It was a narrow staircase, and if someone stopped in the middle, everyone behind had to stop too. Therefore, they ascended without resting.
Jiho, right behind Soo, lightly pushed Soo’s back with his large palm as they climbed.
“Ugh, my legs are getting tired.”
“I knew it. Except for sitting briefly to rest, you’ve been standing for over five hours.”
Thinking it was over, but it wasn’t.
Soo stopped briefly at a midpoint rest area with souvenir shops and restrooms.
“Hang in there a little more. We’ll reach the terrace soon.”
Looking at Soo, who bent over, hands on thighs and waist half-folded, Jiho spoke.
While Soo’s face was flushed and disheveled, Jiho seemed calm, even his breathing.
“Aren’t you tired?”
Thinking of Jiho’s firm muscles, it seemed obvious that this wouldn’t be too difficult for him.
“Yeah. This isn’t much.”
While watching Isu catch his breath, Jiho smiled.
Feeling the urgent need to improve stamina, Isu took the lead up the stairs leading to the terrace.
Climbing one step at a time, Isu started to see the sky above.
Gathering all the remaining strength, Isu finally left the stairs.
“Wow. It’s so amazing.”
The unobstructed landscape unfolded before them. Rotating 360 degrees around the Arc de Triomphe, they could see the entire city of Paris stretching straight in all directions from the center of the Concorde. Isu roamed around like a child, taking pictures and enjoying the view. In the distance, the Eiffel Tower near their accommodation was also visible.
“Since we climbed up so hard, let’s take a commemorative photo.”
“Yeah.”
Isu wrapped his arms around Jiho’s waist, and Jiho embraced Isu’s shoulders as they both looked at the phone.
Thanks to Jiho bending his waist, their cheeks touched, creating an affectionate photo.
Isu, who usually didn’t enjoy taking selfies, took several pictures today.
Astonished by the view, he didn’t realize he hadn’t put down the camera on his phone.
“The weather today is not as hot as I thought.”
“Yeah. It’s not too hot if you avoid lunchtime.”
A cool breeze blew, lifting strands of hair. Jiho used his hand to comb down the hair that had flowed onto Isu’s face.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
After having lunch, all they had consumed were a bottle of water and a cup of coffee. Isu’s stomach had been making noises since a while ago.
“Well, I am, but it’s a shame to go down right after climbing up so hard.”
Jiho laughed at Isu, who seemed to find it undesirable to descend.
“How about you? Do you want to go down right away?”
Isu left the decision to Jiho.
“Can I be honest?”
Seeing Jiho, who usually said anything would be fine, use the word “honestly,” it seemed he might say something disappointing to Isu.
It wasn’t the first time, and considering how tired it could be to roam around Paris several times, it looked like Jiho was trying to express something that might be disappointing to Isu.
“Sure, be honest.”
Seeing the slightly tense Isu, Jiho smirked.
Jiho’s stomach wasn’t hungry, and his legs weren’t sore. However, it was a problem because Isu, enduring hunger and exhaustion, seemed too apparent.
Perhaps he doesn’t feel it himself.
Thinking of the times during exam preparations, Isu tended to postpone eating and sleeping when engrossed in something. He needed someone to tell him to stop.
But if Jiho said they should go down now, it would likely be too disappointing, judging by Isu’s facial expression. He seemed to be honest when he said he didn’t want to go down right away.
“How about you? Do you want to go down right away?”
Isu left the decision to Jiho.
It seemed like someone needed to tell him to stop. However, if he suggested going down now, it might be too evident how disappointed Isu would look. Despite claiming to be honest, Jiho said something else.
“Let’s see more.”
“Sure.”
Isu smiled brightly and nodded. Thinking they should feed him well for dinner, Jiho also looked at where Isu was looking.
**
A few hours passed.
“Isu, you go in first.”
“I want to go with you.”
After having dinner, Isu, who wanted to buy chocolate and went shopping together, was stopped by Jiho.
“No, you shouldn’t. You’re tired. Go in and rest.”
Jiho took Isu to the hotel and headed to a nearby shopping mall.
About a 10-minute walk from the hotel, he bought chocolate, beer, and snacks.
When Jiho, who had returned, passed through the massive iron gate to enter the hotel lobby, it happened.
“Oh! Seo Jiho?”
A lively woman’s voice came from behind.
Jiho’s head slowly turned in the direction of the sound.
In the back, a woman with a mask and a deep hat, and a woman with long hair dyed silver, were visible.
“Oh my! It really is Jiho.”
Approaching a step closer, the woman with the hat took off her mask.
The woman next to her glanced discreetly, leaving a message that she would go first and walked toward the elevator.
With narrowed eyes, Jiho tilted his head to look at the woman who took off her hat.
When the woman took off her hat, her goddess-like beauty sparkled brilliantly under the chandelier.
“It’s me. Hanna.”
It was the top star, Lee Hanna, the nation’s first love.
Jiho first got to know her through a mutual friend early last year.
“Oh.”
Jiho was also surprised, hesitating for a moment, raising and then lowering his eyebrows.
“Really, it’s so nice to see you. It’s been a year. Did you come for a trip?”
“Oh.”
Jiho nodded slightly, looking at Hanna, who smiled brightly with her eyes half-moon shaped.
Hanna approached Jiho closely.
“I wish I had known earlier. I finished my photo shoot today and am going back tomorrow.”
Hanna, who hadn’t removed her makeup, had a presence that was clearly recognizable even from a distance.
The Korean tourists in the hotel lobby immediately recognized Hanna and couldn’t take their eyes off her.
Moreover, with Jiho, who captivated people’s attention with his looks no less than a celebrity, standing next to her, the onlookers were full of curiosity.
Some discreetly took out their phones to capture Hanna.
“Okay. Then, have a safe trip back, and I’ll go check it out. People recognize you, so wear a hat or something.”
Jiho casually greeted and turned toward the elevator to walk away.
Hanna put on her hat again and followed Jiho to the elevator.
“Jiho, wait a moment.”
“Why?”
Jiho turned around.
“Your phone number changed; tell me your number.”
“Okay.”
Jiho briefly looked down at the phone Hanna extended.
“What?”
It was such an unexpected answer that Hanna widened her eyes and asked again.
Hanna took her phone again, gripping it tightly with her hands.
“I don’t want to make my girlfriend worry.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
