It was a particularly lucky morning. Even Anna succeeded in making fried eggs, which she always failed at before.
My hair was styled exceptionally well, and I didn’t have to go out to pick up my father last night. My father even got up in the morning for some reason and was sprawled out in the living room.
“Miss, are you going to stop by the blacksmith’s today?”
“Yes. I’m going to try to talk to him properly.”
I planned to ask the blacksmith to persuade Ranson to contract with Black Swan. If I’m lucky enough to meet him, I’ll try to persuade him directly.
For some reason, the art gallery hadn’t taken him yet, and he was still said to be at the blacksmith’s.
Maybe I’ll have a chance too?
“Then I’ll go to the office first.”
“Okay, I’ll try to get there before the kid arrives.”
Anna handed me a women’s silk hat and a handbag as I finished preparing to go out.
With determined steps, I left the mansion and headed straight for the blacksmith’s shop in the rickshaw I had called in advance.
* * *
The regular sound of iron clashing echoed in the hot air. The smell of iron filings wafted through the irritating scent of chemicals.
“Thank you for making time for me when you must be busy.”
“It’s no problem.”
Ranson was standing next to the blacksmith, who had turned red from the heat of the fire. He was a head taller than me and was avoiding eye contact with a shy expression.
“I’d like to talk alone for a moment, if that’s possible?”
The blacksmith answered that it was fine and patted Ranson’s shoulder.
“Ranson, it’s noisy here, shall we go outside to talk?”
He nodded in response. I headed to a cafe a little distance from the blacksmith’s shop. Fortunately, it wasn’t crowded due to the early hour, and there was no small concert being held.
He carefully observed the people chatting inside the cafe. Then, touching his clothes stained with soot here and there, he said,
“Um… is it okay for me to enter a place like this?”
“Of course.”
I answered with a smile.
We found a quiet spot and sat down. Ranson sat awkwardly in the chair, fidgeting.
‘He looks like a big bear sitting there.’
His dark brown hair covering his ears clearly showed his gentle personality.
It was so amazing that someone so tall, with such big hands and a large build, could create such delicate and romantic sculptures.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Anything is fine.”
I ordered two cups of coffee from the waiter who came to our table.
Ranson seemed entirely unadapted to the fluffy cafe atmosphere, constantly fidgeting with his legs. His rough fingertips were covered in faint scars, barely noticeable unless looked at closely.
“Do you know why I came to see you today?”
“…I have some idea.”
Then this conversation should be easier.
“That’s good. I want you to grow together with Black Swan.”
I listed the names of artists that Black Swan had nurtured so far. I also mentioned how much they had achieved and gained fame under Black Swan’s patronage.
“I know that the Artenbach Art Gallery has made you a good offer. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
Just then, the coffee arrived. I urged him to take a sip.
The cup, which was clearly of normal size, looked like a toy teacup when he lifted it.
“Please listen as you drink. We can’t match the conditions offered by the Artenbach Art Gallery. But instead…”
Pffft.
He suddenly spat out the coffee in his mouth. Fortunately, he had turned his head to the side, so it didn’t splash on me.
“What is this?”
Ranson asked, holding the cup with a shocked expression. I answered while pulling out napkins to wipe the table.
“It’s coffee. It’s the best-selling menu item in this cafe.”
“…It tastes like boiled tree roots.”
“Is this your first time drinking coffee?”
“Yes.”
Well, then it might taste like that.
“It’ll be more drinkable if you add milk. Or should we order a different drink?”
“…I’ll have milk.”
I raised my hand to call the waiter. And ordered napkins and milk.
Ranson looked like he was suppressing the urge to stick out his tongue. I quietly looked at him for a moment before slowly opening my mouth.
“Shall we continue our conversation, if that’s okay?”
“Ah, yes. Sorry for the interruption.”
He smiled awkwardly. He really looked like a big bear.
“I can’t offer you better conditions, but I can assure you of this one thing.”
Ranson’s black eyes looked down at me.
“I’ll let you live freely.”
I continued with additional explanations to Ranson, who didn’t seem to understand what I meant.
“The Artenbach Art Gallery has its affiliated artists live together as a group. They wake up at regular times, eat meals at regular times, and carry out activities. But if you come to Black Swan, we’ll adjust all schedules to suit the individual.”
This was one of the conditions that Black Swan prided itself on. To be honest, we don’t have enough affiliated artists to make group living feasible, nor do we have the money to operate on that scale.
But I can’t just say we’re not doing it like the art gallery because we don’t have money, can I?
