Beauty Center Opening Preparations
She caught a whiff of an unfamiliar perfume scent from her husband's suit jacket.
A neutral fragrance that wouldn't seem out of place on a man or a woman. Had he switched perfumes without even telling his wife? Her husband was the type to spritz on various scents anyway, so it was possible.
'But...'
Her temples throbbed. She gave up on the thought. Before her mood sank further, she needed to think of something else—something happy.
The moment she tried to summon a happy memory, a recent event flashed before her like a montage. A colossal shaft that overwhelmed her vision. Through the fabric, Kim Youngae felt the scorching heat and throbbing vitality of life itself.
The subtle sensation from below drew a sigh from her lips.
"...I'm wet..."
Guilt spread through her heart like black ink blooming in clear water, clouding her mind. Yet she couldn't stop replaying the memory.
A massive cock. Its sheer presence suggested it could impregnate her just by penetrating. His face flickered through her thoughts as well.
'He's so handsome...'
In truth, her husband was utterly average in looks. She'd fallen for his mature kindness since childhood, not his appearance. But he was handsome, even his face.
If she bore his seed. If her youthful beauty combined with his to create a child. It would be incredibly cute.
A burning heat. As her stream of consciousness flowed, a fiery ache ignited between her thighs. She instinctively sensed the start of her ovulation.
Her hypersensitive body revealed things she had no need to know.
Ovulation period. The one week each month when she felt the most depressed and drained. She was infertile. More precisely, she had a condition that made conception extremely difficult. Her ovulated eggs never made it out of the fallopian tubes and died. Even IVF and medical interventions failed. Her husband's age—same zodiac cycle as her, in his sixties—meant his sperm had low motility.
'The doctor said... as long as I stay healthy and meet truly healthy sperm, I can get pregnant.'
She and her husband were utterly incompatible for having a child together.
'He... was 24.'
Same zodiac cycle as her husband. But the opposite: a younger man of the same cycle. A beautiful, muscular body brimming with vitality. She recalled the physique of the man she called Teacher Song.
Was it possible? Just thinking about it stirred intense guilt and immorality. Yet at the same time.
'A child... I want a baby...'
Her mind heated up, and her body responded. She yearned to fulfill her one true wish.
Squelch.
An act she never would have done before. But for some reason, guilt gave way to liberation.
Pathetic.
Despite the thought, she couldn't stop.
'Massage... I want a massage.'
It had been over ten days since her last visit. The reason? No headaches. Until now, headaches had served as her excuse for letting a man touch her body. Without the excuse, she couldn't go.
Kim Youngae let out a sigh thick with awkward shame. She didn't realize she felt relief not at the headaches' absence, but disappointment at missing more massages.
The next visit came after two weeks. It was so long I thought she'd developed an aversion and stopped requesting me, but the status message told me otherwise. Kim Youngae hadn't come because the previous session left her headache-free for over ten days.
"Hello. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
I greeted her without hinting at what happened last time. Kim Youngae approached with a face lit by some inexplicable pleasure, but as she recalled the prior event, her cheeks—and even earlobes—flushed red.
"Yes... it's been a while."
Thank goodness. If the headaches hadn't come back, I might not have made it here.
"Shall we head in?"
Neither she nor I mentioned that day. I stuck to a standard massage without any line-crossing suggestions like before. We finished several sessions that way.
'She has the same thought every session.'
Aroused / Anticipating
Maybe... it's possible for me too?
Her wish felt so natural to her that even her inner thoughts didn't label it explicitly. I couldn't identify it right away. It didn't seem like lust for dick or sex—the arousal wasn't sexual. It was more primal, almost reverent.
'Affection's already at 77.'
It rose gradually with each session, then jumped over 10 after the last incident. Given her personality, she'd normally feel disgust and her affection would plummet. I couldn't figure out why it increased.
'Not that it's bad. I could get more aggressive, more direct?'
Observing her status messages fueled that thought. She harbored some profound, inexpressible emotion toward me. But I couldn't rush the final step. One rejection, and with her personality, it was over. No turning back. A one-coin dead end.
'I can take the last step slow.'
The priority was recruiting her as a business partner to clear the trophy quest fast. Since the incident, her demeanor had softened noticeably. Over a few sessions, we'd grown close enough to chat casually about personal matters.
"I see. So you were prepping for the civil service exam before. How'd you end up as a masseur?"
"A friend asked for a massage, they loved my touch, and I got scouted. Started for fun."
Kim Youngae looked slightly flustered.
"For fun? So you're just doing this temporarily?"
You can't quit. I have to hold on somehow.
'Look at that.'
"Well, I'll quit Esthetic Nonhyeon soon."
Kim Youngae spoke up hastily.
"Wouldn't it be better to keep working? With your skills, Teacher Song, the incentives must be good—decent pay too. In my opinion... ah."
She realized her urgency and blushed.
'Cute, even twelve years older.'
"Not quitting massages altogether. Honestly, I'm thinking of going independent."
"Independent?"
"Yeah. Got into body therapy and want to start a beauty business around it. Saving up partners and capital."
"Ah... impressive at your age."
"You married just a year older than me, ma'am. Haha."
My light joke fell flat; she didn't react. She wore a serious expression, lost in thought.
Independent... business. If he starts one, he won't quit massages, right?
Yeah. Make it certain. Can't let go.
Now I want freedom too. No more headaches, no more stuffiness.
"If it's not rude... could I invest?"
The expected offer, but I feigned surprise.
"Pardon? In my business?"
"Yes. I know your skills well, Teacher Song. Plenty of business potential in service quality."
She continued.
"...Frankly, it's a business that hasn't even started, so your investment offer is puzzling. Any specific reason?"
You said massages are a hobby.
Can't have you quitting no matter what.
"I believe in the success odds... and honestly, I don't want you leaving the industry, Teacher Song. Haven't met anyone as good at massages. Hohoho."
She valued me higher than expected. Time to push harder.
"How much investment are you thinking?"
Kim Youngae pondered.
Even if the business fails, as long as it keeps Teacher Song in the industry...
I could invest a few hundred million.
But blind investing isn't smart...
"You mentioned having 200 million saved. As the investor, I'd like to see the founder's capabilities a bit. In a month, match whatever capital you bring, and I'll invest the same. Sound good?"
I agreed readily.
"Perfect."
Very perfect. A great deal for me. Though her thoughts might differ.
'Not a few hundred million—I'll make you invest billions, Youngae. Heh heh.'
Accepting Kim Youngae's terms eagerly had its reasons. I pulled up a photo on my smartphone.
It had been over a month targeting just her. I hadn't idled; I'd researched steadily, planning the quest.
While devising ways to raise beauty center capital, I found a jackpot for big money.
'A blind treasure chest—no, a blind apple box.'
Casino first? Only one in Korea; winning big quick would blacklist me before 100 million. Scrapped.
Next: blackmail politicians. Had corruption evidence from abilities. But album search yielded a photo that changed plans.
Searching lawmakers, found one with a gangster boss. Digging waves led to it.
Background: field. Hole in the center. Inside the hole...
"Rice cakes falling from the sky."
Literally manna. Minor issue: owner. But if eaten unnoticed, ownerless?
Poor rice cake abandoned in remote field. Felt duty to devour it.
Act fast. Rented car, bought shovel at mart. Floored to site.
Field full of peppers. Uprooted peppers at hole spot, dug.
After digging, kimchi plastic-wrapped apple boxes appeared. Two boxes. Contents: all 100 million bundles.
Ten billion total.
"Sweet dreams tonight?"
Indeed, sweet sleep.