Power & Sex, and... 103

Heading back up to the mayor's office, I found the room packed full. No wonder—even before the fan cafe operators arrived, with the mayor, Assemblyman Han, Reporter Seo, announcer Kim Seong-ah, and me making five people seated, plus the camera crew, assistants, and what looked like the mayor's chief of staff standing by, the place had already felt crowded. Adding five more just made it chaos.

"Sorry about that."

"No, no. I get it. But we can't smoke in here anyway."

"Oh. Does the mayor smoke too?"

"Yeah, I haven't kicked the habit yet. Since seating's tight and uncomfortable, how about we move to the rooftop garden? You'd be able to light up more easily there, Assemblyman."

It was music to my ears. We still had plenty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of time before the scheduled event, so killing it comfortably up there sounded perfect. We all headed to the rooftop. It was nicely landscaped, cute and cozy, with small trees and flowers creating a cool, refreshing vibe. We settled under a wide parasol, a bit away from the smoking area.

"You've got the garden looking beautiful."

"There wasn't a good spot nearby for staff to take lunch breaks, so we had it built recently."

Thanks to that rooftop garden, we could chat relaxedly. About ten minutes before the event kicked off, Jeong-ah and the cafe operators headed down first to the venue on the city hall lawn. Soon after, the rest of us followed to the first floor.

Down at the entrance, a huge crowd had gathered on the lawn, waiting for us—I had no idea when they'd mobilized them. The mobile bath vehicle was parked under the white archway in front of the city hall building, showing off its sleek design.

That spot normally didn't allow vehicles in, but apparently a city hall staffer had pulled the barrier for it. Seeing Gwangju's enthusiasm for this thing made donating just one feel almost insufficient.

The MC, who seemed to be a city hall employee, grabbed the mic to announce our entrance. We took our assigned seats next to the podium, guided by staff.

The MC emphasized how this mobile bath vehicle donation started from a suggestion by my wife Ara in my district, noted that most of my fan cafe operators were from Busan, and urged everyone to see it not just as a bath service for seniors but as a symbol of harmony between Yeongnam and Honam. He wrapped up his long explanation with that plea.

What followed broke all convention. Instead of the mayor or local assemblyman Han Seong-su taking the stage first, the fan cafe operators were introduced, and Jeong-ah, as their rep, gave greetings to the Gwangju citizens.

Jeong-ah looked flustered but bowed to the mayor and Assemblyman Han before stepping up. In her clear, deliberate tone, she thanked them for the warm welcome, then promised that if more donations poured in, they'd return with another gift to bridge the outdated regional rift between Yeongnam and Honam. With that, she stepped down.

Next up was me. Even under the scorching June sun, the crowd was riveted, not stirring an inch.

"I'll keep it short. As you all know, I'm just a country bumpkin from Gyeongsang. I see Assemblyman Han Seong-su here, your local rep, as my political comrade, and I'll work to get closer to him. Rather than big talk about smashing regionalism, I'll just hang out with him more and drop by Gwangju whenever I can. Thank you."

That was my honest take. No amount of speeches about overcoming regional divides or bowing at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mangwol-dong Cemetery would fix it. But if Gyeongsang hicks like me started buddying up with Jeolla folks one by one, eventually that damn ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠regionalism would fade away, right?

My brief speech ignited the crowd—they erupted in cheers, chanting "Park Maru!" like I was campaigning in my own district. As I stepped down, Assemblyman Han and the mayor grabbed my hands, eyes misty. What was meant as a nationwide donation event to local governments had morphed into a Yeongnam-Honam harmony pledge—perfect for me.

Assemblyman Han and the mayor referenced my speech, urging everyone to each befriend at least one Gyeongsang person, then bowed in thanks to Jeong-ah and the cafe crew.

After the speeches, Jeong-ah handed the keys to the mayor, pushing the event to a fever pitch. The crowd, who must've prepped sparklers, lit up the sky.

Post-event, not just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jeong-ah and the operators but me, Assemblyman Han, and the mayor were swarmed for photos with the vehicle as backdrop. The Busan-planned event turned into a wildly enthusiastic day.

I could leave Gwangju after a late lunch-early dinner for tomorrow's military base performance, but Jeong-ah and the crew had to stay overnight at the mayor's earnest plea. That must've been the heart of Gwangju's people.

"We hit the jackpot without even expecting it."

"Huh?"

"Our Assemblyman Park's become the bridge between Yeongnam and Honam."

"Aigoo, why me? If anything, it's you, Miss Jeong-ah, and the cafe operators."

Back in the car, Reporter Seo was buzzing from the unexpected vibe. The driver even stopped at rest areas twice on the way up—unlike the rush down—making for a comfy ride to Seoul.

After 7 p.m., I hit the campaign HQ, still buzzing with activity. Aides dispatched from assemblymen offices, even a few lawmakers sticking around that late—it proved the momentum was ours. Whether they were just punching the clock or truly committed to party reform, no time to judge. I thanked them, said I had other business, and bounced. Lingering meant enduring the same old lines.

"Where are you?"

"Yeah. At the office."

Hearing Eun-mi was at the office, I headed to Daesan Group HQ. The place thrummed with energy as always. Was it the young staff feeding off the vibe?

"Hey, honey, you're here?"

"Your office always feels so alive."

"Weren't you in Gwangju today?"

"Yeah, just got back."

"You must be beat—go home and rest."

"Was planning to. Just stopped by to see your face."

True enough. Seeing her face and chatting eased my fatigue most times. Maybe because she was a few years older? Sipping the coffee she brewed, we talked briefly before I headed home.

Something warm and soft pressed against me. Loving the feel, I stroked and pulled it closer—whatever it was squirmed in my arms, trying to slip away.

"Just sleep a bit more~ You're tired."

Waking at the voice, I looked down to see Eun-mi in a slip, snuggled against me.

"When'd you get here?"

"Around 11-ish."

"Wake me then."

Glancing at the clock, it was already 6 a.m. I'd crashed hard—nearly nine hours. I hugged her gently. She hugged back, our lips meeting.

Legs entwining as we kissed, my dick sprang up in the morning haze, poking her lower belly.

"You're tired—let's just stay like this. You don't have to."

"Looks like he wants to eat you up."

"Pfft~ Mornings are when it stands anyway. Haah~"

"You want it too, don't deny~"

"How can I when it's poking like that."

Her body twisted as my hard rod drilled her belly like an awl, moans spilling from her lips. I slipped off her nightie, licking her perky breasts. Unlike the youthful Ara, Jeong-ah, or Suji in their twenties, her body oozed sultry ripeness, heating up fast.

"Haah~"

Her nipple stiffened against my tongue, jabbing my palate like a venomous snakehead. Her thighs clamped my leg, squeezing my belly. Her wet valley rubbed my meat stick, already soaked, twitching to suck it in.

I shifted, mounting her. Her body burned like a furnace, flames licking my tongue as it touched her skin. She was a blast furnace.

"Ah~ Honey~"

The lower my tongue roamed, the more she writhed, moans rising. Gripping her ass cheeks, her entrance gulped like it thought my cock was plunging in already.

"Haah~ Please~ Honey~ Put it in~"

No special foreplay, but skin-to-skin after so long had her begging for my searing pillar in her cavern.