Seol Ji-oh’s lips widened in surprise. He wiped away tears with his hand and apologized to Yeowoon.

“I’m sorry. Really sorry…”

“Sorry? I won’t forgive you for the rest of my life.”

“…For the rest of your life?”

“You’ll be with me for the rest of my life. Got it? The forbidden words of breaking up.”

At Yeowoon’s stern declaration, Seol Ji-oh burst into laughter.

Yeowoon said to him as if declaring a war, “I’m serious! I’m being explosive! So, don’t disappear on me again.”

Seol Ji-oh reached out and tightly held Yeowoon’s hand. Then, looking at Yeowoon, he spoke with sincerity.

“I’ll be by your side for the rest of my life. No matter what happens, I won’t be the one to leave first.”

Their joined hands and the gazes that met were incredibly warm. Yeowoon now felt at ease, as if finding her place.

After the terrible incident, Yeowoon had clearly realized one thing.

There is no next.

So, she decided not to torment herself with unnecessary anxieties. She cherished the present with him because it was too precious. She wanted to love him without regrets, as if it were always the last.

“Ah, the weather is nice!”

Yeowoon lay on the sunbed in the garden, next to Seol Ji-oh.

It had already been a week since they stayed in the villa.

The weather had cleared up, and the world was fully colored in spring. The breeze brushing against her skin was not at all cold.

Yeowoon enjoyed the leisure while looking at Lucky, who was energetically running around in the garden.
“It’s not cold at all. It really feels like spring.”

“But still, cover yourself with a blanket. Your body isn’t fully recovered yet.”

Yeowoon quietly stared at Seol Ji-oh, who pulled the blanket up to her chest.

Who’s this boyfriend that’s so handsome? He’s even sweet.

Seol Ji-oh seemed to catch her gaze and smirked.

“Is my gaze really that intense?”

“Do you feel it? My love?”

“Pfft.”

Seol Ji-oh propped his head up with one arm, turned towards Yeowoon, and lay down.

“Why are you so cute? I want to eat you up.”

It was a playful tone, but his eyes twinkled as if he meant it. A gaze that licked her from head to toe.

Yeowoon reached out and pinched his cheek, indicating he should come back to reality. It was unfair to throw such a gaze at someone who couldn’t laugh with strength yet due to the wounds.

“Cut out the suggestive look. Lucky is watching.”

“So what? Lucky has grown up too.”

“True.”

Seol Ji-oh, while Yeowoon held his cheek, kissed the hand that held his cheek.

“It tickles.”

As Yeowoon withdrew her hand, Seol Ji-oh sat up urgently and invaded Yeowoon’s sunbed.

Leaning forward towards Yeowoon, Seol Ji-oh nonchalantly placed his lips on hers.

The best part of spending time together here was that they could share body warmth whenever they wanted.

Times spent only with each other, without anyone’s gaze or interference.

Sometimes, she felt so happy that the incidents in Seoul seemed distant. It was only a short while ago, but she felt like she had forgotten the fact that life and death were hanging in the balance.

“Ugh.”

Of course, the physical pain still lingered.

As he leaned in a bit more, he accidentally pressed on the injured area. When Yeowoon furrowed her brow, Seol Ji-oh quickly pulled away and asked anxiously.

“Are you okay?”

“It hurts. Go away. No kissing.”

At her words, Seol Ji-oh, with a pitiful expression, stretched his ears like Lucky. Of course, she knew it was his act.

Even knowing, she would still fall for it.

Yeowoon smiled with laughter around her lips and, lifting herself up, gave him a short kiss.

When he tried to deepen it as if it were a habit, Yeowoon pushed his shoulder away.

“No. I’ll be the only one doing it.”

“Fatal.”

“I’m the patient.”

“Only at times like this?”

“Yes. Only at times like this.”

Yeowoon laughed mockingly and lay back comfortably on the sunbed.

According to Joo Seok-yeong’s strict instructions not to schedule anything until her body fully recovered, Yeowoon was unintentionally on vacation now.

In fact, after the ‘Actress Ambush Incident,’ Yeowoon’s popularity skyrocketed. Advertisements, pictorials, and even scripts poured into the company. Giving her an indefinite vacation was a significant consideration.

Yeowoon was grateful to Joo Seok-yeong. It was not just for the recovery of her body but also for giving her time to heal emotionally.

Every time her manager, Kang Geon-woo, called, he urged her to return quickly and take advantage of this opportunity to rise to the top star.
“But Yeowoon was still afraid of revealing herself on official occasions.

If she were to reveal herself, she would have to somehow speak about that incident.

The memory of that day was deeply engraved in her like a trauma. She was afraid of how and when it would manifest itself to her.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

A tender voice came from beside her.

“Just… thinking about when I can make a comeback.”

“Whenever your heart feels a bit more at ease.”

“Yeah…”

Actually, she had rested for quite a while, so gradually initiating a comeback seemed appropriate. It would be challenging for the company to keep indefinitely accommodating her.

A light of concern crossed Yeowoon’s face. The phone that had been placed on the sunbed then vibrated.

“Who’s calling?”

Yeowoon absentmindedly glanced at the screen, and for a moment, she caught Seol Ji-oh’s gaze, who was looking at the prominently displayed name.

The caller was Min Ji-wook. When Yeowoon hesitated to answer and just looked at the phone, Seol Ji-oh glanced at her for a moment.

“What is it, Min Ji-wook? Why do you keep calling other people’s women?”

Yeowoon, with a somewhat heavy heart, looked at Seol Ji-oh and answered the call.

“Yes, Director.”

[What are you doing?]

“Just… taking a break with Ji-o.”

[Oh… How’s your body?]

“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

[Okay. Our movie. The preview screening schedule is set.]

“Oh, really?”

Yeowoon’s eyes widened at the mention of a preview screening. Does that mean all the editing is done now?

“When is it?”

[Next month. Since we’re having the preview screening and the press conference together, you’ll be able to see the completed movie on that day.]

Min Ji-wook’s words suddenly made her heart pound.

A completed movie… It was both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking that the film she had worked so hard on would be released to the world.

As there were controversies about the casting in the early stages, she had to have acted well enough to extinguish those controversies.

[Just wanted to let you know, so I called.]

“Thank you, Director.”

[Sure…]

Although it seemed like the matter was settled, Min Ji-wook did not hang up. Yeowoon waited quietly, wondering if he had more to say, and Min Ji-wook hesitated for a while before asking.

[Is the person next to you happy?]

It was undoubtedly a question that he had pondered over dozens of times. Yeowoon couldn’t say anything for a moment, knowing that no matter what answer she gave, it wouldn’t be the one Min Ji-wook wanted to hear.

He saved her life and came to visit her in the hospital every day, a person she was grateful for.

But gratitude couldn’t turn into love.

Yeowoon hesitated before finally speaking.

“…Director.”

At that moment, unexpectedly, Min Ji-wook responded. In his usual calm voice.

[I understand. If Yeowoon is happy… that’s enough. Since it’s the change of seasons, be careful not to catch a cold. I’ll hang up now.]

The phone was disconnected in an instant. Yeowoon stared at the phone with a somewhat dazed expression.

Director, such a good person…

She hoped he would meet a good woman who could understand his heart and make him happy.

At that moment, a twisted voice came from beside her.
“What did you talk about that made him look at me with such sadness?”

When I turned my head, Seol Ji-oh, with eyes filled with jealousy, was looking at me with an uncomfortable expression.

How do I deal with this incarnation of jealousy?