Hey there, I'm back! Finally got some time to update, woo-hoo! Thanks for waiting patiently. Here's the long-awaited chapter, so enjoy and feel free to drop some comments! 😄

---

"I did?"

Jennie rolled her eyes, reminiscing about the past. "Stop. I knew you only said that to get him to back off." She put her hands on her hips and gave the Detective a stern look, who was looking at her in confusion. "I knew you didn't mean it."

"Didn't mean what?"

"Why are you being so dumb?"

Taken aback, Yoona stared at her in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"I'm pretty sure you heard me loud and clear; you're just pretending not to get it." Jennie's tone softened, and she gazed at Yoona with a hint of vulnerability. "Why does it feel like you're getting my hopes up all over again?"

Realization hit Yoona like a ton of bricks. She mentally scolded herself for being so clueless. Jennie was right; she was acting foolishly. "Look, you're right about making him back off. But my feelings for you are genuine, okay? That's the truth."

Jennie blushed at the words, but the memories of their past encounters held her back from fully embracing the warmth in her heart.

"You're having doubts about me, aren't you?"

Jennie bit her lip, nodding slightly. "It's just that... I thought I had a handle on things, that I knew where I stood. But here I am, still caught up in you." She gave a wistful smirk and turned her gaze away.

Yoona held Jennie's hands, gently them with her thumbs. "You're Jennie Kim – you always know where you stand, babygirl."

Jennie's eyes lit up at the reassurance. She became a bit bashful, giving Yoona's hands a squeeze. "So, does this mean you're mine now?"

Yoona grinned playfully, nodding. "And you're mine, Ms. Kim. Don't forget that."

Jennie's eyes welled up with tears as she pulled Yoona into a tight embrace, catching the older woman off-guard. "No more sharing, alright?"

"No more sharing."

"Wait a sec."

Confused, Yoona looked at her. "What is it?"

"Did you go to the amusement park?"

Yoona finally noticed the deer headband on her head, and she let out an embarrassed sound.

"Yeah, you're right. I came back from the amusement park earlier with Ms. Jung, Seul, Irene, and the other members."

Jennie's gaze held a peculiar intensity as she looked at Yoona, her expression almost unreadable. 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Yoona questioned, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Staring? I'm not staring."

"Okay, then what is it?"

"Just... wondering."

"Wondering about what?"

Jennie playfully rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Seriously, who put that thing on your head? Last time I checked, the deer headband I picked for you looked different. And you hate wearing these kinds of things. So who did it?"

Yoona opened to reply, hesitated, and then closed it again. "Come on, Jennie, it's just for fun. I didn't want to be a buzzkill."

"Who was it?" Jennie's persistence didn't waver.

"Alright, it was Ms. Jung. Happy now?"

"No."

"What? Why not?"

Jennie grabbed Yoona's collar and pulled her closer, pressing their bodies together. The sudden boldness of her action surprised both of them.

"I'm telling you, nobody else should be doing what I do to you. Got it? I know you secretly enjoyed it because I'm not an idiot, Detective. She's genuinely interested in you. Do you even realize that?"

Yoona blinked, taken aback by Jennie's blunt words. "I-I know that, Jen."

Jennie slowly released her hold and let out a sigh. "And you're okay with that? She's my rival when it comes to you. She's testing me, and I'm well aware of it."

Yoona was unsure where the conversation was heading. "I understand, Jennie. Are you... jealous?"

Jennie huffed, clearly frustrated. 

Yoona put her hands in her pockets, giving Jennie a reassuring smile. "I get it, Jennie. Ms. Jung might have a boyfriend, and you have to trust me if you want us to be good."

Jennie let out a sigh, her expression softening. "I hope you're worth it, Detective Lim." Pouting cutely, Jennie nodded and continued, "I'm just scared that you'll leave me for her."

Yoona chuckled, understanding her concern. "Come on, I know what's bothering you. I'll take this off, alright?" Yoona removed the headband and placed it back in her car.

Jennie beamed and hugged Yoona tightly. "Why did you stop by here, by the way?"

Yoona shrugged casually. "Your smile lights up the room, so I had to come over."

Blushing, Jennie found herself falling for Yoona even more. She asked, "Are you staying the night?"

With a playful smirk, Yoona replied, "Do you want me to?"

"Absolutely! We can cuddle or... you know." Jennie's boldness surprised Yoona, who nervously chuckled.

"Wow, the tables have turned. When did you become this bold?" Yoona asked, a hint of amazement in her voice.

Jennie gave her an evil grin and playfully her nose, prompting Yoona to push her away gently. "Since the day you walked into my life."

"Alright, come on!" Jennie dragged Yoona inside, and they entered Jennie's room, closing the door quietly.

"Let's turn up the volume so we can drown out any sounds," Jisoo reminded the others, knowing that whenever Yoona visited, they needed to block out Jennie's noise. "So, where were we?" The three resumed watching their Korean drama as if Yoona's presence hadn't disrupted them.

---

"Why are you leaving so soon?" Jennie's voice held a hint of disappointment as Yoona put on her shoes to go.

Narrowing her eyes, Yoona asked, "Don't you know I have to go to work?"

Without answering, Jennie simply held up her phone, showing a video of Yoona.

