“Park Jinhyeok, are you coming to your senses?”
Park Jinhyeok blinked several times at the sudden light flooding his eyes.
The light that had alternated between his left and right disappeared, and a man’s voice reached his ears.
“Fortunately, it seems you’ve regained consciousness.”
“Is that so? Am I okay now?”
“We need to run a few tests to be sure, but it appears you’ve passed the critical stage.”
A conversation between a middle-aged woman, who seemed to be a guardian, and someone who sounded like a doctor, floated through the room.
Park Jinhyeok tried to turn his head toward the source of the voices.
However, he still couldn’t see any objects clearly.
“Yes, Chairman. Please don’t worry. I will do my best.”
“That child… He just barely woke up, and you’re already talking like that? At least say something kind when he regains consciousness.”
“You’re pathetic. That’s why you ended up in this state. What is this? It’s embarrassing in front of others… Don’t contact anyone else. If word gets out, only bad rumors will spread.”
A cold male voice was heard.
The man sounded dissatisfied about something, his tone dripping with displeasure.
Park Jinhyeok kept opening and closing his eyes, trying to focus, and finally, the focus settled, revealing shapes slowly coming into view.
“Ugh.”
He quickly groaned and shut his eyes again.
Seeing this, the doctor standing by his bedside hurriedly called out.
“Park Jinhyeok, are you okay?”
He couldn’t answer.
The sudden influx of information through his eyes stabbed at him like pain.
Slowly, he opened his eyes again.
But the unfamiliar scene before him confused him.
‘What is this? Wasn’t it a dream?’
Having been in an accident and having made a deal with the Grim Reaper, Park Jinhyeok thought it was all a dream.
He turned his eyes left and right to inspect his surroundings.
Then, he saw himself lying in a hospital room—just like in the dream.
“Hey, can you see me? Do you know who I am?”
“Stop this nonsense. Why are you asking who I am? Do you think I wouldn’t know?”
A woman in her forties stared intently at Park Jinhyeok.
Her appearance was refined, like that of the lady of a wealthy household.
Next to her, a man in his fifties wore a surly expression, clearly displeased about something.
Above their heads, numbers were displayed.
‘What’s this?’
The number above the man’s head was so large it was hard to read at a glance, while the number above the woman’s was very small.
‘Four trillion? Four trillion? And she has fifty? What is this?’
The difference was extreme.
These two people with such contrasting numbers, and a doctor wearing a white coat with 150 million displayed above his head, were all looking at Park Jinhyeok.
“Jinhyeok, don’t you know who I am? Say something.”
After several attempts, Park Jinhyeok only blinked his eyes, unresponsive.
Finally sensing something was wrong, the man with four trillion displayed above him looked at the doctor and asked,
“Professor Kim, what’s going on? Didn’t you say he regained consciousness?”
“Chairman, please wait a moment. Park Jinhyeok, do you recognize the people in front of you?”
“Jinhyeok, it’s mom. Don’t you recognize me? Oh no, what’s this? Has he lost his mind?”
“Don’t fuss. Who said he lost his mind? Professor Kim, please keep quiet so you can examine him properly.”
A woman who looked like an older sister suddenly calling herself ‘mom’ caught Park Jinhyeok off guard.
And then, the doctor named Professor Kim shone a light into his eyes, causing him to lose the fragile grip on his senses.
After a long while of staring into Park Jinhyeok’s pupils, Professor Kim raised his head.
“Professor Kim, take a good look. What’s wrong with the boy?”
“Park Jinhyeok, do you know who this person is?”
Park Jinhyeok weakly shook his head.
Seeing this, the man in his fifties frowned and turned away.
Then Park Jinhyeok saw it.
As the man turned his head, the woman quietly smiled.
‘What is this?’
The woman smiled as if she was pleased that Park Jinhyeok didn’t recognize her despite calling herself his mother.
Feeling his gaze, she quickly wiped the smile off her face.
Park Junman, Park Jinhyeok’s father, showed no sign of easing his uncomfortable expression as he asked the doctor again,
“He’s not become an idiot, has he?”
“Darling, idiot? How could our Jinhyeok become an idiot? Right? He’ll be fine, Professor Kim?”
Oh Seoyoung spoke in defense of Park Jinhyeok toward Park Junman.
But Park Jinhyeok could see through her insincere concern.
Having spent over ten years in sales during his previous life as Yoo Junggeol, Park Jinhyeok had an uncanny ability to read people’s thoughts just from their voices and expressions.
Right now, Oh Seoyoung, who called herself ‘mom,’ was enjoying seeing Park Jinhyeok in this state.
And if Oh Seoyoung was ‘mom,’ then Park Junman must be ‘dad,’ yet he seemed completely unaware of what kind of woman Oh Seoyoung was, despite the four trillion displayed above his head.
“It could be temporary amnesia caused by shock.”
“You pathetic fool. Well, since all you ever did was drink and chase women, maybe forgetting everything isn’t so bad. He seems fine, so I don’t need to stay any longer. Professor Kim, contact me if anything comes up.”
“Yes, please go ahead, Chairman.”
Park Jinhyeok realized that despite his father’s harsh words, he was genuinely worried.
His voice was laced with a complicated mix of love and resentment.
Oh Seoyoung and the doctor followed Park Junman out of the hospital room to see him off.
