POV: Female Lead (Doctor – Jung Ha-neul)
Jung Ha-neul had a plan.
Ahn Min-jae was stubborn, emotionally unavailable, and allergic to fun. But she wasn't the type to back down from a challenge.
And today?
She was going to make him take a break.
"Come on, it's just one dinner," she said, standing in front of his office desk with her hands on her hips.
Min-jae barely looked up from his laptop. "No."
"It's not a date," she added quickly. "It's just… two people eating food. Totally normal human behavior."
Min-jae sighed. "I don't have time for—"
"I already made the reservation."
His fingers froze on the keyboard.
She smirked. "It's a new place. Expensive. Private. You'd like it."
He finally looked at her, eyes narrowed. "You're annoying."
"And you need to eat," she shot back. "So? Are you coming, or should I call your assistant and tell her to put a feeding schedule in your calendar?"
Min-jae stared at her for a long moment. Then, with a small sigh, he closed his laptop.
Ha-neul grinned. Victory.
---
The Not-Date
The restaurant was exactly what Ha-neul had promised—private, elegant, and definitely not cheap.
Min-jae sat across from her, scanning the menu with the bored expression of a man who had never checked a price tag in his life.
Ha-neul, on the other hand, was mentally calculating how much debt she was about to put herself in.
She had picked the place to impress him, but now she regretted it.
Min-jae glanced up. "You're frowning."
"Just thinking about how I'll have to survive on instant noodles after this," she muttered.
His lips twitched. "You invited me. Why would you pick a place you can't afford?"
Ha-neul huffed. "I don't know. Maybe I was trying to match your ridiculously high standards, Mr. CEO."
Min-jae leaned back in his seat, studying her. "You're terrible at impressing people."
She raised an eyebrow. "And yet, here you are."
His smirk faded slightly. He picked up his glass of water, taking a slow sip.
Ha-neul narrowed her eyes. Why did he suddenly look uncomfortable?
---
Min-jae's POV: A Moment of Realization
Min-jae wasn't stupid.
He knew what this was.
Ha-neul had invited him out, teased him, challenged him—it was her usual routine.
But tonight, something felt different.
The way she looked at him when she thought he wasn't paying attention.
The way she had chosen a place out of her budget, just to make sure he would enjoy the night.
No one had ever done that for him before.
And the worst part?
He didn't hate it.
---
A Soft Moment
The food arrived, and to Ha-neul's relief, it was amazing.
She took a bite of her dish and let out a small, happy sigh. "Okay, this was worth the price."
Min-jae watched her with mild amusement. "You look like a kid who just got a new toy."
Ha-neul rolled her eyes. "Let me enjoy my expensive meal in peace, rich boy."
Min-jae shook his head but didn't comment.
Then, without thinking, he reached across the table and placed a piece of meat on her plate.
Ha-neul froze.
She stared at the food. Then at him.
Min-jae blinked, as if realizing what he had just done. He quickly looked away, his fingers tightening around his chopsticks.
Ha-neul smirked. "Did you just… serve me food?"
"Shut up," he muttered.
"Wow. Ahn Min-jae, the cold-hearted CEO, just did something sweet. Are you dying? Do you have a fever?"
"Eat your food, Jung."
She chuckled.
And just like that, the night didn't feel like just two people eating dinner.
It felt like something more.
---
The Walk Back
After dinner, they walked toward the parking lot. The air was crisp, the city lights glowing softly around them.
Ha-neul felt lighter.
Maybe it was the food. Maybe it was the fact that Min-jae hadn't completely ignored her all night.
Or maybe…
Maybe it was because, for the first time, she felt like she had seen a different side of him.
"Hey," she said suddenly. "Tonight was nice."
Min-jae glanced at her. "It was dinner."
Ha-neul smiled. "Yeah. But… it was nice."
He didn't respond.
But as they reached his car, she caught the smallest flicker of a smile before he turned away.
And for now, that was enough.
—