episode_0058

The three people who arrived at Osaka Airport immediately began their morning meeting schedule without a break.

Thanks to several preparatory meetings and on-site responses, all schedules were completed smoothly.

“It went smoother than expected. That’s a relief.”

Juyoung said briefly as they left the client’s office and headed towards the inn they had reserved.

A faint sense of relief was etched on her face.

“Manager Tanaka, his demeanor was different from in Korea. I didn’t expect him to be so meticulous.”

“Still, thanks to Assistant Manager Lee’s precise handling, it concluded safely.”

Juyoung nodded briefly, without much emotion.

Her voice was dry.

No, she was trying to appear dry.

Mina, following behind and listening to their conversation, had a clearly exhausted look on her face.

It was a business trip she shouldn’t have been on, but Hyunsung had arbitrarily included her in the group.

“At the very least, I thought they’d provide business class tickets.”

Mina grumbled, gripping the handle of her suitcase tightly.

“I know. I expected it this time too.”

When Hyunsung smiled calmly, Mina pouted her lips.

If she had her way, she wanted to kick his annoying shin.

****

The three people, who traveled by car, arrived at a secluded hot spring inn located on the mountainside.

The antique charm of the old wooden building, combined with the well-maintained Japanese garden, created a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

In that stillness, Mina felt an unsettling sense of unease and remained on edge.

“You must be tired from your long journey.”

As they entered the entrance, the inn’s proprietress, Okami, gracefully dressed in an elegant kimono, greeted the three.

A polite and gentle smile graced her face.

Behind her, several staff members stood in equally respectful postures.

“Assistant Manager Lee Hyunsung, Manager Kang Jooyoung, and Employee Park Mina, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Hyunsung replied on behalf of the group to Okami’s question.

“We received prior notice from Manager Tanaka. Please proceed to your room immediately. Ah, before that, please come over here briefly and sign the guestbook.”

“I’ll fill this out, so the two of you can head to the room first.”

As Hyunsung naturally stepped forward and spoke, Okami nodded, then walked towards the counter and gestured to a staff member.

“I will guide you to your room.”

Juyoung and Mina followed the staff member’s guidance and proceeded down the hallway first.

While walking down the hallway, Mina instinctively glanced back at Hyunsung, who remained at the counter.

He was having a serious conversation with Okami, with the guestbook in front of them.

Okami listened attentively to Hyunsung’s words, nodding continuously.

There seemed to be nothing particularly strange, but Mina felt unnecessarily uneasy.

‘What are they talking about like that…?’

An ominous premonition surged, but Mina tried to shake it off and continued walking forward.

The room they arrived at, guided by the staff, was much larger and more luxurious than expected.

The spacious room, floored with tatami mats subtly permeated with a woody scent, and the view of the green mountains and valleys stretching outside the window, were enough to evoke admiration.

However, Mina was more concerned about something else than the room’s scenery.

“Surely, this isn’t the only room booked?”

To her cautious question, the staff member nodded as if it were obvious.

“Yes, customer. We have prepared a special room where all three of you can stay together.”

Even for a business trip, three people, one man and two women, sharing one room?

It didn’t make sense logically.

Manager Tanaka was supposed to have booked the inn, right?

What on earth was that old geezer thinking to do something so crazy?

Or was this even part of *that person’s* plan?

As Mina swallowed her suspicion and discomfort internally, Hyunsung, who had finished signing the guestbook, entered the room with Okami.

A faint, satisfied smile hung on his face.

“Dinner will be served at 7 PM, *pant*. It will be prepared in a separate room. Until then, *gasp* you are welcome to use the hot springs.”

By then, beads of cold sweat had formed on Okami’s face, and her breathing sounded somewhat labored.

“Our inn has separate men’s and women’s baths, each with an open-air bath, but…”

She paused briefly, glanced at Hyunsung, and added.

“Unfortunately, both the men’s and women’s baths are currently undergoing urgent cleaning and inspection, making them a bit difficult to use. We are truly sorry.”

She bowed deeply with a contrite expression.

Both the men’s and women’s baths unusable at the same time?

Could such a coincidence even exist?

However, the explanation that followed from Okami’s mouth was even more shocking.

“However, the family bath can be used without any issues. If it’s alright with you, shall I guide you there?”

“…Pardon?”

“The family bath?”

Juyoung and Mina’s faces simultaneously stiffened.

If it’s a family bath, doesn’t that mean a private hot spring bath where mixed-gender bathing is possible?

Mixed-gender bathing among coworkers, not even lovers or family? How could they accept something like this?

A flustered Juyoung blushed and stammered.

Mina glared at Hyunsung with a sharp gaze.

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t help but conclude that he must have pulled some trick when he was alone with Okami at the counter earlier.

Hyunsung, however, opened his mouth calmly, as if nothing was wrong with the situation.

“Is that so? Well, it can’t be helped then. Please prepare the family bath for us.”

“We are truly sorry. We will prepare it immediately for your use anytime.”

Okami bowed repeatedly, appearing even more apologetic at his words.

Her attitude towards Hyunsung seemed even more respectful than before.

“You can wear the provided gowns or swimsuits inside the bath, so please don’t worry too much.”

Although Okami added this explanation before leaving, it was insufficient to reverse the awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.

Soon, as the room door closed, a heavy silence fell inside.

“Wow. What a coincidence.”

Hyunsung’s sly voice broke the silence.

