Minra sat across from HyunSeong at the restaurant.

  Everything about this should have felt strictly business.

  But…

  It didn’t.

  Not when the lighting was soft and warm.

  Not when he had rolled up his sleeves, looking more relaxed than usual.

  Not when the conversation had started drifting away from work.

  And suddenly, she wasn’t having dinner with her boss.

  She was just—

  Having dinner with a man.

  A man who was far more intriguing than she ever realized.

  .

  Minra wasn’t thinking when she said it.

  She was just trying to lighten the mood.

  "You know, HyunSeong-ssi," she mused, swirling her wine glass. "If you keep paying for my meals like this, I might start thinking this is a date."

  She immediately regretted it.

  Immediately wanted to take it back.

  Because HyunSeong was—well, HyunSeong.

  He didn’t like unserious people.

  Didn’t like messing around.

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  Didn’t like—

  *pffft

  …Wait.

  Why was he laughing?

  Minra froze.

  Stared.

  Because for the first time—ever—

  HyunSeong laughed.

  Not just a polite chuckle.

  Not just a faint smirk.

  A real, deep laugh.

  It was quiet.

  But it was there.

  And Minra?

  Minra forgot how to breathe.

  Because it was—

  Nice.

  Too nice.

  She wanted to hear it again.

  And that was dangerous.

  .

  The waiter brought their food.

  There was supposedly a grilled fish on the menu.

  But Minra’s plate had anything like that.

  Neither was HyunSeong’s.

  Minra noticed.

  And—without thinking—

  She spoke.

  "Wasn’t there a fish?"

  HyunSeong, mid-sip of his wine, paused.

  "I told them to leave it out." he said smoothly.

  "I just didn’t feel like eating fish today."

  It was a normal answer.

  Completely reasonable.

  Except—

  Except.

  It exactly coincided with the fact that she didn’t eat fish.

  She had once mentioned that to Shuun.

  And now, her boss—who had never eaten with her before—also didn’t order fish?

  It was small.

  A small coincidence.

  A small detail.

  And yet—

  Something about it felt strange.

  But Minra didn’t push.

  Didn’t ask.

  Didn’t think too deeply.

  At least—

  Not yet.

  .

  The wine was smooth.

  Strong.

  HyunSeong wasn’t drunk.

  Not even close.

  But it made things feel… lighter.

  Made him feel less guarded.

  Made it too easy to forget who he was supposed to be right now.

  Because Minra?

  She wasn’t treating him like a boss.

  She was just talking.

  Smiling.

  Laughing.

  And for once—

  HyunSeong didn’t feel like correcting her.

  Didn’t feel like reminding her of his title.

  Didn’t feel like pulling away.

  Instead—

  He let himself stay in this moment.

  Just for a little longer.

  Just until reality caught up to him again.

  .

  Minra swirled her wine glass.

  Watched HyunSeong as he leaned back slightly.

  Relaxed.

  Less sharp.

  Less cold.

  And for the first time, she wondered—

  "Who are you really, HyunSeong-ssi?"

  Because this—

  This wasn’t the man she first met.

  This wasn’t the boss who was all sharp words and impossible standards.

  This was…

  Someone different.

  Someone warmer.

  Someone she might actually start liking.

  And that?

  That was terrifying.

  Because she wasn’t supposed to feel this way.

  Not about him.

  Not about her boss.

  And yet—

  Yet, she did.

  And suddenly, she didn’t know what to do with that realization.

  .

  Chapter 27: "The Night She Missed Him"