“I’m not asking you to step in. Didn’t you hear me say I have my own thoughts?”
“I can’t stand to see Yu Ri crying blood tears.”
“It’s not Yu Ri you’re worried about, you just don’t want to ruin your own reputation as Kang Tae Seo’s future mother-in-law.”
“Am I the only one coveting a connection to the Kang Sun Group? Weren’t you? I will be watching. I’m not ignorant about employing people to sit idly by.”
“Don’t make a big deal and just prepare for the child’s marriage. Haven’t you sent a single gift to the prospective in-laws’ house yet? What exactly have you done?”
One way or another, the marriage had to be arranged. It would be a lie to say she didn’t covet a tie to the Kang Sun Group. Seung Hee carefully tapped on Yu Ri’s hand.
“Is it true that he’s coming? Yu Ri.”
“Don’t rush me, Mom.”
“I’m not rushing you, but…”
Until just a moment ago, Yu Ri’s friends had been incessantly asking when Kang Tae Seo would arrive. Now, more than anyone else, Yu Ri herself was curious when he would come.
“Hey, he’s a busy person; you have to endure it.”
“How can I endure it? How much should I tolerate? It’s not just any other day, it’s Mom’s birthday! I’ve only seen Kang Tae Seo’s face twice, Mom. Am I really marrying that man?”
Yu Ri couldn’t contain her irritation, and tears welled up in her eyes. She was as elegantly dressed as her mother, celebrating her birthday.
The cream-colored off-shoulder dress clung to her body, and large pearl accessories shone brightly on her ears and neck.
Even her hair, elegantly twisted up, had been adorned with a set of hairpins, which quivered slightly as she struggled to contain her frustration.
“Yu Ri, don’t be impatient. He will be your man eventually. He may be called a head manager, but he works almost like a CEO, so he must be very busy.”
“I didn’t tell you, but I went to the Kang Sun Art Center. I heard Tae Seo’s grandmother was there, so I even took a gift, but they told me not to come uninvited. And they refused my gift!”
The feeling of being constantly rejected not only by Kang Tae Seo himself but also by anything related to him was overwhelming. It was then that Yu Ri bit her coral-painted lips until the color nearly faded.
“Yu Ri…….”
“Wait, just a moment, Mom.”
Feeling her small cream-colored clutch vibrate, Yu Ri hastily pulled out her phone. The spark of hope that it might be Kang Tae Seo calling was quickly replaced by a look of disappointment.
“Why call if he can’t come.”
It was a call from a friend who said they couldn’t come today due to a prior engagement. Yu Ri’s complexion turned pale as she curtly answered the phone and listened to the words coming from the other end.
―…Are you listening? It looks like Kang Tae Seo, no matter how I look. You know, the woman I’m seeing paints pictures. I came to the Kang Sun Art Center to score some points.
She didn’t need to hear any more. Her reason had snapped at the mention that Kang Tae Seo had once again shown up at the Kang Sun Art Center, arm in arm with another woman.
She could see nothing else. Irritably clutching her phone, she hurried down the stone steps leading to the entrance.
“Yu Ri, where are you suddenly off to…!”
Despite Ji Seung Hee’s shout, Yu Ri did not respond and opened the door leading to the garage. Climbing into the white roadster, she tossed her clutch bag onto the passenger seat and gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“Kang Tae Seo… Kang Tae Seo, Kang Tae Seo!”
Waiting for the garage door to open, she struck the steering wheel several times in frustration. As soon as the familiar road came into view, Yu Ri stepped on the accelerator.
She had no intention of holding back any longer. Today was not just any other day; it was her mother’s sixtieth birthday celebration, and no matter how great Kang Tae Seo was, he had no right to ignore his fiancée like this.
She did not know who the other woman was but had no intention of letting it slide. She planned to give a thorough embarrassment, even including the part meant for Yoon Jae In, who had been reported as Kang Tae Seo’s partner at the last Kang Sun Art Center charity bazaar.
The only person who should be by Kang Tae Seo’s side is Jo Yu Ri. She would not give up that place to anyone else.
Yu Ri’s face twisted with venom as she easily ignored the traffic signals, turning the wheel.
“Do you see a painting you like?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. I think I liked that painting from last time the best.”
“What to do. To see that painting, we have to go to my house. Shall we go? To my house.”
Jae In burst into laughter at Tae Seo’s light flirtation. The sweet time spent with Tae Seo flew by all too quickly. Now, it was time to return to reality. She had to come clean about her deliberate approach to him.
“Please, show me the greenhouse garden.”
“…….”
“Let’s drink wine now.”
“Hmm…….”
Tae Seo looked down at Jae In without losing his smile, as if he knew she wanted to say something quickly.
“What should I do.”
“Pardon?”
Tae Seo, who had been quietly making eye contact with Jae In, slightly bowed his head as if in resignation. His one-eyed wink followed by a sly smile looked both mischievous and charming.
“Let’s do it. Just wait here for a moment. I’ll bring some wine and glasses.”
Jae In did not watch Tae Seo as he moved away from her side, disappearing somewhere into the space inside the art center’s main exhibition hall. If he turned back to look, he would surely find her expression puzzling.
Jae In cast her gaze far away. She felt like she might burst into tears at any moment.
Kang Tae Seo was the first person Jae In had ever desired. Before him, the only thing she had ever greedily wished for was for her mother to live a little longer.
She had finally found someone she was drawn to, someone who looked at her tenderly and treated her kindly, tapping gently on her heart. Honestly, she wanted to be by his side. But.
“Why…….”
Why couldn’t she joyfully accept his confession? Of course, she had approached him with the intention of using him, so it was a situation of her own making.
Even if she had not met Kang Tae Seo in this manner, she would inevitably have become entangled with Cho Dae Hoon or Jo Yu Ri; he was not someone she could be with. She had no right to be by his side.
Her sorrow and frustration were indescribable. But if she respected him, she had to reveal the truth about herself. Before her greed grew further, she had to acknowledge that the person who should be by his side was not her.
She bit her red lips until they turned pale, staring down at the tips of her boots when suddenly.
“……!”
A strong hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.
“You…!”
Startled, Jae In opened her eyes wide to find Yu Ri standing before her with a venomous expression, her eyes wide open in rage.
“Why are you here?”
“…….”
“You, perhaps, you…! You’re with Tae Seo?”
Jae In’s lashes cast a shadow over her eyes as she chuckled and lowered her head.
Yu Ri’s anger upon realizing that Jae In had come with Kang Tae Seo was laughable to her, and at the same time, the thought of this absurd drama being fully revealed to Tae Seo made her feel sick.
She should have opened up to Kang Tae Seo a bit more quickly, before everything got exposed in such a mess.
That’s when Jae In, having had such a thought, sighed and lifted her head.
With a whoosh, the bustling art center fell silent. All eyes were on Jae In.
“You, what are you… What right do you have!”
Shaking with humiliation, Yu Ri glared at Jae In.
Jae In, whose cheek had been struck so forcefully it turned, remained detached. She slowly straightened her head to face Yu Ri, leaving her reddened cheek as it was.
She had no intention of just taking the slap without retaliation. It was while she was contemplating how to respond that she glowered back at Yu Ri.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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