Chapter 42
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Haeundae Rendezvous
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The day of the trip with Hye-ri had arrived. Hyun-min's heart pounded uncontrollably, as if he'd gone back to his school days heading out on a field trip. Kim Hye-ri was close to his ideal type, but even he couldn't comprehend why he was so thrilled.
'Is this love...'
"Pfft!"
Just thinking about it made him cringe at himself. With his affluent family background and decent looks, he'd dated plenty of women more easily than most. He wasn't the type to get this excited over a simple one-night, two-day getaway.
'Yeah. Keep my cool. It's beneath my pride to let some twenty-year-old drag me around.'
Until now, he'd played it low-key with Hye-ri, but he couldn't keep letting her lead. Vowing to seize the reins of their relationship during this Busan trip, Hyun-min set off for his destination. Like the cloudless blue sky, the trip felt brimming with good energy.
"Here! Right here~"
Hye-ri waved enthusiastically at the sight of Hyun-min's car, practically glowing with excitement. She wore short hot pants, wedge heels, and an off-shoulder blouse that bared her shoulders—not overly revealing, yet those smooth lines drew glances from every guy nearby.
'Nailed the vacation vibe.'
She'd been the one begging to hit the beach, and her outfit was perfectly beach-ready.
"I left with plenty of time, but you beat me here?"
"Hehe... I got here early and checked out Haeundae beach first. The weather's perfect today, Assistant Manager Choi."
"Glad it's nice out. Wanna drop our bags at the hotel first?"
"Yes! Sounds great."
She'd known the spot from Hyun-min, but the hotel blew away her expectations—it was far more luxurious. Supposedly the best in Haeundae, and it certainly lived up to the hype.
"Wow, this place is incredible."
"Right? The ocean view here's a masterpiece. Ocean-view rooms are tough to snag."
After check-in, they stepped into the room, where a massive floor-to-ceiling window unveiled a breathtaking ocean vista, like the sea had been transplanted indoors. No wonder he'd bragged so much—the view was otherworldly.
"Wow..."
Hye-ri stared at the scenery in a daze for a good while. She fell head over heels for the suite at first sight.
"Assistant Manager Choi, isn't this super expensive? I'm sorry if you went overboard..."
Maybe because it exceeded her wildest dreams, Hye-ri apologized with a guilty look.
"This is nothing for me, don't sweat it. Haha."
It was a hefty splurge for him too, but her delighted expression made it worth every penny. Nothing won a woman's heart like a hotel with atmosphere, he thought.
"Alright, we're in Haeundae—time to hit the beach for real?"
Buoyed by her reaction, Hyun-min confidently draped an arm over her shoulder. The off-shoulder blouse let him feel her soft, toned skin directly against his palm. She flinched a little but didn't pull away.
"Sounds good. Let's go!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
-Splash-
Waves crashed against the sand, endlessly churning out sparkling ripples. Peak season hadn't hit yet, so no one was swimming, but plenty of couples strolled the beach, snapping photos with the sea as their backdrop.
"What do you think? You wanted this."
Hyun-min and Hye-ri walked side by side along the shore, just like the other pairs.
"Feels like my heart's wide open. It's amazing, hehe."
Hye-ri bounced around like a kid, unable to hide her glee.
"What're you doing? Assistant Manager Choi, let's take some pics!"
"Haha, why not?"
Hye-ri pulled out her phone for a selfie. They pressed close with the ocean behind them. Seizing the moment, Hyun-min took her hand naturally.
"Ah..."
-Click, click-
Maybe shy about the touch, her cheeks pinked up, but she didn't shake him off and snapped the shots. Two smiles against the sea, captured like any happy couple.
'Heh, travel spots really loosen people up.'
With no resistance, his hand slid to her waist. He could feel her slender curve right through the blouse.
'Kuh... waist is insanely narrow.'
"Aing... so embarrassing... Assistant Manager Choooi..."
"Why? Don't like it?"
"Not that... um, Assistant Manager, I gotta hit the bathroom quick."
"Huh? Yeah... go ahead."
"Tch..."
'Damn, mood was perfect.'
He'd planned to push straight to a kiss, but now he smacked his lips in frustration.
'Not gonna make it easy, huh?'
With his colorful dating history, Hyun-min knew this was classic push-pull. She was into him but playing coy to avoid seeming too easy—a textbook move. Not one he'd fall for blindly.
'Pfft, she begged to go on this trip first, and now the tease.'
Still, he didn't mind her fox-like game. Girls who dangled the bait like her delivered that sweet rush of conquest when you finally reeled them in—way better than straightforward types.
'And we've got time.'
They were stuck together till tomorrow; better opportunities would come. No need to rush—play it steady.
Watching her back, Hyun-min grinned slyly.
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"What? You said you hated it, but you two looked like the cutest couple from here."
"Nooo... don't say that, Deputy Manager Yi. You'll hurt my feelings."
"What, so it was all an act? Hye-ri, ditch your career path—you could be an actress. Kim Hye-ri."
"Pee... you made me do it, now you're teasing."
Yi Hyunwoo—who'd driven Hye-ri to Busan himself—watched Choi Hyun-min and Kim Hye-ri from afar, tailing them. The whole Busan trip had been his idea from the start. Otherwise, Hye-ri, who had zero interest in Choi, never would've suggested it.
