Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: First Promise
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We sped out of the city at a good clip and arrived at a quiet rural spot.
It wasn't exactly deep countryside since we were still in the capital area.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Anyway, with no other cars on the road, cruising freely felt great.
Yoo Yeon-a in the passenger seat seemed to be having fun too, connecting her phone to the car stereo and happily picking out songs.
From pop tunes to '90s hits.
Her song choices really showed her age.
Of course, I knew them all.
"How do you know all these songs when you're only twenty-one?"
She'd throw in those probing questions now and then, making me hesitate, but I'd just laugh it off.
"More importantly, that's the building up ahead, right?"
I smoothly changed the subject, pointing to the small two-story structure in front of us.
It stood all by itself.
So isolated it made you worry if business was any good.
Still, the parking lot was packed with sedans, so it seemed to be doing okay.
"Yeah, that's it. It's this bakery I drop by sometimes—their stuff is seriously delicious. Kinda crowded today... hope there's something left..."
Yeon-a said, gazing at the bakery with a worried look.
"If not, we can come back another time."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
She seemed to like my answer, flashing a light smile and stretching her arms out.
I slowed down and pulled into the parking lot, parking the car.
Now that I looked closer, almost every car here was a foreign luxury model—or if domestic, something rare.
'Rich folks' hidden gem, huh?'
Made sense. The woman in the passenger seat drove a Dark Horse, after all.
I turned off the engine and got out.
Basking in the cool breeze and fresh air, I looked up at the sky.
No high-rises anywhere—wide-open view.
Clouds drifting lazily across my field of vision.
It'd been ages since I'd just stood there staring at the sky like this.
'Feels good.'
"Come on, hurry! The bread's selling out fast even now."
Before I knew it, Yeon-a was at my side, patting my back with her palm and dragging me toward the bakery.
And so, led by her hand, I stepped inside.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "How was it? Delicious, right?"
As we climbed back into the car, I nodded at her question.
It felt more like a café than a bakery.
Though calling it a café was a stretch too—only two kinds of coffee.
Bread café fit best.
Either way, that one bread was incredible.
Not much left, so options were slim, but everything was tasty anyway.
Yeon-a said their loaves were the best, and sure enough, every type—from milk bread to rye—was sold out.
No big deal; we'd come back later.
Next time, I'd snag a loaf for sure.
'Gotta save it on the nav.'
I tapped the screen a couple times to bookmark it, then gripped the wheel again.
That's when Yeon-a in the passenger seat pointed at the roof. She was holding the bag of bread she'd called my gift.
"Yeon-bi, mind if we open the lid?"
"Sure. It's a Targa, so not the whole thing, but the center opens up."
My model came in three varieties.
First, the coupe with no opening roof.
Then the full convertible cabriolet.
Last—and what I had—the Targa.
I hadn't planned on an open-top car, but with no other choices, I compromised on the Targa.
The top does open, but only the center section. Sort of a halfway thing.
"Can we go with it open?"
No reason not to, so I nodded and opened the roof.
"Whoa..."
Her reaction made me feel like I'd bought well.
Anyway, I put my foot on the accelerator to head back to the parking lot.
With the roof open, Yeon-a looked even more thrilled than before.
I was pumped too, so I drove faster.
'Everyone's gone.'
The expo lot was deserted now, unlike earlier.
The muscle cars and foreign whips that had lined up were all cleared out.
'Probably all at that café by now.'
I vaguely recalled the schedule as I eyed the empty lot.
Yeon-a's Dark Horse stood there all alone, looking a bit forlorn.
I chuckled at the sight and pulled forward, parking slowly.
"Ah, that was fun."
She grinned happily, unbuckling her seatbelt.
She set the bread bag on the seat and hopped out.
"Had a great time thanks to you, Yeon-bi."
At some point, she'd started calling me casually.
I still hadn't settled on a term for her, so I was fumbling a bit.
Auntie... and she'd swing at me.
Yeon-a was too stiff.
She told me to just call her unnie, but the word wouldn't come out.
Anyway, we'd checked out a new spot and chatted away happily.
'How long since I talked this easy?'
Couldn't say exactly, but it felt like forever.
Fall was already here, after all.
"Hit me up later for sure! Don't ignore my texts!"
She leaned to the window, urging me like a teacher.
I couldn't help chuckling.
"Got it."
"Alright, see you next time."
She smiled back at my laugh and waved.
Then she sauntered off to her Dark Horse.
'Guess I should head home too.'
Revenge complete, new connections made.
Tough spots along the way, but solid outcome.
Thinking that, I rolled up the window and stretched long.
A few satisfying cracks came from my arms and neck.
