The news of Jaemin and Sooah's engagement broke like an earthquake across both families, shaking the very foundations of their long-held beliefs. For the Kang family, it was a revelation that left them utterly speechless. Min-Ji, Jaemin's mother, almost dropped the teacup she was holding when Jaemin casually mentioned it over breakfast. Ji-Na and Ji-Ho exchanged stunned glances, unable to believe what they had just heard. Their father, Chairman Kang, was perhaps the most shocked of all.
"You're… what?" Chairman Kang's deep voice boomed across the dining room.
"Engaged," Jaemin repeated, his tone calm and detached, as if he were announcing a business merger. "To Sooah Han."
Chairman Kang blinked, his mind racing. "Han Sooah? The same girl who—"
"Yes," Jaemin interrupted, his gaze unwavering. "The same girl."
The room fell silent. No one dared ask the obvious question: Why? The prodigal son, who had once been cast aside, was now tying himself to the Han family—a move that was as shocking as it was strategically significant.
Over at the Han household, the reaction was no less dramatic. Sooah's father, Chairman Han, had already agreed to let her break off her engagement with Lee Joon-Ho. Still, the announcement of her engagement to Jaemin came as a surprise.
"You moved quickly," Chairman Han remarked, his tone laced with curiosity as he looked at his daughter across the room.
"I know what I want," Sooah replied, her voice firm. "And I don't want to waste any more time."
Chairman Han studied her for a moment, then nodded. "If this is what you want, Sooah, you have my blessing. Just make sure you don't regret it."
A few days later, Sooah was bustling with excitement. She wanted the wedding to happen as soon as possible, eager to start this new chapter with Jaemin and prove to everyone—including herself—that this was the right decision. Despite her initial trepidation, she found herself eager to close the gap that had formed between them over the years.
Jaemin, on the other hand, approached the preparations with his usual calm efficiency. He wasn't swept up in the romance of it all—at least, that's what he told himself. He was doing this to ensure everything went perfectly, to maintain control over a situation that had once spiraled out of his grasp.
When Sooah suggested they go dress shopping together, Jaemin had initially hesitated. He wasn't particularly interested in such trivialities, but he recognized that this was important to her. And so, the two of them found themselves at an exclusive bridal boutique, surrounded by racks of white gowns and an overzealous consultant eager to help the couple.
Sooah tried on dress after dress, stepping out of the fitting room each time with a hopeful smile. Jaemin sat on a plush chair, his arms crossed as he watched her with an unreadable expression.
"What do you think?" Sooah asked, twirling in a lace gown that sparkled under the boutique's soft lighting.
Jaemin tilted his head, his eyes scanning the dress critically. "It's nice," he said simply.
Sooah frowned. "Nice? That's all you have to say?"
Jaemin sighed, standing up and walking over to the racks of dresses. He flipped through them with the precision of someone sorting through files, his sharp eye for detail surprisingly evident even here.
After a moment, he pulled out a gown and handed it to the consultant. "This one," he said confidently.
The consultant's eyes lit up. "An excellent choice, sir! This gown is one of our finest."
Sooah took the dress, raising an eyebrow at Jaemin. "You're picking my wedding dress now?"
"You said you wanted it to be perfect," Jaemin replied simply. "This will suit you."
Sooah retreated to the fitting room, and when she emerged a few minutes later, there was a collective intake of breath. The gown was stunning—a sleek, modern design with just the right amount of elegance and sophistication. It hugged her figure perfectly, the intricate beadwork catching the light in a way that made her look radiant.
Jaemin's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes—something he quickly pushed down.
Sooah turned to face him, her cheeks slightly flushed. "What do you think?"
"It's perfect," Jaemin said, his voice steady.
Sooah's heart fluttered at his words, though she couldn't quite tell if it was the dress or the way he said them. She studied him for a moment, wondering if there was more beneath his calm exterior than he was letting on.
Was it love? She couldn't tell. Jaemin had built walls around himself, and she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to break through them. But one thing was clear—he was committed to making this work, even if he wasn't showing it in the ways she might have expected.
"Alright, then," Sooah said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "This is the one."
Jaemin nodded, already signaling the consultant to finalize the purchase. As they left the boutique, Sooah couldn't shake the feeling that this moment—this small, seemingly insignificant act of him choosing her dress—meant more than Jaemin would ever admit.
And Jaemin, walking silently beside her, couldn't help but wonder the same thing.