Free Web NovelThe drinking session didn’t end until dawn.
Everyone stumbled out of the makgeolli bar, completely drunk.
“Manager Ma. Tell the staff to bring the cars up to the main road.”
Manager Ma nodded, then called over the staff who had been waiting at a distance and gave them instructions.
With flushed faces, everyone staggered toward the university district.
Maybe because it was the last night of the year, the streets around the campus were filled with drunk people.
Well, from an outsider’s perspective, we were no different.
Before long, we reached the main road and exchanged farewells.
“Hyunwoo. Tell the elder I’ll come by to pay New Year’s respects. Get home safe. And Minkyung, let’s meet again soon.”
Oh Hyunwoo and Han Minkyung were the first to be sent off.
“Jaeha. Congratulations again on the wedding. Let me know once you set the date. And pass along my New Year’s greetings to your father.”
Next, the car carrying Yoon Jaeha pulled away.
“Hyunseong. Get a grip.”
I tried to send Hyunseong off last, but he was completely wasted.
It was rare for him to get this drunk.
In the end, Myungsoo and I had to cling to him and barely shove him into the back seat.
“Damn, he’s heavy. Guess Hyunseong hasn’t had a drink in a while.”
“Figures. I hear his wife’s got him completely under her thumb.”
I closed the car door while listening to Myungsoo. Soon, the car carrying Hyunseong slowly drove off as well.
“Myungsoo, let’s walk a bit together. It’ll help sober you up.”
I tapped his shoulder and walked ahead.
The cold winter air brushed against my cheeks.
“Damn, it’s cold. Aren’t you cold, Muhyuk?”
Myungsoo hurried up beside me, pulling his coat tighter. ƒrēewebnovel.com
“Not really. You heading down to Busan for the New Year?”
“I’m going down early tomorrow morning. Tonight, I’ve got another dinner. What kind of lunatics insist on getting drunk on the very last day of the year, seriously.”
Myungsoo complained, his mouth stretched long.
I chuckled softly and threw an arm around his shoulder.
As we slowed our pace, Myungsoo naturally matched his steps with mine.
“Being a National Assembly member isn’t exactly a great gig, is it?”
“Hard to say. At first, I couldn’t adapt at all. But now I’m a politician heading into my second term. I’ve basically mastered the art of dealing with old men.”
“Yeah. You’re the only politician I trust. That’s why I told you to go into politics in the first place......”
“I know. Why are you stating the obvious again? Are you drunk?”
“Maybe. Just... after a few drinks, old memories keep coming back.”
I glanced at Myungsoo’s legs. He was walking perfectly fine on both.
Seeing that, the Myungsoo from before the regression suddenly came to mind.
The Myungsoo who had his legs destroyed by Hong Jinpyo and left school, limping.
But that was something that never happened in this life.
“Guess you’re getting old too. Oh, right—didn’t you say you ran into Hong Jinpyo recently? What’s he up to now? Didn’t you give him some job last time?”
“Hong Jinpyo? He handled the job well. Cleaned it up nicely. He’s working with Joongwoo Construction now.”
The Hong Jinpyo whose life I’d ruined had clawed his way back up, roaming redevelopment zones and grabbing whatever interests he could.
So I gave him an opportunity. And he didn’t let it slip.
“Really? That’s good. Seeing how hard he was struggling, it kind of bothered me.”
“Are you okay? You say you’ve forgotten it, but if I hadn’t shown up back then, things could’ve gone really bad for you.”
“What? Hey, when you’re young, what can’t you do? You weren’t exactly innocent either, you know? Sure, you suddenly changed one day and ended up like this...... But still, if you hadn’t changed and stayed the same, wouldn’t I have ended up the same too? Somewhere in Busan. No—probably running some shop in an entertainment district.”
No. You studied like hell with a crippled leg and became a prosecutor, swearing revenge.
But that past no longer existed.
I swallowed the words I couldn’t say and let out a vague reply instead.
“Who knows......”
“Well, I broke the youngest-elected-lawmaker record and got elected to the National Assembly. First time in half a century. Just that alone puts my name in history. And on top of that, I’m the ruling party’s Secretary-General now. If you hadn’t been there back then, Hong Jinpyo might’ve been walking the path I’m on now.”
