Lee Jihoon sat in his small, dimly lit apartment, the glow of his phone screen reflecting off his tired eyes. He leaned back against the couch, staring at the numbers on his banking app.
32,500 KRW.
It wasn't a fortune, but the reality of it weighed on him. This wasn't money he had earned from working overtime, stressing over deadlines, or sacrificing his weekends to please his manager.
No—this was money he had received simply by being kind.
Jihoon exhaled slowly, running a hand through his messy black hair. It still didn't feel real.
For years, he had believed that life was about working hard, enduring stress, and hoping for the best. That was just how the world worked. You had to push yourself to exhaustion if you wanted to succeed.
But now, everything he thought he knew was being challenged.
Could kindness really change his life?
He glanced at the bouquet of fresh carnations on his coffee table. He had bought them the previous evening as part of his experiment with the system, but now… he wasn't sure what to do with them.
Maybe I should give them to someone.
He stared at the flowers for a few more seconds before shaking his head. "I'll figure it out tomorrow."
With that, he stood up, stretched his stiff limbs, and collapsed onto his bed. His mind was buzzing with new possibilities as he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Jihoon followed his usual groggy routine—dragging himself out of bed, brewing coffee, and scrolling through his phone as he waited for his brain to wake up.
But today, something caught his attention.
A trending news article popped up on his feed:
Popular Actress Yoo Seoyun Takes a Break from Acting Due to Malicious Online Attacks.
Jihoon frowned as he clicked on the article. Yoo Seoyun, one of South Korea's rising actresses, had announced she was stepping away from acting indefinitely due to relentless malicious comments and online harassment.
As he scrolled through the details, his stomach twisted.
She had been bombarded with hate.
"She's overrated anyway.""Serves her right. Can't act to save her life.""Good riddance. She's just another attention-seeker."
Jihoon clenched his jaw.
What the hell is wrong with people?
They acted like celebrities weren't human. Like their words didn't hurt.
For a moment, Jihoon just stared at the screen, feeling helpless. What could he do? He was just some office worker. He had no influence.
Then, as if sensing his hesitation, a soft ding echoed in his mind.
[Kindness Opportunity Detected.]Encouraging Words Can Change Someone's Day.
Jihoon didn't hesitate.
He opened the comment section and typed:
"I've always admired Yoo Seoyun for her dedication and talent. No one deserves to be treated this way. I hope she takes time to heal and returns stronger. She has real fans who will always support her."
His thumb hovered over the "post" button for half a second before he tapped it.
Almost immediately—
Ding.
[Small Act of Kindness Completed!]
Reward: 5,000 KRW
Jihoon blinked.
It worked.
Even words had power.
He scrolled down and saw other users responding to his comment.
"I completely agree! Yoo Seoyun is amazing. I hope she knows she has fans who love her.""Well said! More people should be supportive instead of spreading hate.""Thank you for saying this. The internet is so toxic sometimes."
Jihoon stared at the screen, realization dawning on him.
Maybe kindness was like a ripple.
A single drop could spread outward, influencing others in ways he didn't even realize.
For the first time, he truly understood what the system was teaching him.
Kindness wasn't just about physical actions. It could be as simple as a few words of support.
And if the system was rewarding this… then Jihoon was going to keep doing it.
The subway ride to work was the same as always—crowded, loud, and filled with exhausted people who didn't want to be there.
But Jihoon wasn't the same.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn't just another exhausted office worker.
He started noticing things he had always ignored before.
The tired mother trying to calm her restless child.The young man struggling to hold multiple bags.The high school student nervously rehearsing a speech.
It was like his vision had shifted. Instead of seeing problems, he saw opportunities—moments where a small act of kindness could make a real difference.
Then, another notification appeared.
[Kindness Opportunity Detected.]
Jihoon turned his head and saw a man in his late 40s, standing near the subway doors. His hands trembled slightly as he held onto the rail, his tired eyes darting around the crowded space.
He was clearly looking for a seat.
Jihoon didn't even think twice.
He stood up and gestured. "Excuse me, sir. You can sit here."
The man looked surprised before quickly nodding. "Oh—thank you, young man."
Jihoon stepped back, watching as the man sighed in relief while sitting down.
Ding.
[Small Act of Kindness Completed!]
Reward: 5,000 KRW
Jihoon smirked.
It's so easy. And yet, most people didn't do it.
He leaned against the subway wall, watching the city blur past through the window.
Something inside him had shifted.
At first, this had just been about testing the system. About seeing how much money he could earn.
But now, it was something more.
Jihoon wanted to keep doing this.
Because it felt… good.
Not just the money. But the feeling of knowing that, in some small way, he was making the world a little better.
Maybe that was the real reward.
As the subway neared his stop, Jihoon stepped forward, ready to take on whatever the day had in store.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
🔥 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! ❤️