Experiencing It Directly Was Different
In this world, polygamy—or multiple marriage—is legally recognized in most countries, and Korea is no exception.
At first, I had assumed that one man marrying several women would be the prevailing arrangement, figuring the legal sanction stemmed from the demographic sex-ratio imbalance. But looking closer into the matter revealed that the opposite was far more common.
While the legal technicalities are somewhat intricate, both men and women are permitted to have multiple spouses. Yet legality aside, most people still settle down with just one partner, and many choose to raise children on their own without marrying at all. Marrying multiple spouses is, in reality, exceedingly rare. When a woman takes several husbands, society broadly regards her as an exceptionally capable, accomplished woman. In contrast, when a man takes multiple wives, public opinion splinters into sharply divided perspectives, shifting according to individual circumstances.
If that is how marriage works, dating naturally follows suit. Some women date multiple men quite openly and proudly, whereas a man seeing multiple women is practically unheard of.
The reason these facts surfaced in my mind was because of Ihyeon-noona's hesitant question.
“That woman who was with you in the parking lot earlier... what does she do for a living?”
Ihyeon-noona asked about Mom in an overtly cautious tone. I weighed the possible intentions behind her inquiry.
“Why do you ask?”
Whatever her intention, simply answering that she was my mother would put an immediate end to the matter. That was why I held off on explaining. I wanted to see what was actually running through her mind first.
“Well... she just caught my attention, that's all.”
“I don't know the specifics myself. All I know is that she works at a factory and stays crazy busy.”
“Huh? O-oh... really? I see.”
I knew full well she hadn't been asking about her occupation. That was likely why my answer left Ihyeon-noona looking slightly flustered.
“Why would she catch your attention?”
Seizing on her disarray, I turned the question right back on her.
“Huh? N-no, I mean... well....”
“Yes?”
“Ah... I mean....”
Ihyeon-noona faltered, struggling to produce an answer. It certainly seemed like some strange thoughts were swirling in her head.
“Noona.”
“Yes?”
“This is only our second time meeting, right?”
“Ah... I'm sorry. I was getting way ahead of myself, wasn't I?”
I could understand where she was coming from. In our first encounter, my attitude had been remarkably brazen and open. Translating that into the framework of my past life, she might very well view me as the male equivalent of an easy, wanton slut. In other words, there was a high probability she took me lightly—or perhaps regarded me as a gigolo living off wealthy older women. Whichever it was, the label of a 'promiscuous man' hung over me.
Of course, that might not be the case at all, so I refrained from jumping to conclusions.
What should I do?
Doctor Jo Ihyeon stirred something in my emotions. If possible, I wanted to cultivate a good relationship with her. That made understanding her true feelings all the more crucial. If there was a misunderstanding, I would clear it up, and depending on her stance, I could adjust how I treated her going forward.
“Still, since it’s already come up, why don’t we talk about it?”
“Huh?”
“In situations like this, wouldn’t people usually chat to get to know each other better first?”
“I suppose so....”
“Which means you're so bothered by it that you’re willing to skip that entire step.”
Ihyeon-noona cast her eyes down and bit her lip—a textbook reaction seen whenever someone feels nervous or under emotional pressure.
“I’d prefer it if you spoke comfortably... and honestly.”
“Okay.”
“In return, I’ll tell you everything honestly, too. How does that sound?”
Leaning forward slightly, I continued speaking in a calm, soothing cadence, softening the tension in the air.
“Haaah... I'm sorry. I'm the older one here, but I acted like a total fool.”
“It’s alright.”
“The truth is... I got here really early today. I watched you step out of that car.”
“I see.”
“And all of a sudden, I felt this rush of jealousy. Even though you and I aren’t anything yet... ridiculous, isn’t it?”
It made sense. It was precisely because she was hoping for something between us that such an emotion had flared up.
“Jeongseo. Right now I'm a fellow, and as you know, there’s barely any demand for female doctors in andrology.”
“Yes.”
In truth, I had no clue.
“Still, if I achieve tangible results in this current research, I can secure a permanent research position. Once that happens....”
It was just like last time. The moment her field of study entered the conversation, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Ihyeon-noona suddenly launched into an earnest monologue about her future, laying out her career vision and financial prospects. If I let her talk for another minute, she seemed poised to declare her parents' professions and disclose her entire net worth.
Knock, knock.
Right on cue, a server entered and began setting the table, gracefully interrupting the conversation.
“Whoa. There’s so much food.”
“Eat as much as you like. If it’s not enough, just let me know.”
There was no universe in which this wasn't enough. The wide table was laden with mouthwatering dishes.
“Thank you for the meal. Enjoy your food too, noona.”
Unless we pressed the call bell, the staff wouldn't be returning.
Holding her chopsticks, Ihyeon-noona spoke up again, clearly eager to finish what she had started.
“I digressed a bit earlier, but my point is that my financial situation is more than comfortable.”
