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Chapter 22
When Lee Hyun appeared, everything proceeded swiftly.
It wasn’t simply because the reservation was confirmed.
So this place was under Shin Hae Group after all.
The moment employees saw Shin I-Hyun, they whispered among themselves. “It really is him, isn’t it? That Shin I-Hyun?”
Because of that, there was no need to even show the reservation screen.
The staff checking the booking apologized to Hae-rin, but her mood was still at rock bottom. Not because of them, of course.
They were just doing their job. My bad mood didn’t start with the reservation anyway.
Perhaps it was because she heard something she hadn’t expected in such a place. The heaviness wouldn’t leave her chest, and it was unbearable.
Trying her best to hide it, Hae-rin followed the attendant’s guidance.
The restaurant consisted entirely of private rooms.
As they walked through a wide corridor, door after door appeared, each with a plaque. Instead of simple numbers, they bore poetic names—Noon, Sea, Sunset…
Soon, they boarded another elevator. Inside, only a single button existed: 6F. Smoothly, the lift carried them upward.
After a short walk down another hall, a sign appeared.
Night View.
Following the staff inside, Hae-rin parted her lips in awe.
…Wow. The name made perfect sense.
Soft, warm lighting filled the room. Beside the table stood a massive window, revealing the glittering nightscape of central Seoul.
It felt as though a vast screen had been installed inside the room.
Despite the building’s modest height, the open direction of the windows offered an unhindered, breathtaking view.
They placed their order, and the attendant quietly left. Silence settled.
…I have to say something, don’t I?
This meeting had a purpose. She couldn’t waste the time sulking.
“…The night view is beautiful.”
“…”
“…”
Too trivial? I-Hyun said nothing, only gazing at her.
“This switch—what does it do?”
Forcing brightness into her tone, she grabbed onto the nearest topic.
Instead of answering, I-Hyun reached over.
The moment he flipped the switch, the lights dimmed completely.
In the darkness, the city’s brilliance poured in, and only he remained visible.
He pressed the switch again. The lights returned to normal.
“Why are you trying to make small talk?”
“…Pardon?”
What… what did he mean? Hae-rin blinked in confusion. Was he telling her to just stay quiet instead of spouting nonsense?
“You don’t look happy.”
“….”
“You don’t have to force words. I didn’t meet you to make things uncomfortable.”
She had acted all her life, spent more days pretending than not. Hiding her feelings was second nature.
The only person who could usually see through it was Min-joo. And even she sometimes missed it.
…How does he know?
Hae-rin bit her lip.
Dinner passed, and dessert arrived—delicate sweets paired with roasted green tea.
The food was delicious, the plating exquisite. Objectively, it was a pleasant evening.
But who is he?
It was strange.
He had cared for her when she was hurt, rated chicken stew a ten out of ten, brought her here, noticed her sour mood…
It’s just the way he says things… otherwise, we’re not strangers, are we? But where have I met him?
By now, something should have clicked. She didn’t want to let it slide anymore.
Her curiosity had grown too strong. To find answers, she needed something more personal.
Carefully, she suggested,
“Anchor-nim… would you play twenty questions with me?”
“What subject?”
“About who you are. I ask, you answer.”
To her surprise, I-Hyun nodded.
Wow. He agreed.
He wanted her to figure it out—even if indirectly.
“What should I ask first…” After a moment’s thought, she began.
“Is this our first meal together?”
“Yes… and no.”
What kind of answer was that? Hae-rin frowned.
She tried again.
“Then, what kind of setting did we meet in?”
“It wasn’t just the two of us from the beginning.”
“….”
Evasive. Every time.
“Then… how old was I when we met?”
“You could say you were young.”
Three questions, all blocked. Hae-rin scowled in frustration.
Watching her, I-Hyun tilted his head slightly—was that a smile tugging at his lips?
Why does he look amused?
Piecing together the hints gave her this: It might be their first meal, but maybe not. Their first meeting wasn’t alone. She was “young.”
“….”
Useless. She had met countless people in her life. With no specific event to anchor her memory, the data pool was too vast.
Maybe I should bluff, just in case I stumble onto it.
She changed tactics.
“If you remember me that well, then it can’t have been too long ago, right? I feel like I’m on the edge of recalling something…”
“….”
“If I just had one concrete clue, I’d know right away—”
“This isn’t twenty questions anymore, is it?”
“Why not? It’s still a question.”
He sipped his tea before finally speaking, his voice low and steady.
“The time frame doesn’t matter. For me, it’s unforgettable.”
“….”
His gaze was unwavering.
She had hoped for a clue, but instead felt herself swept into something heavier. Flustered, she looked away.
Later, his sedan stopped near the station. Hae-rin unclipped her belt, ready to leave.
“Thank you for the ride.”
She had planned to take a taxi, but he’d insisted on dropping her at a convenient station.
Honestly, I rode along because I thought I’d get another hint from our game… but all his answers were so vague. Not very cooperative for someone telling me to guess.
Still, she hadn’t come away empty-handed.
“Take care.”
“Yes. Today…”
She hesitated before confessing,
“Thanks to you, I didn’t feel down.”
Not a date, exactly—so saying she had fun felt wrong. This was the best she could phrase it.
“Before I came, I wasn’t in a good mood. Something happened earlier. But while I was with you, I forgot about it.”
It was unusual. Normally, she bounced back quickly, but when she hit rock bottom, it was hard to climb out.
Yet just talking with him had lifted her spirits.
“That’s a relief.”
“Yes, well… then—”
“I enjoyed today.”
“…Oh. That’s… good.”
His sudden remark left her fumbling. She didn’t know what to say.
“Well, I’ll get going then.”
“Yu Hae-rin.”
“Yes?”
She paused, meeting his eyes.
“Earlier, twenty questions.”
“Yes?”
“Twenty questions means you get twenty tries.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She had stubbornly pressed him, determined to find out.
“But you didn’t get it.”
“…What?”
Her mouth fell open.
No one could have guessed with those answers.
“That means you get a penalty.”
“What kind of penalty…?”
“You don’t need to know who I am. Just—see me again. Whether you’re happy, or sad. Whenever you need someone.”
“….”
“Don’t go looking for anyone else.”
In that instant, the chill in his eyes seemed to soften into warmth.
