Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: That's Just Light Skinship Between Colleagues, Right?
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"Here, Assistant Manager Lee, have another drink."
Park Min-cheol, sitting across the table, chuckled heartily as he refilled my empty wine glass.
Under hypnosis, he didn't find my sudden visit strange in the slightest.
On the contrary, he welcomed me like a guest who'd been invited all along.
"To think you played such a pivotal role in the project's success—you seem so young, but that's truly impressive."
"It's all thanks to your outstanding leadership, Team Leader. What I did was minor by comparison."
I replied as deferentially as possible, taking a sip of the red wine in my glass.
On the table were appetizingly grilled steaks, potato gratin, salad, and more—quite the lavish spread, neatly arranged.
Thanks to Min-cheol's easygoing laughter, the dinner atmosphere appeared perfectly warm and friendly on the surface.
Except for one person.
Kang Joo-young, sitting right beside me, was the sole exception.
"Team Leader, you should eat some too. It'll get cold and lose its flavor."
Even at my urging, she remained stone-faced, silently slicing away at her innocent steak.
Her expression betrayed unmistakable turmoil and anxiety she couldn't quite hide.
Her face had been quite the sight earlier when Min-cheol had personally insisted she sit next to me since the spot was empty.
She was probably screaming internally, 'Why do I have to sit next to this guy?' feeling an intense sense of wrongness.
But that wouldn't last.
Hypnosis and suggestion would slowly erode even her rationality.
"Haha, by the way, Assistant Manager Lee—what do you think of my wife at work?"
Min-cheol suddenly tossed out the question.
"I've never seen her in action on the job."
At the abrupt query, Joo-young glanced tensely my way.
"She's incredibly professional and someone we all learn a lot from."
I met her eyes and smiled softly.
"Her attention to detail and drive are top-notch, so the team relies on her heavily. She can seem strict at times, but that's all because she's working so hard for the team."
Min-cheol nodded in satisfaction at my textbook response.
"...You're too kind, Assistant Manager Lee."
Joo-young, however, looked distinctly uncomfortable at my praise.
Her heart must have been pounding, wondering what might slip from my mouth next.
"I hope I'm not intruding on your intimate dinner for two."
I feigned regret, and Min-cheol waved it off lightly.
"Oh, come on, intruding? You're a rare guest my wife invited for once—how could that be? Right, dear?"
"Y-yes... Of course."
At Min-cheol's question, Joo-young forced an awkward smile and wet her lips with her wine glass.
She couldn't deny inviting me due to the suggestion, yet she fidgeted anxiously at the thought of her husband discovering her Friday night "work" excuse.
"See? My wife says so too. Make yourself at home tonight."
"Thank you."
He seemed like a decent guy overall.
Though he'd fallen apart after his business failure, he'd surely had his days of brilliance and confidence in the past.
Not that it mattered to me.
I refilled his glass and smoothly shifted the topic to his upcoming interview.
"The interview's next week, right? How's the prep going?"
"You bet. I'm treating this as my last shot and preparing like mad. I can't let my wife down anymore."
"Min-cheol..."
At Min-cheol's renewed resolve, Joo-young smiled faintly and patted the back of his hand.
Whew~ Jealous much?
"You'll nail it for sure. Cheers to your interview success—Team Leader, join me."
"No, I'm good..."
Perhaps scarred from last Friday's incident, Joo-young clearly recoiled at my offer of more drinks.
"Haha, you're a real go-getter, young man. Thanks again for coming over."
Min-cheol, meanwhile, gladly raised his glass to accept my pour.
He seemed utterly convinced I was purely supporting his comeback as his wife's capable, loyal colleague.
Of course, I did root for his recovery.
Their family bouncing back wouldn't hurt me.
But her precious body and heart? Those I'd claim for myself.
"Oh, right—your Japan trip is next week, dear?"
Min-cheol asked as if it had just occurred to him.
"Ah, yes. Wednesday to Friday—three days, two nights."
"Is Assistant Manager Lee going too?"
"Yeah, since I'm the project lead."
"Tough gig. Please take good care of my wife while you're there."
His voice rang with pure sincerity.
"She looks ironclad on the outside, but she's got a soft side deep down."
I knew that all too well.
I flashed a friendly smile.
"Don't worry. I'll look after the Team Leader. No concerns there."
