Chapter 7
I Want to Know What Kind of Person You Are
Clang—
Startled by the sound of the door opening, Yeonhee dropped her knife. The loud sound of metal hitting the marble floor echoed through the room.
“Ah…!”
She jumped to her feet, causing her chair to scrape loudly across the floor.
Unlike Yeonhee, who looked back and forth between the open door and Jihan with wide, startled eyes, Jihan remained completely relaxed, like an old fisherman patiently waiting with his fishing rod in the river. He calmly closed the menu and slowly turned toward the door.
“Oh my, hello! Hahaha! Hahaha!”
A man carrying a large professional camera was sprawled in front of the doorway. He wore a gray suit, but it was so wrinkled it looked as though he had been wearing it for several days.
“Up we go!”
When neither Jihan nor Yeonhee said anything, the man awkwardly stood up. With the hand not holding the camera, he pulled a crumpled business card from inside his jacket.
“I’m reporter Jeong Byungdoo from Star Flamingo. You’re actor Yoon Jihan, right?”
Smiling like a salesman, the reporter held out his business card and slowly approached them.
Only then did Jihan uncross his legs and stand. With both hands tucked into his pockets, he spoke lazily.
“That’s far enough.”
The reporter froze.
He had been about to take another step, but the icy look in Jihan’s eyes stopped him in his tracks.
“Don’t cross the line. You’ve already taken all the pictures you wanted. You’ve been photographing us through the crack in the door this whole time, haven’t you?”
“Ahaha! You noticed? As expected, you’re really something. Come on, we’re in the same industry, right? You understand. Besides, I got some fantastic shots.”
Pretending to be friendly, the reporter laughed loudly before slinging the camera over one shoulder. Then he pulled out a small notebook and pen from his jacket pocket.
“Miss! You’re incredibly beautiful. May I ask your name?”
“Me? I’m—”
“Wait. Don’t answer.”
Jihan stretched out an arm protectively in front of Yeonhee.
She had almost answered without thinking, but quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
His expression hadn’t exactly been pleasant before, but the moment the reporter asked for Yeonhee’s name, his face turned frighteningly cold.
“And whose name are you asking for?”
“Huh? Well, I need at least a name if I’m going to write an article! Besides, this looks like an exclusive scoop.”
The reporter scribbled something into his notebook and shouted indignantly.
If he had looked at Jihan’s expression, he never would have spoken that way.
But he was too excited over what he believed was the catch of the year.
At that moment, Jihan strode over and snatched the notebook from his hands.
“Let’s see.”
“‘Yoon Jihan dining at an upscale restaurant with a beautiful woman. Gets angry when asked for the woman’s name.'”
Jihan read the words aloud with an incredulous expression.
The reporter glared at him like a child whose candy had just been stolen.
“This is boring. Are you really a reporter?”
“W-What?”
“No, write this instead.”
Jihan handed the notebook back.
“‘Yoon Jihan breaks up with longtime girlfriend Han Sehee and is now dating another woman. Exclusive photos of the couple secretly enjoying a date.'”
He spoke each word clearly.
Then he smiled—a smile so charming it could easily captivate anyone.
The reporter hesitated, unsure whether to get angry.
Instead, he quickly grabbed the notebook and frantically wrote down everything Jihan had said.
Then he cautiously looked up.
“But… an exclusive?”
“If you want, I’ll even give you an interview later.”
He paused.
“But.”
“But?”
Jihan stepped closer.
Being much taller, he forced the reporter to crane his neck upward.
“If you expose that woman’s personal information, your career as a reporter is over.”
“And I don’t tolerate people interrupting my dates.”
“I’ve already given you an exclusive.”
“So enjoy it.”
“Now leave.”
Looking as though he had just seen the Grim Reaper himself, the reporter nodded vigorously.
Only after watching him leave did Yeonhee lower the hands covering her mouth.
After practically throwing the reporter out, Jihan shut the door with a firm click.
He walked over with long strides and stopped in front of her.
Lowering himself, he picked up the knife from the floor before pressing the service bell.
“Ah! I’m sorry. I was so startled…”
While Yeonhee apologized, a restaurant employee hurried into the room.
“Did you call for us, sir?”
“This knife fell on the floor. Could you replace it with a new one?”
“Certainly. I’ll bring one right away.”
Only after the employee left did Yeonhee finally gather herself enough to look directly at Jihan.
“You were really surprised, weren’t you? Here.”
He effortlessly picked up the chair that had been pushed far away and placed it behind her.
“Sit.”
Once they were seated again, silence filled the room.
Yeonhee’s head felt ready to burst with questions.
But she didn’t know which one to ask first, so she simply fiddled with the knife instead.
“If you want to ask something, then ask.”
“Don’t hold it in.”
Jihan looked quietly at her hands before speaking softly.
Apparently, everything had shown on her face.
She finally asked the question she had been holding back.
“…An exclusive?”
“I told you.”
“I’m planning to make this breakup as loud as possible.”
“There was only one reporter here, but before long there’ll probably be hundreds of dating articles online.”
“Do you really have to go this far?”
“Couldn’t you just tell her you want to break up?”
