“What are you doing here, Assistant Haegin?”
Tae-hong’s eyes twisted fiercely, disregarding Haegin’s question lightly.
“I’m pretty sure I told you to go home.”
“Well, it’s just that…”
She couldn’t admit that despite her eagerness for an early leave, she simply couldn’t bring herself to step away. She couldn’t bring herself to say that she was wrapped up in loyalty, responsibility, and an overwhelming sense of compassion.
“I guess I waited to see you like this.”
Even as she spoke the words, Haegin was surprised at her own audacity, but Tae-hong just gazed down at her quietly.
“We can’t keep standing here with people watching. I parked the car out front, so it would be best to head there first.”
Returning to her role as dedicated assistant, Haegin, still not letting go of the arm she was holding, tugged on it.
Tae-hong, considerably larger than Haegin, allowed himself to be pulled along, compliant to her small hand’s guidance.
Even in that moment, Haegin remained vigilant of her surroundings. The late hour meant no pedestrians, with only a few CCTV cameras around.
Lost in thought on how to handle the situation, her eyes kept returning to Tae-hong’s hand. His large hand, dwarfing hers, was stained with hardened and still-flowing blood.
“I’ll go buy some medicine from a nearby convenience store.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I’m worried, that’s why.”
Was it because she saw blood? Haegin was highly strung. She should have been suspicious when he bought new clothes or tried to send her home early. This was beyond ‘moderation’.
“Don’t get into any more trouble tonight. I’ll be right back.”
Suppressing her sharply tuned nerves as much as possible, Haegin knew it was important to prevent any further accidents. After all, this was the person she was assigned to protect, and on the first day, she was already dealing with blood.
Haegin ran back into the hotel lobby. Tae-hong’s gaze followed the sight of Haegin, fitting snugly in her new suit, as she lightly ran.
It wasn’t really necessary to go this far.
Glancing at the slowly hardening blood on his hand, he fixed his gaze back on Haegin. As she disappeared into the hotel, he finally felt a sharp sensation on the back of his hand.
Tae-hong had a younger half-sister about eight years his junior. They hadn’t grown up together, but he knew his father provided for her materially.
It was a classic case of turning a blind eye. She was officially unacknowledged, but rumors had already spread far and wide.
He’d kept his distance, not particularly caring. After all, his father would surely manage well without his intervention.
Dirty rumors were common in their circle, so he didn’t take them seriously. But if someone approached with Yeonchang Group as their target, that was different.
Especially Park Seowoo, notorious for his quick temper. The moment he stepped in, Seowoo was all riled up, but the brand power of Yeonchang was formidable.
Unable to do anything, Seowoo’s momentary rage resulted in throwing something, accidentally scratching Tae-hong’s hand. It was effectively defused, at least by his standards.
But what’s with that look of horror over such a minor injury? Finally, at the end of his thoughts, Haegin came to mind again, irritating him.
Haegin had been an annoyance since morning.
Unbeknownst to him when she returned, the car door opened. The fresh scent, unsuited to the early dawn hours, tickled his nose.
Is it going to rain? The fresh fragrance softened his heart.
“Manager, are you sleeping?”
Unable to see his face because of his arm, Haegin debated whether to wake him up or not. Upon closer inspection, she saw blood still hanging from his hand.
“If you’re asleep, I’ll take care of the treatment myself.”
Haegin spoke louder than usual, worried he might wake up, but Tae-hong didn’t move at all. Assuming he was sound asleep, she quickly set to work.
She managed to get some first-aid supplies after a bit of fast-talking at the hotel.
Haegin began to carefully disinfect Tae-hong’s wound. It must have been painful, as even she winced at the sight. Unconsciously, she blew softly on the area where she had applied the disinfectant. The actual wound became visible after cleaning it, and she quickly put a bandage on it.
“Wonder if it’s okay not to go to the hospital.”
She murmured to herself, checking for other injuries, when suddenly he spoke.
“Going to the hospital for this would just leave a scar.”
“Ah, you scared me!”
Startled, Haegin’s body wobbled, almost falling backward, but Tae-hong’s long arm quickly wrapped around her waist. In the tight space of the car, their chests touched.
“Were you not asleep?”
His solid chest bumped into her. His hot breath was close enough to feel. It was too close for comfort, and she could feel a subtle strength in the grip on her waist.
A wave of heat, possibly from their close breaths or the warm air in the car, was palpable. A moment of silence passed, their breaths intertwining.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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