Myunghoon, tired from his shift, packed his things. Mr. Jung, returning to the security office after patrolling the apartment, flicked two fingers and suggested, “Mr. Kim, aren’t you off tomorrow? How about a drink in the evening?”
“A drink? No, thank you. You should cut down on the alcohol too.”
“Ah, nagging like a wife. By the way, I heard a young man is moving into the vacant 304. He’s got money, living in such a fancy housing complex.”
“Why so curious about others?”
Ignoring Mr. Jung, Myunghoon prepared to leave. Mr. Jung, unfazed by Myunghoon’s indifference, continued, “He’s some kind of boss, I heard. I should’ve gone into business too.”
“Just do your security job well. I’m off.”
Myunghoon waved goodbye, and just then, Taekyung walked past the security office, recognizing Myunghoon.
“Oh? Hello there.”
“Hello.”
Myunghoon, acknowledging Taekyung’s greeting, felt their encounter was not just a coincidence. Taekyung, Minjun’s biological father. He wondered if Taekyung knew about Minjun and still harbored feelings for Seoha.
“Do you live here, Mr. Han?”
“Yes, I’m planning to move in soon.”
“And you, sir?”
“I work here.”
“I see. I look forward to seeing you around. Thank you in advance.”
Taekyung bowed politely again.
Myunghoon didn’t dislike Taekyung’s demeanor. If there was still a chance for Taekyung and Seoha, he hoped for their reunion. Initially, he resented Taekyung for making his daughter raise a child alone. But considering Minjun growing up without his father, Myunghoon couldn’t just push Taekyung away. He knew the pain of raising Seoha without her mother, Steungae.
He hoped Taekyung, Minjun’s biological father, would return to Seoha’s side. It wasn’t Taekyung but his mother who rejected Minjun.
Perceiving Myunghoon’s thoughts, Taekyung cautiously started, “Sir, could I invite you for a meal sometime?”
“A meal?”
“Yes, I’ve wanted to treat you to a meal and have something to discuss.”
Myunghoon, thinking Taekyung might know about Minjun, couldn’t refuse.
“Are you okay with pork soup rice?”
“I eat anything.”
“There’s a pork soup rice restaurant nearby. Let’s go there.”
Myunghoon led the way to the restaurant, with Taekyung following silently.
They soon arrived. Myunghoon comfortably found a corner seat.
“What will you have, Mr. Han?”
“I’ll have the blood sausage soup.”
“Owner! One pork soup rice and one blood sausage soup, please.”
Taekyung quickly brought side dishes and water to the table.
“Sir, let me know if you need anything else.”
“That’s alright. Thank you.”
“Please speak comfortably.”
“For now, this is comfortable for me.”
Myunghoon preferred to keep a certain distance from Taekyung, still unsure about him.
Their conversation halted again, but luckily, the soups arrived.
“Let’s eat. We can talk while eating.”
“Yes, sir.”
Myunghoon found it harder to talk than he had anticipated.
Myunghoon, feeling overwhelmed, didn’t know how to start asking about Seoha and Minjun or what Taekyung wanted to discuss. He took a big gulp of soju to ease the tension.
“Ah, would you like a drink, Mr. Han?”
“Yes, sir.”
As they exchanged drinks, Myunghoon’s stiffness eased.
“Mr. Han, what did you want to talk about?”
“I wanted to ask for your help regarding Seoha, as I doubt she would tell me herself.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know anything about Minjun’s biological father?”
“Minjun’s father? Ah…”
Myunghoon was taken aback by the unexpected question. He thought Taekyung didn’t know he was Minjun’s father. He wondered how Taekyung couldn’t recognize his own child, yet recalled Taekyung’s care during Minjun’s accident, feeling conflicted.
“What would happen if he knew Minjun was his child? Would he treat Minjun even better, being a better father than anyone? Could he protect Minjun and Seoha from his mother, who didn’t want Minjun?”
He couldn’t reveal what Seoha hadn’t, saying, “It’s better to hear it from Seoha herself. She must have her reasons for not telling.”
“I understand. Do you know how they broke up?”
Myunghoon felt sorrowful. Taekyung seemed unaware of why Seoha had to hide Minjun’s existence.
“Minjun’s father’s family opposed him, I’ve heard.”
“Ah… Did he ever come looking for her?”
“No. I only recently heard about Minjun’s father.”
Myunghoon, feeling frustrated, poured more soju. Taekyung stopped him, showing consideration. Myunghoon’s heart warmed to Taekyung’s polite and respectful manner.
“Mr. Han.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you think of our Seoha?”
Taekyung, unfazed by the sudden question, replied calmly and sincerely.
“I have positive feelings. I can accept everything about Seoha, including Minjun, and you, sir.”
“Even if Minjun isn’t your child?”
“Yes. If he’s Seoha’s child, I’ll consider him mine.”
Surprised, Myunghoon felt touched.
Taekyung continued, “I apologize for being late. Seoha and I were seriously involved 5 years ago. We parted without knowing why, and since then, I’ve been searching for her. Now that I’ve found her again, I can’t let her go for any reason.”
He downed his soju and looked straight at Myunghoon.
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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