Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Unexpected Events
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I remember seeing economists on some program once claiming that frequent card use makes you lose your sense of money.
Roughly, paying with a card reduces the pain of spending compared to cash, and so on.
Back then, I just brushed it off as no big deal.
But when I got my first credit card after starting work...
I watched that month's salary go straight to the card bill and realized.
'Ah, scholars don't spout nonsense after all.'
I somehow scraped by that month by borrowing from friends for living expenses.
"I wonder how everyone's doing."
I muttered to myself and hit the accelerator.
The car felt heavier, maybe because of all the luggage.
But it was just clothes, bags, and shoes—no way it should feel that heavy. Sure, the price tag was hefty.
"Stuff more expensive than the car itself."
The luggage was worth more than the car.
The trunk held enough to buy about six of the compact I'm driving now.
Thinking about it that way brought a hollow laugh.
My spending habits haven't changed much since then.
I'd always tightened my belt to get by, but now that it's loose, money's flowing like water.
'The pain of payment really does fade.'
Would I have gone through with it if I'd paid cash?
Even with 500 billion won, handing over a check might've made me hesitate a bit.
Cards erase the guilt.
Just swipe, and it's done.
Plus, the one I have basically has no limit. That probably amps up the feeling.
Wow, credit cards are amazing. No matter how much you spend, the balance doesn't budge! Lost in those thoughts, an old internet meme popped into my head, making me burst out laughing alone.
"Maybe I don't need to get a new credit card."
All my cards from the Choi Min-hoo days are gone.
That's why I got a new debit card last time—but do I really need a credit card?
The perks from card companies seem pretty negligible anyway.
"Hmm..."
I pondered as I pulled into the hotel parking lot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'What? The same person?'
Na Da-yeon stood in the lounge restaurant, there to greet Choi Yeon-bi for her dinner reservation.
She spaced out a bit recalling the morning's Yeon-bi, then jolted in surprise.
Seeing her now, she barely resembled the woman who'd rejected the acting offer and bolted like she was fleeing.
Her proportions were already great, but topping them with luxury brands changed her whole aura.
'No way... Han A-rang has to be wrong about this.'
Na Da-yeon had viewed Yeon-bi through biased lenses because of Han A-rang's influence.
At first, she'd pegged her as some regular getting sponsored.
But if she really was sponsored by big shots and came to the hotel for that, there'd be no reason to turn down the casting call and run.
People in that scene were usually opportunistic and heartless.
So she instantly scrapped the idea of Yeon-bi being a high-end escort.
After all, Han A-rang's stories had skewed her judgment more than her own.
Now viewing Yeon-bi with fresh eyes...
She started wondering just what kind of person she was.
'No way she dressed like that on purpose...'
After brief deliberation, she concluded Yeon-bi had deliberately gone for the frumpy look.
She'd heard stories like that before.
Rich folks pretending to be commoners.
Her boyfriend's old tale came to mind too.
"New recruits come in, right? So the vets act like rookies, get all buddy-buddy with them. Then they ask who looks the ugliest..." '...This feels ominous.'
Na Da-yeon's mind grew cluttered, so she replayed the morning's events.
Had she said or done anything weird? Acted cocky for no reason?
'Shouldn't have acted like I knew it all.'
Just her shoes and jacket were worth about 3 million won. The shirt and pants inside? Around 1.2 million each.
Someone who wore that casually wouldn't be clueless about Italian home-style or American dishes.
So her menu quiz had been a test.
To gauge what kind of person Na Da-yeon was.
'What if HQ sent her undercover?'
Now even her senior's urban legend surfaced.
"HQ sometimes sends mystery guests disguised as normals to check service. Always be polite. Get it?" Lost in these heavy thoughts...
"Hello. Nice to see you again."
Choi Yeon-bi's greeting froze her solid.
"Ah... Hello! Right this way, please."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ She was weirdly stiff.
Her speech, her movements—robotic, all of it.
'Totally different vibe from this morning.'
Tired from the evening shift maybe.
