“If you had given it to me before I drank this, it would have been better.”
Showing a coffee cup with an oil ring due to cooling, Hyukju said, lifting it.
“I should have come in a little earlier; I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
Hyukju took a sip of the warm coffee.
Having filled his stomach with a sandwich, he went to the restroom in his office and washed his hands. Then, looking at Hyunsoo through the mirror, he spoke.
“Director Song.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
“Did you come to me because you have something to say?”
In an uncharacteristic manner, Hyunsoo was fidgeting. Hyukju asked again as he came out after washing his hands.
“What’s the matter?”
“Well…”
“Why?”
“Because I hope to leave work a little earlier today.”
“Do that.”
With the answer, Hyukju tilted his head to one side.
“Is Ms. Gosaetbyeorl’s lecture ending early today?”
“It’s not that, but I have something to prepare.”
“I don’t know what you need to prepare, but do well.”
Hyukju raised his hand and patted Hyunsoo’s shoulder lightly.
At that moment, the faint sound of the phone ringing came from outside. After a brief greeting, Hyunsoo opened the office door and went out.
Sitting down to look at the remaining documents, Hyunsoo came back in.
Hyunsoo’s face looked serious, indicating he had received an important call. Hyukju raised his head, waiting for Hyunsoo to speak.
“Vice President.”
“Why?”
“Ms. Seoyeonji is waiting in the lobby right now.”
“Who?”
Hyukju’s neat eyebrows instantly sharpened. Hyunsoo, knowing it wasn’t just ignorance, asked cautiously.
“What should we do?”
“…”
“The front desk staff said she caused a disturbance before, claiming she wanted to meet the CEO.”
Hyukju pondered for a moment.
He didn’t want to face Seoyeonji again, especially after witnessing her effortlessly tell lies with a composed face. After resolving the complicated internal matters of the group, he planned to make Seoyeonji pay for the lies she told about him. The reason he intentionally avoided her calls was because of this.
But he didn’t expect her to show up like this.
Dealing with Seoyeonji was not difficult; it was just annoying.
“Tell her to come up.”
“Here?”
Hyunsoo’s eyes widened at the unexpected request to bring Seoyeonji to the office instead of making an appointment or meeting her outside.
“It might look stranger to meet outside now.”
“Come to think of it, you’re right. Should I ask her to come up right away?”
“Yeah. We need to finish quickly since time is short.”
Hyukju put on the suit jacket he had hanging.
If he wanted, it could be done within five minutes, but dealing with the paperwork, Hyukju’s forehead displayed an unmistakable sign of annoyance.
Yeonji’s face lit up with anticipation as she headed to Hyukju’s office.
She was confident that her decision to visit the resort in person was correct.
She wanted to receive his call, but it wouldn’t have been easy because of Oh Eunsu.
Especially now, unlike before, she would almost seem stuck to Oh Eunsu here.
‘Hyukju oppa must not have had a choice.’
Interpreting the situation according to her comfort, Yeonji smiled brightly.
It was her first time stepping into Hyukju’s office. Therefore, she felt as if she had become a special existence to him.
When they got off the elevator, Manager Song came to greet them.
“Long time no see, Manager Song.”
Yeonji greeted Manager Song with a bright smile.
Whenever she asked Hyukju for a favor, Manager Song always came to her. Therefore, Yeonji felt an internal familiarity with him.
However, perhaps because it was a company, Manager Song’s expression was gloomy today. Well, it was like this at other times, but today his expression seemed particularly unsightly.
Maybe he doesn’t like me.
Yeonji chuckled quietly while glancing at Manager Song.
Just a bit more before her secretary’s turn.
Despite feeling her dismissive gaze, Manager Song, without showing any reaction, told her to follow and walked ahead.
‘She’s someone who doesn’t have anything to like.’
Yeonji glanced at the back of Manager Song, who was walking ahead of her.
She had thought for a few months that one of the reasons Hyukju treated her coldly might be Manager Song. There was also a possibility that he had gossiped about her from the side.
Manager Song had never hidden the uneasy look he gave her every time they met.
It didn’t matter.
Manager Song was an employee hired by Hyukju. In other words, it meant he could be fired anytime if he didn’t like it.
“Just wait for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Manager Song talking with weight, Yeonji smirked.
Manager Song, who had entered the office first, soon came out.
“You can go in now.”
“Thank you.”
Uttering a word that did not convey any gratitude, Yeonji lifted her steps toward the office. As soon as she entered through the open door, she wore an expression so desolate it seemed almost pitiful.
Hyukju, standing with his back to the door, was looking out the window.
Contemplating whether to run up and embrace him, Yeonji raised her head.
Thinking she had hung on to him all this time without receiving a call, showing a tormented expression was appropriate.
Without saying a word, Yeonji deliberately made loud noises as she sat down at the table, pulling out the chair.
“I didn’t expect you to come all the way here.”
Turning his head, Hyukju, with furrowed brows, spoke while looking out the window.
His gaze on her was chilling. Startled by the cold stare, Yeonji swallowed her dry saliva.
‘Why is oppa reacting like that?’
Faced with the unfamiliar gaze, Yeonji bit her lip tightly. Unsure of what to say next, she rolled her eyes downward.
Then, she remembered the hat she had put in her bag.
With a smile of realization, Yeonji started taking out the light blue fluffy hat. While doing so, she cautiously observed Hyukju’s expression.
The moment Hyukju saw the hat, his eyebrows crinkled and faintly twitched.
It was clear that his emotions were swayed.
Now, all she had to do was bring up old stories and shake his fragile heart as before.
After placing the hat on the table, Hyukju gestured with his eyes.
“Is that the hat you were talking about?”
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
