Transformation (1)
Just deciding something wouldn't make magic happen. The shop had a cozy, refined feel, but no one was walking through the door.
“I heard they call it the opening-day bonus. Why is no one walking through the door?”
……
I asked as if I were interrogating Jane standing there, but she gave no answer. Next to her, her loyal guard—her so-called guard guy—only turned his gaze toward the exit.
Hey, do these people actually intend to run a business?
They were way too laid-back. I was the only one acting serious, and it left me wondering if they understood my real resolve right now.
“It seems like the location is too remote.”
“…Honey, enthusiasm is good, but I won’t allow you to push yourself too far.”
Actually, securing the contract for this building hadn’t been easy. I’d been turned down at every promising spot for ridiculous reasons.
No matter how much money I had, doors were slammed shut.
Thinking about it, we didn’t even have staff. The lack of male hosts was a huge problem.
Normally, an idol group with plenty of members would have at least one who suited every taste among their diverse looks. At the very least, we should have had some numbers.
Of course I understood Jane’s hesitation. But wasn’t even one customer normal?
“No close clients or owners here?”
“Huuuh. You really think there are none?”
Jane tilted her head, her fiery red hair cascading smoothly over her shoulders. I shouldn’t have expected any better from her temperament.
The guard, who had been standing nearby, muttered something barely audible.
“…I’ve never tried it either.”
He was out of luck. Realistically, the odds of this being a business partnership were low anyway.
I felt a bit sorry for him and slowly rubbed my chin.
“Then I’ll go out and try baiting customers myself.”
I had to walk it out. How was I supposed to handle the situation without stepping out?
“What? Young master, have you finally snapped out of it? A man is dangerous!!”
“So what if I stay right here?”
Why were they worried about me over something so trivial? But the guard, who had been silent until now, spoke up as well.
“I agree with Miss Jane. With the street so isolated, especially for a man like Young Master Seonghyun, he could become an easy target for crime.”
Why the sudden honorifics? It made things oddly awkward.
“Fine. You’re right. Young master, our shop rule is to protect the clients’ bodies. Sit down next to me and have a cup of tea. This is from th
“Actually, I’m not that old. It’s from the East…”
“No, why are you all like this? Aren’t you going to do business? And you’re saying there’s no budget, yet you buy this import stuff?”
Fact is, they should have been exploiting me more.
I looked at Jane in disbelief and she finally shook both hands. Nodding her chin, she ordered the guard.
“Ha. Alright. No one can break Young Master’s stubbornness. Instead, keep watch from afar.”
“Yes, I understand. Miss Jane.”
After tidying my outfit, I put on the robe and pulled the door handle while adding a warning.
“…Don’t trip and fall.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The street in the alley with no proper lighting was dark and gloomy. Honestly, I felt a bit relieved by the guard’s presence at a slightly distant spot.
Ah, what kind of place did I contract for? When Jane went to check contracts, I should have followed.
“You don’t need to step out. Besides, Young master has something to do, right?”
Eventually, this guard guy and I went shopping for furniture and indoor decorations. As we gradually moved into a more bustling area, people started appearing.
“Ha. It’s harder than I thought.”
Harder than handing out flyers on the street. I pulled the hood of my robe tightly and began scouting potential customers.
Every step, I felt curious glances from women, but I felt the same.
Since I had to, I chose someone with a good impression. Physically, minimal skinship had to be possible.
Fact is, there was no end to second-guessing. I had to make a decision and pick anyone.
“Alright. No dragging this out.”
I spotted a person walking alone on the street. A woman with slightly downturned eyes and a tear-glistened gaze.
Her outfit didn’t suit a brothel. I approached slowly to avoid alerting her.
At the moment her pupils widened slightly toward me, I took off the hood I was wearing and asked.
“Are you alone?”
⁕⁕⁕
Harassing customers on the street was a common sight. It wasn’t strange for a woman who had done hard labor to seek relief at a brothel.
Anna was no different. Enjoying drinks with colleagues after hard labor was her basic routine. The reason those who had been hesitant came to this street was only natural.
She had rejected her close colleague’s extreme offer and slipped away. It was a bit regrettable, but today wasn’t the kind of day to feel down about.
“…Ah, yes.”
The man who suddenly approached and asked her about herself had quite an impressive appearance. She couldn’t understand why someone dressed in a sweaty casual outfit was trying to hit on her.
Even the face wasn’t bad enough to be a shop sign. Out of caution, she had tensed up, but it wasn’t easy.
“…Um, noona, aren’t you lonely?”
“Ah, yes?”
The man who smiled slightly was far too attractive.
“At this time, it’s a bit dangerous for a woman to be out alone, isn’t it?”
Even though I didn’t know what kind of nonsense it was, I nodded at the handsome guy. The man’s pupils had fluttered slightly, and his lips curled up.
“The weather is cold too. Why don’t you come to our shop?”
“…Um.”
“There are tasty snacks and a variety of drinks!”
Even though it was work, she didn’t feel bad. Maybe I should give it a try. The man’s low, gentle voice might have been the reason.
