Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: A Thoughtful Gift
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Today was brutal at work. At least 1.5 times tougher than usual.
I got off work late too.
In the old days, I'd have crashed from exhaustion.
'Not bad. I can handle it.'
I wasn't really tired at all.
'Sleep? Hit the gym? Or go see A-young?'
Read some comics? Grocery run? Or watch something naughty?
With my stamina up, the options were endless.
'Alright, let's go see A-young.'
I missed her for some reason.
Decision made. Time to meet Choi A-young. I grabbed my bus card and headed out of the dorm.
[Me: A-young-ah, you at work?]
[Choi A-young: Yep, working!]
[Choi A-young: Super busy ㅠ Gonna go quiet ㅜ]
Choi A-young was part-timing at the toast shop.
She worked six hours a day, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
I'd heard she often pulled an extra hour of overtime like it was nothing because of the rush.
'Gonna go see her face and grab a toast too.'
I boarded the bus, tapped my card, and took a seat.
On the way...
"Please, have a seat."
"Thank you."
The man's leg looked uncomfortable. I happily gave up my seat.
It was just a small gesture, but he thanked me profusely.
I replied with an awkward smile.
'Guess I'll stand.'
Arrived at my stop. Got off the bus and headed to the toast shop.
'Crowded in here.'
The toast shop was packed with customers.
Nearly seventy percent looked like male college students.
A group of them whispered among themselves.
"The part-timer here is seriously pretty, right?"
"I thought she was just cute-looking, but her speech is adorable too?"
"She's totally my type. Should I ask for her number?"
"She never gives it out."
"You too? I asked last time and got shot down."
"Same here? I got rejected too, actually."
I overheard them as I stepped inside.
There she was, Choi A-young. White hat and apron on, bustling about.
'Pretty. So cute.'
A smile crept onto my face the moment I saw her.
'If Ha-yeon has that pretty fox vibe, A-young's got the cute puppy look.'
Jin-seong lined up to wait.
A-young was too swamped to even notice him.
About five minutes in line, and it was his turn to order.
"Yep, what can I get for... Huh...? Oppa...?"
"Hey."
"Yep, hi! When did you even get here?"
"Around 10 minutes ago?"
"I was so out of it, I didn't even notice."
"You looked busy."
Truth be told, things had quieted down now. Peak was around 6 p.m.
"Craving toast, so I came to eat. Plus, wanted to see your face."
"Heehee, glad you came! A-young's gonna make you a special toast."
"Looking forward to it."
"Yep, you won't regret it. So good, you'd devour two and not notice if one killed you."
He ordered a toast and a combo drink.
Time to pay.
"No charge. You came all this way—my treat."
"Nah, come on. Gotta pay. Already grateful you're making it."
"Tch, fine. I'll load on the service. Get hyped!"
Jin-seong tilted his head.
Favorability: 38
Nothing special, but her favorability went up.
Inner Thoughts: This oppa speaks so gently.
Inner Thoughts: Gotta add two slices of bacon special for him.
He sat down to wait.
'Am I the one speaking gently?'
Didn't feel particularly gentle?
Just my everyday way of talking?
[Me: Hyeongnim, got a question.]
[Lee Ji-seong: Yeah, what's up?]
[Me: Does my speech sound gentle?]
[Lee Ji-seong: Hmm, not bad at all?]
[Me: Ah.]
[Lee Ji-seong: Why? A-young say so?]
[Me: Nah, just curious lol]
[Lee Ji-seong: Good times. Jealous af.]
[Lee Ji-seong: You owe me samgyeopsal for real.]
The toast arrived.
'I ordered ham cheese veggie toast, but...'
It was massive.
Two bacon slices, one ham slice, one cheese extra.
Kiwi sauce slathered on thick.
'Oof, calorie bomb. Gonna pack on pounds.'
A sudden wave of fear hit.
'It's fine. No choice. Eat and burn it off.'
He squeezed his eyes shut.
'Amp up workouts, cut meals a bit. Should be okay.'
The toast was delicious.
High calories always taste the best.
First bite was tough; the rest flew by.
[Lee Ji-seong: Want a tip for scoring points with girls?]
[Me: Yes please, eternally grateful.]
[Lee Ji-seong: Small gifts go go]
Small gifts, huh?
What kind would be good?
'Expensive ones feel burdensome...'
Couldn't afford pricey anyway.
'Something cheap but nice?'
He pondered deeply.
Peeked at Choi A-young's inner thoughts.
Inner Thoughts: Craving tteokbokki.
Inner Thoughts: Hungry. Yeop-tteok. Fried stuff.
Inner Thoughts: Strawberry milk too.
He knew what to gift.
Choi A-young glanced at his table.
Jin-seong was devouring the toast she'd made with care.
It looked so tasty.
Eating like a pro mukbang YouTuber—thorough and intense.
'Phew, glad he likes it.'
A smile bloomed on her lips.
As the maker, she couldn't be more satisfied.
Favorability: 39
She soon turned back to work.
