Chapter 12

Walking down the long beige carpeted corridor, an employee opened the door and greeted me politely.

"Have a pleasant day."

"Thank you."

As I entered the room alone, the breath I had been holding burst out.

"Phew."

I had tried my best to act as if nothing was wrong, and it seemed to have gone well.

Maybe the fact that I had visited various places in the hotel with Ji Hyun helped.

"It's good, really good."

The Superior room, or whatever it was called, exuded a clear sense of luxury.

The interior was decorated with dark brown tones and antique yet modern furniture.

It was a bit old-fashioned compared to newly built hotels, but it gave a sense of tradition and dignity.

It felt like a 90s noir movie protagonist would light a cigar and spread out a newspaper in such a setting.

No, it wasn't old at all.

My room was the one that was really old.

Passing through the living room, I entered the bedroom and threw myself onto the large bed.

"Ah."

Hotels are all about the bed.

The soft, rustling bedding made me feel like it could melt me.

But then again, wouldn't it be even cozier if I took a refreshing shower first?

I took off my clothes and headed to the bathroom.

The bathroom was as grand as my room.

Ah, there was something I wanted to try.

"Coco!"

Coco is the name I gave to my new friend.

Since it's such a high-end one, it wouldn't accept any other name. I don't really care, though.

I picked up a few amenities and shook them at the little guy.

"How about this?"

Coco showed interest, shimmering with a bluish-white light.

Indeed, the amenities in this hotel are top-notch!

Even though Coco keeps showing interest, there's no need to convert this "quality to quantity" and wash my hair with supermarket shampoo.

After sending Coco away, I filled the bathtub.

Then I took out ten bath bombs.

I had bought them in a hurry after getting out of the taxi on my way here.

"Tam!"

This time, it's four.

The bath bombs I bought from the drugstore on the street; wouldn't it be better if you touched them a bit?

──"Quantity to Quality" conversion complete.

I picked up the bath bomb Tam spat out, opened the cap, and took a sniff.

"Mmm—."

It was sweet like honey but had a subtle, cozy fragrance, definitely better than the bath bombs I bought earlier.

I poured the bath bomb into the bathtub and submerged my body.

"Ugh... "

...It's good, really good.

There was a window right next to the bathtub.

I leaned back and let my wet hair trail behind me, gazing at the sunset over Seoul, which was turning into a rainbow of colors.

With money, life is really...

Every moment is sweet.

*

When I was young, the scene I most wanted to imitate from "Home Alone 2" in New York was:

Putting on a bathrobe, applying lotion all over my face, and ordering room service.

[ IN ROOM DINING ]

I brought the large room service menu, like a yearbook, and lay on the bed.

"Wow, look at the scale."

Just the breakfast menu was several pages long.

Combined, it offered a vast variety of Korean, Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes.

There was a long list of all kinds of desserts and alcoholic beverages, with some expensive whiskies costing up to 2 million won per bottle.

Even a can of beer from the neighborhood store costs nearly 20,000 won, so it's no surprise.

"Let's see, let's see, what should I eat?"

When I'm in a good mood, I start to sing.

I used to think it made me sound like an old man.

Fine, then I'll act like an old man and order a half-set of ribs!

I still prefer Korean food the most.

What the heck, let's add a ginseng chicken soup with abalone!

It's all about the mood, so let's add a cream cheese cake and a glass of red wine!

'But how much will it all cost? Ugh... '

The room rate alone was 800,000 won, so adding room service would easily push it over 1 million.

'My monthly rent is 300,000 won.'

No, it's okay.

I'm a former cafe branding director, so I need to experience all this!

And a little later.

The table in the living room was set much faster than expected.

"If there's anything uncomfortable, please let us know, and have a pleasant meal."

"Yes, thank you!"

...That's how two servings disappeared into my stomach.

"Burp."

There was no room left for even a bit of cake or wine.

I flopped onto the bed.

It was the best taste I had ever experienced, and the hotel's reputation was well-deserved for its incredible skill, but it wasn't that.

It was the feeling of being treated well that was good.

From the moment the staff laid a white cloth on the table, I thought, "No, I'm not the kind of person who should receive such treatment!"

But after eating, lying down immediately isn't good for the body.

I wanted to get up and check out the Executive Lounge or something.

My whole body... is so tired...

*

I don't know how much I slept over the past two days.

I woke up in the morning, ordered room service for breakfast, and ate like a pig, then fell asleep again.

When I woke up, it was around lunchtime.

Maybe because I ate so much from last night, I wasn't really hungry.

Sitting quietly on the living room sofa, I had a random thought.

'If I had come with someone, it would have been nice...'

I didn't realize it yesterday, but I feel a bit guilty now.

It would have been great if my mom, dad, and Eun-jin had come too.

'Should I invite them today? We can stay one more night.'

But I've never seen my parents close their laundry shop on a weekend.

Even if a holiday falls on a weekend, they still work.

Eun-jin is also busy with exams.

The only way is to invite them to close the shop and relax.

For that, I need to earn a lot more.

'Let's go out.'

I'll go out and send them some gifts.

There's no way I can spend all 10 million won just staying in the hotel.

I got up quickly and changed my clothes.

I tidied the bedding and left a note with the cake and wine I didn't eat yesterday, saying, "Please enjoy them," and left the room.

*

After checking out, I headed to the nearest mobile phone store.

"Hello, what are you looking for?"

"I want to buy phones. About four."

"Four?"

The employee's face lit up, and he ran over.

"Four, are you changing phones for your whole family?"

"Yes, for my parents, me, and my younger sister."

"Ah, then how about this model for your parents? Elderly people usually prefer something that's easy to see and use..."

What are you talking about, this guy.

"No, no."

"Excuse me?"

"Give me four of the top-of-the-line Apple models."

"Ah, yes!"

Nowadays, the rule is to give high-end phones as filial piety.

...Of course, it's the first time I've seen this rule.

*

I sent two to my hometown, one to my sister's dorm, and kept one for myself.

Out of the 10 million won I initially budgeted, about 2 million won is left.

It's still Saturday, so I have one more day of personal leave.

But I can't think of anywhere to go.

'Should I go home?'

They say that those who have spent money know how to spend it, and those who have played know how to play. I don't really have any thoughts.

But I have a place I want to go.

I hailed a taxi.

"Hello!"

"Where would you like to go?"

"Do you know the location of the Tree Mariam apartment?"

"Yes, should I take you there?"

"No, take me to the other side of the Han River where the apartment is clearly visible."

It wasn't far, but the road was congested because it was the weekend.

"From here, it's clearly visible. Would you like to get out here?"

"It's fine. I'll get out here. Thank you!"

I got out and sat on a nearby bench.

From there, I could see the Tree Mariam apartment.

The apartment where I was supposed to live.

The apartment where I was going to live with Ji Hyun.

'...It's overwhelming.'

The apartment's exterior wasn't particularly impressive.

It was a bit taller and more sophisticated than the surrounding apartments, but it was still just an apartment.

Still, there was an overwhelming presence that came from the multi-billion won property value.

The sunlight reflected off the apartment's large windows, dazzlingly bright, as if to show off its grandeur.

'From there, you could see the Han River sparkling.'

The memory of visiting the apartment with Ji Hyun.

To be honest, the apartment was more impressive than the hotel I stayed in today.

At that time, I really thought I had succeeded.

A third-generation tycoon, a beautiful spouse, and a multi-billion won apartment by the Han River.

I even said to Ji Hyun:

[ "I thought who would live in such an apartment... It turned out to be me?" ]

Oh, thinking about it now, I feel so embarrassed.

Ji Hyun wasn't thinking about that at the time.

[ "It's not like