I Quit My Job and Open a Café

White Tiger!  

In the bright white sky, black stripes suddenly filled my vision.

At that moment, I remembered something my grandfather once said with great excitement.

He had seen a huge, white tiger, as big as a house.  

He was talking about a dream he had before I was born.  

At first, he wanted to name me Baekho (White Tiger) because of it. But luckily, my parents disagreed.  

Still, my grandfather never let it go. Every time we were alone, he would bring it up again.  

I never took it seriously. It was just an old person’s story 

But now, seeing a white tiger right in front of me, I suddenly remembered his words.  

…What do I do now?  

Grrr!  

Before I could think, the tiger ran towards me as if it would attack. 

And then… it sat down quietly in front of me?  

It was massive, and its presence was overwhelming.  

Then I noticed something. I thought I had moved, but my body hadn’t moved at all.  

It was like I was frozen, unable to move.  

I didn’t even have to decide what to do—I just couldn’t move anyway.  

But why?  

Was I too scared?  

As these questions filled my head, my eyes met the tiger’s clear eyes…

‘Huh?’  

In the reflection of the tiger’s eyes, I saw myself… but I looked different.

‘What’s this?’  

My clothes were different, long and flowing. My hair was much longer than usual.  

The face looked like mine, but also different.  

As I got lost in thought…  

Thud~!  

Suddenly, the white tiger bumped its forehead against mine.  

And then, my consciousness floated up.  

It felt like my soul was leaving my body.  

‘Ah, this is a dream….’  

I finally realized.  

The tiger had seemed so real that I didn’t notice at first.  

Now that I knew, my mind floated like a drone. 

I saw myself and the world from above.  

My body, now out of my control, looked mysterious.  

It blended perfectly with the scenery.  

The clothes, the movements.  

I waved my hand, and drops of water formed in the air. I waved again, and ice appeared.  

Grass sprouted from the ground, shaped like bowls, while finely crushed ice fell from the sky like soft snow, filling them.  

I looked like a celestial being.  

And the white tiger wasn’t the only creature near me.  

What I thought was a mountain range was actually a giant dragon coiled up, playing with a glowing pearl like a baby.  

There were many other beings around, too.  

‘This looks just like my grandfather’s funeral.’  

It felt like a celebration.  

Maybe I dreamed this because his funeral left a deep impression on me.

It was fascinating.  

Thinking about it made me feel warm inside.  

Maybe my grandfather was up in the sky now, just like this.  

A soft, peaceful feeling filled my heart.  

But the time for dreaming was short.  

My awareness started fading, as if telling me it was time to leave.  

Then!  

As if realizing what was happening, my dream self suddenly turned its head.  

At the same time, the white tiger, the dragon, and the others all turned to look at me.  

That snapped me back to reality.  

Blink! Blink!  

I opened my eyes, trying to understand what had happened.  

What was that?  

It felt too real.  

Even after sitting up, I was still dazed…  

Tilt? Tilt?  

Beyond the yard’s wall, I saw something black moving.  

Was I still dreaming?  

No… I was awake.  

The mystery was soon solved.  

“Who are you? This is my grandfather’s house.”  

“Huh?”  

The ‘black thing’ spoke.  

Actually, it was a small child with a bowl-shaped haircut.  

But… who was this?  

Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?  

The child was too short to see over the wall properly, only their head was visible.  

“Baek Su-ah! Why aren’t you doing your homework? Where did you go?!”  

“Ah! My brother’s back! Why is he here so soon?”  

Unfortunately, I didn’t get an answer.  

I didn’t even get to ask.  

All I heard was the sound of light footsteps running away.  

But… I didn’t recognize the kid.  

So why did they seem familiar?  

Maybe it was just because of my strange dream.  

What a weird feeling.  

Anyway…  

“How long was I asleep?”  

I reached for my phone to check the time.  

Bzzzz! Bzzz!  

Just then, my phone vibrated with a call, making it easy to find.  

“Yes, this is Chun Yu—”  

I stopped halfway through my introduction, remembering too late that I had quit my job.  

Luckily, the caller didn’t seem to care.  

—Is this Chun Yujin? This is Hyeonmu Law Firm.  

“Hyeonmu… Law Firm? Oh? Hyeonmu?”  

That name sounded familiar.  

Ah! The famous Hyeonmu law firm?  

One of the top firms in the country.  

“Why are you calling?”  

—It’s about your late grandfather. We need to discuss something.  

