The place Jaeho brought Dajeong to was a cafe on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. Perhaps because it was in the suburbs, there wasn’t a single customer at any of the tables.
Could it be that Jaeho reserved the entire place?
Dajeong glanced around for a moment, then raised her head. No matter how famous of an actor he was, it seemed too forced.
“Let’s talk today.”
The man, perfectly set like he was posing for a suit photoshoot, exuded a dignified aura. Sitting slanted, crossing his legs, he absentmindedly touched his eyebrows before speaking first.
“After spending such an intense time.”
“…”
“If you disappear without a word, have you thought about how it would make me feel? Have you ever thought about it?”
Avoiding eye contact with the man by wandering her gaze, Dajeong’s eyes eventually landed on her sneakers. Dajeong’s toes curled towards herself.
“I distinctly said that there is no end for us.”
“…”
“Miss Yoon Dajeong also seemed to agree with her actions.”
“…”
“Next time, we promised to go camping together and see the stars. Why did you run away after saying that? Well, was it all a lie?”
Dajeong, infuriated at the word “lie,” clenched her fist.
It was Jaeho who lied. From the beginning, their meeting was a lie, yet he shamelessly pushed the blame of being a liar onto her. Moreover, the day before, Dajeong clearly conveyed her opinion to end things here. Jaeho blatantly ignored it as well.
“I can’t end it.”
The man spoke with an arrogant look.
“If it’s not dating, we’ll be lovers from now on.”
Unable to endure any longer, Dajeong spoke up.
“Is that person naturally this self-centered?”
The man’s gaze poured onto her face.
“Don’t you listen to what others say at all? I clearly said let’s end it. I said I’ll stop. Why are you ignoring people’s words?”
“…”
“Keep coming like this. I hate it. I really don’t want to see you anymore. Why do you keep making me uncomfortable?”
“What’s the problem, Yoon Dajeong?”
Jaeho also showed a bit of irritation.
“Why are you pushing me away? I really don’t understand. Explain it to me.”
“…”
“You tremble just looking at me. Don’t spout nonsense like I became hated overnight. You should answer properly.”
The man, who spouted words far from warmth, drank his coffee without hiding his annoyance. It was exactly the image of Jaeho, the celebrity, that Dajeong had imagined. Self-centered, cold, a bit neurotic, and with no manners.
The man who used to laugh off even silly jokes vanished like a mirage.
“I told you before. When the trip is over, I will return to reality.”
“What reality are you talking about?”
The man pressed on without giving her a chance to breathe.
“Tell me. A 16-square-meter rental apartment? Dad’s remaining debt of some 200 million won? Medical expenses for the nursing home? You know very well that I can easily solve such a reality.”
I hadn’t planned to say it like this. With a heart that cares for you and wanting to share your difficulties, Jaeho had intended to kindly convey words about the surrounding situation. However, he couldn’t overcome the momentary emotions, and his voice trembled.
It was too difficult to maintain composure in front of Dajeong, who kept running away.
“What in the world…”
Dajeong’s expression turned to astonishment.
Even if we assume it’s possible to guess about the apartment after a hundred concessions, she had never talked about her father’s debt even once. It was a miserable reality that she didn’t want to reveal to him, a man living the brightest life. She never wanted to show her life, which was not even average, let alone far below average, to him.
Dajeong’s eyes turned red with shame.
“Did you purposely investigate about me? Did you know everything? What else do you know besides that? Why…!”
“Do you know how much interest there is on your loan? When will you pay it off by repaying little by little like the tip of a rat’s tail? Why are you clinging to feelings of attachment for such things I can easily handle just by talking to me? You had so many opportunities to speak until now.”
Dajeong’s pupils shook incessantly.
“I wanted to wait until you trusted me enough to tell me, but the price of that wait is running away in the end. I couldn’t see you for a week because of things I could easily handle.”
“!”
“So, Miss Yoon Dajeong.”
Jaeho paused for a moment, then looked at Dajeong.
“Just stay by my side without any worries. Since I’ve already handled that damn 200 million won, there won’t be any more calls coming. Just live by my side while doing what you do best. Just smile beautifully. That’s all you need to do.”
Dajeong’s hand, tightly clenched into a fist, trembled.
“That’s good.”
Dajeong forced out a moist voice.
“I should have said it earlier. Give me some money. Just 200 million won to pay off my debt because you like me. Another 500 million won to buy a house and a car. And a few more hundred million won to buy luxury items and indulge a bit…”
“Uh.”
“!”
“That’s enough.”
“!”
“Then it’s settled. Can I sit next to you?”
“Ah, no. Mr. Jaeho.”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
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