Healing Button or Poison?

I neatly folded away everything Jeonghye had told me and tucked it into a quiet corner of my mind. There was nothing I could confirm right now even if I obsessed over it. Besides, I trusted my own eyes. Her story had sounded convincing, but there was no way my healing button Yeonju could actually be that kind of villain. Direct observation and judgment versus secondhand gossip. When the two clashed, which one deserved more trust was obvious. At least, that’s what I told myself.

Huu…

Still, in one stubborn corner of my chest, the “what if” refused to die. The suspicion that Yeonju might be far more cunning than she appeared, that she had deceived even me with that innocent face and those childish gestures, kept rising no matter how hard I tried to push it down.

“...We’re almost there. Jeonghye. Want me to show you something fun?”

“Huh? What?”

I changed the subject as if the heavy conversation had never happened, and Jeonghye’s natural reply showed she was happy to let it go too. Honestly, the whole thing had been my mistake. There was no need to bring up something so serious between two people who were still in the fresh, fluttering stage of seeing each other. I emptied my head and focused entirely on Jeonghye, who was sitting right beside me.

Whirrr—. Clunk, clunk.

I slowed the car and opened the roof. The sleek Lamborghini roof-opening show drew every eye on the university street. They wanted to stare because it was cool as hell, but they knew it would only make their stomachs twist with envy. At the same time, ignoring it completely was impossible. So they stole glances instead of openly gawking. I had been a dirt-poor guy until recently, so I understood those looks down to my bones.

That didn’t mean I was about to close the roof I had proudly opened, though.

“...”

Jeonghye was also struggling to maintain her pride as a former member of the dirt-poor club. She watched the roof flip open like a Transformer, mouth hanging wide in awe, before suddenly clamping it shut and awkwardly staring straight ahead. It was so cute I actually felt sad we would have to part soon.

“Minjun… this is way too flashy… we’re basically there… the store is right in front… everyone’s going to see…”

“I told you. I came here to show off.”

“Still, opening the roof is a bit much…”

“I don’t usually do this. But today I’m going to be a little rude.”

“What do you mean by rude?”

Screech—.

I parked at our destination. Through the all-glass front of the hop house, students who had been excitedly drinking in blue bomber jackets emblazoned with a stylish eagle all snapped their heads toward us at once. The moment they spotted Jeonghye in the car, chaos erupted. Even with the door closed, their loud commotion reached all the way to us.

I got out and walked around to the passenger side to open the door for her. But even though we had arrived, Jeonghye stayed in her seat, head bowed low.

“Why aren’t you getting out, Jeonghye?”

“...They can see us. I’ll stay down here… just drop me off a little further away.”

Jeonghye whispered with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her head still buried. Even if she spoke at normal volume, they wouldn’t hear anything from inside the store.

“They’ve already noticed.”

“There’s still hope. I can just say it’s not me, it’s someone else.”

“Why are you so embarrassed? Are you ashamed to be seen with me?”

“No…!! That’s not it at all. I’m the one who’s embarrassed…!!”

After several rounds of playful arguing, Jeonghye finally lifted her bowed head and straightened her back to look at me. The moment she did, I leaned down and planted a firm kiss on her forehead.

With the roof open, I could even pull something like this.

Chu—.

I gave her the most flashy, overwhelming forehead kiss possible, then slowly straightened up. It was a performance for any potential bugs who might be eyeing her, a clear declaration of who Jeonghye belonged to. A silent threat. If you don’t have the balls to roll up in a Lamborghini and kiss her forehead in public, don’t even think about approaching her.

Of course her heart was already tied to me, but the mere thought of other men lusting after her irritated me enough that I couldn’t help using slightly coercive methods.

“You’re really… awful…”

After the forehead kiss, Jeonghye blankly rubbed the spot with her fingers as if she couldn’t believe it. Then she looked at me. Her expression was wronged, but she didn’t seem to hate it.

“Aww. You liked it though~”

“...Ugh, you’re just like Eunhe. So annoying.”

“That actually hurts a little.”

Click—.

I opened the passenger door. I even held her hand so she wouldn’t stumble getting out of the low-slung sports car she wasn’t used to yet. Jeonghye took my hand, carefully stepped out, and stared straight at me.

“Hey… Minjun.”

“Yeah? What?”

Jeonghye squeezed her eyes shut as if steeling herself for something big, took a deep breath, then opened them again. Her gaze burned with determination.

“My ideal type is a warm person. Someone reliable, dependable, kind…”

“That’s exactly me.”

“...I thought so too, but I guess not. Minjun, you’re just a bad guy… You’re still talking to Yeonju, aren’t you?”

“...”

My throat closed up. As expected, Jeonghye was no pushover. Young as she was, the experience she had gained let her see straight through my true nature.

“See… I knew it… Womanizer… Casanova…”

“Ahem. People can hear us.”

“I’m saying it so they can hear. You did the same thing, Minjun… Because… I…”

We stood facing each other, hands still clasped. Then suddenly Jeonghye’s upper body pitched forward as if someone had shoved her from behind. I had no desire to dodge, and no reason to. I wasn’t usually into being on the receiving end, but some moments felt more special than any preference.

