Still a Jjintta
At those words, Yeong-jun's shoulders tensed ever so slightly. Min-ju was still grinning. That smile was exactly the same as before.
The arrogant, familiar smile of someone who looked down on him completely, believing she could toy with him however she pleased.
"Even if you put on a doctor's coat, open a clinic, and make some money… in the end, you're still the same, huh? Still can't even look me in the eye."
She tapped her chin with a finger and kept talking, clearly enjoying herself.
"This is fun, seriously. The world really is small."
Yeong-jun couldn't say a word. He knew he had to speak, yet his throat felt locked tight; no sound would come out.
Min-ju stared straight at his face, never letting the smile fade. Legs crossed, she leaned back in the chair and continued as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Anyway, it's been so long… and this is fate, right? Want to grab dinner tonight? It's making me nostalgic, and I'm curious how a jjintta… no, how you, Yeong-jun, ended up like this."
Those words made Yeong-jun's insides boil.
Fate? What a load of bullshit. You think I forgot how you tormented me? That bitch who trampled all over me every chance she got…
But he didn't have the courage to say any of it out loud. The trauma still carved deep into his chest tightened around his throat. He forced himself to swallow and pried his mouth open.
"…Y-yeah. Okay."
His voice came out small and cracked. Min-ju didn't miss it. Her eyes sparkled, filling with even deeper satisfaction.
"Hoho, of course. You've still got that same personality from back then, huh? Perfect. So when do you get off work? Can't go now? I know you're the director and all, so you're busy… but you can spare a little time for me, right?"
Min-ju leaned her upper body forward slightly and asked in a low, almost whispering voice.
Her gaze drifted slowly over Yeong-jun's face, as if she were appraising prey. The deep cleavage visible between the folds of her luxury blouse and that same haughty attitude filled his entire field of vision.
Yeong-jun clenched his teeth inside.
Right now, if I could just… that bitch…
But reality still had him chained as a jjintta. Head slightly bowed, he answered in a trembling voice.
"I should be able to leave around… seven tonight."
Min-ju rose from her seat with a satisfied smile.
"Then I'll wait out front at seven-thirty. Don't be late, jjintta. Looks like tonight's going to be a fun dinner after all this time."
After that, it became hard to think about anything else.
The afternoon consultations stretched on endlessly, yet he couldn't even properly remember the patients' faces. Even while gripping surgical instruments, aiming the laser, and injecting Botox, forming a coherent thought was nearly impossible.
…Fuck. Why the hell did it have to be that bitch.
After that, he had no idea how time even passed.
When he next opened his eyes, the clock pointed exactly to seven.
"Shit…"
Yeong-jun muttered a low curse and stood. He hurriedly shrugged off his white coat and pulled on an expensive suit jacket. In front of the mirror, the hands adjusting his tie trembled faintly. PTSD, rage, or some strange sense of anticipation—he couldn't tell which—churned together and made his stomach turn.
When he stepped out through the clinic entrance, it was a little past seven-thirty. Choi Min-ju was already there.
But her clothes were different.
Gone were the chic blouse and skirt she had worn during the consultation. Right now she looked like a completely different woman.
A vivid red mini dress clung tightly to her body, emphasizing her full breasts, narrow waist, and long, smooth legs to an extreme degree.
The hem rode up to mid-thigh; the slightest movement threatened to reveal the soft skin beneath.
The off-shoulder design left her shoulders completely bare. A glittering diamond necklace and earrings sparkled, and her makeup was heavier now—lips glossy and vividly red.
She had swept her long straight hair over one shoulder for a more sensual look, and the high heels added height, giving her an even more confident posture.
What the hell…? Do women always dress this flashy just to eat?
Yeong-jun froze for a moment. Even now that he was successful, he had almost no dating experience with women, so Min-ju's appearance hit him like a shock.
He had rarely seen a woman walking the streets in an outfit like that. No—he might have seen them, but never this close, and never standing there waiting for him.
The moment Min-ju spotted Yeong-jun, she lifted one corner of her mouth and waved.
"Hey, jjintta. You're late. I said seven-thirty, didn't I?"
As she approached, the scent of perfume stabbed his nose. Provocative—sweet yet sharp. Yeong-jun instinctively tried to step back, then forced himself to hold his ground.
That bitch… she wore that on purpose. To test me.
He ground his teeth inside, but on the outside he only gave an awkward nod.
"Sorry. Consultations ran a little long…"
Min-ju naturally linked her arm through his and smiled. The soft press of her breast against his forearm made Yeong-jun's body go rigid for an instant.
