Chapter 20
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Heading Home
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Just in case, I should show her this too.
While Go Ye-jin was meticulously going through each comment one by one,
"So, you're doing meals and painting?"
Yoo Jin-seong was drinking beer with a friend at a pub near the bus stop.
"They said bodyguard duty too? Why'd you leave that out?"
They were buddies from the search team days and got along great. But today, the guy was sighing heavily as he looked into Jin-seong's shopping basket. A bunch of green onions were sticking out.
"How much you getting paid?"
"No set wage, but rent's free."
"Rent's 200,000 won! You're getting exploited, man!"
He didn't mention the 5% company stake. To Jin-seong, that stuff was meaningless anyway.
"Hey, I'm doing it 'cause I want to. What does money matter?"
He didn't mention how his hyungnim fed the whole goshiwon crew, produced webtoons, and expanded the kitchen pantry.
He wasn't the type to explain in detail from the start.
"Ugh, you're hopeless. You quit catching spies, and now you're playing maid? Forget that—come to my company. I'll put in a good word."
"The department store?"
"Yeah."
His friend handled security at the department store.
"Nah."
"Why!"
"I've got my own path. I didn't build myself up just to watch shopping aunties."
"Then what's this amazing hyungnim of yours do? Can't even pay a salary!"
"Hey, watch your mouth. My hyung's number one in Korea."
"Number one at what?"
"...That Kunlun Return and Warrior's Madness stuff..."
His friend searched it up.
"Nothing comes up! You're getting scammed!"
"Hey! My hyungnim's not like that! He even bought the goshiwon!"
"That rundown dump? What's that even worth?"
He skipped the part about buying the actual building. His friend said,
"Think it over. You'll waste your youth getting used like this."
After parting with his friend, he trudged back to the goshiwon. Just as he started up the hill, a small scream-like sound came from the alley on the left.
"No!"
"..."
Jin-seong naturally headed that way.
Two guys, one girl. Middle schoolers, obviously.
"What're you punks doing?"
The two boys seemed to be harassing the girl, her face streaked with tears.
"What's it to you?"
"Mind your own business? She's our girlfriend!"
Jin-seong was over 180 cm tall, giving off serious intimidation. And his face? Guys get intimidated by handsome dudes for some reason.
Jin-seong looked at the girl.
"This your boyfriend?"
The girl just stood there blankly, not responding. Cigarette butts littered the ground by her feet.
"She said yes!"
"Aw, screw this. Let's go, dude."
One boy grabbed the girl's wrist roughly.
"Hands off."
"Ugh, why!"
As the boy yelled at Jin-seong's command, Jin-seong grabbed his arm.
"Ow ow ow ow..."
He'd just gripped it, but the kid twisted like a squid. The other one mouthed off.
"What the hell, man!"
He acted like he might pull a knife, but they were just kids.
Jin-seong ignored them and stood in front of the girl. The height difference was huge, so he bent down to meet her eyes. The boys backed off hesitantly.
"Your boyfriend?"
"..."
The girl was trembling faintly. She wouldn't even look at Jin-seong's face.
"Aw, screw it! Come on!"
"Yeah! What a drag! Ugh!"
Calling her their girlfriend, the two headed out of the alley. High schoolers might've tried something, but middle schoolers against Jin-seong? No chance.
"Where's your house?"
"...Nearby."
"Let's go. I'll walk you."
He picked up the schoolbag from the ground and handed it to her.
"...Why?"
"Local guy."
"..."
The girl eyed Jin-seong's shopping basket. It looked heavy, stuffed full.
The girl stepped out of the alley. Jin-seong followed at a short distance. She glanced around—no sign of those punks.
"Go on. I'm home."
"You live around here?"
"Yeah."
"Alright, take care. Stay away from creeps."
As Jin-seong turned with a smirk, the girl spoke up.
"I don't want to hang out with them. But they're bad kids—what can I do? If I say no, they'll bully me!"
"..."
"I hate it too!"
He watched blankly as she ran off, then smacked his lips.
He could help in an alley, but walking her all the way to school? Not his business.
Bad kids still a thing these days...
Thinking the world never changes, he turned—and someone was standing there, watching him.
"Huh? Team Leader Cha?"
***
Street table in front of the convenience store.
"...Ha."
Cha Do-hyun let out a deep sigh.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, Proxy-nim, things could've gone bad."
"Bad? They'd just try for a kiss or something. It was a busy street."
Jin-seong didn't know a father's heart.
"But."
Being closer to the kid's perspective let him say it straight.
"Bullying like that doesn't end easy."
Jin-seong had a similar past. He trained to avoid beatings, fought to escape harassment.
"Should I transfer her school?"
"What if it happens again?"
"...Haa, I don't know what to do."
"Simple..."
"Pardon?"
"Go to school every day and harass the teachers."
"What?"
"Show up daily. Like how kids are forced to go, you keep showing your face till the teachers and kids get sick of it."
"...You think that'll work?"
"Kids that age can't handle adults. Unless the adult's an idiot."
Cha Do-hyun looked like he'd been slapped.
"Protect her. She's your kid."
