Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Burning Friday
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Commonly, what do people call Friday?
They call this kind of Friday "Burning Friday."
A perfect time for office workers to knock back a drink or two after getting off work.
In front of the bustling central fountain, where crowds streamed by, one woman stood out, shining brighter than the rest.
"Do-jun! Over here!"
"Yeah... okay."
Her long, slender legs stretched elegantly.
Her black hair fluttered in the breeze.
The neat, semi-formal dress clung perfectly, stirring the primal urges of every man nearby.
"Whoa! Who's that? She's smoking hot!"
"Man, I'd kill to hook up with a girl like that..."
"Should I try to get her number?"
"Get real. You think a babe like her would even glance your way?"
"Must be filming a movie or something!"
"Haven't seen her on TV, so maybe a rookie idol?"
The thought that such a woman was waiting for me stirred something strange inside.
Of course, it wasn't love. Just pure curiosity.
Money really is the best. With money, you can do anything.
If I'd kept scraping by on my measly 2 million won a month at that dead-end small company, I'd never have crossed paths with Kang So-yeon, let alone have her waiting for me like this.
Today's task was simple.
She'd asked to meet because she was stuck on the latter half of her novel. Writers usually outline synopses or plots beforehand, mapping out the story's flow.
Even a top author like her hit slumps, it seemed. I never expected someone as popular since school days to come to me first.
"Let's go!"
"Sure."
Wherever we went, gasps of admiration and jealous grumbles followed.
How could a total loser like that guy date a woman glowing like the moon? It was a question that could fill a thousand-page thesis.
"What do you wanna see?"
Kang So-yeon picked one out right away.
The theater was already swamped with couples, so we had no choice but to hold hands amid the waves of people.
"!"
For a split second, a spark jumped between our fingertips.
"Y-you okay?"
At her worried question, I brushed it off casually.
"It's nothing... Movie's about to start anyway."
The film was a romance titled Yesterday's You, Tomorrow's Me, a smash hit.
Not Hollywood blockbuster, thriller, or horror—yet it had already surpassed 5 million viewers.
We grabbed armfuls of popcorn and soda, settling into prime seats.
"I'm excited. You?"
"Yeah... me too."
My face stayed blank, but inside, I was flustered.
I should've watched it first!
A friendless guy like me? Why would I ever go to a theater?
But that wasn't fair to her.
Pretending it's fun even if it's not—that's just basic courtesy.
The runtime was a hefty 2 hours and 30 minutes.
"..."
Throughout, I felt a presence lurking behind us.
This was meant to be a consultation-date with Kang So-yeon, but I couldn't come alone.
The culprit who threatened Selig still hadn't been caught, apparently. The central government had roped in the FBI, and even the Homeland Security—usually dormant unless it was a national disaster—had reached out to Interpol for crime intel and aid.
Investigations now spanned the entire U.S., plus neighbors Canada and Mexico.
"!"
Whenever our shoulders brushed lightly, the black shadow watching us stealthily flinched.
That shadow's identity?
Im Yun-ah, tailing us to guard against threats.
Juggling Kang So-yeon tearing up beside me with the movie and Im Yun-ah's killer glare from behind naturally gave me a headache.
I shook my head.
No way the blackmailer from the States would show up here.
If they knew I was Selig's true owner, today's plans would've been scrapped. Even the U.S. HQ staff thought Jin Seol-hwa was their CEO—no documents proving otherwise existed.
"The movie was so good. The story, and the acting—it really pulled me in."
"Yeah. The lead actress really stood out."
After a quick coffee at a café, we headed to a bar for the real talk. Liquor loosens the tongue for buried feelings.
"Honestly..."
Kang So-yeon hesitated, then spoke softly.
"Do-jun, I was shocked to learn you're Starlight's CEO. You didn't seem like it at the reunion..."
Fair enough.
Back then, I'd left my 11-billion-won LaFerrari at home, along with my usual Richard Mille watch.
The unexpected crypto jackpot had me extra cautious around others.
Unaware of my circumstances, she looked nostalgic, intrigued by the change.
"You confessed to me under those crimson maple trees."
"..."
"Thinking about then versus now... it feels so strange."
"..."
No point hiding I was a CEO now, and I didn't feel the need to. Being DJ Investment and Selig's head was premature to reveal, but I couldn't keep it secret forever.
A few drinks in, a pleasant buzz hit.
Not even that many glasses...
Kang So-yeon's cheeks flushed beet red, and then she dropped the bomb.
"Do-jun."
"Yeah?"
"Do you still like me?"
"!"
She rubbed her empty soju glass with her index finger, then flicked it.
Roll...
It tumbled across the table toward me.
"..."
Why send it my way?
Taking it might make her think I still had feelings.
Unlike her bold advance, my heart stayed ice cold.
While she burned red-hot, my eyes fixed on the passersby reflected in the window.
A year ago, I'd have taken that glass.
But now, I had precious family.
Not blood-related, but still.
Blood's thinner than water, as they say. Starlight's hardworking staff, Olivia jetting between the Philippines and the U.S., Jin Seol-hwa and thousands of researchers toiling abroad—they were my true family.
