Unlike someone who had just uttered such incredible words, I Hyun smiled so innocently.

“Of course, Han Ye Rin’s feelings for me wouldn’t be to that extent.”

I Hyun kindly created a scenario as if suggesting to imagine it.

“Me with some woman.”

“……”

“Just the two of us.”

Ye Rin slowly bit her lip.

“In my office.”

Ye Rin’s eyelashes eventually trembled slightly.

Of course, it was partly due to I Hyun’s words creating such a detailed scenario, but the real reason for Ye Rin’s agitation was something else.

It was because I Hyun kept closing the distance while speaking.

With a wine glass in one hand.

The tension rose quickly as the distance decreased.

“If I say we toasted like this, just the two of us.”

Ye Rin’s mood became complicated.

Was it because I Hyun came so close?

Or was it because she actually imagined I Hyun in such a situation?

She couldn’t tell.

Unlike Ye Rin, I Hyun was so relaxed.

Slowly swirling the wine glass, I Hyun continued speaking.

“I’m just curious how Han Ye Rin would feel.”

“……”

After hesitating for a moment, Ye Rin chose to do something else instead of answering.

She almost snatched the wine glass from I Hyun’s hand and drank it in one gulp.

It seemed her throat was parched. She felt thirsty and also wanted to calm her strange feelings.

“Oh my.”

But perhaps her mind was just ahead of her actions.

More wine flowed out of Ye Rin’s mouth than went in.

“Ah.”

I Hyun quickly pulled out a tissue and offered it, but most of the wine had already soaked Ye Rin’s blouse.

Why did she rush like that?

Ye Rin put down the empty wine glass and took the tissue from I Hyun.

Because the amount of wine was quite substantial, her blouse was very damp.

“Han Ye Rin, were you that angry?”

“Angry? No, I was just a bit thirsty.”

I Hyun kept smiling, seemingly finding Ye Rin’s flustered state in front of him very cute.

“And the wine you were holding looked so delicious.”

“Oh my. It’s all my fault then, right?”

I Hyun was knowingly asking for confirmation in such a sly manner.

Ye Rin unconsciously rolled her eyes once and wiped her soaked blouse.

“Yes. Imagining that made me a bit angry.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I Hyun looked genuinely surprised.

Feeling I Hyun’s gaze silently looking at her, Ye Rin slowly raised her head.

“What is it?”

‘Did I say something wrong again?’

I Hyun chuckled and stood up.

“I’m happy.”

“……”

“More importantly, Han Ye Rin.”

“Yes.”

I Hyun quickly turned his back and let out a deep breath.

“Wait a moment.”

Then he quickly disappeared somewhere.

“What’s going on?”

Ye Rin stretched her neck in the direction I Hyun disappeared and called out to him once.

“I Hyun?”

There was no reply.

What’s this, leaving me here alone and going somewhere.

Thinking that, Ye Rin wiped her damp blouse with a tissue.

The blouse was made of thin material, so it seemed even the tank top she wore underneath was wet.

“Ah, why did I rush like that?”

But it was too late for regrets now.

Ye Rin waited quietly, planning to tell I Hyun when he returned that she should go home since her clothes were wet and it was getting late.

A moment later.

I Hyun appeared with his hands full of something.

“What’s that?”

Without making eye contact with Ye Rin, I Hyun held out the clothes he had brought.

“I thought you might need these.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“I’m not fine with it. Take them.”

Ye Rin had to accept them since she couldn’t let I Hyun keep his hand stretched out.

But this really wasn’t necessary. She was going home now anyway.

Ye Rin got up from the sofa and quickly blurted out.

“I’ll be going now.”

At those words, I Hyun’s eyes narrowed sideways.

“Even if you’re leaving, I think it would be better to change first.”

And I Hyun gestured with his chin towards a room close to the living room.

“Come out after changing comfortably.”

“It’s oka-”

Just as she was about to say it’s okay.

I Hyun quickly moved and went somewhere again.

Ye Rin was also uncomfortable with her damp blouse, so she moved to the place I Hyun had indicated.

The place I Hyun guided her to was a guest room.

Ye Rin went inside, locked the door, and slowly looked around.

It was a place with a large bed and even a dressing table.

Judging by the lack of any signs of use, it seemed no one had stayed here before.

That’s why it was even more puzzling.

“Is this a space created for future use?”

Tilting her head, Ye Rin quickly took off her wine-stained blouse.

As expected, even the tank top she wore underneath was damp.

What I Hyun had given her was a black short-sleeved T-shirt.

Since it would be uncomfortable to go home wearing wet clothes, Ye Rin took off even her inner tank top and changed.

The clothes had the same nice scent that I Hyun had.

“What kind of perfume does he use?”

How could he always have such a nice scent?

While thinking about that.

Due to her usually low alcohol tolerance, even though the wine she drank earlier was a small amount, she felt slightly tipsy.

“I should go quickly.”

