Originally, the reason for entering I Hyun’s office was to set a date for his blind date, but somehow it came to this.

“Why that face again?”

“No, it’s nothing. I will do my best to find that woman.”

Though there won’t be any need to find her.

“Um, then about the blind date…”

“I have no intention of going.”

“But madam insisted that I must make sure the director attends the blind date.”

I looked at I Hyun with a desperate plea for him to understand my situation.

However, I Hyun made another out-of-the-blue comment.

“Han secretary, have you not had dinner yet?”

“Huh? No, I haven’t.”

It was unclear why he suddenly brought up dinner in the middle of our conversation.

I Hyun took out his suit jacket from the coat rack and strode across the office.

“Director?”

“I think I can’t think straight because I’m hungry.”

“Then shall we finish our conversation after you’ve eaten?”

“Let’s talk while eating.”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask if he meant to have dinner with me again today.

I Hyun was standing by the door, waiting for Ye Rin as if it were the most natural thing.

Once again today, Ye Rin was sitting in the passenger seat next to I Hyun as he drove to the restaurant.

“Director, I can drive.”

“It’s fine. What if Han secretary gets into an accident while driving.”

“I’ve never had an accident before. I even drove directly for the executive I served previously.”

“Accidents come without warning. That first time could be today.”

Ye Rin had no choice but to nod in agreement.

She briefly wondered if there would ever come a day when she could win an argument against him.

After driving for a while, I Hyun’s car climbed a hill and stopped in front of a solitary Korean restaurant.

As if he had made a reservation in advance, the staff guided the two to a private room upon seeing I Hyun’s face.

“What would you like to eat?”

“I’ll have the same as whatever you order, Director.”

“Alright then.”

I Hyun called the staff and ordered the full course, instructing them to bring out all the dishes at once.

Shortly after, a fragrant Korean meal was placed before the two.

“If you had lunch with Mrs. Yoon, you probably couldn’t eat properly.”

“That’s not true.”

“Please eat comfortably.”

“Yes, enjoy your meal too, Director.”

Though the atmosphere was not at all comfortable, Ye Rin picked up her chopsticks.

She felt that if she didn’t eat, he would ask why she wasn’t eating, if the food didn’t suit her taste, or if they should go to a different restaurant.

As she put the braised short ribs in her mouth, they melted on her tongue.

Finding it even more delicious than expected, Ye Rin unconsciously finished a whole bowl of rice in no time.

It was also because she was hungry, not having had a proper meal since last night through lunch.

I Hyun looked at Ye Rin with satisfaction.

“Han secretary, do you know why I asked to have meals together for two days, yesterday evening and today?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Whenever I go on blind dates, the other person always leaves with eyes that look hurt.”

Ye Rin clasped her hands together under the table.

“No matter how I think about it, I don’t see any problem with me.”

Ye Rin just smiled slightly.

‘He might not realize it himself.’

It’s not that I Hyun was doing anything particularly wrong, but even when still, he exuded an overwhelming charisma.

Perhaps that’s why the other person couldn’t easily approach I Hyun.

Even if they gathered the courage to ask a question, the flow of conversation would inevitably go as I Hyun wanted.

Especially during meetings, I Hyun was so cold that it was hard to believe he was the same man she had seen that night.

Every word he spoke was coolly accurate, and other employees could only repeatedly apologize as if they were criminals.

She could imagine how I Hyun’s blind date partners must have felt without hearing the details.

“How does it look to Han secretary?”

Ye Rin hesitated.

Should she answer honestly, or just say something pleasant?

After making her decision, she slowly spoke.

“Though you may not have intended it, Director, sometimes your tone can be sharp.”

I Hyun crossed his arms, looking intrigued.

His cold eyes that seemed about to freeze her on the spot were an added bonus.

‘Ah, should I continue with this?’

But she didn’t want to answer dishonestly.

I Hyun seemed to genuinely want to understand his own shortcomings.

“Perhaps that’s why the women you’ve met might have thought you were a very cold man.”

Of course, the I Hyun she had seen that night was not a cold man at all.

If anything, he was hot.

Moreover, he was a man who knew how to whisper words sweet enough to melt one’s heart.

Thinking about it made her heart flutter for no reason.

She wondered if I Hyun would constantly say such things to a woman he truly loved.

‘You’re crazy. What are you thinking?’

Ye Rin straightened her back and smiled faintly at I Hyun.

“The Director I’ve observed closely for a few days was very considerate and not at all cold.”

“So you think so.”

“Yes.”

Fortunately, I Hyun didn’t seem offended.

“Han secretary, I hope you won’t take this the wrong way.”

“Yes, Director.”

