Reincarnated in an Adult Game: Conquering Both the Game and Reality Chapter 10: Episode 10: Are You Free This Evening?

Episode 10: Are You Free This Evening?

After the regular eting ended, I spent my ti working on the proposal as much as possible.

Since Kang Juyeong had firmly said "today," I didn't know what kind of trouble might co my way if I disobeyed.

Besides, I wanted to avoid overti on a precious Friday if at all possible.

"Assistant Manager Lee, could you contact the PR team and ask them to send over the materials?"

"Assistant Manager Lee, print out the draft for next month's product setup and put it on my desk."

It was as if Kang Juyeong had made up her mind-every ti I tried to work on the proposal, she gave more tasks.

"Assistant Manager Lee, the break room's a bit ssy. Could you tidy it up?"

She even made do chores that rotate between team mbers.

"Oh, and while you're at it, go out and buy snacks to stock the break room."

Now she was outright giving orders, handing the company card as if she were doing a favor.

"Pick whatever kind you like, Assistant Manager Lee."

"...Understood."

"I'm not interrupting you when you're busy, am I?"

She acts like she doesn't know, but she clearly does.

Hide that smirk before you talk.

"No, not at all."

Hold it in.

There's nothing to gain from going against her in the workplace.

It's better to finish the work quickly and get out of here.

After spending an hour on the tasks Kang Juyeong gave , I was about to sit back down when-

"Assistant Manager Lee."

Before I could even sit, her voice pierced my ears as if she'd been waiting.

This is going to give a neurosis.

"Go to the records room and bring last year's sales data. There's sothing I need to check."

Now she was just outright commanding.

"Why aren't you answering? Didn't you hear ?"

As her voice rose, I could feel everyone in the office glancing at .

Sigh.

"No, I heard you."

There was so much I wanted to say, but I forced it down.

"Um..."

At that mont, a hand appeared above the divider next to .

"If you're busy, Assistant Manager, I can go instead..."

Mina stood up, glancing around nervously.

I reached out a hand and shook my head at her.

No matter how urgent my work was, I couldn't make a busy junior do my chores.

"No, I'll go."

"Hmph. Then don't just stand there-hurry up and go. You've got plenty to do, don't you?"

Does she really need to be like this?

With her chin propped on her hand and half-lidded eyes, Kang Juyeong watched Mina and before snorting and turning back to her monitor.

Fine, if you want to be petty, let's see who wins.

I spun around and hurried to the records room, practically stomping the floor.

The shadow of overti was slowly creeping toward .

One hour left until official quitting ti.

I went up to the rooftop to catch my breath.

When I opened the rooftop door, the sun was setting beyond the rows of high-rise buildings.

You're already off work? Lucky you.

There were already employees on the rooftop, leaning against the railing smoking.

I found a bench in a corner away from the smoke and plopped down.

"Haaaaaah."

Sitting on the bench, the chilly evening breeze hit and a thick, heavy sigh escaped.

"Assistant Manager Lee, Assistant Manager Lee-so damn noisy, seriously!"

Suddenly, a wave of frustration rose up, and I clutched my head, pouring out all the pent-up resentnt.

She'd called my na so many tis that her voice still echoed in my head.

In the end, I hadn't even touched the proposal because of all the constant tasks.

It was clear I'd be working overti.

"Haha. Hahaha."

A hollow laugh escaped my lips as I reached a state of resignation.

The employees who were leaving after their smoke break gave strange looks as they left the rooftop.

"Sigh. I should tell Rizeta I'll be late... Oh."

As I reached for my phone, I realized too late that I had no way to contact Rizeta in an ergency.

No landline at ho, either.

"I guess I'll have to get a new phone this weekend when I buy clothes."

With more people in the house, there are more things to think about-stuff I never considered living alone.

"Sigh. I miss Rizeta..."

I want to rest my head on her lap, under her skirt, and be petted...

Leaning back against the hard bench, I gazed blankly up at the sky turning crimson.

"Sun~bae!"

Suddenly, a lively voice from the front caught my attention.

Looking up, I saw Mina smiling down at with her hands behind her back.

"Knew you'd be here."

"How'd you know?"

"If you're not in the office, you're usually up here."

"It's not like I'm the only one who uses this spot."

"That's true. Hehe. You worked hard dealing with the team leader today."

