If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 15

The gifted education program that Jeong Hyeon-gyo had been attending since last year was affiliated with Seoul National University, and his second maternal uncle was a full professor there.

It wasn’t a secret within the school that Professor Bae’s nephew belonged to the gifted program, so naturally when they couldn’t reach his guardian, people had no choice but to look for Professor Bae.

In that process, Jeong Hyeon-gyo did nothing.

But he knew from experience that he shouldn’t rebel at times like this.

Jeong Hyeon-gyo silently endured the fingernails stabbing his forehead.

He had already prepared himself for this from the moment the staff member who knew nothing of the circumstances went to find his maternal uncle.

“What did you say? What did you babble to that person, you?”

“I didn’t say anything. Mother.”

“Don’t lie. You think a sneaky kid like you would create an opportunity to be alone together for no reason? Don’t I know you? Where do you get off acting innocent! Bring me the switch!”

“Mother. It’s 4 o’clock. Hyeon-hye will be back soon.”

4 o’clock was when Hyeon-hye’s ballet academy ended, and 6 o’clock was when her husband would come home from work.

Eun Yeon-ju checked the clock and tried to catch her breath.

But looking at her son who had calculated all of this, disgustingly lowering his eyes, the rage filling her heart wouldn’t subside.

Sharp fingernails stabbed his chest again.

Moving closer to her son who never once met her gaze, Eun Yeon-ju lowered her voice.

“Mom always told you to eat in moderation. Since your stomach is so bad from overeating, you won’t be able to eat dinner tonight, son. Right?”

“…Yes. I overate.”

“Mom will personally take you to the gifted program tomorrow, so wait. We’ll settle accounts then.”

Just as the mother-son conversation was ending, the sound of a door opening came and a girl ran into the house.

“I’m back. Mother.”

“Our princess is here?”

Eun Yeon-ju smiled sweetly toward her daughter and embraced her. As if nothing had happened, as usual.

♧

I organized four items in my notebook.

Potential, destiny power, compatibility, and connection level.

The first two are the [power] that an individual person possesses.

Potential referred to the size of talent in the category that person belonged to.

Taking Bae Seo-nyeok as an example, that person had 4-star ability in [Culture·Arts]. It was truly terrifying talent.

And destiny power.

This means how much destiny’s underlying strength one has to unfold such potential.

He acts so well, so why is he unknown? She’s smart but always fails when taking tests~ These cases are exactly when potential is high but destiny power is low.

Crudely speaking, it meant their luck was lacking.

No matter how outstanding potential you have, if destiny power doesn’t properly support it, you can’t reach great heights.

Conversely, even if potential is insignificant but destiny power is tremendous, there’s a possibility of unexpectedly succeeding like winning the lottery. However, such cases were very rare.

‘Potential and destiny power are like this…’

Compatibility and connection level.

These were truly important items for me.

If connection level literally shows how strong and deep the bond between the other person and me is, then compatibility meant the chemistry between me and the other person.

It was the total numerical value of all those harmonies – whether each other’s natures blend well together, whether you work well with this person, etc.

If compatibility is low but connection level is high, you’d fight like enemies yet be tied together tediously, and if compatibility is high but connection level is low, you could become business partners who part on good terms.

“But Bae Seo-nyeok’s connection level is as high as 4 stars.”

If compatibility is 2 stars, it means he’s not really a style that matches well with me, so why is the connection level so strong?

There’s a huge age difference, and our only intersection is being neighbors’ cousins…

Since I’m the one at a disadvantage, the system’s words about making a good impression were quite concerning.

‘What could it be?’

Could it be… Bae Seo-nyeok will help me debut?!

“No way~.”

That’s going too far.

“I’d have to want to become a celebrity for that.”

“What celebrity? Why suddenly a celebrity? Does our daughter want to become a celebrity?”

“…No. Go do what you need to do, Mom. Aren’t you busy? Why do you keep following me around?”

“Mom wants to do a cucumber pack too. Do it for me~.”

…Is this my mom or my sister?

I wonder if Madam Bang Suk-yeong is truly aware that her daughter is only eight years old.

I swallowed a sigh and slapped angry cucumbers all over the face of the madam who was sticking to me like gum.