Meanwhile, Park Jinhyeok looked around.
Numbers floated above every object.
On the bedside table, the mug had a number reading 20,000, which seemed to represent its price.
For objects, value and price usually aligned, so he could intuitively understand what the numbers meant.
But the numbers above people’s heads were not so easy to decipher at a glance.
Especially considering the 4 trillion above the man he assumed was his father, the 50 above the woman he assumed was his mother, and their attitudes toward him—it was a lot to take in.
‘Is this why the Grim Reaper warned me? Well, at least it’s not a dream. That’s what matters.’
Lying quietly and staring at the ceiling, Park Jinhyeok fell into thought.
***
His half-brother, Park Sanghyuk, bustled anxiously around him.
“Why won’t you move into Pyeongchang-dong?”
“What would I do there? I’d feel uncomfortable leaving my own house and wouldn’t even be able to eat properly.”
“But I want to live with you… Then should I move into your place?”
“Don’t say that. Mom would be upset if she found out. Just live in Pyeongchang-dong. We can meet occasionally—no need to make a big deal out of it.”
“But I still want to be with you.”
“How old are you? Do you still think you’re a kid?”
“It’s mom who’s the kid, not me. Mom’s not a kid, and there’s dad too. I don’t get why she’s so scared she won’t even let me live on my own.”
“Well, I live apart because I’m out of dad’s favor. You don’t have to leave the house if you don’t want to.”
As Park Jinhyeok and Park Sanghyuk talked, a middle-aged man entered the hospital room.
“Master, everything is ready.”
“Is that so? Then let’s go.”
Park Jinhyeok and Park Sanghyuk followed the man out of the room.
***
After waking up in the hospital, Park Jinhyeok used the excuse of amnesia to learn about his past self.
People readily told him what they knew.
Collecting these fragmented pieces of information, he formed a clear picture.
He was the eldest son of DS Group, ranked within the top ten of the business world.
Hearing this, Park Jinhyeok silently cheered inside.
He was the son of a family so wealthy that he never needed to worry about money, even without Value Perception.
But there was something even more satisfying.
His father, Chairman Park Junman, had turned his back on him, causing him to be neglected within the family.
The original Park Jinhyeok had been a man addicted to drinking and women, neglecting company affairs and focusing only on pleasure.
Because of that, he had been practically kicked out of their home in Pyeongchang-dong and sidelined in the company, holding only the honorary title of Executive Director.
A cast-off child of the family.
This fact strangely delighted the current Park Jinhyeok.
He could drink and play with women as much as he wanted, and no one would say a word because of his wealth.
Since he had always lived a dissolute life, no one would complain if he continued to do so.
Others would simply say he hadn’t changed from before.
He had worked himself to the bone in his past life as Yoo Junggeol.
Now, reborn as Park Jinhyeok, he didn’t want to live like that anymore.
He decided to enjoy his life this time.
So, while lying in the hospital bed, he made up his mind.
He would hand over management—and everything else—to his half-brother, Park Sanghyuk, who trailed behind him as they left the hospital.
Park Sanghyuk was the son of Oh Seoyoung, who had been accepted as the second wife.
Though they were half-brothers, Park Sanghyuk respected Park Jinhyeok, and he cared for him in return.
Since their relationship wasn’t bad, Park Jinhyeok felt he could entrust everything to this somewhat foolish boy.
He planned to live the rest of his days enjoying himself and spending money without a care.
Shaking off Park Sanghyuk, who insisted on following him home, Park Jinhyeok got into a car driven by his chauffeur and headed to his residence.
The car passed Bongunsa-ro and stopped in front of a building overlooking Tancheon.
The apartment, with its unobstructed view and proximity to Tancheon, was famous for its view of the Jamsil Sports Complex.
Most units were duplexes, with only 18 households in the entire building. The security was reportedly better than almost anywhere else.
Looking up at the building from below, a smile stretched across Park Jinhyeok’s lips.
[5 billion]
Numbers floated above each unit, and Park Jinhyeok’s eyes caught the figure on his apartment—5 billion won.
He had entered a place he couldn’t even buy with a lottery jackpot.
He felt like thanking the Grim Reaper for this chance.
After sending the chauffeur away, Park Jinhyeok entered the building.
Security personnel greeted him as he walked in.
He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face and raised his hand in return before taking the elevator.
A private elevator serving only one unit per floor.
He had heard that some celebrities lived here, but now it was his home.
Park Jinhyeok felt like screaming with joy.
When the elevator reached the 14th floor, he stepped out, opened the front door, and entered.
“Master, you’re home.”
An elderly woman with white hair rushed over as soon as she heard the door open.
She grabbed Park Jinhyeok’s hand and examined him carefully.
She had come to visit him once during his hospitalization.
“Oh my… Halmeoni, don’t be so rough. I’m fine.”
“Your face is half the size it used to be. Hospital food must not have suited you.”
“Hospital food is all the same anyway.”
Park Jinhyeok had heard that this elderly woman had come with his mother when she married in.
Since his mother passed away early, this woman, Housekeeper Onsandae, had practically raised him.
A housekeeper, a nanny, and perhaps closer than a grandmother-grandchild relationship, Housekeeper Onsandae warmly welcomed Park Jinhyeok’s return.
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