While walking through Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jinwook marveled at everything.

“This is amazing.”

“Did you not know your influence as Kim Jinwook was this significant?”

“No. I’ve only made short films until now. I won awards, but I had no idea I had fans to this extent.”

Soyu squeezed his hand tightly.

“I’m proud of you, Kim Jinwook.”

He glanced at her with a slight smile.

“So I’m a husband you can be proud of?”

Walking through the serene palace while holding his hand, Soyu calmly began to speak.

“I’ve been thinking a bit. I’ve changed a lot. As you know, I’ve always been someone who struggles with expressing emotions since childhood. But during high school, all my memories of genuinely laughing and getting angry were when I was with you. It’s the same from when we met again until now.”

Soyu paused briefly, looked at him, and continued speaking.

“You have more influence than you think. First, you changed me, then you changed us. Yeoul and Mom laugh a lot now too. That’s the kind of person you are. You gradually infuse good influence. So thank you.”

Her gaze was warm, and her lips carried a smile filled with love. Jinwook placed both hands on Soyu’s shoulders and smiled. Seeing the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, she tensed up. Surely he wouldn’t go off on a tangent here? Please don’t. Please don’t break this atmosphere.

Seeing his playful glint, Soyu’s eyes narrowed. No one could predict what would come out of this unpredictable man’s mouth. Just break the mood. I won’t let it slide. Finally, his lips parted.

“I love you.”

Soyu breathed a sigh of relief at his normal response, and Jinwook’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s with that reaction?”

Soyu chuckled awkwardly and said, 

“Nothing. I thought you were going to say something weird again.”

“Something weird?”

“You know how you are. Saying something completely random in serious moments. So I was worried. Thank goodness.”

Jinwook’s brow furrowed and the corner of his lips twitched.

“What’s so ‘thank goodness’ about it?”

“I was planning not to let you off the hook if you ruined the mood again.”

“Huh!”

Jinwook let out a hollow laugh.

“You really thought of me as that kind of guy?”

“It’s not just a thought—you’ve always been like that. Think about it.”

“Hey, even if that’s true, would I really do that after coming all the way here?”

“Yes.”

Jinwook’s ears turned red at her short and direct answer.

“Wow. You really think of me as that kind of guy? Someone who can’t tell right from wrong?”

Soyu smiled with her eyes and suddenly linked arms with him. He flinched.

“What now? After scratching at my wounds?”

“An apology. I’m sorry. I hope you’ll maintain this attitude in the future too.”

As Jinwook’s eyes stretched wide, she suddenly kissed his cheek and pulled away. Jinwook froze in that moment. His surprised blinking eyes and gaping mouth looked somewhat foolish. Soyu smiled brightly, took his hand, and said cheerfully, “Let’s go.”

Jinwook, unable to say anything and being pulled along by her, had a completely red neck, ears, and face. And the corners of his mouth were loosely relaxed.

They arrived at the Banyan Tree Seoul just in time for check-in. As they went up to the suite, their hands firmly bound each other. Though it wasn’t their first time holding hands, they felt nervous. What was this about? It was probably due to the anticipation and tension about their first night together.

The elevator doors opened, and they walked down the quiet hallway. The thick carpet muffled their footsteps but couldn’t hide the sound of their hearts. Both Soyu’s and Jinwook’s faces were flushed. Standing in front of the door, Jinwook smiled slightly and said, “Let’s go in.”

“Okay.”

Even though they had just walked down the hallway, tension consumed them both. The excitement in their gazes toward each other steadily built up to its peak. When the door opened, Soyu froze.

“Ah……”

A path of rose petals spread to the left and right, with lit candles. She looked at Jinwook with wide eyes. He smiled shyly.

“It’s our first night together.”

It felt like tiny electrical waves were running across her skin and up to her head. Feeling their hearts about to burst, they entered. They followed the path of rose petals. At the end was a large brick bathtub in the living room, filled with water containing rose petals arranged in a heart shape and champagne. Beyond the bathtub, the green forest of Namsan Mountain spread out.

“Ah……”

Soyu let out a gasp. Tiny electrical currents ran through her chest, and she felt overwhelmed. She had thought such events were unnecessary, but experiencing it herself proved otherwise. It’s good. So good.

“Jinwook……”

“Small but sincere—my heart.”