The previous record—youngest lawmaker at 26 years and 5 months—Myungsoo had shattered at 26 years and 1 month.
That record would probably be hard to break until this country collapsed.
Even though I’d made the proposal and Yoon Changho had approved the nomination, the fact that Myungsoo won decisively in a district race—not through proportional representation—was entirely his own achievement.
“It’s cold. Let’s head back. I’m going down to Busan too, so I’ll see you there.”
“Yeah. I should head home and get some rest too.”
When I raised my hand, Manager Ma approached from where he’d been walking at a distance.
“Manager Ma, call a car to send Myungsoo off.”
“Yes.”
Manager Ma signaled to a car that had been trailing us.
Two cars stopped side by side in front of us.
“Head in first. I’ll call you later, Myungsoo.”
After sending Myungsoo off, I got into my own car.
“Where should we head?”
“Straight to Busan. I should spend the New Year with Grandma.”
“Understood.”
“Guess the alcohol’s kicking in. I’ll sleep—wake me up when we arrive, Manager.”
The scenery outside the window rushed by. I watched it briefly, then leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
“We’ve arrived, Boss.”
How long had I slept? I opened my eyes at Manager Ma’s voice.
It was already bright outside, the sun apparently up. I checked the time—it was a little past ten in the morning.
My throat felt dry enough to crack. When I coughed, Manager Ma handed me a bottle of water.
I gulped it down in one go, finally regaining my senses.
“Thanks, Manager. Ah... I feel human again.”
Even after drinking water, I could still taste soju in my mouth.
After wiping my face dry, I opened the car door and stepped out.
“Tell everyone to rest. Manager Ma, you come in with me.”
I opened the gate and walked inside, passing through the familiar yard before opening the front door.
Grandma, who’d been sitting in the living room, jumped to her feet the moment she saw me.
“Grandma! I’m home.”
“Oh my! My baby! What brings you here without even calling?”
“I came to welcome the New Year with you.”
I pulled Grandma into a tight hug as she patted my face with both hands. Her warm, familiar scent brushed my nose.
“Oh my! You reek of alcohol. Muhyuk, did you drink a lot?”
The warmth lasted only a moment before Grandma started smacking my back.
“I had a year-end gathering with Hyunseong, Myungsoo, and the others. Myungsoo said he’s coming down tomorrow. Hyunseong too—said he’ll be here this evening......”
“Drink in moderation. What’s so good about stuffing yourself like that?”
Grumbling, Grandma still led me by the hand to the sofa in the living room.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
“No.”
“Then rest a bit. I’ll whip up something quick.”
After sitting me down, Grandma gestured to Manager Ma, who was standing by the entrance.
“Manager, come on in too.”
At her words, Manager Ma stepped into the living room.
“Muhyuk gives you a lot of trouble, doesn’t he?”
“Not at all.”
“Oh, come on. I raised that boy—I know him well.”
Manager Ma let out an awkward smile instead of replying.
Taking his hand, Grandma spoke again.
“Still, please take good care of our Muhyuk. I’m always grateful and sorry, I don’t know what to do...... Muhyuk relies on you a lot too, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. I’ll continue to serve him to the best of my ability.”
After letting go of Manager Ma’s hand, Grandma headed into the kitchen.
“Manager, did you tell the staff to rest?”
“Yes. I told them to rest at the house next door where the guards stay.”
“Then please relax too. You don’t need to be so stiff here. I’ll go wash up.”
I stood up and patted Manager Ma’s shoulder.
He nodded, though his posture remained rigid.
Seriously—what a stiff man.
“Grandma, I’m going to wash up.”
“Alright. Go on and wash up quick.”
Grandma was holding bean sprouts.
She’d scolded me for drinking, but it looked like she was making hangover soup.
For some reason, my heart felt lighter.
I went into the bathroom, washed up, then changed into comfortable clothes and came back out.
The smell of soybean sprout soup drifted out of the kitchen.
On the table were side dishes I liked, along with fried eggs.
“I didn’t know you were coming, so I couldn’t make much. Come on, grab a spoon.”
