Three weeks ago, after returning to the department store, Ki-tae, buried in a flood of work and accustomed to working late nights, settled into the back seat of his black sedan after leaving the office late.
Initially intending to return to his officetel, Ki-tae changed his mind, lifting his eyelids.
“No, let’s stop by the main house first.”
“Yes, understood.”
Suddenly, she came to mind.
Was Yoon Ga-eul doing well?
He had casually suggested she participate in the competition, but had left her to her own devices as spring approached, two months passing since.
Busy with work, he genuinely couldn’t check on her, but the thought nagged at him despite his tiredness. He wondered what she had painted and how much she had progressed. Surely, two months was ample time.
Already aware of Ga-eul’s workshop behind the main house, thanks to his grandfather constantly talking about her, Ki-tae had never visited her paintings or the workshop before. It was his first time.
She must be sleeping by now.
He didn’t plan to meet her; just a quick peek at her paintings was the intention. If she seemed lost, he considered offering some advice.
“Should I let the main house know you’re coming, sir?”
“No need. I’ll be quick.”
He chose a dark time of night to secretly visit the main house, prompted by Yoon Ga-eul. He didn’t want to cause a hassle, especially with his grandfather, who would undoubtedly have words for him due to recent tensions at the gallery.
Soon, the familiar building came into view. Before stepping out of the car, Ki-tae spoke to his driver.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll wait here. Have a good visit.”
Stepping out from the sedan into the dim evening, Ki-tae navigated his way through the lesser-used back road, which grew darker as he proceeded. Carefully treading the rugged path, he reached the end of the back road, where light spilled from Ga-eul’s workshop.
Upon slightly opening the door, he found her still there.
“Yoon Ga-eul.”
But she was asleep.
‘Has she been living here all along?’
He had expected her to sleep in the annex but found her, in her paint-smeared apron and arm protectors, slumped on the floor, her face buried in a chair, taking a quick nap.
A red paint mark adorned one cheek where her paint-stained arm protector rested.
Ki-tae let out a chuckle upon entering, then shifted his gaze from Ga-eul to the canvases lined against one wall. Her drawing book, filled with numerous sketches, lay carelessly at her feet.
Picking up the drawing book, Ki-tae flipped through from the first to the last page, checking every canvas on the wall. Some were freshly painted, others fully dried, indicating some time had passed.
Yoon Ga-eul, following in her father’s footsteps with Western painting, had created landscapes and flowers with considerable skill.
‘Just thought it was my grandfather’s preference.’ She was no mere fledgling, possessing undeniable talent. Ki-tae spent some time admiring her works.
‘No need to worry, then.’
After ensuring she could sleep undisturbed, Ki-tae turned off the lights and quietly left the workshop.
Returning to his car, Ki-tae settled back into the sedan.
Thus, the soundless sedan quietly departed from the Hanam-dong main house, leaving behind the secret late-night visit.
“Reflect,” he said.
Instead of responding, Ga-eul just pursed her lips.
If the cause of his displeasure was the commotion, then it was largely due to the Daerim Construction chairman’s outcry. Ga-eul had been busy calming him down and explaining herself.
However, if he considered the ruckus a threat to the reputation of his cherished gallery… she had no defense. It was her actions that had instigated the issue.
It was plausible that his dissatisfaction stemmed from the disruption of a successful exhibition, which had been his aim.
Realizing this, Ga-eul naturally became more attentive to his mood.
Knock, knock.
The silence was broken by a knock from outside. Ga-eul, who had been tracing the floor pattern with her eyes, looked towards the door.
‘It’s the gallery director.’
Recognizing Director Park, whom she had briefly seen on the day of the exhibition, Ga-eul pulled her hat down further over her face.
Director Park entered the office with a beaming smile, extending a glass of iced tea towards Ga-eul.
“Are you Ga-eul? Here, drink this.”
“Thank you… Director Park.”
“If you need anything else, just ask.”
How did he recognize her even with the hat? Ga-eul, not expecting such an encounter, awkwardly flashed a broad smile.
Director Park, still smiling broadly at Ga-eul, then turned to Ki-tae, who was still looking at his documents.
“Sir, you came in a bit late today. Was it busy at the department store?”
“Among other things, I had to ‘catch’ Yoon Ga-eul.”
“What? Oh, I see. You ‘caught’ Ga-eul…”
Director Park seemed startled by his response but quickly continued.
“Did you ‘catch’ Ga-eul for a contract issue?”
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
