Chapter 163 : Epilogue 1 [His Story] (4)

<Post your dream through the glass star!>

A dark room

In a place where only the light of a smartphone shone like a small lamp, there was a girl covered in a blanket.

The old room made into a complete darkroom with even the curtains drawn was a world only for her.

A world only for her where no one could hurt her.

“…”

An app showing a sparkling glass star and message input box that had been flashing since earlier.

<Star of Wishes>

It was a ‘write a wish’ function newly released by a messenger app company that quickly occupied the market to match the smartphone era.

A function to show and share one’s dreams.

Normally, she would have thought it was a meaningless event-like function. But as it was the first event of a foreign conglomerate that quickly occupied the messenger market in connection with various character businesses. People participated with quite high expectations along with skeptical thoughts.

“…Wish.”

The girl thought it might be some kind of marketing broadcast draw planned by the company.

Wishes coming up all over the screen even now.

There were people who wrote phrases close to crime warnings or sexual harassment. But most wrote down their own modest and realistic contents.

-I want to eat premium melons.

-If only I could grow 3cm taller.

-I hope I get accepted to the university I want.

-I wish the girl I like would understand my feelings.

-I hope the weather is clear for tomorrow’s track meet.

-A girlfriend.

The contents of wishes written by people using the app nearby. They were slowly rising behind the glass star.

The screen where numerous wishes written in clean and sophisticated fonts passed by faintly was quite dreamy in itself.

“…”

A space where countless people write down their honest dreams.

Perhaps swept up in the atmosphere of seeing countless wishes pass by like white snow. The girl slowly wrote down the wish she had in one corner of her heart.

Actually, she had a different real wish, but it was too unrealistic.

[I want to go backpacking abroad.]

The girl laughed wryly at her insignificant wish when she saw what she had written. But she became discouraged again at her timidity that couldn’t even boldly reveal this insignificant wish.

“I don’t like standing in front of people…”

A burn scar from childhood

Fortunately, before the fire completely swallowed the girl, her father pushed her back so it ended with just a burn scar around her right eye. But because of this scar that occurred due to curiosity in front of a pottery kiln, Yuki still strongly disliked standing in front of people.

Because of that unconfident attitude, Yuki was still alone even now after entering high school.

“…I hope no one knows who wrote this.”

Yuki threw her smartphone next to her pillow, closed her eyes again, and sent her consciousness far away into the darkness.

That night.

Somehow, it seemed like she dreamed of a white shining star passing by before her eyes.

* * *

“Yeah, Saebyeok. Okay, I’ll do well without getting hurt. What? Concubine? No, not that… Yeah. Oh, Anna said that? Uh… me too. Yeah, thanks.”

Hyun-woo returned to the office after finishing his call with Saebyeok.

Emily roughly guessed everything that was said from Hyun-woo’s face.

“Saebyeok?”

“Yeah. Seems she called because she was worried.”

“Well, her husband is working all the way in Japan.”

“…”

Hyun-woo could no longer refute Emily’s words.

‘I don’t know how it ended up like this.’

Six girls gathered starting with Meilin.

It had already been 2 years since he worked and lived close to them.

By this point, even the insensitive Hyun-woo could tell that the feelings Saebyeok, Emily, Meilin, Haiyun, Anna, Amina, and Fatima had for him were not just a joke or light-hearted. He could also tell that because those feelings were so big and desperate, they were watching each other’s reactions to avoid boldly stepping forward.

‘Once the work stabilizes, I should have a serious talk with everyone.’

If he didn’t clearly determine his feelings for the girls he had formed connections with, he would end up hurting all of them.

Even Saebyeok, who was in the middle of dealing with Emily and sorting things out, and Hyun-woo’s parents seemed to have given up on the expectation that Hyun-woo would choose only one from the start.

–It’s not like you’re a Joseon era nobleman, really trying to have three wives and four concubines…

Stung by his father’s words uttered one day seeing Hyun-woo fooling around with the girls, Hyun-woo went around giving gifts and greetings to all their families while squeezing out time from his busy schedule. Thanks to Hyun-woo’s efforts like that, the girls’ families also seemed to have inclined towards hoping things would work out well in their hearts.

–Well… if everyone agrees, it would be good to live harmoniously.

-Right?

-It’s a bit much to blush and fight at this point.

-As long as the husband provides for everyone…

Meilin, who had been completely caught by Saebyeok, was now serving Saebyeok as her older sister and volunteering as the number two mistress of this household. Amina and Fatima, who had no family, were subtly supporting Emily, who had become the household’s advisor due to her own abilities.

–Well, I expected it would be like this from the start.

Anna, who came with her family and was quite confident in her own abilities, had expressed the position that she would be satisfied as long as she was given sincere affection occasionally, as if she had expected this situation from the beginning.

–Saebyeok has it tough.

Anna respected Saebyeok’s position, as if she saw someone’s image in Saebyeok’s figure struggling for the family’s order despite being of ordinary status.

–Mmmm… I just want to fool around with Hyun-woo even if I don’t get married… Want to?

