While staring at the woman with surprised eyes, Tae Min’s phone rang.

Startled, Tae Min answered the phone.

“Hello?”

−Hey, Tae Min. I’m so sorry, what should I do?

It was Seo Jin, who he was supposed to meet at this pub now.

“Huh? Why?”

Tae Min spoke while his gaze was still fixed on the woman.

−Something urgent came up at work, so I think I’ll have to work overtime. What should we do?

“Oh, really?”

Normally this could be an annoying situation, but somehow Tae Min felt this might be an opportunity given by God.

−Yeah. I feel really bad. All the team members are working overtime, so it’s awkward for me to leave alone.

“Can’t be helped. Well, let’s meet next time then. Go work quickly.”

−Okay. Thanks for understanding. I’ll treat you big next time.

“It’s fine, just go work quickly. Work comes first, right?”

−Alright. Thanks, buddy. I’ll go work now then.

After hanging up, Tae Min looked at the woman and swallowed dryly.

He felt like the inexplicable regret he had after sending the woman away earlier was now being resolved.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, Tae Min clenched his fist and slowly walked towards the woman.

As So Eun was about to pick up her soju glass, she turned her head at the large figure approaching her.

Her eyes widened as she saw Tae Min standing in front of her.

Seeing So Eun’s surprised expression, Tae Min carefully greeted her.

“Hello? We meet again?”

“Ah… Yes. Hello.”

Worried she might misunderstand that he had followed her, Tae Min quickly added:

“I actually had plans to drink with a friend here.”

“Ah, I see.”

So Eun nodded awkwardly.

“But just now, my friend called to say he can’t come because something came up at work.”

As So Eun nodded in acknowledgment, Tae Min hesitated before speaking.

“So I was wondering… if it’s alright with you… could I buy you a drink?”

As So Eun’s eyes widened again, Tae Min scratched his head and said:

“If you’re uncomfortable, feel free to decline. I can sit at another table and drink by myself.”

So Eun silently stared at the man for a moment before nodding.

“No, it’s fine. Please, have a seat.”

Tae Min inwardly sighed in relief and quickly sat down across from her.

After sitting, he saw a bottle of soju and some dried snacks, but it seemed the snacks hadn’t been touched.

“Is this all you ordered for snacks?”

When Tae Min carefully asked, So Eun nodded.

“Yes. I didn’t give it much thought.”

“Ah, then would it be okay if I order a few more side dishes?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

As he rang the bell, the owner who had been curiously eyeing their table quickly approached.

“Sir, could we get another soju glass, and also some steamed mussels and stir-fried pork?”

The owner nodded at Tae Min’s request, then discreetly gestured towards So Eun and asked Tae Min:

“By the way… do you two know each other?”

“Ah, well…”

Tae Min glanced at So Eun before nodding with an awkward smile.

“I see. Then I’ll give you a special service of rolled omelet today.”

The owner winked as he spoke, then promptly brought another soju glass.

As So Eun picked up the soju bottle to pour for Tae Min, he quickly held out his glass.

After both their glasses were filled, Tae Min carefully said:

“Well then, shall we have a drink first?”

As Tae Min raised his glass, So Eun nodded and brought her glass to her lips.

The taste of soju sliding down her throat felt unusually bitter.

It seemed to reflect her current mood perfectly.

“Um, my name is Yoon Tae Min. I’m 26 years old.”

Tae Min said sheepishly while rubbing his cheek.

So Eun fiddled with her soju glass as she stared blankly at Tae Min’s face.

Should I say something too?

Seeing So Eun’s expression, Tae Min poured more soju in her glass and said:

“If you’re uncomfortable sharing, you don’t have to tell me. Though I am quite curious.”

He said this with a bright, mischievous smile.

So Eun quietly observed the boyish face with its small dimple as it broke into a cheerful grin.

She thought that his bright voice and expression, despite just meeting, might be his way of trying to cheer up her gloomy mood.

Feeling grateful for that sentiment, So Eun gazed once more at Tae Min’s faint smile.

His skin was as white and clean as So Eun’s, with distinct features. His large, double-lidded eyes looked deep and profound, and the smooth nose below them seemed as if sculpted by an artist.

And the ash blonde hair color that had caught her eye from the moment he took off his hoodie earlier seemed to suit the man’s fair skin very well.

After staring at Tae Min’s face for a while, So Eun opened her mouth.

“My name is Ji So Eun. I’m 28 years old.”

At So Eun’s answer, Tae Min blinked and stared at her.

“Ah… I assumed you were younger than me or the same age, but you’re actually older.”

Seeing his flustered expression, So Eun didn’t know how to respond and remained silent as the owner brought the side dishes.

