“I can’t do much about the staff issue, but I’ll clarify our part on SNS. You were the one who worked the hardest when we were active. How could they spin it to look like there was discord among the members?”
“I’d be grateful if you did.”
“Grateful? I’m not sure how much impact my words will have. Anyway, I’ll write a draft for the SNS post and send it to you. Check if there’s anything to add or remove. Does your agency have anything to add?”
“Let me check…”
Se Kyung looked at Tae Jo, who signaled for her phone.
“The phone?”
“Yes.”
Se Kyung, after a brief glance at her phone, spoke to Yuna.
“Yuna, I’m going to hand you over to our CEO.”
“Eh? The CEO? Why would I talk to your CEO?”
Confused, Yuna’s voice trailed off as Se Kyung handed the phone to Tae Jo.
“Yuna?”
“Yes? Hello.”
As the call shifted to a new person, Yuna sounded nervous.
“Hello, I’m Jin Tae Jo, Se Kyung’s CEO.”
“Oh, yes. What can I do for you?”
“I happened to overhear your conversation about posting a clarification on SNS.”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
Yuna asked cautiously.
“No, there’s no problem.”
Tae Jo looked at Se Kyung, whose eyes were filled with curiosity, and continued.
“If it’s okay with you, could you help us out a bit more?”
Tae Jo gazed at Se Kyung, his look conveying a mix of curiosity and determination. He continued speaking, holding her gaze.
“Would it be okay if you could help us out a bit more?”
“Se Kyung!”
Yuna, fresh out of the elevator, waved at Se Kyung enthusiastically.
She had hurried to Se Kyung’s agency right after wrapping up her shoot, following Tae Jo’s request for more help.
“Sorry for making you come all this way.”
“It’s fine. But, um…”
As Se Kyung greeted Yuna, Yuna looked around curiously. Responding to Se Kyung’s query about her search, Yuna asked in a lowered voice, “Where is the CEO I talked to earlier?”
“Our CEO is…”
Just as Se Kyung began to speak, Tae Jo, along with Manager Song, emerged from the meeting room. Spotting Yuna next to Se Kyung, he approached them.
“Hello, Ms. Yuna. I’m Jin Tae Jo, the CEO you spoke with earlier.”
“Oh, hi.”
Yuna promptly grasped Tae Jo’s outstretched hand for a handshake, then turned to Se Kyung with a silent expression of awe.
“Why?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s just…”
Tae Jo asked, and Yuna looked a bit awkward. She felt embarrassed to admit she was surprised by the good looks of the CEO at her friend’s agency.
“He’s quite handsome. Anyway, what would you like me to do?”
Quickly changing the subject due to her earlier remark, Yuna awaited instructions. Tae Jo, with a smile, began to speak.
“We’d like to request just one interview from you. In about 10 minutes, a reporter will be arriving. They’re interested in interviewing you about the recent events.”
“Sure, that doesn’t sound too difficult.”
“That reporter has also reviewed the post on your SNS and intends to feature it in their article. They’ve sent ahead some questions, which Manager Song here will brief you on.”
Turning her head, Yuna was greeted by a friendly smile from Manager Song.
“Hello, I’m Song Ji Hwa.”
“I’m Yuna. May I see the interview sheet, please?”
“Of course. Let’s head to the meeting room.”
“Okay. See you in a bit, Se Kyung.”
After waving at Se Kyung, Yuna followed Manager Song into the meeting room. At that moment, Manager Shin, who was in the office, hurried over with a tablet.
“Sis, take a look at this!”
“What’s it?”
Despite Manager Shin’s upbeat expression, Se Kyung hesitated to take the tablet from Je Hoon. Tae Jo then took the tablet and looked at the screen.
“Is this Shin Ki Jeong’s SNS?”
“Yes. She’s been with you all day and wrote this.”
Upon hearing Ki Jeong’s name, Se Kyung looked at Tae Jo. He handed her the tablet, indicating she should read it herself.
She read the content on Ki Jeong’s SNS:
“Don’t speak recklessly without knowing the whole story.
Why do people say Se Kyung has a bad personality? Should she be responsible for everyone’s happiness?
Adults shouldn’t act like this. Everyone should fend for themselves. Complaining about not being catered to is ridiculous.
And those who think Se Kyung ignored someone, it’s actually the opposite. It was that person who turned away as soon as the camera stopped, not Se Kyung.”
A surge of emotion welled up inside her.
Se Kyung clutched the tablet tightly, burying her face in it, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. The thought that someone believed in her and defended her in the face of misunderstandings was incredibly empowering.
Tears seemed imminent. The idea that someone believed in her and stood up for her amidst all the misunderstandings was incredibly empowering.
“Je Hoon, please inform Manager Song about this. Ask him to reference it in the interview.”
“Okay.”
As Je Hoon nodded and hurried off to the meeting room, Tae Jo quietly approached Se Kyung’s side.
“…….”
Tears began to dampen the ground beneath Se Kyung. Tae Jo gently stroked her hair as she sobbed softly.
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
