Debts Cleared – Soyeong Meets Taesu the Next Day
The next day after Taesu visited Soyeong's house, where her debts had mysteriously vanished, her phone rang first thing in the morning. Checking the caller ID, she saw it was from the loan shark company.
"Wh-what do I do..."
It wasn't even time to pay the interest yet, but the call filled her with dread. Trembling, Soyeong agonized over it before finally picking up.
"H-hello?"
"Aigoo~ Hello, customer. You've paid off the principal and all the interest nicely~"
".......Yes?"
"Your boyfriend's a keeper. Just handing over that stack of cash like it's nothing. Heh heh heh."
The loan shark chuckled as if in good spirits, but Soyeong couldn't make sense of it.
"Don't borrow from places like this again. I'm telling you this like you're my own daughter. And be picky about who you hang out with."
After confirming the full repayment and offering a bit of advice, the loan shark boss hung up.
"........Huh?"
Soyeong sat there in a daze for a while, piecing together what had happened. Then she remembered what Taesu had said yesterday.
I'll take care of it, so go home and tell your mom too.
Taesu had promised to handle it, but she'd half-doubted him. Maybe it was just tough talk. But this call from the loan sharks proved it—he'd really paid off everything.
"M-Mom!"
"S-Soyeong-ah!"
Rushing out of her room to tell her mother, Soyeong found her wearing the same stunned expression.
"Th-the debts are all gone..."
"Huh?"
The house, once crushed under debt, had become a peaceful home overnight, all burdens lifted.
....................
Watching it all disappear like this, it feels a bit wasteful.
Checking my bank account, I saw only 12,213 won left and sighed inwardly. Yesterday, I had nearly 1 billion won, but now it was empty. I'd used it all to clear Soyeong's family's debts. It had been a close call too—mess up even slightly, and I might not have covered it.
Loan sharks really are off-limits.
The interest was insane despite it being recent borrowing. I nearly cursed them out. Borrowing from places like that makes repayment nearly impossible, so best to steer clear. Soyeong would have a hard time even getting bank loans from now on. But that's her burden to bear.
I'd lost all the money from my original stock investments too, but it was a cheap lesson in life.
"Still, feels liberating."
I hadn't asked my mother for help; I'd earned the money through stocks myself to pay off the debts. It was to lift the weight from my heart. Before regression, I'd been Soyeong's closest friend, oblivious to her struggles until she left. Years later, when we met again, I'd turned my back on her—and Nayeon too.
That neglect became a heavy burden after regressing. My current mother, Jeong-ah, had struggled to raise me properly with her personality, so I'd relied heavily on Nayeon. As a kid, I was at Soyeong's house almost every day. Nayeon never treated me like a nuisance; she doted on me like her own son, helping me grow up straight. I still see her as another mother.
Yet before regression, I'd ignored their suffering. Rationally, I was wrecked physically and mentally back then, with no capacity to help. Still, the guilt lingered.
This should snap Soyeong out of it.
I'd deliberately waited until she'd borrowed heavily and lost everything for a few reasons. First, I needed time to build my funds. Knowing she'd blow it all on junk stocks, I'd profited off the crash. Mom was so shocked by my quick gains she suggested I major in this field—it could even save her company someday.
Second, Soyeong needed a harsh wake-up call. Even if I'd intervened early to stop the stocks, she'd likely dive into something else. She'd ignored warnings as a kid and ended up in the hospital more than once.
Third, to instill caution. That "older sister" friend who knew stocks had dragged her down. So I'd cut her off completely and given Soyeong a lesson in distrusting others.
It worked: debts cleared, crisis averted. Bonus—I'd paid off Nayeon's old debts too, easing my guilt toward her. I wanted her peaceful sooner, just like Soyeong.
"Mom will handle the rest."
The woman who'd led Soyeong astray, the loan sharks—plenty left to deal with. I'm no mafia boss; I can't kill or rough them up. But legal routes to prison? Easy. I'd use Mom's company's legal team to dig up dirt and ensure they face justice.
And sure enough, half a year later, that "sister" went to jail for multiple fraud charges, and the loan shark firm collapsed in scandals, jailing the boss and most staff. All quietly, legally...
................
Sitting at the table like yesterday, Soyeong and her mom shared a heavy silence. Yesterday's gloom from her mess had shifted to confused uncertainty.
"Taesu really paid it all off?"
"Seems like it..."
Not just the stock debts—even the house loans, billions wiped clean overnight. They were dumbfounded.
"Hoo... What do we do now?"
Her mom cradled her head, lost in thought.
"Taesu would say no need to repay him..."
"That's the problem."
They both knew it was pure kindness. But you can't just say "Thanks for the debt erase, bye." This was years—decades, even—of grueling work they'd owe.
A simple thank-you wouldn't cut it conscience-wise.
"Did he ask Jeong-ah for help?"
"Yesterday he said he'd handle it himself."
"Ugh... If Jeong-ah didn't and Taesu really did it alone... Hoo..."
No clue how to repay.
"I'll meet him today and talk."
"Okay? I need more time to think. Oh, and take my card—buy something nice, expensive even."
"Got it..."
Her mom seemed happy the debts were gone but burdened by the new "debt" to Taesu. Soyeong thanked him properly, gauged the situation, and set a dinner meetup. Tense, she prepped extra carefully and headed out.
.....................
As expected, Soyeong called to meet. I headed to the spot.
"H-hi."
"We saw each other yesterday, though..."
She'd dolled up more than usual—makeup and outfit on point.
"I'm buying dinner today, for real."
"I could just cover it... Fine."
I almost offered but remembered my near-empty account and backed off.
"They've got great tuna sashimi over there—let's go!"
"Tuna? Isn't that pricey?"
"Mom said splurge on something expensive..."
So it was Nayeon's card, not Soyeong's. I'd normally refuse, but sensing her intent to repay the "favor," I followed her into the place.
In a cozy private room, a different silence settled—awkward, not tense.
"You really paid our debts?"
"Yeah."
Soyeong asked after a pause.
"I see..."
She bowed her head, trembling slightly at the confirmation.
"Th-thank you..."
Tears welling, her gratitude hit different from yesterday.
"No biggie. No more stocks, and be careful who you trust."
"Yeah... Thank you... Really, thank you..."
This shock had wrecked her—gaunt in days. Fixing it? Of course she'd be grateful.
"I'll pay you back someday, all of it."
"Nah. Use that for spoiling your mom instead."
"O-of course I will!"
She looked up at my gentle scold, back to her usual self.
"Mom said she's super grateful too. Anything you need, just say."
"Tell her the past childcare squared us."
"Gotcha."
Nayeon had babied me as a kid, so I'd gone all-in on their debts. Partly selfish, to unburden my heart—not purely selfless.
"Enough of that. Back to school properly from next week."
"Yes!"
Bright again, Soyeong devoured 80% of the tuna sashimi when it arrived. Mom must've handed over the card for "treat yourself." Whatever... Seeing her smile was enough.
I did order extras, though...