‘Really, when do I work if meetings go on all day? There’s not even time for the bathroom.’
Especially since Kang Hyun kept her up most of the previous night, Ji Yeon was determined to leave work early today.
Right after the meeting, Ji Yeon headed to the restroom and was shocked to see her makeup had smudged.
As she quickly fixed her tired face with cosmetics, a faint sound caught her attention.
It was definitely someone crying.
‘They’d be embarrassed if they knew I was here.’
Thinking this, Ji Yeon hurriedly gathered her belongings to leave the restroom, but then she heard a thud.
“No way!”
Although Ji Yeon doubted it, she couldn’t just pass by and checked under the restroom stall doors.
She saw someone’s body collapsed under the last stall.
Rushing over, she banged on the door.
“Are you okay? Hello?”
Ji Yeon knocked and shook the restroom door.
Initially, the door didn’t budge, but after continued shaking, it creaked open slightly.
Pushing the door with her body, Ji Yeon could clearly see someone collapsed on the floor.
Startled, Ji Yeon immediately contacted 119 (emergency services) and also notified the company’s security.
The person extracted from the restroom stall by the emergency responders was…
Cha Min Woo’s secretary, Kang Ji Hyun.
When Ji Hyun weakly opened her eyes, she saw the ceiling of an unfamiliar place.
“Are you feeling a bit better?”
Between the ringing in her ears, she heard a voice and turned her head to see Eun Ji Yeon, the manager, looking at her with concern.
“Manager Eun Ji Yeon. But where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital. You collapsed in the restroom and were brought here by 119. I found you and came along.”
“Ah… I’m sorry. I seem to have caused a lot of trouble.”
Ji Yeon stopped Kang Ji Hyun from trying to sit up in bed.
“Don’t get up. Just finish the IV drip and then you can go. It’s almost done, I’ll take you home.”
“No, please don’t, Manager. I can’t cause you any more trouble.”
“It’s okay. I’m not too busy today, so I can take you. Cha Min Woo is out all day, right? The assistant from Executive Director Lee Kang Hyun’s office said they’d help, and you should go straight home after being discharged.”
The doctor said it seemed to be a shock due to stress.
And also severe dehydration.
Though it wasn’t certain, given their recent meeting, Ji Yeon had some idea of the reason.
And then she remembered a phone call from her mother a few days ago.
“No, that scoundrel Cha Min Woo has the nerve. There’s a rumor he’s getting engaged to some poor girl. I feel like telling her family everything. Such a despicable man. He should pay for all the bad things he’s done.”
“Mom, I’m sure that family checked everything. Who he marries isn’t our concern. He’ll get what he deserves for his wrongdoings. Just ignore the rumors. I’m fine.”
“That man really needs to pay. I can’t stand to see him living happily after bringing home another girl.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. Whatever happens to Cha Min Woo, I’ll be fine. I have a boyfriend now, Mom. I’ll introduce him to you soon.”
“What? You should’ve told me sooner! Who is he? Did you check him out properly?”
“Yes, he’s a good person. I’ll introduce him soon, after I finish my busy schedule. He really cares for me.”
“Is it because of Cha Min Woo? That you’re struggling like this?”
“No, it’s not that…”
As she spoke, Kang Ji Hyun suddenly broke down, tears streaming down her face.
A distress she couldn’t share with anyone.
A relationship with Cha Min Woo that was less than a pastime.
As Ji Yeon touched on it, the tears flowed.
“Ah… why am I crying? I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s okay. If you feel like crying, just cry. Why hold it back? No one here will judge you. Cry if you’re sad.”
Saying this, Ji Yeon hugged Kang Ji Hyun.
Ji Yeon herself had needed someone to embrace and cry with during her tough times due to Cha Min Woo.
A shoulder not to blame her, just to cry on for a while.
After crying for a while, Ji Hyun collected herself and, unasked, started to share her story.
She must have unconsciously longed to pour out her pent-up feelings to someone.
Then she repeatedly thanked Ji Yeon.
“I’m sorry for showing you such a mess. And thank you for helping me, Manager. I hope I can repay your kindness before I leave the company.”
“Are you resigning from the company, Deputy Kang?”
It was Cha Min Woo who initiated the relationship with her, keeping his emotions and intentions hidden. Why should Kang Ji Hyun suffer the consequences?
It didn’t seem right that Ji Hyun had to bear everything and step back from all they had created together.
“With our relationship having turned out this way, I don’t think I can continue working together. He also wanted me to resign. I need to find a new job. I plan to leave in about two months. I want to leave right away, but it’s difficult since my family’s livelihood depends on it.”
Ji Hyun’s forced smile in her distress was heart-wrenching.
“Deputy Kang Ji Hyun. Then… would you consider a suggestion I have?”
Ji Yeon, pondering for a moment while looking at her, took Kang Ji Hyun’s hand and spoke meaningfully.
“And I can look into securing a position for you at a stable company.”
“What are you suggesting…?”
“I’ve just thought of something you can help me with.”
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.]
