He was said to be thirty-five this year. He passed the judicial exam during his university days, excelling in the training academy and began his service as a prosecutor.
He was the arrow Chairman Moon had chosen to aim at Director Moon Young-ran. Though he had many connections to high-ranking prosecutors, Jo Sung-han was chosen because he was a thorough outsider.
But even being an outsider, Jo Sung-han wasn’t driven by a sense of justice. Chairman Moon knew what he aspired to.
Jo Sung-han wanted to be a politician in the future, not just a prosecutor. Hence, he picked up socially significant cases, amplified them, and conducted investigations according to public sentiment.
“There’s something I need to ask before I hand over the documents.”
“What is it?”
As if challenging him to state it, Prosecutor Jo tilted his lips and asked.
“My son, don’t touch him.”
Though his expression was gentle, his voice carried weight. It was worded as a request, but to Prosecutor Jo’s ears, it didn’t sound like one.
It felt like a threat implying retaliation if his son was involved.
Is he like any other chaebol chairman, strict with others but overly indulgent to his own children?
“We’ll have to see, won’t we? If there’s a crime, punishment is inevitable. Asking me to turn a blind eye to a present crime would be difficult.”
Prosecutor Jo responded sharply to Chairman Moon’s plea.
“From what I’ve checked, there seems to be no such crime.”
“That’s based on what you’ve checked…”
“Maybe Director Moon Young-ran tangled him up without my knowledge.”
Chairman Moon interrupted Prosecutor Jo’s words and added.
Upon hearing Young-ran’s name, a twitch was evident in Prosecutor Jo’s eyelids. His pupils darkened in a split second.
“Chairman, let me ask you one thing.”
“Speak.”
“I can’t figure out why you, Chairman, would kindly give me the data to bring down your own sister, no matter how much I think about it. Is it some kind of power struggle over company control?”
“It’s natural to face punishment if one commits a crime, isn’t it?”
Chairman Moon threw back the exact words Prosecutor Jo had just said to him. At this, Prosecutor Jo burst into hearty laughter.
“It’s strange. It’s not the first or second time I’ve seen families fight over their companies. Usually, they only hand over evidence against their adversaries, but you, Chairman Moon, are even handing over information that could harm yourself. Naturally, I’d doubt whether I should just swallow it up.”
“That’s the only way to ensure my sister is firmly dealt with.”
“So, you intend to remove all enemies and hand over the throne to your son, sacrificing yourself in the process?”
“I have a debt that I must repay.”
“Hmm… What if I take this and approach Director Moon Young-ran, turning the tables on you? Haven’t you thought of that possibility?”
“I’m well aware that you wouldn’t let something like that cloud your judgment, Prosecutor Jo.”
Chairman Moon said with a composed expression. Upon hearing his words, the smile swiftly vanished from Prosecutor Jo’s face.
“Because you and I have the same enemy.”
“…I thought you wouldn’t know.”
Seemingly bitter, Prosecutor Jo bit his lower lip.
“Because of that guy, my family was ruined. If we look into it, our family wasn’t entirely innocent either, but ruining our future by not leaving any descendants was too much. That’s why I changed my surname. From ‘Jeong’ to ‘Jo’.”
He took off his glasses and placed them in the pocket of his jacket. Then, rubbing his palms, he extended his hand towards Chairman Moon.
“Let’s try to work well together, Chairman.”
“Let’s.”
Chairman Moon shook the hand Prosecutor Jo extended.
Hyukjoo, who had left for the living room, returned with a troubled expression.
Eunsoo, who had been lying on the bed, sat up and asked,
“Why did you come back?”
“Madam is still in the living room.”
“Still?”
“She seems to be planning to watch dramas all night.”
Hyukjoo sighed in exasperation as he sat at the edge of the bed.
“What should we do then?”
“I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“Without a blanket?”
“Ah…”
The extra blanket was in Mrs. Sangju’s room, so Hyukjoo couldn’t sleep on the floor.
After contemplating for a moment, Eunsoo moved to the side.
“Come here and sleep.”
“…”
“It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before. It’s just sleeping.”
Eunsoo simplified the situation as if it was no big deal.
“Alright, I’ll sleep beside you then.”
Hyukjoo rose and lay next to Eunsoo. Even though they had shared a bed before, it felt different this time, almost peculiar.
The tips of their fingers, which hadn’t touched, felt oddly prickly.
As Hyukjoo was staring blankly at the ceiling, he turned his head towards her.
“Eunsoo.”
When she responded to his call, their eyes met inadvertently. Eunsoo bit the inside of her lower lip. Their proximity was so close that even the sound of their quiet breathing was audible.
“How’s your body feeling?”
“…I’m fine.”
“If you’re ever uncomfortable, let me know. I ran into Joonkyung today while buying a cake. You remember? The friend who returned to Korea from Germany.”
Hyukjoo elaborated, thinking Eunsoo might not remember Joonkyung.
“I remember. The friend who gave chocolates as a gift, right?”
“Right. Joonkyung’s wife is expecting their third child, due this fall.”
“Oh, their third?”
Eunsoo’s eyes widened in admiration. From her small, lovely lips, a soft exclamation of amazement flowed out.
“What’s the gender of the first and second child?”
“The first is a son, and the second is a daughter.”
“That’s nice.”
A smile spread across her pale face.
Watching her, Hyukjoo felt a sudden warmth in his throat.
He had always thought that giving and letting Eunsoo enjoy the best things would make her happy. But perhaps what Eunsoo truly wished for from him was moments like these.
Sharing trivial stories about who they met today and what happened. Moments of simple conversation.
He was only now learning what his wife liked, and he could do all those things for her…
Despite Eunsoo being right next to him, Hyukjoo felt frustrated that the distance between them seemed insurmountable.
“Mr. Hyukjoo.”
“Yes, Eunsoo?”
Swallowing his dry saliva, Hyukjoo responded.
“Would you prefer a son or a daughter, Mr. Hyukjoo?”
“For me…”
After pondering for a moment, Hyukjoo locked eyes with Eunsoo. His intense gaze remained unwavering, as if it had been cast in place.
Eunsoo’s eyelashes quivered faintly as she silently returned a calm look.
Hyukjoo gently cupped Eunsoo’s delicate cheek with his large hand.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
