Chapter 70: Seocho-dong Success and the World Cup Fever

A few days later, Director Song came to see me again.

He visited my house and spoke in a quiet voice.

“The Chairman has accepted your terms.”

The contract proceeded just as I had predicted.

From Yukseong’s perspective, if they missed out on that land, they’d have to completely change their entire business plan.

The conditions I proposed were at a level where they wouldn’t suffer any losses according to the calculations.

Of course, Yukseong did request a few adjustments.

“We’ve added a clause that you can’t sell the shares for three years. If you plan to sell, you must consult with us in advance.”

“I’ll do that.”

On the surface, I accepted without a word, but inside, I was bursting with joy.

I hadn’t planned on selling those shares in the first place.

I bought shares bound to rise at a bargain price—there’s no reason I’d do something so foolish as to take a loss.

Now that the time is nearly upon me, the thought of it makes my heart pound.

“The Chairman has also approved your share in Yukseong Town. We’ll handle operations, and you’ll simply receive quarterly profit distributions.”

I flipped through the contract on the table, checking the details carefully.

It was just as I had been informed in advance.

Payment conditions: 30% in cash, 50% in shares, 20% in Town equity.

With great satisfaction, I signed and stamped the contract.

After signing, Director Song stood up and extended his hand.

“It was a good deal.”

“Yes, I agree.”

We exchanged a final handshake and concluded all the contracts.

Applying a premium, I sold the land I had bought for 1.5 million won per square meter and realized nearly four times the profit.

Thanks to the deal, I was also recognized for 20% of the electronic and Yukseong Town equity based on future value.

I’d built a structure where my assets would multiply on their own, just by breathing.

Before long, this would be worth ten, even a hundred times more.

I can’t wait for that day to come.

[Yukseong Group making large-scale purchases in the Seocho-dong area.]

The media shone a spotlight on Yukseong Group’s moves, stoking expectations for the Seocho-dong area.

“How lucky must the people who owned land there be?”

Go Dae-sik, who learned about real estate at an early age, stared blankly at the screen with envious eyes and whispered softly.

Hundreds of billions, trillions—such numbers meant nothing to ordinary people.

When it’s hard to even afford a small house, the news stories were symbols of envy for Go Dae-sik, as unattainable as pie in the sky.

“Hey, you can become like that too, so don’t just be envious. Instead, turn that envy into motivation. If you do that, your dreams will come true much more easily.”

Just being jealous without making an effort isn’t a good habit.

Even if you try hard and the results aren’t good, it just means others are working even harder than you.

In a competitive society, just working hard isn’t enough—you have to throw yourself into your work to survive.

If you turn envy into nourishment for your own success, instead of letting it become resentment or jealousy, and chase your dreams like mad, the results will definitely be good.

I guarantee it.

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course. Just look at yourself now. Search your name online. Your name pops up, and right next to it, the title of ‘Lord of the Smartphone’ is there. If you were your old self, this never would’ve happened.”

These days, Go Dae-sik’s name shows up frequently on internet portal sites.

Whether it was a boost in confidence or not, he even put his own photo at the front of his comic book, causing quite a stir.

Sales weren’t bad, either, so the royalties to be settled in July were looking promising.

“There probably isn’t a single high schooler earning more than you. And these are copyright earnings. Even if your work fails, if you just let them pile up, they’ll become your assets one day.”

The biggest strength of a freelance writer is copyright income.

Even if you’re sick, resting, or planning a trip, those royalties never stop coming.

The difference is just in scale; if an office worker quits, the money stops, but if you own copyrights, you earn income even when you’re not working.

As you get older, it can be combined with a pension to ensure a stable retirement.

Even if you don’t amass a great fortune, this is more than enough to consider your life a success.

Especially for high schoolers like us.

“Really?”

“Of course. Don’t stop now—just keep running hard. When you finally rest, it should be after you’ve at least laid the foundation.”

If you live doing whatever you want before you’ve even established a base, you’ll drift further away from success.

I gave Dae-sik a stern warning, encouraging him to run together with me.

“Alright! I’ll become just like you!”

Maybe my words had worked, because Dae-sik, who had been losing steam, found new fire.

‘You don’t know it yet, but what you’re doing now is practice for the Webtoon Era. If you hang in there just a bit longer, your name will be known as a first-generation webtoon artist. Hang in there, work hard until then, and the light will be on your side.’

Watching Dae-sik’s renewed enthusiasm, I cheered him on in my heart, repeating words I couldn’t say out loud.

---

Dae-hanminguk! Dae-hanminguk!

Fervent cheers echoed from the TV.

Dae-hanminguk! Dae-hanminguk!

From the next building, the residents’ chants of “Dae-hanminguk!” shook the walls.

Dae-hanminguk! Dae-hanminguk!

