CHAPTER 43: [SYSTEM FUNDS: 70,341 / 2,000,000]

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sharp sound of knuckles on wood broke the silence of the office.

"Come in," Suho called lazily, leaning back in his overpriced gaming chair that looked more suitable for a streamer than a company boss.

The door opened, and Jin Wu, in a neat suit as always, stepped inside with a smile that was too bright for Suho’s taste.

"Boss, the snack cabinets you requested have arrived. I arranged for them to be placed directly in the workshop. A supplier will replenish them regularly."

Suho rubbed his temples. Snack cabinets? Why report something so trivial like it’s national policy?

"Good. But next time, don’t bother reporting such small matters," he said, waving it off.

In truth, Suho had originally planned to put the cabinets in the canteen’s activity room. But then the system reminded him: Spend more, host. Waste more. Two cabinets in the workshop instead of one? Why not? Snacks reimbursed by the company? Even better.

Jin Wu cleared his throat and leaned in with that mysterious "I’ve got news" face.

"Boss, there is... something else."

Suho arched a brow. "What is it this time?"

"You remember the order we completed recently? The batch of T-shirts that was shipped last week?"

"Mm."

"The client was extremely satisfied with the quality. So satisfied, in fact, they placed another order." Jin Wu’s smile widened. "Seventy. Thousand. Pieces."

Suho froze mid-blink.

"...You said seventy thousand?"

"Yes!" Jin Wu almost looked proud. "And they said if we maintain this quality, they’ll keep placing orders in the future."

For Suho, it felt like the room spun. Orders? Future? That means... profit. Profit means... incoming funds.

"When... when will they pay?" He asked cautiously, already praying the answer would be "not yet." If payment was delayed, he’d have time to think of ways to burn the last batch of money.

But Jin Wu’s next words stabbed him in the gut.

"They already paid. The money should have arrived in our account by now."

Suho’s eyes went wide. He quickly glanced at the system panel in his mind.

[System Funds: 70,341 / 2,000,000]

Just minutes ago, he had only 341. Now it had exploded to seventy thousand.

Suho slumped back in his chair, lifeless. This... this Jin Wu...

"Boss? Are you alright?" Jin Wu asked, seeing his pale face.

"...I’m fine. Go do your work. I need to... be alone."

Jin Wu bowed politely and left.

As soon as the door shut, Suho collapsed forward, gripping his hair.

Damn traitor! This man is too efficient! Who told you to actually sell clothes?

Meanwhile, in the workshop.

Wonho was directing a few workers. "To the right a bit—yeah, that’s it. Put the snack cabinets neatly against the wall."

There were two units: one filled with potato chips, biscuits, and chocolates, the other stacked with bottled drinks and juices.

"Wonho, what’s this for?" an older worker asked, peering curiously.

A younger guy grinned. "Don’t you know? It’s like those vending machines. Scan a code and pay for what you want."

Wonho chuckled, then clapped his hands to gather attention.

"Everyone, listen up a moment."

The workers paused their machines and looked over.

"These snack cabinets were installed by the boss. But unlike vending machines, these are completely free. Eat whatever you want. The company covers all costs."

The words "free" and "boss" landed like thunder.

"What?!"

"Free?!"

"No way..."

The young worker who expected QR codes rushed forward, scanning every inch of the cabinet. No scanner. No slot. Just rows of food waiting to be taken.

Wonho raised a finger. "One rule. Take only what you can eat. Don’t waste. The boss is generous, but we shouldn’t act like pigs."

The workers nodded quickly, eyes glowing.

For a while, nobody dared to move. Then one man cautiously walked up, grabbed a soda, cracked it open, and took a sip. The fizz hit his tongue, and his whole face lit up.

"Ahhh...!" He sat back at his station with a grin, working faster than before.

And just like that, a simple snack cabinet turned into fuel. Energy returned to the floor, the rhythm of machines picked up, and the mood brightened.

One after another, workers whispered:

"Early salary... air conditioners... free lunches... now free snacks..."

"Our company is on another level."

"Blessed. We’re blessed to have a boss like this."

The respect Suho earned unknowingly piled higher and higher.

Back in the office.

Suho lay slumped for who-knows-how-long before dragging himself upright. His expression slowly shifted—despair into determination.

Seventy thousand... damn it. But there’s still one day left before the cycle ends. I can still waste it. I can burn it all.

He turned to Cho Rin, who was diligently organizing files at her desk.

"Assistant Rin," Suho said suddenly, his voice filled with fake gravitas. "Count the number of employees we have right now."

Cho Rin blinked. "Yes, sir. May I ask why?"

Suho leaned back, grinning like a general plotting war.

"...Because I still have seventy thousand to get rid of."

Suho leaned back in his gaming chair, rubbing his chin like a general plotting a campaign. His mind wasn’t on profits or orders—those cursed things only filled his account with more System Funds. What he needed was a way to spend.

"Assistant Rin," he said suddenly.

Cho Rin looked up from her desk, startled. "Yes, sir?"

