Ch.47 Chapter 47: Shopping Spree - I Became the Sub-Vil...

Jin Yu-jin lay on his bed, phone in hand, aggressively refreshing the trending topics.

Nothing.

No hashtags. No blurry paparazzi photos. Not even a random fan tweet speculating about his love life.

"Ugh!" Yu-jin groaned dramatically, tossing his phone onto the bed. He rolled over, burying his face in a pillow before kicking his feet in frustration.

"This is all Choi Min-ho's fault!" he yelled to no one in particular.

That annoying man had interrupted his grand scheme again. Yu-jin had perfectly orchestrated a night out with Woo-seok, ensuring they'd be seen at the trendiest spots. But noooo, Min-ho just had to show up uninvited and drag Woo-seok away before the paparazzi even got a chance to snap a photo.

He flopped back onto his bed with a sigh. "Why do the universe and Choi Min-ho hate me?"

His phone suddenly vibrated on the bed.

"Yu-jin-ah, long time no see," Si-hyuk's smooth voice came through the line.

"Si-hyuk-hyung, what's up?" Yu-jin asked, already smirking.

"I have a social gathering tonight. Some very important directors and producers will be there."

Yu-jin's eyes lit up.

"Really? Then of course, I'll goâ"

"Wait, wait. There's a catch."

Yu-jin froze.

"A... catch?"

"Yes. In return for this golden opportunity..." Si-hyuk paused, "I want to spend the night with you."

Yu-jin's breath hitched.

"Hyung, I..."

He was about to refuse.

Things with Woo-seok were finally officialâthey were now lovers (even if it wasn't the most romantic relationship).

He needed to stop messing around with other men.

But before he could reject, Si-hyuk added,

"This will be the last time."

Yu-jin bit his lip.

The last time, huh?

Si-hyuk wasn't just some random sponsorâhe was one of his biggest backers.

If Yu-jin wanted to climb higher, he had to keep important people happy.

After a long silence, he exhaled and reluctantly agreed.

"Fine. But just this once."

Si-hyuk laughed.

"Good boy. I'll see you tonight."

The call ended, leaving Yu-jin feeling unsettled.

"Damn it."

But he shook off his hesitation and got up to prepare.

Tonight, he would secure his future.

---

Meanwhile, Seo-woo leaned against the school gate, watching as the classroom doors burst open and his triplets bolted out like tiny missiles.

"Dad!"

Seo-woo barely had time to react before all three of them launched themselves at him, hugging him tightly.

Despite his disguiseâcap, mask, and oversized hoodieâhis kids always found him immediately.

"We missed you!" Seo-min beamed, his usual cheerful energy shining through.

Seo-woo chuckled, ruffling their hair. "You saw me this morning."

"Yeah, but we still missed you," Seo-jin mumbled, tightening his grip around Seo-woo's waist. His serious face made it seem like he wasn't affected, but his clingy actions said otherwise.

Beside them, Tae-bin and Jae-hoon approached, bowing politely.

"Hello, Uncle Seo-woo," Tae-bin greeted.

"Hello, Jae-hoon, Tae-bin," Seo-woo smiled, patting their heads.

Seo-jun, ever the responsible eldest, adjusted his backpack and gave his father a knowing look. "Appa, did you come early today?"

"Of course," Seo-woo smiled. "I promised, didn't I?"

Seo-jun nodded in approval. "Good."

Seo-woo and his kids waved and said goodbye to Tae-bin and Jae-hoon. Then, as they all piled into the car, Seo-woo suddenly received a system notification.

[Special Quest: Shopping Spree!]

Objective: Buy new clothes for the triplets (especially summer clothes).

Reward: Hidden Debt Information.

Time Limit: None

Wait, what?!

Seo-woo frowned. Hidden debt?

His mind flashed back to his conversation with the original Seo-woo. He had completely forgotten to ask about the financial situation back then.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Seo-jun asked, immediately picking up on his change in expression.

Seo-woo quickly shook his head. "Nothing. Change of plans. We're going to the mall."

Three little heads snapped toward him.

"The mall?!" they exclaimed.

"Why?" Seo-min asked excitedly.

Seo-woo smirked. "To buy you guys new clothes and things for the house."

There was a moment of silence.

And thenâ

"YAAAY!"

The car exploded with cheers and bouncing little bodies.

