Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Mindset
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ㅡ Vrrr vrrr
My phone started vibrating.
Usually, these short bursts meant a text or notification had come in.
Sure enough, when I flicked on the screen, there was a new message.
[The item you ordered will be delivered today between 12-4 PM. You'll get another notification 30 minutes before delivery...]
It lined up pretty well with checkout time.
Even if I grabbed breakfast, there'd be plenty of time.
But thinking back to what happened at the restaurant yesterday made me hesitate.
"Maybe skip breakfast..."
The thought had barely crossed my mind before I fired off a cancellation text.
Breakfast was included in the room rate, so no refund, but money wasn't the issue anyway.
After sending it, I flopped back onto the bed and fiddled with my phone. That's when I noticed a pile of payment confirmations.
Hundreds, sometimes tens of millions of won at a time.
The contents were so ridiculous I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Maybe I should've held back a little."
Here I was, splashing cash everywhere and then complaining about all the attention it drew.
"...What the hell am I even doing? I'm not an idiot."
Spending money like water meant buying a ton of services and goods from people.
So their reactions were completely natural.
I spent big to get that treatment, then got scared of it all by myself. Pathetic.
"My guts must be the size of a pea."
With nerves like that, I probably couldn't even hold my liquor.
I let out a long sigh and sat up.
"This is hard. So damn hard."
They say even if you're rich, don't flaunt it.
Hell, you're supposed to keep lottery wins from your own family.
That's why real rich folks live quietly.
Spending modestly. Flashy but discreet.
Still letting everyone know they're loaded.
They don't blow through cash like a madman, like I did yesterday.
'...They all treated me well on the surface, but deep down, were they calling me a nouveau riche or something?'
My behavior screamed "sudden wealth."
Not that being a lotto winner or instant millionaire is bad.
I just... worried they saw me not as a VIP, but as a golden goose laying eggs.
Reality checks matter.
Even if my situation felt unreal, this world was real enough.
Yesterday, my sense of reality had definitely dulled.
It's my money, I can spend it however, no real problem there—but public perception is.
'Who knows? I could end up the goose.'
Old tales always carry lessons.
The goose story was about not getting greedy for quick gains, a bit different from my case.
Still, I couldn't shake the feeling I was in the goose's position.
'Eh, it was fun, so no need to beat myself up too much.'
Besides, it helped me regain some reality sense. Better to learn now than face bigger trouble later from reckless spending.
"Time to head home."
I tilted my head side to side, stretching, then headed straight to the bathroom.
I rushed through my morning routine and emerged around 7 AM.
Drying my hair took a bit, but I made it to the lobby quick enough.
When I said I was skipping breakfast, the manager looked flustered and asked, "Is something wrong?"
I assured him everything was fine and gave a light goodbye, but he kept probing, so I bolted out like I was escaping.
'Well, yeah, after devouring so much yesterday, skipping it does sound weird.'
I vaguely recalled what I'd eaten.
For a woman, it'd been a lot.
'Maybe that's why my stomach feels off.'
Anyway, after reassuring the manager it was all good, I drove my little car leisurely out of the hotel.
"Phew..."
Finally, I could breathe a little.
That nagging unease was fading.
And I'd resolved to be more careful with spending going forward.
No financial issues from splurging like yesterday, but human relations? Big problem.
'Not just jealousy... more complex stuff...'
I remembered a rich YouTuber who got flooded with tax evasion reports and legal complaints, forcing him to quit.
He hadn't actually evaded taxes or broken serious laws, but the reports piled up.
Attention and goodwill come with jealousy.
Especially if they think you're living better than them for no good reason.
'I've got no legit business, and it's not "honest" money, so it'll be worse.'
Even if I felt above board, jealousy makes life hell. And I can't exactly explain my money's origin proudly.
'I messed around on communities, woke up like this.'
Yeah, can't say that.
"This is seriously tough."
Time to act more cautiously from now on.
