* * *

Beep, beep beep beep.

Click!

Playing tug-of-war with Coco in the living room, Jiho turned his gaze to the sound of the front door lock being disengaged.

Yejun, who returned home only in the evening, was impeccably dressed in a neat business suit with his hair styled.

Despite his stylish appearance, he was carrying grocery bags that didn’t quite match his look.

‘He had left early in the morning, and I hadn’t seen him all day. What was he dressed up like that for? Who did he meet?’

Without realizing it, Jiho stared at him, and Yejun, opening the inner door, met Jiho’s eyes.

“Jiho, you haven’t eaten yet, right?”

“Huh? No, I haven’t.”

“Wait a bit. I’ll prepare something quickly.”

As soon as he came in, Yejun put the grocery bags down in front of the kitchen fridge, took off his jacket, and washed his hands thoroughly at the sink.

Drying his hands, Yejun tied a dark navy apron around his waist.

Watching him put on the apron over his white dress shirt reminded Jiho of male lead actors in dramas who often cook stylishly for their lovers.

Yejun’s outstanding appearance made such unnecessary thoughts cross his mind.

But what’s up with him, preparing dinner as soon as he gets home?

It’s almost dinner time, but there’s no need to be in such a rush without even changing clothes.

Maybe he’s really hungry.

‘I was curious about who he met, and I wanted to ask him about Coco’s separation anxiety when he got back… But he looked too busy to ask.’

“Heh, heh.”

“…”

Besides, since Jiho was just playing tug-of-war with Coco, as soon as he stopped, Coco scratched his leg with her claws.

Despite the walk and the game, she still seemed full of energy.

Even though Jiho was a physical education student and quite fit, it seemed he had to concede to Coco’s energy.

It was believable that Yejun brought me here not because of Coco’s separation anxiety but because he needed someone with enough stamina to play with her.

‘…I’ll ask Ahn Yejun later.’

Deciding to postpone the question, Jiho reluctantly shook the toy, and Coco opened her small mouth wide to bite it.

“Arrrr!”

Though it was incomprehensible to a human, Coco seemed to find this game very enjoyable, growling in a high-pitched tone.

She wagged her tail like a propeller, showing no signs of letting go, as if challenging Jiho to a tug-of-war.

Jiho, competitive by nature, wouldn’t give up easily either.

While playing with Coco, Jiho became genuinely absorbed in the game, running around the living room.

At some point, his stomach growled.

It was around then that the savory smell of soybean paste stew wafted into his nose.

Sniffing the air, Jiho looked up to see Yejun placing a hot pot on the dining table with oven mitts on.

Seeing Jiho, Yejun smiled warmly and said,

“Jiho, stop playing with Coco and come eat.”

“…Okay.”

‘Did I play too enthusiastically? I got so caught up in the game, but thinking that Yejun saw me like that made me feel suddenly embarrassed.’

Putting down the toy awkwardly, Jiho watched as Coco picked it up with her mouth and slowly walked to her bed, flopping down.

She seemed a bit tired but still eager to play.

Leaving Coco chewing on the toy like a bone, Jiho walked to the dining table.

As he approached, his eyes were drawn to the variety of side dishes.

There was a bowl of white rice and soybean paste stew in front of him, and behind it, fluffy rolled omelets, napa cabbage kimchi, and other side dishes were laid out.

That alone would make for a satisfying meal, but the highlight was the braised short ribs in the center.

He knew Yejun had been busy in the kitchen since coming home… but he didn’t expect this much.

How did he manage to prepare so much so quickly?

Pulling out a chair across from Yejun, Jiho sat down and asked in a bewildered voice,

“Is today a special day? Why did you prepare so much?”

“Not really. These are all easy dishes.”

“Braised short ribs are easy?”

“They take a bit of effort, but I prepared most of it before I left. I just had to reheat it. Go ahead, try it.”

Yejun answered casually, as if it were no big deal.

It was amazing how he could talk so nonchalantly about making a dish as challenging as braised short ribs.

Jiho had made soybean paste stew and omelets while living alone, but he never even thought about attempting braised short ribs.

It requires soaking the meat to remove the blood and takes a lot of effort.

Even his parents found it challenging to make…

But then again, Yejun really enjoyed cooking, so Jiho shouldn’t judge by his own standards.

Everyone’s standards are different.

Giving up on replying, Jiho picked up his spoon.

The first thing he tried, of course, was the braised short ribs.

Just seeing them on the table had made his mouth water.

As Jiho bit into the meat, Yejun watched him with a concerned look.

“Is it a bit bland? I’m not sure because it’s my first time making braised short ribs.”

“I think it’s perfect.”

It was delicious enough to rival any restaurant.

