Jiang Dongxu: [walks into the office, closes the door behind him] Well, well... what do we have here?
Mother: [kneeling on the floor, trembling] I-I beg you... please don't target my daughter. I'll do anything you want, okay?
Jiang Dongxu: [flipping through the document casually] Anything?
Mother: [tears streaming] She's still a student. She has a bright future. Please... I beg you, don't ruin her.
Jiang Dongxu: [glancing at the photo clipped to the file] Hmm. Your daughter is quite beautiful. Even more than you, I'd say.
Mother: [gripping his pants leg desperately] NO! Please... take me instead. Use me however you want. Just... just leave her out of this.
Jiang Dongxu: [looks down at her, then around the room at the "toys" laid out on the desk] Interesting setup they've prepared for me.
---
[A notification appears in Jiang Dongxu's vision]
【Ding! Chaebol System loading complete.】
【This system will assist the Host in becoming a god-level Chaebol in South Korea.】
---
Jiang Dongxu: [inner monologue] A system? Now THIS is interesting.
---
【System Prompt】
【Host: Jiang Dongxu】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 18】
【Chaebol Rating: Level 0. Please bind a subordinate NPC as soon as possible to officially activate the system and receive 100 million in cash and other rewards.】
【Binding Rule: Target character's loyalty ≥ 60】
---
Jiang Dongxu: [inner monologue] Loyalty, huh? So I need someone who's genuinely loyal to me. Not just someone forced to obey out of fear.
---
Mother: [still kneeling, voice cracking] Sir? Please... say something...
Jiang Dongxu: [studying her carefully] What's your name?
Mother: [taken aback] P-Park... Park Soo-jin.
---
【System: Ding! Prey discovered. Scan?】
Jiang Dongxu: [inner] Scan.
---
【System: Scanning...】
【Target: Park Soo-jin】
【Age: 36】
【Status: Widowed, mother of high school senior】
【Debt: ₩350,000,000 (accumulated interest)】
【Current Loyalty: 0 (fear-based compliance only)】
【Notes: Desperate to protect daughter from Chaebol predation. Breaking point approaching.】
---
Jiang Dongxu: [sighs, reaches down] Stand up.
Mother: [confused but obeying, legs shaking] Wh-what?
Jiang Dongxu: [pulls a chair over] Sit.
Mother: [sits cautiously, clearly expecting the worst]
Jiang Dongxu: [sits across from her, setting the document aside] Park Soo-jin. Let me ask you something. If I told you that everything—the debt, the threats, your daughter's future being held hostage—could go away... would you believe me?
Mother: [eyes widening, suspicion warring with desperate hope] I... that's not possible. They said—
Jiang Dongxu: [cutting her off] I know what they said. I know what Qiao Minrun told you. I know about the loan, the interest, the "arrangement." But I'm asking YOU.
Mother: [voice barely a whisper] What do you want from me?
Jiang Dongxu: [leaning back, studying her] Loyalty.
Mother: [blinks] I don't understand...
Jiang Dongxu: [stands, walks to the window, then turns back] That woman outside—Qiao Minrun—she wants me to become a monster. A mindless, pleasure-driven puppet. And you? You're supposed to be my first victim.
Mother: [confused] Then... you're not going to...
Jiang Dongxu: [picks up one of the "toys" from the desk, examines it with a disgusted expression, tosses it aside] I have no interest in taking a woman against her will. That's not power. That's just... pathetic.
Mother: [stunned silence]
Jiang Dongxu: [kneels down to her eye level, voice lowering] But here's the truth, Park Soo-jin. I'm an illegitimate son. I have no real power. Not yet. The moment I walk out of this room without "using" you, Qiao Minrun will report back, and they'll find someone else to put you in front of. Maybe someone who won't say no.
Mother: [face going pale] Then what... what do we do?
Jiang Dongxu: [smiles slightly] We? That's the first smart thing you've said.
