Free Web NovelAfter wrapping up the agreement with Japan and talking a bit more, we left the state guesthouse.
I headed back to where Chairman Ha Myeonghun and Cheon Jiyoung were.
“Oppa. Why are you so late?”
Maybe because I came out too late, Cheon Jiyoung scolded me with a dissatisfied look.
“Sorry. The discussion dragged on. Should we head back soon? Let’s go eat something outside. Eating here, I can’t even tell whether the food’s going into my mouth or my nose. You don’t have any more schedule after this, right?”
“Huh? Aren’t we supposed to stay until the welcome banquet ends? That’s what we were told, so we canceled all our other plans.”
“That works out. Let’s go. Want to grab ox bone soup—your favorite—for once? How about that place we used to go to sometimes in Myeongdong? Ah, are you still avoiding soups because you’re managing your weight these days?”
“Yeah. But I do kind of want to eat it······.”
“If you want to eat it, you should. Let’s go.”
“I’m fine with it. But are we really allowed to go?”
Cheon Jiyoung asked while glancing around. I nodded and spoke to Chairman Ha Myeonghun.
“Chairman, I’ll take Jiyoung and head out first. Please enjoy the banquet, and I’ll contact you again later.”
As I greeted him, I whispered quietly enough that only Ha Myeonghun could hear.
“Please prepare the project financing for the Kaesong Industrial Complex construction in advance. The government will provide payment guarantees, so set the interest rate at an appropriate level.”
Ha Myeonghun gave a small nod at my instructions. He was the kind of person who would prepare everything properly even with just that much said, which meant I didn’t have to worry separately. That was nice.
With a satisfied expression, I held out my hand to Cheon Jiyoung.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Cheon Jiyoung picked up the bag and coat she had placed on the chair.
Soon finishing up, she stuck close to my side and said,
“Oppa, it’s really okay to go, right? I was bored anyway. Otherwise, why would I be chatting with Manager Ha? But he’s changed a lot. He smiles a lot now.” freewebnoveℓ.com
“Not Manager anymore—Chairman. How long are you going to keep calling him Manager? You should start getting used to it.”
Cheon Jiyoung jutted out her lips and grumbled. When she’s like this, she still looks like she did in middle school.
“It just sticks in my mouth. I don’t know. To me, he’s always Manager.”
“So immature.”
I let out a deep sigh and led Cheon Jiyoung out of the banquet hall.
Maybe they’d already been notified, because we were able to leave the state guesthouse without any obstruction.
Manager Ma was waiting at the Blue House entrance, so Cheon Jiyoung and I chatted as we walked out through the grounds.
“How’s work going?”
“Huh? Me? I’m always doing great. I’m Cheon Jiyoung, you know. Cheon Jiyoung.”
The way she bragged made me proud, but her still-childish demeanor was somehow very Cheon Jiyoung-like.
Without realizing it, I chuckled and shook my head.
“Do your fans know you’re like this? When are you ever going to grow up? Aren’t you almost thirty?”
“No, I’m not! I’ve still got plenty of time! And my fans like me even when I’m like this, okay?!”
“They know and still like you? Everyone must be out of their minds. The world’s gone crazy.”
“Ah, oppa!”
Bickering with Cheon Jiyoung, we arrived at the Blue House entrance. In the distance, I spotted Manager Ma.
“Where’s your manager? Isn’t he waiting somewhere?”
“Oh, right. Hold on a second.”
Cheon Jiyoung made a call to someone. As soon as the other person picked up, she unilaterally notified them.
“Yeah. It’s me. I’m going to eat with Muhyuk oppa, so you can clock out and go home. Huh? What? Ah, I just came out to the Blue House entrance. What? Yeah, yeah. Got it.”
In the meantime, the waiting Manager Ma approached. After ending the call, Cheon Jiyoung looked at me and said,
“He said to wait a bit. He’s coming here.”
I nodded. Was it the manager she’d worked with in China?
“Manager, bring the car here and make a reservation for two at the seolleongtang place in Myeongdong. Ask them to clear out the shop so it won’t be crowded for Jiyoung.”
Manager Ma bowed his head and moved. A short while later, before the car arrived, Cheon Jiyoung’s manager showed up.
“Huff—huff······.”
Maybe he’d run all the way here without stopping; Cheon Jiyoung’s manager was panting.
It seemed the manager had changed at some point, because he was someone I’d never seen before.