Despite Yejun’s concern, the seasoning was just right, and the meat was tender, falling off the bone easily.

As Jiho answered casually and took another bite, Yejun’s eyes crinkled with a smile.

“Really? I’ll stick to this level of seasoning from now on.”

“If it’s bland for you, you can add more seasoning.”

“Eating bland food is healthier and helps you live longer.”

Yejun answered as if there were no problem.

Hearing it, Jiho realized there was nothing particularly wrong, so he couldn’t argue to suit his own taste.

Jiho quietly continued eating his dinner, lifting his spoon.

He also tried the soybean paste soup and rolled omelet, which paired well together, and he couldn’t stop eating.

It felt like there was something he needed to say, but it didn’t matter because he was too absorbed in the meal. ‘Eating’ didn’t quite capture it; ‘devouring’ was more accurate.

As he ate mindlessly, his bowl started to empty.

The pile of galbi bones next to him had grown into a small mountain.

‘Ah, that was delicious…’

After finishing his satisfying meal, he finally had the leisure to look around.

Leaning back against the chair, he noticed Yejun, who had also finished his meal, saying to him:

“Did you finish? I’ll clean up the dishes, so just leave them.”

Yejun said this and immediately pushed his chair back, standing up as if to start washing the dishes.

At the screeching sound of the chair being dragged back, Jiho suddenly remembered he had something to say to him.

He had meant to bring it up during the meal but had forgotten because the food was so good.

Jiho stretched out his leg and tapped Yejun’s shin, who was sitting across from him, with his toe.

“Hey, Ahn Yejun.”

“Huh?”

“Uh… don’t clean up yet, just sit for a moment.”

Jiho carefully opened his lips and called him.

Summoning him seriously, Yejun looked puzzled.

His face showed he was wondering why Jiho was acting this way.

He obediently sat back down and asked Jiho:

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“Didn’t you say before that you didn’t have time to watch over Coco because you were too busy?”

“Huh? Um… yeah, I did.”

“Then why do you seem so free to me?”

Jiho asked directly.

If Yejun had brought him to this house out of pity, Jiho thought his question would hit the mark.

But Yejun’s expression didn’t change at all at Jiho’s question.

Instead, he looked like he didn’t quite get it and played dumb.

“Did I?”

“You and I, haven’t we been together every day except today? We’ve been at home together every day, going to school together, and even taking Coco for walks together.”

“Yeah, it was fun.”

“…I’m not talking about it being fun. You said you were worried because Coco has anxiety and can’t be left alone. But you don’t seem busy at all, so it’s kind of weird.”

Jiho managed to complete his question, trying hard not to sound accusatory.

He was about to ask if Yejun had lied to him, so he was cautious, thinking Yejun might take it the wrong way.

When Jiho asked as gently as possible, Yejun smiled softly and spoke.

“Oh, it’s just that my schedule changed for a bit.”

“Schedule? Besides going to school? You’re not even doing any part-time jobs.”

Jiho spoke as if wondering why he used such a grand term like ‘schedule.’ As far as he knew, Yejun didn’t have anything special outside of school.

He had enough money not to need a part-time job, and although he was in a club, he wasn’t the type to participate diligently…

Even though Jiho pointed this out sharply, Yejun didn’t get flustered.

Instead, he pressed his fingers to his forehead as if tired and started to complain.

“My father keeps calling me to come to the main house to learn about the company work. I wonder if he even knows I’m a college student.”

“Ah…”

Seeing his face, as if he were venting out his pent-up frustrations, Jiho couldn’t help but nod in understanding.

Yejun’s family ran a global company that was well-known just by its name.

From what Jiho remembered from meeting his parents, it seemed they intended to pass it on to Yejun in the future.

That was why Yejun chose to major in international business.

He had heard that after graduating from college, Yejun would start from the bottom and learn everything step by step, but it seemed the successor training had already begun.

“Since I moved in, you haven’t gone to the main house, right? I don’t think I’ve seen you go…”

“It was just a lull. But seeing how they called me today, I’m not sure.”

When Jiho asked, Yejun responded with a weary smile.

It seemed that it wasn’t that Yejun hadn’t been busy, but rather, his father had unusually not called him to the main house since Jiho moved in.

Today, he dressed up nicely because he was meeting his parents.

The unexpected answer left Jiho feeling dazed. Had he misunderstood?

As he clenched his hand, lost in thought, Yejun asked in a soft voice.

“Is that all you wanted to ask?”

“…”

The Yejun in front of him was undoubtedly kind and amiable.

If he were to show a textbook example of a gentle smile, it would be Yejun’s.

But for some reason, Jiho felt that his smiling face was like a solid shield.

A shield that would deflect any attack.

* * *