Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Good Connections Return
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This is a work of fiction and has no relation whatsoever to any real names, events, organizations, place names, or individuals.
Chapter 7: Good connections return.
Woo Ji-hyun stepped out of Bupyeong Station and strolled along at a leisurely pace.
It had been ages for him, but since not much had changed, finding his way was easy enough.
It was a place he'd frequented a ton back in the day, after all.
"Yep, it's here even now."
He looked up at the shop he wouldn't have visited for another three years otherwise and grinned.
If memory served, the girl working there was just a total newbie who'd barely shaken off her training wheels.
Even so, Woo Ji-hyun made a beeline for I'm Hair.
To rekindle an old connection.
"Cut the bad ties and hold onto the good ones. Obviously."
Muttering like some old geezer, he climbed the narrow staircase without a care.
I'm Hair on the second floor was as cozy as it was tiny, with an entrance to match—so he'd gotten lost plenty the first time around.
Ding-a-ling.
"Welcome in!"
A tiny bell chime rang out, followed by a high-pitched voice that filled the room.
It was the proprietor's signature bright tone.
"Oh, sure."
"First time here?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm. But why do you feel so familiar somehow?"
Even at this point, the proprietress—still in her early thirties—tilted her head in puzzlement.
He'd said it was his first visit today, but something about him just rang a bell.
"I am here for the first time today, though."
"Feels that way, but still weird."
"Got any openings for a cut right now?"
Woo Ji-hyun glanced around the small space with its three stations and spoke up.
He'd timed it for a slow hour—maybe the weekday lull helped—leaving just one customer inside.
That lone patron was mid-dye, so the single stylist on duty awkwardly rose from the waiting area at Woo Ji-hyun's arrival.
"Yes! Of course. Have a seat."
"Could I ask her to do it?"
"Pardon?"
He settled naturally into the chair the proprietress had gestured to and pointed at the stylist, who was still hovering awkwardly.
Her expression turned a bit odd.
Most folks asked for her personally, so pointing at the stylist sparked some curious thoughts.
"You look like you'd be busy."
"Well, that's true, but..."
The proprietress wore a complicated look.
Being in Bupyeong meant a lot of walk-ins, so she rarely cut hair herself unless the customer insisted.
This one was a little different, though.
'She screams rookie no matter how you slice it.'
Yoo A-young glanced sidelong at Cha Seol-ji—less a stylist, more like a kid sister—and muttered inwardly.
And Seol-ji wasn't even dolled up pretty, which only added to her bewilderment.
"If not, no big deal."
"No, it's fine. She can do it. Seol-ji."
"Yeah, sis."
Cha Seol-ji, who'd been frozen in that awkward limbo between sitting and stepping up, brightened a touch as she approached Woo Ji-hyun.
She was at that prime stage where every client counted toward building experience.
So when he specifically asked for her, she grabbed the spray bottle with a smile.
"Please take good care of me."
"How would you like it cut?"
"Two-block, please. Keep as much fringe as possible."
"Got it. You've really let your hair grow out, huh?"
Cha Seol-ji nodded emphatically.
It was a total shag from a rough eyeball.
The kind of unkempt growth that screamed neglect.
"Got out in May and haven't touched it since."
"You could do a perm with this length."
"Tried volume magic, straight magic, wave perm—none of 'em worked."
"You've tried a lot."
She looked mildly surprised.
You shouldn't judge by looks, but her instincts from the job told her Woo Ji-hyun wasn't the type to fuss over styles.
Yet from the sound of it, he'd experimented plenty.
"I always liked clean looks best. Sharp features and all. Oh, dyeing's on the fence."
"Wanna try it today?"
Her eyes sparkled.
Dyeing beat cutting for sales—and for her experience points.
Not that she'd push, of course.
If he said yes, though, she'd give it her all.
'She was so cute back then.'
At twenty-one—just two years his junior—Cha Seol-ji was an open book, pure kid sister vibes.
Which basically meant he didn't see her as a woman.
Not that he knew about her boyfriend or anything.
"Think you can?"
"Of course."
"Then something like a dark burgundy. Dark tones suit me best."
"Hmm."
Cha Seol-ji examined his locks carefully.
Same dye could vary subtly by thickness or base color.
"Yours is thick and dense, so you'll need a strong mix."
"Figured. Sounds like you've done a lot of dyeing too."
