Tae Seo narrowed his eyes and glared at Amber. Amber was sitting next to Sang Hwa, learning the golden ratio of mixing beer and soju. She looked serious.
Where did the story leak from? Manager Jang was a tight-lipped person, so it didn’t seem likely that the story would have leaked from there.
Amber smiled wryly, catching Tae Seo’s sharp gaze.
“It’s you that Ted’s afraid of, but it’s me that Ted dislikes.”
“Damn it…….”
Ted, who had been supporting Tae Seo from New York, was in fact an employee of E&K. Outwardly, he belonged to Tae Seo’s secretarial office, but in reality, he was a genius hacker.
To relieve the stress of a difficult family environment, Ted, who had been a hacker indulging in pranks, one day stole Tae Seo’s laptop at a cafe.
And with that laptop, he caused trouble related to Tae Seo’s graduate school courses.
After catching the thief who had stolen his laptop and messed up his semester grades too late, Tae Seo recognized Ted’s genius and, instead of suing him, showed leniency and employed him as a regular employee in his own company.
The soft-hearted Ted thereafter remained loyal to Tae Seo.
As a result, Tae Seo naturally ended up seeing Amber frequently, but Ted disliked women. It wasn’t that he preferred men; it just happened that he lived a life without crossing paths with women, and he was so awkward in front of them that he would break into a cold sweat.
Amber found this trait of Ted’s endearing. The problem was, the more she adored it, the more Ted suffered.
It seemed that this time, Ted couldn’t endure Amber’s torment and had let something slip. It wouldn’t have been difficult for Amber, piecing together Tae Seo’s suspicious instructions, to find out about Jae In.
“Don’t tease the kid.”
“I didn’t do anything. Ted’s coming to Korea soon, isn’t he? He seemed really excited.”
“Ted? Who is Ted?”
Sang Hwa, who had been quietly observing their conversation, interjected.
“Oh, Director Sang Hwa! Ted’s really cute, I’ll introduce you next time.”
“Please, just go and bother your own lover. Stop making everyone else tired.”
“I love you, too.”
“…Let’s go.”
Tae Seo, looking as though he wished he hadn’t heard, stood up quickly and reached out his hand towards Jae In, but Amber stretched out her arm to block him.
“Stop. If you’re going to leave, Tae Seo, go by yourself. Today is my first day as friends with Jane.”
“Who decided Jae In is your friend on their own?”
“Director Sang Hwa is a friend! Jae Innie is a friend! I’ve never had a girls night out because I was always left out. If Tae Seo doesn’t want to stay, he can leave. We’ll have fun all night by ourselves. You’re a guy, so we didn’t want to include you to begin with. If you want to join, lay down the card.”
Jae In seemed to be comfortably enjoying the atmosphere already. Tae Seo, looking down at her amusedly, sat back down with a defeated laugh.
Jae In had said she never really had anyone on her side except her mother, Sang Hwa, and Tae Seo. It seemed only right to cheer for her now that she was making new friends. Although Amber was a bit loud and rowdy, she wasn’t a bad person.
It looked like it wasn’t the right day for just the two of them to have a sweet time. Tae Seo reached under the table, took Jae In’s hand, and swallowed a sigh. The sight of her laughing brightly was enough to dissipate the irritation caused by Amber’s interference, as ridiculous as that was.
And if Jae In was enjoying this moment, what did it matter?
With a wry smile, Tae Seo raised his hand for the three chattering women, making sure to order drinks and snacks timely – knowing well that this was his role for the evening.
“Where’s Yu Ri?”
“She went out to meet some friends after a long time. Don’t pretend to care about the child so late. Or rather, it’s not the child you care about, it’s the prospect of becoming in-laws with Kang Sun Group, right?”
“I told you to make sure you go to Kang Sun Art Center diligently and get in good standing with Director Im.”
“What on earth are you…!”
Seung Hee was about to burst out in anger but abruptly closed her mouth. She remembered Tae Seo’s warning. These past few days, she had been agonizing over and over.
It wasn’t that she didn’t covet the position of being in-laws with Kang Sun Group. Furthermore, the thought of the scorn and ridicule she would face if the engagement she had been boasting about for over 20 years fell through was humiliating even to consider.
However, that brat knows my shame, clutching evidence, making it hard for me to deny it. I’ve only ever cautiously maintained a relationship with Secretary Choi in the office and the car over the years; how did he find out?
I suspected Secretary Choi for a moment, but he’s not the type to do such a thing. He’s someone who would kneel at a single glance from Ji Seung Hee. He wasn’t bold enough to entertain other thoughts.
When choosing a pet to dote on over the years, Seung Hee made an effort to find one that was just right to tame.
It had to be smart enough not to look down on its owner, but not so dumb as to be frustrating when given tasks, and it must have no one else to rely on but her.
Innocent Secretary Choi, who believed in their love, wouldn’t have fallen for money or threats. Ultimately, Seung Hee had to admit that she had no choice but to lay flat without finding the source of the evidence Tae Seo possessed.
“…I don’t like Tae Seo.”
“What are you talking about now?”
“Our Yu Ri can marry into a better place.”
“Don’t waste your time babbling nonsense and just take a proper look at the foundation’s finances.”
Yu Ri herself has been bragging about being the prospective daughter-in-law of Kang Sun Group for over 20 years. It was the same for Ji Seung Hee, who also boasted of becoming the group’s in-law; there was no chance for a better marriage proposal now.
But she no longer had the confidence to see through this marriage. From the stubborn way he behaved, holding the evidence as leverage, it was obvious that Tae Seo had other plans.
“Engagement is just a word, isn’t it? There was no formal engagement ceremony. It wouldn’t be a blemish for Yu Ri. We haven’t even seen each other’s faces; what’s wrong with calling it off?”
“How can you say such a thing?”
“All I want is for our Yu Ri to live a life full of love! I know how terrible it is to cling to an empty shell!”
It was the same old refrain she had been hearing for almost 20 years since she was caught having a child with Yoon Se Na before marriage. Dae Hoon got up with an expression full of disgust, but Seung Hee didn’t stop there.
“No matter how high and mighty Kang Sun Group may be, the happiness of the child should come first! I intend to marry our Yu Ri elsewhere, so just know that.”
“I don’t know what made you start thinking this way all of a sudden, but weren’t you always the one who cherished yourself more than the child?”
“What are you saying…!”
“It’s you who always put yourself ahead, using the child to get what you want. If a mother does that, why can’t I?”
“…Are you saying that’s something a father should say?”
Seung Hee screamed in horror, but Dae Hoon didn’t respond. She had no way of noticing the sneer that crept across his face as he headed towards the study.
Seung Hee clenched her fist on the armrest of the sofa, feeling the anger rise from her husband’s indifference and coldness, not realizing her well-manicured nails were digging into her skin.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
