At the time the art center closed, the garden behind the annex was serene. Amidst the orange-hued lights, the two people walking side by side along the neatly placed stepping stones were silent for a while.
“Is your cheek okay?”
“It’s fine.”
“It was quite hot.”
“That’s because…”
“Ah.”
The heat in Jae In’s cheek was less from the slap she’d received and more from the intense kisses shared with Tae Seo, a fact she couldn’t quite bring herself to articulate. Tae Seo, discerning her unspoken thoughts, laughed softly as he looked away.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“What about you, Tae Seo?”
“Hmm…”
It was a warm night for winter. The man stood still for a moment, watching Jae In, and smiled briefly.
“That greenhouse I was going to show you is just over there. Want to check it out? There’s no wine, but it’s nice for a visit. The director of Kang Sun Art Center put a lot of effort into decorating it.”
“What’s your relation to that person?”
“She’s my grandmother.”
“Ah…”
In the distance, the glass greenhouse glimmered softly like a quaint, beautiful castle. Jae In shook her head as she looked at it.
“Why?”
“Just because. I welcome the cold breeze right now. It feels a bit hot.”
As she spoke, Jae In avoided Tae Seo’s eyes, pressing the back of her hand to her unslapped cheek, trying to cool the heat. Tae Seo, observing her attempt to cool off, let out a soft laugh.
After they emerged from the office inside the main art center building, all the lights in both the main and annex buildings had been turned off. There were no more visitors. They had been kissing for who knows how long.
He had indulged greedily in his overflowing feelings, clinging to the rush of sensation, heedless of the location. It was like swallowing a spark.
His vision tinted red, nerves crackling like embers, the blood boiling in Tae Seo’s veins raced to every corner of his body.
It was a wildfire threatening to consume him entirely—a fierce and unfamiliar desire.
“Huh…”
Intoxicated with newfound longing, Tae Seo inhaled Jae In’s scent as if starved for air. It was only natural that he hadn’t noticed the small hands that had made their way to his broad chest, seemingly pushing him away.
It took a moment for Tae Seo to come to his senses. The man, who hadn’t noticed the clamor of items falling from the desk during their passionate encounter, was ironically brought back to reality by Jae In’s faint sigh.
“It’s difficult, it’s so difficult…”
Hearing Jae In’s breathy complaint, Tae Seo released her lower lip which he had been holding between his and opened his eyes. Only then did he realize he had laid Jae In across the desk.
“Ah…”
Jae In, lying on the desk wrapped in his arms, was panting heavily. Her black hair had come loose, sprawling across the keyboard and spilling out wide.
Her eyes, still darkened with arousal, her cheeks flush with heat, her ears tinged with color, and her lips, swollen and red as if painted fresh—Tae Seo’s jaw tensed as he took in the sight. The intense fragrance emanating from her tender body made his mouth water.
“Ha…”
“…”
“…I’m sorry.”
But he had to regain his composure. They had almost gone too far atop someone’s desk. Tae Seo, fixing Jae In’s tousled hair, couldn’t help but have his gaze stolen once again by her wet lips, now stripped of lipstick.
And so, he stole a few more kisses. Just as another deep kiss was about to begin, Jae In burst into laughter, and Tae Seo ended up laughing with her.
That’s how they found themselves heading out to the garden. The heat of passion still had not fully subsided, not just for Tae Seo.
Jae In’s cheeks and ears were still red as she focused on a sculpture opposite the greenhouse. Tae Seo bent down towards her. Then, without meeting her eyes, he whispered into her soft-looking ear.
“Are you afraid I’ll do something foolish if we go there?”
Seeing that she was still avoiding his gaze without responding, it seemed that was the case. Tae Seo let out a low laugh and took Jae In’s hand, leading her down a path that didn’t head towards the greenhouse.
“Think we can’t do it outside?”
“…What?”
“No one’s around, so why not?”
“…”
“What if someone sees us?”
Tae Seo raised an eyebrow, looking at Jae In, who remained silent.
“Look at me.”
“Let’s just walk.”
“Was it only good for me?”
Jae In bit down on her lower lip, her cheeks puffing up slightly at Tae Seo’s grumbling. Seeing Jae In trying not to laugh made Tae Seo’s lips curve into a beautiful arc.
He hadn’t planned to fill their time together with complaints. Tae Seo shook her hand a little more firmly.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Now that he mentioned it, they hadn’t eaten dinner. Tae Seo realized he had forgotten about his own hunger, and likely Jae In had as well. It was nearly ten o’clock at night.
“I am hungry.”
“Then.”
Tae Seo lifted Jae In’s hand and kissed the back of it, looking at her intently. She didn’t avoid his gaze but coyly rolled her lips, teasingly.
“Let’s go eat something delicious.”
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.]
