Prepare for the Future (2)
"Young Master, I have brought what you requested." Ryu Geun-tae entered the room, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as he held a stack of English-language newspapers.
"Ah, thank you. You've gone through a lot of trouble." As Yoon-gi took the papers, Ryu Geun-tae bowed his head with an expression of profound apology.
"I am terribly sorry, Young Master."
"It’s fine. It’s already this hot in June, so it can’t be helped. You must have had a hard time finding these for me, so please go take a shower and enjoy the air conditioning in the living room."
"I am truly alright, sir."
"Well, I'm not. How are you supposed to teach me while you're drenched in sweat? I’ll tell the housekeeper, so go change into fresh underwear and a new dress shirt."
"I am truly grateful for your consideration."
Though he seemed stern, Ryu Geun-tae had spent the last few months with the young master and had come to understand Yoon-gi’s true nature; he knew the warmth hidden beneath that exterior. Thus, he stopped insisting and followed the housekeeper’s guidance out to the living room.
'This place must be a paradise for the housekeepers.'
It was midsummer, and the heat outside was so intense it felt like the sky was raining fire. Yet, in the home of Choi Cheol-ho, the president of Samwoo Heavy Industries, there was an actual 'air conditioner.' This model, the Jupiter Electronics GA-120, cost about 270,000 won—a price tag equivalent to two and a half months' salary for an average large-company employee. Seeing that these units were installed in every appropriately partitioned room, Ryu Geun-tae realized anew the sheer scale of a 'truly wealthy family's' dignity. Even the housekeepers, who wore long sleeves and long pants, looked perfectly comfortable in the thin, high-quality fabric.
"Will this size work for you? The President often brings his subordinates over, so we keep a variety of sizes on hand."
"Ah, this should be perfect. Thank you."
Ryu Geun-tae had just finished a shower using water that had turned lukewarm from passing through pipes baked by the scorching heat outside, but as soon as he changed his clothes and stepped into the living room, the cool breeze of the air conditioner felt like absolute heaven.
'Ah, this isn't the time to be relaxing.'
He hurriedly turned to head back to Yoon-gi’s room, but the housekeeper called out to him from behind.
"The Young Master said to come in after 30 minutes. It looks like you have 20 minutes left."
"Pardon?"
"He said there was a lot to read in the papers, so he asked you to wait 30 minutes. And please, have some watermelon. The Young Master asked me to prepare it for you."
Ryu Geun-tae felt another wave of gratitude for Yoon-gi’s meticulous consideration. Crunch, crunch! In this era, the cool air conditioning, the plush sofa, and the chilled watermelon were luxuries light-years away from the relaxation he experienced at his own home. Yet, feeling a sense of comfort far greater than he ever felt at home, Ryu Geun-tae was able to fully replenish his energy over the next 30 minutes.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Yoon-gi said as he opened the door and looked into the living room. Ryu Geun-tae stood up in a hurry.
"Not at all, Young Master. Thanks to you, I feel like I have energy to spare."
"That’s a relief. Shall we begin?"
"Yes, of course."
Ryu Geun-tae glanced at the English newspapers Yoon-gi was reading. 'The economic section... The Young Master truly has a visionary eye.' In the past, he used to think that if he had been born into a wealthy family, he would have become a much better person than he was now, but after teaching Yoon-gi for a few months, that thought had largely vanished. The small yet 'big' young master before him was the very embodiment of effort.
It was a level of effort that was truly phenomenal even to an observer. However, from Yoon-gi’s perspective, this effort was incredibly enjoyable. It was the kind of effort he had wanted to make but couldn't in his life before his regression. In fact, when Yoon-gi was in the first grade of elementary school, he had once received a report card filled with top marks. But he had been beaten by that brute of a father for studying when he should have been out earning money, and because of that, he had been forced to live his life completely walled off from education. He had even had to intentionally get questions wrong on tests even when he knew the answers.
But now? With a grandfather who shouted, "My grandson is the best!" every time a report card came out, and parents who always showered him with love, the effort itself couldn't help but be enjoyable. As if reading his inner thoughts, Choi Deok-bae wrinkled his nose beside him, but Yoon-gi didn't react, perhaps acknowledging the truth of it.
'Come to think of it, the final exams are coming up soon.'
Yoon-gi smiled, thinking that he could get top marks again and make his grandfather happy.
Four hours later, the tutoring session ended, and both Yoon-gi and Ryu Geun-tae stretched.
The tutoring with Park Seon-ja had ended a month ago. Yoon-gi had decided that as long as he had Ryu Geun-tae by his side, he could move on to the next level. Watching Park Seon-ja tear up had been quite the sight, but Yoon-gi, who had no particular affection for a girl who slapped the kids in her class whenever she was in a bad mood, had replaced her as his primary tutor without a shred of regret.
Although he hadn't made it to Seoul National University, Ryu Geun-tae, who had graduated from Korea University with a degree in Business Administration, had become an excellent tutor for Yoon-gi. Furthermore, Yoon-gi was studying like a madman, fueled by the brilliant mind inherited through Choi Deok-bae’s bloodline and the grit of his past life.
"You worked hard today, too."
"You’re the one who worked hard, Young Master. Oh, and by the way, the purchase of the Cheonggyecheon land you ordered is almost complete. I think we’ll be able to buy all the available land by this weekend."
"Then, next is Yongsan. Not right now, though—only once we’ve accumulated a bit more capital. But if possible, I’d like you to set up a meeting for the transaction. Let’s aim for the end of this year. The exact location will be Hangangno-dong."
"Understood."