"It's fine. Tonight's on me. Think of it as payback for all the homework you did for me back then. Come on, let's go somewhere good."
The moment Min-ju's arm wrapped snugly around his, Yeong-jun felt his mind go blank.
What the hell? Why is she acting so friendly?
The old iljin girl Choi Min-ju had treated even getting near him as pure disgust, pinching her nose and avoiding him. Yet now she was casually linking arms and walking pressed lightly against him. Yeong-jun was having trouble holding onto his reason.
And what exactly was this soft sensation against his elbow?
The feeling of Min-ju's full breast pressing gently into the inside of his arm. Warm, springy, yet soft and yielding—it transmitted clearly through the fabric. Useless thoughts raced through Yeong-jun's head before he could stop them.
Is that really her breast? For real? Why is it so soft? Doesn't feel like implants at all… Natural? No, how can something that big be this natural? I'm a plastic surgeon and even I can't tell…
His heart hammered wildly; cold sweat dampened his palms. Min-ju's perfume, her body heat, and that subtle pressure were slowly melting his self-control.
Hey, Kim Yeong-jun. Get a grip. This is a trap. That bitch is trying to play with you like she used to. But… why does it feel so…
Yeong-jun swallowed a curse and tried to pull his arm free, but Min-ju only hugged it tighter. Her laughter tickled his ear.
"What? Nervous? Back then you couldn't even get a single word out properly around me. Now that you're a doctor, you think you've changed?"
Acting friendly? Linking arms? Even the breasts… is all of this calculated? Or does she actually…
Just then Min-ju watched him walking stiffly, arm still linked, unable to say a word, and let out a small laugh.
"Pfft."
That laugh was the exact same sound that used to mock him in the classroom. Min-ju pulled his arm even harder, pressing her body flush against him. When her soft breast crushed more firmly against his arm, Yeong-jun's face flushed red in an instant.
"Hey, don't tell me you've still never even held a girl's hand? You lucky bastard. A woman of my level holding your hand is seriously rare, you know."
"……"
"It was the same in high school, right? You just studied and never once held a girl's hand before going off to med school. Wow, that's actually hilarious. Now you're the director of a plastic surgery clinic? Looks like you've got money… but your experience with women is still the same, huh?"
Every single word dug into Yeong-jun's chest. The humiliations of the past rose vivid and raw, yet the warmth and scent of her body against his arm felt strangely stimulating.
Yeong-jun kept his mouth shut tight and only swallowed. He wanted to retort, but no voice came out.
This fucking bitch… she still sees me that way.
Min-ju seemed to savor his silence; she swung his arm more boldly as she spoke.
When they reached the Porsche, Min-ju casually opened the passenger door and waited for him. The hem of her mini dress rode up a little, flashing a glimpse of white thigh, and Yeong-jun's eyes drifted there before he could stop them.
"Well? Answer me, jjintta. Tonight's dinner is all on me. You just… follow along."
Of course, Min-ju's true intentions were anything but pure.
Useless bastard. Hasn't changed one bit since high school. Still can't get a proper sentence out, still turning red… and look at him, driving a nice car just because he's a director.
She glanced at Yeong-jun as he settled into the driver's seat and sneered inwardly. She had expected the same old fun of tormenting a jjintta, but to her surprise the smell of money was thick in the air.
Running a plastic surgery clinic right in the middle of Gangnam and driving a luxury sports car like this meant he had to have a decent amount of cash.
If I get him drinking tonight he'll be wasted in no time, right? Doctors make good money, don't they? Set the mood, meet a few times… maybe squeeze some cash out of him? Asking for a luxury bag should be fine, or maybe go bigger…
Min-ju's eyes flashed sharply for a moment. On the outside she pressed her arm even tighter against Yeong-jun's and played cute, but the calculator in her head was spinning fast.
The fact that the jjintta she used to bully had succeeded actually made him easier to use. His weak points still looked the same.
"Hey, Yeong-jun. But you're really amazing, you know? Going to med school and becoming a plastic surgery director. Me, I'm just living like a freeloader… You're buying me something delicious tonight, right?"
She let her hand drift lightly toward Yeong-jun's thigh and laughed inside.
Yeah, tonight I'll get some drinks in him, set the mood, and bring up money. Useless bastard, you really think you can do anything to me?
Yeong-jun felt that touch and clenched his teeth. For some reason he could almost sense the bitch's true intentions. But he still said nothing.
Fine… laugh all you want. Soon you'll be crying and begging at my feet. With that body, and that mouth.