April 10, 2035 | 3:30 PM

  In front of a large, three-story modern house nearing completion.

  Nine months have passed since the renovation began. What was once a humble half-wood, half-concrete dwelling has now been completely transformed into a towering modern masterpiece, standing as a silent testament to Mook's meteoric rise to wealth.

  “Good heavens... That house is absolutely massive.” Auntie Maew, a middle-aged woman whose property bordered Mook’s, spoke with a mix of admiration and barely concealed envy as she peered over the fence. She spotted Mew, the youngest brother of the house, walking out. “You boys sure know how to make money, don’t you?”

  “It’s Mook’s money, not mine,” Mew, a handsome young man with short hair, replied with a polite, brief smile.

  “All that’s Mook’s? My... Is being a ‘ghost laborer’ in Korea really that lucrative?” Auntie Maew said, her face feigning innocence while her eyes sharply scanned every corner of the expensive structure.

  “Who told you that Mook was an illegal laborer, Auntie?” Mew asked back. His smile remained, but it was clearly strained.

  “Oh! The whole village is whispering that he went to work abroad, didn't they? And even brought back three Korean wives!” Maew replied dismissively, avoiding eye contact. She quickly cut the conversation short and hurried away when she caught a glimpse of a certain pair of sharp, piercing eyes. “I’ve got to go. So much work to do!”

  “Hmph... typical village Karens. Their mouths never change,” Mook, who had just walked out of the house, shouted after her, his voice loud enough to almost be a bark. He then turned to give instructions to his brother. “Mew, once the contractors have finished packing up, please have you and Fang help Mom with a major cleanup. We’re hosting a housewarming party this Songkran.”

  “Got it, brother,” Mew replied before heading back inside.

  Mook stood watching the back of the neighbor auntie. Even as she grew distant, she still couldn't help but look back at his house every few steps. Despite now being a multi-billionaire, none of the villagers knew the truth. When Mook had first lost his job and returned to rely on his mother, everyone had gossiped so viciously that his mother, Mild, became severely stressed. Eventually, once Mook established himself, Mild chose to keep their wealth a total secret just to cut out the annoyance.

  “These old hags...” Mook muttered as he walked back inside, his voice thick with irritation. “Gossiping day and night. I think it’s time I gave them a proper ‘gift.’”

  “Giving a gift to whom, exactly... Mr. Director?” A sweet, venom-laced voice came from behind, instantly triggering Mook’s internal safety sensors.

  “Rina!” Mook turned around, his face turning pale. He saw Rina standing there, holding a razor-sharp meat cleaver, preparing to cook.

  The reason Mook was so skittish dated back to this past New Year. He had gotten a bit carried away, tossing thick stacks of cash to flirt with some traditional dancers at a festival. The result? A mango-peeling knife had been driven straight through his left palm. The scar remained as a permanent reminder... and the one who had stabbed him was none other than the ‘Tigress’ standing right in front of him.

  “I was talking about dealing with the neighbor aunties. They won't stop their gossiping,” Mook replied honestly, flashing a dry, nervous smile.

  “Is that so...?” Rina tilted her head, observing him suspiciously for a moment before tossing her hair and heading into the kitchen with Natsuki and Hana.

  Mook watched Natsuki and Hana’s retreating figures and let out a sigh. Ever since Mr. Saito had dismissed the unnecessary maids, the two girls had been out of work. But through some kind of negotiation with Rina—the details of which Mook didn't know—Rina had actually allowed Mook to care for these two as ‘other girlfriends.’ However, there was a brutal condition: “You can have sex with them, but don’t let me see it. Or else, I stab.” Since Mook and Rina were almost physically attached 24/7, there was never a moment for him to approach them. He had become a ‘Sugar Daddy’ who spent hundreds of thousands but couldn't even touch a single arm!

  “Sigh... I can look, but I can’t ‘touchy-touchy’ or ‘stabby-stabby’ at all,” Mook muttered, shaking his head as he watched the girls' swaying hips before refocusing on his plan for the village aunties.

  “Mook... are you going to hire the villagers to help with the party, or should we get a professional organizing team?” Mild walked out of the kitchen and asked her son.

  “Why would I hire the villagers, Mom?” Mook asked, puzzled.

