Chapter 224.2: Where Someone They Missed Used To Be (1)

After returning home, Yoo Hye-Sook made japchae with Cha Min-Jeong.

Numerous agents had been meticulously surveilling the area around Wui Min-Gook’s hideout for three days already, yet they still hadn’t seen anyone go in or out of it.

The lights turned on at night, though.

Kang Chan was dying to raid it, but they had to create a contingency plan about what to do if Wui Min-Gook wasn’t there first. Hence, all they could do right now was wait. Kim Hyung-Jung had been eating and sleeping in his car for three days straight now because of that.

“Dinner’s ready!” Yoo Hye-Sook delightedly exclaimed after a moment. Kang Chan immediately headed to the kitchen.

They had to make japchae for several people, including six agents.

There were fewer agents in the house because Kang Dae-Kyung—who dropped by the hospital earlier—had dinner plans. Otherwise, they would’ve had enough guests for a party.

They ate japchae at the table and in the living room.

Wouldn’t this be what heaven tasted like?

Kang Chan didn’t expect to understand what comfort food made with a mother’s love would mean.

Slurp. Slurp.

He couldn’t believe that putting kimchi on top of his japchae and filling his mouth with food could make him happy.

“Would you like to mix rice into your japchae, Channy?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.

“Sure.”

Yoo Hye-Sook served rice on a large plate and topped it with japchae.

The agents didn’t refuse anything as they ate either. In fact, Yoo Hye-Sook had already taken out three servings of kimchi. She looked very happy, and the agents looked proud.

They got to eat with Kang Chan, the man who swiftly elevated the South Korean special forces’ status to world-class and quickly rose to the rank of NIS assistant deputy director and head of its counter-terrorism department. They also ate with his mother, whom they felt honored to protect and serve.

If the agents could sell this moment to others, thirty people would immediately jump at the offer.

“You guys should eat more,” Kang Chan said.

“We have already eaten quite a lot,” Cha Min-Jeong answered, already feeling full.

“Does anyone want more?” Kang Chan asked. However, everyone seemed to agree with Cha Min-Jeong.

The female agents rushed over and helped do the dishes, after which they all sat down together and had tea.

The agents didn’t say anything, but their pride could be felt all over the apartment.

Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—. Buzz— Buzz—Buzz—.

After some time, Kang Chan’s phone rang.

“Hello?”

- It’s Woo Hee-Seung. Do you have a moment to talk?

“Yeah. What’s up?”

Kang Chan glanced at Yoo Hye-Sook, who was in the kitchen.

- I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you about this, but I’m calling because of Lee Yoo-Seul.

“What? What’s wrong?”

- We thought she was sleeping while the operation in Afghanistan was being broadcast, but she seemed to have watched it somehow. Ever since then, she hasn’t stopped crying and asking if the man who hugged her during the funeral has died. Lieutenant Cha Dong-Gyun called and asked if there was a way to calm her down.

“Is she in Jeungpyeong right now?”

The agents’ attention quickly turned to Kang Chan.

- Yes. Her family has moved to an apartment in downtown Jeungpyeong.

“I’ll be right over.”

- I’m sorry.

“What are you even sorry about? I already had dinner anyway, so I don’t mind leaving now. Contact Daye about this for me.”

- Alright.

After Kang Chan hung up, he went to the kitchen.

“Mother,” he called.

“Yes? Do you want some fruit?”

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“I’m going to have to pass on that. Do you remember the time I went to Jeungpyeong last time to visit someone in the hospital?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m thinking of visiting him today as well.”

“Why? Is he not doing well?”

Kang Chan smiled. Yoo Hye-Sook looked as if she felt bad.

“I heard that he has recovered, but I’m thinking of going anyway since I promised to visit him again and I have the time to right now,” Kang Chan explained.

“What should we do? You’ll be tired. You should rest for at least a day first.”

“It’s fine. I’ll have plenty of time to rest from today onwards anyway. I’ll make sure to come home even if it’s late.”

“Okay, Channy.” Yoo Hye-Sook was about to hug Kang Chan but stopped. She glanced and checked the agents’ moods.

Kang Chan couldn’t help but find her cute whenever she acted like this. He hugged her, then went into his room and changed.

By the time he had gone back out to the living room, the agents already seemed aware of what was going on.

“Please be careful,” one of the agents said. The look in their eyes, their attitude, and their tone were all Kang Chan needed to learn that they had already been informed of the situation.

***

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho rode in the same car. Woo Hee-Seung and Lee Doo-Hee followed behind them in another.

Kang Chan’s leg hadn’t fully healed yet, and he still had bandages wrapped around his side as well. Seok Kang-Ho’s wounds were more severe. He even looked as if he found it uncomfortable to even drive.

They bought some coffee and drank it on the way to visit Lee Yoo-Seul.

“Poor Lee Yoo-Seul. What should we do?” Seok Kang-Ho commented.

“This is one of the difficulties that the special forces have to face. We should at least give her a sense of pride, even if we have to make her dad a hero…” Kang Chan said.

Since it was a weekday afternoon, there wasn’t much traffic on the highway.

Upon reaching the military camp, Cha Dong-Gyun and the adjutant headed out of the barracks. The other soldiers followed soon after, welcoming Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho.

“Have you had dinner yet?” Cha Dong-Gyun asked.

“We have. What about you guys?”

“We always eat on time.”

Few organizations can claim their people eat on time every day like the military.

“Then are we good to go now?” Kang Chan asked.

“Yes.”

Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho got in the same car as Kang Chan. The other soldiers stayed at the military camp.

“Have they appointed a commander for the team yet?” Kang Chan asked.

