Living the Good Life 3
As soon as I raised my hand, the concierge, who had been waiting, rushed over.
His eyes widened at my whispered request, but he quickly masked his surprise with a smile.
The concierge gave a slight bow and hurried off, causing the security team’s eyes to light up.
“What did he say?”
“He said he’ll confirm and let us know, but there shouldn’t be any issues. Let’s wait and see.”
The security team cheered, though their excitement would soon turn to disappointment.
Parties are best thrown by those who’ve experienced them. Even if we were to have a party on a yacht, it wouldn’t be much different from now.
The only change would be the location.
Sure, there’s the advantage of slowly cruising and enjoying the scenery.
A little while later, the concierge returned with a smile, handing me a document. I skimmed through it and signed with confidence.
“It’s settled. Let’s have breakfast on the yacht tomorrow morning.”
One of the security team members, grinning from ear to ear, cautiously asked, “But sir, how much does it cost to rent such a luxurious yacht?”
“Huh? Oh, I didn’t check the price. I just confirmed it’s a 24-hour rental.”
The difference when you have money is that you stop checking the numbers.
When I didn’t have much, I’d always check how much I was spending. But when you have more than you can count, you only check the income.
It’s no longer about debating whether to spend based on the price, but rather about what service you’re getting.
“Well, I’ll head out first. See you tomorrow. Don’t hold back on my account—eat and drink to your heart’s content.”
Leaving the surprised security team behind, I headed back to the villa. I wanted to soak in the jacuzzi and unwind.
“Are we really going fishing?”
“Yes. They said the yacht is fully equipped with fishing gear.”
Mr. Moon, who hadn’t mentioned fishing at all last night, was now excited about the unique experience of fishing from a luxury yacht.
When we arrived at the dock, a small motorboat was waiting for us.
“Oh, hello there!”
“Where are you off to so early?”
Four women greeted us with bright smiles—they were the crew from our chartered flight.
Since it’s a charter, the pilot and crew stay here until we return to Korea. Of course, their stay is included in the fee.
They’re staying in regular rooms, not private villas, though.
“Up early, I see?”
As I casually greeted them, they quickly approached.
“Yes, the morning beach view is just too beautiful. And it’s our first time here….”
Kota Kinabalu isn’t a familiar place for Koreans. There’s no direct flight from Korea yet, so you have to fly over two hours from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
“Our manager rented that entire yacht over there.”
One of the security team members quickly pointed to the yacht floating in the sea.
The women reacted just as the security team had hoped.
“Wow! Really?”
“That’s amazing. I heard that yacht even has a pool….”
Seeing the security team’s longing eyes, I couldn’t help but smile.
They’re in their thirties, right? Still in their prime.
“Would you like to join us? There’s plenty of room.”
Who knew a simple invitation could bring such joy to both men and women?
“Just a moment. We’ll get ready and be right out.”
The women dashed back to their accommodations, and the waiting security team seemed to be holding back their excitement.
“Let’s get a few of us on board first.”
We boarded the boat. It was too small to take everyone, including the women, in one go.
With the addition of the four elegant women, it might start to feel like a real yacht party.
Mr. Moon was fixated on the fishing rods, as if he were about to catch a shark, while I enjoyed coffee with the captain on the bridge, watching the young men and women laugh and chat.
The yacht moved slowly, revealing hidden coastal views at its pace.
“Captain, what’s that over there?”
“Where…? Ah.”
The captain checked the beach I was pointing to.
“It’s a nice beach, but you’re wondering why there’s no one there, right?”
“Yes, it looks even better than the private beach at my accommodation.”
“There’s supposed to be a resort going up there. It’s been in talks for a while, but nothing’s progressed.”
“Hmm….”
The cool shade from the palm trees, the white sandy beach, and the shallow sea—it was the perfect spot for a resort or hotel.
“Can we go there?”
“Of course. Shall I prepare for landing?”
“No, everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves. I’ll go alone. Just pack me some drinks and a picnic blanket.”
“Sure. Here, take this.”
The captain handed me a walkie-talkie, slipping it into my pocket.
“If you get bored, just let us know. We’ll come get you right away.”
Leaving my footprints on the vast beach was a pleasant experience. As I lay under the cool shade of the palm trees, the warm sand beneath me, a refreshing sea breeze caressed my face. Paradise wasn’t far away.
I drifted off to sleep.
When I awoke, feeling completely refreshed, a breathtaking view unfolded before me.
Kota Kinabalu, close to the equator, is known for its stable weather and year-round clear skies and crimson sunsets, earning it the nickname “Island of Enchanting Sunsets.” The sunset here is considered one of the world’s top three, alongside Santorini in Greece and Fiji in the South Pacific.
As I was lost in the beauty of the scene, Mr. Moon approached.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Oh, yes. When did you get here?”
