The moment they left the hospital, the Korean press swarmed them, cameras flashing and reporters shouting questions. With that, Soo Hyun shielded Ji Won from the onslaught, guiding her through the crowd with a protective arm around her, that was what he really meant to do from that moment on, not just in one single second. The questions were relentless, and the speculation about their relationship was at an all-time high. There was no way to hide it any longer.

Kissing Ji Won to sleep, Soo Hyun then spent some time reflecting on the past events. As Ji Won drifted off to sleep, his gaze couldn't leave her face, her pale lips, her unconscious frown. His heart ached at the thought of everything she had been through, the pain that had caused her hands to clench even in her sleep. Gently reaching out, he brushed a few strands of hair away from her delicate face, his fingers tracing the soft outline of her nose, his lips landing gently on her cheek.

"Ji Won ah, I'll keep you safe. I promise.", Soo Hyun thought to himself

—-------------------------------------

Ji Won's eyes fluttered, she woke up to the whisper of Soo Hyun. In front of her eyes was his tall figure stood silhouetted against the sunlight streaming through the window. However, her energy was still not fully restored, so Ji Won decided to feign sleep, allowing herself to rest on the bed for a little longer.

"Dae...Geurae...Tomorrow is good", Soo Hyun tried to keep his voice low. "Ji Won needs some time to be ready...Yea...She's getting better"

Ji Won was sure that he was discussing the press conference to announce their relationship. Half of her was hesitant, but the other half felt so safe knowing that Soo Hyun was her partner. Raising her arms to pull the hem of his shirt, Ji Won sent a tender good morning smile to him, and half of her face still drowned in the pillow like a puppy

"Ah, Ji Wonie, you're up. How are you feeling today?", Soo Hyun gently sat down, run his fingers through her soft hair

"Much better", Ji Won's voice coy

"In the mood for anything today?", Soo Hyun bended down for, gently chewed on her pouting lips

"Not sure...Maybe abalone congee. Baegopa (I'm hungry)", Ji Won chuckled amidst their kiss

"Anything for you, baby", Soo Hyun reluctantly pulled out, "Get changed, I'll get your breakfast ready"

Soo Hyun meticulously prepared Ji Won's breakfast, his effort was surely the best spice added in. The aroma soon wandered around every corner of the house. Ji Won, glowing after freshening up, silently approached Soo Hyun from behind, her face nuzzling into his strong back while her arms tightly wrapping around him. The corners of Soo Hyun's lips immediately curled into a smile at her adorable gesture, slowly savoring every moment of this sweet bliss.

"Wahh your skill has improved quite significantly.", Ji Won exclaimed as she took a first spoon

"Mani mokko (eat a lot).", Soo Hyun sat by her side

"What are you up to?", Ji Won wondered

"Nothing much, you can tell me what to do, or else I'll stop by our company to arrange something for the press conference."

"It's tomorrow, isn't it?", Ji Won's hand approached Soo Hyun's

"Yea, you heard it?", Soo Hyun squeezed her hand in his, "We can be there together, or if you feel uncomfortable then I'll do it on your behalf. We talked about you posting something to announce is enough"

"Ani~~ I prefer standing next to you in such moment", Ji Won's eyes beamed with joy

They cherished the last peaceful hours together before the storm headlines were set to hit tomorrow. Ji Won bought some flowers to display in the center of their living room, a symbol of their blossoming love.

—---------------------------------------------------

The next day, their management teams arranged a press conference to address the rumors and set the record straight. Ji Won looked stunning in a simple black dress, escorted by Soo Hyun right behind her. Their chemistry was crazy enough that seemed to eradicate any single doubt of them not being a good match. As they stood linking arms together in front of the cameras, they felt a wave of nervousness but also a deep sense of unity.

*cre: on pic. Sorry not sorry for not being able to get over this goddess look of her. The mother is mothering guyssss

"Thank you all for coming," Soo Hyun began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "We wanted to address the recent events and clear up any misunderstandings."

Ji Won squeezed his hand, drawing strength from him. "We've been through a lot these past few weeks, and it's made us realize how important it is to be honest with you all. Soo Hyun and I are in a relationship. We care deeply for each other and have decided to share this part of our lives with you."

"As I mentioned in one interview before. My partner is someone that, once we stand side by side, people could easily agree that we must be together. Ji Won is that person to me. Thank you all for your support and understanding. Great health and best of luck from us to you". Soo Hyun concluded their statement in exclamations of the room, but amidst the chaos, they felt a wave of support. Fans flooded social media with messages of love and encouragement, expressing their happiness for the couple. The public announcement, although daunting, brought a sense of relief and validation. They were no longer hiding, and the overwhelming support from their fans made it even more special.