“That’s only because you don’t know her.”
“Her… you mean Han Sehee? Who is sh—”
“You don’t need to know that.”
Jihan cut her off immediately.
The moment Han Sehee’s name came up, a shadow fell across his face.
“You just have to enjoy today like an ordinary couple.”
“Eat delicious food.”
“Go to nice places together.”
“That was our contract.”
“You remember, don’t you?”
Right.
Because Jihan’s acting had been so convincing, she had completely forgotten it was all part of their contract.
Yeonhee nodded.
“Your food has arrived.”
Perfect timing.
The staff entered with the appetizers, placing fresh bread and ricotta cheese salad on the table before leaving.
“What kind of movies do you like?”
“…Do you know Alice in Wonderland?”
“It’s my favorite movie.”
She answered quietly, without much confidence.
The book was famous, but far fewer people knew the movie.
Usually, whenever she gave that answer, people simply smiled awkwardly.
She expected Jihan to react the same way.
“The 1951 version, right?”
“Y-Yes!”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m an actor.”
“I watch a lot of classic films to study acting.”
He casually shrugged.
Yeonhee wanted to tell him that he reminded her of the White Rabbit from that story.
But she held herself back.
After all…
Once today was over, they would never see each other again.
Starting with movies, Jihan continued asking her all kinds of questions.
What music did she enjoy?
What books did she reread?
What dramas had left a lasting impression on her?
No one had ever asked Yeonhee questions like these before.
She had never been close enough to anyone for that.
Even Doyoon, the person closest to her, preferred figuring her out through observation rather than asking.
While she answered each question, one course after another arrived.
Even while eating, Jihan kept asking.
Yeonhee faithfully answered every one of them.
Finally, the last course arrived.
Steak.
Jihan cut off a small piece, speared it with his fork, and held it out toward her.
…Is he telling me to eat this?
Yeonhee stared at the fork, then pointed at herself with wide eyes.
Before she could even react—
The piece of steak slipped into her mouth.
“Huh?”
Her eyes asked him,
Why are you feeding me?
But her mouth obediently chewed the meat.
Watching her, Jihan suddenly burst into laughter.
“Pfft.”
His face, usually as cold as winter, bloomed into a smile as warm as spring.
“Chew carefully.”
“You’ll get indigestion.”
Smiling gently with crescent-shaped eyes, he placed a glass of water in front of her.
Then he calmly cut another piece of steak.
“…Are you giving me that one too?”
“This?”
“No.”
“I’m eating this one.”
What a strange person.
Feeling as though she had been completely toyed with, Yeonhee grabbed the water he had placed before her and gulped it down.
“What’s your favorite color?”
Jihan set down his fork and knife and rested his chin on one hand while quietly watching her.
“The color of the sunset sky.”
“But… why do you keep asking these things?”
“My favorite is the blue of the ocean.”
“Do you like the sea?”
“…Why do you keep asking me?”
Again.
Another question.
Trying to calm the irritation bubbling inside her, Yeonhee mechanically cut into the steak before her.
Pretending it was Jihan.
“I want to know…”
“…what kind of person you are.”
That was all.
Watching Yeonhee furiously attack the steak with her knife, Jihan smiled gently.
At that moment, Yeonhee wanted to ask him something.
If he could smile so warmly…
Why did his eyes still belong to someone who had never once experienced happiness?
*
“Here.”
As soon as they got into the car, Jihan handed Yeonhee a takeaway cup of coffee.
“I’m sorry.”
“I wanted to stop by a café, but if we go somewhere crowded, your identity could be exposed.”
“It’s okay.”
“Then let’s just drink it here.”
“Oh, and this.”
He suddenly held out a small paper bag that he had been carrying under his arm the whole time.
“You said you like sweet things earlier.”
“I bought these while I was out.”
Still looking slightly dazed, Yeonhee opened the bag.
Inside were a slice of chocolate cake and a strawberry tart.
“Wow!”
“Cake… and strawberries!”
“My favorites!”
She had wondered why such a tall man had been holding something so carefully against his chest.
It had been this.
The corners of her lips curved into a faint smile.
“After we finish our coffee…”
“What do you want to do?”
Jihan asked after taking a sip.
Still hugging the paper bag, Yeonhee turned toward the driver’s seat.
…He’s really handsome.
She had mostly looked at him from the front.
Seeing his profile now felt different.
His high nose, full lips, and strong jawline made his features stand out even more.
Just then, while checking the rearview mirror, Jihan spotted the same reporter from the restaurant hurriedly climbing into his car.
Just as he’d expected, the reporter hadn’t called anyone else.
He wanted to keep the exclusive for himself.
Hmm.
I need a stronger picture.
“Yeonhee.”
“If you’ve finished your coffee…”
He glanced at her cup.
Seeing that she was still drinking, he changed what he was about to say.
“After you’re done…”
“…shall we go see the ocean?”
“The ocean?”
“Right now?”
“You like the colors of the sunset.”
“I like blue.”
“So…”
“Let’s go watch the sunset over the sea.”
Jihan glanced at the watch on his wrist.
Then he started the engine
