September 12, 1992.
A small table was set up in a tiny one-room apartment.
My mother, who had somehow gotten hold of a cheap hanbok, forced me into it. *Traditional Korean attire
My father had been carrying around a disposable camera since morning, taking pictures of me sleeping, yawning, and even getting my diaper changed.
“Seong-guk, look at Daddy.”
[Ha, this is such a hassle. Just take the picture already. I’m smiling now.]
For the sake of my father, who was earning my formula money, I flashed a grin.
The world runs on capital. Workers smile at their bosses for a meager paycheck.
Seeing my smile, my father beamed.
Over the past few months, I had figured out that my father worked as a cook in someone else’s restaurant and earned around 500,000 won a month. *374 USD
Leaving at 10 a.m. and returning at 10 p.m. was his daily routine, with only one day off a week.
It was blatant labor exploitation—enough to report to the labor department immediately.
Yet, whether out of foolishness or kindness, he silently went to work every day, bringing home dishes made from near-expired ingredients to feed my mother.
Well, the two of them didn’t seem to have any complaints.
“So-young, I think Seong-guk really understands what we’re saying. Look at how he smiles right at the camera.”
“Should we make him a celebrity? People always told me I was pretty when I was young.”
That, I had to admit.
Having seen all sorts of glamorous celebrities and even Miss Korea contestants firsthand, I could say my mother had a remarkable face.
My father was decent-looking, too.
My facial features weren’t fully defined yet, but looking in the mirror, I was at least better-looking than I had been as the successor of the Samjeon Group.
With this face, becoming a celebrity in this life wouldn’t be too bad.
Ding-dong.
At that busy moment, the doorbell rang.
“Who could it be?”
My mother got up, peeked through the peephole, then turned back to my father, looking unusually anxious.
She spoke to him in a hushed voice.
“Honey, it’s the landlady.”
“Our lease isn’t up yet, right?”
“Yeah, we still have three months… but the neighbors renewed last month, and their rent went up by 30,000 won.”
“Thirty thousand?”
My father’s eyes widened.
[Wait, are you seriously freaking out over 30,000 won? What can you even buy with that? I couldn’t even afford my favourite Cuban cigar…] *38 USD in 1992
Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
The doorbell kept ringing.
“Coming!”
My mother quickly opened the door.
A bob-haired woman?
The same bob-haired woman who had disappeared when my father arrived after taking my mother to the hospital.
[Bob hair, I appreciate you saving my mom’s life, but you can’t just show up at our house uninvited. Do you even know who I am?]
As I babbled, my father quickly picked me up and patted my back.
That was the signal to shut up and stay quiet.
It was obvious my parents were nervous about upsetting the landlady.
Bob Hair scanned the tiny apartment with sharp eyes.
“Why did it take so long to open the door when you were inside?”
[What the— I was going to let it slide since you saved my mom, but are you seriously pulling a power move? Do you even know what real power is? Want me to show you how the chairman of Samjeon Group handled things?]
When I babbled again, my father patted me harder.
I shut my mouth immediately.
Right now, my job was to stay silent. I had always been good at reading the room.
Before reaching the top, even my grandfather had to watch his step.
“Welcome. We wanted to thank you for helping us last time, but you weren’t around when we stopped by.”
My mother bowed deeply.
Bob Hair glanced around the tiny apartment.
“I’ve been busy with work. I heard you’re doing fine. You received the compensation properly, right?”
“We were actually planning to give you a gift—”
“No need. I just did what anyone would.”
[Did she just cut off my mom? No manners at all.]
Bob Hair gave me a brief glance, then sized up my father.
“You look perfectly capable. Are you unemployed? Home on a weekday?”
[Damn, she’s blunt. I like that.]
“No, I took the day off for something.”
“Good. It’s a relief you have a job. There are too many slackers these days.”
“So… what brings you here?”
My father asked anxiously.
I cleared my throat.
[Judging by the atmosphere, she’s here to raise the rent. Should I just start crying?]
At that moment, Bob Hair stepped inside, taking off her shoes.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“Sorry, we were busy preparing for the first birthday table.”
First birthday?
[So today was my first birthday.]
That meant I couldn’t just sit back and let this uninvited guest have her way.
“Mm.”
Just as I was about to cry a river, Bob Hair spoke first.
