Kang Yujun, who didn’t even pretend to listen, shamelessly kicked off his shoes and headed to the kitchen.
“By the way, why aren’t you checking my messages? Don’t tell me you turned off your phone?”
“…It died.”
Lee Kanghyun made a pathetic excuse. Even he thought it was pretty gutless, but if he honestly said he just turned it off, Kang Yujun would really throw a fit.
Fortunately, Kang Yujun didn’t seem suspicious.
“Charge it. You didn’t charge it because it’s annoying, right? If you’re up, go wash your face. I’ll make you food.”
“I’m not eating! Get out!”
“I’m making doenjang-jjigae. With Korean beef in it.”
The wriggling under the blanket stopped. Then disheveled hair peeked out through a gap in the blanket.
Lee Kanghyun slyly threw off the blanket and got up. His pride was hurt, but Korean beef doenjang-jjigae was innocent.
Besides, even if I hold out in bed, that bastard doesn’t seem like he’ll leave anyway.
“Our Kanghyun. Looks like you want to eat.”
“Shut up.”
Unfazed, Kang Yujun hummed a tune as he unpacked the shopping bags.
A moment later, Lee Kanghyun, who came out after washing up with complicated feelings, couldn’t believe the scene unfolding before his eyes.
In front of the cramped sink stood a man with a build like a mountain.
Because of his bulk, the already small sink looked like a toy. He was even wearing a small pink polka-dot apron that didn’t match his size.
Lee Kanghyun blinked several times, then rubbed his eyes vigorously.
This is a dream. This is a nightmare. I’m seeing things because Kang Yujun has tormented me too much. When I open my eyes, it’ll be gone.
Lee Kanghyun pinched his cheek hard.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you sitting down?”
Damn it. That really hurt. It’s not a dream.
“You… what’s with that apron?”
“This? It’s cute, right? I bought it on the way here. For you.”
“Throw it away. Right now.”
Lee Kanghyun’s face was stained with contempt. Has that bastard finally completely lost it? He bought a pink polka-dot apron for me to wear?
“I told you I bought it for you to wear. You’re always so dreary at home, so I thought you should wear something cheerful.”
“Are you crazy? Why would I wear that?”
“Why not? I think it’d suit you well. It’s cute.”
Lee Kanghyun’s face was handsome, but it was far from cute. He knew well himself that his sharp impression earned him evaluations of looking like a punk. Because of this, Lee Kanghyun thought Kang Yujun was mocking him.
“I’m absolutely not wearing it. If you keep acting crazy, I’ll kick you out.”
“Then I’ll wear it. What a waste.”
Kang Yujun nonchalantly stirred the ladle again.
On the chest of a 188cm adult man, an active S-rank Hunter, hung a tiny lace apron. The ribbon tied behind his back looked precariously like it would snap at any moment.
‘My eyes are going to rot.’
Lee Kanghyun dry-washed his face in agony.
Bubble bubble.
Along with the sound of the doenjang-jjigae boiling, a savory smell spread throughout the house.
Kang Yujun turned around and smiled.
“Sit down. It’s done.”
He placed a pot holder on the table… no, since there was no table, on the desk, and put the pot on it. Then he set down steaming instant rice and neatly arranged side dishes.
It was the first time something called home-cooked food appeared in Lee Kanghyun’s corner of the room, where he had survived on convenience store lunchboxes and delivery food.
Lee Kanghyun sat down as if entranced, pulling out a chair.
“Eat. Wow, seriously. Aren’t I too nice? Even cooking food for you.”
Kang Yujun said as he handed him a spoon. Lee Kanghyun didn’t respond and scooped up some broth to try it.
“……!”
It was delicious. Annoyingly delicious.
“How is it? It’s good, right?”
Kang Yujun asked, resting his chin in his hand. Lee Kanghyun pretended to be unfazed and scooped up a big spoonful of rice and put it in his mouth.
“It’s edible.”
“But your eyes got bigger?”
“It’s because it’s hot.”
