n

n

n

n“If it’s something I can help you with, I’ll definitely do so. What is it?”

nWell, it’s not that something happened…”

n“Just tell me. It’s okay,” said Ho Sung Lee while hiding his nervousness.

nHe couldn’t help but feel nervous.

nHe was worried that something horrible might’ve happened.

nIt was a call from Commander Kim, and normally, that meant something big happened.

nSo the thing is… I was wondering…

n“Haha, don’t worry. Just say it.”

nI was wondering if you could look into Min Sung for me.

n“What do you mean?”

nSo, um…

n‘What is this? Why is she so hesitant?’

nI’m going back to Korea.

n“Yes, I know. You’re coming back tomorrow, right?”

nYes. So I was wondering if you could find out what kind of women Min Sung likes. You’re the closet person to Min Sung.

nHo Sung Lee went so blank that he almost got into an accident.

nHo Sung Lee quickly fixed his handle.

n‘So that’s why she called?’

n‘Wow, she knows how to take initiative.’

n“Haha, sure. Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

nAlso… please ask him what he thinks about me.

nShe wasn’t the stern commander that he knew, but a woman who acted just her age.

nShe was a normal woman, who couldn’t resist Min Sung’s fatal charms, and Ho Sung Lee had to block his mouth from laughing.

n“Okay. I’ll find out and tell you tomorrow.”

nWhen are you free tomorrow?”

n“I’ll pick you up when you arrive.”

nYou don’t have to do that.

n“No, I have no plans anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

nOkay. Thank you.

nUpon hanging up, Ho Sung Lee put a cigarette in his mouth. He lowered the window and smiled bitterly.

n“Sigh, I’m jealous. Why does Commander Kim like a psychopath like him anyway? I don’t get it.”

nHo Sung Lee smoked with anger.

n“Am I helping Min Sung with his dating life now? Ugh, my life.”

nHo Sung Lee grumbled but then smirked.

nHis life as a slave was still over.

nHe didn’t regret his time with Min Sung. He felt a little sad that it ended, but he wasn’t going to live his life with regret.

nHe had money, and he had things he wanted to do.

nHe was going to live a new life.

nHe had a hard time trying to assist Min Sung all this time.

nIt was a miserable life.

nBut now, he could walk his own path.

nHe could finally enjoy his own life.

nWhen Min Sung Kang told him he was free for the first time, Ho Sung Lee couldn’t get used to it, and he was unable to feel that it was real.

nBut as time went on, he could clearly see his freedom ahead of him, and that made his heart flutter.

nHo Sung Lee headed over to the shadow guild with a smile on his face

nHe had to look for someone to manage his foundation, and then he had to go to Min Sung to fulfill Commander Kim’s request.

nAfter that, he would look into a restaurant, think about the interior, and start on many matters of the preparation stage.

nHe had much to do.

nAnd Ho Sung Lee didn’t hate that he did.

n***

nHe went grocery shopping at a market nearby.

nAfter putting his groceries in the kitchen, he made a cup of coffee and entered the living room, and that was when he saw Bowl and Ssol, playing outside in the yard through the window.

nMin Sung enjoyed his cup of coffee on the sofa before heading back to the kitchen while rolling up his sleeves.

nBowl and Ssol, who were playing out in the yard, entered and followed Min Sung everywhere.

nWhile Min Sung washed his hands at the sink, Bowl and Ssol bickered and fought at the bottom of Min Sung’s legs.

nMin Sung ignored them and continued to do his work.

nFirst, he took out a knife and sliced some ingredients.

nBowl and Ssol stopped fighting and clapped as soon as they saw it.

nUpon preparing the ingredients, Min Sung measured them on a scale and began to boil the broth.

n“Master, would you like more heat?”

nBowl asked.

n“No, that’s okay. Then I won’t be able to time it.”

nMin Sung crossed his arms and nodded at his watch.

nHis watch would ring at a specified time.

n‘I have some time until then.’

n‘I’ll prepare the other food in the meantime.’

nMin Sung checked the other ingredients.

nWoong Jang glanced into the kitchen with a pleased smile and returned quietly.

nWhile Min Sung took out various mushrooms and vegetables, he heard the front door open.

nIt was Ho Sung Lee.

nBowl and Ssol ran over and stuck to his legs, but Ho Sung Lee ignored them and greeted Min Sung.

n“I’m here, Sir. What are you doing?”

nHo Sung Lee greeted him and then stared at Min Sung in confusion.

n“Isn’t it obvious?”

nMin Sung glared back.

