David's Husband - Chapter 24

The human heart is truly unpredictable. How wonderful it would be if one could control their feelings of attraction towards someone by their own will.

But the heart flows regardless of one’s intentions. Min Je thought that was quite strange.

Until now, he had always felt like an outsider while meeting countless people. As an orphan with no parents and nothing to his name, he felt unable to blend in with others wherever he went. That feeling hadn’t changed much even now that he was successful. No, perhaps he had even become exclusionary towards others without realizing it.

He always observed situations from a step back, weighing the pros and cons before taking action. He believed that was the way to minimize expenses and losses, and the most rational and wise choice.

So even after impulsively registering Ji Hoo under his family registry, he couldn’t properly give him affection and remained a step removed. Not knowing what went wrong, it was only after seeing Ha Yeon that he could accurately perceive himself.

She was different from him. Far too different. At first, he just thought she was an interesting woman, getting passionate about things that weren’t her business, putting in all her effort, and giving her whole heart.

But as days went by, her presence created big waves in his heart. Perhaps that’s why. After meeting her, his once solid world began to crumble bit by bit.

Rather than a sudden downpour that obscures vision, it was like a gentle spring rain slowly soaking in.

Wanting to see her a little more, for longer, and not wanting to let her go. These were unfamiliar emotions he was tasting for the first time in his life.

So he had to admit it. The fact that at some point, he had started seeing her as a woman.

Even looking at the current situation proved it. He was intentionally and persistently making eye contact with her because he wanted to see her flustered for longer.

“Excessive praise is worse than no praise at all.”

Her eyelashes fluttered as she forced out an answer.

“If you don’t say it, how would anyone know?”

“That’s…”

Ha Yeon wanted to refute, but her mind went blank and she couldn’t think of anything. All she could see before her were his eyes, filled with heat.

Screech―

Min Je pulled his chair back and stood up.

He couldn’t just sit and watch her face so clearly revealing her emotions.

Ha Yeon gasped as she saw him approaching with big strides.

“Why, why, why?”

“Just curious to see how far along the painting has progressed.”

Min Je shamelessly used the painting as an excuse as he moved right up next to her.

As his subtle yet refreshing scent wafted over, Ha Yeon let out a groan and took a step back.

Today especially, she couldn’t figure out how to interpret his attitude. Why did it feel like he held feelings for her that went beyond mere goodwill?

“Don’t worry. It’s not time for evaluation yet. Surely you’re not running away because you’re afraid of being judged?”

Min Je tilted his head towards Ha Yeon, who had moved a step back.

The distance had closed to where their breaths could touch. Ha Yeon couldn’t calm her fluttering heart and slightly turned her head.

“That’s… not it.”

Seeing her expression so clearly tense that her hair stood on end, Min Je unknowingly used his fingertip to gently grasp her chin and turn it towards him.

In an instant, the air between them became subtle and enveloped them.

It was a sensual atmosphere where their lips overlapping wouldn’t have seemed strange at all.

The moment Ha Yeon felt Min Je’s gaze slowly moving to her lips, she startled and pushed him away.

“I-I’ll stop for today.”

She ran out of the studio without looking back and immediately rushed up the stairs.

Only after slamming her bedroom door shut did her legs give out and she slumped down.

Even with her eyes closed, she could vividly recall his gaze on her face.

“Ah, what do I do? How foolish.”

No matter how nervous she was, still! How can she face him now after running away like this!

Ha Yeon writhed in agony for a while as she sat there.

Unlike her worries about how to face Min Je the next day, he wasn’t seen from the morning, probably having left early due to work.

‘Thank goodness.’

Ha Yeon sighed in relief. Then she suddenly remembered that today was the day she was supposed to bring her painting to the gallery.

She was supposed to touch up the test painting she had done before and bring it to the gallery for framing, and the day she had promised Jun Won happened to be today.

“Ji Hoo, want to go to the gallery together?”

Unable to go alone, Ha Yeon casually asked Ji Hoo.

Ji Hoo, who was playing with blocks, briefly glanced at Ha Yeon. The child’s expression, which seemed to see through people as if knowing everything, resembled Min Je’s gaze so much that Ha Yeon’s shoulders twitched.

Looking at him like this, he was undoubtedly Min Je’s son. If she hadn’t heard the secret from Min Je yesterday, there would have been no room for doubt. But Ha Yeon had decided not to show anything to the child for now, so she asked once more with a nonchalant face.

“If Ji Hoo doesn’t come along, I’ll have to go alone to deliver this.”

Then Ji Hoo let out a short sigh and said,

“Sigh, I guess I have no choice.”

This kid… Ha Yeon felt momentarily upset, feeling a backlash towards Ji Hoo for the fluttering she had felt towards Min Je.

A little later, they arrived at the gallery in Jun Won’s car.

“Thank you for bringing us.”

“It’s nothing. Take your time and call me when you’re done.”

After thanking him, Ha Yeon entered the gallery and first checked if Min Je was there.

