Chapter 26. Lee Hyun, Above Yerin’s Head  

Although Yerin had chosen a restaurant as Lee Hyun requested, she didn’t actually think they would eat there today.  

The restaurant she had picked was well-known on social media for its great atmosphere.  

It didn’t take reservations in advance, so waiting in line was the norm. It was also famous for closing early once its ingredients ran out.  

A quick glance at the clock in the car showed that by the time they arrived, the restaurant would likely be closing.  

‘Phew, thank goodness.’  

If that happened, they would have no choice but to find a nearby snack bar and grab a quick meal.  

A faint smile appeared on Yerin’s face.  

Surely, Lee Hyun wouldn’t see through her intentions.  

After all, the only two things he could possibly want to discuss were either finding the woman who disappeared or pretending to date her.  

To have a fancy meal just to discuss such predictable topics seemed excessive.  

Thinking that she had outsmarted Lee Hyun made Yerin chuckle to herself.  

Lee Hyun, who was driving, glanced at her and asked,  

“What’s so amusing?”  

“Oh, it’s nothing.”  

Yerin tried to suppress the smile that kept creeping up as she imagined Lee Hyun’s disappointment when they arrived to find the restaurant closed—or faced with a long waiting line.  

A little while later, Lee Hyun’s car approached the area near the restaurant.  

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

According to Nari, the restaurant was so popular that you could identify it from afar by the long queue.  

‘Maybe they’re closed today?’  

It was a reasonable assumption, as there wasn’t a single person waiting in line.  

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

‘Huh? The lights are on?’  

Although the sign at the door clearly read “Closed for Today,” the restaurant lights were still on.  

Yerin cheered inwardly.  

It seemed the ingredients had run out, and they had closed early, just as she had hoped. Everything was going according to her plan.  

Feigning disappointment, Yerin didn’t unbuckle her seatbelt and said,  

“It seems they’ve closed early today.”  

“That does seem to be the case.”  

“Shall we then find another…”  

Just as she was about to suggest finding a different place to eat, Lee Hyun turned off the car’s ignition and unbuckled his seatbelt.  

“Director?”  

Pointing to the sign that read “Closed for Today,” Yerin gestured with her finger.  

“Doesn’t it seem like we can’t eat here?”  

“Why not?”  

“What do you mean, why? The sign says they’re closed for today.”  

“Ah, it does.”  

Even after acknowledging the sign, Lee Hyun didn’t restart the car. Instead, he got out.  

“What is he doing?”  

Was he really the type of person who needed to confirm in person whether the restaurant was closed?  

While Yerin tilted her head in confusion, Lee Hyun walked around the car and opened the passenger-side door.  

“Aren’t you getting out?”  

“Don’t you think we won’t be able to eat here?”  

“We can.”  

Yerin, still baffled, reluctantly got out of the car.  

‘He must be the type who can’t let go of his curiosity until he checks for himself.’  

Well, it wasn’t far, and if they were turned away at the door, they could just leave.  

With a resigned sigh, Yerin followed Lee Hyun into the restaurant.  

*Ding-ding.*  

The sound of a bell greeted them as they entered.  

“Welcome.”  

Huh? They had welcomed us in. 

Yerin had expected the owner to say something like, “We’re closed for today, please leave,” but instead, she was caught off guard.  

“Are you Mr. Cha Lee Hyun, who reserved the entire restaurant for today?”  

“Yes.”  

Lee Hyun smiled warmly and looked at Yerin.  

“….”  

Speechless, Yerin glanced back and forth between the restaurant owner and Lee Hyun.  

“Why do you look like that?”  

“Well, it’s just… So, you reserved the entire restaurant? Why?”  

“Please, come inside.”  

How much did it even cost to reserve the whole place?  

Even the chef came out personally to guide Yerin and Lee Hyun to a cozy table by the window.  

“Take your time looking over the menu and let me know when you’re ready.”  

As the chef walked away, Yerin gazed after him with a dazed expression.  

Lee Hyun, seemingly amused, chuckled softly.  

“Why do you look like that?”  

“I’m really curious about something.”  

Resting his chin on one hand, Lee Hyun nodded as if to say, “Ask away.”  

“You reserved this place?”  

“Yes.”  

“For the entire day?”  

“Yes.”  

“Why?”  

“Because I don’t like my plans being disrupted.”  

Lee Hyun kept smiling, clearly pleased with himself.  

Meanwhile, all of Yerin’s plans had gone completely awry.  

It seemed that Lee Hyun’s plans, on the other hand, were proceeding perfectly, without a single hitch.  

She should have chosen a different restaurant.  

If only…  

While thinking this, Yerin suddenly looked at Lee Hyun with an expression of disbelief and asked,  

“What would you have done if I had chosen a different restaurant? Did you really reserve this place just in case?”  

No matter how much money he had, wasn’t this a waste?  

