EP.12: Is It a Dream or Not?

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EP.12: Is It a Dream or Not? 

"Of course! It would suit you perfectly!" 

"Hmm? Really? In what way?" 

Her eyes narrowed as if testing me. If I didn't respond correctly, she might use it as an excuse to scold me. 

After a brief moment of thought, I decided to give a bold answer. A mediocre response would be worse than none at all. 

"... Ha ha. Well, you're very glamorous, ma'am. With a body like yours, it can't not suit you. Plus, your skin tone is cool, so the red color complements you well. Most importantly, it matches your sensual aura perfectly." 

My flattery was almost excessive, but she smiled slightly, seemingly not displeased. 

"It seems like you're just getting better at flattery." 

"No! It's not flattery! I really think it would suit you well!" 

"Alright, I'll trust you and buy it. But if it doesn't suit me, you'll be in trouble later." 

She continued shopping with a slightly brighter expression. I had to stay by her side and offer opinions on lingerie. 

—Hey, this one looks good. The waistline is accentuated, and the line falls nicely. 

—Oh, that also suits you well. The material is high-quality, and it matches you perfectly. 

—Wow, ma'am, you look good in any color. I guess it's because you have a great figure. 

I avoided making any critical comments, focusing only on positive feedback. 

From my past experiences with dating, I learned that giving lukewarm evaluations while shopping with a woman is akin to committing suicide. Simply offering mindless praise works best, as they filter out what they want to hear. Being overly critical only leads to disappointment. 

This principle applied to Han-yeoul as well. She became fully engaged in shopping, seemingly forgetting her initial intention to tease me. 

"Teacher Kang, what about this one? Is it too revealing?" 

"It's just pretty. What's wrong with it?" 

"Hmm, the color seems a bit off." 

"That's not true at all. Honestly, you look like you're in your twenties. This pastel tone would suit you well too." 

"... Really? Then should I buy this one?" 

"I think it looks fine. You can never have too many lingerie pieces." 

"Alright, let's get this one too." 

She ended up buying nine pairs of lingerie. After the purchase, she looked at her hands in surprise. 

< You've been too focused on shopping. > 

< I came here to intimidate Teacher Kang, but... > 

< How did it end up like this? > 

She scolded herself, looking a bit silly. I couldn't help but chuckle. 

I whispered to her, "It's fun shopping with you, ma'am. It's a really different feeling." 

Han-yeoul's shoulders twitched, and her cheeks began to flush. Though she tried to act nonchalant, her embarrassment was evident. 

"... It's sudden, but let's go buy some heels. They're on the third floor, so follow me quickly." 

She walked ahead, trying to hide her flushed face. I followed at a slight distance, enjoying the sight of her. 

We visited several stores, and soon my hands were filled with shopping bags. From lingerie to handbags and shoes, the total cost must have exceeded a million won. Her spending was lavish, fitting for a successful CEO. 

"Thank you, Teacher Kang. Leave the bags at the counter. Driver Yoon will pick them up later." 

She finished shopping by evening and offered to buy me dinner. 

"Do you have time? Let's have a meal at the lounge here." 

I had been running around all day, and she seemed to notice my fatigue. 

We headed to the top-floor lounge, where a tuxedo-clad waitress greeted us. She recognized Han-yeoul and led us in. 

"Please follow me." 

The lounge offered a beautiful view, and the atmosphere was upscale. Other diners were clearly affluent. As I looked around in awe, Han-yeoul let out a soft sigh. 

"Don't act like you're seeing it for the first time. It's not like we're advertising or anything." 

I wasn't bothered by her teasing. The meal was expensive, costing tens of thousands of won per serving. 

"I've never been to a place like this. The atmosphere is great, and the view is amazing." 

"If you listen to me well, I might bring you here again sometime." 

"Really? I'll be loyal to you from now on!" 

"... You're too light. A man should have some weight to him." 

"Ha ha, since you're buying dinner, what's the point of worrying about pride? I should be wagging my tail." 

She smiled slightly, seemingly pleased by my flattery. 

"Anyway, let's order. You must be hungry." 

"What would you like to eat, ma'am?" 

"Choose anything for me. I brought you here to treat you." 

"Wow, thank you so much. I'll enjoy it with gratitude." 

I quickly opened the menu and started selecting dishes. Most were unfamiliar, but with her explanations, I was able to choose. 

"You ordered all meat dishes? Do you like meat?" 

"Yes, I do. Cooking meat is my hobby. I especially love beef." 

Han-yeoul's shoulders twitched, perhaps remembering the beef stir-fry from her dream. Her eyes reflected a mix of emotions. 

As our food arrived, I served her first and began eating. I brought up the topic of beef again to observe her reaction. 

"Wow, this is really worth the price. What kind of beef is this?" 

"Does it taste good?" 

"Yes, it's amazing. This is the second-best beef I've ever had." 

Han-yeoul's fork paused, and she stared at me intently. After a moment, she spoke. 

"... Second-best? What was the first?" 

I deliberately remained silent for a moment, letting the tension build. When her patience wore thin, I laughed heartily and gave a playful response. 

"Ha ha! Of course, it was the beef from my family's butcher shop. My parents used to run it." 

"... Ah." 

She seemed relieved by my answer and brushed her hair back. I asked innocently, "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?" 

"... No, nothing." 

She resumed eating, then paused again to ask an unexpected question. 

"Teacher Kang, do you often have dreams? The kind you have when you sleep?" 

"Yes, I do have dreams. Nightmares too, occasionally." 

"Have you had any recently? Like a dream about a woman?" 

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, her gaze piercing. 

I had a sudden playful idea. 

"Hmm, now that you mention it, I did have a dream. A dream about a woman." 

Han-yeoul's eyes widened, and she began to ask more questions. 

"When was it? Who was in it?" 

"I had it yesterday, but I don't remember much." 

"What about any vague memories?" 

"Ha ha, it was a bit embarrassing. It was a very sensual dream, and the woman was my type. But why are you asking?" 

She hesitated, then shook her head. 

"It's nothing. I've just been interested in fortune-telling and dream interpretations lately." 

"Really? Maybe I should try to recall it." 

I pretended to think hard, then told her, "Ah, yes. The woman in my dream was someone I know." 

"... Someone you know?" 

"Yes, definitely someone I know." 

"... Do you remember her face?" 

"No, just a vague silhouette." 

"... What about the dream itself? Do you remember anything?" 

"My memory is a bit fuzzy. It seems like we did something, but..." 

As I dragged out the conversation, she urged me to remember more. 

"Try to recall it. What was the dream about?" 

Her eyes were filled with intense curiosity. It seemed like the right time to back off. 

I apologized, "I'm sorry. I just can't remember. I shouldn't have brought it up." 

Han-yeoul's fists clenched, but she took a deep breath instead of getting angry. 

"If you remember anything, please tell me. I have a hard time resisting my curiosity." 

"I'll let you know if I remember anything. Don't worry." 

I continued eating, humming a tune. Meanwhile, Han-yeoul looked at me with a mixture of annoyance and frustration. 

It seemed her mind would be preoccupied for a while. This was my small revenge, and a satisfied smile spread across my face. 

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