Chapter 30: A Family’s Investment

Brrrrring!

Brrrrring!

"Yes, this is Mideum Publishing."

"Yes, I'll prepare it right away and send it to you."

"I'll check the stock and get back to you."

The phone at the Mideum Publishing office rang nonstop. The employees in the office clutched the ringing phones, busily scribbling notes.

"What on earth is all this commotion?"

The phone rang so incessantly, it made one wonder if the company specialized in TM.

Not a single moment of rest was allowed, the calls coming in one after another.

"Chief Oh, are you off the phone?"

PD Lee Taegwon approached and asked. His face looked noticeably pale.

But it wasn’t just PD Lee Taegwon—other employees looked much the same.

"I wish I were. Lunchtime’s long gone, you know."

While on the phone, it had already passed 12:40. Looks like today’s lunch is going to be bread, once again.

No matter how many times I tried to win a housing lottery, I never succeeded, yet work always clung to me.

I think I lost all the weight I needed to today—I probably won’t need to exercise for a while.

Sure, my work was broadcast on public TV, but I never expected people’s interest to heat up this much.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

"That Unreal Oppa author must be thrilled."

Thanks to this recent frenzy, sales of the work skyrocketed again.

Of course, it’s good news for the publishing company too, but it’s honestly sad that, in the end, I, the one working like a dog, get nothing for it.

"True. Maybe something like this will never happen in the publishing industry again."

No one could guess how many tens of thousands of additional copies would be printed. If things keep going like this, we might even surpass the sales numbers of .

"Yeah......."
"Let’s just take a break now."
"Yeah......"

Finally, it was break time. Grabbing drinks and cigarettes, I escaped the office.

Rest comes before food.

"I wonder how much the author is making."

Roughly tallying the orders I received, the minimum was 20,000 copies. Considering what the others handled, I’d say it easily exceeds 30,000.

"I’m really jealous. Started writing at sixteen and just how much does he make?"

I might not know exactly, but I bet he’s already cleared 200 million won this year.

A wave of real envy hits me hard.

My cigarette burns down faster than usual today.

"Some people have to work their whole lives to earn 1.6 million won a month... and a middle schooler is earning hundreds of millions..."

All at once.

It makes me wonder what I’ve been doing with my life.

"If only I had just kept writing..."

No, that wouldn’t have worked.

If I’d stubbornly kept chasing a writing career, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of getting married.

Now, with a steady salary coming in, I can save money, pay off loans, and live like this.

"Right, everyone has their own path. Let’s send the emails and report upstairs."

Shaking off the fleeting sense of deprivation, I took a long drag of my cigarette and headed back down from the rooftop.

[Author, congratulations once again. After your work was featured on national TV, sales surged, and we’ve decided to print more copies.]

"...... As expected."

Just as I thought, an additional print run was underway.

My plan had worked.

Using predictions in my work might be dangerous.

But if it hits just right, the risk comes with great rewards.

Thanks to this, I get another chance for my income to jump.

"The first step is always the most important."

When sales are stable, that's when truly good writing happens.

If sales are shaky, the writing gets shaky too, heading straight for 'abandonment'.

"Of course, I don’t plan to weave any more of the future I know into my work."

I’ve only written up to the 2000s of the future I know into my story.

If I go as far as the 2020s, it could really get dangerous, so I’ve decided not to mention it anymore.

"Anyway, good news like this should be shared right away."

Getting up from my chair, I hurried to the living room.

I wanted to tell my parents this good news as soon as possible.

"Mom, Dad!"

I called out to my parents, who were getting ready to go out in the master bedroom.

"What’s the rush? You’ll hurt yourself running like that."

Mom came out from the master bedroom and asked.

"The publisher’s printing more books!"

"Another print run?"

"Yes! We’ll be getting more money at the end of the month."

Mideum Publishing handles finances on the 10th and at the end of each month.

The 10th has already passed, so the money from the new print run will come in at the end of the month!

This month’s income will easily surpass ten million won.

"Congratulations, son."

"Heh heh, at this rate, our boy will become a chaebol!"

Hearing my news, Mom and Dad smiled and congratulated me on the extra print run.

"Mom, Dad, I’ll get you something amazing soon."

To earn well, how you spend your money matters.

I wanted to give my parents a truly special gift.

"No need for gifts. Just stay healthy. That’s enough for Mom—just hearing your voice."

"Right, just like your mom said, I feel the same. The allowance you give us is more than enough."

Dad chimed in after Mom.

He gently placed a hand on my shoulder, his face beaming.

"Congratulations."

He left a short "congratulations" and walked to the front door.

"Thank you."

Watching Dad’s back as he politely refused again, I felt deeply reassured.

"Let’s go to the securities company now."

The long-awaited Saerom Technology is finally getting listed, and today our whole family is investing in Saerom Technology.

