The man who had sent a hostile glare before entering the restaurant with Sehee.
Just looking into his eyes, Sungjae felt an overwhelming presence.
Even to Sungjae, the man appeared to have a perfect appearance and an aura of a top predator, naturally exuding power.
Sungjae instinctively sensed danger.
“What do you want?” Sungjae asked, tensely.
The man, seemingly annoyed, didn’t reply, just stepping back to let Sungjae pass.
It seemed he had some business in this room.
Sungjae, feeling uneasy, raised his hand to ring the doorbell.
“Wait,” the man finally spoke.
“What’s your business here?” the man asked, his voice as imposing as his gaze.
Sungjae and the man locked eyes sharply.
“I’m here for my girlfriend in this room,” Sungjae said, raising an eyebrow as if to tell the man to back off.
Sungjae, not easily intimidated, played his ‘girlfriend’ card to overpower the man.
It was a bit of a stretch, but he believed it was his best shot.
“So?” the man arrogantly retorted.
The man, slightly tilting his chin up, radiated dignity.
Despite the mounting tension, Sungjae stood his ground.
“Then please make way.”
“I left some clothes in this room.”
However, the man’s following remark shattered the firm expression Sungjae had barely maintained.
With a sardonic laugh, the man confidently pressed the room’s doorbell first.
“Sungjae?”
It was Jungyeon who came out from inside.
“Ah… the girlfriend.”
Stung by the man’s mocking words, Sungjae felt as if he had been hit hard.
“Sungjae. Who is this… man?”
Jungyeon was in awe.
Could there be another of God’s creations as perfect as this one?
“I’m not interested. If you’re curious, ask him yourself,” Sungjae said bitterly.
He tried to push past Kyle roughly to enter, but was baffled again by Kyle’s immovable stance.
Sungjae had already acknowledged Kyle’s superior physique, but to be outmatched in strength as well was frustrating.
Amidst the unseen battle of nerves between the men, the real owner of the room finally appeared.
“Mr. Graham?”
“Are you feeling alright? I sent room service three times, but it seems you didn’t receive any of it,” Kyle’s low voice revealed his subdued mood.
“Ah… that doorbell sound was room service. I couldn’t get up. I’m a bit better now,” Sehee said with a pale smile.
It was unbelievable how much she had weakened in just one night.
Kyle had deliberately ordered room service for Sehee’s room before leaving for an early morning meeting at the port, only to return and find out it was never delivered.
He hadn’t even entered his office and came straight to Sehee.
However, there were unexpected uninvited guests.
“Since Sehee is not feeling well, why don’t you come another time?”
Sungjae, momentarily taken aback by Kyle’s fluent Korean, responded sharply in Korean, trying to intervene between the two.
But Kyle didn’t even glance at Sungjae.
“Leave.”
It was directed at Sehee, standing behind the tense Sungjae.
“What, you didn’t understand me? I thought you understood Korean. Guess not?” Sungjae retorted provocatively.
“Sehee said she needs to eat porridge because she’s not feeling well. Do you understand now?” Sungjae asserted in perfect English, staring directly at Kyle.
“You seem unaware of the cruise ship’s internal regulations. Outside food is not allowed,” Kyle replied coolly, unfazed by Sungjae’s aggressive tone.
His voice was full of arrogance.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
“Just give me ten minutes,” Kyle commanded before turning away.
But no one could hold him back.
All three just stared blankly at Kyle’s retreating figure.
“Wow. What’s with that overwhelming charisma?” Jungyeon said, feeling goosebumps as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“I’ve never felt outmatched before,” Sungjae admitted, though he couldn’t bring himself to say he was actually overpowered.
“I’m sorry. Because of me,” Sehee said with an embarrassed expression.
“Why are you apologizing, Sehee? Let’s go in. First, eat this. And just ignore him. Do we have to go just because he says so?” Sungjae scoffed.
“Yeah. Seems like we have to,” Jungyeon answered seriously.
“Why? What’s up? He’s not your boyfriend or anything, right? You’re not involved, right?” Sungjae asked Sehee, as if seeking confirmation.
“Yes? Yes,” Sehee nodded reluctantly.
“Then just ignore him. Whether he waits or not,” Sungjae said, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
“But… I think I have to go. Sorry,” Sehee said cautiously, gauging Sungjae’s reaction.
“Why?” Sungjae glared suspiciously.
“He has helped me a lot.”
“Sungjae, why are you like this? This is for Sehee to decide. Are you her father or what? Why the fuss?”
Jungyeon scolded Sungjae.
“Hey, Jungyeon, out of all the words, why ‘father’? There are so many other terms like brother, lover, boyfriend, and husband!”
Sungjae retorted incredulously.
“Hmm… To me, it seemed like you were acting like a father. Let’s just leave. Ten minutes will pass quickly. If we don’t go, something bad might happen.”
Jungyeon pulled at Sungjae’s arm.
“Leaving Sehee with that guy? What if she gets into some trouble?”
“Look, look. That’s a father’s mindset, right?”
Jungyeon teased Sungjae.
“Sehee is an adult. It seems she was with that man last night too. The choice is hers. Stand up and stop making a scene.”
Jungyeon gave a stern advice.
“Ah. Sehee, are you really okay with this?”
Sungjae stood up reluctantly, hoping Sehee would ask him to stay.
“…Yes. I’m okay.”
However, Sehee didn’t give the response Sungjae hoped for.
“If anything happens, contact me. I’ll be on standby, even if it’s just a minute away.”
Sungjae, clearly uneasy, gave Sehee his contact information.
Sungjae, pushed out by Jungyeon, walked slowly, seemingly reluctant.
“It’s strangely familiar.”
Jungyeon tilted her head as they walked together.
“You feel it too, right? That ominous feeling is not unfamiliar.”
Sungjae, sensing Jungyeon felt the same way, grew more suspicious of the man.
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
