The Former Chaebol Heir Excels as President

Chapter 14: The Scorching Season (4)

It was like a flea market.

Inside the police station, where desks were packed tightly, many students were brought in, and petty criminals were intermixed.

The detective in front of me sat with his legs crossed, holding a thick book.

“So you went to Yeonje University looking for your brother?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t even know there’d been a protest?”

“I told you I didn’t! How many times do you want to ask?”

“Look at the attitude of this brat trying to talk back.”

Thwack—

The thick book smacked my head.

This was truly the era of violence.

I accepted it calmly.

It was clear I’d get hit more if I objected.

“What did your brother say to you?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t he mention a plan to overthrow the state?”

The detective’s voice rose.

His intention to suppress and control me was obvious.

“That’s not true. I’ve never heard him say that.”

Thwack—

The thick book brushed my temple.

“Well well! Did this brat dodge it just now?”

“It was instinctive. And is it okay to hit a high school student like this? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“This brat can’t be reasoned with.”

“I was just telling the truth. My brother moved out and lives separately—what would he have said to me?”

“Didn't you know Kang Taemyung was the head of the sociology department at Yeonje University?”

“The sociology department head? What is that? I really didn’t know.”

The detective glared at me, aiming to figure out my real intention.

“If you lie, you’ll go to prison.”

“I haven’t lied.”

“Where does Kang Taemyung live?”

My brain shook at that.

If I told the truth, they’d use the books on his shelves against him.

I’d read news about people being detained for possessing subversive books.

I had to protect my older brother.

“I don’t know. I haven’t visited since he moved.”

“If you don’t tell, your mom and dad will suffer.”

My brain shook again.

I didn’t want my parents to go through the same interrogation. But I couldn’t reveal my brother’s address.

‘Mom and Dad will protect big brother too.’

With that thought, I kept denying it.

“I really don’t know. Mom and Dad haven’t visited either, so they wouldn’t know.”

“Do I look like a pushover to you?”

“No.”

“You went to the protest, didn’t you? Saying you went looking for your brother—does that even make sense? Why go to the school instead of home?”

I almost fell into a leading interrogation trap.

My brain told me to say “I went home but he wasn’t there so I went to school,” but thankfully my lips stayed sealed.

If I’d followed my brain, I’d have led them straight to my brother’s place.

“I didn’t know where he lived, so I went to school. If I’d known, I’d have gone home.”

It was a narrow escape.

But only I thought so.

“This brat is hopeless. Come with me!”

He clearly said to follow him.

The detective grabbed my hair and dragged me along.

“Ow! It hurts!”

“You red bastard like you need a taste of this.”

My legs and body were already hurting from the riot police’s batons, and now my head was being yanked—driving me insane.

“I’m telling the truth. My hair is ripping out!”

“This brat sure talks a lot.”

He led me to a small interrogation room.

White-painted walls, a single desk, two chairs.

The confined, narrow space filled me with extreme fear.

I sat opposite him across the desk.

“Listen carefully. It’s just you and me here, and nobody else knows what happens here. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“I hate red bastards like you!”

His tone and expression were resolute, as if he truly believed it. That’s why he was absolutely convinced what he was doing was right.

“I really just went to meet my older brother, that’s all.”

“Get down!”

I couldn’t handle the violent atmosphere. I got down on the floor, and he spoke again.

“Listen closely. Kang Taemyung told you the state must be overthrown. He praised North Korea as a great place to live.”

“He never said that.”

Thud!

A strong kick pressed into my abdomen. I collapsed to the side.

“Get down again!”

I was overwhelmed by the screaming and violence and followed his orders without question.

But I didn’t say anything my brother hadn’t done.

The eldest son of our family must not be harmed.

“I’ll ask again. Kang Taemyung said he wanted to overthrow the state, right? You heard that from him, didn’t you?”

“No.”

Thwack—

He used violence to force my answer, but I didn’t lie.

“You’re stubborn. Want to go to Namyeong-dong? If you go there, brat! You won’t come back alive!”

Since I was a high schooler, he didn’t drag it out long.

After being locked in a cell and interrogated a few more times, three days passed.

And on Monday around lunchtime, I was released.

The afternoon sunlight poured down.

When I left the police station, an unexpected designated seat was waiting.

Who was the unfamiliar man beside him?

“Cheonmyeong, are you okay?”

“How did you know and come?”

“Everyone had their own tricks.

This was the reporter from Donghwa Ilbo.

I greeted them.

“Kang Cheonmyeong, I’m Jung Jungha, society news chief at Donghwa Ilbo.”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t understand what was happening.

How did Ji Jeongseok know I would be released, and why had he brought the reporter?

The reporter spoke.

“Take a moment and give me an interview.”

“Me?”

“It won’t take long. I’m a conscientious reporter, so it’ll help.”

“Cheonmyeong, just tell exactly what happened there.”

Like I was possessed, I got dragged to a bench and answered the reporter’s questions.

Actually, I wanted to vent about the unfair treatment I had suffered.

I talked about being beaten by riot police when I went to find my brother, being forced to give statements through shouted threats and violence by detectives, and everything that had happened in the cell.