Yerin thought she had made the right choice in picking this restaurant after all.  

At that moment, Lee Hyun opened his mouth, and what he said left her utterly astonished.  

“It wouldn’t have mattered anyway.”  

At Lee Hyun’s overly confident statement, Yerin asked, almost as if hypnotized.  

“Why wouldn’t it matter?”  

All the restaurants Lee Hyun had shown her earlier were well-known places.  

That meant that wherever they went, there was a high chance the restaurant would close quickly due to running out of ingredients.  

Lee Hyun calmly ran a hand along his smooth jawline and replied,  

“Because I rented them all.”  

“…Excuse me?”  

Yerin thought she must have misheard him because of how casually Lee Hyun said it.  

“You rented out all the restaurants you showed me earlier?”  

“Yes.”  

“Why?”  

“Like you said, because I didn’t know which one you’d choose.”  

“No….”  

Wait a minute.  

So, he rented all the restaurants because he didn’t want his plans to be disrupted?  

“If I said I wanted to take you wherever you chose, does that sound romantic?”  

“Well… no?”  

Yerin almost felt her heart flutter for a moment.  

The confidence in his statement, that it didn’t matter what she chose.  

The promise to take her wherever she wanted to go.  

But when Yerin changed her answer, Lee Hyun smiled as if he found it amusing.  

“I see. Pretending to be rich like this isn’t romantic at all. I’ve learned something new today.”  

“….”  

Yerin bit her lip in frustration.  

Fine, she admitted it, even if she didn’t want to. It was romantic.  

The fact that he, a busy man, had personally chosen and reserved restaurants just to come here with her.  

And the determination to ensure they ate at the restaurant she picked, even if it meant renting the whole place.  

“You’re quite impressive.”  

“Me?”  

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

“Why not?”  

Lee Hyun genuinely seemed curious as to why others wouldn’t do the same.  

“With just one phone call, renting a place is easy.”  

Sure, making a call might be easy, but not everyone has the wealth to rent out every restaurant they like.  

Perhaps worried that Yerin might feel uncomfortable, Lee Hyun added,  

“The other restaurants you didn’t choose are being used by other people.”  

“Excuse me?”  

What did he mean by that?  

“Even though I paid the rental fees, wouldn’t the chefs at those restaurants still want to serve delicious food?”  

“So, who’s eating there…?”  

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

No way. 

Yerin covered her mouth with both hands.  

She had a feeling his next words would be even more surprising.  

“The kids got to pick the restaurants they wanted to go to, and they’re dining there now.”  

“….”  

“Of course, I’ll cover all the meal costs.”  

Honestly, she hadn’t expected this at all.  

“So, don’t feel bad about not choosing one of the other restaurants.”  

“…Okay.”  

Yerin’s brown eyes trembled slightly.  

Trying to hide her expression, she quickly lowered her head to the menu.  

She couldn’t quite describe the strange feeling that had just washed over her.  

What was this?  

It didn’t feel like excitement.  

It wasn’t exactly nervousness either.  

Ah, it must be admiration.  

Yes, admiration.  

Though people often called him cold, Lee Hyun, as seen up close, was one of the warmest people she’d ever met.  

Whenever he showed such thoughtful gestures, her heart would start pounding uncontrollably.  

“You were really cool today.”  

Hearing Yerin’s trembling voice, Lee Hyun’s face lit up with delight.  

“Secretary Han, you’re even complimenting me now. That makes me happy.”  

Feeling like she should say something more, Yerin slowly raised her head.  

Lee Hyun’s intense gaze was fixed on her.  

“If you ever do something like this for the woman you like someday…”  

Lee Hyun waited quietly for her evaluation.  

“I think she’ll love it.”  

“Will she?”  

“Yes.”  

“That’s good to hear.”  

When Yerin smiled faintly and nodded, Lee Hyun mirrored her smile.  

“Because it shows your sincerity.”  

The two of them placed their orders and waited for the food to arrive.  

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

Lee Hyun had said something like that before.  

“Thinking about where to take you today was surprisingly fun.”  

“Please leave things like this to me from now on.”  

“Alright.”  

The fact that Yerin had brought up future arrangements first made Lee Hyun agree without hesitation.  

“I’ve been thinking carefully about something.”  

Yerin subtly bit her lip again.  

Whenever Lee Hyun said he’d been thinking about something, it was usually a prelude to a surprising statement.  

She wished he’d stop thinking so much.  

“Yes?”  

“I feel like we still don’t know enough about each other.”  

“….”  

For work, the current level of formality and distance was just right.  

It wasn’t like she needed to share personal details with her boss.  

As long as she understood his preferred work style, wasn’t that enough for a perfect professional relationship?  

But it seemed Lee Hyun had a different perspective.  

Looking as if he had many questions he wanted to ask, Lee Hyun slowly began to speak.