Acts We Shouldn't Do (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
But Tae Seo, as if he hadn’t even registered what I’d said, picked up his coat.
“Let’s call it a day. I heard there’s a flower food you mix into the water to make bouquets last longer—I should go buy some.”
Before leaving the office, Tae Seo cast one more glance at the bouquet, then disappeared through the narrowing gap of the closing door. Executive Director Jang, staring blankly after him, as if spellbound, slowly shifted her gaze to the wilting bouquet.
“So it’s the lovely Yoon Jae In, is it?”
It was widely known in political and business circles that Tae Seo was unofficially engaged to Jo Yuri of Hyun Yang Construction. Yet many families still had their eyes set on him.
After all, no formal engagement ceremony had taken place—it had merely been a casual remark exchanged between the two patriarchs as friends. They figured the arrangement could still easily be reversed.
If Tae Seo were to reject all those prestigious families and keep Yoon Jae In by his side, would Kang Seon Group still end up in his hands?
“It’ll be tough…”
Although she said it would be difficult, Executive Director Jang allowed herself a flicker of hope. After all, she hadn’t disliked the way he’d looked at the fading flowers and earnestly tried to save them.
“Going out again? Every single day?”
“Kang Seon Hotel lounge bar.”
Jae In had discovered through her research that the lounge bar at the newly renovated Kang Seon Hotel was currently the place to be.
Of course, the ultra-wealthy never fully revealed themselves in such public spaces. Jae In knew well enough that they usually reserved a villa in an upscale residential district to gather and socialize in their own private world.
Still, Kang Seon Hotel was perfect as an official venue for social appearances—and there, she might even run into Kang Tae Seo.
“Why go there?”
“To see the night view.”
“So you want to skip your evening class every day just to look at the night view? Wow, look at this bold instructor.”
“Sorry. I’ll take on extra morning classes instead.”
It was already past eight in the evening. If she went home now to redo her makeup and change clothes, she’d probably make it there right on time.
There was always a chance someone might recognize her in a place like that—and if that happened, news of her return to Korea would reach Jo Dae Hoon in no time. That’s why Jae In had deliberated so long.
But she’d finally decided to risk it and find out more about the man. Her first goal was to approach Kang Tae Seo as discreetly as possible, muffler wrapped around her face, taking every precaution.
“Going alone?”
“Yeah.”
“…Then I’ll go with you.”
“No way. What about your yoga studio? You can’t manage with just the one new instructor.”
“Dude, don’t you know places like that are crawling with guys looking to hit on women? Do you really want to run into another creep?”
“Do I really only ever meet creeps? Plenty of decent guys out there. It’s about time I started dating.”
“…What?”
Sang Hwa frowned at Jae In as if she’d just heard the most ridiculous nonsense.
Jae In had never dated before and claimed to be thoroughly sick of men. She’d become the “queen of impenetrable walls” precisely because of all those damn men.
They just wouldn’t leave her alone—so much so that Sang Hwa, after watching over Jae In for eight long years, had repeatedly thrown fits, insisting they needed to perform an exorcism ritual in Korea.
When Sang Hwa renewed her passport and went back to Korea, she’d even slipped a talisman into Jae In’s wallet, claiming it was from a reputable shaman. That’s how tough Jae In’s life had been.
Many men had looked down on her for being East Asian and approached her presumptuously, and because of that, plenty of women saw her as a rival and treated her poorly. She’d lost count of how many times she’d been falsely accused and pointed at.
“You dropped out of your major because of a guy, right?”
“I never really wanted that major to begin with.”
Truth was, she’d loved Korean dance. Even as a child, she’d mimic ballet moves whenever music played. But since she’d only started Korean dance because of Ji Seung Hee, she didn’t want to hold onto it with any deep attachment.
“You used to say you hated love and marriage. Remember? We were going to live together in Smurf Village and raise cats.”
“Yeah.”
Watching Jae In nod so readily, Sang Hwa narrowed her eyes and sighed, hands on her hips.
“What’s going on? Yoon Jae In, spill it. What’s your real motive? I’ve already noticed you’ve been acting strangely preoccupied lately.”
Jae In had spent days agonizing over this. How to approach Kang Tae Seo was tricky enough, but her bigger dilemma was whether to go through with this plan at all. The more she thought about whether it was truly necessary, the more conflicted she felt.
From her mother Se Na, Jae In had learned how to love herself and grow stronger. That’s why she’d always believed it was enough to simply live well with her mom alone, never needing to see her father—the man who denied her very existence.
But then her mother died. After much deliberation, she’d informed her biological father of her mother’s passing, yet he’d continued to ignore both her and her mother till the end.
Furious at the thought of her poor, wronged mother, Jae In had wanted to leave a mark—any mark—on the man who’d ruined her mother’s life.
So she’d come to Korea with revenge in mind, though she didn’t actually have a solid plan.
Yesterday, spotting Jo Yuri at the restaurant had sparked an idea straight out of a melodrama—but she didn’t want to drag innocent people into her scheme just for the sake of revenge.
Yet right now, this was her only option. So she’d resolved to at least meet Kang Tae Seo. After all, it couldn’t hurt to learn more about Jo Yuri’s fiancé.
“Sang Hwa, I really don’t want to drag you into this mess.”
“Hey. When you talk like that, it hurts my feelings.”
