Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 62

Hyun strolled toward the village square and glanced at his wristwatch, which read 9:50.

He felt relieved to have arrived nearly on time for the appointment and surveyed his surroundings.

Suddenly, he spotted someone running toward him.

Taken aback by the sight before him, he stood frozen for a moment.

The approaching figure was a woman with short, waving white hair, fluttering in the wind.

She came toward him with a face filled with joy and anticipation.

Her graceful demeanor and the spirited energy she radiated rendered Hyun momentarily speechless.

Her outfit only added to his bewilderment.

Wearing a blouse with delicate cutouts paired with a short black skirt, this combination subtly highlighted her alluring silhouette.

Hyun found himself at a loss for words, momentarily stunned by her bold yet sophisticated style.

“Hello!!”

She panted, stopping right in front of Hyun.

Her silver-tinged eyes sparkled, and a radiant smile adorned her face.

“Hello, Hyun!!”

“You arrived just in time.”

“I’m… Roji!”

She joyfully introduced herself with a gleeful voice.

At Roji’s enthusiastic greeting and dazzling smile, Hyun’s face turned red in an instant.

He felt slightly flustered by her sudden appearance and vibrant demeanor.

Hyun, unsure of how to respond, hesitated a bit and cautiously spoke.

“Um… A, hello, Roji.”

“Nice to meet you..!”

His voice trembled slightly, reflecting a mix of awe and confusion sparked by Roji’s bold and stylish presence.

Seeing Hyun’s slightly shaky voice and flushed face, Roji donned a playful smile.

She gently took his arm and exclaimed cheerfully.

“Hyun, I made a reservation at a restaurant for today!”

“It’s really delicious, so let’s go check it out!”

Hyun was taken aback by Roji’s sudden suggestion.

He had no idea about such plans, and Roji’s bold action surprised him.

However, seeing her bright smile and confident demeanor, he began to be captivated by the surprise she had prepared.

“U, uh, is that so…? Thank you!”

Roji, undeterred by Hyun’s hesitation, eagerly pulled him along.

“Come on, let’s go before it gets late, Hyun!”

Her voice brimmed with excitement.

Hyun found himself almost instinctively following her as she led them away.

The two walked through the village square and onto a familiar street.

Roji guided the way, turning back occasionally to flash beaming smiles at Hyun.

Her laughter gradually eased his anxious heart.

“This restaurant is at the edge of the village~”

“It’ll take about seven minutes to walk!”

As they walked, Roji chatted lightly, leading Hyun.

She didn’t bother to hide her excitement about their meeting.

On the other hand, Hyun felt himself panting a little as he tried to keep pace with Roji’s strides.

When they were almost at their destination, Hyun took a moment to catch his breath without letting Roji notice.

He took a deep breath and, without showing any signs of fatigue, asked,

“Are we almost there…?”

Roji, not noticing his subtle changes, pulled his arm even tighter.

“It’s right there!”

The restaurant was tucked away in a corner of the village, but that only seemed to enhance its charm.

With a slightly exotic exterior and an uncommon design, beautiful flowers and green plants adorned the front of the store, catching the eye.

The store’s name was engraved on a sign in elegant lettering, softly illuminated by lights below.

“This is the place!”

Roji exclaimed with an excited tone as they reached it.

Hyun stood before the entrance with Roji as they climbed the small stairs to the restaurant door.

The moment they stepped inside, both were enveloped in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The interior had a totally different feel from the exterior.

Local artists’ works adorned the walls, and the wooden, natural-material furnishings created a warm ambiance.

Soft lighting gently illuminated various parts of the restaurant, making it feel even cozier.

Hyun felt a bit nervous as this seemed like a completely new experience, yet his heart was thrilled at the prospect.

Noticing Hyun’s tension, Roji lightly patted his shoulder and said,

“Isn’t the atmosphere lovely?”

“It’s one of my favorite places to come.”

“I love it because it’s so cozy.”

Hyun felt at ease with her kind words.

“Yes, it’s truly a wonderful place…”

As he responded softly, Roji beamed and guided him.

Just then, a restaurant staff approached and asked about their reservation.

Roji confidently replied, “Yes, it’s Roze.”

Hyun felt a bit puzzled upon hearing Roji’s reservation name.

‘Roze…? I thought it was Roji.’

He was curious why she had reserved under the name ‘Roze’ instead of the name he knew.

But he tucked that question away in his mind and followed Roji to their reserved table.

The staff led them to a cozy corner spot.

It was situated beside a window, and soft curtains filtered gentle sunlight, enhancing the romantic vibe.

Sitting at such a special table made Hyun feel even more nervous yet excited.

Grateful for Roji’s thoughtful planning, he carefully took a seat.

As the restaurant staff handed them the menus, Roji began recommending the popular dishes at the place.

She described each dish in detail, helping Hyun choose something according to his taste.

“Hyun, the steak here is really famous.”

“How about steak?”

Hyun hesitated for a moment at Roji’s suggestion.

He only knew that steak was an expensive and luxurious dish, but he had never eaten a proper steak before.

“S, steak? Actually, I… I’ve never really had a proper steak, so I’m not sure..”

“But since it’s famous, I’d like to try it.”

Hyun continued cautiously.