Looking at Hyunsung, Juyoung spoke with a hesitant voice.

“Assistant Manager Lee. Even so, for men and women to enter the same bath is a bit…”

“Still, it would be a shame if we came all the way to a hot spring inn and couldn’t enjoy the hot springs, wouldn’t it?”

Hyunsung retorted with a smile.

“And they said we can rent gowns or swimsuits, and if it’s really uncomfortable, couldn’t we just split the time and go in separately?”

At Hyunsung’s plausible persuasion, Juyoung eventually couldn’t retort anymore and nodded.

However, Mina knew.

That Hyunsung would never agree to go in separately.

That they couldn’t defy his will.

“Sigh.”

A deep sigh escaped Mina’s lips as she gazed at the distant mountains outside the window, as if resigned.

Even here, things were ultimately going according to his scheme.

****

7 PM. The three faced a meticulously prepared Kaiseki meal in a separate room.

The diverse course meal, enjoyed first with the eyes and then savored with the mouth, was excellent.

The fragrant sake accompanying the food gently eased their tense minds.

Perhaps due to the liberating feeling of a long-awaited overseas business trip and the beautiful atmosphere of the inn.

Juyoung’s expression seemed much brighter and more relaxed than in the afternoon.

After drinking a few cups of sake offered by Hyunsung, a slight blush began to appear on her face.

“Wow, this sake is really delicious. It’s smooth to drink and has a wonderful aroma.”

“It certainly is. Here, have another glass.”

Hyunsung gently responded to Juyoung’s words and refilled her glass.

Watching that overly affectionate display, Mina felt uneasy inside.

‘She’s completely defenseless. She doesn’t even know what situation she’s in right now.’

However, Mina, on the other hand, also felt a little envious of Juyoung.

Would I have been more comfortable if I, too, knew nothing like that?

Mina suppressed the bitter feelings surging within her and continued to eat in silence.

But it wasn’t easy to ignore the increasingly soft and intimate atmosphere between Hyunsung and Juyoung as they exchanged sake cups.

“Thanks to Team Leader’s thorough preparation, this meeting also concluded well. Please take care of me for the remainder of the business trip.”

“Assistant Manager Lee was the one who led the meeting, wasn’t he? All I did was simply assist.”

‘Oh, please.’

Hyunsung skillfully led the conversation and dominated the atmosphere.

Juyoung was getting drawn into his conversation, buoyed by the pleasant buzz of alcohol.

Mina quickly realized it was due to Hyunsung’s trickery.

‘Drinking alcohol makes one honest.’

‘It’s okay to act however you want.’

Something like that, a trick of that kind, perhaps.

Perhaps she herself was being manipulated by him, both in her emotions and actions, right now?

At the chilling thought, Mina continuously drank cold sake to forget that feeling.

But the more she drank, the dizzier her head felt, and she felt as if her body wasn’t obeying her.

Suddenly, her body swayed uncontrollably and leaned slightly towards where Hyunsung was sitting.

“Are you okay? Didn’t you drink too much?”

Hyunsung asked, grasping her arm with a concerned expression.

His voice was gentle, but his eyes shone with a cold light.

“I, I’m fine. Just a moment, I feel dizzy…”

Mina hastily straightened herself and shook her head.

By the time the meal was ending, Juyoung was already quite intoxicated.

Her face was flushed pink like a peach.

Her eyes were moist and unfocused.

“…I, I’ll go in first. I think I, I drank too much…”

Finally, Juyoung stood up, her words slurred.

Her gaze briefly flickered towards Hyunsung before falling away.

“I’ll help you, Team Leader.”

Hyunsung supported Juyoung and naturally exited the private room.

He’ll probably go to the room and assault the intoxicated Juyoung like that.

It’s obvious.

However, contrary to Mina’s expectations, Hyunsung quickly returned to the private room.

The question “Why?” arose, but Mina couldn’t bring herself to ask Hyunsung.

An awkward silence hung in the room, where only the two of them remained.

Mina tried to appear nonchalant, looking at the night view outside the window, but she could feel his intense gaze on her back, prickling.

“You haven’t said much since earlier, have you? Are you feeling unwell?”

Hyunsung, who had subtly drawn very close to Mina, spoke in a low voice.

How shameless.

He knows perfectly well why.

But as his body heat was felt so close, Mina’s heart involuntarily began to pound faster.

“What did you do with Team Leader and come back?”

“I laid her down in her room and came back? Why, did you think I’d do something?”

At his subtle question, Mina fell silent.

Hyunsung chuckled and stroked her shoulder.

“The yukata suits you well.”

“What was that, all of a sudden?”

At the sudden compliment, Mina retorted sharply without realizing it.

Recalling all she had endured so far, there was no way that compliment would sound good to her.

“No, you just looked a bit lonely.”

“Who said I was lonely? Don’t just interpret things as you please.”

At that moment, the hand that was on her shoulder slowly slid down her back.

Mina’s body flinched at the touch.

“We’ve finished dinner, so how about we go to the hot springs together?”

His voice was strangely soft and seductive.

She had to refuse.

She would refuse to her dying breath to enter a bath with a person like him.

However, contrary to her will, her lips wouldn’t easily part.

“…You’re going to drag me there by force even if I say no anyway.”

Completely tamed under an invisible restraint, Mina slowly rose from her seat and followed him.

Even though she knew all too well what would happen if she followed him now.