Busan, visited for new product development.

Tae Yeon had already requested the factory to produce konjac rice with the recipe she created.

The factory manager warmly welcomed Do Joon and Tae Yeon who came down from Seoul.

“You must be tired from the long journey.”

“Is the tasting sample I requested in advance ready?”

“Of course. Let’s go this way.”

Entering a prepared space on one side, there were two types of konjac rice that Tae Yeon had proposed as new products.

Do Joon and Tae Yeon sat down and savored the taste of the freshly made konjac rice.

First, they tasted the konjac rice made by mixing various grains like oats, barley, and brown rice.

After slowly savoring it in his mouth, Do Joon spoke in a low voice.

“Miss Jin Tae Yeon, what do you think of the mixed grain ratio?”

“I think it would be better with a bit less oats. It feels a bit dry now. What do you think, Director?”

“I agree.”

Tae Yeon diligently recorded the conversation she shared with Do Joon in her diary.

“How about releasing different rice quantities?”

“In what way?”

“Some people might eat less, so we could offer two different quantities for consumers to choose from.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Next, Do Joon and Tae Yeon took a spoonful of the product flavored with soybean paste. Both of them made the same expression.

“Director, this is tastier than I expected.”

“It’s surprising. It could be a nice change when people get tired of the mixed grain konjac rice.”

After carefully finishing the tasting and recording points for improvement, the two left the factory.

As the review process ended faster than expected, they had some time left.

The original plan was to stay in Busan for a day and return to Seoul for lunch tomorrow.

Tae Yeon checked the time and looked at Do Joon.

“The business trip ended earlier than expected. Should we look for new flight tickets back to Seoul?”

“No.”

Do Joon had a determined look. Then he asked Tae Yeon.

“Miss Jin Tae Yeon, have you been to Busan often?”

“No. I’ve only been here briefly for business trips, never for leisure.”

As if he expected that answer, Do Joon pulled up something on his phone and handed it to Tae Yeon. It was densely packed with information in table format.

“These are Busan restaurants chosen by Secretary Choi. Pick one you’d like to visit.”

Tae Yeon received the phone Do Joon handed her, secretly impressed by his thoughtfulness.

Not only restaurants but also good date spots were meticulously organized.

Having eaten a lot of konjac rice during the tasting, she wasn’t hungry yet.

After pondering for a moment while looking at the phone, Tae Yeon hesitantly spoke up.

“There is a place I’d like to go…”

“Where?”

“Director, shall we go see the ocean?”

“If that’s what you want.”

Do Joon moved first towards where the car was parked. Something seemed to displease him as he stopped abruptly after a few steps with a hardened expression.

Because Do Joon turned around without warning, Tae Yeon, who had been following closely behind him, bumped her face into his chest with a thud.

The sound of the collision was quite loud, causing Do Joon to look worried.

“Ah…”

“Are you alright?”

Do Joon bent down to check Tae Yeon’s forehead.

This caused the distance between them to become even closer.

“Let me see.”

Do Joon reached out and gently held Tae Yeon’s chin.

He lifted it up to examine her face closely.

As the hot summer sunlight fell directly on Tae Yeon’s face, Do Joon took a step forward and covered her with his shadow.

“I’m fine.”

“It looks a bit red and swollen.”

Do Joon touched the reddened forehead that contrasted with her fair skin. There was another area that had turned red besides her forehead.

Reaching out his finger, Do Joon lightly tapped Tae Yeon’s reddened cheek. Surprised, Tae Yeon’s lips parted slightly.

Do Joon gently ran his tongue over his lower lip, as if embarrassed.

‘Isn’t it unfair to tempt like this in broad daylight?’

Looking at Tae Yeon staring up at him with wide eyes, Do Joon felt strangely unsettled.

Two thoughts fiercely battled within Do Joon: the desire to tease her a bit more and the question of what he was doing.

“What’s wrong, Director?”

And in the end, what won was…

“It’s nothing.”

Do Joon’s reason, not his desire.

Do Joon took a step back with eyes full of lingering attachment.

Confirming that he had moved away, Tae Yeon lowered her head deeply.

Her rapid heartbeat, caused by Do Joon’s proximity, had yet to return to normal.

Hoo.

Taking a deep breath, Tae Yeon caressed her cheeks, which were burning hotter than her bumped forehead.

Especially where Do Joon’s finger had touched, it still felt as hot as if burned.

Although it wasn’t the first or second time she had faced Do Joon up close, she still couldn’t get used to it.

Especially on days like today when he suddenly closed the distance without warning.

Her heart was beating so fiercely that someone might mistake her for a woman in front of the man she loved.

‘No way. This is just because I’m surprised…’

As Tae Yeon was still looking down, Do Joon’s low voice poured over her head.

“Miss Jin Tae Yeon.”

“Yes.”

“Since we’re off work, shouldn’t our way of addressing each other change?”

Tae Yeon slowly raised her head.

“Pardon?”