“Where is Director Kang Min Je?”

“He should be at the museum today.”

Hearing the employee’s words, Ha Yeon finally felt relieved and let out a long breath.

“Sister, did you fight with Dad?”

“Huh? No! Of course not!”

Ha Yeon jumped up like a guilty conscience and denied the child’s words. Well, strictly speaking, they didn’t fight, so it’s definitely not a lie.

“Well then, I’ll leave this in your care.”

Ha Yeon entrusted the painting to the employee and then took Ji Hoo to the cafe inside the gallery.

After ordering a milk smoothie that the child liked and an iced Americano, she sat facing Ji Hoo. Looking at the child’s face, she naturally became curious.

“Ji Hoo, you know, when we first met.”

“Ah, at the convenience store?”

Ji Hoo nodded while sipping his milk smoothie and stirring it with the straw.

“Back then, you said you passed some kind of test.”

“Ah, the test to become a mom?”

The child chuckled as if recalling old memories.

“Yes, come to think of it, I’m not sure what exactly that test was.”

Ha Yeon was still puzzled. She only remembered saying something to the child who always bought cola, but how did that mean passing a test?

“You told me not to buy cola, remember?”

That was the reason for passing the test? Ha Yeon gaped in disbelief at the ridiculous reason. Then she remembered what Min Je had said.

‘You must have felt sorry for the child. He was overly protected and spoiled.’

As if to prove those words, Ji Hoo calmly continued.

“Someone who really cares about me doesn’t just say nice things.”

“How on earth did you come up with such a thought?”

Ha Yeon asked in amazement, surprised that the child could have such an idea.

“I read it in a book.”

Ji Hoo only answered that much and turned his gaze away. Ha Yeon let out a long sigh and chuckled.

Did he read some kind of parenting guide? Like the Ten Commandments of Parenting or something. Otherwise, how could he know such things? But since Ji Hoo didn’t seem to want to say more, Ha Yeon also gave up on probing further.

After that, they finished their drinks while chatting about trivial things.

“Stay here for a moment. I’ll just quickly go to the bathroom.”

“Okay. Come back soon.”

It was when Ha Yeon was walking towards the cafe, thinking she should call Jun Won to go home after returning from the bathroom.

A man walking from the opposite direction suddenly spoke to her.

“Excuse me… Are you Jang Ha Yeon?”

Ha Yeon’s steps abruptly stopped when a stranger suddenly called her name.

“Who… are you?”

She tried to search her memory in case it was someone she knew, but it was an unfamiliar face. He was about 180cm tall with long, narrow eyes that seemed to smile even with the slightest grin, giving a peculiar impression.

If she had seen someone with such a striking appearance before, there’s no way she wouldn’t remember. When Ha Yeon looked at him with wary eyes, the man who had called out to her, Cha I Tae, smirked.

“I’m not trying to harm you, so there’s no need to look at me like I’m a bad person.”

He took out a business card from inside his suit and handed it to Ha Yeon, who was staring with wide eyes, feeling intrigued.

‘The Art and Modern Gallery CEO Cha I Tae.’

Ha Yeon’s eyes wavered as she confirmed the title on the business card. ‘The Art and Modern’ was one of the top ten famous galleries in Korea. What business could the director of such a gallery have with her? No, how did he even know her name in the first place?

Seeing Ha Yeon’s wary gaze intensify rather than ease even after receiving the business card, I Tae rubbed his chin while stretching his lips.

“Oh my. You still don’t believe I’m not a bad person, do you?”

“It’s not that. I’m just wondering how you knew my name.”

I Tae, who had expected a naive girl swooning over Kang Min Je’s looks, found Ha Yeon’s unexpectedly unyielding attitude interesting. It had been quite a while since he encountered a situation that broke his expectations.

“I happened to see your painting in the office. I have a keen interest in new artists, so I took the liberty of finding out your name.”

“Ah…”

If that was the reason, it explained how a stranger knew her name. Ha Yeon’s wariness eased considerably compared to earlier.

“Even if you found out my name, how did you know it was me…”

Yet, entering her comfort zone didn’t seem easy. I Tae couldn’t help but laugh.

“I heard from an employee. That you were in the gallery cafe. So I was on my way to meet you. Are your doubts cleared now?”

“Ah, yes… I see.”

Only then did Ha Yeon nod. She was truly a peculiar woman. Looking so pure and naive, yet questioning everything in detail was amusing.

He thought this affair might be quite interesting as he looked at Ha Yeon with intriguing eyes. Her snow-white face with delicate features was quite cute, especially the way her eyes widened was most enjoyable to watch. It might be inappropriate to say this, but his overall assessment of her was ‘someone you inexplicably want to tease’.

I Tae stored the data about her in his mind, then proceeded to get down to business.

“Could you spare me a moment? I have something to say about your work.”

He flashed a warm eye smile towards her, the kind that melts women’s hearts.

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

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