A notification for an incoming message rang. It seems I forgot to put it on silent mode. I quickly swiped the screen. There was a message from Jeong-Eun at the top of my phone.
[“Here’s the project photo I mentioned earlier. I’ve sent it to Director Kim as well. You should be aware. 3:03 PM”]The photo of Jun and me that I had seen earlier was tucked away right below that message in a small square. Even though it was a chat room just between Jeong-Eun and me, I hurriedly pressed the save button and scanned the surroundings. I finally felt relieved after confirming the quietness around.
Mesmerized, I gazed at the photo of Jun and me.
The moment we were captured with our eyes filled solely with each other’s faces. The moment we were busily exploring each other through our gazes.
Just looking at it made my heart flutter gently, as if the emotions of that day were also stored in this photo.
Should I send this photo? I’m in two minds…
Perhaps Jun might dismiss this potentially scandalous photo as something not worth responding to. He might mock my efforts to get his contact information, knowing that in a month or two, we probably won’t even see each other.
First love is just that – the first love. So, it’s better not to harbor premature expectations. I worried that he might find my faintly sensed feelings from the other day ridiculous.
Imagining the different temperatures Jun and I might have towards this photo made my heart sink a little. It seemed I was the only one struggling with the emotions captured in this photo. With these sorrowful thoughts, I didn’t feel like sending it anymore.
“Our Director Kim should also know about it.”
Jeong-Eun’s words weighed heavily on my heart. It was a matter that should be known. The verdict laid on this single photo was just that. Jun’s verdict wouldn’t be much different, I thought, as bitterness spread in my mouth.
Then, a new friend notification appeared on the messenger. Tapping on it revealed the name at the top. Two neat characters.
Kim Jun.
My ‘old friend’ Jun, whom my phone couldn’t remember, seemed to have automatically been added to my new friends list.
I gently stroked Jun’s name, adorned with a snowman icon, with my thumb. Then, inadvertently entering our chat room, the only trace he left was his name, Kim Jun.
Gazing at this barren space, an inappropriate excitement surged up. Even though it was an empty space, it could connect me directly to you through this small chat window. A baseless expectation.
I pondered over the message to type, without any assurance that you would receive it with the same sentiment as me.
Yet, I decided to set aside these heavy thoughts for a moment. He would at least acknowledge it, wouldn’t he? It wasn’t an irrelevant photo, so he couldn’t dismiss it as unnecessary personal contact.
Shall I just send this one photo?
It’s just a thought. After attaching the photo, when it came to actually sending it, my thumb seemed to gain weight in hesitation.
…To send or not to send.
As my hesitation grew longer, now a sense of urgency piled on top.
Is sending a single photo this difficult…
“Why is it so hard to send one photo?”
Huh? Startled by a voice echoing my thoughts, I instinctively turned my head. I looked up slightly. Jeong-Eun was leaning uncomfortably to look at my phone. Quite displeased. I was equally discontent.
“Jeong-Eun, stop sneaking up and talking without making a sound.”
“You should do something about your habit of not hearing anything, whether there’s a sound or not, when you’re focused on something.”
It was a conversation with an unclear cause and effect. Arguing further would just lead to unilateral claims from both sides. I decided not to pursue it further and kept quiet.
“You attached the photo to send, right?”
She meant to ask why I wasn’t sending it already.
“But, do I really need to send the photo? Jun might think I’m bothering him, especially since he’s already busy. People might not even recognize it’s him in the photo.”
“Yes, nobody thinks that. Just send it already.”
Jeong-Eun, seemingly unimpressed by my concerns, waved her hand in the air, signaling me to send it quickly.
“No, I can’t be sure. The face isn’t clearly identifiable, it might seem like I’m making a fuss over nothing. Ah, I can’t do it… I’ll just leave it.”
“Really?”
It happened so fast. Jeong-Eun leaned towards my phone and, right in front of me, pressed the send button. She had just sent the photo I was hesitant to send.
“What? Hey…!”
It was a disaster. I didn’t even have time to scold Jeong-Eun. I desperately hoped it hadn’t sent properly as I gripped my phone to check.
But the photo I had attached was already sent to Jun. The glaring number 1 indicated it was awaiting his acknowledgement. Deleting it now would only raise more suspicions. I sighed.
“I did it because I thought you’d still be here tomorrow morning, sitting in the same spot, holding onto your phone.”
“Ha, Jeong-Eun…”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
