After strolling through Mongso Park, they took a drive around the city.
Watching the city from inside the car wasn’t all that bad.
Perhaps because he had revealed his feelings so openly, Yoon Jooho looked a little worn out.
Sinking deep into the seat, he sat quietly, his fingers entwined with Song Hyunsoo’s.
They moved toward the Saint-Martin Canal, which had relatively fewer tourists compared to the city center, and spent a leisurely time sitting at a café’s outdoor table.
Song Hyunsoo ordered white wine, while, unexpectedly, Yoon Jooho asked for milk.
Though he’d spent the past year as the person closest to him, Song Hyunsoo had never seen Yoon Jooho drink milk—not at places like this, not even at home.
He was someone who wouldn’t even touch a latte.
On top of that, he didn’t smoke either.
He explained that his mouth felt strangely dry today and he didn’t really feel like smoking.
Watching Yoon Jooho drink milk through a straw, Song Hyunsoo concluded that he definitely wasn’t acting like himself.
He suggested they return to the hotel and rest, but Yoon Jooho stubbornly insisted he was fine.
He’d already made a reservation for dinner at a nice place, he said.
“It’s our last night. You want to just head back to the hotel like this?”
Saying that, Yoon Jooho pulled on Song Hyunsoo’s hand—he certainly didn’t look sick, at least not physically.
Still, something was clearly weighing on him.
Maybe yesterday’s first trial verdict had affected him deeply.
It was, after all, the beginning of the end for the long battle he’d waged against his parents.
Claiming they weren’t dressed properly for the restaurant’s dress code, Yoon Jooho dragged Song Hyunsoo to a boutique first.
Together, they changed into stylish clothes.
Standing side by side in the mirror, they looked like a happy couple about to go on a special date.
Because Yoon Jooho seemed energetic and cheerful, Song Hyunsoo didn’t comment on the price tags or the unnecessary shopping.
After they left the boutique, Yoon Jooho even opened the backseat car door for Song Hyunsoo himself.
Was I just being oversensitive? Maybe he really was okay.
The restaurant Yoon Jooho chose was located inside another hotel not far from where they were staying.
It had a grand, old-fashioned, yet romantic atmosphere.
Most of the tables on this Friday evening were taken by couples.
Even there, Yoon Jooho hardly touched his food, saying he had no appetite.
He just stirred at his coconut water with a straw and took occasional sips.
It was impossible not to worry.
No matter what he said now, Song Hyunsoo was determined not to be persuaded.
He didn’t want to ruin the dinner Yoon Jooho had prepared, so he at least finished the meal.
But once in front of the hotel, they ended up in another tug-of-war.
“Let’s just go back to the hotel.”
“You said you wanted to ride the Bateaux Mouches.”
“It’s fine. I don’t want to anymore.”
“Don’t lie.”
Song Hyunsoo tried to dig in his heels and resist, while Yoon Jooho tugged on his arm.
Song Hyunsoo wanted to go back to the hotel; Yoon Jooho insisted they walk to the Seine’s dock to ride the Bateaux Mouches.
“You’re the one lying, aren’t you?”
“What did I lie about?”
“You’re not fine. Something’s off, right? So why are you pretending nothing’s wrong?”
“So it’s weird to just not eat much because I have no appetite? You know I’m a light eater.”
“You didn’t smoke, and you didn’t drink, either.”
“Shouldn’t you be praising me for that?”
The man walked ahead with an indifferent expression, pulling the big man behind him who tried to put on the brakes.
Passersby looked at them and chuckled, faces saying, What a cute couple.
“Your boyfriend is fine. Not dying. So let’s go for a boat ride.”
It didn’t seem like he’d listen if Song Hyunsoo resisted any further.
Yoon Jooho usually yielded to most things, but not when he’d made up his mind—especially if it was for Song Hyunsoo’s sake.
This time was no different.
He was being stubborn for Song Hyunsoo, who had wanted to ride the Bateaux Mouches.
Giving up on persuasion, Song Hyunsoo walked alongside him.
Yoon Jooho, looking satisfied, slung an arm around Song Hyunsoo’s shoulder and tousled his hair.
“You made the right choice. Why waste your energy?”
They walked in the direction of the Bateaux Mouches dock.
No bodyguards, just the two of them.
Just like on the night they first arrived.
Now that it was night, it was quite chilly, but as they walked, they gradually warmed up—perfect weather for a stroll.
“Paris really is small, isn’t it?”
“Why?”
“It never takes that long to get anywhere.”
At the end of Jaurès 5th Avenue, the two crossed the crosswalk.
