An awkward atmosphere lingered. Amidst this, Jin Woo, with a serious expression as if heading into battle, picked up his spoon.
“I’ll enjoy the meal, Mother.”
“Oh no, don’t eat all that. You might get sick.”
Ji Na exclaimed in alarm, trying to stop Jin Woo.
“Really, let the man eat if he wants to!”
Ji Na’s mother glared at Ji Na, stopping her in her tracks.
“Ah, no. This is too much for anyone.”
Ji Na shook her head in disbelief.
“He says he’ll eat it, our son-in-law.”
“Just eat half. No, even that’s too much. Just a quarter.”
A small commotion ensued between mother and daughter, filling the house with noise from early morning. Meanwhile, Ji Na’s father, lamenting his smaller portion, began to transfer some rice from Jin Woo’s bowl, attracting sharp attention.
“Why are you taking away his food! He’s already so thin, it breaks my heart!”
“I thought he might leave some.”
“Dad, good job. Really good. This is inedible.”
Jin Woo burst into laughter amidst the family’s antics. Their overflowing love filled him with warmth.
“Next time, I’ll eat two bowls, Mother.”
Standing at the gate, ready to leave for Seoul, Jin Woo politely bid farewell. Ji Na’s mother looked at him with lingering affection.
“Yes, do come again.”
In a display of abundant love, the car’s trunk was packed with food prepared by Ji Na’s mother.
“Mom, when will we finish all this?”
“Oh dear, don’t eat out, eat at home. Home cooking is the best.”
“Got it. I’ll call you from Seoul.”
“Okay.”
With a sense of longing, Jin Woo and Ji Na got into the car, waving goodbye to her parents till the last moment. As the car started, Jin Woo gently took Ji Na’s hand with his free one.
“Your family is wonderful.”
“Yes. But those gifts were too much.”
“Compared to my feelings, they were insufficient.”
“Enough to eat a mountain of rice.”
Ji Na playfully opened her mouth wide, making Jin Woo laugh softly.
“Let’s visit your parents next weekend.”
Ji Na suggested, noticing Jin Woo momentarily fall silent.
“Um… Yeah.”
Ji Na observed his slightly stiff expression.
“Is it a problem?”
“No.”
Responding to Ji Na’s question, Jin Woo quickly smiled.
“It’s just that my family’s atmosphere is a bit different from yours.”
“Eh, every home is different.”
“I’m just worried you might run away in shock.”
His voice darkened slightly, more than a jest. Ji Na forced a laugh.
“I’ll brace myself.”
“Thank you.”
Jin Woo’s grip on her hand tightened, as if fearing she might truly flee.
“Should we stop by the sea?”
They had left early in the morning on purpose. Ji Na brightly agreed to Jin Woo’s suggestion.
“Sure.”
Soon, a winding road revealed the blue sea. The sight of the ocean, looking like diluted paint, was mesmerizing. Sunlight glittered ceaselessly on the water’s surface.
“It’s so beautiful!”
The sight of the open sea seemed to brighten her eyes.
Jin Woo and Ji Na parked their car at an unnamed beach and walked hand in hand along the hot white sands. Despite being the tail end of the holiday season, there were still many families enjoying the seaside.
They veered away from the crowded areas, seeking a quieter spot. The sun-heated sand prickled their feet, but the continuously crashing waves soon cooled them with refreshing splashes.
“It’s so nice.”
Ji Na smiled, gazing towards the endless horizon of the sea, with Jin Woo smiling beside her.
“Are we doing this right?”
At the end of her laughter, Ji Na asked, and Jin Woo turned his head to look at her.
“Yes.”
“Our time apart too…?”
Ji Na asked again, a hint of insecurity in her voice. Instead of answering, Jin Woo simply embraced her quietly.
“Do you want to come to America with me?”
“…”
Was it because of her mother’s words? Ji Na couldn’t readily accept or reject the offer.
“I don’t want to make you feel uneasy.”
Jin Woo whispered in her ear.
Time seemed to stand still, with the beach’s unique scent carried by the gentle breeze. Jin Woo’s sweet scent was still discernible amidst it all.
Perhaps that was what sparked her courage.
“I… I want to grow as much as you do while you’re away.”
She had lived for others till now.
Fooled by Kim Do Jin’s sweet lies, she spent countless nights working overtime and dedicating herself to company work. She never had the chance to explore what she truly wanted to do.
“I want to be someone worthy to stand by your side.”
Ji Na spoke with determination in her eyes, and Jin Woo, looking down at her, finally spoke.
“I feel like I’ve said this many times before…”
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!!!
