Chapter 122 – Ordinarily – Part 2

Chapter 122 – Ordinarily – Part 2

It wasn’t just CCTVs that were installed.

Woojin used his cellphone to turn the living room lights on and off, and repeatedly turned the fluorescent lights in his parents’ room, Bomi’s room, and his own room on and off.

He also scheduled the lights to turn on at 6 PM and off at 11 PM.

Woojin slowly looked around the room.

Just like in the video, Bomi seemed to be sitting in the living room.

‘Brother, it looks like the drama is about to start?’

His mother was in the kitchen.

‘My son, you must be very hungry, right? Just a little longer? Mom will make you something delicious.’

His dad, who had just returned from work, was at the entrance.

‘My son, who looks just like Dad, did you have a good day today?’

Woojin’s lips curved slightly upward.

A place where he could feel the warmth, a place he could call ‘Memory’.

Now, he could spend more time with his family in a safer and more peaceful place.

He would create more memories in the newly built house,

and hoping for more days filled with laughter for his family in the future, Woojin stepped outside.

Before closing the door, Woojin looked into the house from outside.

‘Number 2038.’

Just as he had been trapped in the warehouse by him when he was very young.

This time, it was his turn to trap him.

The slight difference was that back then, Number 2038 had forcibly put him in the warehouse, and he was waiting for him to come on his own accord.

Woojin saw someone standing in the living room.

“I’ll wait.”

Click.

Woojin closed the door, and the dark house lit up brightly a few minutes later, exactly at 6 PM.

Before taking the bus, Woojin looked for Ujeong Bunsik.

Not only was the store full, but five teams were waiting in line.

Woojin also quietly joined the line.

He could hear people’s voices.

“I’m freezing to death. Can’t we just go somewhere else?”

“Hey, I’m telling you, this place is really good! Park Inhyeok even said it was his favorite restaurant on Midnight TV the other day. This is that place.”

The people who had been eating inside came out with their takeout, and joy bloomed on the faces of those whose turn it was to enter.

It wasn’t long before it was Woojin’s turn.

“Welcome… Woojin, student?”

“Just one rice cake skewer, please.”

The auntie smiled broadly.

“It’s been a while. Will one rice cake skewer be enough for you?”

And she whispered,

“Just sit down for now. I’ll make you some spicy rice cakes and blood sausage too. It’s cold, so should I bring you some fish cake broth first? It’s all free for you, Woojin.”

Woojin shook his head.

“Just one rice cake skewer, please.”

“Are you busy?”

“I have somewhere to be. Just one, please.”

“Alright. I’ll make it quickly for you.”

The auntie immediately began frying the rice cake skewers in oil.

And when they were perfectly fried, she took them out with a sieve, completely removed the oil, and then brushed them with red sauce.

“Here you go.”

Woojin received the rice cake skewer and offered 500 won.

“Oh, just go. Thanks to whom is business doing so well? Make sure to stop by once in a while. Everything is free for you, Woojin.”

On the smiling auntie’s face, there was no trace of the worries and concerns she had before.

Woojin slipped the 500 won into the auntie’s apron.

“The ratio is the most important.”

She was talking about MSG.

The auntie held Woojin’s hands tightly with both of hers.

“Student Woojin. Thank you.”

Woojin always maintained a calm expression, making him seem blunt, but she could feel it.

‘I’m going to eat it with my younger sibling.’

‘I’m going to eat it with my family.’

Every time he bought snacks, his thoughts of his mom, dad, and younger sibling were clearly felt.

And when she had to close her business, he suddenly appeared, created a recipe, and even brought a celebrity.

At first, she was bewildered, but thinking about it carefully, it wasn’t a coincidence.

She had been shown great kindness.

“Then I’ll come again next time.”

The auntie followed Woojin out of the store and waved her hand.

Woojin bowed in greeting and, turning his back, took a bite of a rice cake skewer.

“As expected, it’s so delicious, the best rice cake skewer of my life.”

The harmony of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors was exquisite.

Woojin turned back again and looked at Ujeong Bunsik, where people were lining up.

He hoped it would continue to do well.

Woojin, eating his rice cake skewer while looking at Ujeong Bunsik, organized his thoughts.

Synesthete had surpassed ten million viewers.

Brain Food’s franchise stores were steadily increasing, opening their 17th branch, and the construction of a factory capable of growing plants with LEDs in the Middle East was also progressing smoothly.

Detective Kim Taehyun was also promoted, and Prosecutor Kim Cheolung was solidifying his position through the media, dreaming of entering politics.

However, there was one person whose progress was slow.

That was Lee Hyerim.

Prosecutor Kim Cheolung had a plan to remove Lee Hyerim’s older brother, Lee Yohwan, but it wasn’t easy, and time was being delayed.

Lee Hyerim had become acquainted with the Management Support Team and Department Head Shim of Sales Team 4, but that was all.

If you calculate it across the entire Shinwha Group, it could be said to be a very insignificant power.

‘Woojin, try this. It’s really delicious, isn’t it?’

“This is… a gift.”

Woojin felt as if Lee Hyerim’s voice was almost within reach, whispering in his ear.

After quickly gathering his thoughts, Woojin turned towards the bus stop and called Lee Hyerim.

Woojin’s pattern was always like this.

If he thought of something, he would act without the slightest delay.

-Hello?

“Hyerim, what are you doing?”

-Me? Just… no, I was reading a book.

“Want to go for some warm hot chocolate and a slice of cake?”

***

Sitting in the coffee shop, Woojin tasted a slice of cake and said,

“It’s sweet.”

Lee Hyerim chuckled and took a sip of her coffee.

