Chapter 193: The Answer
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All of a sudden, Su-Jin was stricken by a sudden, random thought.
"Director Kang, do you mind if I make a phone call?"
"No, not at all." Ji-Won gave a slight shook of his head and turned to stare out the window.
The sun had almost set, throwing a few last desperate rays towards the earth. Bright orange beams of light were cast over the garden, traveling through the trees like numerous glimmers of jewel-like sparks. Ultimately, these last feeble sparks of sunlight bounced and hovered over the water of the pond, resembling countless flickers of gold being scattered everywhere.
In the meantime, Su-Jin had pulled her phone out and dialed her brother's number. As soon as the call connected she got straight to the point.
"Min-Jun, I won't be having dinner at home today, so you and Mi-Suk can eat without me."
"Got it." Min-Jun replied curtly. "Let me know if you plan on staying out tonight. At least send me the name of the hotel just in case something happens."
"What nonsense are you saying?!" Su-Jin snapped. "I'm not going to..."
She stopped abruptly, shooting Ji-Won a quick glance.
Just then, a hyped female voice made its way from the other end of the call.
"Su-Jin? Are you eating out?" Mi-Suk chirped.
Next, Su-Jin heard loud shuffling noises. It sounded as though her friend was struggling to get closer to the phone.
"You're going to miss your brother's delicious braised pork ribs." Mi-Suk chuckled, then added quickly. "But wait, that aside, who are you going out with? Did Nam Jeong-Ho contact you again? Hey... Min-Jun what are you doing?!"
"Shut up and move away." Min-Jun retorted in a low grumble.
An amused laugh escaped from Su-Jin's mouth as she heard their banter. Just by listening to them, she could easily imagine Mi-Suk struggling to get closer to the phone, while Min-Jun kept pushing her away with one hand.
"You two stop fighting." Su-Jin urged through light chuckles. "For the record, I'm at a restaurant with Director Kang right now. We'll be having dinner together, so there's no need to worry about me."
To Su-Jin's surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, all sounds ceased. There wasn't even a peep coming from the phone.
Baffled, thinking that perhaps the call got disconnected, she took the phone away from her ear. After making sure the call was indeed still ongoing, she quickly pressed the phone back against her ear, then waited for the other two to say something.
Sure enough, Min-Jun spoke first.
"Give him the phone. I want to talk to him."
"Min-Jun, what are you saying?" Su-Jin was stupefied by her brother's unexpected request. "What do you possibly have to talk to..."
"Su-Jin." Min-Jun interrupted her firmly. "Give him the phone."
Gulping down the rest of her words, Su-Jin eventually did as she was told. It was indeed lucky that she had infinite trust in her brother, otherwise she might have felt wary about this entire matter.
But, as things stood, Su-Jin pushed back all doubts out of her mind and stretched out the hand holding the phone.
"Director Kang." She called out softly. "Uhm, it's Min-Jun, my brother. He... He wants to talk to you."
Blinking in surprise, Ji-Won took a second to fully grasp the meaning behind her words. As soon as he understood, though, he immediately became alert.Nevertheless, he continued to show a calm and aloof exterior.
He took the phone, gingerly placing it next to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Director Kang? This is Park Min-Jun."
"Mn, I know. What can I do for you?"
Ji-Won's voice sounded slightly off. A thousand thoughts were currently running through his head at lightning speed. But, no matter how much he had prepared himself, Min-Jun's next words still shocked him to his very core.
"Director Kang, have you thought about what we discussed before? Do you know the answer now?"
Hearing this, Ji-Won paled. His hand shook, almost dropping the phone on the table.
While trying to gather his wits about him, he cast an anxious glance towards Su-Jin, then, as if afraid of being caught, he retracted his gaze quickly.
Next, Ji-Won coughed a couple of times in order to clear his throat, taking a long time to answer.
"Mhm, I thought about it."
"And your answer?"
"It's…" Ji-Won sucked in a breath.
Just like ripping off a band-aid in one quick movement, in order to make the pain more bearable, he blurted the words out fast, hoping it would make him feel less awkward.
