CH 25
“Crybaby, did you finally achieve enlightenment?”
Sook-hee, who had been looking at the counter, approached.
Jeonghwan nodded with a gentle smile.
“I hope you go to a good place and meet only good people.”
“That’s too bad. I really enjoyed listening to his performances.”
Sook-hee, perhaps feeling regretful herself, smacked her lips and sat down on a bar chair.
She rested her chin on both hands, stared blankly ahead, then spoke with a sigh.
“Oh right, I haven’t introduced this friend yet, have I?”
“Who?”
“Hyejeong!”
Sook-hee called out to the woman sitting by the window.
The woman who had been looking outside raised her head like a meerkat and scurried over to Sook-hee.
She was the same woman who had comforted Sook-hee earlier when she was crying.
A customer who appeared to be in her late thirties.
“Yes, unnie.”
“Sit here.”
“Here?”
When Sook-hee patted the adjacent bar chair with her palm, Hyejeong settled into the seat.
Sook-hee smiled warmly and said to Jeonghwan,
“Hyejeong’s shyer than she looks.”
“Huh?”
“She wanted to talk more but couldn’t because she was worried about Crybaby and me.”
“Oh, really?”
“I’ll go over there and enjoy my coffee in peace. You two chat.”
Sook-hee patted Hyejeong’s shoulder, picked up her mug, and moved to the window seat.
When Jeonghwan glanced at Hyejeong, she swallowed dryly and spoke.
“N-nice to meet you. I’m Yoon Hyejeong.”
“Nice to meet you too, Ms. Hyejeong.”
Though he saw her daily, he’d only just learned her name today.
Yoon Hyejeong seemed shy around strangers—she scratched her forehead and feigned distraction.
She likely came to say something but hesitated to start.
Jeonghwan broke the silence first.
“Ms. Hyejeong, does the coffee suit your taste?”
“Huh? Oh, yes! It’s delicious. The aroma is wonderful, and you’re very skilled.”
“I’m glad. I hope this warm coffee helps soothe your heart too, Ms. Hyejeong.”
“Haha…”
Yoon Hyejeong scratched her sideburns, swallowed again, and finally spoke.
“Um… Jik-han-ssi? Is it okay to call you by your name?”
“Of course. Feel free.”
“Then… if I have something to say… I can tell you, right?”
“Yes, absolutely. No pressure—whenever you’re ready, just say it.”
“I will! Now!”
Yoon Hyejeong raised her right hand, eyes shining.
Though startled by her sudden volume, Jeonghwan kept his composure and offered a faint smile.
Curious? Take a sip before your coffee gets cold, and tell me slowly.
"Ah, yes."
Yoon Hyejeong took a sip of her warm café mocha, exhaled, and began to speak.
"I was... a writer."
"A novelist?"
"Yes. Ah, no. I wrote novels... and essays too."
"What about screenplays?"
"I couldn’t write screenplays... It felt awkward to bare my soul like that."
Was she embarrassed about her profession? Or was it her timid nature?
Yoon Hyejeong pursed her lips and brushed back her hair. Then she looked straight at Jeongjikhan and abruptly grabbed his hand.
"Um, hey!"
"Ah! Y-yes?"
"Oh! I’m sorry. Did I startle you by grabbing your hand?"
"Haha, not at all. Did you need something from me?"
Was she shy or genuinely desperate?
Hard to say. She seemed the type to act before speaking.
People like her often made many mistakes...
Yoon Hyejeong nodded vigorously, licked her chapped lips, and spoke.
"Sorry, but... could you submit my novel for me?"
"Your novel?"
"Yes! It’s a web novel! A romance! I finished the main story but... couldn’t write the side story."
Was she asking him to write the side story and submit it?
That crossed a line.
Submitting on her behalf was feasible, but altering her work was entirely different.
When Jeongjikhan frowned, Yoon Hyejeong waved her hands frantically.
"Ah! No! I misspoke!"
"Huh?"
"I mean... help me write the side story. Then just handle the submission? Could you?"
If that’s all, he could help.
Jeongjikhan sighed in relief.
"Of course I’ll help with that."
"Really?!"
"Absolutely. I’ll bring my laptop starting tomorrow. You can work here."
"Oh! Yes!"