n“But Chef Jang is here. Why are you cooking?”

nMin Sung washed the vegetables and after placing them back down, he answered, “Because I want to. Why else?”

nHo Sung Lee scratched his neck and nodded.

n“I-I see.”

n“Try it when I’m finished.”

nHo Sung Lee’s face turned pale.

n“Ha, haha… Oh no. I just ate.”

nMin Sung lifted his eyes and glared at Ho Sung Lee.

n“I’ll eat it,” Ho Sung Lee said with a pale face.

n“You’re lying, aren’t you?”

n“A-about what?”

n“That you’re going to eat.”

n“Let me be honest, Sir. I’m scared.”

n“…”

n“I almost died after eating the food you made at cooking class.”

n“But you didn’t.”

n“That’s not the point. It was painful.”

n“So you’re saying you don’t want to eat it?”

n“No, I will… because I respect you.”

nMin Sung smiled at Ho Sung Lee.

nAnd when Ho Sung Lee saw this, he got goosebumps.

n“So what I’m trying to say is…”

n“…”

nHe wanted to make up an excuse, but he couldn’t think of anything.

n“I’m sorry.”

nMin Sung scoffed at Ho Sung Lee.

n“Just don’t be shocked when you taste it later.”

nMin Sung shifted his focus back on his cooking.

nHe sounded confident, but all Ho Sung Lee could think about was how shocked he was going to be at how horrible the food was.

n***

n“Let’s eat.”

nMin Sung set up the meal on the table and sat down first.

nHo Sung Lee sat down in a stiff manner.

nHo Sung Lee felt tense, but Min Sung didn’t care about Ho Sung Lee’s attitude and simply lifted his spoon.

nJust as he was about to scoop up some rice, Min Sung put down his spoon and looked at Ho Sung Lee.

n“Eat,” said Min Sung.

nHo Sung Lee sighed and looked down at the food.

nThe visual wasn’t bad.

nBut he couldn’t let his guard down because it was Min Sung Kang who made the food.

nThat was enough to be suspicious.

nHo Sung Lee smiled bitterly at the food.

n“Why are you smiling?”

nMin Sung asked.

n“No reason.”

nHo Sung Lee picked up his spoon.

nIt was foolish to have any expectations for Min Sung Kang’s cooking.

nHe was better off trying it with full determination.

n‘I’ll just go to the hospital and receive treatment afterward.’

nThat was what Ho Sung Lee thought as he looked at the food.

nIt was white rice, kimchi stew, and sausages.

nHo Sung Lee took a bite of the rice before tasting the kimchi stew.

nHe then jolted his eyes wide open.

n“Hm…?!”

nUpon seeing Ho Sung Lee’s reaction…

n“How is it?”

nMin Sung asked with hope.

n“It’s not good,” Ho Sung Lee said with a smile.

nMin Sung grimaced at Ho Sung Lee.

n“Then why are you smiling?”

n“Because this is a significant improvement!”

nHo Sung Lee shouted with excitement.

nMin Sung crossed his arms, unable to understand.

n“What do you mean by that?”

n“It didn’t poison me!! That’s amazing.”

n“Why do you think it tastes bad?”

n“I’m sorry? Well, the rice is hard, and the kimchi stew is too salty.”

nMin Sung fell deeply into thought as he looked down at the food that he made.

nFollowing a moment of silence…

n“I made the broth, and I even used the scale to measure the ingredients. Why is it bad?”

nUpon seeing Min Sung think so seriously about his cooking, Ho Sung Lee sighed.

nThis man, who was always flawless, showed his only weakness when he cooked.

nIt was fascinating.

n“That’s because you skipped a few crucial steps.”

n“What is it?”

nMin Sung stared at Ho Sung Lee with sharp eyes.

n“First, when you make the rice, how much water you add is important. After putting your hand in, make sure the water comes up to your palm.”

n“What about the kimchi stew?”

n“The broth isn’t bad, but the kimchi isn’t the right kind for stew, and you added too little broth. That’s why it’s salty.”

n“I see.”

nMin Sung stared down at his food with a serious face.

n“But you’ve improved. I think you’ll be able to make delicious food soon enough,” said Ho Sung Lee with a joyful face

n“Okay.”

nBut Ho Sung Lee had no idea… what a big mistake he had made.

n“I’d better make it again.”

n“I’m sorry?”

nMin Sung threw the food into the sink.

nMin Sung took out new ingredients from the fridge and began preparing them again.

nHo Sung Lee gulped as he watched Min Sung, who was now very sensitive.

n