Chapter 169: Happy Girl (2)
The name of the girl he had met during the day was none other than Choi Soo-yeon.
After thinking for a moment, Kim Jin-woo spoke up.
“Dad.”
“What is it?”
“I think I need to change my mind a bit.”
“About what?”
“I’ll tell you later. For now, just do as I ask.”
“Okay… got it.”
The ability Kim Jin-woo possessed was the exact opposite of Choi Soo-yeon’s: pure luck.
Everything he did came back to him as massive good fortune.
His father’s company growing so large was entirely thanks to Kim Jin-woo’s ability. In any critical crossroads, following Kim Jin-woo’s choice always led to the best possible outcome.
To the point that now, without Kim Jin-woo’s involvement, they wouldn’t even attempt any large-scale projects.
His luck was that absolute.
At least on the surface…
After finishing dinner and returning to his room, Kim Jin-woo began planning.
A plan to save Choi Soo-yeon.
And a plan to completely overturn this insane city.
Of course, Choi Soo-yeon, oblivious to all this, was still suffering through all kinds of misfortune at home.
***
“Hey, you mother-killing bitch.”
My father’s habit of picking fights and cursing at the drop of a hat should have become familiar by now, but hearing it still made my chest ache.
In the midst of that pain, all I could do was ignore him.
“Talking back again.”
Clang.
My father threw an empty beer can at my head.
“Sigh, I should just sleep. Gotta go play hwatu tomorrow.”
Today, since my father was in a good mood, it ended with just an empty beer can.
A few days passed like that, and once again, my father showed up in a foul mood after losing all his money.
– Hey! Get out here right now!
From the front door, his shouting already made it clear he was pissed.
How many hits will it be today…
I hope he doesn’t touch my face…
Among my small wishes, “not getting hit at all” wasn’t an option.
“Let’s just get this over with.”
I stepped out of my room with a bored expression. Seeing my vacant eyes, my father immediately raised his hand.
“Yeah, let’s end this quick.”
I closed my eyes and waited for his hand to come down.
But even after time passed, the expected impact never came. Instead, I heard my father’s flustered voice.
Slowly opening my eyes at his voice, I saw a male student gripping my father’s hand.
“Who the hell are you?!”
“Me? I’m Soo-yeon’s boyfriend.”
“What?”
“Me?”
Even I was flustered by the boy who suddenly appeared and claimed to be my boyfriend.
While my father and the boy argued, I quickly racked my brain.
I think he told me his name back then, but I can’t remember.
What was it… He’s definitely the guy I met on the street…
While I was lost in thought, my father was being dragged away by men in black suits. Soon, only me and the boy who had shielded me remained in the house.
“Did you seriously forget my name?”
“Huh?”
“My name is Kim Jin-woo. Nice to meet you from now on, Soo-yeon-ah.”
“…”
He knew my name, so he must have heard the rumors about me.
But I couldn’t understand why he was acting so friendly.
“Haven’t you heard about me?”
“I have.”
“Then why did you come all the way to my house and do this?”
“Um… love at first sight?”
“…”
Choi Soo-yeon’s mind completely froze at the words she was hearing for the first time in her life.
“More importantly, was that guy your dad?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm…”
At my answer confirming he was my father, Kim Jin-woo struck a thoughtful pose.
“Then I won’t kill him. He might become my father-in-law someday.”
“Huh?”
The tone that came out of Kim Jin-woo’s mouth was unexpectedly harsh.
Because of one unexpected statement after another, I couldn’t help but stay on guard against him.
“Soo-yeon-ah. Come with me.”
“What?”
“Let’s go to my house first. This place is too dangerous.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“That’s… fair.”
I had been betrayed hundreds of times by trusting people.
I didn’t trust anyone.
Not even myself…
After several minutes of staring each other down, he finally gave up and turned around.
“Then let’s do this. One week. I’ll protect you for one week. Think about it seriously during that time. I might not look like it, but I’m actually pretty capable.”
“…”
“Then see you later. I have to head to school now.”
After Kim Jin-woo left, I stayed alone in my room and tried to sort out my thoughts.
Why?
Why is he helping me?
More than that—why is he acting like my boyfriend?
I was thrown into complete confusion by things I couldn’t possibly understand.
One week…
He wants me to watch?
Fine… let’s see if he can last a week…
And so, when evening came, Kim Jin-woo showed up at my house again.
“I’m here.”
“…”
“Here, take this.”
“What is it?”
“I passed by and thought of you, so I bought it.”
Kim Jin-woo handed me a bag of steaming chicken.
“Then I’ll get going.”
After he left, I was alone again. I stared blankly at the chicken he had given me.
Is it poisoned?
Well… dying after eating chicken one last time wouldn’t be so bad.
I just hope it doesn’t hurt.
With that small wish, I took a bite—and tears flowed down my face.
“It’s delicious…”
And so, by the time I had gotten used to Kim Jin-woo showing up every morning and evening for a full week, uninvited guests arrived.
– Hey, you in there?!
A familiar voice.
They were the same age as me—the ones who had tormented me since elementary school.
– She’s gotta be in there. Let’s just break in.
– Yeah.
BANG!
CRASH!
The door was kicked open with a loud noise.
“Hey, if you’re in there, you should at least answer. You’re making us break a perfectly good door.”
“Get lost.”
“Get lost? Nah. I’m short on cash lately. So let’s take a few hits.”
As the boy approached me threateningly, another familiar voice came from behind.
“Huh? What’s this? Early guests? But why does it look like you’re about to hit Soo-yeon from where I’m standing?”
“Kim Jin-woo?”