The conclusion seemed a little skewed.
“So, to put it simply... you’re asking, 'How much do you want?' Is that what this is?”
“No! That’s not necessarily what I meant—”
I knitted my brows and set my chopsticks down on the table with a crisp clatter.
“That is what you meant. Why? Are you offering to be my sponsor?”
“No, no! Jeongseo, don’t be angry. I really didn’t mean it like that!”
I wasn't actually angry; I was merely pretending to be. While bringing up a sugar-mommy sponsorship felt a bit abrupt, I had deliberately pushed the conversation to an extreme.
“Then why bring up money all of a sudden?”
“I just thought... if the reason you’re seeing that middle-aged woman is because of money... I could provide for you instead.”
When a man has multiple wives or dates multiple women in this society, there are times when he is viewed with contempt—specifically, when he enters those relationships for the women's money. Some condemn it as an unhealthy, degenerate arrangement, while others seethe with envy; there are also those who shrug and ask what business it is of anyone else.
Yet the reason people revile such men here is slightly different from my previous world. It isn't because it's deemed dirty, or because he is trifling with someone's heart and inflicting emotional trauma. The true reason women despise men like that is that a man's sexual stamina and vitality are finite. They pour their wealth and effort into him, only to find the physical payoff falling far short of expectations. Crafty men allegedly dangle the promise of intimacy while leeching cash, fiercely guarding their bodies while only caring about material gain.
Thus, whatever the exact setup, the underlying reason women curse men involved with multiple partners boils down to the same grievance: they detest having to share a man's limited stamina.
This was knowledge I had pieced together from internet discussions, and everyone held varying opinions on the matter. But regardless of what others thought, I had zero intention of engaging in that kind of transactional relationship—one built purely on the exchange of money. Suspecting Ihyeon-noona's mention of finances stemmed from that exact assumption, I put on an angry front.
“What? Isn't that literally what being a sponsor means?”
“No! That’s not... Look, money is important! In the end, wealth is part of a person's charm too. Ah... no, that’s not what I meant to say either!”
Ihyeon-noona stammered, completely failing to articulate herself. Perhaps my show of anger had rattled her too much. Lowering my voice, which had risen a fraction, I decided to help her organize her thoughts.
“‘I’ll pay you, so date me.’ Is that what you’re trying to say?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
“Alright. Then is it, ‘I’ll give you money, so stop seeing that older woman and be with me instead’?”
“No... that’s not it either. I’m just terrible at explaining things, so I think there’s a misunderstanding....”
She was still fidgeting anxiously, visibly distressed.
“Do I look like the kind of man who goes around seeing woman after woman just to wring money out of them?”
“Really, no! I’ve never thought of you that way, not once!”
“Then explain it to me, noona. What is it that you actually want to say?”
Having drawn the line there, I waited in silence. Ihyeon-noona took a sip of water, composed her thoughts for a moment, and began her explanation.
For a woman to sponsor a man, she needs considerable wealth. Sponsoring takes quite a few forms, and even in such arrangements, men pick and choose based on the woman's looks or financial standing. To put it bluntly, not just anyone can be a sponsor.
“I... I thought I could be with you, too.”
Initially, it had seemed like she was bragging about her resources to persuade me to accept a sponsorship.
“I told you I was jealous of that woman, right? That was... well, it was because I envied her. I was just so envious.”
“Yes. And?”
“So I asked myself what I could possibly offer you, Jeongseo.”
Ihyeon-noona’s self-lamentation poured forth.
“Ever since I was little, I studied like crazy.”
“Yes.”
“The adults always said that once I got into a prestigious university, I’d be able to date. They said how hard I worked now would determine the face of my future husband.”
Ihyeon-noona had genuinely believed those words. Beyond the medical aspirations she had shared back at the clinic, there had been another deeply human motivation driving her.
“So I made it into medical school, but nothing changed. If anything, it felt like my study hours only multiplied.”
She had made plenty of great female friends, but zero connections with men. From then on, she had lived in a whirlwind of non-stop grinding all the way until passing her board certification exam. Listening to her story, she struck me as an earnest, driven woman with a strong desire for achievement. Even when placed in identical environments, people act differently; she had simply devoted herself entirely to her responsibilities.
“It feels like all those years flew by in the blink of an eye. I’m older now, my looks aren't anything special... The only decent things about me are my career, or maybe my money. But think of all the amazing women you must have around you.”
“That’s really not true, though.”
“Even if it isn’t right now, there will be so many around you in the future. That’s why I panicked.”
“Hmm... I still don’t quite understand.”
At my words, Ihyeon-noona squeezed her eyes shut. Then, clenching her fists as though reaching a firm resolve, she opened them again. Her gaze locked straight onto mine, burning with raw intensity.
“It has to be you. I can’t be with anyone else. So please... please don’t misunderstand me.”
Out of nowhere, Ihyeon-noona blurted out a confession.
And her face was brimming with sheer desperation.