Chapter 50 – Playground – Part 1

Chapter 50 – Playground – Part 1

Baek Jihyeon forced a smile at Assistant Manager Kim’s question.

“Yes, it’s Shin Woojin.”

The staff members coming out of the conference room shook their heads as they listened to their conversation.

“What are the Human Resources Department’s allocation criteria? They should have sent someone like Woojin to the Sales Team.”

“Exactly.”

“Call Lpon quickly.”

“Yes, sir!”

***

Woojin’s daily routine at the company was the same.

The staff members seemed to move as if on fast-forward, while Woojin, who was going around everywhere to grasp the situation of each department, somehow seemed slow.

When quitting time arrived, Woojin left work as usual.

Woojin got off the bus and, instead of going straight home, looked for a snack bar.

It was to buy skewered rice cakes.

Two years ago, when he first tried skewered rice cakes, he felt like he had discovered a wondrous new world.

For a while, he ate nothing but skewered rice cakes.

However, according to the law of diminishing marginal utility, he gradually grew tired of them.

Though he still buys them occasionally.

Now, it was about buying memories.

And his father and mother had a meeting and were expected to come home late.

“Six skewered rice cakes, two rolls of gimbap, and one serving each of spicy rice cakes and fish cakes, please.”

The older woman smiled warmly.

“Woojin, it’s been a while! I’ll make you a golden room.”

“Thank you.”

Soon, Woojin received the street food and headed home, swinging the bag back and forth.

As Woojin entered the house, Bomi ran up to him.

“Big brother, what’s that?”

Bomi, who had asked curiously, quickly waved her hand.

“No, no, don’t tell me. I’ll guess.”

Bomi sniffed around and grinned.

Oh yeah~! Snacks!

Correct. I’ll just wash my hands and come out. We have to eat the snacks right away.

That’s the truth.

Woojin smiled slightly and headed to the bathroom.

He liked exchanging words with Bomi like this.

Joy from trivial things.

Woojin thought these things were truly precious.

Bomi hummed a tune and started taking out the snacks, and Woojin came out of the room immediately.

Oh, you’ve already finished setting it up?

My hands are faster than my eyes.

That’s not true.

Bomi, familiar with Woojin, laughed loudly.

Because that smiling way of speaking was her brother’s charm.

Brother, today at school…

Bomi ate the snacks and talked about the fun things that happened at school.

Since her brother hadn’t experienced middle or high school due to the GED, he loved school stories.

Conversely, Woojin found satisfaction in the school stories, and Bomi made it more enjoyable for him to listen using regression.

The siblings cared for each other that way.

Brother, but you know. The teacher keeps telling me to go to S University. But I like Y University.

Y University, which has a lower reputation than S University, had a reason why Bomi wanted to go there.

Because in the Y University College of Medicine, there was a person Bomi admired, Professor Lee Suhyeok.

He was a highly respected professor who prioritized patients regardless of their status or profession.

Bomi wanted to learn medical skills by watching him.

Woojin said,

So S University is just the best?

“Yeah, they keep telling me to rethink it with my parents.”

Woojin’s movement, as he was splitting an egg in half to mix it with the tteokbokki sauce, stopped.

He could have immediately tasted the savory combination of the yolk and tteokbokki, but he stopped.

It was a very important matter to Woojin.

“Mom and Dad know too?”

“Yeah, Mom and Dad tell me to go where I want to go.”

“Bomi, you really want to go to Y University, right?”

“Yeah.”

Woojin observed his own state.

The emotion of anger seemed to be slowly raising its head.

Woojin began to control his quiet anger.

All he had to do was analyze the cause and eliminate it.

The school was trying to frame and use Bomi for its own benefit.

The persuasion seemed convincing, but there was no substance to it.

The school was trying to manipulate Bomi.

My sister, Bomi.

“Bomi, could I meet your teacher once?”

“Huh? Suddenly? Why?”

“I want to hear about the college counseling. I also want to look around the school.”

“I’ll ask the teacher.”

“Ask if he can see me tomorrow.”

Since Bomi’s homeroom teacher was involved in an organization, he would comply.

Woojin ate snacks with Bomi, waiting for the homeroom teacher’s call.

Soon, Bomi’s cellphone notified her of a message.

“Oh, they say they’re free tomorrow at 3 o’clock?”

Tell them I’ll be there on time.

Okay.

Soon after, Woojin finished his meal with Bomi, took a shower, and immediately called Manager Lee.

I apologize for calling outside of work hours, Manager Lee.

No, no. What kind of talk is that? You’re even looking after Jonghoon. What’s up?

I’d like to take a half-day leave tomorrow, if that’s possible?

Oh, take as much as you want. I’ll cover everything for you.

Thank you. I’ll take it in the afternoon then.

Alright, alright, see you tomorrow.

***

Woojin went to work and submitted his half-day leave request.

Assistant Manager Im asked curiously,

Is something going on?

Woojin, who always seemed to be eagerly awaiting work like he was on standby, was nowhere to be found.

It’s for my sister’s career counseling. I’ll be back after visiting the Planning Department.

As Woojin disappeared, Assistant Manager Im spoke to Manager Lee, who would become Deputy Manager in a few days.

It seems he’s going to help his sister level up.

Manager Lee nodded his head.

Timing is everything. Anyway… he even goes to his sister’s career counseling himself. She has a good older brother.

If another intern had said something like this, they would have been scolded severely.

It was only possible because it was Woojin.

The morning quickly passed, and Woojin headed to Bomi’s school on time.

After writing down some basic information at the main gate, Woojin’s eyes fell upon the playground.

Male and female students in gym clothes were visible.

