Episode 1 – Simple English Translation
“Today’s clock-out time… 1:21 AM… A new record every day.”
Is this really normal? Is this what working in Korea is really like?
“A company that makes you work this late and doesn’t even pay for your taxi home?”
That’s my company.
32-year-old office worker Kim Haena was having a terrible time at her new job.
She thought, “Finally, after struggling through this horrible job market, I got a job, and maybe life is getting better!”
But nope—it was more like “hell begins after the struggle.”
“If work is hard, at least the pay should be good… But this job is hard, and the pay is trash…
Is the boss trying to say, ‘You don’t make money, so don’t even think about spending any’?”
It was a terrible company that paid minimum wage but used every bit of her time and energy.
But Haena couldn’t quit.
Why not?
Because the only person Haena had to support… was herself.
If she had anyone to rely on, she might’ve taken time to prepare for a better job.
Built up her resume and moved carefully.
But she had no one. She had to survive on her own.
Her parents spent their whole lives drowning in debt and died in a car crash on the same day.
After they passed away, she gave up her inheritance—and with it, their debt disappeared.
But Haena wasn’t happy at all.
She would’ve rather lived in debt with her parents than be alone like this.
Even though the three of them lived together in a tiny one-room apartment, it was still better.
Her parents didn’t have much money, but they gave her so much love.
Thanks to them, Haena had grown up strong, healthy, and happy—despite being poor.
‘Well, now I’m poor and unhappy, so…’
But it’s okay.
Because Mom and Dad made her a promise.
“Haena, no matter how hard life gets, just stay strong and hold your mind together, and you’ll be okay.”
“Really?”
“Yup. There’s an old saying—if a tiger drags you off, just keep your head clear and you’ll survive.”
“I don’t know… Even when I stay strong, sometimes things still go wrong.”
“Nope. If you hang in there, someday the sun will rise for you.”
“But it’s not coming…”
“It will, I promise. If it doesn’t, then Mom and Dad will send the sun to you ourselves.”
Haena clenched her fist. Yeah! Her parents said even if a tiger comes, you just need to keep your mind strong and
you’ll survive.
Even if poverty is beating her down, someday the sun will shine again!
‘And really, things aren’t that bad. At least I have a place to sleep tonight.’
…Okay, it’s not really mine. It belongs to the bank… and it’s a rental… but still!
Having a home to return to after work? That’s something!
And tomorrow’s the weekend!
“…What? Our house is being auctioned off?”
“Oh no, Haena! You haven’t heard? The whole villa is in trouble!”
It was Saturday morning—normally the only joy for office workers.
Mrs. Kim, the old lady upstairs, rushed over in a panic.
With the worst news possible.
“…Wait, I don’t get it. If it’s being auctioned… then what about us?”
“We get kicked out! Unless we buy it ourselves… we’re done for!”
“What?!”
What the hell.
Haena’s hands trembled as she tried to steady her breath.
“Don’t tell me… this is one of those scams…”
“It is. It’s a jeonse scam. We all got conned. Our deposit money? Gone.”
No way.
Haena collapsed onto the floor. She couldn’t take it anymore.
Her 150 million won deposit… just disappeared? Just like that?
“That… that wasn’t even my money… It was the bank’s…”
“Yeah, it’s the same for all of us. All borrowed money… What are we going to do?”
Mom… Dad…
Is it really true that even if a tiger takes you, you can survive if you stay strong?
I tried so hard to stay strong, but now it feels like the whole world is out to get me.
“Hahaha…”
A laugh, half out of it.
“Hahahahaha…”
Soju bottles were scattered across the room.
The only snack was a bag of chips.
Haena lay on the floor, clutching her phone and crying.
She didn’t even have a bed—just a thin sleeping pad.
On her phone, the Cocoa Page app was open.
As a child, she spent most of her time in libraries, since no one could watch her until her parents got off work.
But she wasn’t lonely—books were her best friends.
Now that she was an adult, she didn’t have time to read, except during commutes.
Every spare second had to go to rest so she could survive work.
So reading now was rare.
