Chapter 31

Chapter 31 – Ill-Fated Relationship from a Past Life #2

Tae-hyuk was going home after he finished his shift as a security personnel when someone struck him from behind with a metal pipe, rendering him unconscious . When he woke up, he was holding a bloody knife, and a bloody man, who had been stabbed dozens of times with a knife, was lying in front of him .

There was no time to escape before the police came and arrested him . At the time, Seo Tae-hyuk had a blood alcohol level of more than 0 . 1% . According to a witness’s statement, the two were arguing when, all of a sudden, Tae-hyuk pulled out a weapon from somewhere and stabbed him .

Of course, Tae-hyuk didn’t have any memory of this . He was trapped in prison with no time to grasp the situation . Everything was done in a quick manner, as if things had been prepared in advance .

For reference, there were two oddities in the case .

Firstly, why had Park Jung-hwan passed by that area without any guards? Secondly, why were five witnesses just watching the fight?

In the early days of Tae-hyuk’s trial, some of the media outlets paid attention to these facts . However, it soon devolved into the process of turning Seo Tae-hyuk evil . They only focused on that, and he was treated like a sociopath .

At that time, Tae-hyuk was in prison . The media were unable to meet him and turned the arrow towards his family .

-What type of family could raise a son that would brutally kill someone that way?

-His parents passed away, and was raised by his older sister . Doesn’t she feel even a little responsible for this?

-I heard that he was violent since he was a child . Did she happen to be hit by him or something?

A ruthless news coverage sprang up against Seo Tae-min and Seo Ha-ran .

It became known to the public that both of them were Seo Tae-hyuk’s family members . Why did Seo Ha-ran and Seo Tae-min receive such treatment?

The ‘thing’ he met before receiving the death penalty said that Seo Ha-ran was fired from her job . However, would that really have been the end of it? What else had happened?

Tae-hyuk felt horrible just imagining it .

“Huu…”

Tae-hyuk took deep breaths to calm himself down .

It hadn’t happened yet, and he had to make sure it didn’t happen in the future . First of all, he needed information on Park Jung-hwan . In order to do that, Big Mama’s cooperation was needed .

Tae-hyuk opened the door to Big Mama’s pawn shop and went inside .

“Omo, Tae-hyuk came . Hung ~ those clothes fit you well . ”

Big Mama laughed and praised Tae-hyuk’s new outfit .

“Hello . I came to receive the rest of the payment . ”

“Of course, I have prepared it . ”

Big Mama smiled and pulled a box of vitamin drinks out of her safe .

“I feel like it’s a crime to give you money in this box . It used to be that money was given an apple box, but this is what everyone is doing these days . One box contains 50 million won . ”

“Well, then I’ll check it right away . ”

Tae-hyuk decided to open the box to check the amount .

Big Mama was a criminal who dealt with information and stolen goods . If she deceived someone regarding money then it would be a blow to her credibility . However, it would be good to make sure .

The box contained 10 bottles of vitamin drinks . It was exactly as written on the outside of the box . Tae-hyuk cried out angrily .

“It is supposed to be Shin Saimdang! Shin Saimdang! Don’t be jealous just because she looks younger than you!” (Shin Saimdang: the first woman to appear on a Korean banknote, the 50,000 won note)

“Ohoho! It’s a joke, a gift . This is the real one . ”

Big Mama pulled out two different boxes . This time, it really did contain a lot of money . Tae-hyuk carefully checked if the amount was correct . There were 20 bundles of 100 sheets, making an exact 100 million .

Now it was time to cut to the chase .

“By the way, is Big Mama in the information business?”

“How did you know? In fact, it is a new business that I started . By the way… the name Big Mama doesn’t hold the dignity I’m looking for . In the future, I might change it to something else . ”

“… I can’t think of you as anything but Big Mama . ”

“Ahaha . Anyway, what did you want to know? The three sizes of your favourite girl?”

Although he was a bit curious, he wouldn’t spend money just to know such a thing .

“I want to find out everything about Park Jung-hwan . ”

“I figured you would ask that . By the way, my information is a bit expensive, so will it be okay?”

Tae-hyuk gazed at the box in front of him without saying anything .

“Pay a deposit of one million first . The investigation period is 10 days, and if I’m successful then pay me another two million . ”

“Sorry, I didn’t quite hear that?”

“This time it isn’t a joke . ”

“E-Expensive!”

It was more than three times the price of other pieces of information . She was probably trying to take as much as she could because he currently had a lot of money .

Big Mama said with a soft smile .

“Politicians on the front lines have a rating above A grade . Furthermore, he is currently in retirement . This is a reasonable price . ”

“Kuheom! Yes, I understand . Instead, please make sure that the information is accurate . ”

“I will zoom in so close that I will know if he holds on to his buddy with his left hand or right hand when he pees . ”

While Tae-hyuk didn’t want to know anything like that, he didn’t want to miss any little clues .

“Then we have a deal . ”

“Thank you for using my services . ”

Big Mama called out to Tae-hyuk as he was leaving .

“Oh, right . Tell me if you ever want to come back to work . You are always welcome . ”

“How much will you pay me?”

“Hmm, 6,500 won an hour?”

Tae-hyuk laughed bitterly .

It was a little better than the minimum wage, but there were many things that he wanted to learn from her .

‘Anyway, I have no choice but to wait . ’

He would use Big Mama’s power as much as possible .

For Tae-hyuk, who only had four skills, this was the best way .

* * *

Tae-hyuk handed his report card to Ha-ran with a serious expression . He was second in the class, and seventh in the school .

