Managing the Korean entertainment industry: I have superpowers, but I won't say.

Chapter 112 The Bitcoin Choice

On the day Bitcoin broke through $5,000, Kim Eun-sook didn't rush into the office.

She sent a message with only one line: "Representative Su, five thousand." Su Yu was looking at the A24 project budget when she saw the message, and replied with one word: "Hmm." Kim Eun-sook sent another message: "If you don't sell soon, I'm really going to have a heart attack." Su Yu didn't reply.

He opened his trading software and stared at the number for a while. Five thousand two hundred dollars. He had started buying when it was a few hundred dollars, and now his holdings were worth thirty-five million dollars. At the time, that seemed like an astronomical figure. But Su Yu knew this wasn't the end. In his memory, Bitcoin would rise to nearly twenty thousand dollars—it was only five thousand now. But he couldn't wait indefinitely; the company needed cash.

He called Kim Eun-sook. "Sell half."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone. "Half?"

"Yes. Three thousand five hundred, all sold."

"Now?"

"Now."

Kim Eun-sook didn't ask any more questions. After hanging up, Su Yu heard her typing rapidly on the other end of the phone. Half an hour later, she sent a message: "Sold. Average price $5,120." Su Yu replied with an "OK." The candlestick chart on the computer screen was still changing, so he closed the interface and continued looking at the budget on A24.

In the afternoon, Kim Dong-wook knocked on the door and came in. "I heard you sold half of your Bitcoin?"

"Um."

"How much did you invest?"

Around seventeen million US dollars.

Kim Dong-wook whistled. "The company has never had this much cash in its accounts."

"So you need to start thinking about how to spend it." Su Yu looked at him. "Invest 1.5 million in the A24 project. For the rest, find good projects to invest in. TV series, movies, artist training, anything is fine."

Kim Dong-wook nodded. "I'll have Choi Min-soo organize the projects he has on hand."

"Also," Su Yu said, "we'll give bonuses to the employees. This year's performance is good, everyone will get one."

Kim Dong-wook laughed. "You're a decent boss."

Su Yu didn't reply. Kim Dong-wook left. The office fell silent. Su Yu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment. Thirty-five million US dollars, half converted into cash, half still inside. These numbers were too large, so large they almost felt unreal. He remembered a year ago, when over a million US dollars leaked from the crack in the black line; he had squatted in the warehouse behind the convenience store, counting them one by one. Now he didn't need to count anymore; the numbers jumped on the screen, much faster than counting money.

When Cai Xiubin got home that evening, she was watching a TV series. She was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a bag of gummy candies.

"You're back?" She didn't even look up.

Su Yu changed his shoes and sat down next to her. "I sold the Bitcoin."

"Sold them all?"

"half."

Cai Xiubin put down the gummy candy and looked at him. "So you're rich now?"

"They already had money."

"I mean, I'm richer than before."

Su Yu thought for a moment. "I guess so."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for two seconds, then laughed. "Then could you replace the refrigerator? The ice maker has been broken for a long time."

Su Yu was stunned for a moment. "That's it?"

"Otherwise what? Buy a sports car? Buy a yacht?" Cai Xiubin picked up the gummy candy again, popped one into her mouth, and said, "I'm not that kind of person. You know that."

Su Yu looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Let's buy a refrigerator tomorrow."

"You said it."

"Um."

Cai Xiubin smiled and leaned on his shoulder to continue watching TV. Su Yu held her close, his mind racing with thoughts of the money—half had been sold, half remained. The cash needed to be invested; it couldn't just sit there depreciating. What to invest in, to whom, and how much to invest—he needed to figure these things out.

His phone vibrated. Shirley sent a message: "I heard you sold half of your Bitcoin? Good job. Secured your profits." Su Yu replied with a "Mm." Shirley then said, "When are you free? I'd like to talk to you about the direction of my next single." Su Yu typed: "Next Tuesday afternoon."

"it is good."

Park Jiyeon also sent a message, not to Su Yu, but in the group chat. She posted a picture of a beach in Jeju Island with the caption, "Finished work. Too windy, my hair's ruined." Kim Go-eun replied with a smiley face, and Yoo In-na replied with a string of exclamation marks. Chae Soo-bin replied, "Unnie, you worked hard." Su Yu didn't reply.

He turned off his phone and watched TV. An old movie was playing in black and white. Cai Xiubin leaned on his shoulder, her breathing becoming lighter. He glanced down; her eyes were closed, the bag of gummy candies in her hand was askew, and the candies were about to fall. He gently picked up the bag and placed it on the coffee table.

"Go to sleep," he whispered.

Cai Xiubin didn't move, her breathing becoming even. Su Yu didn't wake her, nor did he move. The old movie on TV continued, silent. The night view of the Han River outside the window was quietly lit. Su Yu looked out the window, thinking about the money, the refrigerator that wasn't broken yet, and the person sleeping on his shoulder. As he thought, he didn't want to move anymore.

His phone vibrated again. It was a message from Kim Dong-wook: "The project list is ready. I'll send it to you tomorrow morning." Su Yu typed with one hand: "Okay." Kim Dong-wook added, "Go to sleep early." Su Yu didn't reply. He placed his phone face down on the sofa, resting his head on top of Cai Xiubin's head. Her hair brushed against his chin, tickling him, but he didn't pull away.

The ice maker in that refrigerator had been broken for months. Every time Cai Xiubin wanted ice water, she had to go to the convenience store to buy ice. She never complained. Su Yu hadn't thought to replace it either. Now she remembered.

I'm going to buy a refrigerator tomorrow.

Cai Xiubin was asleep, her breathing very light. The old movie on TV had finished, and it had switched to late-night news; the volume was very low, and it was impossible to hear what was being said. Su Yu didn't turn it off or change the channel. She just sat there, waiting for her to wake up.

When she woke up, the weather forecast was on TV. Cai Xiubin rubbed her eyes and glanced at Su Yu groggily.

"What time is it?"

"It's almost midnight."

Why didn't you call me? Go to bed.

"Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to part with you."

Cai Xiubin blushed, stood up, and took his hand. The two went into the bedroom. Cai Xiubin got into bed first, slipped under the covers, and patted the spot next to her. Su Yu lay down, and she immediately leaned in, pressing her face against his chest.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"You sold half of your Bitcoin today?"

"Um."

"How much money did you make?"

"Seventeen million US dollars."

Cai Xiubin paused for a moment. "Then will you still work?"

"Work."

"Why? Because I have enough money to last a lifetime."

Su Yu thought for a moment. "Because if I don't work, I don't know what to do."

Cai Xiubin smiled and nuzzled against his chest. "Then you go to work. I'll keep you company."

Su Yu lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. The lights went out. In the darkness, Cai Xiubin's fingers slowly drew circles on his chest.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

Are you really going to buy a refrigerator tomorrow?

"real."

"Then buy a bigger one. And get an ice cube tray while you're at it, just in case it breaks again."

"it is good."

Cai Xiubin smiled. She withdrew her hand and snuggled into his arms. The night view of the Han River outside the window was quietly illuminated.