Surprised that he answered, Autumn called out in a startled voice, to which he replied, “Why are you so surprised?”
“I guess so…….”
Embarrassed, Autumn chuckled, sensing his amusement on the other end.
His voice, laced with laughter, tickled her ears as he asked softly, “So, why did you call?”
“I, um… Mrs. Han asked me to deliver some side dishes to your apartment. I was wondering when you’d be getting off work.”
“……I told her it wasn’t necessary.”
Autumn waited silently for his reply.
“I’m not sure when I’ll be done today. I have a lot of work…”
After a pause, he sighed and then made a quick request, “Can you leave it at the gallery?”
Autumn, now somewhat more familiar with the place, pushed open the glass door and entered.
Immediately catching the elevator to the office, she saw Park, the gallery manager.
“Hello, Mr. Park.”
Park, spotting Autumn, approached her with a warm smile. Autumn responded with a shy smile.
“Autumn, you’re here. Welcome.”
Since learning she was Yun Dae-ho’s daughter, Park had been particularly kind to her. Touching her cheek, Autumn thought to herself, ‘I’m just my father’s daughter…’
What she painted could never be Yun Dae-ho’s work. Yet, it seemed others didn’t see it that way. Merely being his daughter made people view her differently.
She had used that fame to finalize a contract, so she couldn’t really complain. It was just intriguing to her that people were fond of her simply because she was his daughter.
‘I don’t know how I mustered the courage back then…’
She remembered being hoisted onto the director’s back for lying and chuckled unwittingly.
Park, the gallery manager, looked at her questioningly. Autumn waved her hand, dismissing the laughter.
Park, still curious, asked another question.
“What brings you to the gallery today?”
Autumn, holding bags full of side dishes, replied, “I have something to deliver to the director.”
“If it’s for the director, you can leave it with me.”
She handed the shopping bags to Park. Realizing they contained side dishes, he began neatly stacking them in the office fridge.
Watching him, Autumn hesitantly asked, “Is the director coming late today?”
“Yes, he usually stops by around sunset these days.”
She paused, then asked again, “Can I wait here to see him?”
“You want to see the director?”
“Yes, I have something to tell him.”
She wanted to thank him for installing lights on the path to her studio, making it brighter.
Though she thought, ‘He probably didn’t do it just for me.’
Entering the gallery office, Ki-tae noticed a small figure sitting on the sofa and called out, “……Yun Gaeul?”
Woken by his voice, Autumn slowly opened her eyes.
“Why are you here?” he asked, and she quickly replied, “I brought some side dishes and wanted to say thank you.”
“Really?”
Hearing her response, Ki-tae turned and headed to the mini fridge, frowning at the sight of the numerous side dishes filling it.
As he did, Autumn followed and said, “Enjoy the meal, Director.”
Turning to look at her, Ki-tae’s frown deepened, noticing the red marks on her wrists – signs of carrying heavy loads.
He stared at the marks intently, and Autumn hesitantly said, “Director, thanks for installing lights outside the main house. It’s not scary to go to the studio at night now.”
Despite the apparent effort, she expressed only gratitude, not complaints.
He replied more softly, “Is that so? That’s good.”
Surprised by his gentle response, Autumn blushed slightly and shyly said, “Well, I’ve delivered the side dishes, so I’ll be going now. Take care.”
As she turned to leave, Ki-tae’s gaze lingered on her, particularly on the distinct marks on her wrists.
Finally, he called out to her, “Yun Gaeul.”
“Me? Why…?”
Then, he spoke.
“Stay for a meal. I’ll buy.”
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
