Chapter 10. Should I Date?  

The original reason Yerin had entered Lee Hyun’s office was to schedule his matchmaking date, but somehow, things had spiraled into this.

“Why are you making that face again?”

“It’s nothing. Then, I will try my best to find that woman for you.”

Of course, she had no intention of actually looking for her.

“Well, then about the matchmaking…”

“I’m not planning to go.”

“But Mrs. Yoon specifically asked me to make sure you attend the matchmaking session.”

Yerin looked at him with eyes full of desperation, hoping he would understand her situation.  

However, Lee Hyun suddenly said something completely unrelated.

“Secretary Han, have you had dinner yet?”

“Pardon? No, not yet.”

She had no idea why he was suddenly talking about dinner in the middle of their conversation.

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

“Director?”

“I think I’m too hungry to think straight.”

“In that case, perhaps you could eat first and then we can finish the conversation?”

“Let’s talk while we eat.”

She couldn’t bring herself to ask if she was going to have dinner with him again today. After all, Lee Hyun was already standing by the door, waiting for her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

***  

Once again, Yerin found herself sitting in the passenger seat of Lee Hyun’s car as he drove them to a restaurant.

“Director, I can drive for you.”

“It’s fine. If you get into an accident while driving…”

“I’ve never caused an accident before. I even personally drove the car for the executive I worked for previously.”

“Accidents happen unexpectedly. Today could be your first.”

In the end, Yerin had no choice but to nod. She briefly wondered if there would ever come a day when she could win an argument with him.

After driving for some time, Lee Hyun’s car climbed a hill and stopped in front of a traditional Korean restaurant standing alone at the top.  

It seemed like he had made a reservation in advance because the staff immediately recognized him and guided them to a private room.

“What would you like to eat?”

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

“All right, then.”

Lee Hyun called the staff and ordered a full-course meal, instructing them to bring everything out at once.

Shortly after, a table full of delicious-smelling Korean dishes was set before them.

“If you had lunch with my mother, you probably didn’t get to eat properly.”

“No, I ate just fine.”

“Relax and eat comfortably.”

“Yes, Director. Please enjoy your meal as well.”

Although the atmosphere was far from comfortable, Yerin picked up her chopsticks. If she didn’t eat, she feared he would ask why she wasn’t eating, whether the food didn’t suit her, or if they should go to another restaurant.

When she put a piece of braised short rib in her mouth, it melted instantly. It was far more delicious than she had expected, and before she realized it, she had finished an entire bowl of rice.

She had been hungry since she hadn’t had a proper meal since last night and through lunch.

Lee Hyun watched her with a satisfied expression.

“Secretary Han, do you know why I asked to have dinner with you yesterday and today?”

“I don’t know.”

“Whenever I go on matchmaking dates, the women always leave looking hurt.”

Under the table, Yerin clasped her hands together.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t believe the problem lies with me.”

Yerin simply smiled faintly.

‘He probably doesn’t realize it himself.’

Lee Hyun didn’t necessarily do anything wrong, but his overwhelming charisma alone was enough to intimidate others.  

Most likely, the women he met couldn’t easily approach him because of that. Even if they mustered the courage to ask him questions, the flow of the conversation would inevitably go in the direction Lee Hyun wanted.  

Especially during meetings, Lee Hyun was so cold that Yerin often wondered if he was the same man she had been with that night.  

Every word he spoke was sharp and precise, leaving other employees apologizing repeatedly as if they were criminals.  

Even without hearing the details, Yerin could imagine how his matchmaking partners must have felt.

“What do you think, Secretary Han?”

Yerin hesitated.  

Should I answer honestly, or should I just say what he wanted to hear?

After a moment of deliberation, she made her decision and began to speak slowly.

“Director, I don’t think you mean to, but sometimes your tone can come across as sharp.”

Lee Hyun crossed his arms, looking intrigued. His cold gaze, which seemed capable of freezing her on the spot, was an added bonus.

‘Should I really continue saying this?’

However, she didn’t want to lie. Lee Hyun genuinely seemed to want to understand his shortcomings.

“I think that’s why the women you meet might perceive you as a very cold person.”

Of course, the Lee Hyun she had seen that night was anything but cold.  

If anything, he had been warm—no, hot.  

He was also a man who knew how to whisper sweet words that could melt someone’s heart.

The memory made her heart flutter for no reason. She thought that if Lee Hyun ever met someone he truly loved, he would probably say those kinds of things to her all the time.

‘What am I thinking? I must be crazy.’

Straightening her posture, Yerin looked at Lee Hyun and smiled softly.

“From what I’ve observed over the past few days, Director, you’re a very considerate person and not cold at all.”

“So, that’s what you think.”

“Yes.”

