Though Yeonwoo didn’t think Ho Munbeom’s earlier comment held much significance, he felt strangely shy. Still, trying not to dwell on it, he restrained his urge to eat hastily despite how delicious everything looked. He carefully chewed each bite of meat, rice, pickled vegetables, and gochujang stew.
Until now, Yeonwoo had thought it was fine to hastily eat his other two meals as long as he had one proper meal at the supermarket. But eating this luxurious meal with beef made him realize how wrong he’d been. Everything was delicious—even the salt for dipping the beef.
His poor physical condition was because he hadn’t been eating properly.
Being young but struggling with simple motion sickness was problematic. He really needed to start eating properly now. With an uncertain future ahead, he couldn’t afford to be physically drained.
“Try some of this too.”
What was placed on his rice was a golden-brown, appetizing shrimp.
“It will be delicious.”
After staring at the peeled shrimp, Yeonwoo picked it up and took a bite. It was truly delicious. It differed in size, taste, and texture from any shrimp he’d eaten before.
Was it so delicious simply because the ingredients were high-quality and expensive? Or perhaps…
Yeonwoo had been concerned about Ho Munbeom standing while grilling meat. Now that he’d eaten enough to feel full, it seemed reasonable to take turns.
Fidgeting with his chopsticks, Yeonwoo’s lips moved.
“I can grill now. Please sit and eat something.”
“I’ve been eating without you noticing, so don’t worry. More importantly, don’t put down your chopsticks—keep eating.”
At the comment that he looked good eating well, Yeonwoo touched his warming earlobe.
“Eat more rice and plenty of meat. The quality of the meat and shrimp is excellent today.”
Then he skillfully cut a fully cooked abalone and held it out to Yeonwoo.
This time, instead of placing it on a plate or rice, he held it with tongs as if suggesting Yeonwoo should eat directly from them. After alternately looking at the thick abalone, slightly larger than bite-size, and Ho Munbeom’s face, Yeonwoo parted his lips. The abalone was slightly hot against his tongue, but not uncomfortably so. Ho Munbeom’s eyes narrowed as he watched Yeonwoo’s cheek bulge while chewing diligently. Feeling his heart race at that smiling face, Yeonwoo discreetly averted his gaze.
Noticing that Ho Munbeom’s rice remained untouched, he reached for the lettuce wraps. He layered various vegetables on lettuce, placed several pieces of thick meat, added pickled onions, ssamjang, and rice to create a wrap that was large for a single bite, then awkwardly stood up.
When Yeonwoo moved, Ho Munbeom turned to him out of habit and noticed the sizable wrap.
“It felt a bit uncomfortable eating alone…”
He must have been quite concerned about Ho Munbeom only grilling meat.
Looking at Yeonwoo standing there awkwardly holding the wrap, Ho Munbeom lowered his head and opened his mouth. Seizing the opportunity, Yeonwoo placed the wrap into his mouth. He had worried it might be too large for one bite, but that was needless concern. Ho Munbeom’s eyes narrowed as he ate it neatly. Though he said nothing, his eyes conveyed that it was delicious.
After quietly observing Ho Munbeom’s eyes, Yeonwoo immediately prepared a second wrap. This time, using slightly different ingredients, he held it out, and Ho Munbeom ate it as if he’d been waiting. Each time, Ho Munbeom gazed at Yeonwoo’s brightening face.
Originally, he wouldn’t even consider food that had been touched by someone else. But for some reason, Yeonwoo’s wraps were acceptable. Even finding them more delicious, Ho Munbeom continued accepting them while occasionally feeding Yeonwoo freshly grilled beef, peeled shrimp, or abalone.
At some point, they were both standing by the brazier eating. Observing Yeonwoo, who seemed more comfortable than when eating alone, Ho Munbeom casually asked:
“Is your stomach better now?”
“…Ah.”
He had suffered from motion sickness and fever during the journey, but he’d been eating so well that he’d completely forgotten about it.
“I’m glad your condition didn’t worsen. If you couldn’t eat, I was really planning to take you to the hospital.”
“…I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“It’s only natural that I worry about you. So don’t apologize like that.”
Though his stomach had been fine, it seemed to be churning again.
Ho Munbeom looked into Yeonwoo’s eyes and slowly spoke:
“If you don’t mind, may I release my pheromones?”
Though his gaze wavered momentarily in surprise, Yeonwoo soon nodded.
