Chapter 2

Wood finally got the $100 he had bet on. The next afternoon, Kim Young-hee and Kwon Jin-suk, along with Wood and Jessica, went to the hospital to visit the baby.

The newborn seemed fine to Wood, not much different from Jessica when she was born, except for the inverted V-shaped eyebrows, which naturally came from her father. However, to Jessica, the little sister who she had been looking forward to didn't seem as beautiful as she had imagined. She had wrinkled skin, cried when touched, and needed diaper changes frequently. What Jessica found most annoying was that her sister's eyebrows were not as nice as hers or her mother's, but more like her father's. What made her even more upset was that when she told Wood this, he burst out laughing.

Wood mocked her without hesitation: "Momo, you were much uglier when you were born." After mocking Jessica, Wood turned to ask Aunt Jung, who was lying on the bed: "Aunt, have you and Uncle decided on her name?"

"Of course, her full name will be Jung Soo-jung. This has been decided for a long time. As for her English name, it will be Krystal, which means crystal," the baby's father, Uncle Jung, immediately replied.

"I see, so her nickname will be Momo, right?" Wood put on a look of realization, but in his heart, he knew it would be so.

Children are like that; Momo, who had been angry about her sister's eyebrows not looking like hers, was happy a few seconds later because her sister's nickname was Momo.

Soo-jung, the little crystal, was more obedient, smarter, and cuter than Momo, Jessica. This was Wood's conclusion on June 2, 1999, the second day of the summer break at a public elementary school in California. At that time, he was carrying little Soo-jung and struggling to follow the two pairs of parents on a beach in California. The reason for his struggle was that Jessica was pulling him from behind, constantly asking Wood to apologize to her.

A few minutes earlier, the sisters had asked for a photo on the beach. But when Wood pressed the shutter, he was speechless to see that ten-year-old Jessica was actually riding on the back of five-year-old Soo-jung, who didn't know how to deal with her sister's tyranny and was almost crying but kept her legs straight and silent. Wood immediately put down the camera, ran over, and pulled Jessica off, then bent down to fix Soo-jung's hair, which had been messed up by her sister.

Jessica had always been like this. When Soo-jung was a baby, Jessica once put her outside the stroller and sat inside herself. But this time, it really made Wood angry. While fixing Soo-jung's hair, he scolded Jessica. The four adults nearby didn't care about these things, as if the bullying and being bullied, the scolding and being scolded, had nothing to do with them, as if they were already used to it.

Finally, after carrying Soo-jung and dragging Jessica, who was almost as tall as him, for over a hundred meters, Wood arrived at a seaside restaurant. His parents seemed to have invited some friends from Korea for a meal.

Putting Soo-jung down and pulling Jessica, who was still pouting, Wood respectfully bowed to a group of people who were about the same age as his parents. It's better to be polite, especially since Korean etiquette is extremely strict. The effect was indeed good, and he immediately received praise from the adults:

"This must be Young-hee and Jin-suk's child, very polite."

"I didn't expect a child living abroad to be so well-mannered."

"Indeed, very nice. The two little girls are also very beautiful."

This group of tourists from Korea numbered about seven or eight, most of whom were alumni of Sookmyung Women's University, and Wood's parents were graduates of the Business Administration Department of Sookmyung Women's University. They were university classmates, studied abroad together, fell in love, got married, and had children.

The Chungs were there to accompany them.

The conversation between the adults was incomprehensible and boring to Jessica and Soo-jung, but Wood listened with great interest.

He held Soo-jung on his lap, fed her, and listened to the adults talk about politics, management, art, and the scenery of Korea. Gradually, the conversation focused on two topics. One was about their alumnus, the eldest daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, Park Geun-hye, who, after nearly 20 years of silence, successfully won the election in Daegu, Gyeongsangbuk-do, her father's birthplace, and became a member of the National Assembly. She was also gradually rising in the Grand National Party.

The other topic centered on a lady in the conversation. Lee Jeong-hyang, a graduate of the French Language and Literature Department of Sookmyung Women's University, was only 35 years old. After graduation, she unexpectedly chose to become a director, first making documentaries and then working as an assistant director. After nearly ten years of training, she finally shot her first feature film, "Love in the Rearview Mirror," which was very successful, making her the Best New Director at the Blue Dragon Awards. She was now preparing for her new feature film, with the script already in hand, and was urgently seeking investment. The reason for her urgency was simple: at 35, she planned to marry her boyfriend, with whom she had been in a long-term relationship, in the new millennium and wanted to have a child as soon as possible after marriage. Therefore, if she could start shooting soon, it would be easier.

