If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 27

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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 27

‘Wow, I’m dizzy!’

As soon as I put my eye to the kaleidoscope, I automatically knew how to use it.

When I turned the lens, the view in front of me split into tiny fragments.

The kaleidoscope’s characteristic brilliant geometric patterns rotated, then at some point the primary colors scattered as if frozen and my vision cleared.

The scenery I saw was no longer the playground.

Rain was drizzling down.

The sky covered with dark clouds was gray.

The granite stone building that occupied more of my view had an even more drab color.

On the wide central stairs leading to that place, black umbrellas were gathered in clusters.

Among the people in suits rapidly exchanging words, there was Jeong Hyeon-gyo.

‘That person is Jeong Hyeon-gyo?’

For a moment I almost didn’t recognize him.

He was dressed in a suit like the people around him.

He wore a long coat over his thin body, and even though he wasn’t holding an umbrella, the people around him surrounded and protected him so thoroughly that he didn’t get wet from the rain at all.

With his hair slicked back with pomade and wearing rimless glasses, Jeong Hyeon-gyo was receiving such devoted attention as if it were natural while expressionlessly listening to what the person next to him was saying.

He was very authoritative and surprisingly unfamiliar.

His face was mature but still young, and his features that had been handsome since childhood were now fully ripened, incomparably more impressive than in his childhood.

But his complexion was pale, his lips were dry, and there were faint wrinkles carved between his brows as if he often frowned.

Overall, he was a man who looked not just cold but harsh.

And it was right after I spotted the ‘Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’ logo on the brown document envelope held by the man right next to Jeong Hyeon-gyo.

「Chief Prosecutor!」

Jeong Hyeon-gyo turned around.

His gaze landed exactly where I was standing.

I had the illusion that our eyes met.

Snake-like eyes.

I got goosebumps and instinctively shuddered—

“Sing-a?

【’Future Kaleidoscope’ has been deactivated.】

【Reuse waiting time: 89 days 23 hours 47 minutes】

“Can I open my eyes now?”

I looked at Jeong Hyeon-gyo, who had his eyes closed, with a bewildered feeling. It took a while for the sense of reality to return.

‘No way… is this for real?’

Chief Prosecutor?

Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office?

The kid who closes his eyes when a girl two years younger tells him to, and doesn’t even open them again on his own but meekly asks?

This Jeong Hyeon-gyo is the same person as that viper from earlier?

‘It’s not Jeong Hyeon-hye but Jeong Hyeon-gyo who became the viper!’

Why?! Why?

What on earth is going on?

It’s not because I, as a modern person living in the 21st century, have some prejudice against the profession of prosecutor.

Future Chief Prosecutor Jeong Hyeon-gyo was clearly not a good person. He was the epitome of a typical villain prosecutor who would make even a young child who knows nothing about physiognomy burst into tears…

‘Mr. Jeong Hyeon-gyo, what kind of life did you live?’

“Didn’t you say oppa learns natural science and stuff like that at the Gifted Student Program?”

“Can I open my eyes?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You can think of it as learning advanced courses in basic sciences like math, physics, and chemistry from professors.”

“Then you’re in the science track, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…How is studying? Is it fun?”

“It’s not bad. Why?”

I didn’t know what to do with this complicated feeling.

I had no idea what process a science-track boy genius good at English would have to go through to become Chief Prosecutor of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office!

“Well… I think you should be careful when changing majors.”

Jeong Hyeon-gyo slightly furrowed his brow as if he didn’t understand. Without realizing it, I became urgent and shouted.

“Don’t frown! Don’t make that face!”

“…Sing-a. Did something strange happen while I had my eyes closed? What’s wrong?”

Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s tone became calm.

I could feel his eyes carefully observing me. The blue grape candy in the boy’s mouth hadn’t even dissolved yet.

How bewildering would it be for the person in front of you to change attitude in just 15 seconds?

‘I must look like a crazy person!’

Feeling guilty, I thought I should escape the situation and gave a perfunctory farewell.

So I had no way of knowing how dark Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s face became behind my departing back.

♧

“What? Bae Seo-nyeok asked about Sing-a’s career path? So what did you tell him, Sook-yeong?”

“What could I say~ I told him the child is young so she hasn’t thought about anything yet.”

“Are you crazy! When Bae Seo-nyeok asks like that, it means he wants to nurture Sing-a!”

“He just asked casually. If it was more than that, he would have said something else. But that was all he said.”

