Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: EP.71
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I let out a sigh.
‘How does his sister even know about me enough to want to say hi?’
She must have heard about how she'd been kidnapped and brought back, and that I'd helped out in the process somehow.
Since Yena was family, she probably gave her the rough rundown.
‘She doesn't actually know who I am, just that I'm some guy who rescued her, right?’
Either way, I wasn't thrilled about my personal info getting dug up any more than it already had.
The scandal with Min Seola had already spread like wildfire among those in the know, and their reactions were exhausting enough. More of that?
‘Once people start connecting the dots, rumors spread in a flash.’
Silent wheels travel a thousand miles, or however the saying goes.
I replied without a second thought.
-Thanks for the thought, but I'll pass.
-I don't want any more of my personal info getting out there.
-Just let your sister know I appreciate the sentiment.
I hit send and flipped my phone face down.
I couldn't have cared less if the sibling was a guy or a girl, or if it was a girl, whether she was pretty or not.
*
At the same time.
Lee Yena checked her phone and fell silent.
‘...He turned me down.’
Her expression was complicated.
Relief outweighed disappointment by a mile.
‘Actually, this is for the best.’
Truth be told, she'd been worried deep down.
If her sister Yerin got tangled up with Kim Seonghwa too, it might complicate things between her and him.
Above all, a possessive urge wriggled inside her—she didn't want to share that hot, intense essence with her little sister.
And once you'd tasted it, that dangerous allure you could never forget... she hoped Yerin stayed far away.
"What'd he say?"
Lee Yerin, sitting across from her, leaned in with sparkling eyes.
She practically snatched the phone to check the screen.
-Thanks for the thought, but I'll pass.
-I don't want any more of my personal info getting out there.
-Just let your sister know I appreciate the sentiment.
"Ah...."
Lee Yerin's shoulders slumped.
"Seonghwa seems really cautious. Can't blame him—if too many people know him, it'll be trouble."
Lee Yena added words of comfort in a voice that sounded sympathetic for her too.
"I was even thinking of forcing a meeting somehow, but he's so firm about it. Nothing we can do."
Lee Yerin wasn't even listening to the consolation—she was staring intently at Kim Seonghwa's reply, rereading it obsessively.
"...But, unnie."
"Yeah?"
"Doesn't this feel kinda weird?"
Lee Yerin looked up.
"Last time you came home super late. I asked you about it—why your face was glowing like that, if you'd secretly met up with Seonghwa."
"I-I told you it wasn't that."
Lee Yena averted her gaze, mumbling evasively.
But Lee Yerin spotted the telltale signs of her sister's fib—the subtle flush only family would notice.
"I know your ears turn red when you lie, unnie. And...."
She pointed at her sister's phone.
"Doesn't feel like first contact after grabbing his number?"
"...Huh?"
"He doesn't act like it's his first time hearing from you, and you haven't even said who you are, but he doesn't ask either."
Spot on.
Lee Yena was speechless.
She hadn't realized her little sister was this sharp.
"I really can't win against you."
Lee Yena finally sighed in surrender.
"Fine, yeah. I did meet him that day."
"I knew it...."
Lee Yerin pouted, looking a bit hurt.
"But why hide it?"
"It's not that easy. Look at how guarded he is. If I'd brought up my sister right away, he'd clam up even more, so I was taking it slow."
Lee Yena tacked on a pretty plausible excuse.
"Not that I thought you wouldn't understand if I told you, but I didn't want you hanging on every update and getting more anxious while things were progressing."
"...Unnie."
Lee Yerin opened her mouth with a determined look.
"Send another one."
"What?"
"Tell him your sister's a total knockout, really great girl. Ask him to meet just once."
Yena let out a hollow laugh.
"How can you say that with a straight face?"
"It's true. Hurry up and send it."
Pretending to cave to her sister's nagging, Lee Yena sent another text.
-My sister's quite the beauty... You sure you don't wanna see her?
The reply came instantly.
-No thanks. I'm good.
A curt rejection.
So swift and decisive it practically screamed don't ask again.
"Whoa... Seonghwa's gotten so cold.... He wasn't like this back in school...."
