(Latest Chapter) Read To You Who Found Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12

The two sat facing each other across a wide, minimalist table. Yellow-tinged lights above each table, spaced far apart, slowly revealed their presence. This place was an Italian restaurant they’d stumbled upon by chance in a side alley.

“Then… did you come here because of me?”

“Maybe?”

Ji Ho slowly nodded. The slanting sunlight drifted past his collarbone and struck the floor. It didn’t even need to illuminate his face—it was dazzling enough as it was.

“Goodness. Did you wait long?”

Across from him, Hye Yoon looked at Ji Ho with slightly downcast eyes.

“Not that long. It just… felt like time was moving slowly.”

Hye Yoon felt relieved, glad it hadn’t been too bad. Only then did she have the mental space to look around the restaurant. The second floor, where they sat, was completely empty. The soft jazz playing inside made her shoulders sway gently.

Her eyes darted around aimlessly, then briefly turned toward the cityscape beyond the second-floor window.

But in the end, she looked back at Ji Ho. Because, in this season, at this very moment, he was simply the one who caught her eye the most. And whenever she finally glanced his way after glancing around, there was always one thing she knew for sure.

He was always already looking at her—just like when they’d first met.

Embarrassed by that gaze, she fidgeted with her innocent skirt using both hands resting on her thighs.

“That’s right. The fitting room was so quiet. No music or anything…”

That place where silence made time drag on. That place where she’d unintentionally heard things she’d rather not know. Recalling the fitting room, Hye Yoon met Ji Ho’s eyes again.

For just a fleeting moment, she hoped he hadn’t overheard those words—then immediately remembered her conversation with Manager rushing past in her mind.

Bang!

“Ah!”

Without warning, Hye Yoon slammed her tightly clenched fist onto the table.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ji Ho! How long were you standing there? How many minutes?”

Startled by her outburst, Ji Ho leaned forward slightly, his long, clear eyes widening just a bit more.

‘Oh, there’s quite some volume, huh?’

‘I’ve never really thought about it like that…’

“For someone with a small frame like you, Hye Yoon, that’s actually a nicely proportioned amount of volume.”

If conversations inside could be heard from outside, the reverse was surely true as well. Her eyes immediately filled with desperate hope as she locked onto Ji Ho. He watched her shift into this new expression with quiet amusement.

‘Actually… it’s partly thanks to my lingerie.’

Ah, she could practically guess exactly why he looked like that—but she kept it to herself, refusing to let it show.

“How many minutes would… make you happy?”

“Oh…”

Once again, her heart stirred helplessly. She just wanted to see that flustered look on his face a little longer.

At the faint upward curve of Ji Ho’s lips, Hye Yoon let out a tiny sigh. He’d heard everything, she realized. It puzzled her—why did she always end up showing him her most embarrassing side? Yet strangely, she also felt a sense of reassurance, as if with him, it was okay.

“…I wish you’d waited about five minutes, Ji Ho.”

So she decided to just say what she truly wanted—like a child insisting on something they knew they couldn’t have.

“Heh heh. Alright, then—five minutes. That’s exactly how long I waited.”

Ji Ho’s elegant eyes crinkled pleasantly at the corners. Hye Yoon, feeling it was too shamelessly obvious to even reply, simply nodded with satisfied contentment. It was a sweet little lie they’d both happily agreed upon.

Soon, the sound of heavy footsteps climbing the stairs approached from afar. Two staff members came up, one carrying lasagna and pasta, the other salads and drinks.

“Y-your food is ready.”

Hye Yoon had expected the server’s nervous tone—their awkward gait toward the table had given it away.

“Um… actually, we’re huge fans of Ahn Ji Ho…”

While the male staff set down the lasagna and pasta, the female staff beside him hesitated, stammering to a quiet end. Ji Ho offered her a polite smile.

“P-please enjoy your meal comfortably. We won’t seat any other guests on the second floor until you two come down. We haven’t had many customers lately anyway.”

“Thank you for taking care of us. We’ll enjoy it.”

After finishing the table setup, the staff turned and disappeared downstairs. Only then did Ji Ho’s gaze return fully to Hye Yoon. She felt even more grateful knowing no one else would come up—they had things to discuss that they hoped no one else would overhear.

She’d thought the car would be just fine for this, yet here she was, heart racing after barely thirty seconds.

Ji Ho shook his head slightly and cut a reasonable portion of lasagna, passing it to her.

“Thank you.”

She thanked him, and he replied with a smile before serving himself from the same dish. The white plate made the food’s colors appear even more vivid—thin, evenly balanced layers of meat sauce layered between wide pasta sheets.

“What about reconsidering what my manager mentioned earlier?”

His eyes moved from the lasagna on his plate to Hye Yoon. Among the necessary things to say, he hoped his own wishes would blend in evenly as well.

“What do you mean?”

“Personal staff. I know you’re filming here for the first month, but the second month is in Busan—you’ll need someone by your side.”

“Oh, that’s fine. My friends said they’d help.”

Hye Yoon answered lightly and brought her fork to her mouth. Her eyes widened instantly with a pleased little hum. Ji Ho smiled faintly at her reaction—

“Friends… like the one I saw in that parking lot?”

