novel
| ← Ch.193 | Ch.195 → |
Ho Sung Lee looked at Ji Yoo Kim with a nervous look on his face.
"No need to be nervous. I'm saying this for you."
Ho Sung Lee breathed out his anxiousness and laughed.
"Okay. Go ahead. I'm ready."
In response, Ji Yoo Kim handed him a document.
Ho Sung Lee accepted it with confused eyes.
Once he checked it over, Ho Sung Lee was surprised.
"This is..."
Ho Sung Lee trailed off.
Ji Yoo Kim smiled at Ho Sung Lee.
"I know it's not enough, but please understand that this is the best we can do."
Ho Sung Lee looked at the contents of the document and laughed bitterly.
The document that Ji Yoo Kim prepared contained the compensation that would be given to Ho Sung Lee.
And to him, the number was astronomical.
Ho Sung Lee shook his head.
"This is too much. I don't think I can..."
"This is to repay for all the inconvenience Central Institute caused you. Although it's probably enough, I think you have more than enough reason to take it."
Ho Sung Lee looked at the number on the paper and laughed awkwardly.
"You dismantled the explosive. You also lost your weapon and saved Seoul. This is to compensate you for fighting with your life. I know it can't be compensated with money, but please understand that this is the best we can do."
Ho Sung Lee smiled bitterly.
"No, it's more than enough, but what's for certain is that this should be given to Min Sung, not me."
In response to Ho Sung Lee's dark expression, Ji Yoo Kim smiled brightly.
"Ho Sung."
"Yes?"
"You're a very smart person. That's why a man like Min Sung Kang chose you."
Ho Sung Lee laughed.
"Haha, that's not true. I just prepare meals for him..."
"I don't' think so. You're someone that Min Sung needs. Ho Sung, you don't only prepare his food; he actually trusts you."
Ho Sung Lee laughed bitterly.
"I'm still not acknowledged by him though."
"Well, I'm aware of how much you support him. You might feel like you're lacking, but that's not how everyone else sees it."
Ho Sung Lee looked far into the distance with thought.
JI Yoo Kim continued, "Ho Sung, what do you think about maximizing your strong points?"
"... My strong points?" Ho Sung Lee asked Ji Yoo Kim.
"Yes, you're much smarter than you think. Why don't you think about just how much you're actually capable of?"
Ho Sung Lee felt it.
He realized Ji Yoo Kim wasn't just giving him a warning as the general of Central Institute, but she actually understood and acknowledged him as a person.
"Thank you, General Kim, " Ho Sung Lee said with all his sincerity.
Ji Yoo Kim gave him a warm smile.
Ho Sung Lee realized something else at that moment.
That she didn't become the general of Central Institute with just abilities alone.
As the general of a place called Central Insitute, she held much more influence and potential.
"Thank you, General Kim. Thank you for fighting for his world and for understanding me. Thank you for cheering me on."
"Don't mention it."
"Haha."
Ho Sung Lee laughed and got up.
"I guess I'll have to give some thought on my key strengths just like you advised."
"I'm cheering you on."
Ho Sung Lee shook hands with Ji Yoo Kim and left the office.
***
The attention of the entire world shifted from Min Sung Kang to Min Sung Kang's tree.
Central Institute began studying the tree in his yard, and they shared some of the processes to the world.
The updates went viral all over the world, eliciting a reaction similar to that of religions.
Countless people from all over the world came to visit the tree, but Central Insitute made sure no one got inside.
They received requests to help with the analysis from all four directions.
But since Central Institute didn't need money from all over the world, they just requested that they analyze the tree together.
Central Insitute recruited the best scientists who went ahead and began analyzing the tree in Min Sung's yard.
And during the process, a surprising phenomenon began to take place.
The tree in Min Sung's yard began to grow at a faster speed.
It was much faster than ever before.
The tree was growing so fast that it looked like a footage of it was being fast-forwarded.
And meanwhile, Min Sung stayed in his second home in the Grand World Tower.
***
Ding!
The elevator stopped and the doors opened.