Chu—.

“...I can’t live if I lose.”

Having said that, Jeonghye yanked her hand free and dashed away. Between the fluttering black bob, I caught ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a glimpse of her bright red nape. I hadn’t noticed before because of her hair, but it seemed the flush had spread from her earlobes all the way down her neck.

Tap, tap—.

I brushed my fingers across my lips. Even someone like me—who had done hard SM and belly-bulging sex—couldn’t help feeling a thrill. The fresh, innocent warmth of Jeonghye’s kiss still lingered there.

-Kyaaaaack!!!!

-Kwaaaang!!!!!

-She’s insane!!! She’s lost it!!!

As I was getting back into the car, I glanced toward the noisy commotion. The store door had opened. Jeonghye was walking inside surrounded by thunderous cheers from the university students.

Vroom—.

I started the engine and pulled away. I briefly considered going inside and treating everyone, but it felt too much like a rich sponsor uncle, so I gave up on the idea. I wanted to preserve this fresh feeling today. Maybe not just today.

It might not match my usual tastes, but I found myself hoping my future meetings with Jeonghye would stay like this. She would mature eventually, but that was exactly why I didn’t want to lose this refreshing moment that felt like morning sunlight.

I returned home and opened the app. I was happy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to have finally finished the tutorial quest, but choosing a job gave me a headache. There were so many options, and none of them were normal.

“But what the hell is a Gigolo? I’ve never lived off a woman… Wait, is it because of that three-hundred-thousand-won shirt Yeonju bought me?”

It was ridiculous. Ever since the app appeared, I had only given money, never demanded anything material from a woman. I had simply accepted the shirt from Yeonju as a gesture of gratitude. Yet seeing “Gigolo” pop up in my recommended jobs based on my behavior patterns felt unfair.

Still, the abilities look decent… but it doesn’t really pull me in compared to the others… hmm…

At first glance, and even after looking several times, the only two that seemed decent were Sex Artist and Attention Seeker. Between those two, either would probably be the safest choice. Yet even as I thought that, my eyes kept drifting toward Cult Leader.

Gulp.

I imagined a future where I chose Cult Leader, mass-produced female believers who lived and died by my every word, and held massive orgies. Before I knew it, I had swallowed hard.

Moreover, if I became a cult leader, the believers would treat me like a god. It was ethically unacceptable, yet it seemed like the perfect way to satisfy every dark sexual desire sleeping inside me. Belly inflation… belly inflation… You’ll be happy if you take my fist…

Huu… I’m getting turned on… But I still don’t have money… and I need to buy a house first… Let’s think about it a little more.

The price was ten billion won, so a few good sex sessions could cover the cost of changing jobs, but I wanted to buy a house first. This place no longer matched my level. I was attached to it, but every time I pulled the car in or out of the parking lot, people stared like I was some kind of car-poor poser and it pissed me off. It wasn’t even a Bentley or BMW; it was a Lamborghini. The fact that they still gave me those looks was absurd, but it still bothered me.

Besides, I wanted to move into a big house so I could throw home sex parties and create my own personal sex room. I’d soundproof it so thoroughly that no matter how loud anyone screamed, nothing would leak out, decorate it like a torture chamber, and bring Si-eun noona there to play. It would be incredibly fun.

“And… I still have to get a card… Oh, right! Yeonju!”

Lying on the bed, I slapped my forehead. It was an important matter, but so much had happened today that I had completely forgotten.

I need to figure out Yeonju’s true identity…

I didn’t completely believe what Jeonghye had said in the car. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to prepare.

Obsession… sowing discord… If what Jeonghye said is true, this is full yandere territory… I can’t just sit on my hands. I can’t exactly tie her up on some remote island and spray her with a cum sprayer.

I sent Yeonju a text.

Wait, why is she so good at texting when she can barely speak properly in real life?

Facts I had known but never paid much attention to started looking suspicious one by one. I had no choice but to admit that seeds of doubt about Yeonju were sprouting inside me.

“...Huu.”

Reading the messages, I shook my head slowly to dispel the growing sour feeling. Normally I would have just found them cute. If this was yandere behavior, then no woman in the world wasn’t a yandere.

Get a grip! I just need to see and judge for myself.

I continued the conversation, asking when her father was returning overseas. She replied that he was leaving tomorrow morning. I suggested meeting tomorrow evening if she was free, and she answered with explosive enthusiasm.

I ended the chat with Yeonju and sent Si-eun noona a message suggesting we meet tomorrow morning. Her reply was slow, but she eventually said okay, so my schedule for tomorrow was set.

Having at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠least one friend like this really puts my mind at ease.

I could tell Si-eun noona—whom I had firmly established as a sex friend—everything about Yeonju without holding back. Of course I already had my own plans, but there was no harm in hearing another person’s opinion.

A woman understands another woman’s heart best… Talking with noona should help…

I was genuinely curious. So curious I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep. Whether Yeonju was truly my healing button, or an extremely toxic poison slowly seeping into me.