This is sex.
Admit it.
I'm no good person. Not by a long shot.
Up until now, I had no choice but to act decent—otherwise, I'd be in deep trouble.
But from here on out, I could do whatever the hell I wanted, and no one could touch me.
I had the money to back it up.
I didn't need to live by laws or moral standards anymore.
Even if red flags popped up everywhere, who cared? I didn't need a job.
Moral backlash? Screw it. I'd already made a lifetime's worth of cash.
'If I'm gonna have fun, might as well go all out.'
You could even call this the first real indulgence of my life.
No point in holding back and ruining the experience out of awkwardness.
"Hyung, why don't you head in first? I gotta hit the convenience store real quick."
"Huh? Let's go together. It's not like it's far."
"Uh... gotta use the bathroom too."
"Alright, then hurry up."
After telling Jae-hoon hyung to go ahead, I rushed around hunting for nearby ATMs.
Every machine I spotted, I pulled stacks of fifty-thousand-won bills from.
Three million each time, seven pulls per machine—about twenty-one million won per ATM.
I hit five spots total, stuffing my bag with around a hundred million in fifty-thousand-won bundles.
No clue how much cash this bar would run me.
Not that I'd blow it all, of course.
But I'd heard stories in movies about nights like this costing tens of millions, so I packed extra.
'This is gonna be fun.'
Hitting five ATMs took a good chunk of time.
Brimming with anticipation, I hurried back to the place.
Jae-hoon hyung, lounging on the sofa and fiddling with his phone, griped as soon as he saw me.
"Man, why'd you take so long? Don't you know I'm footing the bill tonight?"
"Sorry about that."
"What were you even doing?"
"Just withdrawing some cash."
"Cash? I told you I'm covering it."
"Yeah, but I heard tips are a must. Figured I'd handle those."
"Heh, look at you, growing up. Gotta tip the waiter at least—keeps the girls looking good on us."
I hadn't known that.
All I'd done was grab cash to avoid any lame endings.
A moment later.
Two women walked in through the door.
'Whoa...'
They were definitely gorgeous.
Hell, maybe even prettier than...
Ji-hyun, the hottest girl at the bar.
Not that there were many twenties girls there besides her anyway.
Jae-hoon hyung caught my awed stare and nodded approvingly.
Soon, the two settled in—one next to him, one beside me.
Whoa... heart's pounding.
I trusted the cash in my bag.
And the buzz from the drinks.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
We exchanged quick intros and started chatting.
Pros in this game, no doubt—they eased the awkward vibe even with me in tow.
"My little bro here's hopeless at talking to girls. Had to drag him out."
"For real? Why? You don't look half bad."
"What? So you're saying there's some issue?"
"Oppa, why twist it like that? I meant you'd clean up nice."
"Fair. He doesn't bother much with that stuff. Product of all-boys middle school, high school, and the army."
"Oh my god, no way. Look at me, oppa."
The woman next to me turned fully toward me, locking eyes.
I instinctively looked away.
Not used to this.
"You're cute."
"...Thanks."
"Aww, he says thanks. What ever shall we do?"
"..."
"Wanna get better at chatting up girls, oppa?"
"Sure, who'd say no?"
"Just talk to me more, then. Hehe."
She smacked my arm playfully, laughing.
Took the edge right off.
"Guys are all about confidence, you know? Wanna guess why you're lacking it?"
"...Dunno."
"You put women on a pedestal. Think we're some other species."
"Not that bad..."
"So you chat fine with guys, then?"
"Nah, the kid's a talker."
"See? If you handle dudes okay, you've got social skills."
Somehow, the spotlight swung my way.
Call it Project: Teach Lee Do-yoon to Talk to Women.
"Sigh, not sure I should even be giving advice like this. You're one lucky guy."
"..."
"Treat women like they're nothing special, oppa. Never act like you need to impress them."
"...Huh?"
"Think back—ever won a girl over by trying too hard to look good?"
"...No."
Ouch.
If I had, I wouldn't be here.
"That's why you freeze up—overthinking how she'll take every word. Why bother? She'll like you or she won't."
"Really?"
"Better odds showing your true self than clamming up completely."
"Ah."
"Women aren't special. It's all about money. Think we do this 'cause we're ugly? If we met outside, would I look bad to you?"
I shook my head.
