Chapter 64: Dahye’s Choice

A soft knocking sound echoes.

“Oppa, can we talk for a moment?”

The person opening the door and coming in is Dahye.

For some reason, Dahye’s face looks a bit gloomy.

She seems to have something on her mind.

“Yeah, what do you want to talk about?”

Dahye, who came in, sits on the edge of the bed with a slightly more serious expression than usual. She seems to be pondering where to begin, pressing her lips together as she glances around the room. Her gaze briefly skims over the desk before settling on the computer screen.

“So, what’s going on? Why are you hesitating so much, unlike usual?”

She definitely gives off a different vibe than usual.

“Oppa, why did you want to become a writer?”

And then comes the question.

“The reason I want to be a writer?”

“Yeah.”

“Um... well...”

Because I don’t want to forget you.

“I guess it’s because it’s the thing I do best?”

“The thing you do best? Oppa, you even hated writing in a diary.”

“Writing a diary and writing are different. And, these days, I’m good at keeping a diary, you know?”

“Hmm...”

“So, what’s the matter?”

Since she’s having such a hard time bringing it up, I start to worry.

“It’s just... you know, Hyein and Arin both have things they want to do, and they work hard for those things. You too, Oppa. But I don’t have anything like that.”

There’s no strength in Dahye’s voice.

‘So this time has finally come for Dahye.’

Listening to her, I understand that feeling all too well.

I’ve been through it myself.

I envied kids who were good at sports, and sometimes envied those who sang well.

Just going with the flow, living a life similar to others or a bit lacking, I only found something I wanted to do after reaching my thirties.

I wasn’t good at it, but I studied and worked hard to improve, achieved meaningful results, and rose to a place where I could call myself a writer without shame.

‘Truly, environment changes so much.’

After I changed, many things changed around Dahye too.

And it seems these changes have brought her emotional changes as well.

I just hoped Dahye could live comfortably, but perhaps that was just my own perspective.

I wanted her to enjoy her hobbies as easily as people do in dramas, but again, I was thinking only by my standards.

“If you don’t have something you’re good at, you can learn from an expert and build your skills. Thinking you’re not good at anything is just because you haven’t tried enough things.”

The reason rich kids do well even when they stray is because they’ve had many chances to experience different things since childhood. Thanks to that, they discover their talents more easily and focus on developing those skills to turn them into careers.

What Dahye lacked was that kind of experience.

All she’s really tried so far is piano.

Naturally, she’d be compared to Arin, who’s been professionally trained since she was young.

“Dahye, why don’t you pick up the pen over there.”

I put a notebook on the desk and held it out to Dahye with a pen.

“Why?”

At the same time, doubt flickers in Dahye’s eyes.

“Write down in this notebook what you’re interested in, what you like, and what you think you can be good at.”

This is the method I used back in my thirties, when I couldn’t figure out which path to take. Now, I want to bring it here and show it to Dahye.

“Hmm...”

Dahye carefully brings the pen over the notebook. Watching her quietly sit with her legs folded up on the bed and write diligently, I can’t help but think she’s grown so much.

She wasn’t even 140cm tall before, but now she’s almost 160cm.

She’s begun to radiate a feminine charm that makes it no longer strange to call her a young lady.

‘In this life, I’ll make sure you meet a good man, get married, and live happily.’

My younger sister, who always dreamed of marrying early.

I quietly waited until she was finished, vowing to help her achieve that dream in this life.

“Oppa, here.”

After a moment, Dahye hands me the notebook.

[Interests: Actor, model.]

[Good at: Sports, long-distance running.]

There are two categories divided on the page.

On the left, ‘Things I’m interested in,’ on the right, ‘Things I’m good at.’

‘As I thought, she’s starting to take an interest in celebrities.’

She was like that in her previous life, too. In this one, Dahye is still interested in the entertainment world.

‘Being good at sports and long-distance running, huh...’

Thanks to making her exercise since she was young, Dahye would often run relays at sports days. She was one of the fastest among the girls, and with good stamina, she rarely got tired.

But that’s just sports.

It’s not something Dahye actually likes.

“You want to be an actor or a model?”

“Remember when we went to see a play? The people on stage looked so cool. I thought it’d be nice if I could do something like that, too.”

“What about a model?”

“When I see people on TV, they just shine so brightly.”

It’s a perspective and thought any middle schooler could have.

But I wonder if Dahye knows?

That everything begins with an interest.

“People naturally get drawn to things they think are cool. I was the same. And, someday, that becomes your direction, your future.”

“So I can do it too?”

Dahye, who had been listening quietly, asks with a bit more life in her eyes.

“Of course. There’s nothing people can’t do. It’s just a matter of how much you can focus on something to survive the competition. And even if you’re not sure yet what you want, that’s not wrong. A lot of people go through life without knowing their dream. The fact that you’re struggling over this is actually a much better sign.”

