Date Me! - Chapter 17

“Hey, let’s order first. Siwoo, did you happen to bring your car?”

“No, I left it at home since I planned to drink today.”

“Ooh! I really like that attitude. Then shall we thoroughly catch up on 11 years’ worth of stories?”

Siwoo smiled and raised his fingers, making an okay sign.

Hyunju pressed the bell with an excited face and ordered a few dishes and drinks.

A moment later, the alcohol arrived and the three of them slowly drank while sharing stories from the past 11 years.

A few hours passed as they drank and chatted, and it was nearing 10 PM.

Quite a few bottles had piled up on the table.

“So have you decided to live in Seoul from now on?”

Siwoo nodded in response to Hyunju’s question.

“Yeah. I originally planned to come up earlier, but I wanted to help out until my mother closed her hospital.”

Siwoo’s mother was also a veterinarian, and until last winter, Siwoo had operated an animal hospital together with his mother in Busan.

“Did you come to Seoul because you know someone here?”

“The director of the animal hospital I’m working at now is my senior from university. He had been asking me to come for the past 3 years, but I couldn’t come then due to circumstances.”

“So your mother has fully closed the hospital now?”

“Yeah. She ran it for 30 years, so she’s done it long enough. She said she wants to travel and leisurely enjoy life now, so I told her to do that.”

“30 years? That’s really amazing. Did you become a vet because of your mother’s influence too?”

“You could say that. Both my parents were busy, so I was alone a lot since I was young, but animals were always by my side during those times and I really liked that. Also, seeing the sick ones return healthy after going through my mother’s hands seemed like magic, and I thought my mother was cool.”

Ina smiled, imagining a young Siwoo embracing animals with a big smile. Hyunju picked up the sake bottle to pour for the two, but her phone rang.

It was Hyunju’s boyfriend, Gihun.

“Hello? Oh, Gihun. One moment.”

Hyunju said she would be right back to take the call and left the room.

“Hyunju said she’s been dating her boyfriend for 3 years, right?”

As soon as Hyunju left, Siwoo poured alcohol into Ina’s glass and spoke.

“Yeah, it’s been 3 years, and I think they’re planning to get married around next fall. They’ve greeted each other’s parents too.”

“Really? I’m jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Of course I’m jealous. It means promising to spend your life with the person you love.”

Siwoo stared intently at Ina as he replied.

Feeling oddly embarrassed by his meaningful gaze, Ina picked up the bottle and poured for Siwoo as well.

“Do you not have a girlfriend?”

As soon as she asked, Ina remembered Hyunju making a fuss earlier about Siwoo being single.

“No, I don’t. You?”

“Oh? Uh… I don’t either.”

“Really? That’s strange. You’re so pretty, so why don’t you have a boyfriend?”

“What?”

Ina looked at Siwoo with a flustered expression.

‘Was Kim Siwoo always the type to be this direct?’

Since Ina rarely spoke to Siwoo in 11th grade, she was puzzled. Then the door opened and Hyunju came in.

“Hey guys. I feel terrible about this. Gihun says he’s almost here, so I think I need to get going… Do you two want to drink some more before leaving?”

“Oh, no. We should get going too. It’s late.”

“This girl, what’s late? It’s only 10 PM. Have one more drink before going.”

Ina shot a silent laser at Hyunju’s obviously intentional words, but Hyunju pretended not to notice and picked up the bill.

“Just have one more drink before going. I feel bad for leaving first, so let me get the bill.”

But Siwoo quietly took the bill from Hyunju’s hand.

“No, it’s thanks to you that the three of us met like this. I’ll take care of the bill. And we’ve had a lot to drink, so I think it’s better to stop now. Let’s all just get up together.”

“Yeah? Well, if you insist on paying, I won’t stop you. And you’ll take Ina home, right?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, no. I can quickly get home by taxi. There’s no need for that.”

Ina waved her hands as she spoke, but Siwoo smiled and left the room first.

“Park Hyunju. Why are you saying unnecessary things? Why would Siwoo take me home?”

As soon as Siwoo left, Ina frowned at Hyunju, who grinned mischievously, wiggling her eyebrows.

“In someone’s eyes, you look like a pretty girl he really wants to take home.”

“Hey, are you really going to keep saying weird things?”

Ina spoke with furrowed brows, but Hyunju leisurely put on her shoes, even humming.

Siwoo, who had finished paying, was seen standing in front of the counter waiting for the two.

“Then I’ll get going first, so make sure to take our pretty Ina safely home. Got it?”

Ina sighed inwardly as she watched Hyunju winking at Siwoo while speaking.

“Okay. Don’t worry and you go ahead too. Let’s meet again soon.”

“Alright. I got it. Then I’ll go first. Ina, bye bye.”

Ina watched Hyunju’s back as she waved and walked away. She glanced up at Siwoo.

Somehow, she felt like she had been forcibly made the protagonist of a fictional romance world created by Hyunju.

“Hey… Siwoo. I can really just go alone. It’s not very far, so I’ll go by myself.”

“I want to take you home. The streets are dangerous these days, and I also want to have a cup of coffee with you.”

“Coffee?”

“Yeah. I always have a cup of coffee after drinking. I want to have it with you… Are you very tired?”

“Oh? No. I’m not that tired.”

“Then shall we go near your house and just have one cup of coffee? I won’t take up too much of your time.”

Ina nodded okay to Siwoo, who spoke with a crescent moon-like smile, finding it difficult to refuse.

