“No, Soomin said he’d handle it. He chose this place. Since it’s Yumi’s birthday today, perhaps Yumi picked it.”
“Yumi’s birthday? So, Yumi is also coming out today?”
Just a few days ago, Jiho had heard rumors swirling around because of a photo taken with Yumi.
Though it wasn’t a one-on-one meeting, the idea of meeting Yumi at the meaningful place where he had been with Lee Soo on her birthday didn’t sit well with him.
Jiho’s face unwittingly contorted.
“I didn’t properly celebrate Yumi’s admission to Korea University. So, I insisted on bringing her along today to treat her to a meal and give her a gift.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you don’t see her often. When was it that I asked you to treat Yumi to a meal, and you still haven’t done it?”
Yeonsoo, who only had a son, loved Yumi as if she were her own daughter, often saying how nice it would be to have a daughter like her.
“I’ve been busy.”
“I thought so. That’s why I need to see her today. Soomin also said he wanted to see you as it’s been a while. He even asked me to make sure to bring you along.”
Jiho had cleared his schedule for the day just for Yeonsoo.
Since picking her up at the airport yesterday, he was committed to being her chauffeur until they returned to the airport this evening.
Despite his reluctance due to Yumi’s presence, he couldn’t just not go.
As they neared their destination, Jiho’s discomfort grew.
[Star Icon][Star Icon]“Mom, go ahead. I’ll stop by the restroom and join you.”
Before heading up to the restaurant, Yumi went to the lobby restroom to check her reflection again.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Yumi’s eyes widened at the sight of a familiar face.
“What? What are you doing here?”
Lee Soo, who had been washing her hands after lunch, looked up at the sound of Yumi’s voice.
Dressed as if she was on her way to a blind date, Yumi looked perfectly dolled up.
Her face was full of smiles as if something wonderful had happened, and she was looking straight at Lee Soo.
“I’m here for work.”
Lee Soo answered indifferently.
Yumi scanned Lee Soo’s face and noticed the ID card around her neck that read ‘STAFF’.
“Staff? What kind of part-time job are you doing here?”
It was a tone of disbelief.
‘With the allowance from dad alone, she should have more than enough, why suddenly a part-time job?’
Yumi looked at Lee Soo with curiosity.
Lee Soo nodded slightly and wiped the water off her hands.
“Do you know it’s my birthday today?”
As she was about to leave, Yumi spoke again from behind.
Birthday? Right, Yumi’s birthday was in April.
“Ah… Happy birthday.”
Why would she specifically tell me about her birthday? Does she want a gift?
Lee Soo turned back as she was leaving and casually offered her birthday wishes.
“Thank you.”
Yumi’s lips curled into a slight smile as she received the birthday wishes from Lee Soo.
With a relaxed smile, she began to speak.
“I’m here to have a meal with Jiho oppa. We agreed to meet on the 59th floor.”
Yumi stretched out her index finger upwards.
She wanted to make it clear to Lee Soo.
Just how special she and Jiho were to each other.
Though it wasn’t a one-on-one meeting, meeting Jiho was still a fact.
“…Right. Enjoy your meal.”
Lee Soo paused for a moment but responded calmly.
Looking at Yumi’s boastful expression, it didn’t seem like she was lying.
Lee Soo, not wanting to show any discomfort at Yumi’s obviously intentional remark, turned and left.
“What’s with that reaction? Not even surprised.”
Yumi muttered to herself, watching the door Lee Soo had exited through.
Emerging from the restroom, Lee Soo took a deep breath. Her heart was racing. Last night, Jiho had mentioned on the phone that he would be spending the entire day with his mother who had arrived from London.
‘So, was that a lie? He told such a lie to have lunch with Yumi today? Why would he do that?’
Her mouth felt dry.
‘Out of all the restaurants, why here…? We were here not long ago, on Yumi’s birthday…’
They had even taken photos to commemorate their first date, and now he was bringing Yumi to that same place.
Her heart felt constricted.
“It’s just a rumor. She’s just a younger acquaintance,” Jiho had clearly said, and Lee Soo had felt the same way.
Yet, he was celebrating Yumi’s birthday?
Lee Soo ran her hands over her face.
“Aera, I just saw Seo Jiho in the lobby.”
Aera, who had bought coffee from the cafe in the lobby, immediately told Lee Soo upon seeing her.
“Really?”
Her heart pounded.
Aera’s words felt like a confirmation of her suspicions.
The pasta she had for lunch seemed stuck in her chest, suffocating her.
This felt completely different from the day Jiho had driven Yumi in his car.
That day, Lee Soo had seen them but wasn’t angry.
If they were headed the same way, it was plausible to offer a ride, she had thought.
But today… This wasn’t right, was it?
Lee Soo felt anger rising but was confused about whether it was justified to feel this way.
Is it natural to celebrate a birthday for a younger friend known for over ten years?
“I was going to say hi, but Jiho got on the elevator and I missed him. I thought he came because of you… You didn’t know either.”
“Yeah.”
Jiho didn’t know Lee Soo was at this location since she hadn’t mentioned it.
“It would have been a coincidence if you had seen him, not me.”
What would it have been like if she had encountered Jiho and Yumi together here?
It would have felt entirely different from seeing them together at school.
It was like being hit hard on the back of the head.
“Aera, why do I look like this?”
Aera didn’t miss Lee Soo’s suddenly hardened expression.
Before going to the restroom, Lee Soo had been laughing at silly jokes, feeling good. But now, she had turned cold.
“Did something happen?”
Just then, Yumi came out of the restroom.
Yumi smiled briefly at Lee Soo and turned away.
“Oh my, isn’t that the girl rumored to be with Jiho? The one from the dance department, Jung Yumi. Why is she here again?”
Aera’s eyes widened as she watched Yumi walk towards the elevator.
“Let’s go, Aera.”
Lee Soo walked coldly towards the opposite side of the lobby, heading back to the event.
‘He’s going to meet Jiho now.’
Lee Soo’s grip tightened unconsciously.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
