Ch.319319. Why Are the Veterans Like This?

I parked the car in the underground parking lot and took the elevator to the 7th floor instead of the 1st floor. There was no special reason for this. According to Hwa Nabi, this hotel had a unique structure with the front desk on the 7th floor rather than the 1st.

The atmosphere was certainly different from the entrance. Having to check in on the 7th floor made me feel a bit nervous, as it seemed this wasn’t an ordinary hotel.

“Darling, look over there. The lounge has such a unique design. Doesn’t it look like a scene from a movie?”

“Yeah, well…”

I walked down the hallway with Hwa Nabi holding my right hand, practically pulling me along. As she mentioned, looking around, the interior was quite distinctive.

A 90s-style wine rack, bookshelves packed with impressive-looking English titles, unidentifiable ornamental plants, busts of unknown historical figures, and even something resembling a dark red mortar that appeared to be a percussion instrument…

It was truly bizarre how all these mismatched elements somehow came together in a strangely harmonious way. How should I put it? Perhaps it resembled a scene from a movie set in a magical school.

“Oh? Is that where we check in?”

After crossing through the uniquely atmospheric lounge, we saw the front desk with two staff members. Naturally, the staff wore normal attire. I had expected their clothing to be as unusual as the hotel’s interior.

“Welcome. How may I help you?”

“Hello. We have a reservation to check in at nine o’clock under the name Hwa Nabi.”

“One moment please. Let me see, Hwa Nabi… Ah, you’ve reserved the Nurse Room, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…”

Did they just say “Nurse Room”? The room name was so unusual that I thought I had misheard.

But since the staff member repeatedly confirmed it was the Nurse Room, and Hwa Nabi nodded in agreement… it seems our room is indeed called the Nurse Room.

“Here are your keycards. Please keep them safe, as there will be additional charges if they’re lost or damaged.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Since it’s a room for two, they gave us two keycards. But true to the hotel’s unique concept, the keycards weren’t rectangular but shaped like palace keys. One was pink, the other silver.

The colors seemed deliberately divided, as if planned in advance. So we naturally took one each according to our colors.

“Darling, we need to place both keys simultaneously to open the room door.”

“Yeah, I heard that too. It’s on the 12th floor, right?”

“Yes. But are we going straight to the room? Or would you like to spend some time in the lounge first?”

“Let’s go to the room first to drop off our luggage, then decide if we want to come back out.”

“Hmm… okay then.”

Just as we had come to the front desk, I held Hwa Nabi’s hand as we made our way to our 12th floor room. When we placed the key-shaped cards against the door handle, there was a cheerful electronic sound, and the door unlocked.

“So we really do need both keys to open it.”

“Yes, the staff explained that’s how it works, remember?”

“I thought they were just saying that because of the concept.”

The unlocking method isn’t important anyway, so I’ll let it go. I looked around while taking off my coat. The room layout was standard, with a bedroom, living room, bathroom, and mini lounge. I had expected the Nurse Room to be decorated like a hospital, but that wasn’t the case.

We chatted idly as we approached the bedroom. The sheets looked soft and plush. The bed was so spacious that it could easily fit both Hwa Nabi and me with plenty of room to spare.

“Nabi. Do you want to shower first? Or should I go first?”

“My, my. Our darling must be quite eager? Telling me to go shower first.”

“…Come on.”

She playfully patted my waist, knowing full well that wasn’t my intention. Well, given our location, I suppose she was just being playful. I smiled as I unbuttoned the top button of my shirt.

“Enough joking around. Go shower first. I’ll look around the room while you’re in there.”

“Okay, I’ll shower quickly and be right out.”

“Don’t rush, take your time and wash thoroughly. Got it?”

“Huh? Are you imitating me now?”

Her perception is uncanny. I wanted to pretend otherwise, but I couldn’t help smiling, so I just patted her bottom and sent her to the bathroom without saying anything.

She let out a playful shriek and went into the bathroom, and only then did I let out the laugh I’d been holding back.

“Ah, really.”

How can a woman be this cute? Judging by her behavior alone, you’d never guess she’s the mother of a four-year-old. If she told people outside that she has two children, would anyone believe it? Even our employees didn’t seem to believe it.

Well, she’s only in her early twenties. Isn’t that an age when one should be cute? She naturally has an affectionate personality too. In a few more years, when she gains some more experience, she’ll be quite the heartbreaker.