Inhaling the pheromones of someone you’re attracted to can improve your condition. Though that wasn’t specifically what he had in mind when asking, his proposal had a somewhat suggestive element. Whether Yeonwoo knew this or not, he responded innocently, and Ho Munbeom, with his gaze fixed on him, released his pheromones. The moment he unleashed the pheromones he’d been restraining, the back of his neck tingled. He closed his eyes slowly, then opened them to see Yeonwoo’s cheeks gradually flushing.
“…If you’re comfortable, Yeonwoo can relax too.”
“…”
The two looked into each other’s eyes.
At some point, Yeonwoo’s scent began mixing with Ho Munbeom’s pheromones. As he’d thought from the beginning, Yeonwoo’s pheromones were mild for a dominant. Perhaps that’s why they didn’t irritate or discomfort him, he thought as he said softly:
“It’s nice.”
Yeonwoo tightly clenched his hands, then relaxed them.
It was overwhelming to consciously experience Ho Munbeom’s pheromones and accept the situation where their pheromones were mixing. Feeling his heart beating increasingly faster, Yeonwoo’s lips moved.
“…Executive Director, it’s nice too.”
“You like my pheromones?”
“…”
Yeonwoo closed his mouth and just nodded.
“That’s good. It’s surprisingly difficult to match compatible pheromones.”
“…”
“It seems we’re compatible.”
Still maintaining eye contact with Ho Munbeom, Yeonwoo tensely answered, “Yes.” At his response, a deep satisfaction settled over Ho Munbeom’s face.
Ho Munbeom felt he was being mischievous. There was no need to go this far to hear Yeonwoo’s response. Even without doing so, Yeonwoo’s feelings for him were genuine. He truly liked him.
Putting down the tongs, Ho Munbeom finally sat in a chair.
Sitting beside him, Yeonwoo, despite having eaten several wraps, averted his gaze from Ho Munbeom, who was eating meat as if just starting his meal. Having eaten enough, Yeonwoo’s chopstick movements slowed. Feeling Ho Munbeom’s gaze upon him, Yeonwoo chewed and swallowed each grain of rice slowly, as if counting them.
Ho Munbeom didn’t remove his gaze from Yeonwoo, who seemed uncomfortable, conscious of being watched.
His slow chopstick movements and deliberate chewing and swallowing revealed his awkwardness. Knowing this, Ho Munbeom still visually devoured Yeonwoo’s profile, exposed ear, white neck, straight back, and the waist and thighs below.
Then he took out a beer from the ice pack and drank it. Though the beer was refreshingly cool going down his throat, it didn’t quench his thirst.
The man who managed the villa reappeared just as they were finishing their meal.
As if unwilling to compromise on this point, the man practically pushed Ho Munbeom and Yeonwoo into the villa. Despite his confusion, Yeonwoo thanked him for the meal and preparations, but the man merely glanced at him without responding. Though still taciturn, he hadn’t seemed frightening or uncomfortable from the beginning.
The interior of the villa was also a new world for Yeonwoo. The wooden floor, elegant yet sophisticated interior, high-ceilinged living room, and stairs on one side—everything was unfamiliar.
Wondering if he should really enter such a place, Yeonwoo stood still until Ho Munbeom took out slippers and placed them down. Slipping his feet into them, Yeonwoo followed him to the living room.
With its high ceiling and one wall made entirely of windows, the space felt open and airy. Though the spacious living room had sofas arranged in a U-shape, Yeonwoo didn’t consider sitting there first. As he stood still, looking around, Ho Munbeom used a remote to close the curtains over the large windows.
While Yeonwoo curiously watched the slowly moving curtains, Ho Munbeom gestured upward with his chin.
“I usually use the first floor, but today let’s go upstairs. The view is better there.”
Again, Yeonwoo only nodded.
Seeing tension return to Yeonwoo’s small face after it had seemingly relaxed during their meal, Ho Munbeom moved first. Following him up the stairs, Yeonwoo found the situation strange.
Though he had been carsick, he’d arrived to eat a delicious, filling meal and was now in a place he’d never seen before in his life. Previously, they had met in the evening and gone to a hotel.
Though he wasn’t certain, this seemed to be a personal place even for Ho Munbeom. He had brought Yeonwoo here. Looking at Ho Munbeom’s broad shoulders, Yeonwoo lowered his head, feeling a tickle in his chest. The tips of his ears were visibly red.
Ho Munbeom opened a door in the middle of the hallway and looked back at Yeonwoo. Drawn by his gaze, Yeonwoo went to stand beside him and caught his breath at the sight of the spacious, pleasant room and the landscape visible through the wide window opposite.
“…”
Though they had clearly entered the mountains, somehow the sea was visible over there.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