Kang Yujun chuckled and scooped up plenty of meat chunks and placed them on top of Lee Kanghyun’s rice bowl.
“Eat a lot. Look at you, so skinny you’re just bones. What kind of S-rank is this?”
“You were the one telling me to lose weight because I’m heavy.”
“You were holding onto that? As expected, so petty.”
Lee Kanghyun raised his middle finger with his left hand, but his right hand didn’t stop moving the spoon. It was a proper meal after a long time.
And so a storm of eating passed. Lee Kanghyun, who had cleanly emptied his rice bowl, slumped in his chair.
Full belly and warm back. In my own home. So this is heaven. Now if only Kang Yujun would disappear, it’d be perfect.
“You do the dishes. I made the food.”
“……”
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“It’s a meal you set up on your own. I never asked you to make it.”
Kang Yujun clicked his tongue at the shamelessness. In the end, he grumbled but put on rubber gloves and stood in front of the sink.
Lee Kanghyun, lying on the bed with a face like a well-fed cat, watched Kang Yujun start washing dishes and became suspicious.
That bastard, why is he suddenly acting nice? Making food, and now even doing dishes?
Something felt ominous. There was no way Kang Yujun would be good to him for no reason.
It’s ominous but… nothing’s going to change even if I worry about it now. Lee Kanghyun just chose to sleep. It was more productive to sleep a little more rather than waste time being anxious.
The dishes were done quickly. Taking off the rubber gloves and turning around, Kang Yujun let out a hollow laugh. Lee Kanghyun was already dozing off in that short time.
Kang Yujun was genuinely amazed by Lee Kanghyun. Does he have the ability to sleep as soon as his head touches something?
He grabbed Lee Kanghyun’s shoulder and shook him.
“Lee Kanghyun. Wake up. I have something to say.”
Lee Kanghyun frowned and waved his hand with his eyes closed.
“What is it? If you tell me to go to a gate again, I’m really kicking you out.”
“No. We’ll go to the gate next week. Today is something else.”
Kang Yujun rummaged through his bag and pulled out a piece of paper, shoving it in front of Lee Kanghyun’s eyes. When Lee Kanghyun didn’t open his eyes, he forcibly grabbed the flesh of his eyelids and lifted them.
“Ah, fuck. What are you doing!”
“I told you to speak nicely. More importantly, look at this.”
Lee Kanghyun smacked Kang Yujun’s hand away and drowsily opened his eyes to read the paper. It was a real estate sales contract.
“What is this?”
“Let’s move. This place is too cramped. The security sucks too. I found a place. Let’s go there.”
What is he talking about? Move? Who? Me?
“Are you crazy? Why would I live with you?”
“We’re not living together, we’re living in the same building. Me on the upper floor, you on the lower floor. Or vice versa is fine too.”
“No way. Absolutely not. I’m going to live here forever!”
Lee Kanghyun shouted, crumpling the contract. Kang Yujun smiled leisurely and smoothed out the crumpled paper to shove it back.
“I bought this building.”
At the sudden statement, Lee Kanghyun blinked. What is this nonsense right now?
“I’m your landlord now. So listen to me. Pack. We’re moving today.”
“My contract goes until next year. No matter how much you’re the landlord, you can’t just kick me out. That’s illegal.”
“Yeah. Then report me. Make sure to sue too. Fighting, our Kanghyun!”
Kang Yujun said with a smile. He knew better than anyone that Lee Kanghyun wouldn’t do such an annoying thing anyway.
Lee Kanghyun was speechless and dazed, then suddenly asked because he couldn’t understand at all.
“Hey.”
“What. Did you feel like packing?”
“No. Is your money rotting away? Are you my parent? Or what, doing charity work? Why buy a whole house to offer it up?”
If it’s a building with good security in the middle of Seoul, it wouldn’t be cheap. What’s the reason for casually handing that over?
“At least let me know the reason. Why are you going this far for a complete stranger like me?”
