Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: EP.61
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Lee Yerin had been lying face down on the bed, staring intently at her phone screen for a solid thirty minutes.
The name on the screen was Kim Seonghwa.
A name she'd exchanged numbers with during a college department MT back in the day, but had never once pressed the call button for.
"Ugh... What am I supposed to do..."
Yerin buried her face in the pillow and kicked her feet frantically.
'If only I hadn't found out...'
Ever since catching that breaking news, her mind had been completely filled with Kim Seonghwa.
The man who saved her sister, and Min Seola's—no, the No.1 Hero's—man.
'I want to know more...'
The mysterious allure radiating from the guy she'd thought was just an ordinary college classmate was stirring her curiosity—no, her budding feelings.
'What should I even send him?'
Hi? It's Lee Yerin from your department! Remember me?
'Too cliché?'
Saw the news—you were incredible!
'That just sounds like I'm pretending to know everything.'
I'm such a huge fan of Seola unnie!
'Worst one yet. And wouldn't he ignore me anyway because of Min Seola?'
She was lost in thought, typing and deleting over and over, when—
The door flew open.
Her sister walked in, wrapped in a bathrobe.
"You still at it? Come on, let's eat."
At her sister's words, Yerin sat up with a pouty face.
"Sister... I'm seriously dying here."
"What now?"
"I want to message Seonghwa, but I can't work up the nerve. What do I even say?"
At those words, Iron Heart's hand froze mid-lotion application at the vanity.
Her eyes sharpened as she glanced at her sister through the mirror.
"No."
"Huh?"
"Don't even think about it. I told you—he's dangerous."
Iron Heart cut her off firmly.
Out of worry for her little sister?
Sure, that was part of it.
But deeper down, the emotion squirming inside her was pure jealousy.
Those scorching memories from Yupia's underground prison... and from Seo Jubin's safehouse bathroom.
'Why does she keep bringing up Seonghwa... It's driving me crazy too...'
She didn't want to share that man—the one who'd treated her like a beast and shown her the heights of pleasure—with her oblivious little sister.
"And he's tangled up with Min Seola right now. It's a sensitive time. Didn't you see the news? The whole country's watching. What if you reach out and he just blocks you?"
"But..."
Yerin fiddled sullenly with her phone.
"We have his number—it'd be weird not to at least say something. We're alumni... And he saved your life, sister. I just want to thank him..."
That instant.
Iron Heart's ears perked up.
She whipped around to face her sister.
"...Number? You have Kim Seonghwa's number?"
"Yeah. Saved it from college."
Iron Heart's heart began pounding.
Ever since her rescue, she'd been wracking her brain for a way to contact Kim Seonghwa again.
Asking Seo Jubin felt too awkward somehow.
Digging through the Association's database risked exposing her personal feelings.
And yet, here it was—a gift falling right into her lap!
Of all places, in her own sister's phone: the digits she'd craved so badly.
'That's my sister for you!'
Iron Heart's eyes gleamed with greed.
But she kept her face neutral.
"Ahem..."
She approached the bed, sat beside Yerin, and softened her voice.
"You know, now that I think about it... there might be a way."
"Really? What is it?"
"If you message him out of nowhere, it'll seem random. But what if I play middleman? Make it natural?"
Iron Heart continued smoothly.
"He saved my life, right? I could say I want to repay the favor with a formal dinner."
"Oh...! And then?"
"You tag along as 'my sister.' The excuse? You wanted to thank him too. He'll see you and think, 'Wait, Iron Heart's sister is you?' It'll feel fated, exciting even."
Lee Yerin's eyes lit up.
Oblivious to her sister's ulterior motives, she was simply touched by the idea of a smooth, natural introduction.
"Sister, you're a genius! That's perfect—no awkwardness at all!"
"Right? Just trust your sister."
Iron Heart casually extended her hand.
"Then I'll reach out first and set it up. Mind sharing the number?"
"Sure! Here!"
Yerin showed her the screen without a hint of suspicion.
