Date with the Noona Who Took My Virginity (5)
Seo Joo-hwan led Jeong So-ra to the hotel he had reserved in advance.
Right after arriving, Jeong So-ra looked at him with a surprised face.
“Joo-hwan-ah, did we come to the wrong place? Isn't this place crazy expensive?”
The place Seo Joo-hwan had brought her to was the Shilla Hotel.
Jeong So-ra, who had visited a few times with her family, knew full well how pricey the Shilla Hotel was.
So she naturally assumed Seo Joo-hwan must have made some kind of mistake.
But Seo Joo-hwan just looked baffled, like he had no idea what she was talking about, then said calmly,
“This is the right place, so let's head in.”
“It is? No way, why'd you book something this fancy?”
“Uh... just wanted to try a spot like this at least once?”
“Haa. No can do. I'll cover it, noona's treat.”
“I even booked the course menu...”
“...F-fine, I'll pay for that too.”
Jeong So-ra barely managed after a moment of silence.
But even as she said it, her eyes drooped like she regretted it a little.
'How much does this place even cost? Gotta scrimp next month...'
Seeing her like that, Seo Joo-hwan felt a bit sheepish.
He'd brought her here to treat her nicely, but it was weighing on her more than he'd expected.
“So-ra noona? I'm really not going overboard or anything.”
“Tsk. Listen to noona. I'm saying this 'cause it's a burden on me.”
“No need to feel burdened at all, seriously.”
Seo Joo-hwan owed Jeong So-ra a ton during his military days—she'd been a huge mental support.
Even if it was before his regression, that fact hadn't changed.
Splurging like this on her was nothing; besides, his bank account already had over 100 million won this lifetime, so it wasn't a stretch.
'Didn't expect noona to feel this bad about it.'
Jeong So-ra was the daughter of the Army Chief of Staff, after all.
He figured she'd grown up wealthy and wouldn't bat an eye, but apparently not.
Then again, on second thought, she'd already achieved financial independence.
Given her personality, she probably wouldn't lean on her family.
So judging by a regular army captain's salary—back in 2016, a first lieutenant's starting pay was under 2 million won a month.
'This noona's really about to stretch herself thin.'
In the end, Seo Joo-hwan tried to dissuade her more firmly.
“Noona, I already paid for everything. Even if you tried giving me money, I wouldn't take it—what're you gonna do?”
“...Still, I'm the noona here, this feels off...”
“Jeez. Then just call me oppa for once.”
“Wanna die?”
“Sorry.”
He apologized immediately.
“I'm just doing what I want. You've helped me out a lot too, noona.”
“...Helped? What help?”
Jeong So-ra blinked, clearly confused.
Nothing specific came to mind for her.
Maybe advice on dating?
“If it's about the advice, this is overkill.”
“Nah, it's not that. Even if it was, it's not overkill.”
“Then what?”
“Can't a little bro who's good with money just treat his close noona nice?”
“Nothing wrong with that, but... the way you're talking, there's more to it, right?”
Seo Joo-hwan scratched his head, then nodded.
He hadn't planned to spill out of embarrassment, but to convince her, he might have to.
“Let's unpack in the room first and head to the restaurant. Reservation time's coming up soon.”
*
The two unpacked quickly and headed to the restaurant.
Seo Joo-hwan sat in his chair and glanced around.
Hotels like this probably spent half their budget on the interior—it definitely had a different vibe.
'Wonder if the food's any good.'
As he spaced out with that thought, he felt Jeong So-ra staring intently.
Under the silent pressure to spill it already, he gave an awkward smile.
“Kinda embarrassing to say...”
“The more embarrassing, the more I wanna hear.”
“Noona, you're the worst.”
“What? You're the one who got me curious.”
“Tch. Well, it's not like you directly helped or anything...”
Seo Joo-hwan had no choice but to lay it out.
It was just a bit embarrassing, nothing he needed to hide.
“I was super unlucky in the army, right? Didn't get along great with the new recruits, and even the officers kinda avoided me.”
The military was a place where group living was forced on you.
People from all over crammed together.
Unlike school or work, where you saw faces in the morning and parted at night, you shared every space.
