Chapter 78

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 78

Chapter Title: Mi-yeon's Story

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Oh Mi-yeon had another reason for never drinking with men.

She enjoyed alcohol, but she was terribly weak to it—barely able to handle half a bottle.

Her face would flush after just three glasses.

"I-I'll drink slowly now."

"Already drunk?"

"A little?"

The side dishes hadn't even arrived yet.

"I have something I'm curious about."

Oh Mi-yeon hesitated before asking.

"What kind of magic do you work on that coffee? Why does my mind feel so calm after just drinking it?"

"……."

"It keeps my mind at peace for exactly 24 hours after drinking it. Then, after 24 hours pass, the depression creeps back in."

"……."

"The more I drink it, the more my mind recovers bit by bit. The negativity fades away, and the positivity builds up."

"……."

Jin-seong didn't answer the question. He had no intention of revealing Era of Success to anyone else.

"I have something I'm curious about too."

Instead of answering, he changed the subject.

"Why are you so depressed, Mi-yeon?"

"From 'Mi-yeon noona' to 'Mi-yeon-ssi'? Are you distancing yourself because I asked a sensitive question? I'm a little hurt."

"Ah—? Sorry if I hurt your feelings. So, noona, why are you depressed? There has to be a reason, right?"

"……."

Oh Mi-yeon's lips twitched. It wasn't easy to answer the question.

"……."

"……."

Silence fell over them.

"Your ordered food is here."

The side dishes arrived.

Spicy chicken feet and cheese rolled omelet were placed on the table.

They ate the side dishes.

And clinked their soju glasses.

"…I wanted to be an actress."

"An actress?"

Oh Mi-yeon downed her soju. A bitter smile crossed her lips.

"Becoming a top actress was my goal. I believed without a doubt that I could do it—that there was nothing I couldn't achieve."

She had talent and passion.

She was beautiful, smart, and her acting skills were genius-level.

"But the world doesn't work just on effort and talent. It's not something you can achieve just because you want to."

"……."

Oh Mi-yeon recalled her unfortunate past.

She slowly explained her history.

Acting academy.

The director, who was like a senior colleague, confessed and asked her out.

She turned him down because of their 28-year age gap, which made her uncomfortable.

Then rumors started circulating in the industry that she was a 'slut.'

Meanwhile, rumors spread that the director was dating an underage girl.

That underage girl became a star a year later.

First agency.

The agency president took a liking to her and demanded her body.

She rejected him outright. After that, she became invisible, wasting away her days.

Meanwhile, a colleague who gave in to the president became a star a year later.

Second agency.

The new agency she joined was full of 'thugs.'

Contrary to their promises of making her a star, they were only serious about pimping her out.

If not for her uncle's help, she would have been in real trouble.

There were other big and small incidents too.

Some offered roles if she slept with them.

Some promised stardom if she dated them.

Some proposed a Gangnam apartment in exchange for being their sponsor.

One offered 100 million won a month if she drank with him.

Another suggested they open a bar together.

Yet another promised a villa if she went on an overseas trip with him.

Of course, she rejected them all.

There were two reasons for her rejections.

The first one.

"My dad lived by the words 'facial features change with effort, instant white hair from impatience.' Every time I was tempted by sweet offers, those words came to mind. I wanted to achieve my dreams through effort and talent, not tricks. I believed without doubt that I could."

The second.

"I wanted to live a life I could be proud of. I didn't want to do anything unethical. Some people might think it's fine as long as you're not caught, but for me, being able to face myself in the mirror was the most important thing."

Oh Mi-yeon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gave a bitter smile.

"I've put that dream to rest now. Honestly, I've run out of the courage, will, and even the stamina to keep challenging it."

They clinked glasses. She downed her soju.

She set down her glass.

Jin-seong crossed his arms and fell deep into thought.

In his view, Mi-yeon's depression stemmed from losing her lifelong goal.

She had run toward that goal her whole life, and when it vanished, lethargy and depression set in.

'Bamboo.'

Mi-yeon reminded him of bamboo—unbreakable until it snaps.

Sadly, Mi-yeon's bamboo had been shattered. Split clean in two, beyond repair.

'I like it.'

Honestly, he was very impressed by her mindset.

Impressed to the point of thinking she was an amazing person.

Yi Myeong-ho had called him an 'upright person.'

But maybe the truly upright one was Mi-yeon, not him.

"Noona. Have you ever thought about trying again?"

"Impossible."

"I'd rather you live with hope and strive hard than give up and waste away in lethargy."

"Thank you for saying that."

Oh Mi-yeon smiled prettily.

"In my eyes, noona, you're the type who'll succeed no matter what."

"Why?"

"You're beautiful, talented, and you won't bend—even if you break."

Above all.

Mi-yeon had him.

'Others can't mend broken bamboo... but I can.'

Willing to help?

He'd already helped her twice.

Once, and a second time. Could he not help a third?

It was just a matter of whether his heart moved or not. If it did, he could provide all the help she needed.

"Thank you."

Oh Mi-yeon's Favorability had changed.

