“Indeed. As you mentioned, usually our duties end with the flight.”
“And?”
Tae Sang’s sharp eyes seemed to demand an explanation of the situation. The severity of the moment was heightened by the presence of Hee Ryeong.
“……Please consider today as an exception with a bit of overtime work.”
Tae Sang, known for valuing transparency and consistency in management, wouldn’t take kindly to such an unreasonable situation. Knowing this, the manager bowed her head in apology.
“I apologize.”
“I’d prefer to know what the issue is.”
“…….”
“Why would you work during unpaid hours?”
Tae Sang looked at Na Young with intensity in his black eyes, clearly indicating that she should explain as the instigator.
Na Young, taken aback, involuntarily swallowed. She chose her words carefully, knowing she was dealing with someone important in the company.
“That’s because… the seniors ignored what I said…”
“Is that all?”
“No, not exactly!”
“Then?”
“It felt like group bullying. I just shared what I had heard… and they insisted it was all my fault, demanding an apology…”
Na Young’s voice trembled towards the end, overwhelmed with emotion.
Na Young, visibly the youngest crew member, now appeared as the perfect victim with her innocent face and tears.
Even the usually strict Manager Kim Hana felt a slight bias toward Na Young.
“So?”
“Um, yes?”
Na Young, thinking her explanation was enough, suddenly looked confused.
“Explain exactly what you said and how.”
“Well, it’s that… I heard one of the seniors got promoted thanks to her boyfriend. It’s not a story I made up, I just…”
“You relayed that message.”
“Yes! Exactly. I just relayed what I had heard…”
“In front of the person involved.”
The atmosphere suddenly turned icy.
Manager Kim Hana barely glanced up at him. Tae Sang’s side profile looked chillingly cold. He stared piercingly at Na Young.
“Manager Kim Hana.”
He continued, still gazing at Na Young.
“Yes, yes.”
“How many team members do you have today?”
“Including the cockpit crew (pilot and co-pilot), there are sixteen.”
“In an emergency during a flight, the only people you can trust and rely on are those sixteen, correct?”
“……Yes.”
Her voice carried a solemn tone in response to Tae Sang’s weighty words. Tae Sang briefly glanced at Na Young’s name tag.
“Flight Attendant Seo Na Young, is this how one should behave in a relationship built on mutual trust and reliance?”
“…….”
“Na Young, the Vice President is asking you. Answer him.”
“Vice President……?”
“Hiding and not coming out.”
Inside the bathroom filled with pale steam.
Da Jeong stood in front of the sink, lightly shaking her head. Her transparent lips, moist with water, glowed red in the mirror.
“Sigh…….”
She rubbed the towel repeatedly, but suddenly a long sigh escaped her. It was because of what Tae Sang had said, lingering in her mind throughout the shower.
“Hiding and not coming out.”
Tae Sang had a meeting scheduled at the Malaysian Airlines headquarters tomorrow morning.
It was still early, before the sun had reached its zenith. Suggesting to hide until tomorrow essentially meant spending the entire day together.
Sitting down for meals, watching TV together, sleeping in the same space.
For ordinary couples, these would be perfectly natural, but for Da Jeong, they were uncharted territories she had never experienced.
Her heart pounded faster, and she could feel it. Da Jeong, with a trembling heart, left the bathroom, brushing off the strange tension and excitement that made her forget even the fatigue of staying up all night.
As she opened the door, cool air wrapped around her neck. She moved cautiously, and at the end of the living room, she noticed a long figure.
It was Tae Sang, who had changed into comfortable clothes. He was standing in front of the terrace, holding a bottle of water.
Damp hair, lips red as if holding steam. She had just come out of the shower from the bathroom attached to the bedroom, her entire body exuding a moist aura.
“…….”
Da Jeong gazed blankly at him, and suddenly their eyes met as Tae Sang turned his head. It felt like she had been caught sneaking a peek. Da Jeong opened her mouth in disarray.
“Si, it seems you have showered.”
He nodded silently and extended the bottle of water. Da Jeong cautiously approached and took the bottle.
“Drink. You must be thirsty.”
Tae Sang said, looking at Da Jeong’s flushed cheeks. Her skin, once as white as snow, was now blushing like a rose.
Da Jeong tilted her wrist slightly and took a sip of water. Tae Sang frowned, seemingly unsatisfied.
“More.”
“I drank a lot.”
“Just a bit more. You were in the bathroom for quite a while.”
“…….”
She was speechless under his concerned gaze. Da Jeong sipped the water several times before placing the bottle on the table.
Only then did Tae Sang relax his expression.
Just a few more sips of water, and he was content. Da Jeong, puzzled, walked towards the window.
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
