Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: A Common Occurrence
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Large boxes began to pile up one by one in the spacious living room.
Once the boxes were stacked, the staff would check them and slice them open neatly with a knife.
Out would pop frames, cushions, bolts, nuts, and so on from inside.
The moment I saw that, I thought to myself how smart I'd been to sign up for the assembly service.
'No way I could've done this alone.'
I'd never been handy with my hands, ever since I was a kid.
Especially things like origami or woodworking in after-school classes—I was terrible at them.
The teachers always ended up making them for me instead.
'Those were the days.'
Wednesday after-school creative activities.
And the learning activities during fourth period on play-Saturday.
'Am I sounding like an old fogey?'
I gave a slightly bitter smile as I watched the staff assembling the furniture.
They pulled out the manuals and pieced it together step by step.
It didn't look particularly difficult.
But isn't the person who makes hard work look easy the most impressive?
Seeing them whip up these furniture pieces like it was nothing, I had to admit they were pros.
If it had been me, I'd still be struggling with just one piece.
"Where would you like us to put this storage cabinet?"
I'd zoned out for a second when a staff member approached, holding a nearly completed storage cabinet and speaking to me.
The one he was carrying was an 180,000-won glass-door storage unit.
It featured a warm wooden tone that looked like solid natural wood and a sturdy internal frame.
"Oh, that one goes against this wall here."
I planned to fill it with simple decorations, books, and artificial flowers, just like the display at the store.
'Come to think of it, it's more like a display cabinet than storage.'
Not really. People usually stuff storage cabinets with stuff they rarely use anyway.
I was gazing contentedly at the smoothly assembling cabinet when another staff member called out to me.
"Where should we place the chair?"
"Ah, put the chair by the window here."
The chair he pointed to was a single-seater egg chair.
You know, the kind you see in cafes, hanging from a hoop and rocking back and forth.
I bought it imagining myself sitting there leisurely, gazing out the window.
I'd set a coffee table in front and enjoy a classy brunch.
The staff member deftly lifted the egg chair and carried it to the window.
I directed him to the exact spot.
"Heave-ho! That's the last one!"
Just then, I heard the sound of the final box arriving at the front door.
I rushed over to check—it was the bed and bookshelf.
These two were a set, so they needed to go in the same room.
"Put those in this bedroom, please."
"Got it!"
The delivery guy let out a grunt of effort as he and another staff member skillfully maneuvered the massive box.
Seeing them sweat buckets made me grateful... and a little guilty.
'Should I order some drinks at least?'
I pulled out my phone and ordered seven iced coffees—including one for me—plus some small snacks. They'd love it when it arrived.
Thud thud thud thud
Four times in a row.
"The upstairs neighbors sound lively."
The older delivery guy, who had set down a package in the master bedroom, gave an awkward smile as he said that.
At his words, the younger one instinctively glanced up at the ceiling.
Honestly, it wasn't that bad yet.
It was annoying, but noise like this was tolerable.
Our own hammering away was louder anyway.
I'd assess the situation once everything was sorted.
'Just wait a bit.'
Stories of fights over noise complaints were common, even without the news.
I didn't like fighting.
Sure, I'd sent that text to the Team Leader bastard, but deep down, I saw myself as a good citizen.
Even if I wasn't going up there to pick a fight, once you bring up noise, things get awkward with the upstairs neighbors.
How to put it?
From their side, knowing the downstairs people had come up once makes them self-conscious.
And downstairs, every thud makes you wonder if you should go up again—that subtle discomfort.
'It's tricky.'
If it got unbearably loud, I'd head up right away, but so far, it was borderline.
I worried it might be like poking a hornet's nest.
Something similar happened in college.
The neighbors were noisy, so I went over. After that, every time I ran water in the kitchen, they'd bang the wall and start trouble.
They even complained to the landlord about me using the washing machine at 4 p.m.
'That guy was the weird one.'
Still, better safe than sorry.
The world was full of people with mindsets you couldn't imagine.
'Maybe I'm one of them.'
So I decided to stay put for now.
If the noise got worse, I could always move quietly. No need to make enemies.
I had the means and the options.
"Should we put the table in the center here?"
"Yes, right there, please."
Noise complaints could wait—furnishing the living room came first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Oh, you didn't have to do this."
The staff member said that while happily sipping his coffee.
The one next to him was munching on a donut.
Just watching them eat so heartily made me feel full.
