“Hey sis, just hold my hand first!”
The self-proclaimed dating expert Ha So-so’s first piece of advice.
From Ha So-so’s perspective, it was a suggestion to quickly get through the dating stage that should have been over ages ago.
“Yeeess?”
The listener was absolutely horrified at the sudden push for relationship progress.
“This isn’t the time to be surprised! A woman like you is in danger of losing the top-ranked husband material recognized by the lovely ladies at the Yichang Tea Bookstore!”
“When was this decided?”
“It came after some serious discussions. Anyway, with that woman swaying her tail right in front of you, how is it okay that you haven’t even held hands yet?!”
True words. Im Ha-yeon couldn’t raise her head in response to Ha So-so’s critique.
“… But.”
Im Ha-yeon, embarrassed, trailed off while staring at the floor.
“… But?”
“That… that’s something a guy should do first…”
Zero experience in dating.
For Im Ha-yeon, who had lived all her life in a garden of women, it was far too shameful and absurd for a woman to initiate holding hands.
Her face turned as red as a goldfish, mouth flapping like she couldn’t figure out where to put her overwhelming embarrassment.
“Ugh! Sis, I feel like I’m going to die from frustration! Ugh!”
Ha So-so was ready to faint while pounding her chest at the sight.
“You can’t die!”
“Please, if you don’t want to see me die from frustration, create some alone time for the two of you!”
“I’m already doing that…”
“Make some special memories! Not just working together! Like taking a walk and casually holding hands! Or holding hands while wandering around a busy market! Or holding hands while enjoying a beautiful view in peace!”
It’s already sizzling just by looking into each other’s eyes, so how is it that until now they hadn’t held hands?
“There’s no time for that while we’re busy working.”
“Then go at night! They say history is made at night!”
Ha So-so insisted eagerly, looking at the bashful Im Ha-yeon.
“At night?”
Ha So-so grabbed Im Ha-yeon’s arm with a tone full of determination, speaking again.
“Listen, your opponent is a formidable one. That woman is making memories that you can’t, so you have to move ahead in your relationship with Manager Kang!”
At this rate, it felt like she would regret not holding hands when she saw Manager Kang and that woman getting married.
She absolutely couldn’t bear to see it.
Ha So-so, fired up, began to advise.
——————-
“How do I hold his hand?”
Im Ha-yeon mumbled quietly to herself while staring at her palm in the office.
How can a man and woman hold hands naturally? And to make memories for the right atmosphere?
Ha So-so said it was natural, but for someone who had never been in a relationship, it felt like an unreachable realm.
Naturally. As if it were a given. Im Ha-yeon began imagining what it would be like if Kang Yoon-ho held her hand.
‘What if he suddenly grabbed my hand manly? How should I react…’
“I’m back.”
Im Ha-yeon nearly gasped, surprised.
She didn’t respond to Kang Yoon-ho’s greeting at first, needing to calm her racing heart.
With some effort to maintain her composure, she instinctively looked at Kang Yoon-ho’s hands as he returned from his schedule.
He was holding a small box that she hadn’t seen that morning.
“It’s nothing.”
Thud! The woman is swaying her tail!
This time, what did she get from that woman now?
Im Ha-yeon’s mind was in turmoil over how to hold hands with a guy, and how he was suggesting a night out.
The hesitation that had troubled her all night suddenly disappeared, and something began bubbling in her chest.
“Light Body Movement training? At night? Im Ha-yeon?”
Nodding, Im Ha-yeon kicked open the window and leaped down.
Boom! “Sis, your opponent is formidable. That woman is making memories you can’t, so move ahead of Manager Kang.”
Im Ha-yeon, flustered, glanced at Kang Yoon-ho, who was looking at her from below.
Not that she cared too much about that woman, but couldn’t she at least create a memory?
Im Ha-yeon shouted to create a special memory with Kang Yoon-ho.
“I’m jumping down!”
*
Is this girl crazy?
“I’m going down the stairs.”
I tried to mask my shock as I spoke to Im Ha-yeon, who had just jumped.
“Jump down!”
Why is she being so stubborn?
This is the third floor. Even a two-meter fall could kill someone; how can she jump from the third floor where carrier pigeons fly around?
“No…”
“Gugugugu! Gugu?”
Gugu suddenly appeared, landing on my shoulder with a look of disdain, then leisurely flapping its wings to head over to Im Ha-yeon.
“Even a creature like Gugu is doing it, but why can’t you?”
Because we’re not the same species!
“Gugu!”
Gugu flapped one wing as if saying that even a creature like it could do this without breaking a sweat.
That little rascal must not be an ordinary spirit.
“I am not the Nine Black Qi Hands.”
Laborers might have started the Luddites movement for this reason. Who knew Black Qi Hands would reduce a person to something that flies?
“Just trust yourself a bit. I taught you well.”
Im Ha-yeon looked up at me, seemingly a bit hurt.
Of course, I knew Im Ha-yeon was diligently teaching her Light Body Movement.
“I’ve worked hard on the Shadowless Body Technique…”
But this is too high.