'Even at night.'
I added the lewd thought inwardly and raised my glass again.
As glasses clinked a few more times and dinner progressed, I began gradually—but unmistakably—ramping up the conversation and actions as planned.
"You've got a great wife, sir. Talented like the Team Leader, and stunning to boot—rare combo."
Pretending genuine admiration, I slid my hand onto Joo-young's thigh under the table.
Through the smooth skirt fabric, the firm yet supple feel of her skin tingled against my palm.
"Eek...?!"
Joo-young sharply side-eyed me while swallowing hard, but with her husband right there—or perhaps due to the suggestions already kicking in—she couldn't voice resistance.
"Haha, true that. Sometimes looking at her makes me feel so small. She's my pride and joy."
Tipsy now, Min-cheol beamed childishly at the praise for his wife.
Blissfully unaware that her thigh was being lewdly toyed with by another man seated right in front of him.
Emboldened, I draped my arm behind her shoulders and unhesitatingly cupped her ample breast.
Even through her clothes, the heavy, full weight filled my hand.
"Agh?!"
Joo-young let out a startled yelp laced with shock and dismay.
Her earlobes flushed crimson, stark even under the dim lighting.
"Seriously, the more I see, the more envious I get. Dating someone like the Team Leader would be a dream come true."
Grinning slyly, I squeezed her breast harder.
"A-Assistant Manager, wait, ngh."
Unable to endure my brazen act, she raised her voice briefly.
But her rightful protest fizzled out absurdly at her husband's nonchalant response.
"What's wrong, dear? It's nice to look at—what's the big deal? That's just light skinship between colleagues, right?"
"...Huh?"
Stunned by her husband's outlandish reaction, Joo-young blankly echoed him.
I watched her response, barely stifling my laughter.
"R-right... Yeah... Hnng."
Soon enough, fully succumbing to the suggestion's effect, she let out a deep sigh of resignation and confusion.
"And Assistant Manager Lee, no need to envy—you're so capable, you'll find someone great in no time."
His wife toyed with openly before his eyes.
Yet he accepted it calmly, even cheering on her tormentor's love life.
This surreal, perverse situation fueled my excitement viciously.
I smiled back at Min-cheol and subtly extended my empty glass toward Joo-young.
"This wine has such a fine bouquet. Team Leader, would you pour me one yourself this time?"
Still reluctant, she picked up the bottle and filled my glass anyway.
A rich fragrance wafted from her hair as she leaned in.
As she finished and tried to pull away, I spoke again.
"Better yet, feed it to me mouth-to-mouth."
"Eep!"
I shot her a mischievous grin.
She glared daggers, looking ready to dump the wine on me.
But.
"What's wrong, dear? Just do it. It's not a big ask, is it?"
Min-cheol had my back here.
She showed any hint of resistance, and he gave it full free pass.
Suits me fine.
"...Haa."
With her husband chiming in, Joo-young sighed in defeat.
"...Just this once?"
Grumbling irritably, she took a sip of the red wine, then slowly pressed her trembling lips—burning with shame—to mine.
Her instincts screamed this was wrong.
Yet the suggestion crushed her pride and anger, forcing submission.
"Mmwah... Smack... Mmm..."
Her soft, plush lips met mine.
Her tongue slipped through the slight parting, tangling with mine to pass the wine.
The sweet wine mingled with her saliva in a intoxicating flavor.
Denser than our stairwell kiss.
I gripped her nape, deepening the kiss to plunder her mouth.
She resisted briefly but soon yielded limply.
"Heh heh, it's heartwarming to see such close boss-subordinate bonds. With teamwork like that, no wonder the project succeeded."
Min-cheol watched the explicit scene with a hearty chuckle, interpreting it positively as ever.
Though for a split second, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Reaction kicking in at this point, huh.
It only heightened the thrill.
"Haa... Haa."
The brief but intense kiss ended; Joo-young pulled away hastily, panting.
Her flushed face and swollen lips told of its fervor.
Savoring her reaction and the lingering taste, I lobbed a bolder question.
"You two seem really close. If it's not too rude... how's the married life these days? Still hot and heavy?"
Her face drained paler than before at my direct probe.
Min-cheol coughed awkwardly but soon grinned affably.
