Chapter 111: U-Hak Wang (11)
Having fully experienced the effects of pleasure amplification, Jeonghwa tapped out after two rounds, waving the white flag that she couldn't go any further. I couldn't push to keep going either, not when I saw the dark bruises starting to form. On top of that, this pleasure amplification ability—something so hard to control—needed a closer look.
Giving me a power I can't handle is just poison.
It was probably just the excitement of the first time, so I'd let it slide for now. But if we kept having sex that wrecked our bodies like this, it wouldn't end well.
As I mulled over pleasure amplification for a while, Jeonghwa emerged from the shower, her body still slick and dripping, and dropped an unexpected bombshell.
"I'm heading home."
"Huh? You should rest a bit and have dinner."
If she hadn't basically made my semen her dinner, she'd be starving by now.
"I'm worried about Jua. I told her I might be late, but I can't leave a full-term pregnant girl alone that late into the night."
"You promised to forget about Jua unnie for today and go on a date with me."
"This alone has made me more than happy enough. It was joy beyond my station, like I'd become a woman again. But before I'm a woman, I'm a mom. My daughter's safety means more than my happy times."
She said it firmly—being a mother meant some things couldn't change. And she knew full well how rare it was to feel that kind of happiness as a woman in life.
Is this what being a mom is like?
With no family ties of my own, I couldn't easily relate. But I figured I'd understand her feelings someday. After all, I had kids of my own now.
"I'll walk you home at least."
"No need to bother. I can go alone—I'm not a kid. You must be tired too; go rest."
Jeonghwa patted my butt lightly, trying to persuade me. For some reason, I couldn't refuse her. I just nodded meekly and saw her off.
"You'll make time like this again next time, right?"
"We'll see, depending on the situation. Labor's coming soon, so it's hard to step away."
"...Okay."
"You're agreeing, but your mouth's turned into a duck's beak? Hohoho! I'm off. Today was fun."
I kissed her brightly laughing lips, pouring all my love into it.
When she acts all 'mom-like' like that, I just can't say no.
So in the end, no real date today? I regretted missing out on a nice dinner together.
"It's not the last time."
I comforted myself that there was no need to feel so down.
"Sigh, guess I need to figure out this damn pleasure amplification."
Alone in the hotel room now, it felt emptily sterile without Jeonghwa. I kinda missed having an AI around—I could've asked about the principles behind pleasure amplification and gotten a straightforward answer. Unlike Poni, it would've explained without any ulterior motives.
Deciding to get a solid grasp on pleasure amplification before leaving, I gripped my dick firmly. It had been a while since I'd jerked off purely for experimental purposes.
Ha, I thought she was some clueless rookie, but nope. I got totally played. Damn it!! I got completely scammed.
She had dismissed the rookie director set to helm There's a Prince at Our School until now. Not just her—most of the staff felt the same, so it wasn't solely her fault.
It stemmed from the director's habit of dumping the tedious tasks on her while cherry-picking the easy ones.
But as filming day approached, she had to admit her judgment was hasty.
Director Choi Youngji, what a fox. A total fox.
Pretending to know nothing. Parachuted in and acting incompetent, but as actual shooting loomed, the fox showed her tail.
By the time she realized she'd been outfoxed, half her nose was already sliced off.
Damn it all!
"Director, why the silence?"
"It's just so sudden. I've been handling everything from A to Z until now, and suddenly you want me to back off? Can't help feeling hurt. At least you didn't have to go on the offensive like this."
"I never attacked. It was my project from the start. The staff's getting confused on set, so I had no choice. Honestly, it's ridiculous—why not tell me, the director, about on-site issues and go to some unrelated outsider instead?"
This attitude was what made her blood boil inside. She'd handled everything up to now. And now, calling her an outsider? Talk about zero manners.
"Send that staffer elsewhere. Can't work with them."
"Ridiculous!! Firing family over something like that?? How do you expect to survive in this industry acting like that!!"
She could stomach the director's rudeness thanks to her investors, but badmouthing her team? No way.
"Why the overreaction? So you support what that staffer did?"
"Movies are made by people. Mistakes happen, and films come from trial and error like that. If you delegate, you gotta overlook slip-ups. Being a director isn't just about shooting!"
"I'm doing a web drama?"
Oh, shit!＠$!^$*$#$%!#＠!
"W-well, sure, but!!"