“How bland of him… No! Maybe he wants to watch and see because Sing-a is too young. Think about it. Would Bae Seo-nyeok go around testing just anyone? It’s Bae Seo-nyeok we’re talking about?”

“I suppose…”

“Exactly! Anyway, it’s certain that our Sing-a has talent! Right, Sing-a? You can’t forget your aunt when you become a star later~.”

Jeong Suk-im laughed heartily.

The cheerful Jeong Suk-im was Mother’s friend of 20 years.

From savings group meetings to card game gatherings and direct sales cosmetics meetings, she and Mother were inseparable.

She was also Seok Eunchoo’s mother.

I rubbed my pinched cheek while recalling Bae Seo-nyeok’s ambiguous attitude in the car last month.

Mother hadn’t told Jeong Suk-im everything just now.

「Ma’am, do you have any thoughts about Sing-a’s career path?」

「Career path? The child is still young. What career path~」

「Then is Sing-a learning anything separately? Nothing? I noticed earlier that she seems brighter than her peers.」

「She likes reading newspapers. I don’t know how she developed such an old person’s hobby at such a young age, but she gets up every morning and reads them daily. Oh! And she’s also attending a ballet academy because she begged to go.」

「That’s good.」

「Pardon?」

「It would be good to continue learning ballet. Whatever you learn comes in handy.」

「Look at this person~ You really talk like an uncle?」

「Don’t I?」

「Mr. Bae Seo-nyeok. Speaking seriously, our child is very shy by nature, so it would be difficult for her to go in the direction you’re thinking. She had a really hard time today too. And the entertainment industry isn’t all good, you know?」

「Ma’am. There’s something I’ve learned from living this life.」

「…」

「Some things can’t be avoided just because you try to avoid them.」

“What do you mean?”

“You mentioned the rumors about Director Ham Gyeong-seok earlier.”

“Ah… that’s because I thought it was true.”

“It’s only natural that you’d think badly of this industry after hearing only those stories.”

“…”

“The truth about that incident is… that actor begged Ham Gyeong-seok to mentor him, and when Director Ham refused, he did it out of revenge. There was a scene where he had to take medicine, but he deliberately brought real drugs and took them. Then later he spread rumors that the director forced him to do it for realism because he had no choice. He was well-connected, so it got out of hand.”

“What a bastard…”

“He is a bastard. But why do you think that bastard went to such lengths?”

“Why did he do it?”

“Those eyes. Director Ham Gyeong-seok’s eyes are famous. Incredibly so. Anyone in the know is aware of it.”

“…”

“Among all the actors he’s cast since his school days, not a single one has failed to succeed. Even without working with Ham Gyeong-seok again, every actor who received Ham Gyeong-seok’s seal of approval has succeeded without exception.”

“…”

“I’m one of them.”

“Oh my…”

“This is my number. Please keep it.”

“I’m not convinced yet…”

“I’m not trying to convince you, nor am I saying you should seriously consider it right now. But wouldn’t it be better for the child to keep her career options open? So that whatever choice Sing-a makes later will be fine.”

“That’s a fair point.”

“I might contact you first from my end. I’m just laying the groundwork so you won’t ignore it as an unknown number when that time comes.”

“That works. Where in Korea would you find someone who’d refuse a call from Bae Seo-nyeok?”

“Hello? Yes, this is Sing-a’s mother. Oh my! Really! Oh~ I’m the one who should be grateful, Producer! You worked so hard. Then I’ll be waiting. Yes, yes. Take care!”

I snapped to attention at the sound of the phone ringing.

Mother hung up the beige corded phone with a bright smile and a click. Aunt Jeong-suk asked urgently.

“What did they say? When does the commercial start airing?”

“The 24th at 7 o’clock! Right before MBC ‘Ilbam’ starts!”

That day when we returned in Bae Seo-nyeok’s Range Rover.

As I was getting out of the car following Mother who had gotten out first, Bae Seo-nyeok casually said to me.

“A lot of things will change come May, Sing-a.”

Director Ham Gyeong-seok had also said.

“I’m going to make you a star.”

“What? Then that’s right before Yangshim Refrigerator starts?!”

Aunt Jeong-suk looked back at me with eyes mixed with shock and excitement. Mother’s laughter echoed in the background.

“Sing-a! The entire nation is going to see you on television! Oh my goodness!”

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter too. It was May.

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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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