Though it was a grumpy voice due to the ridiculous overtime on a weekend, no, in the middle of the night, Ji Won gladly reported the best results Yi Hyun wanted.
“Where did you send them?”
“They said they’d rather die than go to the countryside, so we decided to send them to Busan. Those women were very susceptible to threats. They were saying such nonsense that they seemed quite stupid.”
“No! Their debt is almost the same as the house price, so what’s left after selling it for them to ask me for money? Ha~ Anyway, I got the written agreement as you wanted. But why such a money-losing business…”
“Good job. Go home.”
As Ji Won’s words started to drag on again, Yi Hyun quickly hung up and looked at Ha Jun in front of him.
He smiled slightly as he looked at her clear eyes, calm and expressionless, a far cry from her blushing face just moments ago.
That consistently bland expression with nothing behind it really drives people crazy. Strangely.
Now, shall we see how this pretty glass doll’s face changes when she hears good news?
“I just kicked out two bedbugs living in the house under Lee Ha Jun’s name. They’re going to Busan, so you should never go near Busan from now on.”
Ha Jun’s eyes shook violently, losing their place at Yi Hyun’s unbelievable words.
“What do you mean? How… how is that… possible?”
Yi Hyun smiled with satisfaction as he watched Ha Jun, whose intense agitation was palpable.
“Who do you take me for? Do you know what Jaein Group values most? It’s information. That’s how we grew this big and keep maintaining it. When I looked into Ha Jae Suk, she had quite a lot of private loans. I bought those and sent my subordinate to Ha Jae Suk.”
“Private loans…”
“It was about 500 million won, including interest. And it was still growing.”
“Where on earth did she use all that…”
“Buying luxury goods, getting massages, dermatology, plastic surgery procedures, eating extremely expensive meals.”
While Yi Hyun chuckled saying “It’s obvious,” Ha Jun couldn’t laugh.
On her previously expressionless face, following a faint bewilderment, now a pained look emerged on her pale face. Seeing this, the smile disappeared from Yi Hyun’s face as well.
He wanted to see this woman’s human-like expression, but it seems he didn’t want to see this kind of pain.
Yi Hyun spoke in a low, forceful voice as he looked at Ha Jun, who seemed dazed.
“Don’t worry about it. That debt is mine now. They wrote a pledge and stamped it, saying they’ll never come near Seoul again.”
Only then did Ha Jun slowly turn her head to look at Yi Hyun. It was still unbelievable, but it was also what she had wished for most.
“…Is it true? They said… they’ll never appear in front of me again?”
Yi Hyun shrugged his shoulders with a confident expression.
They will not appear in front of Ha Jun again. No, they won’t be able to. Because he won’t just stand by and watch.
Ha Jun, who had been staggering, slumped down on the sofa.
She felt dumbfounded. The resolution of those long years was astonishingly brief.
“Was this… such an easy thing…?”
“I, my money and power made it easy, Ms. Lee Ha Jun.”
Ha Jun’s eyes burned hotly as if scalded.
Yi Hyun’s handsome face, smiling arrogantly, was deeply engraved in her heated eyes like an indelible brand.
This man really saved me, my life.
And so easily, unbelievably quickly…
When Yi Hyun readily offered to help, Ha Jun wasn’t without conflict, but she wasn’t shameless enough to accept such a huge favor.
However, regardless of her feelings, the situation had already become one where she had received help, and now Ha Jun had only one choice. To accept the expensive sympathy Yi Hyun was giving, as he wished.
And so, to be by his side.
And it seemed her heart had already been given to Yi Hyun.
Though Yi Hyun probably would never know.
“I’ll… sell the house, pay off the loan, and give you the difference.”
“Do as you like. I’m in no hurry. You can pay off the debt very slowly, so do whatever you want.”
Ha Jun’s eyes, looking solely at Yi Hyun, shook small and pitifully like a sailboat encountering light waves.
Yi Hyun was all too pleased with the slight emotional turbulence he had created, now pouring down towards him.
The man’s eyes, filled with exhilaration, gazed at Ha Jun, who was clearly in all sorts of confusion. Like a leisurely predator.
“Let’s see each other often from now on. Debtor.”
“Often?”
“Yes. I need to keep a close watch to make sure you don’t run away with my money. Like this, right up close.”
Yi Hyun’s hand cupped Ha Jun’s small cheek. Unlike his cool, relaxed voice, a warm warmth spread from his hand.
It felt as if it was gently caressing Ha Jun’s entire body.
Ha Jun lightly placed her trembling hand on top of Yi Hyun’s hand cupping her cheek.
At that small gesture of affirmation, Yi Hyun felt an unbearable thirst for a moment.
It was a strange thing.
Even as he was amazed at his own endlessly blooming greed, he loved this moment so much it made him shudder.
