“Happy birthday, Seo Ha.”
That day was Seo Ha’s twentieth birthday, the day she truly became an adult.
Seung Oh, who had been coming home late for months claiming he was busy, didn’t show up until after 10 p.m. even on Seo Ha’s birthday. His face was smeared with charcoal stains, and his hands were wrapped in ointment and bandages.
Seo Ha grabbed his hands first, without even opening the large shopping bag he handed her.
“Why are your hands like this? Are you hurt?”
“It’s nothing.”
Seung Oh awkwardly hid his hands behind him and smiled.
“Open this.”
Finally, she opened the shopping bag and found a gift inside. An expensive handbag that must have cost Seung Oh a fortune, and a cute little bouquet of flowers.
“What is this? This is too expensive…”
“I’ve been working parttime at a barbecue restaurant. It’s your special birthday.”
Even after working all night, scrubbing charcoal and cleaning hot grills, he only made a few thousand won. You, who proudly smiled after saving up all that parttime money to barely afford a small bag, did you love me back then?
“Happy birthday, my princess.”
I loved you as you said that. I loved our breaths mingling in the chilly night air. I loved the young us and our love.
Seo Ha hid all her emotions behind an elegant rosepatterned teacup and spoke to the woman across from her.
“You look great, Lee Ji Soo.”
An unforgettable twentieth birthday.
On the day when Seo Ha was more upset about Seung Oh’s bandaged hand than the joy of receiving a gift, the bag she had cried over when she returned to her room alone was now quietly sitting on Ji Soo’s lap.
“Trying to appeal with a modest and thrifty concept, but you still wanted a luxury bag, huh?”
“Excuse me? This is, uh…”
“I know. Lee Seung Oh gave it to you.”
Ji Soo’s eyes, which had been anxiously darting around looking for a place to hide, suddenly became clear. She must have thought her time had come.
I was curious. Would she come out as a clichéd mistress, acting defiantly? Or would she cry and beg for forgiveness? Or would she exercise her rights to remain silent?
“I, I didn’t ask for it.”
Ji Soo lowered her head. Did she choose to cry and beg for forgiveness?
“I know that. Where in the world would there be a fool who would insist on buying an oldseason bag that’s barely being cleared out at an outlet store?”
“……”
She seemed not to know such details. Though it wasn’t a pleasant gathering, seeing Ji Soo’s face harden made me feel slightly better. Just a little, really a tiny bit.
“You should have asked for it. If you had studied a little, you would have received something much more valuable.”
“I don’t care about such things!”
Ji Soo suddenly raised her head and parried with a composed attitude.
“I don’t understand those women who keep track of seasonal bags and show off luxury items. The real important thing is the inside. What’s the use of having a designer bag? People should be valuable.”
“Pfft!”
I almost spat out the tea I was drinking. Seo Ha wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin and repeated the words she had just heard.
“People should be valuable, you say?”
“Yes. Those who lack selfesteem wear expensive clothes and jewelry and hold their heads high, right? A person who shines on their own without all that is truly valuable.”
It was a moment when my mother’s words, “There isn’t a single person of true value among those who say ‘people should be valuable,'” felt real.
“Ahahaha!”
I burst into laughter because it was so absurd. Once I started laughing, I couldn’t stop. Seo Ha, who was giggling while covering her mouth with a napkin, seemed displeased as Ji Soo’s eyebrows furrowed.
“What’s so funny?”
“No, it’s just hilarious. Pfft!”
Seo Ha laughed again and then barely managed to swallow a sip of tea.
“Wouldn’t you laugh if you were Ji Soo? I mean, if Ji Soo were in my position.”
Seeing that she still didn’t understand, I had to add an explanation.
“I’m Yoon Seo Ha. And a woman who only knows how to make pancakes sits in front of me and says something like ‘people should be valuable.’ Would it be funny? Wouldn’t it be?”
“It’s wrong to judge people by such standards!”
Ji Soo, furious, sharply replied.
“Shall we evaluate with different criteria then?”
Seo Ha’s sharp, sarcastic words spilled from her lips, still not free from laughter.
“Ji Soo. You are a mistress who got caught having an affair with someone else’s husband. You know what mistress means?”
Seo Ha enunciated each letter clearly while staring at Ji Soo’s trembling eyes.
“Human. Garbage.”
“Hey!”
Apparently, Ji Soo didn’t like being called garbage, and she clenched her teeth.
“Why do some people get angry when they hear the truth? Explain, mistress.”
The word ‘mistress’ was so out of place in a hotel café where classical music played. It meant it was easy to attract attention from others.
As people sitting sporadically nearby stopped their conversations and turned their ears towards us, Ji Soo’s voice grew even more tense.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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