BJ Villainess Chapter 367

* * *

“Should we move?”

 

The contract for our one-room apartment was about to expire. It wasn’t unbearably uncomfortable living with him in this cramped space, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable either. This was the moment to start thinking about finding a more pleasant place to live.

 

“Let’s do it,” Ozworld responded as if he didn’t know how to say no to me.

 

He looks so picky, but he’s surprisingly easygoing. Once, I asked Ozworld why he had no preferences, and he just laughed. He said that was the first time anyone had ever told him that.

 

From that day, we started looking for a new place to live together. The funds were more than I expected. I had no idea where the money came from, but thanks to him taking care of all our meals and necessities, our expenses had dropped drastically. Even so, it wasn’t quite enough to get a proper home.

 

I looked wistfully at an old villa. The villa was old, but the neighborhood was quiet and the view was nice.

 

“This is the best option so far, but…” Even if we got a loan for the deposit, the monthly rent was still a burden.

 

“Should we live here?” His question wasn’t about renting, it was about buying.

 

At this point, I was really curious. “Are you rich?”

 

Ozworld made a face that said he didn’t want to answer. Maybe because we’d spent so much time together, I could now read this alien’s feelings pretty well. That expression meant he was worried I might kick him out if he admitted he was rich.

 

I whispered quietly so the realtor couldn’t hear. “Is this money from illegal sources?”

 

“It’s from sources with no laws yet.”

 

So, alien currency?

 

As soon as the realtor sensed we were considering a purchase, he perked up like a fisherman spotting a bite. “Are you going to buy? This is perfect for newlyweds!” He seemed convinced we were a married couple.

 

“Really? How much is it?” I didn’t bother to correct him and asked directly.

 

Ozworld seemed surprised by my calm reaction.

 

“So, what do you think?”

 

“About what?”

 

“You heard the price. Aren’t you buying?”

 

As a young worker just starting out, there was no way I could afford Seoul’s outrageous housing prices.

 

Ozworld smiled that enchanting smile of his again. “Yeah, I’ll buy it.”

 

The purchase happened in an instant.

 

I guess now I’ll be living off Ozworld. And in such a lovely house, too.

 

“I like it here. Are you really okay with this, Oz?”

 

“I like it too.”

 

No matter how you looked at it, he seemed more suited for an insanely expensive place with a Han River view… Or maybe a castle. But actually, this villa’s poetic atmosphere did suit him, like a still from a romance movie.

 

Ozworld made a strange expression upon hearing my thoughts. “I don’t like houses like that anymore, Jiwoo.” He said ‘anymore,’ which meant that in the past, he must have lived in amazing places.

 

“Why? Did you use to live in a castle?”

 

“…It’ll take about a month to renovate the interior here.”

 

“You’re dodging the question. So, it’s true, huh?”

 

That day, I learned a bit about Ozworld’s past.

 

“…You were an emperor?”

 

“Once, yes.”

 

Is being emperor something you can just quit like that?

 

The former emperor, Ozworld, was now bundled up in a black long padded coat—an absolute necessity in Korea. But now it kind of looks like a cape.

 

I tucked my hands into my sleeves and bowed at the waist like a court eunuch. “I had no idea I was in the presence of such nobility…”

 

Ozworld smacked his forehead like he couldn’t take it. “Enough.”

 

“I will obey your imperial command…”

 

“Sigh…”

 

On the way home, I kept playing the role of his loyal eunuch. He made a new expression I’d never seen before. Looking slightly annoyed, only the corner of his mouth was lifting, and somehow, that made him even more attractive.

 

Hmm. I must be seriously infatuated.

 

Ozworld always looked like an arrogant noble when expressionless, but now that he deliberately put on a bothered look, he seemed like a villain. Maybe that’s why my heart kept pounding and I couldn’t stop teasing him.

 

“Your Highneees.”

 

Ozworld was getting used to it because he played along after a few minutes.