“I intend to meet that woman again and have a proper relationship this time.”

His face was truly serious.

I Hyun’s eyes, black as obsidian, stared at Ye Rin’s face for a long time as if piercing through her.

“But I’ve never been in a relationship before.”

“Pardon?”

Ye Rin was so surprised she couldn’t hide her expression.

How could such a fine man have never been in a relationship?

As if reading her thoughts, I Hyun quickly added:

“Why are you so surprised? It’s not that I couldn’t, I just didn’t.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. That must be it.”

Right. With that face and those qualifications, it wouldn’t make sense that he couldn’t have relationships.

“I want to try it with Han secretary.”

“…Pardon?”

Ye Rin responded a beat late.

“Try what with me…”

“Dating.”

Ye Rin’s lips slowly parted.

Seeing that expression, I Hyun chuckled softly.

“I don’t mean real dating. I’d like to practice with Han secretary so I can act naturally when I meet that woman I’ve been looking for.”

Even after hearing the detailed explanation, Ye Rin remained frozen like a stone, unable to move.

She had more than one or two questions.

“Why are you making this proposal to me?”

“Because Han secretary is somewhat similar to that woman.”

“…”

“How should I put it, the atmosphere you give off is similar. Your height and body type seem similar too.”

Ye Rin swallowed hard.

For no reason, she felt a chill down her spine, as if she were a thief caught in her own trap.

Unlike Ye Rin, I Hyun was very calm.

“You know, experiments should be conducted with similar subjects. It’s like that.”

“I see.”

Ye Rin nodded, though she couldn’t quite understand.

“Director, but dating is something that happens naturally when you meet someone you like, without needing practice.”

“You must have a lot of experience.”

I Hyun gave an even colder look than before.

It felt like being interrogated for a crime.

Though it’s not a crime for adults to date, for some reason she felt she had to deny it.

“No. I haven’t had much dating experience either.”

“Is that so?”

It might have been her imagination, but I Hyun’s lips seemed to curl up slightly.

“That’s good.”

What was good about it?

Ye Rin waited for I Hyun’s next words with great tension.

“You can think of it as practicing with me too.”

“What kind of practice do you mean?”

“To act naturally when you meet the man you truly love later, it’s better to build up your skills in advance.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Ye Rin refused flatly.

It would be stranger to accept this nonsensical proposal.

“This is all for Han secretary’s benefit.”

“How exactly is that so?”

I Hyun smiled brightly at Ye Rin’s honest question.

“If Han secretary becomes my dating partner, I’ll obediently attend the blind dates.”

“…”

“If you refuse, I have no intention of going to any blind dates.”

Sigh.

Well, there was only one choice available.

“What do you think?”

It felt like being submerged in water up to her chin.

When Ye Rin couldn’t speak easily, I Hyun raised his eyebrow slightly.

“Ah, perhaps Han secretary has a boyfriend?”

“No, I don’t.”

“That’s good.”

I Hyun said everything was good.

From Ye Rin’s perspective, the situation wasn’t going well at all, but I Hyun looked very pleased.

Ye Rin thought for a moment.

She wondered if perhaps her superior had suffered a severe head injury.

I Hyun sealed the deal as he stood up.

“Han secretary, then think about our dating until tomorrow morning.”

Another hasty conclusion.

Ye Rin glanced at the firmly closed door.

Though it was a private room, it wasn’t soundproof.

Ye Rin whispered in a low voice.

“Director, if someone hears you speaking like that, they might misunderstand.”

“Let them.”

“Pardon?”

Ye Rin spoke a bit faster, feeling anxious.

“Director, and it’s not real dating, but fake dating, right?”

“Calling it fake makes me feel quite unpleasant.”

“Whatever it is, it’s not real. No, actually it’s a bit hard to even call it dating. It’s more like a rehearsal…”

Even as she spoke, Ye Rin looked truly confused about what this was.

Unlike the confused Ye Rin, I Hyun seemed completely unshaken.

“If Han secretary agrees, I intend to take it seriously.”

“Why…”

Ye Rin’s eyes trembled slightly.

‘Why does he have to take it seriously again?’

I Hyun’s gaze as he stood looking down at Ye Rin was so intense.

“Han secretary, don’t tell me you’re already worried about being swayed while fake dating me.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Yes, in fact, she was hesitating for exactly the reason I Hyun had pinpointed.

That night too, she had been helplessly drawn into I Hyun’s charm, and the aftereffects were still lingering.

It was obvious that if she spent more time in close contact with him, it would cause even more confusion.

I Hyun continued speaking gently.

“Han secretary, isn’t it a secretary’s duty to fill in the gaps for their superior?”