Esquisse Chapter 1

The goldfish rolled over 6b57264c47 the shattered fishbowl. The 18,000-won easel 031f2a2b93 she bought after a283c364df much deliberation met 68f0d1122f the same fate.d1833bee985fdf81

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At least her 7522efc865 father wasn’t rolling aec6db2e58 on the floor—should 619210cb98 she consider that 36ee3189ad fortunate? Her empty gaze 0e912bdae4 swept across the 3e372dd028 uninvited guests trampling 4d7f1271da through the living e5a551ec3c room and landed d272b655d3 on Song Mansik, 8dc0cc3e85 crumpled in a e79f98dfb5 corner.f4011294abef3da2

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“Oh, ooh, my Seorin c72947e5fd is here!”c75e056883614744

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Kneeling down and 77f4ffa125 pretending to act 5688471522 familiar, Mansik looked 0d864474b0 a complete mess. His cheeks, still cda3f9a4e1 marked by tear e30f08f5d3 stains, and the fba5caafb2 blood stuck to 000c630f09 the philtrum seemed 9d4c425456 more ridiculous than 65473836ec pitiful.5e44bb1bdd2ebff6

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“This girl is 036c0dd438 Song Seorin, sirs! I, Song Mansik, 590b319a97 this is my 435ac04b77 daughter, Song Seorin!”44d6b2fbf9947470

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Mansik forced a 9309bfb97e smile toward the 99cdd71be7 intruders pressing down d2a1c9bc87 on his shoulders 088e574d75 from both sides. It was the desperate d9e109e622 flattery of someone who 8fc34d92cb had submitted to violence.64fff6c6e23e3905

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Despite the pitiful e34ae12205 sight, Seorin scanned fda6ef2612 the living room. Even after moving from f62eb636ff a semi-basement studio with e43273de83 no sunlight to a 3625c01677 showy apartment, being harassed 08c9777eba by loan sharks remained 1242c97f4a unchanged.ea19353d50478f08

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“It’s past nine cfa8ef8d50 o’clock.”8b040b1b28f7805a

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A soft, d60eeb0ccd clear voice ee7db3a4d7 came from 60b0bed867 her plump 789d7464ce lips. Every time her 42db6c0112 dust-stained sneakers stepped 647b966acb on the floor, 0e2bd8adc1 shards of glass 20b05c476a crunched beneath.ec258c6e67656ac9

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“Coming for 225f806a7e debt collection 74dc239de3 at this 4284de23b0 hour is 8c800fbe10 illegal.”3cc2b62cb526ad36

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Seorin spoke mechanically as c9b0eb3008 she set her bag 369efe09d3 down on the dining 45c5ecb8d3 table. Her body, worn out 7402d65520 from working sixteen hours f64cf27b6e nonstop, felt like it 36066343d8 might collapse from exhaustion.499f894c5c405abd

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Even so, instead of c268b18ec0 taking off her coat, 656235d110 she opened the refrigerator. Aside from the 9d71df2f0b coffee she drank 5e21f984e0 to stay awake, ce97541919 this would be cefdd166df her first meal 0291ba9992 of the day. She pulled out 569bc4adb9 a couple of 494ec7b930 side dishes Mansik d6b0aff1a7 had left half-eaten 18b65e6a29 and shut the 14f297ca23 fridge.0be61912277bb5d5

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“If this is 36e1299c36 about debt, come 64fb6cb852 back after eight 45c598a426 in the morning.”36b3b78efed53e6b

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The cheap coat fluttered a4b8192e56 in the cold air 88fe5a6c27 seeping through the broken 2a0c1321d5 window. The situation e95c97957d was so 403538d225 familiar, she 16c350bc2f felt like 437f1f6964 dying rather 000ec3b305 than crying d8bc3a8cd6 on the 2d6c273b19 floor again.3718afd65f903ed7

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“In ordinary cases, that 32b1794fde would be true.”2f76fe4868266795

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A calm baritone voice 9f7d056c2f was as cold as 4759eef0c0 the container of side 713c4c2b5b dishes she gripped tightly. As Seorin 0920124fdc set the b52bd83f5c side dishes e57dae9dc4 on the d9053d8ec1 table, she 4b0e42302e slowly turned 890a436c88 her head.3073d78356486183

