Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: H-Course Beta Test Getaway
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Finally, the hellish exams were over.
I grabbed my bag, feeling light as a feather.
"Where you headed?"
Sea, sprawled on the living room sofa flipping through a fashion magazine, asked in a bored tone.
"Work. Haven't gone in forever 'cause of exams. The boss has been begging me to come back."
"Don't go. Hang out with me."
Sea tossed the magazine aside and whined.
"Don't go? I gotta work to pay my bills."
"Bills? For what? You eat and sleep here for free."
"Come on, I can't mooch off you forever."
"Just live here forever, then. Even if you stayed your whole life, it wouldn't make a dent in my bank account."
"No thanks. I'll earn my own money."
"Ugh, don't gooo! You know what? I'll call that boss right now and tell him to fire you. I'll buy out that convenience store!"
"Sigh, do whatever."
I ignored Sea huffing behind me and headed for the front door.
As I opened it to leave, a black shadow suddenly blocked my path.
A man in a sharply tailored suit—the Chairman's Secretary Chief.
"Dojin, hold up a sec."
"Yeah? What's up...?"
"A special directive from the Chairman."
The Secretary Chief politely held out a tablet PC.
The screen showed complex graphs and a project overview.
[Project: Couple-Tailored AI Travel Curator 'H-Course' Beta Test]
"What's this?"
"It's a generative AI-based travel platform Hanul Soft is launching soon."
The Secretary Chief adjusted his glasses and rattled off jargon.
"The algorithm analyzes users' biometric signals and preferences to create the perfect date itinerary. For deep learning, we need real 'emotional data' from couples in their twenties."
"Emotional data?"
"Yes. Heart rate, movement patterns, conversation tone, even skinship frequency."
He swiped the screen, revealing a photo of a smartwatch.
"Wear these and enjoy a 1-night, 2-day date in Jeju over the weekend. The AI will learn from stress levels during fights or heart rate spikes when you're excited."
The corner of the Secretary Chief's mouth twitched faintly.
"Since you two are already trending as 'the couple of the century,' we might as well milk that viral buzz for service promo and data collection. The marketing team's losing it over the timing."
I clicked my tongue.
Typical tech giant—even their people-exploitation methods were cutting-edge.
"Uh, I have to get to my convenience store shift. I promised the boss..."
"Daily pay: 2 million won."
"...Pardon?"
"2 million per day. All expenses on the corporate card. 1 night, 2 days—total 4 million won."
I couldn't believe my ears.
"Two million? Not two hundred thousand?"
"Correct. In? If you decline, we'll find another tester."
My throat bobbed.
That was multiples of my convenience store hourly wage.
My mental calculator spun wildly.
This wasn't just a vacation.
It was a 'high-paying short-term gig' and 'QA test' rolled into one.
As a comp sci student, beta-testing bleeding-edge tech sounded great... nah, who was I kidding? The money was too sweet.
Sure, there was the risk of dragging around a time bomb like Sea.
I cleared my throat and met the Secretary Chief's eyes squarely.
"I'll handle talking to the boss. When do we leave?"
The moment the Jeju Airport gate opened, humid sea air rushed in.
But I had no time to savor it—I was already pushing the cart.
"Hey, did you pack rocks? The wheels won't budge."
"Quit whining. It's just clothes."
Sea propped her sunglasses on her head and sauntered out lightly.
In front of me teetered three suitcases the size of immigrant luggage.
"'Just clothes'? You hauled your entire closet. Three suitcases for one night, two days?"
"We're here to work. H-Course app mission: 'Life Shots 10-Pack.'"
I checked the app later, and sure enough, the top banner read:
[Couple Life Shots: Achieve 10 Types]
Not just some V-sign selfies.
We had to capture ten 'couple photoshoot' shots in different hotspots, each with unique vibes, for the data collection.
Sea glanced back and tsked.
"Outfits have to change per photo. Can't shoot a one-suit wonder."
"Ugh... Heaven was the driver hauling this to the airport."
The black sedan that pulled up to the house that morning.
Sea’s dad’s driver handled loading and unloading perfectly.
But from baggage claim, these beasts were all mine.
"Told you to exercise. You were wheezing at the department store yesterday too."
"Hey, that was a mental stamina issue, not physical."
Thinking back made me dizzy again.
Sea lounging queen-like on the VIP lounge sofa, sipping orange juice.
Me opening and closing the changing room curtain a hundred times.
"The staff did everything. Measured you, dressed you. You just stood there—what's so hard?"
"Standing's the hardest part. It was like playing dress-up doll. 'Nah' on one, 'Eh, pass' on the next."
I grumbled while shoving the cart.
"But that last linen shirt you got looks good. The one you're wearing."
Sea nudged my shoulder.
"Fitting ten outfits to snag one? And the logic that ten-shot mission means ten outfits?"
