Prosecutor Kang Ji-ho was always dressed in a suit.
Tall enough that one had to look up to him, a man in a wrinkle-free suit as if it was armor. Although they had met only a few times, Ji-ho, as Ra-jin remembered, was a man of impeccable neatness.
However, today, he seemed a bit different.
Dressed casually without a tie, and even two buttons of his shirt undone. His hairstyle seemed to have changed after a long time, giving off an awkward yet intriguing feeling.
And then there was the citrus scent.
Familiar and welcoming, it eased the tension in Ra-jin’s rigid shoulders. Unknowingly, she found herself relaxing and smiling slightly.
“Have you arrived?”
“Hello.”
As Ji-ho’s gaze shifted from Ra-jin to Ha-eun, Ra-jin introduced her.
“Ah! She’s almost like my little sister. She also does some styling work.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Hello.”
“Please, come in.”
As Ji-ho moved aside, Ra-jin, holding Ha-eun’s hand, quickly stepped in.
As the door clicked shut, the lights reflecting off the marble floor brightened. The entrance to his mother’s studio showcased its exceptional beauty.
“Wait! I-”
Before even taking off her shoes, Ha-eun raised her hand.
“I should get going.”
“Why don’t you stay for some tea?”
Contrary to his usually stern demeanor, he kindly insisted.
“What’s the use of hearing important things and getting a headache?”
He looked straight at Ha-eun, who was gently shaking her head, and then slowly curled the corners of his eyes. It was a series of unexpected gestures.
“Would you mind dropping off Ra-jin later?”
“I was actually about to ask you that. How did you know?”
Ha-eun giggled and winked at Ra-jin.
“Please ensure she gets home safely.”
“Of course.”
“My name is Jung Ha-eun, by the way.”
“Take care on your way, Ha-eun.”
Was he always this kind of person?
Rather than being guarded, he detailed the easiest exit route from the parking lot, in a very gentle tone.
“I’m really going now. Take care, Prosecutor.”
With a wave and a bow, Ha-eun disappeared. Suddenly, an unbearable silence filled the space.
Ra-jin awkwardly fiddled with her elbows.
“Please, come this way.”
“Ah, yes.”
“This way.”
Ra-jin followed him, her eyes fixed on his broad shoulders.
“Did you come straight from shooting?”
“No, I took a break due to my condition.”
“Have you eaten?”
Unsure if it was just a casual inquiry or like last time when he hadn’t eaten, Ra-jin pondered over his intention. She always had to second-guess his words.
But she had decided to be honest today. Ra-jin pulled down her mask.
“I ate at Ha-eun’s. And you?”
“Can you eat again?”
Remembering their previous shake and fries combo, the prospect of eating again with him raised her expectations.
“I should be on a diet, but…!”
A marble oval-shaped dining table.
Colorful ranunculus flowers adorned the centerpiece, flanked by an array of dishes. From Tteokbokki and steak to a fruit and cheese platter.
Ra-jin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat. Do you have any favorites?”
“Did you… How did you manage to prepare all this?”
Instead of responding, he simply waved his phone and then smiled warmly.
Being overly familiar with Ha-eun, who was like a younger sister, or ordering such stimulating food for her, who subsisted on salads, he didn’t really have to do any of this. She was already willing to cooperate.
Surprised by the unexpected treat, Ra-jin found herself mesmerized, sitting down at the table. Important conversations could wait until after enjoying the Tteokbokki.
“Do you like white wine?”
What’s with this man?
How did he know she preferred white wine to the headache-inducing red wine? She never mentioned it in interviews. Was it just a coincidence, or did they share similar tastes?
Ra-jin momentarily pondered asking him a personal question.
“Yes, I like it. But I’ll just have one glass today.”
“I’ll stick to a soft drink because of driving.”
“I seem to be causing you trouble again.”
“Not at all.”
His gaze, which had been as cool as early winter, softened warmly. It was embarrassing to think that she had once criticized him as being cold and unapproachable.
She realized she had judged him based on professional stereotypes.
While she hated stereotypes, she had unfairly applied a different standard to Prosecutor Kang Ji-ho. Feeling sorry, Ra-jin spent a moment in silent self-reflection.
“This automatic opener is tricky.”
Ji-ho, who was used to manual openers, struggled with the wine bottle.
“Just press that black button. Yes, that one.”
“Is this it?”
As he rolled up his sleeves, thick veins bulged on his wrists. In his large hand, the wine opener looked like a toy.
“The button seems too small to press.”
“I appear too novice with this.”
As he tilted his head, a bright smile lit up his face, and Ra-jin’s face brightened in response.
“Hold it. I’ll press it.”
The moment Ra-jin pressed the button, the mechanical sound was loud.
With a pop, the wine opened, and the golden liquid filled the glass with a gentle gurgle. The clear glass seemed misty.
“Please, have a drink.”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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