Chapter 46

"KIM Mokjeong looked around and whispered, covering her mouth, but KU Do-hyuk didn’t bother to hold back his laughter.

‘Crazy dog? Hah.’

‘It’s not something to laugh about, you brat.’

‘What’s so bad about being a crazy dog? A private equity fund manager? A prosecutor?’

‘It’s a stroke of luck if it’s just a prosecutor. The head of the Anti-Corruption and Major Crimes Investigation Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, I think.’

‘Supreme Prosecutors' Office?’

Just as KU Do-hyuk was about to ask again, not understanding what was going on, KU Myungjin slapped the table.

‘Ahem... shut up and cut the meat.’

KU Myungjin thought to himself.

‘Sigh.’

Head of the Anti-Corruption and Major Crimes Investigation Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

A position that leads corruption investigations, regardless of whether the suspects are politicians or businesspeople. Also, a key advisor to the Chief Prosecutor.

Recently, MIN Daekun had been appointed to that position.

A guy who never lets go once he bites. Known as a ‘crazy dog.’

He had been a person of interest in the group’s planning department for a long time, a key target for lobbying, and his profile had been shared.

‘His in-laws aren’t ordinary people either.’

For KU Myungjin, it was a stroke of luck.

He was glad he had paid close attention when KIM Mokjeong mentioned meeting that girl in the neighborhood.

‘If my wife hadn’t told me, I might have missed it.’

He took a rough sip of cold water.

Things had been anything but smooth lately, with all sorts of issues.

Harmful substances in KJ Home Food products, false defamation of other companies, and bullying of franchisees.

Moreover, the KJ Group’s succession issue was making things noisy both inside and out.

There was no need to stir up trouble unnecessarily.

‘Avoiding it because you’re scared of the shit?’

If bitten by a crazy dog, you don’t die from bleeding or infection; you die from the rumor that you were bitten by a crazy dog.

[Today, Professor KIM Jinsoo will officiate the ceremony, a college friend of the groom, CHOI Jeonghyun... ]

KU Myungjin called his youngest daughter, KU Jihyeon.

“Jihyeon.”

“Yes.”

He pointed at the table where SHIN Yoo-won was sitting with his chin.

“What’s the relationship between those two? Club friends?”

“Probably met at some social gathering. I don’t know much.”

“Not a deep relationship?”

“I don’t know. Don’t ask.”

Though she answered as if she didn’t care, KU Jihyeon’s eyes were already darting towards SHIN Yoo-won.

Pretending not to notice.

Acting aloof.

Sneaking glances.

A kind of possessiveness and pride.

I don’t want to have you, but I don’t want to give you to anyone else.

That’s why.

When she saw MIN Chae-yeon and SHIN Yoo-won talking, she felt a surge of annoyance.

‘How long has it been since they broke up, and they’re still so cozy?’

Especially SHIN Yoo-won.

The SHIN Yoo-won she knew.

He shouldn’t be so cheerful.

‘Without me, you were nothing, right?’

She thought he would cling desperately, even if he smiled on the surface when they met by chance.

But SHIN Yoo-won didn’t seem to notice her at all.

He didn’t look at her even once.

[The bride is entering!]

Even now.

When the bride entered, trailing her long dress, SHIN Yoo-won clapped enthusiastically and smiled brightly.

‘...Really enjoying it, huh?’

His calm demeanor was just unbearable to look at.

KU Jihyeon turned her head sharply and sipped her wine.

At the table, serious conversations were taking place.

“Just leave him alone.”

“Father, what could happen? Is a prosecutor in the Republic of Korea stupid? Would he entrust his daughter to a nobody?”

“Being cautious never hurts. Where is your brother now? Hasn’t he learned anything from that?”

“Ha, damn it.”

“This brat...”

To KU Jihyeon, it was all uninteresting.

Marriage vows, the officiant’s speech, whatever.

Whether a singer came to perform or not.

KU Jihyeon just wanted to go home quickly.

‘Why an outdoor wedding when it’s so hot?’

She took out her phone and killed time.

Scrolling through random pages, she eventually noticed the ceremony was winding down.

