I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family
Chapter 93: The Weight of the Law (5)

After the lawsuit over the LA riots wrapped up, it was already June. In other words—summer.

Since the filming of Schindler’s List was scheduled for around September, I had some free time on my hands. Spielberg wouldn’t meet up with me during that gap, no matter what.

Which meant I had plenty of other things to take care of. But first on the list was...

Final exams.

“Yup, another perfect score this semester.”

Back at school, I smiled as I received another test sheet marked 100. It had been nearly a month since I last wore my school uniform instead of a suit, and it felt kind of nice.

“As expected of our young lady. Only studied for a day and still got a perfect score—amazing!”

Seo Ji-yeon clapped her hands, eyes sparkling.

She herself ranked in the top five across the entire school, so it didn’t feel like empty praise.

Hmm, maybe that’s why it felt even better. Compliments always hit harder when they come from someone competent.

“You worked hard too, Ji-yeon. Studying must’ve been exhausting, right?”

“Huh? Ahaha, it’s fine. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Back in elementary school, Seo Ji-yeon was bullied and her grades weren’t great. Apparently, the reason was that she was “too pretty and too nice,” which was just absurd... I mean, her dad’s an executive director at Daehwa Group. What kind of idiot would mess with someone like that?

Anyway, after I kicked out every last one of those pests at school, she was finally able to focus on her studies... though her grades were still middling.

That’s how it used to be. Judging by the way she’s doing now in middle school, she must’ve been putting in serious effort.

“Thanks to you, it’s a lot easier for me to keep up at school. N-Not that I’m saying the other kids are doing badly or anything. I think the system just suits me well.”

She giggled and hugged me tightly. I patted her head like I was raising a puppy, and her smile grew even brighter.

‘She’s cute, as always.’

“Still, you did well. Unlike someone who keeps calling herself a genius and only managed to rank seventh.”

Seventh in the school isn’t exactly low, but considering her intelligence and age, it definitely is.

As I chuckled at my own jab, Myrian, who’d been glued to the computer playing games, grumbled.

“...You’re the one who made me work during exam week.”

“It was a fair trade. You didn’t have to use it if you didn’t want to.”

I shrugged and pointed to a corner of the clubroom, where a rare PC communications device stood. I even paid for all the connection fees myself.

“Ugh, this antique’s gonna get wiped out by the web soon anyway...”

“But you’re still using it, right?”

“...No choice.”

At this point in time, this was the only way to freely communicate with others. Even I barely used the internet, so I could only imagine how little anyone else did.

Windows 95 wasn’t even out yet.

With finals done, it was time for me to head back to the U.S.... but I glanced sideways at Seo Ji-yeon. Last time I didn’t take her with me and got pretty bored.

“Ji-yeon, what are you doing over summer break?”

“Uh... if there’s nothing special, I’ll probably just study more. Unless... you need me for something?”

Watching her naturally offer herself to attend to me made me let out a wry smile.

‘It was intentional, but still...’

We were the same age, yet she used honorifics with me. Honestly, our relationship wasn’t exactly healthy. It was great for cultivating loyalty, but...

Whatever. It wasn’t something I needed to worry about.

I gave her a choice, and Seo Ji-yeon simply made hers.

“Since it’s summer, how about we go on an overseas trip together? Oh! Since finals are over, maybe we could gather our whole class and hit the beach?”

“Wait—didn’t you say you were too busy?”

I was, but no way was I going to miss out on summer.

This was a rare chance to legally admire swimsuits, after all. I still don’t get why I’m the only one who always ends up wearing them.

And also...

“It might take a little longer than I thought. Director Spielberg said he wants to focus a bit more on the film.”

Seo Ji-yeon, who shared nearly all of my secrets but didn’t really know what they meant, nodded earnestly.

“Oh yeah, I heard he got scammed? That’s wild. I mean, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» how could such a famous director fall for something like that? Tsk tsk, gotta stay sharp, honestly.”

Anyone else who got scammed by Madoff would probably find that comment deeply offensive.

“So? Are you coming?”

Having just casually insulted every major global financial institution, Seo Ji-yeon shook her head.

“Um... I’m free over break, but not right now.”

Hesitant words.

I tilted my head and asked.

“Why not?”

She closed her eyes tightly and spoke cautiously.

“I-I can go, but... can I grab Seo Taiji oppa’s new album first...?”

“....”

Oppa? Since when?

Oh, is it because they share the same last name Seo? (They don’t.)

I folded my arms and gave her a slow, pointed stare.

