Having witnessed Chaeyoon’s embarrassment and uncertainty at his words, Jaeo brightly smiled and planted a kiss on her rounded forehead.
Afterwards, when Chaeyoon nestled her head against his chest, the slightly reddened skin that had been gently stroked became even more intensely flushed.
Though Chaeyoon was aware from Jaeo’s actions that he wouldn’t do anything, her body, frozen in the face of this unfamiliar situation, didn’t easily relax.
Unlike when she leaned her head against his arm, Chaeyoon stiffly bit her lower lip while remaining rigid.
“Relax.”
The indifferent voice that echoed felt similar to the mischievous one from earlier.
Chaeyoon’s eyes responded.
“Don’t worry.”
‘Is that even possible?’
Perplexed, Chaeyoon raised her eyes to glance at Jaeo’s face.
Although the expression wasn’t clearly visible, the emanating feeling seemed calm.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m used to this, so it’s bearable.”
His large eyes narrowed. Used to this?
Memories of lips that roamed all over her body flashed back. The sensations they gave, as well as the lips themselves, vividly came alive. Even this man could feel such emotions.
Yet, he could speak so nonchalantly about not worrying.
His nonchalance was intriguing and curious, but his indifferent voice echoed again.
“I won’t devour you.”
The expression looking down at her was calm.
‘Is it really okay?’
The above and below reactions were so different; she didn’t know what to believe.
Unable to grasp the situation, he started patting her back.
“What are you doing?”
“Telling you to calm down.”
“Calm down; isn’t that something you should do, Oppa?”
Jaeo’s hand paused.
Lifting Chaeyoon’s head slightly from his chest, Jaeo’s gaze shifted to her.
“Is this a topic we can discuss?”
Without saying anything, Chaeyoon buried her face in his chest. It was a refusal.
After a light smile in response to her firm reaction, Jaeo continued comforting her.
Pat, pat, pat.
The rhythmic gesture provided a sense of stability. Feeling her restless heart gradually calming down, Chaeyoon raised her eyes slightly to look at Jaeo.
It wasn’t something she didn’t want to do. Of course, there was a bit of fear about something untried, but that wasn’t a significant issue.
The problem was her heart.
When she thought about it, the phrase “just, not yet” came to mind first.
After deciding not to divorce, when she held hands, hugged, and even kissed Jaeo without hesitation, such thoughts hadn’t crossed her mind.
The issue was her emotions.
Considering that, “just, not yet” seemed to be the first thing that came to mind.
“It was popular, they said.”
Chaeyoon’s consciousness broke at Jaeo’s calm yet thick voice.
Jaeo interjected, looking into her eyes after speaking, “Your friend said so. You’re pretty, so you were popular.”
It sounded like something Hyojung would say.
Thinking that Hyojung had spoken unnecessarily, Chaeyoon subtly changed the topic.
“Were you popular, Oppa?”
“I asked first.”
“So, Oppa, you answer first. Were you popular?”
A faint smile appeared on Jaeo’s lips.
What’s the criterion?
“Look at my face, do I look ugly?”
An arrogant response came. Chaeyoon’s expression turned cold.
“Looks can be popular, but the moment Oppa opens his mouth…”
With a vague finish, Chaeyoon shook her head in disappointment.
Jaeo, seeing Chaeyoon’s unexpected reaction, realized her tension was easing. He gently placed his hand on Chaeyoon’s cheek, enjoying the smooth texture. It felt too precious to let go even for a moment.
“You’re not that great when you open your mouth. Why did you like me?”
“I was captivated by your looks, couldn’t have a proper conversation.”
A low laugh resonated from Jaeo’s throat.
“So, how about having a conversation now?”
The gaze asking the question was warm.
Who would have known this man would have such a look? Even though it was familiar now, just a few months ago, Chaeyoon couldn’t have imagined such an expression from him. People are unpredictable.
Chaeyoon suddenly questioned whether the man looking at her was truly Han Jaeo, if this was reality. With a sense of detachment, Chaeyoon stared at Jaeo’s face, engraving his features into her eyes. As if realizing that this man, who was so familiar now, would have such a look, he urged her for an answer.
“So, that’s how it is.”
After stopping her admiration of Jaeo’s face, Chaeyoon replied.
“Not exactly. Um…”
Her round eyes drew a big circle.
Finishing her thought, her gaze met his.
“I can tolerate it a little.”
With a fresh face, her answer made his smile even wider.
Although tempted to kiss anywhere—cheeks, lips—Jaeo chose to continue the conversation rather than a kiss.
“Your answer lacks sincerity. You should clearly say where you find it tolerable.”
Chaeyoon immediately countered, “Why? Does that help with data collection?”
Jaeo burst into laughter.
“Indeed, teaching one thing allows you to teach ten.”
We match so well.
To his playful remark, Chaeyoon laughed this time.
Saying how well they matched had become something he frequently said these days.
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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