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🕑 Added 2025-07-05 21:51:38 +0000 UTCEP. 58 Japanese Business Trip (2) – Shall I Prepare the Family Bath?
After arriving at Osaka Airport, the three of them immediately plunged into their morning meeting schedule without a break.
Thanks to several preparatory meetings and on-site handling, everything was wrapped up smoothly.
“That went more smoothly than I expected. What a relief.”
On their way from the client’s office to the reserved inn, Jooyoung spoke briefly.
There was a faint look of relief on her face.
“Manager Tanaka was different from how he is in Korea. I didn’t think he’d be so thorough.”
“But thanks to Assistant Manager Lee’s precise handling, everything went off without a hitch.”
Jooyoung nodded shortly, without much emotion.
Her voice was dry-or rather, she was making an effort to sound dry.
Trailing behind and listening to their conversation, Mina’s face showed clear fatigue.
She wouldn’t even have come on this trip if Hyunseong hadn’t arbitrarily included her.
“I thought at least they’d spring for business class.”
Mina grumbled, gripping her suitcase handle tightly.
“Right? I was hoping for that too.”
Hyunseong smiled nonchalantly, and Mina pouted.
She wanted nothing more than to kick his annoying shin.
After a car ride, the three arrived at a quiet hot spring inn on a mountainside.
The old wooden building’s classic charm and the well-kept Japanese garden created a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Amid that tranquility, Mina felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding and stayed on guard.
“Thank you for coming such a long way.”
As they entered, the inn’s owner, the okami, dressed in a neat kimono, greeted them.
A gentle, polite smile was on her face.
Several staff members stood behind her, also in formal postures.
“You must be Assistant Manager Lee Hyunseong, Manager Kang Jooyoung, and Staff Park Mina, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Hyunseong answered on behalf of the group.
“Manager Tanaka contacted us in advance. Let’s move to your room right away. Oh, but first, please come this way for a moment to sign the guestbook.”
“I’ll take care of it. You two go ahead to the room.”
Hyunseong stepped up naturally, and the okami nodded, motioning to a staff member to guide the others.
“I’ll show you to your room.”
Jooyoung and Mina followed the staff down the hallway.
As they walked, Mina glanced back at Hyunseong, who remained at the counter.
He was talking seriously with the okami in front of the guestbook.
The okami listened attentively, nodding repeatedly.
Nothing seemed particularly odd, but Mina couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
‘What could they be talking about…?’
A sense of foreboding rose, but Mina forced herself to look ahead and kept walking.
The room they were shown to was much larger and more luxurious than expected.
The wide tatami-matted space, faintly scented with wood, and the view of green mountains and valleys outside the window were enough to inspire awe.
But Mina was more concerned with something else.
“Wait, is this the only room reserved?”
At her cautious question, the staff member nodded as if it were obvious.
“Yes, ma’am. We’ve prepared a special room for the three of you to stay together.”
Even for a business trip, having three people-two women and a man-share one room? It made no sense.
She remembered the inn was booked by Manager Tanaka. What was that old man thinking, arranging something so crazy?
Or was this all part of that man’s plan?
While Mina swallowed her suspicion and discomfort, Hyunseong entered with the okami, having finished the guestbook.
A faintly satisfied smile played on his lips.
“Dinner will be at 7 o’clock, prepared in a private room. Until then, please feel free to enjoy the hot springs.”
By now, sweat had formed on the okami’s face, and she seemed a bit short of breath.
“Our inn has separate open-air baths for men and women.”
She paused, glancing at Hyunseong, then continued.
“Unfortunately, both the men’s and women’s baths are currently closed for urgent cleaning and inspection. We sincerely apologize.”
She bowed deeply, her expression full of apology.
Both baths unavailable at the same time? What a coincidence.
But what she said next was even more shocking.
“However, the family bath is available with no issues. If you’d like, I can prepare it for you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“The family bath?”
Jooyoung and Mina’s faces froze at the same time.
A family bath meant a private onsen where mixed bathing was allowed.
How could coworkers, not family or lovers, bathe together like that?
Jooyoung, flustered, blushed and stammered.
Mina shot a sharp glare at Hyunseong.
No matter how she thought about it, she could only suspect that something had happened between him and the okami while they were alone at the counter.
But Hyunseong, as if nothing was wrong, spoke calmly.
“Is that so? Well, it can’t be helped. Please prepare the family bath for us.”
“I’m truly sorry. I’ll have it ready for you right away.”
The okami bowed even more deeply, her attitude toward Hyunseong even more respectful than before.
“You can wear the provided gowns or swimsuits in the bath, so there’s no need to worry.”
She added this before leaving, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the awkward, uncomfortable mood.
Once the room door closed, a heavy silence filled the air.
