As the end of her shift approached, Ji An was tidying up her desk when she saw Ha Joon enter the library.
Ji An’s lips curled involuntarily as she saw Ha Joon stopping in front of her desk.
She had worried whether their close relationship had been disrupted because of her.
Yet, Ha Joon was smiling as if they had seen each other just yesterday, which warmed her heart.
‘Could Ha Joon be worried about our relationship like I am? No, that can’t be. Yoon Ha Joon is rational and level-headed, so it must just be me.’
Caught in a strange mood for a moment, Ji An soon greeted Ha Joon with a welcoming smile.
“Did you come? You should’ve called me from the car. I could have gone out to you.”
Mikyung, surprised by Ha Joon’s appearance, half-hid behind Ji An and whispered.
“Sister, who is that?”
“A friend.”
“A friend? Daebak.”
Ha Joon, dressed in a white shirt covered by a blue knit sweater, attracted people’s attention. Unconcerned about the looks from those around him, he sweetly extended the shopping bag towards her.
Ji An took the mint-colored shopping bag suspiciously and, after checking the colorful macarons in a transparent container, narrowed her eyes.
“Is this a bribe?”
“What would I have to do to look good for you that I’d need to bribe you? It’s a gift.”
“That’s not like you. Yoon Lawyer always expects something in return. Don’t tell me you’re sick?”
As Ji An went on tiptoes and stretched out her arms, Ha Joon bent down to let her touch his forehead, knowing what she was about to do and slightly lifting one corner of his mouth.
After feeling his forehead for temperature, Ji An commented.
“There’s no fever. But why the sudden gesture?”
“After all the snacks I’ve brought you over time. It’d hurt to hear such things… You’re getting ready to leave, right? I’ll wait while looking around the library. Take your time.”
“Alright.”
Ha Joon nodded instead of replying and walked towards the bookshelves.
As he perused the library, meaningful because it was Ji An’s workplace, the onlookers’ gazes followed him.
His elegant stride with his outstanding looks resembled a stately swan.
The afternoon sun, which had flooded in through the large windows, had since disappeared, and evening had settled outside the building.
In front of the event bookshelf, Ha Joon’s steps gradually came to a halt. His eyes lit up with intensity as he looked at the bookshelf.
Ha Joon knew better than anyone the significance of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ to Ji An.
It was a special book for her, to the extent that she had even visited the Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark.
He slowly read the excerpt of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ printed on a banner on one side of the shelf.
The moment from Ji An’s favorite part, when snow falls and the ugly duckling realizes it is a swan, was translated into multiple languages.
The event bookshelf and ‘The Ugly Duckling’ in the library where Kim Ji An worked.
It seemed too perfectly timed to be mere coincidence, making his heart feel like a misaligned cog, his mind reeling.
“This isn’t right.”
A sorrowful chuckle leaked out amidst Ha Joon’s low murmur. It was a laugh that came with the realization that CEO Woo Dan Woo had something to do with the event bookshelf.
The conclusion he reached, after blaming himself for the irreversible moment when he called her a ‘courtesan,’ was one.
To acknowledge the presence of Woo Dan Woo and to remain by Ji An’s side as an old friend.
Despite his resolve not to be cowardly.
The moments he thought would be sufficient with Kim Ji An now seemed pale, and Ha Joon felt miserable again.
He composed himself as he stepped out of the library, continuously smoothing his distorted expression with his hands.
Ji An, standing in the central lobby, spotted Ha Joon and approached him with a bright smile.
“Yoon Lawyer, what are you doing here? We should get going soon.”
He managed a smile as he replied.
“Did you arrive? The car is in the basement.”
“But where are we going?”
“If we agreed to eat, then we should go for a meal, right?”
Ji An adjusted the straps of her bag on her shoulders, spun half around, and looked up at Ha Joon.
Ha Joon wrapped his arms around her to steady her body as she nearly bumped into a pillar, looking intently into her curious eyes.
How could he live without seeing these eyes. What about the words that would come out of that mouth.
Woo Dan Woo, he could just be a passing presence. At least, Ha Joon hoped so.
It was at that moment.
Dan Woo and Tae Yoon stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the central lobby. Their steps slowed down as they spotted Ha Joon, and then they came to a stop.
Ji An’s back was turned, but Ha Joon couldn’t help but see Dan Woo.
As their gazes collided in the air, the surroundings went quiet, and a flash of sharpness appeared in Ha Joon’s eyes.
Ji An, feeling the strength in Ha Joon’s hand that held her, winced in pain.
“It hurts. Why are you grabbing so tightly?”
“Ah! Sorry.”
Ha Joon’s gaze was intense, and when Ji An turned her head, she saw Dan Woo. She smiled brightly, gesturing towards Ha Joon and waving her hand.
Only then did Dan Woo relax his tense eyes and smiled back at Ji An.
‘Have a nice dinner. Call me.’
Dan Woo silently mouthed the words, and Ji An nodded with a smile.
Dan Woo had been on his way down to the lobby recalling Ji An’s words about having a meeting with Ha Joon.
He had been taken aback, having urged Tae Yoon because he didn’t expect to see Ha Joon when he just wanted to see Ji An at the library. Now, he felt uneasy despite not wanting to show it, but he turned away without expression and headed towards the restaurant area.
Ha Joon watched Dan Woo’s back as he walked away with ease after exchanging greetings with Ji An.
Ji An started talking about Dan Woo as they moved.
“Dan Woo seems to be going to have dinner. I told him I was meeting you tonight. He didn’t come down just to see you, did he?”
“Of course not.”
He couldn’t help but swallow a bitter laugh and added,
“……Do you really talk like that?”
“Yeah. Dan Woo often asks me what I’ve been up to all day before I even say anything.”
“You, chirping away excitedly?”
Ha Joon pressed the elevator button while watching Ji An nod her head.
As he grappled with his own tumultuous feelings, the relationship between the two seemed to have grown significantly closer.
He swallowed his bitter feelings and looked back to where Dan Woo had disappeared.
Ji An followed Ha Joon’s gaze, tiptoeing as she recounted the day’s events.
“There was a totally crazy incident today. …A little customer lost their mom, and there was quite an uproar.”
Knowing that Ji An must have been very busy amidst the chaos, Ha Joon soon focused on her words. As he watched and listened to her, Dan Woo’s presence quickly faded away.
“So did the little customer find their mom?”
“They did. Guess what, the mom had fainted in the bathroom. The kid was crying in shock, I was in such a hurry, trying to call security and get an ambulance that my hands were shaking, but I managed to calm down.”
As Ha Joon got busier, Ji An mainly talked about books, dramas, and movies—things she did alone rather than with someone else.
But over the past few weeks, the subject of Ji An’s stories had shifted. Ha Joon found this change in Ji An quite pleasing.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
