By the time they finally finished shopping, the sky outside had already begun turning darker, the city glowing beneath early evening lights. Luxury bags filled the back of the Mercedes while Yuna leaned comfortably against her seat, visibly happier than she had been in a long time.
She looked out the window quietly for a while before suddenly placing a hand over her stomach dramatically.
Ethan glanced sideways at her. "What now?"
"I'm hungry."
"You ate breakfast."
"That was years ago."
"It was this morning."
Yuna ignored him completely. "I want food."
Ethan sighed quietly, though there was no real annoyance behind it anymore. "What do you want?"
"Something expensive since apparently you enjoy wasting money."
Ethan looked unimpressed. "You've complained about my money at least ten times today."
"And I'll continue."
A faint smirk touched his lips briefly before he reached for his phone. Within seconds he was already making arrangements calmly.
Yuna stared at him. "You're doing the scary rich person thing again."
"What thing?"
"The thing where one phone call magically changes the world."
"It's called efficiency."
"No," she muttered dramatically, "it's called terrifying."
Ethan ignored her while finishing the call. "We'll be there in twenty minutes."
Yuna blinked. "You already picked the restaurant?"
"Yes."
"You didn't even ask me what I wanted."
"You would've taken thirty minutes deciding."
"That is completely true," she admitted proudly.
The drive through the city felt softer now somehow. The streets glowed with evening lights while music played quietly inside the car. People moved along sidewalks beneath giant screens and traffic lights, completely unaware that one of the most powerful men in the city was currently arguing with a former actress about food preferences.
Yuna looked at Ethan quietly for a while before speaking again.
"You know…"
"Hm?"
"You really changed."
Ethan glanced at her briefly. "How?"
"You talk more now."
"That sounds unfortunate."
"And you smile sometimes."
"I don't."
"You literally laughed earlier."
"You imagined it."
Yuna laughed softly before leaning back into her seat again comfortably.
The truth was—
Today felt strangely peaceful.
No hospitals.
No crying.
No painful conversations about death.
Just normal things.
Shopping.
Teasing.
Talking.
Living.
Yuna didn't realize how badly she needed that until now.
Eventually the Mercedes slowed near one of the most luxurious restaurants in the city. The building itself looked elegant enough to belong in a movie—soft golden lights, huge glass walls, fountains near the entrance, luxury cars lined outside while staff members greeted guests formally.
Yuna blinked slowly. "This place?"
Ethan parked calmly. "Problem?"
"This restaurant has a waiting list for normal people."
"You're not normal people."
"There you go again."
Ethan stepped out first before opening her door again. Yuna looked at him suspiciously while getting out.
"You're becoming too gentleman-like lately."
"Don't get used to it."
"Too late."
They walked inside together, but the moment the doors opened, Yuna immediately realized something strange.
The restaurant was completely empty.
No guests.
No conversations.
No crowded tables.
Only soft music and candlelight.
Yuna stopped walking.
"…Ethan."
"What?"
"Where is everyone?"
Ethan looked completely calm. "I booked the restaurant."
Yuna stared at him in disbelief.
"The whole restaurant?!"
"Yes."
"Why?!"
Ethan looked genuinely confused by the question. "So we can eat peacefully."
Yuna looked around at the luxurious empty space, the candlelit tables, the staff standing respectfully at a distance, and the massive windows overlooking the glittering city.
Then she looked back at him slowly.
"You are absolutely insane."
Ethan calmly pulled a chair out for her. "Sit."
Yuna sat while still staring at him in disbelief. "Do you know how much this probably costs?"
"Yes."
"And you still did it?"
"Yes."
"Ethan!"
A few nearby staff members immediately pretended not to hear the argument.
Yuna leaned forward slightly while whispering dramatically, "You waste money like it's paper."
Ethan sat across from her calmly. "Money exists to be used."
"No, money exists to survive."
"You already survived."
"That's not the point."
Ethan watched her continue rambling for another few seconds before a faint smile appeared again.
Yuna noticed immediately.
"Don't smile at me while I'm being serious."
"You're cute when you complain."
"That's manipulative."
"It's effective."
Yuna narrowed her eyes before leaning closer across the table slightly.
