Gyeong-eun approached Seong-ho holding a plastic cup that had begun to sweat with condensation on the outside.

"Just like you said, it was a good call to wrap the cups in paper."

She wiped the moisture from the cup she'd handed him with a finger and said,

"If there weren't a cup holder, all this condensation would've gotten straight onto people's hands, wouldn't it? Anyone holding a cup would've found that uncomfortable for sure."

Gyeong-eun lifted the plastic cup, its holder keeping the moisture off her hand, and went on.

"It'd be best if we could patent it, but unfortunately they told me we can't. If we could've patented it, we'd have been able to lock out latecomers for certain."

"Even without that, latecomers will be locked out for certain."

Seong-ho drank the coffee she'd handed him and watched the people coming into the store.

Drawn by word that it was free today, passersby drifted naturally toward the shop.

And then they scattered again, coffees in hand, each heading off to wherever they were going.

"From tomorrow, this place will be packed to bursting. So tell the staff to be even more attentive. Keep on top of cleanliness, and never let the drink prep time exceed five minutes."

"I've been staying on top of that anyway. Beyond that, the music has to be kept at just the right volume — not too loud, not too soft."

Gyeong-eun looked at the store and said to Seong-ho,

"My friends said to me — it's not even a restaurant, just a drinks shop, aren't you fussing over it too much, is there really any money in it... but it'll do well, won't it...?"

"I guarantee you it will."

Seong-ho took a sip of coffee and smiled.

"Ten years from now, the money this coffee franchise brings in might just surpass Ilhyeon Department Store's revenue."

"What?"

Gyeong-eun looked at him as if she couldn't have heard right.

Seong-ho drank again and said,

"So don't weigh this and that — go aggressive. If you focus on the busy commercial districts where the crowds are, it'll…