Even at this moment, people were sharply gossiping about her. If she returned home during this period, it would be like pouring oil on a blazing fire.

CEO Koo Won Hu advised Do Sun to spend some time abroad until the public interest waned.

Thus, Do Sun, who decided to take a break now that they were abroad, was currently poring over information about Spanish and European travel destinations while lying on her bed.

“Do you have any specific places you want to visit?”

Do Sun, engrossed in her laptop, asked. After some thought, So Yeon replied.

“I guess it’s the same for both of us, isn’t it?”

“Then I’ll decide, and don’t complain about it later.”

“There’s no need for that. As long as you’re with me, I’ll be happy anywhere.”
“I’ve certainly raised one good friend!”

Do Sun grinned and turned off her laptop, preparing for bed. Meanwhile, So Yeon cautiously stepped out of the room.

Her throat felt scratchy like it was filled with sand, and her chest was tight. She headed to the hotel’s first-floor lobby.

Despite the late hour, the lobby’s cafeteria shone brightly. So Yeon, suddenly craving a warm cup of tea, started walking towards it. But she couldn’t take more than a few steps.

Standing in the middle of the lobby, So Yeon’s gaze was captured by Tae Seo Jun, sitting inside the glass-walled cafeteria.

Instinctively, she hid behind a pillar, her thoughts tumbling over each other. With her heart pounding, she peeked out from a safe distance to spy on him.

Should she go up and talk to him?

‘My filming ends tomorrow, but I’ll have to face him again in Korea because of work. I know liking someone more makes hating them easier, but how long will I keep shrinking in front of him?’

So Yeon finally made up her mind. It was quiet around, and even if someone saw, they would think it was a chance encounter.

But, it wasn’t so.

The café, which she thought was empty, had more than just Tae Seo Jun. He was with Oh Min Jung.

That late evening, Tae Seo Jun and Oh Min Jung were sitting together in an intimate setting, exchanging friendly glances and smiling brightly.

Was that why he had been ignoring me these past few days? Was he waiting for Oh Min Jung instead of me in Málaga? Since when were they so close?

I wish he hadn’t said he couldn’t let go of me. How thrilled I was by those words. How warm and excited my heart felt. As he approached me sincerely, how heartbroken and sorry I felt.

On the other hand, I felt relieved.

I felt less guilty about him being happy without me.

Yet, despite calming her heart, she found his fickle attitude hard to comprehend. It was incredibly vexing. But what baffled So Yeon the most was that, even in this disappointing moment, she still desperately longed for Tae Seo Jun.

How could she not love him? Even if he treated her coldly, wasn’t sincere to her, or was affectionate with another woman, she couldn’t turn away from him.

That was her.

Despite struggling to escape this unrequited love, she always ended up back where she started. So Yeon let out a hollow laugh and had no choice but to turn back.

Back in her room, she lay down on the bed, embracing her turmoil, lying there like a lifeless body.

Even with her eyes tightly shut, she couldn’t sleep. Her body felt like a burning furnace, as if sharp hooks were tearing through her. Yet, to So Yeon, this physical fever seemed trivial.

To protect something precious, she had to let go of something precious.

To get rid of him, she had to tear her flesh and carve her bones.

Enduring the pain in her heart was harder than the burning body. So Yeon quietly exhaled hot breaths throughout the night.

Eventually, the night gave way to an unusually bright morning.
The Spanish schedule for the drama production was just beginning, but So Yeon was stepping into the final phase of her shooting.

Despite a week of sunny weather, the sea, caught in an unusual climate trend, had plummeted temperatures, raising the waves’ ferocity. Hence, the underwater shooting, which should have been completed earlier, kept getting delayed.

But today, with a tight overseas location schedule, there was no turning back.

Despite the risks, a medium-sized cruise ship and several large boats equipped with state-of-the-art filming gear had set sail in the vast sea an hour ago.

As seen in the café yesterday, Oh Min Jung followed Tae Seo Jun around on the ship. Even today, he didn’t spare a glance for So Yeon, responding readily only when Min Jung asked something.

So Yeon, unable to ignore the seemingly close pair, bit the inside of her lip, hoping this torturous time would pass quickly.

Soon, only two actors needed to enter the water.

“Eom So Yeon, if you’re ready, please head to the shooting spot!”

At the staff’s robust voice, all eyes shifted to So Yeon, who was just leaving the makeup artist and moving briskly.

Seo Jun, also needing to dive soon, was heading to his position.

It was the moment when they crossed paths. The boat rocked from the waves, causing So Yeon to stagger slightly, bumping into Seo Jun. Their eyes met.

“You know accidents happen when you’re nervous, right?”

“…”

Was it a senior’s concern?

After experiencing his extreme coldness since arriving in Cadiz, a word from him wasn’t enough to melt the ice that had formed around her heart. So Yeon, without replying, headed to her position.

Finally, a woman in red stood at the bow of the boat.

Her veil, fluttering in the sea breeze, revealed her face.

So Yeon’s eyes brimmed with tears. As they spilled down her pale cheeks, she tilted forward, and her body plunged into the deep blue sea.

Splash!

Her veil flew off like a phoenix, but So Yeon, surrounded by white water, slowly sank below.

Then, in an instant, a man swam swiftly towards her. His large, graceful body wrapped around So Yeon’s smaller frame. She embraced him, letting herself be protected.

Their kiss was as tender as that of loving lovers.

Even as they shared breaths, So Yeon couldn’t discern Seo Jun’s concern for her.

Just moments ago, as she was swept by the current and nearly caused an NG, Seo Jun had appeared just in time, averting a crisis. The relief was so overwhelming that there was no room for any other thought.

In that state, Seo Jun and So Yeon drifted deeper into the sea, becoming mere specks.

After a while…

“Pant, pant…”

So Yeon emerged at the surface, gasping for air.
Following Seo Jun’s emergence, the waiting staff hurriedly helped the two actors onto a small boat.

“Now, it’s Oh Min Jung’s turn!” exclaimed Director Jo as Seo Jun and So Yeon’s shoot concluded without incident.

“Ack, it’s cold! Ugh…”

Min Jung, clearly displeased with even a brief dip in the sea, grudgingly grimaced as she entered the water. Within seconds, her hair, resembling seaweed strands, popped up on the water’s surface.

“Puff!”

Exhaling a breath she had been holding, Min Jung’s face filled the screen, halting the busy camera movements abruptly.

With that, the underwater shooting was successfully completed.

“Great job, everyone! Let’s head back to land quickly, especially those feeling seasick!” announced the staff.

Today’s footage was critical, destined to be inserted at various points, including the start and end of the drama. It turned out even better than expected, which explained the unusually robust tone in Director Yoon’s voice.