Startled by Song Kang’s sudden appearance, Line gasped and looked at him as if seeing a ghost. She hadn’t expected him to arrive and stand there silently.
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
“There’s so much work, where would I go?”
Her voice was hoarse, and she coughed again. Song Kang noticed a bag of medicine precariously perched on her desk, clearly unopened.
“Did you have dinner?”
“Yes.”
She answered shortly, returning her focus to the documents. Song Kang went to the pantry, where he found an untouched cup noodle. The lid was lifted, revealing swollen noodles. He opened the fridge to find the salads and breads untouched as well.
Returning to Line, he asked, “Did you eat out today?”
Coughing, she glanced up, her throat sore. Song Kang’s brow furrowed in concern.
“Oh, my ramen…”
Her detached exclamation about the forgotten ramen revealed that she had intended to eat but forgot amidst her work. Song Kang was at a loss for words seeing her nonchalant attitude.
“Now I’ll eat it later.”
Observing the situation, Song Kang wondered how to handle such a scenario, having only dealt with employees who looked forward to lunch and quitting time. He also felt a strange sense of responsibility to take care of her.
“Let’s stop for now and get up.”
“I still have work left…”
“Enough, put it down. Let’s eat and take your medicine first.”
Song Kang cut off Line, who didn’t even look at him as she spoke. She paused and then looked up at him.
Annoyance was evident on Line’s face. She really didn’t like being interrupted while working.
“I don’t like being disturbed when I’m working.”
His use of the word ‘disturbed’ really irked Song Kang. Line spoke her mind and then turned her eyes back to the documents. Song Kang’s expression hardened as he approached her.
“Prosecutor Jin Line, look at me for a moment.”
Line frowned and looked up, but avoided looking directly at him. She braced herself for another round of his ‘righteous’ talk, but today she intended to counter logically.
“I wish the people I work with wouldn’t get sick.”
Expecting a storm but greeted with warm sunlight, Line turned her gaze toward him.
“I know it’s not my place to interfere with whether Prosecutor Jin Line eats or takes medicine. Still, I can’t just stand by and watch you overwork yourself like this.”
Song Kang understood that Line’s condition and the current situation could make anyone edgy. Instead of scolding, he chose a soothing approach, which seemed right. Line’s heart was being moved too.
He took her hand and removed the thimble from her thumb. Line couldn’t hide her surprise and coughed again amid the awkwardness.
“Hmm… Let’s get up.”
Holding her hand, he spoke. Line got up reluctantly, and only then did Song Kang let go of her hand. He picked up the medicine bag and led the way.
Line felt unnecessarily guilty and hurried to get her coat from the rack. Then, she noticed Song Kang’s coat hanging next to hers. She remembered to return it to him, holding his coat along with hers.
“Oh, the coat…”
Did he wear it all day? Line, usually oblivious to her surroundings, couldn’t remember his attire. She worried if she had made him go around cold all day.
With his coat in her arms, she followed him. Song Kang was waiting at the elevator.
Fortunately, he was wearing a different, longer black coat. Relieved, her step eased, but then the elevator doors opened. Line hurried again.
Inside the elevator, Line handed the coat to Song Kang.
“I forgot to return this earlier. Thank you, it was helpful.”
There was no warmth in her words. Song Kang took the coat, unfolded it neatly, and draped it over her shoulders.
Line’s breath hitched. Her eyes widened, then blinked rapidly, a gesture that emerged when she was flustered.
“Oh, it’s alright…”
As Line tried to shrug off the coat, Song Kang firmly held her shoulders.
Why was she so high-maintenance, and why was his heart so drawn to her? He couldn’t bear the worry all day.
“Why are you dressed so lightly?”
The coat felt warm, whether due to the material or his touch.
Line looked at their reflection in the elevator. The coat, fitting his tall frame, covered her down to her ankles.
Behind her stood Song Kang. He seemed like a shield against any wind or cold. Fatigue and the onset of a cold made her feel like leaning on him right then.
Fearing her thoughts would be revealed, Line turned her head slightly to avoid facing the emotions directly.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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