Chapter 536

Hyeonu and Reina weren’t in a car. Instead, they were walking through the city center.

The reason for that was Hyeonu’s words.

He’d mentioned he wasn’t in a state where he could go far in a car. So, Reina nodded and said in response, “Let’s go around the hotel.”

The hotel accommodation that Nike Management provided to those contracted with them was in the heart of New York.

Landmarks such as the Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Broadway, and Times Square were within walking distance of the hotel.

“Where do you want to go?” Reina asked.

“I don’t like going to see buildings like that. Let’s just walk on the streets and see if there is a good place. I like that.” Hyeonu indirectly revealed that he didn’t want to go far away because it was annoying.

However, Reina didn’t realize the meaning of Hyeonu’s words and just thought that Hyeonu’s travel style was like this.

‘He enjoys the atmosphere of the city rather than seeing landmarks,’ Reina repeated this sentence in her head again and again.

Then she asked Hyeonu, “Have you eaten lunch?”

It was only after hearing Reina’s question that Hyeonu realized he hadn’t eaten lunch. “No, I haven’t eaten anything today. Is there a restaurant with delicious food nearby? A place that is like New York.”

“I’m not sure what’s like New York... Tell me what type of food you want to eat.”

“Um...”

‘What do I want to eat?’ Hyeonu stopped and stood blankly.

He couldn’t think about what he wanted to eat.

Nor did he feel particularly hungry.

‘Since I came to New York...’

“Burgers. I want to have a burger.” Hyeonu’s choice was a hamburger.

There were many reasons why he picked a burger, but the biggest reason was that it was currently lunchtime.

If he ordered heavy food, he would only be able to drink alcohol at the party at night.

“Hamburger? Okay. There is a shop I sometimes go to in this area.” Reina smiled and nodded.

She liked burgers as well.

In particular, the store she planned to go to now was the one she visited most in New York, with the exception of a bakery.

The burger shop was really close.

It only took them 10 minutes to reach there while walking at a speed that wasn’t fast.

“We’re here,” Reina stated.

The burger shop was on the first floor of a building made of red bricks.

‘It’s just like those in South Korea...?’ Hyeonu’s eyes widened at the appearance of the store that wasn’t as gorgeous as he imagined.

He thought it would have a luxurious atmosphere since Reina said she came here often.

However, it was just a common burger store.

“There isn’t a lot on the menu. They only sell burgers and grilled sandwiches. They also sell french fries. Overall, it’s a neat store,” Reina said while pointing to the menu on the wall of the store.

“I’ll just have a burger. I also want to eat french fries.” Hyeonu’s pick was a regular hamburger with no toppings added.

It wasn’t a restaurant he could come to many times, so he picked the most delicious patty menu.

“Do you need any drinks?”

“I’ll have a Coke.”

Reina came back after ordering her food, as well as Hyeonu’s share.

The two of them took seats at a table on one side of the store.

These were the only seats available.

“Have you been preparing a lot for the upcoming competition?” Reina naturally opened up the conversation.

“I’ve been preparing hard. In particular, the other players have been working really hard,” Hyeonu answered while drinking the water on the table.

Then he returned the same question to Reina. “What about the New York Warriors? Are you ready?”

“Us too. Everyone has worked hard. We’ll get good results this time.”

“There will certainly be good results if you work hard. Both Crescent Moon and the New York Warriors will get them.”

The conversation between the two people continued until the food was placed in front of them.

Hyeonu forgot he was in front of Reina and let out a cry of admiration. “Wow... What is this?”

It was so ridiculous that something close to laughter emerged from his mouth.

“Why? Have you never seen a burger like this before?” Reina asked as if she understood Hyeonu’s words or heard the surprise in his voice.

“The patty is so thick...”

The reason why Hyeonu was so surprised was the thick patty.

It was so thick that he mistakenly thought he’d ordered a hamburg steak rather than a hamburger.

Based on visual inspection, the thickness was greater than three centimeters.

‘This should be eaten separately.’

The burger wasn’t a size that could be eaten by hand.

Hyeonu picked up the fork and knife and started cutting the bun, patty, and vegetables.

Then he put some of the burger in his mouth and chewed.

“Is it delicious?” Reina asked as she looked at Hyeonu who couldn’t stop cutting.

Hyeonu ate the burger while picking up the french fries and drinking Coke. “It’s delicious—the meat in particular. The french fries are a bit bland... Still, it doesn’t matter.”

The juicy and meaty taste from the thick patty fit Hyeonu’s tastes, practically targeting his taste.

The only unfortunate thing was that the french fries had no seasoning at all, so the taste of potatoes was too strong.

“Really? Then I’m glad.” Reina smiled as she cut the thick patty that was in front of her and put a piece in her mouth.

***

It didn’t take long for the two people to leave the store.

This was because both Hyeonu and Reina ate the hamburger quickly.

‘I’m fuller than I thought.’ Hyeonu had eaten all of the hamburger and left the french fries behind, yet he was full.

