Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: People Don't Change Easily
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This is a work of fiction and has no relation to any real names, events, organizations, place names, or individuals.
Chapter 29: People Don't Change Easily.
Woo Ji-hyun entered Lime Hair, where he had made a reservation in advance.
Cha Seol-ji, who had been working at Aim Hair, had transferred here recently, so he had naturally switched salons as well.
However, since it was still in the Bupyeong Station area, it wasn't inconvenient to visit.
"Hmm?"
But today, the atmosphere inside the shop felt a bit off.
He could sense gazes that were subtly different from three weeks ago.
"Oppa, you're here?"
"Yeah, lots of customers today, huh?"
"Still, you made a reservation in advance. Sit here. I'll finish up what I'm doing and take care of you. Perm today, right?"
"Yeah, wave perm. My hair's gotten pretty long."
In his previous life, he hadn't had the luxury to change his hairstyle whenever he wanted.
With income just enough to scrape by, dyeing or perming had been a big splurge.
But not anymore.
'Money really is nice. You can't buy happiness with it, but it sure changes your quality of life.'
Woo Ji-hyun wasn't a complete gold-worshipper.
But he didn't despise money either.
He knew the importance of happiness, yet he didn't turn a blind eye to money's conveniences.
That's why he was so satisfied with his current life.
"Hmm?"
As he sat in the chair waiting, reading a novel on his smartphone, he heard whispers here and there.
The problem was that it felt like the gazes were directed at him.
Swish.
Feeling the blatant stares, Woo Ji-hyun lifted his head and glanced around.
But as soon as he turned his head, people averted their eyes.
They all turned away as if avoiding eye contact.
'What the heck?'
He tilted his head at the strange behavior.
He couldn't figure out why.
So, Woo Ji-hyun checked the mirror in front of him, scanning his upper body thoroughly to see if something was stuck to his face or clothes.
"What's wrong?"
"Feels like they're whispering and looking at me. Just checking if something's on my clothes or face."
"Nothing's there. And that's not the reason. They all recognized you."
"Me?"
Woo Ji-hyun's eyes widened for a moment.
He couldn't process what she meant right away.
"Oppa, you were in that teaser video. It hit the real-time search on the internet. That's why. Even our staff were shocked. Seeing someone we know on the internet. And you filmed the ad with Lee Woo-hyung, no less."
"Oh."
"But how do you know him? Were you friends from before?"
Cha Seol-ji asked as she mixed the perm solution in a small bowl with a brush.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and interest.
She was practically clueless about soccer, but with all the media buzz about Lee Woo-hyung, she naturally knew the basics.
"No, first time meeting this time. Well, not at the ad shoot."
"Oh, the first meeting was when you took that photo for SNS?"
"Yeah, he suddenly messaged me to meet up. Said he's my fan."
"I saw that article. Maestro on the Field..."
Cha Seol-ji faltered for a second.
The title was long, and since it used words she didn't normally encounter, it slipped her mind momentarily.
"Maestro on the Field."
"Oh, right. Hehe. Said he became a fan after reading that. But it's so amazing. Stuff like that actually happens."
"These days, lots of people read novels on mobile."
Woo Ji-hyun replied nonchalantly.
Things in the world didn't always go as expected.
And hadn't he himself experienced something miraculous?
"Yeah. Even around me, quite a few read genre novels. But the whispering now isn't because of that."
"Then?"
"You really don't know? Have you not dated so long your romance cells are all dead?"
"Don't beat around the bush. Say it straight. I love directness."
Cha Seol-ji smiled meaningfully, drawing it out.
As if debating whether to tell him or not.
"You really don't know?"
"That's why I'm asking."
"Suddenly that meme from yesterday pops into my head. 'I'm a eunuch!'"
"Whoa."
Woo Ji-hyun looked flustered for a moment at Cha Seol-ji casually dropping the word "eunuch" with her cute face.
But she was unfazed after saying it.
"What's 'whoa'? You're the weird one for not noticing. When I said you had a reservation today, how many KakaoTalk messages do you think I got?"
"No way..."
At this point, it would be weird not to catch on.
So, Woo Ji-hyun opened his mouth with a look of realization.
"Right. They asked me to introduce you."
"And they hadn't said anything until now?"
"Exactly."
Cha Seol-ji glanced toward one side.
Still mixing the perm solution with bowl and brush in hand.
"That's awkward."
"How about setting up a meet-up?"
"Nah, I'll just take their good intentions."
"For real?"
Perhaps because it was an unexpected response.
Cha Seol-ji's eyes widened.
She had expected him to jump at the chance.
"Yeah, not thinking about it yet. Making money is way too fun right now."
"Earning that much?"
Her eyes lit up.
The writer profession she knew was generally summed up as "passion pay."
Of course, Woo Ji-hyun had always said the top 10% had no worries about making ends meet, and top 1% lived large, but honestly, she had no real sense of what that meant.