"Even for a low-budget art film, basic personnel, equipment, and post-production promotion are needed. The bald head movement in March made Korean films receive significant support, and this film has already successfully applied for a film support fund. However, even with the film support fund, it probably needs about 10 billion won," explained a bearded uncle sitting opposite Wood. His name was Jang Eun-ho, Lee Jeong-hyang's fiancé, and one of the three people who were not Sookmyung alumni, like Jessica's parents.

"That's right, so my film might have to be postponed until the new millennium. Although the Korean film industry is developing smoothly and investors are enthusiastic about investing in films, the amount of money is small. However, for investors, it's rare to fully fund a film. The investment must be divided to reduce risk. If it doesn't work out, I'll have to get married first and then start shooting," Lee Jeong-hyang responded. She was in her thirties but clearly different from other women. She didn't wear any makeup, wore a baseball cap in the hot weather, and had a pair of round-framed gold-rimmed glasses, making her look very much like a director.

"That's fine, Jeong-hyang, I'll support you no matter what," the bearded man immediately seized the opportunity to show affection.

"Okay, Uncle Jang, Aunt Lee, what is this film about?" Wood timely interrupted their display of affection.

Lee Jeong-hyang, hearing someone ask about the film, immediately turned her attention to Wood: "It's a story about a seventy-year-old rural grandmother and her ten-year-old grandson from the city. The title is 'Grandma's House.' This script is based on my memories of my grandmother. I have an idea to not hire professional actors but to directly invite a grandmother from my hometown village. For the young actor, as long as he hasn't developed, you would be perfect, and your Seoul accent is also very good. How about it, Wood, are you interested?"

"Me? I have no acting experience. And I grew up in Los Angeles, so I might not be able to grasp the mindset of a Seoul child," Wood was startled, not because he didn't want to act in a film. After being reborn, he had thought about many life paths, such as joining the NBA, the Major League Baseball, becoming a business tycoon, or making a name in Hollywood. He had also thought about entering the Korean entertainment industry as an idol or actor because of Jessica and Soo-jung. However, he was clueless about art films and knew nothing about the plot of this film. Moreover, the names Lee Jeong-hyang and 'Grandma's House' didn't ring any bells, so this film was likely to be a flop. He continued to respond seriously: "Moreover, Aunt Lee, won't you start shooting in the new millennium? By then, I'll be 13, and I might start developing, making it difficult to participate in the filming."

Lee Jeong-hyang sighed at these words: "Actually, having no acting experience isn't a big deal. Child actors don't have much experience; being well-behaved and obedient is enough. Being from Los Angeles isn't a barrier either, as there isn't much cultural conflict in the plot. And from your clear logic just now, I think you would be suitable. However, as you said, if the shooting is delayed, children your age develop quickly. It's a pity, but the problem still comes down to investment." She shook her head in regret.

"Ten billion won, that's about one million dollars, right?" A seemingly casual remark by Wood's mother, Kwon Jin-suk, sent a chill down Wood's spine. He looked at his mother with a mix of fear and hope, hoping she didn't mean what he thought. But a glance from Kwon Jin-suk made Wood's limbs go cold, as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He immediately understood what his cunning mother was planning.

"What? Jin-suk, are you interested? The Korean film industry is doing well, and it won't be a loss," Lee Jeong-hyang immediately understood her junior's meaning, but she didn't expect her junior to be so well-off in America to be able to come up with 10 billion won.

"Senior, if our son, Jong-myeong, can participate," Kwon Jin-suk pointed, including Jessica, who was still drinking and Soo-jung, who was still confused. Everyone at the table turned their attention to Wood. Of course, Soo-jung's intention was to have Wood peel a mango for her.

"Of course, but acting is quite hard, and he does need to go to school, right?"

"No problem, this child is very good at studies and started school a year early. After finishing the film, he can apply to middle school next year without any impact. Moreover," Kwon Jin-suk paused, looked at her husband, and said, "We have always had the intention of returning to Korea."

"That's great, if that's the case, I'll come to your house tomorrow!"

"No problem, it would be our honor to have you come."

The matter progressed smoothly, and the adults were all happy, except for Wood, who was a bit depressed as he fed Soo-jung the mango.

Back home, Wood couldn't wait to complain to his mother: "Mom, are you planning to use my money? Why use my money? And are we all going to Korea?"

"Wood, we are returning to Korea, not going. Although the money is yours, you are a minor, and the money is in my and your father's account. I decide how to use it. Moreover, investing in the film won't be a loss," Kwon Jin-suk glanced at her precious son and replied calmly.

"Tell me why we are, uh, returning to Korea," Wood slumped into the sofa, recalling his father and the Chungs' calmness, he realized some things were irreversible.

