God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 139

"Oh, I understand that feeling~!"

Kim Jong-chun nodded vigorously with tears welling up in his eyes. He kept sniffling, clearly on the verge of tears.

"Don't even mention it. My daughter, you know. When she was little, she used to call out 'Daddy~ Daddy~' and only look for me. I secretly gave her candy..."

Park So-in must have smacked Kim Jong-chun's back several times for that. But how could one stop a father's desire to win his daughter's affection?

Kim Jong-chun, sobbing, confessed to his secret, painstaking efforts to provide bribes.

"But then!"

Bang!

Kim Jong-chun slammed the table hard and exclaimed.

"Everything changed when puberty started!"

Is he drunk? But he hadn't even taken a sip of beer. Hearing the commotion, Han Mi-ae poked her head out from the kitchen.

"Is it that bad? I didn't think it was so severe."

"Owner Han, you're just too blessed! There are plenty of household heads around me shedding tears of blood~!"

"Our Da-on was always so well-behaved."

"That's impossible!"

Kim Jong-chun clutched his head in frustration. His appearance was so pitiful that I couldn't help but feel sympathy.

"I'm sorry, Owner. We've closed the shop, but we're still occupying space here."

"It's nothing. It's nice to see our busy Woo-yeon's face."

Han Mi-ae naturally took the seat next to us. Me, Kim Jong-chun, and Han Mi-ae. The three of us were sitting here in none other than Happy Snack.

After business hours, in the middle of the empty shop, the three of us gathered for a rare occasion, having a drink with chicken feet as snacks.

Of course, everyone had work the next day, so just a simple beer.

"No, listen. My daughter used to run to the front door when I arrived home, you know? Now she doesn't come out of her room except for meals~ Look, I even have a picture from back then. Isn't she so pretty?"

"Yes, yes. I get it."

Once Kim Jong-chun starts bragging about his daughter, there's no end to it.

The last time we had drinks with Lee In-cheol, he gave a two-hour-long monologue. That says it all.

After cutting him off politely, I took a bite of chicken feet and spoke again.

"I thought I had done everything I could for him. Was something lacking? Was it because I was too busy and left him alone?"

At my words, Han Mi-ae's expression subtly changed. On the other hand, Kim Jong-chun nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"Sigh. Are you a bit busy? Can't be helped."

"Even so, it's the first time I've seen him act like that in front of me. Slamming the door shut, not answering calls... Haah."

As I let out a deep sigh, Kim Jong-chun patted my shoulder. It was filled with the shared pain of those in the same situation.

"...But."

Han Mi-ae quietly raised her hand.

"Woo-yeon, are you raising a child? Manager Kim, what's all this about?"

"Hm? Woo-yeon, weren't you talking about your younger sibling?"

"Younger sibling? Woo-yeon has a younger sibling?"

Ah. Did I not explain properly?

Come to think of it, I think I just started venting about puberty after calling Kim Jong-chun out saying I had something to consult about.

I called them because both Han Mi-ae and Kim Jong-chun have actual experience raising children, so I thought I could get some advice. I guess I was too hasty.

I calmed myself down and slowly started to explain the situation from the beginning.

"It's not a sibling. I brought in a kid who was in a difficult environment. I want to take care of him as best I can... but it's not going as well as I'd like."

At my words, both of them finally nodded slowly.

"Woo-yeon must be having a hard time. Being busy with work and having to take care of a child... especially during the sensitive puberty period."

"Hmm. It's difficult, very difficult. It's hard enough raising your own child."

I was prepared, but it really is quite challenging.

"Since the kid doesn't have any friends here, I thought he might be relying on me too much, so I suggested he try going to school."

"I see, school... School?!"

"The child isn't going to school right now?"

Is this such a surprising thing? Although puzzled, I continued.

"Yes. But when I suggested going to school, he got defensive, asking if there was something lacking about him... I was at a loss for words on how to respond."

"Oh my. He should go to school!"

"Right?"

That's what I'm saying. It's a good opportunity to make friends his age. Why is he so adamantly against it?

"Of course, um... since you said he's from a difficult environment, it might not be easy for him to adapt. But he can't just stay cooped up at home forever."

"That's right, that's right. He needs to mingle with peers his age and develop social skills."

I knew it. The direction I was thinking was correct.

"Since this is my first time, I was unsure if this was the right approach. But hearing from both of you, I feel more confident now."

I said with sparkling eyes.

"I think I'll tell him to take the college entrance exam again this year!"

"Right, the college entrance exam...! Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Both of them tilted their heads simultaneously. The three of us exchanged confused glances. What's going on?

"Didn't you say the kid was going through puberty?"

"Yes. I said he seems to be in puberty."

