Chapter 89: Setting the Stage for Sex Even in a Losing Situation Is the Mark of a Pro.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: Setting the Stage for Sex Even in a Losing Situation Is the Mark of a Pro.
'Just how dark of a hickey did she leave?'
Hickeys were hard enough to get rid of as it was, but I didn't realize it would be so prominent that others would notice it immediately.
Melanie, Kang Tae-min, and even Kim Min-su hadn't said a word about this mark.
Even the reporters hadn't noticed a thing, so where the hell did this bolt from the blue come from?
'Those three were more focused on the Gate, and the reporters...'
Was it because I said I wouldn't take personal questions?
I'm so touched that they protected my privacy to that extent that I could almost cry.
"Tae-yang, I can hear your gears turning from here. You could just tell me the truth, so why are you looking for excuses? I told you, I'm really not mad and it's fine. Do I have to say it again?"
Usually, when faced with a situation like this back on Earth, I would handle it with extreme brazenness.
I’d start with "Why are you even curious about that?" and wrap it up with lines like "I'd appreciate it if you didn't worry about such trivial things."
When I handled it like that, most women would end up apologizing first, saying they were sorry for misunderstanding.
'Back then, a few words were all it took to end it.'
But the situation was very different now.
The biggest difference was that I had to take Yu-min with me all the way to the ending of this novel.
No matter what happened, I had to prevent our relationship from becoming strained.
"Tae-yang, why are you hesitating so much? Is it really a hickey, and that's why you can't speak?"
"Hey, how could this be a hickey?"
After a long silence, I finally found the answer.
'A real hickey?'
Yu-min wasn't entirely certain that it was a hickey yet.
'Or maybe she knows it's a hickey but doesn't want to believe it.'
Whether she was turning a blind eye to the truth or doubting my intentions, the "final stamp" hadn't been pressed on the situation yet.
If that was the case, I could create as many loopholes as I needed.
"It's not a hickey? Then why didn't you answer me properly earlier and only say so now?"
"I didn't have a chance to speak. And... Yu-min, you're using your skill right now."
"Huh? Oh... oops... sorry. I didn't realize."
Yu-min's burning hair settled down again.
'First, I've calmed her down.'
The reason I hadn't answered properly until now was that she had been too angry.
As long as rage had invaded her body, no matter what I said, the result would inevitably lead to me having to say "I'm sorry."
But what if I waited for the other person to calm down a bit before attempting a conversation?
'Then I have a fighting chance, just like now.'
What I learned from bickering with countless women is that when a woman is reacting emotionally, staying quiet is the best move.
How can you persuade a woman burning with emotion by trying to approach her rationally?
The right approach was to accept all of Yu-min's anger first and then attempt a conversation once the fire had cooled a bit.
That was exactly why I had been saving my words until now.
"I've never seen anything like this before, so it took me a long time to figure out what it was."
"You've never seen it before either?"
"If I had seen it, would I have called you because I wanted to see you today? I was so flustered that the words just wouldn't come out."
It might be inconsistent.
What I said just a moment ago and what I was saying now might contradict each other.
But in this situation, that wasn't what mattered.
'I just need to emphasize that I didn't know it was a hickey and that I called her because I missed her.'
In a relationship, apologizing immediately or taking a submissive stance during a fight is an amateur move.
The moment you admit fault and apologize, a power dynamic is formed, and you lose the initiative.
The final line must always end with "I missed you" or "I love you" to maintain a firm grip on the flow of the romance.
"Is... is that true?"
Yu-min hadn't let go of her thread of suspicion yet.
Well, it was suspicious that I had been silent just minutes ago and was now suddenly speaking so fluently.
However, whether the mark on my neck was a hickey or not didn't matter anymore.
"Of course. I contacted you because I missed you. Imagine how shocked I was to suddenly hear about a hickey. Your hair was even flaming up and everything."
In contrast to Yu-min's dazed expression, I wore a playful smile.
I shouldn't respond seriously; I had to give off the vibe of: "I'm dying to see you, so why are you stalling?"
"No... I mean..."
As the atmosphere shifted instantly, Yu-min couldn't adapt and tapped the tip of her shoe against the floor.
Perhaps because she had heard me say I missed her repeatedly, she wore a strange expression—unable to stay angry, yet unable to smile.
"Or maybe you saw it that way because you wanted to leave a hickey?"
"...That... is true..."
Smiling broadly, I pulled Yu-min tightly by the waist as she tucked herself into my arms.
