But at some point, being too successful seemed to become an issue. Promotions, important projects, all seemed to just graze past Myeong Ok.
A transparent wall seemed to block her path, as if to say ‘this is as far as you go’, ‘we won’t favor you anymore’. Myeong Ok couldn’t accept that wall. She wanted to shatter it defiantly and prove them wrong.
To do that, she didn’t mind getting her hands dirty, or grabbing hold of rotten ropes. As she toughened up and began to earn recognition bit by bit, a man caught Myeong Ok’s attention.
It was none other than Cha Young Hoon, the President of Air Korea, who was said to be wounded.
It was a gift from heaven.
With that thought in mind, she even abandoned the man she had promised to marry and orbited around President Cha. In front of the opportunity for social advancement, her past love seemed nothing more than child’s play.
“Say something, if you dare.”
Kim Sangmu’s provocation, sharp as a needle, caused Myeongok’s eyes to twitch. But only for a moment, she opened her mouth with an emotionless voice.
“Yes. I climbed up this way. So what?”
“…It takes a long time to climb up, Director, but falling only takes a moment. You mustn’t forget that.”
“How ungallant of you. Well, that’s okay. Even a cornered rat will bite a cat.”
“Huh, yes. I’ll bite, then. Or rather, I’ll try.”
“Without any teeth? How will you bite?”
“Why don’t I have any? I’ve shared so many benefits with you. If the Chairman finds out…”
“And if he does? Will he fire me? Sure, he might. He’s a man without blood or tears. But… remember this. If that happens, I might step down from the company, but Kim Sangmu’s son will have to step down from life.”
“…?”
At the sudden mention of his son, Kim Sangmu’s eyes shook quickly. Myeongok’s overly relaxed expression made him unbearably anxious.
“If you’re going to do such dirty work, you should have done it somewhere far away. How can you find a doctor who would exempt your son from military duty at our Hyosung Hospital?”
“HHow did you know…!”
“Even if I’m not the chairman, I’ve been in this company long enough. Do you think I wouldn’t have eyes or ears?”
“No, it’s not. Our son…I mean…”
“I don’t want to hear it, so leave quickly. I’ll say it again, I don’t know anything about the selection of the contractor.”
Myeongok glanced at the door with a sharp look in her eyes and turned her gaze to the computer screen.
“…….”
Kim Sangmu clenched his trembling fist.
When they were in this together, he never hesitated, and now he pretended he didn’t know.
He desperately wanted to expose the deposit details and tumble down the cliff together. But if he did, his son’s life would also be in the gutter.
He had no choice but to close his mouth quietly. Carrying the stinging sense of betrayal, he left the office, and suddenly, his brother’s murmuring voice brushed through his mind.
‘Damn…If only that flight attendant didn’t throw up.’
For a moment, the anger that he had swallowed exploded all at once. Kim Sangmu, who closed the door roughly, looked around and hurriedly pulled out his cell phone.
He pressed the call button and before the other person’s ‘Hello’ was even finished, he raised his voice.
“Hey, you! What was the name of that flight attendant?”
Hope Orphanage, located on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.
Da Jeong, who had been eagerly waiting for her day off, visited the orphanage early in the morning. As she passed the modest but neatly maintained main gate, the familiar playground came into view.
Since it was a weekday morning, the orphanage was completely empty. Although she was disappointed that she couldn’t see the children, she wondered if this might be better for having a calm conversation.
A few days ago, Da Jeong had a phone call with the director, who is also her father. He claimed that he just had a minor shoulder injury and had visited the hospital, and that he was now completely fine. His reassuring words, however, didn’t seem believable.
“Ah… this.”
As soon as she entered the dormitory, a picture and a plaque hung on one wall caught Da Jeong’s attention. Among them, one familiar name was particularly noticeable.
‘Piano Division Gold Award Han Young Jin’
She chuckled in front of the gleaming trophy, wondering how much polishing it would take to make it shine like that, as if it had just been received yesterday.
The children’s father, Director Cha Cheol Joong, had hung Young Jin’s plaque in the most visible place at the children’s eye level.
He always said the same thing looking at Young Jin’s plaque, that they should dream big, that they could achieve anything they wanted to be.
Knock, knock.
At the end of the silent corridor, Da Jeong gently knocked on the door.
With an inexplicable anxiety, she gripped the doorknob tightly when a familiar voice came from the other side of the door.
“Come in.”
“…Father.”
“Da Jeong, you’ve come. Please come in.”
As she opened the door, she saw Cheol Joong looking the same as always.
The wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled and the checkered shirt buttoned up to the neck. Seeing his unchanged appearance, she felt relieved.
“Dad, how have you been? When were you admitted to the hospital? Why didn’t you tell me before?”
With her worries and anxieties slightly eased, words poured out of her like a machine gun. Da Jeong walked with a brisk pace, extending her arms forward. She then went around the desk and hugged Cheol Joong’s shoulders.
“Oh my.”
Cheol Joong, who hadn’t fully risen yet, let out a short gasp and sat back down in the chair. Da Jeong quickly let go and checked on Cheol Joong.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Because I’m happy to see you.”
As she stepped back with a wide smile, she noticed his quite loose waistband. In an instant, the anxiety she had suppressed came rushing back.
“Dad, are you really okay to be discharged? What did the doctor say? No, how did you get hurt?”
“Young lady, one question at a time.”
Cheol Joong said, patting her shoulder lightly. His light rebuke brought a smile to her face in no time. Da Jeong picked the question that she was most curious about.
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.]