"But wait!" Seo-jun suddenly sat up, serious. "Do we get to pick our own clothes?"

Seo-woo nodded. "Of course."

Seo-min exchanged looks with his brothers.

"Then we want matching outfits!" he declared.

Seo-woo raised an eyebrow. "Matching outfits?"

"Yes!" Seo-min said excitedly. "Like superheroes!"

"Or a K-pop group," Seo-jin added, clinging to Seo-woo's arm.

Seo-woo groaned playfully. "You guys are already too powerful as a trio. If you dress alike, the world might not survive."

Seo-min giggled. "Too late. We're already the best!"

Seo-jun, ever the negotiator, cleared his throat. "Then, Dad, if we behave well while shopping, can we get ice cream?"

Seo-woo narrowed his eyes. "You little schemer."

Seo-min jumped in. "And maybe toys?"

Seo-jin nodded, not letting go of his father's arm.

Seo-woo sighed dramatically. "I have created monsters."

Seo-jin looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "But we're your monsters."

Seo-woo shook his head, smiling. "Alright, alright. Shopping first, then ice cream."

"YAAAAY!"

As the car drove toward the mall, Seo-woo exhaled.

A shopping trip with these three?

This was going to be chaotic.

The mall was massive, far bigger than anything the triplets had ever seen. The moment Seo-woo and his sons stepped inside, their eyes widened in wonder. They took in the vast space, the high ceilings, and the endless stores filled with people bustling about.

"Whoa..." Seo-jun breathed out, gripping his father's hand tighter.

Seo-min, on the other hand, looked ready to run. His little feet twitched as he turned his head from left to right, scanning all the shiny and colorful store displays. His hands clenched into excited fists, and his body leaned forward as if preparing for a sprint.

Seo-woo immediately placed a firm hand on Seo-min's shoulder.

"Don't even think about it."

Seo-min froze mid-step, pouting.

"But Dad, there are so many things! I just wanna seeâ"

"No running," Seo-woo reminded firmly, looking at all three of them. "If you run, you might get lost. And if you get lostâ"

Seo-jin, the most serious of the three, suddenly interjected with wide eyes.

"We will never see you again?!"

Seo-min and Seo-jun gasped dramatically as if their father had just announced that they would be banished from the family forever.

Seo-woo blinked at them.

"What? Noâ" He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I mean, if you get lost, it'll be hard to find you right away. So just stay with me, okay?"

The triplets looked at one another and then solemnly nodded.

"Yes, Dad."

To further ensure their safety, the boys held hands together, forming an unbreakable triplet chain as they followed Seo-woo into the elevator.

The moment the glass elevator began to move, the boys gasped in amazement.

"We're flying!" Seo-min shouted, pressing his hands against the transparent glass wall.

"Look at all the tiny people down there!" Seo-jun exclaimed.

Seo-jin, usually the most composed, was unusually quietâhis eyes flicking around nervously.

Seo-woo raised an eyebrow. "Jin-yong, are you okay?"

Seo-jin quickly nodded, but his hands were gripping the metal railing a little too tightly.

"I-I'm fine. I just... I don't like being too high up."

"Ahh, you're scared of heights?" Seo-min teased with a cheeky grin.

Seo-jin glared at him but didn't deny it.

Seo-woo chuckled at their reactions.

"It's just an elevator, you'll be fine."

When the elevator reached the fourth floor, they stepped out into the clothing section. But just as Seo-woo was about to move forward, somethingâor rather, someoneâcaught his eye.

Not far from them, standing near a luxury boutique, were Moon Woo-seok and Jin Yu-jin.

Seo-woo's body tensed.

Yu-jin looked... smug as always, clinging onto Woo-seok's arm like an accessory. Meanwhile, Woo-seok stood stiffly, his face expressionless, but there was a slight look of discomfort in his eyes. His arm was still in a cast, and Seo-woo guessed that his assistant was probably handling all of his work for now.

This was bad.

If Woo-seok saw themâ

"Dad?" Seo-jun whispered, noticing his father had stopped walking.

Seo-woo quickly snapped out of his thoughts. He lowered his voice, bending slightly to speak to his kids.

"Boys, listen to me very carefully. Do not call Haneul's uncle, okay? Just keep walking."

The triplets nodded obediently, sensing the seriousness in their father's tone.

With that, Seo-woo kept his head slightly down and walked past them, his sons trailing behind.

