Chapter 58

Kang Taehan looked down at the autograph on the table, picked it up again, and stared at it with interest.

A signature that was quite dynamic and stylish, with strength in each stroke.

Below it was written today’s date and the sentence, ‘I hope only good things happen to Mr. Kang Hoyeon.’

“Thank you. My father will be happy.”

“I hope so.”

When Kang Taehan spoke with a light smile, Jo Chanhyeok also nodded with a proud expression.

It was because he felt sincerity in Kang Taehan’s words of gratitude.

“Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Like asking for five more autographs, taking a picture together, or writing ‘It’s really cool. I recommend it.’ under the autograph.

Jo Chanhyeok recalled the requests he usually received when someone recognized him at a store.

For some reason, his pictures or autographs seemed to feel like a talisman for business prosperity to store owners.

To be honest, it was a bit burdensome to receive such requests.

But if Kang Taehan wanted that, he was willing to do anything.

“No. I can’t bother you any more while you’re resting.”

However, Kang Taehan politely declined in a firm voice, then stood up holding the autograph paper and bowed his head.

“All the set procedures are over, so you can have some tea and relax, and come out when you’re comfortable.”

Well then, I’ll be going.

Kang Taehan left those words behind, opened the door and went out again.

He really went back after getting just one autograph.

‘He seems to think it’s really no big deal.’

He almost lost consciousness on the street, but Kang Taehan saved him and gave him this perfect rest.

To be honest, from Kang Taehan’s point of view, he could have boasted a little more and asked for more.

It’s something he could have boasted enough about even to ordinary people…

Although it was a bit awkward for him to say, he was a celebrity and relatively wealthy.

To put it bluntly, he could have clung to him thinking, ‘Let’s take this opportunity to get a lot!’

However, Kang Taehan only asked for one autograph and did not ask for anything else.

As if he had just done his job.

Since he said that the autograph was for his father, Kang Taehan himself simply treated Jo Chanhyeok as a customer as a massage therapist.

“…He is a wonderful person in many ways.”

Should I say he has a strong work ethic, or that he has a broad mind?

I would like to have a meal with him if I have a chance.

Thinking of that, he quietly lifted the arrowroot tea on the table.

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Creak.

“Gasp, he’s coming out, he’s coming out!”

“Naturally, naturally!”

As the door to the inner room where Jo Chanhyeok was in opened, one of the massage therapists fussed, straightening his clothes and standing at attention.

‘The autograph paper… is over there.’

Then he glanced at the paper in the corner of the counter.

It was none other than the autograph paper he had prepared by going to the stationery store outside himself.

And as the customer who opened the door stepped into the hallway.

“Did you enjoy the massage?”

The massage therapist, Choi Seonghyeon, politely put his hands together and bowed his waist in greeting.

It was like a clerk at a fancy restaurant… no, it was like an imitation of that.

“Ah… yes. It was really good.”

“I’m glad you had a good time.”

Then, as if it had been written in a script, Manager Hwang, who was standing at the counter, naturally took over the conversation.

He naturally put on a smile that had been honed over many years and lightly bowed his head in greeting.

“Would you like a candy if you don’t mind?”

“Candy… you say?”

“Yes. After a massage, your body gets tired and needs sugar, so we always have candy ready for our customers.”

Manager Hwang said, pointing to a small basket next to the card signature device.

It was piled high with cheap candies such as strawberry, green grape, and mint.

‘Why are they acting like this….’

Jo Chanhyeok has been an actor for quite some time.

Awkward or exaggerated acting can be noticed right away.

Feeling suspicious, he looked around… and found several autograph papers placed in the corner of the counter.

Then he figured out what was going on.

“Do you need an autograph?”

“Hahaha… yes.”

Choi Seonghyeon, who was still standing like a waiter, burst into an awkward laugh, then nodded his head and answered.

Jo Chanhyeok burst into laughter at the sight.

“Just tell me.”

Jo Chanhyeok is an actor who is known to be kind to his fans.

Of course, that didn’t mean he would sign autographs anytime, anywhere…

If he was in a good mood like now, he could do it anytime.

“What’s your name?”

“Hehe, it’s Choi Seonghyeon.”

“Ahem, ahem. My name is Hwang Jaehwan.”

“Mr. Choi Seonghyeon and… Mr. Hwang Jaehwan.”

Jo Chanhyeok moved the signature pen with a grin.

“Hey, isn’t that Jo Chanhyeok?”

“What? Why is he here… huh?”

“I don’t think he’s just someone who looks like him.”

And there were people watching the scene, about five customers who were there to get a massage late after 8 o’clock.

“Wow, is this the massage shop Jo Chanhyeok goes to?”

“I knew this place was good, but it was that good? Crazy, crazy.”

A shop that celebrities go to!

The magic contained in that sentence is by no means light.

And it’s not just anyone, it’s Jo Chanhyeok.

The eyes of the customers looking around the shop have changed for some reason.

“Wow… the autograph is awesome.”

Meanwhile, as the autograph was completed, Manager Hwang looked at it from various angles as if he was looking at a work of art.

Choi Seonghyeon next to him had a similar reaction.

Jo Chanhyeok chuckled and watched the two, then suddenly saw the massage menu next to him and spoke.

“Um, but did Master Kang originally only work until 7 o’clock?”

It was because of the timetable written there.

The master course that Kang Taehan was in charge of was said to be only until 7 o’clock, but the time he came here was a little later than that.

“Yes. It’s always been like that.”

“…I see.”

He said he would take care of it separately, but did he give me some special treatment?

Jo Chanhyeok was even more grateful to Kang Taehan.

“Um, then I want to make a reservation.”

But at the same time as gratitude, the thought that came to mind was, ‘I have to make a reservation now.’

He just got a massage, but he was already looking forward to the next one.

