Kang Woo lightly kissed Se Ah’s head, enjoying the way her eyes gently narrowed.
“I’ll try to hang on like this. I don’t know how long it will last.”
Their fingers intertwined.
Lee Soo, the assistant, entered the congressman’s office.
Nam Tae wrapped up his discussion with several aides about the election. The aides picked up scattered documents and bowed to Lee Soo before leaving the room.
Nam Tae sat deeply in the main seat on the sofa, crossing his legs.
“Report.”
“Yes. First, the congressman and his wife are heading to a restaurant in Cheongdam, as I’ve been informed.”
“My son seems to be having a good time.”
Even while laughing heartily, Nam Tae’s eyes didn’t waver. His face quickly turned rigid, losing the smile.
“The madam has bodyguards.”
“Since when?”
“It seems to have been a while. They’ve been moving so carefully that it wasn’t clear, but the same vehicle has been following the madam.”
“It must have been Kang Woo’s doing after the tailing.”
Nam Tae stroked his chin, showing a contemplative look.
“And yet, Lee Soo, you don’t doubt him at all.”
“…”
“He’s completely lost his mind.”
Nam Tae bit his lip, then mumbled to himself that maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.
“Don’t press Se Ah for a while. Give Kang Woo some time to relax.”
“Yes. And also.”
Lee Soo spread a file in front of Nam Tae for him to see easily.
“It’s the personal information of the man involved in Kang Woo’s tailing last time.”
Looking at the man’s sharply pointed eyes and small stature, with a long scar under his eye, Nam Tae frowned.
The man had a record of six misdemeanors, more petty than serious crimes. He gambled away his earnings and kept getting involved in any job for money, leading to frequent prison visits.
“It’s good. He has no family.”
“I’ve already taken action, as Kang Woo seems to be tracing him.”
Nam Tae clapped his hands and got up from his seat. He adjusted his tie knot while circling around Lee Soo.
“You’re doing well.”
“But, congressman.”
Nam Tae’s eyes sharply rose. Normally, Lee Soo would have bowed and left by now. But he seemed to have something more to say, which was irritating.
“Speak up.”
“We shouldn’t press too hard. So far, Kang Woo has been easy to manipulate, but…”
The increasingly fierce look in Nam Tae’s eyes made Lee Soo close his mouth.
Lee Soo’s voice, expression, and attitude were always consistent, which was why Nam Tae liked him. But recently, he seemed slightly off, like a malfunctioning machine.
“Are you afraid of Kang Woo?”
“No, sir. I’m just worried about you. You don’t need to push so hard to be reelected.”
“Do you think I’m doing all this just for a re-election? You have to seize big opportunities when they arise. For that, I need to clean up everything around me first.”
“Yes.”
Nam Tae’s knuckles whitened as he gripped Lee Soo’s shoulder.
“Seok Ah, I don’t love a child who thinks too much. Just empty your head and follow orders. That’s your job.”
Leaving behind a bitter smile, Nam Tae left the room.
Kang Woo and Se Ah entered the restaurant.
They were led to a window seat on the second floor. As expected, they were alone.
“Prepare it as I instructed.”
“Yes.”
Se Ah let it pass, marveling at how Kang Woo meticulously planned their dates.
“I did arrange it, but should I ask for the menu?”
“Why?”
“Your preferences might differ.”
“If that’s the case, we should have looked at the menu together from the start…”
As she was speaking, the smile faded from his face.
“Choosing together is good, but for today, I’ll eat what you’ve chosen. Thank you. Next time, let’s do it together. Preparing everything alone must be tiring.”
“I don’t get tired, but I got it.”
Two waiters arrived at once. One set down wine and glasses, the other a two-tier cake.
After they left, Kang Woo lit the candles on the cake. Se Ah’s eyes sparkled.
“You like cakes, right?”
“…Ah… it’s so pretty. My first time seeing a two-tier cake in person.”
Pleased with Se Ah’s surprised expression, Kang Woo smiled contentedly.
“Blow out the candles. I’ll take a picture.”
Hesitating with her lips close to the cake, Se Ah paused.
“Wait. Let me make a wish.”
“A wish?”
“Day after tomorrow is New Year’s. A New Year wish.”
“You really do all sorts of things.”
Despite his dry response, Se Ah didn’t stop smiling.
“Make a wish then.”
“Just me? What about you?”
“I don’t do such childish things. I don’t believe wishes come true.”
“…It would be nice to do it together. You never know. If it were me… I’d wish for the Gcoms collaboration to go well. You’ve put a lot of effort into it and worked hard.”
Surprised she knew so much without being told, Kang Woo found it intriguing.
“Go ahead, then. I’ll take a cute picture.”
“Ugh.”
Se Ah closed her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows.
Capturing her image in the frame, Kang Woo silently made a wish too.
That until death, everyone would consider others inferior to Kang Woo, that Se Ah would always see him, smile at him, and love him, even if the world split in two.
Childish, but he wished anyway.
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
