Chapter 8: The Seongbuk-dong Mansion
2025 5 9.
Today the weather was nice. Well, not that the weather itself was particularly great—it might just have been his own good mood. To Shin Jaewoo, today was a brilliantly sunny day. In fact, even if it had been pouring rain like a waterfall, it still would have felt sunny to him.
“Hello, customer.”
“...Yeah, it's not been that long.”
Shin Jaewoo gave a sheepish look as he replied to the greeting. The person standing before him now was Lee Sooyoung. She was dressed in a neat office outfit, her ample chest drawing the eye as always.
Definitely bigger than Kim Hyeju's.
Still, he was trying not to stare. There was no point in inviting misunderstandings.
“Then, please, allow me to escort you.”
“...Sure.”
This time, Shin Jaewoo didn't refuse her kindness. The car carrying him set off toward Seongbuk-dong.
Whoa.
It evoked the grandeur of a castle. Massive gates. Walls like fortress battlements. Built atop a hill, it was a castle in its own right. As his car approached, the front gates clicked open in perfect sync.
“The preliminary contract is already done. But I figured you'd want to see it in person before finalizing. If you like it, you can wire the balance right away and move in today.”
“......Thanks.”
Shin Jaewoo nodded. The car glided through the gates and into the parking area. He'd thought so earlier, but this car was seriously nice too.
You can really feel what makes a luxury car a luxury car.
Even after passing the gates, it was impressive. There were three entrances post-gate. One was the parking lot they were entering now. Another door right next to the parking entrance, attached to the building. And a third that led up from beside the gates— he'd seen in a YouTube video that those stairs went to the first-floor garden.
Ah, not the first floor—B1.
Calling it a basement seemed ridiculous. Sure, it was labeled basement, but it connected directly to the garden, making it effectively the ground floor. For reference, the house had B2, ground floors 1-2 plus rooftop. And this parking lot was B2.
“The basement parking can officially fit nine cars...... but realistically, you could park ten or more comfortably.”
It was huge. They could have partitioned it off for other uses. They stepped into the lobby connected to the parking.
Feels like checking into a hotel.
The entrance was laid out like a proper lobby. Turn left, and there were stairs and an elevator.
“Shall I... show you around one by one?”
Lee Sooyoung was guiding him personally, even though she wasn't the agent. It felt a bit burdensome, but not in a bad way. For the record, a separate driver had brought them, and he was still waiting in the car.
This is real luxury.
Shin Jaewoo was struck anew by how much his status had changed. B2 was already seen; naturally, they headed to B1.
“The right side seems perfect for live-in staff. No separate annex, but it's set up like an independent unit.”
A mansion like this absolutely needed live-in help, and this was their space. Labeled B1, but it was at ground level, same as the main floor. He'd seen it in videos, but seeing it live was still amazing.
Nice.
He meant it sincerely. He'd thought it was just basic staff quarters, but there were two bathrooms and three rooms. No full living room, but a small kitchen.
This seems better than where I'm living now...
It was that impressive. To the left was a long space connecting to the outdoor garden—a multi-purpose room with an indoor pool and bar table. And inside that, another multi-room. The inner one (Multi-Room B) had no specific use yet.
Never thought I'd live in a house with a pool.
Not outdoor, but indoor was fine. From this pool (B1), you could exit to the outdoor garden.
“Are there a lot of mosquitoes here?”
The neatly laid grass and surrounding pine trees looked great. Lee Sooyoung addressed his concern.
“Pest repellents everywhere, so no big worries.”
Bug zappers were hidden around the garden, trapping mosquitoes and such.
“Good to know.”
He wondered how effective they were. Early May, prime bug season, yet none in sight. Same outside.
Thankfully, no bugs.
Shin Jaewoo nodded in satisfaction. Then, as he reached the garden's edge, his eyes sparkled.
Here it is.
The house's most striking view. Perched on the hill, it overlooked Seoul below—like gazing down on a village.
“......No Han River view, but this one's pretty great too.”
Lee Sooyoung joined him, speaking carefully. He nodded along.
This was exactly the scene Kim Hyeju had loved.
Just like Hyeju said. Standing here, it really feels like my domain.
A kingly vibe. The view made her words click. Shin Jaewoo smiled bitterly at it.
Kim Hyeju, who had gushed about it, wasn't here.
Time to forget her.
He shook off the pang quickly. Half the world was women, after all. Forget the one who left, find a new one.
She got what she deserved.
He couldn't say that before, but now he could. Better this way—if he'd learned her true colors even a few days later, things would have soured badly.
“...Let's do the deal.”
Standing here sealed it for him.
“You haven't seen everything yet. We haven't even gone to the ground floors...”
“Yeah. I've watched the videos a bunch of times anyway.”
Shin Jaewoo brushed off her surprised question casually. Nearly 200 billion won, jumping past 100 billion. But the sum didn't faze him anymore.
No need to skimp on a house.
If he didn't like it, he could gift the whole place to his aunt later.
Auntie wouldn't refuse a house.
Then buy another he liked more.
Maybe a penthouse next?
Like the iconic symbol of wealth, L Tower's Signiel Residence. Buying this house—or even another later—was no burden.
Wow.
Lee Sooyoung watched him, inwardly awed and resolved.
I have to land this guy.
Truth be told, she wasn't exceptionally talented compared to other employees. Not deficient, but borderline for Panta Bank's head office VIP division.
The reason she got this role? Her looks. And she knew it better than anyone—and didn't mind.
I'll seduce him for sure!
The bank's honey trap. Good for the bank, and for her. Most would hesitate, but this client was a dream catch. Plenty of female colleagues eyed her spot.
Even Jeong Junyoung had said as much.
“You know what I expect from you on this, right, Assistant Lee?”
“Of course, Head Manager.”
“If you want out now, say so. Plenty others want this gig.”
“......No, I'll do it.”
It was phrased as a question, but she knew better. Refusing would end her VIP division days.
Jeong Junyoung's orders to the determined woman:
“Good. Then follow the client's every wish. Build personal rapport, accept gifts—whatever wins his favor. Just don't make him uncomfortable...... I trust you won't.”
He didn't spell it out. But she got it.
His parting words before entering the room:
“I picked you first because you looked hungrier than anyone. Show me that hunger.”
What Panta Bank—and Jeong Junyoung—demanded of her.