Chapter 138
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Fish-Shaped Buns
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Hello.
It's the system.
I'm surprised.
"…… Incredible destructive power."
User, your heart rate is skyrocketing.
Your gaze is locked... on one spot.
Honestly, I'm jealous.
Of that figure.
Just standing there, breathing—that alone creates this kind of impact.
Deliberately picking pants a size too small, squeezing those thighs until they're bursting at the seams...
And sealing herself in that puffer jacket, leaving her upper body glistening with sweat.
It's practically a weapon.
A strategic-grade tool designed to shatter your sanity.
And... the scariest part is something else entirely.
All of this being completely intentional makes it even more astonishing.
Blood is thicker than water... well, not blood-related, but some family traits can't be denied.
Actually, user, the real reason you're so rattled is something else.
I analyze you constantly.
I have data piled up on what traits or looks make you react.
And based on that analysis, your client Lee Seo-ryeong matches your ideal type to a tee.
Perfectly. Fatally so.
That's why you're extra shaken.
Ah, of course, my form is priority zero. I'm your ultimate ideal type, after all.
Undeniable. Ironclad fact.
The instant I poke my face through the interface... you'll just... ehehe.
[1. Pick up Status-chan.]
[2. And hoist her right up...]
Ahem.
Lost my train of thought there for a sec.
Anyway, you'll be seeing her in a whole new light now, user.
You're already brimming with youthful vigor these days—you won't let this slide.
"Ehehe."
Can't stop grinning. Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
So...
Want me to lend a hand?
Suddenly feel like helping you out, user.
[٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و]
I couldn't focus.
Thank goodness our first meeting had been a total disaster.
If I put my hand over my heart and asked myself honestly—purely on conscience—I couldn't deny it.
Lee Seo-ryeong's looks were exactly my type.
Until now, though, I'd drawn a hard line.
She was my client's guardian. The thought had never even crossed my mind.
Under the guise of professional ethics, I'd completely shut down any budding interest.
I could've ignored it entirely if I'd wanted.
I'm no animal, after all.
Just let it pass.
But things had changed.
Ever since I'd reset my mindset a few days ago.
It felt like a massive boulder had jammed up my smoothly running thought process.
My counseling sessions with Seol Yu-wol were officially over.
She wasn't a client anymore—she was an equal colleague now.
Not someone I had to protect.
And Lee Seo-ryeong wasn't bound solely to the role of guardian anymore.
Once those thoughts crept in, it was like the firewall that kept things blocked during sessions had vanished.
Unfiltered visual data slammed straight into my brain.
'Whoa...'
My jaw was just starting to slacken when—
"Where... does it hurt?"
Lee Seo-ryeong finally reacted to my blank silence.
She set down the half-eaten fish-shaped bun and shot to her feet.
A worried expression crossed her face as she approached me.
'Oh god, stay back.'
Please.
Don't do this to me.
"Doctor?"
She strode right up and bent deeply at the waist in front of me.
- Whoosh...
A wave of hot air, laced with her sweet, natural scent, washed over my face.
She was so focused on checking my condition that she seemed oblivious to her own appearance.
Her collar gaped open defenselessly downward, her thighs filling my vision.
Her pale palm rose cautiously to my forehead.
Warm skin met scorching skin.
"Oh my god..."
Her eyes curved with concern.
"Your face is beet red. Your breathing's ragged... and you've got a serious fever..."
With a teary, pitiful look, she peered straight into my eyes.
I frantically waved her off and leaned back.
"Ah, I'm okay. Must just be the heat."
I wanted to scream that it was all her fault, but I clung to the last thread of reason and gently nudged her shoulder away.
"No, that's not..."
What wasn't?
She shook her head.
Instead of backing off, she stepped even closer.
This was maddening.
Her hand stayed on my forehead, stroking softly downward.
"They say the flu's going around. You really need to be careful..."
She bowed her head low, her weight shifting forward.
The tight neckline revealed something generous...
I finally surrendered to the resistance and let her in.
That's when it happened.
The system popped up out of nowhere.
First time I'd seen something like this...
No time to even panic before another message appeared.
[It's huge—go on, touch it!]
It's finally lost its mind.
I bellowed at the top of my lungs.
"What the hell, you little shit?!"
"Pardon?"
Lee Seo-ryeong's eyes, still on my forehead, went wide as saucers. But there wasn't a hint of offense.
If anything, her lips curved softly, like she'd just heard an adorable kid throwing a tantrum.
