Chapter 12: The Value of Happiness

The first place we went to was the women's clothing store. I decided to pick out clothes for Mom first, then buy some for my younger sister.

“Mom’s fine. She can just buy from a local store.”

Department stores were basically very expensive. The places we usually went to were the small clothing shops inside the neighborhood market. Naturally, the quality and design of the clothes were noticeably different.

‘It’s a parent’s duty and responsibility to give everything to their children. But still, I hope I spend more on Mom and Dad. Above all...’

I don’t have to fuss over money anymore. Meaningful spending is an investment to me.

What’s the return on that investment?

My family’s smiles. Nothing is more valuable than that.

‘It took me until I was thirty-six to realize this.’

Those reckless, selfish days. Because of them, I’m who I am now.

And the immature young Seunghyun Yoo is no longer here.

“Mom, don’t worry and just buy what you want. I earn money too. When you buy things properly, they last longer and you actually save money in the long run. Cheap things wear out quickly, and you end up buying again. Valuable items tend to be less affected by trends.”

Mom’s face said she was okay with me saying her clothes were fine.

I hope she can now enjoy her life a little more without worrying about money, without having to give up things for me or Dahye.

“Hmph, just because you make money doesn’t mean you should spend recklessly.”

“That’s okay. I’ll have plenty of chances to earn, and as I publish more works, it’ll be like building a pension for myself.”

I’m only sixteen now.

It’ll be more than twenty years before I reach the age of my past life.

By then, even if I don’t save perfectly, I’m confident I can make a billion won.

Mom has never lived a wealthy life, so she always struggles with spending money. Whenever she tries to save, unexpected expenses come up, and she reached her sixties without even preparing for retirement.

Now, I’ll make sure she has a peaceful retirement.

“So, it’s okay. I’ll be bringing in two to three hundred thousand won every month, and if things sell well, there’ll be reprints and more income.”

Right now is the explosive growth period for rental shops. Popular works get bought in sets of three to five volumes.

‘The print book market will decline within five years. Before that happens, I’ll spend as much as I can, then switch to web novels. Above all, I’m learning how investment flows work.’

Fast pacing, refreshing developments, vicarious satisfaction. The day the web novel market fully opens, profits will be even greater.

The earnings from investment are just a bonus.

“Then I’ll take this for Mom.”

Mom still seemed sorry about buying clothes with her young son’s money. After hesitating, she finally picked up the clothes she’d been fiddling with earlier.

“It’s pretty. It suits you well, Mom. Since we’re buying it, let’s get a full set.”

I spoke even more firmly and decisively. Even adults don’t need to carry the weight of ‘conscience’ or ‘guilt.’ Parents find it hard to spend their children’s money.

I wanted to relieve that burden and satisfy their desires.

“Thank you, son. I’ll wear it well.”

Mom finally took the full set of clothes in hand, grabbed my sister’s hand, and began to browse the store.

She vividly showed me what women’s shopping was like.

They wandered around, pretending not to buy anything, enjoying window shopping just like teenagers.

Mom and Dahye linked arms and enjoyed their shopping time like friends.

Having family who can do something for you is such a blessing.

“Oppa, I want this one!”

Dahye shouted excitedly. Her hands, light when we first arrived, were now filled with shopping bags.

In 1999, among middle school girls, the Check Pattern Miniskirt and Hood Zip-up were all the rage. Dahye picked a bright One-piece Dress—the style she’d seen in magazines.

“Oppa, how do I look?”

Dahye smiled brightly, turning around several times in front of the mirror. She looked just like a CF Heroine.

“You look pretty. It suits you well. Let’s go with that.”

Mom, Dad, and my sister.

Everyone got full sets of clothes.

It cost a fortune, but inside me...

‘Ah, this is abundance.’

I didn’t buy anything for myself, but I gained something far more precious.

My sister’s smile and Mom’s happy face.

That was enough for me.

After arriving home, I pulled out the makeup I’d been hiding in front of Mom and Dad.

“What kind of elementary school kid uses such expensive makeup!”

As expected, my parents’ reaction was stern.

