TOIGC 36

Chapter 36 …

The Unfaithful Tax (1)

“A private tutor?”

Though intrigued, JSD looked momentarily hesitant.

“Yes. Since my nephew is very fond of my son, if he hears it’s for his friend, I’m sure he won’t mind helping out.”

“Hmm…”

“Is something bothering you?”

“Well, an eleven-year-old tutoring someone feels a bit… Surely, teaching requires a bit more seasoning and experience, doesn’t it?”

Anticipating this exact reaction, Choi Cheol-kyu smoothly delivered a reassuring answer.

“You don’t need to worry about that. My nephew has already achieved remarkable results teaching his own friends.”

“He taught his own friends?”

“Yes, exactly. There’s a boy named Lee Won-hee—the grandson of Jeil Spinning’s president. Up until the first semester of the first grade, he was scraping by with failing marks, but by the second semester, his grades shot up to mostly ‘Good’, and by second grade, almost all of them became ‘Excellent’.”

“Ho, really?”

No matter how young the tutor might be, no parent could ignore proven results. South Korea’s legendary passion for education was no joke, after all.

“If you’d like, I can ask my nephew about it tomorrow. What do you think?”

“I mean, I’m certainly open to it, but…”

JSD paused for a moment before speaking again.

“Is there something you want from me?”

As a member of Hanahoe, JSD knew the mechanics of a strict quid pro quo. Here was a man he had met for the very first time, showering both him and his child with deliberate favors. Naturally, his instincts screamed that there was an agenda.

“Ah… Did you catch on? I sincerely apologize.”

Cheol-kyu readily admitted his intentions, prompting JSD to narrow his eyes slightly.

“Did you already know who I am?”

“Well, ‘knowing’ might be a bit of a stretch…”

JSD’s hand tightened around the armrest of the sofa.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“No, it’s just that not long ago, Jae-jun came over to play at our house, you see?”

“Ah, yes. He did.”

The grip on the armrest relaxed just a fraction.

“That was when my wife happened to overhear Jae-jun mentioning that his father is a colonel.”

“Ah…”

JSD let go of the armrest entirely and stroked his chin, though his expression remained guarded.

“The truth is, my youngest younger brother is enlisting in the military next year. It would mean the world to me if he could have a slightly smoother service. I’m truly sorry if this makes you uncomfortable.”

Unlike Cheol-kyu and his wife, who kept their heads bowed, JSD suddenly burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahahahaha! Was that it? Well, I suppose anyone in your shoes might think of that.”

Most of JSD’s lingering suspicions—whether they were being watched by North Korean spies or targeted by a rival faction within Hanahoe—evaporated instantly. What remained was only the natural caution of one human being evaluating another.

“Still, given that you’re connected to the chairman of Samwoo Group, couldn’t you easily ask someone else? With Brigadier General Colson in your family background, you surely hold some influence within the South Korean military.”

Cheol-kyu offered a bitter, self-deprecating smile and shook his head.

“The thing is… my father is a veteran of the Korean War. Because of that, my eldest brother, my second brother, myself, and even my younger brother right below me all had to serve active duty in the military. Aside from getting college ROTC deferments, none of us ever used my father’s name or influence to skate by.”

“Your father sounds like a true patriot.”

“Even today, he constantly reminds us to always be grateful to the country and the armed forces.”

Amused by Cheol-kyu’s well-crafted remarks, JSD chuckled once more.

“I do have a soft spot for my youngest brother, and I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing him assigned to a somewhat comfortable unit. He’s a bit frail physically, so as an older brother, my only wish is for him to get through his service safely.”

JSD smiled warmly.

“Well, it’s not like I’m asking you to get him out of service entirely, but arranging a safe, uneventful posting isn’t all that difficult. However, before that…”

Noticing JSD trail off, Cheol-kyu nodded knowingly.

“I can give you an answer by tomorrow evening. And, of course, we must deliver results.”

“Good. Excellent.”

JSD pulled a pack of cigarettes from his trousers, offered one to Cheol-kyu, and personally lit it for him before handing over the lighter. A mutual exchange of fire.

With this shared smoke, Cheol-kyu had brilliantly executed Yoongi’s first directive.

Tap, tap, tap!

It was 4:00 PM. While it was still bright out and well before official closing hours, JSD sat in his living room tapping his index finger against the armrest of the sofa. The lingering mix of relief and anticipation he felt since receiving the phone call last night made complete sense. After all, JSD had already done his homework on Yoongi.

