20 minutes before the awards ceremony begins.

Seo Jun was away from So Yeon at the emergency exit. They should soon go to the convention hall where the big event will be held, but they wanted to spend a little more time alone together.

The two slowly walked along the long corridor outside the building.

Although the winter night air was cold, coming out from inside to the outdoor area behind the building, the serene and open green landscape calmed their excited and unsettled hearts filled with various thoughts.

Since no one else was around, So Yeon briefly stopped walking and took off her shoes, holding them in both hands, thinking it would be fine to walk barefoot. At the same time, Seo Jun, who had been walking beside her like a shadow, took off his tuxedo jacket and draped it over So Yeon’s shoulders.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

Seo Jun took the shoes from So Yeon’s hands and placed them on the corridor railing.

“We’ll come back anyway, let’s leave them here.”

“You’re right.”

So Yeon walked barefoot next to Seo Jun comfortably. The night forest touched by soft lighting between the classical columns stretched endlessly. It didn’t seem short, but the end of the corridor was already visible. As they walked back the way they came, So Yeon said:

“I don’t think you’re alive just because you breathe and move.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Even though it seems like I’m walking well, my feet are frozen as if dead.”

“Ah! You should have said so earlier…”

He was suddenly confused by what she meant, but this woman even complains about her feet being cold in a difficult way.

Seo Jun quickly lowered himself and offered his back. Without hesitation, So Yeon claimed his broad back and rested her chin on his shoulder with a slight smile.

“This is nice, I love it! I must have done many good deeds in my past life. There’s a man who covers me with clothes so I won’t be cold, and even gives me piggyback rides.”

“Isn’t it even better because that man is Tae Seo Jun?”

“Huh? Were there any other men in this world besides you, elder brother?”

“Heh…”

It was such a lovely thing to say that Seo Jun couldn’t help but smile.

They had come about halfway down the corridor while chatting lightly. Seo Jun picked up the shoes he had left on the railing. He lowered So Yeon from his back and knelt down to put the shoes on her small feet himself. When he tried to carry her again, So Yeon said she could walk now and stood facing Seo Jun.

“Thank you. You’re like a gift. Like a heater that will make my life warm.”

“Why do you say you like me in such a roundabout way?”

“Oh my, you seem so confident? What if I say I don’t like you?”

“You’re already in my fish tank, so you can’t run away anywhere.”

“Oh, a caught fish. Is that what I am?”

“It’s not much different.”

“What? You make it sound like you won’t even feed me.”

“No way. I’m going to fatten you up nicely and do this every day.”

Seo Jun smiled briefly and lowered his head without hesitation.

The two lips that met softly stayed pressed together for a long time, as much as they had held back since morning until just now. Feeling each other fully. Even after the kiss ended, they just looked at each other’s faces longingly, as if something was still lacking. That’s when it happened.

A white, cold thing landed on So Yeon’s eyelashes.

“It’s snowing.”

Seo Jun lifted his head to look up at the dark sky where snowflakes had begun to fall.

“So it is.”

Delighted by the white snowflakes, So Yeon stretched her hand out beyond the railing and smiled brightly. That lovely smile tickled Seo Jun’s heart.

So much that he couldn’t bear not to say it out loud.

“I love you.”

The hopes of the actors who gave passionate performances in “The Owner of the Sun”, as well as the production crew who worked the hardest, did not fall to the ground.

The “The Owner of the Sun” team almost swept the drama category awards, with screenwriter Kwon Eun Young accepting the Best Director trophy on behalf of Yoon Ji Wan, who is currently staying in New York, after winning the Best Drama Script award at the ceremony.

It was when Director Yoon’s drama was dominating the early part of the acting awards ceremony and heading towards the middle.

As everyone expected, the Best Couple Award went to Tae Seo Jun and Eom So Yeon.

People cast curious glances as the two, who had been sitting apart in the audience, climbed onto the stage together and stood affectionately in the center. People’s interest intensified as dating and marriage rumors that had surfaced in recent days were reignited.

Oh Min Jung gave the two a standing ovation with sincere congratulations, just like before.

In the past, she would have thrown a fit, asking how dare a supporting actress receive the Best Couple Award with the male lead, leaving her, the female lead, out. But having grown into a more mature actress, she showed adult-like enjoyment of the festive atmosphere of the year-end awards ceremony.

As more time passed and it approached midnight.

Eom So Yeon, who was already dazed from winning the Best Couple Award and New Actor Award in the drama actor category, was finally named the winner of the Best Supporting Actress award after fierce competition.

“Eom So Yeon from ‘The Owner of the Sun’. Congratulations!”

By this point, it could truly be called Eom So Yeon’s day. So Yeon carefully approached the vintage gold standing microphone, tightly grasping the golden trophy in both hands as she climbed back onto the grand stage, admired by all the actors and officials in the hall.

Her teary vision was blurry. Her wet eyes, reflecting the brilliant lights, were beautiful like jewels.

At this moment, receiving the attention of everyone, So Yeon’s tear-filled gaze looked straight at only one person in the middle of the audience – Tae Seo Jun.

“Um… thank you. I think I may have used up my lifetime’s worth of luck today. I’ve personally gone through many ups and downs, but I know well that I didn’t receive this generous award by my strength alone. This honor belongs to everyone who worked hard for ‘The Owner of the Sun’ and to all of you who loved the drama.”

Although she seemed to have run out of things to say after giving several acceptance speeches already, So Yeon composed her choked-up voice and spoke calmly.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my parents, who have always been proud of their unworthy daughter. Of course, I now understand how much their hearts ache and worry about having a daughter like me. This is how I am. Even though I know fire is hot, I have to get burned to come to my senses.”

