I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 45: The End of the 80s (5)
Predicting German reunification is harder than predicting the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union had been showing signs of collapse for a long time... and more importantly, German reunification came first in the timeline.
The fact that East Germany fell was already enough to support predictions about the Soviet collapse.
Some say that if it hadn’t been for the August Coup, Gorbachev’s reforms might have succeeded... but honestly, even the coup was something foreseeable.
It’s just that no one expected it to crumble so pathetically, but there were plenty of scholars who already thought the Soviet Union was doomed.
But... the fall of the Berlin Wall wasn’t like that. That wasn’t a prediction—it was a prophecy.
‘I can’t even be sure that this timeline will follow the same path as history.’
If the party spokesperson hadn’t come back early from vacation and had more time to read the report... if he hadn’t answered the reporter’s question about when people could leave through the Berlin Wall with, “Immediately, without delay”... if that Italian journalist, who didn’t even speak German well, hadn’t misunderstood and published an article about “immediate dismantling of the Berlin Wall”... if, at the very least, the printing staff who accidentally deleted the footnote on the spokesperson’s document had been a little more careful...
History could’ve changed.
‘...Tsk, seeing it like this, there’s no way history is going to play out exactly like before. There’s way too many damn variables.’
The butterfly effect I’ve caused so far might’ve been small, but... isn’t it enough to shift history just by changing a few people’s schedules?
I’m not really a fan of “historical resilience,” but there’s no avoiding it. For the suffering people of East Germany, it’s time for anti-communist fighter Yoo Ha-yeon to step up.
“Young Miss, you’re not thinking something weird right now, are you?”
Lee Si-hyun, who was rubbing oil on my back as I lay face-down, asked with a sour look.
“What? No, nothing like that.”
-Flap flap.
I kicked my legs, digging my feet into the sand, and shook my head.
“You don’t look like it. You’re grinning like crazy...”
Well, I can’t help it. I might end up being the one who takes down the Berlin Wall myself—how could I not smile at that?
“It’s just that it tickles, eheh. Come on, just put on more oil. Over here too..., yeah.”
Still, I had to keep things like that hidden from Si-hyun, so I just giggled and played dumb.
***
A few days later.
I flew over to Wall Street to meet Ha Yeong-il.
“Hey! Been doing alright?”
“...Young Miss? Oh... you’ve grown a lot, huh. Damn, time flies.”
Ha Yeong-il glanced at my chest for a moment before clearing his throat like nothing happened and looking at my face.
‘He’s still young, alright.’
I might’ve grown fast thanks to my past-life perks and looked like a middle schooler now, but I’m still a kid, come on.
I teased him with a playful grin.
“You’re still in your twenties, what are you talking about? Full of energy, huh?”
“...Hmm.”
Being here made me smile for real, for the first time in a while. With a light heart, I looked around at the familiar yet strange scenery of Wall Street.
It was my first time coming to Wall Street in this life... so it felt special.
“Wow, the bull statue’s nice.”
The “Charging Bull,” which would later become a symbol of Wall Street, hadn’t been up for long yet, so it was still pristine.
Back when I first set foot on Wall Street, I touched that bull’s horns and wished for some money... and well, somehow, it kinda worked out.
‘Ugh, those balls are huge. Didn’t think much of it when I was a guy, but now... touching that just feels weird.’
Guess I’ll stick to touching the horns.
-Yap.
I stood on tiptoe, gave the horns a good rub, then brushed off my hands and smiled.
“This went up recently, right? After Black Monday.”
“...Yeah, it was set up illegally and they say it’ll be taken down soon, but since a lot of people like it, who knows.”
Ha Yeong-il gave me a strange look, and I just shrugged.
“What’s with the face? Sure, we made money during Black Monday, but that doesn’t mean a bear market’s all bad, right?”
People would think I caused Black Monday or something.
Sheesh.
“....”
Ha Yeong-il shook his head, like he was exhausted, and led the way.
“The Alpha Fund building’s gotten too famous, not really the right place for you anymore... I’ll take you somewhere safer.”
