The Wife Who Ran Away (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
Yeon Joo, wearing a black dress, walked into the hotel.
Passing through the spacious lobby, she arrived at the second floor and saw a Korean restaurant boasting an elegant exterior.
Today was the day the entire family had gathered to celebrate the birthday of Hong Seok, who was Jin Wook’s grandfather and the chairman of LM Group.
Just as Yeon Joo was about to enter the restaurant, she spotted Ae Ran stepping out of the elevator. She bowed her head and greeted her.
“You’re here, Mother.”
Ae Ran wore large pearl earrings, a luxury jacket, and a dress. A flashy designer handbag sparkled on her wrist.
Approaching the entrance, Ae Ran looked Yeon Joo up and down and said with a disapproving gaze,
“What on earth are you wearing? With so many eyes watching, couldn’t you have made a little more effort?”
Apparently, she wasn’t satisfied with Yeon Joo’s simple dress. Or perhaps, no matter what Yeon Joo had worn, the result would have been the same.
“Sigh… honestly, do I really have to teach you everything from A to Z?”
She let out an audible, exasperated sigh. Instinctively, Yeon Joo’s shoulders hunched.
“I’m sorry.”
Truthfully, she didn’t even understand what she was apologizing for. Every time she stood before Ae Ran, Yeon Joo felt like a criminal.
“Where’s Jin Wook?”
“He’s on his way from a business trip, but said he’d be a bit late.”
“He shouldn’t have scheduled a trip on a day like this. Let’s go in ourselves.”
Yeon Joo followed Ae Ran into the Korean restaurant. Staff members greeted them respectfully and led them to their seats.
Inside the private room they were shown to, a long table stood against a wide glass wall. At the center of the table sat Hong Seok, surrounded by family and relatives.
Seeing Ae Ran and Yeon Joo enter, Hong Seok welcomed them with a kind smile.
“So Jin Wook’s mother has arrived.”
“Hello, Father.”
“It’s been a while since I last saw you, Yeon Joo.”
“Hello, Chairman. Happy birthday.”
Yeon Joo handed him the bouquet she’d prepared.
Hong Seok was tall and broad-shouldered for his age. His sharp features conveyed strength, while the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled gave him a gentle aura.
Looking at the bouquet, Hong Seok chuckled warmly.
“Thank you. At my age, I should be leaving this world soon—silly of me to linger.”
“No, please don’t say that.”
“No, really. At this age, all I do is cause trouble for those around me.”
He continued, gazing directly at Yeon Joo.
“The only reason I’ve held on this long, putting so many people through hardship, is because I want to see my great-grandchild’s face before I go.”
“…”
“I thought I’d see that face by this spring at the latest… When will that day finally come?”
A sound of disappointment escaped as he clicked his tongue. Yeon Joo kept her head bowed, unable to lift her face. She could feel the relatives’ cold stares piercing into her.
“…I’m truly sorry.”
Her breath grew short, her chest tight—it felt like she was choking, even though she hadn’t eaten a bite.
Yeon Joo dragged her heavy steps to the table and sat down. Across from her sat In Hyuk and Chae Rin.
“Hello, Uncle.”
Yeon Joo greeted In Hyuk first. He merely gave a brief nod upon seeing her, then turned his gaze away.
In Hyuk was Jin Wook’s older half-brother, and their relationship had never been particularly warm. After their mother passed away when he was young, Ae Ran became his stepmother—but she never showed him any affection.
Moreover, as Jin Wook—Ae Ran’s biological son—grew up smart and capable, the family’s attention naturally shifted toward him. In Hyuk gradually grew distant from Ae Ran and Jin Wook, viewing them with wariness.
Yeon Joo then turned her attention toward Chae Rin.
“Hello, sister-in-law.”
Chae Rin, sitting upright with a haughty expression, replied coolly,
“It’s been a while, sister-in-law.”
Chae Rin, In Hyuk’s wife, was adorned with glamorous accessories and wore a refined outfit.
Her wavy hair cascaded past her waist, and though petite, her figure had ample curves. Her upturned eyes and sharp jawline lent her a somewhat piercing demeanor.
She gave Yeon Joo’s face a quick once-over and said,
“You must not be feeling well lately? Your skin looks so dull.”
“…”
“When a woman’s skin goes bad, she loses all charm. Shall I recommend you the place I go to?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
Yeon Joo gave a curt reply and lifted her water glass to her lips, clearly signaling she didn’t wish to continue the conversation.
Among those gathered, some were genuinely friendly toward Jin Wook—but others watched him like hawks, waiting for any chance to pull him down.
They eyed each other with suspicion and guardedness, yet would instantly switch to fake, polite smiles as if nothing had happened.
Amid this tense atmosphere, the meal began.
As they ate and made small talk, Hong Seok turned his attention to Chae Rin.
“Ah, by the way, Chae Rin. I saw the news—Shinseong Foods’ overseas brand is reportedly doing very well.”
A smile lingered on his lips as he continued,
“Specifically, their dumplings are ranked number one in market share in the U.S. Truly impressive. I’d like to try them sometime.”
“We secured strong production and distribution networks early on through aggressive investment, which led to good results. If there’s anything else you’d like to try besides the dumplings, just let me know—I’ll bring it to you anytime.”
