As he mechanically moved his hands, Juhan suddenly remembered Eunsu’s words.
I should talk about it.
He couldn’t easily guess his mother’s reaction. He was sure she wouldn’t be pleased.
Just like when he announced his resignation to come to Korea for his father’s funeral and took charge of , would she erupt in anger again, or decide to cut ties this time?
It wasn’t that difficult to think about if it were just his own issue, but it was more complicated because Eunsu was involved.
There was one time, just once, when Eunsu met his mother. It was during Juhan’s college graduation. He introduced them naturally, they exchanged greetings, and the three had a meal together.
His mother, who never showed such warmth and kindness even to her own son, treated Eunsu kindly. Juhan felt relieved, but in the brief moment Eunsu left the table, his mother only said one thing.
“You’re not planning to date her long-term, are you?”
Juhan was deeply hurt by his mother’s indifferent expression, returning to the one he had always known from childhood.
His mother wasn’t being kind because she liked Eunsu or because she was the person her son liked. It was just polite courtesy, like the one shown to a stranger you meet once and don’t expect to see again, like a department store clerk.
Juhan hoped Eunsu hadn’t felt any of that. But even so, it must have been difficult and awkward for her in many ways, which probably still concerned her now.
‘…I’ll talk about it. After I finish this. It would be more troublesome if she heard it from elsewhere.’
Juhan began to move his hands again, which had slowed down and eventually stopped.
The next afternoon, having left work a few hours early, Juhan drove to the suburbs. It was where Hwang Hee-baek, a ceramic artist and a longtime friend of his father, had his studio.
As a child, Juhan had stayed at Hwang’s house for a while. It was when he was eight, living with his father after his parents divorced.
At that time, his father was just a poor painter with a child, and it was Hwang who generously offered them a place to stay. Both were deeply interested in vintage furniture and got along well, understanding each other better than anyone.
Then, when Juhan was thirteen and his father decided to pursue his dream in Europe, Juhan went to live with his mother, naturally losing contact with Hwang. But after his father’s funeral, he occasionally got in touch and visited him.
“Artist.”
As he entered the gate of what looked like a quaint Hanok from a distance, Hwang warmly greeted him.
“Juhan, you seem to have a brighter face, don’t you?”
“My face is always in top condition. Here, I bought this thinking of you during my last buying trip. Thought you’d like it.”
Juhan placed a bottle of whiskey and a box of desserts on the maru. Hwang smiled broadly and gestured for him to sit down.
“Would be great to have someone to drink with. Would you like to stay over?”
“I have to go to work tomorrow. Save it for next time.”
“You’re no fun.”
The two shared tea and the dessert Juhan brought, talking about various things. True to being a collector of vintage furniture for decades, Hwang Artist mostly talked about furniture.
“I think it’s time to start cutting down. Come by with a big truck sometime and take some away. Help them find better owners.”
“I’d be grateful to sell them at our store, but I wonder if anyone could be a better owner than you, Artist.”
While they were comfortably engaged in conversation, there was a noise from the gate. Juhan’s expression stiffened as he turned around.
“What brings you here without notice?”
“I tried to contact you earlier, but they said your phone was off. I was passing by and thought you might be here…”
Jang Hyun-man, the president of , entered with a smile on his face, which faltered upon seeing Juhan. However, he soon smiled even wider.
“Ah, I see Juhan Kim here.”
“It’s been a while.”
In the meantime, Hwang Artist fumbled with his phone and sheepishly muttered.
“I turned it off this morning to focus and forgot to turn it back on. Please, come in and take a seat.”
President Jang also stepped onto the maru and took a seat. Hwang Artist stood up to get another teacup, leaving Juhan and President Jang alone.
“I didn’t expect Juhan to be here. Seems like you beat me to it again.”
Juhan just smiled lightly.
“Lucky you didn’t know, or our meeting might have been canceled.”
President Jang let out a hearty laugh, but like Juhan, his eyes were not smiling.
“Anyway, congratulations on securing the contract with .”
“Thank you.”
“I was curious. We were almost 90 percent done with our deal. How did you suddenly sway them to your side?”
“Actually, it wasn’t a sudden change. We had been in good, long discussions with them from the start.”
Juhan said this with a sincere, innocent smile.
“Perhaps the belief that you were close to finalizing with them was just a misunderstanding or misconception on your part.”
President Jang’s face contorted for a moment, just as Hwang Artist returned. He placed the teacup in front of President Jang and poured the tea, saying,
“It’s rare to see each other being so busy in the same industry. It would be nice if people in the same field could help each other out and get along.”
“Is there anything I can help you with, President Jang?”
“Well, I don’t have much to offer you. You seem to be quite resourceful for a young man.”
What exactly did you think of me?
Juhan swallowed what almost slipped out, along with his tea. Hwang Artist laughed heartily and turned to President Jang,
“He’s Kim Kyung-hoon’s son, after all. Where would that blood go? If he had continued living with his father, he would have learned and observed even more. Even though he didn’t, he must have inherited quite a bit.”
President Jang remained silent. Juhan smiled and spoke.
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.]
