Real Estate Visit
“······L'Vyu, Mr. L'Vyu. Come in, please.”
Assistant Yoon, could you bring in a cup of coffee? The one I imported from South America last time, remember?”
The famous real estate magnate of Gangnam, Mr. Heo Young-tae, stared at the suddenly entered Kim Deok-su with eyes as wide as saucers.
But the next instant, he recovered his composure and promptly guided Deok-su to a chair. Twenty years of brokering luxury homes and buildings across Gangnam had made him seasoned to the core.
“I will enjoy it. It has a wonderful aroma.”
Deok-su brought the coffee cup to his lips. Yet beneath the rim lay a tiny slip of paper.
Checking it, he saw a handwritten phone number. Assistant Yoon blushed faintly and averted her gaze.
‘So this is what happens when the face changes.’
Deok-su, who had never received a contact before, cleared his throat awkwardly.
Assistant Yoon was short in height yet blessed with excellent proportions and an adorable smile. She possessed the kind of face a man would drool over. Yet Deok-su had no intention of reaching out.
Seeing Deok-su reject her, Assistant Yoon fell into a gloomy silence and left the office.
After inquiring about her recent circumstances, Deok-su quickly got to the point with Mr. Heo.
“I intend to sell my house immediately.”
“You’re straight to the point today. After all, you’ve just been discharged, so it’s understandable you’re in a hurry. Besides, a two-hundred-ponyeok mansion in Hannamdong just hit the market. Would you like me to take a look with you?”
“No. I will sell only my own house.”
Mr. Heo looked increasingly perplexed.
Kim Deok-su was one of his top real estate clients. He craved anything large and flashy, taking out loans and moving houses annually.
As a result, Mr. Heo had earned a steady, warm back every year from the hefty commissions Deok-su generated.
But today, something felt off.
“Are you perhaps looking in the outskirts? I can check there as well……”
“Your pitch is too long. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Mr. Heo flinched. The normally easy client had become strange.
It wasn’t the only person to notice.
Several days had passed since the notice was issued. During that time, Deok-su had sold off most of the items in his house.
‘The things I paid through the nose for are now worthless when I sell them?’
Everything had turned into a mess.
“Thanks. You’ve still helped me avoid a bigger loss.”
“What do you mean? I actually profited by getting a point. Besides, you cared for those items a lot. It’s fine?”
If it weren’t for Kang Sang-wook’s introduction through his used-luxury site, Deok-su would have taken a far greater hit.
Thanks to Kang Sang-wook, Deok-su had access to the member-only site.
“It’s nothing.”
“What?”
“Ah, no. It’s a waste. Anyway, thanks.”
Deok-su gripped his phone tightly, nerves on edge.
“You’ve been acting strange today. The thank-you too. Since your trainee days, this is the first time I’ve heard such words?”
“Today’s mood is good. I’m hanging up.”
Thanks to the luxury sales, Deok-su could make at least partial repayments on his credit card.
“Confirmed.”
“I’ll repay the remaining amount soon.”
“Please do your best.”
Watching the enormous sum leave his account, tears of blood formed in his eyes.
‘When you strip away the face and the notoriety, there’s nothing left. Sigh……’
Looking at his tightly wound self in the mirror, Deok-su shook his head.
If he ever went to the afterlife, he vowed countless times he would send Kim Deok-su to hell.
Clang—
As he walked down the hallway, his phone rang.
‘A scumbag?’
The saved name felt ominous. Deok-su pressed the call button with caution.
“Jagi. It’s me.”
“Huh? Who is this?”
“Oh my. Calling after so long and this attitude? We can’t have that between us.”
A cheerful, cutesy female voice left Deok-su bewildered.
Yet she didn’t sound like a lover or especially close friend. No one would save a scumbag in their contacts for that reason.
“I’m hurt. You’ve forgotten even the president’s voice of your former agency?”
“Ah, CEO Kang Sang-mi. Nice to speak to you.”
“Mhm, hello. Our cute little Jagi oppa.”
Deok-su recalled everything about CEO Kang Sang-mi of JMT Entertainment.
‘The chairman of the JM Group suddenly appointed his own daughter as JMT CEO and stirred up a huge fuss. In reality, four division heads handled the work and the president only came to punch in, they said.’
While Deok-su pondered, CEO Kang continued in her sugary tone.
“You got discharged? Time to come back to the company.”
“I will leave once everything is settled.”
“What settlement? What does Jagi have to settle? Tell me.”
“I’m preparing to move.”
“Moving again? You already have a good house. Why? You can’t even receive your settlement money.”
“I’m looking in the outskirts. I want to live with my mother. The current house is too big.”
At the mention of his mother, CEO Kang’s voice grew louder.
“That’s right. Our Jagi is so cool.”
“Then I’ll contact you when I enter the company.”
“The contract isn’t terminated yet.”
Deok-su hung up without further reply.
‘It seems Kim Deok-su has quite a lot of ugly feelings stuck to him.’
After that, Deok-su stayed silent on the real estate front and put in extra effort to sell his house.
Luxury villas and Han River views had never entered his mind. They were merely money pits.
He labored for two weeks.
Mr. Heo Young-tae called.
“I’m coming to view the house now. Is that possible?”
Deok-su agreed. A short, plump middle-aged woman entered the room with a chime.
To mask the pungent perfume scent, Deok-su forced a smile.
The middle-aged woman did the same.
“……You’re really handsome. Are you the owner here, bachelor?”
“Yes. I am Kim Deok-su.”
