CH 01
When I was seventeen, I met a fortune teller at a festival. Accompanied by my elderly parents, I watched as she handed me a cookie. Inside was a note—a fortune cookie. I split it in half to read my fortune.
“A great sorrow may befall, but don’t be disheartened. You will rise again.”
The fortune proved accurate. That autumn, my parents passed away within a few days. I cried so much, burying them in a ground covered with fallen leaves. Although their departure was anticipated due to their age, the sadness didn’t fade.
Despite becoming an orphan at a young age, the legacy and substantial inheritance my parents left protected me. I learned business early on and had loyal advisors by my side, making it possible for me to overcome difficulties without much trouble.
The following year, at the age of eighteen, I visited the fortune teller again.
In the same festival, at the same spot, the aged fortune teller extended a basket and asked me to choose a fortune cookie without hesitation.
“Luck isn’t on your side. How about being more careful instead of pushing things too hard?”
As a vibrant eighteen-year-old, I paid little attention to such superstitious advice. I expanded my business recklessly and faced bitter failures multiple times. I lost many people during that time. When the stability of my legacy wavered, I found myself bowing to arrogant nobles, setting aside my pride to secure investments during troublesome times.
At nineteen, twenty, and twenty-one, luck continued to flow in an unfavorable direction.
“Luck is weak, and you may not find satisfaction in everything you do.”
“Maintenance is the best course. Remember that there is meaning in not achieving dazzling progress.”
“It is time to protect your nest. Danger lurks from all sides.”
Small misfortunes piled up, and I had to learn to move cautiously and carefully. There were many times when I struggled to pay fair wages to those working under me.
And then came twenty-two.
Finally, luck was on my side.
“After a long darkness, a bright new day has dawned. The sun of the day and the moon of the night are both on your side. Leave the nest and spread your wings wide, soar high!”
I had just finished thinking about a new business item.
I didn’t hesitate to scrape together the remaining money and investments and plowed them into the new business. Many people tried to stop me, but I didn’t listen.
If it fails again, I’ll just do something else and pay off my debts. Honestly, it was a strange feeling. After my parents passed away, I spent years without success, and I was a little tired.
On the day of the launch, I nervously waited for the response. The butler who went to check the market didn’t return until late at night.
Was it a failure?
A sense of foreboding creeped into my mind. And yet, I felt strangely comfortable. Maybe I’d been waiting for years of bad luck, waiting for the moment when I admit my failure.
At that moment, the office door swung open, and a sweaty, panting grandfather rushed in. Even in late winter, why was he sweating so much? Before I could ask a leisurely question, he shouted.
“It’s done, it’s done!”
“What’s done?”
Seemed like all the preparations were in order. I hadn’t even stood up from my seat when Grandfather approached, hitting my desk with a bang.
Despite his old age, he was strong. The inkwell almost tipped over. As I grabbed the wobbling ink bottle, Grandfather burst out.
“It’s sold out! Thousands more additional orders have come in!”
“….”
What? Did I hear things because I was too desperate? No, I didn’t seem desperate enough to hear hallucinations.
Suddenly, Grandfather turned my desk around and came next to me. Then, with all his strength, he lifted me up and embraced me tightly.
“It’s a huge success, a huge success! We’ve made it!”
I was just standing there, unable to face Grandfather directly. It was unbelievable. Honestly, I had the mindset of “let it be as it is,” but this actually worked?
“Poor young lady… After losing your parents so early, how much you’ve struggled. Now, finally… finally, your efforts shine.”
I was a little embarrassed that he was crying, so I just patted him on the back like I’ve always done.
So now I don’t have to worry about people’s salaries? I can give them bonuses? I don’t have to go around begging people to invest money, and I can pay dividends to investors, and I can continue to live on top!
I burst into tears.
“Miss, don’t cry…….”
“You’re the one who cried first, hehehe…….”
“Hmph, hmph, hmph…….”
“Ughhhhhhhh!”
Okay, I admit it. Honestly, both he and I were in a state of emotional overload at that point.
But what the heck, it’s a hundred times better to cry because it worked than cry because it didn’t!
Since then, our top main product has been selling like hotcakes. Even the imperial family bought a lot of them, and we even got an exclusive imperial design.
I can’t leave it at that. This amazing product has been feeding our top for years.
It’s called Tok Tok.
With the Tok Tok, you don’t need to go to the post office to send a letter. All you have to do is literally flick, flick, flick your finger against the little typewriter attached to the TikTok. You type what you want to say, hit send, and the words appear on the other person’s TokTok.
How long are we going to be tied to paper and ink, huh? Letters have more disadvantages than advantages. First and foremost, you can’t communicate urgent matters right away, which means you might not get the news of your parent’s death or clear up a misunderstanding with your significant other in time.
No wonder TokTok was selling like crazy.
Now, people in the empire can’t imagine life without it. They’ve gotten used to getting a reply within 10 minutes, no matter how late.
The people of the Empire can’t imagine life without TikTok. They’ve gotten used to getting a reply within 10 minutes, no matter how late.
I was literally sitting on a money cushion. They even gave me a title at the palace. When I used to have to go and kneel down even when the top wobbled, the nobles who just turned up their noses are now standing in line and shouting to reserve a limited edition model.
Years have passed, and my fortune-telling has never been better. I’ll be able to spend the end of the year in luxury. I sat back with my legs stretched out, enjoying a relaxing tea time, living life to the fullest.
“Grandpa.”
Suddenly, I was so happy to remember the past that I called out to my grandfather. The old man who was pouring the tea answered right away, like a click.
“Yes, Master Danju.”
He was so selfish. Depending on his mood, he switches between calling me a lady, a master, and a mastermind. Of course, I didn’t mind.
“Was the world always this beautiful?”
“I want it.”
“Next year’s luck will be great.”
The beautifully and colorfully decorated greenhouse is warm and cozy even in the dead of winter. With a wood stove burning and a greenhouse sofa stretched out, I’m filled with optimism.
The days of walking around to save money on heating bills seem like a distant memory.
“Are you going to that fortune teller again this year?”
My grandfather asks, impatiently. I stretched out on the couch and waved my hand.
“Of course.”
“Why, you’ve had enough success.”
“That’s why I have to go further.”
“Aren’t you too superstitious? Things like fortune-telling should be just for fun.”
“Fun? What do you mean fun? Our top ranking depends on it!”
The old man continued to nag us for a while after that. But no matter what he says, I’m going to run to the fortune teller as soon as the New Year festivities begin. I have a good feeling about this one.
The crackling, burning sound of the firewood is peaceful and cheerful. If I fall asleep like this, I’ll have a good dream. I gently closed my eyes and let sleep wrap its arms around my shoulders.
