“What?”
Yu Je-hyun, who had just dropped the bags in front of the kitchen with a dull thud, scowled and turned to look at Lee Haru. The sight of that pale-faced guy struggling with a few measly bags had irritated him, so he carried them himself. But now, this brat was even trying to meddle with his dinner time? Unbelievable.
“Since we are at it, could you carry these up to my room too? I’ll organize the groceries in the fridge.”
Yu Je-hyun was undeniably handsome, but there was a sharp, intimidating edge to him. Most people, when faced with that expression, would take the hint and quietly retreat.
But Lee Haru was still the same—doing as he pleased, ignoring Je-hyun’s clear displeasure. Although, admittedly, something was different from before.
Back then, when Haru had clung to him despite his mood, it had made him imagine smashing that tiny head of his into pieces. But now, Haru just seemed… like he genuinely was not afraid of him.
He used to act like a terrified leech. What, did his liver grow three sizes since then? (Korean idiom for getting bolder)
“I may not look like it, but I can actually cook. Judging by the fridge, you have been living off instant meals. Don’t you miss real food?”
Watching Haru grin brightly, completely oblivious to his thoughts, Yu Je-hyun suddenly felt a suffocating weight settle in his chest. He was already shirtless, but it made him want to strip off what little he was still wearing.
“Is there anything you particularly like? My favorite’s kimchi stew with loads of meat and tofu. You don’t hate kimchi, do you?”
Even without a reply, Haru kept rambling on. His lips, constantly in motion, looked especially vivid today. With a long sigh, Yu Je-hyun turned away from the incessantly cheerful chatter and disappeared down the long hallway.
“Classic tsundere behavior.”
Despite acting all grumpy, the fact that he still did what Haru asked made Lee Haru smile in satisfaction. It made him feel like going all out. No one had thrown him a welcome party, so he would throw one for himself.
***
Click—
“Yes!”
As the light finally flicked on, Lee Haru let out a triumphant cry. It was just one bulb, but the whole atmosphere of the room, which had felt more like a storage closet, changed in an instant.
Hands on his hips, he scanned the room with a proud expression. The bare window now had a light sky-blue curtain fluttering gently, and a pure white comforter lay neatly on the bed.
On the nightstand, a lamp with a tasteful mix of white and wood tones added warmth to the formerly stark space.
“Even this much completely transforms the vibe.”
It was still humble—nowhere near what one would expect in a mansion—but compared to how dusty and lifeless it looked before, it was a massive improvement.
“Wait, how did time go by so fast?”
After checking the time on his phone, Haru hurried to the kitchen. He had confidently told Yu Je-hyun not to eat dinner, and now it was already six o’clock.
People who ate early would already be halfway through their meal by now.
But the moment he stepped into the kitchen, Haru froze in surprise. Yu Je-hyun was sitting alone at the empty dining table.
At first, he was startled—but then laughter welled up inside him. Still, if he laughed now, it might piss Je-hyun off.
So he coughed a few times to suppress it and spoke in what he hoped was a calm tone. Though, the slight quiver at the end of his words betrayed him.
“Already waiting?”
“You said you were making a home-cooked meal.”
Even Je-hyun’s voice dipped for a moment, as if he himself realized how absurd he looked. The chill in his gaze sent shivers down Haru’s spine, and he quickly opened the fridge.
“I, uh, move fast. It will be ready in no time, so just hang tight.”
Trying not to reveal how excited he was, Haru steadied his breathing and began prepping the ingredients. Food always tasted better when shared, after all.
And he genuinely loved watching people enjoy the dishes he made.
Before long, the sound of stew bubbling filled the spacious kitchen, accompanied by a rich, spicy aroma.
Yu Je-hyun involuntarily swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth.
He was skeptical. Whether Haru really could cook.
Sure, his attitude had shifted slightly—but there was still the chance he was bluffing again with some half-baked culinary skills just to impress.
But then again, Haru’s words had struck a nerve.
More than anything, Yu Je-hyun longed not for takeout, but for food made by someone—for him.
His eyes naturally followed the figure bustling around the kitchen, sleeves rolled up.
They say you can tell a cook’s skill just by the way they handle a knife.
The chopping board and knife—never used since moving into this mansion—now met with rhythmic, confident sounds.