“My grandfather? Oh!”  

A law firm and my grandfather…  

Putting those together, I had a good idea of what they wanted to say.  

I immediately set up a meeting.

* * *

Ring~ Ring~  

The door of the town café opened, and a cool breeze greeted me.  

“Would you like to order?”  

“Yes, just a moment.”  

The person I was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet.  

That was expected—I had arrived 30 minutes early.  

Even though I had quit my job, my body still followed old habits.  

Oh well.  

I decided to order something simple to drink.  

I didn’t expect much from a small-town café, but since it was a franchise, they had everything.  

“Iced Americano—oh?”  

“Sorry? Would you like an Iced Americano?”  

“Oh… no. What’s that?”  

I was about to order my usual Iced Americano when something on the menu board caught my eye.  

It was coffee, but it looked different.  

It was also a little more expensive.  

“Oh, that’s our store’s special limited-edition coffee. It’s made with rare beans, and we only have a small amount available today.”  

“A special coffee? Is it different from the regular one?”  

“The taste and aroma are unique.”  

“Really? Then I’ll try it.”  

“Would you like it hot or iced?”  

“Iced, please.”  

“Alright! I’ll call you when your drink is ready.”  

I had just ordered something I normally wouldn’t even think about trying.  

But it didn’t matter. I wasn’t working anymore.  

I no longer needed my ‘office worker’s potion.’  

Of course, I still couldn’t give up iced coffee.  

As I sat waiting, a car stopped in front of the café.  

A man stepped out, walked inside, and came straight toward me.  

“Are you Mr. Chun Yu-jin?”  

He wore a clean suit, his hair was smooth and shiny, and he had gold-framed glasses.
                                                                                                                                                                On his chest was a badge with a bright green animal picture.

Even at a glance, he looked like a lawyer.  

Which meant he was my appointment.  

“I’m Kim Do-hyuk from Hyeonmu Law Firm.”  

“I’m Chun Yu-jin.”  

We shook hands briefly, then he took a seat.  

A lawyer from ‘Hyeonmu.’  

That meant he worked for one of the top law firms in the country.  

But why did he look familiar?  

“Have we met before…?”  

“Yes. I visited two days ago.”  

“Oh.”  

No wonder he seemed familiar—he had come to my grandfather’s memorial.  

I hadn’t noticed back then, but he was a lawyer?  

Grandfather’s connections were even more impressive than I thought.  

Well, that would explain why he trusted them with his estate.  

“As you may have guessed, I’m here regarding the land, buildings, and financial assets your grandfather left behind. Before he passed, he asked me to handle everything when the time came.”  

“…I see.”  

Despite any personal connections, Kim Do-hyuk got straight to the point, just as his serious mood suggested.

I wasn’t surprised. I had already guessed the reason when I got the call.  

But land and buildings?  

Did Grandfather own something like that?  

The way I remembered him… Well, to put it nicely, he lived freely. To put it bluntly… never mind.  

“I’ll take care of everything related to the inheritance. The legal fees have already been paid, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”  

Kim Do-hyuk pulled out a stack of documents and began explaining.  

“This is about the land, this one is for the café, and this is for the liquid assets. Ah, but there’s a condition.”  

I was about to check the documents when he pointed at one.  

“A condition?”  

“Yes, it’s in the will. If you continue running the café, you’ll inherit everything. But if you refuse, it will all be donated to charity.”  

“…What?”  

What kind of will was that?  

How much was he even leaving behind? 

If he wanted to give it to me, he should have just done so.  

I almost said that out loud but held it in.  

I didn’t even visit him at the end. What right did I have to complain?  

“Of course, it’s all written in the documents. As you’ll see, the condition is that you must run the café for at least ten years. After that, you can do whatever you want.”  

I took the document he pointed at and read through it.  

It was definitely written in Grandfather’s style.  

The conditions were exactly as Kim Do-hyuk had stated, followed by legal documents.  

I flipped through the pages—  

And then, my hand stopped.  

“Huh?”  

What was this?  

A list of numbers.  

A very long list of numbers.  

8,900,000,000… won?  

So, that meant… 8.9 billion won in cash?  

“…What is this?”  

“This is Mr. Cheon Kang-sik’s liquid assets. Not including the land or buildings.”  

“…My grandfather had this much money?”  

It was hard to believe.  

Was I being scammed?  

I checked again. Twice, three times. I even reviewed other documents.  