Trouble was inevitable with strangers cooped up like that.
For the misfortune-plagued Seo Joo-hwan, it was hell.
His bad luck stood out more inside than out, making people shun him.
Not everyone, but no one got really close.
Even good-natured Lee Jeong-hoon tried not to show it but subconsciously treated him like a burden.
“But our 4th Company Commander? Not a hint of that.”
“...”
To avoid dragging on, Seo Joo-hwan kept it concise.
That alone should get the point across—she'd seen it up close, after all.
“Mm. You might not have thought much of it, noona, but it meant the world to me. Treating me without prejudice.”
Maybe he laid the praise on too thick—embarrassment flickered across Jeong So-ra's face.
Proper compliments make whales dance, but hearing it so bluntly was still awkward.
“Ahaha. Ahem. Yeah, I was pretty good to you.”
She tried to play it cool and lighten the mood, puffing up a bit.
Seo Joo-hwan chuckled and continued.
“It meant a ton.”
“Ahem. Got it, you can stop now.”
“Specifically what I was grateful for...”
“I said you can stop...”
“Cursing us out the same as everyone else, drilling us, yelling, piling on the busywork, making me squad leader even though I wasn't popular with Jeong-hoon hyung around, dragging me along to scout march routes...”
“J-Joo-hwan-ah? Did I really do all that...?”
Jeong So-ra said, looking flustered.
She seemed caught off guard, her face sheepish.
While others avoided him, she'd say it was okay to mess up so long as he tried harder, dragging him around and working him raw.
Seo Joo-hwan saw her expression and burst out laughing, then added the clincher.
“And praising me when I did well.”
“...”
“Anyway, that's how grateful I was. Want more?”
“I've been saying stop since earlier.”
With that, Jeong So-ra turned toward the window.
Her face was hidden, but through her short hair, her reddened ears peeked out.
Seo Joo-hwan snickered.
He'd tried to avoid saying it out of embarrassment, but the longer the story went, the more she was the embarrassed one.
“Noona.”
“Yeah?”
“Let's eat. Food's coming.”
*
Seo Joo-hwan eyed the neatly plated food on the table and thought,
'This could buy how many bowls of that gukbap from lunch?'
His balance made it no big deal.
But having lived such a modest life, seeing palm-sized portions sparked that thought first.
'230,000 won per person per meal.'
With the pricey wine too, the bill climbed higher.
But those thoughts vanished after the first bite.
“Whoa, expensive stuff really hits different.”
“Right? Been a while for me too.”
“You eat here a lot, noona?”
“Used to with family. Lately, just army grub.”
“Don't eat with family much these days?”
Jeong So-ra's face soured at the question.
She let out a deep sigh before answering.
“Don't even. They bring up marriage the second they see my face... killing me. If I hadn't met you today, it'd be another blind date.”
“...Rough. Oh yeah, last leave was a blind date too, right?”
“Yeah. Usually the guy's half-forced too, so it ends quick, but that one dragged.”
She shook her head like just thinking about it tired her out.
Then she sipped her wine.
“This's been a while too.”
“Tastes good, huh.”
“It does, but... you sure this is okay? Honestly, can't say I'll cover it now, but lemme split the bill at least.”
“I'm good, seriously. I make more than you think, noona.”
Saying it out loud made him feel like some chaebol heir, so he grinned awkwardly.
Jeong So-ra caught on and giggled before asking,
“You said your writing's going well? How much we talking? Ah, no—don't say if it's awkward.”
“Nah, it's fine. Hang on.”
Seo Joo-hwan tallied mentally.
He hadn't paid much attention to money past a certain point, so he hadn't tracked precisely.
Time to see a tax accountant soon.
'Bitcoin profits aside first.'
He'd cashed out bitcoin ages ago for about 600 million won profit.
After that, he'd ditched coins for steadily rising stocks.
No dramatic spikes like bitcoin, but steady gains.
'Kinda regret the coins, but safer not messing with 'em.'
Bitcoin would climb steadily till 2018 regs hit.
But he didn't know which coins specifically, so no point risking it.
He knew surefire 2021 winners anyway—invest then.
'Novels alone...'
