I had been standing outside since 5 minutes before the appointed time.
It was both a basic courtesy for someone willing to come all this way to sell me a bicycle, and also stemmed from anxiety that they might pass by if I wasn’t there when they arrived.
Just in case, we had exchanged descriptions of our appearances.
I was in black clothes, black pants, and black shoes. Even I felt ridiculous after describing myself. I really need to buy some new clothes. In contrast, the seller would be in a gray car wearing a red cap. No way could I miss that.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
The message said they’d arrive soon.
As soon as I saw that text, tension returned to my relaxed body. This was my first secondhand transaction in person, and I was nervous. Surely I wouldn’t get scammed with bricks?
Well, since it’s a bicycle, that’s probably less likely…
Having consumed too much sensational internet content, my mind kept recalling posts about people getting scammed in secondhand deals. Good transactions don’t become news, after all. But incidents and accidents spread like wildfire… They were burned into my mind.
No way, right?
In the distance, I saw a gray car turning in this direction. I timidly raised my hand in case they might not recognize me, and seeing this, the car gradually slowed down before coming to a precise stop in front of me.
Then the car window smoothly rolled down.
There appeared a blonde woman wearing a red cap.
It wasn’t natural blonde but seemed dyed, yet it suited her strangely well. With healthy-looking tanned skin, the red cap didn’t exactly match, but it made her easy to spot.
“You’re from Daangn Market, right?”
“Ah… yes…”
I answered, but my eyes were fixed on the driver who was also the bicycle seller listed as ‘Kim Mirae.’
Especially on the tattoo that stretched from her shoulder to her neckline.
Perhaps because she was wearing something breezy like a tank top, it was impossible not to stare. I must have been too obvious about it because she self-consciously touched the tattooed area of her neck.
“Ah… do you dislike tattoos?”
“No, no, I’m just fascinated”
“Oh, really? Hmm~”
It was fascinating indeed.
Despite the weather just warming up, she wore a bold tank top that completely exposed her tanned… or rather sun-tanned abs and arms. As expected of someone selling a bicycle, she had a well-toned body.
Blonde hair… tanned muscular physique, tattoos, and a glinting piercing visible on her ear.
This is totally…?
…can’t help but be fascinated.
I could feel her staring at me as much as I was staring at her.
“Um… have you eaten?”
“Pardon?”
“If you have a meal with me, I’ll take 50,000 won off the price.”
Though I wasn’t hungry, the 50,000 won discount was tempting for a moment, but regardless, having a meal with a stranger seemed like it would be uncomfortable.
Just as I was about to decline, a thought occurred to me.
Could this be what they call hitting on someone? “Let’s grab a meal.” It didn’t seem like something you’d say to someone you’re meeting for the first time, and even less something you’d say while offering an additional discount on an already cheap bicycle.
Is it? Isn’t it?
“Is this you hitting on me?”
Even after saying it, I wondered if that was wrong.
If it wasn’t? I’d look like a shameless crazy person drinking my own Kimchi soup by the bowlful[1], and even if it was, I’d look like someone with no tact. Well, both are true, but in this reversed world, the possibility kept circling in my mind.
Either surprised or dumbfounded by my words.
The woman sat there blank-faced with her mouth open.
Then, as if having made up her mind, she nodded.
“Yes, I’m hitting on you.”
“Ah…”
I almost got excited by her confident affirmation.
If I had been a woman.
Her looks were my type, and just her openly showing interest in me would have been enough to get excited, but somehow I wasn’t as excited as I expected.
I don’t know if this style works in this world, but honestly speaking, she’s masculine.
More precisely, like a man from my original world. The blonde, tanned, delinquent type who works out a lot. Rather than exciting, it was scary and slightly amusing. No, even so, how could I not get excited about a blonde sun goddess…
While that might be a feminine approach in this world, to me, both the dialogue and feeling were just like being hit on by a guy…
“Then I’ll just pay the original price”
“What? You won’t have a meal… ah… ah… okay…”
In an awkward atmosphere, I sent the money and received the bicycle.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a scam.
As soon as the transaction was done, the blonde sun goddess woman fled in her car.
Was I too harsh?
No, how else should I reject someone? Isn’t being firm the best way? This is my first time being hit on, so I’m not sure.
Does this even count as rejection? Wow, I’ve really become something since coming to this world. Huh? I rejected a woman? Me? Come on, forget rejection, I used to need serious resolve just to talk to women outside the internet, but I guess people really do change when their environment changes.
I looked down at the bicycle in front of me.
Looks expensive.
“…At least I got it cheap~”
At that time, I didn’t know. That someone was watching me struggling to drag the bicycle up…
***
[Breaking News] Almost Got Eaten by Geum Taeyang
It’s me again, the credible source who discovered Daeju’s collab stream last time, bringing another breaking news.