"Back in the day."
His twenties were a whirlwind of trials.
Not total disasters, but he'd sampled a solid range.
Few suited him, though.
So he stuck with his safest bet.
'The girls said this one was tops.'
Women's eyes were sharper on hair than guys'.
Unless you were stubborn, their recs were the way to go.
'Better than soft mohawk, at least.'
Clean was good, but too clean could backfire.
Matching your face was key.
"Big hair enthusiast?"
"Tried everything once. Had to, with my looks."
"Nah, you're not bad."
"I know lip service when I hear it, but thanks."
She covered her mouth, giggling.
She'd pegged him as quirky from the jump, and yep.
But it didn't feel off-putting.
Weirdly comfy, even—so she wondered why.
"Starting with the sides."
"Sure."
Her youth showed in the clumsy moves, but Woo Ji-hyun stayed chill.
Mistakes built skills.
And in the end, she'd be the one who nailed his hair best.
'She kept the good vibes going even after marrying at thirty.'
Bzzzz!
The familiar clipper hum kicked in, revealing Cha Seol-ji's obvious tension.
It struck him as oddly hilarious.
"Hmm!"
"Relax. Mistakes are fine."
"...That obvious?"
"A bit?"
Her face fell.
She'd aimed for poker face, but flopped.
"Not good enough..."
"No one's great from the start."
"You some kinda angel?"
"Nope."
"Then maybe..."
She shot an anxious glance at his reflection.
Tense eyes, weirdly so.
"Not into you or anything. And don't you have a boyfriend?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"It shows."
"Kinda stings my pride, weirdly."
Her eyes twitched.
Relieved he wasn't hitting on her, but still miffed.
She wasn't done up, sure—in comfy sweats—but she was a girl.
And she liked being popular, ideally.
"Better than some creep pawing at you, right?"
"Fair, but it still rubs me wrong the more I hear it."
"Take the good and roll with the dye."
"Hmmph."
Grumbling faintly, she buzzed the sides clean and headed to prep the color.
Stealing glances at him the whole way.
"Please take good care of me, Designer Cha Seol-ji."
"Makes me wanna go all sassy."
She'd warmed up quick—now sporting real emotion, lips pursed in a pout.
Felt like he kept ribbing her on purpose.
"No can do."
"If I may, how old are you?"
"Old enough to out-age you, even with my bad eyes. One or two years?"
"Twenty-three?"
Cha Seol-ji gaped, genuinely shocked.
Anyone would peg him late twenties.
"Spot on."
"No way. Ah! Sorry!"
"It's cool. Happens all the time. Just nail the dye and cut."
Caught off-guard by her slip, she bowed in apology.
Woo Ji-hyun brushed it off.
Nothing new.
"Yes! I'll do my best!"
Her voice brimmed with fresh enthusiasm as she replied vigorously.
He smiled softly, nodding.
First step landed solid.
* * *
Checking Asura Sword Emperor's views on Munpia, Woo Ji-hyun nodded.
No Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero explosion, but steady climbs.
And now Golden Best Main Top 10.
Satisfied grin.
"Not bad. Actually, pretty great."
Views weren't all—comments glowed, numbers high.
Everything clicked.
Keep this up, promote hard, then paperback.
He eyed twelve volumes for this one too.
"Hello?"
Post-Munpia scan, mid-Volume 5, he picked up.
Yoo Mi-rae's familiar voice piped through the speaker.
-Hi, Writer! Yoo Mi-rae from Barun Publishing!
"Your voice sounds chipper today. Hell Monday morning, though."
-Hell Monday?
"Oh, 'Hell Day'—commute's a nightmare, they say."
The fresh term threw her briefly, but the explanation clicked.
Stuck in ear and mouth like glue.
Woo Ji-hyun, though, panicked inwardly.
Hell Day was unborn slang yet.
'Could start it myself?'
He'd always sucked at naming, writing flair.
No snappy zing.
Same as a kid.
But now? He could drop trends first.
'Not bad.'
Tough in rigid martial arts, but modern? Personality ruled.
He'd milked wuxia dry—next, modern.
Signs were budding; he prepped modern fantasy on the down-low.
Unspoken.
-Wow, perfect fit. Hell Day, Hell Day.
"Haha, office drone woes in a word."
-Oh, my bad. Should've checked if you could talk.
"All good. Cover art done?"