Chapter Eighty: Together, Always.

The news of their engagement spread quickly among their friends and family, and while there were congratulations all around, there were also raised eyebrows. Min Jun's parents, in particular, were surprised by the sudden decision. Mrs. Kang still had lingering doubts about Soo Jeon, her mind filled with thoughts of Ji-Eun, the woman she had once envisioned as her son's wife.

Despite the whispers and the occasional disapproving glance, Min Jun and Soo Jeon were steadfast in their decision. They had chosen each other, not just for love, but for the life they wanted to build together, away from the noise of expectations and pressures.

One evening, they found themselves at a small park, a quiet escape from the hectic city. They sat on a bench, watching children play in the distance, their hands intertwined.

"Are you scared?" Soo Jeon asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"A little," Min Jun admitted, turning to face her. "But I'm more excited than anything. We've been through so much already, and we've come out stronger. I know we can handle whatever comes next."

Soo Jeon smiled, feeling the same surge of hope and excitement. "I believe that, too. I don't know what the future holds for our careers, but as long as we have each other, I know we'll be okay."

Min Jun leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a tender kiss. "We'll always have each other."

As they sat there, watching the world go by, Soo Jeon realized that they had finally found peace. It wasn't the peace that came from a perfect career or meeting society's expectations—it was the peace that came from knowing they had chosen the right path for themselves, together.

No matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them side by side, and that was all that mattered.