BCNB C8

Chapter 8
Gently, He Untied the Ties

Jinju lowered her gaze, feeling strangely unsettled under Yoonjae’s pouring stare.

What is that look?

The way Yoonjae looked at her—as if he genuinely found her lovable—only made her more embarrassed.

It was already her first time wearing such a revealing outfit.

Standing before him in a wedding dress that exposed her figure, Jinju felt dazed.

Yet, as she actually put the dress on, the reality that she was truly getting married began to sink in.

But why does Director keep staring at me like that? I wish he’d stop.

Despite her obvious discomfort, Yoonjae’s gaze only grew more intent.

“The groom has remarkable taste. To think you’d pair a sheer jeogori for a shy bride—what a thoughtful choice. Even the designer said it adds a more mysterious charm seeing it worn.”

“…Yes.”

Lost in thought, Yoonjae gave a distracted reply.

The staff member, noticing he hadn’t said anything to the bride, approached him and quietly suggested that now was the time to compliment her.

“Come on, sir, even if you’re shy, you should say something to the bride. They say the groom’s reaction at this moment is remembered for life.”

Only then did Yoonjae, who had been resting his chin on his hand while staring, step closer to Jinju.

A word for the bride… Though it’s not easy to look elegant in a dress like that, Bae Jinju somehow manages it.

At that moment, he wanted to speak sincerely.

“Bae Jinju.”

“……”

Her neckline and shoulders, which he had never seen before, looked strikingly pale and delicate.

“Today, you are more beautiful and elegant than anyone I know.”

“…!”

At his sweet words, Jinju pressed her lips together.

She knew his gaze and lines weren’t real…

Still, it wasn’t unpleasant. She knew better than anyone that he was not generous with compliments.

“Th-thank you.”

She knew he was simply playing his role in their show-window marriage.

Yet strangely, his gaze was so clear that it made her doubt.

Click. Click-click.

The photographer busily captured the rare beauty of the bride and groom.

“Bride, please look at the groom more intensely. Show a mix of shyness and tension, like on your first night.”

“Ah, yes.”

Though it wasn’t her first photoshoot, Jinju felt completely different from the performance posters and pansori pictorials she usually did, leaving her unsure of what to do.

“Oh! Bride! Please place your hand closer against the groom’s chest.”

Jinju had lightly placed her hand on his chest, but the photographer kept asking her to press closer.

“L-like this?”

She applied more pressure with her fingertips, pressing his chest with her palm.

“Come on, don’t act like you’ve never even had skinship before. This is a wedding shoot—you can express yourselves freely.”

Yoonjae was wearing a tuxedo, but since the concept had changed, his tie and buttons were undone, revealing a hint of muscle beneath his shirt. That was why she had been cautious…

Feeling she was troubling the photographer, Jinju finally steeled herself and pressed firmly against his chest. Naturally, her body moved closer to his.

With the expression of a bride in love, she looked up at his face.

Is he nervous too?

He wasn’t wearing his usual expressionless face. His jaw was slightly tense, and something flickered briefly in his eyes before disappearing as he lowered his gaze first.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, and to hide it, Jinju pressed harder.

Ah… I’m shaking. What if he notices?

“Now, for the final shot. Groom, pretend we’re not here and strike a bold pose with the bride. Usually, couples go for a kiss.”

“What?”

At the word kiss, Jinju was startled, her eyes trembling.

Kiss?! With someone I’ve never even held hands with!

And in front of so many people.

She tried to endure it, but soon her arms and legs began to shake.

Noticing her state, Yoonjae exhaled quietly.

He figured that unless they produced a main shot comparable to a kiss scene, the photographer would keep insisting.

At that moment, the ribbon tied to the sheer jeogori draped over Jinju caught his eye.

After a brief hesitation, he leaned close to her ear and whispered.

“Bae Jinju, think of it as a short performance.”

Their faces were so close they could almost touch.

“Don’t be nervous. Trust me.”

Jinju gave a small nod.

Having made up his mind, Yoonjae adjusted his gaze as he looked at her.

It was a look filled with longing, yet tender and shy.

He reached out, lifted the ribbon of her jeogori, and held the end.

“What are you doing?”

Jinju whispered urgently in a barely audible voice.

Their shaking gazes tangled together. Yoonjae’s heart pounded, his thoughts in disarray.

Can acting alone make you feel like this?

Pushing the thought away, he positioned them at an angle that would best capture their subtle tension for the camera.

Was it because of Jinju’s flushed face at the edge of his vision? A deep heat stirred in his chest. He exhaled once.

“We won’t have to kiss… just endure this a little.”

He whispered softly near her ear.

Then, as if about to kiss her, he leaned in and brought his hand to the jeogori draped over her shoulders.