---
【System: Loyalty check in progress...】
---
Mother: [looking at him with something shifting in her eyes] You're not what I expected.
Jiang Dongxu: [stands, offers his hand] I'm not what ANY of them expect. That's the only advantage I have.
Mother: [hesitates, then takes his hand] What do you need me to do?
Jiang Dongxu: [pulls her up, looks toward the door] First? You need to cry. Loudly. Make it sound convincing.
Mother: [blinks, then understanding dawns] You want them to think—
Jiang Dongxu: [nodding] They want to see me become trash. Let them watch their favorite show. For now.
Mother: [takes a shaky breath, then lets out a convincing sob]
Jiang Dongxu: [inner monologue] Qiao Minrun is listening. I guarantee it. Let her hear what she wants to hear. For now.
---
【System: Park Soo-jin — Loyalty: 15/100】
【Note: Suspicion remains. Fear still dominant. But curiosity and a thread of hope have taken root.】
---
Mother: [between "crying" episodes, whispers] My daughter... she doesn't know any of this. Please. Whatever happens next...
Jiang Dongxu: [whispering back] Your daughter stays out of it. That's not a favor. That's just... the rule.
Mother: [tears now genuine] Thank you.
Jiang Dongxu: [inner monologue] Fifteen percent loyalty. It's a start. I need sixty to bind her as a subordinate. But loyalty earned through fear isn't real. And real loyalty... that takes something more than just being the lesser evil.
---
[The door suddenly opens]
---
Qiao Minrun: [leaning against the frame, a satisfied smile playing on her lips] Enjoying yourself, Mr. Jiang?
Jiang Dongxu: [standing, adjusting his collar with a lazy grin] Thoroughly. Though I must say, the soundproofing in here is terrible. You could've warned me.
Qiao Minrun: [eyes flicking to the tearful, disheveled Park Soo-jin, then back to Jiang Dongxu] I'll make a note for next time. Happy birthday, by the way. Did you like your gift?
Jiang Dongxu: [walks toward her, stopping close enough to make her uncomfortable] The gift was... adequate. But I haven't forgotten what I asked earlier.
Qiao Minrun: [stiffening slightly] And what was that?
Jiang Dongxu: [leaning in, voice dropping] You. On my list. Next time.
Qiao Minrun: [jaw tightening, but maintaining her composure] I told you. I'm not—
Jiang Dongxu: [cutting her off with a wave] For now. But my father gave me this company. And you? You work for the company now. So technically...
Qiao Minrun: [cold smile] Technically, I report directly to the Madam. Not to you. Goodnight, Mr. Jiang.
[She turns and walks away, heels clicking sharply on the floor]
---
Jiang Dongxu: [watching her go, inner monologue] That's right. Run and tell your Madam. Let her think I'm just another greedy, lust-blind bastard son. Let them all underestimate me.
---
[He turns back to Park Soo-jin, who's watching him with a mixture of fear and confusion]
---
Jiang Dongxu: [pulls out a business card, scribbles something on the back] Take this. The address on the back—be there tomorrow at 3 PM. Bring the loan documents.
Mother: [taking the card with trembling hands] Why?
Jiang Dongxu: [heading for the door, then pausing] Because I'm going to burn your debt. But not for free.
Mother: [voice shaking] What do you want?
Jiang Dongxu: [looking back, expression unreadable] I told you. Loyalty. Real loyalty. Show me tomorrow that you're worth more than a one-night plaything, and I'll show you what happens when a bastard son stops playing their game and starts playing his own.
---
【System: Park Soo-jin — Loyalty: 32/100】
【Note: First crack in the wall of fear. Hope is dangerous. Hope can be shaped.】
---
[Jiang Dongxu walks out, leaving Park Soo-jin alone in the office]
---
Mother: [looking at the card, then at the scattered "toys" on the desk, then whispers to herself] What kind of monster... are you really?
---
【Chapter 1 End】
---
[To be continued...]
