Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Gold Member
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Making money is boring and pretentious.
But spending it is simple and fun.
Overconsumption, YOLO, impulse buying—all that stuff proves the point. Spending is way more fun than earning.
Even so, is it possible to blow through 100 million won in a single day?
Even the most fun games get old if you play them too much. Maybe spending money works the same way.
So today, I'll find out for myself.
'Even if clothes cost a few million each, to hit 100 million...'
The luxury outfits I just bought at that designer store came to about ten million. Rough math says I need to buy about ten times that much more.
'Hmm... but I don't have enough hands to carry it all.'
The problem is, I've got the money but no hands left.
If there were a cart around, I could just load it up and roll.
Then a scene from some drama popped into my head.
A chaebol wife shopping in a department store, with a swarm of attendants rushing over to carry her bags.
I glanced over at the customer service desk.
'Will they think I'm being a total Karen if I ask them to carry my stuff?'
I wasn't sure, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.
Plus, I'd already dropped ten million today—shouldn't I get some service for that?
A little nervous, I headed back to the customer service desk.
The same employee who'd issued my card greeted me with a smile.
"Is there anything you need?"
You can't spit in the face of a smile.
And you can't make outrageous requests to a smiling face.
After strutting around so confidently until now, bringing up something Karen-like made my voice catch.
I forced some strength into my throat and spoke up.
"Um... I've got a lot of stuff, so... any way you could help with the bags...?"
My voice cracked midway, but I managed to finish.
She listened, then quickly eyed the bags in my hands.
"Too much luggage making shopping inconvenient? For Emerald rank and above, we store bags in the VIP lounge. Shall I take them for you?"
Music to my ears.
Way better than parading through the store with a bunch of staff hauling my stuff.
I felt my lips curving into a grin as I answered excitedly.
"Yes, please."
"Sure thing. Hand them over, and I'll get them stored. The VIP lounge is on the ninth floor of this building, for your reference."
It meant more back-and-forth trips, but still better than drawing every eye in the place like some VIP entourage.
I just wanted the Arcana rank—not to flaunt my wealth at other shoppers.
Or did I?
'Funny, thinking that when I'm already decked out in designer gear.'
I chuckled to myself and handed all my bags over to the employee.
"Thank you."
"Enjoy your shopping."
Enjoy your shopping.
Time for shopping that was truly enjoyable, just like the words implied.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What? There's a Gold rank customer here today?"
Lee Chang-jin, deputy manager at Shinsidae Department Store.
He was so startled by the call from one of his junior staff that he blurted it out loud without thinking.
Shinsidae's Gold rank.
A status reserved for customers spending over 30 million won annually.
Not many qualified, and those who dropped that kind of cash were upper-middle-class at minimum.
On luxury goods, no less.
It took steady monthly spending in the hundreds of thousands—or tens of millions in one go occasionally.
And this one achieved it in a single day?
"VIP service underway?"
His question made the junior's voice shrink on the other end.
[Well, same-day Gold ranks are so rare, the manual doesn't...]
"You're killing me. Han I-min, junior staff—that's exactly why you're in that role: to handle it flexibly."
[I'll fix it right away.]
Lee Chang-jin let out a sigh laced with irritation.
Then he spoke to the junior again.
"Assign staff to assist immediately. Report any special details."
[Got it.]
"Economy picking up or something?"
He hung up, muttering to himself as he opened his stock app.
But his account was still lit up red.
A stock portfolio as chilly as the cooling weather.
With a light sigh, he pocketed his phone.
Then he stood, slipping on his jacket.
"Jeez."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Oh... the Gold card looks totally different..."
I'd just picked up my Gold card from customer service.
Heavy enough to knock someone out if I chucked it?
I laughed at my own dumb thought.
Gold rank required 30 million in annual spending.
Emerald was ten million, so I just needed another twenty.
So I went to a different luxury boutique—not the brand I was wearing—and picked out a coat.
Something for fall and early winter.
I love coats.
