Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Aftermath of the Hangure Trainee Assault
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[Japanese Trainee Expelled Over Hangure Controversy Attacks Yuin and Olivia Snow.]
[Assault on Yuin and Olivia Snow.]
[Is It the Agency's Negligence, or the Police's Fault?]
-Aren't they seriously just a high school freshman? I never saw that coming.
-A high schooler hijacks a freaking car lololol.
-Classic Hangure, always on another level lol.
-If they screwed up, wouldn't Yuin have gotten seriously hurt?
-The manager's a black belt, apparently. Without the manager, Yuin and Olivia Snow would've been done for.
-Yuin and Olivia Snow are world stars... Isn't this an international embarrassment?
-It's already spreading overseas.
-But why is it our embarrassment? Honestly, isn't Japan the one losing face?
-Police negligence is being called out too—they got a terror threat in advance but handled it poorly.
-They said they couldn't do much because it's a foreigner and a kid.
-But common sense says you at least assign security personnel, right?
-The company was negligent too—they should've provided bodyguards.
-The company says they scrambled for bodyguards as soon as they heard about the terror threat, and the manager's such a badass anyway.
-Lololol, guy has some serious specs.
-Anyway, glad no one got hurt.
-But what do we do about that punk?
The Saito Riku assault incident had become a hot topic not just in Korea where it happened or Japan, the perpetrator's home country, but across the world.
A genius boy topping the Billboard charts and the Queen of the Grammys getting attacked— it'd be weirder if it wasn't blowing up.
Saito Riku, who was taken into custody, was a minor but not a juvenile offender under the law, so they'd face criminal trial.
It was a violent crime, but since they were still underage, no one knew what the sentence would be. What was certain was deportation and an entry ban after serving time.
What would happen in Japan afterward was anyone's guess...
-Japan's shame.
-Rot in jail.
-I wonder how shocked the Prince must've been.
-Hangure's ruining Japan's image, so they might not visit anymore?
-The thought of them not coming to Japan is heartbreaking.
-Not all Japanese people are like that.
-But Hangure really seems problematic.
-I think Japan needs to enforce the organized crime laws more strictly on Hangure, even minors.
Reactions in Japan to the incident weren't positive either.
Once it came out that Saito Riku was from Hangure, Japanese citizens started calling for stronger organized crime laws and stricter regulations on Hangure groups, including underage members.
Hangure had evolved into organizations running businesses like the Yakuza, and adult members rarely harassed civilians, but underage Hangure members frequently committed crimes against civilians, giving them a bad image.
But the problems didn't stop there.
Outseven, the group Saito Riku once belonged to, was threatening retaliation if Saito returned to Japan, claiming it would tarnish their reputation—classic tail-cutting.
As things progressed with Saito Riku, changes were happening around Yeonwoo too.
First off, Yeonwoo now had three bodyguards with him at all times.
These weren't the sketchy rent-a-cops infamous in the entertainment industry—they were the real deal. (In fact, that's why it took so long to get them assigned.)
They were former U.S. military SOCKOR (Special Operations Command Korea, stationed in Korea) operatives.
All three had served in other special forces, gotten burned out, been reassigned to SOCKOR, and stayed in Korea after marrying locals.
For now, to show Yeonwoo was under heavy protection, all three would stick by his side constantly. Later, it'd shift to two on duty and one off, switching back to three for public activities.
Just like that, Yeonwoo gained three burly bodyguards overnight, but the family's worries weren't so easily assuaged.
Yeonwoo was so young—anyone might target him again, hoping to get something out of it.
The one hit hardest was Dad, Jihoon.
He'd quit the company to be with Yeonwoo and even stepped up as co-CEO of the soon-to-be spun-off SSHIN subsidiary. Then this happened—no way he wasn't shaken.
"I've been thinking about it, but let's move."
Jihoon didn't hesitate; right after the incident, he brought up moving.
"Moving?"
"Yeah. Fans keep sneaking into the apartment complex anyway, and who says something like this can't happen right near home?"
"That's true..."
Seeing Heo Ok nod, Jihoon added,
"You'll have to come too, Mom."
"Me? I..."
"How's Yeonwoo supposed to live without Grandma? The kid drops dead without her."
Yeonwoo, listening quietly from the side, nodded.
"Yeah! Grandma comes with us!!"
Heo Ok reluctantly nodded at Yeonwoo's words. Truth be told, she was pleased her son wanted her along.
