Dinner was served a little later than usual.
Seo-yeon placed the bowls on the dining table while Yoongi brought the remaining dishes from the kitchen. He pulled out a chair for her before taking the seat opposite her.
"You're unusually quiet," she remarked as she picked up her chopsticks.
"Am I?"
"Yes. You've barely said anything since you finished checking your phone."
Yoongi picked up his glass of water.
"I'm just thinking about something my manager told me."
"Is it about the pictures?"
He looked at her.
Seo-yeon put down her chopsticks. "I guessed. Your phone kept ringing earlier, and you looked different after the call."
"It's nothing we need to worry about tonight."
"That's not an answer."
He smiled faintly.
"The company knows about the pictures. They're discussing how to handle the situation."
"And what do they want to do?"
"They haven't made a final decision yet."
Seo-yeon nodded and returned to her food.
For a few minutes, they ate without discussing the matter again. Yoongi occasionally checked whether she needed anything, while she complained that he had added too much pepper to the food.
"You said you liked it spicy," he reminded her.
"I said a little spicy. Not enough to make me drink water after every bite."
"You've barely eaten half of it."
"Because someone decided to turn dinner into a competition."
Yoongi chuckled and moved the bowl closer to himself.
"Give it to me, then."
Seo-yeon shook her head and continued eating.
After dinner, Yoongi cleared the table while Seo-yeon went to the living room. She had barely settled on the sofa when he returned with two glasses of water.
He handed one to her and sat beside her.
"Are you going to sleep soon?" he asked.
She looked at the clock.
"Not yet. Why?"
"You should get some rest."
"I'm not sleepy."
"You've been yawning since we finished eating."
"I yawn when I'm tired. It doesn't mean I have to sleep immediately."
Yoongi leaned back against the sofa.
"Your doctor said you should rest properly."
"And I'm resting. I'm sitting down, aren't I?"
He looked at her for a moment before shaking his head.
Seo-yeon laughed.
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're about to carry me to the bedroom."
"I wasn't thinking about that."
"You were."
He took a sip of water, trying not to smile.
They remained in the living room for a while, talking about ordinary things. Seo-yeon asked him about his plans for the following week, and he explained that he might have to attend a few company meetings. She also reminded him about an item they had forgotten to buy during their shopping trip.
Yoongi listened, occasionally asking questions or making comments.
By the time the clock approached eleven, Seo-yeon was struggling to keep her eyes open.
"Let's go to bed," he said.
"I'm not sleeping yet."
"Seo-yeon."
"Just five more minutes."
"You said that twenty minutes ago."
She smiled and rested her head against the sofa.
Yoongi stood up and offered her his hand.
"Come on."
She accepted it reluctantly, allowing him to help her up. He walked with her towards the bedroom, making sure she was comfortable before adjusting the pillows on the bed.
After changing into her nightwear, Seo-yeon settled under the covers.
Yoongi placed a glass of water on the bedside table and checked that her phone was within reach.
"Do you need anything else?"
She shook her head.
"Then sleep."
"You're behaving like my doctor."
"Someone has to make sure you listen to your doctor."
She laughed softly.
"Goodnight, Yoongi."
"Goodnight."
He waited until she had settled comfortably before switching off the main light. The bedside lamp remained on for a few minutes while she adjusted her position.
"Are you going to sleep too?" she asked.
"In a little while. I need to make a call."
"Don't stay up too late."
"I won't."
She closed her eyes, and Yoongi remained beside her until he was sure she had fallen asleep.
He then picked up his phone and quietly left the bedroom.
In the living room, he checked the time before calling his manager.
Kwon Dae-sung answered after the second ring.
"Yoongi?"
"Yes. You asked me to call after checking the pictures. I wanted to know if there's been any update."
"Actually, I was expecting your call."
Yoongi sat on the sofa.
"Has the company decided what to do?"
"Yes. We had another meeting with the executives this evening. After reviewing the situation, the company has agreed to hold a press conference."
"A press conference?"
"That's right. The company believes it would be better to address the rumours directly rather than allow the speculation to continue without clarification."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Yoongi looked towards the window.
"That's soon."
"We don't want the situation to become more complicated. The photographs are already circulating internationally, and several media outlets have contacted the company for a response."
"Who will be attending?"
"You, the chairman's representative, and a few senior members of the management team. I'll be there as well. The company will invite selected journalists and entertainment media representatives."
Yoongi remained quiet for a moment.
"What exactly are we going to tell them?"
"The company is preparing an official statement. You'll be expected to answer questions about the photographs and your relationship with the woman."
"Seo-yeon."
"Yes. We will need to clarify the situation without disclosing anything you aren't comfortable sharing."
Yoongi rubbed his chin.
"Will they ask about her personally?"
"They will probably ask who she is, how long you've known each other and whether the rumours about her pregnancy are true. We cannot predict every question, but the media will certainly want answers."
"Have you discussed how much information we're going to release?"
"That's still being arranged. The chairman wants everything properly reviewed before the conference. We don't want contradictory statements from different representatives."
