Unlike the cool content, Minhaeyeon’s face was full of laughter.
As Yoonseo opened her eyes and took a step closer, Minhaeyeon suddenly averted her gaze.
As if there was no longer any value in conversation.
Yoonseo, with a clenched fist, belatedly lifted the corners of her mouth.
“You don’t seem to be in a good mood today, Dongseo. Or is your body still not well?”
Yoonseo lowered her gaze to the lower abdomen of Minhaeyeon, conveying a clear provocation.
The light from the garden illuminating the scene created a deep crimson reflection on Minhaeyeon’s hair.
The gazes of the two collided quietly in the air. Minhaeyeon was the first to break the silence.
“Curious, aren’t you? Why I’m bringing up past events now.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Yoonseo’s response was elegant, but there was a slight hint of a smile on her lips.
Minhaeyeon smiled back, lowered her voice, and bent down.
“I guess we should stop talking here.”
As Minhaeyeon stepped back, Yoonseo, who had been standing at the entrance and leaning against the railing, instinctively turned her body.
Seeing someone coming this way made her swear. It felt like she was going crazy, especially because of Minhaeyeon, and now this.
“What joyful conversation are you two having?”
“…Lee Soorin.”
Seeing Yoonseo’s face crumpling, Minhaeyeon, with her lips coated in red lipstick, raised them as if she was showing them but not quite.
Due to Minhaeyeon, who was poking at the Min family affairs that had been buried with the help of Chairman Yoon, Yoonseo’s already dizzy head seemed like it would explode with the arrival of Lee Soorin.
It was a double whammy, so she asked, her nerves on edge.
Even if they temporarily joined forces with Lee Soorin, she didn’t trust her.
On the contrary, considering the future, she was a woman who needed to be cautious.
Especially in the current situation with the bomb-like Minhaeyeon in front of her. Yoonseo changed her expression and offered a gentle smile.
“It’s a pleasant conversation. We asked about each other’s well-being. Since we’ve exchanged greetings, I’ll go in now.”
There was no need to expose vulnerabilities to Lee Soorin.
As Yoonseo tried to go back inside, a soft voice passed through her ears.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
Unexpectedly, Lee Soorin initiated the conversation.
Even though it was evident that she was intentionally striking up a conversation, Yoonseo’s eyebrows twitched for a moment.
Despite her uncomfortable feelings being exposed, Lee Soorin held onto her sleeve, lowered her head, and stubbornly met her gaze without avoiding it.
“The air is cold. Aren’t you cold, Lee Soorin?”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
As Lee Soorin remained silent, Yoonseo smiled slightly and gently released her hand.
Without resisting Yoonseo’s rejection, Lee Soorin, who had been silent all along, turned her head toward Minhaeyeon.
“Han Yoonseo said it’s cold… How about you, Minhaeyeon?”
In response to Lee Soorin’s question, Minhaeyeon openly replied.
“Oh. A few days ago, I got caught in the rain without any clothes on, so it’s a bit chilly.”
“Oh my, how did that happen? Your health is not good either. Be careful.”
It was an ordinary conversation, but Yoonseo saw the strongly embedded points in it.
She hadn’t been aware of any contact from Lee Soorin or Minhaeyeon for a while, but judging by the situation, the two seemed to have met a few days ago, probably on a rainy day.
Although she didn’t know what had happened between these two women on that day, the outcome brought about by their meeting seemed somehow apparent.
“The situation wasn’t favorable. Still, don’t worry. I gained a lot thanks to Ms. Lee Soorin.”
“Oh… is that so? That’s fortunate.”
Yoonseo’s multicolored pupils blinked. Even Lee Soorin seemed momentarily stunned by Minhaeyeon’s words, perhaps unconsciously.
‘She got pushed back. To Minhaeyeon.’
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good sign for Yoonseo. She couldn’t be pleased with Lee Soorin’s involvement.
While an underwater competition was taking place outside, Dohoon was in conversation with Chadoha.
Dohoon, who moved with interest in mind, found the recent events endlessly entertaining.
“Both Jeseuci and you. Why is everyone like this today of all days?”
“…”
Pouring the drink, Dohoon extended it to Chadoha with a casual gesture, but Chadoha, without much thought, didn’t say anything.
Dohoon, who didn’t particularly expect a special response from him, continued talking cheerfully.
“Indeed, the atmosphere at home hasn’t been great lately.”
Rolling the On the Rocks with square ice in his hand, Dohoon took a sip of whiskey. Chadoha, who received no response, smirked.
“Ha. My little brother is still as blunt as ever.”
For Dohoon, the expression ‘my little brother’ was as awkward a term as calling Chairman Yoon ‘Mother.’
Unlike Chadoha, who roamed outside in rebellion against his parents, there was little connection between him and Chadoha, who focused on succession lessons.
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
