Life Reversal with Stock Cheat

**"Advance payment?"**

Im Han-ul's eyes widened.

I had asked for a job, but now I was asking for an advance, so it was only natural that he looked at me strangely.

But I had to say it. I needed money right away.

"I need some urgent cash. Please, can you give me an advance? I'll work hard, I promise."

Im Han-ul's expression grew more serious. He furrowed his brow and glared at me.

"Don't lie. Be honest."

"What do you mean?"

"You've been gambling, haven't you?"

"Gambling?"

I'd never even been near a gambling hall.

"Really? Then what is it? Did you borrow money from a loan shark?"

"Uh... yeah, I borrowed money from a loan shark."

"Ugh, you fool. Why'd you do that?"

"I was trying to invest."

It wasn't a lie, after all...

Im Han-ul looked at my face and let out a loud laugh. He laughed a few more times, then leaned back on the sofa, covering his face with his hands.

"Jaegu, our hardworking and honest Jaegu... How did you end up like this?"

There were many excuses I wanted to make, but it didn't seem right to say anything to an old club friend. I remained silent, and he sighed heavily before sitting back up.

"Jaegu, do you know why I called you?"

"To offer me a job?"

"Exactly. But do you know why I called you, even though you've been involved in embezzlement?"

"Because you trust me?"

"Yes! I trust you! The Kim Jaegu I knew was too timid to even gamble!"

I remembered the times when we went to the racetrack, and I nervously bet just one thousand won while everyone else was betting big.

"That Kim Jaegu would never do something as reckless as embezzling. But Jaegu, you're the type to go all in when you do something, right?"

"Me?"

"Don't you remember the Kakao revenue project?"

It was the project we submitted for the startup competition in our club. The memories of the weeks spent brainstorming and working together came rushing back.

"Oh, that."

"That project wouldn't have passed the competition if it wasn't for you."

"Yeah, but it ultimately failed."

"Of course it did! But what could we have done when another company took it? Even if Bill Gates were a college student, he wouldn't have stopped it."

"That's going too far."

"The Kim Jaegu I know!"

He said it loudly, locking eyes with me.

"If you were going to embezzle, you would have done it so no one would catch you. Right?"

I almost answered "Yeah." Even though I never embezzled, if I had, I wouldn't have been so sloppy. It was too careless to get caught in the first investigation.

"I didn't embezzle, damn it."

"You're right. That's Kim Jaegu for you—ridiculously honest and meticulous."

"Thanks."

For the first time since I got out of prison, someone other than my family was comforting me, and it made my chest tighten.

'It's not the Jajangmyeon I ate earlier, right?'

Im Han-ul wore a smug expression.

"Why? Did you get emotional?"

"I think I'd be more moved if you gave me that advance..."

"You stubborn bastard. Just like I remember."

Thanks to Im Han-ul, my old self was starting to resurface—the kind of stubborn person who gets obsessed with something and doesn't care about anything else.

'When did I forget about it while trying to please my boss and wife?'

It felt like I was back in college. Back when I used to obsess over anything I did.

'That bitch. I'll make her regret it soon.'

I would take back everything she had taken from me, even my daughter Ha-yeon. I would make sure she and her husband ended up on the streets. I was scared of going up against a chaebol, but with my new ability, I thought I might have a chance.

But not yet. I was still in the process of gradually building my funds.

Im Han-ul brought his hands together, forming a pyramid shape, and furrowed his brows. He leaned forward, placing his face into the pyramid.

"An advance payment..."

"Just for three months, please."

"Three months?"

"Please."

Im Han-ul sighed deeply. He walked to the desk and pulled out some papers—an employment contract and a loan agreement.

"I trust you, Kim Jaegu."

The next day, 5.4 million won was deposited into my account.

[You know you're starting work next Monday, right?]

I never expected a lifeline to come from such an unexpected place.

Since I had stock investments and would have some free time afterward, I figured I should do something to keep my mind from wandering.

[Thanks.]

[If you're thankful, work hard, you bastard.]