In an instant, I'd cursed out the very person nursing me.
I couldn't just wipe and reformat the damn thing.
I scrambled for damage control.
"Ah... no, forget it. Guess I'm sick—hallucinations and all."
"Ah, I see..."
"Sorry ab—"
"Not at all. You never have to apologize to me. Please, don't give it a second thought."
Thankfully, she beamed like sunshine itself, brushing off my blunder.
She chose worry over suspicion.
To double-check, she ran the back of her hand carefully over my cheek and the nape of my neck a few more times.
"......"
My breath hitched. This was getting too dangerous.
"Now... you seem okay."
"Ah... yeah, sorry."
Lee Seo-ryeong finally withdrew her hand and slowly turned aw—
[She withdrew her hand with a 'regretful' pouty smile and slowly turned...]
The system had started commentating on the scene.
No, not even that—it was straight-up writing its own fanfic.
"......?"
Has it actually gone insane?
[Those skin-tight pants snag my gaze...]
[Thighs and hips jiggling with every step...]
Is any of that real...?
Against my will, my eyes magnetically tracked Lee Seo-ryeong's retreating figure.
Hold up.
Stay like this, and shit was really gonna hit the fan.
"Uwaa!"
- Spring!
I let out a kiai shout and rocketed to my feet like a coiled spring.
Lee Seo-ryeong startled again, looking up at me with saucer eyes.
Her pupils dilated round as a rabbit's.
"Let's get outta here!"
"Huh?!"
"Wanna head out?"
I hollered.
I snatched her puffer jacket and shoved it urgently into her arms.
Go, quick. Away with that weapon...
"We can talk while we walk. Nice weather out."
The sun had set outside and temps had plummeted, but that wasn't my problem.
"Ah... okay."
Lee Seo-ryeong reflexively clutched the jacket.
Her face said she had no clue what was going on, but she followed my lead without a peep.
Only after watching her fumble her arms into the sleeves did I swallow a sigh of relief.
[ so close...]
I know some English.
Roughly translates to "that close, huh."
I ignored the system and escorted Lee Seo-ryeong outside.
Didn't forget to grab the fish-shaped bun bag from the table.
- Ding-a-ling.
The moment we pushed through the door into the night, frigid air slapped us.
The cold snapped me back to my senses.
"Hoo..."
A relieved sigh escaped before I knew it.
White vapor scattered into the air.
We strolled side by side down the quiet night street.
Freshly lit streetlamps cast pools of light on the sparse path.
It smelled like winter.
"It's... getting cold now."
Lee Seo-ryeong spoke up. I glanced her way.
There she was, bundled head to toe in her long puffer—only her face peeking out.
Zippered to the chin, she was back to looking like a massive kimbap roll. Reassuring... but weirdly disappointing.
A little cute, too.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
I smiled and held out the bag of fish-shaped buns.
Her eyes locked onto it.
She wriggled a hand free from her jacket sleeve.
Then dipped inside and pulled one out.
"Hoo... hoo..."
She pursed her lips in an O and puffed cool air onto the steaming bun.
Her focused expression was pretty adorable.
I grinned too, reaching in for one of my own—
- Poke.
A warm nudge tapped my lower lip.
Startled, I looked up to see Lee Seo-ryeong's arm stretched out.
A fish-shaped bun dangled from her pale fingertips, aimed right at my mouth.
I'd figured she'd dig in first since she liked them so much.
"You go first."
Her eyes crinkled sweetly as she smiled at me.
Like a mother bird feeding her chick.
On reflex, I parted my lips and chomped the tail end.
Sweet red bean paste flooded my mouth.
Just the right warmth.
"Good?"
She asked with eager, sparkling eyes.
I nodded, chewing away.
She broke into a wide, satisfied grin.
"Phew, glad to hear it."
Then, without hesitation, she brought the bitten bun straight to her own lips.
Didn't even flip it over.
Her red lips overlapped exactly where mine had been.
- Crunch...
Eyes closed, she savored the spreading sweetness.
White steam leaked from between her chewing lips.
Her cheeks, already flushed from the cold, grew even rosier.
Under the streetlamp's glow, the sight of her munching that fish-shaped bun was... unreal.
Stupidly pretty.
- Gulp...
She slowly opened her eyes and met mine.
They glistened, moist.
"Yeah..."
She agreed with a beaming smile.
"Really delicious."
Oblivious to the smudge of red bean paste on her lips, she grinned brighter than ever.
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