Episode 5
Let’s Get Married
Thump-thump.
He was closer than he had ever been before—closer than the distance he usually kept while giving her acting direction.
She should have reacted, but Jinju’s heart was beating so violently it felt as if it might burst out of her chest without permission.
Gulp.
Her breath wouldn’t settle. Her lips parted slightly as she tried to breathe properly, but her mouth was dry, forcing her to swallow repeatedly.
Why am I like this?
Rustle.
Jinju lowered her gaze at the faint sound.
“Hm?”
Director Yoonjae had bent down and was doing something on the lobby floor. From above, she could see his back and the curve of his lowered waist.
“Director… what are you doing?”
“I noticed it from the stage earlier, but this costume skirt is too long. It’s dangerous. Just now, the hem almost got stepped on by your shoe.”
He pulled up the hem of the hanbok that had been caught near his foot.
Jinju narrowed her eyes, her face inexplicably heating up.
Why am I like this? Why am I getting nervous over nothing?
She was usually calm and unaffected by emotion, but strangely, this kept happening only when she was with this man.
“What did you want to see me about?”
“Do you have time today?”
“Time?”
“If you don’t have other plans, I thought we could have a meal together.”
Jinju blinked.
Dinner, suddenly? Was he planning to point out corrections about today’s performance while eating? Could she even swallow food in such a situation?
She hesitated, unsure how to respond.
“About today’s performance…”
Ah. Of course.
So this was it.
She had expected it.
Still, Jinju had given everything she had on stage today, so she had no regrets.
“You acted very well today. Bae Jinju’s performance was captivating—so much so that it was hard for the director to look away.”
Her eyes widened at the unexpected praise. It was the first time she had ever heard him compliment her.
“Huh?”
For a moment, she thought she saw a faint smile on his face. She tilted her head slightly, uncertain. She had never seen Yoonjae smile before—not once. Neither had anyone in the troupe.
But surprisingly, Yoonjae was actually smiling—his lips lifted in a clear curve.
Something surged in Jinju’s chest. A tremor she couldn’t explain spread deep inside her.
She thought of all the nights she had gritted her teeth and practiced. For someone who had only done pansori, incorporating theatrical elements into Changgeuk had been far more difficult than she had expected.
Director Lee Yoonjae had poured countless criticisms onto her, and Jinju had corrected herself and practiced again and again. There were times she felt hurt, thinking he didn’t recognize her effort.
But she couldn’t tell anyone, so she swallowed it all down into her small chest again and again.
“Thank you.”
What could she do in response to his praise? Jinju simply bowed slowly.
When she lifted her head again, Yoonjae saw the faint moisture in her eyes.
“Bae Jinju, what do you want to eat? I’d like to treat you to anything today as a reward.”
Carefully, Jinju wiped the corner of her eye so her makeup wouldn’t smudge. Then she puffed her cheeks slightly like a child and smiled brightly.
“Please buy me meat, Director. I worked really hard today, so I’m hungry.”
Yoonjae felt it—Jinju was smiling cutely, approaching him without the sharp edges she usually had. Watching her performances every day, he had experienced every possible emotion, every joy and frustration.
He had also watched her countless times sitting alone in the small rehearsal room, enduring criticism and practicing again and again. That was why he felt both proud and satisfied seeing her growth.
“Alright. Today I’ll take you to the best steak restaurant.”
* * *
Jinju felt slightly awkward.
The place Yoonjae brought her to was a luxury restaurant at the top of a high-rise tower overlooking the Han River.
The view was breathtaking. Through the enormous glass windows, Seoul’s night skyline sparkled like stars. The interior, music, and atmosphere were all perfect.
But if this was such a famous restaurant—and surely the food was good—why were there no customers?
She glanced around sideways.
“This is a famous hotel restaurant, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then why is there no one here?”
“I reserved the entire place.”
Jinju’s lips parted slightly without realizing it. After spending so much time in the troupe, she had almost forgotten that Director Yoonjae was the son of a wealthy family.
Hearing that he had booked the entire restaurant brought back memories of his arrogant impression during their first arranged meeting.
“Why would you do that?”
“You said you wanted meat, didn’t you?”
“I can just eat meat normally. Why waste money on something like this?”
Yoonjae looked at her with an unfamiliar expression.
The calm, composed Bae Jinju he knew from rehearsals had disappeared, replaced by a sharp, flustered woman raising her voice.
Was this… nagging? He had heard that couples become more naggy as they grow closer.
He remembered she had occasionally argued with his words—at their first meeting, and again at the amusement park.
No, had she scolded him?
Well, the one who brought up divorce and compensation first was Yoonjae himself.
He smirked. So this was not an actress sitting as a troupe member, but as a fiancée?
Before he knew it, he found Jinju worrying about his expenses oddly endearing.
“Your order is ready.”
A steak plate was placed before them, and wine was poured into a glass. Yoonjae pulled his plate closer, picked up a knife, and began cutting the steak into large, neat pieces. Then he switched plates with hers.