The owner set down the spicy-smelling steamed mussels and appetizing stir-fried pork sprinkled with sesame seeds, then placed the rolled omelet on the table with an expression as if unveiling a secret weapon.

The moment he saw the rolled omelet, Tae Min’s face turned embarrassed.

Whether it was the owner’s or the chef’s sense of humor, a large heart was drawn with ketchup on top of the rolled omelet.

“Well then, enjoy your meal.”

The owner winked and gave a thumbs up to Tae Min before stepping away.

As So Eun silently stared at the heart, Tae Min quickly picked up his chopsticks.

Then with an embarrassed face, he hurriedly smudged and erased the heart.

“Haha, I come here often with a friend, but I’ve never brought a woman, so the owner must have misunderstood.”

Tae Min spoke in a flustered voice without being asked, then quickly popped a piece of rolled omelet into his mouth.

So Eun watched Tae Min chewing the omelet and picked up the soju bottle.

“Ah, let me pour for you.”

Tae Min swiftly took the bottle from So Eun’s hand and poured her a drink.

“Don’t just drink alcohol. The steamed mussels and stir-fried pork here are really delicious. Try some together.”

He then put small portions of the steamed mussels and stir-fried pork on a plate and passed it to So Eun.

So Eun looked at the steaming mussels, then raised her head to look at Tae Min, who smiled brightly.

After gazing at that clear smile, So Eun picked up her spoon and took a sip of the mussel soup.

The spicy and refreshing taste was quite good.

As she picked up her soju glass again, Tae Min raised his glass as well.

“Hey, drinking too fast on an empty stomach will upset your stomach. Let’s drink slowly. Together.”

The expression “together” sounded somewhat unfamiliar coming from someone she’d just met.

As So Eun emptied her glass, Tae Min quickly drank his as well.

Tae Min put some stir-fried pork in his mouth, then gestured for So Eun to try some too.

So Eun picked up her chopsticks, took a small piece of the stir-fried pork, and put it in her mouth.

‘It’s delicious.’

So Eun muttered briefly to herself, then suddenly chuckled.

To think it’s delicious at a time like this, is something wrong with my head?

As So Eun smiled self-deprecatingly, Tae Min quietly observed her before speaking.

“Um, this might sound presumptuous coming from me, but… there are many good men in the world.”

So Eun blinked and looked at Tae Min, who swallowed dryly once before continuing.

“You must be angry and hurting right now because of that situation earlier, but it will get better with time. So I hope you won’t be too heartbroken.”

After struggling to get the words out, Tae Min nervously picked up his water glass and brought it to his mouth.

So Eun watched Tae Min gulp down water, then poured soju into her own glass and Tae Min’s.

When the first bottle of soju was emptied, Tae Min rang the bell and ordered another bottle.

“My heart doesn’t hurt.”

So Eun said in a flat tone, causing Tae Min’s eyes to widen.

“I’m just angry. That I wasted my precious time on such a person.”

Tae Min silently looked at So Eun, then poured soju into her glass.

And when So Eun drank her soju, Tae Min followed suit.

The two quietly emptied another bottle of soju like that.

In truth, Tae Min wanted to say more, but he thought that quietly drinking soju together would be more helpful for So Eun right now.

A little later, as Tae Min was debating whether to order a third bottle, So Eun’s phone rang. So Eun looked at her phone, immediately rejected the call, and blocked the number.

Tae Min thought it must have been that man.

Then her messenger app started ringing repeatedly.

Again, So Eun deleted the chat and blocked it before looking up at Tae Min.

“Shall we have one more bottle and then leave?”

“Ah. Yes.”

As he answered, Tae Min examined So Eun’s complexion.

They had each emptied a bottle of soju, but So Eun’s face color remained unchanged.

In contrast, Tae Min’s face was flushed red as if he had drunk all the alcohol himself.

As the server placed the soju bottle and left, So Eun looked at Tae Min’s face while opening the cap.

“But is it okay to drink more? Your face is quite red.”

“Huh? Yes. It’s fine. My face just gets red, but I’m not drunk. I can hold my liquor well.”

Tae Min said confidently without being asked and quickly held out his glass.

So Eun poured soju into Tae Min’s glass, and Tae Min poured for So Eun in return.

As So Eun silently emptied her soju glass, Tae Min quickly drank his as well.

Once again, they emptied a bottle of soju with hardly any conversation.

Thinking it was probably due to her not being very talkative, So Eun quietly spoke up.

“As you can see… I’m not an outgoing person, so I don’t talk much. And this is my first time drinking with someone I just met.”

Feeling a bit apologetic, So Eun explained, and Tae Min opened his large eyes wide.

“Me too! This is also my first time drinking with someone I just met.”

Seeing Tae Min speak with an excited expression, he looked like a large dog wagging its tail, and So Eun almost laughed.