Chapter 64

Na-Yool sighed.

“It has nothing to do with those people. I just mean, it seems like you are familiar with this kind of thing, but I…”

“The nuance feels quite crappy… What ‘kind of thing’, exactly?”

“…When having s- sex… is the goal…” Shocked that such a word came out of her own mouth, she stuttered. She caught her breath and exhaled deeply. “…I mean, a shallow relationship, based on sex only.”

“Casual sex.”

“Yes, this kind of thing.”

“So basically, you see me as a rag which has been swept around who knows who and who knows where.” [T/N: a rag = a male slag in Korean ><;;; Keep it in mind!]

“Why do you always pick such words… I do not mean that.”

“That’s exactly how it sounded to me.”

“Then what would that make me, who sleeps around with such a filthy thing? No, it is not.”

Although she meant to deny it, she accidently ended up calling Si-Jin ‘filthy’, therefore hastily adding “It definitely is not like that”.

She understood that such a relationship was nothing to be ashamed of, that as a busy person he might prefer a freer casual relation rather than dating formally, and that it was fine as long as it was not an affair… Na-Yool was muttering with a confused heart and speech one justification after another, when Si-Jin cut her off as if he did not need to hear any further.

“You’re the first.”

“……”

“Doing ‘this kind of thing’ with.”

At this moment, she could clearly hear the scoffing tone despite his seriousness. To be precise, behind the words ‘this kind of thing’. Na-Yool’s face darkened with complexity. Even more so because he sounded similar to when men chat up their girlfriend with a “I met other women before you, but you are the first woman I really like” while pretending to be genuine.

Even if you know it is not true, and even if you know it is just sweet-talk, what makes you fall for these words is probably that this brief romantic scheme, even for a moment, leaves a sincere and pleasing impression which touches your heart.

The only difference here is that Si-Jin meant “You are the first woman with whom I’ve simply slept around”. That this was her status…

Of course, since it was this way, the words were far from romantic or pleasing. Literally, Si-Jin was purely appealing to his sexual cleanliness. [T/N: Note that this is Na-Yool’s own interpretation. She is twisting his intention because she is absolutely convinced that he has no feelings for her to begin with.]

Yet, why was she still getting flustered by the ambiguous atmosphere he had induced… Na-Yool rubbed her temples with her fingertips and replied:

“How can you come up with such a lie?”

“You think I would lie just to please you?”

“No. I do not.”

People say it is impossible to know the depth of a man’s nasty mind as well as a woman’s complicated inner thoughts but, thanks to having to put up with him all this time, Na-Yool trusted Si-Jin had a bottom-line. He was not the kind to use such underhanded methods to get on anyone’s good side, be it Na-Yool or someone else. And even more so if it was Na-Yool.

“…I do not, but still…”

“You have a knack for saying things ambiguously.”

“Even if I pretend it is not a lie, I cannot believe it, so what should I do?”

“If you’re going to ‘pretend’ it’s not a lie, then can’t you pretend it is the truth?”

“But you are used to it. All of this. Of course, it may not be a lie. It’s just that our respective standpoint might be different. It may be that to me it is a big deal, while it is not for you, Mr. President. So it might not count for you but… It happens that things said genuinely sound like a lie to others…”

“As you can see, I’m a very ordinary person, so I can only think from a normal standpoint.”

It is a universal rule that you can tell a crazy person is one precisely because they think they are not. Inversely, someone cannot be a 4D character, even if they claim to be one.

Na-Yool’s eyes darted to him with a “Sure you are!” look.

“It’s not my fault if I’m good at everything right from the first try.”

“…Oh yeah, you’re so great.”

As soon as she sarcastically agreed, a dashing smile curved up on Si-Jin’s stoical face.

“It’s the truth.”

“Yeah, you are amazing, really.”

“Yet, I still feel like I know shit. Which makes me feel like a real moron.”

“……” Triggered by the clear lack of shame in his tone, Na-Yool wanted to rebuke him with a “that should be my line”. But she held it tight so as to not let it show.

“Even if you’re stupid, it’s not my fault that you know even less to tell apart lie and truth like this, right?”

The implication could not be clearer ‒ he was asking if being smarter than her was a guilt. And in addition, providing the extra info that this time she was being stupid.

“I never ever locked you up to be quiet like a virtuous nun.”

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“Yeah, sure…”

“Having said so, that’s not a reason to treat me like a rag.”

“Again, I have never treated you as such!”

“This poor wretch who suddenly became a rag will get hurt.”

Such words coming out of someone so thick-skinned that he could not seem to get a single scratch was unexpected. Na-Yool replied with a sigh.

“I get it. You are not a rag, Mr. President. You have a very clean body.”

“Do you know your flattering mouth has not one bit of conviction?”

“You are not a rag, but a person. I believe it.”

“If you keep on not believing it like that, I might think you’re jealous.”

“……”

Na-Yool immediately changed her half-hearted expression to a face brimming with trust.

“We are not together, why would I be jealous?”

“Right.”

“I am not the kind of woman to cling to men.”

“Sure.”

“Not even once, with any of the men I have dated until now.”

In the first place, it was ironic to use plural ‘men’ considering how short her dating history was, but she thought there was nothing wrong with Si-Jin misunderstanding she had many exes, like last time. Of course, the list did not contain any promiscuous relationships, and was limited to men she had dated with a standard moral view of a love relationship.

“I guess so.” Of course, Si-Jin disinterestedly answered. “How clean your body might be! With no history of clinging to men.”

“… You do not seem convinced at all.”

“Let’s say you never clung to anyone.”

“It is really true though…”

“Then let’s say you were not even jealous of my non-existent past history of sleeping around.”

It briefly crossed her mind that his cunning words actually hit the mark. The way he cared for her after the sex, his dexterity at fixing her clothes like it was nothing, was like a snippet of his past. She had felt a moment of emptiness as she had wondered if he might have someday treated another woman the same way.

Feeling like he totally had seen through her, Na-Yool pulled herself out of her thoughts.

“If you keep saying this, you are the one who will look jealous. Sounds like you do not like my previous relationships…”

“I don’t like it.”

Si-Jin answered her unequivocally.

“I do not like it.”

“……”

What is more, with an imposing confidence.

“…With what qualification?”

“I’m already feeling offended, and I need qualification?”

“……”

“This offended me’s ‘filthy’ temper should be enough.”

Such a bold and nonsensical stand, as if he believed that the simple act of acknowledging his narrow-mindedness would turn him into a broad-minded person.

“…Mr. President, why do you keep doing this?”

“And you, what are you suspicious of?” [T/N: Si-Jin can tell that Kim Na-Yool seems to have a reason for always adamantly treating him like nothing but a thirsty perv, and he is trying to force it out of her.]

Like an old tune, the conversation was back to its starting point which Na-Yool had wished to avoid. She changed the subject without any longer avoiding his eyes.

“Whether it is your first time or not to meet with someone in such a way, Mr. President, it is a first for me, and also my first time to casually visit their home and sleep there defenselessly…”

“That much, I can tell. That you are more old-fashioned than you look.”

Was he not a good old pervert himself…