"It's just as you guessed. Previously, I didn't know, I wasn't aware of it myself. But, I think I know now…"
"I understand." Min-Jun cut him off briskly.
A second later, the young man let out a long sigh. Ji-Won couldn't see him, but he could imagine the young man's serious expression.
"If that's the case, please take care of my sister. Make sure she comes home in one piece. Also, staying out tonight is out of the question."
"Of course! You don't have to worry about that. I..."
Ji-Won stopped. He was one split second away from saying 'I am a proper gentleman and won't take advantage of a woman like that'. Fortunately, though, he was able to stop before saying those words, otherwise he was afraid Su-Jin might misunderstand something.
As Ji-Won was debating on how to continue, Min-Jun took the chance away from him.
"Whatever you are, Kang Ji-Won, whether you're a carnivore or a herbivore1, you'd better make sure Su-Jin doesn't get hurt because of your indecision. That's all I'm asking."
"Mn, I understand."
The loud beep of the call ending sounded even before Ji-Won's last word fell.
As the call ended, Ji-Won was left in a state of agitation. But before he could calm his mind even one bit, Su-Jin's voice called out to him.
"Is everything alright? What did my brother want to talk to you about?"
"Nothing much." Ji-Won handed her the phone with a faltering smile. "I guess he was just worried about you, that's all."
"Really?" Su-Jin tilted her head, looking pensive at the phone screen. "He's never been a worrywart, so I wonder what's gotten into him now."
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All of a sudden, Su-Jin was stricken by a sudden, random thought.
"Director Kang, do you mind if I make a phone call?"
"No, not at all." Ji-Won gave a slight shook of his head and turned to stare out the window.
The sun had almost set, throwing a few last desperate rays towards the earth. Bright orange beams of light were cast over the garden, traveling through the trees like numerous glimmers of jewel-like sparks. Ultimately, these last feeble sparks of sunlight bounced and hovered over the water of the pond, resembling countless flickers of gold being scattered everywhere.
In the meantime, Su-Jin had pulled her phone out and dialed her brother's number. As soon as the call connected she got straight to the point.
"Min-Jun, I won't be having dinner at home today, so you and Mi-Suk can eat without me."
"Got it." Min-Jun replied curtly. "Let me know if you plan on staying out tonight. At least send me the name of the hotel just in case something happens."
"What nonsense are you saying?!" Su-Jin snapped. "I'm not going to..."
She stopped abruptly, shooting Ji-Won a quick glance.
Just then, a hyped female voice made its way from the other end of the call.
"Su-Jin? Are you eating out?" Mi-Suk chirped.
Next, Su-Jin heard loud shuffling noises. It sounded as though her friend was struggling to get closer to the phone.
"You're going to miss your brother's delicious braised pork ribs." Mi-Suk chuckled, then added quickly. "But wait, that aside, who are you going out with? Did Nam Jeong-Ho contact you again? Hey... Min-Jun what are you doing?!"
"Shut up and move away." Min-Jun retorted in a low grumble.
An amused laugh escaped from Su-Jin's mouth as she heard their banter. Just by listening to them, she could easily imagine Mi-Suk struggling to get closer to the phone, while Min-Jun kept pushing her away with one hand.
"You two stop fighting." Su-Jin urged through light chuckles. "For the record, I'm at a restaurant with Director Kang right now. We'll be having dinner together, so there's no need to worry about me."
To Su-Jin's surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, all sounds ceased. There wasn't even a peep coming from the phone.
Baffled, thinking that perhaps the call got disconnected, she took the phone away from her ear. After making sure the call was indeed still ongoing, she quickly pressed the phone back against her ear, then waited for the other two to say something.
Sure enough, Min-Jun spoke first.
"Give him the phone. I want to talk to him."
"Min-Jun, what are you saying?" Su-Jin was stupefied by her brother's unexpected request. "What do you possibly have to talk to..."
"Su-Jin." Min-Jun interrupted her firmly. "Give him the phone."
Gulping down the rest of her words, Su-Jin eventually did as she was told. It was indeed lucky that she had infinite trust in her brother, otherwise she might have felt wary about this entire matter.
