If It's This Kind of Common Sense Change, Welcome!
I reread the system notification text.
Tutorial, huh.
It had said 168 hours at first.
But since it was a tutorial, they'd shortened it to a more modest 48 hours.
So, I just have to guess the altered common sense, right?
A chuckle escaped me.
What even was common sense?
The kind of knowledge or behavior everyone took for granted, thought was obvious.
There had to be hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of them.
How the hell am I supposed to pinpoint the one that's changed?
My head throbbed.
My temples ached.
I found myself rubbing my forehead without thinking.
Thud.
A cola appeared on my desk.
"Whatever it is, drink this and think it over."
Sohyun placed the drink down coolly and headed back to her spot.
"Thanks."
She nodded.
I took a sip of the cola and mulled it over.
The more seriously I thought, the more tangled my mind got.
Common sense save slot? What even is that.
The reward was vague too.
Some random common sense that might or might not help me.
But worst of all, the penalty.
King acne. That's basically telling me to drop dead.
How was I supposed to go to school with acne all over my face?
Especially at my age, when everyone was super sensitive about looks.
After getting out of the military, I'd started taking care of my appearance.
To ditch that "solo since birth" title, I'd been putting in real effort.
Showering every day, applying skincare and lotion, even grooming my eyebrows.
I'd even studied how to trim my hair using YouTube.
If king acne hits... ugh.
Just imagining it was horrifying.
For that reason alone, I had to get it right.
But how?
Right answer declaration: once per day.
One shot every 24 hours meant only two chances for this tutorial.
I don't even know if the changed common sense is knowledge or behavior.
Was there no hint at least?
I glanced at Sohyun.
She was idly watching YouTube since things were slow.
No clue what's changed.
Right now, nothing was clicking yet.
I focused on work.
The boss was hunkered down in his corner, gaming away.
Lucky bastard.
Making money while playing games.
He was only three years older than me.
No.
Shake off that loser's mindset.
I could be even more successful.
I'd done my military service—what couldn't I handle?
Sure, it was weird, but some fresh change had started too.
One customer finished up and left.
He glanced at Sohyun on his way out.
As expected.
Sohyun drew eyes wherever she went.
Most just looked and left.
But some asked for her number.
"Sorry. I have a boyfriend."
Whenever that happened, Sohyun handled it confidently like this.
Yeah. No way she doesn't have one.
With that face and figure.
The handsome guys wouldn't just let her slip by.
But I've never seen a boyfriend come by.
Does she really have one?
She didn't seem to text or DM much either.
Maybe it's just an excuse?
I had seen her college friends or seniors drop by and chat occasionally.
"Um..."
A tall, decent-looking guy stood in front of Sohyun.
"Yes? What can I do for you?"
"Could I get your Instagram?"
"Sorry. I have a boyfriend."
"Ah... okay."
The guy slunk away dejectedly this time too.
I could see his friends snickering nearby.
He looked pretty good too.
Who knows where he got the courage.
My mouth opened on its own.
"You really have a boyfriend?"
I clamped my hand over my mouth after saying it.
Sohyun's expression didn't change.
"Why do you ask?"
"Uh, no reason."
Her glare made me shrink.
"I don't."
"...Huh?"
"No interest in dating. I just say I do 'cause it's annoying."
"Oh... I see."
The moment I heard that, my head cleared.
My chest opened up, fresh and invigorated.
I fought back the grin trying to spread across my face.
She's single. Single!
The important part was that she'd told me.
I'm the only one who knows.
That made it even better.
I turned away and clenched my fist tight.
Maybe... I actually have a shot?
This was my problem.
I always let my imagination run wild.
Sohyun had zero reason to be interested in me.
"What about you, oppa?"
"...Huh?"
"Got a girlfriend?"
"...No. Obviously not."
"What's with the 'obviously'?"
"..."
Her blank expression made it hard to read her intent.
Still, the fact she'd asked—even a little—mattered.
"You're tall, oppa. Put in some effort, and you could get one."
"Ah... thanks."
I got a compliment too.
My brain wrinkles smoothed out.
Rainbows exploded in my head.
"Kinda cute too."
"...!"
What was that?
It was Sohyun mumbling to herself. I heard it.
She smiled.
I saw the corner of her mouth twitch up, then down.
Not seeing things.
She really smiled.
She called me cute.
As a guy, "cute" wasn't my favorite word.
Who cares!
The point was she saw me in a good light.
No. No.
I shook my head hard.
Just casual talk.
Don't get ahead of myself.
Sohyun's just nice like that.
That's when it happened.
"Hey! Lee Jaehan!"
The boss's bellow.
"Yes!"
I hurried over.
"You little shit! How long ago did that customer leave, and you're still sitting on your ass!"
"..."
Another scolding session.
I'd been distracted by Sohyun and moved a bit slow.
"I told you to clean up right away when customers leave! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Sorry."
Best to turn and get moving.
