The Leisure of Daily Life Is the Pillar of a Happy Existence
I had already checked on the construction progress downstairs and confirmed how much money had come in.
Both my mind and my bank account were so relaxed they felt like they might burst.
Thanks to Sol’s streams, the app’s subscription revenue meant I wouldn’t have to worry about the system side of things for a while.
Ah~ This is what they call leisure. It feels good.
But the mansion’s environment wasn’t exactly cooperating if I wanted to fully enjoy this peaceful morning.
Whiiiiir— Bang! Rattle!
Even though we’d gone all out with top-tier soundproofing on the first floor and basement, there was no way to completely block the bone-rattling vibrations from tearing into the framework and raising new structures.
Subtle tremors, sometimes outright grating noises and vibrations, traveled up through the soles of my feet.
Lying around the house like this was seriously annoying.
Since Cha Sua was controlling the site perfectly anyway, there was no need for me to supervise.
I shuffled my way to the dressing room.
I threw on comfortable casual slacks and a knit sweater—nothing too formal, but with a nice touch of style.
Grabbing my car keys and the camera I usually cherished, I headed down to the first floor.
“Sua, I’m going out for some fresh air.”
“Ah, yes! Have a good time, Director.”
Cha Sua, covered in dust and wrestling with the workers, bowed at the waist in greeting.
“Oh, right. Use this card for meals, drinks, or any desserts.”
I pulled a card from my wallet and handed it to her.
“What? No, that’s not necessary! Our team can—”
“I’m doing this so I can feel at ease. Just use it. I’m counting on you, and thanks for your hard work, Sua.”
I gave her a light wave, stepped outside, and climbed into the car.
With a heavy rumble from the exhaust, I left the mansion behind.
My destination was Paju.
Whenever my head felt cluttered or I needed some real alone time, it was the place I habitually turned the wheel toward.
Driving along the cool, straight stretch of the Jayu Road, the refreshing breeze slipping through the window washed away the construction noise that had been hammering at my ears.
After about forty minutes, I arrived at the Sage’s Forest in Paju’s publishing complex.
It was a massive multi-cultural space shaped like a grand library with soaring ceilings.
The moment I stepped inside, the mingled scent of old paper and bitter coffee beans washed over me, bringing a strange sense of relief.
It was a weekday morning, so the place was nearly empty. The unique silence that vast spaces provide felt even deeper.
I ordered a hot Americano at the first-floor cafeteria and settled into a quiet corner seat. I took the camera out of my bag and rested it on my lap.
Between the enormous wooden bookshelves that stretched all the way to the ceiling, slanted beams of afternoon sunlight poured in through the large windows.
Tiny particles of dust floated in the air, sparkling wherever the light touched them.
The places the light reached were blindingly bright, while the shadows cast by the massive bookshelves were as deep and dark as an abyss.
The contrast between light and shadow was truly beautiful.
Lucky it’s this time of day.
With no one around, I didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing me pressing the shutter.
I lifted the camera and brought my eye to the viewfinder.
Click.
The shutter sound lightly split the silence of the space.
I adjusted the focus and aperture, endlessly capturing the boundary between light and darkness through the lens.
This was qualitatively different from simply photographing pretty subjects.
The deeper the darkness, the more intensely the light asserted its presence.
The underground broadcasts I planned and directed ultimately followed the same principle.
That destructive catharsis that erupted when I dragged humanity’s deepest, darkest desires—that hideous abyss—into the light and threw it under the spotlight.
As I held the camera and calculated the contrast of light, I felt my artistic thirst being pleasantly satisfied.
Call it pretentious artistic syndrome if you want.
In the end, this sensibility was the weapon that had generated the insane number of 8.5 billion.
After wrestling with the camera for a long while, I sat down and pulled a book from a nearby shelf.
It wasn’t some difficult philosophy book or specialized text—just a light collection of essays.
Letting my eyes glide across the printed words while sipping my coffee, this utterly ordinary and peaceful moment.
The stimulating words that had filled my head—settlements, debt, corruption, training—evaporated between the lines.
About two hours must have passed.
My stomach clock rang exactly on time for lunch. I stood up, packed my camera, and stepped outside.
There was a tofu restaurant nearby that I often visited.
The moment I sat down, I ordered the tofu hotpot I always got.
Not flashy seasonings or strong artificial flavors, but a clean, subtle taste that relied solely on the pure, savory essence of soybeans.
