“I received news that Jung Jaehoon is in the hospital.”
“…Why is he in the hospital?”
“They say he didn’t die. Unfortunately.”
At the unexpected words, Jaein looked at Taeseo with eyes that had suddenly lost sleep. However, Taeseo was smiling like a picture, not seeming like someone who delivered such grim news.
“After going to the hospital, he plans to settle his life in Korea.”
Jaein silently stared at the man smiling at her and, only then, realized that he was currently feeling sad.
Even though she didn’t have any expectations, unlike her, he had come to Korea with a slight hope that their relationship might improve. In the end, he had to organize his relationship with his biological father. Jaein’s mouth, which hinted at how disappointing it would be, expressed the magnitude of the anticipated disappointment.
Thinking about tonight’s events, tears spontaneously welled up in her eyes. Even though she had promised herself not to cry since this man would probably be enduring, the more she thought about it, the sadder she became.
He, who was so precious to her, was ignored by Chairman Kang Sinjae, as if it were natural. The dismissiveness was so natural that she could imagine the harsh rejection Taeseo had endured. On top of that, witnessing his attempt at violence with such indifference was shocking.
“Why is your expression like that?”
“…It’s because I’m sad.”
Taeseo didn’t ask Jaein what was making her sad. He, too, knew Jaein’s heart. Jaein, like a child, embraced Taeseo, who was burying her face in the warmth of her neck. He liked it when she woke up, her face buried in his skin, more than at other times.
“Want me to cry instead of you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. There’s also someone who said they would cry instead.”
“I should’ve learned how to swear properly.”
“I’m good at swearing.”
“…What about Taeseo?”
“Yeah.”
Jaein, with wide eyes at Taeseo’s unimaginable appearance, stroked his broad back.
Even though Taeseo’s maternal grandmother was in Korea, Director Im Hongjin, whom she saw today, looked more like an elderly person than ever before. It wouldn’t be easy to take care of her son, who had fallen into the hell he created himself, getting drunk, even for her.
Director Im was in the process of transferring all the shares she had related to Kang Seon Group to Taeseo. At the same time, she cautiously instigated Taeseo’s half-brothers and relatives, who harbored resentment toward Kang Sinjae, to promote the careful separation of Kang Seon Group’s subsidiary companies.
It was to reduce the power and wealth controlled by her son, Kang Sinjae, and to empower Taeseo. While it might not be pleasant for her husband to plot the division of a company he built, her choice was to keep Taeseo alive.
But…
During this time, the grandmother, who had taken care of Taeseo while avoiding her son’s eyes, was a grateful person, but that was it. The difficulty of Taeseo continuing to confront Chairman Kang Sinjae in Korea with only the grandmother to rely on was evident.
The difference in power between Chairman Kang Sinjae and Taeseo was a problem, but it was also difficult for Taeseo to rely on the grandmother. Coldly speaking, the reason the grandmother treated Taeseo well was out of a large sense of guilt. The emotional intimacy was lacking as the time spent together was not long.
“If we leave Korea, I’ve been thinking about where would be good to go, and I thought about Chicago. Besides, we need to expand our office there. If Jaein is okay with it, we could go together…”
“I’ll go.”
It was Taeseo who seemed more surprised than Jaein at the sudden statement. Taeseo’s eyes, looking up with a flash, were larger than ever before. Jaein, looking at Taeseo with certainty as he nodded slowly in response to my impulsive answer, was even more surprising.
“…Haven’t you even prepared the words to coax me?”
“…Try saying it.”
“I really hate the cold. Chicago would still be cold, so stay with me.”
The words that were supposed to be prepared as if coaxing, turned out to be a request mixed with tantrum. When Jaein squinted her eyes, Taeseo burst into laughter. At the end of the soft laughter, Taeseo, who exhaled deeply, kissed the tip of Jaein’s fingers.
“I hope every night will be a place for me to return. Instead, I’ll make an effort every morning to be the reason why Yoon Jaein wants to wake up.”
“…”
“Like my day starts and ends shining because of Yoon Jaein, I hope Yoon Jaein is happy because of me too. Now, I want to live for Yoon Jaein’s happiness.”
“…If I’m happy, Taeseo will be happy too?”
“Yeah. Because the smiling Yoon Jaein lets me live.”
In Taeseo’s whispered gaze, there was no hint of coercion. Blinking her eyes, every time Jaein blinked, Taeseo’s large hand, gently caressing under the shade of the long eyelashes, was as careful as always.
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.”
