Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Middle School Student Yoo Ha-yeon (1)
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-Brrring.
On a bright spring day, I lay blankly on the bed, staring out the window.
What a beautiful day.
Birds chirping, flowers blooming...
'Uh... what day is it today, anyway...'
Lifting my head from my lying position to look ahead, my eyes met the full-length mirror. A disheveled beauty was tilting her head.
The sense of freedom from my body and my pristine bare skin without a stitch on told me I'd stripped off everything last night before crashing...
Why did I do that?
"...".
Ah, right. I remember.
Money!
-Whoosh.
I kicked off the covers fiercely and bolted upright, checking the date. It was Saturday.
"Ah, haha. Right. Yeah, we had a team dinner yesterday. No... since I've been asleep for two days, it was the day before yesterday."
Reality sank back in.
Yeah, yeah. I was so thrilled I went out for meat with the crew. Nearly had drinks too, but Si-hyeon stopped that.
Ah, of course, I'm not some evil boss who makes her team pull all-nighters then drags them to dinner.
So why'd I sleep for two whole days?
I let them rest on Wednesday, then had the dinner during Thursday's work hours... but that's for the grunts. Si-hyeon and I pulled an all-nighter even on Wednesday.
Thanks to that, I only got about six hours of sleep all week? Guess I was catching up.
Anyway.
The exact dates differed slightly, but after that event forever dubbed 'Black Wednesday' just like in the original history..., I'd become someone who could truly sway the world stage.
The moment I realized that...
I laughed until my stomach hurt.
"Hahaha! Kyahat, this is it! Ah, hahaha..."
What an incredible feat! Bringing the Bank of England to its knees and planting my own bank on British soil at the same time!
I'd already surpassed my past life's self. You watching, you no-name loser?
As my trembling body calmed, a deep sense of satisfaction welled up.
Who am I?
The one who subjugated the Bank of England, owner of Barings Bank and Alpha Fund, the shadow of Wall Street.
Yoo Ha-yeon.
Damn.
I was thrashing around on the bed, kicking the covers every which way, when the door creaked open.
"Miss, you're awake— Kyaaak!"
-Slam!
Choi Yeon-ha opened my bedroom door, then slammed it shut just as fast.
I wondered what was up for a second, then nodded at my reflection. I'd kicked off even the covers that were barely covering me while fooling around on the bed.
What a hassle. Why do I even need clothes?
Isn't there a suit that dresses you with one snap, or optical camouflage that makes you look clothed even naked...? Plenty in movies and sci-fi novels.
I grumbled as I loosely threw on a negligee and opened the door. Secretary 3, face beet red, bowed her head and shuffled into my room.
"Hmm, come to think of it, did you knock earlier?"
I flashed a bright smile. She was tilting her head while sitting in the chair, then shook her head vigorously in denial.
"I-I did! But you didn't say anything, miss..."
Ah, I must've missed it amid the fuss. I never really care about knocks anyway.
Invading others' privacy? Not my business. Having mine invaded? No shame here.
What're you gonna do, see me naked? I'm not some pathetic Artemis who slays with lightning for catching a glimpse.
Artemis just throws hysterics because she's powerless to protect her purity on Olympus with all that dangling. Me? I'm unequivocally the strong one.
"Whatever, it's fine. Nanny didn't say anything?"
"No... just to take good care of you so you don't get too tired..."
"Good. I'll eat in 30 minutes, so prep for that. Oh, and there's something important, right?"
I might treat my secretary like a handmaid, but if Choi Yeon-ha's waiting outside my door for hours, it must be big.
Sure enough, she bit her lip slightly before answering.
"Um... the Chairman is calling for you."
As expected.
If he knew about Alpha Fund, he had to call.
"Yeah, yeah, knew he'd summon me. Our Chairman."
I nodded cheerfully, humming a little tune.
Time to visit Grandpa after so long.
"First, help me get ready decently. Makeup's still tricky for me."
"Pardon? No need to wash up...? Uh, yeah, no need. What...?"
She stared at me like I was some mysterious creature. My skin was perfectly clear and flawless right after waking.
Jealous?
"How can one person have it all...?"
I laughed and patted the muttering Choi Yeon-ha's shoulder.
"Ahaha! Yeah, of course."
-Thud.