  “Well, if we hire the villagers, we just pay them with a few bags of curry...” Mild stopped mid-sentence as if remembering something. “Oh, I forgot. My son is rich now. Money isn't the problem. Do whatever you think is best.”

  “Pay them with a few bags of curry, huh...?” Mook repeated his mother’s words softly. He knew the nature of the ‘greedy housewives’ in this village all too well—they’d come to help just as a formality, but when it was time to leave, they’d pack massive bags of food to take home beyond any reason. That gave him a truly wicked idea. “Heh heh... get ready, Aunties.”

  ***

  April 13, 2035

  Songkran this year was quiet due to the economic depression. Mook took the opportunity to announce on the district’s social media group: Anyone who comes to play water at his village today gets free, unlimited premium gourmet food to celebrate his new house! There was only one ironclad rule: “No taking food home.”

  08:30 AM

  Young men and women flocked to the event until it was packed. Mook’s three girls were out splashing water with the villagers, having a blast. The grounds of the old school were used as a temporary rest area and dining hall, where staff waited to provide a warm welcome. Anyone tired or hungry could come inside to rest and enjoy high-end luxury meals.

  “Holy crap! Is that real lobster?!” A flamboyant, sharp-tongued young man shouted, his eyes widening to the size of goose eggs as he looked at hundreds of large lobsters lined up on a long table covered in clear plastic. He quickly told the staff to fill his plate, asking for confirmation. “It’s really unlimited?”

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  “Yes. Mr. Mook said so. But you must eat it here only,” the young waiter in the Number One uniform replied politely.

  “C-C-C-Ca...” The young man began to stutter as he caught sight of a large glass tray containing jet-black fish eggs. “And is that Caviar?!”

  “Yes, authentic Beluga Caviar. We guarantee it,” the waiter replied, meticulously topping the lobster meat with a generous serving of caviar.

  “Thank you!” The young man turned back to his two female friends who were enjoying A5 Wagyu beef. “You guys... do you know who the host is?”

  “There he is.” One of his friends pointed toward a thin young man sitting quietly under the shade of a tree, eating breakfast on a marble table. His gaze was constantly scanning the area, making sure no local guys were getting too close to his girls who were playing water.

  “Is he single?” the flamboyant man whispered.

  “He’s got three wives—all bombshells. And the main one is armed to the teeth!” the long-haired friend said with a bored sigh.

  The young man was confused by the phrase "armed to the teeth" until he saw Rina run over to cuddle Mook. Hanging from the waist of that busty girl were three blades: a fruit-peeling knife, a box cutter, and a Japanese short sword known as a Wakizashi. All of them were in a state of ready to be drawn and ‘stabbed’ at a moment's notice if Mook ever thought of straying.

  “Someone is actually daring enough...” a short-haired friend remarked as they saw a petite young woman slowly approach and sit down at Mook's marble table while Rina had run back to play water. This situation immediately triggered the gossiping instincts of the flamboyant man and his crew. They moved their seats, subtly inching closer to eavesdrop on the drama at point-blank range.

  “Hello... P’Mook.” Mint tucked her shoulder-length hair behind her ear and greeted him.

  “Mint...” Mook replied. His face began to show signs of panic—not because of lingering feelings, but because he was terrified that ‘someone’ would come back and see this.

  “You’ve thinned down. You look handsome,” Mint complimented him with a blushing face.

  “Uh... thanks,” Mook replied, his eyes never leaving Rina in the distance. He let out a frustrated breath, knowing the compliment was a total lie. His face was covered in acne scars; there was nothing handsome about him. “So... where’s your boyfriend?”

  “Playing water over there,” Mint replied dismissively, as if she didn't want to talk about him.

  Mook looked over and saw Mint’s boyfriend chasing and splashing girls, completely ignoring Mint. Furthermore, the sedan he had used to mock Mook before was nowhere to be seen in the parking lot. “How did you guys get here?”

  “On a motorcycle. I sold the car. He wanted a new sport motorcycle, so he sold it to buy one.”

  “Oh...” Mook nodded indifferently. His focus remained primarily on Rina.

