Page 25 of Public Image, Private Heart (K-Drama Love Story #1)

??

Ji-yong

“S o, how is it?” Yumi twirled slightly to show off her outfit: a beige cardigan with heart-shaped buttons and a floral skirt in deep burgundy and gold.

I’d promised to pick her up in the traditional way, as was customary when a man asked a woman on a date.

Taking in her appearance, I nodded in approval.

“You look very pretty,” I said, admiring her outfit before picking up her small bag for our overnight stay.

I was a bit disappointed that our trip would be just two days instead of three, since she insisted I spend one day of the Chuseok holiday with my family.

But never mind. We could still enjoy our holidays later.

Even though offers for commercials, dramas, and films continued to line up for me (despite the photo scandal), I requested a short break of a few months before starting my next project.

My agency initially tried to talk me out of it, but I stood firm.

I wanted to spend more time with Yumi outside of our places, especially now that she had also wrapped up her latest drama.

“So you still won’t tell me where we’re going?” Yumi asked as she settled into the car, trying to fasten her seatbelt.

I nodded toward the GPS screen. “Well... it’s going to be a long drive, about four hours. Get ready for a road trip, co-pilot.”

She laughed easily. “I’ll agree to go with you, but only if we stop frequently at rest areas.”

“Rest area snacks are the best,” I replied. “But I probably won’t be able to get out of the car to buy them,” I added, recalling the commotion I caused at the restaurant the other day.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do that for you!” she offered.

After three hours on the road, three rest stops, and way too many sotteok-sotteok and sweet potato sticks, I was starting to get frustrated—we were way behind schedule.

I’d planned a full afternoon: a scenic trail walk in Danyanggang Jando Trail, a visit to the Mancheonha Skywalk, and enjoying autumn foliage at Guinsa Temple.

But at this pace, we’d be lucky to get there before dark.

Sensing my frustration, Yumi gave my hand a light pat and continued singing along to the playlist she’d picked for the trip.

It was filled with classic Korean songs, and she’d been enthusiastically belting them out for a while, though her off-key singing made it clear that singing wasn’t her strong suit.

I shot her a playful glare but couldn’t help chuckling at her infectious enthusiasm.

“You look so happy,” I said with a smile.

“I am!” she exclaimed, her words punctuated by her singing. “And I’ve been thinking... I want to take a break from TV series and return to theater. I’m so much happier there. Plus, there’s less... workplace drama.” She giggled, her sarcasm evident.

“That’s great for you,” I said. “I fully support you.”

She nodded, “Even though the pay isn’t as good, I think the career span is longer. Plus, I could still produce plays or become a scriptwriter when I’m older and wrinkly.”

“That will never happen,” I told her, pinching her cheek playfully.

“And I suppose you’ll continue to be the main star in every romantic drama,” she teased. “And keep charming your co-stars and taking them home when they’re too drunk.”

I pressed my lips into a straight line, though a tiny smile slipped through. “Are you still upset about the photo of me and Min-hee?”

“I’m not angry,” Yumi replied, her tone clearly annoyed.

I pinched her cheek playfully. “You look adorable when you’re jealous.”

She pouted slightly, turning her head away and making a “humph” sound.

Trying to be serious, I said, “I promise it won’t happen again. I’ll leave my co-workers to fend for themselves, even if they’re passed out on the street.”

“Well, I suppose you could help them,” she said, “but you understand how confusing the whole situation was for me, right? Can you imagine if I were in that photo with... I don’t know, Ryan Kim or someone else?”

“I get it,” I said, almost adding “babe” but catching myself since we hadn’t decided on what to call each other yet.

“The photo looked bad, and the rumors were awful, but honestly, nothing happened with Min-hee. I... just want to be with you.” I looked into her eyes and then, with my free hand, took hers in mine. “I promise.”

Yumi stared at me for a moment, her pout gradually easing. Then, a small smile began to form on her lips. The tension that had been there seemed to melt away, replaced by a more relaxed atmosphere.

Not long after we were off the highway, she suddenly spotted something on the roadside and urged me to stop. “Here, here! Can you stop here?” she said urgently.

A bit puzzled by her request, I pulled the car over. “Wait here for a minute, okay?” she asked before getting out.

A few minutes later, she returned to the car and said, “You can get out now!”

