Fortunately, since everyone was hungry, they temporarily set aside their interest in Lee Hyun’s unrequited love and began their meal.
Thanks to the consideration of being allowed to eat in a separate space, Yerin could finally catch her breath.
Throughout the meal, the secretaries whispered about what Lee Hyun had said earlier.
“If Division Head Cha Hyun is in love, the woman must be truly exceptional, right?”
“Exactly. He’s so perfect that just looking at him can make one fall in love.”
“Maybe that woman already has a man?”
“Indeed. If not, why would she reject Division Head Cha Hyun?”
A sudden question was thrown at Yerin, who had been silently listening.
“Secretary Han, do you know?”
“Pardon?”
“The woman whom the Division Head is head over heels for. You might have seen her.”
Yerin swallowed hard.
There, the woman you all think is so amazing is actually me.
But she couldn’t say that.
“How is she? Is she incredibly beautiful?”
Everyone eagerly awaited Yerin’s response, their eyes sparkling.
To agree or disagree was too ambiguous.
Agreeing felt like praising herself.
Disagreeing seemed like undermining Lee Hyun’s prestige.
“Actually, I don’t really know.”
That was the best response Yerin could muster.
Then.
Madam Yoon appeared with a knock, having finished her meal.
“Secretary Han, could you see me for a moment after you finish eating?”
It was probably just a casual request, but Yerin felt a sudden sweat break out on her back.
She couldn’t just sit there eating slowly, so she stood up.
“Madam, I have finished eating.”
Madam Yoon glanced at Yerin’s nearly untouched bowl and shook her head.
“Eat slowly and come. I have plenty of time.”
Madam Yoon smiled kindly and left.
The secretaries nearby gestured for her to eat.
“Madam is particular about meals.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. She believes meals are more important than work, one of the few who think that way.”
“She means it when she says take your time and come.”
“Yes….”
Though not at ease, Yerin had no choice but to comply with Madam Yoon’s instruction.
After eating about half her meal, she headed to the backyard garden where Madam Yoon was.
As Yerin approached, Madam Yoon smiled warmly and beckoned her closer.
Well-cut fruits and steaming chamomile tea were prepared.
“The men are in the study discussing boring matters.”
“Yes.”
As Yerin sat down, Madam Yoon cautiously glanced at her and broached a subject.
“Secretary Han, what do you think of our Lee Hyun?”
Yerin quickly set down her teacup without a sound.
She swiftly moved her trembling hands below the table.
Clasping them tightly on her lap, she smiled and asked what Madam Yoon meant.
“I don’t quite understand what you’re asking.”
“Just as I said. I’m curious about how unmarried women see our Lee Hyun.”
Yerin’s lips dried up.
Could it be because of Lee Hyun’s lingering gaze in the dining room?
I should say we’re really nothing, no need to worry, but she closed her mouth.
It was unclear what Madam Yoon was thinking, so she couldn’t respond immediately.
Madam Yoon seemed to think Yerin’s hesitation was due to her trying to collect her thoughts.
“Don’t feel pressured. I’m just curious how Lee Hyun is perceived by women in their 20s.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Did you know too?”
“About what?”
“That Lee Hyun has an unrequited love.”
Of course, she knew.
Even that the woman Lee Hyun was secretly in love with was herself.
But admitting to knowing would lead to too many questions, so she decided to feign ignorance.
“I heard it for the first time today.”
“Is that so?”
Madam Yoon observed Yerin’s expression intently.
Yerin replied without hesitation, feigning composure.
“Yes, I haven’t had any personal conversations with the Division Head, so I didn’t catch that. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no need for you to apologize, Secretary Han.”
Madam Yoon waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s not Secretary Han’s fault that Lee Hyun is in unrequited love.”
Though Madam Yoon meant well, Yerin felt dreadful.
Partly feeling responsible, and partly not.
She was standing on that ambiguous line.
“Being my son, I can’t see his flaws.”
“Yes.”
Objectively speaking, Lee Hyun indeed had no flaws.
“I thought the woman Lee Hyun is in love with might be around Secretary Han’s age.”
“…….”
“Wondering how women of that age view a man like our Lee Hyun, just a mother’s curiosity.”
Madam Yoon waited silently for Yerin’s response.
What should she answer?
She felt like her head would explode, unable to decide.
After much thought, Yerin cautiously spoke.
“Division Head Cha, he is a remarkable person.”
“No need for such flattering compliments between us.”
“Then, how about…”
“He is a bit cold in personality, isn’t he?”
“No, not at all.”
“I’ve heard from Secretary Choi, I know.”
Yerin tensed unknowingly at the mention of ‘knowing’.
What does she know?
That Lee Hyun is looking for the woman he lost?
Could Secretary Choi have told her everything?
Her thoughts were spiraling.
Ah.
She felt like she was barely hanging on.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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