006. Temptation (3)
‘Fucking part-timer…’
Han Yu-ra hated him. How could he barge in with food at such a crucial moment and ruin the conversation? Of course, from a minimum-wage worker’s perspective, there was nothing wrong with his actions. It was too petty to file a complaint over something like that, and besides, he might’ve just been swamped.
This is why you can’t trust employees.
Respect to all the self-employed! Blessings upon all the self-employed! Success to all the self-employed!
Han Yu-ra entertained those thoughts for a fleeting moment.
Im Seong-u looked just as displeased, letting out a sigh as he said, “Shall we eat?”
Shall we? That simple phrase sent a thrill through her for an instant. Then she hated herself a little. Wasn’t this exactly why her sense of self was growing gloomier by the day? If Im Seong-u preferred pure-hearted people, she’d inevitably fall out of his favor.
You’re the one who made me this way.
What could she do? Lately, whenever she was alone, thoughts of Im Seong-u invaded her mind, shattering her focus on work.
She answered awkwardly. “Y-yeah. Let’s eat.”
Steak first? Bath first…? Or, me, me first…?
-Swipe, swipe.
They devoured the steak like it was melting snow. The meat was exquisite. A rich, meaty aroma bloomed the moment it touched her tongue. Juices burst forth with every chew. Perfectly warm, neither too tough nor too soft. It was heavenly.
But Han Yu-ra had no leisure to savor it, her attention fixed elsewhere.
That lady on YouTube… what the hell did she teach?
She regretted watching it. No matter how many times their eyes met, Im Seong-u just kept shoveling in the steak. She’d even flashed eye smiles several times, but he didn’t seem to notice. How could anyone be so oblivious?
Is he an idiot?
Sweeping her hair back with one hand to bare her neckline—wasn’t that blatant seduction? What kind of life did you have to live to misread signals like that? No romance novels, no YouTube, no games—just stuff like Master C Programming in 30 Days?
Indignation welled up in Han Yu-ra, but then she realized why he was acting that way.
-Why’re you watching videos on seducing men?
-Got a guy you’re into? Senior?
Yeah, that makes sense.
If Im Seong-u suspected her of something, no amount of effort would boost her favor.
Her heart pounded wildly. Mixed emotions surged. First came resentment.
You eat with Shin Na-young!
She burned with anger at the unfairness, yet on the flip side… He’s obsessed with me? The possessiveness thrilled her.
That frustration boiled over. She was clearly being misunderstood.
How do I prove it…?
The truth was, she’d watched those videos to seduce him. Would he even accept that?
Today’s Im Seong-u felt utterly detached, like he’d come purely for dinner. Her fumbling responses surely hadn’t helped his mood.
-Clink.
The meal ended anticlimactically. Im Seong-u stood to leave, and Han Yu-ra finished her steak. He said offhandedly, “Let’s go.”
Her heart thundered like mad.
…
They stepped outside. A dark night. The steak house sat awkwardly beside a roaring road where cars sped by. Im Seong-u’s back looked broader than ever as he pulled out his keys.
What should she say here?
Oppa, I don’t wanna go home tonight?
Too crass. To her, that sounded like something a jaded Itaewon floozy who’d sampled cocks from every corner of the globe might purr. Or maybe Shin Na-young. Sure, she’d done all sorts of filthy things with Im Seong-u, but she didn’t want to stoop to gutter talk. Not outside the bedroom, at least.
Ugh… what do I even say?
Staring at his back, she felt a pang of guilt. She wanted to soothe him somehow, but the right words wouldn’t come.
-I wanna be with you.
Too childish. Something dirtier? She amped up her imagination.
-M-Master… my pussy’s so lonely. Fill Yura’s womb with your baby seed… haa…♡
No, you crazy bitch? Way too far…!
Her mind looped through useless dilemmas as he issued a cold dismissal. “I’ll drive you home.”
Her chest sank. Taking her home meant no sex tonight. It felt like rejection, and she hated being rejected.
God, please. What do I say?
Before he could open the door, instinct propelled her forward. She grabbed his hand.
-Clasp.
“…?”
It happened in a flash. Her small hand gripped his left tightly. His pulse thrummed into her; hers echoed back into him.
They locked eyes.
I hate this. Really.
Everything sucked. She hated how he cleanly ignored her seduction. Hated her own timid worries—like, Will holding hands weird him out when we’re not even lovers? Hated her precarious position if she bared her soul here. The fear of rejection loomed: what if he said no? Her self-esteem would crater.
Say it, Han Yu-ra. Tell him what you want.
But her lips wouldn’t move.
-Thump, thump.
Her steak threatened to come back up; sweat beaded on her skin. Biting her lip, she desperately searched for words.