I scrunched up my nose in confusion but turned off the car as she had asked. I put on my mask instinctively, even though it seemed like there were no other people around. Before long, I saw what had her so excited: a roadside tent selling udon, tteokbokki, and odeng—a classic childhood treat.

Despite knowing we’d definitely be late for the schedule I’d planned, a smile spread across my face. She had remembered that I wanted to visit a street-food stall, but it’s usually too crowded in Seoul for me to do so without being recognized.

“I asked the ajumma, and she said she knows you from TV,” Yumi explained. “But she promised to shoo away any other customers. So, in other words, I’ve turned this place into a private VIP spot just for you.” With a proud smile, she gestured dramatically, inviting me into the tent.

“Please, order whatever you want! It’s my treat!

” she said again, making me snicker with her excitement.

We ended up ordering way too much comfort food.

The steam from the stove mingled with the crisp autumn air as we enjoyed the spicy tteokbokki, hot udon, and odeng skewers.

It felt just like the old days with Ji-sung during our college and high school years.

“I remember my mom and sometimes my grandmother would get so upset when they found out Ji-sung and I snuck out to eat these treats. We’d come home from school so full that we’d end up skipping their homemade dinners,” I told Yumi between bites of odeng.

“Your childhood sounds like so much fun,” she replied. “I always wanted a brother or a sister.”

I nodded in agreement. “I can’t imagine growing up without Ji-sung. He was always there to stand up for me against my dad or school bullies,” I recalled.

We continued eating in silence, reminiscing about the past. After settling the bill and giving the ahjumma my signed autograph and photo as she had requested, we headed back to the car.

With it being too late to fit in all the activities I’d planned, I decided to head straight to the guest house.

We could relax there and perhaps enjoy a dip in the private spa.

Anyway, there might be too many people at the activities I planned, and I’m not looking forward to another fan fiasco like the last time at the restaurant.

After a few more minutes of driving, we ended up arguing about which turn to take.

The road was steep and poorly marked, with the GPS proving to be misleading.

As darkness settled in and the absence of other vehicles became noticeable, we found ourselves somewhat off-track, surrounded by thick forest on both sides of the road.

“I think we should turn left after the bridge instead of going straight,” Yumi said, peering at the now unclear GPS.

“No, I’m pretty sure we should keep going straight. I came this way a long time ago with my family, and I remember this bridge,” I insisted.

She looked skeptical but recognized the typical stubbornness in a man’s need to be right in situations like this.

We drove a bit further but soon encountered a dead end, with what appeared to be a pond or river blocking the road. As I attempted to reverse, the car suddenly came to a halt.

“Oh, come on, what now?!” Frustration began to build. I noticed the car battery signal blinking rapidly. Despite my lack of knowledge about car issues, I tried to open the hatch and take a look.

There was no smoke, which seemed like a good sign. However, aside from that, I had no clue how to get the car running again.

I glanced at my phone; it was nearly 9 PM. There was no way to call Sangwook to come fetch us from a place like this.

I climbed back into the driver’s seat, deliberately avoiding Yumi’s smug expression. She looked like she was relishing the moment and planning to tease me endlessly, but I wasn’t going to let her get to me. I shot her a quick look before turning my attention back to the steering wheel.

“So, I haven’t told you yet, but here’s the surprise,” I said with a hint of defiance. “We’re actually going camping here.”

She let out a disapproving “tsk-tsk,” as if holding back a “I told you so.”

“I actually noticed on the GPS that there were more houses and main roads if we had turned left,” she said, unable to resist teasing me. “But it’s okay,” she added, gazing at me playfully. “I forgive you. You’re just too handsome; I think it’s driving me crazy.”

I playfully growled, “Come here,” as I shifted my seat to make room and reclined it halfway before pulling her onto my lap.

She giggled and squirmed a bit but didn’t resist much. Soon, she was settled on top of me. The closeness in the small space of the car sent thrills down my spine. I could smell her scent and feel her delicate, tiny frame pressed against me.

She looked deeply into my eyes, and without much thought, I muttered, “I love you, Yumi.” I said it sincerely. “But you know that already, right?”

After a brief pause, she smiled. “It took you long enough,” she said, gently cupping my face and giving me a soft kiss on the lips. Her fingers lightly traced my jawline, sending a shiver down my spine.

“I love you too, Ji-yong,” she whispered.