The city streets were alive with the steady hum of conversations, the distant honking of cars, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee from the street vendors.
Lee Jihoon had decided to take a walk through the shopping district, partly to get some fresh air and partly because he needed to restock Hodu's food supply.
With his hands in his pockets, he leisurely strolled past small boutiques, food stalls, and bookstores, occasionally glancing at window displays but not really looking for anything in particular.
Until—
He spotted a small pet shop.
The sign read: "Paw & Whiskers – Everything Your Pet Needs!"
Jihoon sighed.
"Alright, Hodu. Let's see what new trouble you're gonna cause with this."
The moment Jihoon stepped inside, he was greeted by the smell of fresh hay, pet food, and the faint scent of shampoo.
Cats lounged in enclosed play areas, a few puppies yapped excitedly in their section, and rows of neatly stocked shelves displayed everything from treats to scratching posts.
Jihoon quickly grabbed a bag of kitten food, debating whether he should also get some toys.
Eventually, he settled on a small feather wand—Hodu would probably ignore it at first, then randomly decide at 3 AM that it was the best thing ever.
Satisfied, Jihoon made his way to the cashier, placing his items on the counter.
The young woman at the register smiled. "Did you find everything you needed?"
"Yeah, that should be all."
She scanned the items, then told him the total.
Jihoon reached for his wallet.
And froze.
It wasn't there.
His pockets? Empty.
His jacket? No sign of it.
Jihoon's stomach dropped.
Had he left it at home? Or—worse—dropped it somewhere along the way?
The cashier blinked, noticing his hesitation. "Sir?"
Jihoon let out a slow breath. "Uh… I think I forgot my wallet."
He rubbed his temple, already preparing to put the items back—
"Excuse me, did you say you forgot your wallet?"
A voice came from behind him.
Jihoon turned to see an elderly woman, neatly dressed, holding a small shopping bag.
She smiled kindly. "If it's alright, I can cover it for you."
Jihoon blinked.
"Huh?"
She chuckled. "It's not much. Besides, I know what it's like to get all the way to the counter and realize you forgot something."
Jihoon hesitated.
This was his situation to deal with. He wasn't used to being on the receiving end of kindness.
But before he could refuse—
Ding!
A new notification appeared.
[New Kindness Challenge]
Accept kindness from others. Kindness is not just about giving—it's about receiving, too.
Reward: 30,000 KRW
Jihoon almost scoffed.
Now the system was forcing him to take help?
The elderly woman smiled again. "Don't worry about it. Just think of it as paying it forward."
Jihoon exhaled.
"…Alright. Thank you."
The woman nodded as she handed her card to the cashier.
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 30,000 KRW
After they stepped out of the shop, Jihoon turned to the woman.
"Can I at least buy you a coffee or something? To say thanks."
She smiled warmly. "Tea would be nice."
"There's a café nearby," Jihoon said, leading the way.
Once they sat down, the woman stirred her tea gently.
"So, do you have a pet?" she asked.
Jihoon smirked. "Yeah. A tiny dictator named Hodu."
She chuckled. "Sounds like a cat."
Jihoon shook his head. "He runs my apartment now. I just pay rent."
The woman laughed, then took a sip of her tea.
"That's a good thing," she said softly. "A home feels different when you have someone waiting for you."
Jihoon paused.
Her words carried a quiet understanding—a weight that suggested she knew that feeling well.
Jihoon glanced at her hands, noticing a simple gold ring on her finger.
Maybe she had lost someone.
Maybe she lived alone now.
But she didn't seem lonely.
Just… content.
And somehow, Jihoon understood.
He took a sip of his coffee, then asked, "By the way, I never got your name."
The woman smiled. "Yoon Soyeon."
"Nice to meet you, Soyeon-ssi," Jihoon said.
"Likewise, Jihoon-ssi," she replied. "And I'm glad I got to do something nice today."
They talked for a while, about small things.
About Hodu's mischievous habits.
About how the woman used to have a dog that loved stealing socks.
About how the little moments in life mattered more than people realized.
Eventually, Jihoon glanced at his watch.
"I should probably head home before Hodu knocks something off the shelf in protest."
The woman chuckled. "It was nice talking with you."
Jihoon stood up.
"…And thanks again. For earlier."
She smiled. "I was happy to help."
As he left the café, Jihoon felt lighter.
Not just because he had gotten Hodu's food after all.
But because the system was right—
Kindness wasn't just about giving.
Sometimes, it was about letting others help you, too.
When Jihoon got home, he placed the bag on the table and opened the box of Hodu's new toy.
"Alright, let's see if you actually play with this."
Hodu sniffed the feather wand, then promptly…
Ignored it.
Jihoon sighed. "Figures."
Still, as he watched the tiny kitten stretch lazily on the couch, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
His life had changed.
And for the first time in a long time…
He didn't mind at all.
Ding!
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Accepting kindness is not a sign of weakness—it's a way of letting others share warmth with you."
Jihoon leaned back, closing his eyes.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
End of Chapter 32
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Support me on👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️