A smile naturally formed on my lips at her words.
As I opened the utensil drawer, Manager Ma stepped closer.
“Boss, I’ll do it.”
“It’s fine. I told you to relax here.”
“That’s right. Relax.”
Grandma chimed in, piling a mountain of rice into my bowl.
“That’s too much, Grandma.”
“You’re skin and bones. How are you supposed to work like that? Eat up, Muhyuk.”
“If Grandma gives it to me, I have to eat it. Ah, Manager Ma, please sit too.”
“Yes.”
Seeing us sit, Grandma smiled warmly and soon brought over bowls of soybean sprout soup.
While she opened the side dishes, I took a spoonful of soup.
The hot, spicy broth warmed my throat all the way down.
“Ha... yeah. This is the taste.”
It felt like my insides loosened instantly.
“Is it good?”
“Yeah. The person who cooks for me at home is good too, but Grandma’s food tastes best to me.”
“What ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ nonsense. Cut it out.”
She waved her hand, but the corners of her mouth were lifted.
“Manager, hurry up and eat too.”
Urged by Grandma, Manager Ma picked up his spoon. Watching him, I started eating as well.
The rice bowl was emptied in no time, and I ended up having two full bowls of soup.
“Ah, that was great. Grandma’s cooking really is the best.”
Grandma looked at me with a satisfied expression. The smile on her wrinkled face looked just right.
“You done eating? What now?”
“I’m going to sleep a bit. After I wake up, want to go to the market together for the first time in a while?”
“Really? Shall we?”
Just the idea of going to the market together seemed to make her smile deepen.
“Yeah. Let’s go together.”
“Alright. Then hurry up and rest.”
“I’ll clean up.”
“No need. Go on and rest. I’ll wake you before dinner.”
When I reached for the dishes, Grandma waved me off and swiftly took them away.
Unbelievable, really.
Laughing, I stood up and spoke to Manager Ma.
“You should rest too. I’m going to get some sleep.”
“Yes. I’ll rest as well.” freewebnøvel.coɱ
Manager Ma stood up, holding his bowl and soup dish.
“Manager, you go rest too.”
“But I......”
“That’s enough. You resting is helping me.”
Grandma even snatched the dishes out of his hands.
At that, I burst out laughing.
“Yeah. Just go rest. You know how stubborn my Grandma is—I can’t beat her either.”
Manager Ma gave an awkward smile and bowed to Grandma.
“Thank you for the meal.”
I returned to my room and lay down on the bed.
As always, Grandma had cleaned thoroughly—not a speck of dust in sight.
Thoughts of work flickered in my mind, but I shook my head and pushed them away.
After tossing around for a bit, I fell asleep.
“Muhyuk!”
I opened my eyes at Grandma’s voice.
“Get ready. We’re going to the market.”
Seeing her standing in the doorway calling me, I sat up.
The room was dyed orange by the setting sun. Stretching, I replied,
“Yeah. I’ll get ready and come out.”
“Alright. Hurry up.”
Maybe because I’d slept after eating Grandma’s hangover soup, the remnants of the hangover were completely gone.
I put on some workout clothes and stepped outside.
Grandma was sitting on the living room sofa, waiting for me.
Manager Ma was beside her, wearing an awkward smile as he chatted with her.
For some reason, the sight made me chuckle.
“You ready? It’s cold outside. Dress warm. Didn’t you have a jacket in the closet? You should.”
“I’m just stepping out for a bit.”
“It’s cold out there. Go back in and put on a jacket.”
Even though I was over thirty, Grandma still treated me like a child.
In the end, I gave in, went back inside, and put on a coat from the closet.
“I’m ready. Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
As we stepped outside together, I quietly spoke to Manager Ma.
“Only you come with us. Have the others follow from a distance. Don’t enter the market—don’t make people uncomfortable.”
“Understood.”
“Then we’ll go ahead. Give your orders and follow.”
“Muhyuk, what are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
Grandma waved at me from the gate. I hurried over and linked arms with her.
“What are you making for dinner?”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Hmm...... Anything, as long as it’s what you make?”
We left the house and walked toward the market, chatting as we went.
The sun slipped below the horizon, and darkness slowly settled in.
