<Chapter 10>
If you’re going to do it, do it properly
“I do have something I want to do right now… but I can’t.”
At Jinju’s answer, Yoonjae found himself curious about what it was.
If it were possible, he wanted to let Bae Jinju do anything she wished.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Jinju’s expression turned serious for a moment, then softened into a faint smile. As if lost in her thoughts, she let out small, quiet chuckles from time to time—not a full laugh, but enough to show. Watching her, Yoonjae also formed an awkward smile.
“Like Chunhyang and Mongryong.”
Chunhyang and Mongryong? It was an unexpected answer.
“I’ve always wanted to experience a passionate kind of love like theirs.”
For a moment, Yoonjae thought he had misheard. His eyes widened.
“Pass…ionate?”
“Oh, come on, Director—you know what I mean.”
For no reason at all, his face grew warm.
“When I was younger, I just memorized and sang Chunhyangga because I had to perform it. I didn’t really understand its meaning. But as I grew older and studied it, I started to understand the story… and naturally, I began to wish for a love like Chunhyang’s at sixteen.”
Listening to her, Yoonjae wondered if the “passionate” love she meant wasn’t quite the same as the usual interpretation.
What kind of passionate love did Bae Jinju want?
“For example?”
“Chunhyang is bold with her feelings—proactive and honest.”
In The Tale of Chunhyang, Chunhyang and Mongryong meet at sixteen, fall in love at first sight, and share a fiery love that transcends social status before quickly marrying. In the original story, their love is nothing short of intense and daring.
“I didn’t know Chunhyang was your role model.”
“Even if I can’t have that kind of love…”
Jinju trailed off. Yoonjae could sense her regret—that as a show-window couple, such passionate love might be out of reach. But she soon spoke again with a serious expression.
“Now that I’m married, I’m going to actively try to become happy.”
Yoonjae’s gaze softened.
“This marriage, too—I chose it because I want to be happy.”
As they continued talking, his eyes fell on the wedding ring on her finger.
“The ring… do you like it?”
They hadn’t had time to pick rings together. Yoonjae and the wedding planner had selected the rings and jewelry set first, showed them to Jinju, and she chose the design from samples. The first time she saw the actual ring was at the wedding, when Yoonjae placed it on her finger.
“I like it.”
Only then did Jinju look down at her ring. A large diamond, intricately set, shimmered beautifully. The only rings she had worn before were simple jade props for performances.
Since she rarely wore accessories, the large wedding ring on her left ring finger still felt unfamiliar.
She kept fiddling with it. Yoonjae noticed her awkwardness.
A passionate, fiery love like Chunhyang and Mongryong?
What am I supposed to do with this young bride?
Afraid that his clumsy, alcohol-tinged emotions might slip out if their eyes met, Yoonjae kept his gaze lowered—to his glass, to her fingers.
Once again, he swallowed words he couldn’t bring himself to say.
The same wedding ring glinted on his own finger.
After dinner, perhaps feeling awkward sitting together, Jinju kept glancing around.
She stared out the window for a while, then forward, then subtly turned her head toward the bed before letting out a small sigh.
She probably feels bad about saying she’ll go to bed first.
“Shall we watch a movie together?”
It seemed like the best way to ease the silence.
“Sure.”
As if she thought the same, Jinju’s face brightened. Yoonjae sat in front of the large screen and turned it on. A list of movies appeared on the tablet attached to the sofa.
“What kind of movies do you like?”
“I like classics. Something like Roman Holiday…”
“We might have that here.”
While Yoonjae searched, Jinju browsed the list as well. Since they were in such a special place, she wanted to watch something memorable rather than just a favorite.
“There’s something I want to watch.”
“What’s the title?”
“I can’t remember.”
“Then tell me what it’s about.”
Scanning the screen, she explained,
“It’s an older historical film about pansori. A crown prince who loves pansori invites singers to perform, and then…”
“That’s Song of the Blue Fields.”
“Oh, right!”
Yoonjae searched for it and played the movie.
“Oh—it’s starting.”
It was one of his favorite films as well. A beautifully crafted piece where the director, indifferent to commercial success, had poured his heart into preserving the authentic sound of Korea.
“In this film, the master singer Lee Malji—who I truly respect—did the dubbing for the main character, right? That’s the part I’m most excited about.”
As they focused on the movie, it gradually moved toward its climax. The crown prince falls in love with a female pansori performer and tries to bring her into the palace, but she is deeply in love with her teacher.
Jinju, fully immersed, quietly wiped away tears.
Yoonjae was startled.
She said she liked it for the singing—why is she crying? It’s not that sad…
It wasn’t even a tragic romance.
“The heroine couldn’t help but love her teacher.”
Jinju seemed completely absorbed in the character.
“If she accepted the crown prince’s love, her status would rise—and she could help other singers.”
She turned to look at Yoonjae.
“But she loved the teacher more—the one who stayed by her side every day, kindly taught her, and sacrificed himself to help her become a great singer.”
“What’s the point of that? The teacher leaves without ever confessing.”
Jinju looked troubled. It was unclear whether they were watching a movie or debating love.
