He struggled to calm down due to the chaotic sound of the water, but he tried his best. He sipped his tea, closed his eyes, took deep breaths, and waited for his heart to slow down.
When he felt his rationality returning, Siyoon slowly looked around Mijoo’s apartment.
There were art catalogs and unfinished manuscripts scattered in one corner. Siyoon stood up and looked over the desk from a distance.
“Exhibition planning? Or criticism?”
Growing up with an interest in art and culture, since his father was a potter, he could roughly guess what she was working on.
Mijoo, who entered the bathroom, initially intended only to wash her face, but as usual, she undressed and turned on the hot shower as soon as she stepped in. The tension eased under the warm water.
Relaxed in body and mind, she started thinking about her tasks for the day.
‘First, I need to check how much the car repair estimate is.’
Though Siyoon offered to handle the repairs, she couldn’t rely entirely on his help.
‘And I need to finalize the contract discussion.’
Siyoon pondered what sort of help Mijoo might need in the bathroom, excluding any improper thoughts. He tried to think as humanely as possible.
But no matter how much he thought, he couldn’t imagine what she might need help with in the bathroom.
“What can I do to help?”
“I… I didn’t bring any clothes to change into.”
Hearing this, Siyoon paused to imagine Mijoo’s situation. The water cascading over her pale skin, the soap suds creating a glossy sheen on her body.
As Siyoon was lost in these thoughts, the frustrated Mijoo called out to him again.
Knock, knock.
“Kim Siyoon, you’re listening, right?”
Siyoon snapped back to reality and playfully responded.
“Why not just come out wrapped in a towel?”
“Are you crazy?”
“What? Then how am I supposed to help? Should I just barge in?”
“I’m sorry. I take back what I said about you being crazy.”
Siyoon, in his heart, actually wanted to burst in like a madman. But he restrained himself, hearing Mijoo’s softened voice again.
He could hear Mijoo’s weak moan. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Siyoon knocked on the door again.
“Mijoo Choi, you’re hurt, aren’t you!”
Mijoo tried to stand up but soon realized it was futile.
“Open the door.”
“I can’t. I’m not wearing anything.”
Siyoon was frustrated. What’s the problem with clothes when someone might be hurt? He needed to check on her quickly.
“Open the door. Hurry.”
“…”
“I thought you like men!”
He didn’t want to say it, but it was necessary to reassure her. Mijoo, gaining a bit of courage from his words, hesitantly reached for the doorknob.
“Hurry up.”
At Siyoon’s final urging, the door clicked open.
Siyoon entered hastily and approached Mijoo, who was sitting on the floor. As his hands touched her partially exposed body, Mijoo felt more embarrassment than pain.
“I checked, and I’m not bleeding.”
Siyoon chuckled at her words.
“You’re not a kid. Just because there’s no blood doesn’t mean you’re fine.”
“It’s just my ankle that’s sprained.”
Hearing this, Siyoon glanced at her ankle and then lifted her in his arms. Mijoo instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her to the sofa.
Siyoon sat on the floor and held her ankle.
“Ah…”
Siyoon looked at Mijoo apologetically.
“My left ankle has always been weak. I’ve had a few sprains before, and it feels like it’s happened again.”
“Anywhere else hurt?”
“…No, I’m fine.”
Siyoon gently massaged her calf and foot, avoiding the injured ankle. Even in pain, Mijoo found his touch ticklish.
“That’s enough. It doesn’t hurt there.”
“Let’s go to the hospital once you’re a bit more stable.”
Siyoon’s eyes caught the sight of Mijoo’s chest, barely covered by the towel, lightly heaving.
Mijoo tried to cover herself, but feeling the action was futile, she dropped her hand and grabbed Siyoon’s hand, which was massaging her leg.
“It’s okay. You can stop.”
Siyoon looked at Mijoo, his eyes filled with regret and concern.
“Can I hug you?”
Surprised by his sudden request, Mijoo’s eyes widened. Siyoon didn’t wait for her response and embraced her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were hurt and joked around.”
What he was more sorry about was that he had indulged in wicked thoughts, imagining her naked while she was actually hurt. But he couldn’t bring himself to voice that regret.
In the warmth of Siyoon’s words and his comforting embrace, Mijoo’s tension eased. She raised her hand and gently patted Siyoon’s back.
“Thank you. For helping me.”
But human emotions can flip as easily as a palm of a hand. The scent of shampoo emanating from Mijoo and the smooth line of her shoulder, barely covered by a bath towel, started to become noticeable to Siyoon.
“Mijoo Choi.”
“Yes?”
“I think I’m rubbish.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
