Heegang burst into laughter and hugged Wonyoung, who stood there dumbfounded in front of something that was neither porridge nor rice.
“What should I do, you’re too cute.”
“No, it’s not cute at all… I shouldn’t be like this…”
Had Heo Wonyoung now become a half-wit who couldn’t even cook porridge properly? Or should he be grateful that at least he made inedible food rather than setting a fire like someone else?
Heegang sat the confused Wonyoung down and served rice, placing it in front of Wonyoung.
“I thought it would be better not to season it. Whatever it is, let’s eat first and rest well. Okay?”
“…”
Wonyoung thought ‘I’m going to be eating plain rice,’ but Heegang’s words weren’t wrong either. His stamina was now at 2. On top of that, when he actually saw the rice, he belatedly felt extreme hunger. It made sense since he’d eaten almost nothing all day.
‘Right, let’s eat first and see.’
Plain rice or whatever, surviving comes first. Wonyoung vigorously picked up his spoon, and 1 stamina was deducted.
‘Are you kidding me?!’
“Rae, are you okay?”
At Heegang’s question, Wonyoung looked at his own hand trembling while holding the spoon and answered with tears in his eyes.
“No, I’m not okay.”
Heegang looked at Wonyoung pitifully and took the spoon from him.
“Here, say ah.”
“…”
‘I didn’t want this, this is why! Do I have to be fed like a child at this age?’
[Insufficient stamina. Please rest.]
[Stamina: 1]
In front of stamina 1, he had to do just that at this age. Wonyoung looked at the notification window and became resigned.
“Quickly. Ah—”
“…Ah.”
“You eat well. Good boy.”
Wonyoung was seriously wondering if one could die from shame. But then, Heegang’s phone rang.
“Ah, sorry, Rae. Let me take this call for a moment.”
Wonyoung nodded weakly. His vision was blurry as if he’d fall asleep any moment. But he couldn’t pass out like this. Believing his stamina would recover if he filled his stomach, he picked up the spoon and shoved rice into his mouth.
And…
That memory was the end.
“Rae, sorry for being late. The agency called… and.”
When Heegang returned, Wonyoung had collapsed on the dining table, asleep. And with two grains of rice stuck on him at that.
“Rae, are you okay? Rae!”
“Mmm… smack.”
Heegang, who was shaking Wonyoung in surprise, saw him smacking his lips then breathing evenly, and only then realized he was asleep. He let out a sigh of relief and suddenly chuckled. Because he discovered the rice grains stuck to Wonyoung’s face.
“Haha, hahahaha.”
He laughed for a while looking at the soundly sleeping Wonyoung, then carefully even took a photo. Had Wonyoung seen it, he would have beat the ground and wailed.
Soon Heegang picked up Wonyoung and moved him to the bed. Then after removing all the rice grains from his lips, he kissed Wonyoung’s flushed cheek.
“Sleep well.”
At the low whisper, the corners of sleeping Wonyoung’s mouth gently rose.
* * *
“Rae-nim, you can accompany the Director from 12 o’clock later. You can go down to the first floor and wait.”
“Me? Pardon?”
“Yes. It’s an instruction the Director specifically gave.”
At the Chief Secretary’s story, Wonyoung was dumbfounded. Until now he’d been left in the secretary’s office with no care, and suddenly?
‘Has the suspicion of being a spy cleared up a bit? Or is he planning to test me? Maybe I’ll hear Kyung Taerim’s circumstances today.’
Then what choice should he make this time? Without making a decision, Wonyoung went down to the first floor at the appointed time. After waiting for a few minutes, an expensive sedan glided up and stopped in front of Wonyoung.
Soon the back door opened and a familiar silhouette could be seen inside. Who it was could be known just from the length of those fully extended legs.
“Hurry up and get in. Close your mouth.”
Wonyoung realized he’d been stupidly gaping and quickly pressed his jaw shut. Hearing a snicker from inside made him feel bad, so he got in the car with a sulky face.
“Good day, Director.”
“You don’t look well. Why is your face so swollen?”
Wonyoung almost blurted out ‘it’s because of you’ but pressed down and held back.
“It’sh nofing.”
His pronunciation got muffled from clenching his teeth as he answered, but it wasn’t Wonyoung’s concern. But then, Taerim suddenly got close.
“…!”
“You need to buckle up before we can depart.”
Wonyoung, who had squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, opened them at the sign of Taerim moving back. Before he knew it, his seat had a belt fastened.
“Y-you could have just said so…”
Wonyoung muttered in embarrassment. Taerim ignored his words and asked.
“What body wash do you use?”
“Pardon?”
“What about shampoo?”
What, this perverted question. When Wonyoung made a disgusted expression, Taerim furrowed his brows as if asking what he was imagining.
“Just answer.”
“…I use soap. Cucumber soap.”