“Um… maybe.”
Normally I would have dismissed it lightly, but the man’s hot hand on my wrist had disarmed me.
“Let’s go together. I’ll guide you.”
The rare touch of a man made Anna’s heart flutter. The thick, firm hand of a man was starting to excite her.
It was unbelievable. How could a man’s hand be firmer than a woman’s?
“There’s such a place?”
A small shop was located near a deep alley. I had definitely come this way earlier, but I had no idea such a building existed.
“I’ll go straight to the room.”
As we entered the building together, the man holding my hand informed the owner. The woman with red hair inside glared at me.
It gave me a cold feeling in my spine, but I was the customer. Well, what could I do? After that, the red-haired woman turned her head with a whoosh and left the building.
As soon as I entered the room, the table was quickly set up. Then a burly woman came in, placed a bottle with a thud, and left.
“…What’s your name?”
“Hyun. What’s yours?”
It wasn’t her real name. Of course she was telling a pseudonym. Out of regret, I picked up the glass.
“Anna.”
“Yes, noona Anna.”
I accidentally said my real name. Normally I wouldn’t have, but calling my name so sweetly wasn’t bad.
“You don’t drink?”
“Actually, I’d like to drink together. Can I have some too?”
At those words, Anna had no choice but to order more. My heart was melting with the skinship of occasionally holding hands and hugging her shoulders.
“Ah, it’s only been a little while since I started, so I’m not very good at entertaining. Sorry.”
“…No. This is enough.”
I was actually happy! There was really only me as the customer. Rising superiority and a subtle sense of ownership made my lower abdomen warm.
“I want to sing or dance, but when I actually try, it’s not that great. Is there anything you’d like?”
“…Something you want?”
Her eyes showed pure kindness. Ah, this wouldn’t do. The long-hidden desire was starting to surge.
“Maybe… can I show you my feet?”
I didn’t even notice the words coming out. It reminded me of the time I had asked my ex-boyfriend and gotten scolded.
Still, he was the job. Wouldn’t such a request be fine? I felt a hint of dismissal, but at the same time, I was tense.
But if I received a contemptuous look from such a man, it would probably be very sad. No, maybe just a little pleased.
Anna cautiously watched the man. But unlike her expectation, he didn’t look displeased.
“Really. Is that okay?”
Her expression asked as if she meant it. In that expression, she didn’t feel any sense of disgust.
“Uh, yes.”
She nodded, and the man slowly took off his shoes.
“Noona, then should I take off my socks?”
“No. Not now. Don’t take them off at all.”
“Ah, yes. Yes.”
The man showed his bare soles. The slight shyness was internally screaming with ecstasy.
Oh my god, a man’s soles!
Even if I died, I’d be happy!
Anna’s heart rate was increasing too much. Larger soles than a normal woman’s, the contours of the beloved toes endlessly exciting her chest and lower abdomen.
If I had to pick a flaw, it was regrettable that there was no smell. But the size, the moisture, even the touch were perfect.
Every time the toes wiggled slightly, I felt like tears would flow. It was that moving.
“Um… now my feet might cramp.”
At the man’s troubled words, Anna snapped back. She realized why she was alive and breathing.
“Ah, yes. That’s enough now. Thank you so much.”
She reluctantly took her hand off the man’s feet. After paying, the man even saw her out. That gave me a faint, lingering emotion.
The price was expensive, so I probably wouldn’t come often. She made a firm resolution, but where would that be easy?
“I’m so happy you came, noona. Really, I’m lucky.”
The man’s bright smile. Eventually, Anna had no choice but to wait for next month’s payday.
On the way home, she smelled the faint scent of her own palm, feeling the afterglow.
⁕⁕⁕
“As instructed, concealment has been released.”
“You worked hard.”
“…Miss Jane, may I ask a question?”
“Go ahead.”
Jane, squatting on the floor looking at it, reached for her cigar but put it back in. For the after-treatment.
“Money is sufficient, right? Why go through such trouble?”
Her words weren’t wrong. Even a noble family in ruin could eat for three generations. Jane’s hidden money was never small.
I told Seonghyun something like that, but there was another pocket.
“It’s adorable.”
“Eh?”
“You know? When it starts looking adorable, it’s already too late.”
Jane recalled something and chuckled. The red hair flowed lovingly over her shoulders.
“Too adorable. In the world. And the way you scream in fear that I’ll catch you is adorable too. Our young master, he stopped touching your ankles somehow. So innocent. I already knew everything.”
Two people who knew the body well had known from the start. How could they not have noticed the forced, clunky steps?
“Again, a man with motivation. It’s cool. The first time Young master suggested something to me.”
“…I didn’t think you would do it for that reason.”
“You really do resemble my dad.”
A slightly stiff silence.
“You certainly do.”
“Hmm.”
Jane tilted her head.
“Still different. But a man trying hard makes my heart skip a beat.”
“Do you love him?”
A slightly absurd question. In the dark street with no proper lighting, a self-deprecating voice rang out.
“Uh-huh? No, we’re using each other. Probably about that much. For our young master.”