If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 26

But the person who did the hitting seemed more shocked than the one who got hit.

Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s eyes wavered, then he looked at me with a lost child’s expression, as if he didn’t know what to do.

Even so, he didn’t reach out toward me again.

“I’m sorry. Did it hurt?”

“…No. I’m fine.”

I was just surprised. It was such an unexpected reaction.

“That’s a relief. I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize.”

“But are you okay, oppa?”

I’m not a psychological counselor, nor have I ever been to such a hospital, so I have no knowledge about these things.

Still, I knew from common sense that this kind of rejection reaction in a young child wasn’t normal.

“…”

Watching Jeong Hyeon-gyo lower his long eyelashes without answering, I suddenly realized.

The fact that we hadn’t talked for a very long time.

Of course, I had only moved here two years ago, and I couldn’t say Jeong Hyeon-gyo and I were particularly close.

But at least the year before last.

When Rampa Lim was staying in Korea and the three of us hung out together, Jeong Hyeon-gyo wasn’t like this.

“What could be wrong with me? Right?”

“But…”

“I’m not feeling well physically. I catch colds often. Because of that, I’ve become sensitive… That’s why I acted like that just now. Sing-a must have been startled because of me.”

“…No.”

“Where are you coming back from, Sing-a?”

“Ballet.”

“Ah. I heard. You’re taking lessons together with the professor who taught Hyeon-hye, introduced by your mother.”

“Yeah.”

I awkwardly touched my nose.

This was one of the countless reasons why Jeong Hyeon-hye hated me.

I had wanted to learn ballet for a long time, but there weren’t as many academies as there would be in the 2020s, so I was wondering what to do when I was able to squeeze into a small elite teaching studio through the grace of angel Professor Eun Yeon-ju.

Jeong Hyeon-hye mocked me whenever the adults weren’t looking, calling me shameless, but I just brazened it out.

I didn’t want to live with a turtle neck and herniated disc in this life too!

“Did you get any nosebleeds?”

I was startled.

I never thought Jeong Hyeon-gyo would remember something like this?

To me, it felt like a past life.

Of course. Since I had figured out the limits of revealing heavenly secrets, there was no reason for me to foolishly get nosebleeds anymore.

Even though quite some time had passed, Jeong Hyeon-gyo asked as if he were asking about yesterday.

Come to think of it, when I first got a nosebleed, Jeong Hyeon-gyo and Rampa Lim were right there…

“I don’t get them anymore~. It’s been a really long time since I had one.”

“Ah. I see… It’s been a long time.”

Jeong Hyeon-gyo muttered.

The boy who was always evaluated as upright and calm, never getting excited, seemed to have sunk even his childlike vitality inward while I hadn’t seen him.

He had become more introverted than before.

It was somewhat pitiful.

Actually, the moment I saw Jeong Hyeon-gyo showing rejection to physical contact, my reflexive thought was child abuse.

But setting aside the fact that Professor Eun Yeon-ju didn’t seem like that kind of person, I continued to discreetly observe various parts of Jeong Hyeon-gyo, but I couldn’t see any such traces at all.

“Are you in contact with Rampa oppa?”

It would be different if Rampa Lim were by Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s side.

I found out later, but Jeong Hyeon-gyo hanging out with peers on moving day was all initiated by Rampa Lim.

Basically, Jeong Hyeon-gyo didn’t interact well with others.

Except for Rampa Lim who came from Australia.

“Sometimes. Not often though. Hyung is busy too. He was originally going to move up to junior last year, but he skipped last year and entered this year. The season started in March after free ended in February, so he must be swamped.”

“Mm. Is he doing well?”

“He’s doing well. Hyung is a genius.”

I didn’t ask why Rampa Lim skipped last year. Wouldn’t I know the reason best?

It’s good to hear he’s doing well.

We hadn’t had a conversation since the incident.

It would be more accurate to say we hadn’t met even once after being rescued from the mountain forest.

I was constantly surrounded by family, and Rampa Lim was moved to a VIP hospital room with tight security under his sponsor’s protection.

