Outside, the early summer sun radiated its vibrant warmth. People in short sleeves were visible here and there, but Haeyeon felt a chill somehow. Perhaps it was the emptiness inside her heart. Even though she hadn’t had high expectations, the test results were still disappointing.
‘Someday, it will come back.’
Hadn’t the doctor said so? That she could spontaneously recover her memories in everyday life. Re-energized, Haeyeon briskly started walking.
In the bright early evening of summer, Haeyeon sat in a corner of a restaurant.
“Min Haeyeon!”
Turning her head, she saw Jooa waving her hand from the entrance. Energized by Jooa’s vibrant voice, a smile blossomed on Haeyeon’s face. As Jooa approached, she squinted her eyes in mock annoyance.
“Happy to keep postponing our plans?”
“That’s why we’re meeting now.”
Haeyeon had to decline Jooa’s invitation the previous day due to her hospital appointment. It was understandable for Jooa to be upset, so Haeyeon responded with a chuckle.
“Of course, I should. Otherwise, you’ll trouble me for days.”
“I’ll show you what real power abuse is.” Jooa’s following words made Haeyeon smile uneasily, reminded of the actual ‘power abuse’ from Mr. Shin at work.
“Look at you. Something’s up, right?”
Quick to notice, Jooa immediately probed. Haeyeon quickly changed her expression.
“Nothing, Director. Cheers!”
Raising her beer glass with a bright smile, Haeyeon clinked it with Jooa’s. The clear sound of the glasses was refreshing.
“Ah—feels like living.”
Jooa exclaimed with delight after taking a hearty sip of beer.
“Summer is all about beer. Because of this executive position, I often have to drink whiskey, but I always miss this sweet beer, especially with you and Dohee. Right?”
“Yeah, I missed it too.”
Though she agreed, Haeyeon felt a bit anxious. Ever since hearing the hospital results, she had felt as if she was being chased, a sense of urgency she couldn’t shake off.
“Jooa, do you know Team Leader Shin Gyusik from Team 2?”
At Haeyeon’s cautious mention of the Team 2 leader’s name, Jooa’s eyes widened, then contorted in disgust.
“What? Did that guy mess with you this time?”
“Eh?”
Haeyeon was taken aback. She had guessed Shin Gyusik would be the type Jooa disliked, but Jooa’s reaction was more dramatic than expected. Realizing Haeyeon’s puzzled look, Jooa quickly covered her mouth.
“Ugh, sorry. I shouldn’t be leaking employee information like this. Just hearing his name makes me furious…”
Hitting her own mouth in frustration, Jooa spoke, and Haeyeon realized it was her chance.
“Why do you react so strongly to Team Leader Shin?”
“Ah—.”
The conversation took a turn, with Jooa expressing her clear disdain for Shin Gyusik, and Haeyeon listening intently, seizing the opportunity to learn more about the troublesome team leader.
Asking nonchalantly, as if it were a casual remark, Haeyeon inquired about Shin Gyusik. Jooa sighed deeply and immediately began to vent.
“He’s incompetent, has a terrible reputation within the company. I’d cut him off in a heartbeat, but he’s one of those useless people who’s somehow good at sucking up to higher-ups, so we’re stuck. I’d love to fire him on the spot, but in this day and age, wrongful termination can backfire. All I could manage was transferring him to Sales Team 2.”
Surprised by the harsh assessment, Haeyeon’s mouth fell slightly open.
“But Haeyeon, why did you bring up Shin Gyusik?”
Jooa, evidently frustrated just thinking about him, downed her beer in one gulp and asked. Haeyeon, still lacking a solid reason to act against Shin Gyusik, decided to brush it off for now.
“No reason, just heard his name mentioned here and there.”
“Hmm, really?”
Jooa pretended not to know. She must have heard from Yujun about Haeyeon’s previous clash with Shin Gyusik. Anticipating this, Haeyeon brazenly played along. After watching Haeyeon for a moment, Jooa shrugged.
“If you say so.”
Relieved internally by Jooa’s compliance, Haeyeon was startled by her next move.
“More beer, please.”
Even though their table still had unfinished drinks, Jooa ordered more without missing a beat, smiling slyly at Haeyeon.
“Aren’t you full, Jooa?”
“Yeah. But since you’ve been dodging my invitations until now, Min Haeyeon, you’re not leaving here sober tonight.”
Jooa playfully threatened. Haeyeon had a foreboding feeling that she might not be returning home in a sober state tonight.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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