Free Web NovelThe years 1991 and 1992 were a time of great upheaval. With the three-party merger, the National Assembly, which had once been dominated by opposition forces, returned to being under the ruling party’s control.
Even the barely surviving "Little Democratic Party" managed to produce a few political celebrities, but they remained powerless in practical politics.
The Peace Party also fell to minor opposition status and rapidly lost influence.
In the end, it was a year of bitter regrouping after their defeat in the local elections and an effort to unify the opposition.
The 14th general election ended in a victory for the ruling party. During this time, the National Party, founded by Daehyeon’s head, Song Youngjoo, also made remarkable gains.
Behind the scenes, Chairman Cheon had planted his people and money across both major parties. Eventually, that would all become his power.
Meanwhile, the “War on Crime” reached its first anniversary and launched another massive crackdown.
Many gangsters who had been lucky enough to stay hidden were captured, and large organizations were dismantled. Smaller gangs, which had sprung up like mushrooms to fill the void, were all crushed. Things only quieted down again when the country entered the presidential race after the general election.
Amid all that chaos, I was focused on preparing for the College Entrance Exam. At my age, there wasn’t much I could or should do anyway, so I lay low and waited, determined to endure.
As always, the day of the College Entrance Exam—soon to be replaced by the CSAT—was bitterly cold.
I arrived at the test center in Manager Ha’s car. Before I got out, he silently handed me a piece of sticky taffy.
I stared at it for a moment.
“Young master, good luck on your exam.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I couldn’t help but smile at Manager Ha’s blunt gesture.
I had applied to the Law Department at Korea University. Myungsoo applied to the same department following my lead, and Hyunseong had already been accepted into the Korea National Sports University.
“Damn, it’s cold.”
Myungsoo, who had exited the car with me, let out a puff of white breath.
A while ago, Myungsoo had met with Chairman Cheon.
That slick-tongued guy had never looked so nervous in his life.
We stood in front of the main gate of Korea University, the place where the test would be held. I’d been down this road once before, but I was still nervous.
“Shit... I’m shaking. Aren’t you nervous?”
“A little.”
“Damn, what are you, a robot? So damn calm. Boring as hell. Let’s go. We’ll be late.”
“There’s still plenty of time.”
“Still. What if we are late?”
“Okay, let’s go.”
Together with Myungsoo, I crossed through the front gate of Korea University.
It was time to put our past three years of effort to the test.
It was also the day the result of my bet with Chairman Cheon would be revealed.
The college entrance exam was composed of 320 points for written tests and 20 points for the physical fitness test, for a total of 340 points. Unless you had a physical disability, 19–20 points on the fitness portion were practically guaranteed. The real test was the written exam.
The endless, exhausting test session finally came to an end.
“Muhyuk, how’d it go?”
“Pretty well. You?”
“I made a few mistakes... but I think I’m still within the passing range.”
As we exited through the main gate, Manager Ha welcomed us.
“Young master, did the exam go well?”
“Haha, I’ve done all I can. Now it’s in heaven’s hands.”
“Sounds like it went well. Let’s go—Chairman is waiting.”
“Yes, sir.”
We arrived in Pyeongchang-dong via Manager Ha’s car.
“Did it go well?”
“I did my best.”
“Hoho, you rascal.”
“I’ve done all I can, so now I’ll leave it to fate.”
“Alright, let’s eat.”
I had a meal with my grandfather and Myungsoo. The Chairman said little throughout dinner.
It was only when we returned to the room that Myungsoo sighed in relief.
“Whew... I’ll never get used to your grandfather. That guy’s aura, I swear...”
Seeing Myungsoo’s deflated face, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
He glared at me.
“Not funny, man. I was so damn nervous, I couldn’t even taste the food.”
“We’re going back soon anyway. You won’t be seeing him much.”
“What if we pass?”
“Then I’ll bring Grandma to Seoul. I’ll find a place for us. What about you?”