“……”
Jinju felt strange. The thick slices of meat were neatly cut and appetizing.
“Eat. My father comes here often too—the meat is tender, and the appetizers and desserts are good.”
“Yes.”
But Jinju didn’t eat. She just stared at the plate.
Yoonjae noticed her expression and paused.
“What is it? Don’t you like it?”
“Is it really okay for me to eat this?”
“What do you mean?”
Jinju sat upright, as if carved into proper posture, and looked at him clearly.
“No one has ever cut meat on my plate for me before. So I’m not sure how I’m supposed to accept this kind of kindness.”
Yoonjae’s fingers twitched slightly.
What kind of life had this small, beautiful woman lived, never once having someone cut meat for her?
Strangely, it didn’t feel unpleasant.
“It’s not even something worth calling kindness. Just eat.”
His tone was blunt, but not cold. As he lowered his head and continued cutting meat, his cheeks turned faintly pink for no reason.
A more complicated woman than I expected.
Bae Jinju… complicated.
No matter how he interpreted it, it wasn’t exactly praise—but at the same time, a warm current spread through his chest. Something deep inside him softened.
He liked it. The way she drew clear boundaries, including with him.
“……”
But she still wasn’t eating. Jinju’s gaze remained serious.
The steak was getting cold. Should he have cut it smaller?
As he pondered this, Jinju’s eyes met his.
“Just because an actor performs better than expected doesn’t mean the director rents out an entire restaurant and personally cuts their food. Or is this something you do when dining with actresses you like?”
Her eyes flickered.
To Jinju, it seemed plausible that Yoonjae—having studied and worked in Europe—might do such things.
Yoonjae, however, was taken aback. His gentle expression crumpled.
Cutting her food had been purely instinctive. He had never done such a thing for anyone, nor had he ever thought he should.
But her suspicious expression irritated him. One eyebrow lifted sharply.
“Bae Jinju, I don’t have time to cut steak for actresses. This… let’s just call it courtesy toward someone I once met on an arranged date, not as a director.”
If she knew how strongly he disliked strong perfume, or how he avoided eye contact with overly exposed actresses, she wouldn’t say such things.
She really knows nothing about me. Does she have zero interest in me?
He sighed quietly so she wouldn’t notice.
“I understand you love pansori and dream of becoming a master singer to the point where you can’t think about marriage. But I hope you also understand that I am equally passionate about my work and cannot exchange it for anything.”
He took a sip of wine.
He had changed his strategy—from persuasion to emotional appeal. Jinju clearly had no interest in money or becoming part of a wealthy family.
“Instead, I will do everything I can to help you become the best singer.”
Whether he was interested in her or simply curious no longer mattered.
The desire to reach out and hold onto her—despite knowing she looked at him as if he were pitiful and wanted to push him away—was the beginning of this contract marriage.
“The steak tastes worse when it gets cold. Eat.”
Was it his imagination, or did his expression look strangely concerned?
What will happen to me if I go through with this marriage?
Jinju tightened her grip on the fork.
One word echoed in her mind.
Marriage…
Would a husband treat her like this—so gently?
To others, it might mean nothing. But to Jinju, the neatly cut pieces of meat felt unexpectedly warm.
Yoonjae never took his eyes off her. Whenever the topic of marriage came up, she looked flustered and lost in thought, and it almost made him feel sorry for her.
“There’s still one more meeting. Think about it until the third one is over.”
* * *
Tap. Tap.
Resting his chin on his hand, Yoonjae tapped the table with his fingernails, staring at his turned-off phone screen for no reason.
Bae Jinju would arrive exactly on time, as always. She never contacted him personally.
Tap-tap-tap. Tap. Sigh.
This condition had started a long time ago.
On his way to work, he would subconsciously search for Jinju with his eyes. If she wasn’t visible, he felt uneasy. And when she appeared again, his heart would race.
An inexplicable breathing difficulty.
Even yesterday, when she was missing among the troupe members after a performance, he had unconsciously searched the entire venue at a faster pace.
Without realizing it, he had been looking only for Bae Jinju.
The third meeting place was the same hotel café as their first arranged meeting.
He checked the time again.
The appointment was near.
He stood, washed his hands, adjusted his tie, and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He had even canceled his usual workout, changed suits several times, and visited a hair salon.
What am I even doing?
He returned to his seat and sat down, clasping his hands tightly.
Click-clack.
Jinju walked in.
He raised his hand in greeting; she bowed politely.
“You’ve been waiting long?”
“No. I just arrived. Sit.”
While waiting for coffee, the same awkwardness lingered between them despite seeing each other every day.
But Yoonjae realized something.
The moment he saw Jinju enter the café, his vague feelings had solidified into certainty.
His deep, large eyes slowly closed and opened again.
As if trying to appear completely emotionless. As if this marriage were nothing more than business.
“Bae Jinju.”
His gaze never left her.
Her large pupils trembled slightly, anticipating what came next.
“Let’s get married.”