“If it were me, I’d rather spend my whole life loving and longing for my teacher than become the prince’s woman or be confined in the palace.”
“That’s not how the story goes.”
“I’m saying that’s what I would do.”
She had been talking about bold, passionate love earlier—now she spoke of freedom.
Well, Chunhyang, too, had risked her life for love while still choosing her own path.
As the film neared its end and beautiful pansori filled the air—
Softly,
Jinju’s small head leaned against Yoonjae’s shoulder.
“…!”
Holding himself still, he slowly turned his head to look at her.
Do I have to sleep in that bed with you?
He recalled her wide-eyed, flustered question earlier.
“She was so nervous about the bed…”
A smile naturally formed on his lips as he looked at her peaceful sleeping face.
All that worrying… over something so small.
And yet, he found her utterly adorable.
“And here you are, falling asleep leaning on a man.”
Her soft breathing against his shoulder was strangely pleasant.
As if rewatching the long movie alone, Yoonjae studied her expressions with quiet amusement—she smiled faintly, puffed her lips, even wrinkled her nose in her sleep.
Her head gradually tilted further toward him.
After landing from the plane and transferring to a small aircraft, they could see islands scattered across a blue sea, mingling with clouds. The view was breathtaking—beyond beautiful, almost otherworldly.
Leaving behind winter in Korea, their honeymoon destination was nearly 40 degrees Celsius. Jinju had changed out of her heavy clothes into a flowing white dress that reached her knees, paired with a wide-brimmed hat.
I can’t believe this. It feels like heaven.
As they transferred to a boat and approached an island—
Before them stood their honeymoon house, bathed in a deep red sunset beyond description.
Where the blue sky slowly melted into crimson hues, this place—Louis Paradise—was famed as one of the world’s most exclusive secret honeymoon resorts.
Among its villas, this one occupied an entire small island—a two-story overwater villa, completely private. With nothing but endless horizon in every direction, it was quiet, mysterious, and utterly serene.
Everywhere they looked was emerald-blue ocean.
“What’s that?”
Below the deck at the entrance, visible through the clear water, large, flat shapes drifted gracefully. At Jinju’s question, the butler smiled.
“Those are stingrays.”
“Stingrays?”
Several of them, larger than a person, glided through the water. Around them, fish of all colors swam lazily.
Jinju stood still, unable to take her eyes off the sunset spilling into the horizon and the shimmering water below.
“Sharks and stingrays are common here. The underwater environment is excellent—beautiful coral, too. If you go out a bit farther by boat, you can even see turtles. Now, let me show you to your villa. Please, come inside.”
“It’s beautiful.”
The words escaped her without thought.
Watching her excitement, Yoonjae—standing beside her—felt a twinge of something.
This resort had been a wedding gift from his father.
She likes this place more than the plane, huh… Bae Jinju.
Was that a good thing?
Strangely, seeing her happy made him feel satisfied.
Despite the heat and long journey, instead of exhaustion, he felt… fulfilled.
The butler opened the door.
“This is where you’ll be staying.”
“Wow…”
It was a VIP two-story water villa in the seven-star resort Louis Paradise.
Dark wood panels, rose-gold accents, a vast living room and terrace facing the sea, and a private pool—it was luxurious beyond measure. The view held nothing but sky and ocean.
While Yoonjae went inside to change, Jinju stepped out onto the terrace. A 15-meter pool stretched seamlessly into the sea.
She sat on the sofa, gazing endlessly at the water.
The colorful fish drifting by made it all feel unreal.
Then, she noticed a boat approaching.
“What is that?”
Now dressed in lighter clothes, Yoonjae sat beside her.
“Looks like dinner’s arriving already.”
“So this is how meals are delivered here.”
“The main resort is on another island. Let’s rest today—tomorrow we can go there.”
Two locals in traditional attire, with flowers in their hair, paddled a canoe through the crimson sunset. It was filled with dishes decorated with leaves and flowers—bread, jam, meat, seafood, tropical fruits, and drinks.
They stepped off, greeted the couple, and arranged the food beautifully on the terrace table. They placed flower garlands around their necks, welcoming them as newlyweds.
One woman tucked a white flower behind Jinju’s ear, wishing her happiness as a bride.
But they didn’t leave—instead, they looked at Jinju expectantly.
“Is something wrong?”
“They take photos of all honeymoon couples here and send them to Korea later.”
“Oh… then…”
Jinju thought for a moment, then looked at the fan in her hand.
“I have an idea.”
With a flick, she opened it.
“How about the final scene from Saranga?”
Yoonjae narrowed his eyes.
He knew exactly what she meant.
The iconic ending of Saranga from Chunhyangga—the fan-hidden kiss between Chunhyang and Mongryong.
He extended his hand.
“…?”
“If we’re going to do it, we should do it properly. The one who spreads the fan to hide the kiss is the sly Lee Mongryong.”
Flustered, Jinju handed him the fan.
It was a scene she had performed thousands of times since childhood.
But still—her heart pounded.
As always, she leaned into the man’s embrace, lifted onto her toes, turned her chin, and smiled shyly.
Fwoosh—
As their lips drew closer, Yoonjae raised the fan to hide them.
And he bent further toward her.
