Chapter 49: The Business Ally

It had been well over ten times since Kim Youngae had specifically requested Song Yunho.

Following the habit of eleven years, she rose early in the morning to see her husband off.

"Have a safe trip."

Her husband turned his head with an indifferent expression at her words.

His back came into view. A curt, dry remark was tossed back casually.

"Yeah. I'll be late tonight."

Click. The front door shut.

The vast house fell silent, leaving her alone once more.

Haaah. A sigh escaped her lips, and Kim Youngae thought,

'The life I dreamed of... wasn't supposed to be like this.'

Her husband, her first love of ten years and her father's favored subordinate. She had longed to be a devoted wife, supporting him, building a happy family, and raising their children properly.

When they married, she truly believed her dream had come true.

But reality wasn't so simple.

In their newlywed days, he had been affectionate toward her. Yet even then, she began to feel a faint unease.

His tender words lacked the emotion of true love hidden between the lines.

As time passed, her premonition became reality.

Still, she told herself it was fine, fooling herself as best she could. Her love wasn't one that demanded reciprocation.

She still held onto the dream of bearing his child and becoming a good mother.

But even that dream shattered.

For eleven years of marriage, she had never once gotten pregnant.

It plunged her into despair.

Some might say: a wealthy family, loving parents who showered her with affection, marriage to her first love. To others, it looked like she had it all—why worry about kids? These days, not having children was even trendy.

Kim Youngae let out another sigh.

With her husband gone to work, the house filled with silence. She was left alone again today.

Did he know what thoughts had been consuming her lately?

'He probably doesn't.'

She hadn't peered into his heart, but Kim Youngae was certain.

At the same time, a thought surfaced.

Maybe he hadn't married her out of love.

'Perhaps... from the start, I was just the boss's daughter to him.'

Her thoughts reached that point, and a stiff ache crept up the back of her neck, followed by a throbbing headache.

She frowned delicately, pressing her temples hard with her fingers.

The cursed headache tormented her again.

Since childhood, her body had been extremely sensitive. Not frail, but her physical state was heavily influenced by her mental one.

Especially in recent years, intense stress triggered inexplicable migraines.

Even after thorough hospital checks, they diagnosed it as neurosis with no physical abnormality.

She glanced in the mirror. Despite her obsessive care, her face looked older than her peers.

Impatience surged.

'No. I can't let myself age.'

To ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grasp even the slimmest chance, she needed to maintain a young, healthy body.

She knew it was impossible, yet she refused to reject the obsession gripping her mind.

If she didn't, she'd be left alone in this silent house.

'Time for some pampering.'

The thought of the beauty center brought to mind the masseur she'd been requesting lately.

The first man besides her father and husband to touch her body.

At first, she thought she wouldn't request him again, but days later, her mind changed.

After his sessions, her headaches vanished for days.

Realizing that, she requested him again immediately.

And she was convinced. Headaches that no medicine could touch disappeared, if only temporarily, after his massages.

It was so miraculous she half-jokingly wondered if it was due to absorbing his yang energy.

'Maybe it's true.'

Eleven long years of marriage. Their last intimacy was ten years ago.

A man's touch had been absent for so long.

'And lately...'

She cut off the trailing thought.

It was unacceptable, clashing with her lifelong moral upbringing and her innate conservative nature.

She changed clothes, preparing to head to Esthetic Nonhyeon.

Today, she'd get beauty treatments, chat at social gatherings, and kill time that way.

'I'll come home late today.'

She hated being left alone in the house. Maybe book two massage sessions to pass the time.

Kim Youngae didn't notice her expression had brightened slightly.

It had already been over a dozen sessions since Kim Youngae started requesting him.

Until now, he'd focused solely on giving thorough massages without extra moves, reading her status messages to gather info.

As the sessions piled up, she grew accustomed to a male masseur's touch.

Around then, he began chatting with her during treatments.

"Requested me again today? Honestly, I didn't expect you'd keep choosing me—thanks."

"Mm... It just feels more refreshing with a man."

A hint of shyness in her voice. Choosing a preferred service provider wasn't embarrassing, but to her, it was.

"I see. Men have stronger hands, perfect for loosening muscles."

He steered the talk toward massage while pressing her body.

"Your muscles are knotted right here, by the way."

It hurt a bit, and she let out a groan.

"Mm. Getting older, my body sends signals everywhere."

"Nah, at your age, you're still young. Incredibly beautiful, too."

He watched her status message after the compliment. A simple praise, but her chaste, loyal nature might reject it.

"Hoho... No need for flattery. I'll keep requesting you anyway."

Good, she could handle this much now. Her resistance had dropped significantly.

"Flattery? You're stunning now—back in your youth, you must've been breathtaking."

Meant to cheer her up, but she just gave a bitter smile.

"Young... I was pretty then. But so what..."

"Why? Someone like you must've had a fun twenties."

"I married at twenty-five."

"Really? That's early."

"My first love—my current husband—and we planned to marry right after college."

Kim Youngae realized she was sharing personal stories uncharacteristically.

Things her personality wouldn't normally allow.

'Thanks to Contact Care.'

Through repeated massages, he'd learned much about Kim Youngae.

Her body was hypersensitive. Mental stress manifested physically almost immediately, causing chronic migraines.

That sensitivity created an opportunity. Contact Care dissolved her stress instantly, letting her positively embrace the unusual relaxation.

'Things looked bleak when Love Weapon was blocked, but I found a breakthrough.'

Plus, the seal on Love Weapon seemed ready to lift soon.

He kept using Love Weapon Level 1 during massages, gradually blending caresses into his technique.

Her initial wariness had melted away completely. Her body, once guarded like a first-time caress, now accepted and awakened to the stimulation.

Unbeknownst to her, she was starting to enjoy the pleasure he gave.

"So, your husband is your only man, then?"

"Yes. Looking back now... Ah."

Mid-sentence, as his hand slid from her waist toward her hips, Kim Youngae flinched, her waist trembling, and she clamped her mouth shut.

A smile tugged at his lips seeing her status.

A light drizzle was soaking his clothes.

'Maybe stop here for today.'

She'd gone quiet, so he focused on the massage without pushing conversation.

After seeing her off, he jotted notes in his memo pad to organize the intel gathered.

The corners of his mouth lifted automatically, a swell of pride at the achievement.

'Affection rising pretty fast?'

Already over 50 points. But given her conservative nature, cracking Melting Married Woman quest would require 90+.

'A woman who's only been with her husband her whole life—and just 27 times in 11 years. Can't rush it.'

He couldn't deny the progress was faster than expected, but it wasn't enough.

He'd need a powerful finishing blow.