Chapter 38: The Promise of the Azure Clouds

"I'm planning to make sashimi with half, and a hot pot with the other half. You don't have any objections, do you, Oppa?"

Sejeong had originally intended to tidy up his room, but upon entering the compact rental, she found it not just spotless, but bright and clean. He was as meticulous as ever, or perhaps it was the excellent habits instilled in him by the military.

Cha Lun-hoo didn't feel particularly exhausted. His beautiful boss had been taking time off recently, and their communication had dwindled; perhaps she was truly trying to use time to verify her inner thoughts. He felt a bit of a tangled mess himself. Although the young girl in front of him didn't say it out loud, he was slightly aware of her feelings. Suzy's appearance had given her a sense of crisis, yet she hadn't confronted him directly.

Lun-hoo had no idea what this younger sister was thinking. In her mind, Suzy was at most just playing around with this Oppa; how could there possibly be any real outcome? She just felt very annoyed at the thought of being the one to pick up the pieces, but as long as he didn't turn into a "Chen Shimei" and run off with a wealthy woman, she wouldn't be left in a lurch.

"Whatever you make is fine. The rice is in the cooker. It's rare for us to eat together."

The remote area in Gangbuk was chosen primarily for its low rent; otherwise, he wouldn't endure such a grueling commute. Even if he started working for the Veterans Association in the future, he probably wouldn't bother moving.

Sejeong skillfully took the kitchen knife and gave the octopus head a couple of sharp strikes, stunning it instantly. She then proceeded to dismember the energetic, tentacled creature, tossing it into the prepared sauce along with some chopped onion. The air soon filled with a sharp, tear-inducing spiciness.

"If you're hungry, Oppa, you can start with this octopus sashimi. It's so fresh, I picked it out myself! But why did you cut your hair so short, Oppa? It looks just like when you were first discharged."

Although it wasn't a buzz cut, it certainly didn't feel long. She had heard that people cut their hair after a breakup; could it be that he was dumped by Suzy? That seemed quite likely.

"Before things settle down at the Blue House, my mentor from the military academy invited me to his home for a meal. Having been in Morocco for so long, my hair had grown out, so I just decided to cut it short."

While Sejeong was cooking, he took a quick shower. The cold water ran down his face as he pondered what kind of gift he should bring. He owed his mentor a great deal of gratitude; the man had even pulled strings for him when the military had forcibly drafted him into the reserves. Later, when he had fallen into the world of entertainment and nightlife, he no longer had the face to visit his mentor.

"The days are passing by quickly. Soon I'll be able to see you on TV, Oppa! You're a national hero!"

She brought over a large bowl of vibrant red octopus soup, sprinkled with some fresh green chives, making his mouth water. Children of poor families grow up fast; both he and Sejeong knew how to cook such simple meals.

He picked up a spoon and tasted the soup. The flavor of the chili powder hit him instantly; it was perfect with rice. They each dished out a bowl, and for once, Sejeong didn't say anything to dampen the mood. In truth, she had a healthy build and wasn't extreme about weight control; sometimes she even tipped over a hundred pounds.

Because her proportions were slightly off, she looked fine on her own, but standing next to tall girls like Somi made her feel self-conscious. Fortunately, her face remained youthful, and despite her love for spicy food, her skin was excellent. Her bright and straightforward personality had attracted a large fan base.

Sometimes he would think of that girl from Jeonju at JYP. After the departure of key members, the group's future seemed uncertain. Although the new members seemed more obedient and cute, whether they could adapt to the group was another question. Time was running out for JYP.

That girl was just as hardworking as Sejeong. He had heard from others how much effort she put in and the discrimination she had faced as a trainee. He didn't doubt it, as Sejeong had walked the same path.

Trainees these days came from much better backgrounds than before. It was hard to find anyone among those born after the millennium who came from a poor family; at the very least, they were middle-class.

That girl was different. She had been with the company for two and a half years, and to balance her studies and training, she endured a commute of over three hours every week. She was truly giving her all to chase her dreams.