Ha-ran asked after seeing it .

“Is this Tae-min’s?”

“No, it’s mine . ”

Ha-ran started to scrutinize his report card with a confused expression .

She screamed .

Seo Tae-hyuk’s name was definitely written on it .

“Omo! Omo!”

Ha-ran reflexively stroked Tae-hyuk’s head and said .

“What did Noona say? I knew you could do it! Really well done!”

Ha-ran’s amazement didn’t end there .

“By the way, Noona . I have one thing to ask so please answer with the truth . ”

“H-huh?”

“Noona isn’t stupid . In fact, aren’t you good at studying? It is enough to go to the university that you wanted . ”

“……”

“I saw the acceptance letter that Noona hid during the voice phishing case . ”

“T-That, I was just lucky…”

“No . Just tell me the truth . Noona had to give up on your dream because of Tae-min and me . ”

“… Yes . Sorry . ”

“Why are you sorry Noona? I’m the one who should be saying sorry!”

“Tae-hyuk doesn’t need to be sorry! I just did what I needed to do… So… Waaaah!”

Ha-ran suddenly started to cry .

Tae-hyuk gently stroked his sister’s back and gave her some tissue .

“Well, you did what you had to do, Noona . Please stop working at the factory now and prepare your luck . And… let’s take the university entrance exam together next year . ”

Ha-ran gazed at Tae-hyuk with red eyes .

“… Huh? T-The living expenses…”

“I will do it somehow . The school registration fees as well . ”

“T-That will cost a lot of money…”

The living expenses for a family of three and the school admission fees . If he included the university tuition, it was a lot of money .

“I have a lot of money right now . ”

“Haven’t you spent all the bounty money?”

In fact, he had saved quite a bit of that money .

He felt remorse for a moment, but that wasn’t what mattered right now .

“Not long ago, I met with the vice president of the Jinsung Group in private . He took me around his house, and in his house, there was a painting that I liked so much that he gave it to me as a gift . In fact, it was actually a very expensive painting . ”

“R-Receiving such an expensive gift! Give it back right now!”

“Well . In fact…”

Tae-hyuk showed her the box filled with money .

“I’ve already sold it . ”

“……”

Ha-ran held a hand to her head, as if she was dizzy .

The box was filled with 50,000 won bills . The total seemed to be in the tens of millions . It was the first time she had seen such a large amount of money .

“Isn’t this enough to live for a few years?”

Ha-ran said quietly .

“Go now and return the money . ”

Tae-hyuk was at a loss for words . He knew that Ha-ran was overflowing with goodness but he hadn’t expected this .

Should he have thought of another excuse? Something like a passerby saving him . They gave him the lotto number or something like that .

But the water had already been spilled .

“Well, 50 million won may be a big amount of money for us, but is it really such a big deal for those who already have a lot of money? Thus, he gave me this as a gift . Moreover, I don’t think it is polite to return something received as a gift . ”

In that case, Tae-hyuk would become a villain .

He first had to convince Ha-ran .

Tae-hyuk spoke smoothly .

“When I think about the personality of the person who gave it to me, I think we should use it . Study hard and go to a good university . ”

“… Certainly, it is rude to return a gift . ”

“That’s right . Can’t we use this money? Let’s study hard and go to university together . ”

Tae-hyuk patted Ha-ran’s shoulder .

“Well, Noona should put this in your treasure chest . That is the safest place . ”

“Yes, I understand . ”

“So, let’s go to a private cram school this Saturday . A friend of mine gave me the information, and she recommended the best cram school . ”

“A friend? Is it a man?”

“No, it is a woman . ”

“……”

At that moment, Ha-ran looked at Tae-hyuk with a shocked face . The kid who had followed her around finally grew up .

“Write the resignation letter immediately . From now on, Noona is a student . ”

Ha-ran’s expression brightened the moment she heard those words . They were her dream words .

“Uh, yes . I understand . Tae-hyuk… Really, thank you…”

Tae-hyuk sighed with relief . Now, it would really start .

It would be different from his previous life, where everyone was unhappy . Ha-ran and Tae-min too . Everybody would be able to achieve what they wanted . It was his only reward for those who believed in him until the end .

Tae-hyuk muttered under his breath, as if he was making a promise .

“I’m going to slowly change it . The future… no, my destiny!”

* * *

Everything seemed like a dream to Ha-ran . She was several times happier this time, compared to the time when they had just moved into the new house .

Abandoned… No, she could achieve her dream that she had given up on .

Her brother, who she thought was a troublemaker, had reached the seventh rank in the school, and told her to go to university together .

She was so happy that she couldn’t help but cry .

Besides…

She didn’t have to look at the face of the manager who harassed her anymore . What would he look like when she resigned tomorrow?

She expected that she wouldn’t be able to go to sleep . Ha-ran pinched herself to check if it wasn’t a dream .

“Ah! …It is real!”

She pulled out the treasure chest and checked the box that Tae-hyuk gave her . There really was 50 million won .

At that moment, Ha-ran became uneasy .

Tae-hyuk said that keeping it here was the safest place . However, a thief entered the house and had taken Rosario just a few days ago . Although it was recovered, the incident had left a big scar on Ha-ran’s mentality .

As the head of the family, she had the responsibility to protect everyone, and she couldn’t do that . If this money was stolen…

Ha-ran was worried, and prepared countermeasures in her own way .

“Ah, yes! This is it!”

Ha-ran smiled happily .

This money was necessary for her family’s dreams and happiness .

She had to protect it somehow . To do that, she was prepared to do anything .