Haiyun troubled Hyun-woo by showing tastes that couldn’t be predicted at all. That’s why Haiyun was always the top target of vigilance and check for Saebyeok and Emily.

Saebyeok and Emily.

The two girls backed by the support of girls who took one step back

Now that everyone in the Shim family had given up on the expectation of choosing only one, the most important topic was the question of who would take the position of first daughter-in-law.

Anna and Meilin following Saebyeok of legitimacy.

Amina and Fatima following Emily of ability.

Hyun-woo could only break out in a cold sweat seeing such a power structure completed.

He glanced at the smartphone that kept ringing incessantly even now.

‘If this is discovered too, I might get beaten by the two who formed an alliance…’

Because besides the girls he had already formed unbreakable connections with, his smartphone was buzzing with contacts from other girls he had somehow formed big and small connections with while traveling around the world.

“Haah… things have gotten big.”

“Huhu, women? Work? Both are within the expected range though.”

An office in Japan.

Hyun-woo and Emily were rummaging through all kinds of documents in the office that was busily operating until late. Both of them had been staying and eating at the Dream Star Company office in Japan for several days.

Incessantly pouring inquiry calls.

Endlessly pouring faxes and emails.

The IT company Hyun-woo had steadily nurtured in preparation for the smartphone era began to quickly dominate the Asian market along with a new smartphone release from an American company. It established itself in a near-monopoly form while deploying a content-oriented strategy incorporating character industries, stamps, web novels, and webtoons.

An SNS conglomerate growing itself even if left alone.

But Hyun-woo had a business he pushed forward even to the point of establishing a dedicated subsidiary.

–Let’s show the appearance of fulfilling people’s dreams.

Dream

It was a fleeting resonance for modern people and a word that had disappeared into childhood memories.

Hyun-woo wanted to pull out that faded word and give hope to everyone.

Hear everyone’s dreams, help everyone fulfill their dreams.

Approach people who have experienced impossible things and help them stand up.

Help them find small and precious happiness.

–What?! You’re really registering me for a bakery academy?!

-What?! You’re really going to help me fulfill it?!

Rumors of people who fulfilled their dreams growing one by one.

The glass star of wishes that started like that explosively gained popularity along with rumors that wishes really came true. Of course, there were not a few people who said it was a false wish when they went to check, or who criticized Hyun-woo’s actions.

Image management charity business of a conglomerate.

Money waste of a young and thoughtless nouveau riche.

Criticism that he was making content with the appearance of ordinary people living in developed countries while turning a blind eye to the truly unfortunate in Africa decreased in front of the huge food shortage research subsidy and donation list Hyun-woo had extended, but. Hyun-woo’s actions still received much criticism.

–Still, is it common for someone whose name has made it onto the world’s rich list to try so hard to help others like this?

Eccentric investor

Passionate hypocrite

Those were the titles Hyun-woo had gained while running Dream Star Company for the past year. Nevertheless, Hyun-woo wanted to convey hope to people using his wealth.

He endlessly poured the fruits of his efforts into a bottomless barrel.

He didn’t break even in the face of unwarranted malice returned for goodwill extended with noble intentions.

Sometimes requesting help from people around him.

Sometimes predicting unpredictable futures.

Sometimes coming up with ideas no one else thought of.

He rapidly expanded his domain and bestowed it with goodwill for no reason.

Emily couldn’t think of the word ‘defeat’ from such a foolish and inefficient appearance.

Because she had fallen for that stubborn appearance, and people drawn to his goodwill were gathering.

“Really, there’s no waste like this.”

“…Sorry.”

“Huhu, then will you marry me? Me first.”

“Sorry, I must finish talking with everyone first…”

“Yes, yes, I know.”

Huhu~

Emily smiled at Hyun-woo and began sorting documents again.

Seeing that, Hyun-woo also finished sorting and checked the wish list that had come up to him.

‘Hm?’

[I want to go backpacking abroad.]

Why?

When he saw that wish, the title of some forgotten book came to Hyun-woo’s mind along with a white light.

A book that no longer exists in this world.

He thought of the face of some girl on the cover of that book.

Eyes

Riverside

Met in light

Red ribbon

Short hair

Scent of acacia…

Hyun-woo recalled a word he had completely forgotten in the changed world.

“Magical girl…”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“Huh?”

Hyun-woo stupidly asked back while looking at Emily’s face.

“What did I say?”

“It was too quiet to hear… no, you said Emily I love you let’s get married. Let’s have about 12 kids, you said.”

“…That’s a bit.”

“I’m joking. Let’s have just two.”

“…”

Hyun-woo shook his head at those words while stamping ‘Approved’ on the paper with the wish that bothered him.

* * *

Tremble tremble

Yuki was standing nervously in front of Dream Star Company.

‘I never thought my wish would be chosen…’

Because it was such an insignificant wish, when she received a message that the wish she had written and forgotten herself would be fulfilled. Some unknown attraction resonated in Yuki’s heart.

Yuki came to a place more than an hour away from home for the first time in 7 years since getting her burn scar, holding her smartphone and breathing heavily. Her father shed tears seeing such a Yuki advancing towards the outside for whatever reason.