"You know," she murmured, "I didn't understand the value of money before either."
Ethan's expression shifted slightly, becoming quieter.
Yuna looked down at the candlelight reflecting against the table as she spoke more softly now.
"When I was younger, I never checked prices." A tiny laugh escaped her. "I thought expensive things were normal because my father bought everything so easily."
Ethan listened silently.
"But after everything collapsed…" she continued quietly, "I remember standing in a mall once after my cards stopped working."
Her smile faded slightly.
"I had zero balance."
Ethan's eyes darkened immediately.
Yuna laughed softly, though sadness lingered beneath it. "I was so embarrassed."
"What happened?"
"I tried buying coffee," she admitted quietly. "The payment kept declining and people behind me started staring."
Ethan stayed silent, his jaw tightening slightly.
"I didn't even know what to do," Yuna whispered. "That was the second time I realized how dependent I used to be."
The candlelight flickered softly between them.
Yuna smiled faintly afterward. "So now every time you spend money like this, I get scared for some reason."
Ethan stared at her quietly for several moments.
Then finally he asked—
"Why didn't you call me?"
Yuna blinked softly. "What?"
"That day at the mall."
She looked at him in surprise.
Ethan's expression remained calm, but there was something intense beneath it now.
"If you had no money," he continued quietly, "why didn't you call me?"
Yuna stared at him for a second before laughing softly. "At that time we were fighting every three business days."
"That's not an answer."
"You probably would've ignored me."
"I wouldn't."
The certainty in his voice made her pause.
Yuna looked at him carefully now.
And suddenly she realized—
He truly meant it.
Even during their worst moments…
He still would've come.
That realization warmed her chest unexpectedly.
Yuna slowly leaned forward then, resting her chin lightly against one hand while staring at him playfully again.
"You know," she whispered softly, "you're becoming dangerously reliable."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Dangerously?"
"Yes." She smiled faintly. "Because now I think I'll start depending on you too much."
The honesty in her voice surprised even herself.
Ethan's gaze softened almost imperceptibly.
"You already do."
Yuna blinked.
Then immediately looked away, pretending the sudden warmth in her face wasn't happening again.
A waiter arrived carefully then, placing beautifully prepared dishes across the candlelit table one after another.
Luxury steak.
Fresh seafood.
Desserts plated like artwork.
Yuna stared at the food in disbelief. "This looks illegal."
"It's food."
"It's rich people food."
Ethan cut into his meal calmly. "Eat."
Yuna finally started eating too, and within seconds her eyes widened dramatically.
"Oh my god."
Ethan looked up briefly. "What?"
"This is the best thing I've ever eaten."
"That's embarrassing."
"Shut up."
Ethan almost smiled again watching her immediately forget all elegance while happily eating.
The restaurant remained quiet around them, soft piano music filling the massive empty space while city lights glittered outside the windows.
For a while, they simply talked.
About random things.
About old filming stories.
About Ethan secretly hating interviews.
About Yuna once accidentally falling asleep during makeup preparation before an awards show.
The more they talked, the lighter everything felt.
At some point Yuna suddenly leaned closer toward him across the table again.
"Ethan."
"What?"
She lowered her voice softly near his ear this time.
"You should stop wasting money like this…"
Ethan felt her breath lightly against his ear.
Then she whispered teasingly—
"…Honey."
Ethan froze completely for one full second.
Yuna immediately leaned back innocently while smiling.
The effect on him was immediate.
His eyes narrowed slightly while something dangerous flickered beneath the calmness there.
"…What did you just call me?"
Yuna looked completely innocent. "Honey?"
Ethan stared at her silently.
Yuna tried not to laugh seeing his reaction. "What? You don't like it?"
The truth was—
He liked it far too much.
Ethan slowly placed his fork down before leaning slightly closer himself.
"Careful," he murmured quietly.
Yuna's heartbeat instantly betrayed her again.
"Why?"
"You keep talking like that," Ethan said calmly, "and I might start expecting it."
Yuna swallowed softly while trying not to smile too obviously.
The candlelight reflected in his grey eyes beautifully now, softer than she had ever seen them before.
And suddenly—
The entire luxurious empty restaurant felt much smaller around them.