I scooped up a big spoonful of the white tofu bubbling away in the earthenware pot and put it in my mouth.
“Haa.”
The hot, soft texture slid down my throat, warming my insides.
A clean flavor that seemed to purify a palate worn out by strong seasonings.
It was the complete opposite of the hardcore pleasure from last night—the vibrating rotor, leather restraints, and the sticky scent of bodily fluids.
I piled some seasoned vegetables onto my rice, took a big bite, and looked out the window.
Trees swaying in the breeze, people passing by peacefully.
This is what it really feels like to live.
Money is great. Power is great. Making talented women gasp and writhe at my feet is insanely fun too.
But paradoxically, to keep doing all that crazy shit without getting burned out, this kind of ordinary, even boring daily recharge is absolutely necessary.
Only when this clean happiness forms the foundation can I willingly dive back into that dark, stimulating abyss.
I scraped the earthenware pot clean and left the restaurant.
My stomach was full, and my mind felt refreshingly empty.
Twirling the car key around my finger, my steps toward the parking lot were light.
This really is leisure.
I suddenly felt like lying down for a bit.
As I drove past a wide stretch of lawn, I turned the car around, parked beside it, and flopped down onto the grass.
The smell of grass was pretty nice.
“Haaam. I could probably take a few days off from streaming.”
I closed my eyes and let myself feel the breeze and the scent of grass for a while.
How much time had passed?
I must have dozed off for a bit.
It was already an hour later.
I leaned against the hood of my car, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and picked up my smartphone.
Hmm. They’ve all been sending me messages like crazy.
Thinking about it, it’s kind of funny.
Jihye and Sujeong, sure, that makes sense.
But I used to be the one who always left Jihui on read. Now the situation has completely flipped.
Now I’m the one leaving her on read.
And then there was Sol’s message.
Our Sol, who had been kicking herself under the blankets ever since she ran out of that izakaya that day.
A smile unconsciously spread across my lips.
What a damn cheat-like app.
Thanks to it, I now had the capital I’d always craved and could live doing what I wanted.
But in a way, this app was also terrifying—a fucking thing that eroded the mind.
I was lucky I overcame it.
If I hadn’t, I would’ve become some crazy bastard who just kept fucking women, streaming nonstop, piling up meaningless numbers that weren’t even money anymore, with no daily life to speak of.
I replied to Sol.
My phone rang immediately.
That was fast.
She’s calling me hyung again. Just call me oppa already…
She really is childish. “Whatever,” my ass.
I headed out following the address Sol had sent.
Since she said she’d buy me something good, I guess I could look forward to it a little.
After driving for about an hour.
I took the Jayu Road back into Seoul, and the navigation led me to a narrow alley behind Aeogae Station lined with old, tightly packed villa buildings.
When my pitch-black sports car entered the alley, it felt wildly out of place with the neighborhood vibe.
I could feel the locals glancing at me as they walked by.
I parked in a suitable open spot and called Sol.
“Yeah, I’m here. Come down, shorty.”
It didn’t take long before the villa’s shared entrance door opened and Sol walked out.
The moment I saw her, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
The girl who always wore baggy hoodies or tracksuits.
She was now wearing a fluttering sky-blue blouse and a beige skirt—god knows where she got them—and even light lipstick she normally never wore, clacking toward me in heels.
That lipstick doesn’t even suit her. Idiot.
She clearly wasn’t used to the shoes either; her walk was a little robotic and stiff.
That night at the izakaya when she’d shoved her lips at me asking for a kiss before running away.
She really must be seeing me as a man now.
How cute.
She walked over with heavy steps, spotted my car, flinched, then blinked her round eyes and stuck her face up to the driver’s side window.
“Wait, oppa… I mean, hyung!! What is this car? No way, is this really your car?”
She was so surprised she mixed up her words.
Still, she put a lot of effort into her makeup. The lipstick looked a bit too childish on her, which made it even funnier.
“You gave me twenty million won last time too. Damn, you must be making bank. You’re not a car-poor guy, right??”
Seeing her eyes full of suspicion, I opened the door, stepped out, and chuckled.
“Yep. Actually, I am car-poor. I’m a total broke-ass, so you said you’d buy me something good today, right? I’m planning to drain you dry and eat like a king. But what’s with that outfit?”
“H-huh? Why? D-does it look weird…?”