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Woojin, walking as if engraving the various new things he was experiencing into his mind, was able to enter the hallway.

“He’s really handsome.”

“Wow…”

“Isn’t he an aspiring celebrity? Did he come to see his former homeroom teacher?”

“Let’s follow him. Let’s follow him.”

Despite the fixed gazes of the female students, Woojin’s steps remained steady.

And he was able to arrive at the faculty office.

“I’m here to see Teacher Seo Taegyeong, which one is he?”

“Ah, he’s the one in the black t-shirt over there.”

“Thank you.”

Woojin approached Teacher Seo Taegyeong, who was looking at his PC, and spoke.

“Hello. Teacher Seo Taegyeong, I am Shin Bomi’s older brother.”

He was in his late 40s, and Seo Taegyeong’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at Woojin.

He knew Bomi’s brother was 20 years old, but meeting him in person made it feel very real.

It felt like he was dealing with a child.

However, since he was attending S University, it seemed like they would have a good conversation.

“Welcome. Please sit here.”

“Thank you.”

Woojin sat down and immediately brought up the topic.

“Teacher, is there a special reason why you keep pushing S University on Bomi?”

To Woojin, these words were a bell of persuasion.

He intended to criticize the education system.

Seo Taegyeong blinked his eyes.

It was because the conversational style was not something you would expect from a 20-year-old.

His surprise was brief, and Seo Taegyeong smiled a good-natured smile and said,

“Hahahaha. Let’s turn the question around. I heard that Bomi’s older brother is attending S University. Isn’t there a special reason why he entered S University?”

“For me, there was no special reason. I just thought of it ordinarily. The higher the CSAT score, the more people enter S University, and many people who work in the 8 major specialized professions also graduated from S University. So, I just went there ordinarily.”

Seo Taegyeong tried to understand Woojin’s words.

He went to S University ordinarily…

Seo Taegyeong smiled again.

“Wouldn’t Bomi’s future be brighter if she got into S University? A university degree will be a label that follows her for life…”

Woojin shook his head slightly.

“I think that’s just how our country, which ranks first in private education, judges others. Bill Gates…”

Woojin listed the names of people who succeeded without graduating from university.

“The university label you mentioned, teacher, had no value for them. That’s why they dropped out or didn’t go to university. Instead, they became more famous than those who graduated from prestigious universities. The same goes for our Bomi. S University has no value for Bomi. She values Y University. The optimal university where she can motivate herself is Y University.”

“Still, in Korea…”

“Don’t force Bomi to conform to others’ views or frameworks. I will let Bomi do what she wants.”

“Our country…”

“I know. Our country, and this school where Teacher Seo Taegyeong works, considers how many students they get into prestigious universities to be important.”

Seo Taegyeong flinched as if caught doing something. No, it was more accurate to say his body subtly shifted backward.

Woojin continued speaking.

“I hope you don’t try to boast and highlight the school’s image, regardless of what happens to the lives of students who enter prestigious universities. For our Bomi, who can get into S University but wants to go to Y University, I hope you don’t frame it in a way that is actually for the school’s benefit. I’m telling you not to use Bomi for the school. Is there nothing you can do because the principal, vice-principal, and Teacher Seo Taegyeong’s algorithm is strongly at play? Then I will meet them. I will tell them that Bomi will shine brighter at Y University than at S University.”

Seo Taegyeong let out a groan, as if clearing his throat.

He tried to think of a rebuttal, but the room felt like a wall, and he couldn’t think of anything.

“I hope you will respect our Bomi’s wishes.”

Woojin quietly watched the silent man.

Soon, he opened his mouth.

“Yes, I understand.”

Now it was time to praise the teacher so that Bomi wouldn’t feel awkward.

“That could have been an uncomfortable conversation, but as Bomi said, you seem to be very understanding.”

His hardened face subtly softened.

“Hahaha. Bomi says such things?”

Woojin noticed his micro-expression.

Crow’s feet, upward-moving cheek muscles, and symmetrical lips.

He immediately brightened up upon being acknowledged.

“Yes. She also mentioned that you often told her that adults should become wise…”

“Hahaha, that girl, she says all sorts of things. Bomi is very smart. She understands what I say very well.”

Bomi occasionally said she heard things from the teacher and asked Woojin, ‘Is that true?’

Woojin said no.

Not to believe everything.

“Thank you always. Well then, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Woojin, who bowed and greeted him, walked past Seo Taegyeong. No, he turned back and approached Seo Taegyeong again.

It was a common tactic used by salespeople.

Intentionally leaving documents in the car and returning, claiming to have forgotten them.

This has the effect of unconsciously making the other person perceive them as a ‘second meeting’.

It could offset any initial aversion.

“Oh, I forgot to express my gratitude. Thank you sincerely for taking the time.”

As Woojin disappeared, some teachers who had been eavesdropping opened their mouths.

“I’ve never seen a family member speak like that before.”

“But he’s not wrong. Wow… Is he a critic of the education system or something? He just hits them with a plank and leaves.”

At that moment.

Woojin, who was exiting the school’s main gate, was sending a message to Bomi.

[Bomi. The consultation ended well. The teacher said she supports your dream.]

-As expected, my big brother is a problem solver! You should’ve seen me! ㅠㅠ

[Something urgent came up. Good luck, my little sister!]

Woojin called Detective Kim Taehyun.

He confirmed that Detective Kim’s message from a moment ago stated that he had separated his mother and Han Bora.

“Yes. Detective Kim, thank you.”

-No need for thanks. It’s your request.

“Could I possibly meet the child?”

She wanted to see the intelligent child in person.