Compensated Date
I never imagined I’d actually end up staying until dinner.
When Go Eunah insisted I stay for the meal, I made up some excuse about having plans and barely managed to escape the house. No matter what, accepting two full meals from someone felt like bad manners. More than that, pretending to be a polite young man in front of adults was far more exhausting than it looked.
The moment I got home, a fierce thirst hit me. I yanked open the refrigerator door and chugged straight from the water pitcher. If Sua had seen that, she would’ve nagged me again. Drink from a glass! It looks so uncivilized! I pictured her scolding me and let out a small chuckle before flopping onto the living room sofa.
I should change clothes and take a shower, but everything felt like too much effort. Studying didn’t appeal to me today, and it was still too early to sleep…
Should I call Cha Yeri?
I’d said it before—events are more efficient when you create them yourself. Just sitting around and waiting was something only the pathetic Kang Suho would do.
Besides, I still have that date ticket she gave me.
The date ticket I’d received after rescuing her. Technically it was just a promise to go buy reference books together, but I’d decided to treat it as a proper date. Checking the time, it wasn’t too late in the evening. If I met up with her now, we could grab dinner together.
The only problem was if she’d already eaten…
No time to waste. Let’s call her first.
I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed Cha Yeri. A classical piano piece that sounded like it belonged in a department store bathroom played as the ringtone. Even her ringtone was so characteristically her. It was actually pretty nice, and I found myself getting lost in the melody when—
“President, it’s Kang Ijin. What are you doing right now?”
“Studying. Exams are coming up soon. What about you?”
“I’m just lying on the sofa.”
“You were lying there, thought of me, and decided to call?”
“Yes.”
“……”
For a long moment, there was no reply from Cha Yeri. But I thought I caught the faint sound of her nose twitching, like a tiny sob. Was she satisfied with my answer? I was dying to know what kind of expression she was making right now. I wanted to see her immediately!
“President, have you eaten dinner yet?”
“No, not yet. Why?”
“I’d like to use the date ticket you gave me. Right now.”
“It’s not a date ticket, it’s a promise to help me pick out reference books. Stop trying to twist everything into something efficient like that.”
Yeah, I knew you’d call me out on it. That’s just how you are—always needing to correct what’s wrong before you can feel at ease. Just like Sua, Cha Yeri was the very definition of a proper, upright woman. But there was a clear difference between them.
If Sua’s upright nature came from pure, innate goodness, then Cha Yeri’s was the result of long, deliberate training. It was textbook correctness, almost like she’d learned it from a manual. That’s why even when they both nagged me, Sua’s felt cute while Cha Yeri’s felt like a sharp, precise jab.
Of course, I liked them both for their own unique charms.
“You want to go buy reference books?”
How adorable, immediately repeating the words “reference books” to correct the narrative. So she really doesn’t want to frame this as a date, huh? Still, she’s impressive enough that I should spoil her a little. The harder the target, the stronger the dopamine rush when you finally conquer her.
“Yes. Are you free right now?”
“I left the entire schedule up to you, so any time is fine… but are you sure right now works?”
“Is there a problem?” Does the timing not suit her?
“I just thought you’d pick an earlier time.”
“This is still plenty early.”
“If you’re okay with it, then I don’t mind… Should I head out now?”
“Send me your home address. I’ll come pick you up in the car.”
“You… have a car?”
“Is that really so surprising?”
Just owning a car really does change how people react. I’m still only twenty-one, and in Korea, a car is often seen as a measure of success.
“No, it’s not that… I’m just impressed by how capable you are. I know the average age for buying your first car in this country is around the mid-thirties.”
“President, couldn’t you buy about ten cars right now if you wanted?”
“That’s because it’s me.”
I could feel the pride in her voice—the sense that she was in a completely different league. It was so confident that it didn’t even come across as arrogant.
“You’re not even going to deny it?”
“I’m not trying to brag about having money, but I’m always aware that I’ve been blessed with good parents and live without lacking anything. Denying that would be deceiving others.”
“That’s a very healthy mindset. I respect that.”
“R-really?”
“Why are you suddenly stuttering?”
“It just feels a little awkward hearing you compliment me… Anyway, if you’re coming to pick me up, I’ll gladly accept the kindness.”
“Understood. Make sure you dress up nicely before you come out.”
“Why would I need to dress up nicely just to meet y—”
I hung up immediately. If I kept listening, she’d only get more annoying. She was probably fuming right now, thinking, He hung up on me while we were still talking? Still, since she didn’t call back, it seemed she intended to keep the promise.
Time to get ready to head out again.
I fixed my hair in the bathroom and sprayed on some more cologne since the scent had faded. I’d just come back from hanging out at my girlfriend’s house, and now I was going on a date with another woman.
Damn. This is exactly what the protagonist’s life should look like.
Women just keep coming. Just in case, I checked the weather forecast and saw there was a chance of showers, so I grabbed a folding umbrella and slipped it into my inner pocket.
You never know.
If a sudden downpour happened and triggered one of those dream-like events, who could say? You had to always keep possibilities like that in mind if you wanted to become the protagonist. With that thought in mind—and secretly hoping it would rain during our date—I left the house.
A massive estate in the wealthy district, easily worth several billion won. Cha Yeri stood politely in front of it, holding a handbag.
She wore a neat button-up shirt, a long knit skirt that accentuated her slim waist, and slightly heeled shoes. Despite her petite frame, the outfit perfectly highlighted her elegance. However…
Ah…
The moment I saw her coordination, I felt nothing but disappointment. It was clearly not an outfit designed for walking around for long periods.
Maybe I shouldn’t have said I’d bring the car.
It looked like she’d dressed with the assumption we’d be driving everywhere. For me, who was planning to walk around the streets with her for hours, an outfit that seemed uncomfortable for walking was practically the worst possible choice.