Truth was, if we'd crossed paths on the street, I wouldn't have even gotten a word in.
"Other girls any different? Nah, all the same. Just different flavors."
"..."
"Why do you think women chase success? Why bust our asses?"
"Dunno."
"To snag a good guy. Marry someone who'll fix our fate."
"..."
"Instinct. Find a solid protector for the kids. Easier than slaving at a job and raising them solo."
Hmm...
This actually helped. A lot.
The old me? Probably would've shrunk even more hearing this.
No money back then.
But now? Cash was my strongest suit.
"Guys can't quit chasing looks, right?"
"Pretty much."
"Women? Give us money, we'll overlook anything."
"..."
"Sure, embarrassing to be seen with matters. Image is everything."
"Got it."
"Some families even tolerate cheating."
Nothing wild had happened yet, but damn, glad I came.
Who else drops truths like this?
She only said it 'cause of the cash, sure.
"Normally don't give premium advice like this—consider yourself blessed."
"Th-thanks."
"Hey, look at me. No stammering. Say it again."
"Thanks..."
"Louder! What's with the mumble? Own it. You bought my time with money—why be shy?"
"Thanks!"
"There you go. And don't go dumping your life's savings on some gold-digger."
Damn right. Back then, my savings were peanuts—I'd have handed it all over easy.
I'd clawed my way up, dreaming of hot girls as the prize.
But now? Total non-starter. Over a thousand billion won. How the hell do you "give" that away?
Better off with someone else.
Glance sideways...
This noona wouldn't be a bad catch...
She doesn't do seconds either...
'Ugh, you idiot.'
Old habits. Show a little kindness, and I'm hooked.
It's her damn job.
Even if the advice felt extra.
"Feeling grateful? How about tipping our waiter oppa too? Not much—thirty thousand for cab fare?"
"Sh-sure?"
"Stammering again."
"Hold on."
Somewhere along the way, she'd switched to casual speech.
Talk of tips caught Jae-hoon hyung's ear—he glanced over from his chat with the other girl.
Remembered my cash run, probably.
Let's see...
Pulled a fifty-thousand from the bag.
Wait, what?
Mix of soju earlier and whiskey here got me buzzed harder than usual?
Hand went slack—meant for one bill, but a whole stack tumbled out.
Conversation died instantly.
Felt all eyes lock on me.
Scooped them up casually.
"Ahem."
Zipped the bag to stuff the stack back—and revealed piles more inside.
Piles might undersell it.
The bag was crammed full of fifty-thousand-won bundles.
In the dead-silent room, gasps of shock echoed.
Not just one.
Awkward scan around.
Everyone gawking, jaws dropped.
"Hic!"
Even hiccups from the freakout.
From right beside me.
Awkward chuckle.
"Haha..."
No way it'd slide.
Sarang—who'd been schooling me like a close bro—dropped her hands from her mouth, cleared her throat, tried to play it cool.
"Ahem. So I totally fell for it earlier?"
"Huh?"
"What gives? Guy with this kinda pull, and girls leave him alone?"
"..."
Probably the first to see my real deal here.
Shoving shock aside, Sarang forced a grin and scooted closer, grabbing my hand.
Guided it straight to her chest.
"Oppa... take care of me before the waiter?"
"S-sure?"
"Yeah!"
No nagging about the stutter this time.
This what she wanted? Lure my hand there?
The soft, heavenly give under my palm—instinct sent my other hand to the bag.
One bill, two... nah.
Seen the stacks—two's cheap. Pulled four.
"Here."
"Who hands cash like that, oppa? Slip it inside?"
Damn.
Gonna lose it. Booze surged in this insane heat.
N-no biggie.
Today's spend wouldn't dent principal.
Even at three percent, that's thirty billion a year. Taxes take half? Fifteen billion.
Divide by twelve: one hundred twenty-five million a month.
By thirty days...
About four million daily.
Hmm...
'Didn't spend yesterday...'
Eight million. Hungover tomorrow? Twelve million.
Two hundred thousand just now? Pocket change.
"Oppa, just my chest?"
Gasp.
"Whoa... oppa's a real big shot. Can Se-a get a feel too...?"
Damn.
'Fuck...'
Bliss overload—curses slipped out on their own.
First taste of spending joy today.
This is sex.
Falling hard for money and Sarang.