“Hey, you were about to hit her, right? If you leave now, I’ll let you go unharmed. Go while I’m asking nicely.”
“What?”
“I said go while I’m asking nicely… before I really kill you.”
Kim Jin-woo’s eyes were filled with murderous intent, but the boy—who had lost money on illegal gambling—also had desperation of his own.
“Hey, this won’t do. I was gonna let it slide since you’re a transfer student… You really doing this even after hearing the rumors about her?”
“Yeah. I don’t buy that kind of bullshit.”
“Hey—get him.”
At the boy’s command, their fists collided.
For a moment, I worried about Kim Jin-woo—but the outcome was the complete opposite of my concern.
Exactly one hit.
One punch per person, and they all crumpled straight to the floor.
“Hyung, take these guys and tie them up somewhere. I’ll talk to them later.”
“Yes, young master.”
At Kim Jin-woo’s words, several large men from behind dragged the unconscious boys away.
“You okay? You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”
As soon as the boys were gone, Kim Jin-woo hurriedly came over and checked me all over.
And I felt uncomfortable with him acting like that.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you being nice to me? You heard the rumors, didn’t you? Or are you just planning to bully me yourself?”
“What? No… I wouldn’t bully you. I just… like you…”
“When did you even see me? Do you know me?”
“No… I just fell for you at first sight, what can I do…”
The boy who had seemed like a ferocious beast just moments ago now looked like a puppy with his tail between his legs. I had no idea how to process the situation.
I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had told me they liked me.
“More importantly… what do we do now? The door’s completely smashed… So I guess we have no choice but to go to your house?”
“…”
“Soo-yeon-ah. If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you, but isn’t it dangerous to stay in a house with a broken door? What if those guys come back…?”
“Okay.”
“Huh?”
“I said okay. Let’s go to your house. Sleeping in a place with a busted door feels impossible anyway.”
“Ah… got it. Hyung, let’s head home quick. Come on, Soo-yeon-ah.”
I followed Kim Jin-woo into the car, and before long we arrived at his house.
“…”
I was shocked by the sheer size of Kim Jin-woo’s home, but I tried to stay calm, glancing around as I followed him inside.
Once we entered, his parents were waiting.
“I’m home.”
“Yeah, Jin-woo. Is this the girl you were talking about?”
“Yes. Can she stay with us starting today?”
“Of course.”
Having sharpened my instincts just to survive, I immediately recognized who held the real power in this house.
It was Kim Jin-woo.
On the surface, he asked for permission—but in reality, it was more of a notice.
He acted like he already held complete control over the household.
“Then I’ll step out for a bit. Mom, could you help Soo-yeon settle in?”
“Sure. Come this way, Soo-yeon.”
“Yes…”
As Kim Jin-woo left me in the house and headed out, the look in his eyes felt chilling.
***
Once outside, Kim Jin-woo smiled—but his mind had gone ice-cold.
“Dad’s already been hospitalized. What about those kids?”
Kim Jin-woo drove to an apartment construction site. There, tied to chairs, were the students who had tried to harass Choi Soo-yeon earlier.
All of them bleeding heavily.
“Hey there.”
“Mmph—!”
“Ah, hyung, take the tape off. And if any of you scream, I’ll just bury you in the cement right here.”
“…”
A moment later, the large men removed the tape. The boys looked at Kim Jin-woo as if they were about to burst into tears.
“Hey, I told you not to touch her. Why’d you have to make trouble for me?”
“I-I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
“Does harassing Choi Soo-yeon make you happy? Bring you luck? So why did misfortune come for you today after doing it? Guess.”
“…”
The boys couldn’t answer Kim Jin-woo’s question.
“You should live quietly from now on. If you and your parents want to keep living well… I looked into it—your parents work for my dad’s subcontractor companies.”
Kim Jin-woo spread out photos in front of the boys. Their faces turned pale.
“Luck doesn’t come as easily as you think.”
“S-save us. We were wrong.”
“If your parents lose their jobs, will they blame Choi Soo-yeon? Or will they blame you? I’m curious. What should I do?”
“Please… we won’t do it again. We won’t even step on her shadow.”
“Good, good. Let’s just say you tripped and fell while walking down the street today, yeah? Got it?”
At Kim Jin-woo’s threat, the boys nodded frantically.
“And if possible, pass the word to the others around you too. Tell them not to touch Choi Soo-yeon. And don’t mention anything about me.”
“Okay. We’ll try.”
“Here’s treatment money.”
Once the conversation wrapped up smoothly, Kim Jin-woo handed the boys a thick stack of cash. Their expressions brightened instantly.
After sending them off to the hospital, Kim Jin-woo returned home and ran into Choi Soo-yeon, who had already changed into pajamas.
“Huh? You changed already? How is it? More comfortable?”
“Yeah. It’s comfortable. And… thank you.”
“H-huh?”
Hearing “thank you” for the first time, Kim Jin-woo’s face flushed red. Seeing that, Choi Soo-yeon got embarrassed and quickly hid in her room.
“She’s so cute…”
His heart fluttered for a moment at her shy reaction before Kim Jin-woo went to find his mother.
“Mom. How is she?”
“She’s covered in bruises—old scars too…”
“Sigh… Could you take good care of her from now on? I’m asking you.”
“Of course. We’ve already decided to walk a different path from the people in this city anyway. I guess we just have to trust our son.”
“Thank you.”
“No need. Mom was getting bored staying home all day anyway—this works out perfectly. So… you really like that girl that much?”
“Huh? Ah… yeah…”
At Kim Jin-woo’s reaction, his mother smiled as if seeing something amusing for the first time in a long while.
Completely unaware of how serious the situation truly was…