As their time together gradually diminished, Sun Woo and Green, who cherished every minute and second, ultimately gave up on sleep.

As they embraced each other tirelessly, burrowing into each other’s arms, dawn broke, and the large window slowly brightened.

“Sun Woo, it seems the sun is rising already.”

“It appears so.”

With a voice full of regret, Sun Woo tightly embraced Green, who was nestled in his arms. Then, with a languid and relaxed smile, he continuously kissed her cheeks and lips.

Green gently stroked his hair. The feeling of his soft hair between her fingers was incredibly pleasant.

“What kind of place is Marseille, where you’re going, Sun Woo?”

“Hmm… It’s a port city in southern France. Perhaps similar to Busan in our country? It’s the second-largest city after Paris.”

Sun Woo mumbled with his lips pressed against Green’s nape. Suddenly, Green, who had been caressing his hair, chuckled.

“Come to think of it, Sun Woo, you seem more interested in places like Marseille or Chiang Mai rather than Paris or Bangkok?”

At Green’s words, Sun Woo raised his head and looked at her with curiosity, amazed that she had noticed this fact.

“That’s right. I prefer places with potential for change, where development projects can be implemented on existing infrastructure, rather than already perfect cities.”

“Oh, is that why you were drawn to me?”

Sun Woo, momentarily not understanding Green’s words, furrowed his brow in confusion. Green’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

“You said I was really clumsy at kissing, right? Did you think, ‘This woman has a lot of potential for development!’ and feel challenged?”

Sun Woo laughed out loud at Green’s whimsical comment. It seemed he had laughed more since meeting Green than in the past 30 years combined.

“Well, when I first kissed you while drunk, I was truly at a loss. Wondering how to cultivate this wilderness.”

“What?”

Green bristled at the insulting term ‘wilderness’, but Sun Woo quickly stole a kiss from her lips.

Though Green pounded his shoulders in indignation, her strength gradually diminished, and soon she was pulling his neck closer with both arms.

After passionately exploring her lips, Sun Woo slowly pulled away and gazed at her intently. His eyes were so intense and serious that Green felt inexplicably shy.

“I realized on the first day. What I thought was wilderness turned out to be a blessed land flowing with milk and honey.”

“My goodness, what a lewd thing to say!”

Green’s face immediately turned red at Sun Woo’s bold metaphor. But he burrowed into her neck again, playing coy.

“How is that lewd? A land flowing with milk and honey is the greatest blessing and gift God gave to humans.”

His hand slid down to Green’s slender waist. Green tried to avoid his ticklish touch, but soon found herself trapped in Sun Woo’s strong arms.

Sun Woo gently stroked her hair and said,

“There’s also a large cathedral called Notre-Dame in Marseille. I should visit it first when I get there.”

“Why the cathedral?”

“To offer a prayer of thanks. For sending you, a blessing, into my life that seemed like a wasteland.”

“Sun Woo…”

As Green looked up at him with moved eyes, Sun Woo pressed his lips gently to her eyelids.

“I love you. I love you unbelievably much, Han Green.”

“Ah…”

Green burst into tears at Sun Woo’s unexpected confession of love.

Given Sun Woo’s difficulty in expressing emotions, Green had thought she might never hear those words in her lifetime.

Words held great power. When the word ‘love’ came from his lips, it felt as if an unbreakable, solid knot had been tied between them.

“I love you too, Sun Woo.”

Green embraced him passionately. And she showered him with kisses, unashamed of her clumsiness. Sun Woo responded to her kisses with equal fervor.

Green thought that Sun Woo, too, was an oasis-like blessing in her life that had once resembled a desolate desert.

Green, who had been holding Sun Woo’s shoulders, slowly lowered her hands.

Just as Sun Woo had become familiar with her body, she too had grown somewhat accustomed to his. She now felt she knew how to stimulate him.

Sun Woo also quickly heated up, following Green’s naughty fingertips.

“Han Green, you really…”

Breathing heavily, his eyes, boiling with desire, looked as if they would devour Green.

Outside, dawn had already broken brightly, but their time was still deep in the night.

*****

As the distance between the hotel and the airport was just about 10 minutes, Sun Woo took his time. He had already completed online check-in, and his luggage consisted of just one small trunk suitable for carry-on.

However, when they arrived at the airport with about an hour left before the flight’s departure, Green stomped her feet anxiously.

For international flights, it’s an unwritten rule to arrive at least 2 hours, preferably 3 hours early, due to potential unexpected variables in the departure process!

“Sun Woo, is it really okay to go now?”

“It’s fine. We have little luggage, and first-class allows for faster boarding.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Green realize she was like a mouse worrying about a cat.

‘If Hannah saw this, she’d scold me again for being a dirt spoon worrying about a diamond spoon.’

As she inwardly laughed, remembering her friend, someone came running breathlessly towards the two of them. It was Secretary Na Mi Ran.

