As I entered the orphanage, I saw I Hyun who had come in casual attire.

Wearing jeans and a casual shirt, he had a different charm that made him look like a college student.

“Director, when did you arrive?”

I had no choice but to call I Hyun that way because Secretary Choi and Na Ri were beside me.

I Hyun seemed to realize why Ye Rin chose that title, so he didn’t say anything and called her naturally.

“I just arrived and was looking for Secretary Han.”

When I Hyun saw Hyun Jun entering behind Ye Rin, his eyebrows rose slightly.

He had been worried that something was wrong or if she wasn’t feeling well, as Ye Rin’s expression was stiffer than usual when entering the orphanage.

After seeing Hyun Jun’s face, he seemed to understand the reason.

Just as I Hyun was about to say something to Ye Rin, the orphanage director appeared.

“Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come here today.”

The orphanage director first expressed gratitude to those who came to volunteer today.

“We’re in the midst of preparing meals now. Please go inside, two of you help with serving, and the rest follow me.”

I Hyun and Ye Rin were assigned to help with meal service.

Na Ri, Secretary Choi, and Hyun Jun disappeared somewhere following the orphanage director.

Ye Rin spoke to I Hyun as she entered the changing room familiarly.

“Director, you should wear an apron as food might splash on your clothes.”

Ye Rin took an apron hanging on the wall and handed it to I Hyun.

“Alright.”

I Hyun, following Ye Rin into the changing room, quickly took the apron and slipped his arms through it.

I Hyun was fumbling as he tried to tie the apron behind his back, seemingly unable to do it well.

“Director, shall I help you?”

“If you could, please.”

I Hyun turned his back to make it easier for Ye Rin to tie.

“My arms don’t reach well.”

At those words, Ye Rin’s gaze shifted to I Hyun’s thick forearms.

Seeming to see his firm body, sculpted by exercise, under the thin shirt, Ye Rin quickly turned her head away.

After quickly tying the apron, Ye Rin took a step back.

“It’s done, Director.”

I Hyun looked down at the apron now fixed to his body, then turned to face Ye Rin.

And he started to approach her, one step at a time.

“I’ll help you too.”

“No. I can do it myself just fine.”

“Wouldn’t it be faster and easier if I help you?”

I Hyun, who had already approached in front of Ye Rin, almost snatched the apron she was holding in one hand.

Then he spread the apron wide in front of her.

“Put your arms in here.”

Having had the apron taken by I Hyun, Ye Rin had no choice but to stretch out her arms.

As she put her arms through, I Hyun stepped even closer, coming right up to her.

In a posture that might look like they were embracing if someone saw, he stretched his arms behind Ye Rin’s back.

“Director?”

Ye Rin gently pushed against I Hyun’s chest with both hands.

His body, solid as a rock, didn’t retreat but only drew closer.

Ye Rin glanced nervously at the tightly closed changing room door.

She was worried because there was no separate lock, so anyone could enter at any time.

“What are you doing……”

“Me? I’m just helping Han Ye Rin put on her apron, aren’t I?”

As if to say this action was therefore innocent, I Hyun flashed a grin.

Trapped in I Hyun’s arms, Ye Rin had to hold her breath.

The faint woody scent emanating from him kept tickling her nose.

It seemed he was fiddling with the strings for far too long to just be helping her put on an apron.

“Director, if it’s not working well, should I do it myself?”

“It’s almost done, so just stay like this a moment longer.”

Ye Rin’s cheeks were flushing hot from the warmth radiating from I Hyun.

Her heart had already lost its regular rhythm, pounding wildly.

She worried if I Hyun might hear this sound.

As she was thinking this,

A low voice resonated in her ear.

“Did something happen today?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“That’s good then.”

I Hyun stopped moving his hands and gazed down intently at Ye Rin.

“You looked worried, so I was concerned.”

“……”

Thinking her troubled feelings after talking with Hyun Jun before entering the orphanage had been noticed, Ye Rin smiled awkwardly.

“Worried? There’s nothing like that.”

As if trying to believe Ye Rin’s words, I Hyun nodded once.

“Now I’ll really tie your apron, so come a little closer to me.”

Though they were already quite close, Ye Rin didn’t refuse.

Perhaps she wanted to use this excuse to be embraced by I Hyun.

As Ye Rin took a step closer at I Hyun’s request, a bright smile spread across his face.

And like before, he began to fiddle with the apron strings very slowly.

With her face buried in I Hyun’s chest, Ye Rin tightly closed her eyes.

She thought she could hear I Hyun’s heart beating rhythmically.

‘Right, let’s not worry about things that won’t happen.’

She had expected there would be an end to this relationship someday, so it wasn’t like she started without knowing.

If later, as Hyun Jun had warned, I Hyun really did distance himself from her, her heart would probably hurt a lot, but she didn’t want to be scared and discouraged in advance because of that fear.

