Investment and Business
Investment and Business
With the weather suddenly turning cold, the morning news started making a fuss day after day about the college entrance exam cold wave and whatnot. They seemed to be carrying on about it being especially colder than the day before, but since I couldn't really feel much difference, reading the news made me chuckle.
"Did you see something funny?"
"No, they said it'll be a lot colder than yesterday because of the exam cold wave."
"It does feel like the temperature dropped a little compared to yesterday."
As if she was a bit cold, A-ra folded her arms and rubbed her forearms. The moment I saw that, I used the central control tablet PC beside me to adjust the heater temperature slightly. Warmer air than before started blowing out, and as the temperature rose quickly, perhaps because it was now warm, A-ra began to smile brightly.
"I'm fine, but... aren't you hot?"
"This much is warm and nice for me too."
Honestly, my body temperature runs so high that I live in short sleeves and shorts at home even in winter, so it was a little hot, but I couldn't just watch A-ra be cold. In the summer, A-ra endured the cold air from the air conditioner for me, since I suffer from the heat a lot, so in winter, it was my turn to endure the heater's warmth for A-ra, who suffers from the cold a lot. And this much heater wasn't something I couldn't endure. Except for it being a bit dry, that is.
"Tell me anytime if you're hot, okay? Because I'd hate seeing you hot more than being cold myself."
"I said I'm really fine, okay?"
Despite that, A-ra wore a worried expression. I smiled and gently stroked her cheek.
"In the first place, when I'm hot, I go around with the word 'hot' practically glued to my mouth, don't I? Since I haven't done that yet, you know, right?"
"Yeah... that's true..."
"Anyway, didn't you say you had something to talk about today?"
"Oh, right!"
As if she had finally remembered, A-ra turned on the tablet PC that was placed beside her. And after touching it for a while and browsing through something that looked like PPT materials, she seemed to confirm what she was looking for and held the tablet PC out to me.
"This is the building I'm thinking of buying this time. What do you think?"
"A building?"
Honestly, even I don't know exactly how much A-ra's income is. Various media outlets often speculate that A-ra's annual income reaches over a hundred billion won, and honestly, from what I see, it really might be around that much, given how many sources of income she has. Monthly rent coming from buildings she owns in downtown hotspots like Myeongdong, Jongno, and Apgujeong. She says she doesn't even know herself how many she owns in other regions. For reference, there's a rumor that the monthly rent from a single tenant in one building comes to 300 million won, and it's actually true. I heard that a dermatology clinic that uses an entire floor pays 300 million won a month. For A-ra to invest in a building is not such a strange thing. A-ra, who is quick on her feet and has an excellent information network, was emerging as a new powerhouse, buying up buildings or goods with immediate cash payments whenever a good property came up.
"Downstairs, there's a cafe, a convenience store, an optician, and a pharmacy too."
"Do you know what this building's nickname is? They call it the Tower of Life."
"Pfft...."
Since pediatrics, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, and dermatology were all gathered at once, it must have gotten the name Tower of Life. And on top of that, a pharmacy was sitting right there on the first floor too. Who on earth comes up with nicknames like that, and how? It seemed like they had a knack for it, attaching fantasy elements to make really fun nicknames. The tablet PC A-ra handed over had various information on it. What was operating on each floor, how much the deposits were. And looking at the location, for once, it wasn't a trendy area, but a building near our house.
"It looks like there isn't a single vacancy. That's good, right?"
"Right? It's good, isn't it?"
"I don't know for sure, but it doesn't seem like it would be bad....."
Of course, I know nothing about real estate or things like that. The cheap monthly rent place I lived in when I became independent was also designated by the government.
"But why a building all of a sudden? Feels like you're playing SimCity on your own even now."
"Buying and collecting things one by one gives me a sense of comfort."
So A-ra's building collecting was driven by a collector's instinct. I thought she was doing it for stable income, and when I made a slightly shocked expression, A-ra burst out laughing.
"I'm kidding, kidding. Still, where would you find someone who collects buildings?"
"Right?"
