Chapter 130.2: What is it? (1)
“What do you think I should do about my business?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked in response to Kang Chan’s question about what he should do.
Kang Chan silently looked back at his father. The first answer that came to mind was, “Whatever you want,” since he genuinely hoped Kang Dae-Kyung would do what he really wanted and not be stressed worrying about this and that.
Was this how Kang Dae-Kyung wanted to reply to Kang Chan’s question?
Kang Dae-Kyung smiled, and a look flashed across his face as if he suddenly remembered something.
“Oh! There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. Is it okay for you to speak down to the employees? They seem to be older than you from what I saw,” he said.
“Ah! That!”
Kang Chan could never tell the truth about that.
“It’s intentional. We’ve been practicing talking this way to each other because I’m higher ranked than them. We’re trying to get used to it since I often meet the French ambassador and other countries’ agents.”
“I suppose that seems necessary,” Kang Dae-Kyung agreed, nodding at the sorry excuse Kang Chan gave. “But still, make sure you’re not rude to adults, okay?”
“Yes, Father,” Kang Chan replied, actually taking to his father’s advice to heart.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Not long after, the phone began to ring. Kang Chan went inside his room to pick it up.
“Hello?”
-Channy! Where are you?
“Home.”
-Do you want to grab lunch together? I can be at your house in a few.
“I’m taking my mother and father to lunch with the guards.”
-I want to come too.?
Did this woman never get shy?
“I’ll ask my parents first. If they say yes, then maybe. Don’t you think the guards will feel uncomfortable, though?
-The food will taste better if there’s a pretty girl at the table with them.?
“Well, let’s hang up for a minute. I’ll call you back after asking them.”
-If it’s too uncomfortable, let’s just have some tea together after you have lunch.?
The drama had already started airing, and Kang Chan saw no reason to refuse. He hung up first so he could go and ask.
Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook seemed pleased they would get to see Michelle again—a lot more than Kang Chan had expected.
After asking Choi Jong-Il as well, Kang Chan told Michelle about their decision.
***
The restaurant staff had curtained off a huge space. About twenty members had gathered for the lunch invitation.
“Mr. Kang! Mrs. Yoo!”
“Michelle, hi! Nice to see you!”
Michelle dashed forward, seeming more excited to see Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook than Kang Chan. Thankfully, that eased some of the awkwardness that was evident in Yoo Hye-Sook from being in front of the guards.
Kang Chan first introduced Michelle to the employees, then introduced Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee to Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook.
Kang Chan intended for this to be a light and casual lunch together, but this gathering had a stiff atmosphere instead, making it seem more like a company dinner.
Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook sat in the middle. Kang Chan and Michelle were across from them, and Choi Jong-Il and the other guards sat around them.
Someone had to break the silence or they would continue like this.
“Thank you, everyone. Please continue to keep my father and mother as safe as you always have,” Kang Chan bravely attempted.
Kang Chan scanned the employees sitting around him.
The female agent who had taken a hit directly to the face still had some thinly folded gauze stuck on her nose bridge.
“Are you feeling better?” Kang Chan asked.
“I’m all okay now,” she answered.
Kang Chan nodded and asked the employees what they wanted to eat.
“Before that, I have a request.”
The female agent with the gauze on her nose spoke again, raising her hand. It was still an awkward atmosphere, so everyone’s gazes immediately shot at her.
“After that day, Mr. Kang and Ms. Yoo have been acting uneasy around us. I ask that you both treat us all more comfortably.”
Kang Chan turned his gaze to his parents with a smile, and everyone looked at Yoo Hye-Sook.
“W-well, I was feeling apologetic that you all have to work hard because of us. It’s not like we’re important people who have to be guarded so carefully,” Yoo Hye-Sook stuttered as if she was making an excuse. She seemed flustered.
These kinds of things were difficult to mediate, and it wasn’t exactly Kang Chan’s place to help either.
“Cha Min-Jeong!”
Just then, Choi Jong-Il called the female agent’s name in a firm tone. It seemed the employee with an injured nose was named Cha Min-Jeong.
“You’re from unit 606, aren’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What is 606’s chant!”
“The motherland summoned me here!” powerfully shouted the female agent.
“Hwang Seok-Gi!”
“Yes, sir!” loudly replied the male agent who had guarded Kang Chan’s parents by acting as one of the salespeople.
“You’re from the special forces, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What’s our chant!”
“If I can protect the country with my blood, I am happy!”
Was it necessary to go that far, considering they were about to eat? However, knowing Choi Jong-Il, Kang Chan just decided to watch silently.
“As you can see, this is why we’re gathered,” Choi Jong-Il said with the bandage on his right cheek, directing his words at Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. “Thanks to your son, we’re able to live according to our chants. Our jobs are closest to the heart of connecting South Korea and the Eurasian Rail.”
Choi Jong-Il looked left and right before continuing again.
