#080
As a result, Jung Hwi-kyung received a white envelope from Lee Jung-hye, like a protagonist in a morning drama.
“I’m not sure why you’re giving me this suddenly…”
“Given our history, I won’t ask you to break up with our Gyo-ha.”
“Pardon?”
We weren’t even dating, Hwi-kyung wanted to say, but he kept quiet after seeing the check inside the envelope. It was too much money to say anything. At this point, it would be more profitable to just pretend to be dating.
“Instead, please help him go to America alone. Gyo-ha needs at least one degree.”
“He’s not someone who would listen to me.”
“That’s true.”
“Yes.”
“To be honest, I think it’s positive that you’re not following him to America. I’m grateful you said you wouldn’t go. If you had said you would, I would have done whatever it took to separate you.”
For Jung-hye, it was unacceptable for someone who should be attending graduate school to be flying with their lover. Regardless of whether she liked Hwi-kyung or not, it was clear that it wouldn’t be efficient.
So Hwi-kyung’s refusal to go to America (which wasn’t actually Hwi-kyung’s own decision) was fortunate for Jung-hye. It removed one reason for her to exert her power.
The problem was with Gyo-ha, who said he’d stay in Korea or go to China if Hwi-kyung wasn’t going to America. Is he a brother or an enemy…? Jung-hye sighed, rubbing her forehead.
“We’ve been too lenient with the youngest, and now he doesn’t listen at all. If we put him with Sung-ha, they’ll just fight.”
“Yes…”
“I’m not asking for much help. Just tell him to do a long-distance relationship until he graduates from grad school. We’ve already paid the tuition, it doesn’t make sense for him to say he can’t go now.”
“…”
“The money in the envelope is my goodwill. You can consider it compensation for the trouble my brothers have caused you.”
Jung Hwi-kyung was conflicted. While he felt he deserved the money considering all the trouble the Lee brothers had caused him, he wasn’t keen on sending Gyo-ha to America alone.
Especially during times like this when the system window was acting suspiciously. If any problems arose, he couldn’t follow Gyo-ha to America. This damn system window prevented him from crossing the water!
“Does he…”
“Hm?”
“Does he really have to go to America?”
“What did you say?”
“Does Gyo-ha… really have to cross the water?”
Send Lee Sung-ha to America instead! Hwi-kyung tried to telepathically communicate with Jung-hye once again. But Jung-hye just scoffed as if she had blocked Hwi-kyung’s transmission.
“Of course. A doctoral degree isn’t child’s play.”
“…”
“This is all for Gyo-ha’s own good.”
When you think about it, it all made sense. If Gyo-ha wasn’t going to remain an Executive Director at BK Entertainment forever, he needed a respectable degree. Since he was being criticized for same-sex relationships domestically, going abroad would be safer.
Telling Lee Sung-ha, who already had master’s and doctoral degrees, to go to America would obviously result in him throwing a fit. So it was rational to send Gyo-ha instead of Sung-ha. At least Gyo-ha could communicate like a normal person.
There was nothing wrong with the logic. Except for the fact that Jung Hwi-kyung couldn’t go with Lee Gyo-ha.
“I’ll return the money.”
So Hwi-kyung had no choice but to tearfully return the envelope with the check. Considering how Lee Sung-ha had been pestering him, it wouldn’t have been strange to ask for double compensation for mental trauma, but demanding that from Jung-hye wouldn’t have been profitable.
Jung-hye seemed to view Hwi-kyung, who refused the large sum of money, as the embodiment of integrity. The way she looked at Hwi-kyung was similar to how Yi Bang-won looked at Jeong Mong-ju. It was a gaze filled with a sense of crisis.
“I don’t have the power to force someone who doesn’t want to go.”
“Still, I thought you were more reasonable than Gyo-ha.”
“…”
“If you really care about Gyo-ha, you should let him study.”
Jung Hwi-kyung, knowing about Lee Gyo-ha’s graduate school history, calmly shook his head. Sending him to the same graduate school one more time would surely drive even Gyo-ha crazy.
Jung-hye was on the verge of collapsing from high blood pressure due to Hwi-kyung’s lukewarm response. If he could, Hwi-kyung would have liked to just take the money and go to America with Gyo-ha. But sadly, Jung Hwi-kyung was constrained by the system window.
Do you want to re■■■?