I just caught some slimes in front of my house, and now she wants me to face the Four Heavenly Kings? It feels like I learned a fighting game combo just to face advanced players.
Seeing me hesitate, Im Ha-yeon let out a slight sigh and stretched her arms as if to show some kindness.
“If you really can’t, I’ll catch you.”
She’ll catch me?
Instantly, my gaze landed on the very soft cushion she was holding.
If I fall wrong, I’ll still be good!
No matter how I fell, the possibility of Im Ha-yeon, a master of Light Movement, dropping me was slim. Then, I’d land on a pillow created by humans.
Of course, I’m not saying I’m diving on purpose. But there’s definitely a gap between the skill she thinks I have and the reality of my abilities.
If I end up falling awkwardly and hit my face on the cushion, wouldn’t that be okay?
Suddenly, I felt a courage I didn’t have before.
“I’ll do it.”
As long as I don’t break my nose, it seems worth a shot.
I placed my foot on the window. The wind swooshed in, reminding me that only wind and birds could come and go in this place.
I need to focus to ensure I don’t make an awkward fall and instead meet my cushion friend.
Focusing my spirit as I operated my inner energy according to the Shadowless Body Technique. I gathered energy in my soles and leaped off the window.
Following the principles of the Shadowless Body Technique, I maintained my balance.
My lightened body landed perfectly in front of Im Ha-yeon. A flawless landing, obvious to anyone. But it wasn’t over yet.
If I relaxed my toes a bit and let myself fall forward, I would naturally reach the target…
“Don’t get careless until you land.”
Im Ha-yeon turned and caught the nape of my neck.
“Who does that?!”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you’d catch me!”
“I’ve caught you, haven’t I? Apart from you losing a bit of balance at the end, it was perfect.”
“…”
That was the extent of the perfection, huh?
“Like all martial arts, the Light Body Movement is especially about controlling every movement of your body. A mistake can lead to a serious accident, so always be cautious until the end.”
Im Ha-yeon didn’t hold back her praise and advice for my challenge.
Somehow, I feel a bit wronged.
It’s like I’m being tempted with food by a mother bird trying to get its baby to fly out of the nest.
“Really, you’re fine jumping from the third floor.”
I looked back at the window, feeling a bit disappointed. I fell from that height, and yet nothing is wrong with my body.
Under normal circumstances, if I fell, I’d expect at least a fracture somewhere.
“Who do you think taught you?”
Im Ha-yeon looked at me with a satisfied expression, placing her hand on her hip.
“That’s a hard statement to argue against.”
Even if there were martial artists better than her at Light Body Movement, there wouldn’t be anyone more talented than her in the martial arts world.
“I’m going for a night stroll, so follow me.”
This wasn’t the end?
I started an impromptu night walk with Im Ha-yeon.
———————————
This is quite fun.
I’ve been steadily practicing Light Body Movement, but I’ve never tried sprinting at full speed over a long distance.
It felt like gym class running on the playground, just repeatedly training with Im Ha-yeon in a wide open space.
A deserted night street. Running through the cool evening air felt exhilarating, as if my body had transformed into a motorcycle.
“This is more fun than I expected.”
As we suddenly saw more people, we paused our run in an empty alley.
“Right? You’ve improved a lot. Your skills are unrecognizable compared to just a few months ago.”
“Who do you think is teaching me? Of course, I have to learn hard.”
Learning martial arts from a woman destined to become known as the Shadowless Thief?! Honestly, even bowing down to her daily wouldn’t be enough respect.
“If you can’t even speak properly… Ah.”
Im Ha-yeon’s words trailed off as she spotted something across the alley.
Across the alley was a crowd, bustling with lights, and countless people wandering around. Where the heck are we that there’s so many people?!
“Oh, I see. In our haste, we ended up at a night market.”
That explains the crowd.
“…”
Im Ha-yeon didn’t respond and instead gazed across the alley.
What’s going on? Following her gaze, I saw a couple sharing chicken skewers and feeding each other.
A midnight date? How envious.
Turning my head to ask Im Ha-yeon what we should do next, I noticed she was looking up at me with wide eyes.
Does she have something to say? When our eyes met, her gaze flickered in surprise.
Oh, maybe.
“Are you jealous?”
“What? No?!”
“Why are you staring blankly at something so trivial? You could just say something.”
“Do I really need to say that?”
“Ah. I didn’t realize how oblivious I was. I could just take the lead.”
“That’s not wrong but… you just need to get your mind set!”
Why did she turn away in the middle of speaking?
Im Ha-yeon lowered her head before hesitantly reaching out her hand, seemingly trying to muster courage.
She’s in quite a rush. I get it; I really do.
“Hang on a sec.”
“Yeeess?”
I’ll be right back.
“Here. Chicken skewers. I realized I was too slow.”
Having worked through to the late evening and jogging in the moonlight, some late-night snacks were certainly needed.
“…”
I held the tempting chicken skewers in front of Im Ha-yeon, who couldn’t stop looking up at me.
“I got teriyaki, salt, and spiced flavors. Let’s eat together.”
Pick whatever you like.
“Hah…”
What’s with that sigh?
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