"...What if she hates me more for meddling?"
"Worse than now?"
"..."
"Team Leader."
Jin-seong stood, grabbing his basket.
"My hyungnim writes like crazy every day to feed people he barely knows."
"..."
"But you're family. What's stopping you?"
Those last words nailed into the team leader's chest like a spike.
"It's not that I can't."
Leaving the team leader behind, Jin-seong headed to the goshiwon. Fewer people the higher up you went. Finally, the building came into view.
Pride swelled.
A smile crept onto his lips. Painting was halfway done. Even half-finished, it looked way cleaner than before—like new construction. The other half still looked haunted, but that'd change soon too.
"Way better than any department store."
No fancy goods or displays, but there were people here.
***
10 a.m., a call from Manager Kim.
"So, next work with Memento Mori company?"
-Perfect! Of course! Just serialize it, and we'll provide every convenience!
After a few minutes with the ever-agreeable Manager Kim, he stepped out.
He'd stuck to his room, pantry, and rooftop, rarely leaving the building. But the room was a furnace.
A problem he hadn't felt arriving in March. No air conditioning in the goshiwon.
Electric blankets for winter, but summer turned the tiny rooms into steamy saunas.
"Hey—."
Jin-seong was sprawled out front. On break from painting, probably. First time seeing someone lie on bare ground like that.
Is he asleep?
"Hyungnim, what's up?"
"Too hot."
July already—next month would be worse.
"Can't be helped. Can't put AC in every room."
Tiny spaces; five minutes of cool air might cause hypothermia.
"Still can't live like this."
"Just two months. Everyone's out working days—no complaints."
True, but those here had to live somehow.
Ye-jin appeared at the entrance just then.
"Air con?"
"Can't we put one per hallway? Crack doors for cool air."
"Huge electric bill. Old building—cool air leaks through window gaps. You know rent's 200,000 won, right?"
No modern apartment frames; terrible insulation.
A strange thought hit him.
What is it?
No heat like this in ten years confined. Winters were cold suffering, but never sweat like soup.
How?
No windows, doors never opened. No AC, not even fans.
Underground...?
"Hmm... If you're taking this so seriously, President-nim, I'll look into solutions."
She'd mistaken his contemplation.
"Ah, no! Haha! Just reminiscing. You guys okay?"
Jin-seong didn't mind working outside.
"My room's rear-facing—no sun all day. Heat's bearable."
"Oh, good."
"But mold grows often."
"Switch! Vacancies available!"
"It's fine. Mine's seasoned to me. Women only use third floor—no vacancies there. Can't disrupt order for one person. Long-term it's bad. Mold wipes easy."
Shared bathrooms/showers per floor; mixing genders risked trouble.
"I'll find the best option. Hang in a few days."
Ye-jin pulled out a notepad and entered the building.
"Mold..."
He hadn't known her conditions. 200,000-won goshiwon—how great could it be?
"Haa..."
Time to earn more. Freed from mistreatment after a decade, but no money meant same misery.
Sure, he could cool his room with a wall AC. But next door? Ye-jin? Jin-seong?
"..."
He turned to face the building squarely.
Jin-seong had improved the exterior. But inside was rotting. That rot would spread to people.
Can't fix everything at once. Little by little.
Break even at minimum—no hotel makeovers.
Just replace those old windows...
Even 20-volume epics start with a prologue.
It'll get better than now.
Above all, this was his first property purchase.
My own place—even if not perfect, no shame!
***
"One night, two days?"
Ye-jin was startled.
"Yeah, heading to parents' home."
"Wh-what about serialization?"
"Knocked out the stockpile finale today."
"Whoa! Really? Um, just in case something happens at home, can you share the manuscript with me?"
"Sure, sending later."
Late July.
Infinite Reincarnation hit 400 chapters. Before hotter weather or new series, time for some filial piety.
"Hyungnim! Mind if I tag along?"
He'd considered it briefly, but solo this time. Kidnapping trauma made him shrink back, true—but normal life impossible. Time to overcome something inside.
How'd that guy know to kidnap me?
He avoided famous targets.
Me gone now? LitWorld would erupt; Jin-seong and Ye-jin wouldn't sit idle.
Still, smart handing finale to Ye-jin. Lightning, accidents—anything possible. Ye-jin's sharp.
"Hey, you're drooling. Wipe it. Heatstroke?"
At Jin-seong's words, Ye-jin licked her lips.
"Old man Hwang starts work tomorrow?"
"Yes. Gathering a few more to help."
"Thanks."
"They're more grateful to you, President-nim. Say you've put on weight from good meals."
Some residents volunteered repairs. Not daily, just free time. Better than nothing.
"AC tomorrow too?"
"Yes!"
"Appreciate it. Need me there?"
"Don't worry—go enjoy! I'll handle the finale... Uh, no, I'll check the AC install!"
To Mom, four months passed. To him, ten years four months.
Maybe that's why?
Calling her "Mom" felt oddly awkward now.
Oh, gotta call about coming!
-What? Coming today? Now?
Eh? Why so flustered?
-Don't come! I'm going on a trip with friends!
Suddenly?