“But… even if I wanted to do that, there’s a reason why I can’t.”
“I know that the blacksmith arranged for Ranson and borrowed money through the art gallery. I can solve that.”
Ranson’s eyes wavered slightly.
“If you just choose Black Swan, we’ll handle all the troublesome issues that follow.”
“…I’ll consider it carefully.”
“Thank you.”
The ordered milk and napkins arrived. I poured milk into Ranson’s coffee cup and said,
“Drink comfortably.”
* * *
After finishing our coffee cups clean and settling the bill, we both got up from our seats. It was about time for the streets to get noisy.
“Are you going back to the blacksmith’s shop?”
As we walked together towards the blacksmith’s shop, Ranson, walking beside me, asked with an expressionless face. It seems his shyness had dissipated quite a bit after sharing a cup of coffee.
“No. I’m going to Black Swan.”
“Isn’t it too far to walk?”
“If I take a rickshaw in front of the blacksmith’s shop…”
Just as I was about to say it would be fine, Ranson’s black eyes flashed for a moment, and he pulled me strongly into an embrace.
I was so surprised I couldn’t even speak. As I was blinking in a state of mental paralysis, a rickshaw quickly passed in front of us.
“Be careful.”
He said indifferently as he let go of me.
“Ah, thank you.”
It was a strange incident. Even though a stranger’s hands had touched my body, I didn’t feel bad about it.
Ranson checked that no more rickshaws were coming and crossed the street first. I followed behind him, taking quick steps.
We soon arrived at the blacksmith’s shop. Ranson bowed his head neatly with his hands together, then slipped into the blacksmith’s shop.
‘Hmm…’
I raised my hand to hail a rickshaw. Suddenly, I remembered Ranson’s large hands.
‘I guess I like big men like bears.’
It was a preference I discovered for the first time in 24 years.
* * *
After spending what I considered a productive time, I got off in front of the office and hurriedly entered upon hearing the sound of an argument coming from inside. There, an unexpected person was having a dispute with Anna.
“We have a scheduled guest. So please come back another time.”
“What scheduled guest could a failing office have!”
I straightened my back at the piercing voice. I also raised my chin to look arrogant.
“It’s quite difficult to see your face. Isn’t it, young lady?”
The man lounging on the waiting room sofa noticed me and stood up with a smirk. I spoke coldly.
“It’s troublesome for you to come like this without an appointment, Lord Johnston.”
“I’ve sent several marriage proposals without any response, and you just swallow up the gifts, so isn’t this why I’ve come?”
He strode over. And moving only his eyes to look at my handbag, he said,
“That’s not the bag I gave you… Did you sell it off somewhere again.”
Johnston brushed past me and circled around once.
“Don’t tell me you sold all my gifts to change the office furniture?”
“No! This furniture is…”
As Anna was about to burst out with an answer, I quickly raised my hand to stop her. It wouldn’t be good for him to know that people from the Artenbach family were frequenting this place.
Rather, if he knew that the young master was coming, he might do something trashy behind our backs.
“As far as I know, I politely expressed my rejection to the marriage proposal you sent.”
Johnston giggled.
“If you were going to reject the proposal, you should have rejected the gifts too.”
He took my hand. And kissed the back of it. I desperately suppressed the urge to shudder and maintained my arrogant posture.
“I don’t understand why you keep teasing me like this.”
“Auntie, I’m here!”
With bad timing, the kid entered the office. The child seemed surprised to see Johnston holding my hand.
“What’s this?”
Johnston glared at the kid who had just come in and said,
“Child, adults are talking now, so go out and play.”
It would be good if he could read the situation and go out for a while. But from what I’ve observed so far, this kid was not the type to just leave.
“Isn’t it my appointment time now?”
At the kid’s sharp question as he stood politely, Anna fidgeted and said,
“Oh, what should we do?”
I forcefully shook off the hand Johnston was holding. Then I said to Anna,
“Take the kid and go out for a moment.”
“But…”
I know. She’s worried about the situation of being left alone with him in the office.
“Ha! Is Black Swan now playing the role of a daycare center?”
I felt annoyed. I had the urge to slap him right away.
“Ah, forget it! When will you answer my marriage proposal? Is it noble etiquette to just eat up gifts and wipe your mouth clean?”
At Johnston’s question, I momentarily looked at the kid. Seeing his thunderstruck face, I thought I shouldn’t keep the child here any longer.
“Anna! Quickly take the kid out!”
“Yes, yes!”
Anna urgently wrapped her arm around the kid’s shoulders. And hurriedly went outside.
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.]