“This is just a Basic Line for kids. It’s gentle and not that expensive, really.”

I began to persuade them carefully. In this era, it wasn’t viewed well for elementary school kids to wear makeup. But maybe that was only because of clumsy makeup?

“They say you should learn drinking from your parents. I think makeup is the same.”

It’s better to learn the right way at home than to awkwardly copy friends. I remembered the era when smoky makeup was popular, and girls wore heavy eyeliner.

“Hmm.”

My parents seemed deep in thought.

“What if Mom taught me how to do makeup properly? When instincts are blocked, people tend to rebel.”

2000, 2010, 2020.

No matter the time, perceptions don’t change.

But one important thing is that everyone started wearing makeup young.

In elementary school, it varies, but by middle school, even the most studious girls wore at least faint makeup.

At the very least, accessorizing was basic.

Whether at home or school, kids did it.

Trying to suppress it only makes them want it more.

True education is about mixing regulation with flexibility.

“If Dahye tries to go off the rails with makeup, I’ll be the first to stop her.”

I put the final nail in the coffin.

“You’ve really changed a lot.”

Dad’s voice.

He looked at me with a surprised expression.

“I’m trying to become even cooler.”

In my past life, Dad was really scary.

But now, he didn’t seem scary at all.

“Okay, I understand. Since you said you’ll take responsibility, I approve. Yoo Dahye.”

At last, he gave his permission.

Dad called Dahye with a stern voice.

“Yes.”

That was Dahye’s answer.

“Did you hear Oppa? Learn to do your makeup nicely from Mom, then wear it after that. But if you do it weirdly or wear heavy makeup, it’s off the table immediately. Got it?”

“Yes!”

Dahye answered enthusiastically.

There were many conditions, but the stern Dad stepped back and listened to me.

‘When I change, my family changes too.’

This shows how much influence the eldest son’s behavior has.

Maybe the reason Dad was scary in my past life was all because of my own mistakes.

“And Seunghyun Yoo, dress well. Thanks.”

“Not at all. Now you should dress up too, Dad. If you want, I can even do your makeup?”

I teased him lightly.

“Hey!”

Dad yelled, as if it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard.

Ha ha ha.

Then he laughed heartily.

Mom and Dahye followed, smiling warmly as we welcomed a cozy evening.

I sat down again, placing my hands on the keyboard, holding today’s emotions close to my heart.

Ding ding ding!

I woke up to the alarm clock.

One, two. I twisted and stretched my body, then got up immediately.

There was one bathroom and four people. If no one moved first, the morning routine was pure chaos. Since my sister usually woke up late, I had to hurry first.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

Mom was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast, as always.

“Hurry and wash up, then come eat.”

“Okay.”

Splash.

The cool water instantly woke me up. I washed every inch of my body with milk soap and stood in front of the mirror.

“You’re getting some muscle.”

After about a month of steady exercise and eating well, my muscles were faintly visible. A tiny change, but clear to my eyes.

It was a satisfying result.

“Looking back, I went without any grooming when I was a middle schooler.”

I remembered roughly drying my hair before going to school. My hair was always messy, and that didn’t help my appeal.

No wonder I wasn’t popular with girls.

“Taking care of yourself from a young age is best if you want to be told you look young as you grow old.”

These days, students decorate themselves in ways unimaginable, but honestly, many are still lacking.

I have future knowledge.

I dried my hair moderately with a dryer, shaped it with my hands, then fixed it with spray to hold the style.

“Neat.”

If you use gel badly, your hair clumps and you have to wash it again, but this method avoided that. It gave a natural, moderate style.

“I wonder if I’d have been more popular if I’d always looked like this.”

I was satisfied with my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I left the bathroom with a pleased look and put on my red school uniform.

“Oh, son. You look different today. Was our son always this handsome?”

Mom smiled in admiration.

She didn’t forget to say I looked like Dad.

“Stop the nonsense and eat.”

Dad, just waking up, muttered as he picked up his spoon.

Knowing why he said that, I secretly smiled.

I held back my laughter and sat beside him to pick up my spoon.

Our family’s morning began with laughter once again.