It was a surprisingly tender touch, unlike his cold demeanor until then.

Confused by his warmth, So Yeon couldn’t help but stand still.

Slowly straightening his long legs, Seo Jun gazed into her face and said,

“Shall I tell you honestly?”

“What?”

As So Yeon tilted her head slightly, Seo Jun intertwined his tranquil eyes with her shimmering gaze and said,

“Because you’re beautiful. Eom So Yeon looks really beautiful.”

No matter who you are, whatever you do… if it’s you, anything…

“I like you so much that I hate the thought of other men looking at you.”

“Can you just say that, so easily?”

“Should I say it while crying?”

“That’s not what I mean…”

What am I supposed to do? I’m already drawn to you, wanting to lean on you. What about my heart that’s beating painfully right now, about to burst?

As she poured out these words with sad eyes, Seo Jun cupped her blushing cheek with his hand.

“Why? Are you now remembering the past?”

“It’s just a speck of dust of a memory.”

“You’re evading again.”

“……”

So, why… Why do you keep shaking me up?

How much time have you and I wasted…

The translation maintains the same number of lines as the original Korean text.
So Yeon’s eyelashes fluttered, but she had no leisure to care about that. Her brown eyes, closely examining Seo Jun’s face, were filled with a deep longing, something she had to keep deep within her heart.

The surroundings seemed bathed in a rosy hue.

Her long hair, disheveled from the fall, covered her white neck and shoulders. So Yeon’s face, unwittingly, leaned towards Seo Jun as he tenderly tucked her hair behind her ear.

His demeanor kept changing – cold, mischievous, warm – she couldn’t tell which was real.

Yet, even if she knew his true feelings, it was meaningless for So Yeon.

She yearned to be close to him, but she was bound by a past unrelated to the present, and by things she couldn’t and shouldn’t say.

“I should go.”

Just as So Yeon tried to walk away, breaking free from Seo Jun’s hold.

“Don’t go.”

“!”

Seo Jun suddenly embraced her from behind.

Despite needing to leave, So Yeon pushed against Seo Jun’s arms wrapped around her. But his grip was unyielding.

“…Don’t leave.”

“……”

Tears suddenly welled up and rolled down So Yeon’s cheeks as she turned around.

Seo Jun spoke in a deeper voice.

“Stay the night. Let’s be together.”

“But I haven’t answered your proposal yet, is this you trying to sway me?”

“Maybe.”

“I can’t tonight. You said I have until tomorrow to answer. Give me time to think.”

So Yeon spoke firmly, causing Seo Jun to chuckle.

His smile was affectionate because of her cute manner of speaking, her eyes filled with sorrow yet flickering from side to side, defiant. He couldn’t be tough with her, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.

“You know, leaving in that state…”

Seo Jun’s gaze roamed from her head to toe, then back up.

“So Yeon would be in trouble, but what would I become?”

“If it bothers you that much, just lend me a coat.”

So Yeon knew too well. People seeing her torn dress and disheveled appearance would assume the worst.

“Just stay. I promise I won’t touch you.”

“Can’t you say we’ll only hold hands, why?”

“Then I’ll say it. I want to at least hug you.”

“……”

Ah, I’m going crazy…

It felt like a devil’s temptation. His low whispers in a playful tone made So Yeon struggle to hold back her laughter. Interpreting her pursed lips as anger, Seo Jun corrected himself.

“Okay, we’ll just hold hands.”

“Would I be happy with that? Being a woman, ignored by a man…”

Whoa, have I gone mad!

Her honest feelings slipped out. Once spoken, words can’t be taken back. So Yeon bit her lip, blushing.

“It’s not ignoring, it’s restraint.”

Seo Jun said with a half-smile, to which So Yeon, trying to cover her slip, questioned him.

“Seo Jun! Who are you? Where did the person I knew go?”

“Until now, you were looking for ‘Director’, now you use my proper name.”

“You didn’t think I called your name because I’m upset?”

The translation keeps the same number of lines as the original Korean text.
“So, I guess I have to keep upsetting you. Thanks for the good advice.”

“Ah, really…!”

Their banter continued for a while, an endless verbal tug-of-war. Neither yielded an inch in their intense gaze exchange.

So Yeon couldn’t help but burst into laughter, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Even young Hyun Woo never acted so stubbornly. Yet here was Seo Jun, an adult, persistently arguing, reminding her oddly of her son. The thought suddenly struck her – if gentle Hyun Woo ever acted like his father, she would be utterly overwhelmed.

That’s when it happened.

Beep…

The cheerful sound of a bell echoed through the room, causing So Yeon’s eyes to hastily turn towards the door.

“Who is it? Were you expecting someone?”

“No.”

Seo Jun, raising an eyebrow, quickly checked the intercom screen.

“It’s my mother.”

“Your mother?”

“And my aunt is with her.”

Meeting Seo Jun’s mother and aunt was daunting enough.

In front of his family, wouldn’t I be an inexcusable sinner?

So Yeon’s heart plummeted in alarm at the sudden predicament, frantically seeking a place to hide.

“What should I do?”

“Wait here.”

Seo Jun covered her with a coat from the dressing room, concealing the damaged dress. The coat was comically large on her, like a child wearing her father’s clothes. Nevertheless, Seo Jun’s lips curled up in a satisfied grin.

“It’s not too bad.”

He was pleased to see So Yeon in his coat, despite her appearance. It was the most appealing she had looked to him so far.