The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 195

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 195
195
What do you think is the most important thing in romance?
Many would say it’s appearance or wealth.
I don’t think that’s entirely wrong.
It’s true that you need at least some baseline to even begin a relationship.
Just as everyone has their own standards for appearance, no matter how much they claim not to care.
Wealth is no different.
As long as there’s minimal financial stability, most people can pursue romance without major obstacles.
In other words, it might not be the most important factor after all.
While what matters most in romance certainly varies from person to person, the most commonly cited factor is timing.
No matter how much two people care for each other.
If the timing isn’t right, romance often fails to materialize.
Jin-woo and Gia had a considerable chance of becoming one such case.
Both Jin-woo and Gia viewed each other very favorably.
Yet neither had found the courage to act.
Most critically, in the beginning, neither had truly understood their own feelings, making it highly likely nothing would have happened.
Without his younger sister Min-ah or his friend Young-jin, Jin-woo might still be oblivious to his own heart.
Gia was in the same position.
Without Da-in and Eun-mi, she would still be ignorant of her feelings.
And now, these two had finally reached the moment just before confirming each other’s hearts.
Gia had dressed up carefully just to come to the Korean BBQ Restaurant, while Jin-woo gazed at her with his soul practically floating away.
At his reaction, Gia too could feel relief wash over her.
‘Thank goodness.’
Her older sisters had drilled it into her ears so much that she’d already suspected it.
That Jin-woo liked her.
But knowing something and feeling anxiety about it are two entirely different matters, aren’t they?
No matter how much her sisters reassured her, that nagging anxiety had always lingered in a corner of her heart—until now, when it finally vanished completely.
Just look at the light in Jin-woo’s eyes as he gazes at her.
If that wasn’t the look of someone in love, then something was seriously wrong.
However.
‘…I’m, I’m so embarrassed.’
Being stared at so intently made her incredibly self-conscious.
Had she overdone it?
Was it too much?
Such needless doubts were creeping into her mind.
As Jin-woo continued to gaze at her with his wits scattered.
Young-jin chuckled at the sight of him, then turned to Hye-jung and spoke.
“This guy’s completely lost it.”
“Hehe, I know, right.”
“What, what did you say?”
Jin-woo, who had only just snapped back to attention at Young-jin and Hye-jung’s words, belatedly echoed the question, and both Young-jin and Hye-jung shook their heads.
In any case, this reaction was considerably delayed.
Even though his in-game response speed was transcendent.
“Hey, what are you doing? Why didn’t you bring Gia?”
“Oh, right.”
At Young-jin’s words, Jin-woo rose from his seat.
Gia, as if only then regaining her senses, approached Jin-woo’s table with shy hesitation.
Watching Gia approach, Jin-woo unconsciously swallowed hard.
Why did she look so beautiful today?
I knew well that Gia had put in effort.
Yet somehow, she looked even more beautiful.
Was it because of what Young-jin had said?
I felt oddly nervous.
“…You came?”
“Yes…”
“Let’s sit down first.”
Jin-woo spoke as casually as possible, and Gia couldn’t hide her response, answering shyly.
A slightly awkward yet fresh atmosphere flowed between them, and Young-jin and Hye-jung maintained knowing smiles as they watched.
This never got old, no matter how many times they saw it.
As Gia and Jin-woo settled into their seats and grew somewhat awkward with each other.
Young-jin was about to step in and speak.
But Gia beat him to it.
“I, I thought you’d already know why I came… so I’ll tell you right away.”
“Huh, huh?”
As Gia pushed forward boldly yet stumbled over her words from embarrassment, Jin-woo heard her and became deeply flustered.
And Young-jin and Hye-jung, watching the two of them, dropped their jaws in astonishment.
To be honest, Young-jin and Hye-jung had thought it would take much longer to reach this point.
Jin-woo felt the same way, and Gia had been single too.
They had planned to ease the tension by drinking together and gradually progress the conversation.
But to think she’d come out with such a direct fastball!
Since they hadn’t expected things to unfold this way, both wore expressions of shock as they looked at the pair.
Even the people at the surrounding tables had become attentive.
It seemed more people had overheard the conversation between Young-jin and Jin-woo than expected.
Well, you can’t resist watching something like this.
Where else would you get to see something like this?
Though the attention of many people had gathered.
Gia and Jin-woo couldn’t even notice it.
Right now, they had their hands full focusing only on each other.
The Korean BBQ Restaurant fell silent, free from any loud chatter or raised voices.
The Korean BBQ Restaurant was filled with nothing but the sound of meat sizzling on the grill.
Sizzzzzzle――.
Gulp.
Even the sound of someone swallowing at a nearby table seemed audible.
Leaving the Korean BBQ Restaurant now shrouded in silence behind, Gia exhaled a trembling breath.
“Hhhhh.”
I could feel how much my breathing quivered.
Just how much I was shaking was evident.
And Jin-woo was no different.
He swallowed hard, his every nerve unconsciously drawn toward Gia.
He gazed at her, capturing every detail.
And Gia’s crimson lips parted.
“…I like you, oppa.”
As calmly as possible.
She spoke with her heart laid bare.
Before uttering those words, she had felt trembling, overwhelming fear and dread.
Her heart felt as though it might burst, her throat constricted as if no sound could escape.
Yet when she finally spoke, her voice was steadier and more composed than anyone could have managed.
