Since I Became a Woman, I’ll Do Cosplay

“Khhhuuu…..”

The booth cleanup was finished, and she had returned in casual clothes, now waiting at the agreed meeting place with Min Jeong-kyun.

Hayoon found every hour, minute, and second spent waiting for Min Jeong-kyun to be nothing but enjoyable.

Current balance: 21,687,329₩

How could she not be happy?

The first digit of her bank account balance was a 2.

Not 20,000, not 200,000, not even 2,000,000 – but 20,000,000.

“THIS is it!”

How many people could make 20 million won at sixteen?

Granted, she had less than a few days left of being sixteen, but still, whatever!

Hayoon couldn’t stop smiling. With one hand covering her mouth, she idly scrolled on her phone.

[Hottest Booth Reviews]

“Quality doesn’t need much explanation. The goods are pretty, and the owner is even prettier.”

“-Wow, damn… I should’ve gone there for the goods.”

“-That AGC person, insane;;”

“-I got a picture too. Her voice is so soft and delicate – she’s definitely beautiful. Take good care of her.”

“-Whoa.”

When Hayoon finally checked the girl war gallery after regaining some free time a few hours later, she found that many people were already praising her.

Praises for her looks, the goods, and service – all kinds of flowery words were being used to commend Hayoon.

[Well, that cosplay bet wasn’t unnecessary]

“Top-tier cool beauty girl;;”

“-Really unattractive girls with low self-esteem couldn’t even joke about making a cosplay bet.”

“-The desperate ones aren’t even mentioned.”

There were remarkably more compliments about her looks than Hayoon had imagined.

To the extent that there were comments like, “I was hypnotized into taking a picture, and only noticed the merchandise when I was embarrassed to leave without buying anything.”

It felt like the relationship between the goods and cosplay had completely reversed.

“Either way, they all gave me money.”

Thinking it best to consider it a win for everyone, Hayoon continued browsing the community when…

“Hayoon, let’s go eat.”

“Alright, let’s go!”

With perfect timing, Min Jeong-kyun had come to pick her up, and they returned to Seoul together.

“Did you sell a lot of stuff? Where did all those boxes go?”

“Do you not trust me? I sold everything.”

“Really? All of it?”

“Of course.”

“Wow…”

On the way back, Min Jeong-kyun marveled at Hayoon’s business acumen.

“How much did you make?”

“Uh, family doesn’t ask each other that kind of thing.”

“True, that makes sense.”

Hayoon subtly refused to disclose the exact amount when pressed by Min Jeong-kyun. Already, she had mentioned that her membership income alone brought in 100 per month, and…

’20 million at sixteen is too much.’

With so many expenses looming, revealing the exact amount might lead to “Let us parents handle it for you.”

Min Jeong-kyun’s side would likely be fine, but Yusoohee’s increasing interference recently was concerning.

It wasn’t wise to reveal everything in this situation…

‘I should buy and cook them some meat later.’

She felt it was better to navigate this situation amicably.

“What should we eat for dinner?”

“At first, I thought we’d go out, but eating at home might be better.”

“Hmm?”

“What if we bought something from places like Outback and brought it home? Mom should rest on the weekend.”

“Alright, let’s do that then.”

While trying to reassure her parents with the big earnings, Hayoon was absorbed in thinking about how to use the money effectively against the state window’s tyranny.

#

“Booking one of these places is new for me…”

Just after returning home,

Hayoon was attempting to make her first-ever restaurant reservation.

For so-called Michelin-level restaurants, the reservation process for minors can be complicated, not to mention the hefty price tags.

Given that Hayoon was only sixteen, her options were limited.

But…

“Did it work?”

Perhaps not all was lost, because Hayoon successfully reserved dinner for the last day of 2019, December 31st,

at a well-regarded restaurant attached to a hotel in Seoul with decent reviews. She thought this would be enough to impress her parents, who had refined tastes.

The challenge was how to get them to the restaurant…

“I don’t mind?”

Min Jeong-kyun readily accepted, as if he had been waiting for something like this.

“Mmm… a restaurant? Dinner? For you?”

“Yes, I made the reservation?”

“Where’s the money coming from?”

Yusoohee interrogated Hayoon about the source of the money with surprising persistence…

“Shouldn’t you trust her? She’s being filial, and you’re complaining?”