“Just a little while ago. We all came ashore to have a barbecue and drink some beer. I hope we didn’t disturb you.”
“No, I slept well. Did you catch any fish?”
Mr. Moon frowned.
“They must recognize my nationality. The yacht crew catches them easily, but mine just swim away.”
“But isn’t witnessing such a magnificent sunset better than fishing?”
“Thanks to you, I’m seeing a sight I’ll never forget. Thank you.”
Even the resort staff preparing the meal couldn’t take their eyes off the sea. Though they must have seen it dozens, if not hundreds, of times, beauty always brings a fresh sense of wonder.
As the red hues of the sky and sea faded, the barbecue party resumed. Unlike yesterday, with four beautiful women present, the atmosphere was quite different.
A subtle tension and excitement lingered in the air. But that was all—there was no deeper connection.
There were four women and more men.
I expected the young men to be fiercely competitive, but I didn’t see any of that.
They stopped at a certain point, and no one made any bold moves. In fact, the women seemed more proactive.
I discovered the reason for this peculiar atmosphere when we returned to the resort.
Upon reaching the dock, the security team showed no reluctance and immediately boarded the van.
“We had a great time today. See you on the flight back.”
That was what the security team said to the women who seemed a bit disappointed.
The women looked as surprised as I was, but the van door closed, and we drove off without hesitation.
“Feel free to stay and have more fun. I’m fine with it.”
But not a single security team member seemed interested in my offer.
“No, we’ve had enough fun. Any more, and there could be issues. Especially with women.”
“The name of Sunyang Group is with us. We need to be cautious at times like this.”
Mr. Moon spoke up for the last time.
“It’s fine if you indulge a little. We’ll ensure nothing leaks out. But we can’t afford to let loose. It would reflect poorly on you.”
These are people trained to resist temptation, so they won’t be swayed by ordinary lures.
I felt confident they were trustworthy.
“Oh, contact the Kuala Lumpur branch and have the branch manager come on the first flight tomorrow morning.”
“What? Why suddenly…?”
“There’s something I need to check.”
“Understood. I’ll contact them right away.”
When we returned to the villa, there was no more drinking. Satisfied with the first night’s indulgence, everyone showed restraint.
The Kuala Lumpur branch manager, who arrived on the first flight, was visibly tense as he bowed.
“Sorry for calling you on such short notice. I know you’re busy….”
“No, if you’d informed me of your visit, I would have prepared accordingly.”
“I’m here for personal reasons, not business, so there’s no need for formalities. Don’t worry about it.”
We began our breakfast, just the two of us.
“Let’s talk while we eat.”
“Oh, yes.”
He cautiously picked up his fork. His mind must be racing.
The media has been calling me the powerful dark horse of Sunyang Group, haven’t they?
Meeting with me one-on-one could be seen as trying to curry favor. Worse, it might put him at odds with Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki, who oversees Sunyang Trading.
But he couldn’t refuse my request to meet. He must be feeling quite anxious.
“I asked to meet because there’s something I’d like you to look into.”
“Yes, what would you like me to find out?”
“If you head north from here, there’s a long stretch of beach. The sand is beautiful, and the surrounding scenery is quite charming.”
“Oh, is that so? Well, there are many such beaches around here.”
“The one I saw is exceptional. I rented a yacht yesterday and toured the area, and there’s no beach like it.”
“A yacht? Ah, so it’s still an undeveloped area, then.”
“Yes. The captain mentioned there were talks of a resort being built, but nothing’s progressed.”
“Ah… There are quite a few places like that around here. People jump into projects without the planning skills to sustain investment from start to finish. Even though Kuala Lumpur is an international city, Malaysia still has its share of underdeveloped aspects.”
“I see. Well, could you look into it for me? I’d like to buy that beach and maybe build a house there.”
The director paused, fork in mid-air.
“A house? Just one?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Oh, no, not at all. I just assumed you were thinking of building a resort…”
“Oh, I’m not interested in that kind of business. I just thought it would be nice to buy the whole beach and put up a villa. It’s hard to access, so it could be a completely private space. Heh.”
The director nodded, understanding the implication.
He must have realized that this wealthy third-generation heir wanted a picturesque spot to build a house and indulge in a life of luxury and leisure.
“Isn’t it a bit of a waste to build just one villa on such a beach? Why not consider a full-scale resort development? Of course, with a villa included…”
“No, as I said, I’m not interested in complicated ventures.”
“But it won’t be cheap. From what you’ve described, the beach sounds quite large… Just the land acquisition could cost hundreds of billions.”
“I’m prepared to spend up to a trillion. That should be enough, right?”
“A t-trillion?”
A trillion for a mere beach house? He must think I’m crazy. And the director’s thoughts would surely be relayed to both of my uncles.