Chapter 192
I've only known her for a little over three years since I started seeing just one person, but I'm confident I'd make the list of people who know Yoo Seol-ah the best. Especially that she's a total pervert despite her icy looks—nobody knows that better than me.
"...It's not like anyone touches them that often anyway..."
That's why, hearing the hint of her true feelings slip into her tone, I realized it right away.
...She didn't get enough from yesterday.
I mean, it was only a little intense from my side, but maybe not for her. Choking her until she could barely breathe is still within her tastes, after all.
I guess that kind of thing needs some mental prep. She's pretending not to notice, but at least I know for sure she's craving it right now.
"...No, don't get the wrong idea...? It's not like I'm complaining or anything..."
Her voice trembling as if her own feet were going numb just proved me right. She's blatantly staring down at the lower left, twisting her head side to side.
I kept staring into Yoo Seol-ah's eyes, then slowly raised my right hand.
"Wanna test it out?"
"Huh? No, wait... Eek!?"
A soft, squishy sensation spread through my whole hand.
I get why telling an angry guy "wanna grope my tits?" works so well. Even through her T-shirt and bra, the pillowy feel is insane—water balloons got nothing on this.
And Yoo Seol-ah's shocked expression, eyes wide and lips quivering? Perfect seasoning.
How does she always make that exact face that makes me wanna bully her more?
Of course, there was a slim chance I was misreading her. But seeing her just twitch and not even think of pulling my hand away? Any doubt vanished.
I wasn't even gripping that hard—she could just brush it off—but her hand was trembling like it was tied down.
"I-I said I was just stepping out for a bit... Ngh!?"
I'm just scaring her a little; no plans to do anything here. Honestly, whatever fantasies are running through her head right now had me fighting a smirk, but I kept my face straight.
The soft breast in my hand brought a happy buzz, but after tumbling in bed yesterday morning, it wasn't really turning me on. Hearing she'd undone her contraception spell? That made my heart race for the first time in forever.
Perfect timing since she's on the call—I can nudge her a bit and hit her with a bigger counterattack.
"Then you should hurry."
I replied like I'd planned to drop my hand from the start, and Yoo Seol-ah's eyes filled with even more anxiety than before.
"Not going down?"
"...I-I am..."
If I were the one consumed by lust, her nervous look might seem hot right now. But nope—just cute and hilarious.
"...Ah."
She even almost tripped on nothing.
...Totally fantasizing about all sorts of stuff mid-call, obviously.
When I lightly steadied her, she even thanked me in this situation—confirms she's got a good heart deep down.
Proves goodness and horniness have zero overlap, too.
Even after sitting at her station in the studio, she kept flinching at me just standing behind her. Time to let her off the hook.
For a clean finish, I leaned over her shoulder, grabbed her pen, and wrote one word on her screen. Yoo Seol-ah, who'd been frozen solid, finally thawed when she saw it.
"Eek..."
Confirming her gritted teeth, I headed back to my seat feeling refreshed.
I was dead certain she'd imagined phone sex or something. It's a classic doujin trope, after all.
But reality and fiction are different. Even if she gets off on humiliation, it'd be a hassle for Yuna unnie and Lee Seo-yeon.
Especially—I have zero intention of letting anyone but me hear Yoo Seol-ah's heated voice.
If she'd calmed down even a bit, she'd realize I never would've touched her. Guess her composure took a real hit.
- ...Haa.
- You always draw this fast?
Yoo Seol-ah let out heavy sighs loud enough for me to hear, gripped her pen, and started illustrating at a speed where her hand was a blur.
...I've watched her work plenty, and yeah, she's fast—but not this fast.
Is anger really such a great motivator?
Her occasional death glares over the monitor had me laser-focused on the shared screen. She seemed to calm down eventually, not looking my way anymore.
But soon, she started stabbing at her tablet hard. Loud enough the others heard.
- Something wrong?
- Ah, pen glitched for a sec. Fixed it.
Her voice was pure ice.
...Not calmed down yet, huh.
Fueled by rage, her non-stop hand flew through the rough sketch in no time.
- ...Whoa, I'm actually shocked.
- ...Huh?
- YukiNyang's followers aren't like 500k now?
- Oh... Yeah, gaining like 10k a day lately.
She played it casual, but watching her follower count not just hold steady but accelerate? Impressive as hell.
Yuna unnie's tone even had awe in it.
- How are you not at a million yet?
- Unnie, seriously...
Her mood lifted, Yoo Seol-ah even chuckled a bit. I silently thanked Yuna unnie endlessly.
But it wasn't just hype—tons of big illustrators were hyping her up.
At this rate, she'd hit a million by year's end.
- But pros don't erase lines once drawn, right? Is that a pro thing...?
- Drawing perfectly in one go is faster, yeah? But I'm not your average person.
Anyone hearing that might think chuunibyou. She'd told me before: she draws the whole thing in her head first, then transfers it straight to the program. Said it'd be impossible without magic.
She claims it's no big deal, but we just gawk anyway.
- Used your old outfit for the clothes. Any weird parts?
- ...You remember it better than me...?
Astasia's vibe isn't your typical medieval isekai. Simple reason: magic exists, solving tons with mana. Combat gear especially felt futuristic.
Yoo Seol-ah's battle outfit stuck with me—super cool.
Anyone who's had a chuuni phase would dig it. Kinda wanna see her wear it again. Bet if I ask, she'll give me a disdainful look then make and model it herself.
Yoo Seol-ah cleaned up the lines, hit save out of habit, and dove into coloring. Yuna unnie gasped at her character.
- ...Kinda weird to say, but damn, she looks gorgeous like this.
- You're gorgeous IRL too, unnie. I nail the proportions. Your eyes are huge.
- Gasp!
Even hyper-focused, Yoo Seol-ah answered promptly. Yuna unnie went quiet for a bit.
...Seriously, if Yoo Seol-ah were born a guy, disaster. Girls wouldn't leave her alone.
- Seol-ah, if Sion pisses you off, come to me. I'll be waiting.
...Even as a girl, she's not safe from girls. Once you're that pretty, appeal crosses all lines.
Yuna unnie's timely flirt had Yoo Seol-ah shooting me a side-eye over the monitor. Still mad, and given her thing for pretty people, she could've joked about switching—no biggie since they're tight.
But she refocused on her screen and quietly spoke up. Her voice came softer through the headset.
- ...Sorry, unnie. I only have eyes for one person.
Her earlobe peeked out, flushed peach-pink. Knowing I'm in the call too, was this a suicide attack?
My face heated up big time.
...Ouch, direct hit.
Never expected that counter after her earlier fury.
We both went silent, but the other two were thrilled.
- Even as a joke, no way!
- Ugh, what is this... You two getting married or what?
- Whoa, like living together? Waking up like "sleep well?"
Their squealing amped up the awkward heat, leaving the studio filled only with the scratch of styluses for a while.