“But my budget isn’t exactly great…”

“So please order the cheapest thing on the menu!”

Roji smiled at his concern and said,

“Hyun, today’s on me.”

“Don’t worry about the price~”

Hyun tried to protest.

“No, it’s fine..! Really, it’s fine.”

Roji seemed to have made up her mind as she waved over the staff.

When Roji beckoned, the staff approached.

“We’ll have two signature steaks and two glasses of wine.”

“Please make the wine sweet.”

Roji confidently placed the order.

Hyun felt impressed by Roji’s decisiveness and generous spirit, but he was also momentarily flustered, unsure how to react.

After the staff took the order and left, Hyun looked at Roji and said sincerely,

“Roji, thank you so much…”

Roji beamed in response to his gratitude.

“Oh, it’s okay~ Really, Hyun. Today is a special day after all.”

Her voice was flooded with joy and happiness.

“I’m just really happy to be able to spend time with you.”

Hyun found warmth in Roji’s heartfelt response but also felt a pang of curiosity arise.

He cautiously asked Roji,

“Roji, I’m curious why you wanted to meet with me!”

Roji looked a bit startled at Hyun’s question for a moment, then met his gaze seriously as she replied.

“Hyun, I liked you from the very first time we met—!!”

Hyun was momentarily speechless from Roji’s confession.

With surprise at her straightforward words, excitement suddenly blossomed within him.

He looked into her eyes and responded cautiously.

“Really…? What about me…?”

Hyun felt honored yet flustered by her confession.

He tried to figure out the reason for her feelings while gazing into Roji’s eyes.

Just then, the tension between Hyun and Roji broke as the restaurant staff returned with their ordered food.

The staff elegantly placed the steak and wine on their table, revitalizing the atmosphere.

“Here are the signature steaks and selected sweet wine.”

“Enjoy your meal.”

The staff said respectfully while smiling at them.

As the steak was served and the staff departed, Hyun cautiously asked Roji,

“What are you having, Roji..?”

“We ordered two steaks, but it seems only one has arrived.”

Roji smiled in response to Hyun’s question.

“Oh, Hyun, I’m actually not that hungry.”

“Today is about you having a good time~”

“I’ll just sip wine and watch you enjoy your meal.”

Hyun was touched by Roji’s consideration, but a part of him felt a bit disappointed that she wouldn’t be eating with him.

“Roji, wouldn’t it be better if we ate together? It feels a bit…”

Roji reassured his worry.

“It’s really okay, Hyun.”

“I had breakfast, so don’t feel burdened and enjoy your meal.”

Hyun relaxed, comforted by Roji’s thoughtful words, and turned his attention to the steak he had ordered.

The steak on the plate was perfectly cooked with a crispy exterior and moist interior, radiating a tantalizing shade of red.

Fresh vegetables and herbs accompanying it enhanced the steak’s flavor.

Hyun picked up his fork and knife and carefully cut a piece of the steak.

Juices trickled from the cut, igniting his appetite.

He took a bite and chewed slowly.

The steak was tender and juicy, melting in his mouth.

The rich meat flavor, paired with a harmonious sauce from the herbs, completed the taste perfectly.

Hyun tasted it in delight.

“Wow, this is really delicious..!!”

“Honestly… it’s incomparable to other places.”

Seeing his reaction, Roji’s eyes sparkled with joy.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I’m really happy we came here!”

A satisfied smile spread across Hyun’s face, further warming the atmosphere between the two.

Roji, receiving Hyun’s admiring gaze, rose lightly from her seat.

She glanced momentarily at a small perfume bottle in her hand and flashed a subtle smile.

She stepped back slightly, gracefully raising her arm to spritz perfume on her neck and wrist.

The finely scented perfume wafted through the air, enveloping Roji gently.

The fragrance was luxurious yet subtle, enhancing her feminine charm even more.

Hyun was slightly taken aback by her actions, yet enchanted.

As Roji returned to her seat, the delightful scent softly stimulated Hyun’s senses.

Once Roji settled back in, she smiled at Hyun for a moment.

She picked up the wine bottle sitting on the table and carefully poured wine into her glass.

As the ruby liquid flowed into the glass, it radiated a soft light, gracefully spreading along the glass’s curves.

After pouring herself some wine, Roji smiled at Hyun and offered the bottle to him.

Hyun hesitated but couldn’t resist her gesture, lifting his glass.

He typically didn’t drink much, especially never having had wine before.

Yet in this special moment shared with Roji, in the warm and intimate atmosphere she had created, he cautiously tilted the bottle to pour wine into his glass.

The soft sound of wine flowing into the glass filled the air as the ruby liquid filled it to the brim.

Roji watched his actions with a smile.

Hyun set the wine bottle down, and just like Roji, gently swirled the glass to enjoy the aroma.

The inviting and complex scent of the wine tantalized his senses.

After a while, both of their glasses were filled with wine.

Gaining courage from Roji’s encouragement, Hyun brought the wine glass to his lips for the first time. He nervously took a sip.

The wine’s complex flavors filled his mouth.

At first, he tasted a slight bitterness and acidity, but soon it was followed by the soft sweetness and richness of fruits that thrilled his palate.

Meanwhile, Roji naturally raised her glass, easily finishing more than half of hers.