Chapter 13: A Lookalike?
“By the way, why didn’t you write anything afterward? I searched your pen name Wild Horse so many times.”
After finishing that work, Gotaesan had eagerly waited for the author Wild Horse’s next novel.
But even after a year, there was no new release.
[Sorry. I was too busy with my major studies.]
“What major were you in?”
Saying you’re too busy to write anything because of school seemed like an exaggeration.
It sounded like an excuse.
College students usually have plenty of time. And vacations are long too.
[Medicine.]
“…Huh?!”
What the—! A medical student?
“W-what school did you go to?”
[Horyeon University.]
“Ghk—!”
Ah… this is cheating.
Good looks, top-tier specs, and talent for genre fiction?
A total ecosystem destroyer.
So people like this exist even without “afterlife coins.”
“That makes sense. Medical students must study all the time, right?”
[Well, during pre-med I had some time, but once I entered the main program, it got really overwhelming.]
“…I see.”
Gotaesan nodded.
Pre-med? Main program? He didn’t really understand, but it basically meant she became extremely busy.
[I really wanted to write novels too. It was the first thing in my life I pursued with passion. But the situation just didn’t allow it.]
A trace of regret appeared on Jihayul’s face.
“Was there any special reason you chose medicine?”
[No. I just studied hard under the system and went into medicine as my parents wished.]
She had followed directions all her life, only discovering what she truly wanted after entering university.
“I see.”
From her past writings and comments, Gotaesan had felt that Wild Horse genuinely enjoyed writing.
[So last year, after a lot of thinking, I took a leave of absence. I wanted to properly try writing.]
“Wow, that’s a big decision.”
Taking a leave from medical school carried far more risk than for most students.
Her passion for web novels was clearly not small.
[During my leave, I studied web novels like crazy. I even received one-on-one mentorship from a professional writer. I was preparing for the FunnyBooks web novel contest.]
“Oh, I know that one. First place gets 100 million won, right?”
[Yes, that’s right.]
A few months ago, the largest web novel platform in the country, FunnyBooks, held a contest.
First prize was 100 million won, and 20 winners received various prizes.
Not only aspiring writers but also established authors participated, making the competition fierce.
[I prepared really hard and submitted my work. Then, three days later, I had that accident.]
“…Ah.”
[You asked earlier why I’m still here in the world of the living, right? I’ve already accepted death. But I wanted to at least see the results of the web novel contest—the first and last thing I ever pursued with passion.]
“I see…”
[There are five days left until the announcement. After I check the results, I’ll move on and pass on peacefully.]
Jihayul spoke with a bright expression, trying to stay cheerful.
Seeing that, Gotaesan felt a pang in his heart.
[So, unfortunately, there’s nothing much you need to help me with.]
That was true.
This time, Gotaesan didn’t need to step in to help her pass on.
Once she checked the contest results, she would resolve things on her own.
[But until then, I’d get bored waiting. Keep me company, okay? After the results are out, I’ll make a contract for passing on. Since I’m going to pass on anyway, we can make a simple agreement so you can earn afterlife coins.]
“Oh, really? I’d appreciate that.”
Total win!
Though he didn’t know how many coins he would actually get.
The amount depended on the time and effort invested in resolving a spirit’s lingering attachment.
Still, whatever the amount, it was free—so of course it was welcome.
[Then I guess I’ll stick around you until the contest results come out.]
“Uh… you’re staying with me the whole time?”
[Of course.]
“Th-then… will you be there even when I sleep…?”
Gotaesan asked, his face turning red.
Even if she was a ghost, she was a beautiful woman in her twenties.
Imagining her in his room at night made things feel oddly strange.
[Why~? Is that a problem~?]
Jihayul leaned in with a shy tone, whispering near his ear.
“Ah… no, it’s not that… I was just curious.”
Poof—!
“Whoa!”
In an instant, Jihayul’s appearance changed.
From casual clothes to heavy makeup, a miniskirt, and high heels.
Gulp— Gotaesan swallowed dryly without realizing it.
[Why are you curious about that~?]
This time, she whispered seductively into his ear.
“Ah… um…”
His ears burned from the unfamiliar situation.
[Puhahaha! You’re still just a kid! If I stay with you, you won’t even be able to sleep, will you? Such a baby!]
Seeing his reaction, Jihayul burst into laughter.
Hey, was she teasing him?
“Ugh…”
[Don’t worry. I’ll go out late at night. You’re a young, energetic guy, so I’ll respect your privacy. But don’t overdo it—you’ll wear yourself out.]
“Hey, what are you talking about!”
[Pahaha!]
He had been fooled by her gentle appearance.
She truly lived up to her pen name Wild Horse—mischievous to the core.
“Here’s our home. Let’s go in.”
Gotaesan arrived home with the ghost Jihayul.
By then, it was already past 7 PM.
Opening the door, he saw Park Yuran and Goh Arin sitting on the sofa in the small living room, watching the news.
“I’m home.”
“Oh, you’re back? Did you eat?”
“I’m not having dinner. I’m on a diet.”
“You must be hungry. Eat at least a little. You’ll get sick.”
“I’m fine.”
Park Yuran kept urging her son to eat.
