Chapter 552: Ordinary Life

Chapter 552: Ordinary Life

Minhyuk and Ji-Hoon both had something in common. The two of them did not have many friends outside of the game, and were mostly cut off from the rest of the world. They were also both single since birth.

What would two people that lived like this, wanted to do when they finally stepped out into the world? It was actually really simple: the trivial and mundane. All they wanted to do was walk around outside like normal people.

“Ugh, uuuuuuugh...!”

“Keok! Is, is this what they call... the hell train...?!”

Just like ordinary young men, the two rode the jam-packed subway and experienced the hell of being sandwiched between a lot of other people. Once the doors opened, they both ran out as if they were running away from monsters.

“Ji-Hoon, let’s run! Quick!”

“Y, yeah!”

Both Minhyuk and Ji-Hoon became the fastest people to escape the subway hell and jump on the escalator. As the two exited the subway station, they were greeted by the view of Mt. Namsan’s peak reaching the skies.

“Wow. Look at those two. What amazing proportions...”

“So handsome...”

“Look at the guy with the wavy hair. Doesn’t he look quite handsome?”

“I think the person right next to him, the one wearing the mask, is more handsome?”

“But why is he wearing a black mask with a skull print?”

“The two men went to Namsan...”

But it did not matter to the two men how the others viewed them.

“Let’s race! Let’s see who’s faster between us!”

“Heoook! Why did you start first?!”

Minhyuk and Ji-Hoon ran towards Mt. Namsan, giving their all. They would run until they were out of breath, rested for a while, and took off again, continuing that cycle until their bodies were covered with perspiration.

They finally arrived at Mt. Namsan. The two did not even need any words as they stood at the top of Namsan Seoul Tower and took in the panoramic view of the city beneath them.

“Yahoooooooo! Freeeeeedooooooom!!!” Minhyuk shouted loudly, startling Ji-Hoon and the people around them.

Ji-Hoon hesitated as he looked at the people that turned to look at Minhyuk with his sudden outburst, “That’s embarrassing. What, what are you doing?”

“Embarrassing? Doesn’t matter. What matters is that the two of us are having so much fun right now!”

“...”

And Ji-Hoon, who heard Minhyuk’s words, thought: That’s right! I decided to change. What does it matter if it’s embarrassing?

“I am veeeeeeeeeeery handsooooooooooome!”

“...???”

That was right. Ji-Hoon was slowly allowing his inner self to awaken, after receiving people’s praises. The two screamed like crazy before drinking some water and coming down from the tower. Then, they went to Hongdae, the vibrant street of youth, and watched the people come and go while looking at their outfits. They also went to the cinemas and watched a horror movie.

“A, aaaaaack! He, help me... The, the zombies... the zombies are here!!!”

“...Aren’t you a summoner that summons zombies?”

They also went to the arcade and stood in front of the punching machine, just like two normal teenagers.

“Make a wish! If you get a high score then it will come true!”

Baaaaaaaaaaaaang—

Tiririri~

They laughed and giggled at the loser before going to the karaoke to sing.

“Bingsu~ Patbingsu~ I love you, I love you.”

“Chicken soup~ Oooooooooh!!!”

“N, no... why does the song start with food and end with food?”

The two also went to Myeong-dong to look at foreigners and try some street food.

“Are, are you alright?”

Minhyuk shook his head. Ji-Hoon tilted his head, wondering if he still had some place to be after playing around all day like they did. Then, a black limousine suddenly stopped in front of Minhyuk as the driver got out of his seat and opened the back door for him.

Minhyuk smiled lightly and said, “There’s still somewhere I have to go.”

***

At Daehan Group’s Chairman Eom Jin-Woong’s granddaughter’s first birthday party.

Anyone that attended this birthday party would say that this was way over the top to be called an ordinary birthday party. After all, South Korea’s most prominent figures, from politicians to businessmen, were attending.

Of course, Chairman Kang Minhoo of Ilhwa Group was also one of the attendees.

“You already have a granddaughter. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Kang Minhoo shook hands with Eom Jin-Woong, someone that he had a feud with not too long ago. Eom Jin-Woong hated Kang Minhoo while Kang Minhoo just retaliated as punishment for what he did to them. However, even if they did not like each other, this was not the time nor place to fight. It was a celebration after all.

The moment Kang Minhoo entered the scene, plenty of political figures and business giants immediately flocked towards him. And standing right next to them were their wives and children, all dressed up for the party.

“Oh my~ So, Chairman Kang is here. Hahaha. This over here is my son.”

“Ah, so you’re that child that recently topped the exam and entered Seoul National University?” Kang Minhoo smiled softly at the young man that greeted him with a bow.

As Kang Minhoo walked forward again...

“Hello, Chairman.”

“Assemblyman Jeong.”

“You look younger every time we meet. Ah, this is my daughter.”

“Your daughter is quite beautiful. Maybe it’s because she resembles your wife. What a relief that she did not take after you, huh? Hahahaha!”

“I know, right? Hahahaha!”

Every time he tried to walk forward...

“Chairman, this is my wife.”

“Chairman Kang, this is my son.”

“Chairman.”

“Chairman.”

“Chairman Kang.”

...someone would approach Kang Minhoo and greet him with their family. They would either brag about their grandson, granddaughter, or wife, or their son that went to law school, or a daughter that became a celebrity. All of them approached him with their families.

“Damn bastards...” Eom Jin-Woong mumbled, a sigh escaping his lips as he watched Kang Minhoo’s figure from afar.

This was what always happened whenever Chairman Kang Minhoo participated in any kind of event, and Chairman Kang Minhoo participated in a lot of business gatherings and celebrations. Kang Minhoo was an upright man, yet he had always been participating alone for nearly a decade. Kang Minhoo’s wife had died early and Kang Minhyuk, his son, was suffering from eating addiction.

That was the reason why he had always been alone, despite being the object of envious gazes from the people.

Eom Jin-Woong hated Kang Minhoo, but he could not help but feel sorry for the man after seeing him alone for so long. In the ten years that Kang Minhoo came alone, the people would always whisper among themselves, ‘He came alone again?’. This was also the reason why Chairman Kang Minhoo felt both grateful and bitter whenever he appeared in events like this.

Once all of the greetings were over, Kang Minhoo was left alone once again. He could sit down but he remained standing with a bitter smile on his face for quite some time.

‘No, I’m fine,’ Kang Minhoo comforted himself.

So what if he was the only one who could not attend with his son? He was very grateful that his son, who was suffering from a terrible disease in the form of eating addiction, was already slowly moving forward. He was already satisfied just by being able to see his son smile happily, cry, and make friends.

‘That’s right. I’m alright.’

But that was something that was far from the truth. Kang Minhoo was not alright. He was not alright being alone, amidst these laughing, chattering people and their harmonious families.

Kang Minhoo has been doing his best for his son for the past ten years. He tried so hard to endure all the hardships, working twice, even three times harder than anyone, just so he could shut down rumors and those that voiced concerns about him needing someone else to become his successor.

Actually, Minhoo did not find it hard at all. He just hoped and wished that someday, one day, he would be able to sling his arms around his son’s shoulders and brag to others that ‘This is my son.’ while laughing happily.

“Phew...” In the end, all Kang Minhoo could do was lower his head and sigh. But then...

“Dad.”

...a familiar voice, a voice that he knew too well, rang in his ears. When Kang Minhoo turned around, he saw his beloved son greeting him with a bright smile on his face.