Awakening Of Grace: Kyung Jin-ju II (3)
"Hmm…"
Awakened by the sunlight and the smell of food tickling his nose, Do-kyung stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment. The pink wallpaper, unlike the rhombus-patterned one he was used to, reminded him that this wasn't his home. Soon, he recalled the passionate dawn with Jin-ju and realized, sequentially, that this was her apartment. As he got up to dress, he noticed shorts and a T-shirt on the vanity chair. They were brand new, with tags still attached. He realized that she had bought these clothes in anticipation of a day like this.
On the vanity, there was a large note that read, Mister, wear these clothes! He found her thoughtfulness both admirable and appreciated. Dressed, he stepped outside to find her cooking in the kitchen.
Hmm, hmm-hmm 🎵
Jin-ju, humming a tune, looked every bit the newlywed. Watching her, Do-kyung wondered what his own honeymoon phase had been like.
'I don't think she was like this…'
Lee Yujin had a quiet personality.
She did prepare meals when the time came, but he had never seen her cook with such a cheerful face. It always felt like she was cooking out of obligation because they were married. Jin-ju, about to open the refrigerator, noticed Do-kyung and smiled brightly. With a sliding sound, she opened the door installed to block the smell and dashed into his arms.
"Ehehe! Mister! Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, were you making breakfast?"
"Yes! Hehe, what do you think I was doing?"
"Hmm… Sniff, sniff, it's a familiar smell, isn't it? Is it something like beef bone soup?"
"Bingo! I made a big batch and froze it a few days ago! Let's have that for breakfast! Sound good?"
"Of course."
Breakfast table…
How long has it been?
He couldn't even remember.
He always skipped breakfast and went to work, handled lunch at the office, and usually had instant noodles with pre-cooked rice for dinner… Thinking about it, it was ridiculous.
'Wow… I really lived like a beggar.'
Hahahahaha.
A hollow laugh escaped him.
"It's all ready; please have a seat. Oh, do you want to wash up first?"
"No, I'll eat first and then wash up."
"Alright, then!"
Jin-ju placed a bowl of bone broth, dumplings, meat, and garnishes in front of Do-kyung. Then, the side dishes followed one after another. Rolled omelets, fresh kimchi, stir-fried octopus-shaped sausages, and stir-fried shredded potatoes, the dishes seemed endless.
It was a feast.
As Jin-ju sat down with the rice already served, Do-kyung looked at her intently and asked before even picking up his spoon.
"Did you make all of this?"
"Yes! I've been living on my own for a while, so I can manage this much. And these are all easy side dishes. For the more difficult ones, I just buy them with extra seasoning or something. Hehe."
"You're good at cooking. I'll enjoy the meal."
"Yep! Enjoy your meal, Mister!"
Do-kyung started tasting the dishes Jin-ju had prepared one by one. There was no need for additional words. Although the seasoning was mild, everything was delicious. The beef bone soup was rich, and the dumplings were tasty. More than anything, what surprised him was the clear sense that the food was filled with sincerity.
It was warm.
Not because the food was hot, but because of the warmth of the care put into it.
It felt like the handiwork of a clumsy wife wanting to serve a delicious meal to her beloved husband.
Despite it being morning, he finished two bowls of rice. Jin-ju emptied one bowl and watched him eat with more happiness than Do-kyung himself. It was a bit overwhelming, but since it was a gaze he had been seeing since last night, it was also a familiar one.
After he finished eating, she cleared the table and made him a drink with plum extract, saying it was good for digestion. After drinking it and resting a bit, he washed up and changed into his clothes to return home. As he put on his shoes at the entrance and stood up, he felt a soft sensation from behind.
"Mister, will you come again next week?"
"Next week?"
"Yes, hehe, like a weekend couple. How about it?"
"Well… if I'm free, I'll come."
"Promise! Promise it!"
"Got it."
He removed his hand and turned his body.
He ruffled her hair absentmindedly as she smiled happily. She pouted with an "Ow!" but even that looked cute.
Hug.
She clung to him again, whining if he could stay longer, but he said he'd contact her and left her house.
The Sunday sunlight was warm.
And his heart was warmer.
Upon arriving home, he checked the individual instructions he had given to Ashley and Jeong So-young, and then scheduled his plans for the next week.
"Let's do it like this: Wednesday is Jeong So-young, and Friday is Ashley."
They ignited a completely different kind of sadism in him than the feelings he had for Jin-ju. He had no intention of stopping it. Moreover, there was still a long way to go. There was still Moon Jae-hee and Lee Yujin. He also had to take revenge on that wretched bastard, John Renat.
'The power of the Goddess… With this, I can do anything.'
If he wasn't planning to conquer the Earth, that is.
Thinking of the power, confidence surged within him. He was no longer Seo Do-kyung, who just stupidly endured everything.
'Let's not be too hasty about the Jin-ju matter, and observe slowly. Looking at the dates of the articles I saw in the foresight, there is still time.'