“Cucumber soap?”
“There’s cucumber-scented soap. I solve everything with just that…”
Of course, for the perfectionist Wonyoung, it was unthinkable, but in circumstances where he had to save every penny, separately stocking body wash, shampoo, hair oil, and body lotion was excessive luxury. In the end, he had to entrust his body to the pale green cucumber soap that was originally at home.
“Then this is your body scent.”
“Pardon?”
When Wonyoung asked back at Taerim’s muttering, Taerim pulled Wonyoung’s hand and brought it to the tip of his nose.
“Narae-ssi has a scent. Did you know?”
“Me? I don’t use perfume…”
Wonyoung was rolling his eyes when he saw Taerim’s intense gaze and thought he seemed angry, so he apologized.
“I’m sorry. If you don’t like my scent…”
“It’s not about liking or disliking.”
“…”
Then what do you want me to do, you bastard. Meeting Wonyoung’s resentful gaze, Taerim smiled self-deprecatingly.
“Since it’s not about liking or disliking, there’s no need to be sorry.”
“Uh…”
“Because I didn’t have a choice from the start.”
“…”
Right, I get it. Wonyoung answered like that inwardly and looked at his hand still caught by Taerim. Then Taerim, who noticed that, nicely lifted Wonyoung’s hand and demonstratively folded it on top of Wonyoung’s knee.
“There. Is that okay?”
Wonyoung felt very bad about that sarcastic action, but pressed down hard and held back as he answered.
“Yes, thank you.”
Then he turned his head away and fixed it on the window outside. It was a silent protest that he wouldn’t even talk with him.
Taerim looked at Wonyoung’s white cheek that was all swollen again and suddenly thought of dumplings and chuckled. Baby chick, dumplings – what a secretary doing all sorts of things.
Soon he asked while pretending not to know.
“Narae-ssi, aren’t you curious where we’re going now?”
“…Yes… no.”
“Are you saying you’re curious or not?”
“…I’m a little curious…”
Honestly, he couldn’t help it. Today’s lunch schedule was definitely rarely empty, yet despite that, he wondered what there was to accompany him for and also why he was specifically taking him, among other questions.
But then, suddenly a choice appeared.
[‘Grumble’ My stomach growls.]
[Wah, I’m hungry.]
What, suddenly?!
Surprised, he looked and saw the status window’s status had changed to ‘Hungry (✽´ཫ`✽)’.
‘Damn it.’
But anyway, the answer was already decided. Wonyoung’s frustration, now adapted to the game, was brief and his choice was fast.
Grumble grumble grumble, grooowl.
If he’d known the rumbling sound would ring out so magnificently, he might have hesitated a bit though.
At the rumbling sound that echoed in the car, the driver who had been driving smoothly and gently jolted slightly, and Taerim hurriedly turned his head to stare out the window. Of course, Wonyoung could see his facial muscles twitching though.
Wonyoung just wanted to break the car window and jump out.
“Ahem, well, good timing then.”
Taerim, who barely held back his laughter, cleared his throat unnecessarily and spoke. Wonyoung glared as if asking what was so good about it.
“Isn’t it lunchtime anyway? This schedule is a luncheon.”
“A luncheon…?”
At those words, a feast made of all kinds of delicacies came to mind in Wonyoung’s head. Since it was a meal a chaebol eats, it would definitely be incredibly lavish!
However, the next moment, his dream shattered.
“I’d like you to make the kimchi stew and rolled omelet that Narae-ssi mentioned last time.”
“What?!”
Wonyoung asked back loudly in bewilderment. He thought it would just pass, but the retaliation for the text incident was happening here.
“Didn’t you recommend it as extremely delicious? Saying to mix it with seaweed powder and eat it.”
To remember all that, Kyung Taerim was truly a terrible guy.
“So shouldn’t you take responsibility for sending as many as 11 texts to talk about it?”
“…”
Petty bastard. Wonyoung grumbled inwardly, but there was nothing wrong with Taerim’s words. On top of that, wasn’t he the B and Taerim the A? His salary was already high compared to his work, so if he didn’t even do work like this, he might get fired right away.
‘I don’t have a choice either.’
Wonyoung nodded helplessly.
“Understood, Director.”
At that answer, Taerim smiled as if satisfied. Really, it was a damn handsome face.
‘Kimchi stew is nothing. Rolled omelet might be a bit difficult, but it’s not a big deal to me.’
He didn’t know if it would suit the great chaebol’s taste, but he’d make it enough to make his eyes round. Wonyoung burned with motivation. However, hearing Taerim’s following words, Wonyoung’s motivation fizzled out.
“Then, let’s go grocery shopping first.”
With Kyung Taerim? Grocery shopping?
Wonyoung silently leaned his head against the window. Somehow, he felt like everything before his eyes went dark.
