A black car gently came to a stop in front of Eun Jae. It was driven by Driver Kim, who had been working as a chauffeur for Sun Woo’s family for a long time.

I said I’d take the bus.

‘The kindness is excessive.’

At some point, the man’s gaze towards her had become deep and intense.

Even when talking to him as usual, there was a strangely sticky and humid atmosphere lingering around.

And how about me, accepting it nonchalantly while thinking his behavior is strange.

‘Is this what they call a budding romance?’

Now I’m having all sorts of thoughts. Eun Jae, who had been looking out the window, chuckled to herself.

Sitting in the back seat, Eun Jae rested her arm on the car window and leisurely took in the traces of rain that had fallen on the street the night before.

They say there will be an early rainy season this year.

While looking at the scenery of the lush summer approaching, Eun Jae’s gaze suddenly stopped on the back of Driver Kim.

Perhaps because he had been around since she was young, he looked quite elderly.

‘If Dad were still alive, would he look like that?’

Thinking that at least they would be of similar age, Eun Jae shifted her gaze back out the car window.

She thought she wouldn’t be lonely living with a large, boisterous family, but seeing his family members kept making her think more about her late father.

She was envious.

If she had grown up in a somewhat ordinary family, she might not have had such feelings.

The car’s speed gradually slowed. Eun Jae began gathering her belongings, preparing to get out.

The car smoothly braked and came to a stop at the destination. Driver Kim, who had parked the car, made eye contact with Eun Jae through the rearview mirror and said,

“I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”

“No need.”

Eun Jae shook her head as she unbuckled her seatbelt. She added that she didn’t know how long the academy counseling would take, and she would walk to the hospital since it was close by.

With those words, she got out of the car.

It was less than a 10-minute walk from the academy to the hospital. She had chosen a place nearby because she needed to check on her mother frequently as well.

“No, I’ll drive you there.”

The argument continued. Eun Jae, who had gotten out of the car, pushed her voice through the open passenger window.

“I have plans with Sun Woo this evening.”

“Ah, I see. Then I’ll see you later.”

After briefly exchanging greetings, Driver Kim rolled up the passenger window and was about to start the car when…

There was a knock on the passenger window. Driver Kim turned his head and saw Eun Jae standing in front of the passenger window, then lowered it.

Eun Jae’s white hand stretched through the open window.

“This is all I have to give you.”

Eun Jae smiled brightly as she placed three crumpled fruit-flavored candies she had taken out of her pocket into Driver Kim’s hand.

“You don’t have to give me anything…”

“Thank you for driving me.”

“Thank you, young lady.”

Driver Kim, who had been rolling the candies in his palm, alternately looked at the corridor where Eun Jae had disappeared and the candies before starting the car.

For an academy specializing in helping obtain cooking certifications, it was larger than expected.

As Eun Jae entered the academy, an employee approached and kindly guided her to the counseling room.

Luckily, a student had just canceled, so a spot had opened up. They said she could start classes tomorrow.

Strike while the iron is hot, as they say.

Thinking it was a golden opportunity, she decided to register for the academy. The director at the front desk smiled kindly.

“How would you like to make the payment?”

Remembering the man’s words to use it without hesitation as it was part of the contract, she handed over the card without thinking.

Sir, I’ll study hard and pay you back someday.

“Please charge it all at once.”

Eun Jae stared intently at the course registration card she had received along with the credit card. Without realizing it, the corners of her mouth kept creeping up.

“Why am I so nervous over this?”

Her heart was pounding just from one registration card. It was an afternoon where she was already looking forward to tomorrow.

[This is the timeline separator]

At that time, in front of the professor’s office on the 4th floor.

Opposite a man who was sweating profusely and completely tense, was a man who seemed too calm in comparison, quickly flipping through charts.

“Any symptoms?”

At Sun Woo’s question, the man wiped sweat from his forehead and stammered.

“Um… so… The patient first came in complaining of dyspnea, with a history of HTN, DM, COPD. Despite using Ventolin, the dyspnea persisted, so they came to the ER…”

Just then, Sun Woo’s phone on the station desk rang. Both men’s heads turned towards the phone simultaneously.