He had bought her a small gift; he would give it to her the next time he went to process his resignation. The new group couldn't wait much longer. It was rumored that the company planned their debut for early next year. In any case, she was one step closer to realizing her dream.

Watching Sejeong preening in the full-length mirror while wearing her elf costume, Lun-hoo couldn't help but praise her. Suzy, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected, still sharing details of her drama filming with fans, leaving him to wonder what was going on in her mind.

Lun-hoo naturally wouldn't know that the woman was playing him, trying to seize the initiative in their relationship. He seemed to have more pressing matters to deal with.

...

Stepping out of the taxi, Cha Lun-hoo took a deep breath. He held some gifts that weren't particularly expensive, wondering if he should buy a car—even a used one would provide shelter from the elements.

A scooter was convenient, but he had to go out for business occasionally, and it always gave off an air of frivolity. He had saved up some money, but his thrifty nature, nurtured since childhood, made him hesitant to spend it. Like Sejeong, he possessed a sense of crisis regarding the future.

This visit was to maintain his connections from the military academy. He needed to unite all the forces he could, and the bond between mentor and student was particularly significant.

His mentor did not live in the faculty housing provided by the military. The private residence, which had stood for decades, looked unremarkable, and the interior lacked any stunning, hidden luxuries.

The man had always considered himself a "Confucian general," but unlike the civilian professors at the school, he had served as a staff officer in combat units in his early years. His rise had not been easy. Lun-hoo knew his mentor couldn't offer much help anymore, as the military academy was essentially a place for retirement.

"Ever since leaving the military, I have been struggling with life. I have had no face to come and see you, and I hope you will forgive me, Mentor."

Although it hadn't reached the level of "a teacher for a day is a father for life," and this mentor, Zhao Yuanxiu, wasn't his direct superior but rather held a role similar to an educational director, the man had taken great care of him as a top-tier student from the same Jeolla Province.

He knew his mentor liked to recruit promising students as disciples to increase his own influence in the military. But regardless of the intent, the fact that he had advocated for him even when Lun-hoo had lost his value meant it wasn't entirely driven by profit.

Zhao Yuanxiu wasn't very old—in his fifties, the prime age for high office. He had dyed his greying temples a deep black, and his lean frame made him look like a scholar, appearing quite young for his age.

The teacher, wearing a long-sleeved military shirt, tossed over a cigarette pack. Lun-hoo respectfully took one. A military jacket was draped casually over a chair, the two stars on the collar gleaming with a metallic luster.

"What, are you envious, Lun-hoo? If you had stayed in the military, you could have climbed the ranks too. It's a real pity."

The teacher truly regretted that such an excellent student had left. Soldiers from the Jeolla region had never had much of a voice in the military. If it hadn't been for Zhang Shidong in the eighties, who had collaborated with the "Jeon-ka-ka" faction to infiltrate the military and mix in newcomers to break the control of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk faction, they would have had no influence at all.

That was why the notorious intelligence chief, the "Prince of the Fifth Republic," had only been sentenced to three years in prison—the lightest of all his cohorts. The progressives needed to unite the non-conservative military officers.

It was precisely for this reason that the old guard was so keen on passing the torch. In the conservative atmosphere of the military, it was rare for a brilliant young man from the Hunan region to emerge from the academy. It was unexpected that he would end up in such a state.

As the saying goes, when a hurricane sweeps over the ridge, only the low grass survives. In his view, rather than gambling on a breakthrough, it was better to keep one's head down. Even if the progressives came to power, they wouldn't purge low-level officers, and the progress of his career wouldn't be disrupted by political upheaval.

"Seeking blue clouds through lost steps, bearing the weight of the world while hair turns white. Your mastery of Han-style calligraphy is still as remarkable as ever, Mentor. But as for my own 'blue clouds,' I fear there is no date in sight."

Lun-hoo looked at the framed calligraphy, though he felt it was only of an enthusiast's level. But as the saying goes, "everyone helps lift the decorated sedan chair." He threw out a brick to attract jade, hoping to hear his mentor's high-minded advice on his own life choices.