At my comment, Sol panicked and fidgeted with her hands.
“No. The stiff way you’re walking is cute. You look pretty.”
“Ah, seriously… you scared me… I’m not cute, okay? I’m an adult, you know?”
At my praise, Sol’s cheeks flushed far redder than any blush she’d applied.
When I opened the passenger door for her, she hesitated awkwardly before climbing in.
Once I got back in the driver’s seat, I saw her tiny 148cm frame swallowed up by the bucket seat.
On top of that, with the skirt, she looked like a grown elementary schooler trying to act like an adult. A chuckle slipped out.
“Yah, when a midget like you sits there, the passenger seat looks as wide as a limousine. Can your feet even reach the floor?”
“Hey!! They can too!! They reach!!”
The serious atmosphere lasted only a second before Sol got worked up and stretched her legs out, stomping the floor with a thud.
As I slowly drove out of the alley, Sol asked,
“So, what do you want to eat today, oppa?”
“Anything’s fine, but I actually ate lunch not that long ago. Have you eaten?”
Without realizing it, she had completely settled on calling me oppa.
“What the heck! You idiot, why did you eat already!! Traitor! Hng… I slept in late so this is my first meal.”
“Then let’s go to a brunch café. You can eat there. I’ll just have some dessert.”
When Sol nodded, I gently turned the wheel.
“Want to head a bit further out? Seoul’s too crowded and chaotic. How about Namyangju? We can drive around too.”
“Yeah, sounds good! Totally down. Driving in a car like this is insane. What’s with Han Siwoo’s vibe?”
“It’s the vibe of the insanely stylish Han Siwoo. Praise me, you brat.”
“Yes sir!!”
The car smoothly left the busy city streets and sped toward Namyangju.
We arrived at a large brunch café in Namyangju with a clear view of the Bukhan River.
Sol ordered pasta and a panini and stuffed her cheeks like a chipmunk, while I enjoyed a slice of sweet cake and coffee in front of her, savoring the leisure.
“Eat slowly. You’ll get indigestion. And you’re getting sauce on your skirt.”
“Ah! Did I? No, right? Doesn’t it taste better because I’m the one buying?”
“Yeah. It’s good. But I’ll pay for this, so eat as much as you want.”
“No! I said I’d buy…”
“You can buy dinner. This doesn’t count as a meal for me, dummy.”
“Ah…! Right. Okay!”
Sol grinned brightly and moved her fork busily.
After the meal, to help with digestion, we drove a little further toward Dumulmeori.
The open view where the calm Namhan and Bukhan Rivers met.
The river breeze pleasantly brushed across our faces.
We walked side by side along the promenade by the river.
Sol stretched both arms wide and let out a big yawn.
“Ugh, this is so nice. I feel alive after being stuck in my room staring at a monitor all the time.”
“Right? Come out and get some sunlight once in a while. Virtual idol Lucy is great, but you need to take care of the real Lee Sol too.”
At my words, Sol’s eyes sparkled and she lightly tugged on my arm.
“Oh, that’s right! Oppa, those personal photoshoot pictures you took for me last time! When are the edited versions coming? I’ve been waiting for your call!”
The photoshoot from that day when she’d been acknowledged for her real self.
It must have been incredibly moving and meaningful to her.
I pretended to play dumb and smirked.
“Yah, do you think editing is magic? The original subject is Lee Sol. How much work do you think it takes? It hasn’t even been that long.”
“Ugh, seriously! Last time you showed me through the camera and even praised the raw shots for having insane atmosphere with your own mouth!”
Sol got worked up and slapped my forearm.
“I’m kidding. The atmosphere really was good. The editing isn’t finished yet, so just wait patiently.”
I ruffled Sol’s bangs as she pouted and added,
“Anyway, I’m planning to take it easy and rest from work this week, so I’ll finish everything and send them to you before the week is over.”
“For real? I’m really looking forward to it? Once I get them, I’m going to change my private SNS profile picture and my wallpaper too.”
The little kid who used to hide behind her virtual avatar, eaten up by inferiority, was now eagerly waiting for photos of her real self.
And she had even dressed up, however clumsily, as a woman.
Sol looked out at the river and hummed a cheerful little tune.
Watching her defenseless, pure appearance, I quietly curled the corners of my mouth.
This idiot shorty. I’m glad.
She’s dressing up and slowly building up her self-esteem.
A good kid like you deserves to be happy.