“Well, when you put it that way…”

“Your phrasing was a bit odd, wasn’t it?”

“Was it…?”

Min Jeong-kyun cut it short, winking with one eye.

It was a clear sign that he was on Hayoon’s side. Impressed, Hayoon realized she had an excellent ally in Min Jeong-kyun.

“There’s a restaurant around Hongdae. If we get ready now, we’ll make it on time. Let’s go.”

“I understand. I’ll get ready quickly.”

Min Jeong-kyun efficiently managed the logistics, pushing Yusoohee into the bathroom, then approaching Hayoon with a sly smile.

“So, you made a good amount at Ilsan, didn’t you, given that you arranged this event?”

“Yes… I think I earned enough to be filial.”

“Right, right, being filial is good. I’m so proud of our daughter who’s almost becoming independent. Ha ha…”

Perhaps because he loved family and friends just as much as money, Min Jeong-kyun couldn’t believe he was getting a restaurant dinner from his sixteen-year-old daughter. His smile stretched to his ears.

Hayoon happily reciprocated, and Min Jeong-kyun, approaching the bathroom where Yusoohee was preparing herself, entered to prepare for the commotion that was about to ensue…

“Whooph.. Haah..”

Meanwhile, Hayoon took a deep breath to organize her thoughts for what she wanted to say at the restaurant.

Today, she was set to have a definitive conversation.

“Alright, let’s do this.”

No matter what the status window might do.

She wasn’t afraid.

#

December 31, 2019

10:30 PM

The restaurant Hayoon reserved was for the last dinner time of 2019.

Dressed in semi-formal attire, Min Jeong-kyun, Yusoohee in a two-piece outfit, and Hayoon in a modified school uniform jacket, moved to their seats following the waiter’s guidance…

” Allow me to introduce our menu. Our first dish is an appetizer from our restaurant’s special selection…”

As the first dish arrived, the seasoned waiter smoothly introduced the meal.

Though unfamiliar with such situations, Hayoon simply listened with a puzzled expression.

“Hmm.”

“Hmm…”

However, Min Jeong-kyun and Yusoohee nodded with knowing smiles, enjoying the waiter’s presentation.

Apparently, despite their daughter’s unawareness, the two frequently dined here secretly.

‘This is ridiculous…’

While continuing their young couple-like sweetness throughout their marriage was good, didn’t they need to pay some attention to their child?

Even though Hayoon felt out of place here, grateful for her parents’ occasional guidance on how to dine in such an environment…

This created a strange situation.

As time passed, nearing the end of the full-course meal and midnight, Hayoon, who had quietly eaten food, finally spoke.

“Um…”

“What’s up?”

Yusoohee glanced at Hayoon with a slightly flushed demeanor, having consumed a few glasses of wine.

“I made some money recently?”

“Money? How?”

“Selling drawings.”

“Drawings? Ah, illustration? Illustration…”

“Yes, illustrations.”

Yusoohee fired off a barrage of questions and answers in a voice unusually higher than normal.

All traces of her usually cynical career woman persona were gone. She was clearly the typical drunken guest.

“So, I’d like to use some of this money. Is that okay?”

“Hmm… Can you?”

Though it felt somewhat petty to get easy answers from a clearly intoxicated Yusoohee…

“It’s fine, isn’t it? It’s money our daughter earned herself, like a first paycheck.”

“First paycheck… it’s important…”

Min Jeong-kyun was also enthusiastically supporting her from the side.

“Alright! Use it as you wish!”

“Thank you, Mom!”

“Hehe, no problem…”

Getting an answer in this way was perfectly fine, wasn’t it?

‘Great, now I can buy that 4 million won tablet without worrying about hearing ‘what is this, how much did it cost?’ !’

This felt like overcoming a big hurdle for Hayoon.

“Hey, look, they’re doing fireworks.”

“Fireworks…”

With a wink to Hayoon, Min Jeong-kyun gently took the wobbling Yusoohee to the restaurant terrace.

And Hayoon…

– Min Hae-yun!

– You have perfectly completed the alternate mission.

– As a reward, the roulette wheel will spin twice!

Finally, something will be coming from this pesky status window.

-The roulette wheel is warming up…

Though she didn’t know what it would offer…

Something, something was about to happen…

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