“I don’t say things like I’ll just hold hands and sleep.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected remark, Yuri was at a loss for words. She wasn’t sure if it was a mischievous joke or if he meant he wouldn’t make idle jokes. Honestly, she was confused. But she couldn’t bring herself to ask…

Unable to hide her awkward expression, Yuri hurriedly changed the subject.

“Alright then. Let’s go up early tomorrow morning.”

But as luck would have it, when she checked the hotel booking site, most places were fully booked. This was due to various festivals being held for the weekend. Only a few suites at luxury resorts were still available.

Yuri tried to make the calculation on her phone but kept getting error messages, likely due to connection issues. And shortly after, her phone turned off as the battery died.

“I’ll pay you for the hotel when we get to Seoul. I don’t have my wallet right now…”

Yuri said with a dejected face as they headed towards the resort.

“That’s fine.”

He repeated the same words as before.

Upon arriving at the resort, Yuri found herself unable to take a step. Though she knew it was an unavoidable situation, her body wouldn’t cooperate. Jeho stood in front of the resort lobby, silently waiting for Yuri who was frozen in place. But how long could he maintain his patience?

In the end, Yuri had no choice but to follow through with her earlier decision. As she took another step forward, Jeho, who had somehow moved to her side, wrapped his arm around Yuri’s waist. The action was so natural that Yuri didn’t think to push him away.

As they approached the front desk, the resort staff greeted the two kindly.

“How may I help you, guests?”

“Do you have any rooms available?”

“Will you be staying for one night?”

“Yes.”

“We only have family suites and regular suites left. Would that be alright? The suite has a living room, bedroom, and two bathrooms, about 990 square feet in total.”

“We’ll take that.”

“Certainly, please wait a moment.”

After swiftly processing the reservation, the staff member politely handed Jeho the resort guide booklet and two key cards with both hands.

“We’ve upgraded you to an ocean view room.”

The unsolicited upgrade was likely due to Jeho. All the staff members couldn’t take their eyes off him. Yuri had been too preoccupied earlier to notice, but at the clothing store, the restaurant, and everywhere they went, people seemed eager to give them something extra. It wasn’t just country hospitality, but probably due to Jeho’s dazzling good looks.

Why wouldn’t they? Even she had just stared blankly at him during their first meeting. But seeing other women’s gazes focused on him from the side made her feel strangely uneasy.

Lost in thought, Yuri didn’t realize something was amiss until they got off the elevator on their floor. It only dawned on her when she saw Jeho opening the suite door with the key card. There were two key cards, but only one suite they could enter!

Since it had two rooms, two bathrooms, a living room and kitchen, the resort staff had naturally given them just one suite. Jeho didn’t seem to consider getting separate rooms either.

When Yuri hesitated at the door, unable to enter readily, Jeho turned around as if wondering if there was a problem.

“…Ah, well.”

Yuri hesitated, unable to bring herself to speak up.

Would it be too shameless to ask for separate suites when she was already imposing on him?

Looking at Jeho with a perplexed expression, Yuri eventually followed him inside. With separate rooms and bathrooms, she felt it would be inconsiderate to make a fuss over it.

“You must be tired. Get some rest.”

Jeho offered Yuri the larger room and chose the smaller one for himself. As he entered the room, taking off his jacket, he paused and turned his head towards Yuri.

“Oh, by the way, why do we need to go up early tomorrow morning? Do you have an appointment?”

“No, I don’t have any particular plans, but…”

“In that case, since checkout is at 11, let’s have lunch and head up leisurely.”

Come to think of it, he had a point. It’s not like she had a harmonious family to return to, so why rush back to an uncomfortable home? Having pushed through a grueling schedule since early morning, she was exhausted both mentally and physically. Sleeping in leisurely wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

As she readily agreed and turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of the smaller room over her shoulder. Unlike the room she would use, the smaller room was an ondol room without a bed. Yuri unconsciously furrowed her brow.

Having lived abroad for a long time, he must be used to sleeping on beds… Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable to sleep on the hard floor? She felt concerned. Moreover, he was currently injured in the shoulder. Yuri quickly followed Jeho into the small room.

“I’ll sleep in this room. You take the big room.”

Jeho narrowed his eyes, as if not understanding her words. Yuri quickly scanned the room and headed towards the closet. When she opened it, bedding came into view.

“When was the last time you slept on bedding? No, have you ever slept on a yo?”

“Of course.”

“No, you’ll still be uncomfortable. I’ll be fine, so please use the room with the bed.”

Yuri gently pushed Jeho aside and struggled to pull out the bedding from the closet by herself. When Jeho tried to help, she shook her head vigorously.

“No, don’t. It’ll strain your shoulder.”

Watching Yuri diligently spread out the yo and blanket on the floor by herself, Jeho couldn’t help but chuckle. The wound had almost completely healed, so there was no worry about it reopening. Though it occasionally ached as new flesh formed, it wasn’t so bad that he couldn’t lift a blanket. Yet Yuri was treating him like a critically ill patient.

Just hours ago, she had been crying like a lost puppy, drenched in rain. Now she was trying so hard to take care of him. He found her both silly and cute.

This is why I can’t take my eyes off you.

As he watched her brush back her falling hair while diligently laying out the bedding, an odd sensation tingled in a corner of his heart.

Unaware that Jeho was staring intently, Yuri busily spread out the bedding. After neatly placing the pillow to finish preparing the bed, Yuri stood up, patting the corner of the blanket.