She might not understand all of this yet, but it’s something I really wanted to tell her, so I shared my thoughts.

“If you’re really interested in this, would you like to go with Oppa somewhere?”

I showed her the business card I received from an agency, left on my desk.

“This is the one you got, right, Oppa?”

“So what if I got it? The kids who didn’t get one sometimes go directly to the agencies, bothering the staff saying they want to be models.”

I’d wondered when to bring this up, and by chance, the timing fit perfectly.

There’s a clear reason for it, too.

“Just give it a try. If you’re really interested, getting some experience is a great thing. Even just watching an audition will be a learning experience for you. And if luck’s on your side, you could even have a shot yourself.”

“Do you really think so?”

Looking full of conflict, Dahye puts her fingernail in her mouth and nibbles at it.

“Let’s go. Now that I’ve got a car, going to Seoul is nothing.”

Whenever I can use it like this, I’m glad I bought a car.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll try.”

“Good, I’m glad you decided to. And let’s attend an academy, too. Just give it a shot.”

“Yeah.”

Dahye’s face, once full of worry, is now visibly brighter.

I made a quiet promise to myself to do my very best so that bright face would never darken again.

Dahye, all you have to do is trust this Oppa and wait.

Your dreams, and everything you want to do, I’ll help you achieve them all.

---

After dinner, I had a private talk with Dad.

“Dad, can we talk for a moment?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“I talked with Dahye today about her future. Seems she’s interested in being a model or an actor.”

Dad’s eyebrow rises slightly.

“Hmm.”

He hadn’t thought about that before, it seems, and takes a moment to ponder, face serious.

“She’s chosen a hard path.”

“Yes, the entertainment world is a really tough place.”

It’s not just about money in that field, connections are incredibly important. For someone with no ties, succeeding is like trying to find an oasis in a desert—top-level difficulty.

On the other hand, if you have the right connections, your path is much smoother.

And I happen to know a few people like that.

Lee Haneul and Chaerin.

If it’s those two, I’m sure they could help Dahye plenty.

‘And there’s always the option of acquiring or investing in a suitable agency.’

I’m thinking of investing.

So I’m not too worried.

“Hmm...”

“Dad, for the first time, Dahye made a decision not because someone else wanted her to, but for her own goal. I hope you won’t oppose her and will let her try.”

In the 2000s, there was a bad reputation for entertainment agencies with so many scam stories.

Some places didn’t even settle payments properly, stalling over and over.

I met Dad’s gaze directly, not looking away.

“First, I just want her to get some experience. I want Dahye to always have dreams, and to move forward without hesitation in the direction she chooses.”

“I knew you cared about Dahye, but not this much.”

“Dahye’s my one and only sister, the person most precious to me. She came to me for the first time and shared her worries. If I ignore that, I don’t deserve to be her brother. I just want Dahye to have lots of experiences and find what she truly wants to do so she can be happy.”

I sincerely wish for Dahye’s happiness.

I don’t want her to give up on her goals because of circumstances.

Even if she fails, I hope she enjoys the process.

That’s my final goal, and my wish.

“Alright, I get it. So what do you want me to do? I doubt you’d bring this up without a reason.”

“I got a business card from an agency at Daehak-ro. We’re thinking of going to an audition there. Even just that will be a big help for Dahye, I believe.”

“Is that all?”

“No, I’m also thinking of talking to them about investing.”

“Investing?”

“Yes. If I invest, they’ll be more likely to support Dahye.”

Small and mid-size agencies are always desperate for capital, waiting for investors.

Raising decent idols or actors takes a lot of money, so I figured they couldn’t turn down my offer.

“That sounds risky.”

“They’re trustworthy.”

“Trustworthy?”

“Yes. And even if the investment goes bad and they run things poorly, I could just acquire the company and hire a professional manager to oversee it.”

I’ve got several plans in mind.

These are just my little schemes.

“Hmm.”

“And if it goes under, it’ll still be a good learning experience for me. I am, after all, a rich writer.”

In a few years, my assets will pass a trillion won.

Even if a hundred billion disappeared, I’d still be fine.

“Alright, I’ll let you do as you wish.”

At last, Dad gives his final permission.

“And, Seunghyun.”

“Yes?”

“Even when Dahye turns twenty, I’d like you to keep her assets hidden for a while.”

“Pardon?”

“She needs to learn how society works, earn her own money, and only then become a true adult.”

“Ah, you’re right.”

“Good, I’m glad you understand. But don’t worry, Dahye will never have to worry about living expenses.”

“Yes, Dad, I respect your wishes.”

“Good, my son’s really grown up.”

Dad looks at me with a proud gaze and a deep smile.

I returned his smile with one of my own.