Taehu's thumb slid across the screen of his smartphone.
A loading icon spun at the top of the display. A moment later, the page refreshed.
[Balance: 42,000,750 won]
"Ha."
Taehu let out a disbelieving laugh in the darkness.
It was already the hundredth time he had refreshed the page.
He was afraid that if he closed his eyes and opened them again, the number might somehow have decreased, or a notice might appear saying that there had been an error with the banking application.
But the figure of forty-two million won displayed prominently in the center of the screen did not budge in the slightest.
Taehu shifted around in bed and stared up at the ceiling.
The years he had spent as a perpetually C-rank appraiser flashed through his mind.
Whenever his salary came in, he paid the interest on his student loans and his rent, and after the various utility bills were deducted, all that remained in his account was a meager amount for living expenses.
There had been countless days when he survived on convenience-store lunch boxes and cup noodles just to save a little money. Every year on his parents' birthdays, he would spend days agonizing over how much cash he could afford to put into their gift envelopes.
And now, overnight, he had come into more than forty million won.
Taehu turned on his smartphone screen once again.
The blue light illuminated his face.
It was more than simply having a larger bank balance.
A deep sense of security unlike anything he had ever experienced filled his chest—the assurance that even if something serious happened tomorrow, he would have the means to deal with it.
The sweetness of that peace of mind was greater than he could have imagined.
"I still can't believe it."
Taehu chuckled to himself and pulled the blanket over his head.
His heart was pounding far too hard for him to have any hope of falling asleep.
The following evening.
The moment his shift ended, Taehu headed straight for a bustling restaurant district.
He had barely slept at all the night before, but he did not feel tired in the slightest.
If anything, his body felt light enough to fly.
Taehu pulled his smartphone from his pocket and called his mother.
"Yes, Mom. I'm almost there."
Kim Misuk's voice came through the phone.
"All right. We just got off the bus too. But did we really have to eat dinner out? We could have just grilled some meat at home."
"We don't get to eat together that often. Just relax and enjoy a meal out for once."
"I know exactly how much you earn. Why are you spending money on a restaurant? If you really want to eat out, let's just go to that soup place in the neighborhood. Their kkakdugi is good."
"Mom. I made a reservation somewhere nice today. No arguing. Just come to the address I sent you. Tell Dad too."
Taehu deliberately answered in a cheerful, confident voice before ending the call.
In the distance, he spotted two familiar figures.
His father, Hwang Seongjin, and his mother, Kim Misuk.
"Dad! Mom!"
Taehu waved as he approached, and bright smiles spread across their faces.
"Hey. Looks like you got off work early."
Hwang Seongjin gave Taehu a light pat on the shoulder.
"Yeah. Let's go. It's almost time for our reservation."
Taehu took the lead.
The place he brought his parents to was an upscale Hanwoo restaurant in the heart of the district.
Even from the outside, the restaurant stood out with its elegant lighting and immaculate interior.
He had passed it several times while walking with his parents in the past, but every time, one look at the prices on the menu by the entrance had been enough to make them turn away.
When they reached the entrance, Kim Misuk abruptly slowed to a stop.
"Taehu. Isn't this place really expensive?"
"It's fine. Dinner is on me today, so just enjoy yourselves."
"No, but still. I took a look at the prices outside, and one serving costs..."
As Kim Misuk hesitated, Hwang Seongjin glanced up at the sign and joined in.
"Our son says he's treating us, so let's try it once. But if this is too much for you, we'll go somewhere else."
"It's not too much. Come on."
Taehu gently ushered his parents inside.
An employee guided them to a spacious, comfortable table.
Charcoal was brought out, and an assortment of side dishes was neatly arranged before them.
Hwang Seongjin cautiously opened the menu, only for his brow to furrow.
"Hey. These prices are no joke. Why is everything so expensive?"
"Dad, don't look at the prices. Just pick whatever you want."
"Did they coat this ribeye in gold or something? Just order the cheapest thing."
Taehu took the menu from his father's hands and closed it.
Then he turned toward the employee standing beside the table.
"We'll start with three servings of the assorted premium cuts. And one plate of beef tartare, please."
"Certainly."
Once the employee bowed and stepped away, Kim Misuk smacked Taehu on the arm.
"Have you lost your mind? Do you know how much all of that is going to cost?"
"Mom, I've decided to spend some money today, so you have to eat everything. No leftovers."
At Taehu's shameless reply, both of his parents laughed in disbelief, though they could not entirely hide their anticipation.
Before long, a platter of beautifully marbled, vivid red Hanwoo beef was placed on the table.
SIZZLE!
The instant the meat touched the heated grill, a mouthwatering sound rang out as a rich, savory aroma spread through the air.
Taehu picked up the tongs and turned the meat carefully so it would not burn.
He placed the first glistening piece, still brimming with juices, onto Hwang Seongjin's plate.
"You first, Dad."
"All right. Now that is a beautiful piece of meat."
Hwang Seongjin dipped it lightly in salt and put it into his mouth.
He had barely chewed a few times when his eyes widened.
"It melts in your mouth. Now I see why it's so expensive."
"You have some too, Mom."
Kim Misuk tasted a piece as well and could not hide the smile spreading across her face.
"It's so tender. Delicious. But you're really not overdoing it, are you?"
"Not at all. Eat as much as you want."
