Chapter 2 - Money Laundering?


    <span>Chapter 2: Money Laundering?


    <span>“…It really was deposited.”


    <span>I was momentarily dazed as I read the notification on my phone. No matter how many times I looked, the reality was hard to believe.


    <span>──────────


    <span>Mirae Bank


    <span>Deposit 10,000,000 won.


    <span>16:27 Kim Eun-ha


    <span>──────────


    <span>“Do you believe me now?”


    <span>“Well, I’m still a bit stunned.”


    <span>“Is it not enough?”


    <span>“Not at all.”


    <span>Her shoulders shrugged at my firm answer. I quickly regained my senses and reiterated her request.


    <span>“…So, you’re asking me to act as your boyfriend?”


    <span>“If possible, even as a husband. We’ll need to work out the details from now.”


    <span>“……”


    <span>I was dumbstruck by her firm and unhesitating reply. Anyone in my situation would probably react the same.


    <span>Of course, I acknowledge that she’s exceptionally beautiful. Purely in terms of appearance, marrying someone like her would be more than one could ask for.


    <span>‘That’s what makes it even more suspicious.’


    If I look through her phone right now, I’m sure I’ll find a bunch of men who are superior to me in either money or education.


    <span>Why would she, with so many choices, ‘specifically’ propose to me?


    <span>Even mobilizing all my brainpower, I couldn’t find a convincing answer. The only usible response I could think of was,


    <span>“I’m not religious.”


    <span>“I know.”


    <span>“How do you know that?”


    <span>“Aren’t you?”


    <span>Smirk-


    <span>She yfully lifted the corners of her mouth again. Her beauty was indeed overwhelming.


    Being proposed to by someone whose name you don’t even know upon first meeting is a situation so bizarre that it wouldn’t be odd if it scared you.


    <span>‘…So that’s why they say beauty can be deceiving.’


    <span>Surprisingly, I wasn’t displeased at the moment. Her exceptional appearance yed a significant role in that.


    <span>If I had beenpletely immune to such things, I might havepletely fallen for it.


    <span>‘Guess those days were useful after all.’


    <span>A bitter smile formed as I recalled my college days.


    Given that acting inherently involves marketing one’s appearance, it was no surprise that most of my peers were remarkably good-looking.


    <span>‘Being pretty doesn’t necessarily mean a good personality.’


    <span>In fact, many were full of themselves.


    <span>That’s why, no matter how attractive someone was, I had be more skeptical, especially the more attractive they were.


    <span>“Let’s stop the jokes.”


    <span>“A joke?”


    <span>“I don’t know what you’re aiming for, but my life is already hard enough. I’ll return the deposited money right away.”


    <span>“Hmm.”


    <span>Smile-!


    <span>Despite my clear boundary, her smile deepened. I felt chills but didn’t show it.


    <span>Instead, relying on my years of honed acting skills, I maintained a poker face and casually picked up a broom.


    <span>“Could you move aside, please?”


    <span>I deliberately started sweeping where she stood, but she didn’t move, keeping her gaze fixed on me the entire time.


    <span>“Look, That’s enough…”


    <span>“I’ll give you a role.”


    <span>“What?”


    <span>Squint-!


    As I blinked, pondering what words I had just heard, she took another step towards me and began to speak.


    <span>“Before starting, you muttered, ‘I just wanted to act,’ right? I can give you what you want.”


    <span>“No, how long have you been…!?”


    <span>“That’s not important right now.”


    <span>Swoosh-


    <span>Suddenly, she pulled out a business card from her bag. It looked too luxurious to touch with my dusty hands.


    <span>As I reflexively checked the card, an astonished voice escaped me.


    <span>“…Kim Eun-ha, CEO of Mirae Department Store?”


    <span>Mirae Group.


    A renowned family, well-known to anyone in our country, acknowledged as the top business owners in South Korea.


    With dozens of subsidiaries below them. Each subsidiary is a major corporation, ranking first or second domestically andpeting globally.


    <span>‘…No wonder she seemed familiar.’


    <span>I examined Kim Eun-ha’s face again. Once I knew her identity, memories buried in a corner of my mind began to surface.


