Seong-jun, who had finished the evening meeting, found his way to the rooftop. An employee who recognized him bowed and greeted him.
Seong-jun reciprocated their greeting with a nod and leisurely leaned against the wall in a secluded area. He took a cigarette from his suit pocket, put it in his mouth, and took a deep drag, lost in thought.
Something seemed off about his wife.
Until last night, the woman he knew as his wife seemed genuine. However, in an instant, it felt as if she had changed.
For example, when he pointed out the need for better self-care.
“Every time I talk to you, it’s frustrating. Sometimes I get angry too.”
Unexpectedly, she expressed her dissatisfaction, pointing out Seong-jun’s behavior. At that moment, he was genuinely taken aback.
Almost speechless, he found himself staring at the woman before him, as if to confirm whether she was truly his wife.
The wife Seong-jun knew wasn’t that kind of woman.
She was quiet, calm, enjoyed contemplation, and occasionally spent time playing the piano, which was her major. Apart from that, she had no interest in anything else and always nodded in agreement, even when he criticized her actions.
In fact, these were the words Seong-jun had wanted to say to Seo-yeon since their marriage. However, being told that she was the one feeling frustrated and angry left Seong-jun feeling unjustly treated. Frustrated and angry? Who would say such a thing?
“Was she always this thin?”
Seong-jun lit his second cigarette. Fixing his gaze on the Seoul skyline from the rooftop, he recalled his wife’s slender arms while lying on the hospital bed.
“Could they easily break?”
His wife was taller than average, with a weight that was less than average. Although he usually didn’t pay much attention, seeing a needle stuck in her thin arm made him vividly aware of it. Her frail arms were so weak that the sight of the nurse removing the needle made his heart pound with anxiety, afraid that she might get a scar.
Thinking about it again, Seong-jun furrowed his brow in frustration. Even though the nurse skillfully finished the task, he couldn’t get the image of his wife’s arms out of his mind.
When Seong-jun took out his third cigarette, his phone, which he had placed inside his jacket, vibrated.
Chairman, I have safely escorted Madam home. Should I return to the company now?
“It’s fine. Since there’s nothing else to attend to today, go ahead and leave for the day.”
Oh? Really? You’re going to drive yourself? Is that okay?
“Who was the one singing about being tired from working overtime just yesterday? Saying it’s okay not to earn money and that her wish is to rest for a day. Am I remembering it wrong?”
Even with Seong-jun’s question, Jin-seong did not let go of the thread of suspicion.
Of course, she did say something like that, but… If you hate overtime so much, why don’t you just rest at home instead of coming to work? It’s suspicious that the chairman suddenly allows you to take a break. Is this some kind of trap card? Or maybe a hidden camera?
“Come to think of it, overtime might suit her. If you want, return to the company right away. There’s plenty of work for you to do.”
Ugh.
In response to Seong-jun’s answer, Jin-seong spoke as if horrified.
No, that’s not it. I’m suited for leaving work!
“Then stop complaining and head home right away. We’ll handle it as a week of vacation, so go on a trip or sing your songs. And don’t answer the phone even if I call.”
… Paid leave?
Seong-jun responded, rubbing his eyes as if tired.
“Yeah.”
Jin-seong, with a simple answer, didn’t hide his joy.
Oh? Really? Is that true? Thank you!
And soon, unrelated endless chatter began. Seong-jun frowned.
Jin-seong’s father used to be Seong-jun’s father’s driver. Growing up together in the same space since childhood, Jin-seong regarded Seong-jun more like a comfortable older brother than a co-worker.
Perhaps that was why he sometimes couldn’t distinguish between work and personal matters. Even without permission, whenever there was a chance, he would nostalgically revert to his childhood, pouring out his personal stories, seeking advice, or asking for sympathy.
He was old but still didn’t understand society. If Jin-seong’s grandfather, who was the chairman of Hanking, found out about how casually he treated Seong-jun, it could lead to serious consequences.
Under normal circumstances, when it seemed like Jin-seong’s meaningless chatter was about to start, Seong-jun would have simply pressed the end button without any further response.
However, realizing that the senseless topic of conversation was about his wife, Seong-jun involuntarily tuned in.
I accidentally played a loud song and worried that you might not like it. But you kindly said it’s okay.
The reason Jin-seong raised his voice while boasting about such a trivial matter was that his wife had a naturally kind and considerate personality. She genuinely gained favor easily from people, especially from someone like Jin-seong.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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