Boiling Desire (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
On his way to work, Ha Joon recalled what Seo Ah had said that morning.
“—So you’re planning to come in late again? If I tease you once more, will you come early? Or will you get teased once more and come in even later? Wait, since I said it like that, maybe you’ll try to come early?”
He must be in a foul mood from eating breakfast so early. Had she really wanted to help him set the table that badly? That wasn’t the kind of support he expected from her.
Besides, last night she’d seduced him, then run off, even slapped his cheek, and showed no sign of remorse whatsoever.
At this point, he wondered if she was also enjoying teasing him—like she’d deliberately decided to drive him crazy.
The latter was spot-on. Seo Ah didn’t seem to realize it was working,
“You look good, Young Master.”
Ha Joon gave Seok Hoon a puzzled look at his words while he was driving.
“What do you mean?”
“Seeing you smile like that—I think it’s the first time.”
“Did I… smile?”
“Yes. Brightly, too.”
Seok Hoon had seen Ha Joon force a smile many times out of obligation, but never had he seen him grin so widely that his teeth showed.
Ha Joon himself was just as surprised.
Recently, Ha Joon had been leaving home early to personally inspect various hotel branches ahead of the upcoming hotel rating evaluation in a month.
To avoid resentment from staff for being appointed department head at such a young age, he had to work twice as hard.
He handled not only the responsibilities expected of a department head but even went the extra mile, personally checking everything that regular staff would do.
He’d originally intended to start from the assistant level at the very least, but since it was his grandfather—the chairman—who’d given the order, he had no choice.
His grandfather trusted him that much. Though he believed Ha Joon could handle being CEO right away, he’d decided to test him by making him climb from department head to CEO himself.
As a result, employees now had to stay twice as alert.
Ha Joon tolerated not even the slightest slip-up. Once he caught something, he’d relentlessly pursue it to the very end.
“Huh! You didn’t remove your nail art?”
“I did it for my date yesterday, so it felt wasteful to take it off.”
“Wasteful or not, you have to remove it! The department head is coming today!”
“Department head… what?? Today? I thought it was next week!”
The startled employee’s eyes went wide.
“I don’t know! He suddenly decided to come today!”
“There’s no way he’d inspect every single one of us! It’s beige anyway—it doesn’t even stand out…”
“Haven’t you heard about the Gangnam branch? It was like a military inspection! He pointed things out calmly, without raising his voice even once… Huuh!”
The female staff’s chatter abruptly stopped. Ha Joon had just walked past them in the distance.
Only after he’d disappeared into the elevator could they finally exhale the breath they’d been holding.
It wasn’t just Seo Ah who felt breathless at the sight of him.
“What do we do! He’s way too handsome!!”
The staff blushed, stomping their feet excitedly.
“He’ll probably come this way later, right? I want to see him up close.”
“What about your nail art!”
“I don’t care~. I wonder what it’d feel like to get scolded by someone like him?”
“…Are you a pervert?”
At that moment, Ha Joon stepped out onto the standard guest room floor. The general manager, who’d expected him to inspect only deluxe or suite rooms, barely managed to feign calmness as he swallowed hard.
Yesterday, Ha Joon had unexpectedly turned the Gangnam branch upside down without warning, putting every branch on high alert. Since even the branch famed as the best had been thoroughly shaken up, everyone else was even more nervous.
“I heard you were coming next week. You’re early.”
“You only see their usual state if you show up unannounced.”
Ha Joon entered the open guest room and began inspecting slowly, starting from the floor near the entrance.
“Since you’ve already heard the news, maybe you can just give it a quick look?”
“Of course. We always prioritize cleanliness above all, so there won’t be any—”
The general manager’s words trailed off. Ha Joon had just bent down, picked up a single strand of hair from the corner, and stood back up.
“It… it seems to be a maid’s hair.”
“What’s your eyesight, Manager?”
Ha Joon asked calmly in a low voice.
“It’s 20/20 in both eyes.”
“Then perhaps you should take another careful look.”
At Ha Joon’s words, the general manager examined the hair strand in his hand more closely.
It was bright yellow.
That meant it definitely didn’t belong to any staff member, as employees were forbidden from dyeing their hair such light colors.
“Even staff hair shouldn’t be left behind, but this clearly appears to be a guest’s hair.”
“I—I’m sorry.”
“It’s only been less than a minute, and I’m already deeply disappointed.”
“I apologize. I’ll pay closer attention from now on.”
“You won’t be giving that same answer during the rating evaluation either, right? No one knows who, when, or in which room the mystery guest might stay, so you must stay vigilant.”
He was referring to the evaluation’s anonymous mystery guest system.
Ha Joon had already moved into the bathroom.
“There’s still moisture here. If it stays like this, mold might—”
“That’s probably just water dripping from the showerhead.”
At the general manager’s words, Ha Joon’s gaze shifted upward to the showerhead. A single droplet was hanging precariously from it.
“Manager, your fundamentals are seriously lacking. You must always listen until someone finishes speaking. You wouldn’t interrupt a guest either, would you?”
“O-of course not. I’m sorry.”
“You knew there was an issue but didn’t replace it? This could lead to mold forming underneath. And sensitive guests might even lose sleep over the sound of dripping water.”
“I apologize. I’ll replace it immediately.”
As Ha Joon left the room, the general manager quickly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Cold sweat was also trickling down his back.
‘How dare this little brat lecture me?’
Just then, Seok Hoon quietly approached Ha Joon and whispered something.
After listening calmly, Ha Joon turned without hesitation and addressed the staff.
“I’ll return once I finish inspecting all guest rooms. We’ll tour other areas together then.”
He then walked over to the general manager and spoke quietly.
“I won’t overlook it a second time. I’m telling you this because time is tight, and I’d appreciate it if you’d take this seriously.”