But, as things stood, Su-Jin pushed back all doubts out of her mind and stretched out the hand holding the phone.
"Director Kang." She called out softly. "Uhm, it's Min-Jun, my brother. He... He wants to talk to you."
Blinking in surprise, Ji-Won took a second to fully grasp the meaning behind her words. As soon as he understood, though, he immediately became alert.Nevertheless, he continued to show a calm and aloof exterior.
He took the phone, gingerly placing it next to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Director Kang? This is Park Min-Jun."
"Mn, I know. What can I do for you?"
Ji-Won's voice sounded slightly off. A thousand thoughts were currently running through his head at lightning speed. But, no matter how much he had prepared himself, Min-Jun's next words still shocked him to his very core.
"Director Kang, have you thought about what we discussed before? Do you know the answer now?"
Hearing this, Ji-Won paled. His hand shook, almost dropping the phone on the table.
While trying to gather his wits about him, he cast an anxious glance towards Su-Jin, then, as if afraid of being caught, he retracted his gaze quickly.
Next, Ji-Won coughed a couple of times in order to clear his throat, taking a long time to answer.
"Mhm, I thought about it."
"And your answer?"
"It's…" Ji-Won sucked in a breath.
Just like ripping off a band-aid in one quick movement, in order to make the pain more bearable, he blurted the words out fast, hoping it would make him feel less awkward.
"It's just as you guessed. Previously, I didn't know, I wasn't aware of it myself. But, I think I know now…"
"I understand." Min-Jun cut him off briskly.
A second later, the young man let out a long sigh. Ji-Won couldn't see him, but he could imagine the young man's serious expression.
"If that's the case, please take care of my sister. Make sure she comes home in one piece. Also, staying out tonight is out of the question."
"Of course! You don't have to worry about that. I..."
Ji-Won stopped. He was one split second away from saying 'I am a proper gentleman and won't take advantage of a woman like that'. Fortunately, though, he was able to stop before saying those words, otherwise he was afraid Su-Jin might misunderstand something.
As Ji-Won was debating on how to continue, Min-Jun took the chance away from him.
"Whatever you are, Kang Ji-Won, whether you're a carnivore or a herbivore1, you'd better make sure Su-Jin doesn't get hurt because of your indecision. That's all I'm asking."
"Mn, I understand."
The loud beep of the call ending sounded even before Ji-Won's last word fell.
As the call ended, Ji-Won was left in a state of agitation. But before he could calm his mind even one bit, Su-Jin's voice called out to him.
"Is everything alright? What did my brother want to talk to you about?"
"Nothing much." Ji-Won handed her the phone with a faltering smile. "I guess he was just worried about you, that's all."
"Really?" Su-Jin tilted her head, looking pensive at the phone screen. "He's never been a worrywart, so I wonder what's gotten into him now."
All of a sudden, Su-Jin was stricken by a sudden, random thought."Director Kang, do you mind if I make a phone call?""No, not at all." Ji-Won gave a slight shook of his head and turned to stare out the window.The sun had almost set, throwing a few last desperate rays towards the earth. Bright orange beams of light were cast over the garden, traveling through the trees like numerous glimmers of jewel-like sparks. Ultimately, these last feeble sparks of sunlight bounced and hovered over the water of the pond, resembling countless flickers of gold being scattered everywhere.In the meantime, Su-Jin had pulled her phone out and dialed her brother's number. As soon as the call connected she got straight to the point."Min-Jun, I won't be having dinner at home today, so you and Mi-Suk can eat without me.""Got it." Min-Jun replied curtly. "Let me know if you plan on staying out tonight. At least send me the name of the hotel just in case something happens.""What nonsense are you saying?!" Su-Jin snapped. "I'm not going to..."She stopped abruptly, shooting Ji-Won a quick glance.Just then, a hyped female voice made its way from the other end of the call."Su-Jin? Are you eating out?" Mi-Suk chirped.Next, Su-Jin heard loud shuffling noises. It sounded as though her friend was struggling to get closer to the phone."You're going to miss your brother's delicious braised pork ribs." Mi-Suk chuckled, then