Chapter- 8

And that's how she was now here, eating her fill in the café, "well it's not because of the bracelet on your hand", that busted his bubbles, Hyun Hae- Il wanted to guess correct but that didn't happen.

Ryu continued, "Anyway, what are you doing here? What did you investigate?"

"I came here to catch a petty drug dealer and ended up calling you here to protect me" he said feeling guilty at calling someone so important just to save him like that.

Even if he knew how defend himself in a very professional way, because he was once a high ranking marine officer. Being protected by someone else hurt his pride.

"Why do you sound so guilty about calling me?" Ryu cocked her brows because nobody would do such a thing, "I told you didn't I that you are under my protection, both physically and mentally"

"Mentally too?" he was amazed, what was that? "You have a very straightforward way of filtering with others", Hyun smiled softly as he looked at Ryu who blinked her eyes innocently.

"What sort of weird thought are you having now? Detective" Ryu leaned forward. She had a sudden interest to know more about him.

Seeing her leaning forward Hyun had an idea, "why don't we call each other by our names?" Ryu cocked her brows, Hyun continued, "You know it will be easier calling each other's names then 'hey' or 'detective', it is always better to act closer then distant to no cost any suspicions"

"Suspicions? Such as what?" she asked him tilting her to her left, "you might as well explain, Hae-Il", she called him by his name which made Hyun blush for the first time.

Nevertheless, he kept his cool and continued, "As you know that I left my career as an actor, however I still have plenty of fans, which might cause unnecessary rumors", he said as he looked around.

And sure enough there were young fan girls who were shamelessly taking pictures and gossiping about them. Ryu dealt with much worst rumors then whatever he was thinking. That's why she never cared about them.

She was never bothered about what people say about her, because she always gets what she wanted. 

"I don't care about them", she said and finished her snack, "well, I am leaving", she got up from her chair and took out her black credit card to pay at the counter.

Hyun Hae-Il followed behind her, "let me pay", he said taking out his card.

"No, I pay for my meal and for the ones who eat with me", Ryu said not even looking at him, "since I bought you here"

Hyun Hae-Il was impressed at her behavior. She was a disciplined person. And knew what was right.

"Excuse me?" Ryu called the barista, "can it get one mocha latte, one iced strawberry milk shake and also one big slice of vanilla coconut cake and a large iced Americano, please"

The barista wrote down all what she had said in the very professional manner and excused her-self to prepare the orders she had received. Ryu and Hyun waited at the counter.

"For whom are you taking this much food?" Hyun asked unconsciously, "I doubt it's for you"

"It is for the cute durian you own, and my little nephew", she casually answered him, "I should at least say sorry after making fun of him"

Hyun Hae-Il was happy to hear that Ryu was going to apologies to Dae-Jung. He had thought she was someone who couldn't say sorry after making mistake.

The barista came back with Ryu's orders and, took the card for payment. The man was surprised to see the black card, he figured that she wasn't someone normal person. She is someone of high status.

Ryu hand the iced Americano to Hyun, "this is for you", she said. She was loved to give people gifts and do little favors. This always made her happy. Hyun smiled at her. Ryu was a thoughtful and a kind person he thought.

 Ryu Tae-Ra found Duri Dae-Jung assisting an elderly lady at a street corner. Her presence seemed to startle him; as he turned around, he nearly stumbled back, caught off guard by the close proximity of Ryu's face. His eyes widened in surprise, and his cheeks flushed a deep red.

"Hey, kid," Ryu greeted him with a teasing smile, leaning in even closer, causing Dae-Jung's face to heat up even more. Ryu could almost feel the warmth radiating from his cheeks. "I brought you something."

She took a step back, giving him a bit of space as she reached into a bag and pulled out a large box. "I thought you might like a little treat after everything," she said, handing the box to him.

Dae-Jung took the box with trembling hands, his earlier embarrassment turning into a mixture of curiosity and delight. He glanced inside to find the vanilla coconut cake, a delectable treat he had mentioned in passing. His eyes widened in surprise. "Is this really for me?" he asked, looking up at Ryu with a blend of awe and gratitude.

"Yep," Ryu said, her smile broadening. "And don't think this is just a random gesture. I owe you one for the trouble I caused earlier. Plus, you seemed to appreciate that sort of thing."

Dae-Jung could hardly contain his joy. "Thank you so much! This really means a lot to me."

"Don't mention it," Ryu replied with a wink. "Just don't let it go to your head. I might have to bring you more treats if you keep being so adorable."

As Ryu turned to leave, she caught sight of Hyun Hae-Il approaching from a distance. He had been watching the exchange with a sense of amusement and admiration. He walked up to Ryu, holding the iced Americano she had given him.

"Seems like you made quite an impression," Hyun remarked, gesturing toward Dae-Jung, who was now eagerly sharing the cake with a few friends who had gathered around.

Ryu shrugged nonchalantly. "I suppose. I just like making people smile. It's a small way of spreading some positivity."

Hyun nodded, impressed by her genuine nature. "You're really something, Ryu. I've got to hand it to you."

Ryu's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, please. I'm just a simple person doing what she enjoys. But enough about me. How's the Americano treating you?"

"It's great," Hyun said with a smile, taking a sip. "Thanks again for everything."

Ryu's gaze softened as she looked at him. "You're welcome. And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'm not just here to help you out of tight spots; I'm genuinely interested in your well-being."

Hyun was taken aback by her sincerity. He had come to see Ryu as a competent and influential figure, but her kindness and genuine concern for others added a new layer to his understanding of her character.

They walked together, the atmosphere between them warm and comfortable. Ryu chatted about her latest projects, her voice animated and lively. Hyun listened intently, appreciating the way she effortlessly shifted from professional to personal topics.

As they reached the street corner, Ryu paused, glancing back at Dae-Jung and his friends who were now engaged in lively conversation, their faces lit up with joy. "It's nice to see people enjoying themselves," she said softly. "Makes all the effort worth it."

Hyun nodded in agreement. "Definitely. It's moments like these that remind us of the little things that matter."

Ryu gave him a playful nudge. "You're getting all philosophical on me. Don't worry, I won't let you get too serious."

Hyun laughed, the tension from earlier dissipating. "I suppose that's a good thing. Sometimes we all need a little reminder to not take things too seriously."

As they continued their walk, Ryu's phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced at it and frowned slightly. "Looks like I've got another meeting to attend. Duty calls, as they say."

Hyun raised an eyebrow. "Another meeting? You really do have a busy schedule."

Ryu shrugged with a grin. "It's all part of the job. But it was great catching up with you. We should do this again sometime."

Hyun agreed, his expression thoughtful. "Absolutely. I'd like that."

With a final wave, Ryu headed off toward her next appointment, leaving Hyun to reflect on their conversation. As he watched her disappear into the crowd, he felt a sense of newfound respect and admiration for her.

Hyun turned his attention back to Dae-Jung and his friends, who were now enjoying the treats Ryu had brought. The sight of their happiness made him smile. It was a reminder that even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, there were moments of kindness and connection that made it all worthwhile.

Hyun walked away with a renewed sense of purpose. He had a lot to think about, but he was confident that whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them with the same determination and resilience that had brought him this far. And with allies like Ryu by his side, he felt ready to tackle whatever came next.