However, as time went on, her voice trembled softly with excitement and nervousness that could not be emptied no matter how much she tried to clear it.

Seo Jun grinned broadly from afar at the sight of So Yeon gazing at him with sparkling eyes. Gaining strength from his expression and relaxed attitude that showed no sign of agitation, So Yeon was able to continue with what she had resolved to say.

“There’s something else I’d like to say. I once gave up on the person I love. I thought it wouldn’t work because he was someone unreachable, like the sun, even if I reached out my hand. It was largely because I underestimated myself, but that thought became firmer as I gave birth to and raised that man’s child. But when I met him again, it was as if I had never given up… Without that person… I can’t…”

So Yeon’s voice, which had been getting shakier and slower, suddenly cut off. It was because hot tears suddenly welled up as she began to put special meaning into her voice.

With her vocal cords constricted, unable to speak anymore, So Yeon reached a point where she had to give up her resolve to finish what she started and leave the stage. But she couldn’t do that either. She hadn’t proposed to him yet, and the hushed gazes of the people wouldn’t let her go.

That’s when it happened.

Huh?

Look over there!

Oh my, what’s going on now?

The people in the hall murmured and their attention suddenly shifted to a tall man who had stood up in the middle of the audience, as if mocking the high ceiling.

It was none other than Tae Seo Jun.

His deep eyes and elegant smile were directed solely at his woman. As if he wouldn’t even look at anyone else.

So that’s why So Yeon could do it.

She could muster the courage to speak.

At this most shining moment, to the most beautiful man in the world, the purest confession.

“I love my work. So, I will always maintain a humble attitude, learn diligently, and strive to improve more as an actress. However, in fact… there is something more precious and desperate than work. The child I love. And that child’s father. From the moment I first saw that person, and even now. No, I love him even more. Yes, that’s right. I dare to propose to that person. But… now… because that person is looking at me… so I’m trembling so much… so now I don’t know what to say… also…”

It was exactly as she said. Having squeezed out every last drop of courage to confess all her secrets, So Yeon’s legs were shaking so much she could have collapsed at any moment.

With tears blurring her vision and her throat completely choked up, she couldn’t do anything more. Her mind was so hazy she didn’t even know where to go now.

As if knowing this, Seo Jun spread his long arms wide towards So Yeon. As if saying, come run into my arms. This is where you should be.

Suddenly, here and there in the audience, the truths behind the rumors that had been circulating began to burst out one by one.

“I had heard somewhere that Tae Seo Jun was the father of Eom So Yeon’s child, but I thought it was just a groundless rumor. It was true?”

“It was already a well-known fact within CN Entertainment, but I was the only one who didn’t know until now. If I may say something just because I feel wronged, those two are getting married this year!”

“No wonder! I thought their chemistry in the drama was extraordinary, it turns out their tender and passionate eye acting didn’t come out of nowhere!”

Wow… murmur murmur…

As the hall buzzed with excitement, Seo Jun boldly spoke in front of everyone.

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll tell you everything. It’s all true. And to add one more thing, I’m already engaged. To Eom So Yeon over there.”

Although his voice didn’t reach everyone in the awards hall since he spoke without a microphone, his words quickly spread throughout the venue from person to person.

Seo Jun puffed out his broad chest and pulled up his clear lips into a wide smile.

Gasp! The people in the hall let out breathless exclamations one after another, as if struck by an enormous shock.

“Oh my! So that’s what it was?”

“Wow, this is more dramatic than a drama!”

Clap, clap, clap…

The sound of one person’s applause, though I don’t know who, moved everyone. The applause of one or two people that started small spread throughout the entire hall in an instant.

So Yeon, who was still looking only at Seo Jun through her hazy vision, found her feet moving on their own. Her slow steps down the stairs quickly turned into rapid strides. Towards Seo Jun. Seo Jun also moved swiftly towards So Yeon.

His long strides soon turned into a run, and finally, the two met in the aisle between the audience seats in front of the stage.

So Yeon leaped into his chest and embraced him, and Seo Jun hugged her tightly and lifted her high up to his height. As a result, So Yeon’s feet lifted off the ground. The people watching the romantic scene between the two clapped even louder.

It seemed as if everyone’s passionate applause was pouring down over Seo Jun and So Yeon’s heads.

“I think I caused trouble. What should I do now? I’m so embarrassed.”

As So Yeon whispered softly, Seo Jun replied without hesitation.

“Then we should run away.”

“Where to?”

“Somewhere no one else is. Let’s go together!”

“Let’s go, quickly!”

Seo Jun, firmly grasping her delicate hand, moved quickly with large strides. So Yeon also followed him diligently. With the increasing speed, So Yeon’s golden dress fluttered long behind their feet like a goddess’s wings.

“You’re following well. Do you know where I’m going?”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as you take me, I’m fine with anywhere.”

“Even if it’s a desolate place with just the two of us?”

As long as Tae Seo Jun was there. If she could be with him, Eom So Yeon would follow him anywhere.

“What more could I ask for?”

“Eom So Yeon, you’re fearless now.”

Even proposing in a crowded awards ceremony.

“So, do you dislike it?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I’m excited.”

My heart is racing because of you.

“Me too.”

Even while running hard, Seo Jun and So Yeon couldn’t take their eyes off each other.

May this crazy excitement…

This happy moment…

Last forever.

Promising unchanging love.

Because it was possible for the two of them.

_ Main Story End