Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Japan Business Trip (3)
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The bathhouse was filled with faint steam, blurring the view.
Hot, humid air pressed in, making even breathing feel a bit stifling.
Connected to an open-air bath, one wall was entirely glass, letting in the night sky and faint moonlight.
On the other side, a small bamboo fixture trickled water, adding a touch of elegance.
Steamy rocks and warm water rippled gently.
The atmosphere was utterly beautiful.
But to Mina right now, it just felt like an exquisitely decorated prison she couldn't escape.
"..."
Enveloped by the moist warmth against her bare skin, Mina clutched the towel wrapped around her chest and stood at the bath's entrance.
"Haa. Why do I have to deal with this even on a business trip..."
Her quiet mutter was light, almost petulant, but laced with sharp venom.
In response to Mina's snark, Hyun-seong followed behind with an indifferent tone.
"If you hate it that much, you can head back now."
His words sounded like he'd gladly let her go if she wanted, and Mina scoffed.
'As if you'd ever mean that.'
As Hyun-seong's presence closed in moment by moment, Mina stepped forward into the bath as if pushed.
She sank into a secluded corner, water rising to her shoulders, easing some tension from her body.
But her mind remained heavy.
Soon, the sound of water parting followed as Hyun-seong approached her side.
"Eek."
The moment his water-dotted shoulder brushed hers, goosebumps erupted across Mina's skin, and she flinched reflexively.
Hyun-seong, unfazed, pulled her against him casually and spoke in a relaxed voice.
"Feels like all the fatigue's melting away, right?"
"It would be perfect without you here, sunbae."
"Harsh."
Even as Mina shot back sharply, Hyun-seong just chuckled softly.
"You did good work today."
"What's with you? You've been buttering me up since earlier, but it's all empty words."
"I'm praising you sincerely as your boss. Why do you think I picked you as my assistant?"
"Because you needed an obedient slave."
"I needed a diligent subordinate who listens well."
What bullshit.
Even now, all he's thinking about is how to toy with my body.
"...What's your deal with that woman?"
Half-leaning against him as she stared blankly at the water's surface, the question slipped from Mina's lips.
She couldn't understand why she'd even asked it.
But the words were out, impossible to take back.
"That woman?"
"The one who came to see you off at the airport. Lizetta, was it? You two looked awfully close."
Mina lifted her head to glare straight at him.
Hoping the mockery in her eyes cut through the steam.
"Did you manipulate her like you do me and Team Leader, just to play around?"
She drew out the last word mockingly, with a sneer.
"She called you 'Master Hyun-seong' every time, with all the honorifics. Guess you commanded her to play that role."
Her mouth spat poison, but her body betrayed her, swallowing breaths wherever his hands grazed.
"Must be nice. Now you've got a compliant slave unlike me. Guess you don't need me anymore?"
Ah, right.
Maybe he never had any real feelings for me to begin with.
"You've been so quiet today. Jealous over her?"
"...Go fuck yourself, seriously."
Mina growled fiercely, her anger peaking at his brazen tone.
It was absurd how even these conversations had become routine.
'How did my life end up like this?'
Day after day, catering to this man's whims to avoid upsetting him.
Offering her body whenever he wanted, without refusal.
Unlike her childhood, escape wasn't even an option now.
A slave's life, worse than livestock.
More wretched than her mother's fate, which she'd despised so much.
"Ha."
Mina let out a self-deprecating laugh without thinking.
"What's so funny?"
Instead of answering Hyun-seong's question, Mina turned to look at his face.
He used to be so predictable, like an open book.
Lately, she couldn't read his thoughts at all.
Did he want revenge?
Or just to toy with her for fun?
...Well, at least these days she didn't have to worry as much about others' eyes.
Her reputation at the company was already ruined; no image left to uphold, so pretending was pointless.
As long as she didn't defy this man, she could get through each day safely...
'You're losing it, Park Mi-na.'
Mina suddenly splashed hot spring water on her face.
Finding comfort in her current situation? She was way past insane.
"You okay? You sure you're not feeling unwell?"
God, he's so annoying.
His calm voice inquiring if something was wrong boiled her blood.
"Hng?!"
Suddenly, Hyun-seong's arm wrapped around her waist.
Her slender back pressed against his firm chest, her whole body tensing sensitively.
"Let me check. Feels like you might have a fever."
"I'm in hot water—of course my body's warm. Let go!"
Mina reflexively pushed at his chest with her palms, but without much force.
Soon, his hand slyly slipped under the wet towel clinging to her skin.
Firm fingers began caressing her breasts softly yet persistently.
As if declaring this body was his toy to play with whenever he pleased.