The general manager’s hand, clutching the handkerchief, trembled violently.
*****
“Ha Joon-ah. What are you doing here at this hour…?”
Min Jung, who knew for certain Ha Joon should be at the Myeongdong branch—and expected him to stay there until afternoon, possibly even until quitting time—was baffled to see him here.
Seo Ah was equally confused. She’d initially assumed Min Jung had called Ha Joon, but Min Jung’s reaction suggested otherwise.
Soon, Ha Joon removed his shoes and squeezed in to sit next to Seo Ah, who shifted slightly to make room.
“I had a lunch appointment. Ate in Room 3, and as I was leaving, I noticed Seo Ah’s shoes neatly lined up beside Mother’s—so I thought maybe it was you.”
Seo Ah was slightly flustered. How had he recognized her shoes? She’d assumed he had zero interest in her,
“They say security is strict, but apparently not strict enough. They just let anyone in, even if they claim to be family.”
“Why? Was my being here inappropriate?”
Caught helplessly in the tense standoff between mother and daughter, Seo Ah kept sipping water nervously.
“Khm, did you inspect the Myeongdong branch well?”
“I only checked one room, but it was such a mess I didn’t see the point in checking further. I’ll come back another time.”
“How bad could it have been for you to leave without checking more? You’re usually even more relentless when you catch something.”
For a moment, Ha Joon felt as if he’d been struck on the head with a hammer.
Right. What am I even doing here? Spouting obvious lies about just happening to pass by? He knew Min Jung would see through it immediately, yet the lie slipped out effortlessly.
He could tell Min Jung the truth, but he didn’t want Seo Ah to find out—he hadn’t come here for any reason other than her.
“There have to be moments like this too. Otherwise, the staff will start resenting you.”
“Why, is someone saying something? Giving you subtle hints?”
Though Min Jung disliked Ha Joon being here, she couldn’t bear to see her own son develop a bad reputation, so her voice rose slightly.
“It’d be harder to find staff who don’t resent you, wouldn’t it? How many employees actually like a parachute-appointed department head?”
“I heard. Your husband works this hard.”
Min Jung turned her gaze back to Seo Ah as she spoke.
“Khaak!”
Seo Ah, who’d been drinking water, choked in surprise.
“Cough! Cough!”
“Are you okay?”
Ha Joon immediately pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Seo Ah quickly took it, covered her mouth, and after a few more coughs, finally calmed down.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why apologize for choking? It happens.”
Seo Ah’s heart raced wildly again at Ha Joon’s casually kind words. She knew he was acting this way because Min Jung was present—so why did it always make her flutter?
“Ha Joon, you’re going to Jeju Island for an overnight trip this Friday, right? Do you know about it?”
“Huh?”
Seo Ah, who hadn’t known at all, looked at Ha Joon. She hadn’t expected him to be this uncooperative—something as significant as an overnight trip should’ve been mentioned in advance, shouldn’t it?
“I hadn’t told you yet. Since the schedule might change anytime, I planned to tell you tomorrow.”
Ha Joon replied calmly. He hadn’t deliberately withheld it—he truly had intended to tell her tomorrow.
“Is that so?”
Min Jung took a sip from her water glass, observing both their expressions.
She then set the glass down and continued,
“Go together for two nights and three days. Since you couldn’t take a proper honeymoon, it’d be nice to get some sweet photos of you two.”
Seo Ah’s eyes widened in shock. So suddenly? After a brief hesitation, her lips trembled slightly.
“I—I’m sorry, but I have class on Friday. Exams are coming up soon, so…”
“One class won’t matter. Ask your professor for permission in advance and go. You can study while Ha Joon tours the Jeju branch.”
“Mother.”
Before Ha Joon could insist on going alone, Seo Ah cut him off.
“I’ll go.”
Ha Joon looked at her with a puzzled expression. With so many people around, they couldn’t book separate rooms—did she not realize they’d have to share a bed for two nights?
“Yes, and remember what I said earlier. No matter what happens—whether you argue or can’t stand the sight of each other—husband and wife must always sleep together. If your husband spends too much time in his study, Seo Ah, it means your wifely support isn’t enough. Find a way to get him into your room.”
Ha Joon’s expression twisted. He’d expected his mother to say something like this, but he hadn’t anticipated her saying it right in front of him.
Seo Ah was equally flustered—she hadn’t expected Min Jung to say it in front of Ha Joon either.
Min Jung had never intended to listen to Seo Ah’s objections in the first place.
“—We’d like to have a child two years from now, after I graduate college. We’ll take our honeymoon then too…”
“—Even so, separate rooms aren’t acceptable. I’ll allow contraception, but that’s it.”
Those had been Seo Ah’s words before marriage when she’d requested separate rooms.
Min Jung had simply pretended to compromise, trusting Ha Joon. After all, she knew her son was perfectly healthy.
“Mother, we’ll handle that ourselves.”
“If you could handle it yourselves, I wouldn’t need to say anything.”
“Don’t ever drag Seo Ah into things like this again.”
“What?”
For the first time, Min Jung’s composure cracked.
She’d heard people say raising sons was useless, but she’d believed her own son would be different. Since he’d shown absolutely no interest in women before, she’d assumed Seo Ah would be no exception—but now, feeling as if her son had been snatched away, her whole body trembled with rage.
“Let’s go, Seo Ah.”
Ha Joon grasped Seo Ah’s small, soft hand and stood up.
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Girl…. lol. How? She’s so comfortable. Haha. In a deep sleeper too but this? I’m giving the crown to her. Haha 🤣
I’m cackling…. Hahaha 😂 He better be pretending to sleep. Hahaha… I can’t imagine this. Lmfao.
I’m feeling giddy imagining all of this too. lol. Who wouldn’t?