"I really missed you so much, Tae-yang, but then I thought you were rolling around with some other bitch, and I got so angry. I'm sorry..."
"It happens. We've cleared it up now, so let's just have a kiss."
Smooch.
Sweet words of longing and affectionate physical touch.
Utilizing these two things perfectly, I held Yu-min close and slowly closed the front door.
'Getting laid is seriously hard work.'
Setting the stage for sex even in an unfavorable situation was the mark of a professional.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Grr...!"
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[Hello. This is a notification from GreenHat regarding the account suspension of Indomitable Hero Kim Min-su.]
Hello, Indomitable Hero Kim Min-su.
We are informing you that your account nickname 'Indomitable Hero Kim Min-su' has been permanently suspended because the number of recent malicious comment reports has exceeded a certain threshold.
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"Why am I banned?!"
Slam!
Min-su vented his anger by slamming his fist down on his innocent keyboard.
Why on earth did they suppress an individual's freedom of speech even when he was telling the truth?
"I mean, every time that Baek Tae-yang guy does anything, there's an article! I went into the Gate too! Why do they only hype up one person?! A world that only remembers the winner is seriously disgusting..."
He felt a great sense of injustice.
The one who had barged into the dungeon the Author of the Pure Love Diary had created specifically for him was that guy.
And if he was going to come in, he should have just quietly helped clear it and then left, but instead, he hogged every single reward for himself.
He wanted to tell everyone in the world about Baek Tae-yang's wicked side.
'But a lawsuit is a bit scary...'
The number of places backing Baek Tae-yang was steadily increasing.
Starting with Choi Young-nam from Bogeumjari, then the Hunter world's MC Lee Min-jun, and even the public-opinion-manipulating Opener Kang Tae-min.
Every single one of them was a big shot that couldn't be taken lightly.
Not only that, but Kaivan, the company he was originally supposed to model for, was also focusing on Baek Tae-yang.
"What's so great about that guy anyway..."
Min-su scoured the internet and zoomed in on the worst-looking photo of Baek Tae-yang he could find.
Then, he took out a hand mirror and began to compare his own face to the screen, making what he considered an objective evaluation.
"He doesn't really look that different from me..."
Honestly, I'm probably above average in looks too, so why is everyone sucking up to him?
"Is it because he talks cool...?"
Min-su played a video of a Baek Tae-yang interview and mimicked his way of speaking.
"...Because I proved it..."
He tried to make his voice as low and resonant as possible, but doing it like that guy wasn't easy.
Still, if he looked at it closely from various angles, there were aspects where his own voice was better.
There was no way everyone liked a voice that was so heavy and echoed like a cave.
"I was planning on moving too..."
Why aren't there even any articles about me?
It was so strange.
'Is it because my image as a Hero makes it too burdensome for people to approach me?'
There hadn't been a single article about the sweet cohabitation house he had been looking into since the first day he started dating Yu-min.
Thinking that maybe people just didn't know, he had even gone out of his way to visit a real estate office near the broadcasting station.
But he couldn't find a single reporter rushing at him with a camera.
He was currently at such a rock bottom that he couldn't even guess where things had gone wrong.
He needed a new change.
"My Main Skill has been strengthened... and if I use Don Quixote's Falsehood properly, it'll be amazing... No, seriously, if I just had a chance... not a lucky break like Baek Tae-yang, but a real chance..."
The memory of how he had actually found out about the Classic Masterpiece [Chunhyangjeon] Gate had long since vanished from Min-su's brain.
All that remained in Min-su's head now were the gains and attention Baek Tae-yang had received, and things concerning Melanie.
"Why isn't she replying all of a sudden?"
(Melanie)
Whatcha doin? lol
< Who is this?
It's me, Min-su lol just lol checking in to see what's up lolz
< Mr. Min-su, I don't think we're in a position to be sending these kinds of messages anymore, are we?
Still, we've spent time together and all, so I didn't think it was right to just cut contact suddenly. As you know, connections are important lol. I'm a year older than you, so this might be overstepping, but if I were to give you some advice...
I was even offered a modeling job, and though the weapon went to Baek Tae-yang in the end, I feel like it was made with me in mind to some extent, so that's why I'm contacting you [1]
You know that I have more potential than Baek Tae-yang, right? [1]
He was sure she had replied well up until about the second message.
After that, the [1] indicating the message was unread refused to disappear.
'Is she busy?'
Min-su couldn't even begin to guess the reason.