Chapter 40: The Forgotten Wallet

A Quiet Morning at the Bakery

Lee Jihoon wasn't usually an early riser on weekends, but today, the craving for freshly baked bread won.

The small neighborhood bakery near his apartment was well-known for its soft pastries, warm croissants, and rich coffee.

It was a peaceful spot, always filled with a comforting scent that made stepping inside feel like entering a different world.

Jihoon pulled open the glass door, greeted by the warmth inside.

The cozy interior had a few customers—an elderly couple sharing tea, a student reading by the window, and a few others browsing the neatly displayed bread selection.

A soft chime rang as the door closed behind him.

Jihoon inhaled deeply.

Nothing quite matched the scent of freshly baked bread in the morning.

A Small Problem at the Counter

After browsing the display, Jihoon picked out a few pastries—a chocolate croissant, a small loaf of garlic bread, and a custard-filled bun.

He stepped toward the cashier counter, waiting for his turn.

In front of him, a young woman stood nervously, holding a tray with two sandwiches and a coffee.

The cashier, an older woman with a gentle smile, punched in the total.

"That'll be 13,500 KRW, please."

The woman froze, then quickly checked her bag.

Her hands searched through every pocket, patting down her coat, then flipping open her wallet—only to pause in horror.

She visibly paled.

"Oh no…"

Jihoon immediately understood.

She had forgotten her wallet.

The bakery was small and friendly, but it wasn't the type of place that let customers walk out with unpaid food.

The woman bit her lip, embarrassed.

"I… I'm so sorry. I must have left my wallet at home," she mumbled, face turning red.

The cashier smiled kindly. "It happens. Do you want to put something back?"

The woman hesitated, glancing at the food on her tray.

From her expression, she really didn't want to give anything up.

Jihoon sighed.

Ding!

[New Kindness Challenge]

Someone forgot their wallet. Cover their meal.

Reward: 38,000 KRW

Jihoon smirked.

This system always knew when to show up.

A Simple Gesture

Before the woman could speak, Jihoon stepped forward.

"I'll cover it," he said, tapping his card on the reader.

The cashier blinked.

The woman whipped around, eyes wide.

"W-Wait! You don't have to—"

"Already did," Jihoon said simply.

The receipt printed out before she could argue further.

The cashier chuckled, handing her the tray.

"There you go. Enjoy your meal."

The woman stared at Jihoon, completely flustered.

For a moment, she seemed to struggle with words before letting out a deep sigh.

"…I was really looking forward to this," she admitted, finally offering a sheepish smile.

Jihoon smirked. "Then it's a good thing I was here."

She let out a soft laugh. "I don't even know how to react to this. People don't usually just step in like that."

Jihoon shrugged, grabbing his own food. "I guess today's your lucky day."

She gave him a thoughtful look.

"Do you do this often? Helping random strangers?"

Jihoon tilted his head. "Not really. I just happened to be here."

She crossed her arms, amused. "So you don't normally do good deeds?"

Jihoon smirked. "I do them when they make sense."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Well, thank you. Seriously."

Ding!

[Kindness Opportunity Completed!]

Reward: 38,000 KRW

A Different Kind of Offer

Instead of rushing off, the woman hesitated.

Then, she stepped toward the empty seat across from Jihoon's table.

"…Can I sit?"

Jihoon raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Go ahead."

She placed her tray down, unwrapping her sandwich.

"I should probably introduce myself. I'm Seo Mina."

"Lee Jihoon."

Mina nodded. "You eat here often?"

Jihoon took a bite of his croissant. "Sometimes. Best bread in the area."

She hummed in agreement. "I come here every weekend. It's my little routine."

Jihoon smirked. "Guess I interrupted your routine today."

She grinned. "In a good way."

As they ate, the conversation drifted to random topics—the best bakeries in the city, the weirdest coffee flavors they had ever tried, and why croissants should never have raisins in them.

Jihoon found himself relaxing.

Mina was easy to talk to, and she wasn't overly flustered about what happened earlier.

In fact, she seemed genuinely amused by it.

A Simple Thank You

After finishing her meal, Mina leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

"That was good."

Jihoon nodded. "You almost missed out."

She laughed. "Yeah, but thanks to you, I didn't."

She pulled out her phone, tapping her screen.

"I seriously want to pay you back, though. Do you have a bank app?"

Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "You really don't have to."

"I know," she said. "But I want to."

Jihoon sighed, pulling out his phone. "Fine."

A few moments later, he got a notification—she had sent him back the exact amount.

"Happy now?" he teased.

She smirked. "Very."

Standing up, she grabbed her bag.

"Well, Jihoon-ssi, I guess I'll see you around. Unless you only appear when people are in trouble."

Jihoon smirked. "You'll have to find out."

Mina laughed, waving as she left the bakery.

Jihoon finished his coffee, watching her disappear down the street.

His phone buzzed.

Ding!

[Bonus Kindness Opportunity Unlocked!]

Sometimes, kindness isn't about the money—it's about making someone's day a little better.

+10,000 KRW

Jihoon scoffed.

Even paying for breakfast counted?

A Quiet Reflection

Later that morning, Jihoon returned home, placing his bag of extra pastries on the counter.

As expected, Hodu immediately trotted over, sniffing the bag.

Jihoon smirked. "Not for you."

The kitten flicked his tail in protest.

Jihoon chuckled, pulling out his phone.

Ding!

[Daily Kindness Reflection]

"Sometimes, small kindnesses mean the most. A little help can turn someone's whole day around."

Jihoon exhaled, stretching his arms.

Yeah.

That sounded about right.

One small act at a time.

End of Chapter 40

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