Whether she’d be hurt later, cry alone, or regret this choice.

She decided to deal with that later.

Some might point fingers, saying her decision was frustrating.

They might rebuke her, saying if it was a relationship with a visible end, shouldn’t she have not started it at all?

But she couldn’t do that.

Though she didn’t want to admit it, it felt like she had already crossed a bridge she couldn’t turn back from.

Because her heart had really leaned so much towards I Hyun.

‘Because it seems the Director is truly sincere to me after all……’

Maybe I can open my heart a little and get closer, be greedy for him.

It was okay if they called her a fool holding vain hopes.

Because her interest in I Hyun had grown enough to want to endure that.

As Ye Rin was thinking this,

I Hyun’s gentle voice was heard once more.

“I’ve finished tying the apron.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Ye Rin stepped out of I Hyun’s embrace, trying hard to hide her feelings of regret.

She still felt the illusion that his warmth was enveloping her.

Her mind cleared as she sorted out her thoughts.

I Hyun smiled along as he saw Ye Rin smiling brightly, different from before.

“Director, shall we go out now?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Auntie, it’s been a while since you came?”

A boy approached Ye Rin, who was helping with serving, and greeted her happily.

“Hyuk Jun, have you been well? You’ve grown taller?”

“Yes. I’m not picky about food these days and I’m even eating cucumbers well.”

“You’re doing great.”

Ye Rin flashed a bright smile at Hyuk Jun.

Hyuk Jun belatedly noticed I Hyun standing right next to Ye Rin, helping with serving.

With a curious expression at seeing an unfamiliar face, Hyuk Jun asked.

“I haven’t seen this uncle next to you before, Auntie. Is he your boyfriend?”

Before Ye Rin could respond to Hyuk Jun’s innocent question, I Hyun abruptly interjected.

“Yes.”

“Wow, really?”

“No……”

“That’s right. Boyfriend.”

Ye Rin elbowed I Hyun gently.

It was a signal to stop, but he paid no heed and bent down to meet the child’s eyes.

“You’re quite perceptive, aren’t you?”

“Of course! Auntie, why didn’t you bring him before? Such a cool uncle.”

I Hyun had already been introduced as Ye Rin’s boyfriend, leaving her unable to make any excuses.

Ye Rin could only smile awkwardly at Hyuk Jun.

“He’s a busy person with a lot of work, so I couldn’t ask him to come together.”

“Ah, was that so?”

Hyuk Jun seemed to quite like I Hyun, unable to take his eyes off him.

“Uncle, if you have time, please come again with Auntie next time.”

“Alright, I promise.”

“Wow, really?”

Hyuk Jun beamed, not expecting to hear such a positive response from I Hyun when he had just casually suggested it.

“If you come early next time, I’ll draw a picture for both of you.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

As the serving line was getting longer, they couldn’t continue the conversation.

Hyuk Jun passed by Ye Rin and I Hyun with a slightly disappointed face.

Afterwards, other children who often saw Ye Rin asked similar questions.

About what kind of relationship the two had.

After the children had swept through in a flurry, the serving work was all finished.

Ye Rin untied her apron, set it aside, and sat down on a chair.

Then she quietly asked I Hyun.

“Why do you think everyone is asking if we’re a couple?”

“Isn’t that how most children that age are?”

I Hyun added that they would probably see things that way since it’s a time when they’re very interested in relationships.

“That does make sense.”

Nodding at I Hyun’s words, Ye Rin belatedly made an “Ah-” sound.

“Wait, but how could you introduce yourself as my boyfriend?”

“Did I say something wrong?”

It wasn’t exactly wrong since they were in a fake relationship, but they had agreed to only reveal that when absolutely necessary.

For example, in front of President Han who was troubling Ye Rin, or in front of Hyun Jun.

Just as Ye Rin was about to argue about that,

There was a sound of running from behind, and then she felt her back getting wet.

“……”

Confused by the sudden situation, she turned her head to see Hyuk Jun with an apologetic face, having spilled his entire tray of food.

“Auntie, I’m sorry. I was trying to hurry and throw this away so I could go play soccer.”

It didn’t seem intentional, as Hyuk Jun’s clothes were also splattered with food.

Ye Rin stood up and pulled out some tissues to first wipe the food off Hyuk Jun’s clothes.

“Hyuk Jun, you should watch where you’re going. You could have gotten seriously hurt if you fell.”

“Yes, I won’t do it again.”

Hyuk Jun kept apologizing profusely.

“Auntie, your clothes are all wet, what should we do?”

She hadn’t yet properly checked the food stuck to her back.

Since Hyuk Jun hadn’t spilled the food on her on purpose, she couldn’t get angry at him.

“It’s okay. I’ll ask the director if there are any spare clothes.”

While comforting Hyuk Jun who kept apologizing,

Na Ri and Secretary Choi, who had returned from finishing other tasks, saw Ye Rin’s state and looked surprised.