The car was quiet. Rather than coldness or discomfort, there was an awkward atmosphere of embarrassment.
Recalling the vibrant pink roses and diamond ring, Da Jung couldn’t hide her complicated emotions.
‘I’ve been imagining this day since I first saw you 12 years ago.’
It was Do Jun’s proposal. As it was unexpected, she couldn’t feel excitement or joy. She was just taken aback.
Has senior been… for such a long time…
She truly didn’t know. She may have been extremely slow, clueless, or she might not have thought of him as the opposite sex at all.
Upon arriving at the apartment complex and unbuckling her seatbelt, Da Jung was unsure what to do with the bouquet and ring case on her lap.
Somehow she had to conclude, but saying those words was not going to be easy.
“Thank you for the ride, senior. And…”
“It’s okay.”
Before she could speak, Do Jun cut her off.
“I’m not asking for an answer right now. Think about it. And take your time deciding. Whether it takes 1 year or 10 years, I will wait.”
Do Jun knew this situation was sudden. But it had become impossible to postpone any longer. Not this time, he was not going to give in.
Watching the calm smile on his face, Da Jung composed herself.
“Senior. I have Si Woo. Senior, you are lacking nothing, so why…”
A warm hand covering the back of Da Jung’s hand cut her off.
“Si Woo. I’ve never thought of him as anything but my son. I can’t be perfect, but I’ll try to be a good father.”
Da Jung’s eyes flickered. As she met his warm gaze, a feeling of guilt grew like a snowball.
An infinitely grateful person. Such a person was suddenly approaching her as a man.
The more he did, the more she became aware of the reality. Da Jung resented him for putting her to the test.
“Don’t do this. I don’t want to get married. I’m content if I can raise Si Woo well. I’m grateful for your feelings, but I don’t want our relationship to become uncomfortable because of this.”
Da Jung, who had firmly refused, pushed the bouquet and ring case back into Do Jun’s arms.
“Let’s pretend nothing happened today. You should think again too.”
“Then keep it and use it as a shield.”
As Da Jung was about to get out of the car, her gaze turned back to Do Jun’s face.
“Senior…”
“Cha Jung Hyuk. Use it as a tool to protect you and Si Woo from him. And think about it again slowly.”
MJ Hotel Grand Ballroom. Minghan Distribution’s new business launch event was about to start.
Jung Hyuk, who was lingering at the entrance of the venue, pressed his furrowed brow. Although it was 5 minutes past the promised time, there was no sign of Hyun Ah.
If it were normal times, he would have been okay, but he wasn’t feeling well since morning.
There was nothing in particular that felt strange, but he felt unusually sensitive and feverish. As a result, his nerves became incredibly heightened.
Taking a deep breath, Jung Hyuk gently closed his eyes, calming his mind and body. Suddenly, there was a desperate shout from somewhere.
As he turned his gaze, something bright red was rushing towards him, waving a hand.
“Brother! Brother!”
There were various ways to attract attention in such an elegant place. A sigh that was lifted from the very depths of him slipped past Jung Hyuk’s lips.
“Weren’t the dress codes relayed?”
The low murmuring words made the nearby Director Min feel a bit awkward, his eyes darting around.
“I clearly relayed that it was to be elegant.”
“Look at that. She seems ready to perform a Flamenco dance.”
The red dress was not just flashy, but it was scandalously revealing with a plunging neckline and bare back. Hyun Ah, adorned in an impossibly dazzling fashion, hurried over, panting heavily.
“Brother, did you wait long? Damn, some girl wore the shoes I’d reserved. I was so annoyed, I had to turn everything upside down…”
“You’re late. Let’s go in.”
Without needing to hear more, Jung Hyuk turned on his heel. At that moment, he noticed an unfamiliar couple passing by.
“Are you deliberately imitating a duck to make me laugh right now?”
Kwon Do Joon’s voice was full of laughter. The woman hanging on his arm really did walk like a duck, waddling.
“Senior, the heels are too high. I feel like I’m going to fall.”
“Should I carry you then?”
“Senior, really.”
At his teasing words, Yoo Da Jung laughed a small, shy laugh. The sound was so clear, it seemed as if it was directly in his ear, and it stimulated his heightened nerves.
The place where the couple, arm in arm, stopped was the entrance of the event hall.
Da Jung’s eyes, meeting with Jung Hyuk’s, widened in surprise, quickly moving to Hyun Ah.
“Hello, Principal. We meet here again.”
“Indeed.”
The forced reply from Hyun Ah was quite curt. It seemed she wasn’t pleased that Da Jung, the head of the kindergarten, was attending the same event as her.
“Director Cha Jung Hyuk, thank you for the invitation.”
Next, Do Joon respectfully bowed his head, but Jung Hyuk didn’t even spare him a glance, let alone a reply.
His indifferent gaze was solely directed at the woman who had transformed from a duck to a swan.
Yoo Da Jung looked decent enough.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