Ignoring small stuff, just ongoing sites and big platforms...
Off the top, over 300 million won.
Short run but long series over 400 chapters finished quick and raked it in.
Purchases still climbing too, so more incoming.
He'd need to check exactly, so he ballparked it.
Jeong So-ra's jaw dropped blankly at the rough figure.
She'd heard it was going well, but web novels paying this much? No idea.
She'd only started reading novels because of him—she wasn't into books otherwise.
She quietly set down her utensils, face serious as she called,
“Joo-hwan-ah.”
“Yeah?”
“I'm ready.”
“For what outta nowhere?”
He blinked in confusion, and she crossed her arms smugly.
“Go on, confess like back then. I can accept now, right?”
“...Kukuku. Pfft-haha!”
“Thought you just said it casually, but damn, you really made it. Congrats.”
“Thanks a ton.”
“Ahaha, so I get to mooch without guilt?”
“That's what I've been saying. Eat up.”
Seo Joo-hwan chuckled and raised his glass.
Clink—the clear ring echoed as he sipped wine, glancing her way.
So perfectly So-ra-like, laughter bubbled up again.
*
After dinner, they headed to the room.
No one had explicitly suggested spending the night together, but both took it for granted.
After sneaking bangs in barracks, playing coy now would be ridiculous.
Jeong So-ra flopped onto the bed upon entering.
“Huaa. Ate too much. Let's digest a bit.”
“Yeah, I'm stuffed too.”
Seo Joo-hwan sat naturally beside her.
For a second, he marveled at how his butt sank into the mattress.
“Whoa, even the beds are next-level here. Gotta upgrade mine at home.”
“For this? That'll cost a fortune... Ah.”
Remembering the sum he'd mentioned?
Jeong So-ra shook her head, eyeing him like some exotic creature.
“Why stare like that?”
“Just... feels kinda surreal all of a sudden?”
“...The money?”
“Pfft.”
“Ow.”
He rubbed his forehead from the sudden flick.
She smirked and continued.
“Not that it's wrong, but you've changed so much, Joo-hwan. Height shot up outta nowhere, body got ripped. Personality flipped in months.”
“Yeah, big changes.”
“Think about it. The insecure little bro I worried over suddenly charming girls left and right? How's that not surprising?”
“Wait, how'd we get here? Who'm I charming?”
“Oh? Can you deny it?”
“...”
Seo Joo-hwan invoked his right to silence.
He wanted to deny, but she'd already heard about his love life.
And he'd run into Min Ga-hee on the street earlier.
'Dodged that one.'
She'd wanted details on his dating and Min Ga-hee but let it slide without a peep.
Claimed she was just teasing.
Her knowing grin—like she already pieced it together—was the issue.
Then Jeong So-ra grabbed his arm.
Wondering what, he saw her pull it to her face and sniff.
“Changed a ton, but the scent's the same. No cologne, right?”
“Yeah. Too much hassle.”
“How's a body just smell like this?”
She sniffed again, fascinated.
Jeong So-ra's fetishes: low-rank Fat Admirer for chubby bodies, mid-rank Olfactophilia for scents.
The latter ranked higher, so she reacted strongly to smells.
She smiled blissfully, like inhaling something heavenly.
By now, even he was curious.
He couldn't smell his own 'pheromones.'
“What does it smell like?”
“Mm. Kinda sweet? Fresh and crisp too. Weird how it's sweet and refreshing.”
Jeong So-ra tilted her head, puzzled.
But then, like something more important hit her,
“And it's super sexy.”
“...Sexy smell? What's that?”
“Dunno... it just is. Sniffing it makes me dizzy? Not like booze. It seeps in subtle... stirs up naughty thoughts...”
Her eyes curved into soft lines as she spoke.
Her glance his way rippled with unmistakable lust.
Her hand now held his, fingertips teasing his palm lightly.
Goosebumps prickled from his palm up.
The ticklish shiver felt like a caress.
Seo Joo-hwan curled his fingers slightly and met her gaze.
A faint heat already smoldered in his eyes.
“...Weren't you gonna rest?”
She pouted her red lips.
“Who's fault for leaking such a naughty scent?”