The Former Chaebol Heir Excels as President

Chapter 12: The Scorching Season (2)

It was purely the instinct to survive.

I ran and ran again.

The footsteps shaking the ground followed behind.

I looked back.

The man wearing a blue helmet and gas mask looked like Darth Vader with a sword.

The scene behind him imprinted in my brain like film.

A riot police officer grabbing a college student's hair and landing a knee kick, plainclothes men swinging batons at the protestors.

"Abolish the constitutional amendment! Down with dictatorship!"

"Beat them up now!"

"Hey! The camera is rolling. Don’t hit!"

The sound of clashing metal faded into the distance.

Could I escape?

It felt like Darth Vader would catch me if he just stretched out his hand.

When I turned into the right alley, Woo Ah-mi lost her balance and fell.

"Ah-mi!"

I was terrified that Darth Vader's sword might slice her neck at any moment.

It was purely a survival instinct.

Thud!

A powerful body check hit Darth Vader head-on. He toppled backward, clearly not expecting it, and I grabbed Woo Ah-mi’s hand and ran forward.

"Hang in there!"

This time, I turned into the left alley.

An alley lined with shops.

As we passed a tobacco shop.

"Students! Come in here!"

The ma’am waved her hand.

Thinking it was the door to salvation, I went inside.

She quickly pulled down the shutter.

"Shh! Be quiet!"

Soon, we heard heavy footsteps thudding past.

It was a terrifying moment that made my hair stand on end.

What would’ve happened if we were caught?

I didn’t care about myself, but I didn’t even want to imagine Woo Ah-mi getting hit.

Peeking out through a gap, the ma’am turned and said,

"They're gone."

She brought out a fan and turned it on. Then she led us to the tap.

"Wash your face under running water. Don’t touch your eyes."

"Thank you."

The pain slowly faded as I stood in front of the fan and rinsed my face.

"Aren’t you two high school students?"

"We just came out to hang out and suddenly had to run."

Woo Ah-mi’s face was flushed with surprise.

"Those White Skull bastards don’t care who’s who. Never go near protests."

"Yes, ma’am."

"Stay far away no matter what."

"Yes."

The ma’am looked at me.

"Don’t protest!"

"Sorry?"

"I’m telling you not to protest."

Why was she saying that to me?

I stared at her blankly.

"You look smart. If you want to change the world, get power. And use that power not for profit, but for the public good."

Why was she saying this to me?

I was just a first-year in high school.

Did she think I was protesting?

"I wasn’t protesting. I was just passing by."

"I’m saying don’t do it from now on."

"Okay."

"Leave in an hour. It’ll be safe by then."

"Thank you."

Woo Ah-mi still looked dazed, as if she’d been through a shock.

After about an hour, the ma’am raised the shutter and stepped outside.

"Ah-mi, are you okay?"

"You really don’t get scared. What were you going to do if you got caught?"

"I did it because I thought you were about to be caught."

Woo Ah-mi's eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

It felt like I might be pulled into her gaze.

"Yeah. ……Thank you."

While we were gazing into each other’s eyes for quite a while, the ma’am came back in.

"It’s okay now. You can go."

"Thank you."

"Thank you for closing your shop because of us."

"Don’t protest!"

"Okay."

Woo Ah-mi and I bowed deeply and left the store.

As we exited the alley, she spoke.

"You're trustworthy."

"What do you mean?"

"You didn’t run away alone."

"How could I run away by myself?"

As soon as I said that, memories from my previous life came vividly to mind.

There was a time in an Amsterdam alley when I encountered a mugger with a knife while walking with a friend.

Back then, I ran off alone, screaming in my head, ‘Run for your life!’

Had I changed because of my environment?

Woo Ah-mi smiled brightly and said,

"I like you."

What did she mean?

On the way home, I stopped by the shoe shop where Mom worked.

I couldn’t count how many times I had dusted off my clothes, worried about tear gas residue.

