I checked the money I'd spent recently and was shocked, nearly passing out.
This was on a scale no ordinary person could even fathom.
'I've spent 35 billion...?'
No matter how much money you have, that's insane.
I'd never dreamed of blowing through that much in such a short time, but thinking back, the house alone was 18 billion, and the car was 11 billion.
Plus, I'd dropped hundreds of millions just on dressing up.
And the taxi I was riding in right now.
To travel in comfort, I wasn't in a regular cab—I was in one of the few Maybach taxis in the country.
"That's 118,000 won."
"...Pardon?"
118,000 won? How far did we even drive?
This has to be a scam, right?
"It's 200,000 won per hour. You can look it up online. If you're going to make a fuss, I'll have to call the police..."
Fair enough. It wasn't just any car—it was a Maybach, the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz luxury.
I paid the fare and took a breath of the cool air, which cleared my head a bit.
Even with 3 trillion to my name, wasn't I spending way too recklessly?
The reunion spot was Yeongcheon Yeongseong in Gangnam, known as a real hotspot.
This place served such delicious beef that even celebrities frequented it.
Rumor had it no one visited just once—either they'd never been, or they kept coming back.
Normally, I wouldn't even dream of stepping foot here, but today the reservation wasn't mine—it was the friend organizing the reunion.
"Do-jun! Over here, man!"
Park Seong-ho, who'd been waiting, waved enthusiastically the moment he spotted me. Damn, you're the only one who came out to greet me like this.
From what I'd heard,
he was thrilled about getting married next year—his excited voice still echoed in my mind.
'Guess I should get him a house or something.'
Inside, over 40 alumni were already gathered.
Seeing their faces after so long brought back a flood of old memories. Of course, I hadn't been close to anyone, so all I had were vague glances from back then.
Still, memories are memories.
"Uh... Seong-ho, who's that guy with you?"
"It's Do-jun. Don't you remember?"
"Do... Do-jun? The real Do-jun?"
One look and it was obvious—this guy was decked out in a high-end suit.
His skin was flawless, like he'd had professional treatments somewhere.
He was over 180 cm tall, dressed in luxury threads and shoes.
I knew who he was.
Choi Jin-wook, the most popular guy in school?
"Oh, hey?"
But my timid, beta-male personality shone through even here.
Staring up at Choi Jin-wook, whose head towered even higher, my mantra of 'Don't back down!' vanished like smoke. I mumbled like an ant, eyes darting around nervously.
Familiar faces everywhere.
Everyone was staring at the newcomer—me.
Long time no see, so greetings were in order, I guess.
"Oh, hey... I'm K-Kim Do-jun..."
"?"
Question marks floated over everyone's heads.
That's when Choi Jin-wook stepped in.
"Come on, guys, don't you remember? He always sat in the corner with that blank look. We used to tease him, calling him a ghost."
"Oh yeah, now I remember. That was Kim Do-jun?"
"Hahaha, the guy who got locked in the gym and begged for help for two hours straight?"
No, you bastards.
Why drag up my dark history like that?
It was back in sophomore year.
After PE class, I was on cleanup duty when
a sudden gust slammed the storage room door shut—bang!
The lock broke from the impact. No matter how hard I pulled, it wouldn't budge, so I screamed for help.
In the end, it took the fire department to get me out.
"Oh, hey..."
Unlike my thoughts, I shrank like a turtle.
My friends burst out laughing, shaking the rafters.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats."
Choi Jin-wook coolly guided me to the center table. There, a stunning woman who could turn heads anywhere was sipping beer alone.
I never expected it to be Kang So-yeon, the prettiest girl in school by rumor.
'Fuck...'
The reason I couldn't look her in the face?
First love.
Don't know where I got the guts, but I'd confessed back then.
And got brutally rejected.
That's why I'd skipped every reunion—she was always there.
"Oh, hey."
"Hey. Long time no see?"
"Y-yeah..."
Choi Jin-wook, watching from the side, slapped a hand on my shoulder.
And said in a chummy tone,
"Do-jun."
"Y-yeah?"
"What've you been up to lately?"
What've I been up to?
Hit the lottery jackpot and turned coins into 3 trillion.
Now playing big spender on Internet Broadcasting streams.
Living like a prince in an 18-billion-won mansion wasn't enough—I blew hundreds of millions daily, out-splurging Saudi princes.
Problem was, I couldn't say any of that out loud.
I'm a coin addict.
Coin whales can't let on how loaded they are.
Jealous viewers might dox me someday or tip off the tax office.
That's why big coin winners live quietly, like mice.
Same for me.
"Unemployed right now..."
Not exactly a lie.
With 3 trillion in the bank, who'd slave away for a few million a month?
My friends had no clue.
"What? Unemployed? You're almost 30!"
"Y-yeah... Quit my job a year ago."
"Why?"
Why the interrogation?
Happy I'm a loser?
What's with that shit-eating grin?
Probably thrilled to see someone doing worse than him.