“Ah, hello. I’m Kim Seokhun, the road manager newly assigned to Cheon Jiyoung!”
The manager greeted me in a crisp, formal posture. I smiled as I looked at him.
When I held out my hand, he grasped it with a trembling hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Muhyuk. I don’t think I’ve seen you before?”
“I just joined the company.”
Watching him carefully shake my hand with both of his, looking honored, I furrowed my brows.
Is he going to be able to do the job properly?
“This might be a bit rude to ask······ but how old are you? You look young.”
“Ah, yes! I’m 24. After being discharged from the military, I was scouted by the CEO and joined.”
He did look young, but he was even younger than I’d expected.
Perhaps sensing why I asked, Cheon Jiyoung stepped in to explain.
“The CEO said he’s from some special forces unit or something? Apparently, he’s someone he’s known since middle school. He said he’s trustworthy and told me to use him as a road manager. I’ve been working with him, and he’s quiet and diligent—just perfect.”
Special forces, huh······.
Given what happened in China, he must be someone attached as both security and manager.
“Well, if you like him, that’s what matters.”
I’d been worried, but if the agency had taken special care, I felt more at ease.
I deliberately smiled gently and spoke.
“Please take good care of our Jiyoung. She’s a bit immature, but she’s not a bad kid.”
“Not at all! I’ll do my utmost to serve Cheon Jiyoung!”
Maybe because the military air hadn’t fully worn off yet, his reply was stiff.
“Ah, I told you to call me noona! It makes me sound old, seriously!”
Cheon Jiyoung complained, though her face was smiling.
“Anyway, Seokhun. Go home for today. I’ll eat with Muhyuk oppa and then go straight home.”
“······I’ll accompany you.”
“It’s fine. If I say I’m with Muhyuk oppa, the CEO won’t say anything. So just clock out. You haven’t been resting properly lately either. Clock out today, and don’t contact me until the departure date. I’ll be at home.”
“That won’t do.”
“No, really, it’s fine! Do you know how stifling you can be sometimes? Honestly······.”
Cheon Jiyoung rambled while thumping her chest. This clearly wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation, judging by Kim Seokhun’s calm expression.
“I said it’s really fine. I’m not going anywhere, so you should rest too.”
“I’ll wait in front of your house. Please contact me if you need anything.”
“Ah, seriously!”
This was turning into a battle of spear and shield. At this rate, it’d go on all night. Seeing my look, Cheon Jiyoung started making another call.
While she did, I turned toward Kim Seokhun.
“You’re 24—so you served two years and got discharged?”
“No! I enlisted right away at 20 and served as a non-commissioned officer.”
“So you were a career soldier. Why did you leave?”
“The CEO said he needed someone he could trust and asked me to help······.”
“You must be close with the CEO.”
“When I was briefly going astray in my youth, he set me straight. To me, he’s a great benefactor.”
Even though the questions were almost an interrogation, Kim Seokhun answered without complaint.
Since Cheon Jiyoung is my cousin, it seemed they’d attached one of his trusted people to her······.
Just in case, I should learn a bit more about Kim Seokhun.
“Seokhun! Here—take it. It’s the CEO.”
Cheon Jiyoung finished talking and handed the phone to Kim Seokhun. freewёbnoνel.com
He carefully took the phone with both hands, brought it to his ear, and stepped aside.
“Jiyoung, who’s your agency CEO right now?”
“Ah, Director Lee Seokgi became the CEO. You didn’t know, oppa?”
“Lee Seokgi? When did he get promoted? What about the original CEO?”
“I heard he’s going back to Chunha Group. They said they appointed Director Lee Seokgi as CEO to completely sever ties with Chunha Group. Something about eliminating any potential issues down the line?”
Cheon Jiyoung knew details that an ordinary agency artist might not.
Well, it was about time to cut ties between her agency and Chunha Group.
Now that Cheon Jiyoung was fully established, it wouldn’t be good if the relationship with Chunha Group were revealed later.
Kim Seokhun finished the call and came back.
He politely handed the phone back to Cheon Jiyoung and bowed.
“I’m sorry. I’ll head back now. Please call me if you need anything.”
“Yeah. Get some rest.”
Cheon Jiyoung smiled proudly, then told him to wait a moment and pulled her wallet out of her bag.
She opened it, took out all the cash inside, and held it out to Kim Seokhun.
