#10

My one and only younger sister, Cheon.

The sibling who was born at the same time as me and had never once been apart from me in our entire lives.

I was more worried about that child, who would be left alone, than about my own body, the state of which I did not even know. If time was passing in the real world and I had disappeared or had been found collapsed in the living room, how shocked and worried would Cheon be? Thinking of Cheon, I could only hope that time in the real world had stopped.

Lost in these endlessly sinking, melancholic thoughts, I briefly tightened the arm covering my eyes, then staggered up from the bed. Lying there and dwelling on my circumstances wouldn’t solve the problem I was facing, and when my thoughts were too overwhelming, I figured it was better to just move.

I stepped into the overly luxurious bathroom in my room, took a quick shower, and then headed to the dressing room. My hands moved leisurely as I selected today’s attire from the clothes, watches, cufflinks, and ties that filled the vast room.

When I first arrived at this house, I had been amazed multiple times—first at the sheer size, which was grand enough to be called a mansion, then at the vast garden that seemed big enough for a soccer game, and finally at the existence of an actual dressing room, something I had only heard about before. I had stood there, dumbfounded, my expression vacant.

Well, surprises only last a day or two. After a week of living in the same place, I had no choice but to get used to it, whether I liked it or not. Thinking this, I firmly tightened the knot of my tie. As I adjusted my clothes in the full-length mirror standing in one corner of the dressing room, my reflection felt both familiar and strangely foreign.

At the very least, and thankfully, my appearance was the same as in reality. My unusually pale skin that made me look sickly, the cold impression that startled people upon first meeting me, and the sharp eyes that resembled my younger sister Cheon—all of it was identical.

However, even to someone as fashion-illiterate as me, the expensive-looking clothes and neatly waxed-back hair still felt out of place. The sight was too different from the real-world me, who always wore comfortable clothes at home, kept my hair naturally messy, and focused solely on writing. It was honestly too awkward.

But what could I do about it? In this world, I was the president of a company, and with such a weighty position, I had to at least maintain a minimum level of image management. Letting out yet another sigh—one of countless ones—I straightened my attire and left the dressing room. That was when I noticed Sung Yoojun, my secretary, standing silently in the living room, waiting for me.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning to you too, Secretary Sung. Have you had breakfast?”

“Yes, I have. Have you eaten, sir?”

“I’m not particularly hungry. I think we can leave right away.”

I glanced at the neatly prepared breakfast on the dining table as I spoke. The steaming hot soybean paste stew, the perfectly cooked rice, and the side dishes arranged beautifully on plates all looked delicious, but I had no appetite. It seemed better not to eat at all than to force myself and risk feeling unwell. With that thought, I started heading toward the door, but I noticed Sung Yoojun standing still, staring at me intently.

“Secretary Sung?”

Hearing his name spoken in a way that asked why he wasn’t moving, Sung Yoojun’s brow twitched slightly.

“Sir, unless I am mistaken, you have been skipping meals quite frequently lately.”

“……Have I?”

“Yes, you have.”

Faced with his firm response, I took a moment to reflect on my eating habits over the past week.

……Now that I thought about it, I really had skipped quite a few meals. Had I even managed to eat once a day? But with my mind so preoccupied, how could I possibly have had an appetite? It wasn’t like I could force myself to eat.

“I suppose it’s because I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.”

“Not having an appetite does not justify skipping meals, sir. It’s bad for your health.”

His cold-looking face was set in a stern expression. But I could tell his strict words were spoken out of concern, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“I’m sorry.”

“There is no need to apologize to me. If anything, you should apologize to yourself, sir. It’s your health that is suffering, not mine.”

Well, that was too accurate to argue with.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I forced an awkward smile. Seeing this, Sung Yoojun let out a deep sigh, took off his jacket, draped it over the back of a dining chair, and began rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

“Secretary Sung?”

“I will make you some porridge, sir.”

“No, you don’t have to—”

“It won’t take long. Please wait a moment.”

Hmm…… It didn’t seem like he would take no for an answer. Watching his back as he rinsed a pot at the sink, I eventually turned away. I couldn’t just stand there, so I decided to sit on the living room sofa while I waited.

Taking off the black coat and jacket I had put on in preparation to leave, I draped them over the armrest before settling onto the couch. The seat beneath me was much softer than the chair in the President’s office I had used earlier.

So this is the comfort of wealth…… I silently marveled at the sofa’s plushness while turning on the television, which was placed in one corner of the living room. The screen immediately displayed a variety show where unfamiliar celebrities were chatting energetically.

Back in reality, I would occasionally watch entertainment programs or dramas that suited my tastes, so I recognized quite a few celebrities even if I didn’t know their names. But since coming into this world, I had never once seen any of the entertainers I knew on TV or the internet.

There were no comedians from my favorite variety shows, no actors from the dramas Cheon had diligently followed. This absence always gave me an odd feeling, as if it was proof that I truly was in a different world.

Eventually, unable to shake that strange feeling, I picked up the remote and started changing channels. After a few presses, I landed on the news.

“Our next story: Popular idol group Tartarus has ended its contract with Lee Yong Entertainment and signed a new deal with Goo Won Entertainment. Goo Won Entertainment, where Tartarus has now settled, has been revealed to be a subsidiary of Haje Group, a multinational corporation based in South Korea. Haje Group operates a wide range of businesses, including the globally recognized Haje Hotels……”

Ah, that’s my company. Or rather, the company owned by my character in this game.

It had taken me a few days to realize, but Goo Won in this world wasn’t just wealthy—he was absurdly, insanely, ridiculously wealthy. At only 30 years old, he was the chairman of a massive conglomerate with multiple subsidiaries. No wonder the amount of money he had loaned to President Lee Yongjun had been so staggering.

Just a few days ago, I had been living an ordinary life as a moderately popular author. And now, I was the chairman of a giant corporation. It was the kind of development straight out of a fantasy novel. But rather than getting lost in disbelief, I decided there was no benefit in denying reality. So, I resolved to accept it.

“Sir, your meal is ready.”

“Yes, I’ll be right there.”

Just as I was deeply focused on the news, Sung Yoojun’s voice called out from the dining room. I set the remote down on the table and walked over. The dining table, once laden with various dishes, now held only a bowl of porridge, braised beef, and chopped kimchi.

“It’s vegetable porridge. I made it quickly, so I can’t guarantee the taste, but I hope it’s acceptable.”

“I’m just grateful that you made it. Thank you for the meal.”

Expressing my appreciation, I picked up my spoon. I lightly scraped the surface of the steaming porridge and took a bite.

A slightly hot but pleasantly savory flavor spread through my mouth. Surprised by how delicious it was, I widened my eyes and looked at Sung Yoojun.

“Does it suit your taste, sir?”

“Yes. It’s really good.”

With an admiring voice, I kept eating, shoveling in spoonfuls as if I had never lacked an appetite. Seeing his satisfied expression, I knew Sung Yoojun was pleased, but I couldn’t stop myself—the taste was just that good.

Eventually, after finishing a bowl of porridge in an instant, I felt pleasantly full for the first time in a while and contentedly purred as I got into the car to head to work. My home, located on the outskirts of Seoul, and the Goo Won Entertainment office building were about a 30-minute drive apart, provided there was no traffic.

“Come to think of it, when are the kids supposed to arrive?”

“According to Manager Ahn, they should start the discharge process around 11 a.m. If they head straight to the office from the hospital, they should arrive no later than 12 p.m.”

12 p.m., huh…

As I heard Sung Yoojun’s estimated arrival time, I absentmindedly tapped my fingers against my thigh, lost in thought.