Ch.139Mimosa 1

It was the day after catching the drug dealer in the International Village.

I had spent the entire day in Ansan searching for the drug factory.

But I couldn’t focus on work at all.

Because last night, after Siho met Jisu late at night, something changed about her.

When she returned, she didn’t say a word to me, just lay in bed like a sick fox, claiming she was tired.

At first, I thought she was genuinely exhausted and avoiding me.

So I was going to teach her a lesson for rejecting my touch because of her mood.

But…

When I lifted her shoulder, tears were welling up in her eyes.

Only then did I grasp the seriousness of the situation and asked what had happened.

But Siho wouldn’t tell me anything.

She just kept mumbling “sorry” over and over.

Thanks to that, I’ve been thinking about her all day since this morning.

“I still…”

Am I still someone she can’t share her secrets with?

I feel both disappointed and frustrated.

What kind of relationship did she have with Jisu that I can’t wedge myself between them?

I thought about tormenting her in bed until she told me…

But I lacked the confidence because of the guilt that would follow.

I had decided to become a villain when I joined Ilshim, but it seems I still have a long way to go.

I was only able to escape those thoughts when my phone rang on my way home.

“Yes, this is Red Snake.”

“Team Leader Han, where are you now?”

“At the supermarket near my home.”

“Our daughter-in-law is acting strange. She’s been holed up in her room all day… Not answering her phone…”

Even the Vice President, who’s always cheerful, sounds gloomy.

Her voice made me anxious as well.

“I’ll head there right away.”

“Yes, please do. You’re her partner, you should take care of her.”

Partner…

What I casually said to save her that time has somehow become an established fact.

Of course, living with Siho forever would be enjoyable…

But after we catch Park Shin-ae, that life will end too.

“Did she like meat…”

Elegant music fills the supermarket.

Today, I plan to cook dinner myself for Siho, who’s been cooped up in her room.

Though I’m not skilled at cooking, I did some research online.

How to grill steak, how to haggle over meat prices, and so on.

Usually, the Vice President and I would call for catering during business trips or go to restaurants…

Trying to cook myself is quite complicated.

“Still, I should cook for her myself.”

With that determination, I headed to the meat section.

Along the way, several people glanced at me.

I wondered if they recognized me as Ilshim.

But fortunately, they were just blankly admiring my appearance.

Ignoring those gazes, I reached the meat counter.

The man cutting meat saw me and jumped up in surprise.

“I’d like tenderloin, please.”

“Uh, how much would you like…?”

He asked while fixing his protruding forelock.

Finding it bothersome to deal with him, I brushed it off.

“Whatever, just give me enough. Something suitable for grilling steak.”

“Understood.”

He spoke shyly and took out the meat.

Then he cut it beautifully, almost excessively so, and packaged it with care.

“How much is it?”

“Just 100,000 won per kilo…”

That’s cheaper than I expected.

I only realized much later that he had deliberately given me a discount.

“Vegetables next.”

I check the vegetable ingredients through my meticulously written memo.

Garlic and asparagus.

I found and tossed garlic and asparagus into my green shopping basket.

As I was about to head to the counter with my now full basket, my eyes drifted to the liquor section.

“…”

Cocktails…

The drink Siho always enjoyed making… the alcohol that ultimately brought us together.

Come to think of it, since moving into my penthouse, she hasn’t made cocktails even once.

Maybe if she could make cocktails again, she might feel a bit better.

With that thought in mind, I approached the display.

Suddenly, my eyes were drawn to a bottle with a plump, smiling old man on the label.

Champagne…

A celebratory drink for victory.

As if entranced, I picked up the bottle and placed it in my basket.

Sweet and bubbly champagne—Siho would surely enjoy it.

Though I’m not sure if alcohol is good for her in her fox form…

I headed to the counter with my now heavier basket.

A kindly-looking middle-aged woman began ringing up my items one by one.

When she picked up the liquor bottle,

She noticed my Ilshim mark reflected on the bottle and looked up.

“You’re from Ilshim…?”

“Yes.”

