Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Used Newbie
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The moment I got home, the first thing I did was turn on the robot vacuum.
The vacuum sprang to life with a cheerful ding-dong chime.
>
Come to think of it, I had moved in without doing any proper cleaning.
>
'It was spotless when I toured the place, so it should be fine.'
>
Watching the robot diligently sweeping and mopping the floor, I decided to let it slide.
It'd handle it just fine on its own.
>
"You got this."
>
I tossed out the meaningless cheer and roughly set up my computer in the room.
>
Luckily, the tower was compact, so I tucked it neatly beside the folding desk.
The monitor was oversized and a bit cumbersome, but after hauling it around, I was getting used to it.
>
I quickly hooked everything up and stepped back to survey the desk from a distance.
>
A single folding desk standing alone in the empty living room.
And atop it, a single computer.
>
A slightly awkward sight made me chuckle as I popped a cup of instant rice into the microwave.
>
Listening to the microwave hum away, I settled in front of the computer.
>
"...Now it really feels like I'm living alone."
>
Bachelor life.
Most first-timers approach it with some romantic notions.
>
I hadn't chosen this out of desire, so I had none of that romance, but I knew exactly why newbies got swept up in it.
>
The thrill of breaking free from the family nest for the first time.
The anticipation of having a space all your own, unlike a cramped dorm.
>
And plenty of other factors, no doubt.
>
Anyway, I was finally feeling that romance after about fifteen years of solo living.
>
"Hmm... To buy furniture..."
>
I scoured the internet for ways to do interior decorating.
>
Of course, I had no intention of gutting the place.
If I did, I wouldn't have left all the studio's stuff behind.
>
Sure, I might redo a future place if I moved again, but I wasn't planning to mess up this one.
>
What I was after were tips on furnishing the space with furniture.
>
Starting with unifying the overall color scheme, then picking furniture that matched the tone and maximizing the space.
>
While reading through posts packed with advice, I spotted one pitiful warning.
>
"Make sure to check the units when buying imported furniture..."
>
It was bolded in a blog review, with a photo below.
>
"Why does it have to fit so awkwardly?"
>
The picture showed a bookshelf that was just long enough to block the door from opening properly.
The kind of photo that screamed, 'Is this a gym? Can't leave until I lose weight?' – perfect for some online forum.
>
I giggled and read the long story underneath.
>
In short, it was a direct import from the US, listed in inches, which caused a measuring mishap.
>
Sheesh. Engineers would lose their minds. 'Stop using yards and pounds already.'
>
Apparently, imported furniture came with all sorts of weird headaches.
For now, I decided to steer clear of anything using inches.
>
I'd been scrolling through posts for a while when the microwave started beeping angrily.
>
Beep— Beep—
>
"Got it, got it."
>
I hurriedly pulled out the cup rice, gave it a quick stir, and took a bite.
My first meal of the day, no less.
>
Chewing away, I plopped back down at the computer.
One mouse scroll, one bite of rice.
>
As I neared the end of my meal, another line caught my eye.
>
"Find a room you like... then start by recreating something similar."
>
Hmm. Yeah, it made sense – I needed to pin down the vibe I wanted.
>
"Guidelines are key, no matter what."
>
Guidelines were essential.
For fresh grads starting their careers, or for me, embarking on true solo living.
>
Well, I was a used newbie with fifteen years of internship under my belt.
>
So, today's task for this used newbie was...
>
'Start with the living room, right?'
>
Decorating the living room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I confirmed there was a big furniture store nearby and hopped in the car.
Naturally, I was in sweats.
>
Only day two, so no need to wash yet.
>
"Phew..."
>
Thinking back, after showering that morning, I'd tossed everything, so I had nothing at home.
Time to browse furniture, grab some light groceries, and head back.
>
'No buying unnecessary stuff. Just the essentials.'
>
I steeled myself, recalling yesterday's hauling ordeal.
>
Anyway, I drove the compact car to the furniture store thirty minutes away.
A massive chain that came all the way from Sweden, selling furniture and household goods.
>
I had no idea what "household goods" meant exactly, but the enormous building had me buzzing with excitement.
>
The living room vibe I wanted: warm, elegant wood tones.
