-Srrk.

May 20, 1997.

This morning felt a little special.

Because in my hand wasn't a newspaper, but a small book. The title was... unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar.

[The Biography of Yoo Ha-yeon]

Yeah, I finally looked at it.

I just couldn’t resist anymore.

“Hmmm....”

The cold coffee cup was asserting its presence, left alone on the table. Lukewarm coffee had lost its vitality, and since I don't particularly enjoy it like that, that expensive brew had effectively become trash.

This kind of thing almost never happens after I’ve already started drinking coffee—but I’d nearly spit it out mid-sip, so I had to stop halfway.

[...However, Yoo Ha-yeon didn’t give up. She walked around holding books and asking adults questions, eventually learning how the world works.]

Next to that passage was an illustration of a cute girl with sparkling eyes.

-"I can do it!"

That was what was written in an adorable font inside the speech bubble.

“Hmm... Was I like this? Ahaha, well, I guess it's cute.”

The biography was tolerable enough.

Though, there were definitely some things I didn’t like.

-Tak.

After skimming a bit more, I shook my head.

“So this is a series, huh? No wonder I was wondering how they gathered data for me—wait, why is Grandpa in this?”

How on earth did an 18-year-old girl survive as the world’s top financier?

According to the biography, the answer was this:

Chairman Yoo Seong-pil somehow helped her out.

Well... I suppose that’s a typical interpretation. No one denies I’m a genius, but this felt a bit much.

Even someone running full throttle on national pride circuits would snap back to reality the moment they heard how much money I made on Wall Street and go, “Wait, hold on. Is that even possible...?”

It’s true I wouldn’t have come this far without Grandpa, so it’s not completely wrong.

But as a story... it’s weak. This reads like the previous protagonist did everything.

I glanced at the back of the book. The label “Children’s Hero Biographies Vol. 58” and the 56th volume being “The Biography of Yoo Seong-pil” really laid bare the publisher’s marketing strategy.

“Honestly, if anyone looked up my records, there’d be a lot out there. I’ve done quite a few interviews too.”

I get it, though.

I mean, it’s a children’s biography, right? If they recorded my actual exploits as-is, most kids wouldn’t understand or it wouldn’t be very wholesome.

“Of course they wouldn’t write something like, ‘That amazing Miss Yoo Ha-yeon mostly spent her school days seducing boys.’”

Seo Ji-yeon muttered while massaging my shoulders.

“I do study, you know. It’s just that the school curriculum’s too easy for me. And—come on, it’s not just boys I attract. Let’s be accurate.”

I chuckled and straightened my back with pride.

It wasn’t just the boys' fault that I’d earned the title of Daehwa High’s Couple Breaker. Whenever I wore menswear tailored to slightly press against my chest in a stylishly androgynous way, even the girls would fall for me without hesitation.

Just like the one massaging my shoulders right now.

God, I really am something.

I flipped the biography closed and nodded.

“Hmm. They even included the part about me filming a movie next to the Seongsu Bridge collapse. Guess they didn’t slack off on the research.”

“That’s because it’s your fault, Miss. In elementary school, you had so many heroic tales, but from middle school onward, it’s all horror stories. Didn't you go through puberty way too hard?”

“I mean, can we even say there’s a real difference between how I was then and how I am now?”

I stared into the mirror at Yoo Ha-yeon. Light clothing that flaunted stunning beauty, a haughty expression that didn’t acknowledge anyone else, attention-seeking behavior, and an extreme main-character complex that flared up whenever she wasn’t in control.

If I had to evaluate myself objectively, I’d be the kind of person who’s exhausting to be around—but I had no plans to change.

Because I have the ability to live that way.

“Then maybe I’m still in puberty. Whew. Back in elementary school, you were so cool and sweet, Miss.... Hmm, maybe I was just blinded? No, I don’t think so....”

Seo Ji-yeon’s grumbling made my heart stir for a moment.

“Still in puberty, huh...”

It might be true.

I’m slowly breaking away from the ghosts of the past, but I haven’t fully let go of my lingering attachments.

Unlike in my previous life, my social network is smaller, but my bonds with close people have grown deeper. I still love money, but not to the extent of selling my soul for it anymore.

