While Tae Jo was on the phone, Se Kyung sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. In just a few hours, the number of articles with initials had multiplied like cell division.
Trickily placed in sections other than entertainment, some articles even mentioned Se Kyung and Ji Eun Jae’s names in the comments.
Most readers sympathized with Ji Eun Jae and portrayed Se Kyung as selfish. A post from someone claiming to be staff added to the fire.
Se Kyung’s agency had released a statement, but it didn’t gain much traction, and Ji Eun Jae’s agency hadn’t responded.
‘Ah…’
Se Kyung inwardly groaned and bit her lip. Was it stress causing a needle-like pain in her belly?
She curled up slightly, gently rubbing her abdomen as if comforting her unborn child.
‘Hoo, it’s okay. Little one, mommy’s alright…’
Could her negative feelings be affecting the baby?
Se Kyung closed her eyes, trying to relax.
Just as the pain began to subside, Tae Jo covered her eyes and took her phone.
“Stop looking at that.”
Tae Jo closed the portal app and sat beside Se Kyung. As he removed his hand, Se Kyung looked up at him with a gloomy face.
“You’ve been looking at this all the way here, haven’t you?”
Se Kyung quietly nodded. She had read everything – Ji Eun Jae’s YouTube video, the comments, and the articles during the drive.
Although the agency had acted quickly, their official statement had little effect.
“Just wait a bit. Director Song is talking with the variety show PD now.”
“Will they really help? The staff member who commented worked there temporarily and isn’t there anymore. They might not want to get involved.”
“But the junior writer from that show is on your side, right? They said they might write something anonymously to help.”
“Really?”
Her question was met with a nod from Tae Jo. Se Kyung sighed and leaned her face against his chest.
“I hope it helps. What about the drama side? Has PD Cha contacted you?”
“He did. He’s relieved your pregnancy hasn’t been revealed, but he’s frustrated with this new issue.”
Se Kyung frowned, feeling overwhelmed, and Tae Jo gently pressed her forehead.
“The reporters called, and the drama team responded that nothing of this sort happened on their set. They even joked that it’s unexpected publicity for the drama.”
“That’s just to make me feel better.”
Se Kyung pouted, clutching Tae Jo’s clothes. He playfully tapped her nose.
“Let’s think positively, as PD Cha said. Maybe it’s unexpected noise marketing?”
“…”
“Watching videos and searching articles won’t solve anything. We’re handling it, so you just relax. Stressing out will only worry the baby.”
“You always tease me for being tiny…”
Se Kyung chuckled and buried her face in Tae Jo’s chest.
His heartbeat and fresh scent comforted her. She breathed out slowly, calming her nerves.
Then, her phone on the table vibrated. Tae Jo checked the caller ID and showed her the screen.
“It’s Yuna.”
Se Kyung immediately pressed the call button, moving away from Tae Jo’s embrace.
“Hello, Yuna…”
After moving away from Tae Jo’s embrace, Se Kyung quickly pressed the call button.
“Hey, Yuna…”
“What’s going on?” Yuna’s voice, a mix of shock and anger, came through as soon as the call connected. Se Kyung glanced at Tae Jo and tilted her mouth slightly.
“Did you… see it?”
“Ji Eun Jae’s video? Of course, I saw it! I’ve just got around to watching it after my shoot. It’s unbelievable and nonsensical.”
Yuna sounded like a furious bull.
“Suddenly, my DMs exploded with messages, and I thought my information had been leaked again. But this? What’s all this about?”
“I know, it’s quite sudden for me too…”
“Is that staff talking about the day you filmed with Ji Eun Jae? The day I gave you the wedding invitation!”
Yuna’s voice boomed, loud enough for Tae Jo to hear.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Wow, that’s insane. I was speechless watching that video. How could she ask me to appear on her YouTube channel after posting that? Where’s her conscience? Did she launch it into space with our country’s rocket? And what about that staff?”
“They were a temp worker. It seems like they misunderstood after seeing Ji Eun Jae leave in tears after talking to me.”
“There’s always someone like that. Jumping to conclusions without understanding the situation. Your drama is about to air, and Ji Eun Jae creates this drama as a precaution, it seems. She’s bold. She’s not the only member in the group. How could she fabricate such easily debunked lies?”
“Everyone probably thought no one would step forward.”
“The others might not, since they’ve stopped their entertainment activities. But me? Did they think I would also keep silent?”
“Maybe they did.”
Yuna was at the peak of her broadcasting career.
She would naturally avoid getting involved in controversies, especially without an agency to back her up.
“They thought I was disloyal, huh. You should have contacted me right away when this happened!”
“Sorry, I was too overwhelmed.”
Chastised, Se Kyung apologized to Yuna.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