"Ha! So annoying. You can't fire the staffer? Skip the long explanations—just give me a straight yes or no."
There was one reason Director Choi Youngji was throwing this tantrum: bad luck had a staffer ask her—right in front of the director—about a decision related to There's a Prince at Our School.
Stuff they'd left entirely to her until now. If asked what that meant, she'd say she'd been perfectly set up.
She's making an example on purpose to tighten discipline among the staff.
Having dumped site scouting, art, music, and more on her while snatching only the final approvals, the director now saw fit to rein in the staff as shooting ramped up.
Outwardly polite and compliant, but behind her back, most viewed the parachuted-in Choi Youngji unfavorably.
She must hate that atmosphere. I thought she'd ignore the hate since she seemed unfazed, but nope.
She'd been holding it in.
Should've noticed at that cast-staff dinner. Idiot, got played.
That dinner had softened the staff's sharp glares a bit, and since it wasn't bad for shooting, she'd let it slide.
That bitch is definitely using carrot and stick right now.
Lure with the carrot, crack the whip for discipline. Even she had to admit it was a solid plan.
Chop one staffer's head, and the rest know theirs could be next. With livelihoods on the line, their attitude toward Director Choi Youngji—who held their fate—would shift inevitably.
Fine up to there. The problem is using me as the whipping post. Rabbit hunt? Squeeze me dry and toss me?
The issue was her as the target. Infuriatingly, she couldn't show it. The director was the boss, after all.
Ugh, been a while since I got bossed around like this—driving me nuts.
Having built a decent rep as a director, she'd gone from 'eul' to 'gap.' Not fully, though.
Weak against the strong, strong against the weak.
Submissive to the production company, dominant over staff and actors. Used to dishing it out, she was out of practice taking it—her temper flared uncontrollably.
Just now had pushed her limit.
She was definitely hoping I'd blow up. Sorry, but I won't play your game. I won't be your stepping stone.
"I've handled all the prep so far, so isn't it natural for staff to check with me? If you hated outsiders touching your work, you should've done it yourself ages ago. Dump prep on me, la-di-da around, then make me feel betrayed like this? What're you playing at?"
This attitude would be a huge hurdle in the industry. Cursing inwardly, she persuaded Director Choi Youngji oh-so-sweetly on the surface.
Whether her persuasion worked or the director knew pushing further crossed a line, the momentum died down.
"Fine. Since you're begging like this, I'll let it slide once. But talk to that staffer properly. I trust there won't be a next time."
"Y-yeah. Of course."
"Oh, and script reading on Friday."
"Not Wednesday?"
She'd synced all the actors' schedules, and now Friday out of nowhere? Clearly a petty jab for not firing the staffer.
Just a date change, but the fallout wasn't trivial—reconfirming every actor's schedule from scratch.
At least the web drama's cast were all rookies.
Idols might be tricky, but schedules should adjust. It's their first acting gig too, so they'll want practice time.
Still, she couldn't just cave easily.
"Yes, Friday, not Wednesday."
"You know how much hassle one date change is? Why not Wednesday?"
"I can't that day. Can't the director decide that?"
"Well, no, but…."
Gritting her teeth at Director Choi Youngji's sharp retort, she spat it out with an whatever shrug.
"Tell me these things ahead next time. Handling it like this just proves you're an amateur."
"!!"
Yeah, fuck it. Better vent before liver cancer kills her.
She had no regrets over that parting gut-punch. True to fox form, Director Choi Youngji clocked it instantly.
"...Amusing. Script reading Friday it is."
The director rose calmly with a meaningful smile—more unnerving than an emotional outburst.
Shit, did I poke the wrong bear?
She'd held back until now, but needed to signal she wasn't easy prey to someone threatening her position.
Her reaction, though, sparked sudden doubt.
Wary now, she eyed Director Choi Youngji's leisurely exit with deep suspicion.
"C-come in, Director."
"Yeah~ Come on in."
With Director Choi Youngji gone, the offending staffer shuffled in anxiously.
"Um... you okay?"
"I'm fine. But you? She wanted you cut."
"Gasp!! A-am I fired?!"
"Am I crazy? Why fire you? You're my team."
"Thank you, Director!!"
If you swing the whip,
I'll dangle the carrot. I'll make Choi Youngji the common enemy of my team.
Her eyes gleamed meaningfully.