Thinking she might embarrass herself if she stayed any longer, Ye Rin hurried her steps.

I Hyun was sitting on the living room sofa waiting for Ye Rin.

“I Hyun, I’ll wash the clothes well and bring them back to you.”

“Okay.”

As Ye Rin approached the sofa to gather her bag, I Hyun asked.

“You’re not leaving already, are you?”

“Pardon?”

“We haven’t properly celebrated the start of our relationship yet.”

“But we did-”

Ye Rin was about to say “But we did,” but she closed her mouth tightly.

Even Ye Rin’s empty glass was filled with wine.

“It wasn’t really much of a celebration, was it?”

“……”

That was true.

“You suddenly snatched my wine and spilled it all over your clothes.”

“That was an accident-”

“An accident, was it?”

“Pardon?”

I Hyun, who had been sitting relaxed on the sofa, got up and strode towards Ye Rin.

Ye Rin swallowed hard and took a step back.

“I almost misunderstood it as seduction.”

“No, I absolutely-”

As she spoke, she realized how funny this situation was.

It could be seen as her taking his wine and pouring it on herself.

Ye Rin held back the laughter that was about to burst out and explained the situation.

Without revealing her honest feelings that she did it because she didn’t want to hear I Hyun’s words that would provoke jealousy.

“The wine looked delicious.”

“Was that so?”

“Yes.”

“How did it taste after you drank it?”

“It’s delicious. It’s to my taste.”

“In what way?”

“The body is heavy and the aroma is quite rich?”

“I’m glad. That it suits Han Ye Rin’s taste.”

I Hyun walked leisurely to the sofa and sat down.

Then he gazed intently at the two filled glasses.

“Then shall we slowly savor this delicious wine?”

Ye Rin had no choice but to sit down.

Of course, she could have left saying she was going home, but she couldn’t ignore I Hyun who was staring at her with eyes full of expectation.

‘Okay. I’ll just finish this filled glass and go.’

As Ye Rin sat down next to him, I Hyun slowly raised his glass.

“Thank you for accepting my proposal, Han Ye Rin.”

“I’m also grateful for your good proposal, I Hyun.”

Their glasses clinked with a clear sound in the air.

Although it was a fake relationship, it was a clear transaction where both got what they wanted.

Ye Rin took a sip of wine.

Compared to the wines she usually drank, the body was so good that it was exactly to Ye Rin’s taste.

So Ye Rin’s eyelids gradually closed as she unconsciously sipped one mouthful after another.

“Ah, I shouldn’t get drunk…”

Even though she tried to shake her head vigorously, it was already too late.

Before Ye Rin could even finish half of the wine I Hyun had poured into her glass, her eyes slowly became unfocused.

Unlike Ye Rin who was sipping, I Hyun only watched her without bringing the wine to his lips.

He had to take her home himself later if she said she was leaving.

“Han Ye Rin, are you alright?”

“Yes!”

“You don’t seem alright at all.”

Ye Rin kept closing her eyes tightly and opening them again, as if her eyelids were getting heavy and coming down.

Yet her answer was quite spirited.

I Hyun reached out to take back the wine glass Ye Rin was holding.

Ye Rin must have really liked the wine, as she tightened her fingers to not let it go. And she shook her head.

“It’s mine.”

“I know. Just put it down here for now.”

Although I Hyun told her to put it on the table, Ye Rin struggled not to give it up.

“You gave it to me to drink.”

“I did, I did. Haah.”

Who knew she would have such a low alcohol tolerance.

I Hyun was regretting his past self’s action of suggesting a toast without knowing this.

Meanwhile, Ye Rin took another sip of wine.

“Delicious.”

She smiled brightly with her eyes curved like crescents, as if it really suited her taste.

“Ah.”

A sigh escaped I Hyun’s lips.

“Isn’t it unfair to look so pretty even when drunk?”

I Hyun slowly ran his tongue over his lower lip as if troubled.

He needed to stop her from drinking more, but Ye Rin didn’t seem willing to give it up.

If he tried to take it by force, she might get hurt.

While he was wondering what to do about this situation.

Ye Rin tried to take another sip of wine in the meantime.

“Wait a moment.”

I Hyun quickly spoke up.

“How about we have a conversation?”

“A conversation?”

Fortunately, Ye Rin seemed interested and put the wine glass down on the living room table.

‘Whew.’

He had to prevent her from drinking as much as possible, but forcibly taking it away might hurt Ye Rin.

So what he came up with was to have a very wholesome conversation.

I Hyun first brought some water and placed it in front of Ye Rin.

He wanted to put the wine glass far away, but he couldn’t.

Because Ye Rin was keeping a close eye on whether I Hyun would move the wine glass or not.

Like a child anxious about having their candy taken away.

“Let’s drink this again after we talk. How about that?”

“Okay. But don’t put it away.”

“I absolutely won’t touch it.”

Ye Rin pulled up the corners of her mouth and leaned back on the sofa.