Chương 611: Chapter 611: Let’s Go Out for a Meal
After wrapping up the agreement with Japan and having a bit more conversation, I stepped out of the Yeongbin Hall.
I made my way back to where Chairman Ha Myung-hoon and Cheon Ji-young were waiting.
"Oppa, why are you so late?"
Cheon Ji-young scolded me with a dissatisfied look, probably because I was out for too long.
"I'm sorry. The conversation dragged on longer than expected. Should we head back? How about we go out for a meal? Eating here is so bland; I can't tell if it's going in my mouth or nose. We don't have any other schedules, right?"
"Huh? Didn't we get told we can't leave until the welcome dinner is over? We canceled all our other plans based on that notice."
"Well, that works out perfectly. Let's go. It's been ages since we've had your favorite seolleongtang. How about that place in Myeong-dong we used to go to? Oh, and you're still on that diet, right? No more soup?"
"Yeah. But still, I am craving it…"
"If you want to eat, then let's eat. Let's go."
"I'm good with it. But is it really okay to go?"
Cheon Ji-young glanced around nervously. I nodded and turned to Chairman Ha.
"Chairman, I'm taking Ji-young with me now. Enjoy the dinner, and I'll contact you later."
I said goodbye and whispered quietly so that only Ha Myung-hoon could hear.
"Get the project financing for the Kaesong Industrial Complex ready in advance. The government will provide a payment guarantee, so set the interest rate accordingly."
Ha Myung-hoon subtly nodded in agreement. I was relieved to have someone like him, as I didn't need to worry about preparations on my end.
With a satisfied smile, I extended my hand to Cheon Ji-young.
"Let's go out."
"Hold on a second,"
Cheon Ji-young said as she grabbed her bag and coat from the chair.
After a moment, she quickly finished getting ready and came to my side.
"Oppa, can we really go? I was already bored. Can you believe I was chatting with Chief Ha? By the way, he seemed so different now. He smiled more!"
"It's Chairman now, not Chief. How long are you going to call him that? You need to get used to it soon."
Cheon Ji-young pouted, making her look like a middle schooler again.
"I can't help it if it's stuck to my tongue. I don't know; he's still Chief to me."
"You really are immature."
I sighed deeply as I led Cheon Ji-young out of the banquet hall.
I guess someone had already informed them, as we could leave the Yeongbin Hall without any issues.
Manager Ma was waiting at the entrance of the Blue House, so I chatted with Cheon Ji-young while walking through the grounds.
"Is work going well?"
"Hmm? For me, it's always smooth sailing. I'm Cheon Ji-young, after all!"
Her proud demeanor made me feel a mix of pride and exasperation; it was so typical of her to be so carefree.
I couldn't help but chuckle and shake my head.
"Do your fans know what kind of person you really are? When will you grow up? Aren't you turning thirty soon?"
"Not yet! I still have a while! Plus, our fans love me as I am?!"
"They like you even knowing how you are? Everyone must be crazy. The world is going nuts."
"Oh, oppa!"
As we bickered, we arrived at the entrance of the Blue House. I spotted Manager Ma in the distance.
"Where's your manager? Aren't they waiting for you?"
"Oh, right. Just a sec."
Cheon Ji-young dialed a number. As soon as the other end picked up, she immediately notified them.
"Oh, it's me. I'm having dinner with Mu-hyeok oppa, so you can leave early. What? Oh, I just came out to the entrance of the Blue House. Uh-huh… Got it."
Meanwhile, Manager Ma approached us. After finishing her call, Cheon Ji-young turned to me.
"She said to wait a little. She's coming here."
I nodded. Could it be that the manager I worked with in China is coming?
"Manager, please bring the car here, and reserve a table for two at the seolleongtang place in Myeong-dong. Ask them to keep it clear for Ji-young."
Bownging her head, Manager Ma moved. A moment later, before the car arrived, Cheon Ji-young's manager showed up.
"Heh… Huh…"
Had she run here without stopping? Cheon Ji-young's manager was huffing and puffing.
I hadn't seen this person before, so it must mean the manager has changed.
"Ah, hello. I'm Kim Seok-hoon, and I'll be managing singer Cheon Ji-young this time!"