I hope she’s not too startled.

Gently, he slowly untied the ribbon of her jeogori.

Click click click.

The camera shutters rang out again.

Life soon returned to its hectic pace. Jinju had no time to dwell on anything as she moved between performances with the troupe and commemorative events, while Yoonjae, busy directing performances and preparing his next work, also found time slipping by quickly.

Before they knew it, the day before the wedding arrived.

In traditional Korean weddings, the groom’s family sends a box of gifts—ham—to the bride’s home as a return gift after receiving offerings from the bride’s side.

At Jinju’s house, the ham was finally arriving.

“Buy the ham! Buy the wedding gifts!”

Three men dressed in fine durumagi came around the corner carrying the box. Yoonjae had already arrived at the bride’s house to prepare for its reception.

“Buy the ham!”

Their booming voices echoed through the village.

As the gate opened, the customary playful standoff between the carriers and the bride’s family began.

This time, Jinju’s friends were tasked with bringing the ham inside.

Their first strategy: charm.

Seunghee, a former Miss Chunhyang, brought out a table of drinks and offered bowls of makgeolli.

But the carriers remained unimpressed.

“We’ve come all this way, and this is all? Looks like this ham won’t be entering today!”

One of them dramatically plopped down on the ground.

Next, Jungmi appeared in a beautiful hanbok and laid out white envelopes. The carriers’ eyes widened.

“Oh! That’s more like it. Lay them out properly—we’ll walk across them.”

Just as one of them stepped forward, another stopped him.

“Wait!”

He lay flat, opened an envelope, and checked inside.

“Hmm? Too light.”

He sat down again.

Seeing this, Gang-a stepped forward.

“What do you want?”

“If beauties like you dance for us…?”

“We’ve already seen plenty of beauties. Show us a sexy peddler’s dance this time!”

With the clang of a gong and drumbeats, Gang-a began to dance. With performers and singers all around, the atmosphere heated up into a lively celebration.

“Wow! Bravo!”

After the spirited performance—

“Now that you’ve seen an expensive dance, let’s bring the ham inside!”

As Gang-a grabbed one of the carriers’ arms, the box was finally brought in.

“Welcome.”

As Aesoon greeted them, the carriers set the ham down on the wooden floor.

Jinju, who had been preparing in her room, came out and sat when she heard it had arrived.

The door slid open.

Dressed in a pale pink jeogori and white skirt, Jinju sat as Yoonjae stepped out from another room wearing a matching pink hanbok.

He was so tall his head nearly touched the doorframe.

Seeing him in pink hanbok was unexpectedly striking.

Jinju, who had learned that a performer’s appearance was essential, found it ironic that no one suited the stage as much as Yoonjae.

No matter what he wears or where he stands, he commands attention.

Even pink suits him well.

It was clearly coordinated with her outfit—he normally didn’t wear such bright colors.

Jinju also recalled his sharp tuxedo from the dress fitting.

Learning these different sides of him wasn’t unpleasant.

Though their preparations had involved more physical closeness than expected…

Even that… isn’t bad.

The bride and groom sat facing each other. Though it wasn’t unusual to be this close, Jinju still felt awkward, lowering her gaze as her cheeks flushed.

Aesoon, seated between them, opened the ham and took out warm steamed rice cake.

“This rice cake symbolizes that the bride and groom will stick together and live in harmony. Jinju.”

“Yes.”

“Take a piece and feed it to the groom yourself.”

“E-excuse me?”

Caught off guard, Jinju tensed.

Meanwhile, seeing her blush, the corners of Yoonjae’s lips lifted slightly.

“Oh my! They look so shy—it’s like they haven’t even kissed yet! Master, shouldn’t she feed it to him with her mouth instead of her hand?”

Laughter erupted from the gathered neighbors.

Jinju glanced toward the yard. With so many watching, she couldn’t refuse.

…Ha.

She carefully picked up a piece of rice cake and brought it toward Yoonjae’s mouth.

His face was so close—almost unreal.

He’s handsome.

As she looked, his features stood out even more.

Lowering her gaze naturally, she noticed his lips beneath his high nose.

Even his lips are beautiful.

Like an aristocratic cat from some royal lineage, he looked elegant and refined.

Jinju brought the rice cake to his lips.

As she drew closer, her eyes widened.

Yoonjae’s jaw tightened as her face, fingers, and the rice cake came within inches.

“Hurry, groom, say ‘ah’!”

Amid laughter and teasing—

“The bride better be careful—looks like the groom might eat her fingers too!”

“Hahaha!”

Yoonjae’s gaze deepened. His lips slowly parted.

“Ah.”

Jinju placed the rice cake into his mouth.

As she tried not to drop it, her fingers brushed lightly against his lips.