From the other end of the receiver, President Jin’s voice sounded more anxious than usual.
[Dash] Cha, why aren’t you answering my calls?“Do we have any remaining business between us?”
Hearing Do Jun’s cool voice, a visibly tense President Jin tried to sound cheerful.
[Dash] We shouldn’t just talk over the phone. How about dinner? If you bring Tae Yeon, I’ll treat her to something delicious…“My wife is busy today and won’t be able to make it.”
[Dash] Is that so? Then perhaps just you, Cha…President Jin was relentless. He seemed determined to keep calling until Do Jun agreed to meet, or he might visit Tae Yeon and harass her again, as before.
The thought made Do Jun feel dizzy.
Reluctantly, Do Jun accepted President Jin’s invitation.
“I will text you the time and place.”
After ending the call, Do Jun stared at the blank screen of his phone before getting up from his seat.
Secretary Choi had brought the cold medicine, which Do Jun immediately took with him as he headed towards his office.
As lunchtime approached, Tae Yeon quickly grabbed her wallet and phone.
As she was about to leave the office, she saw Do Jun entering. He was holding what looked like a bag of medicine.
‘What’s that?’
After glancing at the thick medicine bag, Tae Yeon raised her head to meet Do Jun’s gaze.
Feeling his intense gaze from afar, she involuntarily bit her lip.
‘Surely he’s not coming to me with that, is he?’
Just then, a colleague who usually had lunch with Tae Yeon approached her.
“Assistant Manager Jin, aren’t you going for lunch?”
Do Jun was closing in on her. Tae Yeon quickly spoke.
“I have a bit of a stomachache today. I’ll eat something light on my own.”
“Really? Okay then.”
As her colleague left, Tae Yeon faced Do Jun, who had now reached her side.
Do Jun, noticing the office was empty, spoke in a soft voice.
“Do you have a stomachache?”
“No, that was just an excuse.”
“Why?”
“I thought you might come looking for me.”
“You wanted to be alone with me?”
“What?”
“I wanted that too.”
Do Jun handed her the thick medicine bag.
“What’s this?”
Instead of answering, Do Jun reached out and, like he did in the rooftop garden, touched her forehead and slightly furrowed his brow.
“You seem even hotter than before. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“It’s okay. I was actually going to stop by the pharmacy, thanks.”
“I’ve arranged for you to see Dr. Kim this evening.”
Tae Yeon smiled softly, closing her eyes.
She had been feeling quite unwell but didn’t want to show it, fearing Do Jun would worry more.
“Let’s eat and take the medicine after lunch.”
“Just something light…”
Sensing Tae Yeon’s intention to eat quickly and rest, Do Jun lightly held her wrist.
“Department Head!”
“What’s the problem? Everyone is out for lunch.”
“Still, please let go of my hand.”
Reluctantly, Do Jun released her hand and walked alongside her.
Due to Tae Yeon’s earnest request, Do Jun reluctantly let go of her hand and walked beside her.
The place where Do Jun stopped was his office.
“Why here…”
“You’ll see.”
As they entered through the door opened by Do Jun, two appetizing Korean lunch boxes were set on the table, seemingly prepared in advance.
“Please sit.”
Looking bewildered, Tae Yeon took a seat.
“I had these packed from that Korean restaurant we went to before.”
“Ah, no wonder it smelled familiar.”
“When you’re sick, it’s important to eat well.”
Tae Yeon nodded slightly and picked up her chopsticks.
The well-seasoned bulgogi was delicious, but she couldn’t fully enjoy it due to not feeling well.
Nevertheless, appreciating Do Jun’s thoughtfulness and knowing she needed to eat before taking medicine, she tried her best to eat.
Do Jun put down his chopsticks and handed her lukewarm water.
“You don’t have to force yourself to eat if you don’t have an appetite.”
“No, it’s delicious.”
“You’re always consistent with not being able to lie.”
Do Jun looked at Tae Yeon and smiled lightly.
“Was it that obvious?”
Tae Yeon reluctantly put down her chopsticks.
“It’s really delicious. It’s just that today, for some reason, I don’t feel like eating much.”
“Let’s take a half-day off this afternoon and go to the hospital.”
“No, I can’t. I have too much work to do.”
Tae Yeon was exceptionally firm when it came to her work.
Watching her, Do Jun felt like he was looking at himself. He too was the type to work until breaking point.
He now understood why Secretary Choi had always nagged him from the sidelines.
“Work is important, but take care of yourself first, Jin Tae Yeon.”
Do Jun took out the medicine that Secretary Choi had bought and placed several pills on her hand.
“Why don’t you rest during lunch after taking the medicine?”
Tae Yeon took the medicine and swallowed it with a sip of water, suddenly feeling the warmth from Do Jun’s hand holding hers.
“…….”
Unable to swallow the medicine and just staring at Do Jun holding her right hand, she couldn’t ask what he was doing because her mouth was full of water and medicine.
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
