#17. Shooting Begins (6)

I wiped the water splattered on my face with a tissue. Han Minyeong's eyes sharpened as she coughed for a good while, like something was caught in her throat. The stares from the people around us quickly scattered.

If I hadn't been wearing glasses, that would've been a disaster. Han Minyeong, who had shrunk back under the surrounding gazes, glared at me with fierce eyes and muttered in a small voice.

"Are you some kind of pervert?"

"A little."

I knew I should've said no, but a mischievous impulse bubbled up.

"Ha! So you thought you could date a woman like me and do whatever you wanted with her. I heard guys these days treat women like toys. Were you one of those punks?"

...Looks like it was just a joke to her. Shit. This was a total mismatch. I felt a bit awkward figuring out how to smooth over the sudden hostility.

I hadn't expected her to twist my confession like that. It was a mistake not considering her low self-esteem.

"Isn't calling me a punk a bit much? You seem mad because you misunderstood me, but that's going too far. I'm a public figure, you know. I can't just go around doing stuff like that without consequences."

"Then why'd you say something so low-class and jokey? Do I look like an easy mark?"

"I said that because I was worried you'd take 'big sis-little bro' literally. Honestly, if I hadn't, you would've misunderstood it that way—like actual siblings."

"..."

She didn't argue back, which meant I was right. Can men and women be just friends despite the gender difference? On Earth, sure. I'd had plenty of female friends. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠But here, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had no intention of making female friends. And honestly, even if I did swing her around at my whim, I was confident it wouldn't harm her.

"See? You can't respond because you were misunderstanding it."

"W-well, isn't that obvious? That's what people usually mean by 'big sis-little bro'!!"

"Nah~ There are no friends between men and women."

"...I don't get why you're doing this to me. I've got nothing to offer. I don't know what you want from me, but my life's already a mess without you. I don't want to deal with the hassle of someone like you."

"Why do you think it'd be a hassle? It could make you happy."

My head was already filled with ideas of turning her into a stunning beauty. Dating me wouldn't be unhappy for her. The more she loved me, the more beautiful she'd become.

"No way it'd make me happy!"

"Why not?"

"Because we don't match at all! I've got no money, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'm not pretty, no agency. My future's uncertain, and a guy like you shows interest? No one could take that seriously. One wrong move from you, and someone like me could get crushed!"

Her face was desperate as she trembled while speaking, clearly hoping I'd drop this ridiculous joke. But I'd never intended it as a joke from the start.

Watching her fear this sudden opportunity made me want to make her happy even more—like the random luck I'd grabbed through Poni.

"It's not a joke. Not some casual stone I tossed. It might feel sudden and out of nowhere to you, but I decided it while talking with you yesterday."

"...Because of my drunken rant at you? Are you pitying me?"

"You won't believe this, but I've been in your exact shoes. Then, out of nowhere, everything changed overnight. Looking back, I wonder what would've happened if I'd missed that chance. I want to share that miracle opportunity with you."

Experiences from another world, one that had nothing to do with me, their own realm. I wanted to share it with her, living in despair like I had.

"You think the 'opportunity' you can give me is that miraculous? Are you some big shot? Got some secret background I don't know about? Hidden chaebol heir or something?"

"Don't twist it sarcastically. Rejecting me won't change your life. I'm not mocking you or joking."

"Don't you think you're saying things that make it impossible not to take sarcastically?"

Convincing this prickly woman wasn't going to be easy. If carrots wouldn't work, time for the stick.

"Hmm, you really can't handle alcohol, huh? That personality won't last in this industry. Let me be blunt. You worried about that scandal earlier? You should want a scandal with me. Not worry about me. You're a nobody actress. If we get caught, I'll take a ton of hate, but you'll get known as the actress who scandalized with an idol."

"!!"

"Same now. When someone more famous than you asks you out, any opportunist grabs it without questions—feelings aside. Whether it goes public or not, you gain a solid connection."

"..."

In reality, she'd gain massive benefits dating me.

"Stop being so soft, noona. Complaining the world's unfair and why only bad things happen to you does nothing for your life. Using people is one way to live."

Living kindly doesn't mean the world notices. Playing nice strategically is how to 'live well'.

"...So you're saying you'll let me use you? What's in it for you dating me?"

"You yourself, noona."

"I think it's nonsense, but since your attitude baffles me, are you... love at first sight? Got unique tastes? Like ugly women?"

This absurdly sudden opportunity kept her suspicious. Understandable—she'd been burned so much, she couldn't reach out easily even when chance knocked, too busy self-defending.

Still, my stick-mixed words seemed effective; she wasn't as thorny as before. Her softening attitude showed she was coming around.

"I told you. Pervert. I like women a lot. Dating you means tons of sex. I've got other women too. You'd have to accept that."

"...So confident. Living up to your face."

"Polygamy's legal—why not be confident? Though as an idol, I can't flaunt girlfriends."

I hoped she'd realize this sudden, suspicious chance was one she could grab.

"I can't believe I'm being convinced by this nonsense."

"Don't worry. Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more surprising things will happen from now on."

She didn't ignore practical advice, suggesting she'd been screwed over before. Makes sense—in this cutthroat world, a bear like her must've faced plenty of fox tricks.

"This is my first and last offer. If you don't contact me, all this vanishes."

"......"

Her face was complex, weighing the benefits of tying with me.

"You've lived straight-laced so far. Why not take a shortcut like everyone else once?"

"!!"

"When you want to grab my hand, call me."

"......"

Figuring she'd need time alone to decide, I stood and left the shop. I'd wait for her choice while happily imagining how to style her.

Sexy beauty? Pure beauty? Cute beauty? What face?

The women I'd met here had their own perfect charms I couldn't touch. They transcended tastes. Premature meddling would've ruined already flawless beauties.

But Minyeong noona could be any beauty. Her face would change to my choice.

Creating my perfect ideal type.

She couldn't reshape her own face, so making her my ideal was best. Revealing items meant product recall and membership ban.

Three days after that, I finally got her reply. As expected, she accepted.

What fun descriptions and products. Never thought I'd buy these, but with coins piling up, desire ignited. At first, I wondered who buys this crap—turns out, I do. No such thing as useless products. Just depends on if you've got the coins.

At 5,000 coins each, buying them makes me legendary.

"Gotta buy 'em anyway."

They might look silly, but the effects are insane.

To max 'em out, gotta fuck like crazy.

Especially Minyeong noona, needing intensive care. Jua noona prepping for actress life, mother-in-law fighting age as the oldest, Ahyun and Boksun noona couldn't feel neglected. Plus busy artists May and Anna, overdue for meets.

I'll handle my women’s beauty!!

Volume boost essential for coin farming, Gourmet for better taste to get more blowjobs.

I enjoy shooting, they enjoy eating—perfect.

My real shopping didn't end there. Needed acting knowledge, so bought theory books. Storing them in my head made acting way easier. More helpful than raw skill percent ups, which need adaptation time. This skipped that.

Proven effective, so bought singing/dancing theory books too. Finally pulling full potential.

Before, just grinding practice. Now, theory and practice both perfect.

And the most important item.

The perfect item for Minyeong noona.