"Why are you recording me this early?" Yoona questioned.

Jennie's smile was radiant as she blew a kiss to the camera and turned it off. "I want to capture these moments. They're precious to me." Settling back on the bed, she allowed the blanket to drape over her, revealing her smooth skin. "Aren't you going to have breakfast before leaving?"

Jennie's reluctance to let Yoona go was clear, a testament to the depth of her love for the detective. It was as if she couldn't function properly without Yoona by her side. Yoona had become her lifeline, and while it might sound cliché or cheesy, it was the truth.

"I'd love to stay, but Chief just messaged me to head in immediately," Yoona explained, watching Jennie's pout with understanding. She leaned in and pecked Jennie on the lips. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay, I love you," Jennie hummed, her smile radiating warmth.

As Yoona stood up to leave, Jennie called her back. "Yes, babe?"

Blushing slightly, Jennie continued, "Just a reminder that you're invited to our place later tonight." Curious, Yoona raised an eyebrow, prompting Jennie to explain. "It's my mom's birthday, and she really wants you there." She cut off any potential protests with a mischievous smile. "You can't say no to my mom; she's quite persuasive."

Yoona gave a half smile and nodded. "How did you even know?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Jennie playfully rolled her eyes. "Because she's my mom, obviously," she retorted with a chuckle. "I'll see you later in the evening," Jennie said passionately, though a hint of sadness lingered in her eyes. She didn't want Yoona to leave, and Yoona understood that.

Suppressing her own desire to stay longer, Yoona bit her lip and nodded. There was a case that demanded her attention, even if she wanted nothing more than to spend the day with Jennie.

---

"Three caramel macchiato ventis for Detective Lim!"

Yoona rose from her seat and walked to the cashier to pick up her order. She knew Chief and Seulgi were waiting at the office and had been teasing her about being slow, but she couldn't compromise on basic hygiene.

"Thanks, sweetheart," Yoona replied to the cashier, who seemed to blush in response.

Shaking her head, Yoona was about to leave the café when a familiar voice called her name. She turned to see a beautiful woman standing before her. The woman's sweet smile was accompanied by cascading hair, a blue fitted dress that accentuated her curves, and white heels that completed the look. Yoona couldn't help but think that Korean women were consistently stunning.

"Ms. Park."

With a chuckle, the woman corrected her, "Last I checked, you weren't using my last name. Can I have a word with you?"

"Uh-"

"Please," Minyoung pouted, and Yoona let out a sigh. Pouting wasn't really her style.

Yoona glanced at her watch before looking back at Minyoung. "Ten minutes."

Minyoung gracefully took Yoona's free hand and led her to a table by the window.

"Okay, so what do you want to talk about, Ms. Park?"

Minyoung bit her lip, her voice tinged with nervousness. "I tried to forget about you, and it's true. But no matter what I did, I couldn't get you out of my head."

Yoona observed her, seeing the vulnerability in her eyes. She hadn't wanted to bring this kind of emotion to Minyoung, especially after witnessing the woman's radiant smile earlier. Yoona let out a sigh. "I don't really know what to say."

Minyoung smiled, her gaze softening as she looked at Yoona. "It's okay. I know I can be a pain, but I'm glad I approached you. You've made my day better. Thanks for that." Yoona returned the smile, nodding in response.

As they caught up, Yoona realized that Minyoung was actually great company. Perhaps Yoona had been too quick to push her away, forgetting that she was dealing with a good person.

"I should go. It was nice seeing you again, Minyoung."

The way Minyoung's eyes glistened when Yoona used her name caught Yoona off guard. "Thank you. Can... Can I hug you?"

Yoona smiled and opened her arms, and Minyoung embraced her as if her life depended on it.

"Thank you for coming into my life," Minyoung said, pulling away with a smile.

"I have to go. Take care."

Minyoung nodded, still smiling. Though she was hurt by Yoona's rejection, she at least felt good about their conversation. Her main regret might have been rushing things with Yoona instead of taking a more gradual approach.

"Uh, Minyoung, wait!"

Turning around, Minyoung smiled. "What's wrong?"

"I need to tell you something important," Yoona said, leading Minyoung back to their table.

---

"What took you so long?"

"Here. Thank you for waiting." Yoona handed over the two coffees she had brought.

"Yeah, waiting for an hour isn't exactly a short time," Chief Park remarked.

Yoona playfully rolled her eyes as she sat down next to Seulgi, who was already enjoying her coffee.

"It seems like the rest day really did wonders for both of you, especially you, Detective Lim. I must say, I'm quite flattered," Chief Park leaned back in his chair, glancing between the two of them. "Mr. Lee is now stable, and my team is stationed for his protection. We're moving on to the next case."

"Jennie Kim," Seulgi chimed in.

Yoona turned to her cousin, puzzled. "What?"

Seulgi gave her a pointed look, and Yoona suddenly caught on. "Oh, right."

"The 9th target?" Seulgi nodded, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Detective Lim, are you and Jennie in a romantic relationship?" Chief Park inquired. Yoona sputtered on her coffee, coughing, while Seulgi patted her on the back. "I don't mean to pry into your personal life, but I've heard rumors about you two."

Seulgi laughed, and Yoona shot her a glare. She didn't appreciate people teasing her abo