Hye Yoon sat down again on the bench where she had sat with Ji Ho a little while ago. With a stranger who was as clear as the perfume smell.
“You are much prettier in person.”
The voice was refreshing if put nicely, but a bit rough if said in a sour way. Refreshing because it had no hesitation, and rough perhaps due to the lack of consideration.
“Did you know my face?”
“I think there isn’t a Korean who doesn’t know the author’s face these days.”
“Ah…..”
It wasn’t a love rumor that would be forgotten in a month or two. For a moment, the picture of an autumn night with Ji Ho, which was beautifully stored in her memory, popped up and she felt a bit shy. He watched Hye Yoon quietly biting her lower lip.
“There are many scenes in the work where you wear a school uniform, so I thought you would look like that today. But they said that was until yesterday.”
“Ugh, luckily. I was about to be more embarrassed.”
“No way. I think it would have suited you really well.”
Jeans topped with a lavender sweatshirt, loosely tied brown hair made her look more vulnerable. Despite hearing that Hye Yoon was his same age, he couldn’t help but doubt.
She must have really suited the school uniform.
“Ji Ho senior seems not to be here today.”
“Yes. Ji Ho doesn’t have a shoot today.”
The sight of a naive smile surfacing at the mention of Ji Ho’s name. He watched a little longer before turning his eyes away.
Truthfully, there wasn’t exactly a story that had to be shared between the two. He just wanted to meet her because he liked her writing, but he was vexed by the fact that he couldn’t easily reach out. Especially when Ji Ho, whom he was always conscious of, was by her side.
“It seems Ji Ho is your senior.”
“Yes. I’m the older junior. There will be many juniors like me. Because he debuted early.”
“……”
“He debuted early, and reached the top in a single leap. Now, it seems like he could even pierce the universe… He seems like a person one can’t keep up with in any way. Especially when his luck is perfect too.”
A bitter taste spread somewhere in Do Hyuk’s heart. A taste that had become quite familiar now. He was making a face as bitter as its insides when he suddenly became conscious of Hye Yoon. Hurriedly adjusting his expression, he saw her staring straight at him.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was being arrogant.”
“…No.”
Her body flinched in embarrassment, trying to maintain politeness, which was a bit strange. Actually, everything seemed strange when taken one at a time. Her brown eyes moist enough to seem about to cry, the smile she wore while calmly observing his rudeness.
Fearing that she would keep staring if he didn’t change the subject, he hastily threw out the first thought that came to mind.
“Actually, Director Kim first gave me the script, but I ended up reading it late. So, I was quite disappointed.”
“I see…..”
Hye Yoon responded in a small voice and moved her head. Her gaze was still fixed on Do Hyuk.
“I wonder if the outcome would have been different if I had read it a bit earlier. Well, if the opponent was Ji Ho, it probably wouldn’t have changed……”
“Hmm……”
Her reaction was still the same. Softly, but incessantly, she scanned his side profile, nodding as if attentively listening. Her wholebody immersion was slowly making Do Hyuk uncomfortable.
“Is there something on my face by any chance?”
He quickly turned his head to look at Hye Yoon. Even though acting was his job, it was hard to keep a calm facade.
“Hmm, no.”
And Hye Yoon looked as if she was sitting with the calmness that he couldn’t obtain no matter how much he tried. Moreover, she even had a faint smile. If his heart rate quickened at that smile, it must be a misunderstanding.
When Do Hyuk turned his head to face her directly, Hye Yoon also moved similarly. A faint smile still lingered at the corner of her mouth. In fact, there was only one reason why Hye Yoon had smiled while looking at Do Hyuk.
Because he was so easy to read.
‘Full of admiration, a handful of jealousy, five grains of envy?’
It had been quite difficult only when the opponent was Ji Ho, but Hye Yoon was originally good at reading other people’s minds. These days, she spent a lot of time with Ji Ho, who was always trapped in an embarrassing maze.
To have such an open heart like a sports field. It was nice. And she was thankful that it was sincere, especially when she read that he liked her writing.
“By the way, I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you. I don’t have any plans for the next project.”
As soon as she finished fully understanding Do Hyuk’s intentions, Hye Yoon opened her mouth. She felt sorry for not being able to give the answer he wanted even though he had come this far.
“I heard about it roughly. But even if not as a writer, we might meet as actors.”
“Ah, that’s really not at all. This is the end.”
“But you never know what could happen.”
Not sure if words were enough, Hye Yoon shook her head left and right. And Do Hyuk hoped that her movement would accidentally coincide with his gaze. As it happened, they ended up looking directly at each other.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