“Just leave him, Mom. He’ll end up binging later anyway.”
Goh Arin, lying on the sofa, smirked.
[Your mother and sister are both very beautiful. Look at your mother’s skin—she could pass for a college student! And your sister is so slender, and her face is tiny.]
Jihayul admired the mother and daughter.
Gotaesan gave a slight nod.
His mother, Park Yuran, was in her early forties, but with a bit of grooming, she looked like a refined woman in her late twenties.
Despite raising two children alone and working hard, she always maintained her beauty.
And Goh Arin had inherited her mother’s looks perfectly.
As much as he hated to admit it, their visuals were top-tier anywhere.
That annoying girl… she took all the good genes.
‘I used to resent it a lot.’
Why was he the only one who ended up looking like this?
He assumed he resembled the father who abandoned them when they were young.
He had never seen his father’s face.
His mother had never told them anything about him.
She only said he was the worst kind of person and not worth thinking about.
If even his kind-hearted mother spoke that harshly, he must have been truly despicable.
He was already unhappy with his looks, but resembling such a person made it even worse.
It had stressed him out for a long time—but now, it didn’t matter.
With afterlife coins, he would soon change completely.
<Next news: Shinwha Group Vice Chairman Goh Dooho, accused of evading 120 billion won in taxes through overseas borrowed-name accounts, failed to appear in court today.>
“The defense stated that preparations for the trial were complete, but due to a sudden worsening of a chronic illness, he was urgently transported to the hospital this morning. The court has decided…”
Everyone paused their conversation and turned their attention to the TV.
“Wow, 120 billion in taxes… how much money does he even make?” Goh Arin exclaimed.
“He’s the vice chairman of the country’s number one conglomerate. He probably makes unimaginable amounts just by breathing.”
Gotaesan had once seen a report stating that the chairman of Shinwha Group held stocks worth around 15 trillion won.
The vice chairman, his son, wouldn’t be far behind.
With wealth beyond comprehension, it didn’t even feel real enough to envy.
“Seriously, I’m jealous. But… doesn’t that guy look a bit like you? If you lost weight and aged, you’d look exactly like him. Hahaha, you two look the same.”
Looking at the enlarged face of Vice Chairman Goh Dooho on TV, Goh Arin laughed.
Though he had everything, his looks weren’t particularly impressive.
“Wanna die?”
Gotaesan snapped at her words.
‘…Now that I look at it, there is some resemblance.’
His sister’s comment wasn’t entirely wrong.
Their facial features and overall vibe did feel somewhat similar.
At that moment, Park Yuran suddenly changed the TV channel and looked coldly at Goh Arin.
“Goh Arin, are you going to keep talking to your brother like that?”
“Huh?”
Both Goh Arin and Gotaesan were startled by her sudden stern tone.
“Instead of teasing your brother who’s trying hard to change, you keep making fun of him. How is your brother anything like that man?”
“Ah, I was just joking like usual…”
Why is Mom acting like this today?
Goh Arin was left confused, sweating under her mother’s unfamiliar seriousness.
“Bye!”
“See you!”
“Take care, my lovely son and daughter!”
The next morning, Park Yuran greeted them again with her usual bright smile.
“Mom was really scary yesterday,” Goh Arin said, rubbing her arms as she recalled the previous day.
“She really got angry. That was rare.”
Since Park Yuran was usually gentle, her scolding had been quite intense.
When a normally calm person gets angry, it’s even more intimidating.
“Why did she get so mad? Was it that big of a deal that I said he looked like Goh Dooho?”
“…Normally, talking down to your brother like that is something you’d get scolded for.”
“You should act like a proper older brother if you want to be called one. Ugh, this is all your fault.”
Thwack!
“Ahh!”
Goh Arin punched Gotaesan’s arm hard.
‘…Once I lose weight, you’re dead.’
Gotaesan gritted his teeth while rubbing his aching arm.
Goh Arin had once said she’d do anything for him if he changed.
He’d better push his diet even harder.
“Bye, pig. I’m off first.”
“Yeah, go on.”
Goh Arin’s school bus arrived first.
“Arin, bye.”
“Yeah, bye.”
After she boarded, her classmates greeted her.
“Is that guy who was with you your brother?”
“Yeah.”
A gum-chewing girl asked, and Goh Arin nodded.
“Wow, you two are totally different. How are you that different? Isn’t he the guy from yesterday’s news… wait a sec.”
The gum girl searched for a photo of Goh Dooho on her phone and showed it to her friends.
“Haha! Yeah, you’re right. That’s crazy.”
“He really looks just like your brother. Heh.”
The group burst into laughter in agreement.
“Hey.”
“…Huh?”
Goh Arin scanned them with a cold gaze.
“Say that again.”
“Ah… n-no…”
“….”
Under her pressure, the laughing girls quickly fell silent.
“Do you guys have a death wish? My brother—well, he’s a bit overweight now—but once he loses weight, he’s on a whole different level. What do you even know?”
“R-right, that makes sense. We must have been wrong.”
“Yeah…”
To appease Goh Arin, the girls who had mocked Gotaesan forced themselves to agree, even though they didn’t mean it.
