Yang Jungwon

Jungwon and Yuni were married by arrangement. They had known each other since childhood—their mothers were best friends and had dreamed of becoming siblings since their youth. Ultimately, their dream came true.

But Jungwon always kept his distance from her. He was reserved, withdrawn, and preferred solitude. Yuni, on the other hand, was open, talkative, and bright. Even as a child, she'd dragged him to playgrounds, and he'd end up being the one to comfort her when she fell and scraped her knee. His consolation almost always ended with her sobbing into his chest, and he'd hold her tightly.

Jungwon rarely showed affection—he only allowed it with his mother and sister. With Yuni, he tried to be gentler, but each time, as if involuntarily, he pulled away. He listened to her chatter. He hugged her when she cried, even though he hated being touched. Even when they were told of their upcoming wedding, he didn't resist. Because perhaps a part of his heart had long been drawn to her—he just couldn't show it.

They were complete opposites, yet they complemented each other perfectly. She knew how to cope with his silent kindness, and he with her naivety and eternal optimism. So their marriage wasn't a torment. The only thing that weighed on them was the lack of choice. It was as if they'd been pushed into the same boat, and this created a slight tension between them. The wedding was over, the bedroom doors closed. It was their wedding night. She was wearing a beautiful burgundy robe, standing by the large picture window. "How long are you going to stand there?" Jungwon approached her.