Orders were piling up.
'Focus on work when working.'
Baking bread? Full focus on that.
Choi A-young threw herself into toasting.
'Oppa...'
She cleared the backlog.
Once she caught her breath, Choi A-young checked Jin-seong's table.
It was empty. No sign of him.
'He went home?'
Her lips pursed.
'Tch, rude. Say bye if you're leaving.'
She'd have seen him off with a "get home safe."
"A-young, good work today."
"Yep, you too, Sajangnim."
Closing time.
Choi A-young bowed politely to the boss and clocked out.
The moment she stepped outside...
"A-young-ah."
A familiar voice stopped her.
Jin-seong.
"Oppa? Didn't you go home?"
"Nope? Waited outside."
"It's chilly out—why not wait inside?"
"Can't disrupt business, right? Place was packed; figured I'd clear out after eating."
Jin-seong handed over a bag.
"Here, small gift."
"Huh? What's this?"
"Tteokbokki, fried skewers, sundae."
Bag o' yeop-tteok.
"This too."
He handed over the other bag from his left hand.
"And this?"
"Dal-choba."
"Dal-choba? What's that?"
What even is dal-choba?
"Dal-choba. Strawberry milk, chocolate milk, banana milk shorthand. Thought it'd pair perfect with spicy tteokbokki—sweet milks to balance."
Choi A-young's pupils shook wildly.
"Whoa... seriously whoa... Oppa, your sense is unreal? I wanted yeop-tteok so bad... strawberry milk too... How'd you read my mind...?"
Speechless for a sec.
"Oppa, for real, I'm so touched. Thank you! I'll savor the tteok and milk."
She was moved.
Her face lit up with a radiant smile.
Favorability: 40
Favorability: 41
Favorability: 42
Favorability: 43
Favorability: 44
Favorability: 45
Favorability: 46
Favorability: 47
Jin-seong was stunned.
Never expected her to be this thrilled.
Let alone an eight-point favorability surge.
"Yeah, enjoy."
"Yep!"
Her beaming smile lingered.
'Goddess material.'
Seeing A-young happy made him happy too.
'Gotta do small gifts more often.'
[Choi A-young: Oppa, yeop-tteok is sooo good!]
[Choi A-young: Strawberry milk is the best!!!!!!]
[Choi A-young: Heeheehee all the]
[Choi A-young: fatigue and stress from today]
[Choi A-young: melting away]
[Choi A-young: like snow in warm spring sun.]
[Choi A-young: Oppa, get hyped for Sunday]
[Choi A-young: A-young's buying bingsu]
[Me: Whoa bingsu ㄷㄷ I love bingsu]
[Me: Yeah, bingsu Sunday. My treat.]
[Choi A-young: Nope. No way. A-young's buying.]
[Choi A-young: A-young pays, oppa just spoons. Got it?]
[Choi A-young: Eat that bingsu fierce like the toast!]
[Me: lololol Got it.]
[Choi A-young: Oppa, but curious.]
[Choi A-young: What bingsu you like?]
[Choi A-young: A-young loves red bean!]
[Choi A-young: You?]
[Me: I like all bingsu. Can't find one I won't eat.]
[Me: Oops sorry, gonna go quiet. At gym.]
[Me: Hit workout then chat ^^]
[Choi A-young: Yep! ><]
[Choi A-young: Amazing]
[Choi A-young: After work I'm wiped]
[Choi A-young: Hard to gym]
[Choi A-young: But you do it daily]
[Choi A-young: Already down 14kg]
[Choi A-young: So cool! Amazing! Fighting!!!]
Choi A-young was a human vitamin.
Chatting with her just lifted his mood and energy.
He entered the gym.
"Welcome. Later than usual today?"
"Hi. Yeah, met a friend first."
"Ah."
Park Man-bok greeted Jin-seong. Ten times warmer than normal.
His face beamed with warmth. Eyes full of gratitude.
Just yesterday, Park Man-bok's favorability was 76.
Favorability: 80
In one go. Overnight.
Up four points.
Inner Thoughts: Without Member Jin-seong's advice, I'd have been scammed out of 30 million by Kim Dong-wook.
Inner Thoughts: Member Jin-seong spotted Kim Dong-wook's scam attempt and warned me right away.
Inner Thoughts: Helped not once, but twice. Thank you. So grateful. Good man.
Reading his thoughts...
Favorability: 81
It ticked up again.
"Thank you. I'd have fallen for that Ponzi scheme without you."
Favorability: 82
"That scammer Kim Dong-wook you warned me about? Army buddy of mine. Tried pulling the same Ponzi on me."
Favorability: 83
"Your advice saved me from the Ponzi. Truly thankful. Deeply grateful."
Favorability: 84
Park Man-bok handed him a health drink.
'Whoa, awkward. Didn't help expecting thanks.'
Jin-seong scratched his cheek with his index finger.
Bit sheepish, but not bad at all.
"Glad it worked out."
He smiled warmly.
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