Hwang Juyeon turned out to be an even better woman than I had imagined.
Of course, she was attractive at first glance—but she was the kind of woman whose true charm revealed itself once a layer was peeled away. Assistant Manager Hwang Juyeon was exactly that kind of woman.
…To put it simply, I had my eyes opened to the appeal of a generous chest. My ex-girlfriend's hadn't been that big. My first encounter with this unknown world was shocking, even to me.
Because of that, I ended up pushing Juyeon far too hard. So much so that I wouldn't have had the right to complain even if she'd sworn never to do it with me again.
What started after dinner finally came to a pause well past midnight.
I gently brushed aside Hwang Juyeon's damp bangs and apologized.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
Her makeup had been completely washed away, but her flushed bare face looked even more seductive than when she was made up.
"I should've been more considerate. I never thought it would be your first time."
It wasn't polite to her, but I couldn't completely hide the habits I'd developed with my ex.
Juyeon playfully pouted her lips. Perhaps because we'd already shared physical intimacy, her cute, spoiled manner came out naturally.
"You sure know how to say that. I seriously thought I was going to die."
"…I'm sorry."
I had started dating my ex, Park Sojeong, back when my blood was still boiling with youth.
Having been together for a long time, we were used to each other's bodies, constantly exploring further in search of stronger stimulation.
And then I used those hard-earned skills—refined with another woman—on someone experiencing it for the first time.
No wonder Juyeon had been completely overwhelmed.
Her first experience probably should've been something more romantic than a relationship driven by raw desire.
It had been a long time for me too, so I was more excited than usual. I hadn't even realized it was her first time until we were already in the middle of it, so I failed to control myself properly.
Pathetic.
"Manager… I'm going to get some sleep now…"
Completely exhausted, Juyeon tightly held my hand and closed her eyes.
Unlike me, now unemployed, she still had to go to work early in the morning. I couldn't keep her awake any longer.
"Yeah. Get some rest."
I covered her with the blanket, unable to hide my lingering regret.
"Manager… please hold me until I fall asleep…"
I carefully wrapped my arms around her fragile-looking body.
It was a warm night—one I hadn't felt in a long time.
Morning came, and walking out of a hotel with someone other than Park Sojeong felt strangely unreal.
I knew it wasn't right to think about my ex while being with another woman, but I couldn't help it.
After dating for eight years, forgetting her overnight was impossible.
"Ow… ow…"
Juyeon kept letting out small groans as we checked out, clearly uncomfortable.
"Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not!"
She shot me a sharp look, as if she wanted to complain at least once.
As the person responsible for making her body uncomfortable, I had nothing to say.
The front desk clerk was doing their best to pretend not to notice us. Sorry for making things awkward so early in the morning.
"By the way, Manager."
"Yeah?"
"You're not a manager anymore. Doesn't it feel strange to keep calling you that?"
"Does it?"
"And you calling me 'Assistant Manager' is strange too."
She had a point.
But we'd spent two years addressing each other like that. Changing habits overnight wasn't easy.
"Then… Ms. Hwang Juyeon?"
"Oh, come on. You can speak casually to me."
"I'll get used to that slowly."
Apparently satisfied with that, Juyeon smiled shyly.
"Then can I call you 'oppa'?"
"…Ugh."
Aside from my ex, Park Sojeong, there weren't many people who called me that.
To be honest, it felt a little uncomfortable. Maybe because things ended so badly with Sojeong, even the word oppa left a bad taste in my mouth.
"That's a bit embarrassing."
"Really? Suhyeok oppa."
…Hearing it like that didn't sound so bad.
"Well, call me whatever you're comfortable with."
"Yes, Suhyeok oppa!"
Juyeon happily linked arms with me.
Her soft body pressed against my arm again.
Last night, I'd done whatever I wanted with this body. The sensation came vividly back to me.
"But are you really okay skipping breakfast?"
"Yes. Breakfast is fine. The problem is somewhere else."
As she said that, Juyeon twisted her legs slightly.
The way she pressed down her skirt, as if her lower body was uncomfortable, was practically begging for misunderstandings.
Not that it was a misunderstanding.
"Ahem."
Was Juyeon always this kind of person?
Showing things like that so casually, even with people watching.
A middle-aged man getting coffee nearby glared at me like I was his mortal enemy.
Sorry. Didn't mean to be all lovey-dovey this early in the morning.
"Skipping breakfast is fine, but I couldn't change clothes, so that's a bit awkward."
"Ah."
Yesterday, Juyeon had come straight to meet me after work.
We had dinner, then stayed the night at the hotel, leaving her no chance to change clothes. She had to go to work today wearing the same outfit as yesterday.
It might not matter much for a man, but it clearly bothered her.
Another thing I hadn't been considerate about.
"Actually, I told Assistant Yoo that I was meeting you."
"Assistant Yoo Eunha?"
Unlike Juyeon, who was friendly and easygoing, Assistant Yoo was known for being strict.
If there was a problem at work, she wouldn't hesitate to criticize even someone higher-ranked than herself.
Because of that, she was feared among junior employees.
"If I show up to work wearing the same clothes as yesterday, she might realize I spent the night with you. Hehe."
"I-Is that so…?"
I'd already quit the company, so I might never see them again—but it was still embarrassing.
No matter what, having my private life exposed like that felt uncomfortable.
"Try to pretend it's not like that."
"Hehe. I'll think about it."