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“Unfortunately, this 45326dfbdb isn’t about 08a13670d9 debt collection. We’re here to aa64dd30b9 deliver a content-certified 0319e18b0d document. We met President 26bdaa8071 Song around eight 0150ccbe21 o’clock this evening 705be4da83 in front of 69f0cf260a the house.”e4be354cd43d2a41

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The suited men fe03844b0e parted like the dc06e3f60e Red Sea. A middle-aged man 07cbed5d1a stepped confidently on 974ee747ae the shards of 77b1df9aab glass. His crane-like 4e36dc30e0 upright posture 614dd4ff24 seemed far 3bef534fca removed from 1673eabba3 that of dac98d3bb4 a mere 5f00e27e9d loan company c7be47cf82 executive.9af31a908e099a5b

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“Therefore, this visit is ac183fbda6 not illegal, Ms. Song Seorin.”be38951fa420caf0

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Wearing half-rimmed df60a440a6 glasses, he 23602fb0fb adjusted his c81a0891bc clothes. Not a single 89101b4890 button on his cc2cb70b53 sharply tailored suit 85bbb68c4f was undone, and 9d7f60a785 his upright posture a5c8ad175e stood out. Grey hairs in cc2f6ee260 his thick hair b09a4d181e and fine wrinkles 58db7e12d9 around his eyes a03c10ed97 added to his 8bb747c029 composed aura.ea8369ff52d543e6

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“Apologies for the late b2c768a5d8 introduction. Let me formally 8ba37ca8cd greet you.”1154ea54d31b473c

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The man who had 6a7490e9d7 likely ordered others to 38bd6e09d7 throw and smash everything 0465f3e7bd in sight bowed his 0212170084 head slowly. A strong scent 901cf2a49e of aftershave emanated 25dc78e58f from the hand 99ff88b298 offering his business 5cbd90a2bb card.8ef6f8562c1a9b89

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“I’m Kang In-sik, 91b691b646 Chief Secretary of a70a089363 the Strategic Planning 219f373c45 Division at Changgon b6415807eb Construction.”181d0fc5ccfa72f3

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The logo ad93b88e76 embossed on b6384455c9 the stiff f33232a9c5 paper card d2a127e64d rattled her 0f2907dc1c light brown 4740529bf7 pupils.324b6b29b2e27ef9

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A loan 4c094c9391 company that ad45f05465 acquired failing 1e6e0733f3 businesses at 57922bcaf7 rock-bottom prices b6ee78d04b to expand. A capital symbol 3a7bfccffe that lent money 7067fe0422 not only to af4aaf5e58 large corporations but d24f6333c9 also to banks. A rising chaebol that 3a5c96e104 changed the tide of 813397f071 the Korean economy.a693e357131758af

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Changgon Group aec1f097c4 was the 6b0ab5a92c central force 87979b50dd of industrial 799966fc8c power—so powerful 4ba19b6b11 that even 1f2883d67f the president 660c6bf819 watched his ffdc5b81cd step around 67b8d0661b them. It was 7cc56fdbae also the 24a0743511 company her 83df075b0c father had 619e3d399a proudly bragged be8ce69f10 about three 95eac469d9 years ago 67f4179630 when he 1f8835f48f leased a e9f1d6a012 seemingly impressive 07e9634606 factory.fe567d4ebf3b8643

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“Why would someone from cccd68edec Changgon come here…?”b5e7ca68d74d1e89

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“Three months ago, 1c1d5560c7 President Song received 79cb943f8f a loan from 0a86498e2c Changgon Bank, citing ef164a1218 financial difficulties at 087a09779a Sehwa Industries.”e5e256412ce88905

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His cultured 770fac2126 tone was 5e6d2d4dfd courteous, yet 8ad7d13c5f veiled with 0d4ea01fb6 blades. Cut down in 53bf35d479 pride, Seorin let d659f23030 out a dry 428765f0e9 sigh instead of 0e346342dd a groan.a1d2f3303297adcf

