Chapter 55 – I Felt Refreshed

Geum Nae-yeong thought for a moment and said calmly.

“Hmm… I was near the top of the school during my first year of high school, but I wasn’t 1st place.

I had brain surgery in my second year, and since then, studying became much easier.”

At that moment, Pak-beolle burst into an exaggerated laugh.

“Hahahahat! Come on~ Then if you want to study well, you can just go to the hospital and get your head opened up, can’t you! Hahahahaha!”

Geum Nae-yeong was still calm.

“It doesn’t happen to everyone. Assuming an ordinary person is raising their grades, let me speak based on my time near the top of the school.”

Pak-beolle shot back playfully.

“No way! Our Pakpaks all over the country want to know the ‘secret of 1st place’ right now!”

“It is simple.”

Geum Nae-yeong’s voice echoed quietly.

“Looking at questions, solving them, and repeating. The person who endures and overcomes that boredom becomes 1st place.”

Geum Nae-yeong raised his eyes and looked straight at the screen.

“However, I am just a person who skipped that process. Once I look at it, I memorize it.”

“Hahaha, what is this~ He is completely bluffing!

Then, using the method Lawyer Geum Nae-yeong teaches, I will study for a week and directly challenge the Korean History Proficiency Test Level 1 from a no-base state!”

As he declared with high tension, donations also burst in along with cheering sounds.

“Now, let’s first test how much base I lack! But before that!!”

With familiar hand movements, Pak-beolle fumbled under the desk and pulled out something from off-camera.

A silver can.

On the label, ‘Brain Awakening’ was written in large letters.

“I’ve been drinking this lately.”

Pak-beolle naturally continued his remarks.

“Your memory drops when you get older, right? Since I’ve decided to get Level 1 in Korean history anyway, I’m going to do my best.

When you drink this when your head feels heavy, it’s really good because your brain spins quickly.”

Simultaneously with those words, with a click, he popped open the can and took a long sip. Then he smiled brightly toward the camera.

“This is really good. Honestly, I get a lot of ads these days, but I’m just drinking it because a friend made it and it’s really good. You know, right? My money, my buy. Hahaha.”

Pak-beolle slid a identical can toward Geum Nae-yeong.

“You take a sip too, Lawyer Geum. Your throat gets dry when you broadcast for a long time. Let’s drink it down so our brains awaken.”

Geum Nae-yeong looked at the can for a moment, then popped open the lid without a word, as if it were a pre-arranged performance.

Gulp.

After drinking the beverage, Geum Nae-yeong’s face remained as expressionless as before.

“It. feels. re. fresh. ing. to. drink.”

An expression that looked like a robot to anyone.

Pak-beolle instantly hid his awkward laugh and hurriedly changed the subject.

“Now, we are ready! Since we’ve also put in a brain booster, let’s start the quiz!”

Pak-beolle sat close to the microphone.

“Well, Lawyer Geum~ Please ask a question. Something super, super basic! The lowest level question of the Korean History Proficiency Test. Haha.”

Geum Nae-yeong asked a question right away.

“What year did the March 1st Movement occur?”

“The March 1st Movement?… Ah, I don’t know the year, though I know it’s March 1st… Sigh… What was it…”

As Pak-beolle scratched his head, the chat section exploded.

– Are you stupid?

– It’s 1919!

– Traitor in the making lol

As the reaction erupted just as expected, Pak-beolle felt good.

“Nice~ Nice! The chat is active! Now, next question!”

Geum Nae-yeong thought for a moment and then asked another question.

“What year did the Imjin War break out?”

“Ah, this brother is obsessed with years! Ah… The Imjin War…

Back then, you know, who was it… fell and died with some gisaeng? Ah… What was it…”

– Me neither.

– My Korean history teacher taught me how to memorize it lol This is no time to be like this -> 1592

– Pak-beolle, let’s at least know some info on the Japs.

Pak-beolle waved his hand with an embarrassed smile.

“Haha, the subscribers are smarter~”

By getting several questions wrong, Pak-beolle rather boosted the mood further.

As the broadcast neared its end, he gulped down the drink and held out a can to Geum Nae-yeong as well.

“Gosh, solving questions makes it feel like my brain is cramping! Brother, let’s have a drink together.

This awakens the brain. Haha.”

In that way, the live stream finished amidst laughter.

Geum Nae-yeong returned home quietly as usual.

And he confirmed that the edited version of the live stream was uploaded to the official channel.

“…He didn’t display the advertisement label.”

Geum Nae-yeong typed away on the keyboard, *tap tap tap*.

The next morning.

Pak-beolle, who went to work at the studio, turned on his laptop and was playing yesterday’s live video when he froze instantly upon seeing the top comment.

Geum Nae-yeong: (Brain Awakening is an advertisement)

This video received production support from the drink company.

I drank it for two days, but there was no sensation of brain awakening; rather, it just felt refreshing to drink.

#Ad #BrainAwakening #Pak-beolle

“W-What is this?”

Pak-beolle’s voice trembled.

The comment had already surpassed 10,000 upvotes and was pinned at the top.

As he scrolled down, replies were attached one after another.

– Rwal: Pak-beolle stealth ad? Why didn’t you display the video ad label? Absurd;;

– Pop-fan: Stealth ad??

– jjf f: Sniper Geum targeted him lol He even left a drink review like an AI.

– Brain Awakening: Exam tomorrow, didn’t study at all. Didn’t study… but it felt refreshing to drink.

– Cuba: I heard it feels refreshing to drink after ruining the Suneung?

