A/N: For this chapter, I will be using Joo-Hee's original name and pronouns (only for a few chapters).
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After saying goodbye to her team, Joo-Hee commuted home and finally arrived at her apartment about half an hour later. As soon as she stepped inside, she stretched, feeling the weight of the day's events drop from her shoulders.
She immediately tossed off her gear and clothes, eager to get rid of the sticky feeling left from battling those goblins. She directly headed straight for the bathroom.
There she checked her phone. It was still just before 3 PM, so she had a solid three hours before meeting Jin-Woo at 6.
"Might as well enjoy this time to relax. I deserve at least this much," she thought as she drew herself a warm bath.
As Joo-Hee sank deeper into the warm bath, she let out a long sigh as she replayed the moments of the battle with the goblins, mentally noting the attacks that had either gone well or left her vulnerable.
Then, her mind drifted back to the restrictive quest she'd encountered—the one the system had hidden because she was in a party rather than alone. Maybe I should go back and give it a shot, she thought. Who knows? The reward might be worth the risk.
An hour later, after a luxurious soak, she stepped out, sighing in relief. "At last, I'm finally clean again," she murmured.
While drying her hair, her eyes landed on the vanity table cluttered with various skincare products. She stared at them, a mix of admiration and disbelief on her face. "This is why Joo-Hee has such flawless skin," she mused, shaking her head. "But it's also why she's nearly broke," she added, a note of concern creeping into her voice.
"Sure, it's nice to take care of your skin, but this is… a lot. I'll never fully understand women—even after being transmigrated into one."
She couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head as she reached for the hair dryer.
"It is really fascinating how this world has people with hair in every color of the spectrum, and it's all natural—no dye needed," she mused, running a hand through her long, vibrant orange hair. "Back in my world, everyone would think it's dyed."
Once her hair was dry, she carefully curled her bangs, creating a soft, curtain-like fringe that framed her face. She let the rest of her long orange hair fall freely, the waves cascading around her shoulders. Stepping back to admire her reflection, she grinned.
"This should be good already. Clothes next," she declared, twirling playfully as she assessed her overall look.
Her fingers drifted over her clothes as she pondered her outfit choice. She pulled out a pair of jeans, a cozy white turtleneck, and a sleek brown leather jacket. Black boots completed the look, giving her a cool yet casual edge.
She looked in front of the mirror, smiling as she took in her reflection. "Not bad, if I do say so myself," she said with a playful smirk. "Guess I haven't lost my fashion sense just because I'm in a girl's body."
She glanced at the clock and saw it was 4:47 PM. "It's still early; maybe I could squeeze in a stroll," she murmured, grabbing her bag. Taking one last look at her outfit in the mirror, she nodded in satisfaction before heading out, feeling ready for the evening ahead.
...
Joo-Hee arrived at the restaurant a bit earlier than planned, scanning the area for Jin-Woo. As expected, he was nowhere in sight. "Guess I have some time to kill," she muttered to herself, deciding to take a stroll.
The streets of South Korea were bustling with life, and Joo-Hee found herself enchanted by the vibrant atmosphere of a foreign country.
She wandered into small shops, sampling various snacks that caught her eye—sweet rice cakes, spicy tteokbokki, and even some refreshing bingsu. Each bite brought a smile to her face as she absorbed the cultural experience around her.
After a while, she made her way to a nearby park. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, adding a soft pink hue to the landscape. Time seemed to fly as she admired the beauty of this foreign land, and before she knew it, the clock read 5:43 PM.
"Okay, time to head now," she said, heading back. As she approached, she spotted Jin-Woo emerging from a coffee shop called Café Pene.
"Hey, Jin-woo!" she called out, waving enthusiastically.
But there was someone else with him. Joo-Hee's eyes widened as she recognized the familiar young man with light brown hair wearing a cotton vest.
"Wait, that guy… is that Yoo Jinho?" she thought, suppressing a giggle. "Ha! He looks exactly like he does in the manhwa, what a cute little child!"
As she continued to analyze the scene, her mind raced back to a familiar memory: the gray jacket Jin-Woo was wearing. "This scene... I can't recall it vividly. Is this that moment? after the spider dungeon thingy?" she thought silently.
Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed Jin-Woo approaching her until he flicked her forehead, causing her to squeal in surprise and instinctively cover her forehead with her hand.
This little—why does he always do that? she thought, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement.
Their eyes locked, and she felt her heart once again started to race. And here we go again, she sighed inwardly, shaking her head with a smirk. Hai… I should just get used to this.
Jin-Woo chuckled, his expression playful. "Sorry, you were lost in your own world. I had to bring you back."
"So, when will you stop staring?" he asked, arching an eyebrow, but the moment he caught her gaze, he felt a strange flutter in his stomach.
Joo-Hee pouted, crossing her arms. "Is that all you have to say after we haven't seen each other?" She closed her eyes and took a dramatic step back, feigning disappointment. "This is upsetting. I made myself look good and dressed nicely because you invited me for a date."
Jin-Woo's face turned a bright shade of red, his eyes wide with disbelief. "W-what… what do you mean date? I—uh, I invited you because I wanted to say thank you for taking care of me in the hospital!"
His stammering only made her laugh. Why is he so cute when he's flustered? she thought, biting her lip to stifle a grin.
Unable to contain herself, Joo-Hee burst into laughter. "I'm joking! Why is our little Jin so flustered?"
"I—uh!" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, his cheeks still glowing crimson. "You can't just say things like that out of nowhere!"
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Joo-Hee took a step back, a teasing smile on her lips. "You mean I can't say that I dressed up nicely for a date? I thought you were going to sweep me off my feet!"
Jin-Woo stumbled over his words, a nervous laugh escaping him. "I wasn't—I mean, I didn't plan for this to be a date! I just said I wanted to thank you! And now…" He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You're making it really hard for me to think straight!"
Joo-Hee couldn't help but giggle at his earnestness, laughing at the sight of him so flustered. "You!" he finally exclaimed, blushing deeper as he reached out to grab her.
In a playful flourish, Joo-Hee evaded his grasp, her laughter ringing out. "Oh... you're trying to catch me now?" she teased, darting off down the street.
"Wait! You can't just run away like that!" Jin-Woo shouted, his voice laced with mock exasperation as he chased after her, trying to suppress his smile.
The flustered look on his face only made her run faster, and soon they were both caught up in the thrill of the chase.
They dashed through the streets, their playful banter echoing around them until they finally arrived at the restaurant, Monggu Pork Belly.
"Stop!" Joo-Hee finally called, breathless, as they skidded to a halt outside the entrance.
Jin-Woo stopped, his cheeks still flushed. "This is what I get for inviting you out, huh?" he managed to say, a sheepish grin breaking through his earlier embarrassment.
"Definitely worth it," Joo-Hee replied, her smile bright and infectious, drawing an equally warm smile from Jin-Woo. His gaze softened, and for a moment, the bustling world around them faded, leaving just the two of them standing there, caught in the joy of each other's company.