#154
Two hours later, Yoon Pa-ran arrived at a traditional Korean house with Dan Joo-hyuk.
The hanok was located on a hillside on the outskirts of Seoul. On one side, there was an open view of the city landscape; on the other, the lush green mountain.
Dan Joo-hyuk had told Yoon Pa-ran to share this address with the people he knew. While transmitting the address as instructed, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t know exactly what purpose the building served.
Even as they crossed the traditional-style entrance, he remained unaware. He thought it might be Dan Joo-hyuk’s vacation home, like the one Heo Sang-yeon used.
However, as soon as they arrived, people dressed in hanbok began guiding them somewhere. While Yoon Pa-ran froze in confusion at their excessively polite attitude, Dan Joo-hyuk led him into a room where they sat down.
After that, food literally began pouring in.
‘Is this a restaurant?’
‘Yes. The taste here is quite good.’
Only then did Yoon Pa-ran realize this was a restaurant. Though oddly, there was no sign outside and no trace of other customers.
The massive table, large enough for someone to lie on, was filled with Korean dishes one might only see on TV. Everything was presented on expensive-looking plates in an immaculately refined manner.
It looked too precious to touch, so Yoon Pa-ran hesitated to pick up his spoon. Besides, it would be about an hour before the people he had invited would arrive.
‘Eat first. It’s well past lunchtime.’
‘Shouldn’t we wait for them?’
‘When they arrive, I’ll have them set a new table.’
Following Dan Joo-hyuk’s encouragement, Yoon Pa-ran began eating. It was also uncomfortable to watch the food getting cold.
Despite the spacious floor table, they ended up sitting side by side. Overwhelmed by the extraordinary restaurant atmosphere, Yoon Pa-ran didn’t question when Dan Joo-hyuk naturally sat beside him.
Although he did wonder why they needed to sit so close that their thighs touched.
Are we sitting together on one side to make it easier for the staff to serve? Or to view the scenery outside together?
“Try this too.”
Dan Joo-hyuk placed a dish of japchae that had been sitting farther away in front of Yoon Pa-ran. Following his suggestion, Yoon Pa-ran scooped up some japchae. The savory aroma stimulated his appetite even before it entered his mouth.
For a while, Yoon Pa-ran ate silently. Everything was so delicious that he wanted to bring his siblings here.
“…”
From what he’d briefly heard on the way, the current situation was quite serious. It was concerning that Heo Sang-yeon might be in league with those spreading those bizarre stones.
It was fortunate that the people he contacted had readily agreed to come despite his sudden request. Honestly, he’d thought they might not meet since they weren’t particularly close.
Deep in thought, Yoon Pa-ran slowly took another spoonful of rice. He should eat well now, since there might not be time for meals once they started moving.
“This is delicious too.”
Dan Joo-hyuk then picked up a piece of galbi and placed it on Yoon Pa-ran’s spoon. Looking at the perfectly deboned and sliced meat, Yoon Pa-ran frowned.
This was something he would do for his younger siblings. It felt a bit odd to be treated like a child by Dan Joo-hyuk.
“I can eat by myself.”
“Don’t you like galbi?”
Dan Joo-hyuk had brought him to this nice restaurant, after all. Rather than getting angry, Yoon Pa-ran meant to say he didn’t need to be taken care of, but instead received a question in return.
It was an absurd question. This was even prime beef ribs.
“I do like it.”
“…”
He answered firmly, meaning “don’t talk nonsense.” But for some reason, Dan Joo-hyuk suddenly clamped his mouth shut.
Whatever had gotten into him today, he was even quieter than usual. Wondering if it was because of the Heo Sang-yeon issue, Yoon Pa-ran stared at him. Somehow, his pitch-black eyes met his, completely devoid of humor.
After a moment, Dan Joo-hyuk began moving his hands busily again.
All the meat dishes gathered in front of Yoon Pa-ran. The meticulously arranged table that the staff had prepared was completely ruined. It was as if the meat dishes were rushing toward Yoon Pa-ran’s rice.
“Eat a lot.”
“…”
Really, why is he acting like this?
Dan Joo-hyuk was now leaning his body toward Yoon Pa-ran. One hand continuously moved side dishes while the other pressed against the floor behind Yoon Pa-ran’s hip.
In short, it was an inefficient posture that showed no intention of eating. He’d thought Dan Joo-hyuk was hungry since he hadn’t eaten breakfast and that’s why he’d called people to the restaurant, but maybe not?
Whatever the reason, it was incredibly burdensome. Being this close, Yoon Pa-ran’s spoon might end up in Dan Joo-hyuk’s mouth instead of his own.
“Aren’t you eating?”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s gaze somehow seemed to grow sharper.