“An idol? Oh, you’re adorable.”
The middle-aged woman pinched Deok-su’s cheek.
Mr. Heo, who knew Deok-su’s temper, was terrified, but Deok-su remained calm.
“I, I’m sorry, ma’am. First, let’s take a look at the house……”
“Right, idol? You’re so handsome! I’ve seen many idols, but you’re the best. Are you an actor?”
“No, I’m a singer. I’m currently active with the group Signature.”
“Gosh, singers are this handsome these days?”
While roaming the room, the middle-aged woman touched Deok-su’s body playfully.
The longer the teasing went on, the paler Mr. Heo’s face became.
He remembered that Kim Deok-su hated anyone touching his body with a pathological intensity.
“……Is that really Kim Deok-su?”
Such a broken version of Deok-su had been strangely quiet today.
Without even looking at half the house, the woman called Mr. Heo over.
“There’s no need to look further. President, this will do.”
Deok-su barely held back the urge to cheer.
Mr. Heo, on the other hand, fidgeted restlessly. If Deok-su had a fit, the deal and the big client would vanish in seconds.
But even before signing and afterward, nothing like that occurred.
“Thank you.”
“No, handsome bachelor. We’ll see each other again soon.”
“Of course.”
Impressed that Kim Deok-su had given lip service, Mr. Heo could only stare in wonder.
The contract deposit came in under thirty minutes.
Checking the account, Deok-su was shocked.
Normally, 10 percent of the deposit should be coming, yet the full amount had been deposited.
‘This guy is truly something with just his face.’
Deok-su laughed aloud.
He had given her nothing. Only his face had earned her such goodwill.
The power of the face was immense.
‘Not the time for that right now.’
Face or no face, clearing debts and finding a home came first.
[Total payment amount #,###,###,### won. Payment completed. Thank you.]
[Repayment completed. ###,###,### won processed. Thank you.]
……
How much of his cards had he scraped? After repayment, only a bit of cash and a two-room lease deposit remained.
‘Plus-minus zero. Sigh……’
Staring at his reflection, Deok-su smiled bitterly.
Today, he could not stand his own handsome face more than ever.
‘Let’s call it face usage fee.’
Looking at the large trace on his account, Deok-su made up his mind.
* *
In the shabby two-room apartment where he had just moved, Deok-su and his mother faced each other at the dining table.
“You said today is a company day, right?”
“Yes. I’m quite nervous.”
“If anyone says something weird and you have to fight back, don’t. You have to learn when to bow when you’re powerless.”
Deok-su nodded and left the house.
He took the subway, but thanks to his excellent disguise, no one recognized him. A few people stared strangely.
JMT Entertainment was located in Sinsadong.
Surrounded by numerous agencies and entertainment companies, the JMT headquarters dominated the street.
Passing the fans gathered at the entrance, Deok-su entered the building and headed toward the president’s office.
Upon entering the office, a slender young woman with an immature face greeted him.
“Uwah, whoa. Is this you? Jagi!”
CEO Kang Sang-mi of JMT Entertainment pinched Deok-su’s cheek and smiled brightly.
But Deok-su could not relax.
‘Jagi. No way, this guy is the president and……’
“Speaking of which, you said you have amnesia, right? Ah, that’s a shame. I wanted to see you act up after a long time.”
CEO Kang reluctantly removed her hand from Deok-su’s face.
But Deok-su had no time to breathe.
Before he could even sit, CEO Kang brought up the main topic.
“I received a report from the CEO. He wants me to delay contract termination by a year.”
“Yes.”
“I approved it. I’m a kind president, after all. But, Jagi.”
CEO Kang tossed articles onto the desk.
They were all articles related to Deok-su.
- Signature member L’Vyu, instantly visits real estate?-
- L’Vyu’s real estate visit. Reason: investment?-
- L’Vyu in seclusion, eyes on real estate investment?-
……
CEO Kang lowered her head and smiled.
“But the moment I approve it, why this? I tried to stop it before it was published. I guess I should have, but I could have demanded twenty times the penalty.”
“It’s an exaggeration.”
“Jagi. You’ve lived in this industry for just a day or two? The public doesn’t care about facts. It’s lucky you were stopped…… If it had gone out, even during your hospitalization you would have been chasing real estate, making you look rich.”
CEO Kang crossed her legs and curled her lips.
“How about I make you a good proposal, Jagi? Let’s drop the penalty talk. Shimai. What do you think? Isn’t it tempting?”
Deok-su had expected such a proposal when the president called, but he never thought she would bring up proof like this.
Yet he had no intention of leaving now.
He had many flaws, but he had become a top idol.
There was no chance of going back to the original. If that was the case, he would do whatever he could properly.
Deok-su desperately racked his brain.
Then the articles scattered randomly on the desk caught his eye.
‘That’s just suspicion. But if I use it backwards……’
After a brief moment of thought, Deok-su opened his mouth with certainty.
“Publish them.”
“Jagi. Are you crazy? You mean, are all of these facts?”
Deok-su silently showed the articles to CEO Kang with his phone photos.
They were pictures of the small apartment he had just moved into. He had taken them to look good since they were the start, for motivation.
“What’s this? Wait? You don’t mean……”
“I’ve prepared everything with the resolve to start over.”
CEO Kang crossed her arms.
She already knew where Kim Deok-su had moved to, but she had not helped directly because he was in Hanbang status.
“No income, lots of spending…… My life has been problematic. Since I’m doing it anyway, I wanted to do it properly.”
CEO Kang looked at Deok-su with interest.