Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Suspicious Regular
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I was already starting to miss the carefree life of just working part-time jobs without a care in the world.
It probably hit harder because the cafe owner from my old job had always paid on time and treated me kindly.
Handling everything solo—from menu development to cleaning, closing up, ordering ingredients, market research, and promotion—was honestly overwhelming.
The first week after opening was dead empty.
It wasn't in a high-traffic spot anyway, and while curious passersby would peek in since it was a new cafe, they'd usually just grab a plain Americano or some basic coffee.
I'd slyly recommend the signature qua fruit dessert at checkout, but with the bad reputation for taste, it barely sold at first.
Still, following the advice to put something out there must've helped, because customers seeking desserts started trickling in bit by bit.
New customers weren't flooding in, but the repeat rate was high—mostly from folks who'd tried the desserts before.
"This qua latte and pie are seriously delicious!"
"Glad it suits your taste."
"I've been hyping it up all over the neighborhood. So you can't close shop, boss—run it forever... Ah, why doesn't anyone come? It's so good!"
"Thanks for the kind words."
This customer was a regular, quietly packaging up pie every visit. Then one day, she suddenly struck up a conversation.
"Boss, the pie is amazing!"
Her first words were straight-up praise, and she never skimped on compliments after that whenever she bought some.
The customer grinned playfully, half-joking.
"Feels like a mood thing, but my skin's clearer since coming here, and my body's felt way better overall."
"Haha."
Not just your imagination.
As I'd mentioned before, qua fruit could be refined into low-grade potions. And in whole-fruit pies or the homemade syrup lattes, the content was substantial enough to mimic potion effects without issue.
With so few customers, I could give each one my full attention, which was nice.
No room in my wallet, but good vibes deserved good service—I made an effort to be extra kind and throw in a little something more for everyone.
That day, as I was packaging jam cookies for the open-event giveaway to go with their orders...
In the quiet afternoon, a new face stepped into the cafe.
Ding-a-ling.
"Welcome~."
He wore a cap emblazoned with the brand logo pulled low, face hidden behind a black mask. But he looked tall.
Even under the baggy hoodie, those broad shoulders and solid muscles stood out.
A celebrity?
Instead of heading straight to the counter, he stopped at the entrance and snapped photos first.
Probably posting to SNS. Didn't take long to figure that out.
Even Han Se-young whipped out her camera at cafes or restaurants to give the food its "final respects."
Still, a big guy clutching a phone smaller than his hand with both fists, intently photographing the pastry display—it was kinda eye-catching.
After staring down his phone for a while, he flinched like he noticed the attention, then walked to the counter.
Imposing from afar, but up close? Intimidating as hell.
I hadn't meant to rush him for gawking. Was about to say to take his time when the order came.
"Add a chocolate latte shot. With whipped cream."
"Sure. Dining in or-."
"Yeah."
"You can also go with soy-."
"Regular milk."
"Chocolate drizzle on the cream-."
"Yeah."
Answering before I even finished...
I glanced up briefly, then tapped the POS.
"Just the drink? Oh, points? Enter your number on the keypad there for stamps. Ten gets you a free drink."
The explanation dragged on, unlike his lightning responses earlier. No reply came.
Looking up curiously, he fumbled a hand to pull his cap lower.
The hoodie over it shifted, flashing a glimpse of red hair.
"...Came 'cause of SNS. Heard you have qua fruit desserts-."
His gaze fixed on the empty pie slot in the display.
His hesitant voice cut off abruptly, like saying it felt awkward.
Under the cap's shadow, fierce upturned eyes locked on me... then trembled faintly.
"...?"
His stare—like he'd spotted something that shouldn't be here—had me glancing back, wondering if something shocking was behind me.
Just the menu board and coffee machine anyone would expect. I turned back to him.
His stiff lips finally moved slowly.
"Heard you have something called qua pie... right?"
"Oh, yeah. But pies are baking now, so it'd take about fifteen minutes. That okay?"
"To-go."
He sat by the window without hesitation.
With the chatter gone, the speaker's monotonous piano filled the cafe's silence.
Fshhh.
Whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on the chocolate latte. Drink was ready; time to call him. But my lips wouldn't move.
That stare... it stings.
Ever since sitting, his eyes hadn't left me.
I'd thought it was a mistake at first. My sharp eyes often made people ask if I was upset just sitting there.
Solidarity with a fellow sharp-gazed soul—I looped positive thoughts, assuming he was just scoping the cafe. But no.
Like a cheese shop owner eyeing a rat. Relentless.
To delay facing reality even a little, I slowly finished the drink while thinking.
Did I owe him money or something...?
Not a crazy thought. I'd only been back in this body a year.
No memory of it, but seven years as Kim Yu-jeong might've caused trouble—maybe he was a creditor from some shady loan shark.
And that deja vu is weird...
Felt like I'd been through something similar. I rummaged through memories.
But no more stalling. As I called for pickup, it hit me where this creeped me out from.
"-Ah."
That scrutinizing stare, like sizing me up.
Just like Ju Yeon-woo's back then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Knowing is power. vs. Ignorance is bliss.
At my old job, someone half-jokingly hit me with that balance game, and I picked the latter.
Back then, I'd chosen knowledge to avoid regrets. But after everything, ignorance wins for mental health.
Even Master Wonhyo drank skull water thinking it was just good water, right?
"Here's a jam cookie from our opening event. Made with the same qua fruit as your pie—hope it suits you."
So I played dumb.
Couldn't just blurt out "Do I know you?" over a stare.
If he were a real loan shark, he'd have demanded bank details on sight. As long as not a creditor, friend or stranger didn't matter.
"...".
He eyed the ribbon-wrapped cookie package like it was lethal, gave a slight nod of thanks, and headed out.
Ding-a-ling. Door shut. I finally exhaled the breath I'd held.
Later, telling Han Se-young about this minor incident got me a dreamy, lovey response.
"Isn't he crushing on you, Yu-jeong?"
"...?"
"What? You're seeing romance everywhere since you're dating?"
"No, he said his body felt better too. Could be, right?"
Seong Ji-hyun and Han Se-young started bickering.
"Could be my ass. A lion-sized guy staring you down. He come back after?"
"Huh? Yeah... he has, but..."
"Still?"
"No, more than that, I was just gonna mention it casually-."
Honestly, I was flustered. Meant to just chat lightly about a funny customer story, but Han Se-young went full optimist, and Seong Ji-hyun dove into worry mode.
Balance it out, you two. As I trailed off, Seong Ji-hyun's brows curved down.
"Anyway, details. You get too much like Han Se-young sometimes—I need to hear it myself. He do anything sketchy?"
"Hey, Seong Ji-hyun! What do you mean 'like Han Se-young'?!"
"...Likes the pie, so he just kept buying pies non-stop."
Still an odd customer. Post-first-visit, always to-go only. Outfits changed, but never ditched the mask and hat.
"Maybe I misread 'cause my eyes are sharp too. Barely any talk, so hard to say..."
Oh, right—once he asked what exactly was in the pie.
Sounded suspicious for casual praise.
I listed ingredients one by one, but he tilted his head unconvinced and left.
"Eh, sounds like nothing then. Thought it was some weirdo. Tons of crazies lately—got me pulling overtime daily."
"Ah~ You guys too?"
"You too?"
"Yeah, overtime."
Despite personality clashes, similar jobs synced their convo vibes.
They bonded instantly, trash-talking in harmony like the bickering never happened.
"What's up? Some incident?"
Whoever it was, they'd rack up lifetimes of karma.
Two nodded vigorously at my question, cutting the heated vibe.
"Yeah. Monster trading's trending lately."