Jinwook finally spoke, wearing a flawless black suit as he stepped out of the car. The weather, which had been hot for a while, had finally cooled down, and a refreshing autumn breeze greeted him.
In Jinwook’s hand was a bouquet of flowers. After instructing the driver to wait, he headed somewhere. Climbing the tree-covered stairs past the parking lot, Jinwook entered a building.
Inside the building, there was no sign of people, creating a quiet and cool atmosphere. As Jinwook took step by step, the sound of his footsteps echoed in the silent space.
Jinwook’s footsteps on the marble floor came to a halt. His gaze met a framed picture at the front. In the frame, a face familiar yet long unseen appeared. With fair skin and clear brown eyes, the person in the smiling photograph was none other than Yeonju’s mother, Mi-hyun.
The eye color and the way her lips curled when she smiled were just like Yeonju’s.
She used to smile like this until she collapsed.
Looking at the photo, Jinwook couldn’t help but feel Yeonju’s longing smile.
Jinwook placed the bouquet in front of the tombstone that read “Shin Mi-hyun” and respectfully bowed.
“Hello. Mother. It’s been a long time since I greeted you.”
During the lunch break at work, Jinwook took the time to visit the burial site where Mi-hyun rested. Yeonju found it difficult to come here after becoming pregnant, so Jinwook visited alone.
“Yeonju’s birthday is coming up, and I thought of you, so I came to see you like this.”
The night before, Jinwook asked Yeonju what she wanted for her birthday. After a moment of contemplation, Yeonju said she didn’t want anything special.
Her face, as she said so, felt strangely lonely, and Jinwook suddenly thought of Mi-hyun.
If Mi-hyun were alive, she would have thanked her for giving birth to and raising Yeonju. Maybe Yeonju also remembered Mi-hyun, so Jinwook came here in her place.
“Yeonju is doing well. And Yeonmu is growing up healthy. It would have been great if you were here too, but I feel sorry that we couldn’t be together.”
Jinwook’s gaze at Mi-hyun’s photo sank as he continued.
“When you were alive, I didn’t visit you often. I apologize for that. At that time, I was indifferent and neglectful to both you and Yeonju, using the excuse of being busy.”
As memories of the past flooded back, Jinwook couldn’t lift his head. He couldn’t understand why he had dedicated everything to work in the past. He felt like his past self was foolish and pathetic, and he couldn’t bear it.
Exhaling a sigh tainted with regret, he looked at the photo again.
“Now, above all, I prioritize Yeonju and strive for her happiness. I remember what Yeonju used to say.”
Jinwook recalled Yeonju’s past words as he spoke.
“I heard that you went through a lot raising Yeonju during her lifetime.”
Although I haven’t seen it myself, I could imagine.
How challenging it must have been for a woman to raise a child alone.
Living with those wicked people, how did you endure and survive through married life?
I was concerned about the now-alone Yeonju, thinking she might not have been able to close her eyes properly. After becoming a parent, I understood how deep Mi-hyun’s struggles and pains were during her lifetime.
Continuing the words he would have wanted to convey if she were alive, Jinwook spoke.
“Thank you for enduring those difficult times and raising Yeonju so healthy and well.”
“Thank you for letting Yeonju be by my side.”
Jinwook’s voice, now warm and emotional, broke.
“Really… Thank you so much.”
Jinwook swallowed the welling tears and looked at Mi-hyun’s face in the photo. Then, with a clear and firm tone, he continued.
“I will take responsibility until the end to ensure Yeonju can live as a happy person by my side.”
“I will cherish and love you for your share, Mother.”
With a more resolute voice than ever before, he conveyed his sincerity.
“I promise with everything I have.”
Jinwook’s eyes turned red. He bowed his head and gave his final farewell.
“So, please don’t worry, Yeonju…, rest peacefully there.”
“Did you receive flowers today?”
Jinwook, sitting on the sofa, turned his head at Yeonju’s question.
Yeonju, coming out of the dressing room, was holding something.
“Why the sudden question?”
Approaching him, Yeonju showed what she had in her hand.
“This fell from your jacket.”
Jinwook looked at Yeonju’s hand. It was a small white flower petal.
“Oh.”
Judging by the color of the flower, it seemed to have fallen from the bouquet he bought when he visited the burial site today.
“I didn’t receive it; I bought it to give.”
“For me?”
“No, for your mother.”
At his words, Yeonju’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…For my mother?”
“Yes.”
“Did you go to see my mom? When?”
“Today.”
“Why?”
“Because your birthday is coming up, I wanted to pay my respects.”
Yeonju, quite astonished by his unexpected gesture, bombarded him with questions, and Jinwook responded calmly.
“Why did you go to see my mom when my birthday is approaching?”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
