Granting an extended leave to Ji Yoon, the head of VAN’s public relations team, was Jaehyuk’s decision. Coincidentally, the project she was working on had just ended, and considering Arin’s concerns, Ji Yoon readily accepted Jaehyuk’s proposal. The next day, Jaehyuk planned to move Ji Yoon and Mrs. Seo to the luxurious apartment where they lived.
“It’s burdensome. It’s too expensive,” Ji Yoon initially expressed her concern.
However, when Arin’s well-being came into the conversation, both women refrained from refusing.
“…Alright, we’ll do it as Vice Chairman wants.”
Their eventual response was affirmative, but Ji Yoon set a condition.
“I’ll move when Arin is better.”
“Sure, do as Manager Seo wants when the time comes.”
With people protecting her, Arin’s surprised heart gradually found stability. Whenever fear threatened to engulf her,
“It’s okay. I’m here.”
There were people holding her hand.
Arin took a big spoonful of the warm chicken gomtang that Mrs. Seo had made. It made her feel warm.
“It’s really delicious.”
“I left out the peelings because you don’t seem to like them much.”
She was like a mother. No, she was a mother. Without saying a word, she understood everything.
Having someone who knew everything, from likes to dislikes, made her heart warm.
“Ah-tteutteu.”
As Ji Yoon, sipping the hot broth, sighed, Mrs. Seo, upon her gaze, made a somewhat awkward expression.
“Ah!”
She, who sighed briefly, spoke.
“Yesterday, I went to the department store with Mom, and there’s that ice cream shop you said was good back then. I bought mint chocolate chip. It’s in the freezer, so eat it whenever you want.”
Even though she grimaced and said it tasted like toothpaste, Ji Yoon always bought mint chocolate chip-flavored ice cream.
“It’s so hot that tears keep coming out.”
Arin, who had gained a family that was hotter and more considerate than a relationship burdened by fatigue, pretended to be okay with difficulty.
The next day.
“I’ll be back.”
The light coming in through the window was dim. She, half-asleep, spoke.
“Is it dawn?”
“Yeah, six o’clock. Sleep a little more.”
“You’re going out already? What about breakfast?”
At his words, she sat up abruptly.
“Why did you wake up? I already ate. I had the chicken gomtang your mom made yesterday, and it was delicious.”
Jaehyuk began calling Mrs. Seo ‘Mother.’ Arin’s heart swelled as she witnessed this.
“Is that so? Thanks to Mother, I think I can eat for a few more days.”
“Yeah. It would be good to eat it every morning. Sleep a bit more.”
“No. I want to get up. I have things to do.”
He supported her, helping her stand.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“A little.”
She didn’t know when it started, but she developed a habit of undressing while sleeping. So even in winter, she started wearing only a slip when sleeping.
While asleep, Arin was unaware of the cold, but upon waking up, a chill filled the air. As Arin’s body shivered, Jaehyuk gently sat her at the edge of the bed.
“Just sit for a moment.”
He fetched a thick cardigan hanging on the chair and draped it over her shoulders.
“Where are the slippers?”
“I left them here yesterday, but…”
Not finding the furry slippers she usually wore, Jaehyuk inquired. He lifted the bedspread, rummaging inside.
“Here they are.”
He put the fluffy slippers on her feet.
He took care of her like taking care of a child. Although his touch was still unfamiliar, there were moments when her body flinched, but she didn’t dislike it.
“Is the timing okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I woke up leisurely. Want to have breakfast?”
“No, I’ll eat later with Ji Yoon and Mother when they come.”
“Okay, let’s do that. What do you want to do?”
“See you off.”
“Huh?”
“I woke up to see you off.”
At my words, his eyes widened. And soon, they curved beautifully like a crescent moon.
“You woke up early to see me off, like a late riser.”
He reached out, covering my cheek. I involuntarily closed my eyes at the warmth of his large hand.
“Arin.”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
In his sincere voice, she, who had just opened her eyes, asked.
“What for?”
“For being by my side. Lately, it feels like I’m dreaming. So, I’m afraid that when I open my eyes, you won’t be there.”
“It’s not a dream.”
At her words, he let out a small laugh.
“Yeah, it’s not a dream.”
For some reason, she felt his voice was moist.
After seeing Jaehyuk off, Arin lay back on the bed. Not being a person who indulges in laziness, she didn’t want to do anything these days.
Suddenly, her gaze turned toward me.
“It’s nice.”
His scent lingered on the blanket. It was evidence that he had been here a little while ago.
The cold bed where she always fell asleep alone was now warm.
Although she had never thought about having someone by her side, the current situation made it increasingly familiar that he was by her side.
Reaching out into the air, when she saw the sparkling ring on her fourth finger, her mouth naturally curved upward.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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