"Thorough prep. Oh, right—did you pack that party outfit yesterday?"
"...The sparkly tux?"
"Yeah. Need it for lounge bar pics."
I shuddered and shook my head.
"Why tux at a resort?"
"You never know. Might be a fancy party."
"Someone'd think we're at a film festival."
"Quit yapping and hurry. Rental car's guy in the shirt is over there."
Sea brushed off my complaints and strode ahead.
I sighed, pushing the mountain of suitcases after her.
"Here's the key. Enjoy your trip."
I took the smart key from the staffer and let out a hollow chuckle.
"...Color's intense."
Parked there was a bright red sports car.
The couple who'd trended for their engagement article, rolling into Jeju screaming 'honeymoon vibes.'
Perfect for the ad effect they were gunning for.
Sea was thrilled.
She yanked open the driver's door, hopped in, gripped the wheel, and struck a pose.
"Hey, what're you doing? Open the top."
Sunglasses on, she nodded at the button.
"Right now? Airport parking lot? Everyone's staring?"
I hunkered in the passenger seat, wanting to vanish.
"It's Jeju—feel the breeze. You gonna drive all stuffy? Open it."
"God, this is embarrassing..."
Couldn't win against Sea's stubbornness.
I grumbled and hit the open button on the center console.
Whirr.
A mechanical whine louder than the engine roared as the roof slid back.
Onlookers' stares stabbed my scalp.
"Buckle up. We're off."
Vrooom!
Without waiting for me, Sea floored it.
Inertia slammed me into the seat.
"Aaaah! Easy on the gas! My neck!"
My scream drowned in the thunderous exhaust.
Felt like strapped to the front of a rollercoaster.
Thanks to Sea's reckless driving, the crowded airport streets vanished in the rearview in seconds.
The coastal road was emptier than expected.
Salty sea air and damp wind battered the cabin.
My hair whipped wildly, but Sea didn't care.
"Woo! Weather's killer!"
One hand on the wheel, the other slicing wind, she even hummed a tune.
Then we hit a light and stopped.
A tour bus idled next to us.
Passengers by the windows pointed and gawked.
"Oh, look at them. Newlyweds? Lucky."
"Guy's handsome. Girl a celeb?"
Aunties' voices carried from the bus.
I whipped my head away, hiding my face.
But Sea waved boldly at the bus.
"Hi there~!"
"You're nuts? Attention whore?"
"Why? They're jealous. Enjoy it, darling."
She grinned and winked.
Her eyes sparkled obnoxiously pretty in the sunlight.
Damn, lost my comeback window.
Sea shifted gears, savoring my dumbfounded look.
"Aaaah! Ears!"
At the coastal road's end,
Entering a short tunnel, the exhaust boomed like a bomber.
Sea yelled something beside me, but I heard zilch.
Her mouth flapping like a fish.
"What? Can't hear!"
"Ears bursting!"
"Huh?"
"Dunno, just scream!"
"What?"
"Scream! Aaaah!"
"Aaaah!"
We howled like idiots.
Exiting the tunnel, blinding sun poured down.
Deep blue sea unfurled like a widescreen before us.
"Haa..."
I exhaled deeply without thinking.
Throat stung, but weirdly refreshing.
School, work, engagement.
All that pent-up stuff loosened a bit.
Glancing over, Sea cackled, her hair a tangled mess in the wind.
"Feel better?"
"...Yeah, I guess. Not bad."
That's when it happened.
Whumm—.
The car jolted and lost power.
Like someone yanking it from behind.
The dash dropped to 20 km/h and crawled.
"Huh? Hey, what's wrong with the car?"
Sea panicked, mashing the pedal.
"You sure you're on the gas? Out of fuel?"
"Full throttle! Fuel's fine—the car won't go!"
Engine revved uselessly; we crawled like a tractor.
Poking around, the nav screen blanked, then flashed red.
[Driver and passenger intimacy level: 'Strangers.' Speed limited to 20 km/h for safety.]
"What? The car’s linked to that?"
"Even this? Thought it was just heart rate data."
[To lift speed limit, perform intimate action recognizable by AI.]
"Intimate action? No way..."
Sea and I locked eyes.
[Instead of shifting with right hand, hold passenger's hand.]
[One hand on wheel is enough.]
"..."
"What the—why so specific? Not AI, someone's watching?"
Hooonk! Beep!
Trailing cars honked irritably.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
"Ugh, traffic's pissed. Gimme your hand!"
"Hey, warn a guy before yanking!"
I snatched Sea's right hand and gripped tight.
Only then did the dash numbers climb again.
"Your hand's sweaty."
"Shut up. It's hot."
Sea grimaced, trying to pull away.
"Why pull? We gotta drive."
I squeezed harder.
Lukewarm heat lingered between our palms.