“…”

People glanced at the girl standing blankly by the roadside with her face covered by a hat and mask in broad daylight, and bandages covering one side of her face underneath.

“…”

Afraid

Scared

Unfamiliar

Embarrassed

She wants to run away to the subway and go home even now.

She broke out in a cold sweat feeling like everyone was staring at her.

‘Should I… go back.’

At the moment she was about to turn her steps.

A boy in a suit approached behind Yuki.

“Oh? Did you come because of a wish?”

“…Yes?!”

“Ah, are you not?”

“Th-That’s, um…”

Hesitating

Fidgeting

Yuki couldn’t answer for a while, pondering over a question that could be resolved just by nodding her head. Hyun-woo felt a part of his heart ache seeing Yuki’s appearance.

‘She has… a wound.’

To Hyun-woo’s eyes, Yuki’s face with one side covered in bandages came painfully.

He seemed to know why she showed an unconfident attitude.

Mother from previous life.

Mother limped on one leg.

Even mother, who lived proudly as a pillar of the neighborhood along with Manager Shim, was secretly burdened by the gazes that somehow seeped out of people’s eyes. She gradually shrank and became smaller even in the neighborhood she had lived in for decades.

“…”

“Th-That’s, I’m sorry.”

Hyun-woo could find that appearance, which couldn’t be seen in this world’s mother but clearly remained as a wound in one part of Hyun-woo’s heart, in Yuki’s appearance.

“Let’s go together.”

“Yes?”

Hyun-woo extended one hand to Yuki.

“Even if it’s not a wish, since you came all the way here, I hope you can find what you want.”

“What I… want?”

“Yes, I’m an eccentric who wastes money trying to fulfill other people’s wishes.”

“…Wish.”

Yuki took that hand.

A rough and stubborn but warm hand.

That hand led the girl.

“Did you perhaps just visit?”

“No. Wi-Wish, it’s right.”

“Then…”

“Backpa… ba-backpacking…”

Ah

So it was this girl.

Hyun-woo looked at the girl trembling with nervousness. If this unconfident girl had chosen such a wish to face the outside, he wanted to gladly fulfill it.

Meeting like this must be fate too.

“I see. That’s good. Where do you want to go?”

“Th-That’s…”

“Yes?”

“…”

Would it be too selfish to say I want to change my wish in this situation?

Yuki couldn’t say anything more because of such thoughts.

“…”

“…”

Silence

Quiet office

After the sudden silence passed, Hyun-woo continued speaking.

“By the way, there are many people who changed to their real wish here too.”

“Real… wish?”

“Yes, I’m just doing this because I want to see people being happy… Thanks to that, I get a lot of rumors that I’m trying to start a pseudo-religion, or slander that I have strange ideologies, but.”

Hyun-woo shrugged his shoulders with a bitter smile.

“…”

Yuki thought the light shining through the window behind where Hyun-woo was standing suited him very well.

Perhaps enchanted by that light.

She suddenly spoke her real wish in a low voice.

“…I want to love myself more.”

“I want to live among people.”

“I don’t want to live running away anymore.”

“Please help me.”

Hyun-woo nodded with a serious face at Yuki’s appearance.

Burn scar.

Trauma.

It wouldn’t be asking to solve such things in one breath.

Life’s ups and downs.

Indelible wounds.

Perhaps it was a deep wound like the image of mother remaining in one corner of Hyun-woo’s heart. That wound often revived in Hyun-woo’s heart and caused pain even while seeing the appearance of his parents enjoying vacation surrounded by luxury goods in a hotel suite room.

Hyun-woo had long concluded that time was the only way to solve that pain.

Time it takes to reclaim one’s life and accept oneself.

Instead of mentioning things like plastic surgery or money, Hyun-woo wrote down a contact number on a memo pad. Then he held it out to Yuki.

“Let’s find it together. Until you can love yourself, discovering yourself you didn’t even know and accepting yourself. I’ll help you.”

Yuki received the contact information and stood blankly.

She would have nothing to say even if she was kicked out being told not to say such nonsense, but this boy sincerely accepted her real wish.

“…Why?”

“Well… because we all live to be happy.”

Hyun-woo looked at the blue sky spread out in the wide window in the office.

Yuki also followed that gaze and looked at the blue sky.

“Because there’s no one who can’t become happy.”

“…”

Yuki seemed to understand why this young eccentric rich person was trying to help others.

‘This person doesn’t believe in his own happiness either.’

He’s trying to find his own happiness while finding happiness for others.

Like that, the two on the day they first met.

Looking at the piercingly blue sky, they could empathize with each other.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“…I look forward to working with you.”

The moment two fates in the world that would never have met originally intersected.

The white starlight that finished its last blessing’s calling escaped from the two people and returned to its original world.

The boy will continue to try to believe in his own happiness while helping countless people, and the girl will try to find ways to love herself beside such a boy.

The boy and girl who were not loved by the world met in a slightly changed world.

Their story changed a little but.

Nevertheless, it was continuing.