Ra-jin, pressing the phone close to her ear, turned her head.
A woman in black satin high heels with crystal embellishments. From head to toe, rather from birth, everything about Jin Jae-yi, who was in a discussion with the director and giving a pleasant smile, was top-tier luxury.
What on earth was she doing in Kim Yu-jun’s fiancée’s office? The absurd combination made her sigh involuntarily.
“I’ll call you right back.”
Ra-jin spoke while casting a glance at the director, who was giggling uncharacteristically for his size.
The office of the HS Hotel’s general manager resembled a luxurious suite.
Actor Seon Woo-jin, the male lead of the drama, the director, and Jin Jae-yi, the fiancée of Kim Yu-jun and executive of HS Hotel, were engaged in a conversation.
Ordinarily, she wouldn’t take a personal call in such a setting, but at this point, she would have welcomed even a spam call.
[I’ll wait.]
Hearing his serious voice, she felt torn.
Should she use the call as an excuse to storm out? Kim Yu-jun, whom she wished to cut ties with, and his fiancée, who misunderstood their relationship – why was she even maintaining her presence here? The more Ra-jin thought about it, the more irritated she became.
However, the weight of the request Ji-ho had made two days ago was also significant, making her struggle to contain her wavering heart.
“Yes, I will hang up now.”
Right after the press conference for the drama ended, Ra-jin was planning to go out for a meal, using the excuse of catching up with fellow actors she hadn’t seen in a while.
In the midst of chatting with a supporting actress who played her close friend, Jin Jae-yi, accompanied by a string of secretaries, appeared at the event.
Ra-jin tried to avoid her, but the director grabbed her arm, asking for help just this once.
The director, who had started a new production company, and Jin Jae-yi, the financial backbone of Haesung Group.
The director, not wanting to miss any opportunity, suggested a tea time with the lead actors without consulting them. Even after Ra-jin excused herself for prior commitments, he persisted, so she ended up being dragged there almost by force.
‘Just five minutes. I’ll stay for five minutes and then leave.’
That was enough to fulfill her obligation to the director. Haesung Group would invest in the production if they were interested, director’s effort or not.
Ra-jin checked that the call with Ji-ho had indeed ended and put her phone back in her bag.
“Who was that? Sounded like a man.”
Jin Jae-yi, presuming it was Kim Yu-jun’s call, had a flash of curiosity in her eyes.
The intention behind her bringing up such a topic was obvious.
A strict guard.
Determined not to let her fiancé slip away. Already sleep-deprived over Ji-ho’s request, the meeting with Jin Jae-yi made Ra-jin’s eyelids heavy.
‘Ugh, I won’t even last five minutes. I should just get up.’
Pretending to be absorbed in a conversation with Jin Jae-yi was ridiculous.
“I have a script to review.”
“You could have called the agency for that. Why bother an actress at this late hour?”
“That’s true. At this hour.”
Ra-jin purposefully looked at the large brass clock on the wall and said,
“I should get going.”
Ra-jin, with her bag on her lap, slightly bowed her head.
“Let’s go together, Ra-jin.”
“No, are you leaving already? You just got here.”
As actor Seon Woo-jin also began to stand up, the director stretched out his hand to stop him.
“Just talk. I have an important call.”
“Park Ra-jin.”
Jin Jae-yi, with her arms crossed, looked up at Ra-jin obliquely.
“Sit down. I have something to say to you.”
Was she planning to threaten her with Kim Yu-jun’s matter?
Jin Jae-yi’s confident demeanor, as if she had all the time in the world, made Ra-jin’s face turn.
“Do you have something special to discuss with me?”
“I’m expecting someone. Just meet them and then you can go.”
“Oh my, Ra-jin. Looks like a special guest is coming. Stay a bit longer, will you?”
Exasperated by the director’s jesting as if she might receive an advertisement offer, Ra-jin was at a loss.
“Which group are you referring to exactly?”
“You’ll know when you see.”
Caught between not being close enough to be detained nor significant enough for an important discussion. Had she called Kim Yu-jun? It’s feasible, given their upcoming official marriage. If that’s the case, there’s even less reason for her to stay.
Being used as a pawn in a pre-marriage pride match between Myeongjin and Haeseong was out of the question for Ra-jin.
She glanced briefly at the weighty office door and gripped her bag tightly.
“I don’t know who it is, but I’ll have to greet them some other time.”
“Park Ra-jin.”
“It’s something important for me.”
“Don’t I deserve at least this much favor from you?”
Jin Jae-yi, who usually acted so elegantly and calmly, snapped back in a skewed tone, instantly bringing down the room’s atmosphere.
‘Perfect couple, acting on their own and unilaterally deciding.’
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.”