And damn it, she’s wearing another long skirt. Hey, you idiot. Your ass and legs are gorgeous—you look way better in short skirts! This isn’t the Middle Ages where women aren’t allowed to show their legs. I’m seriously losing my mind wanting to take scissors to that skirt.
My comfortable, easy-to-move-in casual look versus Cha Yeri’s prim and proper office look. The clash of our strong individual styles had created the absolute worst possible combination for a date.
Sua had shown up to our first date in a white t-shirt and overalls… Cha Yeri wasn’t that bad, but in a different way, this was even worse. Why did my first dates always turn out like this?
“Get in already.”
“Is this thing safe?”
“Stop testing my patience and get in before I decide to swerve the wheel on purpose.”
She must have wanted to tease me, but my clearly irritated tone made her tilt her head in confusion. Still, watching her obediently climb into the passenger seat somehow eased my mood.
“Did something bad happen?”
“President.”
“Yes?”
“To be completely direct, I don’t like what you’re wearing.”
Did it hurt her feelings to hear that I didn’t like the outfit she’d graciously chosen? Her face turned icy cold.
“It’s not like I dressed up for you…”
“I told you to dress up nicely, didn’t I?”
“This is plenty nice by your standards—”
I smiled. She flinched and immediately shut her mouth. She must have realized she’d been had.
“You acted like you didn’t want to, but you still ended up dressing up nicely like I asked. Why not just honestly say so? Is it that embarrassing?”
“…If you keep saying useless things, I’m just going to go back home…”
That was the one thing I couldn’t allow, so I decided to let it slide. I’d already been stabbed once for this date. I had no desire to get stabbed again just to go on another one.
I deliberately drove to a slightly distant downtown area she probably wasn’t familiar with. After parking near the clothing store I’d scouted in advance, Cha Yeri got out and looked around.
“I don’t see any bookstores around here… How far is it to the bookstore from here?”
“We’ll go to the bookstore later. First, let’s buy you some clothes, President.”
“Clothes?”
Yes, clothes. You know, the kind with ridiculously high defense stats, just like your personality.
“Follow me.”
“W-wait! I don’t need clothes. It’s a waste of time, so let’s go straight to the bookstore.”
“Before that, I’m going to buy you clothes.”
“Ugh, this is ridiculous… You’re the first guy who’s ever offered to buy me clothes.”
To think I’d actually hear the line that rich young ladies say in romance comics. Unfortunately, unlike the cliché, Cha Yeri’s face didn’t flush, nor did she look smitten. She really did just find it absurd.
“Then think of it as a gift. That’s fine, right?”
“A gift?”
“You get lots of gifts, don’t you? You’re popular at school. I want to give the student council president—who always has to deal with my nonsense—a present… You’re not going to refuse only mine, are you?”
“It’s not that I can’t accept it… but honestly, accepting a gift from you feels complicated.”
“Why?”
“Because I know the gifts you give me come from romantic feelings… I know they carry your personal desires. Compared to gifts from other people, the weight feels completely different…”
In other words, accepting my gift would mean acknowledging my feelings for her. On the other hand, if she accepted it but rejected my heart, she’d come across as playing with me. I’d thought being honest about my feelings would make things easier, but this was the downside showing itself immediately.
Still, what could I do? I just had to talk my way through it. The moment I gave up here, I’d never be able to conquer Cha Yeri. If I’d decided to become the protagonist, I had to turn the impossible into the possible.
“What’s the big deal about liking someone? How many of the gifts those guys give you are purely out of simple goodwill?”
When I pressed that point, Cha Yeri crossed her arms and fell into thought. She often did this—getting lost in her own head. It was her habit of objectively analyzing situations. And the reason her thoughts were dragging on was probably because she couldn’t be one hundred percent certain that none of the gifts she’d received from men carried romantic intentions.
“Besides, do you know what the difference is between those guys and me?”
“What?”
“Those men hide their filthy intentions and approach you like cockroaches, packaging their gifts as goodwill and respect. I, on the other hand, have been completely open and honest about my feelings for you from the start.”
“It sounds like you’re loading all the negative words onto one side.”
“But you can’t deny that my side is clearly better.”
“Hmm… I suppose you’re right about that. Fine. I’ll accept the gift.”
“Nice.”
When she saw me clench my fist in celebration, the corner of her mouth twitched upward slightly.
“You’re that happy about it?”
Of course I am. Just imagine the two of us walking down the street together. With outfits this different, who would think we’re lovers? You can wear that outfit later when we do roleplay. It’ll be perfect for when you play the role of a strict company boss. And of course, I’ll be the new employee who roughly fucks that boss.
“You’ll wear the clothes I give you, right?”
“Was my outfit that bad?”
“No. It suits you incredibly well. It’s literally my ideal type.”
“Uh… r-really? But then why…?”
The way she got flustered when I immediately showered her with praise was adorable.
“We’re going to be walking around for quite a while. I don’t want you to get tired wearing something like that. I want you to be comfortable.”
I flashed her a wide grin. Not my usual dark, shady smile, but a bright, cheerful one that said I was overjoyed to be alone with her.
“Ah…”
She stared at me with a dazed, blank expression. Do you like it? I practiced this face hundreds of times in front of the mirror. Heroines really do all react the exact same way. It’s just a simple smile, yet both of them freeze up the moment I give them one gentle smile. No matter how cold and prickly Cha Yeri acts, she’s still a heroine whether she likes it or not.
A heroine. A beautiful woman created with maximum efficiency to generate all kinds of events solely for the protagonist. When you think about it, isn’t the very role of a heroine designed to become one man’s lover? In a different sense, wouldn’t that make her the ultimate whore, completely obsessed with love?