“CEO, the place you reserved for lunch today…!”
Gyo Hwan’s secretary’s office.
The female secretary who was standing up from her seat, upon seeing Hyo Jin entering with Gyo Hwan, was so shocked that she plopped back down.
She had stood up to go for lunch but then sat back down, pretending to work, adjusting the angle of her monitor and glancing intently at Gyo Hwan as he went into his office.
“Please cancel the lunch reservation for today. Someone brought a lunchbox.”
The secretary’s office became abuzz with unnecessary TMIs from Gyo Hwan.
Did you hear? He brought a lunchbox? Can you believe someone actually brings a lunchbox around like that?
The gaze of the female employees showered like arrows behind Hyo Jin as she entered the office.
“Wow. CEO Choi Gyo Hwan brought a woman with him.”
“It hasn’t been long since he broke up with announcer Kang Han Na.”
“Quickly find out what their relationship is and report back!”
Tock. Tock. Tock. Tock again.
The sound of group chat notifications reached Hyo Jin’s ears as she sat in the office.
“Please take off your coat.”
“What?”
Even the movement in the noisy group chat, with its suggestive words, came to a halt.
“Your coat.”
He reached out his hand, pointing at the outerwear Hyo Jin was wearing, after hanging his jacket on the hanger.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable? I’ll hang it for you, so please give it to me.”
“No, I’ll do it myself.”
Hyo Jin deliberately ignored his gesture and took off her coat, neatly folding it and placing it next to her seat.
“Okay, then.”
As if representing the curiosity of the employees, the female secretary brought plates and utensils and observed the atmosphere between the two.
“I’ll take care of the rest, so don’t worry and go ahead with your meal.”
Gyo Hwan stood up and opened the refrigerator door to show.
“What would you like to drink? Juice? Just say it. I’ll bring it for you.”
Seeing the secretary’s eyes sparkle like gems in response to her affectionate tone, Hyo Jin got up briskly from her seat.
“No, I’ll bring it for you to drink.”
“It’s okay. You brought the lunchbox, after all. I should do at least this much.”
Stop talking about the lunchbox you brought!
If someone hears that, they’ll think you’re chasing after people with a lunchbox.
Hyo Jin, who had personally taken out the bottled water, noticed the female secretary who was still standing there.
“Then please have a relaxing time.”
The secretary, who had been enchanted by Gyo Hwan’s appearance that she hadn’t seen when dealing with Kang Han Na, quickly regained her composure and left the office.
Hyo Jin felt the tension in the air around them escalate even more as they were left alone.
“It seems like my grandmother thinks highly of you, Mr. Nam Team Leader. Seeing her personally pack such a delicious lunchbox for you.”
“Oh, yes.”
Oh, yes?
Gyo Hwan, who was placing thick slices of eel on top of glossy rice and adding pickled ginger, frowned as if he didn’t like the answer, then relaxed his expression.
“Well, Mr. Nam Team Leader is considered the perfect groom in the eyes of adults. Former military officer, young, healthy.”
Tuck. Gyo Hwan’s jaw moved as he chewed and swallowed the eel.
“Mr. Bong?”
In the midst of it all, Hyo Jin wasn’t even listening to his words.
“Take your time eating. You look like you might choke if you eat like that.”
He hardly touched the food I bought.
“Oh, yes.”
Wanting to quickly escape from this awkward situation, Hyo Jin forcefully emptied the lunchbox with determination, her head held high.
Suddenly, Gyo Hwan, who was sitting across from her, leaned forward and swiftly placed his hand near Hyo Jin’s mouth.
“……!”
Cough. Startled to the point of sauce spraying, Hyo Jin looked at him, even forgetting to chew the eel.
“You have sauce on your lips.”
He showed her a tissue he had in his hand, as if to say he wasn’t misunderstanding.
“Oh, I’ll wipe it.”
Quickly taking the tissue, Hyo Jin turned her head to avoid his gaze, and the heads of the office workers stuck to the office glass fell down like they were struck with a hammer.
“I’m just curious about who I’m meeting after breaking up with Kang Han Na, so don’t worry about it.”
How can I not worry? We’re not in that kind of relationship.
Instead of feeling burdened, Gyo Hwan seemed to enjoy the secretive glances of the secretarial staff.
“Is there any food my grandmother likes? She even made delicious rice cakes for Yul, so I want to repay her.”
“No, it’s fine.”
If my grandmother finds out that the lunchbox with eel was eaten by a man with a child, she might vomit.
“Why didn’t you send your younger brother?”
“What? My younger brother?”
Why is he suddenly bringing up Hwangsa again?
“I told you to bring your portfolio. Yul was worried about you, Teacher.”
“Oh, I thought you were just saying that in passing.”
How do you see people?
“I don’t just say things in passing.”
Hyo Jin, who knew that better than anyone, said.
“Then let’s pretend I didn’t hear anything.”
“……!”
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
