“By the way, I heard Director Song won the first prize in the treasure hunt?”
“Oh, how did you know?”
Drinking beer, Director Song pulled out an envelope, showing off twenty crisp 50,000 won bills.
“Ta-da. I must have used all my luck for the year. Who knew I’d be this lucky?”
“Where did you find it?”
“Between split tree branches? I even climbed the tree a bit.”
She showed off the glorious scars on her palms, earned in the process.
“Such sharp eyes. How did you spot that?”
Executive Kang, overhearing the conversation, joined in with his drink.
“Speaking of which, you’re Executive Kang, right? You hid those papers.”
Kang nodded, boasting about his hiding skills. He then looked at Se Kyung.
“Congratulations on your drama’s number one ratings. Wait, where’s Se Kyung’s glass?”
His eyes settled on the two glasses in front of Tae Jo.
“You have one mouth, why two glasses?”
“Se Kyung said her stomach is a bit off.”
“So, you’re playing the knight in shining armor?”
When did he start looking after Se Kyung?
“You’re acting suspicious these days.”
“What is?”
“Unnecessarily sweet. Annoyingly so.”
Kang narrowed his eyes. Seok Ju, who had been sipping his drink, widened his eyes.
“Tae Jo sweet? What? What happened?”
“No, it’s just… he sneaks off for phone calls. I saw him taking pictures here and sending them to someone.”
“Really?”
Seok Ju looked intrigued. Kang tilted his head and asked.
“Spill it. You’ve got a girl, right?”
“…Cough.”
Se Kyung, who was drinking soda next to Tae Jo, choked. Director Song offered her a bottle of water.
“Here, Se Kyung, drink some water.”
After a bout of coughing, tears formed in Se Kyung’s eyes. She covered her mouth with a tissue from Song and looked up.
“Why is Se Kyung choking? Feeling guilty?”
“…No. Why would I feel guilty?”
Se Kyung denied it, shaking her head vehemently. Woo Hyun, who had been watching, turned back to interrogate Tae Jo.
“Come clean. You’ve got a girl, right?”
“Why are you so curious about other people’s private lives?”
Tae Jo avoided the question, telling Woo Hyun to mind his own business. Woo Hyun exchanged a look with Seok Ju and picked up a bottle of liquor.
Planning to get Tae Jo drunk to extract some information…
“Ah, damn, his tolerance…”
The problem was that Tae Jo’s tolerance surpassed theirs.
“…”
Se Kyung sipped her soda, watching the three men competing in drinking.
Time passed, and soon it was well past midnight.
Se Kyung rose from her seat, observing people gradually succumbing to drunkenness. Making brief eye contact with Tae Jo, she quietly left the room.
“I’ll just step out for a cigarette.”
Tae Jo announced he’d go for a smoke and stood up. Woo Hyun, waving his hand, collapsed onto the table.
“That tough guy. He drank double the amount and isn’t even tipsy.”
“Should we have brought whiskey? He seemed to falter a bit when drinking it straight last time.”
This conversation was happening between Woo Hyun and Seok Ju as Tae Jo stepped out.
A person stealthily approached them.
“Excuse me, Manager Kang?”
“Hmm?”
It was a male employee from the administrative team.
“I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
The employee glanced towards the door Se Kyung and Tae Jo exited through, then whispered in a hushed tone.
“I saw those two holding hands the other day.”
“…”
“Do Tae Jo and Se Kyung happen to be dating?”
The quiet garden echoed only with the sound of insects. Half the people were drunk, the other half already asleep, leaving no one wandering outside.
“It’s beautiful.”
Se Kyung, stepping out from the accommodation, admired the fully blossomed cherry trees. The path lit up at night indeed had its unique charm as Tae Jo had said.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Tae Jo’s voice followed from behind, along with his jacket placed over her shoulders.
“Just a bit chilly. How about you? You drank quite a lot.”
“I’m still alright.”
Tae Jo, holding Se Kyung’s hand, walked slowly.
Se Kyung was struck by Tae Jo’s high alcohol tolerance. From what she observed, the bottles emptied by Tae Jo, Kang, and Seok Ju were over ten.
“Aren’t you tired? There’s a villa down this path. My family occasionally stays there, and it’s fully furnished. If you’re tired, you can rest there first.”
“I’m still fine. But what did you say when you left?”
“Me? Just said I’d go for a cigarette.”
“Shouldn’t you go back soon then?”
“Let’s take it slow. Just say I went to sober up a bit. We’ve barely had time alone.”
A cool breeze rustled the leaves, creating a rustling sound.
The fragile petals, unable to withstand the wind, fluttered like snow. Se Kyung stretched her hand to catch them.
“Cherry blossoms are pretty at night too.”
“They are. I never paid much attention before.”
“Even with such a beautiful view?”
“I’ve seen it every year. Just another blooming season passing by.”
“And now?”
“It looks different depending on who’s with you. I wonder how I’ll feel about it next year.”
Se Kyung smiled at Tae Jo’s response. She, too, was curious about what the view would be like next year when they walked this path together with their baby.
“Shouldn’t we be heading back?”
Engrossed in the scenery, Se Kyung suddenly turned back. They had walked quite a distance from the accommodation building.
“Let’s return. If we’re both away too long, it might seem strange.”
Tae Jo assessed the distance they had walked and nodded. He wanted to return to the villa with Se Kyung but was mindful of Seok Ju and Woo Hyun waiting inside.
“When we go back, pack your bag and head to the villa to rest.”
“Wouldn’t it seem odd if I go there? It looks like Kang and Seok Ju might want to stay there too.”
“We can just dump those guys in any empty room here.”
As they retraced their path, they nearly reached the entrance of the cherry blossom path when Tae Jo abruptly halted.
“Why…”
Before Se Kyung could ask if they weren’t leaving, she followed Tae Jo’s gaze. Two unfamiliar shadows were cast long across the path.
“So much for ‘just a cigarette.'”
As Se Kyung was about to ask if they weren’t leaving, she followed Tae Jo’s gaze and turned her head. Two unfamiliar shadows were cast long in front of them.
“So much for ‘just a cigarette.'”
Se Kyung swallowed dryly as she recognized the person standing before them.
“What are you two doing right now?”
At the entrance of the walkway, Manager Kang stood with his arms crossed, looking at them askance.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
