Friends? (3)
"If we do thorough maintenance... will it be okay?"
His words made me blink.
His future was changing.
"Yes. That should be fine."
We couldn't beat Neverland.
But we could at least reach a similar level.
Gu Gwanshin beamed at my response.
He didn't seem to think adding just one attraction would let him surpass Neverland, either.
"That's such a relief!!"
"Yes. It's great news."
"Hahaha... Truth be told, it took a lot of effort to bring this in."
Even within Lotte Group, there were voices questioning why pour so much into an amusement park.
But Gu Gwanshin pushed forward anyway.
He'd staked his entire career on this challenge.
"And the online comments calling Lotte World outdated... they really stung."
Gu Gwanshin took a sip of his coffee and poured out what was in his heart.
"Sir, you might not know this, but... I love amusement parks."
I knew.
I'd seen his past.
"When I was little, the first amusement park I went to, holding my father's hand, was Disneyland."
He'd seen dreams and hope at Disneyland.
He'd seen people joyfully playing and having fun there.
That's when he'd made his resolve.
I'll create a place like this.
I'll make somewhere in Korea where people can enjoy themselves like this.
"When I rose to the position of Lotte World president, I can't even describe how happy I was."
His childhood dream was coming true.
So he poured his heart into it.
To make Lotte World the best amusement park.
In fact, unlike past presidents, Gu Gwanshin invested everything into Lotte World.
And he'd reaped the rewards.
"That's why we're preparing a new event."
Preparing something like this.
"An event?"
"Yes."
He pulled three documents from his bag.
Wasn't this confidential?
I wondered if I should even look.
But he just smiled warmly.
Well... let's take a peek.
The first document was about a parade.
"Oh... a collab with Dungeon & Saga?"
"Yes. From what we've analyzed, fans of Dungeon & Saga prefer gaming over going out."
We wanted to show them the joys of an amusement park, too.
To prove that joy isn't limited to games.
"I see. And the second one is..."
The second was a collab with the internationally famous Korean idol group TBS.
And the third...
"Support for orphans and the underprivileged...?"
"Yes. Honestly, our Lotte World prices are steep."
70,000 won for adults.
Even 50,000 won for teens and kids.
Not outrageous for average folks.
But for the underprivileged, it was downright expensive.
"I believe kids need dreams and hope."
Just like what he'd seen at Disneyland as a child.
He hoped those kids could find dreams and hope at Lotte World, too. He said it lightly.
As someone from an orphanage, I didn't mind it—in fact, it was a great plan.
"We're planning this discount every Monday and Wednesday."
A whopping 80% off.
That alone would let orphanages stretch a bit and bring the kids for fun.
Plus transport and meal support? Their burdens would drop big time.
"Not bad at all."
"So, which one do you think is best?"
Pick the top plan from the three.
No need to look further.
The one most beneficial for Lotte World was the celebrity collab.
Fans would return multiple times for those photocards.
And with TBS's global fame, we'd draw international crowds.
Lotte World's recognition would skyrocket.
"This is the best for the company."
I picked the celebrity collab.
But my eyes lingered on the third plan.
"Personally, I'd choose this one. And it's the best for you too, President."
Celeb collabs end there.
But underprivileged support might cost a bit, yet boost the image far more.
"Why is that?"
"Soon, something bad will hit Lotte."
Not far off, a power-trip scandal would erupt at Lotte.
A serious one.
It'd tank public perception.
But if he ran the underprivileged project, at least Lotte World would stand out as an exception.
"If possible, I think doing these two together would be ideal."
Celebrity collab.
And underprivileged support.
"As expected."
And while we're at it, throw in the Dungeon & Saga collab too.
I couldn't resist those special collab avatars and gear.
.
.
.
"It worked out well."
Gu Gwanshin went with all three.
His staff would drop dead from the workload, but he'd promised fat bonuses, so in this capitalist world, it'd sort itself out.
"Yeah."
Heading to the Lotte World parking lot, Hong Siyeon grinned mischievously.
"You must be thrilled, huh?"
"About what?"
"You got a lifetime free pass to Lotte World."
On top of the payment reward.
A card for lifetime free entry—for me and one companion.