"Haa... Seriously, pervert..."
Mina muttered, but didn't evade the other hand trailing up her inner thigh.
The hand kneading her breast soon found her tender nipple, twisting it gently without pain.
"Hngh, ahn!"
She bit her lip to stifle the moan that escaped unwittingly.
But Hyun-seong continued his caresses, refusing to let her stay silent.
The hand on her thigh slipped between her legs to her most private spot.
Gliding effortlessly underwater, his fingers precisely found her already hot, sensitive clit and began rubbing.
"Ah... Eek!? Not there, nooo!"
Electric pleasure surged through her; Mina twisted her hips, trying to escape his embrace.
But that only made his arm around her waist tighten.
His fingers grew faster, more intense; shame and pleasure swirled in Mina's mind, whitening it out.
"Haht! I-I'm cumming, ahhk!?"
In the end, she crumbled helplessly under his relentless touch.
As pressure built on her clit, her body convulsed sharply.
"Haah. Haa."
After climax, Mina buried her face in his chest, panting raggedly.
Again, to this man.
She'd succumbed to the pleasure he gave.
Soon, he'd ravage her savagely with that monstrous cock.
Just like always.
Mina closed her eyes, awaiting the next step.
"Up we go."
But contrary to her expectation, Hyun-seong stood up.
Water splashed as he slowly pulled away from her.
"I'll stop here. Take your time and enjoy."
"...Huh?"
What did he just say...?
"Y-You're not going to put it in?"
Mina looked up at him, puzzled.
No question of why she was asking even crossed her mind.
"Mm. Not really in the mood tonight."
Not in the mood?
Mina's gaze naturally dropped to the overwhelming presence between his legs.
It's standing like that, and he's not in the mood?
"Forcing it on someone who hates it gets old after a couple times. If you really don't want it, I'll just find someone else."
At Hyun-seong's meaningful smile, Mina swallowed hard.
"Someone else" brought only one face to mind.
No, more importantly—what was with this sudden whim? He'd pounded her relentlessly before.
Leaving the frozen Mina behind, Hyun-seong leisurely exited the bath.
He's really leaving without doing anything?
After teasing me like this?
"Oh, right."
Just before stepping out, he turned back as if remembering something.
"I don't really hold grudges against you anymore."
"Wha..."
His out-of-nowhere words silenced the world around Mina for a moment.
"Don't get the wrong idea. It doesn't mean I've forgiven you."
He added lightly.
"Just that holding onto the past only tires me out. In the end, it didn't really harm me anyway, right?"
His words made Mina's heart sink.
No feelings at all?
That can't be.
It wasn't something time could easily forgive.
And why bring it up now, of all times?
But what baffled Mina most was...
The relief mixed with disappointment she felt at his words.
"Take your time, then come back."
With that brief farewell, Hyun-seong left the bath.
Silence quickly returned to the steamy water, and the alone Mina replayed his parting words in her mind.
'I don't hold grudges anymore.'
'Not in the mood.'
Especially the last one almost sounded like "don't interfere."
So, this was good, right?
It meant less torment from that man.
That's how it should be.
So why did her chest feel so hollow and restless?
Where his touch had vanished, no awaited liberation remained—only cold, biting emptiness.
"Kuhk."
Unable to bear the flood of incomprehensible emotions, or how one word and action from that man stirred her so violently, Mina dunked her head into the hot spring.
How nice it would be to just dissolve away like this.
Thinking that, she screamed soundlessly underwater.
I stepped out of the bath, slipped on a yukata, and returned to the room.
Sliding open the door, I saw Team Leader Kang Joo-young, already back and asleep.
"Mm..."
She must have gotten pretty drunk; oblivious to her yukata's front loosening slightly, she breathed evenly.
I quietly sat beside her.
Her cheeks flushed from the alcohol, lips slightly parted.
Her exposed neckline and collarbone exuded a subtle eroticism.
So different from her usual prickly, aloof demeanor—this disheveled sight heated my loins.
"Tonight's main course is definitely this one."
What I'd said to Mina was half-true.
Her defiant attitude and lack of remorse still irritated me.
I still wanted to ravage her, of course.
But...
I'm starting to crave seeing her beg for it.
Watching her wail in misery while forced was entertaining enough.
But even that gets stale with repetition.
From her reaction to the bait I dangled in the bath earlier, it shouldn't take much longer.
Smiling in satisfaction, I reached for the tie of Joo-young's sleeping yukata.
It unraveled smoothly; the thin fabric parted to either side, revealing the white skin and underwear hidden beneath in the faint moonlight.
It was about time to unleash everything I'd been building up with her.