Looking at his pure, beaming face, her heart ached, wondering if her mind had already reached a conclusion.
“Take care going home. Next time, let’s eat with Hyunju.”
“Sure. You too, take care.”
Ina smiled faintly and got out of the car, heading into her villa.
Once inside, she collapsed onto the sofa, feeling drained.
The aftermath of Siwoo’s confessions still lingered in her heart.
A searing sensation kept rising within her, and her head throbbed with pain.
Ina, having closed her eyes for a long time, finally got up and took a shower. After roughly drying her hair, she turned off the room’s lights, leaving only the bedside lamp on. Staring blankly at the light, she was lost in thoughts and finally fell asleep around 3 AM.
It was Sunday. Although she had fallen asleep at 3 AM, she couldn’t sleep well and felt groggy when she woke up. It was just past 11 AM. After drinking some cold water from the fridge, Ina briefly vacuumed her place. By the time she finished washing and it was just past noon, she drank a glass of milk. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. It was Hyunju on the intercom screen.
Last night, before falling asleep, Hyunju had informed Ina that she would come over around lunchtime today. Probably, Hyunju was dying of curiosity about what happened between Ina and Siwoo. Ina slowly went and opened the door to find Hyunju holding up a paper bag.
“Ta-da! I brought Seolleongtang. You haven’t had lunch yet, right?”
Instead of answering, Ina nodded.
“Hey, why do your eyes look so swollen? Did you sleep badly?”
“Yeah.”
Ina responded and slowly walked to the kitchen.
“Then just sit. I’ll prepare the meal.”
Hyunju served the meal, and they sat down to eat. Normally, Ina would have devoured a bowl eagerly, but given the situation, her appetite was gone. Hyunju patiently waited for Ina to eat at her own slow pace and then even cleared up the table.
Then, she quickly made two cups of coffee and handed one to Ina.
“So, did you enjoy the movie with Siwoo?”
That was the question Hyunju had been dying to ask since she arrived, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Ina sighed deeply instead of answering.
“What, what, what happened?”
With a troubled face, Ina fiddled with her coffee cup and then looked at Hyunju.
She then slowly recounted everything that had happened the day before.
Hyunju’s mouth dropped open after hearing the story.
“Wow… Kim Siwoo really went all out, huh? How could he make such a bold move right after meeting? And he took you to that expensive restaurant? He was really sharpening his knives.”
In contrast to her excited self, seeing Ina’s troubled face, Hyunju calmed down and asked seriously.
“So, what did you say?”
“I was too flustered to say anything right away.”
“I would have been too. Phew… So, is Siwoo waiting for your answer?”
“Yeah.”
“Ah, your head must be a mess. Even I feel restless, and I’m not even involved.”
Ina exhaled a short sigh and picked up her coffee cup.
“But you need to decide soon. It’s almost like giving him false hope if you make him wait too long.”
At that, Ina seemed about to speak, then hesitated, and finally opened her mouth.
“But I…”
“Yes?”
“Even amidst all the confusion with Siwoo’s words yesterday… I kept thinking about Juwon.”
Hyunju narrowed her eyes.
“The truth is… even when I was at the cinema with Siwoo, and eating steak at the restaurant, Juwon kept coming to my mind. Am I strange?”
Hyunju grabbed Ina’s hand firmly.
“Hey. What’s strange about that? It just means your feelings are becoming clear.”
Her voice rose with emotion.
“If this isn’t the answer, then what is?”
“Maybe… I’m just misunderstanding Juwon’s feelings.”
“Hey. That’s not it. Why do you think Kim Siwoo threw a curveball at you as soon as he saw Juwon? He was uneasy after seeing how Juwon looked at you. With such clear evidence, what more do you need?”
Ina bit her lip thoughtfully at Hyunju’s convincing words.
“Still… I’m not sure if what I feel for Juwon is truly romantic.”
“You’re not sure?”
“Yeah.”
Hyunju, looking serious, stared at Ina and then lightly tapped the back of her hand.
“Then just call him.”
“Huh?”
“Call and listen to Juwon’s voice. If your heart flutters the moment you hear him, isn’t that a clear sign?”
Instead of replying, Ina swallowed dryly.
“Stop pondering and just call. The heart doesn’t lie.”
Hyunju gently placed Ina’s phone in her hand, encouraging her.
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