Iron Heart entered the number into her own phone with trembling fingers.
Each digit sent a tingle straight to her core.
'Never thought it'd fall into my hands this easily!'
She'd just acquired the key—not just to hear his voice, but to summon him.
"Thanks, sister! You're the best!"
"No problem. Now drop it and let's eat."
Iron Heart flashed a bright smile as she stood.
'Seonghwa... I want to see you so bad...'
That plausible dinner excuse with Yerin? Not happening anytime soon.
'Jumping straight to greetings with my sister? Wrong order.'
She—the one who'd received his grace—should meet him alone first. Offer deep, heartfelt repayment.
'Yerin, I'll make sure you get your turn later. Just wait. Sister goes first.'
*
After leaving Choi Yura behind and stepping out of the meeting room alone.
He grabbed a vending machine coffee, face refreshed.
"Phew—"
The sensation of Choi Yura's thigh still lingered on his fingertips.
Her scorching heat seeping through the stockings.
And that haughty woman's face—crumpling, begging at his merest touch.
'Hotter than this coffee, no doubt.'
He'd flipped the boss-subordinate dynamic on its head.
She wouldn't dare treat him carelessly now.
'Far from it—she'll come crawling for healing, eyes on me.'
Office life just got way more interesting. Infinitely more.
'Won't be today, but... wonder when she'll break.'
He was smirking to himself when his phone buzzed on the table.
"...?"
An unknown number lit up the screen.
He nearly ignored it as spam, but the message preview hooked him.
-Hi, Seonghwa! It's Iron Heart!
"...Huh?"
He set down his coffee and picked up the phone.
'Iron Heart?'
How'd she get his number?
He knew Lilith had blabbed, but sharing digits? Unlikely.
'Asked Seo Jubin, maybe?'
Half-curious, half-wary, he opened the messages.
-Last time, things were too hectic—I couldn't even greet you properly ㅜㅜㅜ
-I have no words for the grace of you saving me!
-I really want to repay you. Is tonight okay for dinner?! If it's not too much, I'd love to treat you!
Polite to a fault. Courteous through and through.
Hard to square with the woman who'd lunged for his cock in Yupia's secret lair.
But he instinctively caught the subtle undercurrent beneath all that propriety.
'Repay, huh...'
No way she just wanted to buy him a meal.
She'd tasted his essence. A mere tease of it.
'That face she made—tits sucked by Sky Light, taking my dick—still burned fresh.'
Once hooked on that drug-like ecstasy, no steak dinner would cut it.
'Ignoring her outright seems rude... Maybe deflect gently...'
He was mulling a reply when another message dropped.
'A photo?'
He glanced around, then tapped the attachment cautiously.
'Holy shit...'
The background looked like her bedroom. And there she was: Iron Heart.
'Coming out swinging, huh?'
Fresh from the shower, hair still damp.
The only thing on her body: a single loose white bathrobe.
The real kicker? That robe was artfully parted.
Belt tied slack, collar gaping just enough to reveal her deep collarbone... and generous cleavage.
Even the outline of her nipples stood out against the wet fabric.
'Teasing the imagination beats outright flashing. Pure Yupia move.'
Then the text below caught his eye.
-Truth is, that energy you gave me is all used up... My body's aching again.
What a half-assed excuse.
But the follow-up? No excuse—that was the pitch.
-If a meal won't cut it for repayment... I can settle it however you want...
-My body still hasn't forgotten that day's heat... Waiting for your reply...
"Straight fastball now?"
A dry chuckle escaped him.
Why were all these so-called heroes such sluts?
High-and-mighty on the outside, paragons of justice. But inside? Desperate for his seed.
And that hypocrisy? It drove him wild.
'Settle it however?'
Crystal clear what she meant by "however."
'Must sting—only got a single taste.'
Tonight's menu was set.
More tantalizing than any prix-fixe at a fancy spot: the firm, battle-hardened body hidden under that bathrobe.
Replying was simple after that.
-Sounds good. Where?