Just to be sure, I asked for permission and looked up Kim Do-hyuk online.  

His profile and credentials were listed on the official  Hyeonmu Law Firm website.  

So, this wasn’t a scam.  

Which meant… this was real.  

“Have you confirmed everything?”  

Kim Do-hyuk, who had been patiently waiting, asked.  

Ah, right. There was a condition to inheriting this.  

“Yes.”  

“Then I’ll ask you—do you intend to continue running the café?”  

I was shocked, but the answer wasn’t hard.  

“I’m not sure yet.”  

“Oh? Why?”  

Kim Do-hyuk looked curious.  

His expression clearly asked, *Why would anyone hesitate when 8.9 billion won is on the line?*  

I understood his reaction.  

Even I thought I was crazy for hesitating.  

But…  

“If I’m going to do something, I want to do it properly. Can I see the café first before deciding?”  

“Hmm. Of course. Actually, you *should* see it first. But you can also decide now. It’s 8.9 billion won—are you really going to give that up?”  

He seemed certain I would accept.  

But…  

“Well, it was Grandfather’s money. Whether it disappears or not, it’s not really my place to say.”  

“…So, you’re really considering rejecting it.”  

Honestly, I was surprised too.  

But so what? It wasn’t money I had earned. It was Grandfather’s.  

Would I force myself to do something I didn’t want just for money?  

If I did that, how would it be any different from my previous job?  

If I took this money and suffered through running a café, I’d be insulting Grandfather’s legacy.  

I was sure that wasn’t what he wanted.  

That’s probably why he added the condition—if I didn’t want it, I should give it back to society.  

Grandfather knew my personality. There was no way he left that condition without considering how I’d react.  

“Of course, I didn’t say I won’t do it. I just want to see it first. It’s a huge decision, after all.”  

“Well… you’re not wrong. Usually, when people see this much money, I can tell what they’re thinking. Whether they’re serious or just calculating profits in their heads. But you… You really do take after your grandfather.”  

“…Me? I’m like my grandfather?”  

“Yes. He also said that—if he wanted to do something, he would do it. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”

I did.  

Better than anyone.  

He said it like that, but he probably softened his words. 

The grandfather I knew lived however he wanted, to put it bluntly.  

“I’m not that extreme. I like money. And honestly, don’t I look better than him?”  

If it were my grandfather, he would have stormed out, shouting, “Who are you to tell me what to do? Ah, forget it!”
                                                                                                                                                    …But I wasn’t that bad, was I?

I didn’t reject it outright. I just postponed the decision.  

“Haha! Who knows? Well, let’s just say you take after him in many ways.”  

But Kim Do-hyuk suddenly laughed out loud.  

With his cold and serious face, I had thought he never laughed.  

After laughing, he adjusted his glasses and stood up.  

Then, he held out his hand for a handshake.  

“Anyway, let me know what you decide. I need to take care of the paperwork either way.”  

“Yes, I understand. Oh, by the way! Have you been to my grandfather’s café?”  

“Of course.”  

As expected.  

That café again.  

Grandfather Bae Hong-seok, this man, and even the customers who visited…  

Just what kind of place is it?  

“What kind of café is it?”  

“Well, you’ll see it for yourself soon enough. It’s not too far from here.”  

Kim Do-hyuk smiled in a tricky way. 

But… What was this?  

Why did it feel like he was shaking my hand a little too much on purpose?  

As I watched him leave, I thought to myself—  

Ah, should I have just said yes?  

The thought became stronger as I watched his luxury car drive away.  

Work-life balance? If you have money, isn’t that possible too?  

I really was different from my grandfather.  

I should just…  

“Your special tea Americano is ready!”  

Perfect timing.  

For now, I should drink this and clear my head.  

I needed to make sure I was thinking straight.  

Gulp. Gulp.  

The coolness of the drink hit me first, snapping me awake.  

Then, a strange berry scent followed by a hint of wine filled my mouth.  

It wasn’t alcohol, but…  

It was fresh and nice.  

It was different from the strong and sour coffee I usually drank.

I had worried it was just overpriced, but it was actually good.  

Kim Do-hyuk was already out of my mind.  

If not for this drink, I might’ve embarrassingly stopped him from leaving.  

‘I should drink things like this more often now.’  

I took another sip and pulled out the documents again.  

That’s when I noticed something I hadn’t seen before.  

A photo of the café.  

And its address.  

But…  

‘This place?’  

For some reason, it looked familiar.