“Hey, let’s order first. Siwoo, did you come by car today?”
“No, I left it behind because I planned to drink today.”
“Wow! I like that attitude. Then, shall we deeply unwind after 11 years?”
Siwoo responded with a smile and an ‘okay’ gesture with his finger.
Hyunju, with a face full of excitement, pressed the bell and ordered some drinks and snacks.
Shortly after, the drinks arrived, and the three of them slowly sipped, sharing stories that had accumulated over 11 years.
Hours later, as they continued to chat and drink, it was nearing 10 PM. A significant number of empty bottles had accumulated on the table.
“So, have you decided to stay in Seoul for good?”
At Hyunju’s question, Siwoo nodded.
“Yes. I initially planned to come earlier, but I wanted to help out at my mom’s hospital until it closed.”
Siwoo’s mother was also a veterinarian, and Siwoo had been helping her run an animal hospital in Busan until last winter.
“Did you move to Seoul because you knew someone here?”
“The director of the animal hospital I’m working at now was my senior in college. He’s been asking me to come for three years, but I couldn’t make it because of the circumstances back then.”
“So, your mom has closed her hospital for good?”
“Yes. After 30 years, she’s done enough. She wants to travel and enjoy life leisurely now.”
“30 years? That’s impressive. Did you become a vet because of your parents?”
“I guess so. Both my parents were busy, so I spent a lot of time alone as a child. I was always surrounded by animals, and I loved that. Seeing sick animals get better after my mom’s care seemed like magic, and I admired her.”
Eun Chae smiled, imagining a young Siwoo surrounded by animals, smiling brightly. As Hyunju was about to pour sake, her phone rang. It was her boyfriend, Kihoon.
“Hello? Oh, Kihoon. Just a moment.”
Hyunju stepped out for a short call.
“Hyunju’s been with her boyfriend for three years, right?”
With Hyunju gone, Siwoo poured a drink for Eun Chae and said.
“Yes, it’s been three years. They’re thinking of getting married next fall. They’ve already met each other’s parents.”
“Really? I envy them.”
“Envious?”
“Of course. It’s a promise to spend a lifetime with someone you love.”
Looking deeply at Eun Chae, Siwoo replied.
At his gaze, Eun Chae felt slightly embarrassed and poured a drink for Siwoo.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
As she asked, she remembered Hyunju’s excitement about Siwoo being single.
“No, I don’t. What about you?”
“Oh? Uh… I don’t either.”
“That’s strange. You’re so pretty; why don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“Uh?”
Eun Chae looked at Siwoo, puzzled.
‘Was Siwoo always this straightforward?’
She was still trying to figure him out when Hyunju re-entered the room.
“Guys, I’m sorry, but Kihoon is almost here, so I need to go… Will you two stay and drink more?”
“No, we should get going too. It’s late.”
“It’s not late! It’s just 10 PM. Have one more drink.”
Ignoring Eun Chae’s silent laser glare, Hyunju nonchalantly picked up the bill.
“Don’t be like that. You guys have another drink. I’ll pay the bill since I’m leaving first.”
However, Siwoo gently took the bill from Hyunju’s hand.
“No, I’ll pay. We met thanks to you, after all. And we’ve had enough drinks; it’s better to stop now. Let’s just all get up together.”
“Really? Well, if you insist on paying, I won’t stop you. And you’ll take Eun Chae home, right?”
“Of course.”
“What? No, I can just take a taxi. It’s not far; there’s no need.”
Eun Chae waved her hands in refusal, but Siwoo, with a smile, left the room first.
“Park Hyunju, why did you say unnecessary things? Why would Siwoo take me home?”
As soon as Siwoo left, Eun Chae, with a sparrow-eye look, spoke to Hyunju, who replied with a sly smile and a mischievous air.
“Someone seems to see you as a dear to be safely escorted home?”
“Hey, really, are you going to keep saying weird things?”
Eun Chae frowned, but Hyunju casually put on her shoes, singing a tune.
Siwoo, who had finished paying, was waiting for them at the counter.
“Then I’ll go first. Make sure you safely escort our pretty Eun Chae home, okay?”
Hyunju winked at Siwoo, and Eun Chae sighed internally watching her.
“Alright, don’t worry. Go on. Let’s meet again soon.”
“Okay. I’m off then. Bye Eun Chae.”
Hyunju waved and walked away. Eun Chae glanced up at Siwoo.
She felt like she’d been cast as the protagonist in a romance drama Hyunju had conjured up.
“Siwoo… I can go alone, really. It’s not far, and I can manage.”
“I want to take you. The streets are dangerous at night, and I want to have a cup of coffee with you.”
“Coffee?”
“Yeah. I always have a cup after drinking. I’d like to have one with you… Are you too tired?”
“No, I’m not that tired.”
“Then how about we go to a coffee shop near your house? I won’t take much of your time.”
Siwoo smiled warmly, and Eun Chae hesitated but nodded in agreement.
Soon, they hailed a taxi, and Eun Chae gave the coffee shop address near her home.
“Do you live alone?”
As the taxi started, Siwoo asked, and Eun Chae nodded.
“Yes, I live alone. You?”
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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