His eyes shone with love as he wrapped his arm around her waist. He whispered, 

“I love you, Yu-ya. I’ll give you all the events I couldn’t give you before, for the rest of our lives.”

Tears sparkled in her clear eyes. Soyu nodded, her face shining brightly.

“Yes. Do it for the rest of our lives.”

His lips descended. Jinwook pressed firmly against Soyu’s closed lips and began to take her breath away. The process was slow and erotically suffocating. When she finally parted her lips, her face was flushed, her breathing rapid, and her eyes hazy. Jinwook gently caressed her face and whispered in a husky voice, 

“You’re beautiful.”

Soyu stood on her tiptoes and grabbed his neck. Their kiss continued. It felt like a dreamy, ticklish, and sensual sensation wrapping around her entire body. She wished this moment would last forever. Soyu broke the kiss and whispered while caressing his eyes, 

“I love you, Jinwook.”

Her face was radiant. Jinwook gazed deeply into Soyu’s eyes and spoke, 

“I love you, Soyu. For me, there’s only one woman—you. It was true in the past and will be in the future.”

Soyu flinched while listening to his heartfelt confession. Jinwook’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s with that expression just now?”

Soyu averted her gaze and mumbled, 

“Nothing. I understand that I’ll be the only one in the future, but saying it was true in the past is a bit……”

He pushed Soyu’s shoulders slightly and bent down to meet her eyes.

“Look at me.”

Soyu stared into his eyes.

“Do you think I had other women in the past?”

“Isn’t that normal? I don’t mind. But what’s not true isn’t true.”

He let out a series of hollow laughs and stepped back, looking at Soyu in disbelief. She said, “I really don’t mind, honestly.”

Jinwook’s eyes narrowed to threads.

“I didn’t have anyone.”

“It’s okay. I really don’t mind.”

The corner of Jinwook’s lip twitched.

“You don’t believe me?”

“A little? But I really don’t care. Isn’t it stranger to say there was no one?”

“Is that because I work in the film industry?”

Soyu sighed.

“When I was at Harvard, I saw many people living together. I don’t find that strange.”

His eyes flashed mischievously, and his lips jutted forward.

“You don’t remember everything from that day.”

“Huh?”

“Five years ago, that day. You don’t remember everything.”

“What do you mean?”

Jinwook sighed deeply and pounded his chest with his fist. Then, as if lost in thought for a moment, he placed his hands on his waist and spoke.

“Listen carefully. I’ve never been with a woman, let alone dated. Why don’t you believe me when I say there’s only been one woman in my life—you? It hurts my feelings.”

By this point, Soyu was the one who was flustered.

“That’s a lie……”

“This is driving me crazy. Don’t you really remember? You and me. It was the first time for both of us.”

Suddenly, Soyu’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“It was my first time too, and I’m sorry to ruin your imagination, but I haven’t been with any woman since that day. Don’t you need to meet someone to sleep with them?”

Her confused eyes trembled, and her mouth opened and closed.

“Ah, no. How is that possible?”

“Did you really think of me as someone who sleeps around with women?”

His face was full of mischief.

“No, that’s not what I meant……”

Soyu looked at him and asked, “Really?”

“Have you been living a life of deception? You really don’t believe me?”

“No, but you’re a man. Can you endure that?”

“So all men are animals who only think about that? I’ve lived with my own sense of purity too.”

“You haven’t dated any woman for five years?”

“Where would I find the time? I’ve been so busy making films and working. Wow, this is really frustrating. So you thought I was that kind of guy?”

He paced around, messing up his hair and pounding his chest, looking extremely wronged. Soyu blinked and asked, 

“So today is only your second time too?”

Jinwook, who had been glaring at Soyu with hurt feelings, shouted, 

“Yes! You idiot! That’s why I’m acting like this! Jang Soyu! You’re really mean…!”

Soyu rushed to him, stood on her tiptoes, and covered his mouth. Jinwook, who had been staring with round eyes, soon grabbed her waist and showered her with kisses. If the previous kiss was like a spring breeze, this one was like an active volcano. Their hands exploring each other were filled with urgency.

Jinwook suddenly lifted Soyu and headed for the bed. Just as his eyes blazed with desire, hers too were deeply infused with longing. He laid Soyu on the bed and climbed on top of her. Though his heavy weight pressed down on her body, she didn’t care and pulled his face down for a kiss.