Oh, and Park Seong-ho, buried in pharma studies.
"You know, writing was when I felt happiest. Dad's company was struggling, home was tense. I started webnovels to help out ASAP."
"..."
"Life was tough, scraping by daily, but diving into that world made me feel like a god. An escape from reality, I guess?"
"..."
"Before I knew it, I got famous. Sometimes I still don't get why readers love my stuff."
"..."
"Years passed, debts cleared, life got comfortable."
Our paths differed, but we'd both endured hardships.
I often wondered.
If I'd been born five years earlier, I could've eased Mom's market stall burdens.
Part-time gigs.
Or factory work, even non-permanent.
Then no overwork death.
Even with near-80-trillion assets, this regret was eternal.
My one true grudge, maybe.
"That's why I skipped dating. Better to spend time brainstorming one more line for the future."
Her stardom as an author?
The fruit of her sacrificed youth.
But no need for pity.
"So-yeon."
I took a sip after ages.
I didn't love booze, but right now, I wanted it.
"Everyone regrets something."
"!"
"And those regrets push us to grow. The old Kim Do-jun was a ghost friends mocked or ignored. Not anymore."
My nickname was Ghost.
A non-entity, there or not.
Drown in the Han River? Classmates would think:
'Was there a guy like that in our class?'
"If you wrestled with that, it's proof you faced life head-on. Nothing weird about it."
I was grappling too.
How to grow the fortune.
And help more people with it?
I pondered daily.
Not just amass wealth, but be remembered—that was my goal, my big dream.
The road ahead was treacherous; no need to dwell.
"So regret, then regret some more. Someday, it'll make you better—as 'human Kang So-yeon' and 'author Kang So-yeon.'"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Stumbling home, Kang So-yeon collapsed into bed without washing up.
The room drowned in darkness.
Well past midnight, yet sleep evaded her—mind razor-sharp.
"Haa..."
She'd met him to sort her feelings.
Now they were more tangled.
Kang So-yeon clasped her hands over her chest.
Her heart pounded wildly, ready to burst.
Kim Do-jun was different from other men.
They saw one thing.
Her stunning beauty.
She knew.
People had urged her since childhood to become a celeb.
But the one man who saw beyond looks to her soul?
Just him. Unique.
When did these feelings start?
Her heart tilted one way.
Problem: he was her employer; she'd taken the advance and owed him results.
She slapped her cheeks hard, snapping focus.
Get it together, girl! Starlight's next hit is priority.
For that, she needed a killer story.
Kang So-yeon sat at her desk, hands on keyboard.
Even near dawn, she concentrated on writing.
Firm in faith he'd look her way again someday.
Tap, tap-tap, tap-tap-tap!
Her fingers danced proof.
＊ A lazy weekend, sunlight streaming in.
Park Seong-ho savored tea in his spacious home.
Chrysanthemum tea, said to clear the mind.
Just sipping refreshed his whole body.
"Incredible..."
The past month revealed shocks he still couldn't fully grasp. Selig's true owner being his best friend Do-jun? Unthinkable.
Selig's huge, but DJ Investment's funds are astronomical. How'd Do-jun pull this off?
No clue there.
Jin Seol-hwa was Do-jun's puppet; DJ Investment bankrolled the U.S. pharma giant.
His old cramped place was long gone.
Now: 120-pyeong luxury Seoul penthouse.
Market value: 4.5 billion won.
Home to gold-spoon elites. Opposition lawmakers, top-earning profs, puffed-up entrepreneurs.
Korea's top 1%.
"Branch Manager, time's up."
"Already?"
Seong-ho dressed casually, boarding the waiting Mercedes Maybach in the garage—Do-jun's gift.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
James, face scarred.
Selig Security Team 2 leader.
Ex-U.S. military with combat experience, fitting his look.
Seeing ten guards, Seong-ho got chills.
Selig Korea's Korea entry imminent.
Negotiations for Factory 2 with the government done.
Songdo for 1, Cheongju for 2...
Vast sites, great access.
Ideal for factories.
"We've arrived."
As the team moved to exit,
Park Seong-ho stopped them.
"I'll go alone."
"You sure? The HQ blackmailer's still at large."
He'd heard.
The researcher-murder threat vanished in the U.S.
"I'll be back in 30. Wait here."
"Understood. But if anything—"
"I'll call then."
A cozy coffee shop for dates.
Ten minutes early, yet his ex, Mi-jeong, was already there.
She'd reached out first days ago.
"S-Seong-ho..."
Tears welling—pitiful to any other man.
But Park Seong-ho didn't flinch at her pleading face.
She'd begged on her knees for another chance—and he'd coldly refused.
"..."
Not sitting, he grabbed a water glass.
And dumped it over Mi-jeong's head.
"What the—? They're fighting over there!"
"Poor girl. That's too much, even if..."
"Nah, she cheated. It's obvious."
Amid the murmurs, Park Seong-ho eyed his trembling, humiliated ex.
Not here for forgiveness.
To end it for good.
"Mi-jeong, you think the world revolves around you?"