Chapter 168.2: What It Means to Live (1)
Kang Chan was about to dial Lanok when he realized that he left his phone in the cargo plane earlier. He did think he was missing something—he just didn’t expect it to be his phone.
For now, he borrowed Kim Hyung-Jung’s phone to call the embassy directly.
- Mr. Kang Chan, your safe return truly makes me feel relieved. I sincerely apologize for the great mistake that my country’s DGSE has made.
“I know it wasn’t intentional on your part. All’s well that ends well, as they say. We were able to get China’s economic sanctions lifted thanks to the operation, so don’t take it to heart, sir,” Kang Chan assured him.
- With this incident, I have reason to launch an internal agency-wide investigation on my end. My standing has become unshakeable thanks to you, but I don’t know if I could ever apologize enough.
Lanok apologized two more times before finally changing the subject.
- Do you have time for a short meeting tomorrow?
“Yes, I do. I left my clothes and phone in the cargo plane, though, so I will have you call you through someone else’s phone again tomorrow,” Kang Chan said.
- I see, don’t worry about that.
When Kang Chan ended the call with Lanok, he finally felt as if he had finished all his homework.
“Are you heading home, Cap?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
“Yes. I’m going to get some rest. I made arrangements to meet the ambassador tomorrow, so I’ll call you when I learn what time that’ll be,” Kang Chan replied.
“Sounds good,” Seok Kang-Ho responded.
Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho took the car that Kim Hyung-Jung provided them back to the apartment complex.
“Rest up,” Seok Kang-Ho said as they parted ways.
“Will do,” Kang Chan replied.
After saying goodbye, Kang Chan immediately headed up to his home.
Yoo Hye-Sook was already standing at the front door when he put in the passcode and opened the door.
“I’m back,” Kang Chan greeted her.
“Channy! Why is your face so gaunt? Was what you had to do difficult?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked worriedly.
“It’s probably because I didn’t get enough sleep. Where’s Father?”
“He went golfing with some acquaintances he knows through work. Why?”
“Just curious,” Kang Chan replied. It wasn’t like he could say Wui Min-Gook was lying in wait somewhere, waiting to jump at the opportunity to hurt him.
“Channy! What happened to your leg?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked in shock.
“I just sprained it a bit,” Kang Chan responded reassuringly.
“Have you eaten, at least?”
“Yes.”
“Then hurry inside and get some sleep,” Yoo Hye-Sook urged.
“I will. I’m sorry.”
“Why are you saying sorry when you couldn’t sleep because you were working? Hurry, go to your room,” Yoo Hye-Sook scolded him.
Kang Chan went to his room and changed into more comfortable clothes before lying in bed.
Choi Jong-Il and Cha Dong-Gyun will get through this.?
Now that he had come into his room and lay down in his bed, he smelled a familiar scent. It was home. He was finally back home.
‘Did my body get weaker? How can I be so sleepy just because I missed a single night’s worth of sleep?’
Well, he supposed he did receive two injections because of his leg injury.
Immediately afterward, Kang Chan fell asleep. He slumbered so deeply that when he woke up, his trip to China seemed like something that happened a long time ago.
The first thing he noticed was that his throat was parched, then he smelled something delicious outside.
He ruffled up his hair and got up from the bed, leisurely leaving the room. Even though the windows were open, the living room was still filled with the aroma of food. He could hear people talking as well.
Kang Chan blinked in surprise as soon as he went into the kitchen.
Why is she here?
Michelle, who had her hair tied back, was cooking with Yoo Hye-Sook.
“Hm? Look who’s up!” Michelle exclaimed.
“Channy! Do you feel better now?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
“Yup,” Kang Chan replied.
He picked up a cup from the side of the kitchen where Yoo Hye-Sook and Michelle were, then poured himself some water from the purifier.
“Channy, did you lose your phone? I came because you weren’t picking up,” Michelle said.
She’s just speaking in Korean so openly now?
“Channy, Michelle seems to be really clever. Her Korean has improved so quickly, hasn’t it?” Yoo Hye-Sook remarked.
“She’s not clever, she’s sly,” Kang Chan said with a scoff.
Michelle avoided Kang Chan’s dark look as she told Yoo Hye-Sook, “Your compliment makes me so happy.”
“What happened to your phone though, Channy?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked, curiosity evident in her eyes.
“I probably just left it at my workplace. I’ll get it tomorrow or the day after,” Kang Chan said vaguely, not technically lying.
The clock in the living room showed that it was two in the afternoon at the moment. It meant Kang Chan had slept for about three hours.
“Channy, try a bit of this,” Yoo Hye-Sook said as she picked up some of the japchae with plastic gloves and fed them to Kang Chan.
Homemade japchae… This was actually the first time in Kang Chan’s life—both past and present—that he was eating japchae made at home. How should he describe this taste?
“Do you want to eat now?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
“Can I? What about you?” Kang Chan asked.