“Me? I’m obviously sticking with you.”
“...Find a boarding house.”
“Get outta here. If you bring your grandma up, your place is gonna be heaven. What boarding house?”
“Geez...”
What a clingy bastard.
“I mean, we don’t even know if we passed yet. Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves? Hahaha.”
“I’m confident. You’re not?”
“Shut up. I’ll probably score higher than you. This isn’t some school test—it’s the real deal.”
“Yes, the great Lee Myungsoo, who always came in third.”
“Ugh... you had to go there, huh? Fine, fine, you win.”
* * *
Since the entrance exam was graded by individual universities, the results came out quickly.
Chairman Cheon obtained my scores before anyone else—just one week after the test.
“Hoho, Myeonghun.”
“Yes, Chairman?”
“That rascal—he really used to be a little punk until he was 17? He got a perfect score. Not just him—he’s the only one.”
“Is that so?”
“Geez, what a boring kid.”
Clicking his tongue at Manager Ha, Chairman Cheon kept staring at the paper in his hand.
It was Kim Muhyuk’s test result: the first-ever perfect score in the history of the college entrance exam.
“You must be pleased.”
“Of course I am! Except for Jisoo getting into Korea University, all my sons and grandsons had to buy their way into college. But now I’ve got a grandson who aced the test.”
“Congratulations.”
“But now I’m wondering what the hell he’s going to ask for. I guess I’ll have to give it to him.”
Chairman Cheon grinned from ear to ear.
Manager Ha allowed himself a slight smile as well.
“Weren’t you planning to grant him anything anyway?”
“That’s one thing, but a bet’s a bet. I want to hear what he’ll ask for.”
Still smiling, the Chairman suddenly asked,
“But now that he’s attending college, wouldn’t it make sense for him to live here?”
“He plans to bring his grandmother to Seoul and live with her.”
“Tch.”
“You know how it is. Grandma’s always the top priority. That’s probably non-negotiable.”
The Chairman smacked his lips in regret.
“Well, that’s fair. Still... why did that boy choose law? Is he planning to take the bar exam?”
“I don’t know.”
“I hope he doesn’t waste time. He’s so stubborn, I can’t get him to follow my lead. It’s frustrating.”
He spoke as if it gave him a headache.
“But isn’t that exactly why you like him, Chairman? It’s not that he defies you—it’s that he’s choosing his own path and walking it with conviction.”
“That’s true. It’s better that he forges his own way than walks the road I’ve paved. What a shame. If only he were a Cheon.”
Manager Ha pulled out the Chairman’s chair as he sat down.
“What difference does it make if he’s a Cheon or a Kim? He’s your blood either way. And it’s not like he has any other family on his father’s side.”
“You’re right. And since he thinks so much of /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ his grandmother, I should meet my in-law properly sometime. Make the arrangements.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll let you know once everything’s ready.”
“Oh, and his internal grades were handled, yes? Just in case...” freeweɓnovel.cѳm
“I’ve taken care of that without issue.”
“Well done. You may go.”
With a bow, Manager Ha exited the study.
Chairman Cheon sat quietly for a while, still smiling down at the paper in his hand.
* * *
That evening, I was informed by my grandfather that I had received a perfect score.
Having been through this once already, I didn’t feel much of anything. Myungsoo, on the other hand, couldn’t shut his mouth for a while.
We returned to the house in Busan.
“You worked hard, kid.”
“Come on~ I just rode in a car. Wasn’t hard.”
“Oh, is that so. Go wash up. I made dinner.”
“I thought we were eating out today?” freewebnøvel.com
“Why waste money? Grandma’s cooking is better. You can eat out later.”
“Okay. I’ll go wash up.”
After dinner, I sat in the living room and talked with Grandma.
“Grandma, come to Seoul with me.”
“...”
“Why not? I have to go there for college now, and I won’t feel right if you’re here alone.”
“Muhyuk.”
“Yeah, Grandma.”
