A Lie Has Turned Into Reality

Inside the Five Seasons Hotel.

Grand Party Room – Charity Auction Event.

“Oppa, are you sure you know where we’re going?”

“…”

Damn.

Walking into the hotel with confidence was the easy part.

The problem was, the inside of the hotel was far more spacious than I’d anticipated. Unable to locate the party room, we ended up circling the same area repeatedly.

“Can’t we just ask one of the staff?”

“…Yeah, we probably should.”

“Heh, oppa, you’ve got a clumsy side, huh?”

“…”

Eventually, with guidance from a staff member, we navigated through the halls, passing room after room.

The decor was stunning. The place was lined with art pieces, sculptures, and an interior design that exuded luxury and sophistication.

As we admired the surroundings, the Grand Party Room finally came into view.

Standing at the entrance were well-dressed guards in sharp suits.

“Good evening. May I have your name?”

“Kim Sungwoo.”

“Confirmed. You have one companion. Please enjoy the event.”

With a practiced stride, I walked across the soft carpet beneath my feet. Near the entrance, a long table was arranged with various desserts and refreshments.

The main room was filled with ornate tables draped in elegant table skirts, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a wedding hall.

Despite the dazzling decor, the centerpiece stole the show: a massive crystal chandelier in the middle of the room.

Its sheer size was breathtaking, scattering light in all directions and illuminating the space with a radiant glow.

How much would something like that cost?

“Wow…”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one impressed.

“That looks delicious… Oppa, can we eat this?”

Really? That’s what caught her attention?

I gave a vague nod and casually scanned the room.

People dressed in impeccably tailored suits gathered in small groups, chatting among themselves.

While this event was outwardly a charity auction for underprivileged children, in reality, it was a meeting ground for influential figures from various fields, where discreet exchanges of information likely took place.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder—why had an invitation to such an event been sent to me?

Taewoong Group, where I belong, is by far the largest conglomerate in South Korea by capital.

Is there a sector in this country that Taewoong Group doesn’t influence? Probably not.

And as a member of Taewoong’s owner family, I’m no ordinary participant here.

Frankly, there might not be many people in this room wealthier than me.

“Whoa, oppa, isn’t that Kim Bohyun over there?”

“Who’s that?”

“You don’t know? She’s the singer with the current number-one hit!”

“Nope, no idea. I don’t care about stuff like that.”

The only music I listen to is anime and game OSTs. Why would I know about some chart-topping song?

With that unhelpful exchange, we took a seat at the nearest empty table.

Until the auction officially began, I planned to just enjoy the background music and grab a bite to eat.

“Oppa!”

“Hm?”

“Someone’s coming over…”

At her call, I turned my head sharply.

Who is this? Someone I don’t recognize.

A man approached, and as I stared at him blankly, he extended his hand with a slightly awkward smile.

“I’m Jang Dohyung.”

“Oh, uh… I’m Kim Sungwoo.”

He had a tall frame, thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, and neatly slicked-back hair, giving off a rugged and masculine vibe.

The problem was, I had no idea who he was or why he was here to see me.

“May I join you?”

“Sure… feel free to sit.”

“Thank you for having me.”

Seoha gave me a questioning look, clearly wanting an explanation.

I pretended not to notice and looked away.

“I’m the CEO of Unilabs.”

He handed me a business card with both hands.

Unilabs CEO: Jang Dohyung

…Unilabs? Never heard of it.

“Oppa, isn’t that the cryptocurrency thing?”

“Haha, that’s right. I’m the creator of an emerging cryptocurrency called Solar.”

Ah, now I remember.

Jang Dohyung—he’s the CEO of the company behind Solar, a rapidly growing cryptocurrency that’s been making headlines lately.

But why on earth is he here talking to me?

“Have we met before?”

“No, this is actually our first meeting.”

“Then, if you don’t mind me asking… why are you here?”

“Well, I’ve been wanting to meet you for some time.”

“Me?”

He claimed to have wanted to meet me, someone he’d never even met before.

Hearing that from a fellow guy doesn’t exactly fill me with joy.

“In the securities industry, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know the name Kim Sungwoo.”

“Excuse me?”

