Lucky Hands and Tangled Plots

Yoo So-jeong stepped into the living room early that morning, her mind still a jumble from the night before, only to spot the two of them asleep on the sofa, bodies entwined. Seo Joo-hwan jolted awake at the sound of her footsteps. Seeing him, she made a face like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she'd seen a ghost.

"Oppa, you're insane. After all that yesterday, you still went at it again before dawn? I'm honestly impressed."

"Haha."

Seo Joo-hwan let out an awkward laugh, while Yoo So-jeong shook her head in disbelief. He quickly woke Kim Mi-jeong and tidied up. It wouldn't be a big deal if anyone else caught them, but in broad daylight, the scene was pretty damn embarrassing.

One by one, the group roused themselves, grabbed a simple breakfast, and piled into the car heading home. Naturally, Lee Seok-chan was behind the wheel.

"Ah, why am I always driving?!"

"Because you're the only one with a license."

"Get your damn license, you bastard!"

Seo Joo-hwan shrugged annoyingly and leaned back in his seat. He was planning to get his license over the summer break anyway. But right now, he had something else to check.

Let's see. The haul from this time...

He'd racked up a ton of LP, plus three new talents. Not the ones he'd hoped for, though.

Foot Dexterity, Gaming, Handcraft.

From Yoo So-jeong, Im Su-jeong, and Kim Mi-jeong, respectively. The 'Magic' or 'Imagination' he'd secretly wished for had flown out the window. Especially with 'Gaming'—the name and rank overlapped, so he only netted two unique talents in the end.

Still, Seo Joo-hwan wasn't too disappointed.

Handcraft should have plenty of uses.

It wasn't the 'Imagination' he'd wanted, but Handcraft was high-rank and versatile. Used right, its potential was endless.

He immediately maxed out the new talents' ranks. With all the fresh LP, no reason to hold back.

Mindless point dump!

All bumped to B+ rank. Then he unlocked the Special Abilities right away.

Seo Joo-hwan's face twisted at the Special Abilities' descriptions.

Monkey Foot? Total dud.

No practical use came to mind. Useless compared to his other skills.

But seeing Lucky Hand next lit his face right up.

Does this apply to writing?

His mind jumped straight to novels. After a moment's thought, though—nope, writing and handcraft didn't connect.

Whatever, it'll work somewhere. Plenty of things you do with your hands.

Its broad utility made Handcraft and Lucky Hand worth looking forward to.

*

It had been over five days since the trip to the pension with Lee Seok-chan and the Jeong sisters trio. Back in his routine, Seo Joo-hwan obsessed over one thing—or rather, he wanted to obsess, so his mind wouldn't stop churning. Lectures? Daydreaming. Meals? Lost in thought.

Today was no different. Ignoring the lecture, he scribbled in his notebook. After a while, he tapped the desk with his index finger and sighed softly.

"Hoo."

Jang Deok-hoon glanced at the notebook from beside him, pondered, then whispered,

"Hyungnim, brainstorming your next work?"

"Yeah. Can't nail it down."

"Yeah, it's kinda all over the place. Not fantasy or martial arts, right?"

"Modern setting, ideally."

"Hunter story?"

"Nah. No superpowers or martial arts."

"Pro job fic?"

"Maybe later, after solid research. For now, modern background... like an ensemble drama."

"Ensemble drama... Tough."

"Tell me about it. It'll work out once I start, but... Oh, prof's looking."

The prof's glare cut them off. Seo Joo-hwan pretended to listen, then shook his head. Weeks of agonizing since finals had tangled his thoughts like a knot.

If anything, it's a daily-life story borrowing some ensemble structure.

Too many characters he wanted to explore. Focus on their thoughts and lives over plot or events—that's why ensemble came to mind.

An ensemble drama narrates one event from multiple viewpoints. With many characters and shifting perspectives, each interprets events differently based on personality. Perfect for varied moods and deep psych dives.

But I don't want a pure ensemble.

Ensembles lack a clear protagonist—or rather, anyone can be one depending on the reader's lens. Seo Joo-hwan's story needed a defined lead in webnovel form.

It was daily life with borrowed ensemble elements.

Still, problems galore.

His approach wasn't mainstream webnovel fare. Male-oriented 'charisma power' or romance 'feels' might fly, but his vague vision differed. Ensembles had no strict rules, and faking events made it tricky. One slip, and it got messy—characters lost appeal. A fun protag POV could tank on a poorly built side character.

"Don't forget next week's assignment~."

"Yessir!"

No breakthrough by lecture's end. Three weeks in, no miracle solution. But one strong urge hit.

He eyed his nearby crew.

"Guys, drinks at my place tonight?"

"Drinks? Hell yeah."

Lee Seok-chan jumped in. Jeong Ha-yeon and Yoo Ji-kyeong exchanged looks, then nodded.

"Sure, weekend tomorrow—been ages."

"No shift tonight, oppa."

"Deok-hoon?"

"Of course, hyungnim."

"Cool. Grill some meat."

Seo Joo-hwan grinned. Friends to drown the worries—grateful for that.

*

Gathering at his place, they grilled pork belly and knocked back drinks. Five of them demolished eight servings. Seo Joo-hwan and Jang Deok-hoon each scarfed two; Yoo Ji-kyeong, post-diet quit, did 1.5. Jeong Ha-yeon ate plenty too—still felt short.

Seo Joo-hwan scanned them.

"Noodles for dessert?"

