Chapter 16: Determination
A bright future.
This time, the government was implementing a new population policy.
If a woman applied by choosing a man, the man would decide whether to exercise his veto right.
If not, women could have sex once during their fertile period in order.
The pregnancy probability if successful was 25 to 30 percent.
If she got pregnant despite this, the woman could become the man's concubine.
There were other formal names, but what could I say?
Everyone thought of them as concubines anyway.
If she became a concubine, she had to use the man's surname, but could receive various benefits.
Basic financial support.
A house and a vehicle to create an environment beneficial for raising children.
Groceries for the child's normal growth.
Medical services at the level before the great upheaval for the child's health.
Academic support and cultural life support for the child's education.
And opportunities for the mother's job training and academic support services.
In a world where prices were rising, the value of money was declining, and society was declining, these were too precious things.
And I wanted all of this.
How did our family support me from behind?
When I was young, I said I wanted to study because I had a better head than others, and the whole family really supported me.
Our poor house provided me with the lectures I wanted to hear, the tutors I wanted, the academies I wanted, and cared for me in every aspect of daily life beyond that.
For my grades that exceeded the top ranks and maintained the highest, I really worked hard.
The desire to study was real, and since I succeeded in studies and wanted to change our family's environment, I did it.
I wanted to change the house with the broken window, the parents who always wore the same clothes, and the younger brother who was always compared but just laughed because of me.
When I entered the medical department of the country's best university, it seemed like I was doing well.
Unlike other families that failed and ruined the house, our house seemed to be doing well.
I received all the scholarships available, took entrance photos in front of the university gate, didn't miss any scholarships even after entering university, and instead of the high-priced tutoring I used to do, I did it myself to save money.
Even during the pandemic, I worked hard for 1.5 years, and in the summer vacation of my sophomore year, we finally rented a small house together and moved in, then the war broke out.
My brother was drafted, and my father and mother went to the munitions factory first.
Even while working so hard, my mom always made sure I ate.
My dad, who didn't know where or how he got the fruits, said I was struggling studying and gave them to me.
Still, with hope, the whole family worked hard, and the disease that everyone knew spread.
Sleep Disease.
My father got it first and passed away, and my brother who was in the army came home in a sleep state.
I, who was excluded from the mobilization order because I was a student, had to work at the munitions factory with my mom, and had to take turns taking care of my brother.
And the brother who always gave in to me died.
So, for 6 months, our family fell apart.
We thought it would go well.
There was only a flower path ahead.
But due to the plague and the war, everything fell apart.
What was left was only my mom who collapsed from overwork and the apartment we bought by working hard as a family.
The university registration fees I couldn't pay with the welfare system and scholarships, so I took a leave.
I worked at the munitions factory, then at the production factory, and while taking care of my mom with the distributed goods, my back felt like it was breaking.
After about a month, the UN General Assembly finally resolved some chaos, and on April 1st, Korea presented solutions for social problems in a public discussion for the nation.
When I saw the man speaking, I thought why my brother didn't survive, but quickly forgot.
Stupid thought.
When they spoke, I was angry.
Who do you think you are, talking like it's already decided?
Even if I understood it in my head, I was angry.
He didn't come out because he wanted to, right?
After the discussion ended and I saw the government distributed documents, my anger subsided.
Everything I needed was there.
Money.
Medical services for my fallen mom.
Academic support for my studies.
Everything for a stable life was there.
So, I applied by naming the man who came out to be insulted in the discussion as per the application method in the distributed document.
Since he was the one pushed out to be insulted among the men, I had confidence to handle him.
I wasn't ugly,
My body was average, but thanks to my mom who inherited good genes with a good face, I look pretty even to myself.
So, I did everything to meet the conditions.
Fortunately, my age was inside, and thanks to the personality test, interview, and university acceptance when entering university, I could pass the personality part.
The most critical point was creating social value, which was the biggest hurdle, so I appealed to the interviewers with the tax records from before the great upheaval and the part where the whole family fulfilled their obligations during the war and pandemic.
Thanks to the interviewers' sympathy for me, thinking I was pitiful.
Thanks to the naive thought that if they give it, it's real.
In the end, even in the last chance, I received help from my family.
Without family, I can't do anything.
Miraculously selected, and while praying for the last miracle,
When the first batch was announced to relieve national anxiety by live streaming meetings for a week, I shouted.
Dad who went to the sky first, helping me.
Brother who only felt sorry, helping till the end.
The opportunity is not once.
If once a day, 7 times.
It could be more.
I thought I'd have a kid once anyway, and in this situation, if I can, it's good.
Rather than that, these support lists to solve all these situations are more urgent.
After preparing so hard and praying, that day came.
April 24th.
Wearing the most confident coordination from the clothes I had the day before.
A white shirt with slightly long sleeves, a light pink flare skirt with small flowers that wasn't flashy, slightly shorter than knee length.
Hair set to a brown bob with soft full bangs with slight curls.
Finally, a white beret and a clutch bag that could be carried on the shoulder.
Not bad, plain but pretty.
The atmosphere was not bad until the greeting as pre-announced.
The other side probably didn't know we were approaching, whatever.
As long as can do as much as possible, divide.
But seeing that he was tall and somewhat built, seems not bad stamina.
'Most surviving men are drafted, so their stamina is good?'
From then, something felt off.
A woman who pre-apocalypse traded men like a whore stuck to a man,
A country girl blocked, a church sister said weird things, a woman I saw once in a drama charged in.
The plan to stop her and act as a shy cultured image failed.
Fucking woman.
After fighting hard like that, finding gaps to escape, time passed, and the man named Sung-hun sat on the bench where he was sitting, wondering what he was thinking.
Need to get close quickly...
Need to hurry...
Should have just said let's all go to hotel together.
That country girl unnecessarily blocked...
But had to spend a week together and share the bed, so tried to get close, but that girl ruined it all.
"Shut up"
What?
Huh??
"Kang Hye-in, come out. Say the story you just said right here."
The one who was mumbling in the discussion?
"Your career and all, I don't care, get out. Author-nim will exercise veto on Kang Hye-in."
Wasn't that a blurry man?
My strong competitor woman started nothing and ended by being dragged away by soldiers.
With one word.
Since can monopolize 4 people for a week, definitely beneficial for me...
Different from the person in the video.
"Why? Because the image on screen is different, weird?"
It was another person.
Previously when dating, it wasn't like this.
Since no love, can't stand noisy behavior next to me.
So, what kind of date is this.
Just go straight to hotel bed and do it once.
Persuade the president auntie and male guys till end.
Is it only me?
After sending the crazy Hye-in and spacing out, the author-nim showed interest, so I made eye contact.
Shall we go to hotel?
"Uh.... Mr. Park Seonghun?"
"Yes."
"You sent as I said..."
"Yes."
"After starting broadcast, if one person suddenly disappears, there will be talk..."
"Don't beat around the bush, speak straight."
"Yes! But since it's a problem, how about bringing her back again?"
So, the problem is someone disappearing.
"Then you come in."
"Eh?"
"Why? You don't like me?"
"No!"
"Obviously, but since you didn't pass, no sex."
"Eh? Is that so?
"Obviously."
"Yes...."
Look at the pronunciation too.
Anyway, decided.
"Where is the designated hotel?"
".... Just follow me."
"Everyone follow."