Chapter 41

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 41

Chapter Title: A Chilly Morning Run

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 It was especially cold today.

"Haa..."

Every time he exhaled, thick white breath poured out.

Thinking he'd made ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the right choice wearing his warm fleece workout clothes, he started stretching.

'One, two, one, two.'

Given how cold it was, he took extra care to warm up more thoroughly than usual.

He finished stretching.

'Good.'

His body warmed up nicely. The overnight stiffness melted away softly. His condition was steadily improving.

He quenched his thirst with some bottled water.

Before starting his workout, he rallied his willpower.

'I can do it. I am able. I can run. I can burn it off.'

He filled his mind with positive words.

His challenging spirit.

His drive for success.

His willpower surged.

'I can do it! Let's go! Time to run! Let's push hard today! Life's too short—give it everything I've got!'

He began jogging.

He ran. As slowly as he could. His body felt unusually light. His steps were springier than ever today.

'This is pure healing.'

It felt amazing. His mind cleared. The world looked beautiful.

"Hoo-eup... Sseu-eup... Hoo-eup... Sseu-eup..."

His breathing was incredibly steady. Not a hint of disruption.

He wasn't short of breath. No labored gasps.

'Time to pick up the pace.'

He sped up.

Lately, he'd been varying his intensity.

Slow run → fast run → slow again → fast again, repeating the cycle.

"Hehe."

A relaxed smile crossed his face.

'Hmm?'

Jin-seong's steps halted abruptly.

'Ma'am?'

Beside the convenience store, a frail old lady was sorting through recyclables.

There was a hefty pile, and she seemed to be struggling with it.

'It's definitely her...'

He'd met the grandma before.

He recalled the incident from a few days ago.

The day he'd gone on a date with Park Ha-yeon. The frail grandma had collapsed on the ground. He'd helped her up.

His body moved on its own.

'Gotta help her out.'

His body acted first, his heart following suit.

"Ma'am, let me give you a hand."

"It's alright, dear. I can manage on my own."

"No, really, it's no trouble."

He pitched in to sort the recyclables. With his help, it was done in a flash.

The grandma straightened her hunched back. Gratitude filled her face.

"Thank you so much, young man."

"No problem at all."

"Just like last time, you've got such a kind heart. You're gonna be blessed for it."

"Haha, thank you."

He swallowed the words, 'I've already been blessed beyond measure.'

"Hold on a sec."

"What is it, dear?"

"Lemme buy you a hot drink."

"Oh no, that's too much."

Jin-seong ducked into the convenience store.

Moments later,

he emerged with a hot drink in each hand. Warm, sweet, nutty black bean milk.

It was a 2-for-1 deal.

"Here you go."

He handed her one.

"Thank ya kindly. I'll enjoy it."

"The weather's getting colder. Bundle up warm, okay?"

"I'm dressed plenty warm. You bundle up, young man. That thin jacket—you'll catch your death of cold."

Gripping the soy milk in his right hand, he resumed running.

'Ma'am, you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remind me of my grandma.'

His late grandma had loved warm soy milk.

She'd been the one who cherished him most in a life full of lacks.

As he ran hard,

- Uuugh, oppaaa.

A call came in from Choi A-young.

Her voice dripped with sleep and fatigue.

- Jin-seong oppa, out running?

"Haa, yeah, mid-run."

- So diligent. That's hot. Oppa, you're definitely gonna make it big. Someone as hardworking and dedicated as you can't fail.

A-young's knack for sweet talk was her biggest charm.

- Sleep well?

"Hoo, yeah, slept like a rock thanks to you. Haa, you? Get some good rest?"

- Aww, sleepy. I barely got any. Stayed up late reading and researching the gaming industry.

"Hoo, ah? Must've been tough. Haa, bet you're wiped."

- Yeah, gonna chat with oppa a bit then crash again.

- After hearing you yesterday, I looked into the gaming biz. It really does rake in cash.

- Pro gamer seems decent, but I'm holding off 'cause I'm not sure if I've got the talent.

- Game YouTuber didn't sound bad either, but sadly, I'm a total computer dunce. No confidence in editing videos, so scratched that.

- Streaming feels right. Not the face-cam kind, though. Showing my face stresses me out. Just game footage and voiceover streaming.

- Sigh, but here's the issue. No money for a PC right now. And even if I got one, living with Sol-i unnie makes it tough.

Choi A-young was showing interest in streaming.

'Oh, perfect.'

Jin-seong was all for it.

'With A-young's charm and gaming skills... even without showing her face... she could blow up big time.'

He had zero doubts about her immense potential.

'I want A-young to succeed. Just like she dreams—make bank and live worry-free.'

He finished his jog.

He showered. He peered into the mirror. A smile formed naturally.

'I've grown a lot.'

Jin-seong's appearance had transformed beyond recognition.

Appearance stat hit +20.2.

From hideous → above average looks.

No more "ugly" jabs.

Now he got "above average" or "handsome guy."

+1,300 hair follicles implanted.

His once sparse hair now only looked a little thin.

21.7kg weight loss.

Down from 95kg → 73.3kg.

From piggish build to healthy physique.

And.

He'd grown taller. 169.0cm → 169.1cm.

From the Small Happiness Random Box: 0.1cm growth voucher.

He ate breakfast.

Soy milk + boiled egg + banana combo after a long time.

A combo he'd grown sick of from overdoing it. Tasted great now.

His stomach felt full and satisfied.

'Time to head to work.'

He threw on his work coveralls.

'Factory life... No plans to stick around long-term... but for now, even if it's tough, factory's the way to go.'

Just for a while.

Until he built up his specs.

That's what he planned.

He worked hard.

The female coworkers' favorability ratings, once rock-bottom (hovering near 0).

They rose alongside Jin-seong's changes.

Jin-seong was warmly scanning the women's inner thoughts when he flinched.

Chills ran down his spine.

The boss lady.

Mid-30s spinster. Fierce aura, bear-like presence. She'd set her sights on him as husband material.

'Ack!'

Terrifying.

'...Noona, I taste awful. I'm just a total loser weakling pig. Jae-gu hyung, Kwang-woo hyung—they're a hundred, thousand, million times tastier.'

His below-average member shriveled like a Vietnamese chili.

He ran into Mi-yeon.

Mi-yeon's favorability had plummeted even further.

Her inner thoughts brimmed with malice and negativity.

'Jeez, honestly, I don't even hate her anymore.'

She seemed pitiful instead.

'What a fool. Wasting time hating others... when she could love herself... treat her own people better...'

Life was short.

Focusing on the good was plenty. Good thoughts alone weren't enough.

'Born with talents like A-young's... yet too busy hating others... it's just pathetic.'

Jin-seong checked Mi-yeon's talents.

Charm (SS)

Acting (SS)

Storytelling (S+)

Memory (A+)

Mi-yeon's inner thoughts shifted.

Jin-seong clicked his tongue.

"Tsk."

Mi-yeon had no choice but to panic.

"Pardon?"

Jin-seong shook his head side to side.

"Oh? Just remembered someone pathetic all of a sudden."

He offered a hasty non-excuse excuse.

"Ah...? Oh... yeah..."

Mi-yeon forced an awkward smile.

Of course, inwardly she was cursing up a storm.

He clocked out. Checked KakaoTalk.

She must be swamped.

Reply came right away.

Hit the gym, then head to the donburi shop.