Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Blind Date with A-young
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Inner Thoughts: A blind date is my first time... Eating alone with a guy is also my first... I'm a bit thrilled, but I don't really want to date...
Jin-seong had four big reasons for his surprise.
One, her Charm.
Choi A-young's Charm was S-rank. On the same level as Ha-yeon.
Women with a Charm specialty were rare. S-rank was even rarer. In terms of ratio, about 0.001%.
Famous celebrities possessed A-rank or higher Charm.
'She's just as pretty as Ha-yeon.'
Two, lifelong singleton.
He couldn't believe it. It felt completely unrealistic.
A friend as pretty and full of charm as Choi A-young had never once eaten alone with the opposite sex?!
This was tantamount to saying she'd never dated a guy.
'A beauty like that is a total newbie to romance? I can't believe it.'
Three, zero confessions received—first blind date ever.
He felt crushed.
Jin-seong had come to meet Choi A-young with serious intentions.
If their chemistry clicked, they'd date. If they were soulmates, they'd get married and have a couple of kids.
But Choi A-young had zero interest in dating. She was even worried he might confess.
He'd been shot down before even confessing.
'So sad, cry cry cry.'
Last year? Or the year before? Wheesung's song Even Thought of Marriage started playing in his head.
Finally, four—her SS-rank talent.
This was actually the one that shocked him the most. Choi A-young possessed an astonishing SS-rank Gaming talent.
'An SS-rank talent...'
It could be summed up in one word.
'Genius.'
Not just any genius, either.
A once-in-a-generation prodigy.
A talent born to conquer games.
Inner Thoughts: Isn't he staring way too obviously? It's a little overwhelming. I wish he'd look away.
'Oops, I've caused a misunderstanding.'
Jin-seong realized his mistake.
He'd been so absorbed in her profile that he'd slipped up.
He flashed an awkward smile and scratched his head in embarrassment.
He stepped closer.
"Hi. I'm Yoo Jin-seong."
"Hey there~ I'm Choi A-young-ieyo."
Her speech pattern was unique.
Most people ended sentences with "ieyo," but she said "ieyeo."
Inner Thoughts: Whoa? He's a hundred times better looking in person than in his photo!
Jin-seong's profile photo was from about two weeks ago.
Back then, he'd been wearing shabby clothes, with unkempt hair.
And he'd been noticeably heavier.
No wonder she'd thought, "Not really looking to date."
5/100
Inner Thoughts: Honestly, he's on the plain side, but not ugly enough to turn away from.
Favorability had risen.
Jin-seong currently had his hair and beard neatly trimmed. His clothes were clean yet casual.
He was wearing the shoes Ha-yeon had bought him. Most importantly, he'd lost a ton of weight compared to two weeks ago.
"Oppa, speak casually~"
"Sure? Got it."
"What'd you do today~?"
"Worked out in the morning and took a nap. You?"
"I was a total zombie all morning~."
"Rough shift at work yesterday, huh?"
"Yup, super tough. Seems like more customers every day~."
"Must've been exhausting."
"I already sleep a lot normally, but lately with how tiring it is, I need even more~."
Choi A-young yawned, looking sleepy.
"You'll get flies in your mouth."
"It's cool out, no flies~."
"No flies, but plenty of other bugs?"
"I'm fine~! Grew up in the countryside, bugs don't scare me one bit~."
"Where'd you grow up?"
"Gangwon-do~. In a total rural backwater with mountains and clean water. You, oppa?"
"Gyeonggi-do for me."
"Nice. You down in Chungcheong for work~?"
"Yeah, hometown's in Gyeonggi, but working here."
The conversation flowed smoothly.
They asked and answered each other's curiosities.
Inner Thoughts: Hungry...
"Eaten yet?"
"Nope~. Skipped breakfast sleeping in, saving lunch for with you~."
"Must be starving. Let's grab food."
"Yay~! Let's eat quick, my stomach's about to revolt."
"What're you craving?"
"Tteokbokki!"
She answered without a 0.1-second hesitation.
Inner Thoughts: Craving some super spicy Yeopddeok today...
"Yeopddeok?"
"Whoa?! Oppa read my mind~? I was just thinking Yeopddeok."
"...Huh? No? You mentioned liking Yeopddeok in chat?"
He flinched. Almost busted.
10/100
Inner Thoughts: Great sense. Loves Yeopddeok.
Yeopddeok's power was immense. Favorability shot up in an instant.
"Let's go."
"Yup~!"
Was it excitement for Yeopddeok?
"Hmm, hmm, humm~."
She hummed happily.
11/100
12/100
Favorability climbed rapidly alongside her mood.
"What's your ideal type?"
"A guy who treats me to Yeopddeok~."
Inner Thoughts: I once dreamed of marrying the Yeopddeok shop owner.
"Oppa? Why're you laughing~? I'm serious!"
"Nah, you're just too cute."
"Don't laugh~! I'll get attached."
"Huh? Guess I gotta laugh more then? Get you attached."
They arrived at Yeopddeok.
The spacious shop buzzed with lunchtime crowds.
They grabbed a table.
"Oppa, what'll you have~?"
Inner Thoughts: Extra spicy. Yeopddeok's gotta be spicy.
"Extra spicy."
Truth be told, he didn't prefer spicy food.
He was more of a spice wimp.
