The plane taking off from Incheon Airport arrived at Malaga Airport in the southern part of Spain.

After a lengthy 15-hour flight, the four travelers swiftly exited the airport and took a limousine to their accommodation. Park Seong Ho and Director Bong, shadowing Tae Seo Jun like phantoms, sat in the front and passenger seats, while Seo Jun and So Yeon sat side by side in the partitioned rear space.

A quaint village cradled by the Mediterranean. A beautiful place one might dream of for a honeymoon, even if unmarried. The idyllic scenery, only seen in photos before, swiftly passed by.

As the car traveled along the coastal road, So Yeon’s lips let out continuous exclamations of wonder at the view outside, truly feeling the reality of being in a foreign country.

Just yesterday, she was in a gray city of towering buildings.

But now, she found herself in a surreal country, deserving of being called paradise. Despite the half-day, or more, journey, So Yeon felt as if she had teleported here in an instant, caught in Tae Seo Jun’s magic.

If I’m Alice in Wonderland, is Tae Seo Jun the White Rabbit?

Ah, even for imagination, a rabbit is a bit much…

Pfft!

Diluting her bizarre thoughts with a small smile, So Yeon was once again engrossed in the Malaga scenery, her gaze fixed to the window.

Was her ever-changing expression that amusing? Seo Jun openly admired So Yeon’s face, almost lost in it. He chuckled softly every time her slightly made-up beautiful face and small, plump lips moved.

With a face like a sculpture right beside him, how could he not notice? How could he not feel thrilled? Unable to bear his gaze any longer, So Yeon turned sharply towards Seo Jun and asked,

“Why are you only looking at me?”

“It’s because Malaga is so familiar, it’s almost boring. But Eom So Yeon is increasingly interesting.”

Caught off guard by her sudden question, Seo Jun responded with a sly smile.

“You mean you’ve been here often?”

“Well, as everyone knows, I couldn’t come here during the years I was bound to the country.”

“Ah, I see….”

So Yeon suddenly realized she knew too little about this man. A part of her heart felt lonely and kept rustling.

What’s there to know or not in a relationship based merely on work, she thought, trying to console herself, but it was futile. Despite her outward calm, So Yeon couldn’t suppress her growing feelings.

It was still spring in Korea, but here it was a hot summer.

As the scorching sun reached the zenith of the Spanish sky, the car turned onto a shaded boulevard and soon came to a stop.

A grand iron gate with a heavy emblem blocked the way, but it soon opened wide, allowing the car to continue.

Upon entering, a vast lawn and forest unfolded before them. Next in So Yeon’s view were a beach bordering the sea and a majestic mansion.

Her eyes widened with astonishment and curiosity.

“Could it be, this is where we’re staying?”

“…….”
Even from just its grandiose and majestic exterior, it was clear that this mansion was not a place one could simply book with a reservation. Understanding this, So Yeon hurriedly asked Seo Jun, who just nodded his chin once in response.

“Is this grand mansion what you meant when you said we were going to our accommodation?”

“Surprised that our accommodation is a mansion?”

“Well, I mean…”

“A place to stay is a place to stay, right?” Seo Jun added, and So Yeon, somewhat flustered, sealed her lips, having nothing more to say.

The limousine circled a large fountain before stopping in front of the stairs leading directly to the entrance.

As So Yeon stepped out of the car, Seo Jun took her hand, his gentlemanly gesture turning her pale cheeks a rosy pink.

Their clasped hands did not part until they entered the mansion.

It was around sunset.

However, the sky, thick with dark clouds, was stingily withholding even a hint of twilight glow.

Walking slowly around the neighborhood where he once lived with his wife and daughter, Byung Hwan’s leisurely pace brought him to a crosswalk on a main road.

Unaware that the drizzling rain had stopped, he folded his umbrella, using it like a cane. Glancing across the street, he murmured,

“Was it the street corner stall at the downhill three-way intersection? That must be it.”

As he confirmed the location of his meeting place, the traffic light turned green.

The street stall he was meeting his daughter at was right next to the road. A few outdoor tables set up on the sidewalk were empty due to the poor weather. Taking a seat at one of them, Byung Hwan ordered soju and garak guksu, idly looking around.

The neighborhood had changed as much as the years that had passed. What used to be just a wild hill had transformed into a decent urban park, for instance.

After slurping down the noodles and gulping a shot of soju, Byung Hwan felt exhilarated despite the damp weather. After all, a fortune he’d never dreamt of touching in his lifetime would soon be in his hands.

He hadn’t lived a life chasing vain dreams.