“We haven’t had lunch yet either. I was going to wake you up when this was done,” Yoo Hye-Sook replied.
Yoo Hye-Sook pulled out the side dishes, poured some soup, and plated some japchae in a bowl. She also gave him a bowl of rice.
“Michelle, hurry and sit down with us,” Yoo Hye-Sook said.
“Got it. Thank you for the meal,” Michelle responded graciously.
“Channy, eat up, okay?” Yoo Hye-Sook said.
Kang Chan took some japchae and put it on top of his rice to eat with kimchi.
To live life is to appreciate these small things.?
Kang Chan ate so much that he felt extremely full. Forcing Kang Chan to help, Michelle helped Yoo Hye-Sook clean up the dishes and brought out some cut fruit to the living room.
Michelle was pretty, easygoing, and had great table manners. Yoo Hye-Sook seemed to have taken a liking to Michelle.
The three finished a melon together.
“Mother, I should get going now,” Michelle said.
“So soon? You should have some of the cake I brought before you leave,” Yoo Hye-Sook said regretfully.
“I’m too full. And I just had a delicious lunch too, so I wouldn’t miss out by skipping cake. Please, next time, speak casually to me, ma’am,” Michelle replied to her.
How did Yoo Hye-Sook not think it was strange that Michelle’s Korean was so good?
“Channy, do you have time for some coffee?” Michelle asked.
“Good idea! You should go have some refreshments with Michelle, Channy,” Yoo Hye-Sook pushed.
Michelle looked as if she still had something to say, so Kang Chan immediately accepted and changed out of his clothes. Michelle exchanged a hug with Yoo Hye-Sook before leaving the apartment.
“What happened to your leg?” Michelle asked.
“I just twisted it a bit,” Kang Chan replied.
Michelle pecked Kang Chan’s cheek the moment the doors of the elevator shut.
“I was worried about you,” Michelle said.
“Why?” Kang Chan asked.
“Just because. There was that news about a terrorist attack in China on TV, so I thought maybe you were involved in that. Is your leg really okay?” Michelle asked.
Kang Chan silently gulped. He wanted a cigarette, but he couldn’t smoke comfortably so close to home.
Kang Chan got in Michelle’s car, which was parked in the underground lot, and they drove to the coffee shop at the intersection.
Kang Chan ordered coffee and sat down with it in hand, feeling as if life was finally peaceful.
“I need your signature on these documents,” Michelle suddenly said.
“What are they?” Kang Chan asked.
Kang Chan took a sip of the coffee and scanned the documents that Michelle gave him.
“This is a building acquisition contract, and these are the documents for establishing a corporation,” Michelle replied.
“A corporation?”
“Apparently, owning a building like this as an individual could result in various complications. According to the lawyer, setting up a corporation is better, so I prepared the relevant documents for that as well,” Michelle explained.
“Buying a building is so complicated,” Kang Chan complained.
Michelle smiled in amusement.
“You want me to sign all these documents?” Kang Chan asked in disbelief.
“You’re the only one who’s allowed to do it. And even if others can, this isn’t something you should leave to others. Channy, you’re not supposed to let other people take care of documents for you. I can just appoint a lawyer for you, though, and you can entrust things like this to them,” Michelle suggested.
“Ugh. Just do whatever you think is best.”
Michelle had a complicated expression on her face, but she still agreed in the end. Kang Chan signed a few of the important documents, then put the cigarette back in his mouth.
“That girl named Eun-Sil…” Michelle began.
“Hm?”
“You know, Heo Eun-Sil. The girl who likes you,” Michelle teased.
She’s still joking about this?
Seeing Kang Chan’s expression, Michelle quickly backed down.
“Michelle, that’s enough with that joke,” Kang Chan said firmly.
“Sorry, Channy.”
It was Saturday afternoon. A bunch of idiots were sitting around, looking at Michelle with pitying eyes as if she were a helpless princess trapped by a monster.
“What did you want to say, though? What about Heo Eun-Sil?” Kang Chan asked.
“The festival. She has already planned most of the framework for it. That girl has potential.”
“Potential?”
“I noticed it while discussing things with her. She’s quite skilled in the field of stage direction and performance,” Michelle replied.
Kang Chan wasn't interested in this topic. Whether he liked her or not, he didn't want to accept that the kid who trampled on the futures of other children could now blossom with her talents. She did say that she acknowledged her wrongdoings, but she had not received forgiveness from everyone yet.
Michelle carefully observed Kang Chan’s mood.
Just then, an unfamiliar man approached the terrace. A glance at the way he walked was enough for Kang Chan to tell that he was an agent. When Michelle saw Kang Chan's sharp gaze, her expression tensed up. By the time she turned around to look, the man was already in front of their table.
“Section Chief Jeon would like to speak with you,” he said.
He seemed to be the agent filling in for Choi Jong-Il.
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