Though Yoon Pa-ran had meant to tell him to stop clinging and just eat, he belatedly realized his tone might have been a bit harsh. After rolling his eyes slightly as if choosing his words, Yoon Pa-ran added:
“You said you didn’t eat breakfast.”
“That’s right.”
Only then did Dan Joo-hyuk straighten his back. Yoon Pa-ran blinked again at his compliant attitude.
I did tell him to back off, but why is he listening so well?
His gaze naturally turned to Dan Joo-hyuk. Though they had eaten together several times before, strangely, it felt like he was properly seeing how Dan Joo-hyuk ate for the first time.
He ate with surprisingly neat manners. Yoon Pa-ran’s gaze dropped from his handsome face to his large hands. After looking at the veins protruding on Dan Joo-hyuk’s hand and his prominent wrist bones, Yoon Pa-ran quickly turned his head away.
Despite having eaten quite a bit, he still felt strangely hungry. With so many delicious foods in front of him, Yoon Pa-ran eagerly used his spoon again.
“Hoo…”
After a while, Yoon Pa-ran emptied his rice bowl completely.
Trying to satisfy his hunger, he’d eaten more rice than expected. This would make his body heavy, which wasn’t good—why had he done that?
Frowning slightly, he leaned back a little. Beside him, Dan Joo-hyuk, who had finished eating at a similar pace, spoke softly again.
“Why don’t you eat more?”
“I’m full.”
By now, even if Dan Joo-hyuk challenged him to a duel, there was no way he could eat more.
Fortunately, instead of issuing a challenge, Dan Joo-hyuk suggested subtly:
“Should I ask for dessert? They have some fruit.”
Surprisingly, the thought of fresh fruit was appealing.
After straightening up properly, Yoon Pa-ran nodded.
“Yeah.”
He ignored Dan Joo-hyuk’s smirking smile. Soon, all the food in front of them was cleared away and replaced with an abundance of fruit.
Feeling the remaining food was too wasteful, Yoon Pa-ran absently watched the staff leaving the room.
“Next time, bring your siblings and the director.”
After all the staff had left and the sliding door closed, Dan Joo-hyuk moved close again and gently played with Yoon Pa-ran’s earlobe.
At these attention-grabbing words, Yoon Pa-ran turned sharply to Dan Joo-hyuk sitting beside him.
“Oh? Should I?”
“Tell me when you want to come. I’ll arrange it.”
However, he couldn’t readily agree to the follow-up statement. The reservation process for this place seemed rather unusual.
Seeing his hesitation, Dan Joo-hyuk bent his head. From the closer distance, he spoke as if making a request:
“Be sure to tell me.”
“…Thank you.”
Though he would likely never actually do it, Yoon Pa-ran expressed small gratitude.
He felt deeply thankful that Dan Joo-hyuk seemed to be caring for his family lately.
“Now eat some fruit.”
“Okay.”
He stabbed an orange with a fork and handed it to Yoon Pa-ran. After accepting it and putting it in his mouth, a green grape approached his lips next.
“I’ll eat it myself.”
“Alright.”
Despite his answer, the grape pressing against his lips was pushed into his mouth. When he glared as if to say “what are you doing,” Dan Joo-hyuk merely smiled with his eyes.
This back-and-forth continued several more times. Dan Joo-hyuk seemed to enjoy it and kept trying to feed him grapes.
“Stop it.”
Finally, Yoon Pa-ran pushed his hand away in irritation.
Right at that moment, Dan Joo-hyuk suddenly suppressed his aura.
“Huh? Why?”
His gaze was fixed on empty space as if piercing through the wall. Yoon Pa-ran soon realized that he had erased his presence because someone was approaching.
However, Yoon Pa-ran was inwardly quite surprised.
Since when have I been so unaware of Dan Joo-hyuk’s aura?
“If I’m here, they might run away. It would be troublesome to chase them.”
While Yoon Pa-ran was dazed by this new realization, Dan Joo-hyuk’s monotone voice was heard.
In any case, hearing that the people they were waiting for were coming, Yoon Pa-ran straightened up from his half-reclining position. Though he was a bit skeptical about Dan Joo-hyuk’s concern.
Would people really run away just because someone was inside?
“Hunter, your guests have arrived.”
“Tell them to come in.”
A staff member quietly spoke from outside the door. At Dan Joo-hyuk’s response, the staff who had retreated soon brought in the guests.
They were people from the Guild Fish Cutlet.
“Hunter Yoon Pa-ran! You’re only contacting us now… Huk!”
“We’re really hurt, Hunter Yoon. Huh-uk.”
“What’s wrong with you all? Uh-huk.”
The hunters who had rushed in stopped one by one like dominoes. Three pairs of eyes discovering Dan Joo-hyuk shook wildly.
They looked extremely tense, as if they had encountered a monster.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
