Date Me! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
After being guided to the private room, Joo Won took care of ordering on his own.
Lee I Na wiped her hands with a wet tissue while glancing at Joo Won.
The smile Joo Won had shown earlier when the CEO called her “a beautiful lady” kept coming back to her mind.
‘Yeah. He probably just smiled out of politeness. He couldn’t exactly snap and say I’m not pretty at all, right?’
While Lee I Na was lost in her own random thoughts, Joo Won held out a glass of water to her.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Huh?”
Lee I Na snapped out of her thoughts and asked back.
“I asked what you’re thinking about all by yourself.”
“Huh? No, nothing. I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
Lee I Na answered quickly and hurriedly brought the water glass to her lips.
Joo Won stared quietly at her when a knock was heard.
A moment later, the door opened and the staff served salad, clear soup, and the Japanese-style tofu dish called mochiri dofu.
Lee I Na had thought she had no appetite because of everything that happened today, but the moment she saw the appetizing mochiri dofu topped with pine nuts, saliva suddenly started pooling in her mouth.
“Try it. The mochiri dofu here is really good.”
Noticing the change in her eyes, Joo Won gestured for her to go ahead and eat.
Lee I Na gently picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of mochiri dofu in her mouth.
The bouncy yet chewy texture spread throughout her mouth.
“Mmm. It’s really nutty and delicious.”
Her eyes sparkled brightly, as if she had never lost her appetite in the first place.
“Here, have mine too.”
Joo Won pushed his plate toward her, offering it.
“Huh? No, it’s okay…”
“You said it’s delicious. Go ahead.”
When he insisted again, Lee I Na pretended she couldn’t resist and popped another piece into her mouth.
As expected, the rich nuttiness filled her mouth and she smiled brightly.
Seeing that, Joo Won chuckled softly. Soon after, a neat platter of assorted sushi was brought out.
Looking at the sushi lying like works of art, each topped with different ingredients, Lee I Na unconsciously picked up her chopsticks and got into battle mode.
Joo Won laughed at the sight and said,
“Eat slowly. If it’s not enough, I’ll order more.”
“No, this is already a lot.”
Even as she said that, Lee I Na quickly reached for the salmon sushi.
Then she melted in happiness at the taste that gently dissolved in her mouth, her brows furrowing in pure bliss.
“Mmm. So good.”
“Right? Have this one too.”
Joo Won picked up a piece of salmon sushi from his plate and placed it on hers.
“Huh? No, you eat it.”
“It’s fine. Girls like salmon, don’t they? You have it.”
Lee I Na stared at Joo Won while holding her chopsticks.
“Why?”
“Huh? Nothing, it’s just… you seem really caring… It feels a bit unfamiliar compared to how you were in middle school?”
“Really? Should I act cold like back then so it doesn’t feel unfamiliar?”
Joo Won said teasingly.
“Huh? No way. No no~ I love how you are now. Totally love it.”
Joo Won burst into a small laugh at her words.
“But isn’t it completely unfair to be this handsome and caring on top of that?”
“What is?”
“You already score a perfect hundred just with your face, and if your personality is good too, you’d be insanely popular with girls…”
Lee I Na suddenly stopped mid-sentence and looked at Joo Won.
“Why?”
Lee I Na suddenly put down her chopsticks and made a startled face.
“Oh my god. Seriously! How did I not think of that?”
“Think of what?”
Lee I Na stared intensely at Joo Won and asked,
“You… have a girlfriend, right?”
“What?”
Joo Won narrowed his eyes at the sudden random question.
“No, I never asked whether you have a girlfriend or not. But it would be weird if someone with your face didn’t have one. Right? You have a girlfriend, don’t you?”
Joo Won put down his chopsticks and looked at Lee I Na.
“Why are you suddenly curious about that?”
“Huh? Well… now that I think about it, even if we’re friends, I’m not a guy friend. If you’re helping me this actively, your girlfriend might not like it…”
Joo Won rested his chin on his hand and looked at her with an amused expression.
“Really? You think she’d hate it?”
“Of course. If my boyfriend helped a female friend this much, I’d hate it too…”
“Hmm… But I even slept over at your place yesterday.”
“Gasp.”
Lee I Na grabbed her cheeks and made an expression like Munch’s The Scream.
“What do I do? Did your girlfriend find out you slept at my place? Oh no! What do I do? Did you two have a huge fight because of me?”
As Lee I Na’s big eyes shook dramatically, Joo Won couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.
“Hahaha.”
Lee I Na stared at the suddenly laughing Joo Won with round eyes.
“Why, why are you laughing?”
“You’re really good at performing a one-person show, aren’t you? Like a solo artist? Haha.”
“What? What does that mean?”
Joo Won smiled and said to the confused Lee I Na who tilted her head,
“Why are you screaming about a girlfriend who doesn’t even exist?”
“Huh?”
Lee I Na blinked, stared at Joo Won, then suddenly covered her mouth with her hand.
“No way! You… don’t have… a girlfriend?”
Joo Won made an incredulous face at her reaction.
“What’s with you? A second ago you were freaking out thinking she found out, and now you’re shocked that I don’t have one?”
“Why, why don’t you have a girlfriend?”
Lee I Na still covered her mouth, looking shocked, and Joo Won laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Is it that shocking that I don’t have a girlfriend? Why do you look like that?”
“O-of course it is. A guy who’s tall, handsome, and has an amazing body…”
Lee I Na suddenly flinched, shut her mouth, and bit her lip—she hadn’t meant to mention his body.
