Episode 17
17.
Sihu looked at Hayun's expression.
It wasn't his usual composed and calm self.
Sihu felt a bit nervous about what he might say.
The words that came out of Hayun's mouth.
Made Sihu's eyes widen.
"Hyung will support whatever decision you make."
Sihu was surprised.
He had thought Hayun would talk about school.
But contrary to his expectations, it was "I'll support you."
Those words meant that no matter what decision he made, Hayun would silently support Sihu and stand by that decision.
Deep down, Sihu was grateful to both of them.
If Ganghun felt like a parent, Hayun felt like an older brother.
Though they weren't related by blood, how many people were there who would support and stand by his decision?
When Sihu thought that far, his ears turned slightly red with gratitude.
"Thank you, Hyung."
"What, man. I'm hungry, let's clean up quickly, eat, and get to work."
At Hayun's words, Sihu smiled and went into the kitchen.
Watching Sihu moving quickly inside the kitchen, Hayun chuckled and thought,
'Maybe that honest side of you is what makes both Ganghun-hyung and me want to support you.'
Around the time lunch hours were ending.
A notice was posted on [SeeYou]'s door.
"We're sorry. We are closing due to sold-out ingredients."
It was an [announcement] that the store would close early due to ingredient depletion.
People who saw the notice turned away disappointed.
Watching that sight, Hayun clicked his tongue.
"Did our shop always have this many customers? Just how many groups came and asked?"
At Hayun's words, Sihu checked the store's POS.
"Compared to when Ganghun-hyung was running it, sales jumped about two-fold, so I think the number of customers has increased by that much."
At Sihu's words, Hayun's mouth fell slightly open.
"What? That many?"
"Yes, I've been a bit tired lately so I wondered why... turns out the number of customers has increased."
"What? You're saying you're tired?"
Sihu pouted his lips at Hayun's words.
"...Do you think my body is made of steel?"
At Sihu's words, Hayun put on a sly expression.
"Yeah. You're still in your early twenties. You should be able to chew iron."
"Haah. Hyung. Do I look like I'm here to shuck corn? You want me to chew iron?"
"You brat?"
Hayun's eyes narrowed.
Sihu showing such a reaction meant he had worries deep down.
Hayun tapped Sihu's shoulder and said,
"Hurry up and clean up, then get to school, man. I'll take care of the rest before I go."
Sihu, who was organizing the display case in the dining area, replied to Hayun,
"Yes, then I'll call you in the evening."
"Sure."
Sihu changed his clothes and left [SeeYou].
***
When he visited the department office at school, the teaching assistant welcomed Sihu with wide eyes.
"Oh my? Who is this? Isn't this the youngest CEO of Hankuk University?"
Seeing the TA who was welcoming him, Sihu realized it was a customer who occasionally came to the store.
He couldn't help but let out an awkward laugh.
"Haha—have you been well, TA-nim?"
"Every time I go to the store, there are too many people. I can't even get in."
At the TA's words, Sihu scratched his cheek and bowed his head.
"I'm sorry for coming up to school so late."
"Right? Is your phone a toy or a decoration?"
Sihu had nothing to say to the TA's playful jab.
Considering the multiple missed calls and texts, the contact through classmates, and even the contact through senior Hayun, Sihu had no choice but to keep his mouth shut and listen to the TA's snark.
Seeing Sihu's expression, the TA raised the corner of his lips and said,
"Student Gang Sihu. Do you know you're famous at our school?"
"Huh? Me?"
Sihu nodded after hearing the TA's explanation.
Apparently, most of the students at school had visited [SeeYou] at least once.
"On top of that, the professors also found out through the students that Student Gang Sihu attends our school."
Sihu averted his gaze.
The TA nodded after seeing Sihu's expression.
"You know many professors went to your store only to turn around and leave, right?"
"Uh... yes."
Sihu was surprised at the TA's words.
He had heard from Ganghun that school professors came down, but it was the first time hearing they came often.
"Especially our department head. When he heard that you were a student in our department, he went once. But he always comes back because he runs out of time in front of the store. Fuming that you don't do takeout."
Sihu scratched his cheek as he listened to the TA.
"And, the department head said he wants to meet you, so he told me to send you to his room when you come."
"Huh? The department head?"
"Yes, he should be waiting now, so go see him."
Sihu's head was spinning as he left the department office.
The TA was already a handful, and now he was being told to go see the department head.
He hadn't done anything particularly wrong, but Sihu's steps were heavy.
In front of the professor's office where the department head was.
Sihu took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
Click—
As soon as he entered, Sihu bowed at the waist, greeting him and introducing himself.
When Sihu raised his head, he saw bookshelves filled with textbooks and theses.
The nameplate on the desk.
Han Gwon-tae, Department of Chemistry.
Professor Han Gwon-tae, who had been sitting at the desk writing something, stood up and approached Sihu.
"Sit. This isn't something to talk about standing."
"Yes, Professor."
Sihu sat on the sofa and waited briefly before Department Head Han Gwon-tae sat across from him.
Han Gwon-tae stared quietly at Sihu.
"..."
Sihu was tense, thinking the conversation would be about his studies.
"..."
After a heavy atmosphere flowed for a moment, the one who opened his mouth first was the department head.
"Why doesn't your store do takeout?"
"Huh? Ah..."
But it was an unexpected topic.
Sihu's tension melted away instantly.
