“G-good stuff?”

Nearly half a century behind the times, Su Tong was an old fossil and naturally had no idea what kind of meme the girl was playing with.

But a chill shot up his back and crept all the way to his scalp. Su Tong instinctively covered his butt, his expression wary.

Because his asshole had just clenched.

But when he looked up, Su Tong’s expression was calm, even downright relaxed. She waved a hand in front of his eyes and smiled.

“What are you thinking? You’re reacting like I’m trying to get up to something with you.”

Su Tong’s face went red in an instant.

“N-nothing.”

Maybe he’d imagined it.

No matter how mischievous she could be, an elegant, demure beauty wouldn’t make such a crude, below-the-belt joke. After all, a beautiful girl might not be able to fart pink, strawberry-scented clouds, but surely she couldn’t have a mind full of such inappropriate thoughts either?

The kid was still naive. He didn’t know that the girl in front of him wasn’t an elegant, demure beauty at all, but a shameless pervert whose mind was full of filthy thoughts and who was immune to all shame.

She looked delicate and lovely, but inside she was just some guy who picked his feet.

And now, that foot-picking guy calmly led Su Tong to a quiet table and sat down, utterly unconcerned that the boy behind her was already so flustered by their hand-holding he could barely keep from blushing himself silly.

At last, they were settled.

Su Tong tried to rein in his nerves. It was his first time eating with a girl his own age… and a beautiful one at that. Still, he didn’t dare meet Su Tong’s eyes.

Su Tong, of course, didn’t care in the slightest. She watched the server approach with the menu, then snapped her fingers lightly.

“Actually, could you bring the manager over?”

“…Huh?”

The young server froze for a moment, then finally caught on and hurriedly bowed.

“Of course. Please wait a moment.”

Su Tong stared blankly.

He couldn’t understand why the girl insisted on calling over the manager. The server already had the menu; all they had to do was order. Hadn’t everything been fine since they walked in? Surely there was nothing the Young Lady wasn’t happy with.

That thought had barely made half a lap through his mind when Su Tong narrowed her eyes and answered his unspoken question.

“There’s nothing wrong with this place. It’s the most famous, most upscale Japanese restaurant in town, after all. I’ve just never eaten here before, so I don’t know what their signature dishes are. Might as well ask the manager to come recommend a few~”

“…Right.”

Su Tong nodded with some difficulty.

His usual approach to eating out was to find some little restaurant, order something, eat alone, then slip away. He’d never been to a high-end place like this, so he had no idea you could do that.

But Su Tong saw right through him again.

“It’s not that unusual. You order and pay just like anywhere else. Look around—aren’t the other customers just ordering off the menu and waiting for their food?”

“Then why are you…”

“Easy.” Su Tong smiled mischievously. “Because I have money. Money makes the world go round. Get it?!”

“…”

Su Tong could only swallow.

Now that was something.

So this was the magic of money, the advantage of class—the power of capital, laid bare in one tiny detail.

Su Tong suddenly felt his heart sink a little. He forced a bitter smile.

“Well, thanks for splurging on such a fancy restaurant and giving me a chance to see the world. I can never repay such a kindness…”

“…If you can never repay me, why not give yourself to me?”

Su Tong suddenly blinked her big eyes and picked up his line.

She didn’t look like she was joking. Her gaze stayed fixed on Su Tong’s eyes, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Oh no!

As Su Tong looked at the girl’s bright eyes and her lips, pink and dewy as cherry blossoms, his throat suddenly went dry. A restless itch stirred in his heart, as if some desire were slowly taking root.

Did he want to kiss her?

Yes!

He wanted to kiss her… but he couldn’t!

He pinched his thigh as hard as he could, using the pain to drive away the desire running wild inside him.

His heart settled again. He even felt like retreating into Su Tong’s eyes.

But the way he looked at Su Tong had changed. How could she possibly be an elegant, demure beauty?!

She was a demon!

Beautiful women were calamities, and Su Tong was beautiful enough to topple kingdoms. The slightest frown or smile from her was enough to bewitch anyone. And Su Tong was just an inexperienced, lovesick virgin, so he stood even less chance of resisting her charms.

One sentence was all it took to shatter his defenses!

Su Tong raised a hand to rub his nose, using the gesture to take two deep breaths. Only then did he barely manage to suppress the storm of emotions boiling inside him.

“Don’t joke like that.” He waved a hand, stiffly. “You’re a girl, after all. When girls say things like that… it’s best to be a little more reserved, right? Have some self-respect?”

He said it tentatively.

His heart was racing, and his muscles were close to cramping. But he’d finally said what he really thought, and once the words were out, he could at last breathe a little easier.

But Su Tong only smiled.

“What if I’m not joking?”

she asked softly.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

HEART AND LUNGS: STOPPED

Su Tong’s heart nearly gave out. He even forgot to breathe. His mouth hung open, his lips moving, but not a single word came out. It was as if his mind had suddenly slipped away, leaving only a muddle of bodily instincts behind.

What… was going on?

His brain struggled to form the question.

But there was no one who could answer him.

All he could do was gape at Su Tong, frozen like a stupid, dazed puppet.

Then the girl finally burst out laughing.

“Hahahahahaha, you actually believed me… I’m dying, I’m dying—oh, I can’t, I’m gonna die laughing! I was just joking with you, and you actually believed me! Hahahaha!”

Amid her merciless laughter, Su Tong finally managed a dazed, “Huh?” He scratched his head and regained the ability to think.

Had he… been tricked?

The realization came late, but then a tidal wave of embarrassment surged up inside him and instantly overwhelmed his thoughts… and he had no excuse to protest.

Fuck! (an insult)

Why had he gone and believed that demon’s sweet talk like an idiot?!

The boy wanted to cry but had no tears, and once again realized the girl really was a demon, not an angel.

Su Tong finally finished laughing and wiped away the tears her laughter had brought.

“I was just joking, and you actually believed me… But seriously, you actually believe in that old-fashioned idea that women should be reserved? Seeing you say that makes me shake with rage. It’s boiling hot and yet I’m drenched in cold sweat, my hands and feet are freezing. Can this society ever get any better? How are we women supposed to live before you’ll be satisfied? The tears are streaming down my face despite my best efforts. This country is full of oppression against women. When will we finally stop being discriminated against and truly stand on our own two feet?!”

But before she could finish, Su Tong herself burst out laughing.

Su Tong didn’t get the joke and had no idea what was going on, so all he could do was laugh awkwardly along with her.

When the girl finally finished laughing, she reached out and patted him on the shoulder. For once, her expression turned serious.

“Anyway, remember this. It’s the first lesson I’m teaching you: whether a girl needs to be reserved is up to her, and whether a man wants to be strong and manly is up to him. So don’t judge anyone or anything by preconceived notions!”

[To be continued]