“Yes. I’m fine. Sir, it’s not Mr. Lee’s fault.”
After helping Yoon Ju up, Do Jin examined her carefully, then looked at Ji Na with a grim expression.
“Yoon Ju, you know they saved your life, right?”
“Oh, don’t say that. Mr. Lee is right. I tripped because of my own mistake.”
“Why are you so kind? How are you planning to survive in this harsh world?”
It’s been said that a nagging sisterinlaw is more hateful than a hitting motherinlaw.
Ji Na no longer wanted to associate with them. There was not the slightest hint of lingering affection for Do Jin.
If there had been, she probably would have plucked out all the hair on her body. Ji Na descended from the mountain at a faster pace than when she had climbed. Jin Woo quietly followed behind her.
“Are you okay?”
A few hours later, as they neared the entrance of the mountain, Jin Woo asked. Ji Na, soaked with sweat, nodded her head as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Yes, I feel great.”
It seemed like an answer to a question about her mountain hike. Jin Woo watched Ji Na, suppressing the bitter feelings inside him.
“I’m glad.”
Her forced cheerfulness hurt him. As they walked along the gentle slope leading to the flat ground, Jin Woo cautiously asked Ji Na,
“Would you like to have some delicious pancake when we get down?”
His warm offer rather unsettled Ji Na’s heart.
No, it seemed to make her feel even more pathetic. It felt as if parts she didn’t want to be seen were exposed.
“Seo Jin Woo.”
Ji Na halted her steps. There was a tremor in her gaze as she looked at Jin Woo.
The surroundings fell silent, as if the noise from the hikers had disappeared in an instant. The sound of rustling leaves, swaying in the occasional wind, could be heard like waves.
Upon meeting Jin Woo’s deep gaze, Ji Na hesitated for a moment.
She intended to tell him firmly not to stay by her side.
But upon seeing Jin Woo’s warm eyes, she could not bring herself to open her mouth.
Maybe just for today, she could lean on him.
“Just the pancake?”
At Ji Na’s words, Jin Woo’s eyebrows slightly raised.
“You also have to drink rice wine.”
With a bold statement, Ji Na started walking again. Seeing her like this, Jin Woo smiled with a pleasant voice.
“Sister, about the alcohol, I think……”
I should refrain for a while. That’s because these are the only pants I have today.
Pretending not to hear Jin Woo’s teasing, Ji Na shook her head. However, she could not contain the laughter that slipped out.
“Pants? I can wash them for you. My laundry skills have improved lately.”
“Ugh……”
Jin Woo, stretching his lips in disbelief, looked joyous. Every moment he spent with Ji Na was too good. The sunlight pouring through the leaves scattered over Ji Na’s smile.
“You look good when you smile. It feels like you’re much younger, you know?”
“What?”
Ji Na glanced at Jin Woo. Through the laughter, Jin Woo’s affectionate gaze was directed at Ji Na.
“Smile more. From now on.”
I’ll make you smile.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ji Na squinted her eyes, suspiciously observing Jin Woo, as if trying to read his intentions.
‘Are you teasing me because my eyesight is bad now?’ As if saying so, Jin Woo didn’t deny it. Rather, he matched her, nodding his head with a somewhat serious face while keeping a straight face.
“Sister, you should smile a lot.”
“You better watch out.”
As Jin Woo threw a playful joke and swiftly walked away as if running away, Ji Na adjusted her stick and chased after him. Their laughter echoed in the fresh mountain air.
The weekend passed and Monday, when even words felt heavy, came. Ji Na went to work at the company more briskly than ever.
The worry of having to continue seeing her exboyfriend in the same office disappeared cleanly due to the mountain hike. She realized that even worrying was a luxury for her.
“Darling, you seem to be in a better mood today?”
As the approaching Ji Hye asked with a grin, Ji Na gave a small smile.
“Yes, it’s a happy Monday.”
At Ji Na’s words, Ji Hye’s eyes widened in surprise. Her subtly crumpled expression was comical. Ji Hye looked around and approached Ji Na, whispering.
“Darling, did you win something like the lottery?”
To anyone, the phrase ‘happy Monday’ would seem strange for a worker.
At Ji Hye’s actions, Ji Na chuckled and laughed.
“No, it’s not that.”
Perhaps it’s even better fortune than winning the lottery. The breakup with Do Jin.
“Just starting with energy is good, right?”
“Ah……”
With a face that couldn’t believe, Ji Hye reluctantly opened her mouth.
“Hello.”
As they heard a soft, pleasant voice, they simultaneously turned their heads. Jin Woo, dressed in a neat suit, had arrived at work. Ji Hye, who had been blankly staring at his handsome appearance, spoke slowly.
“I want to be in a good mood too.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off Jin Woo as he sat down at his desk.
Ji Na smiled, as if she couldn’t stop Ji Hye from staring. Jin Woo, seated at his desk, looked at Ji Na with a relaxed expression. With a hint of a smile, his eyes twinkled.
“No, just sitting at the desk, why does it look like a photo shoot? Maybe I should have taken the initiative.”
Ji Na lightly smiled as she locked eyes with Jin Woo, listening to Ji Hye’s remorseless regret. She recalled the shopping bag containing the shirt she had to give him today.
Jin Woo had always been like that, even in stillness, he shone.
She liked the sight of him, shining like the sunlight. At the same time, she was scared. If she got too close to him, her dark side might be exposed without a filter.
Now… she wasn’t sure.
Now, she liked his warmth.
Enough to make her forget about the wounds her exboyfriend had given her.
Just as much as the distance between a senior and an intern, could she bask in his warmth?
“Just a moment.”
Then, the entrance to the office became noisy.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