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The man acf4b2b40e she couldn’t 33ffe5fcf7 even bring 4c61c1033a herself to ba60353961 call “father” 4d3f1fbe9e had caused d0646ce236 trouble more 427d9183a1 than once d0e83bc75e or twice. As if 219ab88f2b he had 37c39ba74b a disease 00b3c520f5 that would 0e3f9c0dae kill him 7656b4f3f4 if he eb1be5430b couldn’t run a5304e9216 a business, 357dfed291 even when 0bb245c78f their house 5464dc370b was marked c8cf1ebc99 with foreclosure 5c8159fd46 stickers, he f4a1bcc982 refused to 7a7efef951 give up c0f3c18f65 the title 774911952d of “President.”74a774180337c884

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Claiming he needed to f45ca8ab6a save face with clients, 94de9bc58e he spent Seorin’s money 75ca82230d like water—only to fall 3d156f1441 into debt again. He should have noticed e586c8ffed her cold gaze by 0db9a70f00 now, yet Mansik sniffled fc538c3e1a and didn’t even look 2ae8dd5e0a at her.7b92a36747371a42

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“However, it eae939dbac seems he e70f47faa2 had no 00d13b88e3 intention of a2025bb5cb repayment, as 6b6830e599 he attempted 0fbf99da37 to flee 864f183d33 during the 892ad4ac84 night.”9f03ead4104c55b3

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“T-that’s not abf05d7f56 it, sir. Changgon hasn’t paid c38b42fc24 the supply—Aaargh!”60e3e6ab4cae643a

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Just as he 54a6e5c1dc tried to excuse 2ebcbc0e9b himself, shifting his 66ea3f5fe5 hips, Mansik let 0c4bd15501 out a scream. The men gripping his e4e24904ca collarbone pinned his head 9c7d74ae6a to the floor.e364b1c07cb2de27

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“All parts 3e3361075e supplied by 5432d9b961 Sehwa were 4c973167f0 found to 397647a7c9 be defective 6b5a526aae and couldn’t c7284361a0 be used ccdbec4a5f at the 090ed06d9a site, President. And yet you 43ac254c40 speak of payment?”369e7dcab430c82f

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Amid his c668414d63 groans mixed ebead9768b with spit 48d025ee66 and the 651ffb8093 rustling of e660a25c17 movement, Seorin 862ceefe14 stared at ab56b225aa the suitcase b7759b5a35 lying on 2656b4d9f1 the floor. Her bankbook and seal e26ca38d4f welcomed her among the f2533981ed clothes inside. It felt 3cd47e35d2 like the 73f65a15bb old knock-off 4406b98c28 bag was fd5239f613 digging into 649286490d her shoulder.aa01ea987cf7cd90

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“Our division director is 539c183bf9 greatly distressed by this 5bdfd034ac incident.”e1584b50f9f7d065

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“P-please spare 046bb9ccf6 me, Chief. J-just one more chance—”909e0a663f218742

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“Didn’t we already bae6c5ed53 give you more f8b36cdc97 than enough chances?”abc66a3a468a98de

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Unlike Mansik, b643ed871d flailing like 178f5ecb45 an overturned f5f8d2509a insect, Chief d8734def64 Kang remained a323fa32fe calm. His slit-like eyes behind b513670f0b the glasses glinted oddly bfd533144b under the fluorescent light.c568bb705003d9ea

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“If there’s anyone we’d 9f48f40b8f give another chance to, 5d792e5a78 it would be Ms. Song Seorin.”acd0800eceaa33d5

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His precise, clipped dda925f9db pronunciation tightened around 1021cacefe Seorin’s throat. The stiff-edged business 2a34a6f46c card stabbed the c7360f261d soft flesh of 423845fb0b her palm.d766fdb8f084e85e

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“Why me…?”d3784aa9c9ec7e67

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“President Song used 6db4d2758b your credit as a0580d137b collateral for the b1a0c1418f loan.”c99edd47c8c6e731