Yoon Hyejeong beamed, nodding repeatedly before rubbing her neck.
"I didn’t expect you to agree so fast."
"Helping people is my job. Naturally, I would."
"Haha... I’ve been holed up writing all day. Not great at conversations. Worried you’d think I’m strange..."
It wasn’t mere shyness—she seemed awkward from lack of social interaction.
Jeongjikhan grasped this within minutes.
Clumsy at expressing emotions, yet brimming with inner brightness.
"Do you need specific software? Word? Hangul? I’ll install anything required."
"No! Just Hangul! I only need to write text."
Yoon Hyejeong grinned, grabbed her café mocha, and stood.
"Then... see you tomorrow!"
"Leaving already? Your coffee’s half-full."
"Ah! No! I’ll be with Sukhui unnie!"
"Ah, understood."
She scurried to Sukhui like an eager puppy.
Even her retreating back radiated excitement.
[You’ve heard the story of the deceased Yoon Hyejeong. 10 Gil (吉) provided.]
[Deceased’s Tales – 5]
Merely chatting counted as a "deceased’s tale"?
No duplicates, but new encounters always progressed the count.
‘Why didn’t Lee Dongwuk’s ascension count?’
Lee Dongwuk who achieved peace at the National Cemetery.
Only those who drank coffee here and shared life stories got counted?
Understandable—otherwise, he could just accost random spirits outside using his ghost-seeing eyes.
Jeongjikhan slumped behind the counter and murmured:
"Nahan."
[Speak.]
"Show my current karma."
[Checking Jeongjikhan’s karma.]
[Gil (吉): 1412]
[Great Gil (大吉): 2]
[Minor Misfortune (小凶): 0]
[Great Misfortune (大凶): 0]
His jaw dropped at the floating numbers.
‘When did I collect so much?!’
Two Great Gil and over a thousand Gil.
Kang Moochi and Cha Seungpyo called this café work both opportunity and punishment.
For Jeongjikhan, it was...
‘A once-in-afterlife chance.’
As the clock struck 1 AM, the Hour of Rat patrons left as Hour of Ox guests arrived.
"Americano."
One customer stood out—a man in his mid-50s wearing an immaculate suit and checkered tie.
His polished watch and groomed hair screamed wealth.
"Order ready!"
"Here."
Unlike others who collected drinks at the counter, this man merely raised his right hand, expecting service.
After enduring this for weeks, Jeongjikhan finally slammed the mug on his table.
"Customers must retrieve their own coffee."
"Since when?"
"Always."
The man shrugged.
"Should’ve said sooner. I’ll comply going forward."
"...Understood."
Jeongjikhan seethed—his patience made him feel foolish.
"Waiter?"
"Ah! Yes?"
The man approached holding his mug.
"Apologies."
"Pardon?"
"Realized I should’ve known better. Sorry for the inconvenience."
"No, it’s—"
"Don’t dismiss it. You’ve endured this for a month."
Jeongjikhan froze. How did he know?
"You cursed me internally, right?"
"Haha... No."
"Fine. Everyone curses others."
The apology flustered Jeongjikhan more than the rudeness.
"May I ask... were you a businessman?"
"Correct."
The man removed his diamond-encrusted gold watch.
Ten stones glittered under cafe lights.
"Interested in money?"
"Who isn’t?"
"Ha! True."
The businessman interlaced his fingers.
"Ask anything. I enjoy money talk."
Jeongjikhan swallowed.
"I want to be rich."
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why seek wealth?"
The unexpected question stunned him.
"Because... money’s good?"
"What’s ‘good’?"
"In capitalism... money reigns supreme, no?"
"Then you’ll never be rich."
The man leaned forward.
"Have you concretely planned how, why, and through what means?"
Jeongjikhan inhaled deeply.
"I studied investments—stocks and real estate. Direct labor has limits."
"Many investment types exist—funds, bonds, forex, crypto. Why narrow to two?"
"They’re fastest."
"You think real estate’s quick?"
The man’s piercing gaze intensified.
"South Korea begins and ends with property, eh?"
Jeongjikhan shriveled under the stare.
"What’s your portfolio balance?"
"Pardon?"
"Stocks, real estate, liquid assets—breakdown?"