Used to hate that sound, but young now? Felt refreshing.
"Being young rocks."
Would've been perfect if only the age reversed, gender stayed.
Not that I hated being a woman—just all the extra hassles.
Especially those few days every month...
"Haa..."
Still couldn't forget that first sight of blood in the bathroom.
Of course.
Complaining like this proved my life was comfy and happy now.
Good was good.
'Hurry home and dig into that bread.'
The nutty aroma was already whetting my appetite.
Ate plenty earlier, but hungry again—stomach must be growing.
Gave my belly a poke, thankfully no fat.
'Still, better start exercising early.'
Home gym?
If things stayed quiet downstairs, nothing beat that.
I chuckled to myself and floored it toward home.
On the now-familiar road to the familiar lot, my little kei car caught the eye, sitting cute amid the luxury rides.
'It really is tiny.'
I parked next to my Carrera and got out.
Seeing both cars side by side just felt good.
They were seriously pretty.
Even if the price tags weren't.
'Hm?'
Footsteps behind—I turned to see a familiar couple.
And beside them, one girl and one boy.
'Ninth floor.'
The family from 9.
Kids looked a tad tired but thrilled to be heading out.
The parents, though? Dark circles screamed exhaustion.
The husband spotted me, started to say something, then saw the Carrera and clammed up.
"Hi. Out for fun?"
I greeted them cheerfully.
He blinked, flustered.
"Uh... yeah."
His wife gave a quick bow and vague reply.
Then she herded the kids—"Let's go, let's go"—into their nearby SUV one by one.
'Kinda pitiful. Just a little.'
Ceiling thumps had died down lately; looked like rough times.
'...No need for the gym plan.'
No more poking the bear.
I scrapped one plan from the drive home and hit the elevator.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Choi Min-hoo was completely gone now.
His home, his traces—all erased.
And a new home, new car. Clothes were iffy, but somewhat sorted.
Everything seemed wrapped up, but they say every end is a new beginning.
Choi Min-hoo's life ended.
Choi Yeon-bi's began.
How fitting.
I sat on the sofa with steaming red bean bread and freshly brewed coffee.
Robot vac hummed nearby; outdated variety show droned on the TV ahead.
Phone buzzed lightly amid the cozy vibe.
Who'd text at this hour?
Just one person.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📱 Chat with Yeon-a — Got home safe? (Rabbit doll waving emoji)
Yes. Did auntie get home safe? — — I told you not to call me auntie! — Won't let you off next time? (Rabbit doll punching sandbag emoji)
(Default messenger character glancing around emoji) —
— Anyway, free this weekend? — Pranda's dropping a limited run of 500 bags this time — The design is super pretty Shall we go buy together? — — Yeon-bi, you don't like Pranda? Not like or dislike... just not super familiar. — — If you're not sure, just come — This unnie's got some VIP pull, y'know? — Well, you probably got more cash anyway (Rabbit peeking from behind wall emoji)
Got it. What time should I aim for? — — Yay! (Rabbit jumping in place emoji)
— Time is... "Hmm..."
She was super chatty online too.
Sent a ton of stickers too—enough to overwhelm.
"One p.m. ..."
Weekend afternoon at one.
And just like that, plans were set.
New Era Department Store, huh? The same one from before.
'...After Arcana, it'll be fine, right?'
Yeon-a seemed well-off; she wouldn't be shocked.
She knew my spending habits and age too.
'Shopping together.'
Half worried, half excited.
Gotta think about what to wear.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Keep assisting until I come down."
[Yes, Deputy.]
Deputy Manager Lee Chang-jin hung up and immediately prepped to head down.
Department stores could handle VIPs without direct contact.
Especially with plate registration—they spotted from the lot and called right away.
Today's VIP: Platinum tier, earned by dropping 50 million won yearly.
Name: Yoo Yeon-a.
Thirty-one-year-old woman in a red Dark Horse.
Lee Chang-jin knew her from past visits, so he dressed sharp and headed out.
As he walked the hall to the VIP lounge...
His phone rang.
"...What is it?"
[Deputy, an unregistered sports car just entered the lot.]
VIPs sometimes swapped rides without updating info.
Figured that's what happened, so the call.
Lee Chang-jin frowned briefly, then spoke slowly.
"Got it. Call me as soon as you ID the VIP."
[Understood.]
Call ended.
Something felt off, but high-tier VIPs usually updated quick, so no issue.
Then a frantic text threw him.
— VVIP Choi Yeon-bi just arrived.
"Suddenly...?"
Arcana tier demanded instant response—not this late.
He fired off alerts to staff and bolted for the entrance.
'This is insane.'