Yeon Woo, however, was fixated on the low conversation between Kwon Jun Hwi and Hong Yu Kyung.
“Your approach from various angles is impressive,” Jun Hwi complimented.
“Thank you for seeing it that way, Attorney Kwon,” Hong responded, her face brightening.
He continued to provide positive feedback with a noticeably brighter expression, seemingly pleased with the significant evidence they had found.
Despite it all, Yeon Woo couldn’t help but think it odd for them to be so close during a work conversation, especially when Jun Hwi typically preferred minimal contact.
And to think, she had kissed him!
Trying not to stare too obviously, Yeon Woo couldn’t help but notice Hong Yu Kyung’s face growing increasingly flushed beside Kwon Jun Hwi.
“…”
So, Yeon Woo decided to watch how long their whispering would last.
Even though he normally dislikes even brushing past others.
Yet he kissed me!
Despite trying not to stare, I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded seeing the increasingly flushed face of Attorney Hong Yu Kyung beside Kwon Jun Hwi.
“…”
So, I decided to watch how long they would continue whispering.
“[Dash] And about the future procedures you asked about last night, I’ve marked the areas that need revision and sent them in an email.”
What’s with them, even contacting each other at night?
“Do you have any lunch plans today?”
“Ah, no! I don’t have any, Attorney Kwon.”
Attorney Hong Yu Kyung, repeatedly brushing her hair behind her ear, had a slight tremble in her hand.
Having watched until there, I withdrew my gaze and stood up from my seat.
Of course, she doesn’t have any plans. Who would say no to lunch with the person they like? Even existing plans would be canceled.
Really funny, Kwon Jun Hwi.
If finding one piece of evidence leads to lunch and a date, what would happen after winning a trial? A marriage and honeymoon?
‘Annoying.’
My throat was parched. I headed to the pantry.
“Do you have any lunch plans today?”
“Ah, no! I don’t have any, Attorney Kwon.”
“Alright.”
Despite Attorney Hong Yu Kyung’s evident excitement about dining with him, Jun Hwi tapped his desk indifferently and then spoke again.
“Whether it’s with your peers or others on the same floor, or anyone from the company, arrange a lunch meeting.”
“Huh?”
“Drop hints during the meal. Say we’ve found something decisive. R Motors is probably in big trouble. Say it vaguely like that.”
“…”
Why does she look like she’s about to cry again? I didn’t even refuse her today.
Jun Hwi stared at the suddenly tearful Hong Yu Kyung.
After momentarily freezing and trembling her lips, Attorney Hong acknowledged and returned to her seat.
A short while later, I returned to my seat.
Simultaneously, I felt a slow, vivid movement sliding down Jun Hwi’s leg under the desk.
“!”
Startled, Jun Hwi involuntarily turned towards me.
With an unchanged expression, I was focused on my laptop as usual.
Intentionally sweeping provocatively, and yet she made my concentration waver, but instead of anger, I almost laughed. Jun Hwi bit the inside of his mouth and opened the company messenger.
Just one person, registered as a conversation partner, Kim Yeon Woo, was in the list. As he was about to click,
[Kim Yeon Woo [Dash] Offline]It was futile.
Looking at her again, she was clearly aware of Jun Hwi’s gaze but pretended not to know.
Her lips, redder than before, stood out distinctly in Jun Hwi’s view.
“Don’t wear that,” I had told her.
If it wasn’t my misconception, she seemed oddly piqued right now.
Why, exactly.
Burying the perplexity, Jun Hwi returned to his documents. Realizing he was reading the same paragraph over and over, he put down his pen.
Such preoccupation with something other than work, let alone another person, was foreign to him.
Until now, Jun Hwi had believed that relentlessly pushing himself with endless work was the only way.
When I’m buried in a deluge of work, only then, exhausted in body and mind, can I manage to sleep sweetly, if only for a moment, overcoming the relentless insomnia.
It was the path I chose to escape the horrific memory of witnessing my father and brother being murdered before my eyes.
But then, like a ripe apple rolling unexpectedly into my life, my thoughts started to branch out uncontrollably. Was it the beginning of not minding it at all?
Instead of the work in front of me, I began to notice the person beside me.
Sometimes, work seemed like a mere disturbance to admiring Yeon Woo beside me. Just like now.
R Motors, negotiations – I wanted to throw it all away and summon her to bite into those red lips… but I had to restrain myself.
Suppressing the slowly simmering doubts, I gathered what little patience was left.
“Ah, it’s already lunchtime. Those without plans, let’s eat together.”
Attorney Yang, checking the time, stretched and suggested.
As soon as he finished speaking, Attorney Hong hurriedly left the room first.
Despite the sounds of chairs scraping and others standing, Yeon Woo continued typing.
I had no plans today and craved tteokbokki, planning to grab a quick bite at the snack bar right outside the office.
“Deputy.”
When Jun Hwi called out to Yeon Woo, only the two of them were left in the situation room.
“Would you like to have lunch together?”
What about Attorney Hong, asking me?
I didn’t want to be a second choice, for whatever reason.
“I have no plans, but I’d like to eat alone.”
“Same here. Planning on having street food? I’ll buy it. Let’s eat separately at our desks.”
How did he know my menu choice!
Yeon Woo’s eyes widened, and Jun Hwi, picking up his jacket, explained his deduction.
“Kim Yeon Woo usually has salads, sandwiches, or street food when eating alone. You had salad yesterday, and Attorney Yang brought sandwiches for a snack this morning. That leaves street food.”
“Wow.”
“Among them, you usually eat tteokbokki or kimbap. I’ll buy both, so there’s a 50% chance you’ll get what you want. I’ll be back. No cucumber in the kimbap.”
Before Yeon Woo could object, he was already out the door.
‘Am I that transparent?’
It felt like he might figure out everything about me soon.
Will there ever be a day when I can gain the upper hand?
I had deliberately tapped his leg and provocatively applied dried rose-colored lip gloss because I was irritated seeing him whisper closely with Hong Yu Kyung.
Yet, in the end, he had me cornered again.
Yeon Woo, swallowing her discomfort, let out a sigh that almost sounded like laughter.
Waiting obediently for his return, it seemed impossible to firmly twist Jun Hwi around my finger.
The reaction to the rumor Jun Hwi had spread through Attorney Hong Yu Kyung came from an unexpected source.
Beep. My phone vibrated continuously while I was preparing to leave late from work. It was Cha Han Bin.
[Can we talk for a moment?] [I’m so frustrated because of Jiwu.] [Yeon Woo, I’m heading to your side.]Reading the messages, my face instantly clouded with unease.
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
