“The progress report you mentioned… here are the documents.”
Yura, who was bowing politely, hesitated upon noticing Lee Hyun, then continued speaking. She had completely forgotten that she had seen him earlier in the lobby.
It was obvious that Jin Ho had deliberately called her because Lee Hyun was here. Jin Ho seemed to enjoy watching Yura and Lee Hyun’s interactions, but she couldn’t understand what he found amusing about it.
Ignoring Lee Hyun’s presence, Yura approached Jin Ho without looking at him. Jin Ho, while taking the documents, gestured towards Lee Hyun sitting on the sofa.
“Why don’t you greet him? He’s not a stranger.”
“I already exchanged greetings with the Vice President in the lobby.”
Yura was treating Lee Hyun, not as her brother’s friend but as a superior at the company.
“Why are you both so formal?”
“It’s a company, after all.”
Jin Ho shook his head disapprovingly.
“Well, I’ll be going then.”
“Oh, Manager Jin. Don’t leave yet. Have lunch with us.”
“Eating with the CEO gives me indigestion.”
Yura’s comment was followed by a chuckle from Lee Hyun. She involuntarily narrowed her eyes towards him.
What part of that was funny?
“How about eating with me then?”
Yura’s mouth dropped open at Lee Hyun’s equally absurd suggestion.
“What’s the difference between eating with the CEO or Vice President? Both are equally uncomfortable for me. I decline.”
“Think of it as eating with your brother’s friend.”
Yura’s forehead wrinkled in frustration. Since when had they been close enough to have lunch together?
“Aren’t we distant ever since I was kicked out of the house?”
“Not really.”
“Yes, we are.”
A sharp silence filled the CEO’s office. Watching the two, Jin Ho quickly waved his hands to end the awkward situation.
“Take your bickering outside. I’m not eating with you.”
“I clearly said I refuse.”
“Can’t be helped then.”
“Well, enjoy your stay, Vice President Lee. Hyun.”
Yura deliberately emphasized his name before swiftly leaving the room. Lee Hyun slightly lifted the corners of his mouth at her behavior.
Jin Ho, observing Lee Hyun’s unchanged expression, asked, “Why the verbal sparring?”
“Indeed.”
“Your feelings are obvious. Why isn’t there any progress?”
Yura’s emotional expressions were scarce, mostly appearing disdainful towards her brother. Now, it was more of an indifferent tolerance, but to Lee Hyun, Yura always seemed that way.
What she was like in his absence, how she acted, or if she even showed emotions, was unknown. But considering she had been in a relationship, perhaps she changed depending on the person.
Why did it have to be that guy, he sighed. Lee Hyun shook off the unnecessary thoughts, placed his teacup down, and stood up.
“Don’t bother with it.”
“Aren’t you having lunch together?”
Lee Hyun glanced at Jin Ho’s pitiful look and then turned away.
“Eat with your sister-in-law.”
“There’s no one to have lunch with me. Sigh.”
Jin Ho may complain, but Lee Hyun knew he had plenty of people to dine with if he wished. Ignoring Jin Ho’s grumbles, Lee Hyun left the CEO’s office.
Greeting the secretaries briefly, Lee Hyun chuckled upon seeing Yura at the elevator. Escaping only to end up here was amusing.
Despite sensing Lee Hyun’s presence, Yura didn’t even glance his way and stepped into the elevator with a dry voice.
“Are you getting on?”
Inside the elevator, Yura and Lee Hyun inadvertently faced off against each other.
Lee Hyun was amused by her continued sulkiness towards him. She used to ignore him, showing no emotion, but at some point, she began to show her claws.
Like an abandoned cat, her eyes sparkled as she bristled, looking more cute than intimidating. It made him want to provoke her even more.
“It’s a waste of energy.”
Ignoring her invitation, Lee Hyun nonchalantly entered the elevator. A low sound of Yura clicking her tongue echoed in the quiet space, probably loud enough for him to hear.
Their relationship was never close, but it wasn’t as frosty as it was now.
Probably since that day.
The day he went to inquire about Yura’s recruitment.
“But…”
Lee Hyun covered Jin Ho’s mouth with his hand as he heard someone eavesdropping. He noticed the fleeing figure and frowned.
Oh, she heard.
Then there was the sound of the door slamming shut.
“Who’s that?”
“Not someone coming, but going.”
“Huh?”
Given her temperament, she should have confronted him head-on, but why did she retreat silently?
That curiosity was answered later when he encountered Yura again.
Instead of confronting him, she chose to keep a perfect distance. Yura’s character, similar to his, made him feel a sense of kinship and yet a bit pleased.
Leaning against the elevator, Lee Hyun’s eyes fell on Yura’s neatly groomed, glossy hair.
She always kept her hair short, saying she couldn’t manage it well, but started growing it in high school. By college, it was waist-length. However, one day, she suddenly cut it short and had kept it that way for years.
Lee Hyun still wasn’t accustomed to her short hair after all these years. He carelessly touched her hair.
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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