Fortunately, Lee Hyun didn’t seem offended.

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

“Yes, Director.”

“I plan to find that woman again and have a proper relationship with her.”

His expression was utterly serious.

Lee Hyun’s jet-black eyes seemed to see right through her as he stared at her face for a long time.

“But I’ve never dated anyone before.”

“Pardon?”

Yerin was so shocked that she couldn’t hide her expression.

How could a man as incredible as him have never dated anyone before?

As if reading her thoughts, Lee Hyun quickly added,

“What’s so surprising? It’s not that I couldn’t date; I just didn’t.”

“Oh, yes. Of course. That must be the case.”

Right. It didn’t make sense for someone with his looks and qualifications to have never dated.

“I’d like to try it with you, Secretary Han.”

“… What?”

Yerin responded a beat too late.

“With me… try what exactly?”

“Dating.”

Yerin’s lips slowly parted in shock.

Seeing her expression, Lee Hyun let out a small chuckle.

“Not real dating, of course. I’d like to practice with you so I can act naturally when I finally meet the woman I’ve been searching for.”

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

Questions flooded her mind one after another.

“Why are you making this proposal to me?”

“Because you remind me of her.”

“….”

“Something about the atmosphere you give off. Even your height and body type are somewhat similar.”

Yerin swallowed hard. For no reason, a chill ran down her spine, as if she were a thief caught red-handed.

Unlike her, Lee Hyun appeared completely composed.

“Experiments should typically be conducted on similar subjects. That’s all this is.”

“I see.”

Although she didn’t fully understand, Yerin nodded for now.

“Director, but dating is something that happens naturally when you meet someone you like. It doesn’t require practice.”

“Secretary Han, you must have a lot of experience.”

Lee Hyun’s gaze turned colder than before.  

It felt as though she was being interrogated for a crime.  

Dating as an adult wasn’t a crime, but for some reason, she felt compelled to deny it.

“No, I haven’t dated much either.”

“Really?”

It might have been her imagination, but Lee Hyun’s lips seemed to curve upward slightly.

“That’s good.”

What was good about it?

Yerin waited nervously for his next words.

“Think of it as an opportunity for you to practice with me as well.”

“What kind of practice are you referring to?”

“Well, when you meet someone you truly love in the future, it’ll be easier to act naturally if you’ve built up some experience.”

“No, I’m fine. I don’t need that.”

Yerin rejected the idea outright.  

Accepting such an absurd proposal would have been even stranger.

“This is all for your benefit, Secretary Han.”

“How exactly is that supposed to benefit me?”

At Yerin’s candid question, Lee Hyun smiled brightly.

“If you agree to be my practice dating partner, I’ll willingly attend the matchmaking sessions.”

“….”

“If you refuse, I won’t go to the matchmaking sessions at all.”

Sigh.

It was a situation where there was only one viable choice.

“What do you say?”

It felt like being submerged in water, pushed to the brink.  

When Yerin didn’t respond right away, Lee Hyun raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Oh, do you perhaps have a boyfriend, Secretary Han?”

“No, I don’t.”

“That’s great.”

Lee Hyun seemed to think everything was “great” no matter what he said.  

From Yerin’s perspective, the situation was anything but great, yet Lee Hyun appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

Yerin briefly wondered if her boss had hit his head really hard somewhere.

Lee Hyun stood up and delivered the final blow.

“Secretary Han, then think about our ‘dating’ until tomorrow morning.”

Once again, he had already made up his mind.  

Yerin glanced at the firmly closed door.  

Although the room was private, it wasn’t soundproof.  

Lowering her voice, she whispered,

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

“Let them.”

“What?”

Yerin, growing anxious, quickly spoke again.

“Director, and it’s not even real dating. It’s fake dating, isn’t it?”

“Calling it fake doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s not real. Actually, it’s hard to even call it dating. It’s more like a rehearsal…”

As she spoke, Yerin looked utterly confused, as if she had no idea what was going on anymore.

Unlike her, Lee Hyun appeared completely unfazed.

“If you agree, Secretary Han, I’ll take this very seriously.”

“Why…”

Yerin’s pupils trembled slightly.

‘Why does he insist on taking this so seriously?’

Standing and looking down at her, Lee Hyun’s gaze was intense.

“Secretary Han, are you worried that you’ll end up falling for me during this fake dating arrangement?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Well, actually, that was exactly why she was hesitating.

That night, she had been completely captivated by Lee Hyun’s charm, and the aftermath still lingered even now.

If she spent more time with him and had more opportunities to interact closely, it was clear that her confusion would only grow.

Lee Hyun continued speaking softly.

“Secretary Han, isn’t it a secretary’s duty to compensate for their boss’s shortcomings?”