Chapter 40
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Reunions and Anticipations
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The man in the black suit, earphones plugged into his ears, seemed genuinely thrilled to see Jin-seong.
“My buddy. Search Team.”
“Ah.”
“Hello!”
Jin-seong bowed his head politely mid-conversation with his friend when our group emerged from the store.
Ye-jin looked at me and asked,
“We're thinking of checking out the upper floors. Want to come along, President?”
“Of course. Jin-seong, take your time.”
At my words, Jin-seong flashed a bright smile and nodded.
Left alone with his friend, Jin-seong said,
“These are my family. I had no idea you were still working here.”
“Happiness Goshiwon has kids like that?”
His friend stared blankly at Ye-jin's retreating figure and asked.
“But why are they here...”
“Shopping for clothes.”
Jin-seong replied with a perfectly casual expression.
“No, I mean...”
His friend swallowed the words, 'Why would goshiwon residents come to a department store to shop for clothes?' and changed the subject.
“How've you been?”
“It's fun. Days fly by without me even noticing.”
“...Let's walk. I'm on the clock.”
“Sure.”
The two of them naturally boarded the escalator heading down to the lower floors.
“Remember when I told you I'd keep an eye out for a spot for you here? That offer still stands. It's not tough work. Just patrol around, handle any troublemakers, catch thieves if they show up.”
His friend seemed to mean it sincerely for Jin-seong's sake. But Jin-seong just smiled without responding.
His friend continued,
“I'm not planning to stick around here forever either. Once I build up more experience, I can aim for better gigs. End goal's the Blue House or the National Assembly.”
“Cool, the Blue House.”
“We're the search team. No place we can't go.”
“Should be that way.”
“Yeah, I'm going all the way.”
His friend was a security guard, but even among them, there were ranks. Jin-seong pictured him protecting the president at the Blue House and grinned brightly before his gaze settled on one spot.
The DM crew was browsing clothes in a nearby store.
“Don't you recognize him?”
“Huh? Who...? Oh? Wait, is that...? Jin-guk? That Jin-guk?”
“Yeah, that Jin-guk.”
The department store was so crowded earlier that they must not have noticed each other.
“Man, getting beat by society turned him into a real man, huh? He was like a roasted soybean back in the unit.”
“You were like a worn-out spatula there for thirty years.”
They'd both been tough back then, and that was enough. Jin-guk had changed so much they barely recognized him brushing past.
-Hyung! Try this on too!
Ji-min waved at Jin-seong from over there. They were in the men's section, trying on suits, and they all looked so handsome it was heartwarming just to watch.
“Uh... those are kinda pricey...”
His friend trailed off. If a big group like that swarmed in, tried everything on, then moved to the next store and repeated, that was prime troublemaker behavior.
“I get what you're worried about.”
Jin-seong chuckled.
“Big bro's covering it today.”
“That amazing big bro you keep raving about?”
From his sarcastic tone, his friend clearly still didn't buy it.
“Yeah... he's an amazing big bro.”
Writes novels, runs a business, raises idols, and even snaps up buildings on a whim.
Even now, watching him sometimes made Jin-seong wonder if it was okay to be that bold and reckless—but the guy pulled it all off successfully, which was astounding.
“...It's not some multi-level marketing scheme, right?”
At his friend's words, Jin-seong thought he should clear up the misunderstanding before it piled up more.
“Later.”
“Huh?”
“If you don't make it to the Blue House, come find me then. I'll put in a good word for a spot.”
“What?”
Jin-seong patted his friend's shoulder with a grin.
“We'll make sure that when the time comes, you won't have any regrets. Gotta go. Group activity time.”
As Jin-seong headed back to the group, his friend scowled in total confusion.
“...What the hell's he talking about?”
Of course, he had no way of knowing then.
How that carefree country bumpkin, con artist, and whatever else would transform later on.
For now, though, they were still wide-eyed newbies at their first department store.
-Whoa, President, this is way too expensive!
-It's fine! Buy it all today!
“Seriously... not a multi-level thing?”
His friend let out a deep sigh.
The next evening.
I considered borrowing Room 104's Uncle Hwang's car for the long drive but decided to extend yesterday's extravagance just one more day.
Last night, I'd dropped a whopping 9 million won. The DM quintet's suits alone were 5 million, plus extra casuals and Ye-jin's stuff.
We'd left the department store stuffed to the gills on pork ribs.
Spending nearly 10 million in a single day didn't feel wasteful at all. I'd bought a whole building, after all. Sometimes you just gotta go big.
“You're out early.”
Ye-jin stepped out of the building. Yesterday's suit fit her like it was custom-made.
“Looks great on you.”
“Really?”
Ye-jin blushed faintly.
“You pull it off too, President.”
I'd grabbed a suit myself yesterday. Gotta have one for formal occasions as the boss.
“Whew...”
She let her arm drop as if dissatisfied, then tugged at her skirt hem with her fingers.
“I was thinking of getting the hem taken in since it's a bit loose.”
“Nah, it's perfect as is.”
“Perf...ect?”
“Have you ever seen me give empty compliments? You're killing it today! Ye-jin! Looking sharp! Ye-jin!”
