The mermaidline dress that flowed down her petite figure and the pure white feathers adorning her hair highlighted her inherently modest and innocent appeal.
She was beautiful. That fact was grating on his nerves, let alone the fact that she was hanging on another man’s arm with a shy blush on her cheeks.
“I heard our department store won the new building contract this time?”
Hyun Ah’s sardonic voice suddenly echoed in the space. Her vibrantly colored appearance contrasted starkly with Da Jung’s near pure white presence.
With Jung Hyuk’s arm looped through hers, Hyun Ah pressed her body against him as if showing off.
“Our brother, Myeonghan, is the executive vice president of distribution and it’s his first business venture, so you all better do a good job.” Whether it was a request or an order was uncertain, but Dojun only managed a forced smile in response. Soon after, his gaze softened and landed on Dajeong.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yes, senior.”
A man and a woman pass by, arms crossed, casually. They shared a laugh.
Jung Hyuk’s eyes were harshly fixated on thin air.
The space filled with a beautiful classic melody was teeming with dazzling people.
Dajeong lingered around a large dolphinshaped ice sculpture, sipping awkwardly at her champagne.
Naturally, it felt strange to still not know anyone, even after time had passed.
Dojun was paying attention to this and that, but he wasn’t only idle.
“Isn’t that the son of Chairman Kwon?”
“Hello, Congressman.”
Engaged with those coming to make conversation due to his parents’ network, Dojun was extremely busy.
After sending off one group and taking a deep breath, a woman approached to greet him.
“Hello, Mr. Kwon Dojun.”
Seeing the woman greeting him with a warm smile, Dojun was momentarily at a loss for words. It was the youngest daughter of the director of the Hangang Hospital, whom he had bumped into at a surprise seat a while ago.
“I didn’t expect to meet you, Ms. Soo Kyung, here.”
“I’m not sure why I’m here, considering that the personal doctor of Chairman Park is my distant uncle. It’s obvious why my parents have sent me here. Isn’t it for the public seating arrangement?”
“Yes. It’s really a nuisance.”
Dojun smiled in agreement.
While this was happening, Dajeong, who had quietly slipped out of the venue, headed towards the outside waiting area.
She was not used to high heels, and trying to bear the standing party made her heels sting so much that she couldn’t stand it.
Sitting in the waiting area and looking around, she discreetly took off her shoes and massaged her heel. As expected, the skin had peeled off.
In desperation, Dajeong asked for help from the hotel staff. She asked for a disposable bandaid, and they kindly brought it to her in no time.
Dajeong limped towards the bathroom. After occupying an empty stall and tossing off her shoes, she finally felt like she was alive.
After slowly applying a bandaid to her wound, Dajeong didn’t go straight out but lingered. She planned to take a short break under the excuse of having a chapped heel.
Having to hide in the bathroom to rest, she couldn’t help but feel pitiful.
Then, she heard the sound of rough heels against the tile.
“Ah! Oh Hyunah, are you crazy?!”
At the sharp outburst, Dajeong’s eyes widened. Oh Hyunah? She was turning her eyes when another woman’s voice continued.
“Why would you provoke her, knowing her temper?”
“What did I say wrong? She dresses up like an ostrich and then tells others that they look cheap? Even so, she spills champagne in front of everyone?! That’s so rude!”
“I’m relieved it was just champagne. Given his nature, he could have dumped sewage on you.”
Da Jung held her breath, her ears pricked up. There seemed to have been some quarrel with Director Oh Hyun Ah.
“How irritating!! Why is that mistress’ daughter being so cocky?!”
“She hooked the golden grandson of Myeonghan Group’s Chairman Park. What wouldn’t be in her favor?”
Trapped in the stuffy restroom stall, Da Jung blinked in confusion.
The grandson of Myeonghan Group’s Chairman Park.
While it was impossible not to know Chairman Park Jong Soon, who significantly influenced South Korea’s economy, she never thought that man held such power.
A cold wind inexplicably flowed into Da Jung’s heart.
Leaving the restroom, Da Jung took slow steps. The pain was still there, but it was somewhat better.
She was heading towards the entrance to return to the banquet hall when she abruptly jerked back as if hooked by a fishing line.
Her legs wobbled, her vision swirled from a hand grabbing her elbow, and the man who entered her sight wore a deeply angered face.
Da Jung’s eyes widened in shock.
“Mr. Cha Jung Hyuk…?”
“Follow me.”
The man spat out his words sharply and ruthlessly, dragging Da Jung somewhere.
“Hey! Wait! What on earth…!”
Her shoes, kicked off in her attempt to keep from falling, were left far behind.
Bang! The door to the emergency stairs, where Da Jung was roughly pushed in, shut with a harsh noise.
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