I couldn't help but smile as I read the messages. They say that when you're in a tight spot, your relationships get clearer, and it seemed true.

'If I bring home some chicken, Ha-yeon will be happy.'

It seemed like I was becoming one of those dads who think about their kids before their parents.

No matter how good the house is, it's still hard to feel happy for someone else's kid. No, because it's a good house, it probably made me even more resentful. If I ever had a real child, I knew I'd be left out of the family.

Taking care of those scumbags was important, but for now, my priority was to get my daughter Ha-yeon back.

'Just wait a little longer. Dad will come for you.'

I couldn't meet her yet. Once I had gained confidence in myself, when I could say proudly that I'd secured a place for myself, then I would go to see Ha-yeon.

To do that, I first needed to clear my name. Being around a criminal dad would be too hard for her to handle, with the constant judgment from others.

'Damn it, who set me up? No matter how I think about it, it's either Seo Eun-chae or Dokgo Jeong.'

There was no reason for anyone other than those two to trap me. After all, they got married only three months after my divorce.

Though I had no evidence, my suspicions were clear. To secure proof, though, I needed money.

Grinding my teeth, I opened a securities account.

With the 5.4 million won advance from Im Han-ul and today's settlement of 4.2 million won, I had a total of 9.6 million won. Still not quite 10 million, but close.

'There's always a way.'

The way was from the message I saw this morning. There was a stock I could invest in that would give me a 10% return. If I invested the full amount, it would exceed 10.5 million won by tomorrow.

I almost put all of it in, but then stopped myself.

'Since I've got a job now, should I at least treat myself to a nice meal out?'

When I first got my job, I gave my entire first paycheck to my parents. They returned it many times over when I got married, so I never felt bad about it.

But now, it was the right time to grow my money, so I couldn't give them my salary just yet. Still, I could at least treat them to a nice meal.

'They've been through a lot because of me...'

I took 200,000 won out, leaving the rest to buy stocks.

Thinking of how happy my parents would be made me smile naturally.

***

While my mother was showering after work, I began grilling meat in the kitchen. I knew she'd feel burdened if I suggested eating out, so I bought the meat from the butcher for a small fortune.

The marbled beef sizzled on the grill, releasing a delicious aroma. My mother came over, drying her hair, and sniffed the air.

"What's that smell?"

"Korean beef, sirloin."

"Korean beef? But... things are so tough right now."

"I got a job."

"A job?"

My mother was so surprised that she repeated herself.

"My Jaegu got a job?"

"What? Jaegu got a job?"

My father, who had been lying down in his room, got up, rubbing his aching back. It seemed like his back still hurt from when he got injured working construction.

"Father."

"What?"

"Let's go to the hospital together the day after tomorrow."

Since I was starting work next week, I wanted to take him before then. If I left him to go alone, he'd probably stay home saying it was too much trouble.

By tomorrow evening, I'd have over 10 million won, and that would be enough to cover the cost of his physical therapy.

"No work today."

"If there's no work, that's good. Let's go to the hospital together the day after tomorrow."

"I said no work today."

"Okay. The meat's all grilled."

I moved the freshly grilled Korean beef to the table. I had already washed the lettuce leaves and brought side dishes from the butcher shop.

"Hurry up and sit down. The meat will get cold."

"No, but Korean beef... given our situation..."

"I can't return it once it's cooked."

At that, my parents sat down at the table. I took a spoonful of rice, added some ssamjang, garlic, and chili, and placed a big piece of meat on top.

"Mom. Open your mouth."

"What's wrong with you?"

My mother blushed and waved her hand. I realized that while I'd fed my wife like this, I'd never done the same for my parents.

'How thoughtless I've been.'

"Hurry up, open your mouth. It's getting cold."

"I'm really fine."

"Hurry up."

In the end, my mother reluctantly opened her mouth. As I put the ssam in her mouth, she began chewing slowly.

"How is it? Is it good?"

"It tastes even better since you made it, son."

Her words made my heart swell. I quickly made another ssam and looked at my father. His chopsticks didn't stop moving, constantly grabbing more meat.