“From what I heard, not yet. There are rumors that our special forces team is tough and wild and is always given difficult missions. People are apparently opting not to apply to work here because of that.”

Damn it! I can’t believe soldiers, of all people, refuse to come here because they find what we do difficult!

The men over at Jeungpyeong would willingly risk their lives and die happy even if they were being paid less than thirty million won per year, yet those with stars for ranks refused to take charge of them just because they found it difficult.

“Is Yoo-Seul going to the hospital?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“I heard she is,” Cha Dong-Gyun answered.

As Cha Dong-Gyun guided them to downtown Jeungpyeong, tall apartments soon flanked them.

“They have moved into one of the apartments here. She was doing well until the Afghanistan broadcast startled her,” Cha Dong-Gyun explained.

Kang Chan nodded in response, then said, “Park the car at the bakery over there for a moment.”

“Looks like Yoo-Seul is outside right now. She’s right over there.” Cha Dong-Gyun extended his hand from the backseat and pointed to one side of a playground.

When the car stopped, Kang Chan, Cha Dong-Gyun, and Kwak Cheol-Ho got out of the car. However, when they approached Lee Yoo-Seoul, she quickly held onto her mother’s waist and hid behind her back.

“What’s going on? Didn’t you say that you missed me?” Kang Chan asked.

Lee Yoo-Seul peeked out from behind her mom, only showing her eyes, and looked at Kang Chan, who was crouching.

“Why don’t we go get some cake inside?” Kang Chan continued. Lee Yoo-Seul’s mom forced back her tears and covered her mouth. “Huh? If you don’t come here, then I’ll just go.”

“Aren’t you hurt?” Lee Yoo-Seul asked.

“I’ve already fully recovered.”

“Then are you okay now?”

“Yeah! That’s why I’m telling you that we should go inside and buy cake!” Kang Chan exclaimed with joy. As Lee Yoo-Seul stared at him, he continued, “Your dad watched us from heaven and saved all of us this time as well. He also told us to do our best for you.”

“Did he really say that?”

“Yup. He also said that he enjoyed your singing.”

“Didn’t my dad say that he misses me?” Lee Yoo-Seul closed her eyes. Her lips thinned.

“He said that he’s watching you every day and told me to hug you in his stead because he wants to hug you so much.”

Lee Yoo-Seul hesitated but soon walked over to Kang Chan.

“Come here,” Kang Chan said. “It’s okay.”

“Waaah!” Lee Yoo-Seul burst into tears. Kang Chan hugged her and stood up.

“Dad! I miss you so much!” Lee Yoo-Seul exclaimed. Wounds like hers didn’t heal overnight.

How could she easily brush aside the fact that her dad—who protected her from the entire world—could no longer be there for her?

Kang Chan just stood with Lee Yoo-Seul in his arms. After ten minutes, she finally stopped crying.

“Have you eaten?” Kang Chan asked.

Lee Yoo-Seul shook her head.

“What do you want to eat, then?”

This time, Lee Yoo-Seul looked at her mom.

“Why are you looking at her? What do you want to eat?” Kang Chan asked.

“Yoo-Seul said that she wants to have the chicken that she used to eat with her dad,” Lee Yoo-Seul’s mom answered.

“I see! Let’s go, then!”

Lee Yoo-Seul tightly wrapped her arms around Kang Chan’s neck and burst into tears again.

The people near the apartment glanced at them but started walking on eggshells when they saw Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho.

As Kang Chan turned around, Lee Yoo-Seul’s mom—who had wiped her tears away—walked beside him.

“Thank you for helping us,” she quietly said.

“I’m sorry. Your husband saved our lives, but all I could do was send money.”

“Not at all!” Lee Yoo-Seul’s mom vigorously shook her head. “Money is important, but I gained courage when I found out that he didn’t die in vain. I’ll do my best to raise Yoo-Seul properly. For some reason, I feel like her dad really will be watching us.”

Lee Yoo-Seul stopped crying when her mom started talking to Kang Chan.

When they entered a chicken restaurant, Kang Chan sat down and ordered all the different kinds of chicken.

“Let’s eat!” Kang Chan said. Everyone energetically ate on purpose.

“Cheers!”

They also clinked glasses with Lee Yoo-Seul and her mother, who were drinking cola.

“Your dad wants you to be strong,” Kang Chan said while pretending that nothing was wrong.

“Really?” Lee Yoo-Seul asked. Tears welled up in her eyes soon after, but she didn’t cry.

Kang Chan took a big bite out of a chicken leg and then stared into Lee Yoo-Seul’s eyes. “Your dad is going to have a hard time in heaven if you keep crying. The other men are going to tease him as well. Yoo-Seul, what do you think of becoming an awesome soldier like your dad?”

As Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho looked at Kang Chan with startled expressions, Lee Yoo-Seul nodded as she answered, “I’ll become a soldier!”

“Okay! Then be strong, eat lots of food, and get proper sleep. Don’t cry, and make sure you call me immediately if something unfair happens. Can you do that?” Kang Chan asked.

“If I do that, will I become a soldier?”

“Yes. You remember your dad, right? Have you ever seen him crying?”

Lee Yoo-Seul shook her head.

“Have you ever heard him say that he didn’t want to eat?”

When she shook her head again, he stroked her head.

Recruits who had just lost their colleagues behaved exactly like her.

“You should join the special forces,” Kang Chan said. Words like those always helped anyone recover from their wounds and feel better. The idea that they could be in the same spot as someone they missed seemed to console them quite effectively.

With the hope that they could reach where someone they missed used to be, they would be able to stand on their own.