[Next, we will take group photos with the groom’s side guests. The order is... ]

KU Myungjin put on his jacket and stood up, and KU Jihyeon asked briefly.

“Do we have to go out?”

KU Myungjin nodded.

Soon, the bride’s side guests.

After PARK Sojeong’s colleagues, the group including SHIN Yoo-won walked out.

KU Jihyeon lifted her head slightly.

‘Their style is really low-level.’

But.

Her gaze naturally drifted to SHIN Yoo-won among the guests.

‘...’

KU Jihyeon quickly tapped her thumb.

[KU Jihyeon: What money did you buy those clothes with?]

She immediately checked for a response.

SHIN Yoo-won took out his phone, glanced at it, and put it back.

‘What, you think you’re better than me?’

KU Jihyeon ran her hand through her hair and sent another message after confirming SHIN Yoo-won had returned to his seat.

[KU Jihyeon: Don’t act tough]

[KU Jihyeon: It’s all obvious]

SHIN Yoo-won took out his phone again.

He left it on the table.

KU Jihyeon’s mouth opened in disbelief.

The wedding was nearing its end.

[Soon, the bride and groom will greet each guest individually to express their gratitude. Guests are free to enjoy the reception. ]

Before the announcement was even over, KU Jihyeon got up from her seat.

“Can we go now?”

But KU Myungjin, unlike before, shook his head firmly.

“CEO Choi will come. Sit down. If he comes, you should greet him properly.”

KU Jihyeon frowned and replied.

“Then I’ll just go to the restroom.”

And at that moment.

Zing—

Her phone rang.

KU Jihyeon quickly opened the chat window.

[SHIN Yoo-won: Behind the annex, by the pond]

A smile crept through her teeth.

‘If you had just said that from the start, why act tough?’

KU Jihyeon straightened her nose and walked leisurely.

*

But reality was harsh.

SHIN Yoo-won said without any pleasantries or smiles.

“Here.”

He handed KU Jihyeon an envelope.

“...What’s this?”

“55 million.”

KU Jihyeon was taken aback.

“No, did you call me just to give me this?”

“Why not?”

“55 million? It’s nothing to me, so just take it.”

“I don’t need it either.”

SHIN Yoo-won’s indifferent response made KU Jihyeon’s voice stiffen.

“I did wrong, so I’m offering compensation.”

The real reason was unknown to anyone, but the justification was compensation for emotional distress, a kind of consolation money.

SHIN Yoo-won stared at KU Jihyeon for a moment, then approached and grabbed her hand.

“...What are you doing?”

He forced the envelope into her hand and said,

“If that’s the case, there’s even less reason for you to accept it.”

“What?”

“Since that day, you’ve been nothing to me. Why should I receive compensation or consolation money from someone who means nothing to me?”

“...What?”

SHIN Yoo-won walked past her.

Angry shouts followed from behind, but he didn’t stop.

He was almost laughing.

Because this meeting today confirmed something.

That this woman would have no impact on his life from now on.

‘...I’m surprised myself.’

Back then, it felt like the world was collapsing.

The cool breeze brushing past her nose carried away all the old emotions and memories.

“Phew...”

And when she looked up at the sky.

──Congratulations!

The blue sky was filled with a message unfamiliar to him.

──《Brilliant 30s: End of Tutorial》 has met the condition 《4. Relationship》.

──The remaining conditions to clear are 《1. Wealth》, 《2. ??ity》, 《3. ??》.

──Once all conditions are met, the 《Brilliant 30s》 system will fully activate.

──At the end of the tutorial, I will be waiting with a gift.

SHIN Yoo-won’s brown eyes sparkled.

How can you be full after the first bite?

He asked himself while walking along the stone wall.

End of the tutorial?

The fourth condition, 《Relationship》?

There are three more conditions?

When he first read the text, he was full of questions, but now he could roughly understand the meaning.

‘My actions just now were connected to clearing the tutorial?’

If so, the 《Relationship》 condition might be about repaying a debt to KU Jihyeon.

There was no emotional debt from the start.

Maybe