It wasn't much, but having soone acknowledge my struggles was comforting.

"She's always like that. Thanks to her, I'm stuck doing overti."

At least I'd get overti pay-should I be grateful for that or not?

"That's why this cute, thoughtful junior ca to comfort you. Here!"

Mina raised her voice and, triumphant, extended her hands-holding a plastic cup filled with whipped cream.

"What's this?"

"Cafe latte. When you're stressed, caffeine and sweets are the best."

"..."

"Sunbae?"

I looked from the latte to Mina's face, then covered my eyes with my arm, pretending to cry.

"I really lucked out with my junior. Boohoo."

"Oh, don't get all embarrassed and cry. Hmph. As long as you know it now, that's fine."

After so silly banter, I took the latte from Mina and sipped it.

The bitterness of caffeine and the heavy sweetness of whipped cream mixed together, brightening my mood.

Mina sat lightly next to , swinging her long legs.

"Tastes good."

"Right? It's my favorite. I survive tough days by refueling with this."

You drink this every ti you're tired?

"...Doesn't it make you gain weight?"

"Tsk. Sunbae, that's not very sensitive to say to a woman. Don't you know, if it's tasty, it's zero calories?"

Whether it was really zero-calorie or she just managed herself well, Mina had a great figure.

Not as voluptuous as Kang Juyeong, but her chest was still shapely.

Long, slender, model-like legs.

And a sociable, lively personality.

I'm sure more than a few people in the departnt have a crush on her.

There are also probably so who don't like her for that reason.

"Thanks for the coffee."

"Then be good to from now on."

"Hey, where else are you going to find a senior as good to their juniors as ? I barely boss you around, and I cover for your mistakes."

"Right~. I've survived two years thanks to having a pushover ntor like you."

"Hey, what do you an pushover? You an 'caring' ntor."

"Hehe. It's a complint. That just ans you've treated well. I like people who are pushovers."

Mina said this with a smile, her alluring, drooping eyes leaving montarily speechless.

"...It's too late to cover it up now, you know?"

"Oh, you caught ?"

She's really got a knack for teasing her senior.

Still, chatting and eating sweets with her lightened the weight on my shoulders.

"But, sunbae."

Then Mina subtly scooted closer.

Her shoulder was now less than a hand's width from mine.

"Have you been working out lately?"

Her sunset-colored eyes scanned , just like in the morning.

"I noticed this morning, but you seem taller. And you've put on muscle."

Well, my body changed overnight-anyone would notice sothing was off.

If anything, I was surprised no one had ntioned it until now.

"My friends say you've changed too. So say you've gotten more attractive."

"Really?"

"Just kidding."

"Hey..."

Yeah, people's perceptions don't change overnight.

I was never that noticeable at work anyway.

"Don't look so down. You're making feel bad for teasing you."

"Then don't tease in the first place."

Does she co to work just to ss with ?

"But seriously, how did you change so much in just one day?"

"Well, you know... I signed up for a gym a few months ago, and I guess it's finally paying off."

That was the best excuse my poor brain could co up with.

It sounded more believable than saying I got this way from a trait I gained through possession.

"Hmmm."

She didn't seem to buy it, her skeptical gaze poking at my side.

"Sunbae."

"...What?"

"Are you free this evening?"

"Did you not hear ? I've got overti. Why?"

Mina looked away, twirling a few strands of hair with her finger.

"No reason... Just thought we could grab dinner together if you were free. It's been a while."

Did I hear that right?

This didn't feel like a casual dinner invitation.

That flutter in my chest and the heat in my face-

"You, that..."

Before I could finish, Mina stood up abruptly.

"Ah. I should get going. Unlike you, I need to get ready to leave."

Her tone was hurried, without the playful teasing from earlier.

As I sat there dumbfounded, Mina started walking toward the rooftop door.

"...If you finish early, let know. I'll be waiting."

She left those words quietly and disappeared like the wind.

Left alone on the bench, I stared blankly at where she'd been.

Years lived = years without a girlfriend.

For the first ti in my life, it felt like the scent of spring brushed my nose.

With my heart fluttering, I returned to my desk and started revising the overdue proposal.

Except for the overall concept, I had to redo everything-schedule, costs, you na it.

By the ti I was halfway done, night had fully fallen outside the window.

So, with everyone else gone, I was alone in the silent office.

'Why is she still here?'

