“Anyway, that has nothing to do with me. It’s always been like that, and it’ll continue to be, so don’t worry about it.”
Seo Ah was at a loss for words with the several surprises Ha Joon had given her today.
Perhaps it was because she was able to see him without prejudice.
Usually, she would have been suspicious, thinking, ‘What’s he up to?’
“Seo Ah?”
Lost in thought, Seo Ah startled at Ha Joon’s gentle voice.
“Yes?”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“Tired? Should we go home?”
“So soon? Mi Yeon Unnie will be here soon…”
Seo Ah wanted to confirm again with Mi Yeon. She felt she could trust her words about Ha Joon’s true nature.
Just then, as if on cue, Mi Yeon arrived.
“Wow, what a nice atmosphere!”
“Unnie! You’re here!”
Seo Ah greeted Mi Yeon with a bright smile.
“You look beautiful~. You look different here.”
“Unnie, you’re so beautiful too.”
“Beautiful, my foot. I just threw something on. I’m getting tired of wearing dresses. How about we change the dress code to something simpler next year? Next year it’s at Tae Sung Hotel, right?”
Mi Yeon turned to Ha Joon as she spoke, and he smiled lightly, nodding. That meant Seo Ah didn’t have to worry about revealing too much.
“That sounds good.”
“By the way, the seniors were looking for you downstairs. I have something to discuss with Seo Ah, so you should go down first.”
Ha Joon’s pupils shook. No matter how much Mi Yeon insisted, he couldn’t just let Seo Ah be taken away like that!
“Together…”
Before Ha Joon could say anything, Mi Yeon led Seo Ah away to a secluded area.
Disappointed, Ha Joon thought she would come down soon.
Then,
“Oh? You were here?”
It was Jong Won.
“Ha Joon, you know I’m always open. If you need help, just say it.”
Confused, Ha Joon watched as Jong Won pretended to dust off his shoulder, continuing,
“I know. You had no choice but to become in-laws. Still, I’m worried… Remember a couple of years ago, the Yu Young Construction’s shoddy work? What if there’s an issue with them working with Tae Sung and S Construction? It might start off as a big issue… But Tae Sung will make the right decision, I guess.”
“Well, we prefer safety over issues. Excuse me, then.”
Ha Joon quickly went downstairs before he could finish speaking.
Jong Won couldn’t hold him back. He knew the meaning of those words better than anyone.
In reality, S Construction had more controversies regarding shoddy work than Yu Young, but they had hushed it up with money.
The issue with Yu Young’s shoddy work quieted down after they apologized and came up with alternatives. But someone intentionally exaggerated the news, and it was never revealed who it was. Yu Young didn’t want to escalate the situation.
[Star Icon]Holding a glass of wine each, Mi Yeon and Seo Ah went to a secluded spot, busy discussing the recent events.
“If it weren’t for Unnie, I think I would’ve been completely helpless. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me! I should have seen their flustered faces with my own eyes. What a pity.”
Seo Ah blushed and awkwardly fiddled with her neck.
She had been so out of sorts at the time that she didn’t even remember what she had said, nor had she the chance to see people’s reactions. But considering what she heard in the restroom earlier, it seemed likely that Ji Young was indeed flustered.
Then, Seo Ah looked around cautiously.
Seeing her sudden behavior, Mi Yeon looked at her perplexedly and whispered,
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“No, it’s just… I’m curious about something…”
“About what? Just tell me. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“You’re not busy, are you?”
“Not busy at all! What is it?”
As Mi Yeon waved her hands dismissively, Seo Ah hesitantly moved her lips.
“It’s about Ha Joon oppa… What kind of person was he?”
Mi Yeon let out a chuckle, prompting Seo Ah to continue awkwardly.
“No, just curious. How others see oppa.”
Suddenly, Mi Yeon took a sip of her wine and set the mood.
“I always felt sorry for Ha Joon.”
Seo Ah’s pupils flickered slightly in surprise. A person who had everything, who could have anything he wanted, why would he be pitied?
“Since birth, he’s been the third generation of the number one conglomerate, and he’s lived his life trying hard not to tarnish that reputation.”
Ah… That reason. But that was just what was visible on the surface, and Seo Ah knew it well. She wanted to know about the aspects she hadn’t seen.
“But that’s all there is.”
Seo Ah couldn’t hide her disappointment. She had hoped Mi Yeon would have something special to say.
“You look disappointed.”
Embarrassed, Seo Ah waved her hands.
“No, not at all.”
“But really, that’s all there is to say. The kid doesn’t know how to enjoy life.”
“…?”
That seemed no different from what the seniors had said earlier. Having it confirmed by Mi Yeon made it more believable.
Now all that was left was to verify the source of the photo with Yeong Ju. The truth about the chocolate incident too,
But then, Mi Yeon brought up something unexpected.
“There was another person like that. My brother.”
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.”