"But where and how?"
"Jiyeong and I are saving up, planning to take out a loan for somewhere in Gangnam. A place with security personnel."
"Add some of my money too. Won't that get you something better?"
"We'd appreciate it. We're not in a position to be picky—hot rice or cold, whatever. If the loan falls through, I was even thinking of borrowing from HQ."
That's when it happened.
Yeonwoo, fiddling with his smartphone, jumped up from his seat.
"We'll use my money!!"
"......"
"......"
"......Your money?"
While Grandma and Dad were too stunned to speak, Jiyeong asked.
Yeonwoo nodded and held out his phone for everyone to see.
"Oh my God..."
"Oh......"
"O-oppa, I had no idea?!"
"I'm not the type to check my kid's account......"
Yeonwoo's bank account was a shock and awe.
The family vaguely knew he'd made a lot of money.
But who could've guessed it was hundreds of billions?
Literally hundreds of billions.
His songs dominated streaming charts on every domestic platform, and with his debut album hitting Billboard No. 1, all his tracks were charting there too.
People worldwide streamed his music nonstop—how could the money not pile up?
On top of that, artists like Hadas, Invincible, Chae Hayeon, Yuri & Annosuke, and Kim Beomsin were performing his songs right now at concerts, festivals, events—nonstop.
And the revenue from SSHIN's official account, now boasting tens of millions of subscribers, was no small potatoes.
While everyone reeled from the staggering sum, Olivia Snow quietly peeked at Yeonwoo's account.
["Converted to dollars... What? That's pocket change. You're shocked over this?"]
Jiyeong narrowed her eyes and shot back.
["You've been active forever. A 9-year-old made this much from music and you're not impressed?"]
["Oh, yeah, when you put it like that. 9 years old... Wow, our master is something else. At 9, I was sneaking into McDonald's eating discarded burgers."]
["Not the Talulla story again......"]
["What's Talulla?"]
["Shh, everyone quiet. Anyway, Yeonwoo, we can't use that money."]
How could they casually spend his? But Yeonwoo shook his head.
["It's because of me. I should take responsibility."]
Yeonwoo switched to English to include Olivia Snow.
["And I have the most money, so I should pay!"]
The family was speechless at Yeonwoo's bold declaration.
He did have the most.
["We'll move, but we're not leaving Bucheon."]
["Why?"]
["Isn't Seoul easier for work?"]
["We have to go to Seoul for work anyway, but if we live there, we won't come to Bucheon. Then no more Grandma Gobokja's tteokbokki, Peace Mandu, or Seonghak Galbi."]
["In the end, it's about food......"]
Refusing to leave over favorite local spots.
["It's not that this neighborhood's bad, but for your safety, Seoul's better, right?"]
At Dad's words, Yeonwoo shook his head.
["We have the bodyguard uncles. What worry with them watching?"]
["They're not live-in."]
["Hire more then. Snow sis said she has over ten."]
["What about the house? You know we can't stay in this apartment......"]
Actually, Yeonwoo had been thinking about it even after Saito Riku.
["You know that big building at the main road intersection? Seven stories, with homes on 6 and 7."]
Jiyeong clapped.
["Oh, I know that one!! The one sitting empty, no tenants, owner never moves in!"]
["How do you notice stuff like that when you're broke?"]
["Mom knows too? The owner's in this apartment complex. Built it nice but can't rent it out."]
The building Yeonwoo had eyed was right on the main road in front of the neighborhood, as Jiyeong said.
Built after demolishing two villas, it was huge: two basement parking levels, 1-5 floors commercial, 6-7 luxury penthouses for the owner.
The pity was its location—main road, sure, but only two lanes each way.
Big for the neighborhood, but that's it.
Even so, prime spots could host study cafes, PC bangs, restaurants—but it was awkwardly placed.
Schools nearby, but too far for kids to walk. Same for apartments.
Residential area behind, but commerce centered on a huge market, so shops in housing areas flopped fast. No big restaurant or store for this building.
Courts and public offices nearby drew lawyers and offices, but too far for this spot—no companies moved in.
["I want that building. Make it mine."]
Yeonwoo coveted it.
Big enough—no moving when the company grows. Home upstairs, easy commute.
Buy it, renovate, nurture SSHIN musicians here.
No one could dissuade Yeonwoo's enthusiasm.
Finally, Heo Ok smiled as representative.
"Sure, do whatever you want, Yeonwoo."