Chae Rin gave a crisp reply and offered a bright smile. Satisfaction spread across Hong Seok’s face.
Chae Rin was the eldest daughter of the chairman of Shinseong Foods, a food manufacturing and distribution company.
Having built a solid foundation in the food industry, Shinseong Foods had recently launched a global Korean cuisine brand and was achieving remarkable success.
“Our In Hyuk certainly has good fortune in marriage. Haha.”
Someone laughed, and Chae Rin’s shoulders lifted slightly in pride.
In stark contrast, Yeon Joo silently stared at the table. While Chae Rin’s family was rapidly rising to dazzling heights, Yeon Joo’s own family was struggling with difficulties in running their business.
Compared to Chae Rin—who came from a prestigious family, had an elite education, and possessed stunning beauty—Yeon Joo had nothing worth boasting about.
She sat there listlessly, only wishing for time to pass quickly. No one spoke to her; no one showed her any interest.
She felt like someone who didn’t belong here—the most useless person in the room.
At that moment, Chae Rin addressed her directly.
“I suppose Jin Wook is busy again.”
Yeon Joo replied,
“Yes, it seems he’s been swamped with work lately.”
“So you come alone to every gathering, then.”
Chae Rin feigned concern, giving her a pitying look.
“No matter how busy Jin Wook is, it doesn’t look good when you’re always the only one showing up. Especially at couple gatherings—shouldn’t you attend together?”
“…”
“People might start thinking there’s some issue between you two.”
Her last remark was spoken with unusual clarity, loud enough for even Hong Seok—who sat some distance away—to hear. Upon hearing it, Hong Seok furrowed his brow and looked between the two women.
Noticing Hong Seok’s attention, Chae Rin leaned slightly forward. Watching Yeon Joo discreetly, she began,
“Actually…”
Their eyes met, and something about Chae Rin’s gaze felt suspicious. She slightly lifted one corner of her mouth, then let it fall again as she continued,
“I heard a certain rumor about Jin Wook…”
Chae Rin lowered her brown eyebrows, putting on a look of deep deliberation.
“It’s such an out-of-the-blue rumor… I’m not sure if I should even mention it.”
Just as Yeon Joo couldn’t guess what she was about to say, a blunt voice rang out from behind her.
“If it’s something you’re hesitating to say, then you shouldn’t say it at all.”
Yeon Joo turned her head, and Chae Rin, startled, looked past Yeon Joo.
Standing where their gazes converged was Jin Wook, who had evidently just arrived. He fixed Chae Rin with a cold stare and added,
“Especially not in the absence of the person involved.”
Flushed, Chae Rin lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
Jin Wook bowed respectfully to Hong Seok and the family, then took the seat next to Yeon Joo.
Hong Seok spoke to him,
“So you’ve returned from your trip.”
“Yes. I was in Dukovany, Czech Republic, regarding a contract for refinery maintenance work.”
“I see. Was the deal successfully concluded?”
“We secured and signed the contract for an emergency maintenance project commissioned by Skoda Oil & Petrochemical, a subsidiary of the Czech national oil company. The total project value is approximately $290 million, and construction is scheduled from January to June next year. I’ll brief everyone in detail in the meeting room tomorrow.”
Hong Seok smiled contentedly at Jin Wook’s report.
“Your successful execution of the previous project in the Czech Republic must have positively influenced this contract. Good job.”
“I only did what was expected of me.”
Watching her dependable son, Ae Ran smiled warmly—while In Hyuk’s expression darkened. Seeing his younger brother excel in every aspect stirred feelings of self-loathing and jealousy within him.
Hong Seok grew momentarily thoughtful, his smile fading. With sudden seriousness, he said,
“Jin Wook, I know you’re busy, but you must never neglect your family for work.”
“…”
“A harmonious household ensures success outside, and deep affection between husband and wife leads to children quickly.”
Apparently, Chae Rin’s earlier comment had unsettled him. Understanding his meaning, Jin Wook spoke confidently,
“If you’re worried about our marital harmony, there’s no need.”
Jin Wook’s hand rested gently on Yeon Joo’s shoulder. She looked at him with slightly widened eyes, and he continued with a faint smile,
“Our relationship as husband and wife is so strong that you truly have nothing to worry about.”
Inwardly, Yeon Joo gave a bitter smile.
A couple who exchanged no more than five minutes of conversation all week—harmonious?
She could only marvel at Jin Wook’s ability to lie so effortlessly, without even blinking.
Jin Wook maintained his confident composure as he addressed Hong Seok,
“We’ll bring you good news soon, so please be patient and wait a little longer.”
At last reassured, Hong Seok smiled again. Ae Ran chimed in supportively to lighten the mood,
“That’s right, Father. These two get along so well—they’ll have good news before you know it~.”
Yeon Joo wanted to smile naturally too, but her lips simply wouldn’t lift.
Her stomach churned, her chest tightened. A suffocating fear overwhelmed her mind.
The weight of his hand still resting on her shoulder felt unbearably heavy—as if it weighed a thousand kilograms.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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Haiihhh… Girl just man up and walk away… But haiihh on top of your head is your mother and bills…. 😓😓
His words.. God Damm.. His words would really cost him everything… 😱😱
Oooo… I really want his POV.. What’s on this mind…