblyman Park Seong-hwan, Assemblyman Han Seong-su, and Assemblyman Seong Chang-gi—who had personally stepped up to help Han Seong-su—along with a group of other assemblymen. They all came to visit my district office together.

"Come on in. You must be tired from coming all the way down here."

"No, no. We're the ones putting you through all this trouble, Assemblyman."

I first introduced the assemblymen to the office staff. To save time with the district delegates, we'd agreed to just share some light refreshments, so I introduced the on-duty staff and delegates first. Then I introduced the assemblymen to the delegates and asked for their support.

The assemblymen explained why they were running in the Supreme Committee election, and the delegates asked the questions they'd been curious about. The conversation flowed in a warm, natural atmosphere.

"What do you think Assemblyman Park Maru's dream is?"

One of the delegates tossed out an unexpected question to the Supreme Committee candidates. As the candidates hesitated, Assemblyman Han Seong-su stood up first and answered.

"Assemblyman Park's dream is to become the President of Korea. If I get elected to the Supreme Committee, I'll throw everything I have into making him president!"

The delegates erupted in thunderous applause and cheers at his confident declaration.

"Then no matter what, I'll go around convincing all the delegates I know to make sure Assemblyman Han Seong-su gets elected."

The old man drove the point home. But this was a meeting to prepare for the Supreme Committee race, not to make me a presidential candidate, so as soon as he finished, I spoke up.

"Aigoo, you're making my face all red. Not just these Supreme Committee candidates here, but all the other assemblymen share my vision. So you can worry about that later."

As soon as I finished, the delegates and staff burst into another round of thunderous applause and cheers. Han Seong-su wasn't the only one smiling with satisfaction—Assemblyman Park Seong-hwan and Supreme Committee Member Jeong Sang-won bowed their heads to the delegates too.

"By the way, Assemblyman, when are you gonna make a baby?"

"Pardon?"

"What, didn't my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wife tell you? She said you went home last night to try makin' one—did ya?"

"......"

This was a delegate I'd known since my secretary days, always joking around to keep things friendly. He was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a veteran delegate in our party, an elder and advisor in my district.

"Jeong, old man. Soon as I got home last night, I was snorin' like a freight train!"

"Aigoo, our little missus must've been steamed, huh?"

Ara piped up again, probably still sore about it, and the delegate fired back. The delegates pounded the desks, roaring with laughter. It would've been fun among ourselves, but with Supreme Committee candidates here, I felt embarrassed and apologetic.

"Hold on a sec. This is a meeting with Supreme Committee candidates. Save the personal talk for later."

"Aw, come on! You said yourself we're votin' with these folks, right? That's that. Whether it's a meetin' or whatever, it's all about gettin' votes at the convention. And we're votin' for the ones helpin' our assemblyman—who else?"

Everyone chimed in with "Exactly!" and "What else is there to say?" openly declaring their support for the Supreme Committee members.

"Don't you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worry, Assemblyman Park! At least in Busan, we'll grab 'em by the collar if we have to and make sure these folks get elected. So don't sweat Busan! Just head home early tonight and make that baby!"

Supreme Committee Member Jeong Sang-won, who already knew Advisor Jeong well, chuckled and chimed in.

"If Advisor Jeong says so, we can trust it. Busan is in good hands with you and everyone here, right?"

"Jeong Assemblyman, you know I ain't too fond of ya? But since you're helpin' our Park, I'm lettin' it slide this time. Got it?"

"I'll do better from now on. Cut me some slack 'cause of the Jeong clan."

"Damn Jeong clan—freeze 'em all. Anyway, other places who knows, but Busan? You're golden."

What could've turned awkward thanks to Ara actually got even warmer and more lively, thanks to Advisor Jeong's quick handling. With lunch scheduled with the neighboring district delegates approaching, I said goodbye to the district committee delegates and left the office. They gave the candidates enthusiastic applause until they departed, urging them on.

"Assemblyman Park, where you headed today?"