Peeking over the divider, I checked the team leader's seat-Kang Juyeong was still there, looking at her monitor.

She's competent, but not the type to bury herself in work.

Normally, she'd finish up and leave right on ti.

Did she have a fight with her husband?

Among the long-ti employees, it was well-known that things weren't great between Kang Juyeong and her husband.

Her husband, once a co-breadwinner, had tanked his business and they'd fallen on hard tis.

Since then, he's been unemployed.

She's been supporting the household on her own.

It's all rumors, so who knows what's true, but if it is, I can understand her being stressed about her husband.

But is it right to take it out on and the other staff?

At that mont, Kang Juyeong looked over from her monitor.

"Did you finish what I asked?"

"Almost done."

"Send it by email as soon as you finish."

"Understood."

So much for leaving it for tomorrow's .

But I didn't have ti to be disappointed.

Now, alone with Kang Juyeong in the office, only the sounds of keyboards and mice clicking echoed.

By around 9 p.m.,

I'd reviewed and completed the proposal and sent it to Kang Juyeong by email.

Now it was ti for the howork check.

"Team Leader, please check the proposal."

"Wait a mont."

She stared at her monitor in silence.

I waited tensely for her first words.

Please, let it be over in one go!

"Assistant Manager Lee."

"Yes, ma'am."

At last, she called over with a wave.

I got up awkwardly and went to her desk.

She leaned back in her chair, glancing between and the monitor.

She really is incredibly pretty.

Especially those sexy thighs wrapped in pantyhose under her short suit skirt.

How good would it feel to rub against those?

"Anyway, it's much better than the first draft."

Her words snapped out of my daydream.

"I just made the changes you suggested, Team Leader."

I added a pinch of flattery.

She seed to take it well; her expression softened a little.

"The concept and ideas aren't bad. With a bit more polish, it could be released as an actual product."

"Really?"

After all the hassle, why is she suddenly so generous?

Not that it made any less angry about all the unfair work.

"Would I have made you go through all that trouble for nothing?"

So it wasn't for nothing after all.

I barely swallowed the words rising to my throat.

"Anyway, good work staying late. And don't get ahead of yourself-the proposal isn't approved yet."

"Understood."

All this trouble, and for what?

"Well, you can go now."

"Aren't you leaving, Team Leader?"

"I still have work to do. Don't worry about -just go ho."

Work, huh.

I was curious, but it wasn't my business.

"Then I'll be going."

I said goodbye, quickly packed my things, and left the building.

Outside, the night air was still cool.

"Much later than I expected."

I checked my phone-10:30 p.m.

Way too late for dinner.

The last ssage from Mina was to contact her when I finished, around 7 p.m.

What should I do?

Two choices:

Go ho quietly.

Contact Mina.

"Hmm."

After so thought, I chose the second.

Maybe we'd just eat and that would be it.

Maybe she'd say it was too late.

Or maybe she wouldn't answer at all.

If that happened, I'd just chalk it up to my own wishful thinking and go ho.

The longer the phone rang, the more anxious I got.

"...Sigh. Yeah, who do I think I am?"

Just because my body's gotten better, I think I can fall in love?

Like that would happen so easily.

I was about to hang up-

[Sunbae?]

Just before my finger touched the screen, Mina picked up.

[Sunbae? Can you hear ?]

Caught off guard, I steadied my voice.

"Uh, yeah, I hear you."

[Did you get off work?]

"Just now."

[You worked hard. That took a while.]

"Well, it just turned out that way. Uh, did you eat?"

[I already had dinner.]

"I see..."

Of course.

It's late.

What was I expecting?

[It's too late for dinner. How about a drink?]

At those words, my head shot up.

"A drink?"

[Yeah. It's the weekend tomorrow, and I just feel like having a drink with soone. How about it?]

I glanced in the opposite direction.

The crosswalk light was blinking green, about to turn red.

I watched it for a mont, then turned around.

Sorry, Rizeta, but when will I get another chance like this?

I'll apologize with all my heart later.

"Where should I go?"

[I'll send you the location for a bar near my place.]

After hanging up, I waited a mont and Mina sent a map.

The bar she ntioned wasn't far from the office.

I checked the now-red light and started walking again.

I'm not expecting anything.

Well, maybe a little.

"...Should I buy condoms?"

You have to let yourself get excited at least once in your life.

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