Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: A Fortunate Day
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President Oh Dae-hoon's favorability.
80/100
Just four weeks ago, it had been at 70, but now it had climbed to 80.
President Oh Dae-hoon had always viewed Jin-seong positively.
Jin-seong was a good employee. The very picture of the kind of talent the company wanted.
In truth, it was impossible not to like him. Docile, diligent, competent.
'But...'
Starting four weeks ago, Jin-seong had changed. And in a very positive way, at that.
The more Jin-seong changed, the more President Oh's favorability rose in tandem.
He had gone beyond being a good employee to becoming an excellent one.
He'd always pulled more than his weight at 1.5 times the workload, but now he handled a full double effortlessly.
He'd been upgraded from an employee who needed rewards to one who had to be retained at all costs.
"Here."
President Oh handed over an envelope. It was stuffed with bills—a sort of daily bonus.
"Thank you. I'll work even harder."
Jin-seong took the envelope and bowed deeply.
Unconcealed joy and happiness bloomed across his face.
President Oh gazed at him with a pleased smile.
"I'll get back to work now."
"Yeah, keep it up."
He gave his respects and left the president's office.
He sat down on the toilet in the bathroom and pulled the envelope from his pocket to check the amount.
"Whoa?"
An exclamation slipped out on its own.
'That's unexpected.'
He'd figured it'd be 50,000 won at least, 100,000 tops.
But defying expectations, it was a whopping 200,000 won.
200,000 won!
For Jin-seong, who lived on 150,000 won a month, it was an enormous sum.
'Whoa, seriously... is today my birthday or something?'
It was a day of overflowing good fortune.
His living expenses had jumped from 150,000 won to 250,000 won.
Lee Ji-seong had promised to give him a woman's contact info any day now.
The president had praised his hard work and handed him 200,000 won.
And that wasn't all.
'Salary raise!'
The president had declared a 100,000-won raise starting next month.
That bumped his monthly pay from 2.7 million won to 2.8 million.
Next month onward.
'My spare cash will go from 150,000 won to 350,000 won.'
His shoulders shook with excitement.
'Heh heh... with 350,000 won... all the stuff I couldn't buy before... all the food I couldn't eat... I can get it all.'
He shook his head.
'No, no. 350,000 is way too much for a human being. Let's stick to 250,000. Put the remaining 100,000 in savings.'
It takes one who's tasted meat to appreciate it.
Jin-seong had never spent over 300,000 won in a month before.
Truth be told, even 250,000 felt excessively large.
'This is all thanks to Era of Success.'
What if Era of Success hadn't existed?
There wouldn't have been any change.
And without change?
Good fortune wouldn't have come knocking.
No salary raise. No bonus. Probably no girl, either.
Nothing would have changed.
'Thank you.'
He gave thanks to the god who had granted him Era of Success.
'Thank you. So grateful. Truly, thank you.'
But Jin-seong's lucky day wasn't over yet.
He clocked out. Took a shower. Normally, he'd have crashed for a nap.
Not today. He changed into casual clothes and got ready to head out.
'Haircut... then the mart... then the shoe store...'
With 200,000 won burning a hole in his pocket, he planned to splurge a little for once.
'Heh heh, I'm in the mood... maybe treat myself to something tasty after all this time?'
Park Man-bok had recommended a weekly cheat day.
- You can eat whatever you want as much as you want once a week.
- Don't worry. Just work out to burn it off.
- On cheat days, bump up your cardio by 1.5 times.
He nodded.
'Alright, today's cheat day. Eat up, then hit an intense workout tonight.'
He left the dorm.
Jin-seong's first stop was Hanaro Mart.
He bought daily necessities: shampoo, wet wipes, soy milk, bananas, eggs, and so on.
'That pineapple looks tasty... should I get one...?'
After agonizing, he put it back.
'Nah. Gotta save money. I'll buy one when I'm rolling in cash.'
He smacked his lips.
His eyes lingered on the pineapple.
Pushing down the craving, he headed to the checkout.
Shopping done, he dropped the basket off at the dorm.
'Time for the salon.'
Budget constraints had kept him from a haircut until now.
Today, he'd get a neat trim.
He went to his usual cheap salon.
'Not the best skill-wise, but...'
It was cheaper than others. Cash payment got him 1,000 won off, and it was close by.
"Welcome! Oh? Customer? It's been a while."
"Hello?"
"Dieting? You've slimmed down to half your size— unrecognizable. And your complexion's glowing."
"Yeah, I've been hitting the gym hard for a diet lately."
The lady owner scanned Jin-seong's appearance.
She couldn't help but marvel.
"Wow, you must've really busted your ass. You're totally transformed. I almost thought you were someone else."
It was week five of his diet.
In four weeks, Jin-seong had put in indescribable effort and changed dramatically.