Entranced, he kept watching. Before he knew it, dishes began to fill the table one by one.
“For kimchi stew, you have to have rolled omelets, seaweed, stir-fried dried squid, and anchovy stir-fry with shishito peppers. And, of course, glossy white rice.”
Placing the still-bubbling stew pot in the center of the side dish-laden table, Haru smiled in satisfaction. It was a rich stew, where chunks of meat and tofu clearly outnumbered the kimchi.
Yu Je-hyun’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
Then, noticing that there were four bowls of rice set out, his brows twitched.
“You set the table for the Team Leader and Hong Seong-jun too?”
“Of course. Ever since I moved in, we have never once eaten together. From now on, the four of us should do it more often.”
Because he had grown up alone, Lee Haru had always carried a quiet yearning for lively, crowded mealtimes. Even in the military, he would grin to himself at every meal just from being surrounded by others. That habit earned him the nickname “Gwangnoon” (“Crazy Eyes”) all the way until discharge.
“What a pointless effort.”
“They are not going to eat?”
“Go ask them yourself. I am starting.”
“Alright. Please, go ahead.”
He had tried to prepare everything quickly, but with so many side dishes, over an hour had slipped by before he knew it. Knowing Yu Je-hyun had been waiting all that time, Haru filled a bowl to the brim with stew and handed it to him.
“…Thanks. I’ll eat well.”
“Yes!”
So he is not such a bad person after all.
The quiet note of gratitude made Haru respond with an enthusiastic smile. Just that simple line—I’ll eat well—made all the effort, all the sweat beading on his forehead, feel completely worthwhile.
“…Shit.”
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
But then, just after taking a spoonful, Yu Je-hyun let out a low curse. Haru froze, panicked. Did he mess up the flavor by rushing? Did he grab the wrong seasoning? No… When he’d tasted it earlier, it had been perfect—rich umami, just the right amount of heat, enough to polish off a bowl of rice in no time.
He watched anxiously as Yu Je-hyun lifted his head, brows drawn slightly, and met his gaze.
“This is the best kimchi stew I’ve had in my life. Are you out of your mind?”
If it tasted that good, why did he look so angry?
Seeing that sharp glare as Yu Je-hyun hurled something between an insult and a compliment, Haru finally let out the breath he had been holding in.
“I told you I know how to cook.”
It had not been a disaster after all, and Haru lifted his shoulders proudly. His friends had always said it—Your kimchi stew could win awards. The fact that it worked even here, in this strange place, filled him with pride.
“Alright, enjoy your meal. I’ll go get Team Leader Kang and Esper Hong Seong-jun.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Yu Je-hyun was eating like a man possessed. Oddly enough, the sight was kind of heartwarming. There was no noisy chewing, and his spoon barely made a sound, yet rice vanished from his bowl in thick, satisfying scoops. It was the kind of scene that made the cook’s heart swell with pride.
Haru wanted to sit down and try his own stew too, but he needed to bring the other two down from the second floor before everything got cold. It should be fine—just telling them it was time to eat.
He paused at the foot of the stairs, hesitating for a second, and just as he lifted one foot to climb—
“Perfect timing. You two were coming down? Heading to eat? Right this way.”
The scent of kimchi stew had naturally spread throughout the house, drifting all the way to the second floor. With senses that sharp, it would have been strange not to notice.
“Hey! You guys need to try this. It’s insane.”
Yu Je-hyun raised his right hand toward the two entering the kitchen. He had already emptied one bowl of rice and was filling his soup bowl with another round of stew.
“Should I get you another bowl of rice?”
“Yeah.”
It felt like Haru had a tail swishing gleefully behind him. He handed over a fresh bowl, piled even higher than the first, and Yu Je-hyun took it immediately.
“Thanks for the meal, Guide Lee Haru.”
Even Kang Min did not hesitate to sit down at the table Haru had set. It was rare—if not unheard of—to see Yu Je-hyun eating so heartily.
The only one who could not seem to settle in was Hong Seong-jun. He did not take a seat. Instead, eyes flickering in disbelief between Yu Je-hyun and Kang Min, he quietly turned and walked out.
“Esper Hong Seong-jun!”
“Let him go. There might not even be enough for the three of us at this rate.”