 

“It’s Your Majesty.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Maybe it was because it came from a real ex-emperor, he sounded extremely authoritative.

 

“Your posture is all wrong.” He stood behind me as I bowed with my hands in my sleeves and corrected my stance. “You hold the dress here, bow your head slightly, like this.”

 

I put one hand over my chest, grabbed the hem of my long padded coat with the other, and bent my knees.

 

Ozworld leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “Shin Jiwoo pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

 

“…”

 

“If you’d like, I can teach you the knight’s salute—”

 

I turned and kissed him. For some reason, I found Ozworld so irresistibly sexy that I just couldn’t help myself.

 

* * *

It was the first day after moving into our newly renovated home.

 

“Wow…”

 

Luckily, it started snowing heavily in the afternoon, right after we finished moving.

 

“This feels so nice. I’m really glad we moved here.”

 

I gazed out the living room window, and Ozworld quietly watched me.

 

“What?”

 

“I feel like I hardly know you.”

 

I didn’t know why he was suddenly being so self-reflective, but I gently comforted the slightly gloomy Ozworld. “We haven’t known each other that long. If you’re curious about anything, just ask.”

 

He looked at me for a moment, then turned to gaze out the window. “I’m glad we moved here.”

 

“Why are you repeating what I said?”

 

Only then did Ozworld burst into a bright smile. He looked attractive even when he seemed sad, but his smile was definitely the best.

 

The next day, our house was suddenly filled with potted plants.

 

“What is all this?”

 

It was nice that the house felt more lively with so many plants, but it was still a bit puzzling. I just couldn’t picture Ozworld as someone who takes care of plants. He said, of course, they were for me to take care of.

 

“What? But I’ve never even kept a cactus alive before.”

 

“That’s okay. You’ll do great.”

 

I had no idea what made him so sure, but the new forced hobby quickly became a genuine interest.

 

“There’s another sprout! Even in this winter.”

 

Maybe it was because they were indoor plants, but they kept sprouting regardless of the season.

 

Ozworld hugged me from behind and said, “Spring is coming soon.”

 

At those words, I looked outside. Everything was still barren and bare, but the snow was melting.

 

* * *

[Are you working late again today?]

 

[Yeah ㅠㅠ]

 

[Okay]

 

“Haaaah…”

 

How many days in a row have I been working late now? We were trying to launch a follow-up to <God’s Play> before the success from the original wore off, so my workload was overwhelming.

 

I stared blankly at the bright blue monitor, looking completely wilted. What I really wanted to see was not these pixels, but the face of that alien masterpiece.

 

“At least we’re young, even if we don’t have money!”

 

Senior Seonga received some eye rolls with her startup CEO-like speech—full of passion, but lacking a plan.

 

“Ughhh.”

 

“Please stop making those monster noises.”

 

After falling in love with an alien, I came to an unfortunate realization. When you’re satisfied with real life, you don’t care as much about games, which used to be your whole world.

 

“I think I get it. Isn’t it like how artists can’t create when they’re happy?”

 

“Yeah, it’s just like that.”

 

I was agreeing with Wonwoo’s plausible analysis when Senior Seonga snorted.

 

“Our great coding artist! Stop the nonsense and get to work!” She could tell I was hinting that I wanted to go home, since I didn’t want to work.

 

As we finished our pointless chatter and got back to work, someone knocked on the office door. We weren’t expecting visitors.

 

“Who is it?”

 

Senior Seonga opened the door, and in walked an unbelievably handsome man, practically radiating light. It was Ozworld.

 

“Hello.” He showed up carrying a fancy lunchbox, coffee, and snacks. “I heard Jiwoo was working late with her coworkers.”

 

“Ah… Aah… Yes…! Please come in!”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Maybe it was because I saw his face just when I needed it most. Or maybe it was because, instead of his usual bundled-up long coat, he was wearing an unnecessarily sexy jacket. But the moment Ozworld walked in, my heart started pounding so hard I thought it would burst, and my face turned bright red.