While riding the bus home, Ryu Min looked at his bankbook. It was a newly created VIP account at Nonghyup Bank.
[Balance 15,052,102,983 won]
15 billion.
There was an amount of money in the bankbook that would be enough to last a lifetime.
However, Ryu Min's expression is indifferent rather than surprised.
'As expected, there's nothing like the lottery to make money.'
I just think I got the first button sewn right.
'I can't be satisfied with this. I have to keep calling with this money.'
That's why I stubbornly refused the financial products that the bank offered. Because I had no intention of just leaving it in the bank.
'I'll keep about 1 billion and invest the rest in Bitcoin.'
The cryptocurrency craze has continued from last year until now. Especially next month, when Bitcoin is expected to quadruple in price. But the coin's surge ends there.
'After that, the population started to decline exponentially, and the cryptocurrency market also fluctuated.'
Still, Bitcoin is expected to grow safely until next month. There's no reason not to invest when it's growing fourfold.
'Now that I'm an adult, I can open a stock account.'
After being called a coin, I plan to invest in stocks. The fact that a particular stock will rise sharply in the future is not surprising information to Ryu Min, a regressor.
'Of course, in the meantime, you have to keep guessing the lottery numbers.'
Lotto winners are announced every week.
Ryu Min remembered that number for five weeks.
'There's no need to remember anything after that. The lottery market will be ruined next month.'
That means you can save up money by playing the lottery four more times. At that time, just like now, I plan to go all-in on one number and monopolise as much of the winnings as possible.
'Of course, if you keep winning first prize, you'll be suspected, but that's it. What can I do? I just got lucky and won consecutively.'
As a bank, if you win, you have no choice but to pay out the winnings. Ryu Min got off the bus and went into the house. A house with only a small kitchen and a small room welcomed him.
'I don't have much time left to live here.'
It's the house I lived in with my parents, but I have no regrets because I planned to move to a much better place.
"Brother!"
My younger brother, who had been waiting at home, came out to greet me happily.
"Were you waiting quietly?"
"Of course. What about your brother? Did you get the prize money?"
Instead of answering, Ryu Min handed over the bankbook he had in his pocket.
"Gasp! How much is all this? Ten thousand, one hundred thousand…."
Ryu Won, who was counting the digits, soon raised his head with wide eyes.
"15 billion...?"
When I found out I won 100 games, I expected it to be a lot, but I didn't think it would be this much.
"It was originally 19.2 billion, but after deducting taxes, it's only about that much. It's not that much money."
"How can you be so calm, hyung? Are you in the mood to joke around in this situation? It's 15 billion won! It's not even 1.5 million won; it's 15 billion won!"
"Be quiet. They can hear me from next door. Well, I'm moving now, so it doesn't matter."
"Moving? Are we moving to a better house?"
When Ryu Min smiled and nodded, Ryu Won's face lit up with joy.
"Haha! I'm moving! I'm moving!"
"You like it that much?"
"Okay, then! There are bugs here, and the houses are small. And they're expensive."
"Yeah. If the monthly rent is 500,000 won, it's expensive."
Since it is Seoul, the monthly rent is high compared to the size of the house. However, the reason why I insisted on going to school in Seoul and living self-sufficiently was different.
'Because it's the house I lived in with my mom and dad.'
Three years ago, my brother's parents passed away in a car accident. When I think of my younger brother crying so sadly at that time, my heart still aches.
'I suddenly felt like I was thrown into the forest with my younger brother.'
Originally, if a parent suddenly dies, relatives have a duty to take care of the child until they become an adult…..
'They all turned their backs on me, pretending they didn't know anything.'
At that time, Ryu Min was a first-year high school student, and Ryu Won was a sixth-year elementary school student. Although it was still too early for them to be independent, the brothers had no choice but to live self-sufficiently.
'That's when I started working part-time.'
Since his younger brother, an elementary school student, could not work part-time, Ryu Min had to earn living expenses on his own. Fortunately, there was a restaurant owner who was willing to hire him even though he was a high school student.....
'I can't say he's a good person.'
The boss's tyranny of cutting wages and abusing his power because he was a high school student was another form of violence for Ryu Min.
'Expensive monthly rent, the bullying of the restaurant owner, the bullying of the bullies, etc. I endured it all and lived tenaciously....'
Not anymore. I'm an adult and have money, so I don't have to put up with it anymore.
'I lived in a house with my parents, so I tried not to move if possible, but....'
Now I could let my parents go. Because so many years have passed, with so many regressions, I have no regrets.
"Won-ah."
"huh?"
"I'm going to go look for a house to move into now. Do you want to come with me?"
"Okay! Let's go together, hyung!"
We had decided where we were going to move, but there were still many things to do.
You should tell your landlord that you are moving out and also contact your real estate agent. I have to stop by the local office to get some paperwork and open a stock account.
"Let's find a place to eat for lunch and something delicious for dinner."
"What kind?"
Ryu Min raised the corners of his lips.
"meat".
* * *
7pm.
It would be a time when a normal meat restaurant would be full of customers.
"Fuck, I have to close this business or something. What kind of store is this that only flies are flying around?"
The president's face was filled with complaints. This is because even though it is peak time, not a single customer has come in yet.
"This is why I don't hire part-time workers on weekdays. Because there are no customers. Tsk."
It was bitter to see no customers in the store, but that was the reality. The world is too tough for a small restaurant in a back alley to survive.
