OMS 14

Park Dong-sik looked back. On the way home, it looked like something had overwhelmed Madam Song as she told the driver to pull the car over to a secluded spot and burst into tears. While the driver looked uncomfortable, Park Dong-sik let out a long sigh and eventually went to her.

“Are you alright?”

Madam Song wiped her tears with a handkerchief and glared at him sharply.

“How did you know? Did you know all along and just watch? How did it feel seeing me being fooled? Was it fun? You must have enjoyed it so much, right?”

What’s with this devil of a woman, slapping me at the Han River and taking it out on the wrong person? Though dumbfounded, he didn’t want to waste time here. He pulled out a cigarette and offered it to her. Madam Song’s mascara-smeared eyes widened.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Have a smoke. It’ll help you calm down.”

Madam Song’s lips trembled.

“Are you mocking me?”

So much for trying to be sincere.

“Tell me honestly. How long have you known?”

“I’m curious too. From what I saw, you two seemed quite close. I wonder why you didn’t notice.”

Madam Song’s face turned red and blue, her fists now trembling.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why pretend when you know? Aren’t you two having that kind of relationship? That’s how it looked to me.”

Madam Song jumped up and suddenly swung her bag. Such disrespect! Park Dong-sik dodged it easily.

“How! Dare! You! Ah! To me!”

“Calm down. Isn’t that bag expensive? Hey, the old lady’s got strength.”

Dodging the bag was child’s play. Soon tired, Madam Song collapsed onto the ground, and Park Dong-sik lit his cigarette. The driver, who had gotten out of the car, watched this scene unfold before him uncertainly. After finishing his cigarette and grinding it out with his foot, Park Dong-sik extended his hand to Madam Song, who was still on the ground.

“Let’s go. We can’t stay here forever. Someone your age shouldn’t sit in the cold for too long.”

Glaring, she swatted his hand away and headed for the car. Her stumbling steps suggested the shock had been considerable. She remained silent for the entire ride back, and Park Dong-sik kept quiet too.

I thought coming here might provide a solution, but we just met a con man…But what did that guy do to earn Madam Song’s trust? He didn’t seem to have any real powers.

Chairman Kim suddenly came to mind. If he even harassed his daughter-in-law, how must he have treated others? He probably ignored his wife completely, and Madam Song might have latched onto something strange out of loneliness.

While lost in thought, they arrived home. Madam Song got out as soon as the door opened. As Park Dong-sik headed toward the separate quarters, Madam Song dismissed the driver and called him over. Her dignified bearing now made her previous crying seem unreal.

“Watch your mouth. If you speak of this, getting kicked out of this house will be the least of your worries.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Does it sound like a compliment?”

“Fine. I’ll keep my mouth shut about today forever.”

Park Dong-sik pretended to zip his lips and grinned.

As Madam Song turned to leave, Park Dong-sik called her back.

“But you know, ma’am—I mean, Mother. Nothing in life is free, right?”

Madam Song looked at him quizzically, and Park Dong-sik raised his lips wickedly.

“I’m just letting you know it’ll cost quite a bit to keep this lock on my mouth.”

“Are you…asking me for money?”

“Yes.”

Madam Song looked astonished.

“You’ve lost your mind. What about the money you get from Jun-han? And you’re asking me for money? Are you sending money to your parents?”

What’s this now? Before he could ask more, Chairman Kim appeared in the first-floor living room. Madam Song flinched and warned Park Dong-sik with her eyes. ‘Don’t say a word.’ She turned and left abruptly, while Park Dong-sik headed to the separate quarters, tilting his head to one side in confusion.

Kim Jun-han gives me money? Why? I suppose he’s trying to act like a proper husband by providing living expenses. How ridiculous. How much could it even be? He snorted, not expecting much.

***

Park Dong-sik couldn’t close his mouth. After checking his account through Internet banking with Kim Yoon-ah’s help, the amount in his living expenses account far exceeded his expectations. He looked back and forth between the tablet and Kim Yoon-ah.

“This…Kim Jun-han…gives this to me?”

“Yes.”

“Is this for a whole year?”

“No. I believe it’s given monthly.”

Looking at the records, money came in on set dates, with barely any withdrawals. When he asked about it curiously, Kim Yoon-ah explained everything. While he received separate living expenses, most spending was done by card. The card had no limit, and the bills were paid from Kim Jun-han’s account. Park Dong-sik’s jaw dropped involuntarily.

“So you’re saying I have more money than I thought?”

“Pardon?”

“You mean Lee Hee-soo isn’t poor?”

“As far as I know, you’ve never lacked financially here.”

Park Dong-sik bit his lip, secretly rejoicing. Isn’t Kim Jun-han a real pushover at this point? He won’t divorce his unfaithful wife, gives him living expenses, and pays his credit cards. Wow, I’m suddenly feeling much more positive about this guy.

Park Dong-sik asked hopefully, “Do I have any other assets?”

“There’s some land you inherited from your parents in Gangwon-do. Though it’s quite small—”

“Holy shit!” Park Dong-sik cursed out loud, making Kim Yoon-ah flinch with concern. He silently cheered, pumping his fist in the air several times. At this point, the body switch seemed more like a stroke of luck than a nightmare.

Who cares about physical changes when there’s this much money involved?

Strength and muscle could always be built up. And given how things were going, divorce seemed likely soon, which would mean substantial alimony, right? Wealthy families usually pay generously in divorces. Just imagining it made him excited.

He laughed almost maniacally, hugging the tablet.

“Are you alright…?”

“Yoon-ah.”

“Yes?”

“God hasn’t abandoned me after all.”

“…”

“You wouldn’t understand. I’m so happy I could lose my mind.”

“If you’re happy, I’m happy too.”

Kim Yoon-ah seemed sincere. Though Park Dong-sik didn’t know her salary, he resolved to give her generous bonuses from now on. Then he thought of the butcher shop owner. Wonder what happened to the shop. Why did he have to show up at the funeral, making things unsettling?

After pondering, Park Dong-sik called Kim Yoon-ah again.

“Can I go out tomorrow?”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I think getting out would be better for my mental health than staying here. Let’s get some fresh air and good food. There’s somewhere I need to stop by briefly, is that okay?”

Park Dong-sik got up humming. “You can go now, Yoon-ah. I need to wash up and rest. Today was really tiring.” After Kim Yoon-ah left, Park Dong-sik went straight to the bathroom. Whether from the hot water or fatigue, his body began feeling feverish and short of breath.

A strange sensation crept up from his toes. What’s happening? Was he this excited about having unexpectedly large sums of money in his grasp? Physical reactions were increasing uncomfortably. He felt dizzy looking down at himself in disbelief.

He collapsed onto the bathroom floor. His body now felt burning hot. Was it from getting hit by that fake monk earlier? Or was Lee Hee-soo’s ghost coming to reclaim their body? Whatever it was, he couldn’t stay here. As he crawled on the bathroom floor gasping for breath, his body responded in ways he’d never experienced before, with various physical reactions intensifying.

Why, when he hadn’t even touched himself? His mind went blank as his body responded involuntarily. Experiencing these sensations for the first time, Park Dong-sik desperately crawled out of the bathroom. The heat wouldn’t subside, and he found himself unconsciously pressing against the carpet, panting.

Ah, what’s wrong with my body? Someone help me. Please…

I can’t bear how hot it is. Please. Please help…Save me…As Park Dong-sik writhed in agony, he lifted his head. His vision was blurry, either from tears or sweat. As he exhaled roughly, an unfamiliar scent suddenly filled his nostrils. The heavy, languid scent heightened his arousal, and Park Dong-sik threw himself at the source before he could even identify who it was.