“I’ve been thoughtless. I’m sorry.”
“…?”
“I should have paid attention to you, too. I was neglectful in taking care of the family while using the excuse of being busy with work. It’s not entirely your fault. Don’t be too sad.”
Heo Young-joo’s eyes filled with tears again at Kwon Kang-ho’s consolation.
The deep-seated resentment accumulated over the years poured out in tears, seemingly endless.
With a swish, Heo Young-joo abruptly lifted the blanket, hitting Kwon Kang-ho’s chest and venting her sorrow again.
“I… I didn’t want to be like this. Everyone ignores me… belittles me… I just wanted to live well…!”
“Yeah. I know. I understand.”
“Just hoping my sons would do well… Hukhuk…”
The blanket fell to the floor.
Simultaneously, Heo Young-joo’s arms, which had been striking Kwon Kang-ho, also fell weakly down.
“…Looks like I chose the wrong method. What should I do now…? Seolwon might not forgive me. My son, grandson, daughter-in-law… What am I supposed to do? Huuuk!”
Once again, sobbing, Heo Young-joo tore at her own heart.
Kwon Kang-ho approached, gently took her hand away, and embraced his wife.
“It will take time. Our daughter-in-law will surely forgive us.”
“Huuk… Huuk! What if it takes a long time? What if I get too old during that time…!”
“If it takes a long time, so be it. Let’s eat something delicious, go to nice places, and wait together.”
“Huhuhuk…”
Heo Young-joo, leaning on her husband without relying on her arm, cried without any restraint.
Even in this situation, the guilt of taking everything away from Seolwon continued to gnaw at her.
It seemed like time alone might not be enough.
“I knew Woo-joo would like this more if I had brought more.”
Watching Woo-joo enjoy the persimmons, Secretary Jung smiled warmly.
They came to visit, saying that if the persimmon tree in the garden, laden with fruit this year, had opened, they should eat together.
The chattering of the simple folding table set up in the garden was charmingly picturesque, like a country yard.
“So, you’ve set the wedding date? Is it on that day?”
“Yes. There was no need to hesitate. We are already married.”
Saying so, Chae-ha lovingly looked at Seolwon through the open window.
She went inside to bring some drinks for them.
“Spring when flowers bloom… It’s nice. Woo-joo will turn six. You said all the documents are ready.”
“Yes. It’s too late now. With so many things going on. Now, no matter what others say, it’s Kwon Woo-joo.”
“Hmm…? Isn’t Woo-joo Kwon Woo-joo already?”
“Now it officially means he’s become Kwon Woo-joo. It means everyone recognizes him as Dad’s son.”
“Wow! I’m so, so excited, Woo-joo!”
At Chae-ha’s words, Woo-joo, holding persimmons, blushed like a ripe cheek.
Suddenly, Secretary Jung lowered his voice seriously.
“I’m also thankful. Thanks to Vice President, an old man’s long-cherished wish has been fulfilled. Thank you sincerely.”
“Don’t say that, Secretary Jung.”
Chae-ha quickly rejected Secretary Jung, who bowed his head.
However, he persistently tried to express his gratitude.
With both wrinkled hands clasped, Secretary Jung faced Chae-ha.
“I’m sure Yun-seo has also let go of resentment. Now she can rest peacefully in the sky.”
“…I hope Secretary Jung can rest now. Really take a break.”
“Of course. Now, as Vice President always said, you should watch the cute grandsons’ mischief. It’s good to have a large family.”
Looking at Woo-joo with warm eyes, Secretary Jung also nodded vigorously.
“Yes! I love having a big family~. Director Jung, and the wonderful grandpa, I love them all!”
“Hehe, are you flattering the wonderful grandpa?”
“Yes. Grandpa’s sweater is really, really cool~. It suits you well!”
In response to Woo-joo’s compliment, Secretary Jung looked affectionately at the quite worn-out brown sweater.
It was a birthday gift hand-knitted by Yun-seo, his daughter who had left this world.
Perhaps reading the father’s mind, Director Jung also had a slightly melancholic expression.
Just then, as if to freshen up the atmosphere, Seolwon came out with a large tray of drinks.
“I made sujeonggwa yesterday. I’m not sure if it will go well with this.”
“Oh my. Thank you. Little Miss.”
Receiving the large tray, Director Jung sniffed the rich scent emanating from the sujeonggwa.
“It’s been a while since I had sujeonggwa. I used to have it occasionally during holidays.”
“Hmm…? Mom. It smells bitter. Is this medicine?”
It seemed that the scent of sujeonggwa was different to Woo-joo’s nose, and she wrinkled her little nose.
Everyone burst into laughter at her adorable reaction.
“Now, Woo-joo, have one more. This one is sweet.”
Sitting nearby, Secretary Jung handed Woo-joo the prettiest and plumpest persimmon.
With a bright smile, Woo-joo, holding the persimmon, made a cute promise to the two.
“Grandpa, sir. I’ll definitely give you some persimmons in a few days when they’re ripe!”
“Persimmons?”
“Yes! There’s a persimmon tree over there~.”
Woo-joo pointed to one side of the garden with her short finger.
There stood a fairly tall persimmon tree, basking in the autumn sun.
However, to harvest persimmons in ‘a few days’ as Woo-joo said, it seemed like they would need to grow a lot more.
“Our baby is quite considerate.”
Charmed by the child’s innocence, Secretary Jung burst into laughter continuously.
“Come to think of it, we also had a persimmon tree on our rooftop back in the old days.”
“Oh. That’s right, Father! I remember climbing up to the rooftop when I was young to pick persimmons. It was really big.”
“Persimmon trees grow that big?”
With curious eyes, Woo-joo asked.
Perhaps she realized that it wasn’t yet time to harvest persimmons, as her nose wrinkled differently at the scent of sujeonggwa.
With a gentle touch, Secretary Jung patted Woo-joo’s head and answered with a satisfied smile.
“Persimmon trees will grow well with Woo-joo. Do cacti too? And those pretty yellow flowers there? Will they grow with Woo-joo?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Do they grow bigger than Woo-joo?”
“Still, our Woo-joo is the boss.”
“Awesome grandpa. Is Woo-joo really the boss here?”
In response to the child’s pure question, Secretary Jung replied with a warm smile.
“Of course. Woo-joo is the most beautiful fruit in this garden. It bloomed after enduring a harsh winter.”
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