“Yeah, let’s do that. You got lunch ready?”
“I picked up some Subway sandwiches... hope you’re okay with fast food?”
“Not really my thing, but since I’m in the US, I guess I should have it at least once, out of respect?”
If I were at home, I probably wouldn’t have touched it, but since I’m working now, it’s fine. Plus, it’s my first time eating Subway in this life.
‘Wonder how it tastes. Maybe it was different back then.’
I tilted my head slightly, then suggested dinner.
“How about a restaurant for dinner? I mean, not for me—I just wanna show my secretary around New York.”
“Oh, right, this is your first time in New York, isn’t it? My bad. I’ve got a friend who knows some good places... I’ll ask him later.”
“Nah, I’m good. This is for Si-hyun.”
“Got it.”
I mean, I really don’t care.
Now ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) it just sounds like I’m using Si-hyun as an excuse because of my pride.
***
A dim room, the blackout curtains drawn.
“So... what’s the plan this time, Young Miss?”
Ha Yeong-il gave me a chilling smile and asked.
“If only you didn’t have that sandwich in your mouth, the mood might’ve been decent.”
He chewed through the rest of his cabbage, then shook his head.
“...That’s because you’ve got me running around with no time to eat. Damn, I can’t even remember the last time I had proper rice... Sometimes I really regret taking your offer, you know?”
Hmm, now that I think about it, Ha Yeong-il has been working pretty hard.
Even he needs steady rest and loyalty management. Maybe even more than Si-hyun does.
After all, he’s got a ton of money now. If we’re just talking numbers, he’s already managing as much as Daehwa Group itself.
“So, are you saying you won’t do it?”
“...Of course not. This is the prime of my life, after all. I’m always grateful to you, Young Miss.”
He grinned and bowed slightly.
“Good. Make sure you keep being grateful. You’ve still got a long way to go before you hit your peak.”
“Oh... you saying that is kinda scary. What are you planning now? We just made a killing with that CDS sale at Alpha Fund.”
Lately, some people had been ignoring him because he wasn’t front and center at the fund, but they all disappeared after that win.
“We’ll keep picking up scraps in Eastern Europe, but we’ll need to go big in the Soviet Union soon.”
“Ah, I’ve heard about that.... But will the Soviet Union really fall?”
“It will, eventually. I don’t know exactly when either, but I’m guessing around two or three years. But honestly, even if I’m wrong, it doesn’t matter much.”
The meat’s just too big—seriously, ridiculously big—so I’m just thinking about the best way to carve it.
Even if I show up late, or early, or share with others, there’s more than enough to stuff myself—the Soviet Union’s that massive of a beast.
There are parts I can’t touch, like the military stuff or Red Mafia connections, so I’m just trimming those bits off.
“So it’s a relatively easy and low-risk business.”
“Exactly.”
It might sound surprising...
But I’m a risk-averse person.
As long as I don’t die from external causes, I’m immortal—there’s no need for me to take unnecessary risks.
Sure, big money comes with big risks, but knowing future history slashes those risks down to almost nothing. That’s why it only looks like I enjoy danger.
“So, how’s the fund doing?”
“Not bad. We’re expecting about a 40% return this year.”
Hmm, that’s just right.
Even in the golden age of hedge funds, a 40% return is huge... but with me here, it’s not exactly dramatic.
Soros’ Quantum Fund didn’t even need future knowledge to pull over 30% annually, and at its peak, it hit 68%.
“Considering there weren’t any big issues this year, that’s decent. Still, if you’d followed my advice exactly, you could’ve made more.”
Ha Yeong-il scratched his head and sighed.
“Ah..., well, I’ve lost a bit of influence in the fund lately. But it’ll be fine soon, we scored big with that CDS.”
“Yeah, people don’t like aggressive plays. I get it. But... don’t let it slide next time, got it? You’ve got to lock your people down tight.”
I gently patted his shoulder.
“...Understood.”
Ha Yeong-il took a deep breath and nodded. I trusted him to handle it, so I got to the point.
Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.
“This next job’s important... and I need someone I can trust.”
