When Hyun told me to choose a restaurant, I did make a selection, but I didn’t think we’d actually be able to eat there today.

The restaurant I chose was famous on social media for its great atmosphere.

It was known for not taking advance reservations, requiring waiting on-site, and closing early if ingredients ran out.

Glancing at the clock in the car, I figured we’d arrive around closing time.

‘Phew, that’s fortunate.’

In that case, I planned to suggest going to any nearby snack shop to have a quick meal.

A smile slowly bloomed on Ye Rin’s face.

I Hyun probably doesn’t know what I’m really thinking.

Either way, what he has to say to me is: find the missing woman, or pretend to date me. It must be one of those two options.

It seemed a bit much to eat at a nice place just to have such predetermined conversations.

Thinking that I was one step ahead of I Hyun made me keep smiling.

I Hyun, who was driving, glanced at Ye Rin and asked:

“What’s making you so happy?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Ye Rin kept pulling down the corners of her mouth that kept turning up as she imagined I Hyun’s disappointment upon seeing the closed restaurant or long waiting line.

A moment later. I Hyun’s car entered the area near the restaurant.

‘Huh? Why don’t I see a waiting line?’

According to Na Ri, you could spot the place from far away.

The line was supposed to be that long.

‘Did they not open today?’

It was a reasonable suspicion since there wasn’t a single person waiting in line.

I Hyun’s car slowly came to a stop in front of the restaurant.

‘Hmm? The lights are on?’

There was clearly a sign saying ‘Closed for today’ in front of the door, but the lights inside were still on.

Ye Rin inwardly rejoiced.

As expected, it seemed they had run out of ingredients and closed early. Everything was going according to her plan.

Without unbuckling her seatbelt, Ye Rin spoke as if disappointed:

“Director, it looks like they closed early today.”

“It seems so.”

“Then should we…”

Just as she was about to suggest going somewhere else.

I Hyun turned off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt.

“Director?”

Ye Rin pointed at the sign. Can’t you see that? It clearly says closed for the day.

“It looks like we can’t go to that restaurant.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? It says they’re closed for the day.”

“So it does.”

The person who had confirmed the sign didn’t start the car, but rather got out.

“Why is he doing that?”

Does he need to go in and check if they’re really closed to be satisfied?

As Ye Rin was tilting her head in confusion,

I Hyun came around to the passenger side and opened the door.

“Aren’t you getting out, Secretary Han?”

“Won’t we be unable to eat here?”

“We can.”

Ye Rin got out of the car reluctantly, with a face that said she really didn’t understand.

‘I guess he’s the type who needs to see for himself to satisfy his curiosity.’

Well, it’s not like we’re going far, we can just go in and get turned away right away.

Ye Rin followed reluctantly behind I Hyun, who couldn’t seem to give up.

Ding-a-ling−

The sound of a bell welcomed the two of them.

“Welcome.”

Huh? They clearly said welcome.

Ye Rin, who had naturally expected the owner to say something like ‘We’re closed, please leave,’ couldn’t help but be flustered.

“Are you Mr. Cha I Hyun who reserved the entire place for today?”

“Yes.”

I Hyun looked at Ye Rin with a grin.

“…”

At a loss for words, Ye Rin looked back and forth between the restaurant owner and I Hyun.

“Why do you look like that, Secretary Han?”

“No, I mean, right now.”

He rented out this entire restaurant? Why?

“You can go inside.”

Just how much did he pay for the rental fee?

The chef himself came out to guide Ye Rin and I Hyun to a nice window seat.

“Please take your time looking over the menu and let me know when you’re ready to order.”

Ye Rin gazed wistfully as the chef walked away.

I Hyun chuckled again, clearly pleased about something.

“Why do you look like that, Secretary Han?”

“Director, I’m really curious about something.”

I Hyun nodded once, resting his chin on his hand as if to say ask anything.

“Did you rent out this place?”

“Yes.”

“For the whole day today?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like it when my plans get messed up?”

I Hyun kept smiling, clearly pleased about something.

While all of my plans have fallen apart.

It seemed that I Hyun’s plans were proceeding without a hitch.

I should have chosen a different restaurant.

If I had…

As she was thinking that, Ye Rin asked with a disbelieving look:

“If I had chosen a different restaurant, why did you go to the trouble of renting this place out?”

Even if you have a lot of money, still. Wouldn’t it have been a waste of money if Ye Rin had chosen somewhere else?

Ye Rin was thinking she had made a good choice in picking this place after all.

Just then, I Hyun’s lips parted and utterly surprising words flowed out.

