Chapter 17: Masseuse Lee Eunhye – "If I've Overstepped, I'm Sorry."
The elevator doors closed, and Lee Sooyoung apologized.
He shook his head.
"...No, it's fine."
Honestly, he was grateful for her words. He let her know that too—thanking her outright. Seeing the relieved expression on her face, he realized something.
She's cute.
A warm feeling bubbled up from that. And he noticed something else.
Come to think of it... it's still... touching!
His arm was still wedged between her breasts. If he mentioned it, she'd pull away, but she seemed distracted too—leaving it there without a second thought. And truthfully, Shin Jaewoo didn't want to pull away either.
Bzzz.
If not for the vibration from his chest pocket, it might've stayed that way. Hearing it, Lee Sooyoung flushed and finally disentangled his arm. He felt a pang of regret as her soft warmth faded. Channeling that discomfort, he pulled out his smartphone.
Bzzz.
His phone buzzed again. And with each buzz, the messages piled up.
...It's Hyeju.
It was KakaoTalk from Kim Hyeju. She must've been shocked by the encounter, firing off messages. In that moment, the scene from earlier flashed back—the arm Han Taeho had wrapped around Kim Hyeju's waist in the elevator. That smug, victorious grin on his face. Rather than feeling down, Shin Jaewoo felt a clear certainty now.
No more lingering regrets.
He didn't feel the need to reply to Kim Hyeju. Instead, he blocked her. But then, a message popped up from Han Taeho, who must've been right there beside her.
A posture of utter submission. He was groveling.
Cowardly, shoving all the blame onto Hyeju just to avoid hurting my feelings.
A hollow laugh escaped him as he read it.
He used to be the proudest, most arrogant guy I knew.
Pathetic and spineless. It was absurd to think he'd once idolized this man.
"...That couple from earlier?"
Lee Sooyoung glanced at him cautiously before asking. No reason to hide it, so Shin Jaewoo nodded.
"Yeah."
Kim Hyeju had probably already told her anyway.
"The woman was my girlfriend until a few days ago. Looks like she was two-timing me... And the guy was a college classmate."
"I see."
Lee Sooyoung listened while subtly gauging his mood, worried he might be upset. Seeing that only made him like her more.
I'm in trouble.
It wasn't quite a full-blown romantic interest yet. Still, it felt good. But he knew the truth.
Sooyoung's no different from Hyeju in the end.
The reason she treated him this way? All because of money. She knew about his wealth. So ultimately, it was the same as what Kim Hyeju had done. A bitter expression crossed his face.
I wonder if I can ever get married?
The worry flickered through his mind. Shin Jaewoo had always wanted to marry, to build a family. That hadn't changed. But now, he'd probably suspect every woman. All thanks to the scar Kim Hyeju had left.
That's all the more reason to do it.
He wouldn't let her shadow linger. He'd meet women, marry one, have kids... live the fulfilling life he'd always dreamed of.
"...We've got time until the party, right?"
"Yes, Jaewoo."
She'd settled on a form of address now. It was better than "customer," so he let it slide.
"Anything worth trying until then?"
"Hmm. How about a massage?"
A massage? Shin Jaewoo perked up at the suggestion. He'd never had one before. It had always seemed irrelevant to him.
But...
Now, he was curious enough to try. Though a slight concern crossed his mind.
"It's not... anything weird, right?"
"Oh, no, of course not. I mean the service inside the Baekje Hotel. If you're looking for something more... adult-oriented, I could find a place. Want me to?"
"...No."
Shin Jaewoo shook his head. He had no interest in illegal sleazy spots.
Though I think I've heard massages are technically illegal anyway... something about medical procedures?
He vaguely recalled hearing that, but who knew if it was true.
A hotel massage, huh?
He was excited. The best hotel in Korea—what would their massage be like?
He'd learned something new: a single massage cost over a million won. Of course, it was the most premium option. The lighting, scents, bed, oils—all top-tier.
Feels amazing...
And a glimpse of the masseuse. Naturally, it was a woman, not a man. All else equal, why not go for the prettier option?
A guy would've felt off.
Men might be stronger, but it'd probably feel more like physical therapy than relaxation.
Not that that's bad, but... this is better... ugh. Women can be plenty strong too.
The sensation started at his back with oil—gentle at first, or so he thought. But when her hands reached his calves, that illusion shattered.
Damn, take it easy...
Lips pressed tight so she wouldn't see.
"Ngh."
A groan slipped out anyway.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
She'd noticed him holding back. Her pressure lightened a bit.
"...A little."
He almost said it was fine but corrected himself. It did hurt. A soft pfbt laugh from her. His ears burned. As she carefully worked his calves again, Lee Eunhye spoke up.
"Calves always hurt when they're knotted up. Even without much pressure, it catches people off guard like this."
Should he ask her to skip the calves?
Shouldn't have gone for the full body.
Regret surged. But he'd committed.
"I'll be as gentle as I can."
He clung to her words for comfort. True to them—or maybe he was adjusting—the pain eased. Shin Jaewoo closed his eyes, starting to enjoy it. Lee Eunhye massaged him with shining eyes.
So he's the one with all that money?
Even the usually overbearing manager had cowered before him. And the woman who'd come with him.
"The lady you came with... your girlfriend? She's stunning."
Praising while subtly probing. Lee Eunhye had seen plenty of rich guys here.
Guys like this rarely stick to one woman.
She wasn't seriously angling for him. But a one-night fling could net her a few million—or tens of millions—in luxury bags. She had her eye on one, too. First, check the goalkeeper.
"...Not my girlfriend."
Jackpot, she thought at his reply.
Bingo.
A triumphant smile. Then,
"Oh? Then you're almost dating?"
Still needed to confirm. If he was pursuing Lee Sooyoung, wedging in could backfire spectacularly. But luck was on her side.
"Nah. Let's just call her a business partner. Why do you ask?"
"Sorry, sir. It's rude to pry... but you two looked like such a perfect couple."
"Ah, yeah..."
Shin Jaewoo closed his eyes. Lee Eunhye fell silent, focusing on top service. Clients had types: chatty ones who talked endlessly, quiet ones like him who wanted pure rest. Best to match their vibe.
And then,
"Satisfied?"
Only after finishing did she speak, slipping in,
"If you think of us again, give me a call. Even personally."
With a wink, she handed him her business card—complete with her personal number. Shin Jaewoo stared, chuckling dryly.
Did I just get... hit on?
Hunting? Maybe not the word. The massage was great, though. He'd probably crave it again. He pocketed the card in his wallet as a souvenir. Party entrance first. As he emerged, Lee Sooyoung approached.
"Jaewoo."
"Yeah."
What had she done while he was getting massaged? He'd been too zoned out to care, even though he'd meant to offer her one too. But her words grabbed his attention.
"The host wants to say hi. What do you think?"
The host. Right—he recalled they were a Royal Road member too.
"You can say no if you don't want to."
She was trying not to pressure him. But Shin Jaewoo shook his head. He was a last-minute guest; a quick greeting was polite.
Curious what the other VIPs are like anyway.
So he said he'd go.