Chapter 32 – First Man  

So-yeon’s back touched the surface of the wooden desk.

When a large man collided with her with such force and weight, it was only natural that a small, fragile woman would be pushed backward. Even though it was a situation where something more could happen, So-yeon placed her palms on Seo-jun’s chest, which wouldn’t budge even if pushed, and turned her head to the side.

“…Why>”

“Stop… please.”

The black eyes looking down at her flushed face, tinged with a peach hue against the white background, were filled with dissatisfaction.

“Do you really think you can stop now?”

Seo-jun’s lips glistened with moisture. The way he spoke with those lips was intensely seductive. So-yeon, struggling to maintain her composure, managed to convey her intention clearly.

“See? It wasn’t just practice. You were trying to shake me.”

“Ha…”

The woman who had been exchanging heated breaths with him just moments ago suddenly changed her stance.

This stubbornness was one of Eom So-yeon’s charms, 

But how did that man manage to break down such a resolute woman? If she gladly bore the child of the man who abandoned her, how much must she have loved him?

Then what about me?

What am I, your first man?

Am I not even worth comparing to that bastard?

Overwhelmed by a sudden sense of jealousy and relative deprivation, Seo-jun let out a hollow laugh.

“You made a promise.”

“What promise?”

“That we’d only do this when we both wanted it. And you said I could use you.”

This was a condition Eom So-yeon had set when they left together, and Seo-jun had agreed to it. He had to keep his promise, but what was he supposed to do with this overwhelming thirst? The half-burned passion was pounding painfully in his chest. There had to be some compromise.

“Eom So-yeon, you’re really something. So, when are you planning to give in?”

“What are you talking about? Did I ever say I’d give in? Who was the one who told me to hold out?”

“That was just to convince you. Honestly, I was hoping you wouldn’t hold out.”

“…”

Does this man really like me?

So-yeon asked herself, and the answer was affirmative. His candid tone and more serious expression than ever made her feel as if he truly liked her.

After a moment of contemplation, So-yeon made a decision. She decided to take a step closer to Tae Seo-jun. But not now. It was something to consider after spending more time with Tae Seo-jun.

“How about tomorrow evening?”

“What?”

“I’ll come to your room.”

“Do you know what you just said means?”

He seemed to have understood her words as something else. So-yeon quickly corrected him, saying that wasn’t what she meant.

“I know it’s like walking into a lion’s den. I just mean we should have a serious talk about us.”

“Ha…”

This woman really does what she wants.

Letting out a sigh, Seo-jun looked at So-yeon, who was beneath him, and then helped her sit up.

Suddenly sitting up after lying on the desk made her feel dizzy. So-yeon slowly tidied her disheveled hair and regained her composure.

“Is it like an interview?”

“Think of it as building a bond. Something like that. Honestly, I can’t deny I’m very drawn to you. But you need to give me time to figure out what kind of person you are. Rushing into things always leads to trouble. Eating too quickly can make one sick.”

So-yeon loved Tae Seo-jun. Seo-jun had said he liked Eom So-yeon. What more was needed for the two to become lovers?

However, for So-yeon, that wasn’t enough. She couldn’t blindly believe his words that he liked her.

It could be the inevitable anxiety that comes with having something to lose.

She wondered if his feelings for her stemmed from nothing more than fleeting curiosity. Even if they became a couple, how far could their relationship go? Could he truly share a father’s love with her child? Would he willingly accept the sacrifices that came with being a father?

It was imperative for her to see how well he could meet these expectations.

Her decision could completely change Seo-jun’s life. So she was cautious. She wanted to know if he could handle it. She didn’t want to ruin what Seo-jun had built with unwanted truths.

What she wanted was to build a genuine connection through sincere conversations. That was the reason she had agreed to accompany him to Spain.

That way, she could safely protect her precious son, and even if he didn’t meet her expectations, she could cherish the memories from this place as beautiful and return to her daily life.

