Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Store Manager's Advice
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“Hey, you bastard! Who the hell are you trying to give a heart attack to?!”
The manager spat out the curses so viciously that for a split second, it sounded like “you gay fucker,” as he fumed and huffed in outrage.
I shrugged nonchalantly.
“Manager, I get that you're embarrassed acting like this at your age, but get up first. Here, take my hand.”
“Ugh! Ugggh!”
It took several heaving breaths before the manager patted his chest lightly and grabbed my hand to stand. Watching him, I couldn't help but think... would I end up like that when I got older?
“Manager, you really need to exercise more regularly.”
“Where the hell do I find time for that, you punk? I even work weekends. Coming to work is my exercise.”
“...”
Watching the manager work 365 days a year without a single day off for his family... didn't that alone motivate you to live diligently?
Even if I hustled as hard as him, I'd probably end up like that. If I slacked off, my life might have me scraping by in some rent-trap worse than a half-basement sewer.
“Hoo.”
The manager let out one more long sigh, cleared his throat with a cough, then handed me a chicken skewer from the fryer display.
“Sorry for snapping earlier. Thinking about it, I was the one dozing off on the clock.”
I took the skewer and bit into it.
Watching me, the manager suddenly revved up again and shouted.
“...But fuck! With that brutal mug of yours, how could I not mistake you for the grim reaper?!”
This guy... bipolar maybe?
“Still, grim reaper's a bit much, isn't it? You're not even that old yet.”
“Blame it on the drama about reapers my wife and I watched before bed last night. Man, modern dramas are so damn realistic. Felt like that's exactly the reaper coming for me when I croak.”
Even amid the grind and exhaustion, he never missed drama time with his wife. Made the manager seem like a solid family man. Reliable elder who might actually give good advice... he'd navigated all the steps to marriage, after all.
That's when the manager leaned in and whispered.
“...Honestly, if my wife wasn't there beside me, I'd have been scared shitless.”
“...”
Maybe I should drop it? Venting to a bipolar-suspect manager might just tangle things up worse.
“Manager...”
“Anyway, your face looks better today? Still got that sleep-deprived pallor, but your eyes have some life in 'em.”
Right on cue.
“Actually, that's kinda related. I wanted some advice from you.”
“Advice? What advice? If it's a raise, no dice. My nose is three feet long too, y'know.”
“Not that.”
I snapped the empty skewer stick in half, tossed it in the trash, and spilled about Oh Hana. Liked this girl, but unknown issues might make her drift away or bail. How to hold on?
The manager gawked at me blankly.
“You... you're not planning some crime, right?”
“Are you nuts?”
He sighed in relief.
“Nah, for a sec I felt like a movie protagonist. Part-timer with a deathly complexion asks for that kinda advice, next day—bam!—plot twist.”
“Don't mix movies and dramas with real life.”
Reality's harsher than any drama or flick. I knew from recent crap. Reality's the real fantasy.
“Ahem. Anyway. You want tips on keeping a girl from leaving? Wait, but.”
“Yeah.”
“You're not dating?”
“...No. Not yet, anyway.”
“But you've done it?”
I flinched, feigning shock. The manager flashed a sleazy grin, shedding ten years.
“Listen, punk. No matter how slick you think you are, you're still in Buddha's palm. Heh heh.”
Damn, wanna deck him.
“Back in college, y'know? Cig between my teeth, bike screeching to a halt—hop on back. One word, and girls lined up.”
“Not curious about your TMI, Manager. Just hear me out seriously.”
His current vibe? More likely dragged by a bike than riding one. Looks matter.
The manager tsked and shook his head.
“Punk. If I was ten years younger... Kids these days are so ambiguous. Right? Not dating, but doing everything. That's what makes it messy.”
I wanted to date, but two other girls tugged at me too. Couldn't ditch 'em. Physical stuff already happened, and threesome territory was tacitly greenlit. Why bail?
I'm trash, yeah.
Admitted it before. Not pure or nice—sly, thug-ish streak.
“Whatever. Just make her not wanna leave.”
“That's why I'm asking how.”
“Become a fucking alpha male, kid lingo. Skills, looks. Tsk. Looks are a lost cause?”
“...”
“For real.”
“No, just shocked hearing that normie term from you.”
Brief silence. Manager's fist quivered.
“Raise my value, right?”
“Yeah, punk.”
Punk packed some feeling. Imagination?
“Girls always go for guys they like. Huh? Not just looks. Could be skills, a big event, or sweet personality...”
“Why stop?”