Gathered at home, our family too shouted “Dae-hanminguk!” with all our strength as we tore into fried chicken.

Everyone became one, cheering for the Red Devils in their red uniforms.

Uh, uh? Uh?

With both hands over my heart, desperately wishing for Korea’s victory, I had an experience that almost made my heart stop.

“Argh!! I thought that was a goal!”

“My heart nearly stopped... whew.”

On the TV screen, a Spanish player’s shot seemed about to be sucked into the goal, but at the last moment, our goalkeeper’s fingertips deflected it away.

Our family let out a collective sigh of relief, followed by cheers.

It seemed we weren’t the only ones, as the same sound spread from other homes too.

Kneeling on the sofa, our family held our hands tightly together and prayed.

Our pounding hearts wouldn’t calm down.

“Whew, it’s so nerve-wracking, I can barely watch.”

Even though I already knew the outcome of the match, watching it again made my heart pound.

“Oppa, I’m sweating right now. Look at my hands.”

Da-hye extended her hands to show her sweaty palms.

“I’m covered in sweat too. My heart’s about to explode.”

“Oppa, we’re going to win, right?”

“We have to cheer for them to win.”

“I really hope so.”

Da-hye’s voice was thick with longing.

“We’re going to lose 1-0. Tsk.”

But Dad watched the match and, clucking his tongue in regret, predicted our defeat.

‘I know how he feels.’

For those who didn’t know the outcome, the match against Spain must’ve been pure frustration.

But Dad’s prediction was gloriously off, and the TV soon announced a penalty shootout.

“No way, are we really going to beat Spain?”

The disappointment on Dad’s face turned to tension.

A country that no one expected anything from was now holding its own against Spain and heading into a penalty shootout, reviving the miracle of making it to the semifinals that had been dismissed from our minds.

“Dad, that’s all the more reason to cheer!”

I clapped my hands as hard as I could, trying to lift the heavy mood.

Dad, gripping the remote tightly, joined in shouting “Dae-hanminguk!” with me.

Please, please...

Everyone held their breath and watched the shootout.

On TV, our player entered first.

The Spanish goalkeeper spread his arms, crouched, and stared straight ahead.

Tension filled the faces of the players onscreen as our player’s foot swung.

─ Goal! It’s a goal! Our player shakes the net with the ball!!

The commentator’s voice, thick with excitement, rang throughout the stadium.

If we could just block one, victory would be ours, but unfortunately, both sides traded goals and stayed tied.

The caption ‘Penalty Shootout 4:4’ appeared onscreen.

“Please...”

Mom clasped her hands tightly and murmured.

Dad pursed his lips and said nothing.

Sweat collected in my hands as I glanced at Da-hye.

She stared at the screen, mouth agape, unable to make a sound.

“Just one left, one! If we block this, we win. Please.”

Da-hye chanted the same words like a spell, focusing all her attention on the screen.

─ And now, the final moment. Spain’s fifth kicker. If this ball goes in, it’s back to square one, but if we block it! If we block it, Korea advances to the semifinals!

The commentator’s trembling voice echoed.

Our family, faces full of tension and anticipation, hoped with all our hearts that we would stop just this one.

Spain’s final kicker took the ball and walked up.

“Please... Our country, please.”

We repeated the same words, fervently hoping our goalkeeper would block that last shot.

On the screen, the red-clad defenders hugged each other and stared anxiously at the goal.

The Spanish player swung his foot—the ball shot straight toward the center, where our goalkeeper stood.

At that moment, we leapt up from the floor, staring blankly at the screen, and then raised both hands and shouted.

─ He blocked it! He blocked it!! Korea is in the semifinals!!

Our goalkeeper stopped the ball flying straight at him, completing a dramatic 5:4 reversal against Spain.

“He blocked it!!! He blocked it!!”

“We won!!! Our country won!!”

Da-hye threw herself into my arms, and Mom clapped Dad’s hands in joy.

“The semifinals! Wow, we’re in the semifinals!”

Puhahaha.

Dad, truly delighted, laughed heartily and toasted with a cold beer.

However, just as in history, our country fell to Germany and Turkey and failed to make the finals, ending the World Cup in fourth place in the Korea-Japan World Cup.

“Still, it was so good to feel that sensation again after so long. To be able to feel what I felt back then.”

Perhaps the best gift of 2002 wasn’t that my work sold well, but that I was able to feel that old emotion once again.

[Next Monday, ‘Living on Rent at the Chairman’s House’ Episode 1 airs.]

Even before the fever of the World Cup had faded, an ad came on TV announcing the airing of ‘Living on Rent at the Chairman’s House.’

At last, the day my novel would be made into a drama and aired on TV was just around the corner.

I can’t wait for next Monday.