Tae-seok handed well-cooked meat to Yeoreum.

As it was a pension with a fully equipped barbecue facility, they could have their meal on the indoor terrace. He opened the window slightly for ventilation, but it wasn’t too cold with the heater.

“It’s delicious.”

Yeoreum ate enthusiastically.

“I want to grill too.”

“No.”

Just like before, since they reunited, Tae-seok took care of Yeoreum fervently. Although Yeoreum knew she couldn’t handle the meat tongs, she still tried once more.

“Give it.”

“Just focus on eating.”

It was somewhat happy to be pampered like a princess, but I might develop a bad habit. Thinking idly, Yeoreum gave up grilling the meat.

“You were impressive today, Actor Seo. Delicate sadness.”

“Sure.”

Tae-seok replied nonchalantly, slightly lifting his eyebrows in the charcoal smoke.

“It was okay. Today.”

It was natural for him to praise himself. It might seem shameless, but when he said it, it looked natural.

Tae-seok rolled up his sleeves and began to cut the meat in earnest. His meticulous control of the charcoal, delicately removing the cooked meat, was tender.

“Sometimes it feels unrealistic.”

While staring blankly at the charcoal emitting red flames, Yeoreum muttered to herself. She knelt down, embraced her knees with both arms, and tapped her toes.

“It was really shining at that moment when everyone at the filming site was only looking at Seo Tae-seok.”

“…”

“Can I have such a person for myself?”

Tae-seok’s forehead tightened at the voice lacking confidence. Without hesitation, he put down the tongs and scissors.

Approaching the grill, Tae-seok walked up to Yeoreum and lowered his lips. With his mouth slightly open, he bit into Yeoreum’s lips as if he had something to say.

“Ah!”

Yeoreum, who was sitting on the chair, lifted her head to match Tae-seok’s face. Tae-seok retreated to his place as if nothing had happened.

Yeoreum’s toes, which had been tapping, stiffened.

Tae-seok grilled the meat again. Without much change in facial expression, he seemed somewhat gruff and serious. Yeoreum, blushing alone, hurriedly moved around.

“Well, what… what was that all of a sudden?”

“What kind of talk is that to someone who’s crazy about you?”

A faint hint of anger was in Tae-seok’s voice.

“Every time you make a face like that without confidence, I’ll kiss you.”

“What?”

“Even if the camera is rolling.”

“Oppa!”

“If you don’t like it, control your expression.”

Tae-seok was firm.

“…It’s better if you don’t.”

As Tae-seok placed sausages and mushrooms on the grill, he said quietly.

“Smile. You have to like it or hate it.”

Tae-seok poured two glasses of wine. Then, suddenly, he made an out-of-place comment.

“Yeoreum. Should I give you a credit card? Want to go to the department store?”

“Huh?”

“Or should I change the car?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Shall I use my credit limit to the max? Oh, but I don’t have a limit…”
The transparent wine glasses clinked brightly, creating a cheerful resonance. Watching Yeoreum, who brought the glass to her lips after the toast, Tae-seok spoke again.

“I hope you had many expectations of me.”

Seeing Yeoreum spill some wine, Tae-seok quickly handed her a tissue.

“Money, honor, the value of my name—I wish you had told me you needed them all. You don’t ask for much from me.”

“…”

“Sometimes, it makes me uneasy.”

In the distance, the sound of waves could be heard. It seemed that the tide was coming in, bringing seawater with it.

“You already have everything. So, use it. Seo Tae-seok.”

Not knowing how to convey the feeling of wanting to give her everything, Tae-seok muttered to himself, furrowing his brows.

That night, Tae-seok embraced Yeoreum with an unusually gentle touch.

The tenderness he provided was as stimulating as his roughness. The softness seemed excessive, almost melting. Yeoreum seriously thought that she might have been more comfortable with his rough side.

“I love you.”

Tae-seok’s sturdy body pressed against Yeoreum, who was trembling finely. It was a body that she still couldn’t get used to.

With broad shoulders blocking Yeoreum’s view, she couldn’t see anything other than Tae-seok’s body. Desire surged through her as she could only see the muscles tightly packed beneath his shoulders. The time of ecstatic joy, where the world blinked white, passed in an instant.

Holding Yeoreum’s trembling body, Tae-seok spoke in a deep voice.

“Recently, I’ve been thinking about this.”

After showering kisses on her face, neck, forehead, and collarbone, Tae-seok made a strange comment.

“How beautiful would our daughter, resembling our Chorabbit, be?”

“A baby?”

Yeoreum hadn’t thought about it. Marriage wasn’t even on her mind, let alone pregnancy.

It would undoubtedly happen later, but right now, it felt distant. Moreover, for a baby to come, they had to get married, and marriage was a significant risk for Tae-seok. Yeoreum shook her head.

“I’ve never thought about having a baby.”