Ji Yeon was utterly bewildered by Yu Na’s words, blinking in confusion.
‘What does this mean? Did I hear that wrong?’
It felt like she had heard something utterly nonsensical.
“Why are you being like this, Yu Na? You’ve got it completely wrong. Kwon Choong-Sik liking me… No way, that’s ridiculous.”
“Sigh, Ji Yeon, you’re so oblivious. I guess I have to spell it out for you.”
Yu Na downed the water in her cup in one gulp and took a deep breath.
“Choong-Sik started liking you around the end of our second year in middle school. What was it again…? You read something in a magazine and grabbed his hand to ‘read his palm’, right? Anyway, he said his heart almost burst then… He confessed to me. He harbored feelings for you and looked for an opportunity. He planned to confess when we entered high school. Then, that thing happened at the end of our third year.”
“Choong-Sik’s parents got divorced…”
“Yes, that’s right. They divorced, and his family got scattered. Choong-Sik went to LA with his mother, and after the divorce, his father went to Southeast Asia for business. And his sister went off to New York to study.”
“Yeah… That’s what happened…”
“He was already having a tumultuous time, then he had to suddenly move to the U.S. He’s good-natured and resilient, but he must have been deeply hurt then.”
“Being young, the wound must have been deep.”
“Still, as an adult, he kept coming back to Korea every year because he missed us. But did you know? The last time he was in Korea, he was so serious about confessing to you. He asked me for event ideas; it wasn’t a joke.”
“Choong-Sik did that?”
Ji Yeon was flustered by the unexpected revelation.
“But… you declared a bombshell in front of all of us, saying you were in unrequited love. You said you’ve been struggling for years, unable to give up your feelings. Remember? You were a mess that day, clinging to Choong-Sik, crying your eyes out.”
“Ah… That time. I remember.”
How could she forget?
She had chased after Cha Min Woo throughout university without any significant development, and when it became too difficult even to meet him, her heart ached terribly.
The only people she could confide in about her difficult feelings were her group of five friends. Finally, on the day Choong-Sik returned to Korea after a long time, and they all gathered, she made it hard for her friends.
Even as she cried and made a scene, her friends endured it and comforted her extensively.
“I feel like I’ll never get over Min Woo senior. I like him so much it feels like my heart is shattering. What do I do, Yu Na? Guys, what do I do? My feelings only grow stronger over time.”
“Choong-Sik! I’m so tormented. Do you know how hard it is to be in unrequited love for years? Do you know the pain? It’s not you!”
“I wouldn’t know. Anyway, Ji Yeon, you’re amazing. To love one person for so many years. That alone is an incredible love, Ji Yeon. I’m proud to be your friend.”
Choong-Sik warmly comforted the distraught Ji Yeon… and then he disappeared without a trace.
“Everyone knew Choong-Sik liked you, especially me, since he would often confide in me. Then he vanished… I can understand his feelings. Anyway, that’s what happened.”
“I had no idea. I feel kind of sorry for Choong-Sik now.”
“You don’t need to feel sorry. He never made a move and then he ran away. I’m just telling you so you know.”
Ji Yeon felt a mix of heartache and guilt, knowing all too well the pain and difficulty of unrequited love.
“Time has passed, and Choong-Sik has probably forgotten those feelings by now. It’s been years.”
“I hope so… but you never know. Anyway, it looks like you’ve started a new relationship, so make sure to set boundaries.”
“How did you know?”
“Hey, I’ve known you for half my life. I can tell just by looking at you. You’ve properly sorted things out with that crazy Cha Min Woo, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve sorted it out. You really have a sixth sense.”
“Introduce me to your boyfriend sometime. I’ll check him out for you. I trust Ji Yeon in everything but when it comes to men, not so much.”
“Okay, I’ll set up a time.”
The friends who had gone to the convenience store returned, and the two stopped their conversation.
The night was late, but the stories of the group of five, reunited after so long, were endless.
“Anyway, that guy Choong-Sik needs to be dusted off on a rainy day. How could he disappear for so long and then show up so unexpectedly?”
Yu Na vented as if she was still upset.
“Alright. I’ll visit your place on a rainy day and let you beat the dust off me. I mean, if it’s you, Yu Na, up to three times is okay!”
“Ugh, so annoying. He’s all talk.”
“I mean it. I know I did wrong. I’ve had some… tough times, but that’s no excuse. I’ll do better from now on.”
“Yeah, you better. If you pull another disappearing act, I’ll hunt you down in Africa if not the US. Got it?”
“Got it, got it.”
The conversation flew by without notice of time, and soon it was past 1 AM.
“We should go home now. Ji Yeon needs to rest too.”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