“Yesterday, it didn’t even take two hours for us to walk from Montmartre to Marais. Even though we took pictures and looked around on the way.”
“They say it’s six times smaller than Seoul.”
“Six times?”
At the foot of the Alma Bridge, they turned down a stone path along the river leading to the dock.
It was already completely dark, and only a few people could be seen heading to the Bateaux Mouches.
“It’s easy to find. I guess we just follow this road straight.”
Peering into Google Map, Song Hyunsoo spoke in an excited voice.
“You were so adamant about going back to the hotel, but now that we’re here, you’re all excited again, huh?”
As Song Hyunsoo grinned at Yoon Jooho, he laughed too.
Suddenly, he grabbed Song Hyunsoo’s arm and led him toward the edge of the path by the river.
“Why? We still have to go down there, don’t we?”
“Just follow me.”
Along the way to the Bateaux Mouches’ exclusive dock, various boats—big and small—were moored along the wharf.
Yoon Jooho walked up to one of the boats with its gangway open.
It was a large, three-story yacht brightly lit inside.
“What, what is this?”
“You said you wanted to ride a cruise on the Seine.”
“I did. But we were supposed to ride that one.”
Song Hyunsoo pointed left with his index finger, toward a large cruise boat waiting in the darkness—the Bateaux Mouches he’d already booked.
“Who knows when someone might recognize us? Could we really have a proper date over there?”
“But still… the reservation…”
“It’s our first trip together.”
“……”
“I want to go on a real date with you too. Without anyone interrupting.”
Yoon Jooho pulled Song Hyunsoo’s arm again.
An attendant waiting by the gangway checked a few reservation details and led them on board.
Once inside, the space felt much bigger than it looked from the outside.
On the first floor was a huge bar, and beyond it, a wide deck.
They were handed glasses of champagne like a welcome drink.
Stepping out to the bow, the Eiffel Tower loomed right in front of them.
As soon as they boarded, the boat began to move away from the dock.
Smooth, lively jazz played in the background, and the lights had been dimmed—probably at Yoon Jooho’s request.
The two of them sat side by side on a sofa at the front.
Song Hyunsoo was still in a daze.
Looking up, he saw there was a terrace on the second floor with a view and cozy rooms for relaxing.
“Did you reserve this in advance?”
“I did. And you had no idea, talking about riding the Bateaux Mouches…”
Yoon Jooho playfully tapped Song Hyunsoo’s nose.
The fact that he’d thought of and prepared all this in advance just for some quiet time together was impressive.
He hadn’t even seemed that excited about the Paris trip…
The yacht cruised past the Bateaux Mouches, still waiting at the dock.
Guests who’d boarded earlier wandered the deck, excitedly admiring Paris’s night view and snapping pictures.
They would have had fun on the Bateaux Mouches, too.
But, as Yoon Jooho said, they probably wouldn’t have gotten such a private, uninterrupted moment.
“Is that what you wanted to ride?”
Yoon Jooho asked as Song Hyunsoo looked up at the Bateaux Mouches.
“No. I just wanted to see the night scenery from a boat—it didn’t have to be the Bateaux Mouches specifically.”
“Shall we go up to the second floor?”
Yoon Jooho got up first and reached out his hand.
Upstairs, the space felt even more private.
On the outdoor sofa at the side, under a roof, they were out of sight from others.
A staff member followed them up, set out a new bottle of champagne, and at Yoon Jooho’s request, went back downstairs—leaving the two alone.
This time, it looked like Yoon Jooho actually drank a little champagne.
But that was only the first sip; after that, he just pretended, bringing the glass to his lips without drinking any more.
“Tonight’s already our last night.”
“……”
“Did you have fun?”
Even Yoon Jooho’s affectionate question didn’t register with Song Hyunsoo.
The boat, which had departed from the dock at Albert Square, slowly turned at the Alexander III Bridge.
They seemed to be going back and forth within view of the Eiffel Tower.
Song Hyunsoo set his glass on the table, turned his whole body toward Yoon Jooho, and looked him in the eyes.
“Sunbae, what’s really going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Something’s up, right?”
“Why are you doing this again?”
“Don’t scare me—just tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“Whatever it is, I’m ready to face it with you.”
“Ready to face what together?”
“You’re not eating, not drinking, not smoking. And earlier, you drank milk of all things… I’m not an idiot, you know? Just tell me. Not saying anything is scarier.”
With a sigh, Yoon Jooho set down the glass he’d only been pretending to drink.
Leaning deep into the back of the sofa, he gazed quietly at Song Hyunsoo.
“After Crank-Up, I went to buy a ring.”
The story began in a completely unexpected direction.