Later that night, Ji-hoon and Hae-in returned home together. The house was calm, lights warm and golden.
In the living room, the entire family was gathered after dinner, casual conversation flowing.
The moment the couple stepped inside, the chatter softened.
And then—
Those smiles, small, knowing, teasing smiles.
Hae-in immediately felt heat creep up her neck.
Ji-hoon saw it too. But he didn't even pause.
He simply slipped off his shoes, lightly took Hae-in's hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and said casually—
"We had dinner at resturant. So we're going to the room. Good night, everyone," he said with a straight face as if the room was urgently calling them.
He walked straight past the living room. Ignoring every single raised eyebrow, unbothered.
Mi-sook blinked dramatically.
"Ahhh… is that my sweetie?" she exclaimed, placing a hand on her chest in mock disbelief. "Look at him ignoring all of us!"
Mr. Han chuckled calmly beside her. "Now he's married, Mi-sook-ah. Don't expect him to roam behind you anymore."
Mi-sook scoffed, "So what?" she replied confidently. "I know him. Even if he's married, he'll still come behind me."
Jong-soo, lounging lazily on the sofa, suddenly looked up at her with exaggerated hurt. "You love him too much, Omma," he said dramatically. "You don't love me like him anymore."
Mi-sook turned slowly. Her eyes narrowed. "Who told you I don't love you anymore?"
Jong-soo straightened a little. "I can see it. because it's obvious that you always think about that little funk."
Mi-sook glared at him. "Who do you think I made fresh radish kimchi and dumplings for?" she asked sharply.
He blinked.
"For me?" he asked, confused.
Mi-sook snorted.
So-hee leaned over and lightly slapped Jong-soo's arm. "For you only, pabo."
His eyes widened in theatrical shock as he rubbed his arm.
"Really, Omma?" he gasped, placing a hand on his chest. "Since when did you start loving me, too? Ever since your sweetie was born, I thought you forgot about me."
Mi-sook's jaw dropped. Before he could escape, she smacked his arm again and twisted his ear.
"Yah! How dare you accuse me?" she scolded. "I never ignored you. Maybe I cared for Ji-hoon more because he was still small, and you were already grown up."
Jong-soo winced dramatically.
"And remember," she continued firmly, "you were loved more than Ji-hoon before he was born. Don't act like you were abandoned."
Mr. Han chuckled from his seat.
"She's right. You were our only child for almost ten years before Ji-hoon was born. Your omma spoiled you enough. Don't rewrite history now."
Jong-soo surrendered dramatically. "Algesseoyo. I'm sorry, Omma."
Everyone burst into laughter.
The house felt warm.
*************
Hae-in lay down quietly and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.
A second later, Ji-hoon put his phone away and moved closer, slipping his arm around her from behind. He snuggled into her naturally.
Her lips curved into a soft smile. He had truly made this a habit, cuddling her every night before sleeping.
His body was warm. His breath brushed gently against the back of her neck. His arms wrapped around her firmly, protectively.
Tonight, her heart felt different. There were no restless butterflies, no nervous flutter.
Only peace. Maybe her feelings had grown from excitement into something deeper, something steady and calm.
Her thoughts slowly drifted back to the morning.
The small cabin. The wooden board. Han Hae-in Office.
Her name. Her own space.
Her smile deepened against the pillow. For the first time in a long while, her dream didn't feel far away. It felt possible. Real.
She finally had hope, a real chance to make her dream come true. And this time, she felt braver. Because she believed she had him by her side.
Not just as a husband, but as her biggest supporter.
But then her thoughts shifted. Leaving her job.
His words echoed in her mind.
"Leaving the job is your decision, Hae-in-ah. If you want to chase your dreams, you have to leave them. Don't worry. I'll take care of your expenses. Just focus on your studies."
Her body grew still.
Would it really be okay? What if she became a burden? He was already doing so much. Depending on him completely for four years… was that fair? He even offered to support Yeobin.
That didn't sit right. She had always taken care of herself. She had always stood on her own.
But another thought pushed forward.
What is wrong with depending on your husband? Isn't that what marriage means, sharing responsibilities? His family brought you into their home.Was even encouraging her to leave her job and help with the restaurant. They weren't treating her like a burden. And taking care of her was not charity.
Don't think too much. Use this opportunity. Leave this stressful job and focus on your exams. It's only four years. Once you get your degree, you can earn well… you can support him for a lifetime.
The thought echoed clearly in her mind.
She took a slow breath. Yes… It was only four years. She had carried so many burdens alone for years. Maybe now it was time to trust and take a chance for herself.
After battling her thoughts for a while longer, she finally exhaled deeply. Gently, she turned in his arms.
He stirred immediately, eyes opening halfway. "What happened?" he asked softly, concern flickering across his face.
She looked at him… then lowered her gaze for a moment.
"Hae-in-ah…" he called gently, his hand rising to cup her cheek.
"I was thinking about the job," she said quietly.
He focused fully now. Awake.
"I made a decision," she said.
"What decision?" His voice was careful.
She swallowed, then looked straight into his eyes. "I'll resign. Day after tomorrow."
