Chapter 04

“I happened to overhear the writer and PD talking.”

Minju looked at him suspiciously for a moment before nodding.

“I’m fine. It was just a minor fender bender.”

He looked at her for a moment before adding in a low voice,

“Even if a car accident is minor, it’s a good idea to get checked out at a hospital at least once.”

His tone was calm, but the concern in his eyes made Minju’s heart flutter.

Somehow, it felt sincere.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Before he could say anything else, Minju hurriedly picked up her pace.

As she climbed the uphill path, putting strength into each step, the sound of his footsteps following beside her kept bothering her.

Even though he didn’t say a single word, she strangely found herself short of breath.

Several minutes passed that felt like hours, and the accommodation building that had seemed so far away finally came into view.

Whether it was because her suitcase was heavy or because walking beside him had drained her energy, all she wanted was to get inside, close the door, and lie down.

“Then, go on inside.”

Just as Minju was about to turn around, a low voice stopped her.

“Seo Minju.”

At hearing her name from his lips for the first time in ten years, Minju instinctively stopped walking.

That gentle yet deep voice she had once desperately wanted to hear made her heart sink.

She closed her eyes tightly for a moment to steady her trembling breath.

When she opened them, her eyes met the camera directly in front of her.

Realizing that her flustered expression must have been captured in full, Minju bit the inside of her cheek.

She composed her expression and slowly turned around.

As though he had been waiting for her, Kwon Seok-jun met her gaze, raised one corner of his mouth slightly, and said in a low voice,

“Have a good date.”

Beep.

The door to the accommodation closed behind her.

The moment she dropped the suitcase she had been carrying, all the strength drained from her body.

She felt as though if she relaxed even a little, she would collapse right there in front of the entrance.

Gathering the last of her strength, Minju headed toward the bed.

The moment her knees touched the mattress, she collapsed onto it.

Only half a day had passed, yet she felt as though she had used up ten days’ worth of energy all at once.

At least there was one fortunate thing: every contestant had been given a private room, so she didn’t have to worry about anyone else’s gaze.

Of course, there were cameras installed throughout the room.

“Haa…”

Minju naturally sat with her back to the camera and let out a short sigh.

His final words before she entered the accommodation kept replaying in her mind.

Have a good date.

She couldn’t tell whether he had been mocking her, joking, or speaking sincerely.

Why would he say something like that when it was none of his business whether she went on a date or not?

Why had he suddenly appeared and shaken the heart she had worked so hard to seal away?

She had been doing so well at forgetting him.

No, she had almost forgotten him…

The Kwon Seok-jun she had encountered after ten years was much calmer than the one she remembered.

That made him feel even more unfamiliar and even more uncomfortable.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

He had only called her name once. Why was her heart reacting so violently?

Get a grip, Seo Minju.

Do you really want to let that man toy with you again?

Once was enough.

Until she came here, her attitude had been nothing more than, My parents want me to do this, so I might as well give it a try.

But after actually meeting him again, her feelings had completely changed.

She was angry at the way he treated her so calmly, as though nothing had happened.

More than anything, her pride was hurt.

To her, it was still a wound that hadn’t healed, yet to him, she seemed to be… nothing.

That was what she found hardest to bear.

So she made a decision.

She would show him, unmistakably, just how happy she could be.

I’m doing perfectly fine without you.

Do you think you’re the only man in the world?

Kwon Seok-jun, I’ll make you realize just how incredible a woman you let slip away!

She wanted to make him regret it.

Desperately.

To do that, she couldn’t behave as she normally would.

Just like the other contestants who had appeared on the program, she needed to actively ask men out on dates and show off her charms.

She would leave the program as part of a couple with a good man.

So her parents could stop worrying.

So her younger sibling wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore.

And, above all, so Kwon Seok-jun would regret it bitterly.

“Yes, Seo Minju. Let’s show him.”

Muttering the words as though casting a spell on herself, Minju firmly pressed her lips together.

Then she stood up and began organizing her suitcase, which had been left all alone in front of the entrance.

In the afternoon, as the sunlight began to slope gently, Minju was waiting for her date at the entrance to the resort’s walking trail.

The hem of her sky-blue dress fluttered lightly in the breeze.

The hair she had retied several times while looking in the mirror still felt awkward, but today, she had to look pretty.

No.

She wanted to look pretty.

