Chapter 38: Dinner with Eunseo

She wore an expression of utter bewilderment.

"Could I get your number?"

"My number?"

"That outfit. I bought it for you, right? You weren't planning to just let it slide without paying me back?"

"Oh! Then give me your account number..."

I cut her off.

"Why make it so transactional? Haha."

Handing over an account number would sever any chance of advancing things with her.

"How about treating me to a meal instead of money? I saved you last night and even bought you clothes. The least you could do is buy me dinner, right?"

It was better to create an excuse like this than just ask for her number outright.

"It feels a bit like I'm lording it over you if I say it now... but, Eunseo? Miss Eunseo? I'd just like to have a meal with you."

I flashed a mischievous smile, speaking in a sly, teasing tone.

Lee Eunseo's face flushed red. I didn't even need to check her status message, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it had to be something like 'Eek, so embarrassing!' Her delicate smile bloomed as she tapped away at her smartphone screen.

"Here you go, oppa. Oh, you're an oppa, right?"

"Hmm. Probably? I'm 24."

"I'm 20."

"Oh. Right in the prime of life."

Mine's shining brightest right now too, come to think of it.

I saved her number and left the motel. I waited until she insisted she was fine and hopped into a taxi before heading home.

A grin spread across my face unbidden. The seed I'd planted had taken root nicely.

In the end, the impression Lee Eunseo had of me was: the super grateful oppa who saved her from a dire crisis. He's got a playful side that gets me in trouble. Something like that.

According to her profile, she was kind and obedient, with zero dating experience. On top of that, though ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it wasn't clear yet, she was sorely lacking in common sense.

She's got some weird quirks, but that's why she harbors fantasies like a prince on a white horse.

When fantasy became reality, her status message lit up with growing affection toward me just from the situation alone. I deliberately adjusted my demeanor around her, acting in ways that stroked those fantasies.

A prince protecting her from villains in the unfamiliar club she'd visited for the first time. Getting her a separate room and preparing clothes—thoughtful care. Even hailing a taxi and waiting until she got in—meticulous kindness.

Reading her real-time thoughts, I orchestrated my actions to maximize her goodwill. That's how I earned those grateful, affectionate KakaoTalks.

Over the next few days, we messaged back and forth as I probed her personality. Unlike the women before her, she wasn't a case of exploiting a weakness or falling for my looks. To win her over, I needed to analyze her thoroughly and tailor my performance accordingly.

The profile and status messages gave me the basics, but for true intimacy, I had to grasp every nuance of her character.

From what I'd gathered, she was quite shy around strangers. Even in KakaoTalk at first, it showed. When I didn't reply for a while after sending a '1', her status message fretted over trivial worries: What if he thinks this about me? Would that upset him? She generally took forever to craft replies too.

She's intriguing. Like a younger version of my old self.

Those traits belonged to ordinary guys for whom every word mattered—not someone with a 71-point face like Lee Eunseo. It was odd.

With her looks, she must've always been the center of attention.

A 70-point score wasn't goddess-level where guys hesitated to approach, but it was brag-worthy girlfriend territory. Men had to swarm her.

Yet contrary to expectations, she came off as more introverted and low in self-esteem. To solve the mystery, I KakaoTalk-manipulated and edited her chats.

Doesn't seem to have many close friends.

Even chats with college friends post-enrollment were mostly passive. Especially with guys.

— Eunseo-ya, nice weather today. Day drinks at the park?

— Sure! Let's call Soyeon too!

Context showed she wasn't deftly dodging crushes—she straight-up didn't notice, assuming group hangs were best. The guys were desperate for her affection; only she was oblivious.

She barely messaged guys at all. Among frequent contacts, only one guy: Kang Seojun. Looked like a childhood friend and oppa figure.

In summary: She's pure to a fault—practically airheaded. Slow on the uptake.

When talking to Lee Eunseo, I figured being blatantly obvious—anyone could pick up on it—was the way. Subtlety would fly right over her head.

The day arrived when Lee Eunseo would treat me to a thank-you meal.

After showering, I slipped into black slacks and a white shirt. Mirror check: the outfit slayed. My broad shoulders made the loose-fit shirt drape perfectly.

I scooped a bit of wax, rubbed it in, then worked my fingers deep into my hair. Beauty Skin handled grooming, but lately, I'd developed a hobby for primping myself.

Wax for shape, hairspray to lock it. Done with hair—mirror check.

Hmm. Styling's still tricky.

Selfie snapped, then Beauty Skin applied the hair filter. The awkward side-part perm transformed into boutique-perfected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠waves.

Mirror again. Undeniably likable—handsome guy next door. Add my 180+ cm height, massive shoulders, and the taut arm muscles peeking from rolled sleeves.

I pulled up my detailed profile for the first time in ages.

One-night stand grinding with gradual appearance tweaks had sculpted my body to rival any fitness model.

Should I tweak the face a bit more?

Meeting crowds at the club honed my aesthetic eye. I focused on subtle tweaks imperceptible to most. Appearance hit 75 points.

Now, even without Beauty Skin, I could clear new "me" quests bare.

Top 3% territory.

Buzzing with good vibes, I hummed heading out.

At the meetup spot, Lee Eunseo was waiting.

"Hey, Eunseo. Feels like forever."

Our recent KakaoTalks had gotten me permission to drop formalities. I'd suggested she do the same, but she preferred polite speech.

Secretly timid. Super shy.

She fidgeted, replying to my greeting.

"Eek, yeah. Hi, oppa...?"

Yep, awkward as expected.

We hadn't properly met since that last glimpse days ago—first real encounter, technically. Her status message had forewarned the awkwardness.

"Shall we?"

"Sure, oppa. Anything you wanna eat?"

"I'm good with anything. You?"

"Me too... Salad bar, then?"

Walking, I snuck a profile peek.

Affection at +47. Her awkwardness stemmed 100% from personality, not dislike for being alone with me.

Steady KakaoTalk maintenance paid off.

For an introverted pure soul like her, +47 meant hand-holding was a stretch. Didn't matter. The fact she felt affection was key.

Even walking, her fidgety awkwardness showed.

First time walking alone with a guy besides Seojun oppa...

To loosen things, I tossed a joke-compliment.

"By the way, you look killer today."

Her face ignited at "pretty."

She shook her head vigorously.

"Eek, I'm not that pretty..."

"Huh? Wasn't talking about you—your outfit."