Every corner of the cutely decorated house was neat and tidy.

Her parents were in Canada, and her two older sisters who had become independent early were overseas and in Jeju Island. Seo Jun already knew this fact from hearing it from her long ago.

With about six rooms, an open kitchen and a large living room, it was a space that wouldn’t feel cramped even for a large family.

Just by briefly looking around this house, Seo Jun could sufficiently grasp Eom So Yeon’s living environment and how she had been living.

Anyway, it seems like nothing’s wrong here…

But why did I rush up here in such a hurry? Something unclear could have been confirmed with just a phone call.

Seo Jun was somewhat irritated by his own increasingly hasty actions these days.

When Tae Seo Jun’s car entered the apartment complex, Seo Jun in the back seat spotted a man looking up towards So Yeon’s apartment. Though in biker clothes and wearing a helmet, just from his posture it was clearly that guy. It must have been Jo In Ha.

His behavior of lurking around the practice room had already been quite suspicious, but continuing to hover around Eom So Yeon was far beyond the normal range no matter how you looked at it.

Thinking he shouldn’t just let it go, Seo Jun went back to where Jo In Ha had been as soon as he got out of the car, but he was already gone.

Feeling uneasy and with the elevator stopped on an upper floor showing no signs of coming down, Seo Jun sprinted up to the 15th floor at full speed. Having checked which unit it was before, his quick steps were even more unwavering.

What caught his eye when he reached Eom So Yeon’s front door was the entrance door open wide enough to fit a fist through.

Though the external door closer had failed to function properly, why it was broken…

Seo Jun encountered an unexpected sight when he passed through the entrance and inner door to reach the living room entrance.

Even though the door was open, he should have made his presence known since he had entered someone else’s home uninvited, but Seo Jun couldn’t do so as he clearly heard Eom So Yeon’s choked-up voice.

Why did I do that then?

Why did I feel so strange? Why did my solar plexus ache?

What was it about the child’s voice coming from the machine, what did it matter to me that Eom So Yeon was crying while talking to her son who was far away?

His heart ached sharply, as if something pointed had deeply pierced and firmly lodged in his chest. With that incomprehensible feeling still vivid, Seo Jun spoke with a cynical expression and a mirthless laugh.

“I saw Jo In Ha. He was looking up at Eom So Yeon’s apartment in front of this building.”

“That can’t be.”

So Yeon replied as she sat demurely on the living room floor, placing two glasses of lemon tea she had brought from the kitchen on the table.

In contrast, Seo Jun took a more relaxed posture, monopolizing the sofa. He briefly frowned, secretly displeased that she didn’t sit next to him, but So Yeon pretended not to notice and continued speaking.

“He must have an acquaintance living nearby. Senior Jo doesn’t know where I live. He’s not that kind of person, so don’t suspect him needlessly.”

So Yeon defended Jo In Ha once again.

Even while knowing well that he was sincerely worried about her, and that her own attitude of dismissing his concerns with a few words was due to an inferiority complex.

Late last night, she had received a call from Jo In Ha.

As soon as she answered, Senior Jo’s attitude was quite different from usual, starting with interrogating her about the child in an accusatory tone and then expressing feelings of betrayal while treating her like an unfortunate woman.

Regardless of who he heard it from, it was the truth that came from her own mouth, so she should be the one to bear the consequences, but there was no reason for her to be criticized by Jo In Ha as well. Judging further conversation to be meaningless, So Yeon ended the call without saying much.

But even after that, In Ha called several more times, so So Yeon blocked his number. He may have come looking for her in anger because of that.

So Yeon couldn’t readily tell Tae Seo Jun about that incident. Not only was he one of the few people she was close to, but above all, it was her responsibility to handle it well since it was a problem that originated from her.

Why wouldn’t Seo Jun understand such thoughts of Eom So Yeon? He had been closely observing her, who was uniquely stubborn to the point of being foolish.

“I’m telling you to be careful in advance.”

As Seo Jun mixed a low voice with the quiet sigh he exhaled, the corners of So Yeon’s lips lifted slightly.

“I’ll take note of that.”

Though she answered submissively, So Yeon’s delicate fingertips were fidgeting incessantly. Although it contradicted her attitude towards him so far, she felt closer than ever to Tae Seo Jun who was worrying about her, and was simply happy in this moment of facing him.

“By the way… did you hear everything earlier?”

“Well. The babbling voice of the child was very cute. The voice of the mother worrying only about her child was quite touching, and the steadfast Eom So Yeon held back her tears well.”

“…”

Ah, so that’s how it was. He really heard everything…

So Yeon nodded and clenched her fists tightly.

She needed to say now what she couldn’t answer yesterday, but her eyes wandered around everywhere except Seo Jun for a while, still unable to find the right timing.

But as if reading So Yeon’s mind, Seo Jun brought up the main point.

“I was quite excited.”

“About what…”

“I was very curious all night about what answer Eom So Yeon would give.”

“Ah…”

Though she had already made up her mind, another conflict whirled through So Yeon’s mind.

Will I be able to not regret it? No, rather, am I prepared to handle Tae Seo Jun?

But So Yeon couldn’t stop the terrible greed that had already arisen.

“I might use you. Is that okay?”

“…”

What does this mean now? Is she asking for something even more than a blank check?

Seo Jun raised his thick eyebrows and smirked with his handsome lips.

Perhaps she’s an even more wicked woman than a villainess, wearing the disguise of an innocent lamb. However, such an Eom So Yeon also piqued Seo Jun’s interest.

“Go ahead and do that. I’m confident I can take whatever you dish out.”

“If that’s the case, then fine. I’ll do as you say, Director.”

She knows that the meaning of ‘use’ is not good. Nevertheless, asking for permission in advance was a guarantee for the ‘just in case’. Though he agreed, it left room to take a step back.