‘Straight A’s since the first grade, striking looks, and a glowing reputation among his peers. He might be young, but as a private tutor, he’s practically top-tier.’

Caught in endless disagreements with his wife regarding their children’s education, JSD viewed this arrangement as a potential turning point. Better yet, if things played out well, it could pave the way to a connection with Brigadier General Colson, one of the true power brokers among US forces in Korea—a textbook definition of killing two birds with one stone.

‘Still, dealing with such a young kid made things surprisingly smooth.’

Establishing a line to General Colson would normally have required a massive effort on his end, yet he felt like he had come out way ahead in these negotiations. Of course, JSD remained completely oblivious to the fact that Cheol-kyu had intentionally walked into a lopsided negotiation designed to favor them.

Ding-dong!

Following the chime of the doorbell, Yoongi appeared in the foyer—the very boy JSD had been eagerly waiting for.

“Hello. My name is Choi Yoongi. My uncle told me about the arrangement, so I came by.”

His greeting was polite yet carried an unmistakable sense of presence. Even though he had heard about it beforehand, seeing Yoongi in person was striking.

‘I’ve heard that children of white mixed heritage often look exceptional, but this kid is something else. Despite his mixed ancestry, he carries the distinct aura of our own people.’

Had JSD possessed a daughter, he might have briefly mistaken the boy for an ideal future son-in-law.

“Come on in, have a seat over here.”

Prompted by JSD, Yoongi quietly took a seat on the three-seater sofa, where a cup of tea was soon placed before him.

“I heard you enjoy coffee.”

“Yes, I usually have a cup or two while studying.”

JSD was secretly taken aback by Yoongi’s utter composure in front of an active-duty colonel, though he reasoned it away moments later.

‘Well, his grandfather is a US Brigadier General, after all.’

No matter how firmly planted they were in South Korea, crossing paths with a US general’s grandson could cost a man his career overnight. Even President Park Chung Hee occasionally had to walk on eggshells around the American military.

“I was told you offered to tutor my son… What are your thoughts regarding tuition and compensation?”

Honestly, this had been JSD’s greatest dilemma. Back in 1978, while JSD already held a prestigious post as a colonel and brigade commander, it was a drop in the bucket compared to the formidable power he would command by the 1980s. Yet his counterpart was the eldest grandson of the chairman of Samwoo Group—a middle-standing conglomerate. Money was the last thing a boy like this would need, unless his parents and grandparents deliberately kept him starved of allowance.

‘According to the background report, the kid is already more than financially well-off…’

Fearing a flat-out rejection, JSD braced himself, but Yoongi simply flashed a smile. A genuinely bright smile.

“Since this is a favor for my uncle, I don’t need any money. If there are two things I’d ask for in return…”

JSD leaned in, his concentration peaking at the perfectly timed pause.

“First, I’d like you to look out for my youngest uncle when he enters the military next year…”

Yoongi continued smoothly.

“And second, I ask that you give me absolute, total autonomy over the tutoring methods.”

“Total autonomy…?”

“Yes. I use an American gifted-education methodology, which differs quite a bit from traditional Korean styles. Therefore, I prefer to let the results speak for themselves. If you aren’t satisfied with the results after the first semester, I will take full personal responsibility.”

“Responsibility…?”

“I’ll wallpaper my entire report card with failing marks.”

Astonished by such an unexpected form of accountability, JSD immediately realized its weight. It was a foolproof guarantee. Risking his own academic record to back up his student’s performance left no room for argument. Moreover, ‘American gifted education’—whatever that actually meant—sounded sophisticated enough to instantly bolster JSD’s confidence in the boy.

“I-If you’re willing to go that far, of course I can agree to those terms. When would you like to begin the tutoring sessions…?”

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to start right now. Would that be okay?”

“Oh? Ah, yes. Of course, absolutely.”

Rarely one to be caught off guard, JSD found himself completely disarmed by Yoongi’s blend of politeness, boldness, and persuasive authority.

“Jae-jun!”

At Yoongi’s call, Jae-jun came sprinting out from the inner rooms into the living room.

“You shouldn’t run indoors!”

It wasn’t JSD who spoke. It was Yoongi.

