A Quiet Afternoon at the Café
Lee Jihoon had a habit of finding quiet corners whenever he visited cafés.
He enjoyed the atmosphere—the gentle clatter of cups, the occasional burst of laughter from distant tables, and the warm scent of freshly brewed coffee.
Today was no different.
Jihoon sat in his usual spot near the window, where the sunlight streamed in, casting soft golden hues over his table.
In his hands was a well-worn book he had picked up from a secondhand bookstore, its pages slightly yellowed but intact.
The title read "Tales from the Moonlit City."
Jihoon wasn't in a rush to finish it.
He just liked the simple act of reading, letting the words transport him into another world.
Outside, the street bustled with life—couples strolling hand in hand, students laughing as they rushed past, an old man sitting at a bench feeding pigeons.
The city had its noise, but in this café, Jihoon found peace.
Or so he thought.
An Enthusiastic Stranger
"Excuse me…"
A soft voice broke through Jihoon's concentration.
He glanced up from his book, blinking in surprise.
A young woman stood in front of him, her expression hesitant yet hopeful.
She wore a beige sweater, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail. In her hands was a tray with an iced latte and a small pastry.
She wasn't looking at him—she was staring directly at the book in his hands.
Jihoon raised an eyebrow.
She hesitated for a second before speaking again.
"Sorry to bother you, but… is that 'Tales from the Moonlit City'?"
Jihoon glanced down at the cover.
"…Yeah?"
The woman's eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh wow, I've been looking everywhere for a copy!" she said excitedly. "I went to three bookstores, and they were all sold out."
Jihoon tilted his head.
"…It's that popular?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"It's a limited print edition! And it's really good—well, at least from what I've read in the sample."
Jihoon leaned back slightly, watching her animated expression.
She really seemed to love books.
As he debated whether to say anything—
Ding!
A familiar notification flashed before his eyes.
[New Kindness Challenge]
Someone is searching for something hard to find. Offer them an opportunity.
Reward: 34,000 KRW
Jihoon exhaled.
Of course.
An Unexpected Exchange
Jihoon tapped his fingers against the book's cover.
"Do you need it urgently?" he asked.
The woman hesitated, then sighed.
"…Not exactly, but I really wanted to read it soon."
Jihoon smirked. "What happens if you don't read it soon? Will the world end?"
She chuckled, shaking her head.
"No, but I might go crazy waiting for another restock."
Jihoon exhaled.
"Well, I just started it. If you want, you can borrow it first."
The woman's eyes widened.
"Wait—seriously?"
Jihoon shrugged.
"Sure. Just give it back when you're done."
She looked genuinely touched.
"I—wow. That's really nice of you."
She hesitated, then quickly opened her bag, rummaging through it.
"Here! Let's trade," she said, pulling out a different book.
Jihoon glanced at the title.
"Whispers Beneath the Sky."
She smiled. "It's one of my favorites. You can borrow it while I read yours."
Jihoon smirked. "So, now I have homework?"
She chuckled. "Think of it as a fair trade."
Jihoon handed her the book, taking hers in return.
Ding!
[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]
Reward: 34,000 KRW
The woman hugged the book excitedly.
"Thank you so much! I promise I'll take good care of it."
Jihoon smirked. "I'll hold you to that."
An Unexpected Conversation
After the book swap, the woman sat at the nearby table, sipping her coffee.
Jihoon had expected their interaction to end there.
But after a few minutes, she glanced up.
"…So, do you read a lot?"
Jihoon raised an eyebrow.
"Sometimes."
She grinned. "That's a vague answer."
Jihoon smirked. "I read when I feel like it."
She laughed. "Fair enough."
For the next twenty minutes, they casually talked about books—what they liked, what they didn't, which authors had the worst endings.
Jihoon didn't usually chat with strangers, but somehow, the conversation felt easy.
They debated whether plot twists were necessary, whether classics were overrated, and which books should have never been adapted into movies.
At some point, he realized he hadn't even taken a sip of his coffee.
The Simple Joy of Sharing
As time passed, the woman checked her watch.
"Oh, I should get going," she said. "I have class soon."
Jihoon nodded. "Where do you study?"
"Over at the university. Literature major."
Jihoon smirked. "Makes sense."
She chuckled. "I get that a lot."
She held up the book.
"Thanks again for this. Seriously, you just saved me from a two-week waitlist at the library."
Jihoon shrugged. "No problem. Just don't lose it."
She laughed. "I won't. I'll bring it back in a few days."
She hesitated, then added, "Oh—I didn't introduce myself, did I?"
She held out a hand.
"Han Soojin."
Jihoon shook it. "Lee Jihoon."
Soojin grinned. "Nice to meet you, Jihoon-ssi. I'll see you soon."
With that, she left.
Jihoon watched her disappear into the crowd, then glanced at the book she had given him.
He flipped it open, reading the first sentence.
"Sometimes, the smallest moments create the biggest stories."
Jihoon smirked.
How fitting.
Ding!
[Bonus Kindness Opportunity Unlocked!]
Sharing something we love brings people together.
+10,000 KRW
Jihoon sighed, shaking his head.
Even lending books counted now?
A Quiet Reflection
Later that evening, Jihoon sat on his couch, Hodu curled up beside him.
The small kitten lazily stretched, nudging against Jihoon's hand.
Jihoon absentmindedly scratched behind Hodu's ears while flipping through the pages of Whispers Beneath the Sky.
His phone buzzed.
Ding!
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Sharing isn't about losing—it's about connecting. A small act of trust can create unexpected friendships."
Jihoon exhaled, leaning back.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
End of Chapter 36
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