Still, I wanted to feed him too, so I handed him a ssam.

"Father. Open your mouth."

"I don't want any vegetables."

I couldn't help but agree with my father's serious expression. While he was eating, he glanced up and gave a faint smile.

"It's good."

He said it bluntly, but I could feel the warmth in his words.

That was enough. It was all that mattered.

***

[The 42nd DaeBak Securities Real Investment Contest]

I sold my stocks, and 10.5 million won was deposited into my account. Since the applications for the competition had been open from the beginning of the month, and the league would run for a month starting this week, the earlier I joined, the better.

'Now that I'm actually applying, I'm getting nervous.'

I transferred almost all my savings, 10.4 million won, into my account and hovered my finger over the 'Apply' button. The competitive thrill I hadn't felt in a while made my fingertips tingle.

When I pressed the [Apply] button, a window popped up asking me to set my nickname.

'What should I use?'

Since I joined this competition for revenge, I thought I could use a nickname like "Revenge Seeker," but that could potentially hurt Ha-yeon if my identity was revealed later.

So, I decided to go with a safer, more neutral name.

[HaYeonDad]

Just seeing the name made me smile. Ha-yeon probably wouldn't check the rankings for the securities competition, but someday I wanted to tell her: I did this for you, working hard while thinking of you.

It was time to start buying stocks.

'Today's stock is Alraksin. Tomorrow's price will be 24,500 won.'

It was a mid-sized company that made vitamins and various copycat drugs.

The current price was 19,800 won, and it was a stock that could give a 23% profit in just one day.

'This is a good start.'

I left about 200,000 won aside for the hospital trip with my father and invested the rest.

Just looking at my account balance made me feel secure.

'Making money is this easy?'

In just one day, I made 2.3 million won. That was more than a month's salary, and it was going to be added to my account. If I kept going like this, it would multiply several times in no time.

I could now understand why people who got hooked on sports betting sat idly with their phones, obsessed with making big money. But I was different from them.

Stretching my body, I got back to work.

'Know your enemy and yourself, and you'll win every time. I need to do some research on the Dokgo Group.'

It seemed like I was going to pull an all-nighter tonight.

***

Finally, Monday came, and I went to my first day of work.

On the first day, I made a 23% profit from Alraksin, and on the second day, I made a 10% profit from Nova Media. A 10% return in a single day was impressive, but after experiencing the 23% profit with Alraksin, it felt a bit underwhelming.

'At this rate, I might get addicted.'

In just two days, my capital had increased from 10 million won to 13.92 million won.

I took my father to the hospital, and thankfully, it wasn't anything serious. They said if he received proper physical therapy, he would recover in about two weeks.

It was a huge relief that it wasn't a major problem.

I then went to Im Han-ul's office in the heart of Gangnam, surrounded by tall buildings. He greeted me with a bright smile.

"Jaegu, you made it!"

"Yeah."

"You got here right on time."

"There was traffic."

It had been a while since I had to commute during rush hour, so I didn't think much of the traffic. Normally, I would have left 30 minutes earlier to make sure I was on time.

"Just kidding, bastard. As long as you're here on time, that's enough."

"So, what about the others?"

The office only had Im Han-ul and me.

"They pulled an all-nighter last week, so they won't be here until around 10. You can make yourself a coffee. I've got a video conference with a client."

Im Han-ul returned to his desk. Watching him handle business meetings in fluent English made me admire him as a businessman.

'I should start learning English too.'

As I made my coffee and sat down, a familiar message popped up in front of me. It was a message I would be disappointed not to see by now.

[Lv1. Would you like to see tomorrow's stock prices?]

[If yes, hold out your right hand. If no, hold out your left hand.]

Naturally, I held out my right hand.

[Bit7 17,400

NamooEnTech 34,500

CT Mobile 124,000

Daegong Electronics 1,740

Offensys Games 47,500]

I grabbed my phone and checked the stock prices. As I looked, I couldn't help but rub my eyes.

"What... What is this?"