“Allowing your son to focus on the Eurasian Rail without having to worry about the safety of his parents… it is a truly honorable task for us. We don’t have to be praised or have our names go down in history. Even when you just tell us to buy a piece of green onion or a mere pack of ramyeon, we take pride in what you have entrusted us to do.”
Kang Chan looked away because he was cringing so hard he got goosebumps. Soon after, he sighed. He understood why the agents were sitting with their faces filled with pride, but why was Michelle moved to the point of getting teary?
“Please, treat us as your family, a little sister or brother, or even a niece or nephew. Use us as you wish. Allow us to fill any holes in your security that way. The reason why Cha Min-Jeong asked you to treat us more comfortably is so we can also request things from you both with more ease as well.”
Choi Jong-Il’s words were definitely effective.
Seeing Kang Dae-Kyung’s cheek twitch and Yoo Hye-Sook’s eyes tear up, Kang Chan knew Choi Jong-Il’s strategy had gone to plan.
“I hear what you all are saying. My personality won’t allow me to suddenly treat everyone comfortably, but I’ll make an attempt to do so going forward,” said Yoo Hye-Sook.
Someone started clapping, and the other agents joined in, causing a loud ripple of applause to break out.
“I’m hungry. What does everyone want to eat?” asked Kang Chan.
“We’ll have galbi.”
“Then let’s order galbi first. Feel free to order anything you want after, okay?”
“Can we really eat to our heart’s content?”
“Let’s put down our ranks when we’re eating. Show me how much you can eat,” Kang Chan ordered.
“Understood,” Choi Jong-Il replied.
Someone stepped out to order for all of them, and soon, a mountain of meat was brought inside.
They only had a few bottles of beer because they didn’t want to let their guard down even in the slightest, so Kang Chan couldn’t bring himself to offer them more. The amount was just enough for everyone to have a single glass.
Kang Dae-Kyung poured Kang Chan’s glass himself, looking at his son proudly.
There was a lot of competition for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook’s glasses. They had a round of rock, paper, and scissors while the meat was being cooked, which resulted in one of the salespeople filling Kang Dae-Kyung’s glass, while Michelle claimed Yoo Hye-Sook’s. Of course, Michelle could only do this because another salesperson who had emerged victorious gave her the opportunity.
“We’re in your hands. Please take good care of us,” Kang Dae-Kyung said as he held out his glass.
“Thank you for the meal,” the employees replied.
Kang Chan and Michelle turned to the side and downed half of their glasses. The meal officially began.
No idiot acted uncomfortable after Kang Chan said they should put down their ranks, so everyone was enjoying themselves.
“Here, Mr. Kang,” Michelle said, wrapping a well-cooked piece of meat in some lettuce before giving it to Kang Dae-Kyung.
Kang Chan felt a sense of danger. It was so natural he wondered if Michelle had visited their home when he was gone. Kang Dae-Kyung’s face was filled with satisfaction.
“Mrs. Yoo.”
“Mm! It tastes even better since you’re the one making me this wrap, Michelle,” Yoo Hye-Sook said.
Michelle was definitely adept on occasions like these. She cooked the meat perfectly, cut it into nice pieces, and even ate it deliciously. She had tied her hair back at some point. Now, on Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook’s plates, she was skillfully putting the side dishes of fermented crab that she had cooked over the grill.
“Michelle, the drama’s so good,” Yoo Hye-Sook exclaimed.
“Oh, your friend’s daughter is making an appearance next week, Mrs. Yoo.”
Michelle was using fluent Korean. However, Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook didn’t seem to question the speed at which Michelle’s Korean had improved and just went with it.
The ambiance was great, and the meat was mouthwatering.
However, Kang Chan peeked at his phone. Why did he feel like something was off?
“So what happens to the girl?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
“Unfortunately, that’s a secret, Mrs. Yoo,” Michelle tactfully replied with a smile.
“Even from me?” Yoo Hye-Sook mischievously asked back.
Kang Chan felt as if he was pushed a step away from the clamorous mood. The noise was crumpled up in a ball and slowly moving away from him.
What is it? Is there a bomb at the restaurant or something?
Kang Chan slowly examined his surroundings. His senses were standing sharp.
The meat in someone’s chopsticks, smoke rising from the grills, laughter, whispers, someone calling for another, and fingers holding a cup of water… Kang Chan could see and hear it all.
.
“Kang Chan? What is it?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
Suddenly, everything rushed back at him.
“I’m full. I’ll be back to eat more after getting some air,” Kang Chan replied.
Kang Chan turned to Choi Jong-Il, who understood just by the look in his eyes. There were just some things one would immediately know after overcoming death together.
“Whew! I must have eaten too much as well. I’ll head outside for a moment. I’ll be back,” Choi Jong-Il said.
Kang Chan carried his phone outside the curtained area.
It was Saturday afternoon, which meant there were quite a few customers in the restaurant. After a brief scan of the area, Kang Chan walked outside. When he reached the restaurant’s front entrance, Choi Jong-Il spoke up.
“What is it?” Choi Jong-Il asked. He had also been sharply examining their surroundings even since he saw Kang Chan’s expression.
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