—then quickly looked away. At this moment, he couldn’t quite bring himself to look directly at the woman who seemed to read his mind.

“Yes. But Ji Ho, did you see Woo Jun too?”

“…Just from a distance.”

His eyes, lowered to hide what he really felt, snapped back up coldly at the mention of Woo Jun’s name. Fortunately, Hye Yoon seemed entirely absorbed in her delicious food, sparing no thought for anything else.

“That’s right. He also agreed to help out sometimes. And one close friend will probably stay with me the whole time—she happened to be on break from work.”

Ji Ho gave a small nod. Now that he understood Hye Yoon’s firm decision, it would be pointless to press further.

“We’ll probably have to keep this up until the finale. Of course… if we break up before that, the drama might get even more attention.”

“Oh…”

He brought up the topic he’d least wanted to broach—but it still needed addressing. As bitterness filled his mouth, he took a sip of his drink and looked at Hye Yoon—only to find her chewing mouth frozen mid-bite, lips parted in surprise.

Of all times, she had to look at him like that—making him hope for more.

He shook his head sharply, trying to brush off the rising emotions.

“But I don’t think Writer Jang would want that kind of attention either.”

“…”

“It’s a bit awkward coming from me… but I want people to see why I chose this script among all the others pouring in. I want them to see how incredible Writer Jang’s writing really is.”

“Wow… that’s touching.”

“Hm?”

Hye Yoon’s paused mouth murmured something too softly for him to catch, so he asked again.

“I’m… really touched.”

“Heh heh. That much?”

Clutching her fork like a trident, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She nodded vigorously, and for a brief moment, the heavy atmosphere around them seemed to lift completely. So he decided to ignore the approaching sense of regret already creeping in.

“So let’s at least keep things like this… until the finale.”

“Yes. I’d like that.”

“Good.”

He gave a subtle nod toward Hye Yoon, who still held her fork upside down—urging her to go back to adorably nibbling her food. Only then did she finally tear her gaze away from him.

Hye Yoon tightened her grip slightly. She was grateful for her eyes just then—they’d kept her from being caught nearly crying.

“And when there are lots of people around, let’s handle things like we did earlier—naturally pass things along and accept them.”

“I was really awkward just now, wasn’t I?”

“Yes.”

Watching Ji Ho suppress a chuckle as he answered, Hye Yoon lowered her head. He was an actor, after all—effortlessly natural in every situation. Keeping up with him would undoubtedly be tough.

“That’s why… you looked beautiful. Made me want to tease you more.”

He passed her a portion of salad as he spoke. It was something he’d wanted to say out loud ever since he first saw her. His warm, affectionate gaze enveloped Hye Yoon just as the words “you’re beautiful” implied.

“Ugh, I know you’re teasing me again right now.”

The moment she received the salad, she stabbed at it repeatedly with her fork—clearly embarrassed. Ji Ho’s lips curved into a satisfied smile at the sight.

“Writer Jang, don’t you have anything you want to say or ask? It feels like I’ve been doing all the talking.”

He gently pushed his own plate slightly aside. Truthfully, the meal had been an excuse from the start.

“Hmm…”

Hye Yoon’s fork, which had been ruthlessly attacking the salad, stilled. She met Ji Ho’s eyes.

Truthfully, she had so many questions. What exactly did he love so much about this script? Why did he want her to play Hee Soo? And how could he so calmly accept and carry on with that fake dating rumor that shook the world? But right now, only one thing truly mattered.

Did he always look at people like that—with eyes so full of affection?

“Your eyes look like they’re bursting with things you want to say…”

As always, Ji Ho read her heart with ease.

“Well… actually, there’s a lot. Every minute I talk with you, Ji Ho, it feels like another question pops up.”

Ah, she was just so lovely when she was honest. Ji Ho quietly took in her expression.

“Then should we stay here and talk all night?”

Hye Yoon didn’t avoid his gentle gaze—but she shook her head firmly at his suggestion.

“I just… really need to say this one thing before we go.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

Though the words she wanted to say piled up like autumn leaves outside the window, she carefully chose the one she wanted most to express.

“Thank you, Ji Ho. For helping me protect the things I wanted to protect.”

Hye Yoon chose sincerity over solving her doubts. Now that she thought about it, she’d never actually said those words to the one person she owed the most gratitude to.

Her glistening eyes held a single person with earnest longing—playful affection, yes, but not a trace of falsehood.

“Oh… I’m a little touched too.”

“You know I mean it, right?”

“I know. You’re not the type to say things you don’t mean.”

He knew very well she wasn’t just someone who said pretty words.

Ji Ho filled his eyes—where the bittersweetness of sunset lingered—with Hye Yoon. And for the first time, he sensed a moment might come when he’d lose control of his own emotions… because of the woman right in front of him.

“Ji Ho, let’s get along well from now on… for the next two months.”

“…Alright.”

Even after exchanging such warm words, both felt a quiet hollowness—as if they’d lost something. So they smiled even brighter. This time, neither revealed their true feelings.

And ten days later, the first filming day arrived.

Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away

This is also on my reread list!

This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.

Definitely worth a read, y’all!

The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.

But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.

Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.

I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.

The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.

As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.

Intro

As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.

But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…

Do you dare?

Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.

Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.

The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.

Link to read

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To You Who Found Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12

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