Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 5

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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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05. Sincerity and Repayment

I glanced at the clock hanging on the corridor wall.

It was now 2:40 AM.

‘Wouldn’t it be rude to call out of the blue at this hour?’

There’s no second chance at a first impression.

‘If the doctor had refused Mother’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the story would be different. I’d better make the call later.’

Instead, I memorized the phone number.

Uncle Cheol-gu stretched his arms wide.

“Hey, kid. If you’re sleepy, go to sleep.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“Are you really going to report me as a spy if something happens?”

“If necessary.”

Uncle Cheol-gu stopped mid-yawn and whipped around to look at me.

“The doctor is taking responsibility for the treatment. Uncle will stay here and watch, so don’t think about pulling any nonsense and just go to sleep, kid.”

“No way. I can’t trust anything until I see it with my own eyes… Gyaaaak!”

I got caught again!

Uncle Cheol-gu grabbed both my cheeks and stretched them out while clicking his tongue.

“This damn kid, really. Not only bribes but also threats and paranoia, huh?”

“Gyaaangueek…!”

“Just trust, will you! Trust the doctor, trust your mother, trust this uncle! Is that so hard?”

“…”

I kept my mouth shut tight.

Both my cheeks were stinging, but I didn’t back away and rub them like before.

Instead, I politely bowed my waist.

“Why wouldn’t I trust you, Uncle? I’m late with my thanks. Thank you so much, Uncle.”

I’m a man who definitely repays debts and grudges.

My iron rule is to give back more than I received!

Uncle Cheol-gu blinked his eyes again.

Whatever the case.

“Thank you for helping us today. If it weren’t for you, Uncle, our Mother might have passed away.”

It really could have been a disaster.

The Grim Reaper had declared her death sentence.

In the past, I had lost Mother helplessly, and that remained a lifelong regret.

“It was an urgent emergency situation, and I’m truly grateful that you readily took Mother to the Hospital. There were no Taxis running because of curfew, and it must have been difficult to borrow someone else’s Truck in the middle of the night.”

This time, thanks to Uncle Cheol-gu stepping on the gas and rushing, Mother was able to receive treatment before it was too late.

“I know this isn’t something to be grateful for with just words. But right now, this is all I can do. Thank you so much.”

“Enough. What’s all this for.”

“My thanks seem too shabby, don’t they? Should I write and send you thank-you letters every day? Consider that my sincerity.”

“I said that’s really enough.”

I grinned.

“I will definitely repay this kindness someday. This is my oath.”

Uncle Cheol-gu roughly tousled my hair.

“Kid, a man’s oath isn’t something you make carelessly.”

“I’m not the kind of man who carelessly breaks oaths made with my own mouth, you know?”

I put the Cigarette I had picked up earlier in Uncle’s mouth, cutting off any counterargument at the source.

Then I took out a 500 Won Bill from Mother’s Bag.

The one with the Turtle Ship drawn on it.

“And please consider this my humble but heartfelt repayment.”

“Repayment?”

“It would be disappointing if there’s no repayment for help, wouldn’t it? You’re feeling peckish, right? Your mouth is bored, right? What do you need at times like this? A cup of coffee from the Rest Room Vending Machine. Follow me.”

I got down from the Hospital chair and grabbed Uncle Cheol-gu’s sleeve, pulling him along.

“I’ll have Job’s Tears Tea, the change is Uncle’s tip, and having a cup of coffee while smoking a Cigarette would be perfect, right?”

“Huh…”

“What? Is my sincerity too shabby?”

“Not at all.”

Uncle Cheol-gu roughly tousled my hair again.

“Ha, what is this little kid really.”

Uncle slipped his arm under my side and lifted me up effortlessly.

“Uggyaak!”

No matter how much I struggled, he didn’t budge at all.

A seven-year-old’s body was too light.

Uncle Cheol-gu walked with long strides, one hand casually shoved in his pants pocket.

With each step, my body bounced up and down dramatically.

“Put me down!”

“Where’s a little kid going barefoot? Stay still.”

Uncle Cheol-gu grinned.

“You said you trust Uncle, right? Don’t tell me that was just empty words?”

“······.”

Well, this is something. A man has his pride.

I scrunched up my face and grumbled very discontentedly.

“I inhaled coal briquette gas earlier so my stomach feels bad, okay? Please handle me gently.”

“Huh······.”

Uncle Cheol-gu immediately pulled me out from under his arm and gave me a piggyback ride.

I couldn’t balance well, so I gripped Uncle’s head tightly.

I’m getting to ride piggyback like this, something I never once experienced in the past.

It felt pretty good.

Really not bad at all, this.

“Hehehe.”

It was such a childlike laugh that it was hard to believe it came from my mouth.

The problem was that hearing it with my own ears felt too awkward.

I pressed my lips tightly shut to prevent more laughter from bursting out, but my upturned mouth corners wouldn’t come down easily.

It was like a tickling feeling in my stomach.

“Hehehe.”

Ah, damn. Epic failure at holding back laughter.

Damn, this little kid’s body.

As Uncle Cheol-gu walked with long strides, we arrived at the hospital rest room located in the garden in an instant.

“Wow.”

This is a real 70s vending machine!

In the 21st century, these kinds of vending machines mostly disappeared and you couldn’t see them much.

But in this era, it’s completely state-of-the-art foreign technology itself!

In 1977, Roksan Industry imported 400 complete coffee vending machines from Japan’s Shamf Company and installed them.

I’d heard rumors that they only put them in the finest restaurants, hotels, and places like Seoul Station, but I’m seeing one here at Taeseong Hospital?

They say Taeseong Group recently received massive investment funds and expanded their scale.

