Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Min-ji's Call
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Jin-seong opened his laptop and launched the Excel file he had created himself.
A clean screen displayed his assets neatly organized in a table.
The first thing he checked, as always, was Bitcoin.
Jin-seong had successfully liquidated his initial 10,000 Bitcoins for about 800 billion won.
The liquidated funds were already detailed in the breakdown.
『House Construction Costs』
— Total budget: 60 billion won
Advance payment: 20 billion won (contract deposit)
(Balance of 40 billion won due upon completion)
『Real Estate for Rental Business』
— Invested amount: 400 billion won
Set annual yield at 5%, securing about 1.6 billion won in monthly interest.
『Principal-Protected Fund』
— Invested amount: 300 billion won
Set annual yield at 4%, securing about 1 billion won in monthly interest.
Looking over everything up to this point, Jin-seong broke into a satisfied smile.
The remaining 400 billion won from the exchange liquidation two days ago hadn't been deposited yet, but it was expected within the week.
『Cash Flow Summary』
— Current available cash on hand: approx. 480 billion won
Immediately liquidatable amount on exchange: 400 billion won
Total available cash: approx. 880 billion won
Monthly fixed income: approx. 2.6 billion won
Finally, the remaining 10,000 Bitcoins. At current prices, they were worth over 800 billion won as well, with potential for even higher values ahead.
Adding it all up, Jin-seong confirmed once more that his total assets exceeded 2 trillion won.
But money itself was no longer what mattered most to him.
He had already tasted life's bitterness chasing after it.
The tough times as a master agent, the near-collapse from obsession with cash...
Now, his money would only enrich and enhance his life.
Not big spends, but a sustainable system—living solely off interest without touching principal.
With additional real estate purchases boosting monthly income to 5-6 billion won, he could design a perfectly stable life without ever dipping into capital.
Saving the Excel file, Jin-seong interlaced his fingers, leaned back in his chair, and stretched comfortably.
A deeply satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Things are going exactly according to plan."
He was genuinely content with this life free from money's sway.
After a full stretch, he closed the laptop with a light heart.
As usual, Jin-seong rose early, full of energy, and returned from his morning workout.
After a refreshing sweat, he pulled out the pre-ordered chicken breast salad for a simple meal.
It was Ye-ji's comeback stream day, so he'd already gotten a message from her that morning.
Ye-ji had texted early, begging him to tune in, and he'd replied, "Got it. Looking forward to it today."
She'd responded happily, saying she'd upgraded her setup a lot, so expectations were high.
"Hmm, about two hours until the stream?"
Checking the time on his phone, Jin-seong pondered how to kill the remaining time while eating his salad bite by bite.
Maybe grab a drink from the convenience store? Just as he considered a quick trip,
his phone on the table suddenly rang.
"Huh? Who's calling at this hour?"
With a puzzled look, Jin-seong picked it up and checked the screen.
His expression hardened instantly.
The caller was Min-ji, Young-jin's younger sister, whom he'd run into recently by chance.
The moment he answered, Min-ji's choked-up voice came through.
"H-Hello... You said you could help me, right? That wasn't a lie, was it?"
The sudden call threw me off.
But her trembling, teary voice made me serious without realizing it.
"What's going on?"
A brief silence followed.
Min-ji didn't speak for a while. Then, with difficulty, she continued.
"I'm... going through something really tough. Could you come over for a bit?"
Hearing her desperate plea, I didn't need to think twice.
"Yeah... okay. Send me your location. I'll head there now."
I hung up, stood quickly, and started getting ready to go out.
Changed clothes and tidied my hair in the mirror.
I was curious and worried about what was up with Min-ji.
A notification pinged on my phone.
It was a message from her.
"What on earth is going on?"
With that, I headed out.
The address she sent was near the university, in a one-room village.
I drove slowly down a narrow alley off the bustling street, barely wide enough for one car.
The buildings crammed together gave me a bad feeling.
I parked in front of a rundown one-room at the alley's end.
Min-ji was already outside, with two large suitcases beside her.
One look at her face told me things were serious.
She'd been staring anxiously at my car, then approached quietly as I got out.
"You came?"
She let out a short sigh and said,
"Get in first."
"Okay..." she murmured softly, weakly, and climbed into the back seat.
I loaded her two suitcases into the trunk and got back in the car.
Her anxious expression, slumped shoulders, dark circles... Whatever happened must be bad, but I couldn't ask right then.
Silence hung heavy.
In the awkward, weighty air, I drove to a quiet nearby café.
Min-ji's face remained dark; she stared out the window wordlessly.
We ordered hot coffees and sat down.
Min-ji wrapped her hands around her warm mug and whispered,
"Thank you..."
I watched her face for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"What happened?"
Avoiding my gaze, she hesitated, then began her story quietly.
I've been living alone since I turned twenty.
After my brother died, my parents fell into deep depression. Watching them was too painful for me to stay home.
So I left on my own, without any help.
I scraped by on part-time jobs, day by day.
It's been five years already.
People think adulthood means freedom, but reality is different.
Making ends meet wasn't easy; I only had a few million won saved from gigs.
The only place I could afford was a cheap 180,000-won monthly one-room.
The exterior paint was peeling so bad you couldn't tell the color, and the metal stairs creaked and rusted every time someone climbed them.
Bugs came at night, mold spots stark on the wallpaper everywhere.
The other residents weren't exactly normal either. Jobless drunks yelling obscenities day and night, foreign laborers who could barely communicate, weirdos.
I didn't expect decent treatment living here, but it didn't make my life feel any less miserable.
Lately, a guy from the same floor started following me around.
At first, I thought it was coincidence, but his stares grew blatant and persistent.
Ignoring him didn't help; it got worse.
Late at night, drunk out of his mind, he'd pound on my door and scream.
"Hey, miss! Open up! Let's talk!"
Terrified, I called the cops, but they dismissed it as drunken nonsense and let him off with a warning.
I complained to the landlord, but all I got was a sigh.
"Cheap rent attracts those types... Try to understand."
What could I say to that?
Living in a 180,000-won dump, what rights did I have?
One day amid this nightmare, I was heading to the convenience store for a simple dinner bento.
There he was, in the dim alley.
He hesitated, then gave an awkward, apologetic smile.
"Miss... Sorry about last time. I was wasted. Really regret it."
I ignored him and hurried to the store.
But he followed, babbling on.
"I've been watching you since we live in the same building. I really like you. We're in the same boat, right? Let's get along."
Furious, I turned and snapped coldly,
"I'm not in the same boat as you, so leave me alone."
His face twisted ugly in an instant.
"Fucking bitch... Living here means we're the same trash, right? I'm saying we're equals, so why's a bum like you acting up?!"
Scared stiff, I bolted into the store without another word.
My back prickled the whole run; my heart pounded wildly.
I caught my breath, grabbed the bento, rushed home, and locked the rickety door.
The damp mold smell hit me in the tiny room; tears welled up.
His words echoed: living in this 180,000-won hole made me no better than him.
Staying here, I'd end up in real trouble with that guy someday.
Tears burst out, a mix of sorrow and rage.
I couldn't endure this place anymore.
Then I thought of my late brother's friend, Jin-seong, from the other day.
His offer to help rang in my ears.
I hesitated, but pride and caution crumbled.
With shaking hands, I called. When he picked up, I asked through sobs,
"H-Hello... You meant it when you said you could help, right? It wasn't a lie?"