I wanna have sex with you tonight.
-No, I wanna feel loved.
Words like that wouldn’t cross the lips of a well-bred woman like her.
Oppa, don’t make me go home? Even that was too embarrassing.
I love your body. Hold me.
-Stay by my side till morning. Hold me. Open beta’s stressing me out, and I’m grateful for you…
God…
Tenser than facing investors. She feared he’d drive off if she didn’t speak now.
Unable to hold back, he asked dryly, “Why?”
His innocent curiosity pierced deeper into her heart.
Finally, she blurted something—anything. Her red lips parted, shy words spilling out.
“M-Master…”
Oh no. The title reserved for sex. She’d uttered it in a parking lot where anyone could pass by. Im Seong-u’s face hardened.
And her? She couldn’t think straight anymore.
Called him Master… outside.
She rushed on. “I… uh. I’m not interested in any other guys.”
Utter nonsense. She wanted to punch herself.
“With Ms. Shin Na-young… I’m just so anxious about… what you two are.”
Once the dam broke, the truth flooded out.
“I wanted to seduce you, Master.”
No structure, no intro-body-conclusion polish. Pitch a business plan like that, and investors might slap her.
Im Seong-u froze. Han Yu-ra decided to go all in.
“It’s true. I can show you my phone.”
He stared at her, buffering, his expression inscrutable.
N-No reaction.
Sage mode hit. She wanted to go home. No—flee this world, hide forever where no one could see her.
Her brain spat out a conclusion.
D-Die!
Not literally, of course. Even novel protagonists plotting suicide annoyed readers… and she wasn’t that irresponsible.
But she could bail alone. “I-I’ll just take public transit home.”
Then Im Seong-u spoke. “...Yura.”
Aah…
She looked up. He was smiling faintly.
…
Why? A wave of relief washed over her. As Kim A-ram said, his mind was unreadable. A smile could be fake; tears too. Words of love might mask a one-night thrill, or worse, gold-digging. That was humanity, words included. She was adult enough to know.
But his face… seemed genuinely relieved.
He smirked, amusement in his eyes. Really… hurts my pride.
“So, what do you wanna do tonight?”
“...”
You’re too much.
Her lips twitched.
…
Near a Bundang restaurant. Night hues leaned blue. The full moon glowed yellow, but the cityscape tinged azure. Commuters whooshed past low shrubs in their cars; no stars over Seoul tonight.
Steak sated the body, but not the mood.
Han Yu-ra has feelings for another man.
Who? She didn’t seem the type. No time for it.
Yet her inability to speak plainly confirmed it.
After open beta, her true colors will show.
-Click.
Lost in thought, a cool touch grazed my hand. Soft, foreign warmth. Her tension pulsed through—heart racing hard enough to feel from here.
I stared at Yura’s face.
“...”
Red bangs brushed her brows; her teary eyes pleaded desperately. Pale cheeks flushed pink like fresh paper.
Seductive vibe. No tie today either. From this angle, her white blouse gaped open—cleavage fully exposed.
Wasn’t in the mood for sex…
Emotions shifted. I wanted to punish the loathsome Yura. Crave her embrace, validation. Dominate her. Or whisper sweet nothings. Be her only man.
Me.
A torrent of feelings raged through my mind. The churning currents settled into a simple urge: hold Yura.
“Why?” I asked. Why stop me?
Reluctantly, her plump red lips parted. “M-Master…”
I’d commanded it, yet it thrilled me.
“I… uh. No interest in other men.”
She looked tense. Heart too big for those small lips.
Why am I so glad…? Lust? Possessiveness?
No interest in others—why the pure joy? Her being slutty wouldn’t hurt me. Yet my chest sang.
Struggling, she spilled it all. “With Ms. Shin Na-young… I’m so anxious about what you two are.”
-Don’t fall for her first.
Her pupils quivered; her pulse hammered relentlessly. This moment felt unforgettable.
“Wanted to seduce you, Master.”
Blushing crimson, enunciating each syllable precisely. Her presentation training honed that tongue—even now, unflinching. Resentful as she might be.
Yura.
Do you know? “It’s true. I can show you my phone.”
Your few words shattered my reason.
“...Yura.”
Tonight, I didn’t want her to sleep.
“So, what do you wanna do tonight?”
She flinched, brows furrowing in a glare. Biting her lip, utterly pissed.
“...With Master…”
Her restaurant antics clicked now. Constantly sweeping back her side hair. Retying her already neat ponytail. All of it.
“Wanna… be together.”
Can’t even say anything dirty, huh.
More than I’d thought.
“Where?”
She clenched her lips, pissed. You’d expect anger at her frustration, but tormenting her felt so damn fun. Tonight promised sweetness.