“Do you have any concerns?”
Manager Jung asked with a worried expression.
“Huh?”
“You weren’t responding even when called, just staring intently at those letters.”
Yura’s face reddened as she looked at the two words written in the notebook. For a moment, her mind went blank.
Manager Jung had come to report on several matters. Yura was listening to the updates, but her mind wandered amidst the complexities.
The previous night, Baek Lee-hyun had been relentlessly persistent, and Yura found herself helplessly entwined and weeping in his arms.
Clearly, they had agreed to a clause of ‘consent,’ but it was futile since the meaning varied for each of them. She had been so confident when stamping the contract, yet felt defeated just days after the marriage.
Even on a busy morning, trying to avoid Lee Hyun’s sticky advances, she firmly requested a change in the contract terms. He nonchalantly responded with a single sentence.
‘Date or frequency? Which do you prefer?’
That unexpected question was causing Yura a headache.
Yura, feeling a tingling sensation on her scalp, hurriedly made an excuse.
“Oh, it’s about… house chores.”
“House chores?”
Yura felt somewhat satisfied with her hasty excuse. Technically, it was about house chores.
“Yes. Like, simple dishwashing. Whether to schedule it by date or frequency, something like that.”
“In my opinion, frequency would be better.”
At the end of her lengthy excuse, Manager Jung gave a monotonous verdict. Yura’s eyes widened involuntarily.
Manager Jung had married after a long ten-year relationship, but sadly divorced just ten months later.
Although it was a short marriage, his suggestion might be somewhat helpful for this dilemma, which seemed to have no clear answer.
“Frequency?”
Yura quickly confirmed Manager Jung’s response.
“Yes, because on some days, there might be only one dishwashing, and on others, there could be three. Or none at all if you eat out.”
Yura listened intently to his words, her eyes blinking rapidly as if she had discovered a profound truth.
“That way, it avoids the unfairness of one person doing more or less than the other. Of course, you can consider exceptions for different circumstances, but you know, life is full of unexpected things. So, it’s better to go by frequency. At least it’s fairer than by date.”
Yura’s eyes filled with respect. This was surely wisdom born from experience. She smiled as neutrally as she could.
“Ah, I see. Thank you, Manager Jung.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I’ll consider it again with WYM.”
“Please do.”
After Manager Jung bowed and left the office, Yura glared back at the notebook.
“Yeah, it’s not by date but frequency. That day too… ugh.”
Yesterday, Lee Hyun had backed off at Yura’s complaints about needing to go to work. Conversely, had it not been for work, who knows what might have happened. Yura shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts.
The first day of the honeymoon was gentle and cautious due to being ‘the first time.’
Considering that day, setting a date might not have been a bad choice. However, that was a conclusion limited to the first day. The consideration lasted only one day.
From the next day, Baek Lee-hyun, with his beast-like stamina and capability, drove her crazy.
Yura couldn’t remember exactly how many times they had done it that night, as she fell into a deep sleep, but she was sure it was more than five times. Given this track record, it was clear that they needed to focus on frequency rather than dates.
Yura was looking at the word ‘frequency’ written in her notebook with a satisfied smile when a text message popped up on her phone. It was from Baek Jin-ho, the CEO.
[Observing Oh Se-jin’s piano practice starting today. Sorry.]The last word felt merely polite, devoid of any real sentiment. Yura took it in stride.
“Tch, didn’t expect much anyway.”
Originally, Baek Jin-ho had cited ‘for some time’ as his reason. So, this kind of directive was inevitable. Of course, she had hoped vaguely, but hope often leads to disappointment.
Oh Se-jin was relentless in pushing forward, undeterred even by the news of her marriage.
But that was before the marriage; Yura had hoped things might change afterward. She had thought that maybe, faced with the reality of her being married, he might back off, a wishful fantasy devoid of realism.
However, Baek Jin-ho’s text message made it clear that it was just her wishful thinking.
Yura still couldn’t understand Oh Se-jin’s actions. If he had rushed to make amends, Yura’s marriage should have signaled him to give up.
Yet, his persistence felt unsettling. It seemed there was more to his pursuit than just wanting to reconcile. What could it be?
The phone rang again just as she put it down, darkening Yura’s expression.
“This guy just doesn’t know when to stop.”
The caller was Oh Se-jin’s manager, Ko Jin-woo. His prompt contact following the CEO’s approval indicated he was heavily pressed.
Yura had met Ko Jin-woo a few times and knew he was helplessly manipulated by Oh Se-jin.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
