Chapter 48 – Dawn

She wanted to check the time, but she didn’t dare turn on her phone’s light in case the man found her.

The forest at night was pitch-dark, and the cold felt like it could slice her face with a blade. Yooa, trembling with her forehead pressed against her knees, kept whispering Lee Jun’s name under her breath.

Just like that time.

“Lee Jun oppa.”

Four years ago.

Yooa’s father, who had been a chauffeur, and Lee Jun’s father both died in a traffic accident.

It happened at dawn while returning from the Pyeongtaek factory. A truck suddenly appeared and forced their car off the road into a rice paddy.

The truck driver was caught at the scene for falling asleep at the wheel. But catching the culprit didn’t heal the wounds left behind.

“It’s human instinct to swerve the steering wheel toward the side they’re sitting on. But according to our investigation, Mr. Yoon Pil-hyun didn’t let go of the wheel until the end, and there’s evidence he tried to protect the passenger in the back seat more than himself.”

The envelope contained photos of tire skid marks deeply etched into the road from a sudden brake, along with a report.

Yooa, too shocked to even cry, couldn’t remember everything the detective said. What remained with her was a vague impression: that Chairman Kang was a truly kind person, and Lee Jun nodding quietly in agreement.

“Prepare Mr. Yoon’s funeral with the finest arrangements. Let his final journey not be a pitiful one.”

Perhaps those were the words he wished he could have said to a son who died before his father. Chairman Kang wanted the funeral hall to be filled with people.

That made sense for Lee Jun’s father, the heir to the Taegyeom Group. But for Yooa’s father, it was bittersweet.

While mourners flooded Lee Jun’s father’s funeral hall, only a few visited Yooa’s father’s. Not knowing the situation, some guests even crossed over to Yooa’s side to rest or eat.

Naturally, the household staff prioritized helping at Lee Jun’s side. Yooa spent her time alone, without visitors.

“Have you eaten?”

She didn’t even realize how dry her lips had become or how much time had passed.

Whenever her eyes blinked, she thought, “It’s quiet… it must be dawn.” Then someone would silently hand her a bottle of water and place a plate of food beside her.

It was Lee Jun.

She knew because the air briefly filled with the crisp musk scent he wore whenever he passed through to light incense.

“You and I are going through the same pain. We’re the only ones who can understand each other.”

Lee Jun’s way of comforting her and telling her to be strong only made her angry. He said it because she wasn’t eating or drinking the things he left behind.

“Drink. Eat, and cry.”

She couldn’t possibly eat or drink with the feeling of being left alone in the world after losing her only family. But Lee Jun still came to her regularly and left food and water.

“That’s how you make it through today and live again tomorrow.”

When Yooa still wouldn’t cry, Lee Jun let out a sigh.

“As long as you’re alive, one day it’ll get better.”

In the quiet early hours when no one else was around, Yooa watched him bow respectfully before her father’s portrait every time he entered or left.

And when she finally broke down at the words “We’re the only ones who understand each other,” she reached out and stopped Lee Jun from leaving.

“Hic… Oppa… Lee Jun oppa.”

She had called him “oppa” as a child, but after her aunt Joohee scolded her for it, she’d stopped.

Lee Jun walked over and stood silently for a long time in front of her—so she could mourn properly, so no one could see her crying.

“Dad’s… hic… gone. Now I’m… all alone.”

She was far too young to endure either the grief of her father’s death or the overwhelming sense of being alone.

Lee Jun clenched his fists at her words. He said nothing, but for Yooa, it was enough that he had stayed by her side that day.

She must have dozed off.

Startled, Yooa woke as her curled-up body swayed and nearly collapsed.

“Ah…”

If she fell asleep like this, hypothermia might take her before she woke up again. She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to feel searing pain—just to stay awake.

“Haa…”

Even though her breath came out as white mist, she didn’t stop. Staying still made her mouth and nose go numb, an unpleasant sensation.

She knew enough time had passed for the man to have left the forest, but navigating her way down with only her phone’s light was still too dangerous.

Yooa decided it was best to stay and wait for rescue.

Rustle.

But the darkness kept clouding her rational thoughts.

There probably weren’t wild animals dangerous enough to threaten her life, and yet even the sound of wind brushing the bushes was terrifying.

The sound kept getting closer. Yooa awkwardly stood and rubbed her stiff knees with her palms—ready to run if needed.

“L-Lee Jun?”

She felt something—or someone—right in front of her, carried in on the strong gust of wind. At the same moment she shut her eyes tightly and called his name, a deep voice answered.

“Yooa!”

It was Lee Jun, wearing only a coat—no time to change, apparently. Relief washed over his face.

He looked radiant in the moonlight, his tall figure catching the glow. Yooa wanted to run into his arms, but as soon as she saw him, she broke into tears.

“I… I really… hic… Lee Jun…”

Unable to finish her sentence, she sobbed uncontrollably as he gently helped her up.

The hand resting carefully on her shoulder trembled slightly. Had Lee Jun also been afraid, just like her?

He frowned at how cold her body was and immediately took off his coat to wrap her in it. The long, cozy coat reached her ankles, embracing her with warmth like a blanket.

“You’re really going to be the death of me, Yoon Yooa.”

He looked at her messy face and smiled brightly. Seeing Lee Jun smile so brightly despite how scared he must’ve been, Yooa grumbled without thinking.

“Why are you laughing?”

Her reddened nose, her frozen lips pouting in protest, her tearful bunny-like eyes—

Every bit of her was unbearably precious. Lee Jun pulled her into a tight hug and rubbed his cheek against hers.

“Because I’m happy. You’re safe and in my arms.”

His cheeks and hands were scraped and bruised from searching for her in the darkness. As he picked up the flashlight he’d dropped, he wiped her tears with the back of his hand and teased her.

“Why are you crying? Were you scared?”

When he asked if she’d been afraid he wouldn’t come, Yooa responded immediately.

She’d never even considered that possibility, she said.

Somehow, that made his chest ache.

Seeing how cold his hands were, Yooa reached out and interlocked her fingers with his, tucking them together inside the coat’s deep pocket. Then, for the first time, she smiled through her tears.

“Because… I’m alive, and that makes me happy.”

Lee Jun silently nodded at her words.

What more needed to be said?

They met up with the rescue team halfway down. After warming up with heat packs and pulling on padded jackets, the two quietly returned to the campsite.

“You’re not going to the hospital?”

“I’m fine. And I don’t want to leave. The event’s almost over anyway.”

After receiving basic treatment, Yooa insisted on staying at the camp.

Lee Jun said he’d kept her disappearance secret from the participants, and only a few staff and the rescue team had searched for her. Yooa was grateful for that.

“Thank you for understanding what it means for families to make time for this kind of trip.”

When she said she was glad he’d prevented the incident from ruining everyone’s experience, Lee Jun sighed.

He nearly said that even if the families found out, they probably wouldn’t care—but stopped himself.

Just then, after sending a message to the family doctor asking him to come urgently, someone came running and called out her name—

“Yooa!”