Chapter 2

Ming Do-hyuk, the advertising genius, Chapter 2

- "My hands are moving, my hands are moving, my hands are moving towards the squid crackers. Kids' hands, adults' hands, they keep moving."

Do-hyuk shook his head as he stared intently at the bulky TV, where a song was playing.

'I haven't used that kind of material (advertising production) for over ten years. Wow, what's wrong with the picture quality? Is it a Beta tape (a type of advertising material)?'

His bewildered ears heard a familiar voice again.

"Corporal Myung. You're finally being discharged tomorrow, right?"

'What? What does that mean? Corporal?' Do-hyuk jumped up and looked around.

Dull olive drab uniforms and blankets, a musty smell of the barracks.

His eyes widened when he saw his gear on top of the locker.

The TV was running on its own, and most importantly, who was this? His junior, Lee Jin-woo, was looking at Do-hyuk.

This damn dream, doing all sorts of things. Not only advertising but even the military. Damn it.

Curses slipped out of his mouth, of course, out loud.

But this Lee Jin-woo, his eyes widened as if he had heard Do-hyuk's voice.

"Corporal Myung. Why are you doing that? Are you cursing because you're being discharged tomorrow?"

"..."

"Even sweating, are you in pain somewhere?"

Do-hyuk sighed and looked at Lee Jin-woo.

This guy is still wandering around.

"Hey! Lee Jin-woo. It's time for you to stop appearing in my dreams. I understand your grudge, but..."

"What? Dreams? Why are you acting like this, Corporal!"

Lee Jin-woo waved his hand in front of Do-hyuk's eyes.

The wind from the waving hand could be felt at the tip of his nose.

Huh?

Surprised, Do-hyuk instructed Lee Jin-woo to hit him.

"Lee Jin-woo. Hit me once."

"What? Why are you doing this to me..."

"Just do it. Do it quickly, or I'll do it for you."

"Ah, I understand."

Lee Jin-woo bit his lip and lightly punched Do-hyuk's stomach.

Damn, I can feel that feather-like punch? What the hell is this.

Do-hyuk slapped his own cheek and looked at the TV.

On the screen, the squid cracker commercial ended, and a drama started.

"Is that Berlin Lovers? Shall we go, honey?"

"Yes, the female lead is really beautiful."

Crazy. This was Berlin Lovers, which boasted unprecedented ratings.

The middle-aged actor, who had disappeared from the drama scene, looked young and awkward.

That drama is a hit from almost twenty years ago? Did I regress? Could it be the regression I only read about in novels?

Do-hyuk slumped into his seat and looked around again. One by one, his barracks mates entered.

Seeing the face of Park Sung-chul, a piece of non-recyclable waste, his mind snapped back to reality.

That trash, Park Sung-chul, became a wealthy loan shark ten years later after a stock market boom.

Remembering how he had laughed at the world, saying there was no God, when he saw Park Sung-chul as a client, Do-hyuk recalled how he had intentionally passed on that project, finding it repulsive and wanting to avoid it.

Looking back, his career started to go downhill from the moment he lost that loan shark commercial.

Anyway, Park Sung-chul was a long-term nemesis.

'Wait a minute. Is this real regression?'

If this is really not a dream but reality.

Do-hyuk has come back to the moment he regrets the most in his life. The time he wanted to fix for a long time, the time that haunted him even in his dreams.

Lee Jin-woo committed suicide two days after Do-hyuk was discharged.

He was weak and easily bullied because he wasn't quick and sharp.

He was the kind of tormentor you'd find in any barracks.

Although they were from different departments, they were from the same university, and Lee Jin-woo was very kind, so Do-hyuk had taken care of him a bit.

Do-hyuk wasn't a righteous person, but as the senior in the barracks, he had to maintain discipline. The bullying and isolation were childish.

He had stopped Park Sung-chul and others from crossing the line many times. Lee Jin-woo followed Do-hyuk like a puppy, having no one else to turn to in the military.

Sometimes he found it burdensome, but he thought they were getting along well.

How could he die right after being discharged? Damn it.

Do-hyuk regained his composure and looked at Lee Jin-woo.

A sigh slipped out, but he had no time to wallow in regret.

Every person who entered the barracks habitually hit Lee Jin-woo.

Even though Lee Jin-woo had just been promoted to corporal, the juniors openly ignored him.

It was such a common occurrence that he had overlooked it back then. His frown deepened.

Especially Park Sung-chul, who was talking to another colleague, was slapping Lee Jin-woo's face.

Seeing Lee Jin-woo standing there like a fool, his fists clenched.

"Hey! Lee Jin-woo! Why are you standing there getting hit?"

"Corporal Myung! Well, it's..."

"Damn it. You'll have to listen to my nagging until the day I leave."

Ignoring Park Sung-chul, who was muttering and spitting, Do-hyuk took Lee Jin-woo out.

He sat on a bench, got a drink, and handed it to Lee Jin-woo.

Seeing the white face smiling in gratitude, his heart ached.

The news of Lee Jin-woo's death after discharge was a huge shock. Although it wasn't entirely his fault, he felt very guilty.

Back then, Do-hyuk was only in his early twenties, and he felt responsible for everything.

The night before discharge, he hesitated.

Should he ask the squad leader to take care of Lee Jin-woo, or should he scold Park Sung-chul?