“You’ll at least offer me a coffee, right?”
“Of course. Please come in.”
My kind-hearted mother went to boil water for coffee.
[Mom, your generosity is as vast as the Pacific Ocean!]
As I babbled, Bob Hair sat next to me and glanced my way.
“You saw me before, didn’t you? I saved you, and now you get to have a first birthday party. Remember that.”
[Who do you think you are, talking down to me? Do you even know who I was? I used to be Jeon Seong-guk, the successor of Samjeon Group! I was the face of Korea’s business elite! Ever heard of that?]
“You sure are talkative.”
Bob Hair ruffled my hair a few times.
My father handed her a cup of coffee.
“Here you go. Sorry, we only have instant coffee.”
“I wasn’t expecting much. Thanks. Your kid is adorable, just like you and your wife.”
“Hehe, thank you.”
A single compliment made my father grin like a fool.
[Have some self-respect, man.]
“Raising a kid must be expensive. However, I still need to add 30,000 won to the rent.”
Bob Hair brought up the rent increase out of nowhere.
“W-what?”
My father stammered.
“What else? The rent. You’re renewing, right?”
Bob Hair was as casual as if she were doing us a favor.
[She knows how to negotiate.]
I looked at her again.
That attitude—making it seem like she was doing a great favor while subtly pushing her terms.
That kind of negotiating skill was often useful in corporate settings.
“Ma’am, 30,000 won is a big amount for us…”
Finally snapping out of it, my father hesitated.
My mother quickly stepped forward and knelt.
“We’re expecting a second child next year.”
Silence.
A quiet ripple spread through my mind.
[Wait, what? A second child?]
I widened my eyes and looked up at my mother.
[Are you seriously planning to have another baby in this tiny apartment? On a salary of less than 500,000 won a month?]
Bob Hair stared at me, who was babbling again.
“He really looks like he’s talking.”
“We get surprised by it sometimes, too.”
My father gently patted my head.
“Sorry, but I have my circumstances too. If I don’t raise the rent by 30,000 won, it’ll be difficult for me. You know there’s no other place with this kind of rent so close to the subway station and bus stop, right?”
If we agreed to raise the rent by 30,000 won, and with a second child on the way, the portion I could enjoy would only shrink further.
So, I decided to use my trump card.
I stretched out my tiny hands. Then, I grinned wildly like a lunatic, staring at the cold-faced landlord with her sharp bob that seemed like not even a needle could pierce through.
Money always comes with a price.
I could see her expression soften slightly.
“Oh my, what’s with this kid? Are you doing this to me?”
Dad quickly picked me up.
“I think Seong-guk really likes you, ma’am. Would you like to hold him?”
“Ma’am? I’m not even married.”
Her voice turned cold again.
Dad must have completely missed the cue. But at least he had enough awareness to apologize right away.
“My apologies….”
Now, it was my turn again.
I reached my arms out toward the landlord, kicking my legs in the air while flashing a killer smile.
[Are you really not going to hold me? Hurry up and pick me up. I’m super soft and squishy.]
“Oh my, why does he like me so much?”
The corners of her lips lifted slightly.
[You don’t realize I’m not doing this because I actually like you, do you?]
“Unni, please hold him just once. It’s Seong-guk’s first birthday today.”
Mom, at least, had some tact.
She even called the bob-haired woman “unni” instead of “auntie,” even though the latter would’ve been more fitting.
That finally made the woman’s expression ease.
“Well, I suppose I could.”
She reluctantly picked me up, pretending to do it against her will. But I saw the faint smile tugging at her lips.
[How is it, bob-cut? I’m super soft and squishy, right?]
I could tell she liked it, but she was holding back because of the rent.
Time for my final move.
I wriggled slightly in her arms.
She looked startled and turned to Mom.
“Why is he squirming like that?”
“Oh dear, maybe it’s because you’re a stranger. He hasn’t been around unfamiliar people much.”
Just as Mom reached out to take me back, I pushed her away and threw myself into the bob-haired woman’s arms.
Then, I rubbed my soft forehead against her face.
“Oh my, why does he like me so much?”
Grinning.
I kept smiling at her.
[You’re not raising the rent, are you, landlord? Say it. Say you won’t raise it.]
Mom quickly chimed in.
