‘I will make him give up today.’
‘I will endure somehow today.’
Lost in their respective thoughts, a quiet silence enveloped the car.
With no music playing, Sajun focused on driving, and Taehee fixed her gaze outside the window.
As they left the quiet outskirts and entered the bustling city of Seoul, Sajun’s low voice broke the silence.
“What’s the schedule for today?”
Finally, Taehee asked Sajun again.
“Are you really going to do everything I say today?”
“As if it were my last dying wish, I will,” Sajun said.
That’s an overstatement, Taehee thought, giving him a skeptical look. Sajun just smiled slyly.
What’s with that handsome smile? What’s he scheming now?
Despite being captivated by his smile, Taehee felt uneasy.
Looking back, Sajun always took more than he gave. When he bought a bunch of macarons and came to Ilsan, he kissed her out of the blue, took over driving, and nearly dragged her to his grandfather’s house.
All of these happened against her will, all because of some macarons.
So what would she have to give up in exchange for a day’s concession to Sajun?
She was scared but didn’t want to back down.
Taehee was used to adjusting to others, even if it meant catering to their whims when necessary.
But Sajun had never adjusted to anyone or paid attention to their preferences.
He had never experienced anything bothersome, inconvenient, or unpleasant.
So today, it had to be Sajun who gave up, not her.
Resolved, Taehee answered.
“Let’s start with a movie.”
There would be no place more crowded than a movie theater on the weekend. Stick to the original plan.
“And after the movie?”
“Either tea or drinks, depending on the mood.”
There was no change in the schedule. There was nothing special to do just because they were a couple.
Frankly, Taehee didn’t know either.
Whether it was Sajun, who had always been single, or herself, who had a brief relationship with Je-hyun during college, it was all the same.
Yet, she had proposed this day-long relationship to give Sajun an experience he’d never had.
The life of ordinary people, being helplessly swayed by someone, uncomfortable and cumbersome situations he’d never faced.
Through these experiences, she hoped Sajun would realize something.
That while friendship was possible, a relationship, even a façade, was absolutely impossible.
They decided to leave the car in Taehee’s parking lot and move by subway. Sajun insisted, saying it was necessary even though it was inconvenient.
Walking shoulder to shoulder to the subway station, Taehee felt unusually awkward and uncomfortable.
It was because of Sajun right beside her, their arms nearly touching, their fingertips almost brushing.
But wait, why am I making such a fuss over a slight touch?
Thinking that she was fussing over nothing, Taehee secretly sighed.
As they reached the main road, Sajun stopped, and so did Taehee.
The first quest for Sajun was right in front of them.
A lively street buzzing with people on a late weekend afternoon. A crowd of people constantly moving in and out of the narrow subway station entrance.
Sajun, having never ridden the subway or been in such crowded places, nor having physical contact with strangers, was now facing the challenge of navigating through it.
Taehee stole a glance at him.
As expected, Sajun’s eyes already bore a faint irritation looking at the bustling crowd.
Trying to give him an out, Taehee slyly suggested, “Sajun, shall we go back?”
At her words, Sajun stepped forward assertively.
With his long arms tucked in his jeans pockets, he walked effortlessly like a model.
Impressed by his bravery, Taehee followed him, smiling to herself, though his courage halted at the subway gate.
Why did she feel like laughing, seeing Sajun frozen like a statue?
Watching people pass through the gates, Sajun asked Taehee, “Can I just tap any card?”
Taehee suppressed a smile and pulled out her credit card.
“Use mine. Today, this sister will treat you to the full course.”
Proudly, she tapped her card and passed through.
Sajun, looking incredulous, followed suit.
The subway was even more densely packed than the streets.
Leaning against the wall, Taehee twitched her nose.
Surprisingly, Sajun was enduring well, unaffected by brushing shoulders with passersby, the cramped space, or the attention drawn by his tall stature and striking looks.
This wasn’t the plan. He wasn’t supposed to handle it so well.
Suddenly feeling a touch on her cheek, Taehee was startled back to reality.
She straightened up and glared at Sajun, who smirked.
“Already hungry? Why are you eating your hair?”
A few strands of hair, stirred by the air conditioner, had slipped into her open mouth. Usually, she would have noticed, but today’s distractions had her oblivious.
Normally, she would have snapped back, but not today.
Feeling flushed, Taehee averted her gaze.
As she swept her hair back with her hands, the subway suddenly stopped.
What terrible timing. As she lost balance and swayed, Sajun also tilted, resulting in Taehee falling into his broad embrace.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
