NOVEL NEXT Chapter 163
[Lift Your Dreams Through the Glass Star!]
In a dark room,
only the light of a smartphone shined like a tiny lantern where a girl wrapped herself in a blanket.
The worn-out room, completely turned into a cave with drawn curtains, was her own world.
A world where no one could hurt her.
“…….”
An app showing the sparkling Glass Star and a message input box had been flashing since earlier.
[Star of Wishes]
It was a “wish submission” feature launched by a messaging app company that quickly took over the market in the smartphone era.
A function to show and share one’s dreams.
Normally, she would think it was just an irrelevant event, but given that it was the first event of a foreign giant company that quickly captured the messenger market in conjunction with various character businesses, people were surprisingly excited and participated with hope.
“…a wish.”
The girl thought it might be some kind of marketing draw that the company was planning to broadcast.
Right now, wishes were popping up all over the screen.
While there were indeed some phrases that hinted at criminal intentions or harassment, most were relatively simple and realistic.
– I want to try eating high-end melons.
– I wish I were 3 cm taller.
– I hope I get accepted into my desired university.
– I wish the girl I like knew my feelings.
– I hope the weather is nice for tomorrow’s track meet.
– Girlfriend.
Wishes written by people using the app nearby were gradually floating up behind the Glass Star.
The numerous wishes written in neat, stylish fonts passing by the screen were quite dreamy in itself.
“…….”
A space where many people were writing down their honest dreams.
As she watched numerous wishes passing by like white snow, perhaps swept up by the atmosphere, the girl slowly began to write down the wish she had deep in her heart.
Although her true wish was something else, it felt too unrealistic.
[I want to go backpacking abroad.]
After writing it down, the girl chuckled at her trivial wish. Yet, she felt deflated again at her timidity, unable to boldly state even this humble desire.
“I don’t want to stand in front of people…”
The burn she got as a child.
Fortunately, before the fire completely consumed her, her father pushed her back, leaving a burn near her right eye. However, this scar, resulting from curiosity in front of a ceramics kiln, made Yuki extremely reluctant to stand in front of people even now.
Because of her lack of confidence, Yuki remained alone even after entering high school.
“…I hope no one finds out who wrote this.”
Yuki threw her smartphone next to her pillow and closed her eyes again, sending her consciousness far into the darkness.
That night,
it seemed like she dreamt of a white shining star passing in front of her eyes.
＊
“Yeah, Dawn. Sure, I’ll be careful. What? A spy? No, not that… Oh, really? Anna said that? Uh… me too. Yeah, thanks.”
After finishing the call with Dawn, Hyeonwoo returned to the office.
Seeing Hyeonwoo’s face, Emily quickly guessed what the conversation might have been about.
“Dawn?”
“Yeah. She called because she was worried.”
“Well, it makes sense since your husband is working in Japan.”
“…….”
Hyeonwoo couldn’t contradict Emily’s words any further.
‘I don’t even know how it came to this.’
Starting with Meilin, the six girls gathered.
It had been almost two years since he started working and living closely with them.
By now, even a dense guy like Hyeonwoo should have recognized that the feelings Dawn, Emily, Meilin, Hayeon, Anna, Amina, and Fatima had for him were not just a fleeting joke or a light-hearted matter. He could also see that, because their feelings were so immense and desperate, they were hesitating and glancing at each other instead of boldly moving forward.
‘Once my work stabilizes, I should have a serious talk with everyone.’
If he didn’t clarify his feelings towards the girls he had formed connections with, it would end up hurting them all.
It seemed that Hyeonwoo’s parents had already given up any expectations that he would pick just one of them, as he was caught in a rivalry between Emily and Dawn.
– It’s not like he’s running a noble family from the Joseon Dynasty to have multiple wives…
After hearing his father’s remark when he was hanging out with the girls one day, Hyeonwoo felt pricked and busied himself by sending gifts and greetings to everyone’s families. Thanks to his efforts, the girls’ families seemed to secretly hope for good outcomes.
– Well… as long as everyone gets along, that’s what matters.
– Right?
– It’s too late to be fighting and red-faced now.
– As long as my son is providing for everyone…
Completely under Dawn’s influence, Meilin had come to regard her as an older sister and took on the role of number two in the household. Meanwhile, Amina and Fatima, who had no families, subtly sided with Emily, who had assumed the role of advisor due to her abilities.
– Honestly, I thought it would turn out like this from the beginning.
Having come with families and being somewhat confident in her abilities, Anna seemed to have expected this situation from the start and occasionally expressed satisfaction as long as she received true affection.
– Dawn is really going through a lot.
Despite being of ordinary status, Anna saw someone fighting for their family’s order in Dawn and respected her position.
– Ugh… I just want to mess around with Hyeonwoo without getting married… wanna?
Hayeon put Hyeonwoo in a predicament with her unpredictable tastes. Therefore, she always remained the top priority for surveillance and control by both Dawn and Emily.