"Lunch with Busanjin-eul delegates first, then Dong-gu, Yeongdo-gu, Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Saha-gu in order."

"Mind if I tag along?"

Advisor Jeong followed me out and asked to join. He had way more connections with local delegates than I did, so no reason to refuse. I turned to get the Supreme Committee members' okay, but Jeong beat me to it, lighting up.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Advisor Jeong's joining us personally?"

"Huh? That a problem?"

"What're you talkin' about? Thank you so much."

With Advisor Jeong along, the district committee tour went smoothly. Things aren't what they used to be, but delegates still hold massive sway in the party. And with a party mainstay like Advisor Jeong personally appealing for support right in their faces, no district chair had the guts to say no. Their word sways party members beyond imagination.

By the time we'd covered west Busan, it was late at night. At Advisor Jeong's suggestion, to review the day and unwind, we settled into a bar in Seomyeon run by one of our party members.

Throughout the day, my curiosity about the dynamic between Advisor Jeong and Supreme Committee Member Jeong hadn't faded, so I subtly asked him about it.

"Nothin' much. Back when Jeong was runnin' for re-election, he overstepped and we had a real clash. Plus, his stance is still kinda fuzzy."

"I see."

I mumbled weakly, still puzzled, and Advisor Jeong stood up.

"Assemblymen, you all worked hard today. But we gotta send Assemblyman Park Maru home now. My niece—the new bride—is waitin' with bated breath for her hubby."

With that, I had no choice but to get chased out. I just asked the office manager to arrange lodging for the assemblymen.

"Where are you?"

"Yeah, you done? I'm at the Lotte Department Store coffee shop."

"Got it. Come out to the hotel side in five minutes."

Lotte Department Store's entrance had bus-only lanes with strict no-parking enforcement, so I waited at the Lotte Hotel entrance with hazards on. Ara and Jeong-ah approached together.

"Jeong-ah, what's she doing here?"

"Assemblyman, don't you even see me with these two beauties around?"

It was Seo Dong-beom the reporter. I nearly slipped up, feeling a dizzy rush.

"Oh, Seo reporter, you were here too? What brings you all the way to Busan?"

"My grandma's doin' some good deeds, so I came to see her."

"Good deeds?"

I glanced at Ara, who just smiled brightly. Seo continued.

"Grandma's been doin' mobile bath services, right? They need a bath service vehicle."

"Ah~ You came down from Seoul to Busan for that? That's news?"

"You didn't know it's blowing up right now, Assemblyman?"

"......"

I hesitated, clueless, and Jeong-ah spoke up.

"We posted on the party board, our cafe, and Suji's fan cafe, and it went nuts. Today, your name, sis's name, and 'bath vehicle' have been bouncing between 1st and 5th on real-time search. Donations already topped 30 million won."

"What? 30 million?"

"Yeah. Probably over 40 by now. It's flooding in—scary fast."

Jeong-ah's words left me stunned. I'd never imagined this. Worried about election law issues if Daesan Group directly funded a bath vehicle for my district's volunteer work, I'd asked Jeong-ah to handle it discreetly—and it backfired into this viral hit. I couldn't even start the car, frantically searching portals on my phone.

"That's more than enough reason for me to come down. Let's move somewhere with cheap coffee and quiet."

"Coffee shop? At this hour? Most 24-hour ones are chains."

"Exactly why not. Gotta get us on cable tomorrow morning. Know any quiet spots with good vibes and cheap coffee?"

"Cable?"

"See the car with hazards behind us? Our cable station followed."

I had to find a coffee shop. Nothing came to mind. Couldn't miss this opportunity, though. Then it hit me—a party member's new coffee shop.

"It's a bit far—okay?"

"In Busan?"

"Yeah. Bosu-dong book alley."

"That'll look even prettier on camera. Perfect."

At Seo Dong-beom's reply, I quickly called Mihee.

I thanked her and headed to Bosu-dong. At the end of the book alley, across from Cheongsan Bookstore, was the tiny coffee shop called 'Dukong'—our interview spot for the night.