"How many employees do we have right now? Count everyone—factory workers, office staff, even Choku and the chef."

She tapped quickly on the computer, brows furrowing in concentration. After a few minutes she turned back. "Boss, in total... twenty-six."

"Twenty-six, huh?" Suho muttered. His grin stretched slowly. "Perfect."

He stood abruptly, waving for Rin to follow, then called out to Choku, who was waiting outside with the car.

"Brother Choku, drive us to Daerak Supermarket."

Choku blinked. "Uh... the supermarket?"

"Yes," Suho said as if this was the most natural thing in the world. "We’re going shopping."

The Daerak Shopping Center loomed large, its glass front gleaming in the afternoon sun. Inside, customers bustled with carts, but Suho ignored all of it and walked straight to the service desk.

The clerk perked up. "Hello, sir, how can I help you?"

"Shopping cards," Suho said without hesitation. "Face value: five hundred. I need twenty-six of them."

The clerk froze. "T-Twenty-six?"

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" Suho’s tone was calm, like ordering bubble tea.

The woman quickly shook her head and began pulling out card after card, hands trembling slightly. It wasn’t often someone ordered over ten thousand dollars in shopping cards in one go.

Behind Suho, Cho Rin covered her mouth. She had just finished calculating the total number of employees, and now the boss was buying that exact number of cards. She realized instantly—this was for the staff.

He really... does these things without hesitation.

Minutes later, Suho pocketed the thick stack of cards. "Good. Now, Brother Choku, to the Blue Star Restaurant."

The car rolled to a stop in front of Blue Star, one of the city’s most luxurious dining halls. Crystal chandeliers sparkled through the windows. A waiter rushed forward. "Welcome, sir. Do you have a reservation?"

"No," Suho said. "But I’m making one now."

The receptionist looked him up and down nervously. Suho’s tailored shirt and lazy confidence screamed chaebol. "How many people, and what time, sir?"

"Twenty-seven people. Seven-thirty tonight. As for the food—" Suho tapped his chin, then smiled devilishly. "Set it at forty-four thousand. Don’t go one below that."

"F-Forty-four thousand?" the receptionist stammered.

"Yes," Suho said firmly. "If I see the bill at forty-three-nine-ninety-nine, I’ll cancel it on the spot."

The staff nearly tripped over themselves writing it down.

Later that evening, the employees gathered in the office hall, buzzing with curiosity. It wasn’t payday, so why had the boss called them here? Even Su Bin, in her simple apron, stood beside Choku and Nahee, clutching her daughter’s small hand.

Suho stepped forward, hands in his pockets, looking at the crowd of faces. Jin Wu stood stiffly at the front, while Wonho grinned nervously from the side.

"I’ve taken over this company for nearly a month now," Suho began. "In that time, I’ve watched all of you work hard. And a good boss doesn’t just watch—he rewards."

He signaled to Cho Rin. She stepped forward with a box in her arms. Inside were the twenty-six shopping cards.

One by one, she handed them out. Each worker stared at the glossy plastic as if it were solid gold. "Five hundred won shopping card from Daerak Supermarket," Suho explained casually. "Buy whatever you want. Household goods, food, a treat for your kids—I don’t care."

The hall erupted in whispers and gasps.

"That’s half my rent..." "My wife will cry when she sees this." "Does any other boss do this? No way."

Suho raised a hand, and the noise died down. "That’s the first thing. Second—it’s July. It’s hot as hell. So I’m also giving a five-hundred won high-temperature subsidy. It will go directly into your bank accounts."

Gasps turned to cheers. Even Jin Wu, usually tight-lipped, blinked in astonishment.

"And third—" Suho’s grin widened, "—we’re having dinner tonight. All of us. Blue Star Restaurant, seven-thirty. And this isn’t a one-time thing. Every so often, we’ll have these gatherings. Paid by the company, of course."

The hall was buzzing, employees grinning ear to ear. Su Bin wiped her eyes quietly, overwhelmed. Choku squeezed her hand, and Nahee bounced happily at the thought of eating in a real restaurant.

Suho turned and walked back toward his office as if nothing extraordinary had happened. Behind him, the voices of his workers rose in waves of gratitude.

System funds are down to a few hundred. Finally, relief. He exhaled slowly. That damn Jin Wu almost ruined me again.

Back at her desk, Cho Rin hesitated, then approached Suho’s office. She knocked gently and peeked in.

"Sir... I may not be able to attend tonight’s dinner," she said softly. "I have something important."

Suho arched a brow. "What’s more important than free food?"

Cho Rin lowered her gaze. "The orphanage I volunteer at... the children there rely on the extra work I do. Even if my salary is higher now, I can’t let them go hungry."

Suho stared at her for a moment, then leaned back, a lazy smile tugging his lips. "Tch. You’re too serious, Assistant Rin. But fine. Go. Just remember—you’re my employee. That means you eat well too. Don’t overwork yourself."

Her eyes softened, and she bowed deeply. "Yes, Boss."