# Chapter 41
“Is there a problem?”
Dohyun opened the book and checked the author profile page. Kim Mi-hyun’s brightly smiling face in the photo was exactly the same as the person Seowoo had seen earlier.
Dohyun’s eyebrows lifted slightly as he looked down at the photo.
“I wondered whose book signing you went to, and it turns out it was Author Kim.”
“Do you know her?”
“Of course I do. Is this your first time meeting her, Seowoo-ssi? Well, she’s not the type to interfere with filming anyway.”
Interfere with filming? She didn’t seem like a broadcasting staff member, so what was this about interference? From the way Dohyun spoke, it seemed he wasn’t just pretending to know her but actually did know her.
Dohyun casually flipped through a few pages and replied nonchalantly.
“She’s the original author of the drama ‘The Overpass That Walks Backward.'”
“That drama had an original work?”
Seowoo’s eyes widened in surprise. He had never heard about the novel, but he was familiar with the drama.
However, while the drama had been successful, it hadn’t been a massive hit, which might be why the original work hadn’t received much attention.
Even Seowoo, who had followed the drama, never imagined there was an original work behind it.
“Compared to the drama’s moderate success, there was barely any mention of the original novel. Well, the title and story differ significantly from the original, which is not uncommon for dramatized works.”
“I didn’t know because I haven’t read the original. I did watch the drama though. It was one of the more successful domestic thriller dramas.”
“Really? You haven’t read the original? It must be one of Author Kim’s top bestsellers.”
At Dohyun’s question, which he asked as if it were obvious, Seowoo’s mind momentarily went blank. Of course, it would be strange for someone who claimed to be a fan and even attended a book signing not to have read the author’s bestseller.
His mind raced frantically after that brief moment of silence. Seowoo replied in a composed voice.
“…I discovered her through other works first, so I haven’t read that one yet.”
“I see. Which work did you find most interesting?”
Fortunately, Dohyun didn’t ask how he could not have read that particular work. Instead, he threw a sharp curveball that caught Seowoo off guard again.
The one fortunate thing was that Seowoo had hurriedly skimmed through Kim Mi-hyun’s list of works on his way back. In case Dohyun asked about the author, he needed to be able to answer with at least minimal information. That vague uneasiness he’d felt earlier had hit the mark.
Seowoo inwardly sighed with relief and blurted out the first title that came to mind from his memory.
“‘The Room with a Piano.'”
“Ah. That was interesting.”
“Have you read it?”
“It’s such a famous work, after all.”
You really read that? Regardless of whether it was famous or not, he didn’t look like someone who would have a close relationship with books.
While Seowoo’s expression stiffened skeptically, Dohyun said nothing more and pulled out a chair at the dining table for him. After taking off the apron he’d been wearing and hanging it up, he sat down naturally across from Seowoo.
Since there was no reason or need to refuse the meal, Seowoo also rested his back against the chair. Since he had things to ask Dohyun anyway, it wouldn’t be good to deliberately reduce their conversation time.
On the elegant table, served on clean and sophisticated plates, was a delicious-looking oil pasta.
“You said you didn’t learn how to cook, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Cooking. The omurice from last time too, I mean, even for a man living alone, most don’t cook this well.”
Dohyun poured water into a glass and placed it in front of Seowoo. His grinning expression was somewhat playful.
“So, this is a compliment? You seem quite pleased with my cooking skills. You looked satisfied last time too.”
“…If you think it’s a compliment, can’t you just graciously accept it?”
“I am graciously enjoying it at the moment.”
With this person, it’s impossible to give a proper compliment even once. He never stops at just the first verse.
As if deciding to stop talking, Seowoo picked up his fork, twirled some pasta, and put it in his mouth. Dohyun kept his gaze fixed on Seowoo, observing his expression as he chewed.
It was infuriating, but honestly, it was delicious. That’s why he had cleaned his plate of omurice last time too. Rather than enjoyment, Seowoo’s lips twitched with an inexplicable sense of defeat. However, his appreciation must have been clearly visible on his face, as Dohyun’s eyes curved into even more of a smile.
“You should honestly say when something tastes good or what you like about it, so I can improve. It’s also enjoyable for the one doing the hosting.”
“I’ve never once thought of you as the type who enjoys hosting others.”
“Why would you think that? I’m someone who’s naturally accustomed to hosting.”