First, his meals.
He'd reduced portions weekly by 5 to 10 percent.
Cut out bread and ramen. Ditched snacks cold turkey.
And his workouts.
He was steadily ramping up the volume each day.
The result? A 10.9 kg loss in four weeks.
10.9 kg.
From 95.0 kg down to 84.1 kg.
At 5 kg down, it wasn't super noticeable. "A bit slimmer?" "Kinda gaunt?" That level.
But at 10 kg? The difference was stark. Cheeks hollowed, jawline sharpened. Noticeably slimmer.
"You look way handsomer now."
"Thank you."
"Lose a bit more, and you'll be popular with the ladies."
Music to his ears.
'This place knows how to do business.'
A warm smile spread across his face.
She trimmed his hair.
Clippings piled up on the floor with each snip.
His shaggy mop gradually regained neatness.
When the scissors stopped.
"Whoa, you look like a whole new person."
Her praise brimmed with sincerity.
Just a trim, and he seemed entirely different.
"Seriously, drop a little more weight, and you'll have fans."
"You think?"
No eating out today.
Diet came before indulgence.
He could savor the good stuff after shedding the fat.
'Eggs if I get hungry.'
He might start smelling like yolks.
Paid up and left the salon. Next, the shoe store.
<Donggu Shoes>
A no-name shoe shop.
'Not great quality, but...'
Designs were iffy too.
Still, the reason Jin-seong chose Donggu Shoes was simple.
'Dirt cheap.'
For his thin wallet, unbeatable appeal.
'Hm?'
He stopped short of entering.
'Ha-yeon?'
Park Ha-yeon was walking from the opposite direction.
In a muted cardigan, her beauty shone through.
"Oh?"
"......"
Their eyes met.
"Hello?"
"Hello."
"Heading to the gym?"
"Yes. And you?"
"Just out for shoes."
"Ah, okay."
Park Ha-yeon glanced at Jin-seong's shoes.
They looked clean from frequent washing, but clearly worn for over a year, scuffed and beat.
"Haha, thinking about working out in new shoes has me pumped."
"...Workout shoes? Not everyday ones?"
"Yeah, the old ones are too worn—uncomfortable."
"Ah......"
Park Ha-yeon alternated between his shoes and the Donggu store.
Hesitation clouded her face.
"Since you're buying, skip the cheap stuff. Invest in proper ones."
"Huh?"
"Cheap ones fall apart quick if you get a bad pair—soles crack, heels wear out fast."
"Ah......"
Jin-seong trailed off.
He checked Park Ha-yeon's inner thoughts.
Need shoes with good fit for comfy workouts. Cushioning prevents foot strain.
Lazy types can cheap out, but he's diligent now—deserves good shoes.
Hair's trimmed. Beard shaved clean. From drab pig to tidy pig.
10 kg down, as rumored... it's really showing. Won't even call him pig soon.
Jin-seong hesitated.
'Should I go with Ha-yeon's advice and get a good pair instead of cheap?'
The internal debate didn't last long.
'Yeah, might as well get a proper one since I'm buying.'
He made up his mind.
"Follow me."
"Huh?"
Where to?
"I'll recommend some shoes."
"Oh? For real?!"
Jin-seong brightened.
"You helped me out before, and you probably don't know much about picking shoes, so I'll give you the special rundown."
"Wow, thanks."
He followed after Park Ha-yeon.
50/100
Her favorability was visible.
'Favorability... it's gone up a ton...'
Just four weeks.
It had climbed from a low of -7 to exactly halfway.
'The Favorability trait... tough to raise when it's low, but...'
From 1 to 40, it barely budged.
41 to 70 rose smoothly enough.
71 to 100? Nearly impossible.
They arrived.
Ding-a-ling-!!
Into the store. A Nike shoe retailer.
Park Ha-yeon recommended shoes that'd suit Jin-seong.
"Over 100,000 won's a stretch, right?"
"Big time."
"How about these? Cute design, nice color."
Price tag: 69,000 won.
'6.9 ...'
Practically 70,000.
'Expected 50,000...'
Way pricier than imagined.
'Try 'em on and pretend they don't fit.'
Goddess-like Ha-yeon had picked them out with care—couldn't just flat-out reject.
He'd try, feign dissatisfaction, and pass.
Slipped them on.
"......"
Jin-seong's pupils quaked.
"...I'll take these."
"Yes, sir."
The fit was beyond imagination.
"Sis, this pair for me too."
Park Ha-yeon pointed at the shoes.
"Here."
Park Ha-yeon handed him the shopping bag.
"Carry it?"
"Wear 'em. Repayment for your help last time."
He accepted the bag in a daze.
Wanted to repay the favor.
Hope it's not too much?
Was Mom's birth registration a mistake?
'Is today really my birthday?'