“Go eat something good, have some fun. You won’t be able to rest properly after we leave the country. Don’t overthink it—just rest. Okay?”
“I—I have money.”
“Still, take it. When noona gives you something, you take it. I’m giving it to you because you work hard.”
With a deliberately solemn face, Cheon Jiyoung forced the money into Kim Seokhun’s hand.
“If you ever suddenly need money, tell me. Don’t go somewhere else and ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) get talked down to. I don’t like my people being spoken down to by others. Got it?”
“······.”
“It’s embarrassing for me. If my person goes around like that, who do you think they’ll curse? You? No—they’ll curse me.”
“Yes, I understand. Thank you.”
“Good. Now go. Get some rest.”
After hesitating for a moment, Kim Seokhun bowed to Cheon Jiyoung, then bowed to me as well.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Alright. Let’s grab a meal together sometime.”
Kim Seokhun ran off quickly in the opposite direction.
Watching his receding silhouette, I spoke.
“You’re unexpected.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I thought you were just a kid······. But you can say things like not liking your people being talked down to by others.”
“What are you talking about? Of course. Would you like it if I went around begging or getting talked down to?”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
At my answer, Cheon Jiyoung grinned as if she’d expected it.
“Same for me. And Seokhun’s pretty solid, so I care even more. He’s never been late even once and always sticks around me. If someone didn’t know better, they might think he’s a stalker.”
I chuckled and got into the car with Cheon Jiyoung.
Soon, the car carrying us departed.
“Jiyoung, it’s okay if I look into that guy a bit, right?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just because he’s close to you. I want to check.”
“Oh, come on. Stop it. I’m not a kid. Sometimes it feels like you still see me as one. I’m an adult now. Don’t do that.”
“This isn’t because of you—it’s because of me. There might be people who try to use you to harm me.”
Cheon Jiyoung frowned, then finally sighed and nodded.
“Ugh······. Fine! But do it without Seokhun knowing. I like him, you know.”
“Got it. Manager, you heard her, right? Starting with Kim Seokhun’s relationship with CEO Lee Seokgi, look into everything about Kim Seokhun. Dig carefully so the person himself doesn’t notice.”
“Understood, boss.”
As we talked, we soon arrived at the seolleongtang place.
Though it paid expensive rent right in the heart of Myeongdong, the exterior was shabby to the extreme.
“Wow, it’s been forever since I’ve been here.”
Listening to Cheon Jiyoung’s admiration, I opened the door for her.
There wasn’t a single customer inside.
“Welcome, sir.”
In the empty shop, the owner recognized me and greeted me.
“It’s been a while. Sorry for asking you to clear out the place during a busy time.”
“Ho ho, not at all. Since you give me such a cheap rent, this much is only natural. Come, come. Please sit.”
“Two bowls of seolleongtang, please. And plenty of cubed radish kimchi.”
“Alright.”
The owner went into the kitchen, and Cheon Jiyoung and I took seats by the window.
“Anything been tough lately?”
“What could be tough? Things are going so well it’s almost scary.”
Cheon Jiyoung waved her hand dismissively. As she said, she was hugely popular not just in Korea but overseas as well.
“I heard you’re especially popular in China and Southeast Asia? When you said you wanted to be a singer as a kid, I thought it was just childish fancy.”
“I’ve got some talent, don’t I?”
Cheon Jiyoung replied playfully, but the joy on her face was impossible to hide.
While we chatted idly, cubed radish kimchi and side dishes were placed on the table.
And finally, the seolleongtang was set in front of us.
“Let’s eat. I’m hungry too.”
I picked up my spoon, scooped up some broth, and put it in my mouth.
“I like that the taste here never changes.”
Cheon Jiyoung tasted the broth too and smiled, then briefly lowered her head.
“When we first came here because of Grandpa, I cried like crazy saying I didn’t want to eat this. Now I think it’s delicious.”
“Right? You’re getting older too.”
“Grandpa... he’s doing well up there, right?”
“Well······. He’s not the kind of person who’d go somewhere and get pushed around. He’s probably doing just fine.”
For once, setting work aside, I finished the meal while reminiscing with Cheon Jiyoung.
Time passed quickly, and at last, the day came when the representatives of the six countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula gathered for the Six-Party Talks.
In a way, this meeting was even more important than the inter-Korean summit.
Because it was a crucial conference that would decide the fate of the Korean Peninsula.
