The golden retriever wagged its tail nonstop. Despite its owner beckoning, it stubbornly stayed by Sori’s side, eventually sitting down right next to her.
Even a passing dog seems to like Yoo Sori.
Hyun Woo watched this scene, amused at the thought that came to him. Who wouldn’t like Yoo Sori, after all? She was lovely, kind, and sometimes delightfully quirky.
Sori was so pure that he sometimes wanted to tease her, just to elicit her innocent reactions.
Now, none of this seemed strange to him.
He strode towards Sori as she said goodbye to the golden retriever. As she got up, an oblivious couple accidentally bumped into her.
“Yoo Sori!”
Hyun Woo’s steps quickened. He reached out, barely catching Sori as she staggered. She fell into his arms, her slender waist enclosed by his firm grip.
As the apologetic couple walked away, he watched them with a sharp gaze, then sighed with relief.
Then, as he looked down, his eyes met Sori’s, who was still in his embrace.
“Be careful, please,” he said softly.
He didn’t want to think about what could have happened if she had fallen on the rugged path. Despite Sori’s attempts to wriggle free, he held her close.
“Professor…?”
“…”
He wanted to stay like this, just like this. Being close to her was comforting, warm, reassuring.
Many excuses crossed his mind in that brief moment, though he felt no need to voice them.
“You can let go now…”
“Just stay still.”
Though Sori seemed conscious of the many people passing by, Hyun Woo didn’t care.
Suddenly, Hyun Woo recalled Sori’s voice over the phone, “If you really like someone, you can’t act like that. Every day, every hour, every moment, you’re anxious about what might happen to them.”
“Because of you, I…”
Listen.
That’s exactly how I feel these days.
Every day, every hour, every moment, I’m worried.
Because of you.
If liking someone really means that…
Then Seo Hyun Woo was undoubtedly in love with Yoo Sori.
In the director’s office of Seohan Hospital.
Suh Hyang had stopped by the hospital and decided to visit Kook Hwan in his office.
A porcelain cup filled with coffee was placed on the sofa table.
Suh Hyang’s expression was unusually tense, not the usual face of a celebrated actress, but that of a mother who had come on a personal visit.
“I’m sorry for dropping by unannounced like this.”
“Not at all. What brings you here?”
To Kook Hwan, Suh Hyang wasn’t a complete stranger, thanks to Ji Woo. Sori, Ji Woo’s childhood friend, often visited their home, and Suh Hyang would come to pick her up.
Ji Woo, who lost his mother early, felt a special closeness to Suh Hyang, more than just a friend’s mother. He often called her mom when they met.
Suh Hyang tried to ease the mood by praising Ji Woo.
“You must be proud. These days, not knowing Ji Woo is like being a spy,” she said.
“I’m always worried. Being in the public eye often leads to getting hurt, doesn’t it?”
“But Ji Woo is resilient. He’ll manage well.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
After formal pleasantries, an awkward silence followed.
“I came here to discuss the matter of Sori and Professor Seo. I should have come sooner…”
“I heard about it from Hyun Woo recently.”
Kook Hwan cleared his throat lightly.
Marriage, all of a sudden. And they’ve already started living together.
It was unsettling for him, as a father, to learn they had moved in together without any formal introduction.
“I’ve neglected my children due to my work,” he admitted.
Kook Hwan had been a workaholic, neglecting his family. But after losing his wife, he felt a renewed sense of responsibility for his children.
Hyun Woo was adamant, and Ji Woo also supported Sori and Hyun Woo.
He didn’t want to oppose his children’s happiness out of selfishness. He just felt a bit slighted by his son.
“It’s a bit unconventional, but they’re busy, so I gave them my permission first.”
“If that’s my son’s decision, I’ve decided to accept it. Don’t worry about the children’s affairs.”
Kook Hwan gestured dismissively, uncomfortable with Suh Hyang’s apologetic tone.
“No, I can’t just send my daughter off like that.”
“What do you mean…?”
Kook Hwan was taken aback by her unexpected statement.
“Do you have an issue with my daughter?”
“No, of course not.”
Kook Hwan was flustered by Suh Hyang’s abrupt approach.
“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I just meant…”
“Then, Director. I think it would be good to have a small family wedding.”
Relieved by her straightforwardness, Kook Hwan agreed.
“I was thinking the same.”
He welcomed the idea of a wedding. It would bring many benefits, given his position as a hospital director.
However, he couldn’t impose his will on his children due to his past neglect.
“Perhaps you should try convincing Hyun Woo yourself…”
Kook Hwan believed no one could sway his son’s stubbornness, not even if his mother were alive.
“So, can I assume you agree with me? I’ll try to convince Professor Seo.”
Suh Hyang was relieved that the conversation went smoother than expected.
But there was more on her agenda.
“I have another favor to ask of you, Director.”
Before leaving the director’s office, Suh Hyang shared a secret about her daughter with Kook Hwan.
Hearing this, Kook Hwan found it hard to manage his expression. He understood why the decision was hurried, but he couldn’t help worrying about the difficult choice his son had made.
However, it seemed too late to say anything now that Hyun Woo had already accepted and decided on this path.
“I understand what you’re saying,” he said.
“Thank you for understanding.”
Suh Hyang had thus added one more person to the circle of those in the know. It was a burden she had to bear for her daughter’s sake, even if it felt selfish.
Leaving the director’s office with a lighter heart, Suh Hyang knew how long Sori had loved Hyun Woo.
She was now prepared to do anything for her daughter’s happiness.
Having lived a life of strict individualism, Suh Hyang had immersed herself more in work to rise above the stigma of being an unmarried actress.
Because of her, Sori had to learn to live independently without relying on anyone.
But it didn’t mean Suh Hyang lacked interest in Sori. She always tried to be a caring friend to her daughter.
However, as Sori grew older, she took on the role of a guardian for Suh Hyang, and the mother relied deeply on her thoughtful daughter.
One day, Suh Hyang accidentally found Sori’s faded diary.
Curiosity drove her to read the diary, chronicling every day of Sori’s high school senior year.
The entries tore at Suh Hyang’s heart.
Sori’s diaries from a time even she had forgotten spoke of a daughter feeling the absence of a mother and the void left by a father.
Reading about Sori’s wanderings in a world of emptiness, Suh Hyang regretted for the first time that she had brought up her daughter alone.
The tear-stained pages brought a crushing pain to her heart.
She felt guilty for her neglect, realizing only too late.
Depressed and overwhelmed by her own life, Suh Hyang had leaned on Sori instead of providing the care a mother should have.
Towards the end of the diary, thankfully, Suh Hyang noticed a change. Someone had started filling the void in her daughter’s heart.
Perhaps Sori’s affection for Hyun Woo had eased that emptiness.
Deeply, for quite a long time.
It was her daughter’s wedding.
Suh Hyang thought she just had to hold on until then.
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