Mom was repairing the soles of shoes.

"Mom!"

Her first reaction was a question mark.

"Where’d you get those clothes?"

"I had a group date today, so I borrowed Hyungmin’s clothes."

"Oh, I see. I completely forgot I promised to buy you new clothes."

"I wear my school uniform most of the time. Once I grow a bit more, I can wear big brother’s clothes."

The phrase "making ends meet every day" was something I never understood in my past life. I thought it was just whining from lazy people.

But this house—no, our house—really did scrape by day to day.

"Mom, I’m going to work part-time for a few days starting tomorrow."

"What are you talking about?"

"There’s something I want to buy. I’ll earn it myself."

"Your exams are coming up!"

"You don’t need to worry. I’ll prove myself with my grades."

"If you need something, I’ll buy it for you. Just focus on studying! What part-time job? Even delivering milk breaks my heart."

It was the first time I’d seen Mom, who was always gentle, actually get upset.

"If my grades aren’t good, I’ll do as you say. But if they are, I want to do things my way."

"Oh dear. You’re suffering because you got stuck with the wrong parents."

She was right, and I didn’t know how to respond.

Of all things, even after returning in time, I ended up in a shantytown, with a big family, in a single-room house.

Still, seeing Mom’s worn and weary expression made me want to offer even a small comfort.

"I’m not suffering. I’ll make sure to give you a good life."

"Just don’t get sick and study well."

"You’ll see. I’ll make it happen."

Her pale lips and the fine wrinkles around her eyes.

Mom was smiling, but her expression looked unbearably sorrowful.

It made me feel strange and uncomfortable.

I quickly got up.

"I’m going. I need to study."

"There’s your favorite seasoned bean sprouts. Have some rice."

"Okay."

Seasoned bean sprouts.

I never cared for them in my previous life, but maybe because Kang Cheonmyeong, the owner of this body, liked them, they tasted better the more I ate.

Just thinking of the bean sprouts made my mouth water.

As I passed by Ddoli Stationery, the owner welcomed me.

"Cheonmyeong, where have you been to look so sharp?"

"I went to meet a friend."

"Looking good."

People’s attention was tiring.

As I passed by Daehwa Supermarket, the lady said too,

"Cheonmyeong, you look nice. Did you go on a blind date or something?"

"I went to meet a friend."

"Get into a good university like your eldest brother. I’ll even matchmake for you."

"Okay."

Lastly, even the owner grandma of Milky Way Dry Cleaners said,

"Cheonmyeong has grown so much. You’re ready for marriage."

"I still have a long way to go."

"Now that you’re in high school, study hard. You don’t need to help anymore."

Until last year, Kang Cheonmyeong had helped collect and deliver laundry for neighbors in the highlands.

Why did it sound to me like she was asking me to help even more?

"If the situation allows, I’ll help you."

"That would be nice."

The grandma smiled broadly, showing her molars.

I said goodbye and headed up the hill toward home.

No matter how familiar, this road always left me out of breath.

When I arrived home, Yeonhwa was playing a paper keyboard and singing.

"Where’s Daemyung?"

"He went out to play. Take your clothes off. I was about to go to Hyungkyung’s house anyway."

"Tell her thank you for me."

"Did the group date go well?"

"I had fun."

"Did you like her? Did you get a girlfriend? Did you get her phone number?"

"Ask one thing at a time."

Come to think of it, I didn’t get her contact. Since we don’t have a phone at home, I hadn’t even thought of it.

"Is she pretty?"

"She’s pretty, but I didn’t get her number."

"Why didn’t you ask? Did you think she wouldn’t give it?"

"I don’t know."

I went into the room, quickly took off my clothes, and handed them to Yeonhwa.

"Thanks. I’ll repay this favor."

"You better repay it."

"Got it."

Yeonhwa gathered the clothes and left, and I set up the table and opened my books to keep my promise to Mom.