“I know, I do… But even if I do something reckless later, you’ll still take me in, right? That’s all I need. Sang Hwa, I’m counting on you for this.”
“Jae In…”
“If I really need your help, I’ll tell you then. It’s just… I’m embarrassed. Honestly, I’m so embarrassed.”
It wasn’t embarrassing to tell Sang Hwa what she intended to do. The embarrassment came from having to explain why—and that meant revealing exactly what kind of man her biological father was.
She felt ashamed that his blood ran in her veins, that his genetic trace was etched into her very being. She loathed it—deeply, viscerally.
Moreover, she’d never once considered him her father and had no desire to formally acknowledge him by speaking his name. She didn’t want anyone confirming her connection to that man.
“I’ll tell you everything later. Really, I will.”
Having resolved on revenge, she’d steeled herself for what might come. It was possible that one day, she’d have to stand before not just Sang Hwa but the entire nation of Korea and declare whose daughter she truly was.
But not yet. She wanted to postpone any entanglement with that man until she’d fully prepared herself. Sadly, she still lacked the power she needed.
“You didn’t come back to Korea just because you missed it, did you?”
“…No.”
Sang Hwa stared at Jae In for a long while before finally relaxing her shoulders. Then she looked at her with eyes full of worry.
“…Alright. Keep your phone close. Call me if anything happens. Got it?”
“Sang Hwa, I’m not a kid. I’m not going anywhere dangerous. Don’t worry. I just have someone I need to find—I’ll sit and wait, then come right back. I might not even see them.”
Ironically, barely a few minutes after saying that, Jae In spotted the person she was looking for—not at Kang Seon Hotel’s cocktail bar,
but sitting right there, as if by some cruel joke, in the café on the first floor of Nam Gwang Building, where her yoga studio was located.
“Haven’t we met before?”
Tae Seo slowly blinked as he looked at Jae In, who stood before him with wide eyes, greeting him first. Meeting her gaze, a quiet smile rose to his lips.
Could anything feel this good?
Tae Seo hadn’t come to this café by chance. It wasn’t because he liked the coffee or the atmosphere. He was simply curious about a woman named Yoon Jae In.
Not that he planned to do anything if he saw her.
Earlier, after leaving the office, he’d bought the flower food rumored to help cut flowers last longer and returned to the office.
Seeing the bouquet hadn’t improved much, he’d handed the flower food over to Executive Director Jang—the expert—and left well past seven in the evening.
“Managing Director, if you haven’t eaten yet…”
“Don’t mind me—just eat what you were going to. I don’t like tteokbokki. And I’ll head back now.”
“Yes, sir. Take care.”
“Try not to work late unless I’m here too. If only the secretaries stay behind, what does that make me—the guy who bailed early?”
He was hungry—dinnerless—but strangely, the first thing that came to mind wasn’t food. It was Yoon Jae In’s face from the hospital a few days ago.
The report said she was fine, but he’d worried—had she really escaped injury? Was there even a scratch? He couldn’t explain why he cared; he’d just gone to the hospital hoping to see her from afar.
There, he’d watched some scrawny, seaweed-like guy cause a scene multiple times with a bouquet before getting kicked out of the ward.
Worried something might be wrong inside the room—or that she might need help—he’d approached and ended up face to face with Jae In.
“Take this. I was going to throw it away anyway. And…”
“…Thank you.”
It was the first bouquet he’d ever received. He knew that ridiculous seaweed-guy had brought it to win her favor—but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Jae In herself had placed those flowers into his arms.
She’d looked surprised. Meeting her eyes as she looked up at him in her patient gown, he couldn’t help but smile.
“…Who are you?”
Standing at her hospital room door, Jae In had asked him that. Tae Seo had nearly blurted out, “I’m your fiancé.” Had he done so, he’d likely have gotten slapped a few times and been branded yet another lunatic—just like that dried-up seaweed guy.
Truth was, for days Tae Seo hadn’t been able to get those eyes out of his head. Every time he looked at the bouquet on his desk, he remembered the look in her eyes when she’d held him in her gaze. Hell, even last night before bed, he’d tossed and turned, thinking of those eyes.
Was it because she was beautiful?
But Tae Seo was constantly surrounded by beautiful women. Beauty was subjective, sure—but each of them possessed striking charm and undeniable allure.
So it couldn’t just be Jae In’s looks.
Then what was it? Maybe curiosity about a connection that might have been—if fate hadn’t twisted it the way it did.
That could be it. If Yoon Jae In had been the one officially seated as his fiancée instead of Jo Yuri, he was certain he wouldn’t have treated her the same way he treated Jo Yuri.
Right. But why? Seriously, why?
Why was Yoon Jae In special?
Why did he keep thinking about her?
Lost in thought, Tae Seo walked alone through the winter streets, not even bothering with a car. Step by step, he drifted away from the concrete jungle—until, without even realizing it, his feet led him to the first floor of Nam Gwang Building.
“Fucking hell…”
At this rate, how was he any different from the kind of stalker who’d make Jae In shudder?
Rubbing his forehead, he let out a hollow laugh—then, as if to snap himself out of it, impulsively pushed open the café door.
“Give me a shot of espresso—hot enough to shock me awake.”
As the strong espresso touched his lips, Tae Seo resumed his thoughts. Feeling the rich caffeine seep into his veins, a third possible reason for his fascination with Yoon Jae In suddenly occurred to him.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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