“Director Cha Do Joon and Manager Jin Tae Yeon have clocked out, and…”

Do Joon put on a dizzying smile.

“Accordingly, husband Cha Do Joon and wife Jin Tae Yeon have clocked in.”

“Ah…”

Tae Yeon laughed awkwardly.

Perhaps he hadn’t liked her addressing him so formally since earlier.

“Now that you understand, shall we depart?”

Do Joon went to the car first and opened the passenger door for Tae Yeon to get in easily.

After confirming that Tae Yeon had fastened her seatbelt, Do Joon drove smoothly.

After driving along the coastal road for a while, Do Joon’s car stopped in front of a beach.

Although it was a weekday, the beach was quite crowded as summer was approaching.

“Secretary Choi said this beach is quite popular.”

“I’ve heard about it too.”

The two got out of the car together and strolled along the sandy beach.

Because she was wearing high heels, Tae Yeon’s feet kept sinking into the sand.

Do Joon, walking beside Tae Yeon, held out his arm.

“Hold on to me.”

“It’s okay. I can manage on my own…”

As Tae Yeon tried to refuse, Do Joon took her hand himself and placed it on his arm.

Tae Yeon’s fingers twitched at the feel of firm muscles beneath the suit.

“But if it’s still hard to walk, I could carry…”

“Wow! This is much more comfortable than before.”

Tae Yeon quickly cut off what Do Joon was saying.

The thought of being carried by Do Joon in such a crowded place – she wasn’t a child, she couldn’t allow such a sight.

Though her exclamation was devoid of any real emotion, Do Joon chuckled as if something greatly pleased him.

“I’m glad. That you find it comfortable.”

So Tae Yeon walked along the beach, leaning on Do Joon.

Looking at the wide open sea made her feel like her mind was clearing.

“Come to think of it, we couldn’t go on our honeymoon.”

“Well, you left for America in such a hurry.”

“When work at the company settles down a bit, let’s take a vacation together and go on a trip.”

“What?”

Tae Yeon stopped abruptly at the sudden suggestion. Do Joon grabbed her wrist and pulled her along to keep walking.

“Why are you so surprised? It’s not like we have to stay only at work or home.”

His words made sense, but there was no particular reason for the two of them to go on a trip together.

As if reading her thoughts, Do Joon preempted her.

“Let’s consider it a belated honeymoon.”

“Ah…”

“I’m the type who feels compelled to do everything others do.”

Do Joon winked.

“Of course, I also have to do things others don’t.”

After staring for a while at Do Joon’s face smiling brightly at her, Tae Yeon also put a smile on her lips.

They walked silently, matching their pace, until Do Joon suddenly stopped.

He then took out his phone and started moving away from Tae Yeon.

“Stand there. I’ll take a picture of you.”

As Tae Yeon stood awkwardly, Do Joon looked at her through his phone and then raised his head.

“Smile. Someone might think I forced you to come to the beach.”

At his request, Tae Yeon smiled faintly.

Click-

After taking a few photos, Tae Yeon approached him.

“I’ll take some of you too.”

Expecting him to hand over the phone, Do Joon instead quickly switched it to selfie mode.

“Let’s take one together.”

It had been a while since the two had taken a picture together, not since Tae Yeon’s birthday party at home.

Do Joon’s hand gently touched Tae Yeon’s waist. As Tae Yeon flinched at the warm touch on her back, Do Joon whispered softly in her ear.

“If we want to take nice photos on our belated honeymoon, shouldn’t we practice now?”

It was talk of preparing for the future.

Will there be such a future for us?

She decided not to think too deeply today. It was more important to do her best in the present moment with Do Joon.

Tae Yeon looked at the phone screen and gently closed her eyes.

Seeing Tae Yeon smile as brightly as sunshine, Do Joon also pulled up the corners of his mouth and smiled.

After capturing each other’s image in a photo…

Tae Yeon moved to step slightly away to the side.

At that moment.

“Oh, oh?”

As if someone had been playing in the sand and left, an unexpectedly deep hollow in the ground greeted Tae Yeon.

Not looking down as she stepped back, Tae Yeon lost her balance and stumbled.

‘I’m going to fall spectacularly onto the sandy beach.’

She closed her eyes tightly, but in an instant, Do Joon’s body enveloped Tae Yeon.

And instead of sand, Tae Yeon fell onto something firm.

As Tae Yeon slowly opened her eyes, she saw Do Joon lying beneath her.

“Do Joon, are you okay?”

“I’m fine except for some sand in my mouth.”

As Do Joon said, his face was covered in sand.

She wanted to brush it off, but Tae Yeon’s hands were also covered in sand from touching the ground when she fell.

“Are you alright, Miss Jin Tae Yeon?”

“Yes…”

The parts of her body in contact with Do Joon felt as hot as if burned. Not just his firm upper body, but his lower body felt even more solid than it looked.

As Tae Yeon struggled to get up, she inadvertently pushed her leg between his thighs.

“…”

“…”

The surprised gazes of the two crossed in mid-air.