I propped my foot boldly on the desk, entrusting my face to her care, and savored my beauty while mulling over recent events.
Yeah, no matter how I think about it, it was all good.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Chairman Yoo Seong-pil, whom I hadn't seen in ages, looked so hale and hearty you wouldn't guess he had lung cancer.
"Grandpa! I'm here!"
"Oh my, our Ha-yeon's here?"
Grandpa welcomed me with a hearty laugh and shoved a newspaper at me.
"This... you did this, Ha-yeon?"
Articles galore on Alpha Fund. Stories in various languages about the pound short-selling.
I beamed and confirmed.
"Ahahat! It was really, really tough."
"Heh heh, rehab was tough for me too. But thanks to my granddaughter growing my slush fund, all my pains vanished. Hahaha. You worked hard jetting back and forth from afar too."
Grandpa's slush fund of several hundred billion won had ballooned through this. Probably hit 1 billion dollars... about 1 trillion won before year's end.
Gazing at me fondly like a lucky charm, Grandpa patted my shoulder with praise.
"Heh heh. You've grown so much, my girl. Outwardly, you could marry tomorrow. Independent already too... These days, seeing my granddaughter's the highlight of my life."
Marriage? No way. I'm everyone's beloved.
"Eyy, you know I hate that stuff. And I'm only in first year middle school..."
Grandpa scanned me up and down, blinking.
"Hmm... this old man's getting on, forgetting things."
Middle schooler? You?
Narrowing his eyes, Grandpa counted on his fingers for a moment before nodding.
"Right, you repeated a year midway, so first-year middle schooler. Being January-born makes it seem more so. Goodness. I thought you were in high school."
I shrugged.
I do grow fast.
Whether the marriage talk was casual or he felt awkward realizing my age, Grandpa dropped it and changed topics.
"Your fund... total size must be around 20 billion dollars now?"
Treating me like a direct business partner.
Nod, nod.
At my silent affirmation, the Chairman asked more directly.
"That size... Ha-yeon, planning to go to America?"
"Well... not sure. Thinking of graduating high school early, college early too, then join the fund..."
"Huh, Alpha Fund? You joining your own fund?"
"Yes. Right now it's nominally mine. Gotta tie it fully to me to avoid issues."
The chat with Grandpa went smoother than expected.
I'd braced myself, but he had nothing much on the questions I anticipated.
You know, like 'planning to swallow Daeha Group?' or 'moving to America for good?' or 'don't mess around with the heir...'
Since I'm active in Korea, at Daeha Group no less, Grandpa must know the basics.
Maybe the crew's tighter-lipped than I thought and he doesn't know, or he does but isn't bringing it up...
Could be hoping this ambiguous status quo lasts, or since I said I'd decide once my mind's set, he's waiting.
Or maybe he just loves his granddaughter ballooning his money. Could be that.
1 trillion won ain't pocket change.
'Ugh. Dealing with people is hard.'
They say you can know ten miles underwater but not one inch into a person's heart. No matter how smart I am, I can't read that.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And... about two months later.
The time came.
Middle school entrance ceremony.
"Guard Russia well! Si-hyeon!"
"...Yes."
Secretary Lee Si-hyeon, off to the cold country, let out a faint sigh. Acquiring companies there and negotiating with the Red Mafia was crucial, and no one fit but her.
It's a dangerous zone, so we planned to send folks not used to fieldwork, but Si-hyeon volunteered.
I'd be sad if she died... but she'll manage. She prioritizes her own safety, so she'll handle it.
"You take care at middle school too, miss. No one's bold enough to mess with you... that's what worries me."
"What else?"
Si-hyeon teased with a playful smile.
"Well... your personality, Miss Yoo Ha-yeon? No one'd guess such a pretty girl would end up friendless and awkward. If you were average-looking or common-born, people'd approach at least..."
At that, I checked myself in the mirror.
Tight blouse hugging and emphasizing my chest, short skirt, sheer black stockings.
If I were normal, teachers'd scold me to dress properly... but who am I? Chaebol third-gen miss. Time to go wild with the uniform rebellion I missed last life.
"Pretty, though?"
"That's the problem. Guys hesitate around super pretty girls. You should tone it down..."
"What, hide my beauty?"
"...".
Ridiculous.
Yeah, this is perfect.
14-year-old Miss Yoo Ha-yeon's middle school life: start!