Chapter 66

“Oh my…”

“Ugh, turn your head.”

The pâtissiers who had been watching quickly turned their heads. An awkward situation had unfolded.

Naru brushed the bumped bridge of his nose and pushed Gyu-yeon away. He’d thought he wouldn’t mind getting close at any time, but doing this in front of people made him embarrassed.

Gyu-yeon felt just as embarrassed. The awkward air only broke when Seo-yeon appeared.

“Naru, let’s clean this up together.”

“Oh, yes, yes!”

I could see how he could work so long at Gyu-yeon’s shop — his sense for handling situations was exceptional.

Naru hurried over and helped straighten the napkins. Gyu-yeon’s gaze finally calmed.

Geon-hu was carrying out another task Seo-yeon had asked. Sensing Gyu-yeon’s mood, he had purposely kept Geon-hu at a distance.

“Ah, boss. A new employee joined, aren’t we doing a company dinner?”

“…”

Busy Seo-yeon pretended to tilt an imaginary soju glass with her hand. Behind her bright voice hid her own scheme.

Gotta drain the boss’s wallet dry.

Seo-yeon eagerly waited for the company dinner day. He could eat expensive food he normally couldn’t afford.

Gyu-yeon had money to spare. As the youngest son of YK, there was no way he was short on cash.

Besides, although prickly in personality, he was generous when buying things. His picky tastes meant the restaurants he chose for dinners always perfectly suited Seo-yeon.

The word “company dinner” made Naru tilt his head in curiosity.

Company dinners were something he’d only seen on TV dramas; the thought of actually experiencing one made his heart flutter.

“We’ll go after work today.”

“Wow, buy us something expensive!”

“Just pick a menu roughly.”

Gyu-yeon readily agreed. Choosing the menu was the employees’ job. Seo-yeon immediately told the kitchen about the dinner.

“We’re having a company dinner today!”

“Ah, what should we eat? I’m already worried.”

Jeong-su, who was piping batter, licked his lips. Everyone seemed excited for the long-awaited dinner.

Naru wasn’t used to this atmosphere. On TV it seemed like people avoided company dinners, but in reality it was different.

Leaning into the kitchen to chat, Seo-yeon gestured toward Geon-hu.

“Geon-hu, you can decide. What do you want to eat?”

“I’m fine with just meat. How about meat for the first round? Since the boss is paying, let’s have beef.”

Geon-hu answered cheerfully. Thus the first round was decided as beef. Seo-yeon attentively looked after Naru, who was standing absentmindedly.

“What about Naru? He’s a new employee too, hasn’t had a dinner yet.”

“Uh, um…”

Startled by the sudden question, Naru pretended to think hard. There were so many delicious things in the world; picking just one was hard.

Naru had never even attended a company dinner, so he didn’t know what people usually ate at them.

As Naru hesitated, patient Seo-yeon asked cautiously.

“Naru, do you know how to drink alcohol?”

“Alcohol…?”

Alcohol. Ah, right. He’d seen this on TV before.

At company dinners people usually drank. When someone of higher rank poured a drink, the protagonist would feel pressured and force down a bitter shot of soju.

Do I have to do that too? But is alcohol really that bitter?

Smiling awkwardly, Naru shook his head. He had never drunk alcohol before.

Seeing it this way, there were so many things he hadn’t tried. He thought he’d been around a lot with Gyu-yeon, but there were still so many wonders in the world.

“I…I’ve never drunk alcohol…”

“Oh my, what is this. You’ve never tried alcohol?”

“Yes.”

Seo-yeon’s eyes flashed. He looked like a hyena who had spotted prey.

An adult man who had never had alcohol — Seo-yeon was thrilled.

For sure they’d go to a bar for the second round. Seo-yeon was very curious about how Naru would act drunk.

What would happen if someone that cute drank? Would they act all cutesy?

Her mouth was already grinning. Seo-yeon quickly took out her phone and opened a map app. Her marked favorite places popped up all over the neat map.

Before she knew it, Naru had come over and peered at the screen. Seo-yeon slid the phone closer and asked for her opinion.

“How about here? I went with a friend before — it’s pricey but the side dishes were pretty good.”

It was a bar with soft yellow lighting and pale pink cherry blossoms subtly glowing. It was strange to see so many cherry blossoms filling the interior.

Naru stared at the photo, blinking in wonder. His desire to go was clearly written on his face.

“Do you want to go here?”

“Yes, I like this place!”

The moment Naru answered, Seo-yeon ran to Gyu-yeon to tell him the dinner spot.

“Boss, first round we’ll have beef. For the second, I looked up a place — how about this? Naru said he likes it.”

Gyu-yeon, who had nodded indifferently, frowned at the last remark. Naru liked it? The second spot Seo-yeon suggested was an izakaya.

An izakaya for someone who doesn’t even know how to drink — what the.

As Gyu-yeon’s expression darkened, Seo-yeon stepped in and began to coax him.

