Seo Jun opened the front door with a simple touch, and soon, Kwon Won Hu, loosening his tie, flopped down beside Seo Jun.

“What’s this all about?”

Though Won Hu’s sudden visits were infrequent, Seo Jun, unsurprised, chuckled lightly and poured wine into another glass.

“I had a blind date today.”
Although it was uncommon, Seo Jun wasn’t surprised by Won Hu’s sudden visit and casually filled another glass with wine.

“I went on a blind date today.”

“If you were with her till now, she must have been quite alright, why did you leave?”

“She was so nice that I left early to drink alone!”

“Ah, so she wasn’t great.”

Frustrated, Won Hu stripped off his suit jacket and downed the red liquid in his glass in one go.

Leaning back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, Seo Jun chuckled.

“So, did you come here wanting to see me?”

“Crazy! Do I have anyone but you in my bamboo forest? That’s why I came, why?”

“Was the blind date girl a donkey’s ear then?”

Teased by Seo Jun’s playful tone, Won Hu sighed with a laugh at the end, saying,

“Rather than being dragged around by my parents, I thought I’d confess. No matter the outcome.”

Surprised by this unexpected revelation, Seo Jun turned his gaze from the ceiling to Won Hu.

“Do you have someone you like?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“I’ll tell you if I succeed after making a move. If I get rejected, it would be too embarrassing.”

“Alright then.”

Seo Jun looked back at the ceiling, indicating his disinterest.

Blinking, Seo Jun suddenly looked at Won Hu again and spoke,

“Do you, by any chance…”

“What?”

Challenged by Seo Jun’s intense gaze, Won Hu’s face recoiled.

Thoughts of Won Hu’s confession made Seo Jun involuntarily think of Eom So Yeon.

“Never mind.”

He chose not to voice his intuition, believing So Yeon wouldn’t waver between two men, especially knowing their cousin relationship.

“Damn, you’re bland. Anyway, are you free tomorrow?”

Tomorrow was the premiere of ‘The Owner of the Sun’. Won Hu explained plans to watch the drama in the company’s audio-visual room together.

“If you’re interested, come join us.”

Unlikely to attend such a trivial gathering, Seo Jun promptly refused.

“Forget it. Why would I go there?”

“I thought so. But if you change your mind, you can come.”

“I’m not going.”

Seo Jun’s response was resolute and tinged with irritation.

He knew if he went, he’d have to confront So Yeon again.

Afraid of being unable to let her go like at the production report meeting, Seo Jun chose to avoid the murky situation. He set aside the wine and poured cognac into another glass, sipping the strong alcohol.

The burning sensation in his throat was almost unbearable.

Baby steps turning into confident strides.

The toddler he had left at two and met again at four had grown noticeably. No longer a baby, Hyun Woo was now a little boy, taller and with longer limbs than other children his age, moving quite swiftly.

“Hyun Woo, be careful! You need to go with Mommy!”

As Hyun Woo dashed ahead on the mountain trail and then stopped at the sound of his mother’s voice, So Yeon called out to him with open arms. Without hesitation, the child turned and ran back into her embrace.
So Yeon stood still, admiring her son’s adorably puppy-like appearance. She wanted to rush over and scoop him up, but she restrained herself, waiting patiently for him to come to her on his own.

Finally, the fluffy little body of her son embraced her warmly.

A proud smile spread across her fair face. So Yeon hugged her son, who had hopped into her arms like a bunny, and straightened her bent legs.

“Are you having fun?”

“Giggle…….”

So Yeon asked, looking into her adorable child’s eyes, and received an immediate nod in response. The large, black eyes sparkled with laughter, making them even more beautiful.

“Shall we walk together with Mommy?”

“Yes!”

The child, perhaps taking after someone, was remarkably clever. Despite being comfortable with English, he easily recited Korean like a translation device.

“I want to walk holding Mommy’s hand.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

So Yeon planted a kiss on his soft, squishy cheek with a popping sound and gently set him down, holding his tiny hand firmly. Their walking together, step by step, seemed girlish and youthful, but no matter what anyone said, she was a mother.

So Yeon was happy.

Her heart felt like it was going to burst with joy, as much as she had desperately waited for and longed for these moments with her son. Even the times when she couldn’t see or hold him, suffering in pain, became precious.

But there was just one thing. An emptiness that would never be filled, darkening her expression and sinking her mood without reason.

So Yeon often asked herself. Did she do the right thing pushing Tae Seo Jun away? Did she regret it? Each time, she answered herself ‘of course.’

But now….

So Yeon forced a smile on her lips.

A longing without tears.

It was a resigned, tearless smile.

Walking at the end of summer with her son lightened her somber mood considerably. Holding Hyun Woo’s hand tightly, So Yeon looked up at the blue sky with slightly reddened eyes.

It was exceptionally beautiful weather that day.