“Director Jin Sun Woo!”

“Hello, Secretary Na.”

“Oh, madam is here too? I’m so glad I caught you before your departure, Director.”

She seemed to have been anxious about missing Sun Woo the entire way. Despite being out of breath, she was visibly delighted to see Sun Woo.

“Secretary Na, didn’t I say there was no need to come see me off?”

The coldest words imaginable came from Sun Woo’s mouth, which had been dripping with honey when they were alone. Green, standing beside him, felt apologetic herself. Honestly, it’s not like Secretary Na came because she wanted to.

Green worried that it might be because of her childish demand that ‘if it’s just a secretary and boss, they should just work!’, but Secretary Na showed no particular reaction. This kind of attitude from Sun Woo was everyday occurrence for her.

Secretary Na Mi Ran handed Sun Woo an envelope with her usual capitalist smile.

“The PR team leader has provided the first draft of the print advertisement.”

“You could have just emailed this…”

“And this is from the Vice Chairman. He asked me to deliver it to you.”

Secretary Na handed over a small envelope made of high-quality Korean paper. It was clearly an envelope containing money.

As Sun Woo opened it on the spot, Green peeked curiously from the side. There were five 500 euro bills inside.

Before Green could express her amazement, Sun Woo asked Secretary Na,

“Is this all he gave? Did he not say what it was for?”

“No, he didn’t say anything this time either.”

“I see. Thank you for your hard work. You can go back now, Secretary Na.”

“Have a good trip, Director.”

Secretary Na bid farewell to Sun Woo and Green, then left the airport with a light step.

As Sun Woo put the money envelope in his inside pocket, Green playfully poked his side.

“You’re lucky, Sun Woo. Your mother even gives you pocket money for your business trip.”

It was clearly meant as a joke, but Sun Woo’s expression suddenly hardened. No, it wasn’t that he hardened, he looked surprised.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“This is… pocket money?”

“Yes, what else would it be if not pocket money?”

Sun Woo looked back and forth between the money envelope and Green’s face with a bewildered expression.

“I thought it was to buy something on the way back.”

“What?”

Green was so dumbfounded by Sun Woo’s reaction that she was at a loss for words. Even for a mother and son with little communication, how could there be such a complete lack of understanding!

“He always gives money without saying anything, so I’ve been thinking of it as a homework assignment, wondering what to buy every time I go on a business trip. But this was pocket money?”

Green inwardly heaved a big sigh. What good is being a Mensa member with an IQ over 150 if you don’t understand people’s hearts like this!

As the departure time was pressing, Green pushed Sun Woo towards the departure gate.

“We don’t have time, so go in for now, and make sure to contact your mother later.”

“…What should I say when I contact her?”

“What do you mean, what should you say? Tell her ‘Thank you for the pocket money, I’ll buy something delicious in Marseille.’ She’ll like that the most.”

Sun Woo, who had been standing with a blank expression, slowly nodded. Then he hugged Green tightly before turning towards the departure gate.

Green followed behind him, chattering away with nagging remarks.

“Don’t skip meals, call me as soon as you arrive. Make sure to contact your mother, and absolutely don’t take off your wedding ring!”

Sun Woo turned back at Green’s words. And as always, he smiled brightly without a sound. It was the smile of her husband, whom she loved most in the world.

****

Having safely boarded first class, Sun Woo stared at his mobile phone for a long time.

After hesitating several times, he finally decided to send a text message to In Young. He was too shy to say it over the phone.

“Thank you for the pocket money you sent. There’s a seafood dish I like in Marseille, and when I arrive, I’ll use the pocket money you gave to”

Sun Woo stopped writing here, then deleted the entire message. He pressed In Young’s number.

“I’ve boarded the plane. We’ll be departing soon.”

“Yes.”

As In Young was about to hang up, Sun Woo hurriedly added,

“I received the pocket money you sent. Thank you.”

Even as he spoke, Sun Woo’s heart was anxious. He was inwardly worried about what to do if In Young asked what he was talking about. Then, a faint sound of In Young laughing came through the receiver.

“…”

“…Yes.”

“She said I should tell you that I’ll use this money to buy something delicious in Marseille.”

Sun Woo answered, feeling very shy. He felt like a high school son leaving for a field trip. This time, the sound of In Young laughing was a bit louder.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

“Yes.”

A smile spread across Sun Woo’s face as he ended the call. He sent a text message to Green.

“I talked with the Vice Chairman. Thank you♥”

Green’s reply came less than two seconds after Sun Woo sent the message.

“I miss you already, Sun Woo. I love you♥♥♥”

A gentle smile settled on Sun Woo’s face as he switched his phone to airplane mode.

It was a smile that contained the relief of being exempted from a troublesome homework and gratitude towards Green for resolving a long-standing misunderstanding.