He looked genuinely worried at the thought of her boyfriend drinking. Not overbearing, but subtly insistent.

“Song Naru said he likes this place?”

“Yes, after all, company dinners mean drinking.”

“…”

Gyu-yeon’s gaze landed on Naru. Should he let her drink? He recalled Naru with puppy ears acting all cutesy, and it made it hard to give permission.

“Boss, let’s go here. Naru seemed to want to go when he saw the photo.”

“…Fine.”

Permission was finally granted. The thought of drinking made Naru’s heart race.

Wow, alcohol. If Gyu-yeon gives me a look, I guess I’ll have to drink it all.

The Cafe Destiny’s doors closed a bit earlier than usual.

They shortened the closing time for the dinner, finishing business an hour early; the employees chatted among themselves as they walked to the venue. The place buzzed with heated debate about the best cuts of beef and what to pair with them.

Naru walked between Geon-hu and Gyu-yeon, following the other employees. His steps felt lighter than usual.

“Hey, are you good at drinking?”

“No, I’ve never drunk.”

“All this time without drinking — what have you been doing? No way, I’ll teach you properly today.”

Teasingly, Geon-hu gave Naru a playful pat on the back.

Both Seo-yeon and Geon-hu were excited at the idea of teaching Naru about alcohol.

Naru liked the attention. Although they were coworkers, treating him like a friend felt comfortable.

They headed to a restaurant Gyu-yeon frequented for the first round. It served only Korean beef and felt grand and luxurious from its exterior.

The staff trailed behind Gyu-yeon, calling themselves lucky.

Naru was captivated by the surroundings. The interior was all wood, and the soft lighting gave it an antique feel.

“What are you doing, come in.”

“Wow…”

An employee led them to a room. When the door opened, the interior was decorated like a traditional Korean house.

Naru’s eyes widened. He’d seen many meat restaurants around town, but he’d never been to a place like this.

When Gyu-yeon nodded, Naru carefully stepped inside.

“Boss, I want the expensive stuff no matter what.”

“Order whatever you want.”

“Yay, Geon-hu, what do you want to eat?”

Humming, Seo-yeon flipped through the menu. The staff huddled together to decide which cuts to order.

Geon-hu, who chose confidently, kindly poured water. He definitely seemed experienced in social settings.

“Naru, Geon-hu, let’s get along from now on! I’m really so happy. The boss always hires handsome new employees, heh…”

Seoyeon naturally led the dinner atmosphere. Her gushy comments made Gyu-yeon wear an incredulous look.

“Don’t pick by looks, just do the work, work.”

“No, but Geon-hu is an acquaintance of the boss?”

“A close younger friend.”

Do handsome people only hang out with similar types? Wow, the boss’s class.

Seo-yeon shouted playfully in a small voice. With her hand, she lightly patted Naru’s shoulder.

Gyu-yeon’s gaze landed on that hand. When he shot a sharp look, Seo-yeon quickly withdrew her hand.

“Geon-hu, if you have a good friend, introduce him to me later.”

Seo-yeon said it slyly. She wanted to get closer to Geon-hu, so she was being extra chatty.

“A good friend meaning, a handsome person?”

“You understand perfectly.”

“Unfortunately I’m the most handsome. Right, Song Naru? Am I not handsome?”

Geon-hu laughed playfully and poked Naru’s side.

Chewing on his chopsticks from hunger, Naru swatted Geon-hu’s arm in annoyance.

“Gyu, the boss is more handsome.”

“Your taste is particular, huh? I’m pretty good-looking too.”

“So what.”

Naru had meant to say Gyu-yeon’s name but changed it to ‘boss’ and replied firmly.

Gyu-yeon’s face brightened at his blunt tone. In moments like this he seemed simpler than anyone.

Naru couldn’t lie; Geon-hu was handsome, but his vibe was different from Gyu-yeon’s.

Even though Gyu-yeon looked cold, he didn’t seem rude; his elegance was particularly attractive.

By contrast, Geon-hu felt lighter than Gyu-yeon. His delinquent first impression stuck in his mind, making him seem that way.

“You two are handsome in different ways. Geon-hu, what do you think of Naru? Every time I see him I die from how cute he is!”

Seo-yeon’s flattery sparked a growing flame.

“He’s so insignificant it’s oddly cute. Soft-looking but rough.”

Without hesitation, Geon-hu pinched Naru’s cheeks. True to ‘soft-looking,’ his pale cheeks stretched like rice cakes.

His tugging had no restraint — a stark contrast to Gyu-yeon’s gentle manner.

There was no tenderness, just a friend’s rough way of treating you. Exactly that.

It felt this way to Naru, but would Gyu-yeon feel the same?

As he glanced away, Naru flinched.

Gyu-yeon clenched his chopsticks, his hand trembling. His eyes were sharp as if ready to kill someone.

Oooh… Yu Gyu-yeon is jealous.

One corner of Naru’s mouth curled up wickedly.