– Blue Light: My stock completely crashed, but it felt refreshing to drink

Geum Nae-yeong’s phrase, “it felt refreshing to drink,” was already spreading as a comment meme.

Pak-beolle held his head while looking at the monitor.

“No… This bastard… If he writes that as a comment… what am I supposed to do…”

And a few days later, a new video was uploaded to Pak-beolle’s channel.

He sat in front of a white background wearing a black suit and bowed his head.

“First, I am sorry for causing disappointment…”

Along with the apology video, the ‘Apology on the controversy regarding Pak-beolle’s stealth advertising’ was also posted.

***

At that time, Lawyer Seo In-ja’s office.

Amidst the flowing gentle classical music, Seo In-ja and Lawyer Shin Chang-ryul were conversing calmly.

Seo In-ja put down the teacup she was drinking from and smiled.

“I knew it from the first day Geum Nae-yeong arrived. I thought, a real piece of work has entered our office.”

Lawyer Shin Chang-ryul nodded.

“Haha, at first, I thought he was a bit of a crazy guy. By the way… how on earth did he create that 4.2 billion won bid?”

“I’m curious about that too…

There was absolutely no way to know.

Since Lawyer Geum seemed so busy with broadcasts and all, I couldn’t even grab him and ask.

But was it the day before yesterday? I heard Lawyer Gil noticed right away when they said the Gangyeok side won the bid for the building.

So he supposedly pretended not to know at all and just played games in his room.”

Lawyer Shin Chang-ryul smiled.

“Well, how many years have we been in this industry? Could we not make such a calculation? So I also kept my mouth shut until Gangyeok paid the money. Haha.”

“But anyway, his brain is extraordinary, isn’t it, Lawyer Geum? Seriously… I just can’t fathom him.”

Seo In-ja shook her head and laughed.

“Right. That fellow yields answers outside calculations every time.”

Knock knock.

At that moment, the door opened and Chief Kim Mi-yeong walked in.

“Lawyer Shin was here too. This is the layout for our new office. Would you like to see how we’ll assign the rooms together?”

When Kim Mi-yeong handed over the design, Lawyer Shin Chang-ryul unfurled it.

“Goodness, in my life… moving twice within a single year. I didn’t know that a lawyer was a profession that moves offices so frequently.”

Kim Mi-yeong smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sorry. For getting involved in this kind of trouble for no reason…”

“No, Chief Kim.”

Seo In-ja waved her hand.

“If scammers target you with determination, even lawyers fall victim.

The landlord and the accountant we had known for over ten years colluded and, instead of renewing the contract, changed it to a ‘new contract’ by adding an extra floor to the building and even increased the deposit, didn’t they?

Who could have imagined they would do such a thing?

Since they said it was better for accounting, we believed them without double-checking. Although we have lawyers qualified as accountants, we were also busy.”

Lawyer Shin Chang-ryul chimed in with a sigh.

“It’s an old tactic. If they execute the bank loan at the same time on the day the contract is signed, we sit right there and become lower priority.

Besides that, they can even do multiple simultaneous contracts.

These days, banks are adopting lease information or fixed date verification procedures, but if they set their minds to it, there are many ways to deceive.”

He paused for a moment and then gave a bitter smile.

“The person who deceived is bad, and the person who was deceived is guiltless.

It’s just… that trusting them because we had known each other for a long time was the problem. Maybe if that is a fault, it is a fault.

Still, since Lawyer Geum handled the matter well on his own, it turned out well in the end.”

Seo In-ja raised her teacup and laughed.

“We thought we would work quietly at Teum and reach retirement… but we’re now slated to move to a huge building with good fortune. Hoho.”

Chief Kim Mi-yeong quietly lowered her head.

“Let’s make the pantry a bit wider this time.”

Lawyer Seo In-ja said jokingly.

“So we can eat lunch a bit comfortably. If we tell Lawyer Geum, he does everything for us.

A young man, looking into new buildings on his own so easily… Thankfully, there’s nothing difficult for us.”

Kim Mi-yeong smiled and nodded.

“Yes, Lawyer. Understood.”

A relaxed atmosphere filled the office for the first time in a while.

“Hold on…”

Lawyer Shin Chang-ryul suddenly stopped his hand looking at the design.

“But… this address is somewhat familiar?”

Seo In-ja and Kim Mi-yeong raised their heads at the same time.

“What do you mean familiar?”

Lawyer Shin pushed the paper in front of their eyes.

“This looks like an address I’ve seen a lot. Near Gyodae Station, the largest new building. That’s it, right?”

Kim Mi-yeong said.

“Yes. That’s right. That building.”

“Exactly!”

Lawyer Shin said, tapping the paper.

“That… right across from there is Gangyeok!!!”

In an instant, Seo In-ja opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth.

“Oh my, you’re right! Now that I think about it, it is right there!”

Kim Mi-yeong stared blankly at the design again.

“Pardon?… Oh. Then did Lawyer Geum lease it there on purpose?”

Lawyer Shin leaned back deeply in his chair and let out a sigh.

“Sigh… Seriously, this fellow is no joke.”

***

“You take a sip too, Lawyer Geum. Your throat gets dry when you broadcast for a long time. Let’s drink… so our brains awaken.”

“Drinking it is refreshing.”

While Pak-beolle’s YouTube video was playing, the video stopped exactly at the scene showing Geum Nae-yeong’s face.

*Clack clack clack clack*.

The sound of rapid typing on a keyboard was heard.

– Geum Nae-yeong? He wasn’t originally this much of a genius. He became a genius because of me.

Click.

When he pressed enter, the comment went up.

He muttered to himself.

“Look at him making it big. And here I thought he would die.”