So, after talking to the boss like that, it was decided that we’d go to my farm for a field trip. I was a bit worried it might not work out, but with one majestic wave of the boss’s hand, all those worries flew away. The boss really is the best.
But in return, I had to be hugged by the boss. I spent about an hour as a cuddle plushie before I was finally set free. Not that the boss’s embrace was bad, but it was a bit suffocating. I mean, how tight do you have to hug someone for a tiny person like me to struggle to breathe?
The field trip was scheduled for the very next day. I went to school in high spirits. It was my turn to teach the kids the joy of harvesting whatever they wanted to eat. If they tried the strawberries and watermelons grown on my farm, it would totally blow their minds.
Only our class was going. Logically, even though my farm is big, it’s not big enough to handle a hundred kids. No matter how many watermelons and strawberries are hanging around, there’s still a limit.
Our class of about twenty kids could eat their fill, but if the other classes came too, there wouldn’t even be enough to make a dent. Anyway, a cute red bus was waiting in the schoolyard. It looked like we’d be taking that. Since it was over 30 minutes away, it didn’t make sense for everyone to come separately.
Under the teacher’s guidance, our class gathered. The envious stares of the other classes could be seen through the school windows. The boys in our class, who knew kids from the other classes, were already teasing them. Kids will be kids, after all.
They were flipping each other off and exchanging “welcoming” gestures. The girls, on the other hand, were quietly huddled around the teacher, while the boys, full of energy, couldn’t stop moving. It’s like they had Energizer batteries strapped to them.
Elementary school kids are naturally full of energy. Back in my day, we called them “chogglings,” but I have no idea what they’re called now. These days, elementary school kids seem like half the size they used to be.
It’s hard to even see elementary school kids around unless you’re near a school. You can really feel how fewer kids are being born these days. I wonder if advances in science and technology will somehow fix this. Ever since the Gate appeared, our society has seen explosive growth in various fields.
“Alright, no funny business, let’s get on the bus!”
The teacher clapped her hands to get our attention. The kids rushed onto the bus, and I joined the line. Jiyu and Yumi followed closely behind me. I’m not a mother duck, so I don’t know why they’re trailing me like this.
Of course, our seats were at the very back. As usual, I sat between Jiyu and Yumi. The bus had 40 seats, so there were plenty of empty ones, but for some reason, we had to sit here.
I’m not a lone wolf, so I don’t get depressed or feel miserable sitting alone. In fact, I actually enjoy having some alone time away from the kids’ endless chatter. The amount of gossip these kids can produce is insane.
It’s not quite on par with the chatter of aunties in a coffee shop, but it’s close. I was stuck between Jiyu and Yumi, suffering through their endless talking. Since it wasn’t a long trip like last time, I didn’t even get to nap. I felt like I’d be drained of energy before we even got to my farm.
Jiyu and Yumi, oblivious to my suffering, kept talking.
“We’re going to Hana’s farm to eat strawberries!”
“I want cool watermelon! Hana said there’s watermelon in the fridge, right? Right, Hana?”
“Uh… yeah… there’s a separate fridge to keep the watermelon cool…”
“Wow!!!”
Jiyu and Yumi were freaking out and chattering away. The gossip power of these girls is truly unmatched.
I sat there with a blank expression, sandwiched between Jiyu and Yumi. I’m not an introvert, but I don’t exactly vibe well with these hyperactive kids.
Though lately, I’ve gotten used to it, so it doesn’t drain me as much as before. If I used to lose most of my soul, now it’s only about half.
“Everyone’s going to be amazed when we get to Hana’s farm!”
“Me too!”
I was curious about how the kids would react to the state-of-the-art greenhouse I built. It’s probably a sight you wouldn’t see at other farms. Even though it’s my land, I invested a lot considering the scale. That’s the background behind the delicious crops we grow.
Maybe.
It’s true that my hair played a decisive role, but other factors couldn’t be ignored either. For plants to grow, the right environmental elements were essential. As I was thinking that, a familiar scene unfolded outside.
It was the Research Institute building, practically my hometown. I looked out through the window, though I couldn’t see properly because Jiyu and Yumi were sitting on either side of me.
“We’ve arrived, everyone, please get off!”
The teacher stood up from the front seat and spoke. Hearing the teacher’s words, the children got up and rushed outside. They were always such good listeners. I also got up and followed the kids. Outside, the children were lining up under the teacher’s guidance.
Come to think of it, the kids wouldn’t ruin my farm, right? If they stepped on the plants or something, it would really hurt my feelings. But considering how active kids are, it was totally possible.
With a nervous heart, I waited for the Research Institute employee who was supposed to come here. We couldn’t move until the guide-like employee arrived. Except for me, of course.
—
After the auction, hotels in Seoul could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The fact that over a thousand unrivaled VVIPs were staying there was a huge mental burden in itself.
As a result of the auction, eight winners were able to secure a slice of apple. The highest bid was 1 trillion won, and the lowest was 900 billion. No one would buy an ordinary slice of apple at that price, but this apple had a special ability.
Wyatt, who was the first to secure the apple that was expected to get more expensive, smiled as he took out a neatly wrapped slice of apple.
Looking around, it just seemed like an ordinary apple… Who would have imagined it had such magical effects? If you mixed this slice with ordinary apple slices, no one would be able to tell the difference. From the outside, it just looked like a regular apple.
With a reverent heart, Wyatt unwrapped the slice. He expected a dazzling golden flash, but there was just a plain slice of apple sitting there. If someone saw him, they’d think he’d been scammed. Who would spend billions on a slice of apple?
Wyatt chuckled at the silly thought as he put the apple in his mouth. The taste was phenomenal. If all apples tasted like this, he’d pay ten times the usual price. Of course, to Wyatt, whether it was ten or a hundred times, the price was all the same.
After eating the apple and waking up in the specially prepared bedroom, he couldn’t help but feel sticky. The bed was covered in a foul-smelling, sticky liquid. Wyatt, coming to his senses, rushed to the bathroom.
There, he saw his face, looking five years younger. The aches and pains of middle age were gone. It felt like he had regained the vitality of his youth.
The chronic joint pain had mysteriously disappeared. Wyatt smiled victoriously as he looked at himself in the mirror. It was a shame the apple’s effect could only be used once.
If the effects had stacked, he could have truly reclaimed the golden days of his 20s. But sadly, that wasn’t possible.
If there were an option to have both youth and wealth, he would gladly give up half his fortune.
Once wealth starts accumulating, it grows much faster than you can spend it. As long as you don’t gamble or do anything stupid, money just breeds more money.
Wyatt smiled contentedly at his younger self. The money spent on the apple was worth it.