“It wouldn’t have mattered.”

At those overly confident words, Ye Rin asked as if entranced.

“Why wouldn’t it matter?”

All the restaurants I Hyun had suggested were famous places.

That meant there was a high chance they would have closed early due to running out of ingredients no matter where they went.

I Hyun calmly stroked his smooth chin with one hand.

“Because I rented them all out.”

“…Pardon?”

Because of I Hyun’s nonchalant way of speaking, Ye Rin thought she must have misheard.

“Are you saying you rented out all of those restaurants you showed me earlier?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t know which one Secretary Han would choose, like you said?”

“No…”

Wait a minute.

So he’s saying he rented out all the restaurants because he didn’t want his plans to be ruined.

“No matter which place Secretary Han chose, I wanted to take you there. Does that sound a bit more romantic?”

“Yes… No, not really?”

She almost felt a tiny bit fluttered for a moment.

At his confident attitude of not caring what she chose.

At his words that he would take her wherever she wanted.

When Ye Rin changed her answer, I Hyun smiled amusedly.

“I see. So showing off how rich I am like this isn’t romantic at all. I’ve learned something new.”

“…”

Ye Rin just bit her lip.

Alright, I’ll admit it’s romantic even if I don’t want to.

That a busy person personally chose restaurants he wanted to go to with her, and even made the reservations himself.

And that he went to the trouble of renting out entire places to fulfill his determination to eat at the restaurant his girlfriend chose.

“You’re quite impressive.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Most people wouldn’t even think of doing something like this.”

“Why?”

It seemed I Hyun was curious why others couldn’t do the same.

“It’s easy to make a reservation with just one phone call.”

Yes, of course.

Making the call is easy, but most people don’t have the wealth to rent out every restaurant they like.

I Hyun added, as if worried Ye Rin might feel uncomfortable:

“Other people are probably eating at the remaining restaurants that Secretary Han didn’t choose.”

“Pardon?”

What did he mean by that?

“Even if I paid the rental fee, from the chef’s perspective, they’d still want to serve delicious food, right?”

“Then who went to…”

“There’s an orphanage I regularly volunteer at.”

No way. Ye Rin covered her mouth with both hands.

The words about to be spoken seemed too surprising.

“Those kids are probably eating at whichever places they wanted to go.”

“…”

“Of course, I’m covering all the food costs too.”

Honestly, she hadn’t expected this at all.

“So if you feel bad about not choosing the other restaurants, you don’t need to.”

“I see…”

Ye Rin’s dark brown eyes trembled rapidly.

Wanting to hide her expression, she quickly lowered her head to look at the menu.

She felt an indescribable strange emotion just now.

What could it be?

It didn’t seem quite right to call it excitement.

And it felt a bit odd to say her heart was pounding.

Ah yes. It felt like respect.

That’s right. Respect.

People called him cold, but the I Hyun she saw up close was a man with a warmer heart than anyone.

Occasionally when he showed such thoughtful consideration like this, her heart would start racing at a crazy speed.

“Director, you were quite impressive today.”

Hearing Ye Rin’s trembling voice, I Hyun’s face lit up with joy.

“Secretary Han is even praising me. I feel good.”

Feeling like she should say more, Ye Rin slowly raised her head.

I Hyun’s heated gaze had been fixed on her the whole time.

“If you do something like this for that woman you like, who you’ll meet someday…”

I Hyun silently waited for Ye Rin’s evaluation.

“I think she would really love it.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

As Ye Rin nodded with a slight smile, I Hyun’s face also broke into the same smile.

“Because it shows your sincerity, Director.”

The two ordered and waited for their food to arrive.

“I’ve never once chosen a restaurant based on its atmosphere before.”

I Hyun seemed to have said something like that before.

“When I was thinking about where to take Secretary Han today, I found that quite fun too.”

“Director, please leave it to me from now on.”

“Alright.”

I Hyun readily agreed when Ye Rin first mentioned future plans.

“Secretary Han, I’ve been thinking about something.”

Ye Rin subtly bit her lip again.

I Hyun saying he had been pondering something was like a prelude that surprising words were about to follow.

It would be nice if he didn’t think so much.

“Yes, Director.”

“I feel like we still don’t know each other very well.”

“…”

This level of distance was just right for work.

It’s not like you need to share personal details with your boss.

If she could just figure out I Hyun’s preferred work style, wouldn’t that be the perfect relationship?

I Hyun seemed to have very different thoughts from Ye Rin on this.

With a face that said he had many things he wanted to ask, I Hyun slowly opened his mouth.