He ended up doing nothing. He was too excited about being discharged to care.

And now, Myung Do-hyuk has returned to that time. A moment to correct past choices.

Even if his efforts wouldn't bring Lee Jin-woo back to life, he wanted to do something.

Not knowing what he was thinking, Lee Jin-woo bowed his head.

"Corporal, what will I do after you're discharged? I'm really worried."

"Lee Jin-woo. Listen to me carefully."

"Yes, I'm listening."

"You only have a few months left until discharge. Be strong. Do you understand?"

"...Yes."

"Don't go to the guard post at night."

"Guard post? I have no reason to go there alone."

"It will happen. If someone asks to switch duty, go straight to the squad leader. Got it?"

"Yes! I'll remember that."

"The squad leader will take care of it."

Two days later, Lee Jin-woo was beaten and bullied by Park Sung-chul at the guard post and committed suicide.

The military tried to cover it up, and Park Sung-chul was transferred. That's how things were back then.

Sighing, Do-hyuk looked at Lee Jin-woo, who bowed his head.

"Corporal Myung. I'm really grateful for everything."

"...What did I do for you?"

"No, I'll never forget it."

"Okay."

Feeling choked up, he quickly turned his head. So, that lifetime is only two days away.

"I'll visit you after discharge."

"Keep your promise."

"Yes! Corporal Myung. Stay healthy!"

Lee Jin-woo, speaking confidently, stepped on the drink can and fell.

Seeing this, he burst out laughing.

"Hey, you. I've told you how many times that can is harder than your legs. It's steel, damn it. Step on it wrong, and you'll break your ankle."

"Ah, right. Ah, ouch."

"Get your head straight. The world is much harder than that."

He patted Lee Jin-woo's shoulder and stood up.

Do-hyuk's steps quickened as he headed to the squad leader's office.

"Squad leader. I have something to say."

"Speak."

"It's about Corporal Park Sung-chul."

Do-hyuk reported the beatings, isolation, and Park Sung-chul's misdeeds that had been happening in the barracks.

"What good will it do to say it now!"

"I tried to handle it within my limits. I'm reporting it out of concern before my discharge."

"I already had a few reports about Park Sung-chul. I'll keep an eye on the Lee Jin-woo case."

It was the beginning of the military's efforts to prevent violence under the guise of discipline. They were sensitive to any unpleasant incidents.

The squad leader, though not perfect, was someone Do-hyuk could talk to.

The next morning, Do-hyuk woke up early.

He had shifted the responsibility to the squad leader, but it still felt unresolved.

'First, Lee Jin-woo, that guy needs to be strong.'

Even if he fails this time, there's no guarantee that a second Park Sung-chul won't appear.

How can he stabilize the mental state of Lee Jin-woo and the future twenty-year-old juniors?

'!!'

Suddenly, a line of text popped into Do-hyuk's mind.

He knew the power of copy to move people's hearts. And Myung Do-hyuk was a copywriter.

Do-hyuk picked up a pen.

He wrote the words carefully on a white sheet of paper.

Do-hyuk posted the paper on the barracks door and went outside.

'Don't die. Jin-woo, I'll wait for you.'

* * *

Do-hyuk only realized the reality of everything when he boarded the bus to go home.

I've regressed. Myung Do-hyuk has really returned to his early twenties.

And, I've been discharged!

A surge of emotion overwhelmed him. Is this really a new beginning? A new opportunity?

He ran home in one step. When he arrived at the apartment complex, he looked up.

Daeji-dong Geummae Apartments.

These were the apartments in the heart of Gangnam, where the reconstruction talks had already started. A prime location with good schools and double subway access.

The symbol of reconstruction, which had been in a stalemate until just before Do-hyuk's regression.

His parents had held out in the old house, expecting the reconstruction to happen soon. They had even refused to move out of stubbornness.

They had said, "Let's see if the reconstruction wins or I win."

Of course, the price had skyrocketed, so they shouldn't have sold, but they should have moved out quickly.

Sigh, Dad, let's get out of Geummae Apartments quickly.

Do-hyuk chuckled and tapped the worn-out sign with his finger.

Because it was so obvious.

"Look, they're not even repairing it. Are they advertising that the apartments are about to collapse?"

"What are you mumbling about? Hey! Myung Do-hyuk!"

"Ah!"

"You, if you're home, go in. What are you doing here?"

A woman, who was teasing Do-hyuk with harsh words, made him burst out laughing.

The woman, who was a head shorter than Do-hyuk, was his older sister, Myung Hyun-jin.

Wow, my sister is so young.

Myung Hyun-jin, the head of the entertainment department at CBC.

His only older sister, two years his senior, was a tough and rough woman.

"Sis, me?"

He called her sister, but it felt awkward.

It had been too long since he called the department head, Myung Hyun-jin, sister.

Plus, her face. Hold on, her face looked incredibly young.

She looked like she was in her mid to late twenties.

Thinking of the wrinkled face of the forty-something Myung Hyun-jin, he hugged her, feeling so happy to see her young.

"Wow, Myung Hyun-jin, it's so nice to see you. Sis!"

"Why are you like this? Not letting go? Myung Do-hyuk, did you go crazy after being discharged?"

As he hugged her, she kicked his shin. He continued to hug her, ignoring it.

I really have regressed! Myung Do-hyuk is really twenty-three!