Ji An’s voice trembled slightly.
“Is it, is it alive? Surely not?”
“Of course, it’s alive. I heard octopus ramen is famous, so I thought I’d give it a try. What do you think?”
“Surely … you’re planning to put it in that water?”
Dan Woo waved his hand as if to confirm her suspicion. At that moment, the octopus slipped from his hand and thudded onto the floor.
The octopus didn’t miss a beat and used its suckers to move towards Ji An’s feet. Then, its wet legs writhed and climbed onto her foot.
Ji An swiftly pulled her foot back and crossed her arms over her goosebumped arms, shivering.
Her anxious voice quivered.
“What should we do?”
Dan Woo looked at Ji An carefully.
You were okay with the hairtail but scared of the octopus?
As he pushed his naturally flowing hair back, he murmured.
“I thought hairtail and octopus would be similar.”
“But that one was already processed.”
“Is that so?”
The lid of the pot began to rattle as if the water was starting to boil.
Dan Woo’s gaze went to the octopus crawling on the floor. It was the moment he started moving to catch the octopus.
Ji An hastily called out to Dan Woo.
“Um, Dan Woo!”
“Yes.”
“The ramen is delicious.”
Dan Woo looked back and forth between the octopus and Ji An, pondering her words.
Looking up at him, Ji An added her next words.
“The ramen is still delicious even without the octopus. Isn’t it?”
“It certainly is.”
On the induction stove, a pot was boiling with radish, onions, and bay leaves floating on the water. It was the perfect timing to add the octopus.
Ji An’s two hands tightly grasped Dan Woo’s arm.
“Um! Could you, by any chance, spare the octopus? In exchange, I’ll cook you a more delicious ramen.”
“Really?”
You want to save it? Dan Woo asked with his eyes without finishing his sentence.
“Yes. I’ll definitely cook for you.”
In response to his question about whether she really wanted to save it, she responded that she would definitely cook.
Ji An added, pointing out the window.
“There’s an ocean beyond the tangerine field.”
The octopus was demonstrating its will to live, using its tentacles and suckers to advance towards the sea.
Leaning slightly on the sink, Dan Woo asked seriously.
“Do you really want to go that far?”
“Yes.”
Driven by her emotions, Ji An, her voice choked up, nodded her head fiercely.
Dan Woo silently looked down at Ji An.
Her expectant face, her lips pulled tight, met his gaze and he ended up laughing, defenseless.
What’s the deal with the burst of laughter?
When he turned his head, he saw the octopus clinging to the window.
Such a strong will to live.
“You’re a lucky guy. And what determination.”
Pointing at the octopus stuck on the window, he added.
“Ji An, you stay at home. I’ll go save it.”
“No, let’s go together.”
“It might be dangerous because of the weather.”
“But it doesn’t make sense for you to go alone when I suggested it. Isn’t it?”
Dan Woo looked at Ji An, who insisted on following him, and snapped his fingers.
Why go to such lengths? You could just toss it in the outhouse.
He couldn’t help but nod his head.
When the pouring snow showed a brief lull, Ji An and Dan Woo left the house side by side.
As they stepped into the yard, the white snow crunched under their feet, imprinting their footsteps.
“Your foot is much bigger than mine.”
Dan Woo readily acknowledged her words.
Looking at their side by side footprints, his foot was indeed much larger.
The image of Ji An walking around the yard oddly convinced him of the crunching sound.
Crunch. Crunch.
Dan Woo and Ji An headed for the path that led to the beach and was connected to the tangerine field, listening to the sound of their footsteps imprinted on the snow.
Having stepped out of the side path, she increased her stride and ran towards the sea.
Dan Woo watched Ji An as she gradually moved away.
His heart, which had merely been itching, pounded heavily. He let out a long breath to slow down the pumping of his heart.
He was synchronizing with such behavior.
What was he trying to do?
Walking on the snowcovered sandy beach, Dan Woo’s gaze was fixed on Ji An.
“Mr. Dan Woo! How about here?”
Dan Woo’s gaze shifted to the small hand pointing at the sea. He muttered in sync with the strange speed of his heartbeat.
“Seriously. Why is my heart doing this?”
Dan Woo, who had increased his stride, came close to the sea. He stretched out his arms and pushed Ji An back.
“Step back. It’s dangerous.”
“Please.”
Why! It’s you who are asking for the safety of the octopus!
A short sigh slipped through Dan Woo’s lips.
In the meantime, the octopus thrown into the sea seemed to pop its round head up, but was soon swept away by the waves.
“Thank you.”
Dan Woo straightened his tall body and looked down at Ji An.
It was a moment when he was pushing her back against the incoming waves and stepping back himself.
However, as the snow started to fall again, he swallowed what he was going to say and replaced it with another reply.
“Look forward to a ramen more delicious than octopus ramen.”
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