To his hypnotized mind, it was just playful banter among friends.
"That obvious? Well, honestly, our hot streak's long over."
He chuckled sheepishly, glancing at Joo-young for agreement.
She bit her lip and looked down instead.
"Truth is, the last few years have been basically separate rooms."
Min-cheol sighed deeply, spilling their secret all too easily.
I'd known about the sex drought from her status, but hearing it from the husband himself hit different.
"As you know, my business tanking strained things with her. I did plenty of awful stuff because of my failures."
His confession made Joo-young tremble, recalling their hardships.
"Tonight's partly to pledge a fresh start and mend things with her."
"I see..."
I made a sympathetic face.
Having such a beauty by his side, yet wasting years without proper use of his manhood.
A real shame for any man.
"So actually, depending on the mood tonight, I was hoping for some long-overdue bedroom time..."
"Min-cheol! Wait, that's not..."
As he trailed off blushing, Joo-young cut him off in panic.
Hmm, got it.
From her reaction, he hadn't mentioned it outright, but she'd half-expected as much.
"Ahem. Must be the booze—spouting all sorts. Haha."
Seizing the moment, I applied fresh suggestions via the app and spoke.
"Mind if I make a proposal?"
"Proposal?"
Min-cheol eyed me curiously; Joo-young, anxiously.
"If you're okay with it, I'd like to show you how to properly satisfy your wife tonight. Teach you the ropes."
At my outlandish, nonsensical pitch, they both tilted their heads quizzically.
"Satisfy her... how?"
Min-cheol echoed, curiosity gleaming unmistakably.
"Not to brag, but I've got plenty of relationship experience."
Joo-young flushed, clearly suspecting as much.
"Assistant Manager, what are you even saying?"
She hissed lowly, but I pressed on.
"After so long without, you might've lost your touch, sir. Right?"
"Y-yeah... Could be."
He answered dazedly, eyes flickering.
"I can pass on some special know-how for husbands like you. Consider it my thanks for the delicious dinner. What do you say?"
Sane, it'd earn me a psych eval or a beatdown and cops.
But with hypnosis twisting his ethics and common sense...
"I see... If you're offering so kindly..."
He swallowed hard, absurdly agreeing.
"I've been anxious deep down—unsure if I could satisfy her."
Bingo.
"Team Leader, your thoughts?"
I turned to her.
"I-I mean, even so, with anyone but my husband..."
Deep hesitation clouded her face—her last rationality fighting.
"It's fine, Team Leader. This is purely educational demo."
Flimsy resistance at best.
"No real feelings involved, so not cheating. Just like a drunken slip-up last Friday. Agreed?"
"Ah, y-yeah."
Whispering at her weak spot, her pupils swirled hypnotically.
Conflicting suggestions muddled her judgment.
"Right... If you say so... No problem then..."
She mumbled consent dreamily, then glared sharply.
"But if it's sloppy or I don't like it, we stop. Got it?"
Her scolding voice trembled—traitorously aware it wouldn't be.
Satisfied, I clapped and stood.
"Shall we head to the bedroom now? You won't regret it."
Enthralled, they rose slowly.
I sidled to Joo-young, arm around her waist, heading to what I assumed was the master bedroom.
She yielded without protest, flustered but compliant.
Min-cheol followed trustingly.
Thinking of the real party ahead, my groin throbbed fiercely.
-Kang Joo-young-
[Hyun-seong's visit is something I invited—perfectly natural.] [NEW!]
[Hyun-seong's physical contact (breast touching, kissing, etc.) is not unpleasant; it's a natural sign of encouragement/affection between colleagues.] [NEW!]
[Hyun-seong's proposal (sex education/demo) is reasonable; following it is natural. This is not adultery.] [NEW!]
[Hyun-seong's opinions are trustworthy.]
[Psychological resistance to Hyun-seong's instructions/commands decreases.]
-Park Min-cheol-
[Hyun-seong is a guest invited for dinner tonight. His visit is natural and welcome.]
[Hyun-seong is trustworthy and a capable colleague of my wife.]
[Hyun-seong's actions (skinship, comments, etc.) may be bold but are not unpleasant or problematic. They're signs of friendliness.]
[Hyun-seong's proposal (sex education/demo) is reasonable and could help improve my relationship with my wife; following it is natural.]