With a stiff posture, she greeted me. I smiled back at her.
As I extended my hand, she nervously shook mine.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Mu-hyeok. But you seem new around here?"
"I just started recently."
Seeing her shake my hand as if she were honored made me furrow my brows.
I wondered if she could manage to do her job well.
"I hope it doesn't sound rude, but how old are you? You look young."
"Ah, yes! I'm 24 years old. I joined right after I finished my military service after being scouted by the boss."
She did look young, but I hadn't expected her to be that young.
Noticing my curiosity, Cheon Ji-young jumped in to explain.
"According to the boss, he has connections with someone from the special forces. They said he was a brother they met in middle school. He's trustworthy, so use him as a road manager. After working with him, I thought he was taciturn and dedicated, which is perfect!"
Someone from the special forces, huh…?
I figured they may have hired him as a bodyguard due to something that happened in China.
"Well, if he suits you, that's what matters."
I was worried, but if the agency took extra care, I felt at ease.
I deliberately smiled gently as I spoke.
"Please take good care of Ji-young. She may be a bit immature, but she's not a bad girl."
"No! I will do my best to support singer Ji-young!"
Although her answer was stiff, it felt like the army hadn't faded from her bulkiness.
"Oh, and call me noona! Don't make me seem older than I am!"
Hearing this, even Cheon Ji-young seemed to think so, her face breaking into a smile despite her grumbling.
"Anyway, Seok-hoon! Just clock out today. I'll eat with Mu-hyeok oppa and then go home."
"Uh… I'll go with you."
"Nope. Tell the boss that I'll be fine going with Mu-hyeok oppa. If that's the case, he won't say anything. Plus, you haven't been able to rest properly lately. Just clock out today and don't contact me until we leave. I'll be at home."
"I can't do that."
"Seriously, I'm fine! You know how anxious you can be, right?"
Cheon Ji-young pestered Seok-hoon. This conversation seemed familiar enough to him that he remained calm.
"Really, I assure you, I'm okay! I'm not going anywhere, so you should take some time to relax."
"I'll wait in front of your house. Call me if you need me."
"Ugh, seriously!"
Was this a complete cat-and-mouse game?
At this rate, I might not even sleep. Seeing the look in my eyes, Cheon Ji-young started dialing on her phone.
I turned my head toward Seok-hoon.
"So, at 24, you just finished two years of service, right?"
"No! I enlisted when I was 20 and served as a non-commissioned officer."
"So you're a professional soldier! But why did you leave the military?"
"The boss needed someone he could trust, and he asked for my help…"
"So, you must be quite close to the boss, then."
"He guided me when I was a bit lost in my youth. He's someone who owes me a great favor."
Even under almost interrogative questioning, Seok-hoon answered without concern.
Since Cheon Ji-young was my cousin, it seemed he was assigned as her trusted aide…
I figured I should gather a bit of information about Seok-hoon.
"Seok-hoon! Here! It's the boss."
Cheon Ji-young handed the phone to Seok-hoon once she finished talking.
He cautiously accepted the call with both hands and stepped aside.
"Ji-young, who's the agency head now?"
"Oh, it's Director Lee Seok-ki! I guess you didn't know."
"Lee Seok-ki? When did he get promoted? Who was the previous head?"
"I heard he's returning to Heavenly Group. They're ending all ties with Heavenly Group now and, I only heard they appointed Seok-ki as head to eliminate any potential issues that could arise later on."
This was information Cheon Ji-young wouldn't have learned if she were just an ordinary entertainer.
Then again, she'd best distance herself from Heavenly Group as soon as possible.
At this point, it'd be unwise to have any connections in case they come to light later.
Seok-hoon returned after finishing his call.
He politely handed the phone back to Cheon Ji-young and bowed his head.
"I'm sorry. I'll head back now. Call me if you need anything."
"Sure. You should rest too."
With a proud smile, Cheon Ji-young told him to wait a moment and pulled out her wallet.
Then she opened her wallet, took out all the cash inside, and handed it to Seok-hoon.
"Buy something delicious, go out and have fun. You probably won't get the chance to rest after we leave. So don't think about other things, just relax, got it?"
"I, uh, have money."