But her movements were lightning quick for that.
If I needed anything, she'd dash off and fetch it.
Kept checking if I required more.
A bit overwhelming, but not unwelcome.
Then she glanced down at my outfit.
'That's it.'
I smirked inwardly, figuring it out.
'Clothes really are wings.'
Musing on that, I took a bite of the steak in front of me.
Curious about rare, so I ordered it—but this is just raw meat.
'Kinda weird...'
Even as a yukhoe fan, this felt off. At least yukhoe doesn't bleed when you chew.
'Still tasty, though.'
Unique texture, tangy sauce—good stuff.
As I munched, busy staff caught my eye nearby.
'VIP incoming?'
This was the VIP lounge restaurant.
Breakfast was a buffet for regulars and VIPs together, but dinner was VIP-only.
Hence the elegant, passionate red tones everywhere.
And the steak on my plate? Red too.
'Not like I coordinated it.'
The bite in my mouth vanished, so I cut another. It was growing on me.
'Guess that's why people eat this.'
Tiny plate meant I finished faster than expected.
Smaller than the steakhouse one before, so yeah.
But the taste was definitely different.
Worth the price?
Eh, skeptical.
Sure, today's spree was wild, but a few grams of meat torched for nearly 100,000 won? Wasteful.
Waste is waste, splurge or not.
'Time for dessert then.'
They say women have separate stomachs for meals and sweets.
Not a woman long, but I get it now.
Meat alone leaves you greasy.
That's why salad after lamb ribs yesterday.
Anyway.
Craving something sweet and cool, I ordered mango bingsu.
High-end hotel? Mango bingsu screams it.
Feels pricier than the steak, but hey, mango bingsu.
Soon Na Da-yeon brought it over carefully.
"Oh..."
The visuals drew a gasp.
I'd scarfed other dishes, but this? Had to photo it. Phone out, snapping away.
'No one to brag to... but skipping pics would be a crime.'
After pics, a mango chunk in.
Cold mango melting smoothly on the tongue.
No wonder the internet raves about hotel mango bingsu.
'Damn good.'
Tried bingsu with mango next.
Brain freeze hit, but delicious.
Devouring it mindlessly, heels clicked behind me.
What’s that? I turned.
A kindly middle-aged man and a staffer approached slowly.
'Nah, can't be.'
They say anxious hunches are usually right.
Eye contact, slight smile, still coming—yep.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Choi Yeon-bi. I'm the hotel manager, Han Sang-jin. How was your meal today?"
I swallowed the melting mango and nodded at him.
"Yes. The mango bingsu is amazing. Other dishes too."
Praise seemed right here.
And it was genuinely good—no white lie.
The manager smiled and bowed slightly at my words.
"Thank you for the kind words. Any discomfort? We'll handle it right away."
"No, nothing like that..."
"Glad to hear it. Please let us know anytime if you need more."
He bowed again and left.
Watching his back, I tilted my head.
I booked a fancy hotel, ordered a lot—sure.
But enough for the manager to personally greet me?
Doubt it.
Glance at nearby tables: all look richer.
Yet he zeroed in on me.
'Weird...'
And.
'Ah.'
I noticed Na Da-yeon and everyone staring.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Han Sang-jin had barely managed to greet the VIP.
He urgently called someone, launching into a scolding tone first.
"You should've notified me sooner!"
[That's what I wanted to say. Didn't you say she booked yesterday?]
"...But how were we supposed to know she'd get Arcana rank straight from the department store?"
[Same here. How could we have known?]
The old voice on the line left Han Sang-jin speechless.
The late report from the store was true, but not their fault.
Unforeseeable, unthinkable.
Like a natural disaster.
So the VIP delay was no one's blame.
Just Choi Yeon-bi being an outlier.
[No complaints? Then you're good. Don't sweat it.]
The call ended there.
Meanwhile, the guest in question...
"Furniture arrives tomorrow... when'll I sort it all..."
Lay on the bed, sighing at her phone alone.