Chapter Sixty-four: The Next Step.

The days passed smoothly after their heartfelt evening together. Min Jun and Soo Jeon found a rhythm that felt natural, the unspoken tension that once lingered now replaced with a sense of peace. They spent their mornings together in quiet companionship, sharing coffee and laughter before the busy day began.

As they sat on the couch one evening, flipping through an old photo album that Min Jun had brought from his family's house, a thought crossed his mind. He glanced at Soo Jeon, who was smiling softly at a picture of them at a park from years ago.

"Have you ever thought about where we'd want to live?" Min Jun asked, his tone casual but filled with meaning.

Soo Jeon looked up, surprised by the question. "You mean… like buying a place?"

Min Jun nodded. "Yeah. I've been thinking about it lately. I want us to have a home that's ours, where we can build something permanent. It feels like the next step, don't you think?"

The idea sent a thrill through Soo Jeon's heart. She had imagined what it would be like to truly settle down with Min Jun, to build a life together. But the thought of buying a home felt so official, so monumental. It made her both excited and a little anxious.

"I've thought about it," she admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "But it feels like such a big step. Are we really ready for that?"

Min Jun smiled, reaching out to take her hand. "I think we are. We've made it through so much already. And I want to start this next chapter with you — a home, our future. It feels right."

Soo Jeon squeezed his hand, her heart swelling with love for him. "If we're doing it together, then I'm ready."

---

A few days later, Min Jun was at his office when his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, but something urged him to pick up.

"Hello, this is Kang Min Jun," he answered, leaning back in his chair.

The voice on the other end introduced themselves as a representative from a renowned international architecture firm. They had heard about Min Jun's recent projects and were offering him an incredible opportunity to lead a major project overseas. It was the kind of career-making offer that most architects could only dream of.

Min Jun's heart raced as he listened to the details. This was a chance to make his mark on the global stage — something he had always aspired to. But as he considered the offer, his thoughts drifted to Soo Jeon and the plans they had just started discussing. How could he leave now, when they were so close to beginning their life together?

"I'll need some time to think about it," Min Jun said, his voice steady but his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts.

---

That evening, Min Jun and Soo Jeon sat together at the dinner table, the atmosphere light and easy after a long day. But Min Jun's mind was elsewhere, the weight of the offer pressing on him. He knew he had to tell Soo Jeon, but he didn't want to disrupt the peace they had worked so hard to achieve.

"What's on your mind?" Soo Jeon asked, sensing his distraction.

Min Jun hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I got an offer today," he said, meeting her eyes. "It's a big one. An international project… overseas."

Soo Jeon's expression shifted, surprise and concern flickering across her face. "Overseas?" she repeated softly. "For how long?"

"A year, maybe longer," Min Jun replied. "It's an incredible opportunity, but… I don't know. We've just started planning our future here, and I promised I'd focus on us."

Soo Jeon's heart tightened. She understood how much this offer meant to him, but the thought of him being away for that long felt like a huge step back from the life they were building.

"Min Jun… I want you to do what's best for you," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "This is a huge opportunity, and I know how important your career is. But we need to talk about what this means for us."

Min Jun nodded, his hand reaching for hers. "I don't want to leave you, Soo Jeon. Not when we're just getting started. But I also don't want to let this chance slip by."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the decision settling between them. Min Jun knew he had to make a choice — one that would affect not just his career, but their future together.

The uncertainty hung in the air as they both realized that whatever came next would shape the course of their relationship.