“Hmm, that wouldn’t be good.”

Maybe I should leave some mark somewhere visible to show that this woman is mine, so others won’t set their eyes on her.

With such foolish thoughts, I walked to one side of the living room where there was a mini lounge bar equipped with wine, champagne, and wine glasses.

Looking more closely, they had quite reputable brands. These bottles cost at least 100,000 won each, and it seemed the system was to take what you want and pay for everything at checkout.

“Hmm.”

I’d already had plenty to drink at the company dinner, but since we’re at a hotel together… it would be nice to enjoy some wine too. What would be good? Since I probably can’t drink much, something sweet that Hwa Nabi would like would be better.

I placed two wine glasses and a bottle of wine on the table where we could sit facing each other. Just as I was about to order some light snacks through room service, coincidentally, I heard the bathroom door open, and Hwa Nabi came out wearing a shower robe.

“Oh? Are you going to drink wine?”

“Yeah, they had that sweet one you like. Is that okay?”

“I’m fine with it anytime. But what about you? Didn’t you drink a lot at the company dinner?”

“It’s fine. Wine goes to a different stomach than other alcohol.”

“Pfft, that sounds like something women say.”

Exchanging meaningless conversation, I entered the bathroom as Hwa Nabi came out. Traces of her use were everywhere. There was a nice scent, and it seemed like her unique body fragrance lingered.

…That sounds a bit strange. I wasn’t trying to smell anything, but since a woman had just used the bathroom, I couldn’t help but notice. Feeling awkward, I quickly took off my clothes.

-Knock knock.

—Darling, do you need some snacks too?

“Huh? Oh, yes! Order whatever you want!”

—Hmm… whatever I want? Really? Is that okay?

“Yes, it’s fine!”

—Alright.

After responding, I quickly showered. I washed my hair and used body wash too. Being quite thorough, I think it took about fifteen minutes.

“Phew.”

Hwa Nabi must be waiting impatiently. I dried my hair with a towel and went outside.

However, strangely, Hwa Nabi was nowhere to be seen. The wine and wine glasses I had placed on the table were also gone. Did she perhaps go to the lounge by herself? But there was no sign of the door having been opened.

“Don’t tell me.”

She couldn’t have gone to bed already, could she? Brushing my bangs back, I approached the bedroom.

I grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

With a clunk, the door opened from the inside. The person who opened the door from inside the bedroom was, of course, Hwa Nabi.

“Oh.”

But her outfit had changed again. She had been wearing a shower robe before I went into the bathroom, but now she was dressed in something resembling a nurse’s uniform.

Of course, it wasn’t the kind of uniform that regular nurses wear. The chest area was deeply cut, and the skirt was extremely short. Moreover, it was practically sleeveless, revealing her shoulder line and thighs clearly.

“Ah, you startled me. Are you already done showering?”

“Yeah, but… what’s with this outfit?”

“What do you mean? It matches the room concept. So, how do I look? Nice, right?”

Ah, so that’s why the room is called the Nurse Room. Committed to the concept, she even had a cute nurse cap on her head. Adjusting her cap, Hwa Nabi pulled at her top and asked me.

“Well… I guess so.”

While I felt a bit dumbfounded, my eyes couldn’t help but scan her outfit from top to bottom.

The exposure was excessive. If someone wore this “nurse uniform” in public, wouldn’t people think they were filming some kind of inappropriate video?

So much skin was showing that it was embarrassing to even call it clothing. But Hwa Nabi didn’t seem to mind as she grinned and grabbed my wrist.

“Now, patient? Come this way. You need intensive care.”

Suddenly she’s role-playing. I was taken aback, but it was also amusing, so I played along with a smile.

“What’s my diagnosis, doctor?”

“Hmm… acute alcohol poisoning. So we need to detoxify you quickly.”

It would have been perfect if the place she was taking me for “detoxification” wasn’t the table with alcohol—specifically, wine.

“Surely you’re not suggesting treating alcohol with more alcohol?”

“Alcohol detoxification is always done with more alcohol. Look, I’ve prepared some snacks too. Have them together to settle your stomach.”

“Snacks? Where are the snacks?”

Before I could finish speaking, Hwa Nabi pulled my wrist and placed my hand on her chest.

“Right here. Looks delicious, doesn’t it?”