Hee-jin squeezed herself between Mal-hee and So-eun to watch TV. With only one chair in the hospital room, So-eun moved to the caregiver’s bed and sat crouched.
While watching the drama, Hee-jin muttered, “Ah, So-eun will soon become a lawyer’s wife, won’t she?”
The drama was showing the misdeeds of a villainess aspiring to be a lawyer’s wife. So-eun just smiled again, lifting the corners of her lips.
“I wonder what it feels like to be called a wife of a lawyer for nothing. I shouldn’t let my son become a lawyer.”
Although Hee-jin spoke as if to herself, her voice was so loud that Mal-hee and So-eun couldn’t help but hear.
“Making a lawyer son after struggling so much, only to benefit others,” she added.
“It’s the fate of a lawyer’s mother, what to do,” Mal-hee replied somberly.
So-eun felt slighted, even by her mother-in-law’s agreement with Hee-jin. It’s not like she was marrying to be called a lawyer’s wife.
She was just in love and wanted to become a family.
So-eun held back her voice and swallowed her words.
After a while, having sat for long, Mal-hee grimaced and lay down, groaning.
“Mom, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
“Just feeling a bit tired.”
“It’s about time you should be recovering. Why are you still like this?”
“That’s how it is. I’ll get better eventually.”
“Isn’t it because of that? So-eun looks frail and weak. Maybe the liver she donated isn’t functioning well, and that’s why your recovery is delayed?”
Hearing Hee-jin’s suggestion, Mal-hee sighed resignedly and turned her head away.
Hee-jin, after looking at Mal-hee worriedly, turned to So-eun and asked, “Everyone else would have stabilized and recovered by now. Why are you still like this? Huh, So-eun?”
Chilled by the remark, So-eun felt her heartache. It was unfair to be blamed after giving a part of herself.
“Ah, we can’t redo the surgery. It’s so upsetting…”
Hee-jin turned back to Mal-hee, fussing over her blanket, pretending to be upset, though not genuinely crying.
Both Hee-jin, who made such baseless suggestions, and Mal-hee, who silently agreed, disappointed So-eun. She finally spoke up.
“Sister, I gave the most precious thing I had to Mother. You know that.”
It was the first time she ever boasted about it.
She never expected the whole world to know she saved her mother-in-law. She just hoped her family would acknowledge her.
Before receiving thanks, she first heard complaints.
People who once said they were grateful now viewed her as a burden.
So-eun spoke firmly, and Hee-jin and Mal-hee’s eyes widened, surprised.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.
After a moment, Hee-jin awkwardly laughed and stuttered, “I was just wondering if that could be it.”
“Such words can make Mother more anxious. The surgery was successful, and she is recovering, though slowly. We should be careful with our words.”
“Ah, yes, I misspoke. Sorry.”
It was a rebellion from the usually silent So-eun.
Hee-jin looked astonished, unable to close her mouth, while Mal-hee just looked around uncomfortably.
Afterward, Hee-jin busied herself tidying the already clean room, muttering, “I can’t say anything now.”
Her murmurs reached So-eun’s ears, adding to her discomfort.
The hospital room in summer was stifling. Considering the health of the patients, the air conditioning ran only at its weakest, and the fan was fixed in one direction. As the fan was claimed by Hee-jin, So-eun had to fan herself with stiff paper, wiping sweat from her forehead.
During the sluggish afternoon, Hee-jin passed some fruits and vegetables to So-eun.
“So-eun, could you wash and cut these apples and cucumbers? Mom must be hungry.”
“Okay.”
While So-eun was in the bathroom, Hee-jin asked Mal-hee, “Mom, what did you have for lunch? Is the hospital food okay these days?”
“I ate. So-eun brought some porridge.”
“Porridge? Let me see.”
Pointing to the porridge container, Hee-jin picked it up with an indifferent expression. After tasting a spoonful, her face crumpled in disgust.
“So-eun, did you make this for mom?”
Hee-jin’s tone was accusing as So-eun came out of the bathroom.
“Does it taste strange?”
“Taste it yourself. How can anyone eat this?”
Hee-jin’s aggressive tone upset So-eun.
“Mom said it was fine and finished the whole bowl.”
“Mom, did you like it?”
Hee-jin turned to Mal-hee, who leaned back on the bed with a defeated voice.
“I just eat whatever is given.”
“Even so, this is not acceptable.”
Hee-jin sighed heavily at Mal-hee’s response.
“Has So-eun’s cooking changed? I thought she was good at cooking. Why like this?”
“I did as your brother instructed. I followed the recipe he sent and measured everything carefully.”
“You should still check the taste.”
“I did taste it.”
“Did it taste good? Did you?”
“…”
“Can’t you judge for yourself if it’s tasty or not?”
“…”
“Huh? Can’t you think for yourself, So-eun?”
So-eun was at a loss for words. While she was still stunned, the door opened, and Hee-wook entered.
“What’s going on? What happened?”
“Hee-wook.”
Hee-jin sobbed.
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