“Especially as a member of the Taewoong Group’s—”

“Please, just get to the point.”

I cut him off, my voice cold.

For a moment, an awkward silence hung in the air.

“Haha, I must’ve upset you. My apologies.”

“It’s fine.”

“This is a proposal for investment in the cryptocurrency Solar. If you ever find yourself interested, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“…”

So, it was about investment after all.

With a faint smile, he handed me a proposal document and his business card before walking away.

A man who pretended to care, yet managed to irritate me just enough.

“Wow~ Oppa, you really do make money through investments, huh?”

Investments, my foot. I’ve never even opened a brokerage account.

Some time ago, I casually wrote a single sentence in a community forum:
‘Inherited roughly 320 billion won, invested here and there, and tripled it.’

That one line seems to have cemented my reputation in the securities world.

I don’t fully understand how it spiraled from there, but with that much capital in play, it’s no wonder I became a topic of interest for investors.

Of course, I have no intention of diving into investments or business ventures.

My goal isn’t to go down in history as a legendary investor. If anything, I’d rather be remembered as a legendary spender.

I’m not an ambitious person. Just living comfortably on the money I already have is enough for me.

Even now, the rental income and interest from my savings far exceed what I spend.

After the less-than-pleasant meeting with Jang Dohyung, the main event—the charity auction—finally began.

The host stepped onto the stage.

“Good evening, everyone. I’m Kim Yeonji, and I’ll be your host for tonight’s charity auction.”

Click-clack.

As she finished her introduction, colorful lights illuminated the stage.

Behind her, a projector screen displayed detailed descriptions and photos of the auction items.

“The first item for auction is the artwork Cheon-Gyeom Un-Bo by Kim Yeonsoo!”

01 Cheon-Gyeom Un-Bo
Kim Yeonsoo (1971~, Korea)
天兼-雲譜
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 244.3 x 183.2 cm (96.2 x 72.1 in)
Year: 2001
Estimated Value: KRW 100,000,000 – 180,000,000

A painting that looks like someone just smeared paint on a canvas is worth over 100 million won?

When the artwork was displayed on the screen, the audience erupted into applause and murmurs of admiration.

I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider in this crowd.

“That’s worth 100 million won? I could probably paint better than that…”

Seoha whispered in disbelief, voicing what I was too polite to say. At least I wasn’t alone in my thoughts.

While I had no intention of bidding, the others seemed to feel differently.

The tense silence in the room felt like the calm before a storm.

“The starting bid is 100 million won. Minimum increments are 10 million won!”

The host’s announcement transformed the atmosphere.

Following the guidelines provided earlier, attendees raised their hands and began bidding.

“110 million won! 120 million won! 130 million won! …”

The price climbed relentlessly, surpassing the estimated value listed in the item description.

“190 million won! 200 million won! 210 million won! 220 million won! …”

Apparently, the premium on exclusivity far outweighed any notion of a fair market value for this crowd.

The absurdity of the situation made me chuckle under my breath.

“250 million won! Any further bids?”

The once-chaotic auction room now fell silent.

“Sold for 250 million won!”

Bang!

The auctioneer struck the gavel, signaling the close of the bid, and the room erupted into applause as the next auction began.

Clearly, I’d underestimated the gap between the reality of an auction and the romanticized version I’d seen in subculture media from the comfort of my home.

Seoha, equally disinterested, had retreated under the table with her phone, playing Eose.

Finally, the last auction of the night was announced.

“Now, we’ve saved the best for last! The highlight of tonight’s event!”

Wait a minute.

Is that…? What was his name again—Jang Dohyung?

On the screen, the face of the man I’d spoken to earlier appeared prominently.

“Introducing the genius young entrepreneur leading South Korea’s blockchain industry!”

“Jang Dohyung has put up a portion of Unilabs’ equity as tonight’s final auction item!”

What the…

My eyes widened at the unexpected auction item.

The screen displayed the number of shares, the equity percentage, and the company valuation in meticulous detail.

Ignoring the predatory gazes of the other attendees, the host continued her pitch.

“10% equity! The starting bid is 10 billion won!”

And so, the final auction of the night began.