A dull ache stirred in Yoojin's chest at Se-ryun's words.
The truth was, she didn't need to worry about money at all.
Without telling anyone—not even Se-ryun—she'd been quietly managing her own investments. Within three or four years, she would have enough wealth to live comfortably without ever needing a job.
She remembered overheard tips, stray bits of finance gossip, and—most importantly—Choi Hyun-oh's old investment portfolio. With that knowledge, she built her own strategy: diversified, patient, and discreet.
Her real opportunity had been B-Coin. It was said to have been created in 2008, but when she first tried to buy some, there was no official channel—only whispers.While studying for both the GED and college entrance exams, she stumbled into a small online cryptography community.
That was when she learned the truth: coins were traded only in closed networks—deep-web markets where drugs and prostitution were bought with untraceable digital cash.
Yoojin had taken enormous risks, wandering those virus-infested sites where one wrong click could have infected her PC or put her on the FBI's radar.
Still, through that community, she learned about the first open cryptocurrency exchange.
That July, she spent $1,000 to buy 1,000 coins.
One coin per dollar.
Every time she saw the number glowing in her digital wallet, she couldn't stop laughing. Later, each coin would soar past 80 million won.
Last year, when the price hit $1,200, she sold half—five hundred coins—to buy a small apartment in Bangbae-dong, an area soon to be redeveloped.
Even after that, the value dropped almost by half, meaning she could easily buy back more later. With the rest of her funds, she began purchasing blue-chip U.S. stocks—stable, global companies.
Whenever Yoojin thought about her growing portfolio, she almost smiled.
Meanwhile, Se-ryun began to regret bringing up money at all. To her, Yoojin was just a hardworking student living alone while her single mother worked in real estate back in Jeju Island.
Maybe that's why she wanted to graduate early and get a corporate job?
Her gaze narrowed.
"Yoojin. Why are you in such a hurry to graduate and get a job?"
Yoojin blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. The question echoed exactly what Seo-hee had asked her earlier.
It was almost as if everyone around her had agreed to interrogate her.
All she ever wanted was a safe wall—something to protect her from Gangrim Group and Choi Hyun-oh. That wall just happened to be Samho Group.
He had promised to wait five years. Six had already passed.
He could appear again at any time—so she had to be ready.
"What's wrong with that?"
"You should relax sometimes! You'll burn out if all you do is study."
"I do relax."
"At home doesn't count. Come on, let's go clubbing tonight!"
"A club? I just finished exams. I'm exhausted."
"Oh, come on! Yoojin, are you really going back to your dorm again?"
"Yeah."
"You're no fun. If I lived alone like you, I'd go out every night."
Se-ryun pouted. Still living with her parents, she envied Yoojin's independence.
Then a cheerful notification sound broke through the music of the bar.Yoojin instinctively snatched up her phone.
[Congratulations, Han Yoojin! You have been accepted as part of Samho Group's 23rd recruitment class. Please check your email for orientation details. Welcome to the Samho family!]
The words blurred for a second, then a bright, bell-like scream burst from her throat.
"Kyaa!"
Everyone in the restaurant turned. Yoojin, normally calm and quiet, was practically glowing.
"I got in!"
Se-ryun leapt from her seat and grabbed Yoojin's hands. They both began jumping in place, laughing and crying at once.
"Yoojin! My friend! You got into a major corporation!"
In a college-town bar, celebration was nothing unusual—other customers smiled and raised their glasses toward them.
Tears shimmered at the corners of their eyes.
"Wait—I need to call my mom."
Her hands trembled as she dialed.
"Hello? Yoojin?"
"Mom, I passed the recruitment exam!"
"Really? Congratulations! But wasn't the result supposed to come out tomorrow?"
"Maybe it got released early tonight."
"Oh, my dear girl. I'm so proud of you. I wish I were in Seoul to celebrate, but I'm still working here in Jeju."
Her mother, Ji-sun had become a licensed real-estate agent two years earlier—something Yoojin herself had encouraged after her father's death, when Ji-sun had fallen into despair.
"Mom, what about becoming a real-estate agent?"
"Me?"
"You already help around the agency part-time. Just study for a year. I'm grown up now— you don't need to worry about me."
"I guess… No more late-night rides to ballet classes, huh?"
Back then, her mother used to drive her home after late lessons or competitions.
With heavy costumes and stage makeup, taking the subway had been impossible.
"Didn't you handle tax documents at Dad's office?"
"That was ages ago. I just processed invoices."
"Invoices are paperwork. Real estate is paperwork too. You'll be fine."
"Hmm. I did tag along with the neighborhood ladies a few times when they went house-hunting."