When Jeho still hadn’t left by then, Yuri gave him a look that seemed to ask why he wasn’t leaving.

“I’m fine, so just use the room with the bed. Thanks for laying out the bedding for me.”

“No. I’ll sleep here, so please go use the bed.”

When she refused to yield, Jeho felt mischievous. He stared at her intently, bending down until they were at eye level.

“Then shall we sleep together?”

In that moment, Yuri’s face flushed bright red. Jeho stretched his lips into a wide smile, amused by her flustered reaction and wavering gaze.

“If not, that’s fine. Go on over.”

After finishing his words, Jeho straightened up and began unbuttoning his shirt with one hand. But Yuri didn’t leave, stubbornly standing in the middle of the room.

“I’m about to shower now…”

“Um, don’t…”

“Why, want to shower together?”

Once again, Yuri’s face turned crimson. But she didn’t move an inch. Quite stubborn, aren’t you? One of Jeho’s eyebrows raised slightly.

“If you keep standing there, I might misunderstand…”

As they spoke, he continued unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his toned muscles through the opening.

Though she had seen his chest before, she couldn’t stop her heart from racing. Finally, Yuri admitted defeat and decided to retreat.

“…T-then. I’ll sleep in the bed. Good night.”

After hurriedly saying goodbye, Yuri turned around and left the room. Jeho burst out laughing as he watched Yuri practically flee.

If only you had held out a little longer. If you hadn’t left, I was going to at least hold your hand while sleeping…

Recalling Yuri’s flustered expression, Jeho undid the last button of his shirt. What a shame. But the wide-eyed rabbit had already escaped to her safe burrow.

“Then shall we sleep together?”

Staring at the dark ceiling, Yuri pulled the blanket over her face as Jeho’s words came to mind. Even after taking a cold shower, her face still felt hot.

“Why, want to shower together?”

Just his gentle, coaxing whisper was enough to drive her crazy, and his intense gaze made her feel like she would be sucked in. Is this what it feels like to be bewitched by a fox? she wondered.

It was probably just a harmless joke, but she felt pathetic for getting excited like a teenage girl. She tried to convince herself it was because she was tired, that her emotions were jumbled from meeting a stranger all day, but it was useless.

Due to her unsettled feelings, even though she was tired, she couldn’t easily fall asleep. It wasn’t until dawn that she finally dozed off after tossing and turning in bed.

How much time had passed? An unidentifiable sound bothered her. Though faint, it was enough to wake Yuri from her light sleep.

“…Ugh… Urgh.”

It sounded like soft sobbing, or like gasping in pain. Yuri struggled to lift her heavy eyelids. Suddenly, her eyes flew open.

Jeho?

This was definitely Jeho’s voice. Yuri abruptly got up and headed to the small room. Moonlight streaming through the window illuminated Jeho’s pale face. His eyes were tightly shut, cold sweat beading on his brow. Alarmed, Yuri knelt beside him without even thinking to turn on the light.

“Jeho, what’s wrong?”

Yuri lightly tapped Jeho’s cheek with her palm. Could his shoulder wound have worsened? Or did the dinner we ate earlier not agree with him? All sorts of thoughts flooded her mind at once.

“Please, open your eyes.”

Her voice was trembling softly before she knew it.

At that moment, Jeho’s eyes suddenly flew open. Just as Yuri felt relief, the now-awake Jeho reached out and pulled her close. Without a sound, Yuri was drawn into his broad embrace. As he fell back, twisting his body, Yuri naturally ended up beneath Jeho.

Yuri couldn’t move an inch in his powerful embrace that seemed to crush her. She could barely breathe. She squirmed, trying to break free from his arms, but they didn’t loosen at all.

“Ugh, Jeho,”

Then suddenly,

“Damn it!”

A low curse escaped his lips, followed by heavy breathing. Then the arms holding her tightly gradually relaxed. Yuri quickly slipped out of his embrace and retreated far away.

“…I’m crazy.”

After releasing Yuri, Jeho lay on his side, covering his eyes with the back of his hand. He muttered in a hoarse voice like grating metal.

“Recklessly barging into a man’s room when he’s sleeping alone.”

“…I was worried something might be wrong.”

Yuri offered an explanation that wasn’t quite an excuse as she carefully got up.

“You were making groaning sounds. …Are you okay? Are you in pain somewhere?”

“Hah.”

Instead of answering, he let out a long sigh. An awkward silence fell, then he murmured softly.

“…It was just a nightmare.”

It had been a terribly vivid nightmare. He witnessed his father, Vice Chairman Kwon, having a car accident right before his eyes while simultaneously feeling the pain he endured as if it were real.

Was it a warning that he was getting distracted instead of focusing on what needed to be done? A signal to get his act together?

As soon as he woke from the dream, he found himself holding Yuri. Intoxicated by her sweet scent, eager only to indulge…

You madman.

A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he mocked himself.

But still…

Jeho lowered the arm covering his eyes and looked up at Yuri sitting beside him. Though he had said it was just a nightmare, she still hadn’t lost her worried expression. When he should be angry… Suddenly, a warm emotion welled up from deep inside him.

As he stared intently without a word, Yuri gently turned her head, avoiding his gaze.

“I’ll be going now.”

She tried to get up.

“Wait a moment.”

Jeho sat up with her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“Stay like this for a bit.”

A low whisper penetrated Yuri’s ear as she tensed up.

“…I’m cold this time.”

Now he couldn’t let her go.

It was too late for that.