Gyungmi placed Dajeong in a sunny spot and handed her a glass of water.
“How have you been lately? Kyungjun is worried a lot. Naturally, I am too.”
“I’m doing well. Same as always.”
Dajeong awkwardly replied, avoiding Gyungmi’s gaze. It was evident that she was trying to keep her struggles to herself.
“Is it difficult? Because of Mom? Or… because of Mr. Jaeho?”
A shadow crossed her face. Gyungmi briefly hugged and then released Dajeong.
“It’s okay. You can tell your sister. You must be feeling overwhelmed… right? Because of your mom? Or maybe… because of Mr. Jaeho?”
She looked troubled. Dajeong, as if about to make a sound, briefly opened her mouth but closed it again. She sighed, looked out the window, took a sip of water.
“It’s unsettling. Isn’t it? To think he was a chaebol. And not just any chaebol, but Taemyeong.”
“…”
“No, as soon as I heard that Yoon Dajeong is dating Mr. Jaeho, news broke out that he’s a chaebol. How surprised I must have been. Right?”
Gyungmi lightly tapped Dajeong’s shoulder, seeking agreement, but Dajeong didn’t react.
“Even so, you met Jaeho, who was like a dream, and had a passionate romance. It’s a successful life, isn’t it? Think positively. When a man and a woman meet, they may eventually break up.”
“…”
“Why are you like that? Don’t tell me you’ve already broken up?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
The person who was cleaning came in and tidied up the surroundings. After Dajeong and Gyungmi exchanged greetings, they paused for a moment of conversation. Dajeong, who was fidgeting with a water cup, opened her mouth slightly.
“Sister.”
“Yeah.”
“I…”
A voice resembling the winter wind.
“Is there a future with that person?”
She uttered a bitterly lonely remark.
“Can I marry him?”
Even after saying it, Dajeong smiled slightly. The laughter scattered crisply in the air.
“It’s probably impossible. I know that too.”
Gyungmi couldn’t say anything. It wasn’t the moment for awkward comfort.
“That person has a watch that he carries every day, and it costs 200 million. Sister.”
“Dajeong.”
“Right now, even if I marry an ordinary person, I don’t have enough money to prepare a dowry. I’ve thought about marrying that person, but I can’t even imagine how much money it would take. Besides, I don’t have parents…”
“Is he going to get married?”
Gyungmi asked in surprise.
“Oh, no, rather, did you think about marriage?”
Gyungmi was a realistic person. When Jaeho’s identity as the third-generation heir to the chaebol was revealed, she naturally thought that Dajeong and he would break up. It might hurt, but wasn’t that the reality? Whatever Jaeho’s feelings, whatever feelings Yoon Dajeong had, it wasn’t important.
Sometimes, when she saw the wives of chaebol families flashing their faces in the news, each household seemed splendid. Entrepreneurs or politicians. Or prominent figures like university presidents or hospital directors.
It wasn’t a position Dajeong could hold. It was better not to have aspirations in the first place. Awkward hopes only made Dajeong more difficult.
“No. I just thought about it by myself.”
Dajeong said.
“He doesn’t say anything. I just, by myself, imagined it.”
That must be it. Gyungmi nodded.
If he’s that kind of person, dating and marriage would naturally be separate.
It was somewhat pitiful that Dajeong, who had only imagined marriage by herself, didn’t know. Just because you date doesn’t mean you have to get married. Especially with someone like Jaeho, who was revealed to be a chaebol. It might hurt, but wasn’t that the reality? Whatever Jaeho’s feelings, whatever feelings Yoon Dajeong had, it wasn’t important.
“Okay… But, Dajeong, wouldn’t it be better to see the situation realistically?”
What a dilemma.
Gyungmi gathered her courage and spoke heavily.
“Even if you happen to get married… won’t your life become too difficult?”
To adjust to such a prestigious family, she would have to give up many things.
“Maybe you won’t even be able to choose a single piece of clothing as you like.”
As cruel as it might sound to say this, Gyungmi hoped that Dajeong wouldn’t be dragged along for too long. From Jaeho’s perspective, it wouldn’t matter if they continued to meet as he pleased, but it was different for Dajeong. It was obvious that she would be exhausted every day by the side of a man she couldn’t have.
“Just clothes? You won’t be able to speak comfortably with just one word.”
“…I haven’t even thought about that.”
Whether she would marry Ochae-won, as the media speculated, or become the mistress of another wealthy family, Dajeong had no such options.
Gyungmi could never witness Dajeong becoming someone’s secret lover. She bravely revealed her hidden feelings.
“Dajeong, you know, I don’t have any intention to get married.”
“…”
Our friendship is going that way. Oh, of course, I wasn’t dating with Wooyeong, but still, we were a bit excited about each other. But… after breaking up like that, all men have been nothing but trouble.”
“Sister, why are you suddenly saying this?”
“Since some time ago, my life goal has become to marry you and Gyeongjun. That’s enough for me. So, I wanted to tell you, do you have about 3,000 saved for your marriage fund, sister?”
“Sister…!”
Dajeong’s eyes widened at the sudden confession.
“It’s a lot of money for me. Of course, it’s a lot for you too. Do you have around 3,000 saved for your wedding expenses? That’s what I mean. Is it enough for a normal marriage, in general?”
Gyungmi emphasized the phrase ‘normal marriage’ and looked straight into Dajeong’s eyes.
“If you add that money, can you marry Jaeho?”
!
Ah.
The moment Jaeho was attached to the word 3,000, it felt like a small amount of money compared to the cost of a man’s watch. 3,000. An insignificant amount, even for ordinary marriage.
Dajeong understood what Gyungmi wanted to say and turned her head.
Gyungmi continued, “Don’t bother trying to remarry. Except for the rent, clean up everything, including the hospital retirement pay. How much do you think you can save, Dajeong? Don’t try to count it for a mere marriage, honey. It seems like Oh Chaewon is going to give something like 10 billion.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