Baker wandered over, sniffed his owner's feet, and squatted under the sofa. Wood placed his hand on Baker. This Baker was not the original one. The original Baker came to their home two years before Wood was born and lived for 11 years before dying. This new Baker, a one-year-old granddaughter of the original, was adopted by Wood from a classmate's home.

"Returning to Korea was a decision we thought about for a long time. We discussed it with Uncle Jung and Aunt Jung, and we will move back to Seoul together. First, we hope you children can receive a proper Korean education, and second, we have parents to take care of in Korea, and they have also allocated property to us there. Compared to here in America, Korea is our root. Your grandparents and great-grandparents are almost retired, and my and your father's age is approaching thirty. Returning to Korea will allow us to inherit your grandparents' social status, and our lives will be smoother," Wood's father added.

Very reasonable and sufficient reasons, Wood couldn't argue. His grandparents and great-grandparents, though not extremely wealthy, had status and position in Korea. Otherwise, his parents wouldn't have graduated from Sookmyung University and settled abroad. The same applied to Uncle Jung's parents, who, despite being athletes, eventually chose to become corporate executives. Koreans place great importance on their homeland and social status. At this moment, Wood could only say goodbye to his dream of the American Major League Baseball and probably to his small savings.

Indeed, after a few seconds, Kim Young-hee added, "Your money comes from a very awkward source. If we explain our income to customs, it's better to invest it in the film through proper channels, so it naturally flows into Korea. We consulted a lawyer, and the process of investing in Korean films from California is very simple."

"So, you were targeting this film from the start today. But, I must correct you, this money is legitimately earned, not awkward at all," Wood grumbled helplessly, but deep down, he agreed with his parents' method of money laundering. His money did come from an awkward source.

As a reborn person, even a pseudo-fan, he could earn some money, regardless of his ability. Moreover, Wood was a true NBA basketball fan and a pseudo-soccer fan before his rebirth.

In the spring of his sixth year, before Soo-jung was born, Wood's father and Uncle Jung were watching the last NBA regular-season game with Wood and Jessica. Ignoring the drowsy Jessica, the two men and the boy had a heated debate about the championship. This was understandable, as Jordan had gone to play baseball, and the two main teams in Los Angeles were struggling. The NBA was a battlefield, and no one knew which team would win. So, Kim Young-hee insisted that the Admiral of the Spurs could lead the team, while Uncle Jung supported his idol, the Jazz with Malone. As for Wood, he remembered who won the championship: the Rockets.

In the end, Wood suggested that he use his saved pocket money, about $200, to bet on his team with the two adults. As a spectator father, Kim Young-hee didn't realize that in the developed betting industry in America, Wood's bet on the Rockets winning the finals in seven games against the Knicks greatly increased the odds. From then on, Wood couldn't stop. He directly used his Sunday afternoons to work part-time at the Los Angeles Crown Plaza Hotel, where many children worked as part-time employees, running errands for those who didn't want to place bets themselves, buying lottery tickets, and exchanging checks and cash. Of course, he had to have his parents deposit the bank checks.

In this hotel, Wood specialized in sports betting. He seized the opportunity to register his father as a customer and then bought a significant but dispersed amount of lottery tickets under his father's name, which had a high return. For example, the Rockets sweeping the Magic in the finals the following year, the miraculous third place of Croatia in the 1998 World Cup, and he had already bought the Spurs for this year. He also planned to use the miraculous performance of South Korea in the 2002 World Cup and the Greek miracle in the 2004 European Cup to make a big profit and then quit.

The only time he explained it to others was when Kim Young-hee happily told the Chungs at a dinner that his son had earned nearly a million dollars. To the still sober Uncle Jung, Wood's explanation was that the initial capital came from sports betting, but most of it came from the stock market.

To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that he had bet on the Rockets in front of Uncle Jung, he wouldn't have wanted to mention sports betting, as it might have led to an FBI investigation. In comparison, the stock market is a common topic in America, and many minors use their parents' accounts to trade stocks, with many making or losing money.

"But how did you make a million dollars?" Aunt Jung was curious at the time.

"I don't know, I just followed my parents' discussions and chose a newly listed tech company, Hotmail, which was then acquired by Microsoft. I sold it after making a small profit, and I really regret it," Wood said with a pained expression, which was genuine. He had indeed dabbled in the stock market, mostly breaking even, but Hotmail had been a constant regret. When he saw the familiar name, he immediately bought a significant amount, but it slowly dropped over half a year. Unable to bear it, he sold it, only to find out two weeks later that Microsoft had acquired it... no wonder it looked familiar. Wood has regretted it ever since, as it was his only chance to become a stock god.