added quickly. "But wait, that aside, who are you going out with? Did Nam Jeong-Ho contact you again? Hey... Min-Jun what are you doing?!""Shut up and move away." Min-Jun retorted in a low grumble.An amused laugh escaped from Su-Jin's mouth as she heard their banter. Just by listening to them, she could easily imagine Mi-Suk struggling to get closer to the phone, while Min-Jun kept pushing her away with one hand."You two stop fighting." Su-Jin urged through light chuckles. "For the record, I'm at a restaurant with Director Kang right now. We'll be having dinner together, so there's no need to worry about me."To Su-Jin's surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, all sounds ceased. There wasn't even a peep coming from the phone. Baffled, thinking that perhaps the call got disconnected, she took the phone away from her ear. After making sure the call was indeed still ongoing, she quickly pressed the phone back against her ear, then waited for the other two to say something.Sure enough, Min-Jun spoke first."Give him the phone. I want to talk to him.""Min-Jun, what are you saying?" Su-Jin was stupefied by her brother's unexpected request. "What do you possibly have to talk to...""Su-Jin." Min-Jun interrupted her firmly. "Give him the phone."Gulping down the rest of her words, Su-Jin eventually did as she was told. It was indeed lucky that she had infinite trust in her brother, otherwise she might have felt wary about this entire matter. But, as things stood, Su-Jin pushed back all doubts out of her mind and stretched out the hand holding the phone."Director Kang." She called out softly. "Uhm, it's Min-Jun, my brother. He... He wants to talk to you."Blinking in surprise, Ji-Won took a second to fully grasp the meaning behind her words. As soon as he understood, though, he immediately became alert.Nevertheless, he continued to show a calm and aloof exterior. He took the phone, gingerly placing it next to his ear."Hello?""Director Kang? This is Park Min-Jun.""Mn, I know. What can I do for you?" Ji-Won's voice sounded slightly off. A thousand thoughts were currently running through his head at lightning speed. But, no matter how much he had prepared himself, Min-Jun's next words still shocked him to his very core."Director Kang, have you thought about what we discussed before? Do you know the answer now?"Hearing this, Ji-Won paled. His hand shook, almost dropping the phone on the table.While trying to gather his wits about him, he cast an anxious glance towards Su-Jin, then, as if afraid of being caught, he retracted his gaze quickly. Next, Ji-Won coughed a couple of times in order to clear his throat, taking a long time to answer."Mhm, I thought about it.""And your answer?""It's" Ji-Won sucked in a breath. Just like ripping off a band-aid in one quick movement, in order to make the pain more bearable, he blurted the words out fast, hoping it would make him feel less awkward."It's just as you guessed. Previously, I didn't know, I wasn't aware of it myself. But, I think I know now""I understand." Min-Jun cut him off briskly.A second later, the young man let out a long sigh. Ji-Won couldn't see him, but he could imagine the young man's serious expression."If that's the case, please take care of my sister. Make sure she comes home in one piece. Also, staying out tonight is out of the question.""Of course! You don't have to worry about that. I..."Ji-Won stopped. He was one split second away from saying 'I am a proper gentleman and won't take advantage of a woman like that'. Fortunately, though, he was able to stop before saying those words, otherwise he was afraid Su-Jin might misunderstand something.As Ji-Won was debating on how to continue, Min-Jun took the chance away from him."Whatever you are, Kang Ji-Won, whether you're a carnivore or a herbivore1, you'd better make sure Su-Jin doesn't get hurt because of your indecision. That's all I'm asking.""Mn, I understand."The loud beep of the call ending sounded even before Ji-Won's last word fell.As the call ended, Ji-Won was left in a state of agitation. But before he could calm his mind even one bit, Su-Jin's voice called out to him."Is everything alright? What did my brother want to talk to you about?""Nothing much." Ji-Won handed her the phone with a faltering smile. "I guess he was just worried about you, that's all.""Really?" Su-Jin tilted her head, looking pensive at the phone screen. "He's never been a worrywart, so I wonder what's gotten into him now."