Even if she momentarily couldn’t overcome the temptation swayed by his seduction, she needed to have a shield to use then.

“But it can’t be one-sided. You can stop if I really say no, right?”

“Of course.”

The condition to become lovers or end it immediately upon confirming each other’s feelings.

So Yeon, who readily accepted that proposal, took a sip of lemon tea.

Seo Jun stared at So Yeon, whose clothes and hair accessories were all yellow, with a much lighter expression and casually dropped a comment.

“Is that man’s taste like that too?”

“Huh? What man?”

“I mean Eom So Yeon’s son.”

“…”

When Seo Jun spoke, So Yeon blinked her large eyes slowly. It was somewhat awkward to call such a small child a man and even ask about his taste.

“Since he was a baby, he would smile whenever he saw yellow, and as he grew, he became particularly obsessed with this color.”

“Is that so? I was like that too when I was young whenever I saw yellow.”

“!”

Gasp! Was liking colors hereditary too? Caught off guard, So Yeon quickly hid her flustered appearance and blurted out whatever came to mind.

“Ha-have you eaten? I mean lunch. And, how surprised do you think I was to find a mountain of a man sitting in my living room? Next time, please at least call before coming.”

“If you feel wronged, you do it too. Barge into my house. Then it’ll be fair, right?”

“…”

So Yeon, who almost blurted out that she would do just that, quickly closed her half-open lips and bit them between her teeth. This caused dimples to form on both her cheeks.

Seo Jun, his gaze fixed on those cute dimples, spoke with an expressionless face.

“How about going today?”

“Wh-why would I go to your house…”

“No, not there.”

Seo Jun took something out of his inner jacket pocket and held it out to So Yeon.

“I’m saying let’s go here.”

“…?”

The rectangular paper envelope with white lettering on a sky blue background was clearly an airline ticket even at a glance. So Yeon, who took it, checked the text on the contents inside.

“Th-this is a ticket to Spain!”

“It’s for this evening’s flight. Since you’ve accepted my proposal, Eom So Yeon has to come along.”

“To-today?”

“Right now.”

So Yeon’s eyes widened to their maximum as she stared at Seo Jun’s face, who was suddenly suggesting they leave the country.

So Yeon, who had no fixed income, supplemented her insufficient living expenses with a card her mother gave her.

Then, after being cast in a drama, the money deposited into her account was the largest sum she had ever earned. If she continued to work steadily in the future, her income would increase even more.

If that happened, she knew well that it would be easier to raise her 4-year-old son, who was being cared for by her parents in Canada, proudly on her own strength, and that became the driving force that made her determined to do well in this drama.

For that reason, So Yeon decided to pour all her heart and soul into the role she was given rather than giving up.

The same was true for Tae Seo Jun.

It’s not a sin to get involved with him one more time, is it? Rather than worrying and being afraid in advance, she decided to clash with her love to explore the future, and if she could really be with him until the end, to say what needs to be said and take responsibility for what needs to be taken responsibility for.

However, hiding the child was a separate issue. It was something she would have to deeply apologize to Tae Seo Jun for someday.

But even if the sin she committed was great, So Yeon also had room for excuses.

When she first found out she was pregnant, opportunities to meet Tae Seo Jun were not easy to come by. Moreover, didn’t he enlist in the military during that time? And during the more than three years that passed helplessly, her mouth that could have told the truth became tightly sealed.

Also, even if she belatedly revealed the truth, wouldn’t Tae Seo Jun be the most troubled person? Even if she told him who the child’s biological father was, he might be very embarrassed.

For that reason, it was inevitably more cautious to reveal the truth.

Having thus thoroughly prepared her justification for going to Spain with Tae Seo Jun, So Yeon came out of the room dragging a large travel bag.

Just then, Do Soon, who had returned from her own home, was entering the living room.

“Gasp!”

What’s going on here! Why is the Director here…!

Do Soon, who stopped moving as if startled, plopped down on the floor. It was because she saw Tae Seo Jun sitting on the sofa in a magnificent posture like a still cut from a pictorial.

As if she was really surprised, Do Soon couldn’t continue speaking for a while.

And a moment later.

Although the main on-location filming would start a week later, half of the drama production team had already left for the location. So Yeon, using the excuse of adjusting to the time difference and condition, explained to Do Soon point by point the reason why she decided to follow Tae Seo Jun, who was leaving for Spain today.

“That’s how it turned out. There happens to be one seat left on the special flight leaving today, and it would be a shame to miss it. Since I have to go anyway, I think it would be better in many ways to move first with the Director.”

“Even so, you’re saying you’re leaving suddenly?”

“Actually, it’s not sudden. The Director mentioned it before, but I forgot.”

Hoo…

A lie that sweetly seeps into the ears, perhaps? Seo Jun, who was inwardly astounded by So Yeon’s very natural and plausible excuses, had to endure quite an ordeal trying to hold back the laughter that was coming out on its own.

Do Soon, still dazed, blinked her eyes and looked at Seo Jun.

“So, you’re saying that I’ll join the filming team later, and the two of you are leaving for Spain now?”

“That’s right, Ms. Yeo Do Soon.”

“No wonder I felt like packing my luggage in advance, this kind of thing happened.”

As if she had completely forgotten how shocked she was just a moment ago, Do Soon spoke demurely like a well-mannered lady.

“So Yeon often does unexpected things unlike how she looks. So please, really really take good care of her. If you just look after our So Yeon without any mishaps until I get there, I will be eternally grateful for that kindness, Director.”

“Of course.”

“…”

She’s more unpredictable than me, what is she saying?

Although she felt guilty for deceiving her friend, So Yeon couldn’t help but laugh helplessly at Do Soon’s uncharacteristically serious demeanor.