"Nuna, you're here."
"Hm, think the news is true?"
"True or not, people believe what they want."
He dropped it, standing. "Got a schedule to catch. Still time?"
"Ah, right." Checking her watch, Lee Boo-jin strode out briskly. "What's so urgent?"
"Money." He cut to the chase.
She stopped, tossing her hair, amused. "Jin-woo, do I look like a money printer? Wanna rob a bank?"
"That's illegal." He deadpanned.
She facepalmed, teasing, "Oh~ It's illegal. Damn… Our Jin-woo needs cash. What's nuna to do?"
Tapping her forehead, she feigned distress.
"1% of Samsung Electronics stock. Nuna not interested?"
Her woes vanished, eyes gleaming like xenon headlights.
"Jin-woo, don't tease. This isn't funny."
"Teasing? Check it out."
Handing her the file, she barely held it together.
"Come on, car—now." She grabbed his hand, hopping in.
"Why Jeju suddenly?"
"Company issues there. I need to handle it."
"Nuna works hard for others' messes."
"Family—whose mess is whose? It's all the same."
"True!"
She didn't glance up, glued to the file: 1% Samsung Electronics shares.
"Jin-woo, how'd you pull this off?" She couldn't fathom it.
"Like this, like that, pay up." He mimed one hand passing to another.
"That's it?" She stammered, annoyed.
This jerk—when'd he get so infuriating?
"Yup, that's it." He doubled down.
Her fist tapped his head. "Brat, talk straight."
"Ne!" He bowed, contrite.
"You…" Her fist slid from shoulder to chest, shoving playfully.
"Oof, so strong." Clutching his chest, he winced. "Pain, pain, too much."
"Yah~"
She roared, then softened. "I'm not that strong. Your muscles fake? Hm~"
"Aniyo!" He shook his head.
She tugged his shirt. "Fake, right? Let me see."
"Aniyo, aniyo~" He clutched his chest like a girl dodging a creep.
[A big brother acts like a real man.]
[Reject feminization. Cease action now. Punishment countdown: 5…]
He dropped the act, face stern. "20 billion. Give me 20 billion."
"Joking?" She gaped.
1% stock, worth 20 billion?
Its potential value far exceeded that, critical to her.
But…
Extortion was wrong.
"Borrow. It's a loan." He smiled. "20 billion, and this is interest."
The 1% stock authorization was his interest payment.
"20 billion… Jin-woo, that's a tough one." She rubbed her temples.
She craved the shares but lacked the cash.
20 billion wasn't 2 million.
Did he think Samsung's Lee family ran a mint?
"Nuna, someone told me family's most reliable… As a father, shouldn't he do something for his kids?"
She pondered. Kids in trouble go to dad—nothing shameful, right?
"Here, hold it. I'll take it back."
She returned the file, eyes reluctant.
He tapped it on his palm. "You keep it… I'll get authorization papers sent to your office, cool?"
"Really?" She lit up.
"Of course~ You're my trusted nuna!" He acted all "you, I trust."
"Ah~ Jin-woo!" Her heart melted.
She knew the gift's weight better than anyone.
Her cool eyes softened, a rare tenderness threatening to engulf him.
A pleasant ding. [Conquest Progress: 42%. Staged Reward: 1.2% Samsung C&T shares.]
Stingy—30% progress, only 0.2% more shares?
One's Samsung Electronics, one's C&T.
Conquer a few more Samsung women, and the whole company might be his.
Haha…
"Nuna, drop me here."
Middle of nowhere. "Here? Something up? Airport's close—I'll have the driver take you."
"No need. Got business nearby. Driver'll pick me up."
He stepped out, vanishing into dense shrubs.
"Chairwoman?" The driver glanced back, awaiting orders.
"Go… On the way back, check what's there." She instructed.
If not for her rush, she'd have followed herself.
"Ne, Chairwoman." The driver was curious too—what was he up to?
Twenty minutes down a winding path, Lee Jin-woo stopped. "Finally."
A lone two-story building sat on a concrete platform, walls weathered by time.
"Wongok Angel Garden" was barely legible.
In Korea, orphanages were "Angel Gardens"—every child a discarded angel.
Nice metaphor, but reality often sucked.
"Secretary Ha, it's me. Send a car to Wongok Hall… Before coming, grab cakes and gifts—kids' favorites."
Buzz~
Ringing the bell, someone soon answered. "Lee Jin-woo-ssi?"
"Ne, it's me. Director, long time."
"You're here! The kids missed you so much."
"How're they? I missed them too. Your eyes okay?"
The director's eyes had been bad for years, refusing surgery over risks.
"Used to it."
"Everyone's fine, thanks to volunteers like you…"
"Little Nai, Ah-gwang, Sensen…"
"Oh, Agassi (uncle)!"
A gaggle of tots waddled over, arms wide.
Hugging his legs, they yelled, "Agassi, Agassi…"
"Annyeong, everyone." He scooped up pigtail-clad Nai, nuzzling her cheek.
"Ah~ Agassi, what's that?" She spotted his neck tattoo.
He tugged his collar, flustered. "Sticker, just a sticker. Forgot to remove, mianhae."
"Little Nai, uncle's busy. Don't cling. Get down."
The director brought steamed eggs, and the kids swarmed. "Yay~ Eggs!"
"Jin-woo, have one." She offered a peeled egg, smiling warmly.
"Ne~" Sitting beside her, he nibbled, trying to explain. "Um… Director, this is…"
"No need. I know what kind of person you are. The kids do too."
Her familiar gaze eased him. "Just protect yourself, okay?"
"Ne, I will." He relaxed.
The orphanage was his predecessor's sanctuary.
The kids' bright smiles healed all wounds.
His cherished treasure.
Even with a new "self," he wouldn't ruin this.
"Director, how's Angel Garden? Any trouble?"
"None, all good."
"Good…"
Buzz, the bell rang again. She stood. "Who's this now?"
"I'll get it." He slipped on shoes, crossing the yard.
Through the gate's gap, he saw several pairs of feet.
"Who's this? So many."
Opening the gate, black-suited men appeared. "Hey, kid, who're you? Where's the director?"
Their hostile glares pissed him off.
This was Angel Garden. Holding his temper, he asked, "I should ask you. What's your business here?"
"Kid, none of your concern. Move. Get the director."
Leader Ahn Jung-hyun, hands on hips, peered inside. "Director! Come out, or things get messy."
Lee Jin-woo stepped out, shutting the gate. "Talk to me, or leave."
"Ha~" Ahn sneered, brows twitching. "Yah, you wanna die?"
"Old hag, you—"
A quick step, he clamped Ahn's mouth, locking his neck.
Dragging him like trash, he moved forward.
Ahn's men backed off, nervous. "Boss, hey, let go!"
"Yah, punk… Let go or die!"
"Shibal~" A skinny guy drew a butterfly knife, charging with a shrill yell.
Smack~
A slick backhand sent the twig flying faster than he came.
He spun 360 mid-air, crashing butt-first on rough concrete.
(End of Chapter)