However, they chose to keep their move-in news confidential, wanting to maintain a semblance of privacy in their shared life. The press might have known they were together, but their home was their sanctuary, a place where they could be themselves away from the prying eyes of the world.

The news, however, seemed to have no impact on slowing down their career, if not boosting it. Unlike a common dating announcement, their relationship got such a great public support that set them both on even busier schedules. As the storm had passed, Ji Won came back to her filming schedule. Since the timeline was pushed back for weeks as a result of her kidnap incident, she now spent her every day on set to catch up, leaving her little time to be with Soo Hyun. Everyday Ji Won would leave at sunrise, before Soo Hyun could make any sense of his surrounding, come back around 10PM, then drift right into sleep after shower.

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That one day, the atmosphere on set was charged with energy and anticipation as the cast and crew of Ji Won's new project began their day. The historical drama was ambitious and intricate, demanding every ounce of focus and dedication from Ji Won. She had been feeling the strain of it all, the pressure mounting as filming progressed.

Ji Won stood in front of the mirror in her dressing room, adjusting the chiffon layer that was a part of her antique costume. The delicate fabric clung to her in a way that felt both vulnerable and powerful, fitting the character she was portraying. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the stress and focus on the scene she was about to film. For this scene, her role, an ambitious concubine, would perform a traditional Korean dance to win the king's favor, so the whole look and expressions were rather beckoning.

Meanwhile, Soo Hyun had been keeping a close eye on Ji Won's growing anxiety for days. He knew how much this role meant to her and how hard she was pushing herself. Determined to support her in any way he could, he concocted a plan. Seizing the opportunity of one free day, after a few discreet conversations with Ji Won's manager, he managed to secure permission to visit the set incognito.

Disguised as an assistant, Soo Hyun slipped into the bustling set, blending in with the crew. He moved with purpose, his heart racing with excitement at the thought of surprising Ji Won. As he neared the set, he caught a glimpse of her in the antique clothes, her beauty amplified by the ethereal light of the set.

Soo Hyun's breath hitched as he watched her. The sight of Ji Won in those delicate garments stirred something primal within him. He could see the strain in her eyes, the tension in her body, and it tugged at his heart. He wanted to comfort her, to be there for her in every way possible.

With careful steps, he made his way to her dressing room. Once inside, he closed the door softly behind him. Ji Won turned, surprise and delight flashing across her face when she saw him.

"Soo Hyun, what are you doing here?" she whispered, her voice a mix of joy and confusion.

"I couldn't stay away," he murmured, crossing the room in a few quick strides. "I wanted to support you."

Before she could respond, he rushed to pull her into his arms, kissing her deeply. Ji Won melted into his twisted tongue, her hands clutching at his shirt. The world outside the dressing room ceased to exist as they gave in to their desire after a series of hectic days.

Soo Hyun's hands roamed over her body, feeling the softness of the fabric and the warmth of her skin beneath. The urgency of their need for each other grew with every passing second. He lifted her onto the dressing table, their breaths mingling as they continued to kiss passionately.

"Are you sure?" Ji Won managed to gasp out between kisses, her mind struggling to keep up with the whirlwind of emotions.

"Absolutely," Soo Hyun replied, his voice rough with need, moving her hand down at his pant zipper

In their fervor, Soo Hyun urgently entered Ji Won in seconds as soon as she let his animal out. The quick break of Ji Won made their moment got wilder as Soo Hyun had to make the most out of every minute, and Ji Won's soft moans with her finger between her lips provocatively did nothing but ignited his dark desire. Her delicate costume sparked a true feeling of a king extremely cherishing his queen. One thrust after another with her thighs wrapped around his waist, losing themselves in the heat of the moment, the idea of protection vanished in their mind. Their lovemaking was a heady mix of tenderness and urgency, a desperate need to connect and reassure each other. When it was over, they held each other close, allowing Ji Won to rest swiftly in his embrace as her break time was totally taken advantage of.

"Saranghae" Ji Won whispered, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest.

"Nado saranghae" Soo Hyun replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Always."

A week passed after that intense encounter, and Ji Won threw herself back into her work, the memory of their passionate moment lingering in the back of her mind. She appreciated Soo Hyun's support more than ever, his presence giving her the strength to push through the demanding schedule.

However, she couldn't ignore the changes in her body. She felt more fatigued than usual, her mood swinging unpredictably. There were moments of dizziness, and her appetite had become erratic. The symptoms were subtle, but they were there, nagging at her consciousness.

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- Oooo guess what's coming 🫣🫣

- I'll see you guys on Friday

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