Walking back, So-hyun seriously hypes herself up. There is zero need to impress some younger guy like Ji-hun. This is not a date, just two people having fun. She overhears a worker telling Ji-hun that President Jung and his family visited recently. Back at their table, So-hyun feels something strange on her lips. She touches her mouth, totally confused for a second, and then it hits her.
Her eyes widen in pure shock. That smug confidence from earlier vanishes entirely. But before she can even process what is happening, Ji-hun closes the distance. In one impossibly smooth motion, he leans right in and licks the corner of her mouth. Completely stunned, she instantly shoves him away. Her face flushes bright red as she demands to know what he is doing.
Her confident act is completely gone now. Flashing a wicked smirk, Ji-hun coolly informs her that there is nothing on her lips anymore. Right on cue, a server approaches their table, leaving So-hyun completely frozen in a mix of pure shock and embarrassment. Leaning in way too close, Ji-hun whispers for her to have a good night. His smirk tells a whole different story.
Furious and utterly flustered, So-hyun fumes, internally writing him off as an immature punk, but she refuses to let him win. She grabs his collar, demanding to know what exactly he is playing at. Ji-hun just grins wider, coolly telling her that it is time for him to start putting in some actual real effort. As if on cue, private room doors slide open.
This night is not over. So-hyun desperately tries cooling her flushed face. Her mind races, practically praying her manager does not recognize her right now. She realizes a business meeting could happen here any second, but her focus keeps snapping right back to her lips, where the heat from Ji-hun's insanely bold move still has not faded.
Before she can even pull herself together, Ji-hun strikes again. Grabbing a bottle, he swiftly pulls her right out of her seat and into his arms. Caught completely off guard, So-hyun finds herself pressed firmly against his chest, unable to process anything. Trapped in his totally unyielding grip, she stays completely frozen as Ji-hun closes that final inch between them.
Their lips meet in a surprisingly gentle touch, far from the aggressive move she actually expected. Her mind is racing, trying to make sense of this. This is not some passionate advance. It is highly calculated. In a sudden flash of clarity, she understands his whole game. He is not trying to overwhelm her at all. He is simply testing the waters, carefully gauging her reaction to see how far he can push his luck, pulling back just barely enough to speak.
Ji-hun whispers So-hyun's name. A smug, challenging grin spreads across his face, daring her to do something. And that is all the invitation she needs.
Keeping up her power play, So-hyun picks up a bottle of red bath oil. She casually explains how great it is for when you feel tired. But instead of adding just a few small drops, she squeezes a massive amount into the tub, turning the water a deep, foamy red.
Ji-hun is totally stunned by the bold move. Before So-hyun can even react to her own mistake, he crosses the distance instantly. He grabs her from behind, firmly trapping her against him. Completely startled, she gasps out loud as he seizes control of the situation again. His patience is totally gone. Ji-hun cuts her off with one single blunt command. "Take off your clothes." And he does not wait for an answer.
The power dynamic is firmly set now. Ji-hun is making sure they finish what they started, no matter what actually happens next.
A little while later, Ji-hun sits all alone in his room, looking completely bored, with eight long hours until he sees So-hyun again. Time is moving at an absolute snail's pace. Suddenly, the door clicks open. He instantly perks up, wondering if So-hyun came back for something, but no.
It is just the housekeeping staff. They look utterly mortified to see him there, quickly apologizing and trying to leave. But after a blank stare, Ji-hun just gives them a lazy wave. He tells them to go ahead and not mind him at all.
Ji-hun's quiet gets completely shattered by a phone call. An old, commanding voice suddenly orders him to come straight home, threatening to barge right in if he refuses. But Ji-hun is not fazed. He just sighs, knowing it is his grandpa, Jung Chan-ho. The second Ji-hun answers, his grandpa's threatening tone vanishes completely. Suddenly super cheerful, the old man eagerly asks his grandson to grab lunch. Ji-hun reluctantly agrees to a noon meetup. Overjoyed, Chan-ho bolts straight out of his office. He brags to a very confused assistant about important lunch plans with his favorite grandchild.
After hanging up with the old man, Ji-hun orders up a Korean set meal. Lunch plans completely settled, he just collapses backward right onto the sofa. He tries forcing time to pass faster, but his mind keeps racing, totally occupied with So-hyun. He desperately wonders how to hold on to what he calls his precious hypnotic remedy. And it is pretty obvious he is not talking about some drug.
So-hyun herself is a full-blown obsession he just cannot shake. He is hooked, totally lost in thought. Ji-hun lets his imagination run completely wild. He pictures this intense scene, So-hyun pushing him right to his absolute limit. While he struggles, she just leans in, teasing him, saying he cannot get tired yet because they are far from finished. But his fantasy shatters at a sudden sharp sensation hitting his shoulder.
He instantly panics. He begs her not to leave any marks where people might see. After all, the guy works a very public-facing job. He cannot show up looking like he lost a fight with a vampire. Reality aggressively cuts his wild fantasy short. So-hyun lightly covers his face completely, shutting down his pouting. In response, he yanks her into a tight hug, deciding he will just hold her instead.
He murmurs about how good she smells, but she is unimpressed, complaining he is heavy and literally suffocating her. He begs to hold her just a little longer, drifting off to sleep. But when Ji-hun wakes up, he is entirely alone. So-hyun left behind a note about borrowing his clothes. It finally sinks in. He fell asleep on her twice. Ji-hun feels completely drained.
Ever since that specific day with So-hyun, he has not had a proper night of sleep. The memories keep him wide awake. Later, he grabs lunch with his grandpa, Jung Chan-ho, who immediately gets down to business, asking when Ji-hun actually plans to return to the US. Annoyed, Ji-hun just stares back in total silence. Grandpa barks at him to stop gawking and eat.
But Ji-hun is not having it, firing back that his grandpa was the guy who dragged him all the way out here in the first place. Ji-hun bluntly asks why he even has to go. His grandfather snaps back that just looking at him makes his blood completely boil. Totally unfazed, Ji-hun smirks and cheekily asks if grandpa is getting excited.
That comeback earns him a harsh scolding for being a rascal with zero filter. Annoyed, Chan-ho slams his chopsticks down, but then his tone abruptly shifts. He tells his grandson to eat slowly and eat a lot, insisting the food is good for him. Ji-hun just keeps chewing, totally unbothered by the old man's sudden mood swings.
Grandpa continues the lecture, telling Ji-hun to drop the bad habits and stop acting so disobedient. Ji-hun flashes a cheeky smirk, suggesting he must have taken after the old man. Surprisingly, his grandpa agrees, adding that since Ji-hun is exactly like him, he should have zero problem quitting. He then reveals he has been smoke-free for over a decade. The subject suddenly shifts, and Ji-hun asks if grandpa is really returning to the US.
When Chan-ho says yes, he explodes with pure anger over Ji-hun's indifference, yelling at him to at least act somewhat concerned. Chan-ho's tone suddenly softens, lamenting that seeing his grandson only once a year is far too little. He admits feeling grateful for even that tiny amount of time. After a long, thoughtful silence, Ji-hun flips the conversation entirely, asking if grandpa would like it if he stayed in Korea for good.
Chan-ho is instantly overjoyed. He immediately says of course he would, but there is a major catch. Smirking, Ji-hun challenges the old man. He promises to stay, only if grandpa can bring him something so thrilling he could not possibly refuse. Now hooked, Chan-ho eagerly demands all the details. Ji-hun plays it remarkably cool, casually telling his grandpa he actually does not know what he wants and that the old man should figure it out himself.