Sponsor Lee Yun
As Seong Ye-han stepped through the pristine entrance, a sweet, heady wave of wine aroma enveloped him. A simple dark wooden table stood at the center, surrounded by pristine white leather sofas. Several bottles of deep, rich wine sat atop it, their corks pulled free, proudly exhaling the fragrance of years past. Three crystal-clear glasses waited—likely set out for their group.
A few bottles were already empty, their transparent innards laid bare, the final drops having trickled between a woman's crimson lips.
"You're here?"
Their eyes met. For a fleeting moment, Seong Ye-han thought he glimpsed a sharp glint of gold in Lee Yun's deep black pupils—an illusion, perhaps, but her gaze felt like it was appraising him, measuring his worth. He held her stare evenly before casually looking away.
Now her outfit caught his eye. Lee Yun greeted him in nothing but a thin, silky women's blouse. Long, sleek legs emerged from the hem, paired with plump, enticing thighs that drew his gaze like a magnet. She must be wearing panties underneath, but even so, the sight was more than enough to stir any man's basest fantasies. Hell, it felt like she'd secretly researched his tastes...
"Ahem."
Facing this provocative attire—questionable, to say the least, for welcoming an outsider—Seong Ye-han steadied himself. In his mind, Lee Yun was a meticulous woman. The image he'd built over a year at the company, glimpsed in passing, still held firm despite their recent encounters cracking it a bit.
If she was showing this much skin, she had an angle. A honey trap had always been devastatingly effective against men. He needed to stay sharp. Especially since her loyal secretary, Han Si-won—like a faithful hound—had left her mistress alone with him.
"First off, thank you for accepting my unreasonable request."
Gulp. Lee Yun downed another refill of wine as Seong Ye-han bowed his head. Truth be told, he hadn't expected Na Yu-ri's matter to resolve so cleanly. Whatever her motives, he'd received her power and favor upfront, ignoring their agreement—like getting paid before lifting a finger. Best to express gratitude early.
To maintain a good relationship with this beautiful, brilliant sponsor, he had to show respect, not treat her like a mark. Small things mattered, and the basics started with manners.
Even his slightly stiff thanks earned only a gentle smile from Lee Yun.
"No big deal. It was a perfectly reasonable ask."
Swish. She crossed her legs casually as she spoke. Seong Ye-han fought the instinct to let his eyes drift to the shadowed valley between her thighs.
"Before we talk... mind if I wash up first?"
"Mmm~ Sure. I'll just have another drink. Don't keep me waiting too long, okay?"
Her voice was soft yet somehow moist, teasing his senses. She raised her arms in a lazy stretch, the blouse gaping open to reveal pale, supple breasts. Firm and perky—the kind that would feel perfect in his grip. Smaller than Shin Ye-hwa's, but just the right size to fill his hand... an ideal pair.
So defenseless. Seong Ye-han forced his eyes away. Get a grip, he told himself inwardly. Without her usual suit and glasses, Lee Yun shed her intellectual poise for raw, reason-shattering allure.
Damn... Just last night he'd ravaged Na Yu-ri to his heart's content and been milked dry by Shin Ye-hwa. Yet here he was, his cock stirring heavily again.
Before Lee Yun could notice, he shook his head and hurried past her, towing Shin Ye-hwa and Na Yu-ri along.
"Bathroom's straight ahead~ past the stairs, door on the side~"
"Make sure it's just you in there, okay? If I hear any cat-like meows... I'll have to punish you~?"
Her playful jab drew a retort from Seong Ye-han.
"Great idea! Guess we'll all go in together then."
"Eek! Seong Ye-han, you're dirtier than I thought!"
"If you don't want that show, point us to another bathroom."
This huge place has more than one, right? With that, he shoved himself and the others into the bathroom. Any more banter, and who knew where it'd lead.
After directing Seong Ye-han, Shin Ye-hwa, and Na Yu-ri to their bathrooms, Lee Yun uncorked another bottle and refilled her glass. Glug-glug-glug—the rich purple liquid poured with a satisfying sound.