Back in college, I had this weird conviction that I'd wear one no matter how freezing it got.
I was really into dressing up then.
Maybe because my insides were rotting away at the time.
'Gonna wear these out more often.'
My first coat in three years.
How much? Around 5.5 million, give or take.
A single coat costing that much.
I was honestly shocked, but it was a famous brand, so I got it.
The go-to name in coats.
The brand of my college dreams.
'Feels weird buying it younger instead of as an adult.'
Not even buying as a grown-up—just as someone who'd gotten younger.
Life really is unpredictable, like they say.
Anyway, on top of that, I grabbed a bunch of other stuff from the store.
Coat, trench coat, cute sneakers that caught my eye, even a card wallet that seemed handy.
Before I knew it, I'd crossed the twenty-million mark.
Maybe 100 million isn't that much after all?
'Can't even buy a house with it, so yeah.'
They say even winning the lottery doesn't make you rich—just a bit more comfortable.
In other words, ten to twenty billion is the ambiguous sum that lets you live easier in your current world but doesn't open doors to a new one.
Not that I have much room to talk, buying lotto tickets every week because I wanted that one big win.
Clutching my overflowing paper bags, I started pondering what to buy next.
"Customer Choi Yeon-bi!"
"Huh?"
Someone calling my name got a dazed response out of me.
I turned toward the voice and saw a group of suited employees standing in neat formation, staring at me.
Department stores must hire by face and height—they were all tall and handsome.
'That's why I got rejected for every part-time gig there.'
A bittersweet thought crossed my mind as I looked them over.
"Sorry for the delayed service. I'm Lee Chang-jin, deputy manager at Shinsidae Department Store."
A friendly-looking middle-aged guy suddenly thrust a business card at me with a warm smile.
He struck me as an uncle type, but if I were an ordinary girl instead of a guy-turned-woman, he might've seemed like a charming mature man.
Speaking of which, I wasn't into that at all.
I even fought with a friend once over her constantly posting that kind of stuff in our group chat.
"Customer? Is something wrong?"
"Ah... no."
Caught up in random thoughts, I startled a bit. I took his card and gave a small nod.
Shinsidae Department Store Deputy Manager Lee Chang-jin Neat and stylish card.
Wonder what my old business card looked like. The company name was so long, people would just see that and ignore mine.
'Wonder how much a department store deputy makes.'
Looking at Lee Chang-jin's face, he seemed well-off.
Looks are determined by money, after all.
'But seriously, why are they all swarming me?'
"We're aware you've reached Gold membership today. We'll provide service fitting your rank."
He answered as if reading my mind. Flustered, I scratched my head.
Did they always swarm like this the moment you hit a rank?
No idea.
Would be weirder if I did.
'...Well, since you're here...'
"Um... my hands are pretty full, so... could you help carry the bags?"
"Of course. Lounge or your vehicle?"
Oh right, the car's at the hotel.
Should've driven if I knew I'd buy this much.
Bought it with big storage for grocery runs, too.
Feeling foolish again, I said lounge.
Heading for 100 million today anyway—pile it all there and grab at once.
"Planning to keep shopping?"
Lee Chang-jin and the staff behind him loaded up with my bags.
The sight felt so odd, I stared for a while.
'Just like a drama.'
A bit surreal, but I nodded.
"Yes. Aiming for Arcana rank today."
"I see... wait, what?"
Lee Chang-jin looked shocked.
The staff behind him stiffened too.
Probably dreading more hauling.
Felt a twinge of guilt, but when else would I use this? Big spenders like me weren't exactly common.
Maybe treat them to some tasty snacks as thanks.
"Thinking luxury stores mostly... can you keep helping with the moves?"
"Abso...lutely!"
His face brightened more than before at my words.
Great—hands problem solved.
About seventy million left.
What to buy to make waves as a smart spender?
'Ah, right—that store.'
One brand proudly topping the luxury bag tier lists.
Silly to rank luxury goods, but since I'm here, why not snag a number-one bag?
"I want to go to the Hermès store... where is it?"