“Um. Then would you like to see the reservation chart first?”

Let’s see.

Jo Chanhyeok took the chart that Manager Hwang took out.

There was an X mark on the days when the reservation was full…

“Is this… all booked until the week after next?”

“For now, yes. Sometimes there are cancellations.”

The X marks were checked without missing a single day until two weeks later, except for Wednesday and Thursday.

Besides, even if there were no X marks behind it, reservations were almost full during major time slots.

Especially weekends were difficult to book even three weeks later.

After checking the reservation chart, Jo Chanhyeok realized that he had not received special treatment, but rather very special treatment.

“…Manager, by any chance.”

And Jo Chanhyeok took out one of his business cards and slowly handed it over to the counter.

“Could you let me know if there’s a cancellation?”

“That’s not possible.”

A firm answer, unlike before!

At the same time, Manager Hwang hid the autograph he had received behind his back.

It was unlikely that Jo Chanhyeok would ask for it back, but just in case.

“Is it really not possible….”

Jo Chanhyeok let out a small sigh with a disappointed expression.

Then he started checking his schedule for three weeks later on his smartphone.

“It seems Jo Chanhyeok has to make a reservation too….”

“Wow. No mercy.”

Meanwhile, the trust and evaluation of the store were rising among the customers watching the scene.

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A golf course located in Taean.

Overall, the condition of the grass is excellent, the terrain is diverse, and the distance is good, so it is a place where various competitions, from small to large, are often held.

“Ugh, it’s been a while.”

Standing on the grass, Chae Eunbi briefly stretched while adjusting the angle of her sun visor.

She twisted her waist a little just in case, and feeling okay, she confidently turned it left and right, whoosh, whoosh.

‘Who knew it would really take three days.’

Chae Eunbi burst into laughter as she checked the condition of her waist.

She remembered what happened when she received a massage from Kang Taehan.

‘Make sure to play golf after you’ve had enough time to recover.’

‘Um. How many weeks?’

‘Well. It’s best to go to bed early for about three days.’

She had laughed then too, but to be honest, she was half skeptical.

How could the injury that ended her professional career be healed in three days?

But Kang Taehan’s words were not a lie.

Chae Eunbi carefully started rehabilitation exercises three days after he said, and her condition was better than expected, so she started swinging her golf club right away from the next week.

Was it because she was still young, or was it because she had been doing image training in her head because she still had lingering feelings?

The lost feeling quickly returned, and she was able to return to the grass before long.

And now.

“Now, all the participants in the preliminary round for full membership selection, please move to the hole.”

She was here to participate in the Women’s Professional Golf Association’s pro test, the full membership selection, which will be held in the second half of the year.

A test that must be passed to become a full-fledged golf pro.

In other words, it can be seen as a tournament corresponding to the tour pro selection for female golfers.

Chae Eunbi had previously obtained associate membership qualifications… but with the injury making it almost impossible to swing properly, she couldn’t even think about participating in the full membership selection.

In the end, she gave up on her dream and tried to forget it.

Now she’s back at the starting line.

Of course, she had been resting for a while and the purpose was to regain her sense of competition, but just standing here was so touching that it was moving.

“Now, please check your order and we’ll begin.”

After arriving at the tee box following the instructions, Chae Eunbi lightly checked the condition of the field and the wind.

It was exciting because it was the first time in a long time.

“Oh my, Eunbi!”

After waiting for her turn for a while, she heard a voice calling her from behind.

She turned her head and saw a familiar face.

“It’s been a while! Hey, come here! Eunbi, Eunbi!”

“Really? Why is she here?”

As she beckoned and called, another familiar face appeared.

Both of them had happy expressions, but one corner of their mouths was slightly raised as if they were sneering.

“I thought I wouldn’t see you again. Are you able to swing now?”

“Is your waist fully healed? Anyway, it’s nice to see you.”

“But I’ve never heard anything about you… Oh, did you play as an a*ateur? That’s possible.”

At first glance, it seems like they’re just acknowledging an old acquaintance, but the atmosphere and the look in their eyes that look down on her is clear.

Meanwhile, Chae Eunbi carefully looked at their faces and shook her head.

“Sorry. I don’t remember either of your names.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I left the field.”

She remembers their faces.

They were girls she often saw at competitions, but they always performed worse than her and couldn’t win awards.

She even remembers that she barely passed the associate member selection and those two failed.

At the time, it was burdensome because they seemed to have a rivalry with her, so she only remembered their faces.

Of course, she still couldn’t remember their names.

“Hey, we’re older than you, you know?”

“Ah… is that so? I’m sorry.”

Chae Eunbi shrugged and apologized again, then started to go her own way.

She was excited about the competition after a long time, but she didn’t want to waste time because of insignificant people.

‘Then where…’

Now it was finally her turn.

It was the first time in a long time to be on the tee box of a competition, but strangely enough, there was no tension.

She was more excited than worried, more excited than nervous.

‘Aha.’

She suddenly realized.

She wasn’t concerned about her performance in the competition, but she was literally enjoying the situation itself.

The wind is nice and the field is wide open and refreshing.

And her waist is as smooth as if it were oiled.

And then the next moment.

Pang!

Her golf club drew a clean trajectory and hit the ball.

The ball disappeared with a cheerful sound, drew a large parabola and flew far away, fell on the green and rolled… and went straight into the hole with the flag in it.

“…An eagle from the start?”

“She hit a hole-in-one?”

There is no preemptive strike like this.

The surroundings are buzzing.

Especially the expressions of the two who were picking on her earlier were getting more and more crumpled, and their condition was particularly bad.

“It’s going well today!”

Regardless, Chae Eunbi burst into laughter with a refreshing expression, clenching her right hand tightly.

She felt like she wanted to show Kang Taehan the shot she just made.