    For months, news had been circting about Chairman Kim Seok-ho’s rapidly deteriorating health and the intensepetition for his session through various media outlets.


    As a result, I had seen her name and face in passing. Of course, it was only through the screen of my smartphone.


    <span>“Why me, of all people?”


    <span>“Because you are the most suitable.”


    <span>“…Suitable?”


    <span>Grin-


    <span>As I reacted, Kim Eun-ha raised the corners of her mouth as if she had expected it. She continued with a rxed smile.


    “First of all, the face is good enough.”


    <span>“It should be more than good enough.”


    <span>“…And I like your shamelessness. Well, there were otherplex considerations. But to sum it up, you were the most suitable person to y the role of my husband.”


    <span>Role.


    My brain, which had dered a strike in the face of the sudden situation, began to whirl furiously again.


    <span>Clichés I usually encountered only in dramas or novels started fitting together in my mind, helping me guess what she wanted from me.


    <span>“…You need a figurehead husband.”


    <span>“See? I told you you’re the right one.”


    <span>Hehe-


    <span>Her pleasantughter added to my suspicion. Kim Eun-ha’s reason for suddenly proposing to me was because she needed a ‘shield’.


    ‘She’s an ambitious person.’


    <span>The CEO of Mirae Department Store.


    <span>Even holding such a position, which ordinary people could only dream of, Kim Eun-ha was aspiring for something higher.


    <span>‘Mirae Group is known for keeping management within the family.’


    <span>Kim Seok-ho, the founder and current chairman of Mirae Group, is known to have many children.


    <span>He did everything possible to ensure his children would inherit the management, and harsh training for potential sessors was part of this effort.


    <span>‘Didn’t Wall Street even talk about it?’


    <span>‘Korea Discount’ is often associated with the unease of Korea being a ceasefire nation, but that’s only part of the story.


    <span>One of the biggest reasons Wall Streeters hesitate to invest in Korean stocks is due to familial session. But,


    <span>– Even if not rted by blood, if they’re good at business, they’re my children and family!


    <span>Chairman Kim Seok-ho’s famous quote, now a staple in chaebol dramas. Indeed, he gave opportunities to anyone with ability.


    <span>Kim Seok-ho employed talented individuals regardless of their background, and if they proved their worth, he even arranged marriages with his daughters, sharing his bloodline.


    <span>‘Conversely, he treated some as non-existent.’


    <span>In such cases, he wouldn’t share a penny of the family wealth and disowned them.


    <span>This drove his children to desperation in securing management rights, and those who survived this brutal training are now the CEOs of Mirae Group’s subsidiaries.


    <span>‘Is she nning to jump into the session battle?’


    <span>Considering her age, it was astonishing. She had to bepetent enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with rtives who were born 20-30 years earlier.


    <span>‘What if I were a part of Mirae Group?’


    <span>Thanks to my recent full immersion as Park Do-hyun, the chaebol heir, it wasn’t too difficult to follow their line of thought.


    <span>Despite her young age, Kim Eun-ha’s outstanding ability must be seen as a threat.


    <span>‘The easiest way to eliminate Kim Eun-ha from the session battle is…’


    <span>Undoubtedly, it would be ‘marriage’.


    <span>Even if times have changed, people’s perceptions don’t necessarily catch up that quickly. Especially in chaebols, strategic marriages for wealth inheritance are still prevalent.


    <span>“So it’s the same in chaebol families, getting hassled about marriage during holidays?”


    <span>“That would be a relief if it were just that.”


    <span>Shrug-


    <span>She shrugged her shoulders and sat down on a prop chair nearby. Crossing her legs naturally, she continued the conversation.


    <span>“After tirelessly working to grow the group, they want me to marry some suitable guy and split off the business. It’s not like we’re living in the Joseon era.”


    <span>“So, you decided to choose your own marriage partner? Someone who won’t interfere with the session battle, a suitable actor to y the role of a screen husband?”


    <span>“You catch on quick.”


    <span>Smirk-


    <span>Kim Eun-ha leaned forward slightly with a smile. She knew exactly how to present herself most attractively.


    <span>A person who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means to seize victory. Someone ruthlessly calctive, willing to sell even themselves if the benefits were clear.


    <span>“I don’t seem to be your type.”