Just like last time, Ryu Geun-tae answered politely without asking a single question. Normally, the tutoring would have ended here. But there was one thing Ryu Geun-tae wanted to ask. It was something he had wanted to bring up ever since he had bowed before Chairman Choi Ki-hyun in the study. It was something he absolutely shouldn't ask, but as he had been led by Yoon-gi for so long, the concern that had started as a small snowflake had grown into a house-sized snowball rolling toward him.
So, Ryu Geun-tae carefully opened his mouth toward Yoon-gi, who was still stretching.
"Um... Young Master."
"Yes?"
"I wanted to tell you in advance, in case a situation arises where you might be disappointed in me later."
"What is it?"
"Well... you see..."
Ryu Geun-tae didn't even understand himself why he was saying this. There was nothing to be gained from speaking up, and with Chairman Choi Ki-hyun already turning a blind eye to the situation, he didn't know why he was taking such a risk. But for the first time in a very long time, Ryu Geun-tae’s emotions had overcome his reason.
"I am actually... from the Honam region."
"Is that so?"
The response was so nonchalant that for a moment, Ryu Geun-tae mistakenly thought the young master didn't know what the Honam region was.
"The Honam region refers to Jeolla-do, Young Master..."
Discrimination against the Honam region in the 70s was so murderous that even children were affected, and Ryu Geun-tae squeezed his eyes shut.
"So?"
Hearing the same response, Ryu Geun-tae just blinked his eyes.
"...Don't you feel uncomfortable with me?"
"Why would I be uncomfortable?"
"Well... is it really okay for me to stay by your side? I might stab you in the back..."
"Are you going to?"
"That isn't the case, but..."
Yoon-gi stopped stretching and looked Ryu Geun-tae straight in the eye. With a serious expression on the young master's face that was incomparable to moments before, Ryu Geun-tae straightened his back and corrected his posture politely.
"Mister Ryu. Even if you betray me, it’s not Jeolla-do betraying me—it’s a person named Ryu Geun-tae betraying me."
"...!"
"And even if another person from Jeolla-do betrays me, that’s that person betraying me, not you."
"Young Master..."
"Do I need to say more?"
"No. Absolutely not. It seems I still didn't know enough about you, Young Master. From now on, I will serve you with even more dedication than I have until now."
Yoon-gi realized, across the span of time, how his second uncle had won Ryu Geun-tae’s heart. It was Ryu Geun-tae’s regional complex. 'My second uncle lived in this era, but he must have been a person without regional prejudice.' Behind Yoon-gi, who was monologuing to himself, Choi Deok-bae was nodding with a proud expression, but Yoon-gi didn't see it. Instead, Yoon-gi put on a feigned sullen expression toward Ryu Geun-tae.
"I’m suddenly feeling a bit hurt."
"Pardon? Pardon?"
Yoon-gi’s expression turned playful as he watched Ryu Geun-tae, who was flustered by the sudden remark.
"Have you been teaching me half-heartedly until now?"
"No! No! That’s not it..."
Yoon-gi didn't drag out the prank for long.
"I’m joking."
With the tension quickly dissolved, Ryu Geun-tae let his shoulders drop and offered a weak, relieved smile.
"You really are something, Young Master..."
"Oh, by the way, do you have a U.S. visa?"
"A visa? I’ve never been abroad, so I don't even have a passport yet..."
"Then, get one quickly. There will be a time soon when we need to use it."
"Yes...?"
* * *
No matter how much fire rains down outside, or how much snowstorms rage, the weather is just a matter for another world to the wealthy. Because even in this weather, where the phrase "sizzling" was perfectly appropriate, Choi Cheol-ho and Yoon-gi were playing catch outside the house.
"This kid, you've gotten a lot stronger, haven't you?"
"By next year, I’ll be stronger than you, Dad!"
"One year isn't enough, you rascal!"
The skin of the father and son, who were playing catch with practiced ease, was tanned, with neither one being able to claim they were darker than the other. And as the water spray from the hose the housekeepers were using created a rainbow, their copper-toned skin was highlighted, creating a scene like an oil painting.
"How about that? Doesn't it feel a lot cooler playing catch like this?"
"I have fun playing with you even if it's hot, Dad."
"Is that so? Hahahaha!"
Their tops, bottoms, and shoes were all soaked through, but they didn't worry about it at all, laughing as they played catch. Even Park Yeon-ji, who should have been scolding them, was sitting on the porch eating an ice pop, laughing along.
"Are you leaving this father—no, this grandfather—out of the fun?"
Choi Ki-hyun, who had come to live at the house half-permanently following Yoon-gi’s request, appeared through the living room door, looking miffed.
"Father, you shouldn't be doing outdoor activities in this weather; it could be dangerous."
At his son’s teasing, Choi Ki-hyun stripped off his outer shirt, revealing only his undershirt, and stepped down from the porch. "You rascal! Even if I’m old, I’m still more vigorous than you!" As his body, impressive with 'laborer’s muscles,' was revealed, it showed a sturdy physique that, unexpectedly, didn't lose to Choi Cheol-ho’s.
"Father, you seem to have gotten even healthier somehow."
"I have to exercise hard so I can keep holding my grandson."
"I told you, I’ll be the one holding you soon enough!"
The catch they had been playing turned into a three-way game, and the canvas of the oil painting expanded significantly. A father-son-grandson game of catch on a weekday afternoon. The domestic harmony, something never to be seen in a household without money, brought great happiness to Yoon-gi. And this sense of happiness didn't break even when the doorbell rang outside. The housekeepers would go to the gate to check anyway.
However, a moment later, the happiness was broken in a way that was not at all unfortunate.
"You rascal! Your in-law has arrived, and you don't even come out?"
"Grandfather!"
Yoon-gi’s maternal grandfather, Brigadier General Colson, appeared with broad shoulders and a flashy U.S. military uniform, and Yoon-gi ran toward him at full speed.