His movements halted. Only the sound of ice rolling in the glass continued. Did he regret asking the question? Ha-jin glanced at his actions lightly.
“So now, I have no idea where they are, or even if they are alive.”
“You’re an only child, right?”
“Right.”
Indeed, how could parents not contact their only child? Ha-jin had pondered this too. But what could she do? They must have had their reasons.
“Shall I find them for you?”
Ha-jin’s hand, setting down the glass, hesitated in mid-air. Like a fleeting visitor, Tae-hong picked out the very thought lingering at the end of her mind.
“If you want, I can find them.”
Should she really look for her parents? But did she need to?
What was the last memory? Wasn’t it just an address sent via text? Did it have to be like that?
The answer was clear at the end of her thoughts.
“It’s okay.”
They must have had their reasons, and she didn’t want to show her vulnerability to Tae-hong, especially not her weaknesses.
“Thank you for offering, though.”
Her response was polite but drew a clear line. She hoped he wouldn’t concern himself further. Even if she was labeled as a ‘golden spoon’, she wished to be nothing more, nothing less.
“If you ever need it, let me know.”
The conversation, filled with lingering sentiments, was left hanging. He didn’t press further, his long fingers playing with his glass. His gaze was tilted, fingers touching.
Those impure fingers, they did touch her lips. The circuit of thoughts transported Ha-jin back to that dawn in the hotel room.
When those fingers caressed her nape, she had shivers. Honestly, she was too focused on the lips to remember in detail, but it seemed so.
Water droplets struggled against the cold on the glass’s surface. Would his hand be as warm as it was then?
Snap out of it, Ha-jin. Filled with resentment over her parents, what are you doing now?
A self-deprecating laugh escaped Ha-jin, causing Tae-hong to reflexively turn his head.
Following his prominent Adam’s apple upwards, past his sharp jawline, to his straight nose, and finally, her gaze settled on his eyes, which were fixed solely on her.
She liked that his eyes were only on her. In this moment, she wanted to let go of all her discomfort and vulnerabilities.
Here was a man, usually so arrogant, now wearing a look of apology. He was looking only at her, insignificant as she was. A strange courage welled up inside her.
“Tae-hong. I have a question too, may I ask?”
She wanted to provoke him again. His face, which changed interestingly, pleased her. She wanted to capture that expression, focused only on her, just like when they had kissed.
“Go ahead.”
His lips, which had explored her before, moved with restraint. She instinctively knew. A generous lion was showing mercy to the lowest in the food chain.
Ha-jin exhaled deeply. Like he said, now was the only chance to ask. Situations fade with time, emotions lose their color. Now was the right time.
“How was it?”
Tae-hong’s eyes darkened instantly. His clear gaze deepened, focusing on her. She felt him asking again, knowing yet wanting to hear it.
“How was it with me?”
She expected his answer to grow more skilled as the questions deepened.
Waiting for his response, she finished her remaining drink. His lips were moist. He leaned towards her, their shoulders almost touching, a tight line pulling them together.
Just as his moist lips were about to move…
“Oh my, aren’t you Ha-jin?”
Startled, she hastily pulled away. The hot atmosphere dissipated, and the taut line between them snapped.
The unnaturally shrill voice came from behind them. Tae-hong, as if something had burst, turned around with a scowl.
The woman who called Ha-jin focused her attention not on her but on Tae-hong sitting beside her.
“Ha-jin, right? Zion’s Ha-jin.”
Even though she had always been proud of her association with Zion, in his presence, she felt diminished.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time.”
Ha-jin lightly stood up from her chair, facing the woman. The woman’s gaze was still fixed on Tae-hong over Ha-jin’s shoulder. Despite the obvious interest, Tae-hong remained impassive.
“It’s so good to see you here.”
‘Good to see you’, right, Jose-yeong. The woman who had just appeared was the epitome of pretense. She used to organize social gatherings Ha-jin had once been part of but now avoided at all costs.
Those gatherings, under the guise of ‘natural meetings,’ were always at clubs and parties. Even her father, who doted on her as his precious youngest daughter, indulged her in everything.
Eventually, she lost all decency, filled with conceit, arrogance, and coquetry. She was an expert at categorizing people by their status.
“Who is that guy?”
Now, this girl was eyeing Tae-hong like prey.
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