“Tsk. All pipe dreams for you? Weirdo, average looks. Sweet? Bullshit—that'd scare the reaper flat.”
Blatant roast, but I mulled his advice earnestly.
Skills? Lacking. Looks? Surgery only fix. Personality? No need to say.
“Guess that leaves something special?”
Like aiding Han Aebom's job hunt struggles, or Yoon Sua's genuine gratitude for small helps she couldn't manage.
Oh Hana in a pinch, help her—affection up. But does she ever pinch?
Hmm.
Throw her naked in a desert, she'd unearth an oasis. Worst? Fandom cash crunch. But she never crossed lines.
Not clingy if denied. No crime vibes either.
“If desperate, kneel and beg.”
“Hm. Won't that push her further?”
I took it seriously; his face sobered.
“Punk. Better than letting go cold. Stick by, flip her heart somehow. If she felt enough pull to reconnect once, splitting's tough. Drift apart, feelings fade natural.”
“Your story, Manager?”
He nodded.
Kneeling? Varies by girl. Some need space, some rekindle later, some melt for it. Case-by-case.
Worst case, knees bend anytime. Line-respecting, no-holds-barred.
“Thanks, Manager. Tangled head feels sorted a bit.”
True. Endless loops untangled. Sleepless-brain fever finally cooled.
“Yeah? If that helped, hit me up anytime.”
“Sure.”
“So no more bolting out like a high schooler ten minutes before lunch for that girl. Call her. Call! Think I pay your ass for free?!”
I stared, most shocked yet. Not as daft as thought.
“What’s that look? Pisses me off.”
“No, I'll consult again if chance arises.”
I bowed, donned the vest, flipped open the pristine workbook.
using namespace std;
cout << "This is C++. I'm dead. Repeat after me";
cout << endl;
Head clearer now. Concentration sharper than usual.
Study diligently to raise your own value
43/100 hours
Reward: 1,000,000 won, Low-Level Speed Reading Skill
One by one. Like clearing game missions—quests feel that way.
Abilities first.
“Punk. You've changed too much. Way too much. Eh, good direction, so fine.”
“...”
“Answer when adults talk. Answer!”
“Yes, sir.”
Watching me nose-deep in the book, he clucked his tongue. No nagging about quitting or focusing on work, though.
Instead.
“Huh?”
Glancing up as customers loomed, a vita drink sat alone on the counter. I smirked, chugged it. Phone buzzed—manager's texts.
[Store Manager: Deducting vita drink from your pay.]
Cough.
[Store Manager: Kidding~ Keh heh heh.]
...Men stay kids forever. Spot on.
“Oppa, you look kinda handsome lately.”
I startled. First time hearing that. Hard to imagine suiting me less.
Reliable, nice guy? Sure. Handsome? Never.
Who hates compliments? I smirked at hangover-pill-buying Jeong Hyejeong. Her cheeks pinked faintly; she hiccuped.
“Hic. Ah. What? Thought I was bullshitting just now? Ah, seriously. It's real. For real.”
Wasted.
“Seoul Uni kids drink like the rest?”
“Ugh. Course they do. Seoul Uni's still where people live. Difference? Every tom, dick, and harry was top of their class. Fuck. Tons of repeaters too. Drives me insane. Their league. Their league.”
“Tough gig. But proud saying Seoul Uni anywhere?”
Her brows danced happily at my question.
“Well, yeah. Hehe. Hee hee hee. Nah, not just for that. Wait, yeah it is. Tutoring pours in easy. Jobs too. Brain-splitting, but name value.”
Yeah. Name value. That.
I craved a gig where name-dropping wowed everyone, drew gasps of awe.
Why this unprecedented grind? Partly. Also to level up things with the girls.
“Ha. Damn study whizzes. Ace books, ace partying.”
I eyed her Seoul Uni jacket sidelong. Huge logo on right shoulder, SEOUL UNIV blazoned across back. What a flex. Enviable as hell.
She muttered watching me.
“Used to think this'd suffice back then.”
Huh?
“Now? Greedier than ever. This alone won't hack it. Frustrating.”
Seoul Uni achieved, now eyeing better? Greed's bottomless, they say.
That's when.
Tinkle!
Bell chimed; someone entered. Knew who pre-entry. Spotted from afar, clear as day.
“Umhat hat! Oh Hana arrives! Walk-time crash landing complete! Balmy weather's stroll perfection!”
“Hey. Quiet down. Customer's here. Jeez.”
Jeong Hyejeong's eyes bugged; she muttered cryptically.
“...Now I get what Aebom meant.”
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