Chapter 131: Chapter 131 – Let’s Keep Being Amazed
Sohen didn’t know how to react to this news.
(Akina — Minju’s lover?... Damn, that’s unexpected...)
The partner his biological mother had mentioned, whom he’d heard about before, turned out to be the very woman who... had given him the processor a few days ago.
(A woman I’d probably only see once or twice in my life, and she just happened to be... my biological mother’s lover... Well, actually, there’s nothing really wrong with that, but... but... it all seems like the fantasy of a not-particularly-talented author who decided to throw in a plot twist to add some kind of incomprehensible intrigue or drama... It’s all just kind of dumb.)
- (Me). "..."
The young man stood frozen, silently shifting his gaze from Akina to Minju.
("What an unexpected plot twist..." No, I won’t say that, because I’m just surprised and that’s basically it... There’s nothing that incredible here, the only thing is... the author of My Family’s Secret Website has been adding too many female characters to the story lately, which is fine by me in principle, but on the other hand, it’s giving me a headache.)
For several long minutes, only an awkward, heavy silence hung in the restaurant.
- (Me). "..."
- (Minju). "..."
- (Zoro). "..."
- (Akina). "Well..."
It was the gray-haired beauty who was the first to break this awkward moment.
She smiled gently and said:
- (Akina). "Relax, mom and son. You both look way too serious; your sour faces just make me want to laugh, ha-ha. Let’s lighten the mood a little. We’re at a restaurant, after all... Let’s enjoy the local cuisine. I’ve heard they serve wonderful steaks here."
A short while later, they were already seated at a table.
- (Me). "..."
The waiters brought out gourmet dishes — the finest steaks, seafood, exquisite sauces, and expensive wines.
The food was indeed delicious, but the atmosphere between them remained tense and awkward.
Sohen felt particularly awkward.
Akinah kept telling him not to be shy and to order whatever he wanted... she would pay for everything.
For him, this was unacceptable.
(A beautiful woman is paying for me... I feel like a gigolo.)
He still held the stereotype that in a restaurant, the man should pay for everything, or at least half.
On top of that, just recently, Akina had simply given him an expensive processor for no reason.
The feeling that he owed someone something irritated him greatly.
(Minju and Akina are lovers... So much for real Shōjo-ai...)
...
For the next ten minutes, they just ate, barely speaking, but... the awkwardness only grew.
Sohen would periodically look up from his food and notice that Akina was staring at him almost the entire time — gently, with a warm smile, as if she were his own mother.
At the same time, Minju was looking at Akina and was clearly displeased.
- (Minju). "..."
Her face was tense for some reason, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Sohen felt a little uncomfortable with this dynamic.
(Still... it’s better to be around two attractive women than to have some guy with us. I didn’t expect "Gray Eyes" to turn out to be Akina, but... honestly, I’m glad it turned out this way, because I might have done something not so nice to my mother because of that shitty dream... Oops! My mistake... three attractive women.)
He also couldn’t help but notice the third participant in their "banquet"... Akina’s personal bodyguard, who was standing slightly off to the side in the shadows.
She was a young girl with short black-and-pink tomboy hair — an asymmetrical hairstyle with longer bangs that playfully fell over one eye.
Her hair combined a deep black color with bright pink strands.
Her face was beautiful and sharp, but under her left eye was a small, fresh bruise — a purple-yellowish mark that she didn’t particularly try to hide.
This made her look even more dangerous and, at the same time, a little vulnerable.
(A bruise?... Well, of course, the job of a personal bodyguard can sometimes be incredibly dangerous and difficult, but that bruise under her eye bothers me a little... I have a certain feeling that my actions are involved in this...)
Her red eyes were slightly narrowed, and her posture was tense.
It was clear that she felt a little uncomfortable in this situation... she stood there, shifting from foot to foot, and from time to time glanced quickly at Akina, as if waiting for an order or permission to relax.
The girl’s figure was striking.
Her very large, firm H-cup breasts were tightly hugged by a black shirt tied in a knot beneath her breasts, revealing her toned stomach.
Below that was a narrow waist that abruptly gave way to wide, rounded hips and a large, perfectly toned butt, clearly outlined by black pants.
She stood with her hands clasped behind her back, but even in this pose, she exuded a sense of strength mixed with a slight unease.
Sohen involuntarily lingered on her.
(She... is beautiful.)
The girl wasn’t just a bodyguard... she herself looked like a dangerous and alluring weapon, who for some reason now felt out of her element.
Sohen continued to look at her for a while until their eyes met.
When that happened, the beauty quickly looked away for some reason and blushed even more.
Her ears turned pink too, and she shifted from foot to foot unconsciously.
Akina, who was sitting across from Sohen, noticed this and turned her head toward her bodyguard.
She looked at the girl, then back at Sohen, and with a slight, restrained smile asked:
- (Akinah). "What, are you interested in Soyun, ha-ha?"
Akina laughed quietly, covering her mouth with her hand.
Sohen regained his composure a little, looked away, and replied awkwardly:
- (Me). "I’m sorry..."
(Soyun?... Did Akina say Soyun?...)
Sohen was surprised when he heard the girl’s name and...
- (Me). "Miss Akina... you said your personal bodyguard’s name is Soyun, right?"
he asked Akina and looked at the girl again.
- (Soyun). "..."
Soyun lowered her head slightly and remained silent, clearly feeling uncomfortable.
Akina turned back to her bodyguard and said gently:
- (Akina). "Soyun, you can relax. We’re all on the same side here."
- (Soyun). "Okay..."
Soyun took a deep breath and exhaled upon hearing her boss’s words, but then her behavior became a little strange.
She began nervously rubbing her knees together, holding her elbow with one hand and gently rubbing it.
Her posture became uncertain, her shoulders slumped slightly, and her eyes looked off to the side.
It was clear she felt uncomfortable, but after a few seconds she pulled herself together, straightened her back, and resumed a more confident stance, though her cheeks were still flushed.
Sohen, continuing to look at her, suddenly asked:
- (Me). "Soyun... is your last name by any chance Park Hime?"
Soyun took another deep breath, smiled slightly, but continued to blush.
She replied quietly:
- (Soyun). "You’re still very observant, Sohen... I thought I’d changed a lot since then... Yes, my... my name is Park Hime Soyun."
When Sohen heard her full name, he was even more surprised than when he found out that Minju’s partner was Akina.
His eyes widened.
(Soyun... Are you that chubby girl with glasses?... Damn, how you’ve changed...)
Akina looked curiously first at Soyun, then at Sohen, and asked:
- (Akina). "Do you two know each other?"
Sohen nodded:
- (Me). "Yeah... It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. Soyun has changed a lot physically since the last time we met..."
He kept looking at her and smiled involuntarily, remembering the past.
Soyun also held his gaze for a second, then quickly turned her head away, but even from that brief glance, it was clear that she, too, was pleased and moved to see him after so many years apart.
Silence hung over the table again, but now it was different... a mixture of surprise, nostalgia, and slight tension.