And that wasn't all; we'd gotten plenty more perks.
Outside director and presidential advisor at Lotte World.
Now I had four jobs.
YouTuber.
Outside director at Sejin Trade.
Special advisor and outside director for Saseong Chairman.
And now outside director advising the Lotte World president.
But Hong Siyeon just smiled, unconcerned with all that.
"Well, it's nice."
"We'll come again together, right?"
I nodded to her gentle smile.
She'd given me this chance, after all—I owed her.
"How about next week?"
I shook my head at her bubbly grin.
"Next week I have a prior engagement."
Hong Siyeon looked disappointed.
But she didn't cling.
Just her usual bright, relaxed smile.
***
Hong Siyeon first realized her popularity in kindergarten.
Her first day at kindergarten.
Boys fought over her.
Wanting to be her partner.
That's when it started.
Men always being drawn to Hong Siyeon.
It didn't change in elementary school.
First day of school.
Two boys who didn't get to pair with her cried.
In second grade, after class reshuffles, five boys skipped school.
Third grade.
Confessions.
From seven boys.
Fourth grade.
Nearly kidnapped by a pervert.
Hong Siyeon had bizarrely high popularity with boys.
And her grandmother put it bluntly.
"Why not just go all out then?"
She said red hair and golden eyes suited her better—and made her dye and get colored lenses.
Boys fell head over heels from one smile.
A bit of kindness, and they'd misunderstand and cling.
Near-kidnappings: over ten times.
Crazy perverts: countless.
Even as an elementary kid, it was like this—what about later?
Grandma always said:
Your charm is that luscious black hair and deep eyes.
So change their direction.
She'd handle school issues, so Hong Siyeon tried it.
Dyed her hair red, popped in the lenses.
And amazingly, Grandma was right.
The clingy boys backed off.
Of course, it couldn't fully block her innate charm.
Plenty still fell for her smile.
But.
That was enough for Hong Siyeon.
He's such a weird guy.
Dropping Kang Noah off and heading home, Hong Siyeon glanced at herself in the rearview mirror.
She'd dolled up to meet him today.
Natural makeup.
A touch of skin showing.
Casual touches and gestures.
All the things that drive men wild.
"And zero reaction."
Amazing.
That's why she was even more intrigued.
Of course, Hong Siyeon had never actually dated anyone.
She'd never been that interested in guys to begin with.
Makes sense, right?
Why feel excitement for those who bend to her will so easily?
But he was different.
That's why he was fascinating—and intriguing.
"Hmm... Should I wash out the dye and ditch the lenses?"
Reveal her true charm.
Black hair and deep eyes.
Ahh, I've missed it. Time to be succubus Hong Siyeon again.
"...Ahaha."
Laughter bubbled up.
As if she'd go that far.
A man who doesn't bend to her will? It was fun.
That's why she headed to her grandmother's.
A luxurious hanok mansion in Seoul's Pyeongchang-dong.
The kind of place only tycoons could enter.
The staff greeted her politely upon arrival.
"Welcome, miss."
"Grandma's home, right?"
"Yes."
Korea's infamous loan shark queen.
Active since the war, amassing vast wealth.
But to her, just a loving grandma.
"Grandma~!! I'm here~!"
"If you're here, get your butt inside! What're you doing out there!!"
The bellow from within.
Strict, yet laced with worry and joy.
What grandmother wouldn't love her precious granddaughter's visit?
"Come in. Eaten?"
"Yeah."
"So? Why're you here?"
"Aww~! Missed you, Grandma~!"
"Yeah, right."
Korea's loan shark queen, Yang Chunya, snorted at her sweet, shoulder-massaging granddaughter's aegyo.
"What is it really? You, who never borrowed my hand for your business."
"Ehehe~! Well... Grandma, I wanna... wash out the dye..."
"You gone mad, girl!!"
-Whack!!
The flyswatter smacked Hong Siyeon's head.
Her go-to for disciplining her and Hong Suyeon since childhood.
Still hurt.
"Hey, Grandma, hear me out first."
Even without dye or lenses, plenty of guys would still like her.
Grandma had said so.
But there was this one guy.
"...A man like that exists?"
Interest flickered across Yang Chunya's face.