“Ouch~ Be gentle. But daughter. Just tell Mom. Are you really working this hard because you want to become a celebrity?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Otherwise, where else would you find someone who cares about appearance like you? A little kid who won’t eat flour, won’t eat chicken. Never snacks even once. That’s right, you don’t even eat bread! My goodness~ How do you live like that?”

“Forget it. What would Mom know!”

Who would want to live like this?

But people only realize something’s value after losing it. How many years did I live in regret because of wrong habits from childhood?

Before my regression, I was a severe atopic dermatitis patient.

It was a case where mild symptoms from childhood developed into severe adult atopic dermatitis due to wrong eating habits and neglected care, and I don’t know how painfully I lived.

Because of red scars covering my entire face, my daily life was disrupted and my relationships often fell apart.

「Seosing-a, looking at you, your features and everything, you really have good foundation, but because of your skin… I feel sorry for you.」

「That’s harsh. You can’t remove your makeup anywhere. You can’t even stay out overnight, right?」

「Have you been to a dermatologist? What did they say? Dermatology procedures are really good these days.」

「Isn’t that atopic thing because you scratched it? Have some self-control.」

「Seosing-a is pretty? You haven’t seen her bare face. When she removes her makeup, she’s a monster~.」

‘If only it wasn’t for the skin’.

Because of that one condition, people more easily added their words, carelessly meddled, and casually stabbed at others.

I thought I had escaped from those wounds by defiantly wearing heavier makeup and calling myself a beauty… but it was all a delusion.

The person who completely destroyed me was, ridiculously, my ex-fiancé.

「Honey, you’re… disgusting.」

Please don’t remove your makeup if possible~.

He threw it out like a joke along with those words, but it was enough for me to decide I’d never lie in the same bed with someone in my natural state again.

‘That bastard Andrew…’

Even after regressing, it still pisses me off.

Andrew Gu. Watch your back.

That British loser with rock-bottom social skills who only meets women through apps, damn it.

“I swear there will never be chicken or bread in Seosing-a’s life. It’s all poison for the skin. Mom, remember this too!”

“Poison…”

Madam Bang Suk-yeong, who couldn’t live without chicken and beer, looked at me with disgust, but I was resolute.

Diet is the only medicine for atopic dermatitis.

Originally, atopic symptoms at my level can be improved to near-cure levels with proper dietary management in childhood.

In my previous life, I learned this too late and missed the golden time. Now that I’ve regained clear, white skin with difficulty, I won’t make the same mistake twice!

Goodbye to the days when I wouldn’t step outside without makeup, and even at swimming pools I’d stiffen my neck like someone who’d die if water touched me, getting neck cramps…!

“So you’re really not interested in being a celebrity? Be honest. Mom will support you. Mom’s not that old-fashioned! Mom’s clothing store sometimes gets sponsorship inquiries too, you know~.”

“What celebrity. Where do I have that kind of talent?”

Of course, I hadn’t never thought about it.

Who are celebrities?

They’re the nouveau riche of modern times.

In a world where the daily news is all about ‘so-and-so became a building owner’…

From a money-obsessed perspective, if I only thought about 1 trillion won, that might be the shortest route to securing seed money.

After all, as a regressor, I practically know all the hit works for the next 20 years.

‘But…’

“You know how I am, Mom. I’m extremely shy around strangers.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

My face turns red and my hands and feet tremble when just three or more people look at me—how could I become a celebrity?

I can’t even count how many presentation classes I ruined from elementary school through college.

I’ve imagined it every night before sleep, but thinking about how I might rely on my face and cheat keys only to create countless embarrassing moments that get preserved forever…

I didn’t want to think about it anymore!

‘Besides, the story will be different in a few years anyway.’

When ‘that contact’ comes in a few years, I plan to go to the United States.

If I sweep up American stocks after the legendary bubble ends, I’ll have enough ammunition for coins.

“Not just anyone can become a celebrity~. It’s all about natural talent.”

“What a waste. Mom gave birth to such a pretty daughter.”

“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

Right? This way is best, isn’t it?

I pushed away the lingering thoughts about my connection with Bae Seo-nyeok and glanced at the calendar with a red circle marked on it.

February 14th, 1998.

It was the date of NEU telecommunications company’s nationwide audition.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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