Choi Jin-wook kept sneaking glances at Kang So-yeon.
This guy's definitely into her.
She'd been aloof in school.
Never dated anyone.
Turned down confessions left and right.
'Come to think of it, how's she doing now?'
Married?
Single?
Or still living that high-and-mighty life from 10 years ago?
She'd hit 30 next year too.
For women, that's "auntie" territory, unlike guys.
'She's gorgeous as hell.'
Even more beautiful than Han Yu-jeong, whom I'd sponsored.
Honestly, cam girls look nothing like their streams without filters—you can't trust 'em.
If it weren't for Choa, I wouldn't have dropped billions on Han Yu-jeong.
I eyed Choi Jin-wook.
His eyes were saying: No lies—spill the truth.
So I laid it all out.
"Even working Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun, my salary was 2.5 mil. Pre-tax, obviously—not post-tax."
"...What? How do you live on 2.5?"
Dude, that's the Korean average.
Do you not check the news?
Choi Jin-wook was always exceptional.
Got over 2 mil allowance monthly.
Parents were doctors—dad a dentist, mom a dermatologist.
Top-earning fields.
Upper 1% in Korea.
A dirt-poor kid like me was worlds apart—an "outsider."
"Skimp and save, and it's doable. Broke now, though."
"Really? I run a small business—want in?"
Hell no.
No way I'm working for a friend and getting treated like dirt.
I shook my head.
"Nah, gotta live within my means. Worst case, logistics center gig. Heh~ Pays decent."
"Hahaha, didn't realize you had principles."
He pats my shoulder smugly.
This prick's handsy for a classmate. Always slapping shoulders. Even my parents didn't do that.
'Ugh... pisses me off.'
I'd ditched the 11-billion LaFerrari, the 1-billion Richard Mille on my wrist, and all my luxury clothes.
I'd said I earned 2.5 mil a month, right?
Showing up dripping in stuff a normie couldn't afford? All eyes on me.
'One wrong move, and some asshole tips the taxman... nightmare.'
These guys? See 'em once, forget 'em.
The only real friend here was Park Seong-ho, chatting awkwardly with well-wishes. He saw me without bias.
'Just drink quietly and bounce.'
I slipped away to an empty corner.
Alone felt better.
Not 'cause I'm a loner.
In this harsh world, caution is key.
'Fancy beef joint... melts in your mouth.'
Free grub—stuff myself silly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The mood was in full swing.
Somehow, I'd downed five portions of beef and four bottles of soju solo.
Damn!
Didn't expect reunion drinks to hit me like this.
Stepped out, cradling warm coffee in both hands, staring blankly at passersby.
Salarymen heading home with briefcases.
A couple strolling hand-in-hand.
As I killed time on a grimy bench,
a familiar figure approached.
"Kim Do-jun?"
"Oh... So-yeon."
With a beauty at my side, people kept glancing back.
Total aggro magnet.
Ever thought of streaming?
I'd drop billions monthly.
"Came out—feeling tipsy. What're you doing here?"
I shrugged at her question.
The booze gave me a smidge of confidence.
A tiny bit.
"Y-yeah, just watching people pass."
"Huh. Weird hobby."
"Yeah. Sometimes I think it's weird too."
"Pfft! What even is that?"
Scratching my head sheepishly, the unexpectedly light vibe made me ask what I'd wondered.
"Got a boyfriend?"
"...Huh? Me, a boyfriend?"
Oh shit.
Suddenly asking an old friend about boyfriends?
That's basically screaming 'I'm into you!'
"N-no... Just figured a stunner like you might be married."
"Pfft, hahaha! That what you were curious about?"
"Huh? Why the laugh?"
"Duh. You were staring earlier when I sat with Choi Jin-wook."
"..."
My ears burned beet red as I fiddled with the paper cup.
Somehow I'd drained the coffee already.
Another one?
"Never had a boyfriend."
"...What?"
"Precisely 'cause Dad's company tanked. No time for dating while hustling."
No way, right?
Young and broke? That's all you'd do!
"I'm a web novel author. Writing on Lightpia."
I jumped.
Flashed a vision of her in some sleazy room with potbellied creeps.
Thank god not.
"Lightpia? That subscription web novel site?"
"Yeah. Took forever to prove my concept, so I tried subscription—boom, hit big."
Unlike her quiet demeanor earlier,
now Kang So-yeon lit up talking novels brighter than anyone.
'Wonder what she writes...'
I wanted to read her stuff.
But blurting that out was a dark impulse.
"...What's your pen name?"
"Huh? Pen name?"
Web novelists don't even tell family their aliases.
Heard it's mortifying for acquaintances to read your work.
But she didn't mind and told me easily.
"Moonlight Girl."
"!"
Moonlight Girl.
I'd heard of her.
Hottest TS author on Lightpia.
'Cumulative views at 40 million?'
Kang So-yeon had raked in 400 million from one smash-hit novel. Superstar author.