Dawn and Emily,
backed by the girls who had taken a step back,
in the Shim family, where everyone abandoned the expectation of only one person being chosen, the most critical question was who would occupy the position of the first daughter-in-law.
Anna and Meilin followed Dawn, who represented tradition.
Amina and Fatima followed Emily, who represented ability.
Hyeonwoo could only break a cold sweat as he observed this power structure solidifying.
He glanced at the smartphone that kept buzzing incessantly.
‘If they found out about this, I might get hit by the two who formed an alliance…’
Because it wasn’t just the girls he had formed an inseparable bond with; messages were buzzing on his smartphone from other girls he had unconsciously formed big and small connections with around the world.
“Phew… this has become quite a task.”
“Heh, girls? Work? Both were expected…”
In the office situated in Japan,
Hyeonwoo and Emily were rummaging through documents in the busy office till late. Both were staying at the Dream Star Company office in Japan for several days now.
Endlessly pouring inquiry calls,
Fax and emails flooding in without stopping.
The IT company Hyeonwoo had been steadily building with an eye toward the smartphone era began rapidly taking over the Asian market with the announcement of a new smartphone from an American company. They had adopted a content-based strategy that integrated character industries, stamps, web novels, and webtoons, almost forming a monopoly.
A social media giant that expanded its size on its own even when idle.
However, Hyeonwoo also had a project he pushed forward by setting up a subsidiary.
– Let’s show people achieving their dreams.
Dreams.
It was a word that was a fleeting whisper to modern people, fading into childhood memories.
Hyeonwoo wanted to lift that faded word to give hope to everyone.
To listen to everyone’s dreams,
To help realize everyone’s dreams.
To approach those who had experienced the impossible and help them rise again.
To help find small yet precious happiness.
– Huh?! You’re really registering me at the baker academy?!
– What?! Wait, really you’ll help me make it happen?
The rumors of people who had started realizing their dreams began to spread one by one.
Thus began the Glass Star of Wishes, gaining explosive popularity amid rumors that wishes indeed came true. Of course, when they checked in, some found out their wishes had been falsely written, and some criticized Hyeonwoo’s actions.
Corporate image management charity work,
Young, foolish tycoon’s wasteful spending.
The criticism of him creating content bearing the image of ordinary people living in developed countries while ignoring the genuinely unfortunate in Africa diminished in light of Hyeonwoo’s large cash grants for the famine research and donation lists. However, Hyeonwoo’s actions still attracted significant criticism.
– But is it common for someone on the world’s richest list to actually try to help others?
An eccentric investor,
A passionate hypocrite.
That was what Hyeonwoo earned as titles while running Dream Star Company for a year. Nevertheless, he aimed to deliver hope to people using his wealth.
Pouring his hard-won results into a bottomless pit.
He was not swayed by the unprovoked malice returned for his noble intentions.
At times, he asked for help from those around him,
At times, he predicted an uncertain future,
At times, he came up with ideas no one had ever imagined,
And at a terrifying speed, he expanded his domain, offering something without reason.
Emily couldn’t think of the word “failure” when seeing such foolish and inefficient behavior.
Because she had fallen for that steadfast attitude, and people drawn in by his goodwill were gathering around him.
“Really, there’s no such waste.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Well then, will you marry me? I’ll be the first.”
“Sorry, I have to finish talking with everyone…”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
Heh.
Emily shot a sidelong look at Hyeonwoo and began sorting documents again.
Watching her, Hyeonwoo finished sorting and checked the list of wishes that had come up to him.
‘Hmm?’
[I want to go backpacking abroad.]
Why?
Seeing that wish reminded Hyeonwoo of a title from a forgotten book in his mind, along with a white light.
A book that no longer existed in this world.
He recalled the face of a girl on the cover of that book.
Eyes,
By the riverside,
Met in the light,
Red ribbon,
Short hair,
The scent of acacia…
Hyeonwoo recalled a word he had completely forgotten in this changed world.
“Magical Girl…”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Uh?”
Hyeonwoo, foolishly asking back while looking at Emily’s face.
“What did I say?”
“I couldn’t hear because it was too minor… no, Emily, I love you, let’s get married. Let’s have around twelve kids.”
“…that’s a bit much.”
“Just kidding. Let’s have only two.”
“…….”
Hyeonwoo shook his head at those words and stamped ‘Approval’ on the paper with the bothersome wish written on it.
＊
Shiver, shiver, shiver…
Yuki stood nervously in front of the Dream Star Company.
‘Could it be that my wish is really going to come true…’
It was such a trivial wish, something she had even forgotten after writing it, that when she received the message that it had been fulfilled, an inexplicable feeling resonated in her chest.
Yuki gripped her smartphone, breathing heavily as she stood for the first time an hour away from home, seven years after the burn. Her father shed tears seeing Yuki step out into the world for whatever reason.
“…….”
