Despite the noisy surroundings, everyone could see how attentively they listened to the conversation between Ji-hyun and Soo-young.
“Are you really dating that author? It’s not just pretending, right?”
Mi-jin asked as if she would immediately chase after the man if that were the case. It seemed incomprehensible to everyone that he was her boyfriend, they worked together, yet he didn’t come to the event where his girlfriend was actively participating. Moreover, he was a writer.
If Soo-young wanted to take her boyfriend’s side, she would have to include an explanation that he is visually impaired and finds it difficult to come out. Not mentioning that he was at home could have led to urgent matters or business trips.
Soo-young was caught in a dilemma, unable to speak directly to her friends. Without mentioning that Ji-hyun had said he was at home, she could have fabricated an urgent situation or a business trip. She remained silent for a moment, observing her friends’ exchanged glances.
She eventually opened her mouth quietly.
“He has a disability.”
The friends’ attention immediately focused on her words.
“But Seol Yong, the author, having a disability is kept confidential externally. Well, to be honest, I’m not sure if it’s a secret, but no one knows. So, it would be better if you guys don’t mention it anywhere.”
As Soo-young explained carefully, this time, everyone looked at each other with surprised eyes. Soon, Sora cautiously asked,
“Where is he uncomfortable?”
“…He has visual impairment.”
As her words ended, an oppressive silence filled the table.
“Can I get you some water?”
Shin Ih-ho asked the owner’s little grandson sitting in the back seat.
He had been bothered by the lack of breathing sounds for a while now.
But the boy remained silent.
Knowing that he couldn’t see, Shin Ih-ho was surprised by the golden eyes he saw through the rearview mirror. Without a word, he closed his mouth.
Woojin opened the window slightly to let in the outside air.
The Quest Mall parking lot was outdoor and, on top of that, unpaved, making it quite bumpy. Even just coming a longer distance than Soo-young’s house was stressful, and the uncomfortable vibrations transmitted through the seat annoyed his nerves.
“Outside…”
At Woojin’s murmur, Ih-ho looked at him again through the rearview mirror.
“Please explain the situation outside.”
“Yes. There’s a big Quest building in front of us, and we’re currently at the parking lot in front of gate 2. They said they were remodeling the outdoor parking lot, but it seems like they just flipped the entire ground. Considering the quite a few cars parked in a row, it seems that there are quite a few event attendees.”
At that moment, the voices of people passing between cars could be heard.
They seemed to be people who had parked their cars behind and were leaving the parking lot through the gate.
If he hadn’t heard familiar names, Woojin would have probably ignored the voices.
“When is Soo-young’s reading?”
“I don’t think it has started yet.”
“Oh, our Soo-young is so talented. She even makes audiobooks.”
“It’s not a book she wrote. She just read a book written by someone else.”
“Still, where is it?”
Two middle-aged women’s voices. Perhaps they were Soo-young’s family? Then, one of them suddenly made a loud noise.
“Oh, isn’t that the teacher senior?”
“Ah, Soo-young’s mother. Hello.”
A slightly distant place echoed with the voice of a young man. It was a familiar voice. One of the two women’s voices was from Soo-young’s family.
“Do you remember my face?”
“Yes. We met at the graduation ceremony, and a few days ago in front of the house…”
“It’s nice to see you here. Did Soo-young come to see you?”
“Yes. She got a ticket.”
“What was your name?”
“Soyeon-ho.”
At the man’s words, Woojin’s already uncomfortable breathing became even more uncomfortable. He wanted to open the window more, but…
Then it would be obvious from the outside.
“Oh, I think Soo-young calls you Senior So.”
“Ah, Senior So! Come on in.”
“Yes, mother.”
The voices of the people gradually faded away.
It seemed like there might be other male voices, possibly friends of Soo, but Woojin focused solely on Soo’s voice.
“Water…”
Woojin detached his lips towards the driver’s seat.
“Yes?”
When Ih-ho turned around, Woojin said with a stretched face, “Water, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Ih-ho diligently offered him water, Woojin fumbled several times before managing to grab the water bottle.
Reading in front of so many people for the first time, Soo-young’s voice trembled a bit at the beginning. However, after reading a few lines, she calmly continued reading the book.
When her calm and deep voice, which was unexpectedly substantial for a woman, read the quiet travelogue, the initially somewhat restless audience became so quiet that not even a breath could be heard.
As Woojin mentioned, Soo-young had talent. Her voice had the power to captivate even children.
After reading the announced amount, people shouted for an encore, wanting her to read more for an additional 10 minutes.
Although there could have been more, the reading ended with regret due to the schedule of the singer waiting in line behind for their turn.
Receiving applause and returning to the makeshift stage behind, Soo-young sighed deeply and looked at the phone she had placed on the table.
Unexpectedly, there were 5 missed calls. All from David.
Could it be…?
Soo-young quickly called him. Before the signal even went through, Woojin’s voice could be heard.
Come quickly.
“Yes?”
Come quickly.
“Where are you?”
Parking lot. In front of gate 2.
“You came here? Really?”
It’s real, so come quickly.
Although she had planned to meet her mom and aunt after the reading, Soo-young, holding her phone, rushed out of the event venue.
How did he come here? It’s much farther than our house. Was he okay in the car?
While running through the corridor marked as gate 2, Soo-young didn’t hang up her phone.
Thanks to that, when Youngsoon called to check where her daughter, who had finished reading, had gone, Soo-young’s phone was still in an ongoing call.
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.”