“Well, what a coincidence, huh?”
Hyunseong’s shameless voice broke the silence.
Looking at him, Jooyoung spoke hesitantly.
“Assistant Manager, no matter what, men and women bathing together is a bit…”
“But it would be a shame to come all the way to a hot spring inn and not enjoy the bath, wouldn’t it?”
Hyunseong smiled as he replied.
“And since they provide gowns and swimsuits, if you’re really uncomfortable, we can just take turns.”
His plausible reasoning left Jooyoung unable to argue further, and she nodded.
But Mina knew.
Hyunseong would never actually go in separately.
They couldn’t go against his will.
“Sigh.”
Staring out at the distant mountains, Mina let out a deep sigh of resignation.
Even here, everything was going according to his plan.
At 7 p.m., the three of them sat down to a beautifully prepared kaiseki meal in a private room.
The colorful courses were a feast for the eyes and the palate.
The fragrant sake served with the food gently eased their tension.
Perhaps it was the sense of freedom from being abroad for the first time in a while, or the beautiful inn’s atmosphere.
Jooyoung looked much brighter and more relaxed than she had that afternoon.
After a few cups of sake offered by Hyunseong, her cheeks began to flush.
“Wow, this sake is really good. It goes down so smoothly and the aroma is wonderful.”
“It really is. Here, have another.”
Hyunseong replied kindly to Jooyoung’s comment, refilling her glass.
Watching their friendly exchange, Mina felt uneasy.
‘So careless. She doesn’t even realize what kind of situation she’s in.’
Yet, at the same time, Mina felt a twinge of envy.
Would it be easier if she could just be that oblivious?
Suppressing her bitter feelings, Mina quietly continued eating.
But as the drinks flowed and the atmosphere between Hyunseong and Jooyoung grew softer and more intimate, it became harder to ignore.
“It’s thanks to Team Leader’s thorough preparation that today’s meeting went well. I look forward to working with you for the rest of the trip.”
“You led the meeting, Assistant Manager. I was just supporting you.”
‘Yeah, right.’
Hyunseong skillfully led the conversation and set the mood.
Jooyoung, warmed by the alcohol, was drawn into his conversation.
Mina quickly realized it was all part of Hyunseong’s scheme.
‘Alcohol makes you honest.’
‘It’s okay to do whatever you want.’
It was probably that kind of whisper.
Maybe she herself was being manipulated by him right now.
The thought made her shudder, so she kept drinking cold sake to try to forget it.
But the more she drank, the dizzier she felt, as if her body wouldn’t listen.
Suddenly, she found herself swaying toward Hyunseong’s side.
“Are you okay? Didn’t you drink a bit too much?”
Hyunseong caught her arm with a concerned look.
His voice was gentle, but his eyes were cold and sharp.
“I-I’m fine. Just a little dizzy…”
Mina quickly straightened up and shook her head.
By the end of the meal, Jooyoung was already quite drunk.
Her face was flushed like a peach, and her eyes were moist and unfocused.
“…I think I’ll go back to the room first. I must have drunk too much…”
Slurring her words, Jooyoung finally stood up.
Her gaze flicked briefly to Hyunseong, then away.
“I’ll help you, Team Leader.”
Hyunseong naturally supported Jooyoung and left the private room with her.
He’ll probably go to the room and take advantage of her drunken state.
It’s obvious.
But contrary to Mina’s expectations, Hyunseong soon returned to the private room.
Why? The question arose, but Mina couldn’t bring herself to ask.
An awkward silence filled the room with just the two of them.
Mina tried to look nonchalant as she gazed out at the night view, but she could feel his intense gaze burning into her back.
“You’ve been quiet for a while. Are you feeling unwell?”
Before she knew it, Hyunseong had come right up beside her and spoke softly.
So shameless.
He knew exactly why.
But as she felt his body heat close by, Mina’s heart began to race.
“What about the team leader?”
“I put her to bed. Why, did you think I’d do something to her?”
At his suggestive question, Mina fell silent.
Hyunseong smirked and stroked her shoulder.
“The yukata looks good on you.”
“What’s with you, all of a sudden?”
Mina snapped back, unable to help herself.
Given everything she’d been through, there was no way his compliment could sound pleasant.
“You just looked lonely, that’s all.”
“Who says I’m lonely? Don’t make assumptions.”
Then his hand slid down her back from her shoulder.
At his touch, Mina shivered.
“Now that we’re done eating, how about we go to the hot spring together?”
His voice was strangely gentle and seductive.
She should have refused.
No way would she go to the bath with this man.
But, against her will, the words wouldn’t come out.
“…You’d force me to go even if I said no.”
Completely tamed under invisible restraints, Mina slowly stood and followed him.
Even though she knew all too well what would happen if she went with him.
