Ji An involuntarily closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling. Heat spread across her cheeks where Kang Hyun’s breath had scattered.

Kang Hyun pulled back, resisting the temptation to indulge further.

“We’ve arrived.”

Kang Hyun’s fingertips brushed over her tightly shut eyelids.

“Yes, yes! We should get off.”

Ji An, who had resolved not to be flustered by such intense closeness, suddenly opened her eyes. Seeing Kang Hyun already back in place, she fumbled with her bag, moving hastily.

How long had she kept her eyes closed?

In the confined space of the cable car, she wished for a mouse hole to hide in.
Before the automatic doors of the cable car fully opened, Ji An stepped out, breathing in the cold air to steady her mind.

It was the peak winter season at the ski resort, and as expected, there were quite a few people at the summit. Skiers and snowboarders mingled with regular tourists, creating a crowded atmosphere where a moment’s distraction could lead to bumping into someone.

“Executive Kang Hyun, just a moment!”

After spending her time blushing inside the cable car, Ji An eagerly explored her surroundings as soon as she stepped outside, moving around energetically. She excitedly hopped around, claiming she could see the Gangneung sea, and then slipped away through the crowd, escaping from Kang Hyun’s loosened grip.

Using her small size to navigate through the tight spaces between people, Ji An adeptly maneuvered through the crowd, while Kang Hyun, following her, struggled to calm his fluttering heart. The environment was noisy, busy, and crowded.

Kang Hyun, who had once desired to keep Seo Yoon under control, found this environment to be the most distasteful. He had a history of lashing out with harsh words and anger when Seo Yoon tried to break free from his confines.

“Ji An.”

Kang Hyun, feeling like a lost dog unsure of what to do, looked around aimlessly. Just as he was about to give up, Ji An reappeared, having found a spot with a great view, and brightly waved him over.

“Executive Kang Hyun, come this way. You can see everything so well from here.”

He reflected on how unnecessary his past desperation to confine her within such narrow limits had been.

Although he gripped her hand a bit more firmly due to his anxiety, he refrained from displaying any possessiveness beyond that.

The traffic light ahead turned red.

Gently applying the brake, Kang Hyun leaned his arm on the steering wheel and gazed at Ji An, who was soundly asleep. A slight smile curled on his lips at the end of a joyous day.

She’s sleeping well.

They spent the day laughing, talking, eating, and walking hand in hand, thoroughly enjoying their time together.

Kang Hyun was cautious not to make any mistakes, which made him a bit sensitive, but seeing her smile made it all worthwhile.

He resolved never to repeat his past shameful actions. Having experienced a despair worse than death, it was somewhat easier for him to shed his pathological attachment.

After taking a left turn at the signal, an old apartment complex appeared. Two speed bumps across the narrow path were the last obstacles.

“Why are these speed bumps so high?” he thought, glancing at Ji An as he drove over the first bump.

He hoped she would remain asleep for just 30 more minutes until they reached home. It was a sight he could see anytime, yet now he felt anxious even crossing a speed bump.

“Umm…”

Holding his breath, he cautiously approached the second bump. His fervent hope was dashed as Ji An’s eyelids fluttered open, adjusting her blurry vision to the dark scene outside.
Holding his breath, Kang Hyun cautiously approached the second speed bump, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

Despite his fervent wish, Ji An, with half-open eyelids, adjusted her blurry vision and looked out through the dark window. They had left the highway and were now passing the familiar entrance to the apartment complex.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Oh my, how long have I been… I’m sorry.”

Ji An, who had fallen into a deep sleep while Kang Hyun was driving, lowered the corners of her eyes in embarrassment.

“It’s okay. We’ll go in and have dinner.”

Kang Hyun parked the car in front of the apartment complex and was the first to unbuckle his seatbelt. He had intended to feed Ji An a hearty dinner, but he had to head to the office as Prosecutor Jang Yeon Seok, who had agreed to take on the Gu Se Jun case, was waiting there.

“Executive Kang Hyun, you too. Make sure to go in early and rest.”

Ji An’s eyes, still red from sleep, stared intently at Kang Hyun.

“I will.”

Kang Hyun, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his blood-pumping hand, turned his upper body towards the passenger side, grasped Ji An’s seatbelt buckle, and pressed the button with a click.

Unlike the seatbelt that smoothly returned to its place, Kang Hyun remained motionless in front of Ji An.

“You’ve had a hard time these past two days.”

Murmuring softly at a distance close enough for their noses to touch, Kang Hyun gently placed his hand on Ji An’s cheek, which was bound to be soft and warm.

Trapped in his intensely burning gaze, Ji An wanted to rub her flushing forehead, but she couldn’t move a finger.

Kang Hyun’s gaze, which had been steadily looking at Ji An, wavered, unsure of what to say, and drifted towards her quivering red lips.

Sensing where his lowered eyes were resting, Ji An clenched her neatly placed hands beside her thigh.

“Executive Kang Hyun…”

She wanted to say that he needed to move aside so she could get out.

But before Ji An could speak, Kang Hyun’s lips descended upon hers.