God of Money

February 21st.

Woosung took a day off from work to attend his graduation ceremony. Those graduates who didn’t have a job yet didn’t show up while others who got hired by major corporations had a proud smile. They were all familiar faces.

‘They look so young.’

He knew how they would look in 10 years. Most would marry and have kids.

Woosung smiled too. His mother, Kim Eunjung, asked.

“What’s with your proud smile?”

“Haha. It’s just nice to see so many young people.”

“You sound like an old man.”

Woosung scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.

“Oh… Haha.”

His father, Kang Gichun, added.

“Now that you’re graduated and got a job, it’s time to meet a nice young girl and get married.”

“Haha, all right, dad. I will get married soon and give you a grandson.”

10 years ago, he would have dismissed his dad, but he felt different now. Woosung tried to be understanding and appreciative. Kim Eunjung looked at him funny and asked.

“Oh yeah? Do you even have a girlfriend?”

“Hey, there are many girls who would be lucky to have me. Hey look, they are waving at me.”

His friends were calling for him from afar.

They were his classmates from the computer science program at Songwon University.

In his previous life, he stopped attending the annual reunions after two years of working, which meant it had been almost 8 years since he last saw his classmates.

More than anything, Woosung felt strange when he saw Yoon Chanjong.

Yoon Chanjong.

He was a talented developer and graduated top of the class. A major company hired him and everyone was envious of him. Woosung used to be jealous of him too.

“Chanjong!”

“You’re here! Haha, I heard you got a job.”

Another classmate, Park Jonghyun, greeted him.

“I heard you got hired by a company called Daesan.”

When Woosung nodded, he continued.

“Is your salary decent there? If not, you should have waited to find a better job.”

“Haha, it’s not bad.”

“It’s a medium-sized company, so it can’t be that great.”

Yoon Chanjong hushed Park Jonghyun and added.

“It doesn’t matter which company you work for as long as you have the skills.”

Park Jonghyun didn’t agree.

“But it’s always better to work at a big company. Chanjong, you work at Daeyang now, so I hope you include me in your Daeyang study group.”

Daeyang System.

It was one of the major companies partnered with Nuri Finances and also oversaw its outsource companies. Woosung knew it very well.

“Fine, but you need to work hard. If you don’t, you’re out.”

While the two chatted, Woosung looked around. He still didn’t get to see the person he wanted to see the most.

“Huh, Yeoreum is here too. She rarely comes to any of the school events.”

Woosung paused, then turned around.

Cha Yeoreum.

She also graduated top of this class and was hired by Daeyang System like Yoon Chanjong. She was also Woosung’s first love.

‘She looks exactly as I remember.’

Park Jonghyun said enviously.

“Whoever marries Yeoreum is a lucky man. She has such big boobs…”

Yoon Chanjong poked him to make him stop. Refusing to take the hint, Park Jonghyun asked Woosung.

“How was dating Yeoreum? Did you guys do it? Was it good?”

Yoon Chanjong glared at him, but he didn’t stop.

“Who cares now? They broke up anyway. Woosung was the only one who got to date her. Tell us about her.”

“…”

Her hometown was Kyungsang province, which was far away.

Her parents were poor farmers, so to not to become a burden, she worked hard to get a full scholarship. Woosung knew how hard she worked. She always had a part-time job just to make a living while attending school. Compared to her, he felt lazy and useless. When Woosung remained silent, Park Jonghyun asked again.

“Now that I remember, Yeoreum lived alone, right? Wow, it must have been great.”

Just then, Cha Yeoreum and some other classmates approached them.

Woosung had never been this nervous in his life. It was cold, but he was sweating profusely.

Cha Yeoreum glanced at Woosung briefly and talked to Yoon Chanjong.

“You came too. Where did you apply?”

She looked great in a neat white blouse. Park Jonghyun looked nervous too. Yoon Chanjong answered.

“I applied to get into the solution development department. How about you?”

