Chapter 155
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Easy Come, Easy Go
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"Mm."
As I clocked out and neatly fed fifty-thousand-won bills into the bank ATM, a thought crossed my mind.
Easy come, easy go.
I'd learned that from an episode of that show Can You Believe It? when I was a kid—the one about "The Unforeseen Lives of Lotto Jackpot Winners."
Everyone's probably seen it at least once. It pulled in 23 percent ratings, after all.
[Please confirm the amount.]
[50,000-won bills: 11]
[Amount: 550,000 won]
With a whir, the deposit confirmed. Just to be safe, I checked my mobile banking app too, letting those old memories keep rolling.
'Back then, I thought they were total idiots.'
The jackpot was something like 4.6 billion won. How do you blow through that in just seven years and end up broke again?
Even my parents, munching popcorn beside me, were dumbfounded.
The next day, all my elementary school friends who'd watched it huddled up to chat about it.
"Dude, if it were me, I'd just save it."
"What are you talking about? Buy an apartment! Mom says apartments are the way to go these days. Just buy one and you're rich!"
"Grandpa says stocks are good too."
I was on team "save it."
But later I found out the truth.
Way more winners lived satisfying lives without blowing it all. TV just doesn't air those stories.
'I get why the networks do it.'
People flock to the juicy drama.
Show them someone thriving, and what's the draw? It'd just make viewers jealous.
...Or so I thought, but lately feel-good stories are blowing up.
"Man, you really never know with this world."
Yeah.
Who could've guessed I'd end up understanding the mindset of a lotto winner who'd lost it all?
The second I got that first quest reward of 500,000 won, I handed 200,000 to Oh Hana for permission to film her masturbating.
"......"
I knew it was crazy then, but looking back? Straight-up insane.
Maybe because it was quest money, it didn't feel like "real" cash, so I spent it without a second thought?
'Value-wise, though... Oh Hana's masturbation video? Priceless.'
Be real—if I uploaded it to that "Only You Can See" site that's revolutionizing the world right now, it'd rake in a fortune.
Not that I'd ever share it with anyone else, no matter the price.
Anyway, even as I kept telling myself:
'Be careful with easy money, even if it's quest rewards.'
If something tempting dangles right in front of me, I spend without thinking. Sure, someone with ironclad self-control might hold out.
But I'm not that guy.
'If I were, I wouldn't be living like this.'
Which brings me to the 550,000 won Oh Hanam left as a "tip."
Not quest-earned, just pure free money. Holding it felt dirty.
100% guaranteed to screw up my life somehow.
Hell, a few extra delivery meals would wreck my health. And with Yoon Sua around, she'd get upset if I ordered out anyway.
Or cigarettes. Cigarettes. Cigarettes... fuck.
"Hoo!"
Whatever. If it's money that'll drag me down, better force it toward something good before I waste it.
With that resolve, I headed back to the studio apartment.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back. Rough day?"
The weather had definitely warmed up.
Oh Hana sprawled face-down in a white tank top and navy dolphin pants, no bra, humming away. clutching a Riki doll. I almost snatched it, but held back. After facing Oh Hanam one-on-one today, I knew just how terrifying that guy was, down to my bones.
"Great work, Hyunwoo. Here's some red ginseng tonic Mom dropped off. Down it all. I can't handle this stuff—gives me hot flashes."
Unlike Oh Hana's breezy getup, Yoon Sua—decked in long-sleeved, long-pants pajamas printed with a rabbit wielding a thorny whip—handed me the ginseng bottle with the tip snipped off.
"......"
I chugged the ginseng she passed me, sneaking a glance at the design on her pajamas. Used to not bat an eye at it before.
But now that I knew Yoon Sua's tastes and fetishes? It stuck out weirdly.
'Fuck. Who designs a character like that?'
A rabbit with a thorny whip? Scary enough to haunt my dreams.
I turned away to dodge Yoon Sua's eyes and asked,
"Where's Aebom? Already headed out?"
"Yup. Aebom unnie's in full pout mode lately. Said she needs time to sort her head out—gonna walk to work."
Oh Hana let out a hollow chuckle.
"I mean, getting that worked up over a random comment from some stranger?"
Totally agree.
Honestly, I never pegged someone like Han Aebom for crumbling over a throwaway remark.
She didn't flinch when Han Se-ryong yelled and chucked golf balls at her.