Still, even so. How many people are there who spend actual cash like it's in-game currency? That kind of thing is probably only seen in web novels or webtoons.
"But it's not completely vacancy-free, huh. The top floor is totally empty."
The top floor had been expanded so that the entire floor could be used as a single space.
"That place was vacated not long ago, seems like there was originally a private academy there..."
"Is the tenant who'll move in decided?"
"No? I'm thinking of trying a business there."
"A business?"
I tilted my head. Investment I could understand, but a business. What kind of business was she planning to do? More than that, I didn't even know A-ra had that kind of business idea. Usually, when it comes to businesses run by celebrities, there's nothing besides restaurants and PC bangs. Personally, I never quite understood what connection celebrities had with PC bangs to be running that kind of business.
"I've wanted to try running a game shop."
"A game shop? Well... selling things like console game software..."
"Yeah, exactly that. Offline shops are more expensive than online shops, right? I want to set up an offline shop that's the opposite, cheaper than online."
She started rattling off business ideas that all seemed like they would only generate massive deficits. She planned to sell game consoles and software not officially released in Korea, exhibit limited edition items, and apparently wanted to try many different things.
"Will it be profitable?"
"I wonder? I want to try running it in a way that at least minimizes losses."
"Then wouldn't there be basically no point in doing business?"
No matter how much revenue it generates, if it only breaks even, could you really call that a business?
"Are you against it, Seong-hwan?"
"No, I think it'd be fun too, but..."
In fact, most offline game shops probably started with similar thoughts to A-ra's. Thoughts of whether they could combine hobby and income, and there must have been many people who felt the charm of the 'game sales' business.
"Buying and reselling used items would be good too."
"Right, right? I was thinking of shops like the ones I saw in Japan too!"
Perhaps happy that our thoughts aligned, A-ra raised a hand for a high-five, so I gladly returned it.
"How about doing online in addition to offline?"
"Online too?"
"For example, listing used products on an online shop for sale..."
"But would that be as easy as it sounds?"
"We have the agency, after all."
Even if we don't know how, the agency will know how. Didn't the Director say before to consult her if we had any business ideas?
"A-ra Noona, you don't know things like where to source the goods either, do you?"
"I do know about that, since there's someone who said they'd help at a low cost."
"....As expected of connections...."
"And for overseas goods too, someone with a wide network said they'd help."
"The talk has already reached that point..."
"Well, I'm a bit quick to act, you know."
A-ra's bright smile as she said that was so refreshing and clear, as if it were proof of how much she wanted to do this and how hard she had prepared.
"You're planning to sell cards too, of course, right?"
"Busted?"
When she said she was importing goods from overseas, if I hadn't thought of cards, I wouldn't be A-ra's husband. Hobbies followed most of what A-ra tried to do. In the first place, even singing started as A-ra's hobby, and wasn't it the Director who recognized her and made her an idol?
"There are still many people who enjoy cards in Korea, after all. I don't think it would be bad."
"These days, things like Pukimeon cards are really popular."
"I heard they sell like crazy."
They were definitely a niche in Korea, but Pukimeon cards, which have been showing an explosive response since some point, are becoming so popular that people say you can't buy them because they're sold out. And among collectors, while the Korean version cards are good, there are many who want to collect Japanese or American version cards, so the demand base is solid too.
"So, I can buy the building, right?"
"It's a bit strange how you talk like you're buying a single card, but... wouldn't it be okay? As long as it's not fraud or something."
"It's a property recommended by the agent unnie, so don't worry, that won't happen. It's not like buying through auction, so there's no need to worry about cancellation rights either."
"I don't know what that means."
When I said I didn't know and tilted my head, she smiled wryly and stroked my hair.
"At times like this, you really seem like other guys your age, Seong-hwan."
"So is that a turn-off?"
"No way. I like Seong-hwan whether he's manly or womanly, all of it."
"I like it when Noona is womanly."
And then, like a cat, I rubbed my cheek against A-ra's cheek. When I acted spoiled after so long, A-ra's eyes began to sparkle with light, and soon, my lips were stolen away.