Lee Seok-chan shook his head; others drooled at the word.

"Pass."

"Just a bit."

"Anything from hyungnim's great."

"Me too! Lotsa spicy noodles!"

Yoo Ji-kyeong waved wildly. Her diet-break binges had upped her intake big time. Seo Joo-hwan poked her belly—puffed from meat, adorable. She glared.

"Don't touch! Pervert!"

"Raccoon's got that chubby tummy."

"It's from dinner! Tease more, I'll bite."

"Keep gaining and you'll yo-yo... Ack! Hey!"

He flailed in panic—she'd actually chomped his hand. Barely freed, she bared teeth and growled.

"Raaawr... grrr."

"Eww. You're the beast here?"

"Kyaa!"

"Okay, okay! Noodles coming!"

He bolted to the kitchen.

"Ow, hurts."

Clear bite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠marks on two fingers. She knew he was stressing and poked anyway—unfair, but no whining.

Damn raccoon. Fatten her up and eat her.

Drag to gym, work her to death. Told her to exercise properly—stubborn...

Tsk tsk. He prepped ingredients: carrots, squash, onions—chopped thin.

Tap tap tap—knife flew, veggies sliced even. Handcraft made cooking easier. Grouped neatly.

Then gochujang, soy, sugar, oligo syrup, minced garlic—mixed into sauce. Ratios key.

"Oh."

Low-chance proc. He dipped a finger.

"Kugh."

Perfect harmony—spicy, salty, sweet balanced. Vinegar's tang made his mouth water.

"Boil somyeon, and whelks for fun."

Cracked open canned whelks, rinsed, sliced—tucked between veggies for texture.

Bowl: noodles first, then tidy veggies and whelks. Plating mattered more post-Handcraft. They'd mix it anyway, but pretty food tasted better.

"Noodles up!"

Four bowls down—even no-noodles Lee Seok-chan gawked, along with Jeong Ha-yeon's crew.

"Whoa, noodles this pretty?"

"Oppa, open a shop? Side gig with writing?"

"Parents in food biz, right, hyungnim?"

"Heh, good reactions. Try it—tastes even better."

They dug in at his gesture. Jeong Ha-yeon and Yoo Ji-kyeong cooed over plating but ate anyway. Soon slurping with Jang Deok-hoon.

"Slurrrp~!"

He inhaled silently. "Whew, spicy. But damn good. Sweet and sour lingers over heat. Recipe later?"

Jeong Ha-yeon analyzed. Yoo Ji-kyeong stuffed cheeks full.

"Munch munch. So spicyyy. More? Nom."

"Raccoon, chew first."

"Gulp. More?"

"Turning pig, not raccoon?"

"...Gained much?"

"Fattening you for stew."

"Jerk. No more."

"Pff. Still fine—eat up. I'll slim you later."

"Slim me...?"

Blushing at god-knows-what, she sneaked a shy smile, mouthing 'Master pervert'.

Meant gym hell...

He chuckled, stood. Lee Seok-chan grabbed him.

"Me too."

"Said pass."

"Gimme! Hungry!"

"Full as hell."

"Whatever! Starving!"

"Ugh, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bottomless pit."

One more bowl—he'd prepped extra.

*

All stuffed, sprawled on the floor. Overfullness bred laziness.

"Ughhh. So full. Bored. Day off tomorrow—what now?"

Lee Seok-chan rolled, yelling. Seo Joo-hwan drained his glass, nudged with foot.

"Dustball. Stop rolling."

"Nah, I'm your duster."

He sat proper anyway—smart, or it'd be spoon whack. Lee Seok-chan clapped, idea struck.

"Cherry blossoms tomorrow?!"

"Crazy. All gone."

"Eh?!"

"May, dude. Where?"

"Japan!"

"Overnight Japan? Idiot."

"They exist!"

No arguing with nonsense. Seo Joo-hwan smacked his head, downed last drink.

"Ahh. Tipsy."

Floor-bound Lee Seok-chan latched on.

"So crash here?"

"Your place close."

"Too lazy."

"Hyungnim, me too? Can't move."

No way. Middle finger up.

"Scram. What's with you punks?"

"Heartless bastard."

Affectionate curses flew. Yoo Ji-kyeong piped up.

"Me lazy too. Wanna stay. Unnie okay?"

"Huh? Lazy yeah, but..."

"Cool. Ha-yeon and Ji-kyeong stay. Rest out."

Jeong Ha-yeon flipped him off, sour-faced.

"Fuck off."

"Yes, noona. Shave now?"

"...Joo-hwan, turning Seok-chan? Do it. See what happens. Scissors right..."

Her gaze hit scissors. Snip threat? He shut up.

Feisty as ever.

Jeong Ha-yeon only meek in bed—and not even that freely anymore. Last time: finals. No action since.

Not awkward, just... harder now.

Not with her presence. Post-talk, they'd eased into balance—no dominance. She changed: resisted easy seduction.

Once set mood; she flustered, then kissed first. Blushing: 'I'll do it when I want. You did yours.'

Staring recall, she turned—pouty smile, tongue out.

He fake-laughed, reached for glass—empty. Phone buzzed instead.

Nearest Lee Seok-chan tossed it.

"So-ra noona? Hot?"

"So-ra noona?"

Seo Joo-hwan snatched. Screen: Jeong So-ra. Video call. Tap—short-haired beauty in uniform appeared.

- Joo-hwan, long time.

Jeong So-ra waved, grinned playfully.

- Well? Salute already?