For him, who had never been so madly infatuated with a woman even during puberty, this was a situation he was experiencing for the first time in his life.
Chuckling involuntarily, he gently embraced Ha Jun in his arms.
What did it matter? Now that he had her in his grasp.
“Ah,”
A small exclamation escaped Ha Jun’s lips as her face hit his firm chest. The sound of the man’s heart pounding hotly deafened her ears. Yi Hyun’s warm embrace felt tearfully grateful and good.
It feels like I’m dreaming. What if all this disappears when I wake up?
Just as anxiety began to raise its head, a large hand grabbed Ha Jun’s chin and lifted it up. And at the same time, jet-black burning eyes and a sharp nose bridge swooped close to her face.
Though it wasn’t the first time she felt the warm temperature of the man called Kim Yi Hyun, the overwhelming wave of new emotion swept Ha Jun up completely.
[This is the timeline separator]After that, Ha Jun’s days continued in an unbelievably peaceful routine.
During the day, she worked with good colleagues and a great boss, and at night after work, she waited for Yi Hyun at the officetel.
Yi Hyun, who had given the officetel to Ha Jun, didn’t live there with her but instead lived in his own home, but he visited her almost every night, spending time together under the pretext of monitoring his debtor.
“Ha Jun! Shall we go out for lunch today? How about pasta? I found a delicious Anstar place~ They say it’s spicy pasta!”
As always, Ha Jun gently curved her lips and nodded at Yeon A’s fresh and energetic words.
“Pasta sounds good.”
“But Ha Jun, have you had something good happen lately?”
“Me? Nothing special…”
“Hmm, but… somehow you seem brighter and more radiant, and you were pretty to begin with, but you seem even prettier now…”
At Yeon A’s words, Ha Jun unconsciously glanced at the desk mirror on her desk. The same expressionless face blinked back with lightly made-up eyes.
I think I look the same…
“Could it be~ you got a boyfriend? Or someone you’re interested in?”
Eyes full of pink expectations turned towards Ha Jun.
Ha Jun shook her head, avoiding Yeon A’s uncomfortably sparkling eyes.
“No. Nothing like that…”
Just, someone I spend nights with.
A relationship I can’t tell anyone about.
“They say women become prettier when they’re in love. I thought that’s why Ha Jun got prettier, but I guess not. Ah~ I’m jealous! Automatic beauty upgrade! Isn’t this too unfair?”
Ha Jun smiled slightly at Yeon A’s playful tone.
Love… Even if it’s a one-sided, insufficient love, love shows, huh.
As Yi Hyun’s face came to mind, Ha Jun’s smile deepened a bit more.
Seeing the clearly more distinct smile than before, Yeon A smiled contentedly.
Just wait. I’ll make you laugh hysterically in a year.
Yeon A diligently harbored an ambitious aspiration that Ha Jun couldn’t even dream of.
[This is the timeline separator]Today, as always, Ha Jun ate dinner alone after work and waited for him.
Around 9 PM, later than usual, the sound of the door lock being released was heard. At the familiar mechanical sound, Ha Jun, sitting on the sofa, turned her gaze towards the entrance, and Yi Hyun, looking especially haggard today, took off his shoes and strode over.
He immediately sat down next to Ha Jun and buried his face in her shoulder.
“Stay like this for a moment. I had a really tough day today.”
As a faint sigh settled on her shoulder, the fresh forest-like woody scent emanating from Yi Hyun invaded Ha Jun’s nostrils.
Ha Jun liked this scent from the beginning. It was like a scent with magic that calmed the heart…
Sometimes there were men who wore similar perfumes, but unlike them, this scent was mixed with Yi Hyun’s unique body odor, making her heart flutter for no reason.
Ha Jun gently patted Yi Hyun’s broad back as he leaned on her, almost embracing her. Yi Hyun chuckled softly, seemingly quite pleased with that warm touch.
“Ha… Now I feel like I can live. I wanted to rest so badly.”
“Do you want to take a bath? Shall I run the water?”
“Let’s just stay like this for 5 minutes.”
Yi Hyun lay down on the sofa, still holding Ha Jun tightly. Then he wedged her between his body like a body pillow, binding her firmly.
As the small, soft body fit perfectly into his arms without an inch of gap, a satisfied smile appeared on Yi Hyun’s lips.
“Today, Lee Ha Jun’s role is my body pillow.”
Ha Jun, with her face buried in Yi Hyun’s chest, nodded slightly.
“Don’t move. I said you’re a body pillow. If you keep stimulating me, your purpose might change to something else.”
Feeling Ha Jun’s body stiffen at those words, Yi Hyun chuckled and rested his chin on the crown of her head.
“How can you be so soft and warm and fit so perfectly like a puzzle piece?”
__________
“Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”