Jin-ju's debut year was next year. It was around summer, too. With nearly two months left until the new year, he thought he should talk more with her and take things step by step. After organizing the schedule and remaining tasks, night had fallen deep. Do-kyung, after washing up and soothing his throat with a can of beer, ended his Sunday like that.
Monday.
Do-kyung, upon arriving at the company, was immediately summoned by Director Lee Myung-sun as soon as work hours began. It was a solo summons, not with Moon Jae-hee, which drew the attention of the office staff as Do-kyung headed to the director's office.
Knock, knock.
"Director, this is Manager Seo Do-kyung."
"Come in."
Inside, Director Lee Myung-sun was seated on the sofa. As he took a seat, she promptly got to the point.
"It seems you were right, Manager Seo. I confirmed it through another route. The chairman of the Jo-sung Group will be arrested by this morning."
"Yes."
"There was more I wanted to discuss last week, but headquarters kept calling, leaving me too busy to do so. I apologize."
"It's no problem."
Lee Myung-sun was indeed competent.
Although Do-kyung had seen it through foresight, Lee Myung-sun had to use her personal abilities to determine the truth of the matter. As expected, within a few days, she had confirmed the authenticity of the information he had given her. She was about to say something more to him when her phone, placed on the table, started ringing.
"Yes, it's me. Now? Already? Got it."
After hanging up, she immediately turned on the TV. As she changed the channel, a live news bulletin began to play. The large headline at the top read: Prosecution, Chairman Jo Deok-jae Arrested. This phrase confirmed that the Reality Foresight Do-kyung had seen was indeed true.
The local reporter began detailing additional charges along with Chairman Jo Deok-jae's tax evasion, slush funds, and assault on a journalist. The two watched the news in silence. About 20 minutes later, Chairman Jo Deok-jae, handcuffed, was seen being led out through the group's main gate.
"Hmm…"
"..."
Director Lee Myung-sun sighed.
Although it had been confirmed, she was clearly worried about the repercussions of a conglomerate chairman's arrest. At this very moment, the stock market must be going crazy. Especially in Jo-sung Group's main sectors of construction, shipping, steel, and distribution, the stocks were likely crashing.
'Since Dae-jin also has a stake, their stock must be dropping. They are in-laws, after all.'
Do-kyung thought of his friend Jun-young.
With such reliable information, it was clear that he was having a lot of fun right now. With Do-kyung's money and what he had, they would have made at least billions. However, Do-kyung, who no longer had a desire for money, wasn't greatly affected.
When Chairman Jo Deok-jae was taken away in a van by the prosecutors, Lee Myung-sun turned off the TV.
"He's been arrested."
"Yes, I was uncertain…"
"You seemed quite calm about it."
"Not really. I was quite worried I might have been wrong."
"Don't lie.
Lee Myung-sun glanced at Do-kyung, took a sip of tea, and handed over a document. Before he could even open it, she continued speaking.
"With this, the pediatric cancer patient event is canceled, but we can't just not do it, can we?"
"Well, that's true… Should we look into another agency now?"
"Let's just do that for this time. But there's actually something else."
Something else?
Do-kyung tilted his head in confusion.
"Do you remember when we had an entertainment subsidiary under Dae-jin?"
"Yes, I remember, but…"
"Yes, it was a complete mess with actors involved in drug parties and sex scandals, so it was just blown up."
"..."
That was indeed the case.
Dae-jin had been running a management and investment business simultaneously, but when the actors got entangled in drugs, affairs, and sex scandals, the top management decided to disband the entertainment division altogether. They concluded there was no chance of recovery. And it turned out to be a very good decision.
It was exactly ten years ago when Dae-jin was forced to withdraw from the entertainment business.
But why bring up that story again?
By the time this question settled in Do-kyung's mind, Lee Myung-sun spoke again.
"Isn't it getting a bit tedious to select entertainment and plan events every time? So there's talk from above about creating another entertainment company."
"..."
Restarting the entertainment division?
While Do-kyung had no aversion to revisiting old endeavors, the entertainment business was notoriously difficult. Even those seasoned in the industry often failed. Of course, with the massive backing of a conglomerate, securing a spot in the entertainment industry could be relatively easier.
However, given that Dae-jin had grown much larger in the past ten years, re-entering the entertainment business might not even fit into their current business strategies. Yet, a revival? Hence, Do-kyung was skeptical. Then, suddenly, he was struck by a thought.
'Subordinate Foresight…'
The topic of entertainment had suddenly come up.
And a couple of days ago, Do-kyung had seen Kyung Jin-ju's future through the Subordinate Foresight. It was a future where she became a big star. The future that the foresight showed of Kyung Jin-ju was aligned with the entertainment planning in reality.
'Is this a coincidence?'
Do-kyung unknowingly shook his head.
If this is a coincidence, then perhaps there is no inevitability anywhere in the world.