…..
After talking a mini tour around the villa, Soo Min took a walk near the poolside and rested her feet in the pool for a bit, staring out the floor to ceiling glass walls, at the starry sky.
"The view here is so pretty." Soo Min mumbled, splashing her feet in the water.
For some reason, she felt unusually warm and the coolness of the pool helped her feel better.
Staring blankly at her reflection in the water, Soo Min sighed and said, "Today could have gone wrong in so many ways."
"No it wouldn't because I would have never let it." When she heard that, Soo Min instantly turned in the direction of the voice, and saw Ryan strode towards her.
He was wearing a silk navy blue full sleeve shirt and pants, topped with a silk robe.
"What?" Soo Min breathed.
"You didn't hear?" Ryan asked as he sat down beside her.
Leaning closer, he whispered in her ear. "I said I want to protect you."
When she heard those words, her cheeks flushed and her heart started beating erratically.
Ryan did not say anything but simply gazed into her eyes, softly.
"W—What are you doing?" Soo Min stuttered when she noticed him lean in towards her.
"Stay still." Ryan said.
Out of nervousness, Soo Min shut her eyes tightly, but instead of what she had anticipated, she felt his cool palm against her warm forehead.
"Are you dumb? Didn't you realize that you have a fever." Ryan scolded when he felt her burning up.
"Now that I think of it, I was feeling a little tired before." Soo Min said and continued, "But I thought of it to just be work fatigue, I didn't think it would—ahhh."
Soo Min squealed when Ryan picked her up all of a sudden from the edge of the pool.
"When will you stop working so hard?" Ryan asked as he carried her towards the villa.
Circling her hands around his neck, Soo Min pouted, "Then how will I support myself?"
"No need. I can support you. I don't want you to work so hard." Ryan said before he continued, "In fact, I can support more."
When she realized the meaning of his words, Soo Min's eyes widened and her face turned pink in embarrassment, which made Ryan smile.