Now the system window didn’t even bother restoring broken characters. It was no longer possible to close or minimize the window. The increasingly flashy UI that couldn’t be removed periodically induced headaches.
Physically separating from Gyo-ha in this situation? For several years while he gets his master’s and doctoral degrees? No matter how he thought about it, he was sure he would accidentally press ‘Y’ before that.
In the end, Lee Jung-hye left without much gain. Hwi-kyung felt sorry for Jung-hye deep down, but there was nothing he could do.
However, the feeling of guilt didn’t last long. Those who rise by corrupt hiring shall fall by corrupt firing. This was the measure Jung-hye took when her request was refused.
“Recommended resignation?”
“Yeah…”
“So suddenly?”
“Well… I couldn’t hear the details because it was an order from above.”
Jung Hwi-kyung lost his job as quickly as he had gotten it. Since he hadn’t even worked for 6 months, he couldn’t even receive unemployment benefits despite the recommended resignation. It had been a while since he’d been fired so quickly.
Appropriate ■■■■■■■■ ■■■: You have been fi■■■.
“I’m really sorry I couldn’t help you more, Hwi-kyung.”
“No, it’s okay…”
“But you’re someone who will do well anywhere, Hwi-kyung. If there’s a reference check, I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you.”
Hwi-kyung detected a hint of relief in Manager Kang Moon-chul’s expression as he sent him off. He must have felt like a troublesome tooth had been pulled out, as the recommended resignation came without him having to directly transfer Hwi-kyung.
Hwi-kyung inwardly wept tears of blood at the intuitive change in attitude of the boss who had whined that he couldn’t work without him. How many tasks did I handle for you! How many Excel files did you dump on me!
In reality, it was natural for this to happen after refusing Jung-hye’s goodwill. While Lee Sung-ha or Lee Gyo-ha couldn’t fire Hwi-kyung, Lee Jung-hye could kick him out as she pleased.
Hwi-kyung once again realized that he was an untouchable in modern class society. He had been thinking of changing jobs anyway, but being kicked out like this left a bad taste in his mouth. He was determined enough to swear revenge on BK International someday.
Appro■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■■: Y■■ have been fi■■■.
Do you want to re■■■■?
“Really sick of this…”
The system window, seemingly never tiring, flickered while blocking Hwi-kyung’s view. Not only could he not go to America because of this, but he also got fired in record time. He felt like he might collapse from stress-induced illness.
Hwi-kyung packed his things and got on a bus. He was so upset that his head throbbed as if he had come down with the flu. His insides felt hot while his hands and feet turned cold.
Could this be interference from the system window? As his body felt worse, the noise in his head intensified. Hwi-kyung stared blankly out the window to try to stop thinking. He planned to go back to his officetel, take a warm shower, and get some good sleep.
However, the distracting thoughts didn’t easily disappear. Come to think of it, what problem could the system window have? If only there were no black companies in the world, if only he hadn’t wished to get a job at a good place…
As he thought this far, Hwi-kyung once again doubted if these were really his own thoughts. Of course the system window has problems. He really felt like he was under some kind of spell. The bearable headache suddenly intensified.
Really! This time for sure! He resolved not to think deeply about anything anymore. With this determination, Hwi-kyung leaned his head against the bus window. The cool glass against his forehead seemed to ease his headache a bit.
Appro■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■:
Appro■■■■■ condi■■■■■ ■■■: Really
■■ you want to regre■■?
Really
■■ you want to regre■■?
The moment he unconsciously closed his eyes, Hwi-kyung became aware of the system window that popped up in droves. It was strange that he could see the flashy UI even though his eyes were clearly closed.
However, there was no time to be surprised by the system window that skipped the “Appropriate conditions not met” and started talking directly. The bus Hwi-kyung was riding suddenly shook violently. The screams of passengers rang sharply in his ears.
With the following loud noise, Hwi-kyung finally grasped the situation. The bus, which had been running on the busy city road, seemed to have crashed head-on into something. Despite having his head leaned against the window, his body was thrown downward.
Appro■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■■: You have been fi■■■.
Appro■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■■: ■■■ have been ■■■■■.
Hwi-kyung’s head slammed hard against the bus floor. Really, you don’t want to regress? Something that was hard to distinguish between voice and text echoed in his head, which was in chaos from the physical impact.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