Yesterday's me was way too fearless.
Not that I'm stopping spending altogether.
Gonna get that car.
"Might as well make it a Mustang."
Fell in love with it the first time I saw it in a racing game.
Could afford pricier, but Mustang first.
Rich people aren't rich because they buy expensive stuff.
They're rich because they can buy whatever they want.
"Jealousy-worthy, huh."
With that thought, I drove toward the towering Allstate apartment, visible from afar.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A little past noon.
A truck emblazoned with a huge furniture store logo, trailed by a small sedan, passed the Allstate entrance.
The truck, loaded with furniture, pulled into the parking lot.
Trucks like this usually carry deliveries for multiple stops, emptying the warehouse bit by bit.
This one should've crisscrossed the city.
But everything in this truck was headed to one place.
The two delivery guys hopped out first. Then the folks from the sedan piled out too.
"All this for one house? Makes it so much easier."
The older delivery man in the bright yellow uniform with the store logo grinned, wrinkles deepening. He swung open the cargo door.
A heavy metallic groan as it slowly rose.
"Sure, but the sheer amount... whew."
The younger one next to him laughed and flung the door wide.
"Better than hopping all over the place, right?"
"True, but... looking at it all, thinking how many cart trips... I'm already beat."
The young guy shook his head with a wry smile at the mountain inside, dyed brown hair tumbling out as he doffed his cap.
"We're not alone, though."
The older man nodded toward the sedan, thumbs up.
Staff in comfy clothes were grabbing tools, prepping to assemble.
"...Aren't those assembly-only guys?"
"Told 'em to help carry."
The young guy grinned at the kindly veteran and pulled out a green hand truck.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Allstate's intercom doesn't chime.
It signals with light instead.
Green light flashed—I dashed to buzz open the lobby door.
Lobby calls blink green once; the front door flashes repeatedly.
They're here.
"Perfect timing."
Made it home just in the nick.
If I'd dawdled, the furniture would've beaten me.
Glad I wasn't a bother. I gazed at the empty living room.
"Finally, relaxing at home."
Hotels are nice, but nothing beats your own place.
"Assembly service too... so I don't have to build anything..."
Nothing for me to do.
Delivery, assembly, placement—all handled by the pros.
That's what money's for.
I stashed all the luxury bags I'd lugged up in the elevator into a small room, then tidied the living room lightly.
Folded the eyesore camping gear away, gathered cup ramen trash and cups in one spot.
Dragged the living room PC—barely—to the kitchen side.
Thought it was empty, but damn, there's a lot.
"What's the opposite of minimalist?"
Mini's opposite is big, so bigsimplist?
Suddenly curious, I searched it on my phone—then the intercom flashed green repeatedly.
"Ah."
I set the phone down and flung open the door.
"Hello~"
A friendly-looking middle-aged guy held the door, smiling.
A bit older, but built like a tank.
"Delivery's here. Gonna take four-plus cart trips, so mind if we leave the door open?"
The young guy behind peeked in.
Yeah, I'd bought a ton.
'Got too excited.'
Today's resolution stung a bit, but furniture was inevitable—exception granted.
"Ah... come on in."
"Thanks~ Oh, assembly team's coming up—they'll handle it all. Just tell them where to put stuff."
"Got it. Thank you."
The front door swung wide.
The young guy carefully wheeled in huge cardboard boxes on the cart.
Knock-down furniture—fits this way.
Bigger pieces might need the crane truck.
'Appliances should fit through the door, right?'
I eyed the precariously entering boxes, thinking of the fridge I needed soon.
ㅡ Thud thud
'Kids home at this hour?'
I glanced up at the faint ceiling thumps.
'Don't wanna cause issues with upstairs.'
Hoping no hard feelings, I watched the boxes stack neatly in the living room.
'Priorities first.'
And so, one after another.
"Here for assembly."
"Whoa, brand new place~"
The rest of the crew piled in.