People glancing at the girl standing by the roadside with a cap and a mask hiding her face, and one half of her face bandaged.
“…….”
I’m scared,
I’m terrified,
It feels strange,
I’m embarrassed.
Just now, I want to escape by subway and go home.
Cold sweat broke out as it felt like everyone was staring at her.
‘Should I… turn back?’
Just as she was about to turn her steps,
a boy dressed in a suit approached Yuki from behind.
“Hey? Did you come here because of your wish?”
“…Uh?!”
“Oh, maybe not.”
“W-well… that’s…”
Stammer, stammer
Fidgeting, fidgeting
Yuki hesitated, unable to respond to a question that could be resolved with a simple nod. Hyeonwoo felt a prick in his heart seeing her like that.
‘She has… wounds.’
Hyeonwoo looked painfully at Yuki’s face that was covered in bandages.
He thought he understood why she showed such a lack of confidence.
His previous mother.
His mother limped on one foot.
Even though his mother lived proudly as a local matriarch with the president, subtly, she was burdened by the gazes people cast upon her. Over the decades in the neighborhood, she had become increasingly withdrawn and smaller.
“……”
“I-I’m sorry.”
In Yuki, Hyeonwoo found an image that he couldn’t find in the mothers of this world but that remained as a wound in his heart somewhere.
“Let’s go together.”
“Pardon?”
Hyeonwoo extended one hand to Yuki.
“Even if it’s not about your wish, I hope you could find what you desire since you came all the way here.”
“What I desire…”
“Yes, I’m just a weirdo wasting money to fulfill others’ wishes.”
“…a wish.”
Yuki took his hand.
A rough but warm hand.
That hand led the girl.
“Did you visit just for fun?”
“No, it’s, it’s a wish after all.”
“Well then…”
“Backpack… I want to go on a backpacking trip…”
Ah,
it was this girl.
Hyeonwoo looked at the trembling girl with tension. If this lacking confidence girl had chosen such a wish to move out into the world, he wanted to fulfill it without hesitation.
Meeting like this must be fate.
“That’s right, nice. Where do you want to go?”
“Um, that is…”
“Yeah?”
“……”
Would it be too selfish to say she wanted to change her wish in this situation?
Yuki couldn’t say that because of such thoughts.
“……”
“……”
Silence.
In the quiet office, the sudden stillness passed, and Hyeonwoo spoke again.
“By the way, many have really changed their wishes to something genuine here.”
“Genuine… wish?”
“Yes, I simply want to see people being happy, which is why I’m doing this… Despite that, I often get rumors about starting a cult or being a weirdo with strange beliefs.”
Hyeonwoo shrugged with a bitter smile.
“……”
Yuki thought that the light shining through the window behind Hyeonwoo suited him very well.
Perhaps under the enchantment of that light,
she suddenly spoke her true wish in a soft voice.
“I want to love myself more.”
“I want to live among people.”
“I don’t want to run away anymore.”
“Please help me.”
Hyeonwoo nodded seriously at Yuki’s sight.
Burns,
Trauma,
That wasn’t something to be resolved in an instant.
Life’s ups and downs,
Indelible scars,
Perhaps it was a deep wound similar to the mother’s image left in Hyeonwoo’s heart. That wound would sometimes resurrect pain in Hyeonwoo’s heart, even when seeing his parents enjoying a luxury vacation wrapped in expensive brands in a hotel suite.
Hyeonwoo had long concluded that the only remedy for that pain was time.
Time it takes to reclaim one’s life and acknowledge oneself.
Instead of mentioning surgery or money, Hyeonwoo wrote his contact information on a memo pad. Then, he handed it to Yuki.
“Let’s figure it out together. Until you find a way to love yourself, discovering the self you didn’t even know you had. I’ll help you.”
Yuki stood there blankly accepting the contact information.
She had no rebuttal even if he booted her out for saying nonsense, this boy genuinely accepted her true wish.
“…Why?”
“Well… we all live to be happy.”
Hyeonwoo gazed out at the blue sky spread across the wide window in the office.
Yuki followed his gaze and looked at the blue sky.
“There’s no such thing as a person who can’t be happy.”
“……”
Yuki thought she could understand why this young, eccentric rich man wanted to help others.
‘This person, too, seems unable to believe in his own happiness.’
Searching for other people’s happiness, he seemed to be trying to find his own happiness within it.
So on that day, the two met.
Looking at the sky so brilliantly blue, they could empathize with each other.
“Let’s take good care of each other.”
“…Let’s do that.”
At that moment, when two fates that would normally have never crossed paths intertwined,
the last blessed light of White Starlight flowed away from the two back into the original world.
The boy would continue to help countless people while trying to believe in his own happiness, and the girl would strive to find ways to love herself beside that boy.
In a world that had not known love, the boy and girl would meet in a slightly changed world.
Their stories slowly changed,
Yet, they continued on.
[His Story] The End