Instantly, Jae-jun froze mid-stride, straightened his posture, and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Hyung…”

“It’s fine. Just remember not to do it again. Running indoors is a sign of showing others your lack of discipline.”

JSD marveled inwardly.

‘Unbelievable. Whenever I yell at him, he just shrinks away and starts crying…’\

Even when JSD scolded his son, he could get the boy to stop, but he could never instill true reflection. Yet this young tutor had not only halted the bad behavior but coaxed an honest self-reprimand out of him.

‘I need to keep this kid close at all costs.’

JSD resolved to maintain a tight bond with Yoongi by any means necessary.

“Starting today, the Colonel’s nephew has agreed to tutor you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Awesome!”

Observing the interaction, JSD cast a slightly puzzled look their way.

“Are you two already acquainted…?”

Yoongi nodded.

“Yes. After receiving my uncle’s call, I spent the past few days playing with my cousin and Jae-jun. We’ve actually already completed about three hours of preliminary tutoring.”

Though JSD wanted to clap out loud, he maintained his fatherly dignity, biting his trembling lips to suppress a grin as he asked:

“Was it worth your time?”

His tone was remarkably gentle.

“Yes. From what I’ve seen, an American-style approach suits him much better than conventional Korean study methods.”

For the first time in a long while, JSD smiled warmly on the inside.

“Then I’m placing him in your capable hands. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me or Jae-jun’s mother.”

“Thank you. Actually, there is one thing I’d like to request right now…”

“Name it. Anything.”

Reaching into his backpack, Yoongi pulled out a baseball glove and a ball.

“How about the three of us go outside and play a quick game of catch with Jae-jun?”

“Dad, catch!”

Responding to his son’s shout, JSD snagged the baseball neatly inside his mitt.

“Look at you, boy! You’re getting stronger by the day.”

“Hehehe.”

A moment later, JSD tossed the ball back to Jae-jun, who caught it smoothly and threw it right back.

Watching the scene unfold through the living room window, Yoongi stood quietly as Park Gyeong-ja walked over and handed him a cup of green tea.

“Thank you, Teacher.”

She hadn’t used honorifics with Yoongi at first, but somewhere along the way, Park Gyeong-ja had naturally started referring to him respectfully as her son’s tutor.

“I merely provided the spark.”

Three months had passed since Yoongi became Jae-jun’s tutor. The casual game of catch among the three of them had evolved into a regular bonding routine for father and son. Through this process, JSD had grown accustomed to Yoongi’s brand of ‘American-style parenting,’ learning to soften his approach toward his children considerably. Consequently, Park Gyeong-ja felt immensely grateful to Yoongi, a sentiment reflected in her polite demeanor toward him.

“You have no idea how much peace of mind I have these days. Back then, the kids would turn to stone the moment their father walked through the front door. Now look at them—it’s night and day. Sometimes my husband’s subordinates come over and can’t believe their eyes, saying he’s a completely different man at home compared to the base.”

Shielding her smile with her hand, Park Gyeong-ja wore an expression entirely free of worry.

A short while later, after thirty minutes of catch, JSD and Jae-jun walked back inside.

“Well, I should be heading home now.”

It was 8:00 PM. While their first sessions used to start at 4:00 PM, they had settled into a 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM schedule, supplemented by catch whenever JSD finished work early.

“We’d love for you to stay for dinner. Would that be alright?”

Yoongi hesitated briefly at JSD’s invitation.

“Listen to your uncle and stay for dinner, dear. I’ve already prepared braised short ribs.”

“In that case, I’ll gladly accept your hospitality.”

“Hospitality? Nonsense. Come on, take a seat. You two go wash your hands with Jae-jun right now.”

Moments later, with all five of them seated around the table, the room felt comfortably full, and dinner proceeded in a warm, lively atmosphere.

Midway through the meal, JSD brought up a lingering question.

“By the way… how are Jae-jun’s grades projected to look?”

His tone was polite yet sharp. Over the past three months, JSD had addressed Yoongi with profound respect, driven entirely by the underlying faith that the boy would deliver results. If Jae-jun’s first-semester grades fell short of expectations, that trust would vanish instantly, and Jae-jun would find himself right back under the thumb of his old man. After all, a failed tutoring stint would only convince JSD that his original, rigid methods were right all along.

“As I mentioned on the very first day of tutoring…”

Yoongi set his chopsticks down, speaking with polite yet immovable conviction.

“I will let the results speak for themselves.”