The state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber facility, and now this coffee vending machine too.

Seeing how much money they’re spending, I can really feel how much the hospital’s finances have expanded.

“Wow.”

Coffee costs a whole 100 won!

A bowl of jjajangmyeon costs 300 won, and a haircut costs 200 won, but what makes vending machine coffee worth 100 won per cup?

‘Still, when you need to spend, you have to spend.’

Uncle Cheol-gu was about to turn the change lever.

“What kind of vending machine coffee costs a hundred won? With this money, I could drink coffee at a coffee shop.”

But I spread my palm wide and blocked him.

“When a man shows gratitude and repays precious help, he shouldn’t skimp on small change. I’ve decided to be extravagant today.”

“Is it okay to be so generous with your mother’s money?”

“My mother’s life isn’t worth just 500 won. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t regret spending every last penny I have.”

I closed my eyes tight and firmly pressed the Job’s Tears Tea button.

This one was only 50 won.

“If you don’t speak up quickly, I’m going to get you Job’s Tears Tea too. Just so you know, it’s really bland.”

“Coffee should definitely be black.”

Click.

The black coffee aroma was really nice.

In the 70s, they ground coffee beans and brewed them fresh.

“And feel free to smoke your cigarette leisurely over there in the corner without worrying about anyone.”

Clatter.

Uncle turned the change lever.

“Why won’t it come out?”

Rattle rattle, thunk.

The moment Uncle struck the Coffee Vending Machine with his fist.

Clatter clatter clatter.

The Coffee Vending Machine began spitting out coins like crazy.

10 Won Coins, 50 Won Coins, 100 Won Coins scattered everywhere, clanging and bouncing in all directions.

“······.”

“······.”

Looking at the coins that appeared to be worth at least ten thousand won at a glance, Uncle Cheol-gu let out a hollow laugh.

“Didn’t you tell me to keep the change as a tip earlier?”

Had heaven added its sincerity to my humble genuine feelings?

* * *

‘I feel good.’

It was a warm embrace.

A fragrant and nostalgic scent.

A soft and tender touch.

A young woman’s gentle laughter tickled my ears.

Yes, my Mother used to laugh just like that······.

‘Huh?’

I snapped to attention.

My last memory was dozing off next to Mother, who had been moved to the General Ward the night before.

Mother, who was holding me in her arms as I slept, smiled brightly.

“My son, did you sleep well?”

“······!”

It had been a full 45 years.

I had reunited with Mother, whom I had longed for so desperately that I wished I could see her even once in my dreams.

But like a fool, I couldn’t say anything.

“Uh, uh…”

I just opened and closed my mouth like a goldfish.

The only thing I could do was tighten my grip on Mother’s clothes.

My breathing became rapidly shallow, just like when I had regained consciousness.

My determination to carefully examine Mother’s face, which had grown dim even in my memories, vanished completely.

My vision just became blurry with tears.

“Uh, Mother…!”

Because her skin touching mine was so warm.

Because the sound of her heartbeat was so moving.

Because seeing my reflection in Mother’s bright, clear eyes made me choke up.

“Motherrr…!”

I buried my head in Mother’s arms and sobbed.

Mother held me tight and rubbed my cheek.

She stroked my hair and gently rubbed my back.

She spoke in a gentle voice mixed with laughter.

“Mother is okay now. My son was really scared yesterday, wasn’t he?”

“…Yes.”

I was scared.

That Mother might pass away.

That she might never open her eyes again.

“I’m sorry. Mother should have protected my son, but I foolishly fell fast asleep.”

Mother held out her pinky finger.

“Something like that will never happen again. Mother promises.”

Even though I knew full well that such a promise couldn’t stop death from coming.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and firmly hooked my pinky finger with hers.

“It’s a promise.”

“Stamp it.”

Originally, promises should be completed with documents rather than words, sealed with a thumbprint rather than linking pinkies.

“Hehehe.”

I laughed as if I had gained the whole world from that pinky promise.

Ah, this child’s body really.

Grumble.

It was the sound coming from my stomach.

“Are you hungry? Is there anything our son wants to eat?”

“…thing.”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“I like anything Mother makes for me.”

I didn’t know before.

I always complained that Mother’s cooking was tasteless.

Only after losing Mother did I realize there would be no way to eat it again.

I hugged Mother tightly.

“I missed you.”

Mother, it’s been 45 years.

“Mother, I love you.”

If we met again, I wanted to say these words first.

“Mother loves our Cha Jeong-hyeok too. The most in the world. So very much.”

Mother also hugged me tightly and smiled brightly.

It was a dazzlingly beautiful smile.

“Hm?”

Mother suddenly noticed the Jewelry Box protruding from the Bag and her expression hardened.

That was something that should have been deep inside Our House’s Wardrobe.

“Cha Jeong-hyeok, what was inside here…!”

“This?”

I took out the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony 1970 Special Edition from my pocket.

“This is Father’s watch, right?”

Mother’s expression grew troubled as she only moved her lips slightly.

Still, I waited patiently.

After hesitating for a long while, Mother opened her mouth with a long sigh.

“Yes.”

Ha, so that’s how it is?

“Then where is Dad? Why isn’t he coming when Mom is sick? Why isn’t he coming to see me?”

“Jeong-hyeok, your father is…”

Creak.

Just then, the hospital room door opened without hesitation and the smell of cigarettes immediately wafted in.

‘Could it be…!’

Had Father rushed over after hearing that Mother was brought to the hospital?

If my father’s family was Taeseong Group, then this was Taeseong Hospital.

So perhaps…

I quickly turned around.

“Oh, it’s just Uncle!”

The bear-like large body that was entering the hospital room suddenly flinched.

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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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