“Unni, Seong-guk likes you so much. Would you like to join us for his birthday party?”
“Oh right, you said it was today?”
Her voice softened noticeably.
As expected, she couldn’t resist my final attack.
“Yes. Since both my husband and I grew up in an orphanage, we don’t have any family. We were just planning to keep it simple with just the two of us, but it would be great if you could join us.”
“I don’t really have time….”
Her voice trailed off. She was wavering.
[Wait a minute. Did she just say they’re both orphans? Does that mean I wasn’t even born with a dirt spoon?]
I tapped my forehead with my tiny fist.
They say it’s harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle—this life must be a cursed one.
[Sigh.]
I let out a long breath and snuggled into the bob-haired woman’s arms even more.
Since I was born into a dirt-poor family, I’d have to at least equip myself with cuteness.
Of course, before my regression, I had no need for such a thing.
Even without me trying, everything was already perfectly prepared.
[Tsk.]
Swallowing my tears, I looked up at the landlord with a sorrowful expression.
“Oh my, unni, look at Seong-guk’s face. He looks so sad that you’re not coming.”
She glanced at me, then at Mom and Dad.
“Well… the birthday is one thing, but can I come over to see the baby sometimes?”
That was unexpected.
Even Mom and Dad seemed surprised.
Mom, thinking quickly, put on a pitiful expression.
“Unni, we’re really grateful that you adore Seong-guk so much. But since we have no family to rely on, honestly, 30,000 won is a huge amount for us.”
[Oh, wow. Mom’s response was quick. This is practically Samsung Electronics’ customer service level.]
Compared to Dad, Mom definitely seemed more adaptable.
It looked like I’d be able to discuss financial matters with her better in the future.
I sneaked a glance at the bob-haired woman. She looked conflicted. This was it!
[You greedy landlord, have a heart, will you? Don’t you think my parents could win a poverty competition?]
I tugged at her sleeve and put on the most pitiful face I could muster.
Then, as if making a final decision, she let out a short sigh.
“Fine. I won’t raise the rent.”
“Really?”
Dad asked, astonished.
“I don’t go back on my word. But why is the birthday party so modest?”
“It’s just the two of us.”
“I’ll go grab some meat from my place. Think of it as a birthday gift.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Mom and Dad bowed repeatedly.
The landlord put on her shoes and turned back. Was she changing her mind?
“Oh, and this is a secret. I raised the rent for everyone else.”
“Of course. We won’t tell anyone.”
Dad quickly reassured her.
Bang.
The front door closed, and Mom and Dad grabbed hands and jumped in excitement.
“Honey, I think Seong-guk really is a lucky charm.”
“So-young, don’t jump. Our little pumpkin!!!”
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
[Tsk, tsk. So clumsy.]
Mom quickly scooped me up and rubbed her cheek against mine. The scent of baby powder made me sleepy.
“Our little lucky charm. Seong-guk, don’t fall asleep. We have to take your birthday photos.”
[I can’t control this….]
My eyelids drooped halfway.
“So-young, hold him just like that. He looks so adorable.”
Click.
Dad kept taking pictures.
Back when I was the heir of the Samjeon Group, my first birthday photos were taken by world-renowned photographer David Sohn, who had photographed both Madonna and former President Trump.
We had rented an entire studio, and my birthday was celebrated at the Samjeon Hotel’s Diamond Hall, attended by top figures in politics and business.
The five-tier cake was crafted by the finest pâtissier in France, and all the food was prepared by Samjeon Hotel’s chefs.
But now, my reality was an instant camera, a pitiful birthday table, and an unexpected guest.
“Seong-guk, which one will you pick?”
Dad smiled as he looked at the meager birthday table.
I already knew exactly what I had to grab.
“Honey, what do you think he’ll choose? I’m so nervous.”
Mom was making a fuss, and even the bob-haired woman held her breath.
Ignoring the string, arrow, gavel, and other random birthday objects, I reached straight for the crisp blue paper.
A ten-thousand-won bill.
This will be my goal in this life. Money!
I will make an insane amount of money and lift this poor family out of poverty!
Holding the bill tightly, I grinned at Mom and Dad.
[Just wait and see! I, Jeon Seong-guk, will lift this family out of poverty! Just you wait!]
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