PM Chapter 9

Chapter 9

At Heeseong’s sincere words, Daesik finally let out the laughter he’d been holding in. It was too funny to hold back—he was talking so confidently without knowing a thing. This kid just called him a good person. What a ridiculous little goldfish.

The prosecutor looked like he’d just been struck speechless by a goldfish. Next to him, Jang Chiwon stared at Heeseong as if witnessing something bizarre.

Daesik grinned and looked at the clueless goldfish who had just lobbed a verbal bomb. Man, it’s been a while since something was this entertaining. Does this goldfish even understand what he’s saying?

The prosecutor, having gone from concerned to stunned, twisted his face in disbelief.

“Hey, I think you’re seriously mistaken about something.”

“It’s true, though.”

Heeseong stared up at the prosecutor with a slight pout, eyes saying, You’re the one who’s mistaken.

“……”

The prosecutor looked off into space, then glanced back at Chiwon, Daesik, and finally Heeseong, his mouth falling open like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Heeseong, unaware of the impact he’d made, gave the prosecutor a faintly sullen look and turned his head away.

Daesik chuckled to himself, wiggled the hand still resting on Heeseong’s shoulder, and started heading toward the stairs.

“Well then, see you next time, Director Jang.”

“Wait a second…!”

Just as the stunned prosecutor reached out his hand, Chiwon stepped in front of him.

“Prosecutor Tae, don’t we still have matters to discuss?”

“What… What are you—”

The prosecutor’s voice came out flustered and irritated, but Heeseong had already stopped paying attention. He just decided the man was weird and left it at that.

His attention returned to the bags of food he was holding. Gotta get these into the fridge quickly. Judging by the neat packaging, the boss’s acquaintance, Jang Chiwon, seemed more meticulous than he appeared.

With both arms full of food, Heeseong walked back to the motel wearing a face filled with cheerful satisfaction. His steps were so light it was like he was floating.

Daesik let out a breathy chuckle watching him bounce around like a kid on his way to a theme park. It was funny, and also kind of cute, how he could forget everything and just enjoy himself. Sometimes he looked like a squirrel, sometimes like a goldfish. Right now, he was a squirrel busy hoarding acorns. So tiny and yet so ridiculous.

Daesik reminded Heeseong of tomorrow’s work time and let him go without fuss. As expected, he really was the good gangster Heeseong believed him to be.

“Thank you!”

Beaming, Heeseong didn’t forget to say thank you before heading to his room and putting the food away in the mini fridge one by one. He also took his suppressant, which he had carefully kept in his pocket.

After washing up, his body felt fresh, and his mood improved even more.

Relaxed, Heeseong flopped onto the bed with a drowsy face. Just that morning, he’d been overwhelmed with anxiety, and now everything felt light. It was strange how quickly things could turn around.

It reminded him of what his brother used to say—that no matter how bad things look, they always get better eventually. Naturally, thoughts of his brother followed.

He hoped his brother was doing well too.

With that wish in his heart, Heeseong closed his eyes.

The second day at the motel passed, entirely different from the first.

---

The next morning, Heeseong woke up in a good mood. His body felt light too. Thanks to taking his suppressant and having no worries, he’d slept soundly.

Heeseong went down to the first floor early in the morning and carefully knocked on the counter door. A voice from inside told him to come in.

“Good morning, boss.”

“Yeah.”

Heeseong opened the door cautiously and gave a polite bow. Daesik lazily nodded back.

The area behind the counter was bigger than he’d expected. The counter where guests were received was connected to an office space. On the wall opposite the motel lobby were a few small windows, through which he could see trees shrouded in the dim light of dawn. The mountain where Heeseong had first met the boss was also in that direction.

Dressed much the same as the day before, the boss was sitting in the very back of the office. He stood up and personally gave Heeseong a tour of the first-floor layout.

“The counter and office are connected.”

He opened the door Heeseong had entered through and pointed to the door right next to it.

