David's Husband - Chapter 21
Jun Won came home with snacks after hearing that Director Go Eun Mi had visited the Liam Art Museum. Ji Hoo, who had just woken up from a nap, seemed to be in a much better mood than before.
“You know how cartoons always have villains or witches? Just think of it as meeting someone like that.”
As Jun Won joked around, Ji Hoo nodded while sucking on a lollipop.
“Ji Hoo, did that woman say anything to you?”
Ha Yeon asked carefully, unable to shake an uneasy feeling. But the child, whose eyes wavered for a moment, only shook his head.
Unable to press Ji Hoo further, Ha Yeon couldn’t say anything more, but she felt uncomfortable for some reason.
“If there’s anything you want to talk about, you can always tell me. I’ll solve any problem for you.”
Ha Yeon spoke confidently, as if she were an all-powerful problem solver. She hoped that this would encourage the child to open up and freely express his inner thoughts.
“I’ll take care of people like that for you.”
Jun Won demonstrated subduing a thug with flashy hand movements. If she hadn’t known better, she would have laughed thinking he was joking, but knowing his fighting skills, she couldn’t laugh wholeheartedly, thinking he might actually be capable of it.
“What are you taking care of?”
Min Je, who had briefly stepped out, entered the living room with a curious expression, having apparently overheard Jun Won’s words.
“It’s a very scary witch,” Ji Hoo whispered as if it were a secret, then giggled.
“Huh? A witch?”
As Min Je made a dubious face, Ha Yeon silently mouthed the name ‘Go Eun Mi’ next to him.
“Ah, a witch. We should get rid of the witch so she can’t appear again.”
As Min Je played along with Ji Hoo’s mood, the child’s face immediately brightened.
“I don’t know what you’re planning to get rid of, but how about we start by getting rid of dinner?”
Everyone burst into laughter at Mi Ran’s words as she came out of the kitchen, having finished preparing dinner.
“Come on, everyone, let’s go get rid of dinner!”
Ha Yeon said cheerfully, taking Ji Hoo’s hand and heading to the kitchen. It had been a while since they all gathered for dinner together, so they decided to forget about the unpleasant incident from earlier for now.
[This is the timeline separator]Eun Mi, having returned to her office, worked furiously all afternoon, unable to shake off her irritation. She repeatedly ran her fingers through her hair in frustration as Min Je’s expression and Ha Yeon’s image kept popping into her mind.
“Director, Manager Cha I Tae is here.”
“Tell him to come in.”
As her secretary announced the visitor, she barely managed to stand up. However, her sensitive mood had not subsided at all.
“Oh my, why does our director look like this again?”
I Tae, Eun Mi’s high school classmate and the director of ‘The Art and Modern’ gallery, walked in speaking smoothly.
“I’m not in the mood for jokes, so cut it out.”
As Eun Mi raised her eyebrows sharply, I Tae raised both hands in surrender.
“Oh dear, our queen is in a really bad mood, isn’t she?”
Knowing Eun Mi’s usual temperament well, I Tae narrowed his eyes, silently guessing what might have upset her this time. It wasn’t difficult to guess, as most of her issues were usually related to Director Kang Min Je.
“What is it this time?”
I Tae, lounging on the sofa, gestured with his hand as if to say he was ready to listen.
“Well, it seems elder brother Min Je has hired some young woman as a sitter.”
So that’s what it was. Realizing his guess was correct, I Tae raised the corners of his mouth and took a sip of the coffee the secretary had left earlier.
“What does a sitter matter?”
As I Tae responded nonchalantly, Eun Mi’s irritation surged again and she raised her voice.
“He’s going to exhibit paintings by that woman at KIAF! He didn’t even look at Michelle Lee, whom I worked hard to recruit, but he’s going to bring that woman’s paintings to the art fair. How can I not care about this?”
I Tae briefly frowned at her sharp, almost screeching voice.
“Hmm, so Kang Min Je is promoting a new artist?”
That was a statement that couldn’t be ignored. Kang Min Je’s eye for art was well-known in the field.
Many of the new artists he had promoted were now receiving great attention in the international art market. With an increasing number of artists fetching high prices at both online and offline art auctions, it was commonly said that any new artist promoted by him was guaranteed success.
Seeing I Tae distracted rather than agreeing with her, Eun Mi shouted, “What? Are you joking with me right now?”
Realizing her mood was not to be trifled with, I Tae finally waved his hands and laughed sheepishly.
“Come on, it was just a casual remark. Why are you getting so worked up?”
Her volatile personality was famous even in high school. If I Tae hadn’t been involved in the art world, his connection with her might have been severed long ago.
Although her position as the standing director of the Art Association was largely due to her father, who was the chairman, her friendship was useful in many ways, so I Tae generally tolerated her temper.
As he spoke soothingly, Eun Mi barely managed to calm down and compose her expression.
“So, I was thinking… could you approach that woman?”
Eun Mi, sitting across from I Tae with her legs crossed, spoke in an almost commanding tone.
“Approach her and do what?”
I Tae didn’t immediately refuse, as he was interested in the woman Kang Min Je had apparently taken note of.
“Why are you acting like an amateur?”