Ji Jeongseok’s handwritten notes were neat and well-organized.

Just looking at them made me think he must be a good student.

If I combined the knowledge I had from my past life with Kang Cheonmyeong’s learning ability?

Then getting first place—no, being top of the entire school—wasn’t just a dream.

Lunchbox factory.

The dank smell in the basement was hard to get used to.

The rubber tubs were filled with side dishes.

Pickled radish, seasoned radish, soy-braised beans, kimchi, sausage.

It was an era when hygiene couldn’t be expected. They even stomped on the radish with boots to soak the seasoning in.

The paper side dish trays didn’t have partitions, so we had to fold thin paper dividers ourselves.

It took skill to pack the side dishes without letting them spill outside the box.

‘Hey! If you put in that much, we’ll run out of side dishes!’

I got scolded a lot on my first day.

‘You’re good. Smart too. You aunties should learn from this kid!’

From the second day on, the compliments started.

Cockroaches crawling on the floor, moths flying across the ceiling.

It was five days of experience that made me vow never to eat lunchboxes again.

I earned 30,000 won.

Delivering milk and studying for exams at the same time gave me a nosebleed from both nostrils.

Still, I felt good.

Soon, I’d get my paycheck from the milk depot too.

I wanted to do something.

Thinking of Yeonhwa playing that paper keyboard, I suddenly felt sorry for her, so I went to Cheonggyecheon and bought a 10,000-won melodion.

As I hummed on my way home, Daemyung was sitting alone on the floor.

His lower lip stuck out, clearly something had happened.

"What’s with your face?"

"Yeonhwa scolded me."

"Why?"

"I made slap cards to play with…"

"You made the cards, so why’d she scold you?"

Kang Daemyung pointed next to the cupboard.

When I looked over, the torn calendar had flipped to December.

Since Mom had written important notes on the calendar, it made sense that Yeonhwa would be upset.

"Where are the slap cards?"

"I lost them all."

"Yeonhwa got mad because Mom wrote something on the calendar. If you ever need cards, just tell me."

"You’ll make them for me, Hyung-ah?"

"I’ll make them for you."

If I bought a magazine at the used bookstore, I could make dozens.

"Let’s go. Let’s make slap cards."

"Hehe."

Kang Daemyung giggled, and then Yeonhwa came in holding two calendars in her hands.

"Calendars."

"When did you come home, Oppa? Daemyung used the calendar to make slap cards, and all of Mom’s notes disappeared. It’s lucky Mom remembered them."

"Where’d you get those?"

"Daehwa Supermarket lady and the rice store man each gave me one. Daemyung, ask me first before making slap cards again."

"Okay."

Moments like this made me more suspicious that Yeonhwa had also returned from the future. How could a nine-year-old be this thoughtful?

Yeonhwa finally noticed the melodion on my back.

"Oppa! What’s that?"

"I got a cheap one from Cheonggyecheon. It’s also a thank-you for lending me clothes."

"Really? Can I keep it?"

At times like this, she’s unmistakably a nine-year-old.

Yeonhwa jumped around in excitement.

"It’s a gift."

"Wow! I’m so happy! Oppa, you’re the best!"

Yeonhwa pulled out the melodion and immediately started playing it. After pressing the keys with her fingers, she looked at me and smiled brightly.

"Thank you so much. I’ll study really hard. And take good care of Daemyung too."

I had never seen Yeonhwa throw a tantrum or whine.

It had saddened me to think she’d given up all the desires kids her age usually had. And now, seeing her thrilled over a mere 10,000-won melodion?

I had to do even more for her from now on.

Kang Daemyung was excited too.

"Yeonhwa, sing a song about Oppa. I want to hear it."

The sound wasn’t as clear as a piano—it was a bit coarse—but after blowing into the melodion, Yeonhwa sang.

She was really good at singing.

"There will surely come a day when Oppa brings home silk shoes."