When the topic of takeout came out of the professor's mouth, he felt a bit sorry.
"The other professors brag so much about having been to that store... If you did takeout, I could have asked someone to get some so I could try it too..."
Sihu listened quietly to Han Gwon-tae's story.
It wasn't that Sihu couldn't understand Han Gwon-tae's feelings.
The other professors had eaten at the store, but he couldn't.
Then it was only natural that he would say this to Sihu, the store owner.
"I-I'm sorry, Professor. I am planning to do takeout, but the reason I came up today is different."
"I know. I just brought that up to lighten the mood because you seemed so tense."
"Ah..."
The professor had brought up the topic of takeout first to ease Sihu's tension.
Feeling Han Gwon-tae's consideration, Sihu relaxed his expression.
Department Head Professor Han Gwon-tae, who he had heard never let his guard down with students or other professors.
After watching Sihu for a moment, Han Gwon-tae asked in a low voice.
"Gang Sihu. I want to hear the student's story. About what you want to do this coming semester."
As if having made up his mind, Sihu began to bring up the topic of his studies.
"There are many people who say you can do well in society even without a college diploma."
At Sihu's words, Han Gwon-tae nodded.
"Those people who say you can do well even without a piece of paper called a diploma, those so-called people with skills and abilities—they all have college diplomas too."
"...Please continue."
Han Gwon-tae leaned toward Sihu to listen intently.
"At first, I was thinking of dropping out. Because it seemed difficult to juggle store work and studies. However, my hyung who works with me said he would support whatever decision I make, so I intend to do both school and the store."
"Do 'both' school and the store..."
Han Gwon-tae stroked his chin with his arms crossed as he looked at Sihu.
'The look in his eyes is good, but...'
Sihu's eyes showed a determination to see it through no matter what.
"Then what about the store?"
Sihu answered Han Gwon-tae's question without hesitation.
"I plan to reduce the store's operating hours a bit and start offering takeout to meet customer demand."
"Is that so? What about your studies?"
Before saying what he was thinking.
Sihu clenched his fist.
'Let's give it a go.'
Sihu took a light breath and said,
"I would appreciate it if the department head could help me a little."
Han Gwon-tae's eyes sparkled at Sihu's bold request for help.
Han Gwon-tae had counseled many students until now.
He could count on one hand the number of students who had asked him for help so boldly.
Not disliking Sihu's confidence, Han Gwon-tae tapped his arm with his finger while keeping his arms crossed.
"Well then, I'll think about it."
***
Around the time Sihu was leaving the campus, Han Gwon-tae called for the TA.
"Yes, Department Head."
"What were Student Gang Sihu's grades like in his first year?"
"Mostly A's in major courses, mostly B's in general education."
"What about lab work?"
"He showed quite outstanding performance in lab classes. Perhaps because he cooks, he understood the experiments well and had quite good concentration."
Han Gwon-tae stroked his chin and fell into thought for a moment.
"Is that so?"
The TA thought he knew what Professor Han Gwon-tae was thinking.
That all of this was a strategy to make him a graduate student.
'Professor, but, Student Gang Sihu is more than he seems...'
Whether he knew what the TA was thinking or not, Han Gwon-tae looked at the TA for a moment before opening his mouth.
The TA gulped at Professor Han Gwon-tae's gaze.
"TA, have you ever eaten at Student Gang Sihu's store?"
"Yes."
"You have?"
With puzzled eyes, the TA answered Han Gwon-tae's question and nodded.
Soon, the TA began to rattle off about the food he had eaten at that store.
"As expected of the Chemistry Department, it was a taste that so excellently expressed the chemical world of flavor."
As he spoke, the TA brought both hands to his cheeks and continued.
"And as you would know better than me, Professor, the taste receptors on the tongue detect flavor-related chemical substances, and then the brain recognizes what taste it is, right?"
Han Gwon-tae nodded at the TA's words.
"The natural taste—MSG (Monosodium glutamate)—awakens the taste receptors, and the brain feels ecstasy from the chemical substances transmitted by those receptors..."
The TA cut off his explanation and said with a straight face,
"Professor! Would you go to [SeeYou] with me tomorrow?"
Han Gwon-tae burst into laughter at the TA's words.
"In the end, are you asking me to buy you a meal?"
The TA averted his gaze to avoid revealing his inner thoughts and said,
"Huh? No. I'm saying this because you mentioned you went to eat but had to come back because you didn't have enough time."
"...I see. Let's go tomorrow. Let's go eat a little early tomorrow."
The TA clenched his fist inwardly at Han Gwon-tae's words.
'Free meal!'
***
That evening, Sihu received a text message from Professor Han Gwon-tae.
It was the afternoon lecture schedule of the professors.
Sihu immediately sent a thank-you text to Professor Han Gwon-tae.
[Thank you for your concern, Professor.]
Not long after sending the message, he heard a message tone.
Ding-
[^^]
Sihu chuckled at the message containing only an emoticon.
"The professor is an interesting person..."
Sihu scanned the professors' subjects and lecture schedules, beginning to check which classes he needed to take.
Sihu began to worry about what to do with the store's operating hours and menu once the semester started.
While he was deep in thought, having opened a notebook at the dining table and jotting things down, he heard a vibration sound.
Bzz-
Bzz-
Bzz-
It rang so much he couldn't tell how many messages were coming in at once.
"What?"
Thank you for reading.
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