Then she heard footsteps behind her.

Minju slowly turned around and saw Han Sang-ho approaching with a bright smile.

“Have you been waiting long?”

His cheerful voice naturally brought a smile to Minju’s face.

“No. I just got here too.”

Stopping in front of her, Han Sang-ho met her eyes and said,

“On my way here, I was surprised when I saw you standing there.”

“Why?”

“Because it looks like we’re wearing matching couple outfits.”

Only then did Minju take a close look at what he was wearing.

A sky-blue shirt like hers and white cotton pants.

The colors matched in a strangely perfect way, making them really look like a couple.

When they had first exchanged greetings while wearing suits, he had given off a very mature and refined impression.

But dressed casually like this, he looked unmistakably like someone her own age.

“You’re right. I guess we’re on the same wavelength.”

“That’s a good start. Shall we go, then?”

Sang-ho pointed down the path, and Minju nodded.

The two chatted cheerfully as they headed toward a café inside the resort.

The café was a cozy space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea, filled with the subtle aroma of coffee and soft jazz music.

They sat facing each other on the terrace, where cameras had been installed in advance.

They ordered refreshing iced coffees and looked up at the same time.

Their eyes met.

Then they both burst out laughing.

The cameraman and staff watched the two with puzzled expressions.

Han Sang-ho smiled and asked,

“Why did you laugh?”

“Just because. What about you, Sang-ho?”

“I was happy.”

Minju was momentarily stunned.

She had assumed he had simply laughed naturally, just as she had, but his answer was unexpected.

“I didn’t think you would choose me as your first impression.”

“Me neither.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, can I ask why you chose me?”

In truth, Minju had been so shocked by Kwon Seok-jun’s unexpected appearance that she hadn’t even had the chance to properly look at the other male contestants.

Then she remembered Han Sang-ho, whose eyes had met hers during the introductions.

She had simply been drawn to the smile that made her feel comfortable, unlike someone else.

“I liked the way you smiled.”

“The way I smile?”

Sang-ho asked with a surprised laugh.

“If smiling comes naturally to you, it means you’re probably someone who smiles often. When I see people like that, it somehow puts me in a better mood too.”

“That is true.”

Sang-ho paused for a moment, choosing his words, before smiling gently.

“But strangely, whenever I look at you, I think the corners of my mouth rise more often than usual without me even realizing it.”

“I’m not very interesting, though.”

Minju laughed awkwardly, and Sang-ho shrugged.

“Then that’s even more serious.”

“Why?”

“If you’re not interesting, but you still make me smile… that means you’re genuinely charming.”

Minju let out a small laugh.

His tone was lighthearted, but there was sincerity in his smile.

And yet, strangely, it didn’t feel burdensome.

At first, Minju had actively engaged in the conversation because she wanted to show Kwon Seok-jun that she was doing just fine.

But the more she talked with Sang-ho, the more she realized that he really seemed like a good person.

She had a good feeling about this.

Perhaps it really was time to forget an old relationship and move forward.

Even though she knew it was too soon to make such a judgment, the unfamiliar fluttering feeling she had experienced for the first time in a long while made her think all sorts of things.

The vibration bell on the table went off, and Sang-ho quickly stood up to get their coffees.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“I should be thanking you. You bought it.”

When they entered the café, Sang-ho’s phone had happened to ring.

He apologized and said he would pay, then briefly stepped outside to answer the call.

While he was gone, Minju quietly went to the counter and paid for the drinks.

In fact, she had intended to pay from the beginning.

She was grateful that he had chosen her, but more than anything, she was secretly thankful that he had saved her from being embarrassed in front of Kwon Seok-jun.

The conversation with Sang-ho was enjoyable.

He kept the atmosphere light with just the right amount of jokes and wit, while also showing consideration by genuinely listening to what she said.

Most of all, their sense of humor matched well, and they laughed for quite a while, forgetting that the cameras were even there.

They were given a short break while the tape was being replaced.

Minju took a sip of her iced coffee.

The heat that had built up inside her seemed to cool down a little.

As she set down her coffee and casually looked out the window, she saw two people slowly walking along the trail beneath the sunset.

Na Seon-young was wearing a red dress that revealed the lines of her figure, and the familiar-looking man walking beside her…

Who is that?

Minju narrowed her eyes.

When she recognized the man, her expression instantly hardened.