Chapter 1.1
Being the first daughter means being the household’s foundation, while the youngest son is the family’s pillar. Was it a sin to be born as the second daughter in between?
I endured a miserable 20 years through sheer stubbornness. Overshadowed by my academically gifted older sister and my brother, the only son, I faced discrimination. After high school graduation, I finally escaped that crazy household with money I’d saved from various part-time jobs since middle school and some prize money.
To my parents, the daughter who entered a major corporation was treated like a princess, and their only precious son like a king. But the second daughter, despite having talent in drawing, was just a useless mouth to feed.
“I will definitely succeed as a webtoon artist.”
For that, the most important thing was ‘money’.
I barely managed to find an affordable monthly rental room, but I needed equipment to draw webtoons, and self-study wasn’t enough—I needed proper education. While I could watch free video lectures and improve my skills through consistent practice, equipment was the problem.
Even buying second-hand was tight in my financial reality, so Yeonhwa had to earn money relentlessly once again.
All this hardship would surely make the feeling of achievement that much more incredible later.
With high expectations, Yeonhwa worked part-time jobs day and night.
Places that accepted high school graduates were convenience stores, car centers, internet cafes, kitchens, or package loading/unloading.
Taking whatever paid work she could find, the income turned out to be quite substantial.
“Great. This is the way! Just a little more savings and I can buy some decent equipment.”
Having earned every penny through sweat and tears, Yeonhwa was even more fired up.
“Yeonhwa, good work today. I fried a chicken for you to take home and eat.”
“Boss, the economy isn’t doing well these days…”
“It’s because our Yeonhwa works so diligently, and you’re like a daughter to me. Please continue to work well for us.”
“Yes, Boss! I’ll clean the store even better and serve customers in the hall more enthusiastically!”
“Haha, good. Now go and eat it. You know chicken tastes best when it’s hot, right?”
“Of course! See you tomorrow!”
The kind chicken restaurant owner, with his warm appearance, was always overflowing with affection—someone Yeonhwa wished could have been her real father. In this difficult world, he was like a refreshing rain.
“A can of beer should be fine! Should I buy a bag of snacks too?”
Excited about eating the free chicken, Yeonhwa stood at the counter with a can of beer and a bag of her favorite snacks.
“I’d like to pay for these.”
“Just a moment, please.”
The part-timer looked obviously young.
‘Probably a high school student.’
Grumble-rumble.
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
Seeing the part-timer who couldn’t lift their head from embarrassment, Yeonhwa was reminded of herself. Parents who told her to study instead of hanging out with friends, giving her just enough money for workbooks and school supplies. Yet they gave her sister, who was preparing for exams, a basic allowance of 200,000 won plus extras.
And for their precious only son, an elementary first-grader, they dressed him in luxury brands from head to toe so he wouldn’t feel inferior anywhere, giving him whatever money he asked for without a set allowance—that was what Yeonhwa’s parents were like.
She seriously wondered if she was an adopted child, but the fact that she closely resembled her mother, just like her sister, made it even more heartbreaking.
Another question that arose was: since she resembled them so closely, too, why the discrimination?
Remembering those days filled only with resentment, and thinking how hungry the part-timer must be for their stomach to growl so loudly, Yeonhwa readily handed over her warm chicken.
“Eat this.”
“What?! No, customer, I…!”
“You remind me of myself when I was younger. And you need food in your stomach to enjoy life. Hang in there. I’m rooting for you.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much! You’ll be blessed!”
Waving goodbye to the part-timer who kept bowing, Yeonhwa felt quite proud of herself.
“Right, they say doing good deeds brings blessings. If I keep living diligently and kindly, surely a bright day will come for me too.”
Her steps were light as she walked home under the dark night sky with its large moon.
“Once I cross this traffic light, my home is waiting! I’ll watch YouTube, have a can of beer with snacks, and sleep soundly.”
So excited that she spoke her thoughts out loud, Yeonhwa covered her face when she noticed people looking at her.
When the light turned green, she was fleeing at lightning speed.
Vrooooom-!
“Huh, what’s wrong with that motorcycle?”
“Stop the motorcycle ahead.”
“What, what…”
A motorcycle suddenly appeared in her view, with a patrol car closely following behind.
Just as she had almost crossed, Yeonhwa was hit by the motorcycle.
“Ah…”
Her body, which had been briefly airborne, fell onto the cold asphalt, and she immediately lost consciousness.
It was truly a futile and unfair death.
₊‧ʚ・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊
They say you go to the afterlife when you die, but when Yeonhwa regained consciousness, her vision was filled only with clouds.
She sat on those clouds, looking around and examining her own body.
“I’m… really dead, right? But why doesn’t it feel real?”
As Yeonhwa laughed dejectedly, she saw a massive castle before her.
“Wow, there’s a castle floating in the sky? Where on earth am I?”
“This is the celestial realm.”
“W-who’s there? Where is that voice coming from?”
She looked around but couldn’t see anyone. All she could see were clouds everywhere and the enormous castle in front of her.
“I am the Celestial God who governs the fate of humans.”
“Celestial God… Ah!”
What appeared before Yeonhwa’s eyes was a giant with a human form. With a strongly androgynous feeling. When that being introduced itself as the “Celestial God,” Yeonhwa kept nodding.
“Only souls who have accumulated many virtues during their lifetime can come up here.”
“Ah, yes.”
“And sometimes pitiful souls like you can come up too.”
“I… lived quite miserably. And…”
The memory of her death suddenly flashed in her mind. She definitely said that doing good deeds brings blessings. She had given the chicken she really wanted to eat to the young convenience store worker. And on her way home, she was hit by a motorcycle and died.
“I died so unfairly.”
“I, too, find your death very regrettable. But that was your fate.”
“Haha. Yes. Well…”
To Yeonhwa, who showed a bitter smile, the Celestial God asked.
“What kind of life do you want?”
At this sudden question, Yeonhwa tilted her head and asked, “Pardon?” The Celestial God asked what she wanted.
“Will everything I wish for come true?”
“Yes.”
Seeing the Celestial God nodding with a benevolent smile, Yeonhwa was convinced that if it was a “god,” it would grant whatever she wished for. Clenching her fists, she said.
“I want to live without worrying about money! And… I want to receive love from my parents.”
“I will grant that wish.”
“Really? Truly?”
Instead of answering, the Celestial God smiled warmly, and seeing the trustworthy smile, a smile spread across Yeonhwa’s face as well.
“Now, close your eyes.”
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