As soon as he recovered, he returned to Australia…

When I heard from Jeong Hyeon-gyo that Rampa Lim was leaving, I hesitated about whether to go see him off, but I never went in the end.

I don’t know why.

Anyway, I couldn’t go, and that was the last time.

“Jeong Hyeon-gyo is a genius too.”

“Huh?”

I was the one who brought up Rampa Lim, but I didn’t know hearing about Rampa Lim would make me feel this uncomfortable!

I deliberately changed the subject again.

“Hyeon-gyo oppa is a genius too. You go to the gifted program. I heard Seoul National University Gifted Program only selects five people nationwide, and oppa is first place even there?”

“I’m not.”

“Huh?”

“I’m… anyway, I’m not.”

Jeong Hyeon-gyo suddenly stood up.

The swing creaked violently from the sudden movement.

He couldn’t leave but paced around in place. He looked anxious, naturally, and even impatient.

I was surprised and hurriedly grabbed Jeong Hyeon-gyo.

As soon as I grabbed his arm, I thought “oh no,” but this time Jeong Hyeon-gyo didn’t push me away.

Instead, he stopped abruptly and looked down at my hand holding him. No, was he glaring…?

I felt like I needed to take some action.

‘Right, sugar!’

Wouldn’t he feel better if I gave him sugar?

Adults’ problems with low blood sugar and stress are usually solved with sugar, but I wondered if it would work on children too.

Still, with the mindset that it was better than nothing, I forcibly opened Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s hand and pressed something into it.

“Eat this.”

“…”

“Hurry~.”

“…What is it?”

“Candy!”

It was green grape candy.

It was a nostalgic flavor I liked, so I happened to have plenty in my bag. Without waiting for the dazed Jeong Hyeon-gyo any longer, I unwrapped it and forcibly shoved it into his mouth.

Since it was a large candy, Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s cheek bulged out. This kid looks cute like this.

‘Right~ kids should be cute like this.’

When I unconsciously cupped Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s cheeks with both hands and rubbed them, the old soul froze up even more in confusion.

“Sing-a…?”

Oops. I cleared my throat and pulled my hands away.

“How is it! Sweet?”

“…Yeah.”

“Good, it’s a gift.”

I poured out candies and stuffed them into Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s hands and pockets.

“Don’t throw them away, and whenever you’re depressed, take one out and eat it. Life is a battle of mental strength. The longer you think about things, the more your mind wears down, so just get through life roughly. Make sure to eat sugar. Especially people like oppa who use their brains need to pay more attention. Didn’t they teach you at Seoul National University that the brain runs on glucose?”

Wait. Did I speak too maturely?

Thinking I had made a slight mistake, I deliberately smiled even more charmingly.

Then Jeong Hyeon-gyo, who had been staring at me intently, let out a small chuckle.

“You’ve gotten really close with Hyeon-hye.”

“…What are you talking about, all of a sudden.”

“Your smile has started to feel similar to Hyeon-hye’s.”

“What? No way~ I’m definitely cuter~.”

I tried to appease him, but now he’s talking nonsense?

I couldn’t get angry at a sick kid, so I just acted petulant. But I didn’t expect Jeong Hyeon-gyo to agree so readily.

“You’re right. Sing-a is better.”

Jeong Hyeon-gyo rolled the candy around in his mouth once and looked at me as he spoke again. As if savoring it, as if in admiration.

“You’re better. Much better.”

“….”

Jeong Hyeon-gyo smiled faintly as he looked at me.

In that moment, I seemed to realize who should be the first target of the kaleidoscope.

Under the May evening glow where crimson and pink colors mixed together, I wanted to know if this boy’s smile, which I had earned with such difficulty, would last even in the distant future.

“Jeong Hyeon-gyo. Close your eyes for a moment.”

Good-natured Jeong Hyeon-gyo didn’t even ask why and obediently closed his eyes.

I quickly rummaged through my lucky pouch and pulled out the kaleidoscope.

【’Future Kaleidoscope’ has been activated.】

【Projection target: Person – Jeong Hyeon-gyo】

【Projecting an unchangeable future.】

【Projection time: 15 seconds】

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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