“Ah, I work at the same company as Ms. Seo Ji-an. I’m Do Seok-won. And this is…”
“I know, Kang Hyun, the Executive Director.”
Ha-joon’s face turned cold as he saw Kang Hyun, who entered the hallway a step behind Seok-won.
Kang Hyun’s expression wasn’t much different.
“Manager? No, Executive…”
Following them, Ji-an, who saw Kang Hyun, gasped in surprise, her mouth clamping shut to stifle a scream.
From the kitchen, the sound of a chair scraping and Jeong-hye’s voice came.
“Ji-an, who is it?”
“The company’s manager! Mom, I’m going out to buy coffee for the manager!”
Ji-an hurriedly went down to the entrance, stuffing her feet into the first pair of slippers she saw.
“Please, just say the manager came alone. You too, Ha-joon.”
“Why…”
Seok-won, holding heavy gifts in both hands, stood like a statue, watching the retreating figures of Kang Hyun and Ji-an.
As Ji-an fled outside and Jeong-hye approached with quick steps, she greeted him.
“Oh, hello. I’m Ji-an’s mother.”
“Ah, yes. I’m Do Seok-won.”
With that, Seok-won was left alone to greet the parents of his subordinate.
[Star Icon] [Star Icon] [Star Icon]Ji-an, stepping into the elevator, heaved a sigh of relief.
She had obtained permission for a long stay outside the house using Kang Hyun’s illness as an excuse, but she couldn’t afford to show him wandering around in good health the very next day.
I had secured permission for a lengthy stay outside, using Kang Hyun’s illness as an excuse, but I couldn’t risk showing him out and about so soon.
As soon as Kang Hyun stepped outside, he tried to take off his coat, but Ji-an, with a firmly set mouth, sternly told him that today it was absolutely not okay.
“You said you wouldn’t come.”
“I stopped by on my way back from the hospital, just to give you a gift and then leave.”
“What did they say at the hospital? Are you okay?”
Kang Hyun silently nodded and then embraced Ji-an.
“I missed you.”
He clung to Ji-an with forceful arms, burying his face in her slender shoulder.
“We saw each other yesterday, talked late into the night.”
“But today’s not yesterday.”
Ji-an’s ears reddened as she was trapped against Kang Hyun’s broad chest.
Whenever Kang Hyun began to crave affection, my heart fluttered wildly.
Dark, bleak, cold, yet excessively tender.
The Taekang Hyun I had seen over the past few months was just the tip of the iceberg.
Ever since confessing his feelings, Kang Hyun acted like someone with severe separation anxiety, always trying to be in touch somewhere.
His continuously outstretched hand, seeking to be held, seemed somewhat impatient.
His anxious, downcast look was a bit amusing, but I also felt an inexplicable thrill.
The thought of becoming the object of his blind desire sent a dizzying sensation down my spine.
I felt like I could do anything Taekang Hyun asked of me.
Ji-an wrapped her arms around Kang Hyun’s waist and tightly closed her eyes.
“Did you tell your friend?”
“No, not yet.”
“Why?”
“I can’t just blurt out that I’ve decided to date Taekang Hyun, out of the blue.”
Ji-an’s head thumped against Kang Hyun’s chest.
“And why did you send away Do Seok-won but chase me out?”
“It’s not like that. There’s a reason.”
“Do your parents dislike me?”
Her head shook side to side.
“No, it’s not that.”
Kang Hyun cracked a slight smile.
There was something secretive about her response, but I couldn’t help but find her fidgeting against me endearing.
“What about dinner?”
“I was just about to eat when you arrived. The black bean noodles must be soggy by now…”
Before she could finish, Kang Hyun, having let go of Ji-an, bit his lower lip in frustration.
A sigh involuntarily escaped.
“You must be hungry.”
Kang Hyun raised his hand to his neck, rubbing it before adding hesitantly, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to consciously say things like ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you.'”
“It becomes a habit if you do it enough, now go up. You must be cold.”
After gently stroking the top of Ji-an’s head, Kang Hyun stepped back.
“I’ll send the manager off quickly.”
After helping my parents finish cleaning the house, I planned to head to Kang Hyun’s place, even if it was late, but I hadn’t told him in advance.
I wanted to see him surprised by an unexpected visit again, like when he received the bouquet yesterday.
“Okay.”
Kang Hyun couldn’t hide his disappointment and gently squeezed then released Ji-an’s fingers.
After a wave of her hand, Ji-an turned to enter the communal entrance’s code when the door inside opened first.
“Why are you out here?”
“Your black bean noodles have gone soggy, hurry up and go eat.”
With a stern face, Ha Joon lightly tapped Ji-an’s forehead.
Ji-an immediately grabbed Ha Joon’s arm, glancing at Kang Hyun for his reaction.
Ji-an, understanding the silent message conveyed just by the shape of Ha Joon’s lips, quickly let go of his hand.
“Taekang Hyun, let’s talk for a moment.”
Ha Joon stepped in front of Ji-an, blocking the tense atmosphere between them as he locked eyes with Kang Hyun.
“Why, what do you want to say?”
“It’s okay, go upstairs and eat.”
Following Kang Hyun’s gesture, Ji-an eventually entered the communal entrance.
Once Ji-an boarded the elevator, Ha Joon spoke.
“What are you two doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Ha…”
Ha Joon let out a scoff, glaring fiercely at Kang Hyun.
“I’m part of Prosecutor Jang’s investigation team.”
Ah, this complication.
Kang Hyun sighed shortly, rubbing his eyes.
Officially, it was an investigation to catch the hit-and-run driver who killed Seo Yoon.
Only Prosecutor Jang Yeonseok and a few trustworthy investigators knew about the complicated ties with Seo Ji-an.
Although the police’s task was to arrest Gu Sejun, who orchestrated the accident, Ha Joon’s involvement in the investigation team was definitely an uncomfortable factor.
“Do you know Ji-an also knows you’re still desperately searching for the killer of your ex-girlfriend? I clearly told you last time not to treat Ji-an as a replacement.”
“Did you forget my answer that she’s not a replacement? Searching for the criminal is a natural course of action. You should know I was also hit in that accident.”
“I just can’t understand. How is it possible to fall for a girl who looks exactly like your deceased lover, especially when they’re twins?”
Kang Hyun’s eyes, usually tender with Ji-an, now bore a vexed coldness.
The conversation was pointless without knowing they were the same person.
“It’s not your place to judge that. As you can see, Ha Joon, your confession is already too late.”
“Why do you get to decide that?”
As Ha Joon’s face hardened further, Kang Hyun twisted his lips.
“Confessing isn’t a bad idea. Personally, I’d prefer it if we don’t even remain friends.”
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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