They talked for a long while.

"Enough. I think we should stop drinking now."

Oh Mi-yeon waved her hand.

Her limit was half a bottle, but she'd nearly finished one.

Her eyes were unfocused. Her face was red, her breathing irregular.

She set down her glass.

Took a sip of water.

Poked at the cheese rolled omelet.

"J-Just one more glass, please."

"Didn't you say you were done?"

"It's been so long since I drank, it tastes so good."

Jin-seong hesitated.

In his eyes, Mi-yeon was already quite drunk.

If she drank more, she'd pass out completely.

"Tch—give it here."

As Jin-seong hesitated, Mi-yeon snatched the soju bottle.

She filled her glass to the brim, grinned, and proposed a toast.

"What if you collapse?"

"Don't worry. I won't collapse."

She looks like she's about to.

"Cheers. Let's cheers."

"Sure."

They clinked glasses.

About 30 minutes later.

"……."

Mi-yeon had fallen asleep. She buried her head on the table. Exactly one bottle, and she was out cold.

"Jeez……."

Jin-seong thought he understood why Mi-yeon never drank with other men as he stood up.

"Sajangnim, the bill please."

He paid for the food.

And hoisted the passed-out Mi-yeon onto his back.

"Sex... sex...."

Her breath tickled his nape.

Her warm body heat, soft skin, slender frame pressed against him. A faint floral scent teased his nose.

'She's the perfect weight.'

Mi-yeon was heavier than Choi Ah-young but lighter than Park Ha-yeon.

With her on his back, he walked toward her one-room apartment.

The feel of her butt against his hands.

Her thighs against his arms.

Her breasts rubbing against him.

It felt better than imagined.

Climbing the stairs left him breathless.

"Haa, noona. What's your house password?"

"Sex... sex...."

"Noona. Tell me your house password."

He shook Mi-yeon awake.

"Ah... password... 6514...."

She fell asleep again.

He unlocked the door and entered. Laid Mi-yeon on the bed.

"Haa...."

Jin-seong let out ragged breaths. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

He'd carried her for about 10 minutes. Even climbed stairs. It was exhausting.

"Hoo...."

He caught his breath.

Once calmed.

He laid Mi-yeon properly on her back. Covered her up to her neck with the blanket. Took off her socks so she wouldn't feel stuffy.

He glanced at her face.

'She's really pretty.'

If he were a bad person?

Wouldn't he have pounced on her right then?

She's pretty enough to make you want to.

Of course, Jin-seong had no such intentions—not even a speck.

Truthfully, there was no reason to.

Now that Affection had spawned, they'd end up intimate eventually.

It was just a matter of fast or slow.

"Huh...?"

Jin-seong's gaze stopped.

A pink rotor sat blatantly on the bedside table.

'Damn, that's hot.'

A masturbation toy.

He imagined Mi-yeon pressing the rotor against her pussy.

His lower body stiffened.

Blood rushed south.

Urgent.

No choice then.

Jin-seong watched porn for the first time in a while.

He watered the Wish Tree.

"I hope everyone around me is happy."

I hope everyone's healthy.

I hope everyone's at peace.

The Wish Tree had grown.

It was about 1.5 times bigger than at first.

'Today...'

He checked his schedule.

Another busy day.

'Before the gym, run a quick laundry cycle, grab a simple breakfast, clean, sort the trash.'

On the way back from the gym, stop by the bank to pay utilities, pick up essentials at the mart, get a trim at the salon.

Date with Ha-yeon too. Plan to develop her anus. Today, insert a thumb to stretch it.

'Busy day again.'

Jin-seong smiled contentedly.

He didn't hate this busy life at all. He was deeply satisfied and happy. Truly grateful.

He started the quick laundry cycle.

Pulled side dishes from the fridge.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang.

"Jin-seong-ssi—."

It was Mi-yeon's voice.

Her expression was terrible. Hungover and wrecked.

Her eyes trembled violently. Half embarrassed, half mortified.

"My memory's blank, so... I didn't do anything embarrassing, right?"

"You didn't."

"You didn't... do anything weird to me, did you?"

"No."

Jin-seong briefly explained what happened last night.

"Really? You really didn't do anything to me?"

"Yes."

"What about that? Did you see it? The thing in my house."

"That thing? Ah— you mean the pink one?"

Mi-yeon's face flushed scarlet with shame.

"Ha... ah... ugh...."

She averted her gaze.

"Forget you saw it...."

"I will."

A strange, awkward air flowed between them.

Mi-yeon changed the subject.

"Oh, for dinner tonight. Anything you want to eat?"

"Hmm— craving braised potatoes and braised tofu."

"Sounds good. See you tonight. Gotta head to work, so busy."

Mi-yeon moved to close the door.

"Wait a sec."

Jin-seong pulled tomato juice from the fridge and handed it over.

"Drink this."

She took the bottle.

"This isn't... your special brew, is it?"

"No."

"I'll enjoy it then."

Mi-yeon smiled brightly.

She'd received one of her all-time favorite juices.