A moment later, the two caught a taxi and Ina gave the address of a coffee shop near her house.

“You live alone?”

Siwoo asked as the taxi started, and Ina nodded.

“Yeah. I live alone. You?”

“I also live alone near the hospital.”

“I see.”

Just as Ina answered, her phone rang. It was Juwon.

‘What’s up with him calling at this hour?’

Ina tilted her head and apologized to Siwoo before answering the phone.

“Hello?”

−Hey, it’s me. Did you say the movie tomorrow is at 2?

“Yeah, that’s right. 2:10 PM movie.”

−Then I’ll pick you up at your house by 11:30. Think about what you want to eat for lunch.

“No, you must be tired, so why bother picking me up? I’ll go by myself.”

At Ina’s words, Siwoo glanced at her from the side.

−It’s just driving, what’s the big deal. I’ll pick you up, so keep that in mind.

“But I still feel a bit sorry…”

−But why is it so quiet?

“Huh?”

−Where are you that it’s so quiet?

“Oh, I’m in a taxi right now.”

−Taxi? Where are you going this late?

“Oh, I’m not going anywhere. I met up with a friend and I’m on my way home now.”

−Alone in the taxi?

“No, I’m riding together with my friend.”

−Really? That’s a relief then. Go in carefully and I’ll come to your house by 11:30 tomorrow, so see you then.

“Okay. Got it. See you tomorrow. Yeah.”

As Ina hung up, Siwoo quietly asked while gazing at her.

“Friend?”

“Oh? Yeah. Friend.”

“Seems like you made plans to watch a movie together tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Did some fun movie come out?”

“Oh, a zombie movie was released and we planned to go watch that.”

“Zombie?”

“Yeah.”

“…That’s unexpected. So you like that kind of stuff?”

Siwoo asked, looking surprised.

“Yeah. I’m a total zombie movie maniac.”

“Really? I guess the friend you’re going with likes zombie movies too? Most girls don’t really like that stuff.”

“Oh, it’s not a girl friend, but a guy friend.”

The faint smile spreading on Siwoo’s face quietly disappeared.

“Guy… friend?”

“Oh, I don’t mean boyfriend, but literally a friend who is a guy.”

“Oh…”

Siwoo made a lukewarm expression, as if pondering something.

“He’s also a zombie movie maniac.”

“Oh… I see.”

For some reason, Siwoo remained lost in thought without a word after that, and soon the taxi stopped in front of the coffee shop.

After getting out of the taxi, the two slowly entered the coffee shop.

As it was nearing 11 PM, there were only a few people inside the coffee shop.

Ina carefully asked Siwoo, who had been silent for a while.

“Hey… Siwoo. What do you want to drink?”

“Huh? Oh. I’ll have an iced Americano.”

Siwoo, who had just snapped out of his thoughts at Ina’s voice, answered.

“Then do you want to sit over there? I’ll order and bring it.”

“Oh, no. I’ll pay for it.”

“No, I should be the one paying for this. Do you mind sitting over there?”

Siwoo had no choice but to go sit where Ina pointed, and a moment later, Ina walked over to Siwoo with the coffees she received.

As she handed over the coffee, Siwoo thanked her with a smile, but somehow that smile seemed bitter.

Siwoo took a sip of coffee, then opened his mouth as if about to say something, but hesitated before finally speaking.

“Ina.”

“Yeah?”

“I like zombie movies too.”

“Huh?”

“I said I like them too. Zombie movies.”

“Oh… You do? I see. So you like zombie movies too.”

Although puzzled by Siwoo’s sudden words, Ina nodded.

“So let’s go watch a movie together next time.”

“What?”

“I like all kinds of movies, zombies or whatever, so let’s watch together next time.”

Ina nodded okay to Siwoo, who was smiling but with a strong yearning in his eyes that seemed to say he really wanted to do this.

“Oh. Okay… Let’s watch together next time. Sure, why not.”

“Promise?”

Siwoo grinned widely with a crescent moon smile, looking satisfied.

After taking a sip of coffee, Ina changed the subject to break the awkward atmosphere that only she seemed to be feeling.

“By the way, what business did you have in Yeosu? The kids were really surprised since it was your first time going back after transferring.”

“Ah, well… It was my first time going in 11 years, so it’s true that it had been a really long time. I had some family matters to take care of. But as I was leaving after finishing up, I ran into Youngjun on the street. Youngjun was so happy to see me and practically dragged me to go meet up with the others. But I was surprised too at how much the kids welcomed me.”

“Of course they would welcome you. I go down to Yeosu every two or three months, and whenever I talk with the kids, they always brought you up at least once.”

“Why would they talk about me?”

“You were popular. Good-looking and had a great personality too. Did you know your nickname was ‘Smiling Angel’?”

“Smiling Angel?”

When Siwoo frowned as if he heard something he shouldn’t have, Ina giggled.

“Yeah. Smiling Angel. That’s what the girls called you. They said when you smile, your eyes curve like crescents, just like a gentle retriever.”

Ina made her own eyes into crescent shapes with her fingers, imitating Siwoo’s smile.

“Quite a few girls liked you. Some even cried when you transferred. Didn’t you know?”

Siwoo rested his chin on his right hand and gazed intently into Ina’s eyes.

“…Were you not one of them?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if you didn’t like me.”

At Siwoo’s sudden forward question, Ina blinked her eyes.

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.