“That woman makes every night torturous and lonely for me.”
“If you’re having trouble sleeping, maybe you should get a prescription for sleeping pills from your doctor?”
Ihyeon’s eyes deepened icily.
“I’ve already tried that.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I’ve tried everything supposedly good for insomnia, but nothing works.”
It seemed pointless to have asked.
Her curiosity led to an overwhelmingly immense aftermath.
“It’s okay. What’s worse than not being able to sleep?”
“….”
Watching Ihyeon casually utter such chilling words, Yerin resolved never to let him find out that she was that woman.
If he did, he would surely hold her responsible for all his sleepless nights and the financial losses from the delayed work.
Meanwhile, Ihyeon’s car entered a familiar alley.
Engrossed in conversation, Yerin hadn’t paid attention to their destination, but once again, they were in front of her house.
“Director, thank you for bringing me home again today.”
“What for? Between lovers, such things are natural, aren’t they?”
Unbuckling her seatbelt, Yerin drew a line.
“Director, I haven’t yet decided about our fake relationship.”
“Sometimes, Secretary Han can be quite sharp.”
Ihyeon grabbed the rolling seatbelt again.
“Director?”
“You need to have an answer by tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, I will.”
“I hope it’s a positive one.”
“I’ll think it over tonight.”
After hearing her response, Ihyeon finally released the seatbelt.
Phew.
Yerin exhaled shortly and got out of the car.
Expecting him to leave immediately, she was surprised when Ihyeon followed.
“Director?”
“Secretary Han, I drank a lot of water at the restaurant.”
“Yes?”
“So, I was wondering if I could use your bathroom.”
Yerin’s mouth fell open.
“You mean to use the bathroom in my house?”
“Exactly.”
Ihyeon slightly furrowed his brows, sounding earnest.
“Do I look like I’m joking, Secretary Han?”
“Are you having stomach troubles?”
“No.”
“That’s a relief.”
It truly was a relief.
Yerin rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small water bottle. Without hesitation, she emptied the contents onto the ground and handed the bottle to Ihyeon.
“What is this?”
“Director, if it’s urgent, you can use this in the car…”
Ihyeon, holding the water bottle, laughed heartily.
‘What’s so funny?’
He looked at the narrow opening of the bottle and exhaled in resignation.
“Right here… Ha.”
He ran his hand through his hair.
“Secretary Han, are you underestimating me?”
“Me?”
“I’m surprised someone who should know better is suggesting this.”
Wondering if she had underestimated the capacity, Yerin bit her lip.
“But shouldn’t this be enough?”
It was a 500ml bottle, after all. Even after drinking a lot of water, that should suffice.
“The opening is… no, never mind.”
Ihyeon, flustered, crushed the bottle in his hand.
“Director!”
“Secretary Han, I’m not suggesting anything inappropriate. I genuinely need to go.”
“I understand that.”
But still, inviting Ihyeon into her small apartment felt awkward.
Ihyeon, looking genuinely urgent, was even paler than before.
“With my social standing, I can’t just relieve myself on the street. The subway station is too far, and I might have an accident on the way.”
He looked at Yerin pleadingly.
“Do you want me to write a pledge?”
“What?”
“I won’t touch a hair on Secretary Han’s head inside the house.”
Left with no choice, Yerin stepped forward.
“Really?”
“I swear on all my shares in Ji-Seok Electronics.”
Ihyeon even offered to record his statement if she didn’t trust him. Feeling that wasn’t necessary, Yerin led the way to her house.
‘Well, since the Director brought me home and it’s come to this.’
This situation wouldn’t have occurred if they had gone straight to his house from the restaurant.
Having benefitted from Ihyeon’s ride home, she couldn’t just ignore and leave him in his predicament.
“You promise, right?”
“Secretary Han, lead the way quickly.”
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
