Fragments of a Past Life

Chapter 108 Fragments of a Past Life

"If you want to get married, you should date a Korean man with Mina's qualities, not me."

The evening breeze blew through the woman's bangs, and strands of hair got into her eyes, making them itch and bringing tears to her eyes.

"If you haven't decided to get married yet, you can tell me you're not ready. I don't understand what you're trying to say."

Jung Do-hoon, in the driver's seat, glanced at Minatozaki Sana, gripped the steering wheel tightly in frustration, and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself down.

"What I'm trying to say is that we should have clearly realized this when we first got together: it would be difficult for us to get married. Or you and I should have been mentally prepared that marriage is destined to be a long and arduous battle."

"I'm mentally prepared for that. Getting a marriage certificate is difficult, but that won't stop me from proposing, right? And that won't stop you from saying yes, right?"

"If you can't even register your marriage, what's the point of a formal proposal or even a wedding?"

"I can't reason with you."

Memories of my past life reappeared before me.

It wasn't until Mina's finger gently tapped Jung Do-hoon's forehead that he snapped back to reality.

"Weren't you going to caramelize the sugar? Be careful with the heat." Mina smiled gently at him. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"I was just thinking about something." Jung Do-hoon shook his head and quickly turned around: "Yeji, get me some water."

"How much?" Huang Lizhi asked, his body tense.

"Half a bowl of water."

Zheng Daoxun took it and absentmindedly poured it in.

From an objective point of view, if there really is a Korean like Mina, or if Mina is Korean, then she does indeed fit the conventional standards for choosing a spouse.

The husband is a young and promising diplomat who became the director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before he was thirty, while the wife is a famous artist. Although their family is not extremely wealthy, they have a long and distinguished family tradition in education and scholarship.

With ancestors who were businessmen and fathers who were scholars, the generation of Nagai Minami could pass on their accumulated connections in the business and academic worlds to a rising star like Jeong Do-hoon who was gaining popularity in politics.

But if Jung Do-hoon just wanted to find a wife like that step by step, he already has the answer by now, doesn't he?

Park Ah-jeong is the perfect candidate.

But in the end, in his previous life, how could a prodigy like Zheng Daoxun, before encountering major setbacks, have wronged himself in matters of the heart and been with someone he didn't like just for the sake of "marrying someone of equal social standing"?

Having lived a second life, Jung Do-hoon looks back on the past and, although he finds it naive, he doesn't regret it.

At least until the moment he died in the car accident, he adhered to the principle of only being with the people he liked.

Even after the breakup, with so many seniors and superiors wanting to introduce him to others, and so many temptations surrounding him, Jung Do-hoon held onto his pride and refused to compromise with reality or casually choose one of the many temptations available.

However, in this life, Jung Do-hoon does not want to walk that path again, as it is tormenting both himself and Minatozaki Sana.

Perhaps sensing Jung Do-hoon's hidden low spirits, Hwang Ye-ji and Mina both chose to remain quiet and tacitly completed the preparation of lunch.

The fragrant food was served, and Ya Xian, in a good mood, ate with great relish.

Mina wondered if she had gone too far with her joke; she had been momentarily provoked by Hwang Yee-ji's words.

Even if Jung Do-hoon wouldn't marry a foreigner, he wouldn't marry a Korean woman from an ordinary family.

That was what she wanted to express, but for some reason, it seemed to have touched a nerve with Jung Do-hoon, or stirred up some bad memories for him.

Hwang Ye-ji wasn't in a good mood either. Mina's words seemed to have already sentenced Hwang Ye-ji and Jung Do-hoon's relationship. With her family background, no matter how much she earned as an idol, it would be difficult for her to compare with women of Jung Do-hoon's level.

It's not a matter of how much money you have.

No matter how much money she earns, it cannot be converted into social influence.

But—she had only been interacting with Jung Do-hoon with the intention of continuing to be friends with him. When did she start having thoughts other than being friends?

Was it the physical contact between the two at the barbecue stand? Or was it the scene the morning after he had a hangover at Sana Minatozaki's house, when they sat side by side in the park?

The meal ended in this subdued atmosphere.

Just like the sweltering, humid weather outside the window, being in it makes one feel sleepy and tired.

"Eat this roasted chicken while it's hot, don't let me eat it all by myself—Yeji unnie, you eat the drumstick, Mina unnie, you eat the wing. Oppa, you—"

Zheng Yaxian looked at the kiln-roasted chicken she had finished dividing, blinked, and then looked at Zheng Daoxun, who was already wiping his mouth. Her originally good mood fluctuated a bit.

"Oh, so all that's left for Oppa is the chicken butt, huh?" Jung Do-hoon deliberately glared at Ya-hyun, jokingly complaining.

Today was undoubtedly a success for her, but she also seemed to have failed.

Although Ya-Hsien had no idea how she had made Zheng Dao-Xun feel so bad.

Although Jung Do-hoon still chatted casually with the group, and although he still considerately put her favorite dishes in her bowl, and although he still complained about Ya-hsien—

But she knew that Jung Do-hoon must be in a bad mood.

She didn't seem to understand Zheng Daoxun well enough; she didn't know what was troubling him.

He's someone who can remain calm and composed even when a group of Korean celebrities are stranded in Indonesia.

After lunch, Mina and Reiji tactfully helped clear away the dishes and left one after the other.

Only Ya-Hsien and Jung Do-Hsun, who was aimlessly watching the news, remained in the room.

He remained silent, seemingly lost in thought, so she didn't dare to speak either. She simply sat close to him cautiously, pressing her shoulder against his arm and then quietly embracing Zheng Daoxun's body.

"Oppa?"

"Hmm?" Jung Do-hoon snapped out of his daze and looked at the girl who had buried her head in his arms.

You don't seem to be in a good mood.

"No, I was just thinking about some work-related things." Jung Do-hoon pointed to the content on the television, where current affairs news was discussing the parliamentary elections six months later.

"Oh————" Zheng Yaxian didn't ask any further questions. From her perspective, Zheng Daoxun was already in a bad mood before he put the dishes on the table, and she was watching a drama during that time.

But Zheng Daoxun couldn't fool her.

"Oppa?"

"What's wrong?" Zheng Daoxun put his arm around Ya Xian's shoulder.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking that if I were old enough to drink now, I could have a drink and chat with you."

"Fool, drinking won't help you drown your sorrows. It won't solve the problem, and you'll only feel worse when you wake up."

"So—Oppa, you thought of something that makes you unhappy, right?"

"More or less," Jung Do-hoon said, raising his hand to pat Ya-hsien's head. "But it has nothing to do with you."

"How could your feelings be unrelated to me?" Ya-Hsien pressed her cheek against Jung Do-Hsun's chest. "But if it's inconvenient for you to say it, just think of me~ No matter what happens, I'll be by your side, won't I?"

"Ugh~" Zheng Daoxun feigned disgust and gently pushed Ya Xian away. "Why are you getting goosebumps?"

In response, Ya Xian kicked Zheng Daoxun in the thigh with a pitiful expression.