Chapter 45
Cha Yoon couldn’t help but pause as he opened the door and came out. It was because he spotted Yeo Ji-yoon lingering nearby.
All the female contestants’ rooms were on the first floor. So there was only one reason to come up to the second floor. Yeo Ji-yoon had come looking for someone staying on the second floor.
Simultaneously, a scene flashed through Cha Yoon’s mind. The image of Ki Seo-jung kindly handing chocolate to Yeo Ji-yoon. Cha Yoon frowned.
Did she come looking for Ki Seo-jung? The possibility was high. If he were a woman, he would have been captivated at first sight by that handsome face, and the warm, affectionate personality to boot. It was natural to be tempted if you had eyes. Cha Yoon clenched his fist.
“Ah, Cha Yoon!”
Just then, Yeo Ji-yoon, having spotted Cha Yoon coming out, approached with a bright expression.
“Why are you here?”
Cha Yoon raised his guard. He looked her up and down, even taking a step back.
“I came looking for you, Cha Yoon. Actually, I came up earlier but waited here to respect that.”
Yeo Ji-yoon pointed at the warning sign attached to the door. Though her gesture had no other intention, Cha Yoon felt his nerves tighten just from her pointing at the door.
Cha Yoon fully expanded his already broad shoulders. It was his own effort to try and cover the door.
“You came to see me?”
Ji-yoon nodded. Why would this person come to see me? The two hadn’t had any interaction at all over the past week.
That’s why Cha Yoon couldn’t believe her words at face value. Unlike him, who didn’t know how to speak empty words, people often said things they didn’t mean for the sake of ‘politeness’.
“Why would you come to see me?”
“It’s our date day today, isn’t it?”
Ji-yoon stated her business, undeterred by his distrustful gaze.
“Ah.”
Date. As Cha Yoon mulled over that unfamiliar word, he let out a small sound. It was because the face in the photo that appeared when he scanned the QR code a few days ago flashed through his mind.
Only then did he remember. That Yeo Ji-yoon was his first official date partner.
Certainly, Yeo Ji-yoon hadn’t come looking for Ki Seo-jung. Cha Yoon slowly relaxed the tension in his shoulders. He still stood with his back to the door like Cerberus guarding the gates of hell, but at least he relaxed a bit.
“I was thinking of leaving around 11, how does that sound?”
“11 o’clock?”
Cha Yoon unusually hesitated at Ji-yoon’s suggestion. It was because the image of Ki Seo-jung sleeping peacefully, as he had said, flashed through his mind at that moment.
For some reason, he felt like he should be home when Ki Seo-jung opened his eyes. Though Ki Seo-jung wouldn’t wish for it, that’s what Cha Yoon’s heart wanted. Cha Yoon rubbed one of his eyebrows thoughtfully before speaking.
“Can’t we go a bit later?”
“Ah, I’ve already made reservations for where we’re going today. Do you have something to do? If it’s important, I can try contacting them to see if we can postpone.”
Cha Yoon opened and closed his mouth before silently shutting it. It was hard to call it important. After all, what he wanted to do was just stay home and wait for Ki Seo-jung to wake up.
His feelings remained the same, but he couldn’t ask to delay a place that had already been reserved. Suppressing his instincts, Cha Yoon shook his head.
“No, it’s fine. Let’s leave at 11 then.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Yes.”
“Alright then.”
See you later. As if that was all she came for, Yeo Ji-yoon turned around without lingering and left the second floor.
Cha Yoon let out a small sigh and brushed up his falling bangs. Turning his eyes, he saw the firmly closed door. He needlessly pulled on the doorknob. After double-checking the door one more time, Cha Yoon headed towards the first floor.
Following the sound of conversation coming from afar, he entered the kitchen. From bread to cereal to salad. He saw the contestants eating breakfast according to their preferences.
“Oh, Cha Yoon, you’re up?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Jung Soo-ho greeted Cha Yoon with his mouth full of bread. Cha Yoon nodded roughly and looked at the piece of bread in Soo-ho’s hand.
“Oh, do you want some?”
“I’m good.”
Soo-ho blinked and offered the half-eaten bread. Though he had no ill intentions, Cha Yoon couldn’t help but grimace. Soo-ho shrugged and popped the bread into his mouth in one bite.
Regardless, Cha Yoon had only one thought in mind. What should Ki Seo-jung eat when he wakes up? He couldn’t let a sick person eat just a scrap of bread or some leaves.
Cha Yoon walked to the back of the kitchen. Checking the pot on the gas range, he saw that some of the seafood stew he had made the day before was left.
Shit, this is still here. With an expression like he was looking at his mortal enemy, Cha Yoon dumped all the remaining seafood stew into the sink.
“Huh? Why are you throwing that away?”