Seo Ji-yeon would probably roll her eyes and ask how that’s any better, but it’s the truth. Before my father died, I’d half given up on going into finance at all.

‘Yeah, that was rough, back then.’

Back then, I was mentally cornered, desperate to prove that I was still that person, that I still existed—and so I threw myself into this world.

But now... now, things are different.

I’m not obsessed with money like I was in my past life, not writhing in inferiority complexes. I simply enjoy making money, and I enjoy commanding people.

Even on Wall Street, just rising to the upper tier of fund managers makes you unimaginably rich—and yet those people burn themselves out working. Why? Usually because they enjoy it. They get addicted to the dopamine of charts rising and falling. They dedicate their lives to this not for money, but for a pleasure more intoxicating than money.

And I’m the same.

There’s no risk now of getting hauled off to a lab. I could quietly research biotech and share the gift of eternal life with humanity—or just a select few who follow me—while continuing to scrub my identity clean.

Even so, I really love this life. It’s so hectic I could use two bodies, but at the end of each day, my tired body is filled with euphoria.

“I lived so hard today. I accomplished so much,” I tell myself.

Of course, like I said earlier, some habits from the past still linger. The most obvious example might be my... preferences? Let’s call it that.

Hmm....

Anyway, that. I experimented a few times, and while my body responds, my heart doesn’t really move.

Which is a relief.

Things like fashion or shopping are hobbies I didn’t have at all in my previous life, so that’s fine—but my sexuality twisting like this? That’s a really bizarre experience.

Ah, and my interests in games and subculture? Still intact. No need to force the tastes of a chaebol princess onto those too.

-Flap flap.

I tried to cool off my burning face. My translucent, pale skin had taken on a rosy flush.

“Miss, what are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about what to do when we get back to Korea. Ah, but first, it’s time. Bring me breakfast.”

“...I don’t think that’s what you were thinking.”

Seo Ji-yeon tilted her head, but said nothing as she went off to fetch my meal.

.

.

.

A short while later—

Seo Ji-yeon came back with the table stacked with food. I hadn’t even said anything, but she brought it on a wheeled tray. This is why it’s nice when someone’s quick on the uptake.

-Tak.

“Have some bread for a light breakfast.”

“...?”

“What?”

“No, it’s just... kind of small. You know I’m ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) not picky with food, right? I’m only saying something because even I find this strange.”

“The only reason you’re not picky is because we always make sure the food is exactly to your tastes.... Don’t you remember that time back at the main house when someone forgot to remove the watermelon seeds and you flipped the table?”

Ah, right. That happened. Still, I probably gave them plenty of money for medical bills....

“And don’t you think it’s just because you didn’t drink coffee? You left the whole cup today, unlike usual. Of course you’d feel hungrier. Plus, breakfast is late. This is basically brunch. Let’s just eat now and go to a restaurant later, yeah?”

I furrowed my brows at her words. Thinking it over, she had a point.

-Tak.

“Ha. Unbelievable. Then you should’ve handled it with more sense. If breakfast is late, shouldn’t you naturally bring more food?”

“...Then do you want to go eat out now?”

Food... food, huh....

As I hesitated for a moment, I felt a sudden urge bubble up from within.

Ah, I want to splurge.

‘I have to do it right now.’

“Yeah. Get the car ready—we’re heading out now.”

Seo Ji-yeon looked blankly at the bread in her hand and shouted.

“...W-Wait a second. You’re not eating this? It’s freshly baked! From that really expensive bakery!”

“It’s already been an hour since it came out. It’s too late.”

“That still counts as fresh—”

“No, it doesn’t. Speaking of bread, this just reminded me—do you know Sacher Torte? It’s one of Vienna’s famous desserts. Wouldn’t it be amazing to eat it while listening to a symphony in the City of Music?”

“Miss, I’m having trouble keeping up with this conversation.... Are we seriously going now?”

“First, we’ll have lunch in Manhattan. Then I’ll wrap up the handover and immediately take the private jet. If you spend about a billion won per trip, you can make the impossible happen. Come on, come on! Let’s go!”

With something exciting in my sights, I grinned brightly and tugged my friend’s wrist.

Ah, that’s right.

There’s one crucial difference from my past life.

Now, I don’t spare money when it comes to my hobbies.

And thanks to that, life is so much fun.