Chapter 20

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Sex First, Dating Later

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In Seo Jin-ah's case, the thrill came from amplifying her love for her husband Lee Byung-joo and her lust for me, creating that delicious conflict and sense of betrayal. So, didn't Eun Seol need some unconventional approach too?

"Hmm, tough call."

"What are you thinking about so deeply?"

Eun Seol was shooting me a glare, annoyed that I was lost in thought right in front of her.

'Hmph, I can tell at a glance he has zero interest in me. Just a plain-looking guy—what does he have going for him?'

Not handsome, just average. Don't get it twisted. Eun Seol couldn't understand why she kept gravitating toward Yi Hyunwoo, who clearly showed no interest in her.

"I invited you here, so I'll cover it. Coffee's on me, right?"

"Eh, not really in the mood for coffee."

"Come on, if we're going, let's go already."

His total lack of awareness and lukewarm response irritated Eun Seol to no end—could she even take the lead with a guy like this? In the end, dragged along by her nagging, I ended up at the coffee shop. Standing there blankly at the counter, she finally ordered two drinks out of frustration.

'Kukukuku, this is fun—even something like this.'

Deputy Manager Eun Seol, who always treated me to meals and coffee. She hated awkward silences, so she kept the conversation flowing. Thanks to that, I leisurely sipped my coffee, tossing in a few words here and there.

It was comfortable. Knowing she liked me made it all the easier.

'Women really are the best.'

I'd always been pissed at the privileges women enjoyed, but now, with the work system, I could put them in their place from a position of power. In a pleased mood, I kept stroking the smartphone in my pocket like it was a treasure chest.

"...Are you even listening to me, Deputy Yi?"

"Huh? What'd you say?"

"Sigh... I said we need to define our relationship clearly..."

Her face flushed a bit, uncharacteristically.

"Huh? Our relationship?"

"We've... hung out privately several times, right? Talked a lot... We're not kids in our twenties anymore. No time to waste."

"True. Time is precious."

"Not like that—ugh..."

Was he playing dumb on purpose, or did he have zero emotional intelligence? Eun Seol's patience was wearing thin.

"Fine! I'll date you!!!"

She yelled it out. Staring daggers at this oblivious guy she'd just confessed to first, her pride stung as she huffed.

"Haha... Wait, is this a confession?"

"..."

Never in my life had I heard such a forceful confession. I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. Eun Seol clamped her lips shut like a clam, unwilling to admit she'd confessed first.

"I get how you feel, Deputy Eun, but... I'm not quite there yet."

Part of it was poking at her pride, but honestly, I didn't see the need to date her. With busty married woman Seo Jin-ah available twice a month, and plain Jane Kim Ji-young on call anytime if needed—Charm 5 notwithstanding—why tie myself down? Especially with the work system; no way was I letting Eun Seol get the upper hand.

"What?!?!"

Rejected after confessing first? Her pride shattered, and she stared at me blankly in shock. Minutes of silence passed.

"Why... why? You said you don't have a girlfriend. Or is it that Seo Jin-ah you mentioned before? But she's married, isn't she?!"

Unable to accept the rejection, Eun Seol clung desperately, even dragging up Seo Jin-ah, whom I'd once called attractive.

"Nah, it's not that. You said it yourself—no time to waste. Same here."

"What do you mean?"

"Suppose we date. We sleep together, but the chemistry sucks? Total waste of time."

"Then how do we... date?"

"Sex first, dating later, obviously."

"Sex first, dating later???"

"You don't know? Disappointing. You act all cool and sophisticated. Sex first, and if it clicks, then date. That's how it works these days—no time wasting."

Eun Seol hung her head, speechless, still reeling from the shock. To her, sex was the final bastion. Even with her doctor ex, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Park Jae-hoon, she'd always played hard to get, keeping the guy on a leash. Her killer figure made it possible.

Sleek, toned body from rigorous maintenance, flawless skin. A capable career woman at the office, popular on SNS—her, doing sex before dating? No way. Not that easy, and her pride wouldn't allow it.

"Figured you'd hate it, Deputy Eun. Well, thanks for the coffee."

- Ting-a-ling

With nothing left to say, I got up and left the cafe. Even after I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was gone, Eun Seol sat there for a long while, unable to move.

After dumping Eun Seol and heading back to my place, I fired up the work system to check her status.