The vibration sound of the phone on the station was louder than usual, which is why their heads turned, but a message on the screen instantly caught Sun Woo’s attention.

―[Web Notice] OO Card approval Yoon*Woo 600,000 won one-time payment K Culinary Art Academy.

K Culinary Art Academy?

“Just a moment.”

Sun Woo held up his palm to the man in front of him and picked up his phone.

After checking the message and tilting his head in confusion thinking ‘What’s this?’, Sun Woo realized it was the card he had given to Eun Jae and put the phone back down.

So this is what she wanted to do.

Why keep it a secret? The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Then, suddenly noticing the chart in his hand, Sun Woo cleared his throat and casually flipped through the chart again.

“What’s the SPO2 level?”

“It was 98%.”

At the man’s answer, Sun Woo handed the closed chart back to him.

“Then we can observe a bit more and discharge. Set up an outpatient appointment for tomorrow.”

“Yes, Professor.”

As the man who had completed the briefing without mistakes bowed his waist in relief, it happened.

“Good job.”

“Pardon?”

At the unexpectedly kind words that flowed from Professor Yoon’s mouth, the surprised man quickly raised his head, but Sun Woo had already disappeared.

[This is the timeline separator]

After work. Sun Woo, who had come down to the lobby, stopped when he saw Eun Jae. It was because Eun Jae’s hands were full of books.

“What’s all that?”

“I needed some things, so I stopped by the bookstore.”

As always, Sun Woo silently took the books from Eun Jae’s hands in one swift motion.

“Ah, it’s okay.”

Eun Jae’s hands, which had been hovering in the air, gave up quickly. She knew too well that the man would never give them back.

Sun Woo’s gaze turned to the books he had snatched away. The text on the topmost book came into view.

―The Miracle of Passing! Complete Guide to Korean Culinary Technician Certification Latest Edition.

Pfft. Sun Woo unconsciously blocked the laughter that was about to burst out with the back of his hand.

Sun Woo’s mouth, which was about to ask if this was what she had said she wanted to do, opened and closed hesitantly. It seemed she wanted to keep it a secret, and he didn’t want to be the one to reveal it.

“We’re going to the hotel.”

“Okay.”

He had received the text message and seen the books, so he probably already knew he’d been found out, but was there any need to bring it up and remind her?

I’ll pretend I don’t know until she mentions it first.

Sun Woo gently smiled and lightly pushed Eun Jae’s back.

“Let’s go, then.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The small lamp on the sofa table went out with a click.

Late at night, Sun Woo, who had finally finished his day’s work, took off the glasses he had been wearing and placed them on top of the papers, then lay down on the sofa with his tired body.

Slowly closing his eyes, he recalled Eun Jae’s small lips that had been chattering non-stop in the car on the way back from the hotel.

“It was really humid yesterday because of the rain, wasn’t it? It was so muggy all day.”

“They say there will be an early rainy season this year. I don’t really like rainy days. I have many more memories of getting caught in the rain.”

“I’m weaker than I look, so whenever I get rained on, I inevitably catch a cold.”

Another meaningless smile escapes at the vivid memory.

When he said she looked tired and she replied that she was a bit, she had chattered about this and that as if to chase away sleep, which was incredibly cute.

Sun Woo turned from looking at the ceiling to his side and murmured softly.

“I like rainy days, though.”

It was a night when he wanted to savor the woman’s gentle voice, reminiscent of the quiet sound of rain tapping on the window.

[This is the timeline separator]

Although it felt like they had been shooting all day, there was no sign of the photoshoot ending.

Eun Jae was exhausted from the shoot that had been going on since dawn. She had lost count of how many photos they had taken.

Finally, the individual shoot was over, and the couple shoot was nearing its end.

It was already the fifth dress. Eun Jae’s fair skin glowed even more in the red top dress she had changed into for the grand finale.

Sun Woo was momentarily captivated, unable to say or think anything, until his gaze stopped at a certain point.

Compared to the dresses she had worn before, Eun Jae’s curves were clearly visible in this one, causing one of Sun Woo’s eyebrows to twitch slightly.

