Subin lightly intervened in the awkward conversation.
“What?”
“Audiences prefer it when there’s one more person, don’t they?”
Looking at Youngjin, he casually asked. Youngjin glanced at him for a moment, then nodded vigorously.
“Yes, that’s right. So, Subin Hyung, please come to see it.”
“Sure, I’ll do that.”
After briefly explaining the starting time and introducing the students who were performing, Youngjin shook hands and left.
“It’s not necessary for you to come.”
After Youngjin left, Dajeong said to Subin.
“I like watching piano performances. Besides, I can’t stand seeing Dajeong getting blown by the wind.”
It felt somewhat painful because of the words about being blown by the wind. Even though she was busy with work and did her best, it wasn’t regrettable at all.
“Being blown by the wind…”
Just when she was about to make an excuse, her phone, in her hand, rang briefly. Quickly checking her phone, she saw a message from Taesang.
“I’ll go.”
It was a short sentence. No explanation, just a single line.
Dajeong stared intently at the two-word sentence. It was too brief, too confident, and it made her feel uneasy.
“I’ll make a quick call and be right back.”
Dajeong spoke as if throwing her words into the air and swiftly left for the corridor.
How hard he must be trying to come here by now. The image of him, behaving like a madman just to keep a promise, came to her mind.
In the corner of the corridor, Dajeong quickly searched through her phone contacts.
‘Secretary Kim’
Dajeong found the unfamiliar name and pressed the call button.
“Hello?”
After a long period of connecting tones, a voice came from the other side.
“Ah, hello. This is Hwang Dajeong.”
“Ah, yes…”
After a brief silence, he responded as if puzzled.
“Is it okay for you to talk right now? If possible, where there’s no Taesang.”
“Without… Uh, sure. Please wait a moment.”
The sound of footsteps, the closing of a door. A series of noises formed the background, then he spoke again.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s about the article from this morning. Taesang… Is he very busy?”
“Oh, that? Don’t worry about it. It’s just a malicious report with no basis in fact.”
His response was friendly, but it wasn’t an answer to her question. No, avoiding the question seemed to be a perfect response.
Dajeong sighed unknowingly.
“Is he pushing himself too hard to come here?”
“…”
Unable to lie, Secretary Kim remained silent for a moment.
“It’s okay. Please tell me honestly.”
“Yes. Actually, the situation is not good right now. We’re trying to find the source of the article, but with follow-up articles popping up one after another…”
“…”
“The Vice President is almost going crazy…”
He paused for a moment, coughing lightly.
“…Engrossed in work like a person on the verge of losing their mind. If he doesn’t answer the phone and has left it to me, I thought maybe he…”
“Oh, no. It’s not like that. Don’t worry.”
Dajeong deliberately spoke in a cheerful voice.
“I just called out of curiosity. Please don’t tell Taesang that I called. ”
Secretary Kim hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat puzzled, but soon gave an understanding response. Dajeong ended the call with a polite farewell.
“Ugh… This clingy liar.”
Dajeong murmured to herself, shoulders drooping.
Who would appreciate forcing themselves to keep a promise?
His clingy attitude, his short response—it was all irritatingly unbearable.
Dajeong, with a worried expression, typed a message.
‘Taesang, Youngjin won’t be able to perform today because he’s not feeling well. I’ll go to the hospital with him, and then we’ll go home. Don’t come to the school.’
It wasn’t comfortable to lie, but there was no other choice.
Taesang was a person with more burdens than anyone else. At the same time, he was someone who never showed any signs of difficulty.
It’s his natural personality; that’s how he’s lived, so it can’t be helped. Dajeong didn’t want to think of it so comfortably. She wanted to share the burden with Taesang by his side.
Dajeong’s fingertip headed towards the send button.
Dajeong explored various places in the school with Subin.
Sculptures installed here and there, high-level art exhibitions. Although the school was filled with beautiful things, Dajeong’s heart was not genuinely joyful.
He must still be busy; today must be tough.
Worries about Taesang rose in her mind, and she couldn’t think of anything else. Dajeong wandered around the school with her mind halfway distracted.
Before she knew it, it was time for the performance.
Arriving at the entrance of the grand auditorium, Dajeong put up the pamphlets placed at the entrance. The names of the performing students, the titles of the pieces, and the order were written on the small piece of paper.
“Youngjin is in the last order?”
“Yes. It’s usually like that.”
“He must be good at playing.”
“It’s just because he’s in a higher grade.”
Dajeong’s smile lightened at Subin’s teasing.
Throughout the art festival, he played pranks and bought delicious snacks to cheer her up. For no reason, without any obligation. Dajeong forced herself to smile brightly in gratitude.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, a light vibration sound came from Subin’s pocket. He checked the screen and narrowed his eyes slightly.
It was a subtle change that could be seen or felt, but Dajeong sensed that he was somewhat reluctant beyond the phone screen.
On the fleeting screen, the caller ID ‘Mrs. Yoon’ appeared.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