So-yeon gently pushed Seo-jun, who was blocking her path, and got off the desk.

However, Seo-jun, who approached as much as he had been pushed back, placed his hands on the desk and trapped So-yeon in his arms.

“You’re the same Eom So-yeon who finished off a whole steak without pausing. Don’t you think it’s a bit ironic for you to say that? Anyway, why tomorrow evening specifically?”

The man, much larger than her, cast an oppressive gaze, but So-yeon answered without concern.

“As you know, we don’t have much time. It’s only a few days. So let’s explore intensively. In the evening, we can chat about the day’s events.”

“And there’s a chance you might give in?”

“Even if not, I’ll give you a definite answer on the last day.”

Just a few days.

It’s not hard to endure that long.

Though he thought so in his head, his body didn’t agree. Since the kiss, his excited body still strongly desired her. As long as Eom So-yeon wasn’t in his arms, having her so close was pure torture.

That’s why Seo-jun walked her to her room on the second floor, using the stairs at the back of the study. Standing at her door, he urged her to go inside quickly.

“Goodnight.”

It was when Seo-jun turned to leave after leaving a short goodnight.

“Are you going to sleep right away?”

She had just rejected him. Knowing she was being selfish, So-yeon’s impulsive words came from not wanting to part with him.

“…”

Stopping in his tracks, Seo-jun raised an eyebrow and looked back at her standing in front of the door.

“No, it’s just… I don’t think I can sleep. I slept a lot during the day…”

While So-yon trailed off, Seo-jun’s heart raced for a moment. He, too, wanted to spend more time with Eom So-yeon.

“So, you’re saying you want me to keep you company?”

“Ugh, what am I, a kid? I didn’t mean it like that.”

Seo-jun’s master room was at the end of the hallway. Glancing in that direction, Seo-jun said,

“If you’re not going to sleep, why not come to my room?”

“R-right now?”

“You said you’d come to my room tomorrow. Why not start building that bond now?”

“Well… when you put it that way, it makes sense. Then, let’s call it a preliminary visit!”

“But before that, can you drop the whole ‘Director’ thing?”

“That’s easy enough, Tae Seo-jun. It’s the last room down there, right?”

With a bright smile, So-yeon passed by Seo-jun and walked ahead.

“…”

Is this woman determined to drive me crazy?

Following behind her, Seo-jun couldn’t help but let out a helpless laugh.

She was truly infuriating in so many ways.

But she was also the one woman he could never hate, no matter what she did.

***

“Myeongsu-dong’s three-way intersection is the place with the most traffic accidents in the area. Just last year, there were 14 accidents resulting in 36 deaths or injuries. But it’s the first time a car has invaded the sidewalk.”

As soon as Yoo Jung-hwa heard about the accident from the police, she rushed to the hospital and stayed by her father’s side, whose life was hanging by a thread, throughout the night.

While the detective who visited early in the morning explained the details of Yoo Byung-hwan’s accident, who had been brought to the hospital the previous evening, Jung-hwa, with a haggard face, nodded and slowly opened her mouth.

“That’s one thing. But why hasn’t the person who caused the accident shown up yet? Shouldn’t they at least come and apologize if they have a conscience?”

“We regret to inform you, but the truck that crashed into part of the pojangmacha had no license plate, and the driver fled immediately after the accident, so we are currently trying to identify the circumstances of the accident and the unknown driver based on eyewitnesses.”

Perhaps she was relieved to hear the word ‘eyewitness.’ Jung-hwa’s unfocused eyes suddenly came to life as she cautiously swallowed her dry saliva and asked,

“Did anyone see it properly?”

“The pojangmacha owner saw it relatively closely, but the testimony isn’t much different from what passersby saw, so there’s nothing specific yet…”

“I know what you’re trying to say, Officer. You’re saying the chances of catching the hit-and-run driver are slim, aren’t you?”

“It’s still too early to say for sure. It’s been less than a day since the accident, so we need to investigate further.”

