One of the top five conglomerates responsible for a significant portion of the country’s economy, Taemyeong Group was a global enterprise encompassing food, construction, finance, insurance, and distribution. Recently, they had even expanded into the entertainment industry.
Leading Taemyeong, Lee Heontae was a respected businessman recognized not just in Korea but globally.
“Jinhyuk killed Jinwoo? If that’s the case, we can’t just let it pass.”
“I’ll investigate this matter first.”
Chief Choi, Lee Heontae’s closest aide for over 20 years, assured as he tucked the letter away.
“And Jae-ho?”
Lee Heontae first inquired about Jae-ho. He doted on Jae-ho, the precious lineage left by his deceased eldest son Jinwoo, like his own. Unaware of his grandson’s existence for 17 years, his affection was even deeper.
“He went on a trip to rest after finishing a movie shoot.”
“That, that movie! Movies! Tell him to quit all that nonsense immediately and take charge of one of the subsidiaries.”
“He seems to find that work more interesting for now, Chairman.”
“It can’t continue like this. We can’t keep hiding the heir to the group forever, and if by any chance the letter’s contents are true…”
Lee Heontae sighed deeply and continued.
“If a man capable of killing his own brother could do something to his nephew… Before Jinhyuk makes a move, Jae-ho must solidify his position. He needs to establish his power while I still have the strength.”
Lee Heontae closed his eyes, contemplating his three sons.
Jinwoo. Jinhyuk. Jinmyeong.
Jinwoo, the eldest, had both leadership and empathy. Heontae had groomed him as the successor, pinning Taemyeong’s future on him. But Jinwoo died tragically in an accident before he turned thirty. That was already 30 years ago, just a month before his arranged marriage.
After that, Jinhyuk coveted power. Always ambitious, he began to show his dark intentions after his brother’s death.
Heontae loved all his sons, but handing over the company was another matter. He never considered giving Taemyeong to the less capable Jinhyuk.
Jinmyeong, the youngest, was as intelligent as Jinwoo but lacked ambition, showing no interest in management.
Therefore, Heontae lavished all support on Jae-ho, grooming him as the perfect successor. However, his elusive grandson refused to toe the line.
“Chief Choi, go find Jae-ho and relay my message. Also, check firsthand what this trip of his looks like. Make sure he isn’t doing something strange like sleeping in a car while camping under the stars or anything.”
The man tapped the steering wheel lightly.
“You can’t go home today.”
Understanding his meaning, Dajeong let go of his hand in confusion. Jae-ho leisurely enjoyed Dajeong’s discomfiture before speaking softly.
“Let’s finish our conversation. What happens to us after a month?”
Dajeong held her breath for a moment.
She had spent the entire previous day cooped up in her room, thinking about Jae-ho. Considering whether it was okay to engage in a ‘some’ relationship with him as he had proposed. She even consulted tarot cards, which she usually didn’t believe in, but the answer was vague, ‘Trust your decision!’
The more she tried to deny it, the clearer Jae-ho’s smiling face appeared in her mind. She had indeed fallen under the spell of this strange land.
Honestly, Dajeong wanted to try it. A ‘some’ relationship. Isn’t it a dreamlike thing? Falling in love with her favorite star. She persuaded herself that she deserved such luck in her life.
‘Let’s do it.’
But it was different when she returned to Seoul.
She knew too well how popular and wealthy Jae-ho was. Dajeong was well aware of his collection of luxury items and their astronomical prices.
Moreover, Jae-ho’s luxury villa in Hannam-dong was outrageously expensive. A world beyond Dajeong’s reach, even in her wildest dreams.
Dajeong believed that in love and marriage, people should be of similar conditions. If one side is slightly tilted, there should be a limit; if there’s a vast difference, both parties would eventually be unhappy.
Jae-ho and Dajeong were too distinctly different. Her father’s debts still being paid off, her mother’s medical expenses. The small amount of savings, which would be used for her mother’s treatment if her condition worsened.
Just one month of deviation was enough. She could live happily for the rest of her life with that memory. Dajeong dared not dream beyond that.
A man living in the glamorous spotlight and herself didn’t match at all.
But honestly, she saved her response, thinking he might persist more aggressively if she answered.
“Huh? Tell me. What will you do if I don’t let you go?”
“Um. Let’s talk about that later.”
Jae-ho tilted his head slightly. He didn’t seem pleased but replied gently.
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
“Okay.”
“Alright. We’ll talk about it later.”
As Jae-ho started parking the car in the market parking lot, he nodded his head. He began reversing with smooth handling.
“But, shall we make a bet, Yun Dajeong?”
“What?”
As he turned the steering wheel, resting one arm on the seat, he locked his gaze with hers.
“I have a feeling you won’t be able to leave easily.”
His attitude was confident, tinged with playfulness.
“How about a bet with all my possessions? I doubt I’ll lose.”
Jae-ho wondered if he even knew the extent of his wealth. Such jokes came too easily to him. Dajeong smiled awkwardly.
It was a promise that would be forgotten in a month anyway. Whatever she answered wouldn’t matter. Dajeong nodded her head, casually agreeing to the insincere promise.
“Sure.”
An inconsequential promise was made.
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