Different fields made it hard to grasp.
"Yeah, top 0.1% rake in insane amounts."
"Your tone sounds like you're in that group? Wait, are you? Filming ads and all."
"Heh heh heh!"
Woo Ji-hyun didn't answer.
But his laughing expression said it all.
"But why haven't you dated anyone yet?"
"Busy with work?"
"You know that's an excuse, right? Old folks had kids even during wartime, oppa."
"..."
Woo Ji-hyun was speechless.
It was too spot-on; nothing came to mind.
"Anyway, they'll be disappointed. They were all looking forward to it."
"It's not because they like me, but because of the fame. How long would that kind of relationship last?"
"Oh ho. You're a romantic, huh? Most guys are fine with any girl, as long as she's not too ugly."
"So, how's your matchmaking business going? Weren't you crying over drinks with me about breaking up completely with your boyfriend recently..."
Squeeze!
Cha Seol-ji roughly applied the perm solution to his hair.
Grabbing it mercilessly, like she might yank it out.
The pain forced Woo Ji-hyun to stop talking.
"Shall we stop there?"
"...Aren't you being too casual just because we're close? I'm suddenly feeling hurt."
"That's because we're close, oppa."
"Don't use formal speech. That's scarier."
Cha Seol-ji smiled silently.
He said he was hurt, but his face was smiling.
She was also newly amazed at how close they had become.
'Technically, he came to me.'
Cha Seol-ji recalled their first meeting at Aim Hair.
Their somewhat unusual encounter.
Even though they were strangers, Woo Ji-hyun had treated her comfortably for some reason.
Not rudely, though.
'I did mistake it for a moment, but that was truly just a mistake.'
She had momentarily misunderstood when he specifically asked for her to cut and dye his hair.
Thinking he was interested in her.
But it didn't take long to realize it was a mistake.
"Don't zone out and focus on my hair. My hair is precious. Be careful not to get too much solution on my scalp."
"Why are you like this? I'm a pro; I can think and do it perfectly. Don't worry."
"My scalp is stinging weirdly."
"You're just feeling it that way. No problem."
Woo Ji-hyun made a sullen face.
For a split second, an ominous feeling crept in.
"No guy you're talking to? Must be some hitting on you after the breakup."
"I'm not that pretty."
"Come on. Weren't you bragging last time about living off confidence..."
Pull!
Cha Seol-ji yanked his hair tuft again.
Sensing more words he shouldn't say.
Especially not with others around.
"What's with you today, oppa? Save private talk for private places."
"Got it, got it. Stop pulling."
"I'm doing it so the perm sets well."
"Doesn't feel like it..."
"And could you stop prying into my love life? I'll handle it myself."
Laughter rippled from around them at the duo who bickered like real siblings.
It was an unwanted spectacle, but entertaining nonetheless.
But neither Woo Ji-hyun nor Cha Seol-ji felt embarrassed at all.
"I was just offering to set you up if there's no guy you're seeing."
"Lee Woo-hyung oppa?"
"...When did you see him to call him oppa?"
"You'd really do it?"
"The DMs he gets aren't a joke. He's probably meeting girl idols or actresses right now."
Woo Ji-hyun said with a "wake up" look.
Dream big, but that ambition seemed too grand.
"Then someone like you, oppa, who makes good money?"
"Uh, I'd have to look around for that."
Woo Ji-hyun paused momentarily.
Before the ad shoot, maybe, but now it was hard to find peers like that.
"What? You got my hopes up for nothing. But don't you get tons of introductions too? I bet you've had plenty before. Not super handsome, but not ugly either."
"Cold, but totally factual."
"Hehe! I can't do empty flattery."
"Honestly, no one's introduced anyone. I prefer natural encounters over setups, and I'm picky about who I meet and connect with."
"You?"
Cha Seol-ji looked incredulous.
Recalling their first meeting, it sounded absurd.
"Ah, of course there are exceptions. Like Woo-hyung. And you're nice."
"Me?"
"Yeah, violent sometimes, but as a little sister type, you've got a cute charm."
"Maybe I should accidentally get perm solution in your eyes."
Cha Seol-ji extended her gloved hand toward his face, as if she might really do it.
Woo Ji-hyun recoiled in horror.
"Let's talk it out. Violence isn't good."
"You're the one earning it."
"I'll be quiet."
"Good choice."
Cha Seol-ji brought the heat machine over with a satisfied look.
Peace finally returned to Woo Ji-hyun's spot.
* * *
Even at 7 p.m., Woo Ji-hyun looked up at the still-bright sky and smacked his lips.
It wasn't an appointment he had wanted, so his expression was naturally sour.
Truth be told, he wanted to go straight home.
"No drink tastes as bad as one at an uncomfortable gathering. Upsets the stomach too."