And she'd handled way dicier stuff brilliantly, like enduring a full day of his granddaughter bragging that could've been a nightmare.
"If it was zero views or bombing in prelims where anyone can enter, I'd get it."
Nah, that stung too. She just hid it well.
I stroked Oh Hana's butt as she vented for Han Aebom and grumbled,
"What can ya do? Aebom seemed shocked. First time her mental game's been this off, she said."
Come to think of it, same vibe when we went to the movies before.
She picked some obscure flick, and it turned out a comment said, "Unpopular for a reason."
'Damn, thinking about it... Isn't that why she loves communities?'
A buddy who'd been on forums for over a decade told me once.
The more sensitive to comments, the deeper they dive into those sites. Thick-skinned folks? They forget the sites even exist.
"Ha, hm."
Remembering that made me sigh. Kinda worrying, y'know?
But hey, it's Han Aebom. She'll pull through.
"Hey, saw online walks help clear your head."
"Huh? Really? Mine's always 'Where's the smoking area around here?'"
"Puhahaha, spot on. Smoking spots are a pain to find. Can't light up while walking anyway."
"Exactly!"
Guess sorting thoughts on a walk is Han Aebom-level stuff. Me and Oh Hana? Straight to smoking zones.
Oh Hana shuddered.
"Ugh, driving me nuts, oppa. Are we total weaklings?"
"What now."
"We've been off smokes for a bit, right?"
"You relapsed once, you cheat."
"Ack! Even counting that, it's been forever!"
"True enough."
I nodded, and she went from pissed to beaming, jumping into my arms and nuzzling my neck with her lips.
Oh Hana had this lively spark Han Aebom and Yoon Sua lacked.
"Still, smack! When bored, I crave a cig. Out walking, I auto-scan for smoking areas... What if some smoker’s cig flies into my mouth on the wind? I'd ditch quitting forever that day. Crazy thought?"
"Zero chance of that nonsense. Relax."
"What? I grew up an orphan, and then oppa turns out to be Ilha Group's Oh Hanam? No 'never' in this world!"
True.
I smacked my lips, and Oh Hana kept chattering nonstop.
"Seriously, people who swear off smokes Day 1 and stick to it—what are they? Insane?"
"What else? Oh Hanam types."
"Gasp! Holy shit, yeah."
We both nodded dead serious.
Oh Hanam? That guy could quit hard drugs on willpower alone.
"......"
"......"
Mention of Oh Hanam, and we locked eyes, hugging tight.
"Eek, oppa, he's scary. Knees go weak just thinking of him."
"Fuck. Today hammered it home. Alone at the store, he shows up smiling—thought I was dreaming a nightmare. Top scariest moment of my life."
As we swapped warmth to calm down, Oh Hana shivered.
Ah, shit... Shouldn't have mentioned he came by.
'Dumbass.'
Han Aebom or Oh Hanam would've clocked it and zipped it before speaking.
Sometimes my mouth runs ahead of my brain.
"No way! That psycho lost his mind!"
"Huh?"
"Argh! Pisses me off. That bastard tracked you to work now? Shameless prick!"
But... Oh Hana wasn't much different from me.
Girl charged in headfirst with no cash. I'd worried back then.
'Sigh. Guess me and Oh Hana just don't vibe with Oh Hanam.'
People have compatibilities.
If it were numbers, ours with him would be rock bottom. Thought processes too alien.
"It's fine. Just bought lunch, ate alone."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Said he didn't poke me on purpose—wanted me stressed on my own."
Oh Hana's jaw dropped.
"Whoa, total perv. How's he even think like that? You get it, oppa?"
"Hell no. Wanted to smash his head with the counter stool so bad."
"Do it!"
"I'd be jailed, idiot! And Oh Hanam'd make sure I never got out."
"Point."
No clue how Han Aebom worry spiraled here. But chatting with Oh Hana was fun.
"Oh, right. Oh Hanam tipped 550k on his way out."
"Huh."
"Yeah?"
I eyed her outstretched hands. Oh Hana stuck out her tongue cutely.
"Riki doll's due for the salon soon. Oppaaaa, 50k?"
Ah, yeah.
This is Oh Hana.
I pulled a 50k bill from my emergency stash. Her eyes sparkled.
"Oppa’s the best. Next paycheck, I'll buy you a proper drink..."
I backed away yelling,
"In your dreams, you nut! Not a penny on that doll! Catch me if you want it!"
The words barely left my mouth before Oh Hana lunged.