Eun Mi raised one eyebrow. Reading a lot from her expression, I Tae chuckled.
“Alright, alright. I’ll try to approach her first.”
The fact that no other woman could get close to Director Kang Min Je was partly due to his lack of interest in the opposite sex, but also the result of Eun Mi’s painstaking efforts.
I Tae, who had a track record of seducing several women who showed interest in him, marveled at Eun Mi’s viciousness and tenacity. Well, it’s not like he considered himself blameless.
He too wanted to see the seemingly noble Kang Min Je take a hit, however small. Seeing how he felt a thrill from using Eun Mi’s twisted affection and obsession to get back at Kang Min Je, he was just as vicious. This compatibility was probably why he had remained friends with her all this time.
“If possible, try to seduce her well before KIAF.”
“Don’t worry about anything. You know how good this older brother is at managing his fish pond.”
As their eyes met, Eun Mi smiled brightly as if she had never been angry.
[This is the timeline separator]Since Ji Hoo had taken a nap during the day, he fell asleep later than usual. So Ha Yeon naturally thought the promise to draw Min Je would be postponed until tomorrow.
“See you in the studio in 10 minutes.”
But that seemed to be her wishful thinking alone. Ha Yeon was startled to hear Min Je speak softly after stroking the forehead of the sleeping Ji Hoo and getting up.
“What? Are we starting right from today?”
Min Je raised one eyebrow and asked, seeing Ha Yeon’s voice rise in surprise, when she had been the one to make such a proposal earlier.
“Why? Don’t you want to?”
Hearing his words, Ha Yeon suddenly realized how shameless her words sounded and shook her head.
“Ah, no! Of course we should start right away today. I’ll get ready and come down.”
Min Je chuckled belatedly at the sight of Ha Yeon rushing out of Ji Hoo’s room. Then his expression suddenly hardened.
‘Hmm, come to think of it, what exactly is she planning to draw?’
He couldn’t stop impure thoughts from rising in his mind. This was because the plaster statue she was currently drawing was a male torso (a sculpture consisting only of the trunk, without head and limbs).
Since he couldn’t remove his arms and legs like the torso, there was a high probability that he would have to take off his upper body clothes, right?
Of course, given her personality, saying she wanted to draw him probably didn’t mean she wanted to do a nude painting. But still, there’s always the possibility, just in case.
What should he do if what she wanted was a nude painting? Min Je rubbed the back of his neck, lost in thought, then shook his head as if to drive away the inappropriate fantasies and went downstairs.
Ha Yeon felt unnecessarily nervous when she saw Min Je sitting across from her, staring at her intently. No, why should this make her so nervous that the pencil in her hand was trembling?
“Exactly which part are you going to draw?”
Min Je suddenly asked, looking at Ha Yeon.
“Pardon? What do you mean, which part?”
Ha Yeon’s eyes widened at the unexpected question.
Tsk tsk, Min Je gestured towards the torso placed in one corner of the studio while unbuttoning a couple of buttons on his shirt.
Belatedly realizing that his gesture was asking if she would draw a similar part to the torso, Ha Yeon shook her head, gasping.
“Ah, no! How could I…!”
She felt a rush of heat rising from her neck to her face.
“What I meant was a portrait. You just need to sit still…”
“Is that so?”
Min Je looked at Ha Yeon with a complicated expression as she waved her arms frantically, her cheeks flushed red. Seeing her expression made him want to tease her even more.
“Ah, I thought you were going to draw me naked. I had even mentally prepared myself.”
Pop, another button came undone at his fingertips.
Ha Yeon’s eyes shook violently. Would it have been okay to ask for a nude painting? No, that would be too rude, right? Did she have the confidence to look at his naked body?
As her thoughts jumped in all directions, clearly visible on her face, Min Je felt an inexplicable thirst rising within him.
Crazy bastard… Min Je cursed himself inwardly, but hiding his true feelings, he said brightly,
“Well, can’t be helped. I’ll just have to let you draw whatever you want.”
His words could have been interpreted as disappointment at not being able to do a nude painting, but neither of them realized this.
The fact that they didn’t grasp the meaning behind Min Je’s words was proof that they were both flustered, but as they both pretended to be nonchalant on the outside, the atmosphere only grew more subtle.
“Hahaha, that’s right. What I was planning to draw was a portrait…”
As Ha Yeon spoke, her gaze drifted to the buttons Min Je had slightly undone.
“It was a bit stuffy.”
Min Je shrugged as if making an excuse. How ridiculous would it be to button them back up now? He mocked himself inwardly again but instead kept a painted-on smile on his lips.
“Yes, well, I’ll start now. Thank you for agreeing to this.”
Ha Yeon blinked rapidly, not knowing how to react, and thanked him. Although she was a bit flustered, she could be serious when it came to drawing.
‘I must draw professionally and diligently.’
She steeled herself once again and gripped her pencil tightly.
“Alright, draw me beautifully.”
But when Min Je unexpectedly smiled, his eyes crinkling, all her previous resolve vanished.
Such a killer smile is troublesome, you know. Ha Yeon became increasingly unsure if she could draw this picture well, as it was bad for her heart.
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