Surprisingly, her taste in wine wasn't particularly refined. Cheap ones had their charm, expensive ones their depth—that was her philosophy. She just loved the sweet-tangy aroma and subtle bite.
One sip, savored and swallowed. Then she murmured.
"Not a mental ability, right?"
Imagining Seong Ye-han under the hot shower, Lee Yun mused aloud.
"Yes, Miss."
Han Si-won had appeared silently at her side.
"Was I too obvious? Enough to raise suspicions?"
"Even if so, if he were a mental ability user, he'd have tried something by now. For a shot at you, he'd overlook any risks."
"So... that means Shin Ye-hwa follows him willingly?"
"That's how it looks."
"And that exile woman was awfully meek too."
"Na Yu-ri. A-rank hunter with Stasis Field... Always watching those two closely."
"Those two..."
Lee Yun pondered as her unflappable maid spoke. This elevated Seong Ye-han's value even further.
If Na Yu-ri focused more on Shin Ye-hwa, then capturing her would've been Seong Ye-han's doing alone—implying his skills were merely adequate. But if she eyed both... it meant even an ex-S-rank like Shin Ye-hwa found Seong Ye-han impressive enough to match her.
Her condition—assess his hunter potential at A-rank—was as good as met.
"Better lock him down now, or we might end up as the 'junior partner' later."
"Miss, even if he's promising, it's not that—"
"No. It's confirmed."
Lee Yun drained the near-empty glass, her eyes gleaming.
"He's already shining brighter than anyone. And it's not just potential—it's fully bloomed."
A skyrocketing coin. One no one else knew about but her—a massive jackpot.
"Even bigger than last time... Si-won. Know what this means?"
"..."
Hearing the faint tremor in her mistress's voice, Han Si-won waited silently. Interrupting wasn't a proper maid's way.
"This country... just gained another S-rank."
"!!"
Even Han Si-won couldn't hide her shock.
"And... Shin Ye-hwa's light is back too."
For Lee Yun, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Two S-ranks. If Seong Ye-han could tame the lone-wolf Shin Ye-hwa and hold real conversations...
"Ahaha— no wonder I can't stop investing."
Lee Yun laughed. Low input, high return—everyone's dream. All she'd done was hire an E-rank nobody, buy a drink, send a truck. And now? Bonds with two S-ranks. Pure profit.
She itched to rush him for a deep kiss.
"Now, what more can I do for our sponsor to keep him happy... hehe."
How to thicken that tie? Savoring the rare thrill of investment planning, Lee Yun eagerly awaited Seong Ye-han's return from the shower.
Shhh—the hot water cascaded from the showerhead as Shin Ye-hwa pondered the woman she'd just met. Lee Yun, was it? That vixen in a bare blouse— an unexpected blow.
The morning after Seong Ye-han first claimed her, hadn't that exact weapon shattered his reason and drawn him in?
He'd said it wasn't her style. Yet here she was, wielding it boldly. Females instinctively sniffed out prime males, huh?
"I have to protect Oppa."
Lee Yun's gaze on him reeked of that sticky possessiveness—the aura of a woman bent on seduction. The old virgin Shin Ye-hwa might've missed it, but now? She knew a slutty bitch's ploy when she saw one.
To Shin Ye-hwa, Lee Yun screamed sheltered heiress with vast wealth. No way she'd tolerate her marked man playing with other bitches.
She'd be a roadblock for Seong Ye-han, who needed to bed countless female hunters to climb higher.
A threat to upend Shin Ye-hwa's tearful resolve to share him a little.
"No way. Absolutely not."
One wrong move, and that scheming cunt could hypothecate Oppa's future. A secret pregnancy trap? Disaster.
Shin Ye-hwa wouldn't stand for it.
"Try any funny business..."
Crack—the hot water froze solid in an instant. Oppa had said wait a few months before announcing her S-rank return, but plans changed.
Worst case, crush her with S-rank power.
With that thought, Shin Ye-hwa shook off the icicles clinging like frost and strode from the shower.
Tap-tap. Her retreating figure evoked a warrior steeling for battle.
Though it was just the delusion of a girl freshly addicted to cock, lost in love and blind to propriety.
To her, at least, it felt like unshakeable truth.