For a second, he just stared at her. Then his smile spread, bright and genuine. But before he could speak, she added quickly—
"On one condition."
He blinked, surprised. "Condition?"
She held his gaze firmly. "I'll work at your restaurant."
His smile froze in confusion.
"I'll work at your restaurant. Any work. Except cooking," she added quickly. "You won't stop me. I'll study during non-peak hours. During peak hours, I'll help."
He blinked.
"I can serve food. Wash dishes. Manage the counter. Chop vegetables. Clean tables. Bring groceries. Anything. Just not cooking, because I'm not that good at it." She said it in one determined breath.
He stared at her, amused. "And why do you want to work?" he asked, barely holding his smile.
"Because I don't want to be a burden on you financially," she said quietly. "I've been independent all my life. I can't suddenly accept being dependent on you… for four long years."
Her voice was sincere. And a little proud.
Ji-hoon stared at her for a second.
Then—
He chuckled. Actually chuckled. Not mocking. But genuinely amused.
She frowned immediately. "Why are you smiling like that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
He shook his head, trying to control himself. But the more serious she looked, the harder it became. A small laugh escaped him again.
Then another. Soon, he was laughing properly.
She glared at him. Unimpressed. Waiting.
He finally forced himself to calm down, wiping the corner of his eye dramatically.
"Oh my God…" he said, still smiling. "You are so cute when you act all independent and stubborn like this."
Her expression turned even more unimpressed. She gave him a look that clearly said this is not cute.
He softened then. His laughter faded into something warmer. He gently brushed his thumb along her cheek.
"Alright," he said tenderly. "You can work."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"But," he continued, "not washing dishes. Not chopping vegetables. Not cleaning tables. And definitely not bringing groceries."
She opened her mouth to protest.
He raised a finger. "I'll manage all that."
She stared at him. "Then what exactly am I allowed to do?" she asked.
He smiled. "Handle the counter. Take payments. Manage bills. Keep track of orders. Help with basic coordination. That's enough."
She hesitated. "That's not much."
"It's more than enough," he replied firmly. "And it suits you."
She looked at him, still not convinced.
"Why are you saying no to the other work? I'm good at chopping and cleaning. I just lack cooking skills."
He smiled again, softer this time. "I know you're smart. I know you can do everything," he said gently. "But I don't want you doing all that."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I have people for that," he continued. "You don't need to wash dishes or chop vegetables."
He leaned closer slightly, lowering his voice in an exaggerated, dramatic tone. "I don't want to see my Cutiee sweating in the kitchen, making her hands dirty."
Cutiee? What a cringe name. She gave him a completely unimpressed look.
He chuckled again.
"Okay," she said finally, pretending to give up. "I'll join from tomorrow."
He smiled in approval and caressed her cheek lightly. "Hmmm."
She smiled too. Then silence slowly settled between them. Neither moved. They were close. Actually, very close.
His hand was still resting on her cheek, his thumb gently brushing her skin without him even realizing it.
His eyes drifted down to her lips.
She felt it. The shift. The warmth rising to her face. Her heartbeat, which had been calm just moments ago, suddenly started racing.
The air between them changed. It grew heavier. Quieter. Her body grew slightly tense. Nervous.
His gaze didn't leave her face. It moved slowly from her eyes to her nose, to her lips… then back again to her eyes. Careful. Intent.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
He leaned in just a little. Not much. Just enough for her to feel the distance shrinking. Her body stiffened instinctively. Her gaze dropped, unable to meet his eyes anymore.
He noticed. He saw the hesitation. Yet his mind urged him move forward.
Come on, she's your wife. You can kiss her.
But his heart held him back. Not because he didn't want to. But because he didn't want to rush her.
He looked at her face. She wasn't pulling away. But she wasn't leaning in either. She was nervous. Unsure. He let out a slow breath. His thumb stopped moving.
Finally, he leaned closer. But instead of her lips, he placed a soft, gentle kiss on her forehead. Then he pulled her fully into his embrace, tucking her face safely against his chest.
"Let's sleep," he murmured softly. "It's late. From tomorrow onwards, you'll have to study hard."
His chin rested on top of her head. One arm slid under her head like a pillow. The other wrapped firmly around her waist, holding her close. Secure.
She blinked slowly against his chest, still processing what had just happened. And in that quiet moment, she realized something—
He could have taken that step. But he chose to wait. He chose comfort over desire. And somehow, that made her heart lean toward him even more.
After a few quiet moments, her heartbeat began to settle. The nervous warmth faded into something softer. Her fingers slowly reached up and clutched his T-shirt firmly. Then she snuggled closer properly, fitting into his embrace.
He smiled… just a small, quiet smile on his lips.
She was slowly getting used to him… accepting him a little more with each passing day. And that alone was enough to make him happy.
He didn't need to rush into anything bold or overwhelming. Even the smallest gesture from her, the way she held onto him, the way she didn't pull away, was more than enough to fill his heart with ultimate joy.
He gently kissed the top of her head once again. For now, cuddles are enough. He thought. Then he closed his eyes, still smiling to himself… grateful that she was in his arms.