Dohyun didn’t even blink as he said this as if it were the most obvious thing. But from Seowoo’s perspective, it was truly the most absurd nonsense he’d heard all year.
Threatening to kill someone, grabbing people by the collar, subtly ignoring important requests.
“If poor treatment counts as hosting, then I suppose it was hosting.”
“That hurts my feelings. Few people would go to this extent.”
Dohyun gestured proudly toward the table. Certainly, while he might not be someone who did everything well, people who set a table like this were truly rare.
“That’s why I asked.”
If he hadn’t cared whether I ate or not, I wouldn’t have been curious.
Pressing his lips to the elegantly crafted glass, Seowoo alternated his gaze between the elaborate tableware before him and Dohyun’s face.
“Didn’t I tell you before? I’ve lived with someone before. Usually, when two men live together, it’s already fortunate if they don’t just order delivery food every day. People who cook like this are uncommon.”
As for these expensive-looking dishes and decorations, Seowoo could overlook them as either Dohyun’s taste or a show of wealth.
Despite Seowoo’s cold analysis, Dohyun merely nodded with a very satisfied smile.
“I didn’t expect you to compliment me this much.”
How is this a compliment? It’s suspicion. Seowoo narrowed his eyes and glared, while Dohyun calmly twirled and ate his pasta.
“It’s much more lively and the atmosphere is brighter and nicer than eating pasta alone, don’t you think?”
“That’s your reason?”
“I can’t exactly serve this kind of meal to Manager Gu, can I?”
The image of Manager Gu and Dohyun sitting side by side eating pasta in this house—no matter how hard he tried to use his imagination, it was too incongruous to even visualize. But that was just Seowoo’s impression. Weren’t Manager Gu and Dohyun quite close?
“Is there such a… significant difference in position between Manager Gu and me?”
“Of course. Manager Gu doesn’t live with me. This is a privilege exclusively for family living under the same roof.”
“…You overuse the term ‘family.'”
“Does family only count when blood is involved? Isn’t it family when people eat from the same pot and live together?”
Well, that’s not entirely wrong. But if Seowoo were in Dohyun’s position, he would have considered Manager Gu more like family than himself. That’s how close their relationship seemed.
Come to think of it, when did he meet Manager Gu? Now, Manager Gu was always by his side, but his face wasn’t in the photos Hyungil had shown him. Dohyun was said to be in his early twenties at the time, so perhaps Manager Gu wasn’t around then.
If he had been living such a dangerous life since then, what about even earlier? Something like curiosity or a question suddenly popped into Seowoo’s mind.
“Speaking of family, I was wondering.”
“Hmm?”
“When did you become independent? From your family.”
After the question, a brief silence fell. It was because Dohyun didn’t immediately respond with his usual glib retort.
“You must have lived with your family too.”
“For someone who gets annoyed when I talk about my own story, you’re suddenly doing a background check, which isn’t like you.”
There was nothing strange about the answer, but somehow his voice seemed to have an edge to it. He wasn’t playfully making absurd responses, nor was he answering straightforwardly; rather, it was a rigid reaction as if he was putting up a wall. It also felt like a subtle refusal.
Normally, Seowoo would have just gotten irritated and said, “If you don’t want to answer, then don’t,” but he couldn’t do that now. It felt like discovering faint ripples on a surface that had always appeared calm. It was similar yet slightly different from when he had been irritated during their argument earlier in the day.
“According to you, we’re living under the same roof, so what’s wrong with asking about family while eating? Even friends talk about these things.”
“I didn’t say it was a forbidden topic. I just found it strange and surprising that you, Seowoo-ssi, would ask me about it, especially me.”
As if he had never sharpened his voice, Dohyun replied in his usual gentle tone.
“But I can’t really remember that clearly.”
“…Is that something you can forget?”
“People forget old and unimportant things.”
Seowoo’s eyebrows rose in puzzlement. How could that be included in unimportant matters? Even Seowoo vividly remembered the moment when he first became independent and started living alone. He could recall his parents’ concerns as if they happened yesterday.
“There’s nothing surprising about it. Everyone eventually separates from their family at some point, and that timing just differs for each person. It’s not strange not to remember that moment.”
“That’s why, whether good or bad, the moment of separation becomes an important memory.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
There was not even a moment’s hesitation. The sharp response, as if cutting with a knife, was quite different from Dohyun’s usual demeanor. It clearly showed his determination not to hear or speak any more about it.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
