For the first time in a long while, Lee Jihoon woke up feeling different.
Not tired.
Not irritated.
Not already counting down the hours until the day was over.
Instead, he felt… light.
As he sat up in bed, his mind replayed everything that had happened over the past few days.
A week ago, he was just another exhausted office worker, dragging himself through life.
Now, he had attended a VIP event, befriended a famous actress, and seen firsthand how small acts of kindness could ripple into unexpected opportunities.
He let out a small chuckle.
Life had taken a weird turn.
And the best part?
It all started because he chose to be kind.
He reached for his phone and, as expected, a new notification from the Kindness System popped up.
[Daily Kindness Challenge]
A smile and greeting can change someone's day.
Reward: 2,500 KRW
Jihoon smirked. "You really don't ask for much, do you?"
Still, he wasn't complaining.
With that in mind, he got up, got ready, and stepped out of his apartment, wondering what today's small act of kindness would lead to.
A Surprising Encounter at the Coffee Shop
Jihoon's first stop of the day was his usual café.
The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted him as he stepped inside. It was the usual morning chaos—workers grabbing their caffeine fix, students buried in books, and baristas moving quickly to keep up with orders.
As he joined the line, his eyes landed on a familiar face.
The woman from the other day—the one he had bought coffee for.
But unlike last time, where she had looked flustered and embarrassed, today she stood confidently at the counter, ordering her drink without any sign of panic.
She turned, coffee in hand, and their eyes met.
For a brief moment, she blinked in surprise before recognition dawned on her face.
"Oh! You're the guy from before," she said, walking up to him.
Jihoon smiled. "Looks like you remembered your wallet today."
She laughed. "Yeah, no disasters this time."
There was a small pause before she suddenly bowed slightly.
"I never got to properly thank you. That was really kind of you."
Jihoon waved it off. "It was just coffee. No big deal."
She shook her head. "No, it was more than that. That day was... really stressful. Your small kindness made a difference."
Jihoon blinked.
He hadn't thought much about it at the time, but to her, it had meant something.
Before he could reply, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small business card.
"I work in marketing," she explained. "If you ever need help with branding, promotions, or anything media-related, let me know."
Jihoon hesitated before taking the card. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
She smiled. "See you around."
As she walked away, Jihoon looked down at the business card.
Han Mirae - Digital Marketing Consultant
Jihoon smirked. Looks like kindness was paying him back in unexpected ways.
Ding.
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 5,000 KRW
Office Life, But Different
When Jihoon arrived at work, he immediately noticed a shift.
Maybe it was just in his head, but things felt lighter.
Or maybe... he was the one who had changed.
He used to dread walking into the office, counting down the hours until he could leave.
But now?
He greeted his coworkers instead of ignoring them.He actually listened when people talked to him.He felt... present.
And to his surprise, people responded to it.
A coworker smiled back at him after he greeted her.
A junior employee hesitated before approaching him for help, clearly expecting him to brush her off—but instead, Jihoon helped.
It was a small change, but it made a difference.
As he settled into his desk, Kevin Park appeared out of nowhere, arms crossed.
"Alright, Jihoon. I give up."
Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "Give up on what?"
Kevin pointed at him. "You. This new version of you. It's weird."
Jihoon smirked. "Weird how?"
Kevin sat on the edge of Jihoon's desk. "You used to be the guy who just wanted to get through the day, and now you're out here being... friendly?"
Jihoon shrugged. "Maybe I just realized that life doesn't have to suck."
Kevin narrowed his eyes. "That's suspiciously vague."
Jihoon grinned. "Maybe you should try being nice too."
Kevin scoffed. "Nah. That sounds exhausting."
Jihoon chuckled. "Your loss."
Just then, a voice called out from across the office.
"Kevin! Can you help with the reports?"
Kevin groaned. "Why me?"
Jihoon smirked. "Maybe if you were nicer, people wouldn't hate asking you for favors."
Kevin glared at him before standing. "I regret ever talking to you."
Jihoon just laughed.
Maybe kindness was contagious after all.
During his lunch break, Jihoon's phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
Incoming Call: Yoo Seoyun
Jihoon raised an eyebrow. Why is Seoyun calling me in the middle of the day?
He answered. "Seoyun-ssi. What's up?"
"Jihoon!" Her voice sounded genuinely excited. "Are you free this weekend?"
Jihoon hesitated. "Uh… yeah? Why?"
"I have a day off, and I thought… maybe we could hang out. You know, outside of work events."
Jihoon blinked.
She really meant it when she said she wanted to be friends.
He smirked. "Are you inviting me to another fancy party?"
Seoyun laughed. "No, just something casual. Let's go somewhere fun."
Jihoon chuckled. "Alright. Where are we going?"
"I'll send you the details later," she said. "It's a surprise."
Jihoon shook his head. "You're making me nervous."
Seoyun smirked. "Good. See you soon."
The call ended.
Jihoon stared at his phone for a moment before shaking his head.
His life was getting weirder by the day.
And he wasn't complaining.
Ding.
[New Event Unlocked: A Day Out with Yoo Seoyun]
Potential Kindness Opportunities: HIGH
Jihoon grinned.
Bring it on.
By the time the workday ended, Jihoon felt satisfied.
He had reconnected with Han Mirae, who could be a useful contact in the future.He had successfully annoyed Kevin just by existing.He had an unexpected outing planned with a celebrity.And most importantly...
He was genuinely enjoying his life for the first time in years.
As he walked home, his phone buzzed one more time.
Another notification from the Kindness System.
[Daily Reflection]
Every act of kindness creates a ripple. The more you give, the more you receive. Keep going.
Jihoon smirked.
Yeah.
This was just the beginning.
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