When the interview ended, the reporter gave me ten thousand won as a small token.

I looked at Ji Jeongseok and asked.

“What’s this? Did you tell him?”

“I poked around a bit and got you released early. And that reporter is brave.”

Donghwa Ilbo.

In my past life, it had been a major conservative newspaper, but at this time it had been the first to report the death of a college student under torture and had stood against power.

“Let’s go eat with the money you got. I’m hungry.”

“What did you eat there?”

“Seaweed soup and kimchi.”

“You couldn’t have eaten properly. That money was earned by you, so I’ll buy.”

Ji Jeongseok took me to a hamburger shop.

It was my second time eating a hamburger ever.

It was delicious.

He looked at me pityingly, as though I was miserable.

“I hate being pitied.”

“You’re limping, that’s why.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Those detective bastards were no different from colonial-era police. They’re dogs of the regime.”

“You really care about society, huh?”

“I don’t want to live as a dumb dog or pig for idiots. We’re thinking humans.”

Ji Jeongseok cared deeply about politics and society.

After listening to his passionate speech for quite a while, we left the burger place.

“Your mom must be worried.”

“She came Saturday evening and left.”

“What did she say?”

“She said she was worried.”

“Do you know where our older brother is?”

“He must’ve run away. I heard they issued a warrant.”

“Why?”

I told him exactly what the detective had said.

“They said he was the social affairs director in the student council.”

“A freshman? Is that possible?”

“I don’t know either. That’s what they said. They said he’d created subversive leaflets and tried to overthrow the state.”

“If the regime isn’t legitimate, what subversive materials? Those bastards!”

Ji Jeongseok was starting to frighten me.

He was already so anti-state, and what would he become once he entered college?

Did this guy dream of being a revolutionist?

“Jeongseok.”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you so dissatisfied with society? Are you going to become a politician later to change it?”

“Innovation is a battle against inertia.n And I’m not cut out for politics.”

Innovation was a battle against inertia.

The law of inertia.

A still object stayed still, a moving object stayed moving.

When a bus braked suddenly, your body was thrown forward, and when it turned left, your body leaned the opposite way.

Innovation (革新).

The village schoolmaster had explained that innovation required the horrific pain of skin being flayed.

Ji Jeongseok said innovation meant overcoming inertia, so it certainly wasn’t easy.

I was very curious what kind of person he would grow into.

But right now, I was really worried about Mom.

Mom was still shining shoes under the overpass.

She didn’t notice me as I arrived, lost in her thoughts.

I tried not to limp so she wouldn’t worry.

“Mom! I’m home.”

She didn’t expect it at all.

Mom smiled as she greeted me.

Like a weed enduring a typhoon, she looked strong and unyielding.

“Are you all right? I’m glad you came out early.”

“I’m fine.”

I held back the tears that were about to pour out.

My oldest brother had been placed on the wanted list, and I had come out after spending three days at the police station.

My mom's sense of loss was clearly written on her face.

Though she was smiling, the added wrinkles and dry skin showed that she had been broken.

Just days ago, she wore an expression like she had the whole world because I had ranked first in the school.

Whatever the reason, I was the one responsible for not letting her hold on to that joy for long.

“Mom, I won’t protest like big brother. I’ll study hard, get into a good college, and make your life better. I mean it.”

“You must be tired. Go get some rest.”

Mom looked like she might burst into tears too, so I turned around and headed home.

On the way, neighbors I passed asked how I was doing.

“Cheonmyeong, are you okay?”

“Why did you go to a place like that? Never go near any protests again.”

“Did you eat? Come here, I’ll order you some black bean noodles.”

They were kind people.

The stationery store man, the lady from Daehwa Supermarket, even the grandma from the dry cleaners.

When I got home, Yeonhwa looked at me like I was a strange animal, and Kang Daemyung was crying big tears.

“Hyung-ah! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just had a good rest.”

Kang Daemyung touched every part of my body before suddenly hugging me.

“It’s hot.”

“I missed you, Hyung-ah.”

“Now we’ll see each other every day.”

“You’re not going back to jail, right?”

Why would he say something like that?

Yeonhwa explained.

“Rumors spread in the neighborhood that you went to prison. Dad went to the police station yesterday too. They wouldn’t let him visit you, so he came back.”

“They’re all worried, huh?”

“Do you even need to ask? With our oldest brother gone too, the whole place feels like a mourning house.”

“I’m sorry. I just went to find big brother and it ended up like that.”

“But the police were too much. What are they going to do catching a high school kid? Why would they go that far?”

There was no need to explain to Yeonhwa.

She acted mature for her age and might’ve understood, but I didn’t want her to worry.

“I don’t know. I’m tired. I’m going to lie down.”

I went into the room and flopped down.

Kang Daemyung turned on the fan for me.

“Hyung-ah, hot, right? Sleep well.”

“Thanks.”

Even a worn-out one-room like this felt comfortable.

This was my home, and in here, I was the master, and no one could interfere.

I dozed off.

Without knowing what would happen the next day.