“I’m not leaving this place. I’m staying in Busan.”
“Grandma...”
“You’re all grown now. All my friends and acquaintances are here. What would I even do in Seoul? I’m staying. You go on your own.”
“Grandma...”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll just live here and die here.”
“Don’t say things like that!”
I raised my voice in frustration.
Grandma reached out and patted my back.
“I’ll live long enough to see you get married. Don’t worry, and don’t cause trouble in college either. You know how much heartache you gave me when you were younger, right? Don’t do that again.”
“...So you’re really staying in Busan?”
“Yes. I was born here, and this is where I’ll die. If you keep asking, I might go... but I’m not sure I’d enjoy it up there.”
“...Okay. I’ll visit often.”
“What are you talking about? You haven’t even left yet. Still months away.”
I forced myself to smile brightly despite my regret.
“But Grandma, I got a perfect score. Grandpa already found out. One perfect score in the whole country. Kim Muhyuk! Your grandson, Kim Muhyuk!”
“Oh my! My baby, you did so well. So well.”
Her hand gently caressing my face felt incredibly warm.
Time passed quickly after that.
The seniors who had already entered the workforce stopped coming to school. Those who took the exam still attended, but there were no real classes—just killing time.
And then the day the results were released.
Before the school could even announce it, reporters and TV crews rushed in.
“As you all probably know by now, Muhyuk is the national top scorer. The only perfect score. Reporters and broadcasters are waiting outside, so be careful what you say. Go pick up your score sheets. Ah! But first, let’s give a round of applause to Muhyuk!”
When the word “perfect score” came out of The Snake’s mouth—my homeroom teacher for all three years—everyone turned to stare at me.
Applause followed. Long and thunderous.
It was the first time a national top scorer had come from a vocational school like ours—not a prestigious one.
Even the principal came and gave me a heartfelt speech.
* * *
Outside, the reporters were getting increasingly frustrated trying to interview students.
“Sigh... Why is it so hard to find this Kim Muhyuk kid? Hey, did your paper get any leads? Ours came up dry. It’s like someone’s sealing off all the info.”
“Same here. You too? What kind of family is this?”
“Come on, would a kid from a powerful family go to some vocational school in Busan? I doubt it.”
“This is driving me nuts. And this weather is freezing...”
“Hey, student! Do you know who Kim Muhyuk is?”
One reporter grabbed a passing first-year student.
The kid looked behind him and pointed at me.
“That’s the upperclassman you’re looking for. Can I go now?”
“Oh? Oh! Thanks! Run along.”
Reporters swarmed me in an instant.
My brow twitched in surprise.
Next to me, Myungsoo and Hyunseong were caught on camera and quickly tried to sidestep out of the frame.
“Muhyuk! Muhyuk!”
The senior-most reporter held out a mic, and the others waited.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“You’re the first vocational school student to get a perfect score on the College Entrance Exam. How do you feel?”
“A vocational student? What does it matter if it’s a vocational school or a prestigious one? It’s the person that matters, right, sir?”
The reporter faltered, taken aback by the rebuttal.
While he stammered, other reporters began shouting random questions.
Among the fluff, one reporter asked the most important one:
“Muhyuk! Do you have a secret to studying? Did you have private tutors or go to academies? Any message for younger students?”
I tilted my head and replied,
“Hm... I didn’t go to any academies or have tutors. I just studied using textbooks. That’s how I got first place. And to my juniors... Studying was the easiest thing, guys.”
...Silence.
“Well then, I need to head home. Thank you for your hard work in the cold.”
I dashed off through the reporters. They gave chase, but I escaped down the alleyways I knew like the back of my hand.
“Damn... These reporters are worse than cops.”
I clicked my tongue and made my way home through the back streets.
That night, every news station aired my interview.
[“Studying was the easiest thing. I just read the textbooks and got first place!”]
It would go down in history as one of the most outrageous soundbites ever.
< College Entrance Exam > End.