“This is the meeting room. Over there’s the elevator. Next to that is the stairs. And over there’s the bathroom.”

The first-floor layout of the motel was quite simple. A narrow elevator at the far left, stairs next to it, and a bathroom on the far right. That was it, aside from the counter, office, and meeting room. Heeseong peeked around as the boss pointed out each location and nodded.

After confirming, the boss returned to the office space behind the counter. With a click, he shut the door, then pointed to the chair next to the counter and continued explaining.

“All you have to do is handle the counter. The basement and the rooms will be handled by other guys, so don’t wander around. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Heeseong answered obediently.

“The job’s simple. For people staying overnight or short-term, just collect payment according to the posted rates and give them their key. But if they say they’re heading to the basement, here for a job, wrapping something up, or looking for something, call me. If I’m not around, just tell them to use the stairs to go down. And take the money they give you.”

What had started off simple quickly turned complicated. Heeseong blinked and glanced around.

“What are you doing?”

“I was going to write it down.”

“What’s there to write down?”

“I might forget.”

Ignoring the boss’s look of disbelief, Heeseong grabbed a small notepad from the counter. He popped open a green pen that had been rolling around and began scribbling down what the boss said.

Daesik silently watched as Heeseong neatly jotted down every word on the tiny notepad. He couldn’t help but chuckle. Typical goldfish. Even the smallest thing he did was strangely amusing.

As he continued watching, Daesik began to understand. Well, it’s not like this is a normal motel that just rents rooms—makes sense to be thorough. If Kyunghoon knew he was thinking this way, he’d be horrified.

Once he was done writing everything down, Heeseong looked up at Daesik, waiting for the next instruction. Because he had slightly lifted his head, his glasses had slid down his nose a little. Daesik watched him push them back up and spoke again.

“…Even if they say they’re here to drink or hang out, if they’re going to the basement, just let them go. Most of them will take care of it themselves. And if someone gives you chips and asks to exchange them for money, go ahead. But if someone wants to buy chips with cash, tell them they need to go to the basement.”

There’s more to managing a motel counter than I thought, Heeseong mused, scribbling it all down diligently.

The boss continued.

“If it’s a guest staying short or overnight, just take the payment and give them the key. The ones saying they’re here to work will usually reuse a room they’ve used before. Those guests will tell you the room number themselves, so just give them the key to that room. But if they ask for a room that’s already checked out, say it’s under renovation and give them the room next door. And let the person in the requested room know someone’s arrived. Got it?”

“Uh… yes.”

Heeseong looked over what he’d written and nodded, hesitating a little.

Watching this, Daesik narrowed his eyes. He probably didn’t understand.

“Give me what you wrote.”

Heeseong handed over the notepad without resistance. On the small paper, his round little handwriting was tightly packed together. The shape of the letters was small—just like him. Daesik let out a quiet snort. Even his writing looks like him.

Counter – Important! ☆☆☆

Take money as listed!! (Check the price sheet)

If overnight guests say they’re going to the basement, working, wrapping up, or looking for something → Call the boss!!!

(If the boss isn’t here → guide them to the stairs / take the money they give)

If they say they’re drinking or hanging out → Basement! (They’ll go on their own)

If they give chips or money → exchange for cash!!

If a guest says their room number → give the key!!

(If they ask for a checked-out room → “under renovation”? Give key to next room! Then??)

Daesik frowned and corrected the notes. He pointed at the third bullet with his pen and reiterated.

“This one—guests going to the basement—you don’t take them there. Just leave them alone.”

“Okay.”

Heeseong nodded. Daesik still wasn’t sure if he really understood, but let it go for now.

“And for this part—if they give you chips, give money. But if they want chips with cash…”

Daesik pointed to the fourth item but trailed off when he looked at Heeseong, who was blinking with that clueless face of his. It was clear he hadn’t understood a word.

Daesik shook his head.

“Never mind. Just send everyone to the basement.”