Men glanced at her, stealing looks.

“What a surprise. You’re the one who suggested coming to the coffee shop first.”

Woojin, who had taken a sip of his hot chocolate, replied,

“To see your face, and I have something to say.”

Lee Hyerim’s eyes widened slightly.

Every time Woojin said he had something to say, she was curious, but also a little uneasy.

“What is it?”

“The Shinhwa Group’s Strategic Planning Office, it was disbanded last year, right? Was it really disbanded?”

The Shinhwa Group’s Strategic Planning Office had a future-oriented goal of making the group even stronger, but it was also a place that managed political personnel, various hidden truths, and risks.

She blinked.

“Why are you curious about that?”

“They announced it was disbanded on the surface, but I have a feeling it might not be the case.”

Lee Hyerim opened her mouth as if she had nothing to hide from Woojin.

“Well, on the surface it’s a dismantling, but your thoughts are correct. It’s a structure that can’t be eliminated. Grandfather’s thoughts are also firm.”

Woojin, who had been slowly nodding his head, said,

“I want to get in there, can I?”

Lee Hyerim, who was drinking coffee, choked and coughed.

Lee Hyerim, who was patting her chest as if to calm herself, quickly spoke.

“Huh!? Why would you go there?”

“Because I want to work there.”

“Didn’t you want to be an office worker?”

“That’s also an office worker who gets paid regularly.”

“That’s true, but…”

Shinhwa General Trading couldn’t give Lee Hyerim much help. No, the limits were clearly visible.

So, they created a condition format that allowed them to mix with them.

That way, they could have the ordinariness to mix with them equally.

He made connections with a Deputy Chief Prosecutor who was ambitious about entering politics, and even an influential actor.

Detective Kim Taehyun too.

If he enters the Strategic Planning Office of the Shinhwa Group and obtains information, he can create a synergistic effect with the connections with a very high probability.

Conversely, there were also things he wanted to try.

Then Lee Hyerim shook her head slightly.

“I don’t recommend it.”

That place was very dirty.

Also, if Woojin were to go in there, Lee Hyerim felt that Woojin might treat her the same way those people did.

Above all, Lee Hyerim did not want Woojin to clean up other people’s trash.

“I really want to experience it at least once.”

Lee Hyerim said flatly.

But her eyes were filled with worry.

“I don’t think you need to experience that. There aren’t many openings there, and it would be hard for me to get you in.”

Woojin understood the rejection Lee Hyerim conveyed.

It was because he was aware of what she thought of him.

If he said, ‘It’s something that will help you,’ she would never use her influence.

But if he said this…

“Please.”

Lee Hyerim’s eyes wavered.

She had never heard Woojin say “please” before… never.

Not once.

Lee Hyerim sighed and ran her hand through her hair.

‘Please.’

If she refused this…

She had to refuse.

Even imagining Woojin working in such a place was terrible.

He might have to grovel to others and even get cursed at.

“Then, even if it takes time, I’ll get in on my own.”

At Woojin’s added words, Lee Hyerim’s pupils wavered again.

It seemed like Woojin would really do that. No, he was more than capable of it.

“Haa…”

Unable to do anything, she fiddled with her coffee cup before finally speaking.

“Alright. I’ll talk to them. But don’t get your hopes up too much.”

If he were to get in, it would be better for Woojin in many ways if she emphasized that she was behind him.

Woojin, who had taken a sip of hot chocolate, had a slight smile on his lips.

It was because he could feel her worried heart in her tone.

It felt like it was making his chest warm.

Woojin felt it and replied sincerely.

“Thank you.”

“Sigh… I don’t know either. Shin Woojin, you’re really hard to figure out.”

“They say mysterious men are popular.”

“Who said that?”

“A YouTuber said so.”

“……”

Lee Hyerim raised her cellphone as if she would immediately search for the YouTuber.

“What’s the name of that YouTuber?”

“Why?”

“To buy that channel.”

“Hyerim, were you interested in YouTubers?”

“No. To delete the channel.”

***

The new year dawned, leaving many people with memories.

Some lamented the passing years, while others rejoiced in the awaited tomorrow.

Woojin, a year older, was closer to the latter.

After all, Woojin always lived anticipating tomorrow, and then the day after.

Meanwhile, on New Year’s Day night, Lee Hyerim was quietly staring at her cellphone at home.

She picked up and put down her cellphone, looking troubled, and it was all due to her concern for Woojin.

But soon, as if she had made up her mind, she made a phone call somewhere.

The other person answered the phone quickly, after only a few rings.

-Yes, Young Lady.

“I heard there’s one opening in the Strategic Planning Office.”

Young Lady, the Strategic Planning Office has been disbanded and no longer exists.

Lee Hyerim’s brow furrowed slightly.

“I’m not kidding right now.”

-…We’re not electing anyone yet…

“I want to put someone I know in there. That’s possible, right?”

-Young Lady, I’m sorry, but…

Lee Hyerim nodded, cutting him off.

“Someone I dislike is having a fun time in the middle of Gangnam. I really hate it when people I dislike are happy, so I’m going to go cause some trouble. If I lose my temper and hit them with a bottle, whose fault do you think it would be?”

-Young Lady…

It was Lee Hyerim on the phone, stating her destination.

If they couldn’t stop her and a news story broke, it would be entirely the Strategic Planning Office’s fault.

Lee Hyerim thought it was funny even as she said it.

Even if she made a mistake, she would only get a scolding; all the blame would fall on the Strategic Planning Office.

Lee Hyerim spoke again.

“So… answer me before I periodically cause a scene.”