“Financial department. I heard some promising things about it.”

They talked casually. They were now both working at Daeyang System, which meant they probably took the same introductory seminars and spent time together. Woosung gave an envious look at them.

While Woosung focused on Cha Yeoreum, another female classmate asked him.

“I heard you got a job too. You didn’t study hard, but you got a job so quickly.”

Park Jonghyun teased him mercilessly.

“It’s only a medium-sized company called Daesan.”

“Well, a job is a job.”

Cha Yeoreum glanced at Woosung again. Woosung smiled and answered.

“Haha, it’s all thanks to Chanjong. He told me to apply, and I got the job.”

It really was thanks to Yoon Chanjong. He encouraged him and even taught him some possible interview questions. Even then, Woosung avoided Yoon Chanjong 10 years ago because he was jealous. Woosung felt like an idiot. He was so young back then. Cha Yeoreum congratulated him.

“Well, I’m glad you got a job. It’s all about how good you are in this field anyway, not what kind of company you work for.”

Woosung looked at Cha Yeoreum. As the time passed, his nervousness subsided. He now realized what he felt was nostalgia, not love.

“Thanks. I’ll do my best.”

To Woosung’s indifference, Cha Yeoreum widened her eyes in confusion.

“Cool. Good luck.”

Park Jonghyun seemed to still be jealous as he added.

“But it’s still only a small company. You can’t call yourself a success if you don’t work for a major firm. You guys are all idiots.”

Another female classmate replied in annoyance.

“You don’t even have a job.”

“Hey, I… I’m prepping myself to get into a big corporation. Chanjong promised to help me, so it will happen soon. You’ll see.”

“Psh, you’re all talk.”

Time passed quickly as they talked. Woosung called his parents, who were touring the school.

Ring ring.

Ring ring.

Kim Eunjung answered brightly.

“Son!”

“Mom, where are you? I’m ready to go now.”

“Why, son! You can spend more time with your friends if you want.”

His mom’s voice sounded too cheerful.

“Let me know where you are, I will find you.”

The school had a lot of students, so it should have been noisy, but Woosung heard no noise on the phone. He could also hear a stranger’s voice talking to his mom.

“Ok. Then let’s go.”

He sounded familiar.

“Mom, who are you talking to?”

“Are you still near the main entrance? Oh, I’m almost there. Here.”

A black sedan approached Woosung’s group. It was a Mercedes-Benz. It stopped right in front of Woosung.

Park Jonghyun murmured in surprise.

“B… Benz. It’s an S-series too.”

Park Jonghyun looked at Woosung.

“Is… is this your parents’ car?”

Other classmates murmured curiously.

“Wow. Is Woosung from a rich family?”

Cha Yeoreum also couldn’t hide her surprise. Kim Eunjung came out of the car with a smile.

“Woosung!”

Woosung froze. He remembered the day he died.

Black sedan.

A stranger driving a black car.

Woosung shouted.

“Mom, what is this?”

“Hey, why are you screaming?”

Jang Gwangchul came out from the driver’s side. Woosung still couldn’t calm down.

“Why would you get into a stranger’s car?”

Kang Gichun also seemed confused. Jang Gwangchul approached Woosung.

“Don’t get mad. I offered to drive them. Your family is now my family too.”

Woosung was cold to him.

“You’re not my brother. I am an only child.”

“Haha, you definitely act like the ‘God of money.’ Very practical. I like it.”

Woosung didn’t like this situation. There was no guarantee that Jang Gwangchul wasn’t like Choi Gichul.

If he harmed his parents…

Woosung’s eyes filled with fury. Jang Gwangchul added kindly.

“Don’t look at me like that. I meant no harm. I heard it’s your graduation today, so I got you a present.”

Jang Gwangchul dropped the car key into Woosung’s hand. Woosung’s eyes widened in shock.

“You have a driver’s license, right?”

Everyone became speechless.