Ch.31 My Brother Kim Jin-sung.
Kim Jin-sung. He is a very, very close friend of mine who is three years younger than me.
I got to know him while playing in the neighborhood when we were young, and that connection has continued until now.
As they say, connections get better with age.
Our friendship is so strong that when someone asks who my closest person is, I will say Jin-sung.
Jin-sung feels the same way.
Anyway, Jin-sung has returned to Korea.
I heard he was living in Southeast Asia scamming people, but I don’t know the details. Why would that matter?
What’s important is that he’s back now.
‘I wonder if Jin-sung has matured a bit…’
If I had to describe Jin-sung in one word, he’s like a mischievous rookie.
Since childhood, he’s been nimble and cheerful, with absolutely no civic consciousness, but once you get to know him, he’s quite a good guy.
At least to me, so I think of him as a good guy.
As I get lost in memories, I vividly recall how good Jin-sung was at climbing over walls.
He was a guy whose talent as a thief was in full bloom, easily picking locks on lockers or shabby apartment doors.
However, it seems like there’s no use for those skills in today’s world.
I settled in an expensive meat restaurant and waited for Jin-sung.
He asked me to buy him a meal, so he must have wanted meat.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait long to meet him.
“Jin-sung, over here!”
I called out to Jin-sung, who was looking around trying to find where I was after entering the restaurant.
Moderately tanned skin with a slim but seemingly solid body.
Even at a glance, I could tell he had considerable lean muscle.
His hair was a sporty style that matched well with his skin and physique.
He was exactly the same guy I knew.
“Brother!”
“It’s been a while.”
We didn’t necessarily hug each other.
That would be too much, and it’s a bit awkward between men.
But we at least made a gesture.
Seated, we began to share our recent news.
“What did you do for a living abroad?”
“I made a living by digging into people’s backgrounds and turning that into cash.”
“What does that mean?”
“Umm… In Korean terms, something similar to a private investigation agency? But a bit deeper than that.”
“That’s so like you.”
So he was indeed involved in something not so good.
But somehow, I think it suits Jin-sung.
If he wasn’t doing this kind of work, it would have felt unfamiliar, like he wasn’t the guy I knew.
So, without much reaction, I put the meat on the grill.
“If you need someone to investigate, let me know. I’ll give you a special 30% discount.”
“Can’t it be free?”
“30%.”
“Sorry, let’s go with 20%. But why would I need to investigate someone?”
“In human relationships, bad things tend to happen much more often than good things. Grudges pile up more than gratitude in relationships. I know it well. That’s how I made a lot of money and came back to Korea.”
“Does that really pay that well? Isn’t it just following people around and selling photos of cheating partners and things like that?”
“These days, that’s just basic service. The real deal is breaking into homes or offices and converting what the client wants into money if we find it. The key point here is negotiating with the target and selling to whoever offers more. Let me tell you what happened to me in the Philippines…”
After that, Jin-sung grandly explained his heroic tales.
He talked about breaking into the house of someone suspected of embezzlement to steal evidence and sell it, or negotiating with journalists after capturing evidence of a celebrity’s drug use.
He said things like catching high-ranking officials’ affairs were just entry-level jobs.
I quietly appreciated it, feeling like I was watching a crime thriller movie.
I thought it was incredible that such a person exists, and also amazing that he made it back alive.
These are stories you don’t often hear in Korea.
As I listened, I noticed that Jin-sung is very good at telling stories.
He had a talent for running his mouth too.
Anyway, we used his stories as drinking snacks and kept downing alcohol.
Time had already passed evening and was running into the night.
“Ah~ brother~ let’s go for round two! Round two!”
“Ah, this kid is drunk again.”
“With some hot girls…”
Jin-sung, completely drunk, kept insisting on going to a club.
He was shouting in the restaurant about wanting to fondle pretty women’s breasts, so I hurriedly took him outside.
“What club? Go home. By the way, didn’t you just return to Korea today? Do you have a place to stay?”
“*hiccup* Yeah. I got a motel room and unpacked my stuff there. I’ll probably *hiccup* damn hiccups, I’ll probably stay there for a while~”
The smell of alcohol was stinging my nose and his words were slurring, but he seemed to be speaking properly enough that he could probably get back on his own.
His walking was fine too, so he should be able to make it back.
“Jin-sung, it was good seeing you after so long. Stop talking about club and go home quickly.”
“Ah… Tsk, I am tired… But next time we’ll have some real fun, okay? *hiccup*”
“Sure, and if you have nothing to do, I can give you a job, just let me know.”
“To serve those broadcasting station guys? Fuck that, I won’t do it.”
“You’re still crazy, haha. Take care.”
“Bye, brother.”
We waved goodbye and parted ways.