Lee Yena inwardly cheered.
‘That's my Seonghwa. Doesn't even glance at other girls, huh?’
His attitude felt like he was protecting what they had, stirring a strange sense of emotion in her.
But her sister's reaction was unexpected.
She'd figured she'd be disappointed and mope.
"Whoa."
Far from it—her eyes sparkled brighter.
"He's gotten so cool."
"...Huh?"
"Most guys would at least wanna meet if you say she's pretty. But not Seonghwa."
Lee Yerin shot to her feet.
"Nope. Can't leave it like this. I'll contact him myself."
"What? Hey!"
"I'll say I heard from you, saw it on the news, and go straight for it. Screw pretending it's a coincidence we're alumni. This'll surprise him plenty."
As Lee Yerin grabbed her phone with resolve, Lee Yena panicked and seized her arm.
"What are you doing? You're super shy. You'd freeze the second you heard his voice and not say a word."
"B-But still...."
"And what if you slip up? We both end up cut off. No more chances then."
Lee Yena coaxed and soothed her sister.
"Let's not pressure him now. Once I'm closer, I'll set something up naturally later."
"Ughhh...."
Lee Yerin reluctantly set her phone down, face full of regret.
*
A few days had passed since I'd broken Seo Jubin.
And surprisingly, peaceful daily life had continued ever since.
"Seonghwa, did you submit this week's report for approval?"
"Yes. Just sent it."
Choi Yura was part of this "peace" I was talking about.
‘Feels like the calm before the storm. Kinda unnerving.’
After that late-night incident, she hadn't shown any real changes.
‘No, more like the impatience has vanished. That's the vibe.’
Choi Yura wasn't seducing me anymore, nor was she nitpicking like before.
Just stiff, strictly professional exchanges—like a perfectly normal boss.
"Got it. Good work."
She asked only about work and turned away.
‘What's her deal? Trying to mess with my head by acting indifferent now?’
Going full ignore mode to make me chase her this time?
Or had she actually given up and decided to stick to her job?
‘Nah, not Choi Yura.’
She was too proud for that.
After the humiliation last time, she was probably thinking, ‘No way I'm begging politely.’
‘Always takes the hard road. Probably how she climbed the ranks so fast.’
I glanced at her retreating figure.
Tight skirt, black stockings.
Still sexy. Still intimidating.
‘Holding out better than I thought. In some ways, tougher than Seo Jubin.’
Of course, my reactions played a part.
Choi Yura had tried the same excuses as Seo Jubin, but I shut her down.
‘Seo was clueless and I gave in out of annoyance, but Choi knew better.’
If I'd treated Seo the same, she might've actually slapped me.
Come to think of it, Seo's tougher.
‘Whatever.’
Her intentions didn't matter.
As long as I didn't get played, it was fine.
*
Time flew by to Friday afternoon.
Quitting time was approaching.
Bzzz-
My phone vibrated on the desk.
The caller's name made my lips twitch up.
[Min Seola]
-You worked hard all week. Good job.
-But tomorrow's the weekend, so hang out with me.
Cute, playful tone.
And then a photo arrived.
"......!!"
Min Seola sat on her bed in the pic.
She wore her white hero suit.
No rips or tears.
Zipper zipped modestly to the top.
A perfectly modest outfit with zero skin showing.
But the pose was the problem.
One hand gripped her breast firmly.
The full curve bulging against the suit fabric.
Fingers digging in, crumpling the material.
And that hazy gaze staring at the camera, face flushed red.
‘Legs slightly spread too, so you can see right up her crotch... Even covered, it's insanely hot...’
I hurriedly turned off the screen.
Felt my pants tightening.
Then the phone buzzed again.
‘Seola again. Hold back. Don't look. Check after work.’
But my fingers betrayed me, unlocking the screen anyway.
[Min Seola]
-What should we do this weekend?
-What do you wanna do with me, Seonghwa?
Followed by another photo.
This time, the zipper was down a bit, showing cleavage.
A hand even slipped inside, grabbing her breast.
‘Handbra's cheating...’
I couldn't hold back and fired off a reply.
-Whoa... seriously... I won't last till the weekend...