Watching Ji Seojun’s trembling hands, I also clenched my fists.
“He said he never considered me a friend from the beginning. It was all my misconception.”
“…Why did he do that?”
“He just didn’t like my face. He hated it.”
Upon hearing Ji Seojun’s words, I turned around and walked towards the playground entrance, lost in old memories.
“Where are you going!”
“You stay at home!”
An anxious Ji Seojun ran up and grabbed my bag.
“Where are you going!”
“That guy! I’m going to smash him!”
In the end, I couldn’t go to break Han Taei that day. Ji Seojun wouldn’t let go.
That was the beginning. Ji Seojun started hating his appearance.
Lost in old thoughts, soon it was my stop. I pressed the alighting bell and took out my card wallet from the bag.
Lately, Han Taei, who keeps appearing before my eyes, bothered me.
Maybe it’s just a coincidence. I shook my head, trying to erase the negative thoughts from my mind.
“Thank you.”
The back door of the bus opened, and I greeted the driver before carefully descending the stairs. I averted my gaze from familiar scenes, ignoring a slight uneasiness.
Our date wasn’t much different from other couples. We watched a movie, had a meal, and spent time together drinking coffee.
A typical day, but today was different; it was a day with an unusual meeting.
“Why does Olive You keep nagging to meet?”
On the way to meet Olive You. After work, I headed to the location Olive You had informed with Ji Seojun.
“They sent out wedding invitations.”
Although they got married in the United States, the two decided to have another wedding ceremony in Korea.
“He’s really… something. He even sent an invitation to my ex-boyfriend.”
Actually, we had met once before. While her husband was on a business trip overseas, feeling frustrated, she left her studio with only her phone, got lost, and called Ji Seojun.
I went with Ji Seojun to find her, and we ended up drinking together.
“Don’t call me when my Seojun is around.”
“Why? I only have Seojun as a friend in Korea… Then let Daryul call me a friend.”
“Because he’s my boyfriend, don’t call him.”
“Then, can I call you Daryul?”
“Sure. Call me rather than him.”
Ji Seojun, who was angry that day because of Olive You, didn’t speak to me for three days. To calm Ji Seojun’s anger, I had to write a pledge for the first time since my third year in high school.
[I, Moon Daryul, promise not to drink more than two bottles of soju.]And Olive You started calling me day and night. She retorted my questioning of trusting a drunk person’s words with some inebriated sincerity or something. I wonder where she learned such words as an American.
Unable to resist her persistence after several meetings, I gave in. Olive You was persistently stubborn.
“Have you made a reservation?”
We entered a fancy restaurant. It seemed they paid considerable attention, even though they were just giving out wedding invitations.
“Is it reserved under the name Choi Seongju?”
“Yes. Confirmed. Will you follow me this way?”
Following the staff’s straightforward gestures, we entered a private room, and Olive You’s husband and Olive You were already there.
“You’re here?”
Olive You got up briskly, approached Ji Seojun and me, and greeted us as if we were old acquaintances.
“Hyung, long time no see.”
“Yeah, it’s been a while.”
Olive You’s husband, Choi Seongju, said he was the CEO of a venture company operating in Korea.
Perhaps because of that, the aura emanating from his grand physique, combined with composure, exuded tremendous force.
“Honey, this is my friend, Daryul. I’ve heard a lot about Daryul from Olivia.”
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
After a brief exchange of greetings, we took our seats. Mr. Choi Seongju asked us about our preferences and proceeded to order the food.
“Now, each of you take one of these.”
Olive You handed us each one envelope that looked like a wedding invitation.
“Now that Daryul is also my friend, you should take one too.”
I don’t know when I became her friend, but I accepted it for now since she was giving it to me.
A neatly designed wedding invitation.
[You are invited to the wedding of Daniel and Olivia.]“An outdoor wedding?”
When I asked, Olive You nodded repeatedly, explaining that an outdoor wedding had always been her dream. She seemed so happy.
Perhaps, on the day of the wedding, even if it rained or the wind blew, she would appear happy.
As the food started arriving, Mr. Choi Seongju remained by her side, still taking care of her as she stumbled. I observed her anxiously, but Mr. Choi Seongju effortlessly corrected her mistakes, as if it were as natural as breathing.
Then, I saw Ji Seojun transferring food from my plate to his.
“Why?”
When I looked, he stopped transferring the food and raised his eyebrows. Ji Seojun looked handsome as always today.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Shaking my head, I took a bite of the dishes Ji Seojun had been ferrying to me. The taste was as sophisticated as the upscale ambiance of the restaurant.
A wedding without receiving congratulatory money.
Feeling like we should give them a gift, I asked Olive You if there was anything specific she wanted. After much contemplation, Olive You, with an unexpected request, said:
“Well, instead of a gift, how about making a wedding cake with me?”
“Me, personally?”
“You personally?”
“What?”
As soon as Olive You finished speaking, everyone except Olive You was surprised.
“Yeah. I have a wedding cake in mind that I’ve wanted since I was young. I really want to make it. I couldn’t do it in a hurry in the U.S.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to leave it to a professional? Since Olivia is good at drawing, if she explains it with drawings, it should turn out the way you want.”
To persuade Olive You, Mr. Choi Seongju carefully presented his arguments.
“It would be more meaningful if I did it.”
Finding meaning might cause chaos.
“Well, how about someone other than Daryul?”
What kind of opinion is this?
I glanced at Ji Seojun, who was looking at Olive You and me with a serious expression, with an awkward smile.
“If you really want to make it, someone more calm and skilled with their hands…”
“Hey, I’m good with my hands.”
Although I interrupted Ji Seojun, Olive You persistently continued.
“It won’t fail. Even if it does, it has its own meaning, right?”
She sought my agreement, but all I could do was awkwardly smile. In the end, the three of us raised both hands and both feet at her tremendous argument.
Later, I found out that both of her parents were former lawyers, and she had received early education on how to express her opinions or deal with conflicts.
So, that’s why she’s so assertive. I nodded my head, looking at the confident Olive You.
Olive You was jotting down our plans in her phone schedule.
I had already crossed an irreversible river.
Mr. Choi Seongju looked at me and awkwardly smiled.
“I apologize.”
Feeling awkward, I responded to his apology.
“Let’s give it a try. Well…”
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
