The wine was dark, velvety, and probably made from the crushed dreams of horny men.
I drank it.
Just one sip.
Big mistake.
[SYSTEM INITIATION: WINE MILF PATH – TRIAL I UNLOCKED]
YOU HAVE CHOSEN: HYE-RA
EFFECT: +15 AFFECTION (HYE-RA)
EFFECT: -5 AFFECTION (YURA)
EMOTIONAL DAMAGE INFLICTED: YES
"There," Hye-Ra purred, swirling her own glass."Now we're connected."
"Connected how?" I asked, already sweating.
"Spiritually. Sensually."She took another sip."Sexually? Hopefully."
She reached forward, placed a finger on my forehead, and smiled.
"Let me show you my technique."
Suddenly—a pulse.
A warm, heavy pressure surged through my body. It wasn't pain. It wasn't pleasure.
It was… intoxication.
From one touch, I felt my Qi swirl like hot wine. My thoughts blurred. My limbs tingled.
[SPIRITUAL TOXIN INTRODUCED]
CONDITION: DRUNK ON YIN
YOU ARE NOW UNDER HYE-RA'S AURA: "SIREN MODE"
ALL THOUGHTS, ACTIONS, AND BLOODFLOW… ARE INFLUENCED
"Relax," she whispered."Just feel."
She stepped closer, one hand grazing my arm.The scent of her perfume—ripe berries and trouble—made my head swim.
She leaned in.Her lips brushed my ear.
"Do you want me to guide your first Yin merge?"
I didn't answer.Couldn't.I was drowning in her aura — drunk without a bottle, aroused without contact.
She pressed her palm against my chest and whispered again.
"Let me take you… deeper."
And just as I was about to give in—
[SYSTEM EMERGENCY INTERRUPTION]
YIN FLOW COLLISION DETECTED
INTERNAL CONFLICT: "LANDLADY PATH"INTERFERING WITH CURRENT ROUTE
EMOTIONAL ROOT ENTANGLEMENT – UNRESOLVED FEELINGS FOR PRIMARY TARGET
MERGE BLOCKED.
I gasped.
Everything stopped.The aura. The dizziness. The moment.
Hye-Ra frowned, pulling back slightly.
"Something's wrong," she murmured."Your Qi just… pulled away."
"It's not you," I said, panting. "It's her."
"Seo-Yura?"
"Yeah."
[SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS]
YOU CANNOT ADVANCE INTIMACY WITH HYE-RA UNTIL PRIMARY MILF PATH IS RESOLVED
NEXT OBJECTIVE: MAKE AMENDS WITH YURA BEFORE YOU SPIRITUALLY SELF-DESTRUCT
"I need to go," I said, standing on legs made of noodles.
"Running back to her?"
"No. Walking quickly. With shame."
She sighed.
"Next time… come with fewer regrets."
I fled.
Down the hallway.Back to my apartment.Straight into the next emotional trial of my spiritual life.
The Next Morning
Ms. Seo stood by the laundry line, hanging a freshly washed blanket.
She didn't look at me.
Didn't smile.
Didn't speak.
Just kept working. Calm. Collected. Cold.
"Good morning," I offered.
No reply.
"About last night—"
"You don't need to explain."She clipped a towel, smooth and silent."You're free to eat and drink with whomever you want."
"It wasn't like that—"
"You don't owe me anything."
But she said it like I owed her everything.
[SYSTEM STATUS: "ICE WALL ACTIVATED"]
LANDLADY AFFECTION: LOW
PROXIMITY EFFECTS: NULLIFIED
YOU CANNOT CULTIVATE WITH YURA UNTIL HER HEART OPENS AGAIN
"I made a mistake," I said quietly."I should've had dinner here."
She finally turned. Her eyes were tired — not angry, just… disappointed.
"You were hungry. She fed you. That's life."
She left without another word.
[SYSTEM QUEST UNLOCKED: "WIN BACK THE LANDLADY"]
OBJECTIVE: REBUILD TRUST THROUGH ACTIONS, NOT TOUCH
REWARD: HEART SYNC ≥ 50%, UNLOCK PHASE II
I stood there alone.
The wind picked up.
The towel flapped. The line creaked.
And my chest felt heavier than my pants during yoga class.
I had chosen wine… over warmth.
Now, I had to earn my way back into the good graces of the woman whose Yin made my system sing.