"But he's old enough to take the college entrance exam?"

"Well, he can take it..."

I couldn't figure out where the conversation had gone wrong. As we were all just exchanging question marks, Han Mi-ae tried to clarify the situation first.

"Wait a minute. Woo-yeon, about this 'kid' you mentioned... How old is he exactly?"

"Ah. I didn't mention that, did I? He's twenty this year."

"Twenty years old?!"

Kim Jong-chun jumped up.

"Are, are you in your right mind?! Where did you pick up a fully grown adult man from? Huh?! And you say you're raising him? Living together?"

"Ah, no, it's not like that. He lives separately."

"Phew."

Kim Jong-chun let out a deep sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. Then, sitting back down in his chair, he asked.

"Then the school you mentioned earlier, surely not...?"

"I meant university, of course."

"We thought you meant middle school! You said he was going through puberty!"

Whether it's middle school or university, they're both schools, so what's the big difference?

Han Mi-ae then added with a slightly trembling voice.

"Wait. If he's twenty, he's only a year younger than you, Woo-yeon. Do people usually call someone a year younger a 'kid'...?"

"When I first saw him, he looked much younger. He's grown a lot now."

"I don't think that's the issue here..."

When I met him on the island, he looked like he was barely in middle school. You should have seen him then.

Besides, twenty is still a kid, isn't it? Compared to my age before the regression, it's an incredibly young age.

'Although there might not be much difference in physical age, I have memories from before the regression.'

From that perspective, his chubby face looked hopelessly young to me.

"Besides, maybe because he couldn't act spoiled during his childhood, it seems like he's going through a delayed puberty. I told you earlier, didn't I? The kid has never acted like this before."

"......"

"......"

Despite my passionate explanation, Kim Jong-chun and Han Mi-ae's faces remained ambiguous.

"I don't know about this."

"Look, Woo-yeon. When a twenty-year-old behaves like that, it's not so much puberty as... just being angry because his opinion wasn't accepted."

"That's right."

"But he's still a kid, I'm telling you."

At my repeated insistence on calling him a 'kid', the two looked at each other and shook their heads. It meant they couldn't understand me.

Come on, I'm serious.

"You're something else, treating someone a year younger than you like a child. Geez. How can you think that's puberty?"

"Regardless of age, if you feel like he's too attached to you, some action might be necessary. Sending him to university isn't a bad idea."

"True. Preferably somewhere far away in the countryside."

It seems I won't be able to get meaningful advice here either.

I silently tilted my beer can.

"Well, I have work tomorrow too, so I should finish these chicken feet and head out~ Owner Han, your skills seem to be improving?"

"Hahaha. I put in extra effort because Woo-yeon was coming~"

"Ah. It would be perfect with a shot of soju! Haah, let's look forward to next time."

Well.

Still, killing time exchanging such frivolous conversation had its own charm.

"By the way, where's Da-on? He didn't give his mother any trouble during puberty, such a good kid! I should give him some pocket money!"

"Oh my, really? You always say you'll give him money but never do. But I wonder if you can bear to part with it. Da-on went out to sort the recycling."

"Ah! I really was going to give it this time!"

"Puhaha!"

I took another sip of beer while watching their playful banter.

"Oh, right. Woo-yeon."

"Yes?"

At that moment, Han Mi-ae suddenly called out to me.

"Um, by any chance... Could I ask you for a favor?"

I opened my eyes wide. It was rare for Han Mi-ae to speak like this.

"What's the matter?"

"Well..."

As Han Mi-ae's story went on, I relaxed the tension that had built up in my body. What is this? She was speaking so cautiously, I thought it was something serious.

"Of course. I don't mind."

"Oh, really?! Thank you. Thank you, Woo-yeon!"

Seeing her joy, I felt a bit embarrassed.

"Shall we meet tomorrow? If that person's time allows."

"Yes, yes. Of course! We should work around your schedule, Woo-yeon!"

"You don't have to go that far... So, this person's business isn't doing well, and they don't know what the problem is, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Taking a look shouldn't be a problem. But more importantly..."

I deliberately swallowed the rest of my words.

The important thing is whether that owner can set aside their stubbornness and faithfully implement the solutions I propose.

That was it.

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Meanwhile, Jung Da-on.

Age 21. Former part-timer at the main branch of Hapjae Soup and current hall manager and owner's son of Happy Snack.

He had come out to sort a pile of recycling... but was very flustered to find a man inside the recycling area.

Sob, sob.

Sniffling sounds came from the man. Jung Da-on put down the pile of recyclables beside him and politely requested.

"Um, excuse me. Could you move aside?"

"...Sniff."

"Hello...?"

A pitiful voice dispersed into the air.