    “Oh, Ipletely agree with you there.”


    <span>“Then why me?”


    <span>“That’s exactly why.”


    <span>Click-!


    <span>Breaking the silence with the sound of her high heels, Kim Eun-ha stood up again and approached me boldly, her lips twitching slightly.


    <span>“I don’t have the luxury to be swayed by unnecessary hormones. With you, I’m confident I won’t fall in love.”


    <span>“You’re very sure of yourself.”


    <span>“You think the same, don’t you?”


    <span>Tap-tap-


    <span>She raised her finger and lightly tapped my lips. Her lips moved as if casting a spell, rich like the color of a witch’s brew.


    <span>“I’ll make a concession this time.”


    <span>“What concession?”


    <span>“If I’m to pretend to be engaged to you, you’ll need a proper cover. I’ll find you a role in a project soon.”


    <span>“What’s the catch?”


    <span>“…I’m making a concession, aren’t I?”


    <span>“That just makes it more suspicious.”


    <span>There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.


    <span>Especially when dealing with a member of a chaebol family.


    <span>Even if it’s just acting, having briefly stepped into their shoes, I knew they would never make a losing deal.


    She looked at me nkly for a moment after hearing my thoughts, then burst intoughter.


    <span>“Pfft-!”


    <span>“…What’s so funny?”


    <span>“Oh, sorry. It just seems like you’ve watched too much drama. Of course, you’re not entirely wrong… Ahem. Anyway, do you know how much I donate on average per year?”


    <span>“How much?”


    <span>Chak-!


    <span>She showed a yful smile and suddenly held up five fingers.


    <span>“Five hundred million?”


    <span>“More.”


    <span>“Five thousand million?”


    <span>“You’re almost there.”


    <span>“…You donate five billion won a year?”


    <span>Shake-shake-


    <span>Kim Eun-ha’s smile grew wider. She then added a fist next to her open palm.


    <span>“50 billion!?”


    <span>“That includes donations from the subsidiaries I manage. After deductions, the amount is roughly that.”


    <span>“Is it moneyundering?”


    <span>“…Look here.”


    <span>Kim Eun-ha looked at me as if I was being ridiculous, but from my perspective, it was apletely reasonable suspicion. After all, I didn’t even have 50,000 won, let alone 50 billion.


    <span>Whether she understood my mindset or not, she continued speaking with an utterly calm expression.


    <span>“Of course, there are benefits like tax reduction and improving the group’s image, but a significant portion is donated with pure intentions, you know?”


    <span>“Ah, I see.”


    <span>“You don’t believe me?”


    <span>“I do.”


    “You’re lying.”


    <span>“How dare you use me of lying.”


    <span>“…You have quite an impressive adaptability.”


    <span>Instead of responding, I just shrugged my shoulders. Kim Eun-ha then sighed heavily and continued her exnation.


    <span>“Anyway! It’s not difficult for me to get you a role. For me, it’s like showing a bit of generosity.”


    <span>“That’s not very ttering to hear.”


    <span>“So, you’re not going to do it?”


    <span>“Of course, I will.”


    <span>Obviously, I had to take the offer.


    <span>I epted her proposal without hesitation. Of course, even though I agreed, she mightter extract somepensation from me in some form.


    <span>‘That’s a problem for another day.’


    <span>If it meant continuing to act, I was even willing to sell my soul to the devil.


    <span>With no particr attachment left in life, I had no intention of rejecting thisst opportunity handed to me from the heavens.


    <span>“…Master! What should I start with?”


    <span>“First, drop that weird title.”


    <span>“How about ‘Madam’?”


    <span>“Are you doing this on purpose?”


    <span>Snicker-


    <span>Augh escaped me at Kim Eun-ha’s displeased reaction. Then, finding my own behavior unfamiliar, Iughed again.


    <span>“Why are youughing like that?”


    <span>“Because I’m happy.”


    <span>“Happy about what?”


    <span>“About you, Eun-ha.”


    <span>“…Stop talking nonsense.”


    “Oh, did it show too much?”


    <span>Even in front of her sharp, almost predatory gaze, I couldn’t help but keepughing. It was a genuine emotion, solely mine, that I hadn’t felt in a long time.