“I’ll answer a call real quick.”
With those words, Subin smiled lightly and disappeared down the hallway.
Left alone, Dajeong’s face turned gloomy again. It was because of the reply from Taesang.
In response to my falsely sent message, Taesang replied briefly, “Got it.” After that, there were no further words.
“Why is he so busy…?”
No matter how busy he was, this wasn’t like Taesang. He usually sent short messages frequently and immediately called if there was something to worry about.
However, it had been an hour since I sent the message, and there was no contact from him.
Dajeong hesitated as she reached for her phone. Just as she was about to touch the screen to make a call,
“Are you Youngjin’s sister?”
“…?”
Although it was clearly a term referring to her, the voice sounded unfamiliar. In confusion, her head turned quickly. Youngjin’s homeroom teacher was standing where her gaze reached.
“I saw you from afar and wondered if it was you.”
She approached with a bright smile.
With slightly permed short hair and a stylish pantsuit, the teacher didn’t look much different from the memory in Dajeong’s mind.
The first time Dajeong met her was during the parent-teacher meeting at the beginning of the semester. With her refreshing and cheerful personality, she led the meeting without giving any room for awkwardness.
“Hello.”
Dajeong greeted warmly. In response, the teacher suddenly clasped both of her hands and shook them up and down energetically.
“Welcome. I was looking for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes. You helped a lot with renovating the performance hall this time. I’m really grateful.”
“…?”
Dajeong didn’t immediately understand her words and tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
“Go in and see for yourself. It has changed so beautifully.”
“Oh, I…”
“I don’t know how much the principal appreciates it. We were just delaying the renovation… Oh, by the way, we’ve reserved a separate spot at the front for your family.”
“Ah…”
Only then did a small sigh escape from Dajeong’s lips.
Someone who would refer to Youngjin and me as family, and at the same time, someone who could create such a perfect experience. The only person capable of such a thing was Taesang.
“Go take a look.”
Her fingertips pointed to the front row on the left, the best seat where the pianist’s fingers were most visible.
Suppressing the fluttering feeling, Dajeong descended the stairs. When she reached the front row, she saw a paper attached to the chair’s armrest, labeled ‘Family Seat.’
A single word shook Dajeong’s heart.
It seemed like Taesang was speaking directly.
You and Youngjin are all my family.
Dajeong smiled with lowered eyes. Somehow, tears seemed to well up.
“How is it? Is the seat okay?”
Suddenly, the teacher who had approached cheerfully spoke. It seemed that she was more delighted that Youngjin’s family had expanded rather than the school facilities improving.
Dajeong looked at her with a finely folded expression.
“Yes, it’s so nice. Thank you.”
“Even Youngjin was looking forward to this year’s art festival.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You know, he’s not the type to say such things normally.”
“Yes…”
“We practiced diligently for the seven songs in this performance.”
Dajeong seemed to understand who she was trying to impress. Her expression involuntarily became complicated, and the teacher bid a light farewell.
“Well, I’m busy, so I’ll go first. Enjoy the performance.”
“Yes. See you again.”
Dajeong stared blankly at the direction she disappeared. She felt a little sorry for glimpsing Youngjin’s feelings.
While she stood awkwardly, the surrounding seats gradually filled.
A middle-aged woman with flowers, a neatly dressed elderly person. Dajeong gazed silently at their figures.
It was strange. It wasn’t at all lonely, as if the world that used to consist only of Youngjin and her had become richer thanks to Taesang.
Dajeong smiled and looked at the stage. At this close distance, even if she whispered ‘fighting’ with her lips, it seemed like everyone could see.
“Dajeong.”
It was a slightly breathless voice. Dajeong turned her head in surprise.
“Oh, Subin oppa…”
During the tour of the performance hall, she had completely forgotten Subin’s presence. Dajeong approached him with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry. Were you looking for me a lot? While talking to Youngjin’s homeroom teacher, I just…”
“It’s okay.”
Subin interrupted with a somewhat subdued voice. Dajeong slowly examined his face. In his slightly sunken eyes, she felt a stifling emotion that she hadn’t seen before.
“Sorry.”
He abruptly started with an apology.
“I wanted to watch the performance together… but something urgent came up, so I have to go now. I’m really sorry.”
“Ah… I’m fine.”
Dajeong replied. It was genuine. Anyway, without Taesang, whoever sat there, it would be almost empty.
Dajeong looked at him with a gentle gaze and spoke.
“Just spending time with you until now is enough. Go and see it quickly.”
“Sorry.”
“What are you sorry about, Subin oppa? It wasn’t even a promise to come together.”
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