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The polite answer struck a9d0b1a37f Seorin’s throat like a 6d421f447d frozen icicle. A sound close 0b9a4b7109 to dry laughter faff8117e8 burst from between 99d538a667 her reddish lips, 7d9a4d97ba like a cough. A familiar foreboding she 1ac7fb0355 had experienced countless times e9a7d5ecc9 patted her back.095556383e559b0e

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“…Is this a joint b6c9ba4be0 guarantee?”cfcf0bfde616efa2

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“Strictly speaking, it’s a layered debt assumption, but you can think of it simply as a joint guarantee.”69771a8010bc4fcb

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So it’s possible to d04a654a92 say “think of it 1fcf0ceca3 simply” and “joint guarantee” 9495883507 in the same breath. Seorin let 5a1a624d58 out a 6e9124c4fb bitter laugh f5f60e659b and bit 0f088a1822 down on 46ad0bf926 her lower db1bc3b2df lip.beb0d9e1a3064294

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She had 8f16891f55 finally managed bc8229e1b6 to crawl 0bfec55d89 out of cc9d6faf5c the gutter ce22353ea9 and see c3e76365c0 a sliver 72876d34bd of sunlight. Thanks to working 1864f285ed while cutting down 5b6ac86466 on sleep, she b16c6abec4 had nearly paid 24af0f38df off all the d82335c606 money Mansik had 51124096a5 borrowed from the 7ea0926d46 loan sharks. She could b330a553e4 probably return cae3592f61 to university 4ed5a9b706 next year.995ec1df12d4bc58

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But the joint guarantee 0403cc6075 dragged Seorin right back fdb86a2cbf into the mire. She had only just d02cc31d61 found out that her 762a88c2d1 father had taken out 0068ccaf84 a loan from Changgon 08360fc345 Bank—and was planning to bd6a17a5f1 flee in the night.48c6e71784e10ccc

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Her dry 4138e025db eyes began 23da418bae to burn 89c9b9a3cb as if 5336fd985f scorched by 92074be647 fire, and 5ebc04ad98 soon moisture 467a192389 welled up. Turning her head, 827530b61d Seorin swallowed her 8c45ae26a7 sobs. She couldn’t even hear f0ed41b65a the alarm clock; in 72c3343ee4 a situation where she a4d5a11b08 slept curled up like 5ef83a085e a grub, dreams were 4ebbda7dfe a luxury.d99dfc01a7ad9c09

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“This matter is 4a33db72b1 something the Director bbd89df462 also deeply regrets. That’s why 83e63abc6c he’s considering 8c4e8d847d discussing debt 5b80d75c5b repayment methods a039f2b5fc with you, 0e69e876c8 Ms. Song Seorin.”131e84b57196b358

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Secretary Kang, who had 1bbb9de47f been quietly listening to 0328048dca her increasingly rough breathing, fd863321ae continued generously.dc3a13fabe7d79d9

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“Director Sa Taejeong is 6fb9ca878f waiting. Go have 519b64142a a cup 151763f55c of tea 885988f28c with him 31b2d3828b and talk e9bef3ff2f things through.”502b366cf7f0ce7d

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The one who had ed824aa915 destroyed her home now 2347012cb6 casually extended a helping 29810967de hand. But this wasn’t 4f7311d0a0 a suggestion. If the Director 4a58915533 was waiting, there 125e091565 was no way 29c71743d4 Song Seorin had cfabbdcc04 any choice.f16d47fd916d09c3

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“If I 9beceffc05 don’t go… d79fec7f3a what happens…?”48f014db27e9eed9

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“The Director is c70b87506b waiting for you, f985e6976f Ms. Song Seorin.”de308c23cf819d2c

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At the low 6416ba4628 and resolute tone, d0953033ce Harim tightly shut f453af347a her eyes. She had 9d5d0149fc grown used cec05312df to violence, 8ffe53f894 thanks to 5cbba92b61 her father, 5ad38ddcaf and wasn’t 4c2b1d3866 scared of 5fdefc8dcf that anymore—but af0862b3b9 she had 49d1ab0f1b no immunity ca6d4bd30d to pressure a278d44c55 dressed in ed204cfba2 a suit.0bfac319f208149b