At Lee Kanghyun’s suspicious gaze, Kang Yujun chuckled. He shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“It’d be a loss if an S-rank Hunter, a national asset, dies alone in a place like this. You need to eat well and sleep well in a comfortable environment so you can run gates with me for a long, long time and make money.”
That’s obviously not the main reason. Wasn’t that excuse too half-hearted? However, since Kang Yujun didn’t seem willing to tell the truth, Lee Kanghyun gave up on pressing further. It was annoying.
Suddenly facing a moving crisis, his head naturally throbbed.
This is definitely a dream. Clearly a nightmare. Please wake up. Please. Lee Kanghyun prayed inwardly.
But before his eyes, Kang Yujun was still wearing the pink apron, sporting the most wicked smile in the world. Lee Kanghyun buried his head in his palm with a desperate expression. There was nowhere to run. He was perfectly surrounded.
However, he couldn’t just be dragged along obediently. Lee Kanghyun squeezed out a final excuse with the desperation of grasping at straws.
“Moving… right now? I haven’t even packed.”
“What luggage do you have? Just a few clothes. Leave all the furniture and buy new ones there. I’ll buy them for you.”
Then Kang Yujun began rummaging through the room and sorting the visible items. He unfolded a rolling box and tossed in things that were at least usable. Everything else was destined for the trash bag.
“This cup ramen is past its expiration date. Throw it out. These socks have holes. Throw them out.”
“Hey! Those are my favorite socks. Don’t throw them away.”
“Holes are your favorite?”
Kang Yujun mercilessly stuffed the socks into the trash bag even after hearing Lee Kanghyun’s words. Lee Kanghyun looked at his precious junk being shoved into the trash bag with the expression of a man who’d lost his country.
Right. My blanket. He suddenly came to his senses. Moving instantly, he placed pillows and cushions in the middle of the blanket, rolled it all up, and held it in his arms.
I can’t put my precious blanket in that dust-filled box.
Lee Kanghyun’s room was emptied in 10 minutes. All that remained was Lee Kanghyun standing blankly, two boxes containing miscellaneous junk, old furniture, and the blanket he was holding.
“Alright, let’s go. To the new house.”
Kang Yujun pushed Lee Kanghyun’s back.
“I’m not going… I’m going to live here….”
“I’m emptying the place. There’s nothing here anymore.”
“I’ll sleep on the floor….”
Lee Kanghyun tried to hold onto the doorframe, but Kang Yujun lifted him up and held him in a princess carry. It was humiliating, but Lee Kanghyun was completely drained and couldn’t even struggle. In the end, he was loaded into the car while being held by Kang Yujun.
The whole time riding in the car, he thought about just jumping out. Anyway, even if I jump out of a moving car and roll, I won’t get a single scratch, so it doesn’t matter.
But if I run away, where would I even go? Even if he returned to his cozy studio apartment, it was obvious Kang Yujun would come catch him again.
There’s nowhere to go.
While he was just worrying, they arrived at their destination.
The car stopped at a top-tier luxury apartment in the middle of Seoul. Even the underground parking garage was magnificent. It was hard to find domestic cars—they were all foreign imports.
Before getting out of the car, Lee Kanghyun glared at the monstrosity hanging around Kang Yujun’s neck.
The pink polka-dot apron.
Rip. He reached out and tore off the apron string.
“Hey! What are you doing! My apron!”
“Were you planning to get out wearing that?”
“What’s wrong with it? It’s just cute.”
Lee Kanghyun genuinely wondered if there was something wrong with Kang Yujun’s eyes.
He ignored Kang Yujun and got out of the car, striding toward the elevator. If I’m destined to go in anyway, it’s better to just quickly enter the new house rather than dawdle here.
“Hey, Lee Kanghyun. Let’s go together!”
Kang Yujun chased after him. Grumbling sounds followed like a tail at his heels.
“You’re really so impatient. Like you even know where it is.”
So noisy… Lee Kanghyun wanted to plug his ears.
