Chapter 64
Chapter 64
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: New Hobby
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Why'd you drink so much yesterday when you can't hold your liquor at all?"
"...No clue."
I somehow made it onto the plane, but my stomach was in rough shape.
Still, the hangover remedy she gave me earlier seemed to be doing the trick.
'It never used to hit me this hard.'
No matter how I sliced it, yesterday's drinks were cute compared to the company dinners.
500cc of beer and half a bottle of daiginjo.
Was it the sake's proof? I looked it up, but it was lower than soju.
Which meant my tolerance had definitely tanked.
Looks like your liver and drinking capacity aren't as linked as you'd think.
"Haa..."
"You suffering a lot?"
It wasn't suffering so much as regretting this body that couldn't even handle booze properly.
You might think what's so great about drinking well, but now that I could guzzle pricey liquor freely, a body that couldn't keep up...
'That's one joy gone.'
No. Think positive.
At least I wouldn't turn into an alcoholic.
"Nah, I'm good. That hangover remedy your sister gave me is legit effective... feeling way better."
"Told you. Hits like a truck."
I gave a small smile at her words and sank back into the plane seat.
Sleep it off and I'd be fine by wakeup.
'Ramen from the convenience store first thing when we land.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The short Japan trip was over.
I got home, collapsed straight onto the bed, and woke up at dawn the next day.
I considered skipping the afternoon yoga, but steady exercise was key.
'Still movable.'
Weak strength, but surprisingly solid stamina.
Muscle soreness, sure, but nothing too wild and it'd be fine.
'Customs notice.'
A text pinged in suddenly.
With overseas shopping so common these days, they even send notices like this.
Packages I'd shipped had arrived crazy fast.
Pay customs and you'd get 'em next day, so tomorrow I'd have everything.
'Wonder how much.'
I knew customs fees were steep.
Saw people complaining all the time.
A bit worried, I checked the amount due.
"What??"
The exclamation slipped out.
Customs.
The fee slapped on items over $150 brought in from abroad.
Even duty-free buys required it when shipping to Korea.
And I'd dropped at least a million yen at the department store, so the customs hit...
'Enough for another Japan trip.'
That kind of sum.
Suddenly I was ultra-patriotic.
If customs was this bad, taxes later would be insane.
'Next May's gonna suck.'
Good thing I had a tax accountant lined up.
From a finance firm, so they'd handle it solid.
Ask about tax hacks later.
'Rich or not, spending hurts.'
Not like it was honestly earned money, so I shouldn't be too stingy...
But shelling out an unexpected chunk still scrambled my brain.
So I vented at the thing sitting in front of me.
"Anyway, this... taking forever, huh?"
Taking the brunt was a massive water jug on the table, stuffed with drip-bag coffee.
Stuff the bags in, steep—that was it.
But one massive issue grinding my gears.
"Rather wait eight hours? Screw it, capsule coffee it is."
The drip bags needed a whopping eight hours steeping.
For next-day coffee, but trading convenience for extreme time sink felt off.
I muttered to myself, watched the water slowly darken, then let out a short sigh.
Whatever, taste it tomorrow—organize the rest now.
Dumped all luggage on the floor last night and crashed, so living room was trashed.
Shipped department store hauls, carried the rest myself.
'Bought a ton.'
Fruits of dragging my hungover carcass after Na Da-yeon for last-day shopping.
Hit a discount store with Japan-only oddities, loaded up.
Hadn't planned to buy, but leaving her solo felt awkward, so grabbed her picks.
First up: coin pas.
Pulled from bag, eyed it with clearer head than yesterday.
'Why'd I buy this?'
Box in hand, Yeon-ah popped to mind.
'One for sis.'
Not just pas—souvenirs too, bundle 'em up, she'll love it.
'And this... tiger mask pack?'
Some sheet mask with a tiger on it.
Gift? Nah, I'll use it.
'Why's this even in here?'
I bought it, but half-zonked, memory fuzzy.
Banana snacks, chocolate, cup ramen—food galore.
Other bag: several bottles of fancy-looking booze.
'Cheap, so snagged 'em.'
Japan liquor way cheaper than Korea.
Reasons abound, don't care—bargain grabbed.
Duty-free limit per person.
Humans wanna snatch when limits taunt.
'Bought 'em, but... can't drink.'
Fine for gifting though.
'Pretty boxes, perfect.'