I deliberately didn’t bring my car.
I planned to drink, take a walk and feel the night breeze, since the distance to my place was close.
The moderately cool wind stimulates my emotions.
While taking a walk, I entered a street where people were busking, and before I knew it, I found myself lingering in one area.
“The cloudy moonlight is fading away, and your breath…”
Maybe it’s because I’m drunk, but as if entranced, I came to the front of this woman and quietly listened to her song.
Since my broadcasting station is in the music field, I guess I’m ultimately a music person too.
It was so sweet that I unconsciously stood still and continued to listen to her song, making sure not to miss a single word of the lyrics.
“Forgetting even my heart~~”
Her voice is beautiful. Beautiful and modest.
So there was no resistance when my ears received it.
But as soon as it entered my ears, the resonance penetrated deep into my heart and stirred it.
‘A vocalist with this level of skill…’
Is just busking…?
Even for me, who has seen numerous performances held in our broadcasting station’s studio, such tender and heart-wrenching songs are rare to come by.
Of course, in terms of skill, the songs I’ve heard before might be superior, but this had a different flavor that struck my heartstrings.
If this charming voice were to become even more skilled…
I examined the face of this enchanting singer, scanning the woman’s features.
Jet-black long hair with confidently styled bangs, giving off a distinctly dark impression.
Her sharp eyes matched well with her dark hair color, and her straight nose and thin lips made her look smooth.
Her styling – a black short skirt and black hoodie – was telling of her personality.
She looked young, still with some baby fat, but a beautiful woman with such a cold and haughty impression that I wondered if she had ever smiled.
When such a woman moves heartstrings with such a heartbreaking song, her already beautiful appearance seems to be sublimated into something even more captivating.
Yes, like a rose.
She looked so noble and beautiful that if I carelessly reached out, I might get pricked by thorns.
To conclude, she looks young, sings well, and her visuals are easily first-tier idol level.
‘Why is she doing this here?’
Doesn’t she have an agency? What are entertainment companies doing while this girl is busking?
If I were an entertainment manager, I would have signed her immediately.
Well, the dark-haired woman in front of me had a collection box open and was receiving a kind of performance fee.
It means she has the desire to earn money with her voice.
Should I ask her? If she belongs to an agency? If not, should I offer to recommend her?
I think I could use my connections to get her into a decent agency.
No, maybe that would be too meddlesome.
For now, what I should do here is…
I took out my wallet and used all the cash I had to pay for the song.
Drunk as I was, I’m not sure how much it was, but it felt quite thick.
The dark-haired woman singing briefly widened her eyes, but as if embarrassed to show emotion, she immediately returned to a poker face and slightly bowed her head as a greeting.
It’s a shame that no emotion showed on her face, but perhaps that’s part of her concept or charm.
Maybe the song I heard was her last, as the woman stubbornly didn’t say thank you verbally, but bowed her head to express gratitude to people before disappearing.
I was lucky to be able to hear the final song.
I should come back next time. She might be here again.
On my way back, I unconsciously hummed the song’s lines.
The next morning, I was sitting in the director’s office but still struggling with the lingering remnants of the song.
“Sigh… There are so many talented people in the world. I want to hear it again…”
“Hear what?”
“Oh, Secretary Shin. Did you get home well yesterday? Thanks for doing the laundry and cleaning.”
“It was nothing. I took an unauthorized visit, so I at least did your laundry.”
“Hmm… But you haven’t forgotten our promise, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Good. Then let’s do as we always do.”
“Yes, I’ll bring you coffee.”
Secretary Shin quickly brought me a delicious hazelnut latte.
“Yes, that’s the taste. I missed you, Secretary Shin.”
“Hehe.”
Secretary Shin smiles and blushes at my compliment.
Cute.
Then suddenly curious about something, I opened my mouth.
“By the way, did you come in late yesterday? How come you arrived later than me for once?”
“Ah, no, it’s just that there seemed to be a commotion on my way up, so I was delayed watching it.”
“Commotion? What commotion?”
“Shin Jae-hyun. That person was yelling at the staff? From what I heard, it’s not the first time. It seems to have been resolved, so there’s nothing for you to worry about, Director.”
Birds of a feather flock together, I guess that applies to couples too.
Harang was also terrible to the staff, sigh.
Well, I can let Harang slide, but that Shin Jae-hyun, I’d really like to take him down somehow…
Hmm… A method… Oh? OH!
“That’s it!”
“?!”
“Nothing, Secretary Shin, go back to work.”
“Oh, yes.”
This is what they call an eureka moment.
I sent Secretary Shin out and immediately made a phone call.
“Ugh, what… Brother, why are you calling so early in the morning…”
“Jin-sung, let’s work on something together.”
“?”
It looks like things are about to get interesting.