One where the view through the big windows blended perfectly with the sunlight streaming in.
>
'It was the top example in my searches.'
>
Not that I'd picked randomly.
Black and white? Pastel? Nah, none of that appealed.
>
Wood tones were the prettiest.
>
I'd seen the title 'Wood tones special) 40+ love it fr', but I shook it off.
>
Tastes vary from person to person.
>
'But it's not because I'm getting old, right?'
>
No way.
I, Choi Yeon-bi, was twenty-one.
>
I nodded firmly, thinking of the age on my ID.
Was this how rejuvenated wuxia masters felt?
>
'...Maybe time to reread some webnovels.'
>
Shaking off the random thought, I stepped into the store.
>
"Whoa..."
>
My first time in a furniture store.
The blue exterior carried over inside – a design heavy on blues and whites.
>
Riding the escalator up, I kept gawking around.
>
Feeling a bit embarrassed for being the only one so mesmerized, I glanced around and saw tons of people like me.
>
'Makes sense – who frequents furniture stores enough to be jaded?'
>
With that in mind, I entered the first section.
>
The first area was bedrooms.
Rooms decked out in various styles using the store's furniture.
>
An artist's room crammed with black.
>
A modern mix of half white, half black.
>
A stylish blend of white and mint, and more.
>
Seeing these themed setups made my heart race a little.
>
'My place could look like this...'
>
I approached a pretty piece and checked the price tag.
A sleek black desk. A whopping 199,800 won.
>
'This?'
>
Just a plain black rectangle, but the price was brutal.
>
No big deal. I was Choi Yeon-bi, with five hundred billion in assets.
No need to flinch at pocket change like this.
>
Heck, I could buy out the whole store and still have cash left.
Though space might be an issue.
>
"Honey, check this out. It's a bookshelf, but it rolls – whoosh."
>
"Like the ones in manga cafes?"
>
"Price is... whoa, almost half a mil. Assembly extra."
>
A couple eyeing the furniture wistfully before moving on.
>
I had no clue about high-end prices.
That's why I came to this big chain known for standard quality and value – but even others found it pricey.
>
'The post said rolling shelves were great for dividing space.'
>
I approached the shelf, giving it a gentle push and pull to test.
Smooth glide, warm brown hue – loved it.
>
'Pretty design too... Maybe get one?'
>
I stared it down intently.
Then quickly rethought it.
>
'No, no. Don't buy today – just plan it out.'
>
I wasn't here to impulse-buy.
>
The goal was to browse, nail down my style, and bookmark matching pieces.
>
Plus, this was a DIY furniture store.
>
Do It Yourself.
In other words, 'Figure it out and assemble it yourself.'
>
They offered assembly services, so no huge issue, but big pieces would take time to put together.
>
'Or maybe? Big stuff's a pain to transport, so buying here and having them assemble might be smarter.'
>
I pondered for a moment.
I knew zilch about any of this.
>
'Feels so daunting.'
>
Watching couples and families debating furniture earnestly made my chest tighten.
>
Money aplenty, but no clue how to spend it.
Money aplenty, but couldn't even pick furniture right.
>
Always alone and swamped with survival, I never noticed – but now, with breathing room, surroundings sharpened into focus.
>
No one to bounce ideas off.
>
'...Getting sentimental over the familiar.'
>
I sighed lightly and wandered on indifferently until a room caught my eye.
>
'Living rooms start here?'
>
The living room display area.
Among them, one nailed the exact vibe I wanted – my eyes locked on.
>
"This is it."
>
I whipped out my phone and snapped photos.
Then checked prices on each piece.
>
Calculator in hand: all the furniture there would run about 3.5 million won.
>
Sofa, TV stand, rug, table, storage cabinet, side table, and a plush single-seater that swallowed you whole.
>
Only the storage and TV stand needed my assembly – and even those had service options.
>
'Perfect as is.'
>
I diligently noted down the item names and moved to the next section.
>
So what if I was alone?
So what if I didn't know how to spend?
>
Compared to Choi Min-hoo's life of scrambling through work and poverty, my gloom was pure luxury.
>
So.
>
'How about scratching off just ten million won today?'
>
If there's time to mope, might as well spend some money first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