It was not that Ruka did not want to; there was a fine line between her and her senior that neither of them crossed just yet. Moreover, it was not the time for a love confession since they only had favorable impressions of each other.
Ren and Ruka arrived at a restaurant, which did not seem like one at all. Surprised, she sized up the place with eyes of scrutiny. Instead of a restaurant, it appeared more like a private kitchen because the decor was that of a kitchen with no tables of customers around.
Even so, the waiters treated him with utmost reverence. They even addressed him as ‘Sir’ without his surname, which was obviously an honorific form of address like he was their master.
Sitting on the table next to a pond, she need not order food as she leaned her body to observe the little fishes. She was like a kid who still held onto a child-like interest.
Meanwhile, Ren sat down with his elbow on the table and chin on his palm. As his intense gaze landed upon the girl, his eyes glazed over.
More and more past memories conjured in his mind. The recollections of twenty years expanse were vivid as if they had occurred just yesterday; even the image of Ruka sobbing played in his mind so vividly.
He could remember that one time, when she was listless due to a cold, he bought a pretty doll for her. She was so pleased that she ran to him to give him a peck and thank him with a squishy voice.
Ren reminisced about her childhood while looking at the slim figure, which was crouching next to the pond. He had an illusion that he could still find her younger self from the beautiful girl.
He zoned out as his deep gaze contained inexplicable emotions. When Ruka rose to her feet, he came back to his senses. His eyes regained their clarity and tranquility, whereas his visage turned to its usual solemn and reserved one.
“Mr. Ren, I reckon this is not any ordinary restaurant. Is it your private restaurant?” Ruka sat down and asked curiously.
“Yep. I usually treat my clients here. It’s not open to the public.” He nodded.
“No wonder, but it’s beautiful here. It’s mesmerizing Ruka scanned the ornaments in which each of them held a special meaning to it.
At that moment, the appetizers and fruit juices were served. Her eyes sparkled as she was already starving. She gulped her saliva while looking at the mouth watering appetizers.
“If you’re hungry, just dig in.” Ren smiled as there was a smidgen of affection seeped into his voice.
She nodded and took one of the mozzarella sticks before feeding herself. It tasted with its cheesy crunchiness.
“What is the earliest memory you can remember?” he asked out of curiosity.
With narrowed eyes, she chewed the food while recalling. “I think it’s when I was six or seven. It was the time I started elementary school. Why?” she questioned back.
He bit his lips. I knew it. This brat can’t remember everything that had happened until she turned five. She doesn’t know how clingy she was back then.
“Nevermind. Have more.” He had no intention of explaining.
“You should have them too.” Ruka placed a mozzarella stick onto his plate and he looked at it. Ren, who did not favor fried food, ate it nevertheless.
“Mr. Ren, are you normally busy with your work?”
“Very.”
“I bet you know many big names of the country, don’t you?”
“Hmm.”
“Aunt Scarlet told me that you don’t even have the time for blind dates.”
Ren narrowed his eyes. “Do you have a hobby of digging into my matters?”