We left the hotel and hailed a taxi.
Right before getting in, Juyeon suddenly kissed me.
"Suhyeok oppa. I'll head to work now."
She climbed into the taxi shyly, like a couple who'd just started dating.
"Good luck today."
I waved her off, trying to look calm.
"If you miss me, contact me."
"I will."
She went off to work, and I headed home.
I felt like I'd somehow become a kept man.
And not going to work on a weekday felt incredibly strange.
"Suhyeok."
"Yes, Mom. What's going on?"
After getting home, I received a call from my mother.
"What do you mean, 'what's going on'? Can't I call my own son without a reason?"
"Who said that?"
"Honestly, you're so cold. I wonder whose son you are."
I wished she'd understand how a sudden call from a parent made a son worry something bad had happened.
After sighing deeply, my mother finally told me why she called.
"We've decided to sell the land your father bought at the family grave site."
"The land? The one Dad bought with his retirement pay?"
"Yes. That troublesome piece of land."
The land near our ancestral grave site was something my father had bought in his hometown using his retirement money.
It was large, but useless—non-developable land where no house could be built.
He'd spent his entire retirement payout on it, paying more than market price.
It was his life's earnings, so if he was satisfied, that was fine—but I couldn't help thinking it would've been better if he'd traveled with Mom instead.
After all, he passed away early, clinging only to that land.
"I thought you said you'd never sell it. What changed?"
"What do you think changed? I heard you got fired!"
"Ah."
I'd told her the day I quit, letting her know I might not be able to send allowance money for a while.
It must've been weighing on her.
"They say even after taxes, we'll get about 200 million won if we sell now."
"What? That much? The price jumped a lot."
My eyes widened.
When my father passed away, the land had been considered worthless despite its size.
"Apparently, someone's convinced the area will be redeveloped. No matter how many times I said no, they kept insisting. Eventually they even said they'd pay several times more if needed. Your father really did have a good eye."
Unbelievable.
Something like this happening to our family.
"So don't worry about money! If there's something you want to do, just tell me. I'll help you."
For some reason, my chest tightened.
"It's fine. I've got plenty of places calling me. You don't have to worry. I just wanted to rest a bit after quitting."
"That's good, then. Anyway, don't let this get you down. You're my son, after all. I'll hang up now."
"Yes, Mom. Take care."
After the call ended, I let out a long breath.
Honestly, I felt relieved.
My father's retirement money had all gone into that land, and my mother's savings were nearly gone after hospital bills.
Most of her living expenses were covered by the money I sent her.
With me unemployed, saying I wasn't worried financially would've been a lie.
Despite earning more than most people my age, I was always tight on money.
High rent, living expenses, dating costs, savings for marriage.
Compared to all that, sending money to my mother was barely a burden.
"Ah… so I don't need to worry about marriage funds anymore. Or dating expenses."
Breaking up with Sojeong actually brought a sense of relief.
Honestly, the fact that Park Sojeong—who grew up in a privileged family—had dated me for so long was a miracle in itself.
Coming from an ordinary background and barely making it on my own, I had constantly pushed myself to meet her high standards.
Clothes she wouldn't be ashamed of.
Dates she wouldn't be embarrassed by.
Restaurants that suited her refined tastes.
Even if it was a life beyond my means, I thought it was fine.
I never once thought it was wrong.
Because I loved her.
Now that we'd broken up, it felt like my eyes had been opened.
I could see just how foolishly I'd been living.
From the beginning, we hadn't been a good match.
Maybe meeting another man instead of me had always been the right choice for her.
"…Huh? Come to think of it."
That lottery shop granny had said something like that.
That it was a good thing I got dumped, that my luck with women would open up.
And sure enough, the moment I broke up with Sojeong, my luck with women did open up.
I spent the night with Juyeon.
She, too, was someone far out of my league—just like Park Sojeong.
What happened yesterday was definitely a stroke of luck for me.
And she'd also said my money luck was tied to my luck with women.
The more my luck with women improved, the more my financial luck would follow.
So I shouldn't block the women who came my way.
Thinking about it, the call from my mother earlier could be considered a kind of financial luck too.
It was money I never expected.
Even if it was technically my mother's.
To me, it felt the same.
Then… could it really be because of what happened with Juyeon last night?
Because my luck with women opened up, my money luck followed?
"…Is this… something I can actually believe?"
The old woman's fortune was eerily accurate.
My luck with women opened up—and money followed.
And there was one more important thing.
I hurriedly pulled a small piece of paper from my wallet.
The lottery ticket I'd bought from that old woman yesterday.
If my luck with women opened up even more, then my money luck might too.
Then maybe… just maybe… this lottery ticket would win?
Still, I couldn't bring myself to expect that I'd get the same kind of luck with women again.
What happened with Juyeon already felt like a miracle.
Bzzzt.
Lost in thought, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
It was a message.
[Looks like you had a very enjoyable night, Manager Kang Suhyeok.]
Even through text alone, I could feel the coldness.
The sender was someone from the Strategic Planning Team, who worked with Juyeon.
Assistant Yoo Eunha—the very person Juyeon had mentioned earlier that morning.
[Assistant Hwang has been bragging quite a bit.]
[Meanwhile, I've been having a very hard time because you suddenly quit.]
…Juyeon.
We agreed to keep last night a secret.
Why would you brag about it?
And of all people, to that terrifying Assistant Yoo?