"Did you like it?"
"It was fun. Everything's money in real estate—buy cheap, sell high. It's like a game."
"Then do it! If you get licensed, you don't even have to pay brokerage fees when you buy something for yourself."
"We'd need money to buy anything."
"Then handle your friends' deals. And who knows—money might come from the sky someday.""...Maybe."
Ji-sun's lips curved slightly.
Soon she was scouring properties across Seoul, not just Gangnam. She finally bought a small villa in Dongjak District, an area Yoojin secretly knew would be redeveloped.
There, mother and daughter studied side by side—Yoojin for college exams, Ji-sun for the real-estate license.
They laughed through sleepless nights, buoyed by each other's determination.
Ji-sun passed on her first try and started working in Seoul before moving to Jeju, where she specialized in luxury villas for her wealthy mainland clients.
Yoojin had been glad to let her go. Jeju's property market was booming—her mother's timing was perfect.
In Korea, connections were everything, and Ji-sun's network proved it.
*
"I'm fine, Mom. I'm with Se-ryun right now."
"Good. I'll visit Seoul soon. Check your account later—I sent you some money. Celebrate with your friend."
"Mom, you didn't have to... but thank you."
After hanging up, Yoojin sat quietly for a moment, then turned to Se-ryun with a spark in her eyes.
"Alright. Let's go to that club. Just once—I'll play tonight."
Se-ryun's triumphant roar shook the little pub.
"Club means Hongdae, obviously."
"Why there?"
"Because all the idol trainees go there to blow off steam. The crowd's good."
"Really?"
"But Yoojin, you can't go in wearing your department jacket and T-shirt."
"Why not?"
"Girl, with that height and body? Not dressing up is a waste of resources!"
In her previous life she'd been 163 cm, but after quitting ballet, her body had grown again—now almost 170 cm.
The best part? She could look most men straight in the eye.
That night, Yoojin entered the club wearing jeans, a loose university jacket, and running shoes.
Maybe it was a bit much outside campus. Comparing her outfit to everyone else's sequined tops and tight skirts, she shyly took off her jacket and left her backpack—stuffed with textbooks and a laptop—at the counter.
It was November, yet the room was full of bare shoulders and flashing lights.
The DJ's set was ending, switching tracks.
🎵 Lolita Jolie – "Non Non Non (Rob & Chris Remix)"
Bright, bouncing electro beats filled the room. The crowd raised their knees and kicked their feet, spinning in tiny circles—some new viral dance, apparently. Yoojin watched carefully, memorizing the steps of the better dancers.
"Yoojin! Yoojin! Look at me!"
Se-ryun was flailing her arms with pure enthusiasm—more cheerleading than dancing.
She was so earnest it was adorable.
Yoojin almost wanted to hug her.
"Here, Se-ryun. Follow me."
She kicked her feet three times, lifted her right knee, swung her hips cutely, then turned in a full spin.
"Yoojin, how do you make even that look so cool?"
Se-ryun copied her, laughing. Soon they were both lost in the rhythm.
Then, one by one, men began circling closer—drawn to Yoojin's striking face and tall frame.
They surrounded her front and back, moving to the beat, hoping to catch her eyes.
Across from her, Se-ryun's pupils widened. She had always known Yoojin was beautiful, but this—this was another level.
And the guys crowding near her? All decent, all interested.
Maybe I should start coming here with her every weekend…
Grinning, Se-ryun shook her hips harder, sneaking glances around as Yoojin smiled innocently back.
*
The music shifted again—
🎵 R3HAB & DEORRO – "Flashlight"
The bass dropped, fast and bright, layered with pulsing effects.
At the bar stood the members of UNI-X, a soon-to-debut boy group under Samho Entertainment, Korea's top idol agency.
They swayed casually, drinking non-alcoholic cocktails, giddy to be out in public.
"Feels like forever since we've done this."
"Finally, we can breathe."
"So nice to dance without counting steps or camera angles."
They laughed like kids on a playground.
Nearby, people stared—sensing that unmistakable celebrity aura. But the boys ignored it, savoring their brief freedom.
Among them, Kay, the calm, masculine one, suddenly tugged at the sleeve of the man beside him—a manager, older, sharp-eyed.
"Coach, look over there."
The man didn't respond, idly stirring his Bacardi tonic.
Kay nudged him again.
"Seriously, look."
The man finally turned—and froze.
Across the dance floor, a tall girl in an oversized sweatshirt was moving gracefully, her rhythm fluid yet playful.
Around her, more than ten men were sending heart gestures toward her, utterly mesmerized.