Dad let out a chuckle, opened the front door, and went outside first.

"Honestly, Dad gets so embarrassed about things like this."

I saw it, for sure. Dad’s reddened face as he went outside.

"Dahye, let’s go too."

Glancing at the door Dad had exited, I smiled and took Dahye’s hand, following him outside.

Mom seemed to find everything so amusing—she followed behind me, covering her mouth as she laughed.

Our family each wore a different expression, but we all headed to the securities company together.

At the securities company, we began our transactions in the order we arrived. As planned, my parents invested two million won, and I added one million won of my own money to my younger sibling’s account.

"I’d like to invest thirty million won."

Including the money I’d already drawn from the publisher, I invested a total of thirty million won.

Now there wasn’t much left in my account.

'But next year, things will be different.'

Soon, I’d see a sum of money in my bankbook that I’d never had in my past life. From now on, I’ll write stories for myself and my family’s happiness, without worrying about money.

Money isn’t the only requirement for family happiness, but I don’t want to live with regrets because of its absence.

Because we had money, my sister could go to the hospital when she was sick.

Because we had money, we could buy our current house.

That’s why, for me, money is a necessary condition for happiness.

"All purchases complete."

After waiting, I heard that our purchase was successful. All transactions were done.

"Thank you."

I thanked the staff at the counter and turned away.

"Son, are you sure you’re not overdoing it?"

Dad asked.

Thirty million won is a lot of money.

Of course Dad would worry.

"I’m not overdoing it. I’ll take care of both your retirements, so please, just live comfortably from now on."

Looking at Dad’s face, I smiled brightly.

"Are you really okay with this?"

"Yes, trust me. I may just be a middle schooler, but I’m confident. And even if I lose, I’ll just hold onto it forever. They say stocks always go up eventually, right?"

I didn’t really plan to keep Saerom Technology forever, but I used a common reassurance to ease my parents’ concerns.

"Haha, sure, that works too."

Dad listened and laughed heartily, nodding in agreement.

In my previous life, my parents were always worried and could never do anything, but now, they’re so relaxed.

Seeing the parents I’d always wanted to see made me feel incredibly happy.

'Mom, Dad. Keep being this confident, always. I’ll make up for anything you lack. So you’ll never have to worry.'

Today, the four of us had another happy and meaningful day. I hope this happiness continues.

[Monday, August 16, 1999. Clear.

Today, for the first time, I went to a securities company with Mom, Dad, and my little sister. We opened accounts and invested in stocks. It wasn’t a huge amount of money, but for our family, it was a truly special moment.

I hope this investment will offer a new opportunity for my family.]

[Tuesday, August 17, 1999. Cloudy.

Until now, I thought Ah-rin was my sister’s only friend.

So I always worried.

I wanted my sister to have a wide circle of friends and a bright life, so I was concerned that her social circle might be too small.

But that was just my own groundless worry.

Today I learned that my sister actually gets along with far more friends than I thought.

Among them were some who are growing up in difficult circumstances.

Watching my sister get along kindly with those friends, I felt my heart warm all over again.

I’ve always wondered—

If she could live with a bright heart, loved by everyone for a long, long time.

And today, I found the answer.

It’s not just about me—it’s about helping those around me be happy, too.

I hope my sister will grow up to be someone who, instead of thinking only of herself, knows how to look around and help others.

So I’m going to teach her how to be loved by those around her.

I sincerely wish that my sister will be loved by many.]

"Phew, diary done."

One of the things that changed in this life is that I started keeping a diary. I fill my notebook with every detail of my life and what I feel.

My diary contains stories about my family and my wishes.

"It’s good to make sure Dahye lacks for nothing, but I don’t want her to look down on others. I hope she never becomes the kind of person who scorns someone just because they’re poor, but instead, someone who knows how to lend a helping hand."

I closed my diary and thought hard about what I should do.

How can I make sure my sister grows into someone everyone loves?

"After all, the best way is to show her myself."

What you see as you grow up shapes who you become.

If you grow up seeing good examples, you become a positive person; if you see the opposite, you become like that, too.

No one can be positive all the time, but at the very least, I hope my sister becomes someone who can’t just pass by when there’s someone in need.

"I should find out which of Dahye’s friends are struggling financially, and help them together with Dahye."

How can I help without hurting anyone’s feelings, and leave the kids with good memories instead?

With my arms folded, I tapped my chin with my hand, deep in thought.

At Dahye’s age, kids get hurt by the smallest things.

Wounds received in childhood don’t heal easily, even as adults.

That’s why I need to approach this carefully.

"Hm? Wait. Yeah, maybe that’ll work..."

As I racked my brain, my eyes moved to the "Exploring Life" workbook on my desk.

Looking at it, a wide grin spread across my face.