Line, too, returned home and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, drinking cold water to cool down her heated emotions. Her gaze lingered on her wrist, where he had held her firmly. The sensation of his warm grasp and the cold touch of the ice were tangled in her mind, creating a strange thrill.
But why was she feeling shaken?
She needed to regain her composure, considering the likelihood of Taesung Group’s Na Song Kang deceiving her was slim.
He wouldn’t waste time on such a plot when he could be managing stocks; revenge for any unpleasantness during the investigation seemed unlikely, given his demeanor.
Should she take his words at face value?
She slightly agreed with the fact that they both needed each other to clear their undeserved dishonor. It might not just be understanding, but reality.
However, partnering with Na Song Kang presented deep contemplation.
Line knew herself well – her inner weakness hidden behind a facade of rigidity. But now, maintaining pride could potentially ruin everything.
It was just a deal… a mutual benefit and nothing more. She drew a line, seeing it as a means to return to the prosecution, using his methods and hers to clear their names.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, snapping Line out of her complex thoughts.
It was Ju Hyuk.
“Senior.”
“You haven’t eaten dinner, have you?”
He held a pizza box in his hand, noticing from Line’s attire that she had been out.
“Did you go out?”
“Ah… Yes, there was something.”
Ju Hyuk wanted to probe further but knew Line wouldn’t respond, so he set the pizza on the table.
“You must be hungry. Let’s eat.”
“I’ll just have beer.”
As Line moved towards the fridge, Ju Hyuk guided her to sit at the table.
“Drinking again?”
Line sat down, led by his hand.
Ju Hyuk, with practiced ease, set plates and forks and placed a slice of pizza with extra black olive toppings, Line’s favorite, in front of her.
“Thank you.”
Line picked at the black olives with a fork, her peculiar picky eating in full swing.
“Eat the shrimp too, not just the olives.”
Despite Ju Hyuk’s hopeful suggestion, Line only ate the olives.
“Senior, I’m thirsty.”
Her words, clearly not requesting water, were understood by Ju Hyuk.
“Alright…”
He got up and fetched two cold beer cans from the fridge.
Line, always refusing special treatment since becoming a prosecutor, had somehow become accustomed to accepting Ju Hyuk’s kindness.
He opened the cans, wiping the rims with a tissue before handing one to Line. The sound of the can opening itself seemed to relieve her.
Drinking beer felt refreshing. Thoughts of Na Song Kang’s proposal kept resurfacing, making her contemplative.
Na Song Kang wasn’t a man of frivolous propositions, making her dilemma all the more profound.
Additionally, getting involved with him meant inevitably entangling with people from Taesung, which was a nauseating thought.
Most of all, the idea of being in a subordinate position in a relationship with him was utterly displeasing. Line felt a surge of strength in her eyes, her body stiffening unconsciously.
“Line, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
Ju Hyuk had already sensed something was off with Line, but he knew asking would only bring reluctance and possibly resentment. He didn’t voice his suspicion, but it was clear in his expression.
“Senior, are you going to look at me with the eyes of a prosecutor?”
Ju Hyuk, retracting his doubtful gaze, awkwardly took a sip of beer.
“You’re always quick to notice.”
“It’s just a lot on my mind. Don’t worry.”
Ju Hyuk averted his eyes and stuffed a piece of pizza into his mouth.
Line felt a pang of frustration, unable to confide in Ju Hyuk, her closest senior. She sipped her beer, feeling bitter.
“The Na Song Kang case…”
“Whoa!”
Nearly spitting out her beer, Line was caught off guard by Ju Hyuk’s sudden mention. He quickly handed her a tissue.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Line, wide-eyed, accepted the tissue, trying to compose herself.
“What on earth are you thinking that you’re so startled?”
Ju Hyuk looked concerned.
“It’s not that… I’m not a prosecutor or part of the prosecution anymore, so… talking about cases is a bit…”
“You’re making me feel bad. There shouldn’t be such boundaries between you and me.”
Line felt guilty, hearing information about his investigation without his knowledge, almost like stealing.
“Anyway.”
Ju Hyuk understood Line didn’t want to hear about the prosecution. To think otherwise would be too painful, so he consoled himself.
Line’s phone then buzzed with a message. Usually slow to respond, she was too occupied with her beer to bother.
“Senior, I’m curious. If I hadn’t given up and tried every possible means at the prosecution, would things have been different?”
Line’s vulnerability was evident.
“No.”
Ju Hyuk’s response was unexpectedly firm.
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