“I understand. Please contact me immediately if you get any information. I must see the face of the person who did this to my father.”

“I understand how devastated you must be, Yoo Jung-hwa. Don’t worry. We’ll do our best to find them.”

“Thank you. Please take care of it.”

As the detective finished speaking and was about to leave the hospital lounge, he looked back at Jung-hwa.

“Oh, by the way, do you know why Yoo Byung-hwan went to Myeongsu-dong yesterday?”

“He lived in that neighborhood for 20 years. He probably didn’t have a specific reason for going there.”

“The pojangmacha owner said it was their first time seeing Yoo Byung-hwan yesterday. Why there, of all places…”

“Well, that’s something only my father can answer once he wakes up.”

It meant she didn’t know either.

Jung-hwa, who answered while standing up, mentioned an urgent matter

“I have to excuse myself. I need to meet the attending doctor.”

“Oh, please go ahead.”

“Then, I’ll be waiting for your call, detective.”

Was it because he felt sorry for Yoo Jung-hwa, who might soon lose her father? Or was it because he was finally realizing he had met the famous actress in person? The detective watched her leave the lounge with a steady gaze.

“Sigh, no matter how hectic things are, why didn’t she ask that… Who was he with? Yoo Byung-hwan was alone there, and Yoo Jung-hwa doesn’t seem to know that.”

The detective muttered to himself, running his thumb along his jaw, with a sharp glint in his eyes.

***

Seo-jun and So-yeon sat side by side on the sofa in the master room, drinking beer.

Four years had passed. The difference from that night was that they were in Spain, not Korea, and in a grand mansion, not a hotel. Delving deeper, it was a relationship that had become both unfamiliar and familiar over time.

<Master of the Sun> is a strange story about the reincarnation of the immortal demon king Ki Cheon-yul and the tragic woman he loved, So Yeo-hwa. The drama, primarily a romance, would be filmed spectacularly, combining a narrative that spans a thousand years and a thriller.

While discussing the story, Seo-jun, who had been scaring her by saying the ghost character’s makeup would be quite realistic, casually mentioned that ghosts occasionally appeared in this mansion too.

“Ugh… You’re lying, right?”

The clock hands were pointing toward midnight. Moreover, the two had only turned on a small lamp beside them. Unable to ignore the eerie atmosphere of the night, So-yeon narrowed her shoulders and shot a thin gaze at Seo-jun.

“I know you’re trying to scare me.”

“Am I? The last time I saw that ghost was probably…”

“When was that?”

When Seo-jun dragged out his words, So-yeon, who was captivated by his serious expression, widened her eyes and urged him to speak quickly.

“Do you know? Spanish ghosts gather when you talk about them because they like it.”

“Ugh! Stop saying that and tell me when you saw it.”

“You’ll be surprised if I tell you…”

All Seo-jun did was glance over So-yeon’s shoulder. And if there was one more thing, it was a realistic look that said, ‘It’s right behind you.’

“Eek!!!”

It seemed the prank had gone too far. Startled, So-yeon rolled over and jumped onto Seo-jun’s lap. She even shed a tear, clinging tightly to Seo-jun’s neck and trembling.

“How can you be so gullible?”

“Sniff, don’t do this! How am I supposed to sleep tonight…”

It could have been revenge for not going further with the kiss earlier. Amused by So-yeon’s exaggerated reaction, Seo-jun laughed heartily but then put on a serious face again.

“I’m serious…”

“Eek! I told you to stop!”

So-yeon, who couldn’t let go of him, was now more angry than scared.

“Hmph! You’re really bad!”

Glaring sharply at Seo-jun, So-yeon stood up abruptly, opened the door, and stormed out.

After So-yeon returned to her room, Seo-jun stood on the balcony for a long time.

The cool night breeze somewhat cooled the heat that had been bothering his body since early evening. He was used to enduring, but it was still painful.

But maybe that was useless.

Seo-jun soon entered the bathroom and took a very long shower.