Alex's apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator in the corner and the occasional distant sound of city life outside.
The stew sat on the counter, steam still rising from its surface as Mia shifted uneasily on her feet. Despite her earlier calm, there was a new tension between them—an unspoken awareness that hadn't been there when she first knocked on the door.
Mia's eyes flickered to the photo on the table again, and Alex caught the brief, almost imperceptible glance.
He didn't know why, but the fleeting moment seemed important. It felt like something more than just a casual neighbourly visit.
"So," Alex began, breaking the silence, "you said it was a family recipe?"
Mia nodded, but there was something in her gaze that lingered a little longer on him than it should.
"Yeah, my husband... he swears by it. It's his favourite meal. I figured I'd bring some over." The words should have sounded innocent, but Alex could feel the weight of the situation shift, the tiny spark of curiosity mingling with something else—something more personal.
His eyes dropped to the container as his thoughts drifted, feeling a strange awareness of her presence in his space.
Status Panel:
Target: Mia
Emotional Affinity: Moderate.
Compatibility: High.
Trust Level: [Moderate]
Attraction Level: [Dormant]
Loyalty: [Locked]
Emotional Vulnerability: [Analyzed...]
Alex's eyes traced the details of her posture, her subtle action as she moved a bit, the delicate way her fingers rested on the counter, along with the sense of tension between her action, which looked completely different from the way she was before.
The numbers from his app seemed to float in his mind, ticking right away at the thought of her reaction. He needed to be careful, to stay in control.
"You look like you've got a lot on your mind," Alex said, his tone casual but knowing, a flicker of thoughts that came from the application urging him to probe something more and deep.
Mia didn't immediately respond. Instead, she seemed to study him, as though weighing her next words carefully.
For a moment, Alex could feel the trust level between them—and along with the slight hesitation that mirrored his own feelings of uncertainty. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do with the unexpected and complicated situation it was developing into.
Alex stepped aside with a polite gesture, holding the door open wider for Mia to enter. "Come on in. You don't have to stand out there." Although he was unsure whether she had noticed the small dent on his lower, he made an effort to appear composed.
Based on her expression, he assumed she had, or perhaps his thoughts were causing him to think.
Mia hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod, stepping over the threshold and into the modest apartment.
She glanced around, taking in the neatness of the space, the warm glow from the small lamp in the corner. It was quiet—almost too quiet—and she felt the weight of the silence pressing in.
Alex gestured toward the couch. "Please, make yourself comfortable." Although it was all formality and all from his side, he still sat down quickly to hide the slight dent.
Though making her come in only made his imagination fire up more.
Mia smiled softly and walked over, setting her bag down on the side table before sitting down, the slight rustling of fabric breaking the silence. She folded her hands on her lap, her fingers twitching slightly, as if unsure of what to do next.
"So," Alex said, breaking the awkwardness as he sat across from her in an armchair. "Also, thanks for the stew. It'll help a lot. I haven't had anything home-cooked in a while."
"Really?" Mia asked, her tone soft with surprise. "But you're always so... put together. I figured you'd have your meals planned out." Alex chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I try to keep things simple. Cereal for breakfast, takeout for dinner. I don't exactly have a culinary genius living with me to keep me on track." He answered kindly, making sure to behave like the previous host even though he was certain that the changes had been made.
He might as well make the necessary corrections before meeting his mother.
Alex took a step back and gave a casual shrug as he finally made up his mind to make a move before he would regret this chance.
"You know, I was about to grab something to drink before you came by. How about a quick drink?" Mia glanced over at him, then at the bottle in his hand, which looked fine for the time being. She gave a small nod.
"Sure, why not? I could use a little something." Alex smiled and grabbed two bottles from the counter.
He twisted off the cap with a satisfying pop and handed her one of the bottles. The label read Tempest Gold, a local favourite, known for its crisp, fruity flavour.
"Here. It's a local brew," Alex said as he took a sip from his own bottle. "Not bad for a quick drink." Mia took the bottle, giving it a small tilt.
"Tempest Gold, huh? I've had this before." She said, her voice a bit more relaxed than before. "It's decent." The drink went down smoothly, and the mild fruity aftertaste was refreshing.
She leaned back slightly, glancing around the apartment again as she took another sip.
While Alex's eyes were on her neck.
With the fine curve and beautiful figure, he was certain that she could be the female lead, and with his mind on it, he used the 'Identification' skill on her.
Character Profile: Mia
Name: Mia (NTR Webtoon Protagonist)
Status: Married (Kian—Husband)
Affection: [Moderate]
Attraction: [Mild]
Interest in Host: [High]
Loyalty: [Locked]
Emotional Barriers: Present, High
Compatibility: [High]
Sexual Interest: [Moderate]
Personality Traits:
Reluctant Affection: Struggles to balance her desires with marital expectations.
Conflict Between Duty and Desire: Strong internal conflict regarding her marriage and external connections.
Emotional Vulnerability: High potential for emotional influence, especially from outsiders.
'Hmm...' After using it for the first time.
Now that he was aware that the system and application were genuine, Alex's mind was at ease because he could see that this was a strange enough proof, and he was already planning his strategy based on how high the sexual interest she had toward him.
Given with a thought, he accessed the application and clicked on increasing the sexual desire to a notch.
New Character Profile Update:
Sexual Interest: [Moderate] (Increased by Host using VEP) ↦ [High]
Although with it, he did not see any direct change in her expression.
"Also, about the thing from the alley. Don't worry! I had no intention of enclosing it to your husband or daughter. So, you can relax a bit around me." Alex's sudden words took Mia by surprise, but with that, a small but sweet smile appeared on her face.
"Thanks!" He was certain that at this moment, her voice sounded tranquil, just like how she talked in the elevator. "Though, I was hoping for something more." This time, it was Alex's turn to tease her, as he spoke with a teasing smile.
"Is that so? Hmm." Saying that Mia smiled mischievously as before, as she walked toward Alex, front and losing her jeans, by opening the button and with tight-fit clothing sat on Alex's legs, with her hand grabbing Alex's pointing rod.
"This little guy was expecting a lot the moment he entered your room, I guess."
"What do you expect? I am a guy. Plus, after seeing that, anyone would have a similar thought: You look way too sexy to completely ignore or forget it." Saying that, Alex simply sealed her lips, and with her eyes shut, she did not try to resist against the kiss, and her delicate arm crossed around his neck, they simply enjoyed the sensation on their lips.