“Wow.”

Yul Li’s eyes widened in amazement.

It was a scene beyond words.

The black sea was sprinkled with countless diamonds, bright lights filling the horizon. The sparkling, ethereal lights made her understand Je Ho’s description of ‘a night as bright as day.’

“What are all those lights?”

“Those are squid fishing boats with their lights on for fishing. Squids are attracted to the bright lights.”

“It must be really bright up close, like daylight.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Je Ho wrapped the blanket more snugly around her, perhaps worried she might be cold, and continued.

“Exaggerating a bit, it’s bright enough to see right through you.”

I sometimes think, how nice it would be if we could see into people’s hearts under those bright lights. Then I’d know what Yul Li is thinking, her incurable wounds, what happened in my absence.

But those words never made it past his throat, swirling inside instead.

“I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Yul Li couldn’t take her eyes off the night sea.

Je Ho was right. Everything with him was a first. The men she had dated before only took her to flashy restaurants and sky lounges with glamorous city views.

The dates were like formal rituals – dine, offer drinks, and naturally move to physical intimacy. Each time, Yul Li felt cold inside.

Her reluctance wasn’t just because of her father’s infidelity, but also due to her partners’ eagerness to get her into bed. But Je Ho was different, taking things at an unhurried pace.

He didn’t exploit her suggestion to keep things casual. That’s why his words about everything being a first with her made her heart flutter.

After gazing at the night sea for a while, Yul Li turned around expectantly.

“Can we go there?”

“In about an hour, the fishing boats will start coming back to the dock after their work.”

Je Ho checked his watch and added,

“An auction will start then. Want to check it out?”

“Yes.”

Sleep was now far from her mind. Yul Li quickly got ready and headed for the dock. When they arrived, dawn was breaking, and the boats were returning. The auction began, and the dock buzzed with the energy of life.

“People used to be able to buy directly after the auction in the old days.”

When Yul Li gave him a curious look, he nodded lightly.

“Yes, but not here, in Sokcho. I used to come often with my father when I was young.”

For a moment, a shadow seemed to fall over Je Ho’s face in the dim light, but it was fleeting. He smiled warmly, reached out, and pulled Yul Li into a hug.

Taken aback by the sudden embrace, Yul Li glanced around. She was in a short-cut wig and glasses, dressed in a unisex leather jacket – an outfit that could easily be mistaken for a man’s at a glance.

“Don’t worry.”
Sensing Yul Li’s unease, Je Ho whispered in her ear.

“Rather than thinking it’s an unusual taste, just consider it showing the world to a cute younger sibling. Or maybe they’ll think I’m Juno oppa from Tuppium and you’re my bodyguard.”

Normally, she might have bristled at such teasing, but not now. Even his playful tone felt sweet as honey. Yul Li, without realizing it, wrapped her arms around Je Ho’s waist. It was only when they encountered awkward glances from others that she realized her strange behavior.

Ah, right!

Remembering her current appearance, Yul Li quickly unwrapped her arms from around his waist. However, Je Ho’s hands firmly held her shoulder, preventing her from moving away.

“Don’t worry about what others think.”

Fortunately, most people were focused on the auction, which was in full swing. When the auction ended and sales to the public began, Je Ho and Yul Li packed up live squids and various seafood in boxes filled with seawater and moved to a nearby restaurant.

“Is gukbap okay?”

In a street filled with modest-looking eateries showing signs of age, Je Ho chose a restaurant, and Yul Li nodded in agreement.

Maybe it was because she was with him, but the gukbap, accompanied only by kkakdugi and cucumber peppers, tasted like the best she had ever had. Even the sweet rice drink served as dessert went down sweetly.

After breakfast, as they headed back to the car, Je Ho suddenly stopped.

“Just a moment. Stay here.”

He left Yul Li waiting and entered a pharmacy.

Why? Why a pharmacy all of a sudden?

As improper thoughts began to surface, Yul Li blushed and turned her back on the pharmacy.

It couldn’t be for indigestion…

Soon after, Je Ho returned with a medicine bag in hand. Yul Li wanted to ask what it was but couldn’t bring herself to. Was he planning to advance further when they returned to the villa? After moving two steps forward last night, maybe today would be the final step.

Her heart raced with excitement and fear. Despite the contradiction in her emotions, she sighed at herself.

“What do you want to do?”

As they got in the car, Je Ho asked.

“If you’re tired, we can go back to the villa now. Or else…”

“I’m not tired at all.”

Yul Li quickly answered before he could finish. She didn’t want to return to the villa until she had made up her mind.