Joo Won rested his chin on his hand and smirked.
“Body? When did Assistant Manager Lee I Na get to see my body?”
But when Lee I Na kept silent as if she had taken a vow and only stared at the table, Joo Won snickered.
“Ah… last night? Well, that cousin’s clothes were pretty tight, I guess.”
Seeing Lee I Na staring holes into the table as if it were coated in honey made him want to laugh again.
“But was my body that impressive? I’m honored.”
Lee I Na swallowed hard, then looked up at Joo Won.
“No, Joo Won. That’s not what I meant… I just think it’s such a waste that a great guy like you doesn’t have a girlfriend… that’s all.”
“Really?”
Joo Won barely held back his laughter and asked.
Lee I Na nodded awkwardly and brought the water glass to her lips.
Joo Won swallowed the laughter that was about to escape while watching her.
“Alright, I get it, so let’s eat first. You’re hungry, aren’t you?”
Joo Won signaled with his eyes to eat, and only then did Lee I Na pick up her chopsticks again.
The two slowly talked while eating, enjoying steamed abalone, grilled eggplant, tempura, and udon until the very end.
When Lee I Na took a spoonful of the sweet and refreshing yuzu sherbet served as dessert, Joo Won spoke in a serious voice.
“Send me everything you know about that bastard Park Jung Hoon—his contact info, company name, department, home address, all of it—through message.”
“Huh?”
Lee I Na, who was about to take her second spoonful, looked at Joo Won with wide eyes.
“He crossed the line. That guy. We can’t just let it slide.”
“W-what are you going to do?”
“My cousin is a lawyer. A pretty capable one.”
“A l-lawyer?”
Her eyes widened even more at the word “lawyer.”
“He came all the way to your company and caused that scene—are we just going to sit and watch?”
“Huh? No, but…”
“There’s more than enough evidence—his obsession with you, dragging you off while drunk, storming into your workplace. We can make sure he never shows up in front of you again.”
Instead of answering, Lee I Na sighed with a troubled face.
“I want to handle it myself, but if I do, my fists will probably come out first. It’ll be easier and cleaner if my lawyer cousin steps in. And it’ll all be done legally, so don’t worry too much.”
“No, it’s not that I’m worried… I just feel so sorry toward you… How did I end up dating a guy like that and now have to ask you for such a shameless favor…”
“But if it weren’t for that guy, we wouldn’t have met again, right?”
“…”
Lee I Na looked at Joo Won with round eyes.
Was it just her imagination that the smile on Joo Won’s lips looked meaningful?
Staring at that smile suddenly made her heart race.
“Well… that’s true…”
Lee I Na lowered her head, answered, and quickly reached for the sherbet.
Only after filling her mouth with the cold sherbet did her pounding heart seem to calm down.
A little later, after finishing dessert, Joo Won picked up the bill.
“Huh? Give it here. I’ll pay.”
Lee I Na reached out in surprise, but Joo Won grabbed his jacket and stood up.
“Why do you always insist on paying? Today it’s my turn.”
“Huh? Still…”
Joo Won opened the door and gestured for her to come out, and Lee I Na reluctantly stood up.
After settling the bill, a cool breeze greeted them as they stepped outside.
“Thanks for the meal. Tomorrow I’ll treat you to something delicious.”
At Lee I Na’s words, Joo Won smiled and put on his jacket.
“You keep saying you’ll buy delicious food—it feels like we’re on a restaurant tour.”
“Restaurant tour? That actually sounds fun!”
Lee I Na’s eyes sparkled as she followed Joo Won to the car.
Once inside, Joo Won fastened his seatbelt and said to Lee I Na,
“You must be tired, so go home early and sleep. Don’t think any more about what happened today.”
“Yeah… thank you.”
“I’ll call my brother right away, so just know that.”
“…Yeah.”
“Then let’s head home now.”
Joo Won drove toward Lee I Na’s place.
A little later, the car stopped in front of the villa where Lee I Na lived, and she got out after saying thank you.
Joo Won rolled down the passenger window and gave her a small eye salute.
“Don’t overthink anything and sleep well. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. You go home and rest too.”
“Alright. Go on up.”
Lee I Na waved and went inside the villa, and a moment later Joo Won’s car pulled away again.
⋆✩⋆✩⋆✩⋆
The next day, when Lee I Na went downstairs to head to work, thankfully Park Jung Hoon was nowhere to be seen. She felt tense again while walking from the bus stop to the company, but again, no sign of Park Jung Hoon.
Lee I Na let out a sigh of relief and entered through the company gate.
As she passed the entrance and walked toward the crowd waiting for the elevator, she spotted Assistant Manager Lee standing among them.
Just then, Assistant Manager Lee turned around and their eyes met.
Lee I Na immediately gave a slight bow, and Assistant Manager Lee hurriedly bowed back.
With an awkward smile, she went to stand beside Assistant Manager Lee, who also smiled shyly.
While silently waiting for the elevator, Assistant Manager Lee cautiously asked,
“Yesterday… did you get home safely?”
“Yes? Ah. Yes. Thanks to you.”
Assistant Manager Lee hesitated for a moment, scratched his head, and said,
“Um… Assistant Manager Lee I Na. I think I was a bit too much yesterday.”
“Yes?”
“Asking if you two were really close… I didn’t need to be curious about that… I think your friend might have felt bad.”
“Ah, no, not at all. It’s totally fine to ask. And well, we are close. Really old friends.”
“Ah… really old friends…”
For some reason, the word “really” carried an odd weight, and Assistant Manager Lee nodded.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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