6 a.m.
After finishing his shower, Seol Ji-oh checked his phone. He briefly considered calling Yeowoon but decided against it.
On a day off in the early morning, he didn’t want to wake Yeowoon who might be fast asleep.
Instead, he opened his message inbox.
[Hey Ji-oh, is the shooting not over yet?] [Ji-oh, I’m closing my eyes. I’ll take a short nap. Call me right after the shoot ends! Promise!]It was a text message that seemed to convey the sound of Yeowoon’s voice. The last message arrived at 1 a.m.
Yesterday, Seol Ji-oh finished the photoshoot well past 2 a.m., and it was too late to call Yeowoon.
He wanted to hear her voice.
Seol Ji-oh, with a regretful expression, typed a message to send to Yeowoon instead of calling.
As he sent the message, another one arrived.
[Eat breakfast before you go, Oppa.]Along with the message, there was a picture. Seol Ji-oh chuckled again at the photo of food placed right in front of his house entrance, just like yesterday.
As Seol Ji-oh looked at the text, his eyes suddenly turned cold.
He had definitely changed his phone number yesterday evening. He had emphasized multiple times to the security office about managing security carefully.
Yet, how did this happen again?
Seol Ji-oh grabbed his throbbing forehead. He wanted to call the police, but since there was no direct harm to him, it was obvious that the police wouldn’t take any action.
Should he check the CCTV at the entrance?
Seol Ji-oh nervously put down his phone and went to change his clothes.
Arriving at the advertisement shoot, Seol Ji-oh saw a familiar figure among the busy staff members and walked over. They were people from Seohwa Beverage, his coffee brand’s advertising team.
“Team Leader, hello?”
“Oh my, Mr. Ji-oh! You shine brightly again today.”
“Thank you.”
“We should be the ones thanking you. Thanks to you, we maintain our position as the top in the industry. Oh, right! Today, our company’s Vice President Seo will visit for a moment.”
“Vice President Seo?”
“Yes. He plans to visit to show his support, and a few reporters will come at that time. Please be aware.”
“Yes.”
Seol Ji-oh found it strange that the busy Vice President would come to the advertisement shooting site, but he soon understood after recalling the ongoing power struggle within the Seohwa Group.
It seemed like they were trying to draw attention by using him. Seol Ji-oh thought little of it and began preparing for the shoot.
During the advertisement shoot,
The entrance suddenly became noisy, and a tall woman with short hair walked into the shooting site.
Following her, two assistants entered, and upon seeing them, the Seohwa Beverage team members suddenly stood up.
Seol Ji-oh discreetly recognized the woman with short hair walking towards him as ‘Vice President Seo.’
The woman walked into the shooting site, stood still, and quietly watched Seol Ji-oh, who was in the midst of shooting. The Seohwa Beverage team members were busy approaching Vice President Seo to greet her.
“Cut. I’ll take a short break.”
When the director shouted “cut,” Seol Ji-oh turned his gaze toward Vice President Seo. As he did, their eyes met directly.
She gave off an overall sophisticated impression. Tall and slender, she looked stunning in a gray two-piece suit.
‘Even if she says she’s a model, I’d believe it.’
Thinking to himself, Seol Ji-oh approached Vice President Seo. After all, she was the advertiser, so he couldn’t ignore her.
“Hello, Vice President. I’m Seol Ji-oh.”
As Seol Ji-oh greeted her and nodded, Vice President Seo smiled and extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Seo Hye-jeong.”
Seol Ji-oh shook her outreached hand. The moment he shook hands with Seo Hye-jeong, cameras’ shutters were heard all around.
It was undoubtedly a scene perfect for press photos.
“I’m a fan. You look even more impressive in person.”
Seo Hye-jeong smiled gently. Knowing it was a courteous remark, Seol Ji-oh also replied politely.
“Thank you.”
But just when it seemed like the handshake was over, the hand that should have been dropped was still held by Vice President Seo.
Seol Ji-oh glanced at the held hand with a slightly puzzled expression. Then, Vice President Seo released it, saying, “Sorry. Your hand is warmer than I expected. Well then, Mr. Seol Ji-oh, I look forward to working with you.”
With those words, Seo Hye-jeong lightly nodded to the Seohwa Beverage team members, then left the shooting site, accompanied by reporters. Considering the number of people, her visit was too short.
Seol Ji-oh watched her retreating figure and then turned away. It was better for her to leave quickly from his perspective.
The shooting site became quiet again, and Seol Ji-oh headed to the waiting room for the next shoot.
Thanks to sleeping in for the first time in a while, Yeowoon was in good condition today.
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