He thought they were in the clearâ

But then,

"Seo-woo?"

Damn it.

Woo-seok's voice called out from behind.

Seo-woo inwardly cursed before turning around.

His body stiffened as his eyes met Woo-seok's.

Yu-jin turned as well, looking curious.

Seo-woo didn't say a word. Instead, he simply gave a small bowâa polite, distant greetingâbefore turning away immediately.

"Huh?" Yu-jin frowned, watching Seo-woo's retreating back.

"Who was that with Seo-woo?"

Woo-seok didn't react at first. He knew that Yu-jin was observing his every move.

So, he simply replied, lying smoothly,

"His nephews."

Yu-jin's eyebrows furrowed.

"Ohh... but they looked familiar."

Something about the three little kids made him feel uneasy. They were too identical...

Still, he didn't think too deeply about it.

Instead, he clung onto Woo-seok's arm again, only for the CEO to immediately remove his grip.

Yu-jin's smile faltered.

"Woo-seok..."

Woo-seok ignored him.

The only reason he was even here was because Yu-jin had blackmailed him.

Again.

The same old trick.

"If you don't come with me, I'll spread the photos~"

He knew that, logically, those photos wouldn't hold much weight anymore. Even if a scandal erupted, his PR team could handle it.

But it wasn't about just the photos anymore.

It was about the elders and shareholdersâthose who might still believe the rumors, those who still had the power to manipulate the company's future.

His injured arm made it harder for him to fight back. Although his assistant was handling all of his work, this situation was still inconvenient.

Woo-seok clenched his jaw.

He just needed one more step.

One more step to free himself from Yu-jin's hold forever.

But before thatâ

He silently prayed for Min-ho to interfere again and save him one last time.

---

Choi Min-ho sat at his mahogany desk, flipping through a stack of application forms. The HR department had delivered them earlier, hoping to find fresh talent who could become the next big stars under their agency.

He scanned through the glossy headshots, occasionally raising an eyebrow at a few candidates. Some had potential, some... not so much. He had already marked a few promising names when his eyes landed on a familiar face.

He frowned.

He glanced at the name printed on the form.

Bae Sung-min.

Min-ho tapped his fingers against the desk.

"Where have I seen this guy before...?"

It took him a second, but then it clicked.

"Oh, right. That rude little fox."

He had only met Sung-min once, but the encounter was memorable enough. Min-ho didn't know much about himâjust that he was reckless, and tended to stir up chaos. Min-ho touched his lips remembering that encounter. "Tch."

He flipped through Sung-min's application.

"So he wants to be an actor, huh?"

Min-ho wasn't sure whether to be amused or curious. Trouble aside, talent was what mattered most in Dawn Entertainment.

With a quick decision, he grabbed his office phone and dialed the HR administrator.

"Set up interviews for all the shortlisted applicants next week," he instructed.

"Noted, sir," the administrator replied.

"And put Bae Sung-min on the list. I want to see what he's got."

Another thought crossed his mind.

This could be fun.

He planned to officially welcome Ryu Seo-woo into Dawn Entertainment next Wednesdayâafter he signed the contract. Why not invite him to the interview session?

I hope this interview session will be a show worth watching.

Bae Sung-min was lying on his hotel bed, scrolling through his phone, when he suddenly sneezed.

"Achoo!"

He sniffled, rubbing his nose.

"Ugh... is someone talking about me?"

Right after, his phone buzzed with a new message.

ð© [Dawn Entertainment] Invitation for Interview

His eyes widened.

He sat up so fast that he nearly knocked over his half-empty iced coffee.

"No way... I got an interview?!"

He read the message again, just to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him.

[Congratulations! You have been selected for an interview with Dawn Entertainment. Please arrive at the scheduled time, which is next Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.]

Sung-min grinned.

"HAHA! I knew it! They recognize my talent!"

Without missing a beat, he immediately texted Ji-woo.

Ji-woo left him on read.

Sung-min scowled, but his excitement didn't fade.

He jumped off the bed and started pacing.

"Alright. This is my big break. I need to prepare. What do I wear? Should I practice my serious actor face? What if they ask me difficult questions? Should I fake cry during the interview to show my range??"

---

After arriving at the mall, Seo-woo decided that before starting their shopping trip, they should fill their stomachs first. It was nearly lunchtime, and he didn't want to deal with three grumpy little monsters while shopping for clothes.