He'd just matched her apparent love for heat.
13/100
Inner Thoughts: Wow, this oppa knows his tteokbokki.
"What about fritters~?"
"I like 'em all. Get whatever you want, A-young."
"Okay~ Got it~."
14/100
Inner Thoughts: Does he like sundae? I love sundae.
"Oh, sundae too, please."
"Sundae fan~?"
"Can't get enough."
15/100
Inner Thoughts: Hehe. Perfect. Time to order.
They placed their tteokbokki order.
"Oops, forgot the cheese add-on~. I'll go add it~."
"I'll get it."
"No way~. I'll do it. Be right back~."
"Nah. Sit tight."
Jin-seong added the cheese himself.
16/100
"Oppa, do you like Yeopddeok~?"
"Me? Honestly? No clue."
"Huh? Why not~?"
"Never tried it."
Not just Yeopddeok— he'd never had Sin Tteok or Jo Tteok either.
Jin-seong liked tteokbokki well enough, but not enough to seek it out.
For that money, he'd rather get pork stir-fry, donkatsu, or a hearty soup rice.
"No way... In this world...? Someone who doesn't know Yeopddeok...?!"
Choi A-young looked genuinely shocked.
"You don't like tteokbokki~?"
"Not that I seek it out."
"What...? Should've said so~. We could've gotten something else~?"
"Nah. I like it fine. Just don't buy it often. Plus, you like it, right A-young?"
Choi A-young's eyes trembled slightly.
Inner Thoughts: Is he being considerate? Eating it 'cause I like it?
Inner Thoughts: Touched.
25/100
Favorability leaped nine points at once.
The food arrived.
"Whoa, looks delicious."
"Dig in."
"Yup yup, you too oppa~."
Bright red tteokbokki.
He picked up a piece and tasted it.
"Gah...?!"
He had no choice but to freak out.
"W-water."
It was insanely spicy.
'Ugh, my tongue's on fire.'
Shin Ramyun was tough for him; Yeopddeok was a straight-up disaster.
"You okay~?"
"Huh? Yeah. Yup, fine."
Worried Choi A-young.
"Don't look okay though~?"
"No... Really fine......"
Tears welled up.
"Want me to order mild for you~?"
"No, I can handle it."
"Don't push yourself~?"
Why was this happening?
He'd just forced down the spicy tteokbokki.
Just eaten extra to avoid waste.
Tears and snot streaming down.
26/100
27/100
Surprisingly, Choi A-young's favorability rose.
And that wasn't all.
Inner Thoughts: No tissues.
She looked for tissues, so he handed some over.
28/100
Favorability up.
Inner Thoughts: Coolpis all gone.
He ordered her a Coolpis.
29/100
Favorability up again.
Inner Thoughts: What's with this oppa? So thoughtful!
Inner Thoughts: Unexpected. Looks kinda dopey, but...
They finished eating.
"So full~. Ate way too much~."
"Me too."
Choi A-young ate more than she looked like she could.
Cleaned up everything they'd ordered.
"......"
Jin-seong rubbed his belly.
'Water belly.'
He'd downed a cup of water per tteokbokki piece.
'Still, tasted good.'
Spicy but addictively so.
He got why girls went crazy for Yeopddeok.
'A-young loved it.'
And favorability had risen a lot.
'Satisfying meal.'
They left the restaurant.
"Oppa, where to now~?"
No need to think hard.
Inner Thoughts: Want some bok bubble tea.
"Cafe?"
"Ooh, yes~."
"You said you like bok bubble tea, right? Let's hit one that sells it."
"Whoa, what sense? So sweet! Got me fluttering."
No exaggeration.
30/100
They ordered two bok bubble teas at the cafe.
"Hehe."
The drinks arrived.
She slurped through the straw with a satisfied smile.
"Good?"
"Yup~! The best! So yummy~!"
They chatted away.
"Oppa, got any hobbies~?"
"Working out. Dieting."
"Ooh?! Great hobbies~. How much have you lost?"
"12.4kg."
"Whoa, insane! Amazing~."
"You?"
"Me? Manga~ Read whenever I'm bored~."
"Favorite?"
"Slam Dunk~!"
"Kuh, Slam Dunk! This one's got taste."
They talked Slam Dunk for 30 minutes straight.
"Don't like games?"
"Games? Never played~."
"Ah? Really?"
Unexpected.
SS-rank Gaming talent, but never played?!
'Must be innate.'
From the cafe, they headed to a book cafe.
Sat side by side reading manga.
'So comfy, fun.'
Time with Choi A-young felt more relaxed and cheerful than thrilling.
Chatting made him feel good, smiling without realizing.
Inner Thoughts: Comfy, fun.
Choi A-young felt much the same.
Inner Thoughts: Not sure about dating, but hanging like close oppa-little sis would be nice.
"A-young, had fun today."
"Yess~ Me too. Really fun~."
"Let's hang again when free."
"Yup~ Sounds good! Get home safe~!"
After dinner, they parted ways.
Jin-seong watched her walk off.
35/100
36/100
37/100
It rose one point every couple steps.
Inner Thoughts: Got a cool oppa now.
Inner Thoughts: If bored next week, ask to meet again.
Inner Thoughts: Grandma's tteokbokki? Or toast?
Stamina Booster Pill x100