"Gotta stick it to that guy anyway. Assistant Choi's the jerk who messed with you."
"Obviously! Deputy Manager Yi. Can't wait to see his face when we bail on him at the last second, per plan. Hehe."
Even if Hyunwoo had planted the seed, Hye-ri clearly enjoyed toying with a guy who liked her. Not exactly stellar personality vibes.
'Knew she was sly under that innocent look, but damn, her personality's wild. Or is it the work system amping up her [Favorability]?'
Either way, it didn't matter now—whether her nature or the system's doing. Hyunwoo just planned to savor the fun.
"Speaking of, anything happen when you two were alone at the hotel?"
"Yeah, he kept grazing me, like he knows I like him. Ugh... annoying."
"Light touches are fine—play along. Stonewall him and his ego might bail entirely."
"Got it... so I held back? Did I do good?"
"Yeah, perfect."
"Then... praise me, Deputy Manager Yi~."
Hye-ri gazed up expectantly. She'd gone extra on makeup and hair for the beach trip. Her flawless, clear skin needed no heavy layers, but the red blush on her cheeks amped up the cuteness.
"Praise for what?"
"Hiiing..."
Her lips puffed out in a pout at his teasing dodge.
Hyunwoo's eyes caught Choi Hyun-min staring blankly at the sea, waiting for Hye-ri. Bold as brass, he yanked her into his arms.
"Kyak!"
The beach sun glinted off her pink-tinted lips. Hyunwoo crushed his mouth over her cherry-sweet ones.
-Mmm, smack, smack-
Tint or apricot flavor tingled sweetly. After savoring her soft lips, he slipped his tongue between them.
"Eup!"
In the crowded beach, she'd never expected such a sloppy deep kiss. She tensed in shock, lips clamping, but his relentless probing melted her resistance. His tongue roamed her mouth like a fish in water.
-Slurp... slurrrp... slurp-
No mere peck—this was tongues twisting with lewd, wet sounds loud enough to hear. The deep kiss dragged on.
'Too... intense...'
Hye-ri wasn't a total novice; she'd shared light kisses before. But nothing like this slimy, serpentine tangle. Was that why? Euphoria floated her whole body, intoxicating.
"Fuck, motel already. Why street-side?"
"Damn, that girl's face? Jealous as hell."
"Oppa! What're you staring at?"
-Murmurs-
Their steamy lock drew stares naturally—her looks helped. Hyunwoo ignored them, ravaging her tongue mercilessly.
One arm locked her slim waist, no escape. Helpless, she endured. At last, their tongues parted.
-Tsk-
Sticky saliva stretched and snapped in the air.
"Haa... haa..."
Post-kiss haze lingered; Hye-ri stared at him dreamily, mind adrift. Her face burned crimson, even her neck flushed in spots. The pink tint, so carefully applied, smeared wildly from the sucking and biting.
"That praise enough?"
"..."
Shy, she ducked her head, avoiding his eyes. Pure twenty-year-old college girl mode.
"Choi Hyun-min's waiting. Head back."
"Yess..."
"Stay sharp later."
Hye-ri shook off the kiss's afterglow and returned to Choi Hyun-min.
"Assistant Manager Choi, sorry for the wait."
"Huh? Nah. Time flies with the sea view."
He played it cool, but he'd agonized over calling her a dozen times while she was "in the bathroom."
'What the hell took so long?'
Couldn't snap at her for a long bathroom break. He forced a neutral face. Then—
"Hye-ri, why's your lipstick all smudged?"
The tint was wrecked compared to before, grabbing his eye.
'Looks sucked raw.'
Dead on, but—
"Water splashed everywhere washing my hands. Smeared it all. Hing... does my face look weird?"
"Huh? No, haha. Still gorgeous—don't worry."
A little smeared lipstick couldn't dim her beauty. Shoving stray thoughts aside, he grabbed her hand smoothly, interlocking fingers tight—like he'd never let go.
"Ahem... wanna head that way?"
A bit embarrassed, he cleared his throat.
"Yess. I wanna see the sea up close."
They wandered Haeundae beach awhile longer, the picture of a sweet couple.
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"Meal hit the spot?"
Dusk had fallen, darkness settling over the beach. Choi Hyun-min had reserved a solid Japanese spot—no wait, straight to seats.
"Yesss, insanely good. Hehehe."
Omakase sushi at 100,000 won a pop? Bound to be perfection. Luxury hotel plus high-end sushi—his spending screamed determination to seal the deal.
He'd ordered sake too, offering it casually.
"Can't have this food without top-shelf booze."
"Um... I'm a lightweight."
She eyed the glass warily.
"Nah, low proof. Just one shot."
Reluctantly, she sipped.
"Wow... best booze ever."
"Haha, told ya. I have it sometimes—clean finish, great taste."
First one's the hurdle; soon they polished off a bottle, passing it back and forth. Waves whispered in their ears as the vacation mood thickened sweetly.
"Well... getting late. Back to the hotel?"
"Ah... y-yeah..."
Her face flushed—knowing what he meant?—she bowed her head shyly.
And at last, the moment Hyun-min had craved arrived.