Lee Jihoon's peaceful morning was interrupted by the sound of moving trucks and shuffling furniture echoing through his apartment building's hallway.
Sitting on his couch, he sipped his coffee, half-listening to the noise outside his door.
Someone new must be moving in.
Hodu, curled up beside him, twitched an ear but remained unbothered, soaking in the morning sun from the window.
Jihoon took another sip of coffee, debating whether he should check it out or just go about his day.
Then, a loud thud followed by a yelp made his decision for him.
"Ah—! Not again…"
Jihoon sighed. Curiosity won.
Opening his door, Jihoon peeked out into the hallway and found a young man standing in front of a pile of collapsed boxes.
The guy looked frazzled, his black-rimmed glasses slightly askew, his hoodie slightly too big for his frame.
Jihoon raised an eyebrow.
"You good?"
The man jolted at the sudden voice, then let out an awkward laugh.
"Uh… yeah. I think so." He scratched his head. "Just… gravity doesn't like me today."
Jihoon smirked. "Rough first day?"
The man sighed dramatically. "You have no idea."
Jihoon eyed the mess of cardboard and belongings scattered across the floor.
"…You need a hand?"
The guy brightened up instantly.
"Seriously? That would be amazing."
Jihoon sighed. Looks like his morning coffee break was over.
Jihoon crouched down and started picking up some of the fallen items.
Books, kitchenware, random electronics—it was a mix of everything.
As he stacked some books back into a box, he caught a glance at one of the titles.
"'The Art of Productivity'?" Jihoon snorted. "Seems like you didn't read this one yet."
The guy groaned. "Don't remind me."
Jihoon smirked. "So, what's your name?"
"Oh! Right—uh, I'm Choi Taesung. Just moved in today."
"Lee Jihoon," he introduced himself. "Welcome to the building."
Taesung grinned. "Thanks. And thanks for helping. I swear, moving alone is a nightmare."
Jihoon stacked the last box. "Why didn't you hire movers?"
Taesung sighed. "I tried, but my budget didn't agree with me."
Jihoon nodded, understanding. Moving was expensive.
Taesung stretched his arms. "Anyway, I appreciate this. You're officially my first friend here."
Jihoon chuckled. "You're setting the bar pretty low."
Taesung grinned. "Hey, take the compliment."
Ding!
[New Kindness Challenge Completed!]
Helping someone settle into a new home makes transitions easier.
Reward: 28,000 KRW
Jihoon smirked. Easy money.
After everything was packed properly, Taesung rubbed the back of his neck.
"You know, I was planning to order food later as a 'congratulations-you-survived-moving' meal."
Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Taesung grinned. "Wanna join? As thanks for helping out."
Jihoon considered it.
Normally, he wasn't the type to hang out with neighbors.
But Taesung seemed… easygoing.
And after all, wasn't this system about building connections through kindness?
Jihoon shrugged. "Sure. As long as you're paying."
Taesung laughed. "You're bold for a guy who just helped me clean up my mess."
Jihoon smirked. "I call it service tax."
Ding!
[Bonus Kindness Opportunity Unlocked!]
Sharing a meal strengthens bonds. Enjoy a moment of connection.
+10,000 KRW
Jihoon exhaled.
Even eating was now part of the system's kindness agenda?
Later that evening, Jihoon found himself in Taesung's half-unpacked apartment, sitting cross-legged on the floor as they waited for their food delivery.
Boxes were still everywhere, but the atmosphere was comfortable.
"Sorry for the mess," Taesung said, shifting a few things aside.
Jihoon waved it off. "Trust me, my place wasn't any better when I first moved in."
"Did you move in alone?"
"Yeah."
"Man, I envy that. My last roommate was a nightmare. Never cleaned, borrowed my stuff without asking… the works."
Jihoon smirked. "Sounds like free training for living alone."
Taesung laughed. "That's one way to look at it."
Their food finally arrived, and as they ate, the conversation flowed naturally.
Work. Hobbies. Favorite foods.
Jihoon found that Taesung was surprisingly easy to talk to.
Unlike coworkers or acquaintances, there was no pressure.
Just two people sharing a simple meal.
It was… nice.
As Jihoon got up to leave, Taesung leaned against the doorframe.
"Hey, thanks again for today," he said.
Jihoon shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal."
"Still," Taesung smirked. "I owe you one."
Jihoon chuckled. "I'll remember that."
As he walked back to his apartment, Hodu greeted him at the door, rubbing against his legs.
Jihoon picked up the small cat, scratching under his chin.
"Made a new friend today," he murmured.
Hodu flicked his tail, unimpressed.
Jihoon sighed.
"Yeah, yeah. You're still my favorite."
Ding!
[Daily Kindness Reflection]
"Small acts of kindness open doors to new connections. Sometimes, a simple helping hand is the start of something greater."
Jihoon leaned against the wall, staring at the soft glow of the city lights outside his window.
Yeah.
That sounded about right.
One small act at a time.
End of Chapter 31
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