"Hold up. You ignoring me or what?"
He glanced back at Sohyun.
Showing off in front of her on purpose.
"What'd they teach you in the army? Were you an instructor? Why can't you follow simple orders?!"
"Sorry. I'll clean it now."
The boss stood from his chair and prodded my shoulder with his finger.
Didn't care that customers were watching.
"I'm begging you here. Come on. Your boss is asking nicely."
"...Yes."
"If you get it..."
"...?"
Now get lost.
That was the script.
But the boss's reaction was off.
What's up with him?
He tilted his head slightly, offering his cheek my way.
Lips pressed tight, eyes squeezed shut.
"..."
What the hell?
The boss glared again.
"What? Not doing it?"
"Huh? Doing what?"
"Forget it if you won't. Scram."
"..."
What was that dissonance?
I'd felt a massive sense of wrongness just now.
***
"Sorry. I should've cleaned it myself."
"Nah, it's my section."
The PC bang was big, so we had divided zones.
With all the rowdy guys around, Sohyun mostly handled the underage area.
She helped wherever when it got busy.
I finished cleaning and glanced at the boss again on my way back.
Still glued to his game.
Cursing up a storm like some thug.
What was that?
His action after chewing me out bugged me.
Like he was asking for a slap.
Ridiculous thought.
What boss tells an employee to slap him?
But it wasn't my imagination.
He'd tilted his face, presenting his cheek.
"Oppa, why'd you just let it slide?"
"Huh? What?"
"The boss earlier."
"...!"
Did Sohyun know something?
"Was I supposed to do something?"
"Obviously."
"...Like what?"
"..."
Sohyun stared, then looked away.
"You really don't know?"
"Nope."
"..."
What? What is it?
Even her tone felt off.
Flash—
No way... common sense alteration?
In two weeks working here, the boss had never acted like that.
No way he'd suddenly change.
Then there's only one explanation.
A common sense change applied only to me!
That made sense.
Why won't Sohyun tell me?
System restriction maybe?
Can't reveal the answer or something?
Still... that's a solid hint.
My heart pounded.
If my guess was right...
Let's test it.
Tutorial meant the answer was easy.
I quietly waited for the next customers to check out.
This time, four finished and left.
Glancing at Sohyun, as usual.
"I'll help."
"Wait, Sohyun."
"You'll get yelled at again."
"It's fine."
I waited a sec, and sure enough, the boss called.
"Hey! Lee Jaehan!"
I walked over deliberately slow.
"You worthless punk! You think my words are a joke?!"
"No, sir."
"Then how come you forgot what I said just 30 minutes ago? You blind or what?!"
The seats where the four had been.
Far from his spot too.
He'd lost his game and was taking it out on me.
"Your eyes fucked up?! Huh?! What's your problem? Rebelling? Trying to piss me off on purpose?!"
"No, sir."
"Then what?! You little shit!"
He ranted and raved for a while.
"Ha. Fuck. Your parents know you're this dense?"
My eyes widened.
That crossed the line.
Dragging my parents into it?
"You little shit. Get your head straight. I give a job to someone unemployable like you..."
I held back for now.
"Got it? Do better. Fuck."
"Yes."
Short reply, then wait.
And there it was.
Smooth—
Like before, the boss half-turned, offering his cheek.
"..."
I was right.
No way he'd pull this twice if sane.
Not like he was egging me on to hit him.
I clenched and unclenched my fist.
He saw and clamped his mouth shut.
For the final test.
I raised my hand slowly toward his cheek.
This time, he squeezed his eyes shut too.
Confirmed!
It's a "slap my cheek" gesture.
No reason not to now.
Common sense changed just for me.
After a scolding, slapping the boss's cheek is normal.
I had no idea why this absurd change happened.
But right then, I felt massive goodwill toward that system.
If it's this kind of common sense change, welcome!
He'd dragged my parents into it earlier?
Couldn't let that slide.
Time to pay.
"Boss. Clench your jaw."
"Ah, got it."
Even his response was perfect.
No more hesitation.
No refunds on loose teeth.
My hands were big.
At 187cm, I was built solid.
Even got props for strength in the army.
A full swing would really knock teeth out.
Whatever.
It's common sense to slap.
"Here goes."
"Uh..."
Palm wide open.
I swung my arm huge.
Smack—
The PC bang fell silent for a moment.
The heavy impact echoed vividly.
The rebound vibrated through my palm.
The solid feel of his cheekbone hit home.
The boss's head snapped sideways.
A beat later,
"Aaaack?!"
His body staggered, chair sliding back as he toppled.
Thud.
A few customers looked up.
The boss lay on the floor clutching his cheek, curling up.
"Ow, it hurts! Fuck!"
But weirdly,
No one looked at me strange.
One customer even muttered,
"Ah... gotta take the slap after a scolding."
Sohyun nodded quietly.
With the tiniest smile.
Seeing that, deep relief and refreshment surged through my bones.