When Minwoo disappeared a few days ago, he was heard calling someone loudly and sobbing. In the note Jin, the teacher, found in the refuge where Minwoo had stayed, crazily scribbled words, only Yulri’s name was everywhere.

And finally, in the graffiti carved on the wall:

“I love you, Yulri. My goddess of salvation. I’ll come to see you.”

…was written.

But he wouldn’t tell her that much. He would continue to keep it a secret from her because it would only further terrorize her.

Even though she had heard such shocking facts, Yulri was enduring it well.
Deep in thought, Yulri didn’t utter a word, but she didn’t seem greatly frightened. There was no sign of her breaking down in tears. Occasionally, she would take a deep breath, and that was all.

As a heavy silence lingered, Yulri cautiously spoke.

“Isn’t it definite that Minwoo has entered Korea?”

“Not yet. But the possibility is high. So, you need to be careful from now on.”

“What should I do until we know Minwoo’s whereabouts exactly?”

“Don’t go to the company for a while.”

Jeho had already informed Director Kim over the phone that he wanted Yulri to handle KG Group work for a while. He also added that she would be working as if she were employed by a cooperating company. Since the project Yulri had been in charge of had recently concluded, Director Kim readily accepted the proposal.

“That’s right. I have no choice.”

“And don’t stay in the office; go to your family home. It’ll be safer.”

“Until when?”

At the mention of staying at her family home, Yulri subtly furrowed her brows. It felt burdensome to think about colliding with the assemblyman after the chaos caused by the leaked family registry.

“Until we find Minwoo.”

“If we can’t find Minwoo’s whereabouts until the end, do I have to keep staying at home?”

“We’re searching from all directions, so it shouldn’t take too long.”

“Got it.”

Yulri had returned to a calm demeanor without realizing it. Still, she couldn’t hide the fact that her fingertips were trembling, as the teacup she held shook precariously.

Her seemingly nonchalant yet struggling appearance pained Jeho. It was as if they were both looking at a thick wall blocking their path…

She wouldn’t reveal her true emotions to him, just as before.

Jeho, who had approached Yulri, gently took the teacup from her hands and placed it on the coffee table.

“The tea is hot. Be careful.”

“Ah…”

Only then did she seem to realize that the teacup was hot. Was her mind that preoccupied? Looking closely, she was shaking like a reed.

Seeing her struggle as if nothing had happened distressed Jeho. As if looking at a thick wall that stood between them…

She wouldn’t reveal her true emotions to him, just as before.

Jeho, who had approached Yulri, gently took the teacup from her hands and placed it on the coffee table.

“The tea is hot. Be careful.”

“Ah…”

Only then did she seem to realize that the teacup was hot. Was her mind that preoccupied? Looking closely, she was shaking like a reed.

Not wanting to be caught shaking, Yulri’s eyebrows slightly furrowed in embarrassment.
First to lose patience was Jeho. Unable to endure any longer, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.

…Ah!

Feeling the warm body enveloping her, Yulri closed her eyes.

Although she should push him away, her hands and feet seemed paralyzed, unable to move. Perhaps she wanted to be held tightly and warmly since he walked over to the table, not caring about the surrounding gazes.

Despite knowing she wasn’t in her right mind, she couldn’t push him away.

Thinking that being like this for a moment wouldn’t cause a big problem, she tried to console herself…

How could everything stay the same, unchanging like this?

The sweet and refreshing citrus scent seeping into her nose, the warm and cozy embrace.

Being held like this, it felt like there was no need to worry about anyone coming, not even Minwoo.

But…

Yulri sighed softly, realizing the cold reality.

He wasn’t her man anymore. Even though she had decided to end it, decided to tidy things up, she resented herself for easily succumbing to him for such a trivial reason.

Why can’t I push you away?

Yulri moved away from Jeho’s embrace, lifted her head, and met his gaze.

Was his behavior now from guilt?

Or was it sympathy?

Was he genuinely worried about me?

Despite a month having passed since they parted, Yulri felt uneasy, even angry with herself for becoming more deeply entangled.

“Don’t do this. Let me suffer alone. Just let me shake by myself.”

Yulri raised her hand, wrapped it around one side of Jeho’s cheek, and spoke with a pout.

“Do you know how difficult your actions make it for me? I was barely forgetting and moving on…”

She couldn’t continue her next words. He lowered his head and deeply pressed his lips together.

Once again, she couldn’t push him away. Just like when he had embraced her a little while ago, she crumbled so easily. Instead, she urgently clung to his neck with her arms.

The emotions that had been tightly pressed like a dam with water leaking through finally burst in an instant. It didn’t allow room to breathe.

Fortunately, just before it was too late, they both instinctively moved back at the same time. Breathing heavily, they looked at each other with helpless eyes.

Both of them knew from their gaze that this couldn’t continue.

“Thank you for today. But let’s stop here.”

Yulri straightened her disheveled clothes as she stood up from the sofa.

“In the future, please talk to my father about anything related to Minwoo or anything else.”

“Sorry.”

He spoke with a heavy, sinking voice.

“Why are you the only one saying sorry? I’m sorry too. So, let’s stop doing things we have to apologize to each other for.”

Yulri raised her head fiercely with a expression that seemed like she might cry.
“If I see you again, I’ll rush at you like this, and then I’ll be more disappointed and disgusted with myself than with you. So, in order not to disgust myself, please avoid me. Please.”

Sadly, it was all sincere.

She was sincerely appealing to him.