He led the triplets to a family-friendly restaurant inside the mall, one known for its cute animal-shaped meals for kids.

The moment they entered, Seo-min's eyes lit up as he pointed to a giant teddy bear decoration near the counter.

"Dad! That bear is bigger than me!" he gasped.

Seo-jin, who was more concerned about efficiency, grabbed a menu and seriously examined the meal options.

"Dad, this one has the best nutritional balance," he said, pointing at a dish with grilled fish, rice, and vegetables.

Meanwhile, Seo-jun, the most responsible of the three, looked up at Seo-woo and asked, "What are you eating, Dad?"

Seo-woo chuckled and ruffled his eldest son's hair.

"I'll just have the beef rice bowl. But you guys can order whatever you want."

The triplets, now excited, each picked a meal:

Seo-min got the bear-shaped omurice (because "it's cute!"). Seo-jun ordered the chicken katsu set (because "protein is important!"). Seo-jin stuck to his nutritionally balanced fish meal.

As they ate, Seo-min kept stealing bites from his brothers' plates, making Seo-jin scowl and Seo-jun sigh in exasperation.

"Min-gom hyung, eat your own food," Seo-jin muttered, trying to block his plate.

Seo-min grinned, "Sharing is caring, Jin-yong!"

Seo-woo just laughed at their antics and made sure they all finished their food before heading to their next destination.

With full bellies, they headed to the children's clothing department.

The moment they arrived, the triplets' eyes widened as they took in the massive selection of clothes.

Seo-min, ever the energetic one, bounced excitedly on his heels, itching to run around and touch everything.

Seo-woo, already foreseeing disaster, quickly grabbed his wrist.

"No running inside the store," he warned. "If you get lost, I won't buy you dessert later."

Seo-min immediately froze, eyes wide with betrayal.

"Not the dessert...!" he whispered dramatically.

Seo-jin, meanwhile, was methodically scanning the store, already mentally sorting which clothes looked the most practical.

Seo-jun just held onto his father's hand, not trusting his brothers to behave.

A young female employee, noticing their arrival, walked up to them with a bright smile.

"Good afternoon! How can I assist you today?"

Seo-woo returned the smile, about to ask for recommendations whenâ

"MOVE ASIDE!"

A loud, sharp voice cut through the air.

Seo-woo turned to see a middle-aged woman, her wrists and neck weighed down with gaudy jewelry, dragging along a young boy, around six years old.

The young female employee stiffened as she turned to the woman.

"Madam Hwang! Welcome!" she greeted, voice noticeably more nervous.

Seo-woo immediately did not like this woman.

Madam Hwang's gaze swept over him, head to toe, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

Then, she turned to the employee, completely ignoring Seo-woo and the triplets.

"Ms. Park, why are you wasting time on peasants?"

The air grew tense.

The young employee looked mortified, but before she could respond, Madam Hwang continued,

"What if they don't even buy anything? Such people are just here to waste time... or worseâsteal."

Seo-woo felt his eyebrow twitch.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Before he could respond, a small, smug voice spoke from behind Madam Hwang.

"What a beggar."

The triplets froze.

Seo-woo blinked, then slowly turned his gaze downward to Madam Hwang's sonâa smug-faced brat peeking out from behind her skirts.

Seo-jun immediately reacted, his tiny fists clenching at his sides.

Seo-min's mouth fell open.

Seo-jin's expression darkened.

Seo-jun took a step forward, his voice firm.

"What did you just say?"

Before the boy could answer, Madam Hwang yanked him behind her, playing the victim.

"Oh my! My poor son is being bullied!" she gasped dramatically. "How dare you intimidate such a kind child!"

Seo-woo inhaled deeply through his nose.

"Wow. The audacity of this woman."

Just as he was about to respond with a well-placed retortâ

Ding!

A window prompt appeared in front of him.

[SPECIAL QUEST ACTIVATED]

ð Teach a lesson to the rude woman and her brat! ð

Reward: +25 points in Martial Arts Mastery

Seo-woo blinked.

"...Wait, why is the system giving me martial arts points for this? Did the system want me to slap this woman?"

Before he could question it further, another message popped up from his system, practically seething in rage.

[System No. 1276]: That snobbish old hag! Host, you have full permission to destroy her! ð¡ð¥

Seo-woo sighed and cracked his knuckles.

"Well, if the system insists..."

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