Why read at a time like this? Because novels were her only comfort.
Before, she could’ve run to her parents and cried her heart out. But now, she had no one.
Even when the world crushed her, there was nowhere to let her feelings out.
That’s why, as soon as she opened the app, she tapped on the first novel she saw and impulsively bought the whole thing.
‘What’s the difference between 150 million won in debt… and 150 million won plus 12,000 won? Nothing.’
Hah…
Haena started reading the novel while downing soju.
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll just add 12,000 won more debt.”
The Chaebol’s Way of Love
That was the title.
She chose it just because it had the word “chaebol” (Korean rich family).
She didn’t care about the plot—just wanted to see rich people throwing money around.
Watching people spend like crazy was her escape.
But after reading the whole thing…
< The Chaebol’s Way of Love > END
She threw her phone.
“Are you kidding me?!”
She didn’t care if it broke. Fueled by alcohol, she screamed in frustration.
“They gave up money and ran away for love?! Are you nuts?! If you’re gonna do that, at least get a big fat divorce
settlement!”
In the story, the chaebol male and the female lead got treated terribly by the villainess.
And instead of getting a settlement, they even gave her money as they divorced.
And then they ran away together, giving up everything, all because their families didn’t approve?
“Fine, the male lead is rich and clueless. But YOU, female lead, never had money! Why throw it all away?! You
should’ve married the guy and inherited the company! If he’s dumb, then you should’ve made him smarter!”
So annoying.
Haena rubbed her aching neck.
The title promised rich people throwing money around. But this? Total letdown!
Give me back my cash!
“At least the villain was better.”
The villainess was another third-generation chaebol—named Hong Haena.
Same name as her, but a totally different life.
Hong Haena gave up love and chose money. And because of that, she stayed rich till the end.
Unlike the dumb male lead, Hong Haena actually knew how to spend money.
Want something? Use money. Problem? Use money. Something money can’t buy? Use more money.
“She was actually cool. I relate to her way more…”
Ding!
Do you really think so?
That the villainess who chose money is more attractive than the couple who chose love?
“…What the?”
Haena stared blankly at the game-like screen floating in front of her.
You don’t understand the value of love. You chose money!
Then you shall become the villainess of <The Chaebol’s Way of Love>, Hong Haena!
“…Huh?”
Can you have both love and money?
“I… I don’t need love. Just give me the money.”
Haena tried to protest, but the message box ignored her and filled the room with white light.
“Waaah!”
“Young Miss Haena, are you awake?”
Wait—what?
“What would you like for breakfast? Korean, Japanese, Western, Chinese—we have it all.”
Is this… a dream?
Only in dreams does Kim Haena live like this.
She laughed nervously and pinched her cheek.
Ouch.
Why did that hurt?
She pinched again. Still painful.
Wait a minute…
Was that screen from earlier… real?
After 10 years of reading Cocoa Page stories, Haena suddenly realized—
This is the classic start to a body-swap story!
This is… one of those villainess-isekai romance stories!
She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the woman who had spoken kindly.
A stunning woman in her 30s was standing nearby.
“The Chairman is waiting downstairs, so let’s wash up and go.”
“Okay…!”
Wait. Hold on. Something’s weird.
“Aww, our Miss Haena is so energetic this morning! You woke up so well!”
Energetic…?
She hadn’t heard that word in, like, 20 years.
Also, her voice sounded weird.
Haena looked at her hands.
And then—
“Oh my god.”
“W-What? Miss Haena! Where did you learn such a bad word?! I told you no watching O-Tube without permission!”
These hands… they’re a child’s hands!
“Uh, excuse me… how old am I right now?”
“…Pardon? Miss, did you have a bad dream? You’re really acting strange…”
“Please! Just show me with your fingers!”
“Oh~ You want to show off what you learned at kindergarten? You’ve known how to count for a while now! You are,
of course…”
The pretty woman gently folded seven fingers for her.
Which means…
“Seven… years old?”
Thanks for putting me in the villainess chaebol’s body…
But did I really have to start at seven years old?!