Ho Sung Lee straightened out his jacket. He buttoned it up and went inside where Min Sung was reading a newspaper on the sofa and bowed.
"I'm here, Sir, " Ho Sung Lee said as he finished bowing.
"How's it going?" Min Sung asked without looking up.
"They haven't found anything unique besides some difference in the cells of the tree, but they said the tree is growing so fast that it can't be explained. They said it's growing faster than before."
Min Sung closed his newspaper and looked at Ho Sung Lee.
"Is it really something special?"
Ho Sung Lee smiled awkwardly and tilted his head.
"I'm not sure."
"Anything else?"
"No, Sir."
"Let's go eat."
Ho Sung Lee looked around.
"Where's Woong Jang and Sia?"
"How would I know?"
Min Sung got up from the sofa and got his jacket.
"Never mind. Let's go."
"What's on the menu for brunch?"
"We're going to go to a Korean beef restaurant."
"Beef for brunch? You're kidding, right?"
Ho Sung Lee shook his head with a smile.
"Not at all. It's a restaurant that sells Korean beef, but they also have lunch options as well. That lunch menu changes every day at the price of 6 thousand won, but compared to the cheap price, the quality is amazing."
"I'm sure there's a reason."
"I think it's their way of advertising. They reel you in with cheap lunch so that you come back for their Korean beef."
"That makes sense."
"But compared to your power and reputation, it's a very ordinary meal. Is that okay?"
When the elevator doors opened, Min Sung looked at Ho Sung Lee with cold eyes.
"What kind of question is that?"
Ho Sung Lee smiled.
"I should've known. Just because your environment changed doesn't mean your taste buds changed. Let's go."
Min Sung scanned Ho Sung Lee from top to bottom.
"You seem to have baseless confidence ever since you changed your look."
"It's not baseless confidence. Like I said, I'm trying to serve you better from now on."
"Did something change?"
Min Sung asked as he got into the elevator.
Ho Sung Lee followed him in and pressed the button for the 1st floor.
"Of course. You'll see, " Ho Sung Lee said confidently with his chest puffed.
"Let me escort you to the restaurant. Once we're finished with our meal, I'll tell you more about my new plan."
"I don't need to hear it."
"Please do."
Min Sung sighed.
They arrived at the underground parking.
Ho Sung Lee waved his hand in front of a lineup of supercars.
"Which one should we take?"
"Something comfortable."
"Then I'll take you in the large sedan."
Ho Sung Lee opened the door to the back seat.
Clack-!
The door made a large opening sound.
Min Sung sat in the back seat, Ho Sung Lee got into the driver's seat, and they took off to the restaurant.
***
They arrived at the restaurant.
The parking lot wasn't big, but there was enough room for Min Sung and Ho Sung Lee to park.
Ho Sung Lee handed Min Sung his sunglasses, but Min Sung gestured for him to take it away.
[Ching Jung Korean Beef Restaurant]
The Korean beef restaurant was neither luxurious nor shabby, but it was quite large.
When Min Sung entered, the adults who were eating jolted their eyes open as they stared at both Min Sung and Ho Sung Lee.
They even rubbed their eyes out of disbelief as they continued to stare.
Min Sung sat down first.
And soon afterward, the owner recognized both Min Sung and Ho Sung Lee.
"Please allow us to have a peaceful meal, " Ho Sung Lee requested respectfully.
In response, the surprised owner and customers contained their surprise and continued their quiet meals.
There was nothing they could do about the glances, but Min Sung didn't care.
"We'd like 2 lunch specials, please, " Ho Sung Lee ordered.
Meanwhile, Min Sung looked through the menu.
The menu was concise only listing the lunch menus and the Korean beef choices.
And like Ho Sung Lee said, the price of lunch was only 6, 000 won.
It was very cheap.
Min Sung caught his breath and waited for the food to come out.
As soon as he arrived at the restaurant, his hunger immediately caught up to him.
He was so hungry that his stomach grumbled.
A moment later, the owner placed the side dishes on the table.
| ← Ch. 193 | Ch. 195 → |