Chapter 56

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 56

Chapter Title: Episode 56

-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Principal: 65,010,000 won.]

[Balance: 1,600 won]

He'd made over 7.5 million won.

His principal of 65.01 million won had ballooned to 72.51 million in a short time.

"Kuuh. Sweet. So ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sweet."

Long live Era of Success.

Long live Golden Reporter!

Life as Yoo Jin-seong!!

'God, thank you—overwhelming thanks—for giving me Era of Success. I'll live hard. I'll live right.'

Today, too, he offered a prayer of gratitude to the heavens.

He slipped his phone into his pocket.

Bubble bubble.

The coffee pot heated up. The water boiled furiously. He mixed instant coffee, boiling water, and Mental Recovery Powder into a paper cup.

Stepped out of the dorm.

Mi-yeon was waiting.

She looked utterly drained.

Mi-yeon's signature poker face—the serene fairy smile—was completely shattered. Her complexion was dark and brooding.

This was her true self.

She projected an eternally positive image to others, but when alone, she was half a corpse.

Their eyes met.

Mi-yeon swiftly reclaimed her poker face, flashing that fairy smile as if the gloom had never been.

"Mi-yeon-ssi, good morning."

"Can't call it a good morning."

"Why? Feeling off?"

"Yeah. Can't have coffee, so it's rough."

"Here, take this. Coffee."

"Thanks. I'll savor it."

Mi-yeon took the paper cup.

Hoo hoo.

She blew on it to tame the steam.

Slurp.

One sip.

Peace settled over her heart.

Another sip.

Mi-yeon looked up, meeting Jin-seong's gaze.

A soft smile.

She beamed her benevolent fairy smile.

Mi-yeon spoke up.

"The coffee's delicious. Thanks so much."

"Haha, glad you like it."

"Why'd you quit the factory?"

"Wanted to... grow. Study."

"Gonna go to college?"

"Nah. No college plans at all. Thinking of focusing on personal studies and workouts for a bit."

"Ah... I see."

Mi-yeon gazed down at her coffee.

She took a sip.

The heat and bitterness were perfect.

"Kinda sad. Your coffee's so good... If you leave, who am I gonna get coffee from...?"

To Mi-yeon, Jin-seong's coffee was like a lifeline.

The one escape from her nagging depression.

The thought that she might never taste it again filled her with regret.

No, truth be told, it scared her.

She wished he'd keep working at the factory, brewing her coffee every day.

"Where you headed? Somewhere far?"

"Nah. Not planning to go far. Looking at nearby one-rooms."

"Oh? Really? Then maybe..."

"Once I snag a place, I'll leave the address. Swing by and grab coffee on your commute."

Mi-yeon's face lit up.

"Thanks a ton."

"Don't mention it."

"Udon tonight? My treat—as thanks."

"Can't. Got plans tonight too."

"Fine. I'll even get you a cheese egg roll special."

"Huh?"

"I love udon and cheese egg rolls..."

Mi-yeon trailed off.

In that instant, her poker face—the fairy smile—shattered spectacularly.

"Why do you have so many prior engagements?"

"Haha, tell me about it. My circle won't give me a single day off."

"Must be nice being so popular."

"Well... yeah, it's pretty great. I'm grateful for it."

"That was sarcasm... You really know how to rile someone up."

Mi-yeon's elegant brows furrowed.

"Hoo. Fine. I'll work around your schedule. When are you free?"

"Dunno."

Mi-yeon's eyebrows twitched.

It was ironic.

Her inner thoughts brimmed with irritation, yet her favorability rose—from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠40 to 45.

"Mi-yeon-ssi, catch you tomorrow morning. Off to the gym."

"...Got it. Thanks for the coffee. See you tomorrow."

"Yep. Hang in there. Fighting. Have a peaceful day."

Mi-yeon watched Jin-seong's retreating figure for a long while, standing alone.

She murmured softly.

"...Thanks. ...For helping me. ...I'm alive again because of you."

She caressed the paper cup.

It still held a lingering warmth.

"......"

Once was coincidence. Twice was fate.

Repeated "coincidences" weren't coincidences at all.

She'd caught on—the coffee's magic wasn't chance.

But she didn't let on.

"...No clue how to repay the favor."

Mi-yeon wasn't a fool.

She knew Jin-seong was helping her.

He started with light jogging.

Thanks to the Puuk-jan after so long? Or the 7 hours of sleep?

'Body feels light.'

Condition was peak.

'Mind's light too.'

Leisure overflowed.

'Workout's clicking perfectly today.'

He felt anew the vital importance of sleep.

Proper rest seemed to make a person truly healthy.

No different from a vitality-boosting supplement for life.

'Nice.'

From now on, minimum 7 hours a night. No more, no less—exactly 7.

6 was too little, 8 too much.

'Silent mode when sleeping.'

First time setting silent mode last night. Slept like a baby, undisturbed.

Until then, it'd been on sound. As a total loner virgin, no late-night calls anyway.

"Pig-ssi, time to crush those thighs."

"Yep."

"You look lighter today?"

"Yeah. Peak condition."

They hammered squats.

"Huu... huu..."

Sweat poured like rain.

'Hmm? Why? Normally workouts feel taxing...'

Not today.

Something off.

The more he pushed, worked the muscles, built the heat, let the sweat flow—the more refreshed he felt.

Vitality surged.

Working out was pure joy.

"Pig-ssi, hold up."

Squats paused.

"Here, drink. Rehydrate."

Park Ha-yeon handed over a water bottle.

"Thanks."

He took a swig.

She dabbed his face and neck with a dry towel.

Her meticulous touch was devotion incarnate.

Park Ha-yeon asked.

"What? What's so funny? Why the smile?"

"Feels luxurious. Undeserved."

"...?"

"You wiping my sweat so carefully... makes me happy."

"Idiot."

Shy, she averted her eyes. Her touch grew even more tender.

"Take it as an honor."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Dunno anymore. You wipe from now on."

Workout done.

Showered and sat on the toilet.

First, bought Penis Lengthening Potion.

Consumed 3 length, 3 girth.

Succeeded 10 reps each.

50 reps = 1cm growth. 10 reps = 0.2cm growth.

Length and girth each grew 0.2cm.

Pulled down pants, checked the goods.

Satisfying.

Even if just 0.2cm.

Even if barely noticeable.

'Stout little guy!'

35 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠points left.

Bought 100 hair follicles.

Hair first to 5,000—then decide on more.

25 points left.

Bought Height-Up Pill.

Jin-seong cocked his head.

'Why does growing height feel way easier than growing dick?'

Era of Success item prices were a mystery.

Some seemed dirt cheap, others insanely pricey, some fair.

15 points left.

'Save 10.'

Needed Mental Recovery Powder.

'With 5 points...'

Small Happiness Random Box: 3 points.

Lucky Cookie: 1 point.

Family Comprehensive Health Vitamin: 1 point.

Snagged them thriftily.

Downed the Lucky Cookie.

Lucky Cookie was a dud today.

'Gacha time!'

Cracking Small Happiness Random Boxes was the most fun.

Wondering what'd pop out drove him nuts with curiosity.

Heart raced.

'Golden Report would be sweet.'

100-Point Reinforcement Ticket nice too.

'Jackpot! 777! Item would rock.'

Misfortune Diary tempting but scary.

Good Deed Pouch?

What the heck?

Fun item.

Activated it right away.

```