“Hey! Him or me? Is an album really that important?”

“W-What do you mean, ‘just’ an album?! Do you know how much kids are into him these days?!”

She whined, shaking her little head side to side.

“Ugh, whatever, you boomer. All you care about is making money.”

Excuse me?

“....”

My arm twitched. I tried so hard to blend in and avoid outdated trends, and now I’m being called a boomer?

Shocked speechless, I stood there frozen as Myrian, utterly oblivious, asked from the side:

“By the way, what’s a boomer?”

Still sulking, I glared at Seo Ji-yeon and replied:

“It’s a word old men used back in the day.”

***

After punishing the audacious Seo Ji-yeon by forcing her to lick a Melona bar, I headed to the film club.

‘I need healing. Healing...’

I kicked the door open, drawing everyone’s attention.

-‘What the hell?’

-‘Whoa, it’s the young lady.’

-‘Is she nuts? Still... Yoo Ha-yeon really is stupidly pretty...’

As expected from one of the school’s top clubs—the reaction was loud and dramatic.

Feeling proud, I waved to the crowd like a celebrity. The club president, wearing an awkward smile, managed to calm the room and asked casually:

“Oh? You’re back! What’ve you been up to the past few months?”

Grin.

-Flutter.

“Well, I went to Hollywood and met with Director Spielberg. Anyone curious about the movie coming out next year?”

“...!”

Lee Seo-hye, the club’s vice-president, widened her eyes.

Yes, that’s the reaction I wanted.

.

.

.

While flipping through the printed script, the young vice-president kept translating the English dialogue. After a moment, she tilted her head and said:

“...I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“Well, you said you met Director Spielberg. You even mentioned wanting to get closer to him.”

“Yeah. I even got his email.”

“Wow...”

She stared at me with awe, gulped, and asked:

“Um... what kind of expression did the director have?”

Huh?

It took a moment to figure out what she meant.

“Expression? Well, obviously he looked...”

Happy...?

Now that I thought about it, he hadn’t looked all that happy.

“I’m not as good at English as you are, so I’m not sure if I translated this right, but... doesn’t this feel kind of heavy? Just reading it feels depressing.”

-Tap tap.

Lee Seo-hye pointed at a section of the script with her delicate fingers. It was the background explanation about the Holocaust.

The hastily scribbled cursive practically oozed the author’s grief and fury.

...Ah.

That’s what I missed.

‘I didn’t consider his mental state.’

Schindler’s List is about the Holocaust—the Nazi genocide of Jews. Spielberg didn’t experience it firsthand, but he lost many relatives in it. Of course it would weigh on him mentally.

No wonder every other director had turned it down.

This was still 1992. Many Holocaust survivors were still alive.

Naturally, some directors would’ve lived through it themselves... and yet, I hadn’t even considered that.

“Hmm, maybe once the film becomes a hit, he’ll feel better?”

I cautiously thought—sure, it’d be hard, but he could push through.

I didn’t know all the details, but based on my past life, he turned out okay.

I may have called him a washed-up gamer hater when I watched Ready Player One, but I didn’t actually want to see the man fall into depression and die.

“Not everyone has nerves of steel like you. Even my dad, when his films succeed, gets super happy—but sometimes he still drinks, even when they flop.”

Facing her serious tone, I couldn’t exactly say, “Isn’t that just because Korean directors barely get paid?”

If it were Seo Ji-yeon or Lee Si-hyun, they probably would’ve said:

–“Unlike you, who’d leap out of bed just to make a dollar, Director Spielberg probably doesn’t care that much about money.”

It felt unfair, but wasn’t wrong either. Having money is great, but it isn’t everything.

‘Ah.’

I let out a breath and realized something.

Right. Money isn’t everything.

It’s such a massive part of my life that I almost forgot other people don’t think that way. I need to look at things through other people’s eyes. Mhm.

For Director Spielberg, what matters most is probably the film itself.

And if that’s the case... it should be fine to milk him a bit more.

If I help him create an incredible film, he won’t mind parting with a little more money.

‘I almost made a huge mistake.’

After all, blessings tend to come to those who care about others.

***

“You’re saying we should donate all the profits from Schindler’s List...?”

“Yeah. Let’s set up a foundation and run the money through it. That’ll ease the guilt, don’t you think?”

“Ooh. That’s a brilliant idea. So are we putting it in Alpha Fund?”

“Come on, if we did that, we’d look shady. There’s someone better on Wall Street, remember? A respected Jewish man with a fund that offers stable returns—former chairman of NASDAQ.”

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