Considering the amount of food Hyeonu normally ate, it was obvious how hearty the hamburger was.

‘I’m getting a bit excited now.’

Hyeonu felt much better.

He was full, so he thought he could take a look around New York.

‘Was the Trade Center near here?’

Hyeonu began to recall the landmarks in downtown New York.

At this moment, Reina pulled Hyeonu’s arm. “We have to go this way.”

Hyeonu’s eyes widened as he asked, “Where are we going?”

Reina replied like it was obvious, “We’ve had a meal, so it’s time for dessert. There is a bakery near here that I really like. It’s a cafe too, so you can drink coffee.”

Hyeonu was pulled along by Reina’s strength toward the bakery.

His stomach was already full enough, but he couldn’t stop Reina, who had sold her soul for dessert.

“Sit here. I’ll take care of the order,” Reina said.

Hyeonu sat on a chair with a bitter smile at Reina’s consideration that wasn’t really directed toward him.

‘She must like bread a lot.’

At the same time, he expressed subtle expectations and wondered what delicious bread Reina would bring.

Moments later, it wasn’t Reina who appeared in front of Hyeonu but another woman.

A server wearing black pants and a white shirt put down a cup filled with ice in front of Hyeonu.

“Here are the two iced Americanos you ordered.”

The liquid in the cup was coffee.

The beverage was an Americano—a drink that Hyeonu didn’t like.

‘Ah, I don’t like bitter...’ Hyeonu frowned and looked around.

He was looking for the sugar and syrup that might be around here somewhere.

However, he couldn’t spot them.

‘Is it on the 1st floor? Should I go and see?’

Hyeonu was full of conflict when Reina appeared with a tray full of things.

She asked, “Did I take too long?”

Hyeonu smiled awkwardly at Reina. “No? I was drinking coffee because it came out.”

Then he took a sip of the black Americano.

‘Ugh, bitter.’

Hyeonu managed to control his frown and looked at the tray that Reina had put down.

There were many things on the tray, ranging from bread and cakes to cookies.

“This is a croissant, the best-selling bread in the store. This is a cookie I bought just in case you like sweets. This is my favorite cheesecake...” Reina explained everything she’d bought.

There was nothing of the same kind; they were all different.

Finally, Hyeonu cut off Reina’s words by taking a big bite of the cookie with a lot of chocolate chips.

“It is delicious,” he said.

‘Why is this so sweet?’

The cookie was much sweeter than Hyeonu had expected.

The chocolate chips weren’t just on the outside of the cookie.

They were also stuffed inside it, making it naturally very sweet.

Hyeonu quickly took out a tissue, placed it on the table, and put the cookie on top of it.

Then he drank the iced Americano straight away.

‘It is more bitter now.’

Instead of neutralizing the bitterness of the Americano, the cookie actually made it more intense.

He tasted the lingering sweetness of the chocolate chip cookie and the bitterness of the iced Americano in succession.

“The cookie is very sweet.” The forced smile on Hyeonu’s face deepened.

Reina didn’t notice it and just thought Hyeonu was making a happy expression. “I’m glad it’s delicious.”

Picking up the bread she had bought, Reina started to eat it little by little.

***

Hyeonu returned to the hotel room and lay down on the bed before shouting, “Ah, I’m full!”

He felt that his stomach was still full.

No matter how much he walked through downtown New York, he couldn’t ease the stuffy feeling in his stomach.

‘How can she not get sick after eating so much?’

Hyeonu hadn’t eaten anything from the moment he left the bakery, yet Reina had to eat or drink something at least once in every hour.

He was startled when he saw that and didn’t understand how she could eat more. Nevertheless, it was certainly possible for Reina.

Then they wandered around and visited all the landmarks near the hotel.

‘It should be time for the others to come back.’

It was almost 6 o’clock.

The thought of the party starting at 7 o’clock forced him to come back to get ready.

‘What do I know?’

Hyeonu lay in bed for a while before getting up and shaking his body intensely.

Then he picked up his smartphone and called Kale. “Kale? I’m about to get ready for the party. Where should I go?”

“Come to the third floor, and I’ll pick you up.”

“I understand. I’m going now.” Hyeonu left his hotel room again not long after entering.

Hyeonu took the elevator down to the third floor and found Kale waiting in front of the elevator.

“You came back sooner than I thought?” Kale remarked.

Hearing that, Hyeonu frowned and asked, “Do you know where I’ve been?”

Kale smiled at Hyeonu’s question. “Yes, I’m aware. Isn’t it a New York tour? Didn’t you do many things? The Empire State Building, Times Square, the Rockefeller Center...”

He uttered all the names of the places Hyeonu had been to.

Every single location was right.

It included less famous places, but the list was still accurate.

“How do you know this?” Hyeonu asked curiously.

He couldn’t figure out how Kale knew these facts.

Kale simply unlocked his smartphone without saying anything to Hyeonu.

Hyeonu’s eyes widened when he saw it.