"???"
Yoko was completely stunned by his sudden offer.
"Wait, where did you get that kind of money?"
"Don't tell you earned it from working!"
"I wouldn't be able to make 300 million yen even in ten years!"
From what Yoko knew, even top-tier celebrities had annual salaries ranging between 10 million and 20 million yen.
That was the typical salary range for popular entertainers.
To be honest, she herself wasn't even qualified to make 10 million yen a year yet.
Even if her career continued to go well, it would still take at least another year or two before she reached that level.
While being an entertainer wasn't considered a high-status profession, it was still a well-paying one.
But for this boy in front of her, the only one she had truly acknowledged to suddenly pull out such a large sum of money, Yoko couldn't help but worry about its origin.
"Don't overthink it. It's clean money."
"How can I not overthink it?! A sum this huge, if it ca from an illegal source, you'd be arrested!"
"I know."
"If you know, then why—"
"That's why I'm telling you—it's clean."
That response left Yoko montarily speechless.
But after a brief pause, she slowly cald down.
If it were so shady, off-the-books money, then yes, it would be a real problem. But if the money was already in the bank, then it had likely gone through verification.
It wasn't easy to deposit dirty money in a bank without raising red flags.
"...Are you being kept by so rich woman?"
Ren let out a sigh, clearly exasperated.
"Is it really so unbelievable that I have money?"
"Yes."
Yoko nodded without hesitation.
"Logically speaking, a high school student with no family support shouldn't have access to that kind of money."
"Plus, you're renting a place where a murder happened, and you're taking advantage of free utilities. You don't look wealthy at all."
"And most importantly, you live alone. Given all that, do you really think it's normal for a high schooler in your situation to have that much money?"
Ren shook his head.
"Absolutely not normal."
A high school student with no background, no inheritance, and no major windfall had no logical way of accumulating such a massive amount of money.
"See? Even you think so."
Yoko gave him a knowing look.
"A high schooler, living alone, suddenly having access to a fortune—"
"And considering that you're good-looking, I think the most reasonable explanation is that you're being kept."
Her words carried so implications.
At least from Ren's perspective, he certainly didn't have the qualifications to be so rich woman's plaything.
Besides, being a kept man wasn't as simple as just looking good.
If soone was truly kept by a wealthy patron, they had to have enough charm, talent, or connections to make it worth the investnt. Otherwise, they were just disposable entertainnt.
"So, tell —which rich woman would hand out hundreds of millions to soone she's keeping?"
"..."
Yoko was montarily at a loss for words.
He had a point.
A few hundred million yen wasn't a small amount.
Not just any rich woman would be willing to throw that kind of money around so casually.
So the kept man theory quickly fell apart.
"Fine, I won't ask where the money cos from."
"But regardless of its source, be careful."
Sothing inside Yoko told her that the money wasn't problematic.
And she trusted that instinct.
As for the details, she decided not to pry any further.
So things were best left unasked.
After all, this could be tied to one of Ren's hidden secrets.
"That said, don't waste it on buying agency stocks."
"You could do so much more with that money than investing in so worthless shares."
After so thought, Yoko firmly rejected his suggestion.
In reality, she didn't think her agency was worth investing in at all.
She wanted to leave, why would she buy into the very system she wanted out of?
Ren had a different perspective.
"An agency's only real value cos from its industry connections and resources."
"If you don't think it's worth investing in, then why not just start your own studio?"
"Start my own entertainnt company?"
Yoko was instantly intrigued but also felt a bit uneasy.
"But I don't know anything about running a studio."
"Well, neither do I."
"Then why are you even suggesting it?!"
She widened her eyes in disbelief. How could soone who admittedly knew nothing about it still recomnd starting a company?
"This is just my personal suggestion."
"Once you establish a studio, you'll be free from the agency's control."
"It might be tough in the beginning, but you already know other female artists in the industry, don't you?"
"That's true."
Yoko had a few close friends in the entertainnt business, colleagues she had worked with before.
"But how would a brand-new studio even find work?"
"That's up to you."
Ren wasn't familiar with the business side of the industry, so he didn't have much advice to give.
Ultimately, whether or not she could land work depended on Yoko Okino's ability.
"I'll sponsor you with 300 million yen as startup capital in exchange for a stake in the company."
"One of my classmates' mothers is a well-known lawyer. I can help connect you with her, but you'll have to handle everything else yourself."
"Go back to the law firm that originally handled your agency contract and negotiate your release."
Ren paused, considering Yoko's lack of connections.
Since she had no real backing, she might need so help to make sure she wasn't taken advantage of.
"Actually, it might be difficult for you to handle this alone. I'll talk to my classmate and see if she can help you."
"If she gets involved, it should make things a lot easier for you."
Hearing all this, Yoko just stared at Ren.
"...I thought you didn't like ddling in other people's affairs?"
Ren hesitated for a mont.
That was true—he didn't like getting involved in other people's business.
Nor did he enjoy asking others for favors.
"Only occasionally."
"I occasionally get involved."
"Anyway, I just have one question, do you want to do this or not?"
Yoko fell silent for a mont.
Then, the hesitation in her expression vanished, replaced by a bright, confident smile.
"Yes!"
She still hadn't repaid him for saving her life.
And now, she owed him another favor.
It seed like this debt wouldn't be so easily repaid.
She could only return the favor little by little, one step at a ti.
***
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