I booked the whole place.
Her eyes widened.
"You...what? And when
"Your stomach was growling in the car," he said casually, his tone teasing but warm. "So yeah, I paid double and booked the entire shop."
Sooyaa's eyes widened in shock, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She lowered her gaze.
"Sorry..." she mumbled, barely above a whisper.
Tae-hyung leaned back, his expression softening
" And also I don't like distractions when I'm spending time with someone important."
(He pauses, then realizes what he said.)
"Someone important— I mean, you're an important person of our company. Marketing head, after all."
A staff member approached them with a polite smile to take their order.
They each ordered different types of coffee.
Tae-hyung glanced at his cup thoughtfully. "We could add this flavor profile to one of our blends. It'll give our beans a richer, more distinct taste."
Sooyaa stared at him in disbelief. "Even now, he's talking about business… God, where exactly have I gotten stuck today?"
She took a sip of her coffee quietly, trying not to draw attention. But when she looked up again, Tae-hyung was watching her—and trying hard not to laugh.
But he couldn't hold it.Tae-hyung let out a soft chuckle, the corners of his lips curling.
Sooyaa narrowed her eyes.
"Are you laughing?"
He looked away slightly, the trace of a smile still on his face.
"No,"
he said calmly, but the warmth in his voice betrayed him.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Something's above your lips."
Before she could react, he leaned forward, reached out with his hand, and gently wiped the foam from her upper lip with his thumb.
Sooyaa froze.
Her heart skipped a beat.
He chuckled softly, eyes crinkling at the corners.
"His laugh… it's as beautiful as before," Sooyaa thought, her gaze lingering on him for a second too long.
After the brief, awkward silence, Tae-hyung rose from his chair, his expression unreadable.
"Let's go," he said quickly, as if to break the tension.
The morning sun shone brightly as Sooyaa stepped out of the car. She turned to thank Tae-hyung, but before she could speak, he leaned against his car, looking at her with a casual, yet intense gaze.
"Thanks for the ride," Sooyaa said, her voice steady.
Tae-hyung responded with a thoughtful "Hmm," as if considering something for a moment. Then, he pulled his phone from his pocket and shook it in front of her. "Your number?" he asked with a small smile. "so that I can call you for one day."
Sooyaa blinked, slightly surprised.
"Oh, right," she said, quickly dialing her number on her phone. She handed it to him. "Here you go."
He took the phone from her hand, giving her a brief, almost unreadable look. "Thanks," he said, tapping the screen as he saved her number.
"I'll call you."
Sooyaa nodded and started walking toward her house. Tae-hyung stayed in the car, watching her until she entered the building safely. Only then did he start the car and drive off toward his own home.
As Sooyaa entered the house, her younger brother park Min jae peeked out from the living room with a teasing grin.
"Who was that guy?" he asked, eyes wide. "Is he your boyfriend or something? I must say He's so cool! Handsome, too—and that car? Classy! You have my approval, my sister."
Sooyaa grabbed a cushion from the sofa and lightly whacked him with it.
"You! Stop talking nonsense!"
Her brother burst into laughter, dodging the next swing. "Okay, okay! But admit it—he looked like a K-drama lead!"
After Sooyaa playfully whacked her brother with a cushion.
Just then, their mother walked in from the kitchen, arms crossed but face soft with concern. "Where were you last night, Sooyaa?"
Sooyaa straightened up quickly. "I was at Hye-jin's house, Mom."
Her mom gave her a look, then sighed. "Alright then. But next time, please let us know beforehand. We were worried."
Sooyaa stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. "Sorry, Mom. Won't happen again."
Her mother patted her back gently. "Good. Now go wash up. You smell like coffee and city dust."
Meanwhile, Tae-hyung reached the grand Kim Mansion. The silence inside greeted him like an old friend. He walked in, tossed his black coat onto the sofa, and sank into it heavily, his head leaning back against the cushion, eyes facing the ceiling.
He pulled out his phone, the contact list open—still unsaved.
His thumb hovered over the screen as he stared at the empty name field.
What should I save her as? he thought.
Just "Sooyaa"? Too plain.
"Park Sooyaa"? Too formal.
Something else? Something personal?
He let out a soft sigh,
He thought for a while, running through different possibilities in his head.
Finally, with a slight smirk tugging at his lips, he typed "My strawberry"
He saved the contact, locked his phone, and leaned back into the sofa, still holding the phone loosely in his hand.
Author's Thoughts (Chapter 5)
Ahh… our CEO really knows how to make a statement, doesn't he? Booking the whole shop just because Sooyaa's stomach growled? That's so Tae-hyung—cold on the outside, but soft for one person.
I wanted this chapter to show Tae-hyung's subtle protectiveness. He doesn't just say things outright—he acts.
Tae-hyung saved Sooyaa's number as "My strawberry"… AHHHHHH even I'm blushing while writing this! Can you imagine? The cold, mysterious CEO with a reputation for being heartless… secretly calling her "My strawberry" in his phone?
You're not the only one with butterflies —I'm squealing too guys ..
I hope you're loving this slow-burn tension as much as I am. Trust me, the best (and most heart-fluttering) moments are still ahead.
Something is shifting. Slowly. Silently. But definitely.
Let me know if your heart fluttered a little too—mine did while writing it!
See you in Chapter 6,
where emotions might start getting harder to hide…
Drop your thoughts in comment section I would love to reply it.
– SKK