"I didn't mean to rush in just because the rent was cheap. What the f*ck. I didn't expect them to just throw flies around like this."
What's the use of regretting it now? If we don't run it like this, there's no way to make a living.
"Damn. After work, I should just drink some soju, grill some meat and eat it alone."
There were a lot of complaints, but we still had customers on the weekends so we could make a living. Plus, they even hired weekend workers for cheap.
'Hehehe, it was good that I hired a high school student as a part-timer. It's perfect for catching fools who don't know what's cool.'
By law, even high school students should be paid at least the minimum wage. But the boss only paid about 80% of the minimum wage. They cut my wages by citing the fact that I was a high school student.
'Students should be studying. Why should they do part-time work?'
I told him firmly that if he didn't like it, he should look somewhere else, and he quickly took the bait. Thanks to that, the president has been able to make unearned income until now.
'No. If you think about it, that kid agreed too. He should be grateful that I'm writing it for him.'
I heard you don't have any parents, so shouldn't you be grateful that they're giving you a job? But that's the end of using this guy.
'I guess I should cut that guy off and find another part-timer.'
Now that you're an adult, your head must have grown bigger. If you complain about unpaid wages or a raise, you will be in trouble.
'I should hurry up and get rid of it before then and find a pretty part-timer.'
Wouldn't sales increase if you used pretty female students rather than short male students? As I smile at that thought, I hear the door opening. The boss, who was wiping the table, turned his head reflexively and smiled.
"Come on in...!"
But contrary to expectations, the person who came in was not a guest.
"Ryu Min?"
It was a high school student working part-time who had been chewing on it inside until just a moment ago. The president's expression changed in an instant. The smile on his face was gone, and only an annoyed expression remained.
"What are you doing here at this hour? Who is next to you?"
"This is my younger brother."
"Oh, hello."
Why did you come here with your younger sibling on a weekday when it's not your work time? The boss asked with a puzzled expression.
"What's your business? If you came here to work part-time with me…"
"I'm thinking of quitting my part-time job now."
"What?"
The president's face crumpled in embarrassment at the unexpected announcement. I was planning to cut it anyway, but I felt bad when he said he was quitting first.
"What are you planning on doing if you suddenly notify me like this?"
"Suddenly? Today is Monday, so there should be enough time to find a part-time worker by the weekend, right?"
"Who would quit on their own? Don't you want to make money?"
"Do I need my boss's permission to quit?"
'This kid?'
The president opened his eyes wide and looked at Ryu Min. But that was only for a moment.
'What kind of gaze is that… …?'
The president was the first to turn away from Ryu Min's gaze, which was as cold as ice.
"Okay, okay, I got it. If you want to stop, stop! Okay? Go now!"
"I'm not done with my work yet?"
"What now?"
"You've only paid me 80% of my hourly wage just because I'm a high school student. You're supposed to pay me the full hourly wage."
"You agree with that…."
"Do you have any proof? When did I consent? I had no idea about it."
"..."
"And you made me work past 2 in the morning? Did you know that's illegal? I found out that minors can't work past 10 at night."
The president flinched and shut his mouth tightly. It's the look on your face that says what you were worried about has finally come true.
"Not only didn't he feed me, but he didn't even give me food expenses; he would curse at me all the time; he would treat me like I was his own boss; he was a bully… I only realised it now, but he really was a piece of crap."
"What? What are you talking about, Inma? Something a kid can't say to an adult...!"
"I'm an adult now, 19 years old. If you keep swearing at me like you did before, I can't stand it anymore."
"..."
The president had no choice but to act in an unexpectedly strong manner.
"So? What do you want? Do you want me to apologise for what I did wrong?"
"Yes. I would like to hear a sincere apology."
"This kid…. Do you think I'm going to apologise to a kid who doesn't even have blood on his head?"
"If you don't do it, then I have no choice but to report it to the Ministry of Labour. I will also file a criminal complaint for the illegal activities you have committed so far."
"Ugh...."
The president knew that what he did was illegal. That's why the idea of reporting something couldn't help but be scary. If I made a mistake, I could have to close up shop because of the huge fine.
"Oh, I see. I just have to apologise, right?"
"Not just an apology, but a sincere apology."
'Fuck, that little bastard's son... ... .'
My pride was hurt, but I had no other choice.
If one apology can prevent a report to the Department of Labour, it's a cheap shot. The president's head was lowered.
"Phew.... I'm sorry for everything."
"Is that the end?"
"But, what?"
"It doesn't feel genuine at all. Try again."
'What the heck….'
The president, swallowing his curses, appealed again with a sense of urgency.
"I'm sorry, Ryu Min-ah. I stole your wages to save a few pennies. I'm really sorry. I'm truly repenting, so please don't report me to the Ministry of Labour."
"It feels more like an excuse than an apology. And it's not sincere at all."
"Fuck, then what are we going to do...!"
The president, who was unable to control his temper for a moment, tried to keep his mouth shut and suppress his anger.
"See? I can tell you're upset. You don't have any intention of apologising."
"Whew… I said I was sorry. Isn't that enough? What do you want me to do? Do you think you'll feel better if you pay me back the wages you've been receiving?"
"No, that's not it. I just wanted to hear an apology… But I don't think that'd be possible given your personality."
"Then what should we do? What do you want?"
"I won't ask for the wages I've been receiving. Instead."
Ryu Min sat down at the table with a bright smile.
"Bring me something to eat. Maybe after I fill my stomach, I won't feel like reporting."