hotmtlnovel Chapter 91
Chapter 91
The warm morning sunlight gently colored the white comforter surrounded by the scent of fabric softener. Thanks to Choi Gang-hu, who had changed the sheets while Ryu Seo-ha was sound asleep.
“Hmm...”
As Ryu Seo-ha, still half-asleep, let out a faint moan, Choi Gang-hu, wearing a loosely draped bathrobe and holding him, slowly stroked his trembling lower back.
A beat later, Ryu Seo-ha came to his senses and shook his head slightly with a pale face. His hands pushing against his lover’s chest held a sense of desperation.
“Please stop...”
His usually pleasant voice was now dry and cracked like a wanderer who had long roamed the desert. Choi Gang-hu smiled like a devout believer encountering a sweet celestial melody.
“I’m not doing this to continue.”
“You said the same thing yesterday...”
Shaking his head again, Ryu Seo-ha shuddered and hunched his shoulders. He knew Choi Gang-hu had high stamina stats, but experiencing its intensity firsthand made him doubt if he was even human.
Any discomfort he felt about their relationship of mutual affection being entangled with business interests quickly evaporated under the relentless onslaught of actions.
What was the use of normalizing his body condition with [Sanctification] or [Healing Light] whenever it got tough? He would just pounce again with an expression asking if he was okay now. Even a puppy excited by first snow would have been more restrained.
Status: Remaining lifespan 99 days 22 hours 53 minutes
The greatly increased lifespan, as if reflecting the frenzied time, provided some consolation. Although the abnormal status itself hadn’t disappeared... As Ryu Seo-ha was lost in thought, eager kisses rained down on his face.
“Should I massage your waist?”
“...No.”
What trick are you trying to pull now? Ryu Seo-ha quickly shook his head at Choi Gang-hu’s gentle question. Yesterday, he had naively fallen for similar tricks several times, but today he couldn’t allow it.
“Then shall I feed you some porridge? Room service...”
“No.”
Cutting him off firmly before he could finish, Ryu Seo-ha groaned and sat up. The oversized shirt he was wearing without realizing slipped down, completely covering his fingers.
“I should wash up and go downstairs. You said the auntie came, right?”
As Choi Gang-hu sat up with him and habitually wrapped his arm around his waist, Ryu Seo-ha gently pushed it away. Recalling the written report from Secretary Jang that he had glanced at last night.
It contained information that Im Myung-hee, a former bathhouse owner, had requested help with housing defects and repairs. She must have learned that the two of them had visited Jeju Island from the news.
“It wasn’t a big deal. I’ll send someone to take care of it.”
“Still, she’s someone we owe... Ugh.”
Ryu Seo-ha tried to lower his legs off the bed but clutched his waist and groaned, overworked from the night before. As if he had expected this, Choi Gang-hu smirked and habitually extended his arm to support his waist.
“I can heal your body. I really won’t touch you this time.”
Ryu Seo-ha gave his lover, who spoke so nonchalantly it was annoying, a gentle glare and let out a low sigh.
Skill ‘Healing Light’ is cast.
“Auntie, are you okay health-wise? What about Minji noona?”
It was also unexpected that Park Minji wasn’t visible. If such a major problem had occurred, shouldn’t she take time off work to be by her mother’s side?
“Mm, I guess she’s busy with work. Come in for now.”
Im Myung-hee, who had roughly brushed off his question, guided them towards the back door that hadn’t been overtaken by the Limestone Vine. She seemed to be hiding something.
As if sensing a similar feeling, Choi Gang-hu, who had narrowed his eyes, wrapped his arm around Ryu Seo-ha’s shoulder as they walked side by side. Even after they sat around the dining table pushed to one side of the living room, he didn’t remove his hand.
“Can you get rid of that?”
Im Myung-hee asked cautiously as she pushed over a glass of freshly poured water. She glanced nervously at the plant stems covering one side of the living room. The stems, which had easily penetrated the wall, were motionless as they were nocturnal.
“Removing it isn’t the problem... I think it’s more important to examine the cause of the situation.”
At Ryu Seo-ha’s words, Im Myung-hee visibly showed an anxious look and then moistened her lips with water. Ryu Seo-ha, who had been staring intently at her holding the water glass with both hands, calmly opened his lips.
“I’d like you to be honest.”
“W-what?”
“There’s another problem besides that monster, right?”
Im Myung-hee, who had been chewing on her lower lip and avoiding eye contact, gulped down the water and then nodded her head with difficulty.
“I’ve been... threatened.”
And she admitted the truth in a voice that sounded like her throat was completely blocked.
“By whom?”
“I don’t know. The day that plant wrapped around the house, it seems they took our Minji...”
Im Myung-hee, who had been sobbing as she spilled out the whole story, covered her face with both hands.
Trait ‘Sanctification’ is cast.
As soon as he heard the news of Park Minji’s disappearance, Ryu Seo-ha spread his trait to embrace all three people present. Of course, Choi Gang-hu would be more than capable of handling any intruders, but just in case.
“W-what is this?”
“It’s a means to protect everyone. More importantly, why did you lie to me earlier?”
As he gently asked the confused other party, Im Myung-hee’s eyes shook greatly.
“I’m sorry...”
“No. You don’t need to apologize, just tell me the situation...”
“Sob, Seo-ha. I’m really sorry...”
Sighing deeply at the sight of the suddenly crying auntie, he took a sip of water, feeling his throat dry up. At that very moment, he felt a sudden surge of heat in his body.
You are exposed to the range of item ‘Mental Regression Potion (S-grade)’.
Then his vision flickered slowly. It happened before he could apply the buff of the trait [Sanctification] to his own body.