Because it came from the deepest sincerity.
She had spoken with her whole heart.
At Gia’s words, every person in the restaurant turned their gaze to Jin-woo.
Piercing eyes demanding he accept her immediately, silent pressure bearing down!
But Jin-woo felt none of it.
The moment he heard those words, the world seemed to stop—he saw nothing, heard nothing else.
Jin-woo could not remain silent after hearing that confession.
He closed his eyes briefly, then nodded.
And gathering his courage, he spoke.
“I like you too, Gia.”
At those words, the restaurant erupted as customers leaped from their seats, shouting.
“Woooooow!”
“Kyaaaaa!”
“Date her! Date her! Date her!”
Clap! Clap! Clap!
As if the whole world blessed them, everyone stood and cheered for Jin-woo and Gia, and Young-jin and Hye-jung were no exception.
Bewildered by these strange people, Jin-woo and Gia exchanged glances.
But amused by their clamor, Jin-woo gazed at Gia with slightly trembling eyes.
And he spoke shyly.
“Let’s date.”
Jin-woo spoke first, and Gia nodded shyly in response.
Thus ended the long period of uncertainty, and the moment their romance began.
* * *
In essence, Gia had been the one to confess.
She had said she liked me first, after all.
Jin-woo had asked to date her afterward, but that weighed on his mind somewhat.
People might say such things don’t happen in this day and age.
But here I was, a man unable to confess first, having let a woman confess to me instead.
‘That’s not right.’
I felt quite sorry about that.
One could argue that it didn’t matter who confessed, regardless of gender, but my heart felt considerably uncomfortable.
I was ashamed of my own cowardice, yet grateful to Gia at the same time.
So I told Young-jin and Hye-jung that we would be leaving, and took Gia outside the restaurant.
Young-jin and Hye-jung were concerned too, but it seemed we wouldn’t be able to stay long in that restaurant.
All the customers were acting strangely.
Anyway, as we stepped outside with Gia.
Several customers applauded and congratulated us, wishing us well in our relationship.
I wondered if strangers really went this far normally.
But well, what did it matter.
We held hands for the first time as we stepped out, and I spoke to Gia.
“Um, I was so grateful that you found the courage first, I felt like I couldn’t just sit still.”
“Oh, yes.”
Watching Gia nod shyly, I too found myself thinking hard for a moment.
To be honest, there was so much I could give her materially.
I could buy her Cartier rings or bracelets as couple items, or give her all sorts of luxury gifts.
But for some reason, I didn’t want to do that.
Gia had plenty of money anyway.
So I thought it better to do something more valuable than that right now, and took her to a small coffee shop.
Not a franchise café, but one run by an individual.
It was so small that there were at most five tables.
Though tiny, the café was cozy and well-decorated, making it more charming than expected.
Of course, on a Friday night like this, there were no customers at all.
I brought her to this quiet café, and we each ordered a coffee and sat down.
“Actually, giving you a gift for being brave first feels off, and I learned that material rewards aren’t the way to repay kindness. So I brought you here so we could chat comfortably together. I feel a bit awkward pretending to have something grand planned.”
“Oh, no! I love this!”
Gia replied with clear satisfaction, and her expression genuinely looked delighted.
Well, what wouldn’t be good about this?
We were both lovers who had just started dating.
When you’re at that stage, just holding hands and walking together is enough—what else matters?
Watching Gia smile bashfully with her head lowered, I too smiled quietly at the sight.
Even now, it doesn’t feel real that we’re dating.
But soon we settled in and began to talk.
It wasn’t really an important conversation.
Stories about how they’d each lived their lives?
These weren’t conversations with any particular agenda or ulterior motive.
Just stories meant to understand each other better.
As their gentle chatter flowed on, the two of them laughed warmly and chattered away, their conversation blossoming with revelations about one another.
Gradually, I learned more about her, and here I discovered something entirely unexpected.
“Oh, really? So that’s how it was.”
“Yes, yes. I don’t usually tell other people about this, so I wasn’t able to mention it to you beforehand, oppa. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. These things happen.”
Gia’s family was, in fact, quite wealthy.
More than that—they were one of the top Conglomerates in the country.
Jin-woo nodded as if it didn’t matter, and Gia, who had already worked herself into a panic, gulped nervously and spoke urgently.
“I, it’s! N, not like those Conglomerate families you see on TV or in movies…. Um, how do I put this.”
“I understand what you mean. I wasn’t that worried about it anyway, so don’t stress.”
“Ah, okay.”
Watching Gia lower her head shyly as she smiled bashfully, Jin-woo chuckled, finding her adorable.
I had suspected she came from a well-off family.
But the granddaughter of a group chairman, no less.
Well, what did it matter anyway?
From what I’d heard, Gia’s parents were quite open-minded, and they didn’t have that typical Conglomerate image at all.
Gia had said so herself, after all.
There was no need to worry.
Besides.
‘I’m wealthy enough myself, aren’t I?’
Even if not a Conglomerate, I was certainly rich enough.
I wasn’t inferior in any way.
How many people in this country have over 100 billion won in liquid assets?
And above all, even if it’s just a game, I’ve reached the pinnacle in my field.
I wouldn’t simply squander 100 billion won.
Regardless, Jin-woo and Gia continued to blossom in conversation, and thus their first day of dating was passing by.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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