Barely able to stop her tears, So Yeon’s face was a mess.

Wiping her tear-stained eyes firmly with the back of her hand, she asked Seo Jun.

“That day we first met. It wasn’t even a full day. And you’re saying you liked me at first sight?”

“…….”

What should I respond if she asks again……

Seo Jun silently sipped his whiskey a few times without answering. But his mind was in turmoil, twisted and tangled.

When you give, you expect something in return. I showed my heart, shouldn’t you do the same? But instead of the angelic smile I hoped for, you showed me tears. Even your crying face is beautiful, making me want to see it again.

But why did you cry so sorrowfully? Why, what made you sad?

Was it because of my confession?

Or maybe… were you thinking about that man?

That wretched guy who left you, do you still long for him?

Lost in thoughts, Seo Jun chuckled to himself.

“So, what about you? How do you see me, Eom So Yeon?”

“Just by looking at you, Tae Seo Jun, I can’t help but be drawn to you. You’re handsome and charming. I just followed my heart. That’s all there is to it.”

So Yeon, her eyes cast down, answered in a clear, steady voice.

“Drawn to me? That’s it?”

“Yes.”

Her nod was firm.

She couldn’t admit she loved a man she had just met and couldn’t let go of for years. She couldn’t ruin their precious time together by getting swept up in the atmosphere and saying anything.

“Then let me tell you. I liked you. I still do.”

“……!”

So Yeon’s gaze lifted rapidly, but Seo Jun’s continued words made her eyes wander aimlessly.

“But how long can human emotions last? Even the most fervent love eventually cools down. In a relationship, any doubtful situation can hasten that cooling.”

His words implied he felt this way before meeting Eom So Yeon.

So there was more to his story, but before he could continue, So Yeon, visibly disconcerted, voiced her thoughts,

“You seem very cynical about human emotions. Not everyone is like that…”

Wishing that love, which grows hotter as time passes, existed…

A love so overwhelming, it feels like it’s bursting, even with just the longing…

That’s me…

“Maybe you say that because you haven’t met someone you truly love. Real love is about wanting to understand more than doubting. It’s about wanting to know deeper. Someday, you too will meet such love, such a person.”

“Ha….”

Seo Jun gazed intently at So Yeon and sighed.

Here I am, agonizing over you, unable to do anything. You, desperately blocking your feelings for me. And yet, you dare talk to me about someone else, about real love?

“Fine. Since it came up, let’s be more honest.”

“Honest? What do you mean?”
“So Yeon, why do you keep acting like you have something to hide? It seems like you get close, then suddenly run away. Why is that? It’s like you’re hiding something.”

“……!”

So Yeon gasped in shock. Her heart felt like it was shrinking, and her mouth went dry. She got up from her chair in a panic.

“I’m not hiding anything! How could I possibly be?”

Her overreaction to a seemingly passing comment made her look even more suspicious.

At that moment, she moved a few steps away from Seo Jun.

“Ah, oops!”

Pulled by an immense force, So Yeon’s body fell onto Seo Jun’s thighs. She couldn’t get up; Seo Jun’s strong arms and large hands held her tightly at the waist.

“You acting like this only makes you look more suspicious. What are you really hiding?”

“…….”

Her eyes moved from side to side, turning red. Her eyes brimmed with tears, shimmering with transparency. But her lips remained tightly sealed.

Suddenly, her lips parted slightly.

“There’s nothing, I told you!”

Breathless, So Yeon asserted again.

“That’s right, isn’t it, Tae Seo Jun? You’re not just any man. I wanted to appear good to you. That’s why I was careful. Where else would you find a man as accomplished and perfect as you? You know that better than anyone!”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

“Ha, Eom So Yeon…… really……”

Seo Jun chuckled, finding her insistence amusing.

A great man. A common compliment, yet from Eom So Yeon, it felt different, making him feel strange. Her tender voice seemed to spread like venom, making his body feel languid.

Seo Jun smiled and sipped his cold, sharp whiskey, letting it roll on his tongue. As the liquid stimulated his throat, his seductive eyes exuded a deep masculine charm.

So Yeon, looking up at his jawline, swallowed dryly, relieved to have dodged a dangerous moment.

“Why.”

“Just….”

“Want a drink?”

“…….”

How does one react when someone who’s been angry suddenly becomes gentle?

So Yeon nodded slightly, her eyes rolling around and settling on the glass of whiskey on the minibar.

At the Elstella Hotel lounge bar, soft classical music played.

Two men sitting at the long bar, leaning their heads together, were none other than the president and vice president of the hotel.

“Seo Jun is at the Spanish mansion now.”

“The youngest? Why there?”