RAP STAR

Chapter 4 [Intro, Once in a lifetime]

Once in a lifetime, intro>

Saving up money through smart investments, ensuring a financially stable life for himself and Sangmi until their academic journey is complete-that's what Sanghyun desired.

"Come to think of it, wasn't the stock market generally bullish until the subprime crisis of 2008? Hm, should I time it right and take short positions on US construction stocks? They're bound to plummet like crazy...."

Can minors trade futures contracts without a guardian's consent? His specific goal was to avoid a repeat of the past, where external pressures bankrupted his company.

He wanted to be an unshakable fortress for Sangmi, unaffected by external markets.

"To be a fortress? And then what?"

In that moment, his normally steady mind felt like it was breaking.

It hurt too much, too much to even groan, just beads of cold sweat dripping down.

"Is that it? Is earning money faster, more comfortably, and in larger amounts than before the end? Do I have to sit in an empty office again, staring at numbers with bloodshot eyes?"

Am I going to live the same life again? But I...

"To gamble on uncertainty, I already know the answer too well."

"What are you doing?"

"Huh?"

"Writing lyrics? Wait, why are you sweating so much? Are you in pain somewhere?"

Coming back to his senses, Sanghyun realized class was over, and Junhyung was standing beside him, looking concerned. The headache was slowly fading.

"I guess I should eat lunch."

Sanghyun struggled to get up from his seat, feeling drained of energy.

"Lyrics? What lyrics? It's a line I read in a book yesterday. What's with the golden cross on your forehead?"

"Golden cross? What's that?"

Junhyung's forehead bore seemingly whimsical lines, as if he'd been doodling during class.

"Uh... Just think of it as a joke from the stock company."

"Why are you saying that since earlier? Geez, what's with your tone..."

"Let's grab some food."

Leading Junhyung towards the restaurant, Sanghyun thought again.

Yes, investing in uncertainty was not for him. He already knew the answer to the certainty of the future.

- Finished with school?
- Yeah. Are you done at 4 too?
- Yeah. Don't eat dinner out, just go home and wait for me. Let's eat together.
- Okay.

Sanghyun closed his phone. He still wasn't used to the narrow keypad of his flip phone.

"What kind of food did Sangmi like?"

Sangmi's condition had improved somewhat since the math trip, but even though she tried to hide it, she still looked depressed.

It was natural.

Considering her past, she had been struggling for over a year.

Also, there were no signs of improvement in her symptoms of feeling anxious in crowded places.

"How could I have been so oblivious?"

Past Sanghyun had been completely unaware of Sangmi's anxiety symptoms.