Sorted gifts vs. personal stuff briskly, burned the whole morning.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Studio dead quiet after wrapping winter and spring shoots.
Yeon-ah was dozing leisurely in the so-called "president's office"—just a plain lounge.
—Knock knock knock.
The knock shattered her nap.
Yeon-ah wiped the drool teetering at her lips and snapped alert.
"Come in."
"President, Yeon-bi's here."
"Oh... right, today."
Checked phone—yep, promised day.
"Out in a sec. Have her wait in the conference room."
"Got it."
Today's visit from Choi Yeon-bi: simple souvenir drop from Japan.
Busy lately, no see—why pass up the chat chance?
Bouncing with excitement, she stood, mirror-checked, light fix-up.
Hurried to conference room.
"Yeon-bi!"
Bursted door, hunting her.
Her boom startled Choi Yeon-bi, who stared wide-eyed.
"How are you prettier every single time?"
Long time no see, even more stunning.
Style, looks—leveling up.
Twinge of envy, but Yeon-ah got happier around hotties than jealous, so closed in bold.
"Sis, got gifts."
"Such a sweetheart. Japan and first thought me. Whatcha get?"
Grabbed the proffered gift.
Flung open fancy paper box, pulled items one by one.
Meantime, models trickled in slow.
"Yeon-bi unnie~"
"Japan trip good?"
Kim Eun-ah and Lee Chan-soo, fresh off final shoot.
Long-time-no-see vibes, waved eager, plopped by Yeon-ah.
"Yeah, been a while for you two."
"Whoa! My ultimate banana snacks!!"
"These are legit tasty."
They ripped into banana snacks, sharing bites.
"Here, you too, Yeon-bi."
"Ate tons there. I'm good."
Nodded at her pass, demolished bananas.
Neighboring Chan-soo snagged some from Yeon-ah, chomped away.
"And... booze... chocolate... ramen... pas?"
Spotted coin pas, Chan-soo snickered soft to Yeon-ah.
"President essential... Ack!!"
She pinched his side under table, hidden from Yeon-bi.
Eun-ah cracked up seeing it, Yeon-bi grinned watching.
"Thanks, Yeon-bi. Must've been heavy lugging all this."
"Nah, not bad."
Grateful smile at her reply, Yeon-ah eyed box contents again.
Basic gifts, yeah—but her thinking of me? Gold.
'Plenty come back empty-handed.'
Flash to Han Ji-hoo from old Mustang club chats.
Bragged Europe nonstop, zero souvenirs.
Good riddance to that jerk.
Stared hard at Yeon-bi ahead.
Wealthy af but no flex, others first.
Foolish streak, yet old-soul vibes.
Occasional dead-serious mode.
'She's a mystery.'
Yeon-ah found Choi Yeon-bi utterly fascinating.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lately, I had a new thing I wanted to try.
"Oh, definitely blacker than yesterday."
Drip-bag coffee observation.
Not some weird habit—photography.
Post-Japan, craving a camera.
Eyes catch instants, photos eternal, right?
Sure, phone cams are beasts now, no need for DSLRs, folks say.
But search yourself—camera vs. phone quality? Night and day.
Downside: pro-level shots demand wallet-melting prices.
But hey, Choi Yeon-bi here.
Money the flaw? I cancel it out.
'Plus, just one camera...'
Not collecting types, so maybe under budget.
Hurdle: zero camera info spots.
Internet to rescue.
Ask the photo pros online.
📷 Camera Rec Thread (Rough photo of the camera I picked online) Thinking of buying this—what's the verdict? Friend says best bang-for-buck in this range. Just snag this + one tripod, we're golden? 💬 Comments — Anonymous What kinda garbage rec is this? — Anonymous That's not a friend. Cut ties NOW. — Anonymous Grab a cheaper body and stock lenses by type, you madlad. ⭐ Top Comment — Anonymous You're rich? Buy it then. — Anonymous Nah, even rich folks would pass. — Anonymous Aigoo, what fresh scam is this? — Anonymous Camera... one? And tripod... one?? — Anonymous (camera rankings link), (beginner camera reviews link), (what to consider when buying link) Read these first. PC building worked this way too—toss weird spec, folks explain nice.
Worked for cameras same.
'Ooh, this looks solid.'
Thanks to the pros, I nailed a camera and a few lenses I liked.
```