While heading home from work, I happened to see Daeju standing there. That characteristic loner vibe and slightly quirky atmosphere was unmistakably Daeju.
Then this gray car comes up. I wondered who it was, and holy shit lololol there was this blonde tanned delinquent straight out of a manga lololol
I’m not lying, seriously
I took photos but won’t post them in case I get sued.
Anyway, Geum Taeyang seemed to be trying to seduce Daeju, I wasn’t planning to save him and just got closer because I was curious about what they were saying.
Seemed like she was asking to grab a meal.
But this crazy Daeju straight up asks if she’s hitting on him lololololol had to hold back my laughter then.
After Geum Taeyang made up her mind and said yes, he just rejected her and bought the bicycle at full price lololololol
You should’ve seen Geum Taeyang’s expression after being rejected lololololol expression of crushed pride lololol
Ah lololol so satisfying lolol
Summary: Daeju almost got eaten but survived by kiting well lolol
[Comments]
– Not lying
– Geum Taeyang usually succeeds in stealing people but Daeju stayed single;;
ㄴ fr;; if he had a girlfriend Geum Taeyang would’ve eaten him;;
– So share where Daeju lives
ㄴ What would you do with that info
ㄴ What~~~would~~~I~~~do~~~~?
ㄴ lololololololololol your perverted intentions are showing just from the chat…
– ffs could’ve filmed Daeju’s adult video if things went well
ㄴ if we filmed and got dirt on him… Daeju having no choice but to submit to me… uwu
ㄴ Stop watching too much Hitomi
***
“They were watching this…?”
After struggling to carry the bicycle up to my one-room apartment, I was breathing heavily and raggedly even before exercising.
I must be really out of shape. While catching my breath, I checked my Tgether board to see if there was any news, and there was a post rapidly gaining upvotes.
This was that mess of a post.
How perfect must the timing be for that convenience store part-timer to see me every rare time I go out?
At this point, isn’t it fate?
Fate with the Daeju-dan?
…Maybe Geum Taeyang would’ve been better…
Since I bought the bicycle, I should try it right away.
Sweat was already beading on my forehead and the back of my neck as if I’d already finished warming up, so even a short ride would probably make me pour sweat.
“I forgot to ask how to use this…”
I didn’t want to contact her again for various reasons, so I just tried pressing everything one by one.
“This must be resistance control… this is power… this is seat adjustment?”
There were still buttons and levers I wasn’t sure about, but knowing this much seemed enough to start.
“Why does the seat fit perfectly…”
If a woman used it, shouldn’t it not fit my legs?
I’m not tall, and my legs aren’t long but… thinking about it, it makes sense since Geum Taeyang woman was visibly tall even while sitting.
Thanks to that, I could comfortably start after just slightly increasing the resistance.
When I increased the resistance, pedaling became incredibly difficult. It felt like three people were riding the bicycle, but they say with these exercise bikes, the first rotation is always the hardest, but once it starts turning, even this weight becomes much easier compared to that first rotation.
If I can just complete the first rotation-
“Huff… should I lower the level? They say not to overdo it on the first day”
Even a healthy adult male should be careful about injuries.
After lowering the level, it finally started turning. Not long after I started pedaling, the beaded sweat began to flow. I hadn’t done much, but I was already out of breath and my heart was beating fast. I wondered which part would hurt most when cycling, but surprisingly my thighs and calves were fine while my waist started hurting.
Even with a backrest it wasn’t enough – was it a posture problem or were my waist muscles just that weak?
Maybe both.
And so, exactly 10 minutes passed.
“Haa… ah… so… hard…”
I leaned back against the backrest.
With my legs completely stopped.
Since it’s the first day. Telling myself it’s okay and took a shower.
Ten minutes on the first day is good. Actually, considering I’d already used some muscle energy carrying this heavy bicycle up and down the stairs, I did well for someone who hadn’t exercised in a long time.
Did well indeed.
***
[Guys I rode the bicycle for 10 minutes straight on first day]
That’s good, right?
[Comments]
– Nope
– What are you talking about lol even my middle school sibling rides for 10 mins lol
– Stop talking nonsense and ride more
– No wait, it depends on the resistance level, what level was it?
ㄴ Daeju: Level 2
ㄴ What are you riding, a tricycle you idiot? Ride more;; what’s with setting it to level 2 and whining
***
Shouldn’t have asked.
* * *
(End of Chapter)
T/N:
- “drinking Kimchi soup by the bowlful” (김칫국 사발째 드링킹) is a Korean idiom meaning to get ahead of yourself or assume too much. It’s often used when someone is being presumptuous.
Btw forgot to mention it in the earlier chapters, but ‘‘Geum Taeyang’’ basically means ‘‘Golden Sun’’ in English. Characters with blonde hair and tanned skin are often referred as ‘‘Geum Taeyang’’ in many Korean novels.