Yoongi nodded, although his manager couldn't see him.
"Alright. What time should I be there?"
"Nine o'clock. The conference is scheduled to begin at ten. I'll send you the venue details and the final arrangements tonight."
"Okay."
"One more thing. Don't discuss the situation publicly before tomorrow. If anyone contacts you, direct them to the company."
"I understand."
"Get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day."
"I will. Goodnight, Manager."
"Goodnight."
The call ended.
Yoongi remained on the sofa for a few moments, checking the message his manager had sent. It contained the address of the venue, the expected arrival time and a brief schedule for the press conference.
He read through the details before placing his phone on the table.
A few minutes later, he returned to the bedroom.
Seo-yeon was asleep, lying on her side with one hand resting near her pillow. He changed into his nightwear, switched off the bedside lamp and got into bed.
The following morning, Yoongi woke up earlier than usual.
He checked his phone and found a message from Kwon Dae-sung reminding him of the press conference. There were also several missed notifications from entertainment accounts, but he didn't open them.
He got out of bed and went to the bathroom.
By the time he returned, Seo-yeon was beginning to wake up.
"You're awake already?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"I have somewhere to be this morning."
She sat up slightly.
"Where?"
"The company arranged a press conference."
Seo-yeon looked at him.
"About the pictures?"
He nodded.
"What are you going to tell them?"
"The company has prepared a statement. I'll answer their questions."
She adjusted her pillow.
"Will they ask about me?"
"Most likely."
Seo-yeon was quiet for a moment before asking, "Do I have to attend?"
"No. You don't have to come. The company hasn't requested that you attend."
"Alright."
Yoongi sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'll let you know how it goes."
She nodded.
"Just make sure you eat something before you leave. You won't have time to come back for breakfast."
"I will."
He stood up and went to get ready.
---
At nine o'clock, the conference venue was already receiving visitors.
The event was being held in one of the large conference halls at the company's headquarters. The room had been arranged to accommodate journalists, photographers and representatives from different media organisations.
A long table stood at the front of the room, with several microphones arranged neatly in front of the seats. The company's logo was displayed on the screen behind it, and a row of cameras had been positioned along the front.
Members of the public relations team were moving around, checking the microphones, adjusting the chairs and confirming the seating arrangements.
Outside the hall, journalists were arriving in small groups.
Some carried cameras, while others held notebooks and tablets. A few were already speaking to their colleagues about the photographs that had circulated the previous evening.
A female entertainment reporter named Han Mi-rae stood near the entrance, scrolling through her phone.
"Have you seen the latest updates?" she asked the man beside her.
Her colleague, Park Joon-ho, adjusted the strap of his camera.
"Which ones?"
"People are still trying to identify the woman in the pictures. Some accounts are claiming she's his girlfriend, while others are saying they've been secretly married."
Joon-ho gave a short laugh.
"Nobody knows anything yet. That's why we're here."
Mi-rae showed him her phone.
"Look at this. Someone uploaded a video claiming the woman is pregnant."
"Did they provide any evidence?"
"Nothing reliable. They're just analysing the photographs."
"Then I wouldn't take it seriously."
Mi-rae locked her phone.
"Do you think the company will confirm the relationship?"
"That depends on what they've agreed to disclose. But they wouldn't organise a press conference if they intended to say absolutely nothing."
A third journalist, who had been listening to their conversation, joined them.
"Personally, I think she's his girlfriend. The way they were interacting in those pictures didn't look like two people who had just met."
Joon-ho turned towards him.
"That doesn't prove anything. They could have known each other for years."
"Exactly. Which is why I want to hear the explanation."
Mi-rae glanced towards the conference hall.
"Do you think they'll reveal her identity?"
"That's probably going to be the first question."
Another reporter approached them, carrying a folder.
"Have you heard whether the chairman will be attending?"
"I heard a company representative will be there," Joon-ho replied. "I'm not sure about the chairman himself."
"Well, this is already one of the biggest entertainment stories today. People want to know whether Min Yoongi is dating, engaged or married."
Mi-rae shook her head.
"And if the pregnancy rumours are true, that will raise even more questions."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Joon-ho said. "We haven't even heard the official statement."
Inside the hall, a member of the public relations team approached the journalists and directed them towards their assigned seats.
"Good morning, everyone. The press conference will begin shortly. Please take your seats and ensure your recording equipment is ready."
The reporters began entering the room.
Some continued discussing the photographs as they settled down, while others checked their questions and reviewed the information they had gathered.
At the front, an assistant tested the microphones one last time.
"Can everyone hear me?"
A few journalists responded.
The assistant nodded and stepped away from the table.
Mi-rae opened her notebook and wrote down her first question.
Who is the woman in the photographs, and what is her relationship with Min Yoongi?
Beside it, she added another.
Are the pregnancy rumours true?
Joon-ho checked his camera settings before looking towards the entrance.
"Has he arrived?" he asked one of the staff members.
"Not yet. He should be here shortly."
The journalists settled into their seats, waiting for the company representatives to arrive.