“...I-I'll call a cab first! Wait here! It'll be quick since it's a long trip!”
I'd never used one before, but in the future I remembered, Chocolate Taxi had gone mainstream. For now, though, it was call-a-cab time.
The world would keep getting more convenient and faster, but sometimes waiting idly like this felt necessary.
“Ha... what a day.”
The sky was cloudless.
Watching Ye-jin on her call over there, I decided to get her a gift. I knew zilch about that stuff, so I'd consult an expert later.
Still 20 million left.
“President! It's coming soon!”
“Got the contract?”
“Of course.”
She held up her briefcase. Her prized laptop and today's contract were inside.
I couldn't remember a day dragging on like today.
But as 8 p.m. approached, she suddenly wished time would freeze.
'Nervous...'
Truth be told, she had no clue how contracts even worked. She'd jumped the gun, and now she wasn't sure if the author would really show.
'Thirty minutes left.'
The boss would arrive soon for the shift change, then she'd greet customers outside at the folding table by the convenience store.
There wasn't much to do in this neighborhood. And going too far would worry Grandma.
A bit later, the boss showed up. She'd never felt work slip through her fingers like today.
The boss had his own worries.
“So much left over.”
Sales had tanked thanks to the new convenience store across the street. That meant more discarded food too.
“Sorry...”
“Not your fault. Good work today. Get home safe.”
She needed to tell the boss ahead of time.
“I've got a guest coming, so I'll grab a few drinks.”
“Guest?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind?”
“Just... a guest...”
Knowing her personality, the boss didn't pry. Instead, he handed her a few drinks.
“No charge.”
“Huh?”
“Take whatever else you need, no hesitation.”
The boss clenched his fists.
“Bread, ramen, anything. Got it?”
“...Boss...”
As her eyes welled up, the boss chuckled and shooed her out.
Standing alone outside the store, she looked up at the sky to calm her surging emotions. Night had fallen thick, but the stars twinkling through were beautiful.
She set the drinks on the table and wiped the dust with her sleeve when a bus rolled by and stopped.
A few people got off at the stop.
Then three headed this way.
“...”
Of all the...
“Hey, Shin Do-rim, whatcha doing?”
“Look at her. Got a real sense for this.”
“Knew we were coming and set up drinks?”
The girls plopped down in the chairs like it was nothing and grabbed drinks. No idea where they'd been, but they reeked of booze.
They were adults now, so no issue there, but their antics were straight out of high school.
“Min-ju, want some hangover ramen?”
“Might as well.”
“Hey, Shin Do-rim, two cup ramens instead—spicy ones. And banana milk.”
“Strawberry for me.”
“Chocolate.”
Getting water for the ramen was easy. But with only one table, her heart raced. The guest was due any minute...
'Hurry up and eat, then leave. Just this once, please...'
As she hurried inside,
Screeeeech.
A cab pulled up sharply in front of the store. The headlights made everyone squint as one passenger stepped out.
'Pretty...'
At the store entrance, she stared blankly at the woman exiting the cab.
Her neatly tied hair screamed successful office worker from TV dramas, makeup impeccable, black heels gleaming.
Not celebrity pretty, but the kind who'd stand out even among them.
-Thank you!
-Haha! Thank you! Call anytime! I'll be nearby!
A man followed the woman chatting amiably with the driver.
“...Gasp...”
She'd searched him today. The Memento Mori author had appeared on I Live Alone. She'd recognized the face, and now here he was, straight out of the screen, scanning around.
Then he looked this way.
“This the place?”
“Yes, President.”
“Hm.”
His gaze swept over the girls at the table, then shifted here.
Step.
It wasn't far. From years at the store, she could read people well.
The Memento Mori author carried himself confidently, steady pace. The woman matched his stride, half a step behind.
Glance.
He checked the time, approached, and smiled warmly.
“You're the author, right?”
His voice was incredibly pleasant.
“First time meeting. Allow me a proper introduction. I'm Jeong Hyun-woo. This is Executive Director Go Ye-jin.”
“Hello, Author. Go Ye-jin here. I'll do my utmost to support your writing going forward.”
“...”
She clamped her mouth shut, unsure what to say.
“...The setup here's a bit lacking. Any cafés nearby?”
At his words, Executive Director Ye-jin pulled out her phone.
“Let me check.”
He smiled and turned to her.
“If you're hungry, may I treat you?”
“Oh, um... I...”
“Speak freely. No pressure if it's inconvenient.”
He had this odd aura. Didn't look that old, yet handled people so naturally. Like the boss's seasoned vibe at similar age.
Strangest part: first meeting, but his eyes held the warmth of reuniting with an old friend.
“Not that I mind, but Grandma's waiting...”
“Visiting home might be tricky then? Family should know about contract matters.”
“...That might be...”
“Understood.”
Even as she kept deflecting negatively, he showed no offense. Standing awkwardly without proper seating, yet no irritation.
Now she felt more on edge when one girl at the table stood up.
'Yes! Finally!'
They had some sense, leaving at last.
Yes, just this once, give me a break!
'After all the crap you've dumped on me, there have to be good days sometimes!'
But reality was always closer to the sewer than the stars.
“Hey! Ramen! When you bringing it?!”