It was really delicious. Gong Min-wook, who came to clean his cereal bowl, opened his eyes wide.
“Seafood is banned in this house from now on.”
“What?”
“I said we can’t eat it anymore, from now on.”
Cha Yoon’s incomprehensible words continued. What’s he saying? Gong Min-wook tried to understand his words in his own way but eventually gave up. Well, it’s not like Cha Yoon being weird is anything new. Thinking that he must have caught another strange disease, Min-wook left the kitchen.
After Gong Min-wook left, Cha Yoon was alone again. He opened the refrigerator door. Cha Yoon’s face was full of dissatisfaction as he checked the ingredients inside. Whatever groceries they had bought the day before, all that was inside were carrots, onions, and some leftover beef from yesterday.
Is there anything I can make with just this? To others, it might have seemed like a decent composition for making a meal, but it didn’t satisfy Cha Yoon at all.
Cha Yoon made a grumpy face and then shook his head. Well, even if there were abundant ingredients, it wouldn’t have made a difference. During the week, the Ki Seo-jung he had seen had no talent for cooking. How could such a person cook anything with his own hands? If he’s hungry, he’d probably just eat whatever bread is left on the table.
You should eat well especially when you’re sick. Cha Yoon messed up his hair. He was unusually concerned about someone else’s meal, which he normally wouldn’t have cared about. Perhaps because he had been keeping the refrigerator door open for a long time, a warning beep sounded.
“…Should I make some porridge?”
Cha Yoon mumbled softly. I haven’t had breakfast yet either. It’s good to eat something light in the morning.
Although skipping breakfast was his routine and he didn’t particularly like porridge due to its sticky texture, Cha Yoon rationalized his actions with all sorts of reasons.
Once he made up his mind, everything went smoothly. He took out the vegetables and beef from the refrigerator.
He quickly chopped all the ingredients finely. As he stir-fried the onions and carrots in sesame oil and added the meat, a savory smell wafted through the air. Cha Yoon added water and rice to it.
Meanwhile, Jung Soo-ho, who had entered the kitchen at some point, approached and spoke.
“Oh? Why are you making porridge?”
“I’m just making it because I want to eat it, no other reason. Why, am I not allowed to eat porridge?”
“No, that’s not it… Anyway, it smells delicious. The aroma is really savory.”
Cha Yoon snapped at Jung Soo-ho’s question as if he felt guilty about something. Soo-ho, who had gotten used to Cha Yoon’s way of speaking over the week, joked around.
Seeing Soo-ho swallowing his saliva, Cha Yoon covered the pot with his large body.
“I don’t have any for you, so don’t covet it.”
“Not even one bite?”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“Ah, I’m just kidding. Just a joke.”
Soo-ho smiled and raised both hands in surrender. However, Cha Yoon still kept his gaze fixed on the pot. After stirring for a while, it developed a good consistency. He added a final drizzle of sesame oil.
When he transferred the finished porridge to a bowl, it made exactly one serving. Perfect. Cha Yoon smiled as he washed the pot, his lips curling upwards. The excuse that he had made it for himself had long been erased from his mind.
Jung Soo-ho, who was still standing there, hovered around the covered porridge bowl.
“Cha Yoon, why did you cover this? Aren’t you going to eat it?”
Jung Soo-ho asked, seemingly curious about the reason. Cha Yoon was annoyed by Soo-ho’s constant unnecessary chatter. He frowned as he turned off the faucet.
“It’s my business, isn’t it?”
“If you’re not going to eat it, can I…”
Cha Yoon swatted away the hand reaching for the porridge bowl.
“Hey, where do you think you’re touching?”
“I thought you weren’t going to eat it…”
“What’s that got to do with you? Mind your own business.”
Go away. Cha Yoon waved his hand as if shooing away an annoying fly. Jung Soo-ho left the kitchen, drooping like a puppy that couldn’t get a treat.
Having protected the porridge from the dark hand, Cha Yoon looked around and hid the bowl in an inconspicuous corner of the kitchen.
This way, no one will think of eating it thoughtlessly. Cha Yoon left the kitchen with a satisfied expression.
When he went up to the second floor and entered the room, Ki Seo-jung was still lying with his eyes closed, no different from when he left.
Cha Yoon quietly went into the bathroom and changed his clothes. Slacks and a shirt. The fact that Cha Yoon, who usually preferred casual attire suitable for his age, was dressed so inappropriately was due to Ki Seo-jung’s influence. Remembering how he always wore formal suits without seeming uncomfortable.
Cha Yoon looked at his reflection in the mirror. Well, it looks a bit similar, I guess. Then his eyes met those of his reflection. Seeing his lips curled up, he felt somewhat embarrassed. He cleared his throat needlessly and left the bathroom.