"Oh ho, her pride must be wrecked."

Rejected by me, her shock had turned to anger—the psychological messages captured it perfectly. Of course, I could've accepted her confession and dated her. She already liked me, after all.

"But that's too predictable. Boring."

What I wanted wasn't a normal relationship. Girlfriends were just a hassle. With the work system, everything was handled.

How about turning haughty Eun Seol into a fuck buddy I could eat whenever I wanted? Breaking that arrogant attitude sounded fun.

"Kukukuku, can't have her mad for that, though."

With a max of two psychological amplifications/reductions per female employee, I deactivated the "appear attractive to Yi Hyunwoo" aspiration and reduced her anger toward me. Her amplified favor would cover it anyway.

"Good night, Eun Seol."

Done fiddling, I turned off the lights and hit the bed. The day of dating her on my terms faded into night.

A few weeks after rejecting her confession, no contact from Eun Seol. The old me might've freaked out. But now I had the work system.

'Go ahead and ghost me—predictable.'

With her favor toward me amplified, I wasn't worried. Meanwhile, whenever cooldowns reset, I summoned Seo Jin-ah via [Private Meeting] and pounded her senseless in a rundown motel.

Why stick to the rundown motel? Lodging was on her anyway—could've been a five-star hotel. But no fun in that.

Seo Jin-ah hated the lecherous motel's owner's blatant stares. She'd even asked once to change spots. But that only made me insist more. Poor soundproofing, the owner's gaze—all shook her mental.

'Plus, there's the subtle brag to the perv owner.'

I'd pretend to pay slowly or hike up her tight dress while she pulled out cash, humiliating her in front of him. The owner wasn't normal either, blatantly adjusting himself under the counter. Having endured men's creepy stares since childhood, Seo Jin-ah writhed even more.

Whatever—regular poundings in that dump yielded results.

Her favorability hit 9.

"Hmm..."

Problem was, it stalled at 9. Now she begged for it regularly. Practice makes perfect—her oral and paizuri were pro-level, better than any pro.

"Needs some trigger?"

For Seo Jin-ah, it'd tie to her husband Lee Byung-joo. I'd dirtied her body while amplifying her love for him to create hotter scenarios.

"And honestly, banging Kim Ji-young is getting old."

System-boosted [Virility: 7/10] meant twice-monthly with Seo Jin-ah barely scratched the itch. So I'd overused Kim Ji-young, but her plain looks hit a wall.

"Kkaedok"

- Meet on the rooftop during lunch? Quick talk.

"Oh!"

Perfect timing—Eun Seol's message. First since the cafe dump.

"Three weeks? Impressive. Gotta respect that pride."

Seo Jin-ah stalled, Kim Ji-young stale—her text was rain in drought. Lunch couldn't come soon enough.

Unlike my excitement, I ate slowly, chatted with team over tea, then casually hit the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rooftop. Eun Seol was already there on the terrace, waiting.

"Why so late?"

She'd rushed up at lunch start and waited ages.

"Why'd you call?"

"Sigh... You really..."

No consideration whatsoever—Eun Seol sighed deeply. Why was she into this guy? She'd pondered endlessly, but how could she know? Imagine him controlling her emotions via work system.

"Remember what I said at the cafe?"

"Sex first, dating later?"

"S-stop saying that crudely. Anyway, I'll accept your proposal, Deputy Yi. I'm confident."

'Face red as a beet from shame, but pride...'

She knew exactly what she was saying—her face beet red long ago.

"You might not know, but my body's top-tier. Top 10%. No, top 1%. SNS folks agree. Know that?"

"Yeah, yeah. Felt it all at the motel. No need to brag."

"Eek..."

Memories of him groping her flooded back; shame made her tremble.

"Since it's out, head to your place after work today."

Hadn't done Seo Jin-ah in a bit, and boosted [Virility] had my groin itching. Perfect.

"Huh?"

She'd braced inwardly, but not for today—shocked, she blurted.

"What? All confident, but just talk?"

"Hmph! W-what? Of course it's fine. Today."

Poke her pride lightly, and she bit—hooked. But instant regret.

'Calling me home so suddenly... Sigh... Haven't even cleaned.'

Pride wouldn't let her back out, though. Thus, the abrupt "sex first" kicked off.

After work, I headed to her address with glee.