Young-jin stared intently at the paper box. It looked like an ordinary vitamin drink box, with a familiar brand logo. There was nothing strange about it. After hesitating for a while, he finally reached out and slightly lifted the box lid. The seam of the lid was already loose, allowing it to easily open. Inside the lid, a tightly bound bundle of bills could be glimpsed.
Young-jin quickly withdrew his hand as if it had been burned. His breathing became faster.
“Is it really 70 million won?”
“Yes. These are brand new 50,000 won bills that have never been circulated since their first issue. Keep them safe until you can deposit them.”
Young-jin opened his mouth, dumbfounded, and then shifted his gaze down to the drink box, or rather, the bundle of bills inside it. He cautiously opened the box lid again. Seven neatly stacked bundles of fresh bills were arranged side by side, with two vitamin drink bottles snugly placed in the empty space beside them. It felt unreal. Young-jin had never dreamed of touching such a large sum of money with his own hands.
He gingerly extended his hand and touched the surface of the bills. His movement was cautious, as if he feared they would disintegrate and vanish at the slightest touch.
Observing this, Seo Seung-hyun burst into laughter.
“Why are you being so careful? It’s just money. Even if it tears or crumples, a 50,000 won bill is still worth 50,000 won.”
Just money.
Young-jin had never seen anyone describe money in such a way, so his eyes filled with a hint of disbelief as he looked at Seo Seung-hyun.
He alternated his gaze between Seo Seung-hyun and the bundle of bills for a while, then carefully closed the box lid, embracing it tightly with both hands, and placed it on the floor beside him. He even kicked it or tried to push it under the chair with his feet.
Seo Seung-hyun hadn’t expected him to refuse, but this reaction was also not what he had anticipated.
“What are you going to use it for?”
In response to that question, Young-jin fiddled with the tip of the chopsticks, then answered in a small voice.
“To pay off debts.”
Seo Seung-hyun’s hand, which had casually mentioned tens of millions of won, trembled slightly. The chopsticks that had picked up the California roll paused in mid-air.
“You have debts?”
The tone seemed to say, “But that’s unlikely,” so Young-jin felt a bit suspicious, but he simply nodded his head calmly.
“A little.”
He quickly added.
“A little… but quite a lot.”
“Seems like you’re in a hurry to spend it, huh?”
Seo Seung-hyun chuckled and asked casually. Young-jin didn’t respond, but it didn’t seem like Seo Seung-hyun was expecting an answer. He didn’t ask the question again.
The meal ended without much fanfare.
It was a fresh and delicious meal made with the finest ingredients, but Young-jin was so preoccupied with the box of money under his feet that he couldn’t fully appreciate the taste of the food entering his nose or mouth.
Seo Seung-hyun was the first to get up from his seat.
“Stay put until I call you.”
He adjusted his tie and gave the command. Young-jin understood it as a directive to wait until he received further instructions, and he politely responded that he would do so. In any case, Young-jin’s attention was still focused on the box of money, so he had no intention of asking Seo Seung-hyun any additional questions or thinking about anything else.
At 7:30 a.m., Seo Seung-hyun left the house.
For exactly two hours, Young-jin pondered where to place the box of money. After hesitating between the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and dressing room, he finally slid it deep under the bed.
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