It wasn't food I'd made, but seeing everyone enjoy what I'd bought warmed my heart.
"Alright, now that we've had a treat, let's wrap this up."
They set their coffees aside with smiles and got back to assembly.
We were in the home stretch.
We'd started around 1 p.m., and it was already past 4.
This was enough furniture to keep several grown men busy for three hours.
No need to imagine how it'd go alone.
'Next time, fully assembled pieces only.'
I'd shopped at the first furniture store that came to mind since I knew nothing, but ready-made stuff seemed better all around.
Still, experience was valuable.
Thud thud
Vibrations had been rumbling intermittently for a while.
Everyone was trying to ignore it, but after three hours, even the staff were starting to struggle.
"Miss, have you talked to the upstairs neighbors?"
I shook my head slightly at the question.
"No, I just moved in recently and haven't had the chance."
"Hmm... You should go up and talk to them later. It's fine for a day or two, but if it keeps up, it'll wear you down."
The staff member advised me earnestly.
I nodded seriously in agreement.
It was getting pretty bad.
Maybe they didn't even know someone had moved in downstairs?
'If that's it, I get it.'
"They might not realize someone's downstairs since you just moved in. In apartments like this, you rarely run into neighbors anyway."
Another staff member, setting down his empty coffee cup, voiced the same thought.
"Yeah? Should I bring them some rice cakes then?"
I said it half-jokingly, and the delivery guy next to me chuckled softly.
"Do people still do the moving-in rice cake thing these days?"
The older delivery guy, cooling off with his coffee nearby, asked with a smile. I shook my head laughing lightly.
"Nah, no one cares anymore. And handing out food can backfire."
I'd seen a news story about someone suing over food poisoning from moving-in rice cakes.
It had shocked me back then, and that was over ten years ago. The world had only gotten pricklier since.
Best not to stir up trouble these days.
"I don't know why the world's gotten so harsh. Am I just getting old?"
His words drew chuckles from the others, big and small.
It'd been ages since I'd felt this relaxed vibe.
The bustling, cheerful atmosphere was nice, so I took in the living room scene for a moment.
With furniture taking shape and people chatting happily, it soothed the soul.
But that didn't last.
Bang rumble rumble
"Whoa."
"Did they drop something heavy?"
A massive boom suddenly echoed from the ceiling.
Everyone jumped, then glared up irritably.
"Jeez."
One staff member stood, grabbing his rubber mallet and drill.
He looked a bit menacing.
Seeing that, I spoke up first and headed for the door.
"I'll go up and check."
At this point, they had to know there was no one downstairs.
Probably.
'I hope so.'
With that wish, I slowly climbed the stairs.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ One six-year-old boy.
And a twelve-year-old daughter currently at school.
Song Yeon-hee, mother of three and tutor at a nearby cram school.
"Park Min-jun! Stop running around!"
Despite her words, Min-jun tumbled after dashing through the room.
He didn't cry from the fall, got right back up pluckily, and climbed onto the sofa.
"Kids these days..."
She sat at the kitchen table, sighing softly as she watched him.
Just a sigh—no lecture.
She simply sipped her warm coffee while preparing worksheets for the cram school.
Essentially, she took past exam questions from students, shuffled the choices, or toned down the difficulty. Even that was exhausting.
She had to watch the mischievous Min-jun, and soon she'd help her returning daughter with homework.
With so much on her mind, she stared at her laptop screen through aching eyes.
Bang rumble rumble
Min-jun jumped off the sofa, landed awkwardly, and fell flat.
"Min-jun!! Mommy told you to stop jumping!!"
"Waaah!!"
He hadn't really hurt himself, but the harder-than-expected fall startled him.
Only then did Yeon-hee get up and approach him.
As she checked him over, the doorbell suddenly flashed.
Frantic blinking meant it was the front door, not the lobby.
Who could it be? She checked the door camera.
"...Yes?"
A pretty young woman appeared on the screen.
Her face looked like a college student's.
Yeon-hee watched with mild curiosity.
But that curiosity vanished at the woman's response.
[Um... I live downstairs... It's a bit noisy...]
Yeon-hee glanced at Min-jun.
How much noise could a kid make to bring someone up here?
She found it amusing and replied via intercom.
"Downstairs, you say?"
[Yes...]
The woman averted her eyes from the camera slightly.
Yeon-hee snorted lightly and shot back.
"The kid's young and was just playing around. I'll tell him."
Then she cut the intercom feed.