“I’m hungry.”
“Just a moment.”
“I’m going to faint.”
“It’s almost done.”
He promised food, but all that Yeon Woo had eaten in his house was a Shine Muscat grape she found in the fridge earlier.

She had abandoned the preparation of lunch, drifted off the path, and after both saw the real limit, the last thing was lying on the bed. When she woke up, it was 11:20 PM.

It was unbelievable.

‘Where did the Kim Yeon Woo, who proudly vowed to leave this house earlier, go!’
She was led by his hand into the bedroom, but she couldn’t remember what it looked like. Even when she woke up in the pitchblack room, she still didn’t know what it looked like.

She didn’t even have the energy to complain about being hungry anymore. Yeon Woo waddled behind Jun Hwi, who was standing in front of the induction stove, and moved to the living room sofa, collapsing onto it.

The endofyear countdown event was in full swing on the channels she flicked through on the TV. Despite the cold weather, everyone gathered near Bosingak seemed elated and happy.

“Wow. A lot of people gathered.”
Please make my work a big hit in the New Year. Please keep my entire family healthy. Please make my dad’s store successful.

Even the New Year’s wish interviews were full of positive energy on this last night of the year.

Other people’s wishes were hopeful and bright, unlike anyone else’s.

‘My wish is… to quit my job and not get involved with Kwon Jun Hwi, now, for real, ever.’
It was a wish without a conscience, considering she was receiving the plate he was holding out to her.

“It’s a cube steak.”
“I thought it might be troublesome to cut. Is it not good?”
“No! How could it be. Beef can’t be bad.”
The sirloin steak she had prepared earlier was cut into bitesized pieces and stirfried with vegetables.

The rich flavor of the beef greatly stimulated her completely empty stomach. Yeon Woo hastily picked up a fork, put a piece of beef and bell pepper in her mouth at once, and chewed.

“Mm, umm! It’s really delicious.”
“Why are you making such a face if it’s delicious.”
“Don’t you know the truthful forehead?”
“What is that?”
“Oh my. Don’t you really know? The dog that barks when it’s delicious? Don’t you know?”
“……”
It seems he doesn’t know any trends. Yeon Woo was pleased to find a field where she was ahead of him for the first time.

After that, she asked him this and that, and it turned out that he was a man who was seriously behind in humor and trends.

Yeon Woo happily teased him for finally finding a weak point, and Jun Hwi, who was increasingly becoming gloomy, finally frowned.

“Do I have to know that?”
“You don’t have to know. It’s okay. It’s just a little less fun.”
“Do you find it fun to tease people?”

“Teasing the lawyer is quite fun, you know.”
“Well, keep doing it. Don’t quit your job.”
Oops. This time it was Yeon Woo’s turn to be taken aback.

“There are already people set up at the beach? It’s still a while until sunrise, such fervent passion.”
Yeon Woo, trying to change the subject, pointed to the beach scene on the TV screen with admiration. Even Jun Hwi, who was letting out a hollow laugh, obediently followed along to the topic Yeon Woo shifted to.

“I’ve had a bit of a romantic notion about watching the sunrise on New Year’s Day. I’ve never actually gone to the mountains or the east sea on January 1st to see it.”
“Why haven’t you seen it?”
“Well, when I was young, I had to study. When I got older, I would ambitiously set alarms with friends to at least go to the mountain behind our neighborhood, but after staying up all night eating and drinking, I would fall asleep and miss it.”
“If we leave now, we could make it to Gangneung in time. Shall we go?”
He, who had checked the time on his wrist, looked ready to grab the car keys and bolt at any moment.

His impulsive drive was not only effective during work, it seemed.

“Ah, it’s okay. Why would I watch the sunrise with the lawyer?”
“······.”
“No, it’s because it’s cold! Because it’s cold. I hate the cold.”
Yeon Woo, without even realizing it, blurted out her inner thoughts and then frantically tried to cover it up, even flailing her hands. She felt a very familiar sensation as she barely held onto the cooling atmosphere.

Being with this man, even on a day off, she felt like she was at work, her feelings fluctuating as if riding a roller coaster.

“Hey, let’s watch the countdown quickly. Okay? There really isn’t much time left.”
Jun Hwi, who had become silent, made her anxious, not knowing if he would be cold or hot. Yeon Woo tried her best to shift his focus to the TV.

“It’s starting! 10, 9, 8.”
Chuu.

Suddenly, his lips ambiguously touched somewhere between the corner of Yeon Woo’s mouth and her cheek, then fell away.

Chuu. Chuu.

Then gradually, the kisses poured accurately towards her lips.

Before the countdown was even finished, somewhere near Yeon Woo’s ear, a bell rang.

It was a very childish and clichéd expression, but there were no other words to describe it.

“Hello…”
“Yes.”
“······.”
“······.”