"Just take it. When a noona gives you something, you should accept it. It's for all the hard work you've put in."
With a serious face, Cheon Ji-young persistently stuffed the money into Seok-hoon's hands.
"If you happen to need money urgently, just let me know. Don't go asking others for favors. I don't like it when my people have to ask others for help. Understood?"
"…"
"I'm embarrassed saying this. If my person goes around saying stuff like that, they're the ones who will be ridiculed, you know?"
"Yes, I understand. Thank you."
"Okay, now go. Rest a little."
Seok-hoon, who had hesitated for a moment, bowed toward Cheon Ji-young, and then toward me.
"I'll be going now."
"Alright. Let's grab a meal together sometime."
Seok-hoon dashed off in the opposite direction.
I opened my mouth, watching his fading silhouette.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I thought you were just a kid… But look at you, you've got the guts to stand up for your own. You're confident about what you want, even when it comes to your own people getting help from others."
"What are you talking about? Of course! Would you be happy if I went around whining about needing help from others?"
"It wouldn't be good."
At my response, Cheon Ji-young smiled, as if she had anticipated it.
"Me too. Plus, Seok-hoon is quite capable, so I'm more at ease. He has never been late and is always around me. Anyone who sees him would probably call him a stalker!"
I chuckled as Cheon Ji-young and I hopped into the car.
Soon, the car that picked us up set off.
"Ji-young, can I ask you something about that friend of yours?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Just curious since he's someone close to you. I'm a bit intrigued."
"Oh, it's fine. I'm not a child anymore. You treat me like I'm still a kid. I'm an adult now. Enough with the worries."
"It's not about you, it's about me. It's possible that people may try to use you as a pawn against me, so I want to proceed cautiously."
With a frown, Cheon Ji-young finally sighed and nodded.
"Ugh… Fine! But keep it a secret from Seok-hoon. I like him, after all."
"Understood. Alright, Manager, did you hear? Start finding out everything about Kim Seok-hoon, from his relationship with Director Lee Seok-ki to everything else about him. Keep it discreet so he doesn't find out."
"Understood, Boss."
As we were chatting, we quickly arrived at the seolleongtang restaurant.
While it was an expensive place in the heart of Myeong-dong, the exterior looked quite shabby.
"Wow, it's been forever since I've been here!"
As I opened the shop door, I heard Cheon Ji-young's excited voice.
There wasn't a single customer inside the restaurant.
"Welcome, Sir."
In the empty shop, the owner recognized me and greeted me.
"It's been a long time, Sir. I'm sorry for having you empty the place at such a busy time."
"Oh, not at all. Since you're giving me a discount on the rent, this is the least I can do. Please, please, have a seat."
"Just two bowls of seolleongtang, please. And please give me extra kkakdugi."
"Sure thing."
As the owner headed to the kitchen, Cheon Ji-young and I settled by the window.
"Is everything good with you lately?"
"What's there to be tough? Everything is going so well that it feels a bit frightening."
Cheon Ji-young waved her hands in dismissal. As she said, she was enjoying immense popularity both in Korea and abroad.
"I heard you've been really popular in China and Southeast Asia; I thought your childhood dream of being a singer was just a whim back then."
"Aren't I doing it?"
Cheon Ji-young replied playfully, her joy unmistakable on her face.
As we chit-chatted, the table soon filled with kkakdugi and side dishes.
Finally, the steaming seolleongtang was placed right in front of us.
"Let's eat! I'm starving!"
I picked up my spoon and took a sip of the broth.
"The taste here hasn't changed at all. I love it!"
Cheon Ji-young tasted the soup and laughed. After that, she briefly lowered her head.
"You know, when I first came here because of Grandpa, I cried so much that I didn't want to eat this. And now? It's delicious!"
"Right? You're getting older now."
"I hope Grandpa is doing well up there."
"Well… he's not someone who would just suffer anywhere. He's surely doing fine."
After catching up with Cheon Ji-young over a meal, reminiscing about the past, time flew by, and finally, the day arrived when delegations from six countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula gathered for the six-party talks.
In some ways, this was even more crucial than the inter-Korean summit.
It was a significant meeting to decide the fate of the Korean Peninsula.
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