If she said there were no hardships while raising Siwoo alone, it would be a lie. Her constant conflict with her mother, which had not yet been resolved, always weighed on her heart.
She believed she had done well, and that was possible because of the consolation and encouragement of many people. But the comfort this man offered was a bit different.
“You’ve worked hard.” She may have wanted his recognition. That she did well, even alone. She must have wanted to hear that from him, and no one else.
As her eyes stung, Da Jung stared at the plate in front of her for a while. Everything that had been balled up inside melted away in an instant.
Just as the ripple that had spread thinly in her calm heart began to settle, Da Jung got up from her seat and went over to Jung Hyuk.
She stroked the cheek of Siwoo, who was sleeping in his arms, and gently rested her head on his sturdy shoulder.
Instead of holding the seemingly desolate man, he stroked the arm covered in a soft shirt.
He figured that this would be a better way to convey the sincerity and consolation that could not be conveyed with just a light word.
It could have been considered a form of reciprocation for the comfort he had offered.
Jung Hyuk tilted his head quietly over Da Jung’s tender crown and rested his cheek against it.
It smelled similar to Shi Woo. A soft, subtle, and warm scent.
Time flowed serenely. Neither of them opened their mouths during that time, but leaning on each other, they shared many stories in silence.
In the space faintly resonating with the Japanese shamisen music, warm air circulated.
Not long after, the head that felt light enough to be trivial fell from Jung Hyuk’s shoulder. Da Jung’s clear eyes looked at him as she lifted her head.
“Mr. Cha Jung Hyuk. Do you remember what we talked about in Spain? About being adults who can take responsibility for our lives.”
Jung Hyuk quietly stared at her face, seemingly lost in thought.
“I chose it. Even if it is the result of a time that’s like playing with fire, I’m not ashamed. Because, at that moment, it was sincere. Because it’s a life that our Shi Woo embraced with all sincerity, I will never regret it.”
With a slightly reddened face, as if showing how brave she was, Da Jung grinned broadly.
She was excited. She was attracted, and she liked it. Sincerely.
She still liked and was excited by this man who sometimes seemed more like a child than Shi Woo. She couldn’t help but keep her heart going to where it shouldn’t.
“Thank you, Mr. Cha Jung Hyuk. For teaching me what it feels like to be excited and thrilled. I will never forget it until I die.”
Da Jung, reaching out carefully, cradled his cheek in her hand.
You were not abandoned. You are a very precious person.
She gave a thin smile, imbuing it with a comforting sentiment.
Jung Hyuk’s hand overlaid the back of the hand that was holding his cheek. When he opened his eyes again, the rims of Yoo Da Jung’s eyes were slightly more moist.
The sharp scent of Cheongju was swirling at the tips of their noses, then scattering repeatedly.
Led by that scent, Jung Hyuk’s head slowly tilted. And when his hot breath brushed over Da Jung’s lips, he let out a hollow laugh.
He thought he could kiss her any moment now. But the hand pushing his chest applied the brakes.
At the blocking hand, he chuckled and obediently backed away.
“You’re doing good. Try more.”
“What do you mean?”
“Me picking you up and putting you down.”
At his characteristic way of speaking, Da Jung chuckled lightly.
“Yoo Da Jung.”
“……”
“I like Yoo Shi Woo.”
Da Jung’s eyes widened. He was always absurd and unexpected.
“And I also want to say that I like Yoo Da Jung.”
At that point, Da Jung didn’t know what to say and only bit her lip.
“But if I tell Yoo Da Jung that I like her……”
Jung Hyuk, who paused for a moment, let out a light sigh.
He was still in conflict. It wasn’t about a fixed marriage or a prospective fiancée.
He was hesitant, unable to easily determine the direction of his decision, fearing Yoo Da Jung might be in pain again due to his choices.
Cha Jung Hyuk, who had been holding his breath, continued.
“If I tell you I like you, you’ll get hurt. So I’m holding it in.”
“…….”
Da Jung blinked in bewilderment. She didn’t quite understand the meaning. Moreover, she was puzzled about how it was any different from having already confessed his feelings.
She considered pointing out this fact, but Da Jung decided to give up. Instead, she gave a faint smile.
“Mr. Cha Jung Hyuk. Please stop leading me on.”
“Please bring Ms. Yoo Da Jung home in the car.”
“Yes, executive director.”
Receiving the car keys, manager Min headed straight for the parked car of Da Jung, having instructed the chauffeur to ensure the safety of director Cha.
After first placing Da Jung in his private vehicle, Jung Hyuk carefully followed, holding Si Woo.
There was no conversation on the way back. The gazes of the two were fixed only on the face of Si Woo, who was asleep, as if drawn to each other.
“Give him to me now.”
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