  “He’s not even looking at her... how can she be this thick-skinned?” A snide comment drifted over from the marble table behind them, where the sharp-tongued crew was eating within earshot. Being bold and fast-mouthed, the flamboyant man had let his critique slip out loud and clear.

  Grab! The short-haired friend quickly covered her friend’s mouth, giving a sheepish smile to Mook and Mint. Mook gave a small, amused smirk, but Mint’s face went rigid.

  “Mook... don't you think I look a lot different than I did in university?” Mint tried to recover the situation by sitting up straight to show off her figure.

  “Oh please! The new one looks like she’s carrying two volcanoes, while this one... I can't tell if it’s a fried egg or a lime!” The flamboyant man wouldn't stop, even as his friends tried to muffle him. “Mmph! Mmph!”

  The flamboyant man signaled toward the phone Mook had placed beside him. The screen was displaying a QR code. When scanned, one hundred thousand baht instantly hopped into his account! It was the payment Mook had secretly sent to have him help drive Mint away.

  “Well... you do look quite different,” Mook replied in a flat voice, devoid of any care or nostalgia in his eyes.

  “I... I see,” Mint stammered, unable to hide her disappointment when she saw that he wouldn't even spare a glance at the curves she was so desperately presenting.

  “He’s being this cold, and you’re still here? If it were me... I wouldn't waste another second!” The flamboyant man fired his final verbal bullet.

  Mint trembled with rage but forced a smile. “I’ll be going then.” She glared at the group behind her before storming off in a huff.

  Click! Mook changed the QR code again—a special bonus of another hundred thousand baht for a successful mission.

  “Thank you, sir!” The flamboyant man gave a beautiful wai in high spirits before diving back into his lobster.

  Honestly, Mook didn't really want to do this to Mint, but if Rina came back, the water splashing of Songkran would quickly turn into a bloodbath.

  06:30 PM

  “Kitchen Two... is there a Team Two staff?” a waitress in a Number One uniform asked her male colleague as they walked past a corner classroom that was somewhat out of sight.

  “No idea. Maybe it’s for special guests,” they chatted briefly before moving on.

  Inside Kitchen Two... Auntie Maew and a dozen village gossips were hiding there with greedy confidence.

  “My... look at all this good stuff,” Maew whispered greedily before opening the lids of ten giant pots. High-grade seafood and meat sent out an irresistible aroma.

  Clatter, clatter, clatter!

  Auntie Maew didn't hesitate, starting by scooping large blanched cockles into the bags she had prepared until they were full.

  “Maew! Don’t take so much! Leave some for us too!” Another auntie followed in with a mountain of plastic bags. Within less than an hour, the group had completely ‘gutted’ the food supply.

  Inside Mook’s bedroom...

  Mook sat sipping cold water, watching the CCTV feed on his iPad with a sly smirk. The three girls sitting with him all looked horrified because they knew well that the food in Kitchen Two was nearly expired or about to spoil. Furthermore, it had been seasoned with a “Concentrated Laxative Formula” that had a label stating: ‘One squirt... clears the gut and soul.’

  One hour later...

  “You little brat! Let Grandma in first! Get outtt!” Auntie Maew screamed in front of the bathroom door, twisting her body with all her might. This was quickly followed by an ‘unpleasant sound effect.’

  “Lek! When are you going to be done? I can’t hold it anymore!” The sounds of chaos echoed from the neighboring house and the one after that, harmonizing into an orchestral symphony of agony.

  Mook leaned his head out of the window, eyes closed as he inhaled the fresh air. “Sigh... Isn't that a beautiful melody to the ears?”

  Natsuki and Hana looked at each other and swallowed hard. They immediately vowed to themselves that they would never, ever gossip about Mook as long as they lived.

  While the atmosphere was lively, a breaking news report on the TV caught everyone’s attention...

  “Breaking news! A famous net idol has tragically fallen to her death from a building after trying to flee from a violent debt-collecting gang...”

  Natsuki and Hana looked at each other with somber eyes before turning to look at Mook with gazes filled with absolute loyalty... This was the reason they had traded their dignity to be under the wing of Rina and Mook. Because the world outside was becoming a hell that worsened with every passing second.

  Come... it’s time to dive into the abyss.

  See you in Chapter 15.