“Are all the dresses like this?”

“Like what?”

Are there only ones that reveal everything so clearly? Sun Woo’s lips, which were about to move, closed again.

“Never mind, it’s fine.”

“Bride, please stand in front of the groom. This is the last shoot.”

Eun Jae, standing face to face with Sun Woo, swallowed hard.

Until just now, it had been individual shoots, and even for the couple shots, they had been taking photos while maintaining some distance, so there had been no need to stand this close.

Moreover, since they rarely had occasions to be face to face this close to touching in everyday life, it felt even more awkward.

“Our bride, please lift your head slightly and look at the groom.”

At the photographer’s words, Eun Jae slightly lifted her head, and the man’s face came into full view.

Despite the shoot going on since dawn, which should have been tiring, the man’s face looked no different now than it did at dawn.

Why is this man so pretty? Why is his skin so good?

Damn, it’s frustrating.

“Our bride is so beautiful. Now, look here. Lift your chin slightly. Yes, good, hold it there.”

Click.

“Ah, it’s blinding.”

In front of the flash that had blinked dozens of times, Eun Jae tightly closed her tired eyes and then opened them. The afterimage of the flash lingered for a long time.

I want to stop taking pictures. This should be enough, I wish they’d send me home now.

Complaints endlessly swirled in her mind.

“Bride, could you smile a bit more?”

The photographer’s voice grew louder, having read Eun Jae’s tired expression. Her ears stung.

This is me smiling, this is not me not smiling.

“Yes, yes, that’s good. Please maintain that pose. This is the last one.”

They always say it’s the last one.

From smiling so much, her mouth was now on the verge of cramping.

At the word ‘last’, Eun Jae used her last bit of strength to pull up the corners of her mouth.

“Bride, please put your hand on the groom’s waist.”

“W-waist?”

Confusion spread across Eun Jae’s face at the unreasonable request that others wouldn’t understand.

“Yes, this concept will be a bit seductive to match the dress, we’ll go for a deep―er look.”

Eun Jae’s hand, which had moved near Sun Woo’s waist, hesitated for a long time.

Unable to watch any longer, Sun Woo pulled her hand and placed it on his waist, and the man’s firm muscles were clearly felt.

Hesitating, Eun Jae slightly lifted her hand and grasped his shirt. The man, who had been quietly watching, snorted.

“That’s good. A little closer.”

At the photographer’s words that followed without giving time to be surprised, Sun Woo’s face leaned towards Eun Jae.

“Lips almost touching, touching would be even better. Like that, close! Bride, more, more, more. Our bride is too shy.”

Perhaps because Eun Jae wasn’t following along as freely, the photographer’s requests became more numerous and lengthy.

It was already a distance where they could clearly feel each other’s breath. Sun Woo, who had been hesitating, dropped his lips to Eun Jae’s ear and whispered quietly.

“Ji Eun Jae, don’t you want to go home quickly?”

Of course. Eun Jae nodded her head quickly.

“Turn your head to the right.”

“What?”

Eun Jae opened her eyes wide in surprise. As she answered reflexively and slowly turned her head to the right, a hot hand suddenly rose up and wrapped around Eun Jae’s waist.

“Ah, um.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to go home?”

The sound of breathing in and out was clearly audible. It felt like the man would discover everything – her flushed cheeks, her wildly beating heart.

While her bewildered pupils trembled, Sun Woo’s face slowly approached until it was right in front of her.

Pfft. She heard the faint sound of the man’s laughter.

“Good, stay like that.”

After uttering those last words, the man began to close the distance again.

Huh? What? You should stop there, you should stop!

We’re going to touch, we’re going to touch!

Eun Jae tilted her head back as much as possible, as if resisting Sun Woo’s relentless movement.

As if it didn’t matter, the man kept getting closer and closer, oblivious to Eun Jae’s feelings.

When Eun Jae’s head stopped moving, unable to retreat any further with her waist held by Sun Woo,

“Chu.”

Finally, with a heat that seemed to burn everything, soft and supple lips met each other with a sound.