“Haeyeon, did you finish the task I asked for yesterday? I was worried since it was difficult and the deadline was tight.”
“Oh, yes, I’ve completed it.”
Haeyeon respectfully responded, handing over the finished report, brightening Sojeong’s face. Sojeong proudly gestured towards their colleagues with a thumbs up, boasting about their new recruit, which prompted teasing comments.
“Wasn’t Lee Sojeong the team’s junior just the other day?”
Choi Jung-hyeon, the manager, joked with a tone of disbelief, causing laughter among the employees.
“Don’t laugh, seniors. It’s really enjoyable to come to work these days with a newbie like Min Haeyeon.”
“Oh, really? Since when did we have another junior? Lee, go and properly do the inventory stock check.”
Choi doused Sojeong’s enthusiasm with work duties, igniting laughter in the office.
Amidst the small commotion, Haeyeon felt warm-hearted. Not every company could boast such a friendly atmosphere. This thought brought her gratitude that lasted until the end of the day.
“Good work, everyone.”
Director Seol announced the end of the day, and the team members hurriedly left. Haeyeon, joining the crowd, headed to the parking lot.
Her destination was the same restaurant she had previously met with Yunho. The attendant, who was the same as last time, politely informed her that Yunho hadn’t arrived yet.
Haeyeon entered the room, greeted by neatly arranged food, probably pre-ordered by Yunho. She waited quietly, and soon footsteps approached from outside.
“Sorry for being late. The traffic was a bit heavy.”
Yunho entered the room with a brown briefcase, apologizing. Haeyeon couldn’t immediately respond, her attention fixated on the briefcase he carried. Yunho, noticing her gaze, hid the briefcase behind him with a teasing gesture, which only increased Haeyeon’s curiosity. Unperturbed, he changed the subject.
“Let’s eat first.”
“Okay.”
Haeyeon replied with a deflated voice, realizing that pressing Yunho now was futile. It might be better to eat, as she knew she wouldn’t have the presence of mind to eat once she saw the documents.
The Korean cuisine, like the last time, was savory, but Haeyeon could hardly taste it, eating mechanically, while Yunho chatted about various things, appearing quite satisfied.
“If I had known you would be working, I would have recommended our company.”
The conversation went like this, mostly small talk with no expectation of meaningful responses from her.
Finally, after dessert, Haeyeon put down her spoon.
“Please hand over the documents now.”
Her determined face exuded authority. Despite her forceful manner, Yunho remained unflustered, leisurely sipping his tea. To Haeyeon, this wait felt like an eternity.
Yunho finally brought the briefcase to the table, smiling subtly.
“Before I give you the documents, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
What could he possibly say in this situation? Haeyeon couldn’t guess, but she readily agreed, eager to get her hands on the documents.
“These documents are not complete.”
“What do you mean…”
Haeyeon frowned, quickly grasping the situation.
“The information from the last month before you lost your memory is partially missing. It’s been difficult to track down that part.”
Yunho’s face held a smile, contrasting Haeyeon’s growing seriousness.
If it were just a matter of time, Yunho could have postponed their meeting.
But the fact that only part of the documents was handed over meant that even with Yunho’s resources, the event was too well-hidden to be easily uncovered.
“…”
“The rest, I will inform you as soon as I find it. For now, please take this.”
“Okay.”
Haeyeon slowly took the file Yunho handed her from his briefcase. Though it was just a light bundle of paper, it felt immensely heavy. She placed the file carefully in her bag.
“Ah.”
Remembering something, Haeyeon opened her bag again and took out an item to show Yunho. He furrowed his brow.
“What is this?”
“It’s the ‘price’ I mentioned last time.”
It was the ‘price’ she had spoken of at their last meeting.
Originally, Haeyeon had planned to exchange it for all the information Yunho had gathered, but it seemed appropriate to give it now, feeling Yunho’s sincerity in their agreement.
Upon receiving the ‘price,’ Yunho’s demeanor became serious, focusing on Haeyeon’s hand as he calmly spoke.
“A recorder.”
Haeyeon had handed him a compact portable recorder. Purchased the day she first received a call from the previously unknown Lee Soorin, it contained their conversation.
“Hmm…”
Surprisingly, Yunho did not accept the evidence but merely looked at it and chuckled.
“It seems I’m not yet worthy to receive this, Haeyeon.”
“What?”
Haeyeon quickly understood. He meant he couldn’t accept it yet, as the information was still incomplete.
“Let’s meet again after you’ve fully reviewed the documents.”
With that, they both stood up. Leaving the restaurant, Haeyeon was acutely aware of the bag on the passenger seat. The house was dark, as DoHa was away on a business trip.
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