The meal continued in a warm and cheerful atmosphere.
Since they had ordered without worrying about prices for once, there was hardly a moment when the grill was empty.
At first, his parents continued to fuss over the cost, but before long, they became absorbed in enjoying the tender Hanwoo beef.
By the time they were full and the meal was drawing to a close, Hwang Seongjin quietly rose from his seat and straightened his clothes.
"Dad, where are you going?"
"Ah. Just heading to the restroom."
Taehu glanced in the direction his father was walking.
The restroom was farther inside the restaurant, yet Hwang Seongjin's steps were subtly carrying him toward the cashier near the entrance.
"The restroom is that way."
Taehu pointed farther inside with his chin.
Hwang Seongjin cleared his throat awkwardly.
"No, it's just... You don't have that kind of money. I'll pay, so stay seated."
The moment he said that, Taehu sprang to his feet.
He reached the cashier before his father and pulled a card from his wallet.
"Please charge it in full."
Flustered, Hwang Seongjin tried to stop his hand.
"Hey, you little brat. This isn't some cheap meal. Move aside."
"Dad. I got lucky recently and received a very large appraisal bonus. I've got some breathing room now, so you really don't need to worry about it."
Taehu gave his father a broad smile and inserted his card into the terminal the employee held out.
A cheerful approval tone sounded, followed by the printing of a receipt.
"An appraisal bonus? They pay that much?"
Hwang Seongjin asked with a doubtful expression.
"Of course. I may not look it, but I'm famous for being good at my job at the appraisal center."
At Taehu's brazen boasting, Hwang Seongjin burst into an incredulous laugh.
Kim Misuk, who had followed them over, was equally surprised by how casually her son had paid the bill, but a pleased smile still appeared on her face.
"Thanks to my son, I finally got to try expensive beef. That was delicious."
"I'll buy you something even better next time."
The night air was pleasantly cool as they walked out of the restaurant.
After filling their stomachs, the three of them strolled leisurely through the busy district to help digest their meal.
Colorful neon signs glowed all around them, and the streets bustled with people.
"It's been a while since all three of us went out together. Let's take a picture."
Kim Misuk pulled her smartphone from her bag.
It was a fairly old model, with a cracked screen and worn corners.
She tapped the screen several times to open the camera application.
But the display remained completely black and unresponsive.
"Oh my. What's wrong with this thing?"
"Why? It won't turn on?"
Taehu stepped closer.
With an embarrassed expression, Kim Misuk tapped the phone a few times.
"It still had plenty of battery earlier, but it suddenly shut off. Maybe it's because the phone is so old. Lately, it keeps turning itself off or freezing."
"Hasn't it been more than four years since you bought that?"
"As long as it isn't completely broken, there's no reason not to keep using it. It'll probably turn back on once I charge it at home."
With a disappointed expression, Kim Misuk started putting the smartphone back into her bag.
Taehu silently watched her.
Then he pulled out his own smartphone.
He casually opened a shopping application.
Without hesitation, he searched for the newest smartphone model on the market, choosing the one with the best performance and the largest screen.
For the color, he selected the subdued silver his mother had always liked.
He entered his parents' home address for the delivery.
Taehu looked at the total, which comfortably exceeded 1.5 million won.
Without even a second of hesitation, he pressed the purchase button.
[Payment Complete.]
"Mom. A package will be delivered to the house tomorrow."
Taehu spoke casually as he slipped his smartphone back into his pocket.
"A package? What did you order to our house?"
"A phone. I just bought you the best one."
"What?"
Kim Misuk stopped walking.
Her eyes widened.
"You just bought it? You mean you bought something that expensive right here in the middle of the street, just like that?"
"Yes. The battery keeps dying whenever it wants anyway, so you might as well replace it now. Once it arrives tomorrow, just go to the phone store with Dad and have it activated."
"Oh, you little brat! Do you have any idea how much a phone like that costs? How could you just order one out of nowhere?"
His mother delivered a sharp smack to his back.
But it did not hurt.
There was far more delight and excitement than anger in her raised voice, and she could not hide either of them.
Hwang Seongjin laughed heartily beside them and joined in.
"Your son bought it for you, so just accept it. Come to think of it, I should probably replace my phone soon too."
"Dad, you can keep using yours a little longer."
"You brat. No hesitation at all, huh?"
At the playful exchange between Taehu and Hwang Seongjin, Kim Misuk finally burst out laughing as well.
The laughter of the family of three echoed through the night streets.
Taehu clenched the hand buried in his pocket.
This feeling was different from the joy he had experienced the previous night when he saw forty-two million won sitting in his bank account.
His family could eat something delicious with money he had earned without having to worry about the price.
He could buy his mother the best replacement available without agonizing over the cost while she stubbornly continued using something that was falling apart.
These small but undeniable changes filled Taehu's chest with warmth.
'I need to earn more.'
The true value his special Appraisal ability had given him was becoming clear.
It was not simply about increasing the balance in his bank account.
It was the power to ensure that the people he loved no longer had to hesitate or shrink back whenever they ran up against the harsh realities of life.
Now he had a perfectly clear reason to uncover even more hidden treasures.
"Come on. Let's grab some ice cream on the way home and walk it off. Dad, you're paying this time."
Taehu grinned and started walking ahead.
The light footsteps of his parents following behind him pleasantly tickled his ears.