Typically, reactions to the Ilshim mark fall into two categories.

In areas under Ilshim’s protection, people express gratitude; elsewhere, they tremble with fear.

This place isn’t Ilshim territory, but it’s on the border.

She’ll probably be frightened by my appearance.

“Thank you so much for last time.”

“Last time…?”

My red eyes flashed.

Did something happen here?

“A few days ago, Ilshim rankers protected us from robbers who broke in.”

I see.

Now that I think about it, Black Snake did report something like that…

I was too focused on finding that damn Park Shin-ae to pay attention.

“I should have thanked that young lady with fox ears on her head too!”

“Fox ears?”

“Yes, she subdued those guys along with the hunters in suits. They looked like a team!”

She mimics swinging a baseball bat.

A team, huh…

It’s been two months since Siho started associating with our Ilshim.

In Ilshim, that’s when we start recognizing someone as family.

Then aren’t we family too?

I gripped the plastic bag firmly.

And calmly headed home.

But unlike before, Siho didn’t come running to greet me.

The spacious penthouse was eerily quiet.

“Are you back…?”

“Yes, did something happen?”

The Vice President, who had been hiding behind the sofa, peeked her head out.

She spoke to me in a very small voice.

“No-. I just felt like I should be quiet, so I was hiding…!”

“Ah… Where’s Siho?”

“She’s alone in her room…! Probably sleeping.”

I put the bags down on the table.

Then I walked to the room, making sure my footsteps were loud enough for Siho to hear.

“Siho, are you sleeping?”

“…”

I could see her figure outlined under the blanket.

I slowly approached her and tapped her shoulder.

“Oh… Red Snake, you’re back from work?”

Her ears, which had been drooping, twitched weakly.

Siho looked up at me with half-lidded eyes.

Her face was so cute I wanted to kiss her right away, but her gaunt appearance held me back.

“Are you hungry…? I should have made food, but I dozed off…”

She rubbed her eyes drowsily and tried to get up.

But having lain down for too long, she staggered as she tried to rise.

“No, stay in bed. Just come out when I call you later.”

“Huh? Why?”

Perhaps because she was drowsy, Siho asked in an adorably cute voice rather than her usual androgynous tone.

Seeing that, I smiled and patted her head.

“I’ll cook for you today.”

“Really?”

For the first time, her previously dull eyes sparkled.

Is me cooking such a surprising thing…

“Will you be okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just a simple steak.”

I headed to the kitchen, chewing nicotine gum.

Worried about me, Siho followed cautiously with her hands tightly clasped.

“Steak isn’t actually that easy to make…”

I sat her down at the table.

Then confidently put on an apron.

The Vice President, sitting on the sofa, stared at me intently.

“Wow- This is the first time I’ve seen Team Leader Han wearing an apron.”

“W-what are you saying? I’ve cooked occasionally before.”

This is going to expose how bad I am at cooking.

It’s the first time in my life I’ve felt resentful toward the Vice President.

“Ah, instant ramen? You’re amazing at that. Put lots of green onions in it-.”

“Vice President!”

“Ah, my ears are going to fall off. Alright- alright. I’m so- excited for our Team Leader Han’s cooking. Right, Siho?”

She grinned and suddenly grabbed Siho’s shoulder.

At that touch, Siho’s ears stood straight up, but she forced a smile and nodded.

“Yes… I’m really looking forward to it.”

That’s right, look forward to it all you want.

I’ll definitely make you smile again.

I picked up the frying pan.

It was still wet, perhaps the Vice President had washed it.

Well, it’ll dry on its own.

I placed the frying pan on the gas range.

Then I poured in plenty of olive oil.

I heard you need enough oil or the meat will burn.

But…

That was a big mistake.

“—!”

How long had it been since I turned on the heat? Hot oil began shooting up from the frying pan like bullets.

The Vice President was startled and ran away from the oil splattering everywhere.

“What the hell is this?”

The kitchen was about to become a disaster zone.

Damn, what should I do…

Seeing this, Siho urgently called out.

“Red Snake! Quick, the pot lid!”

Following her words, I frantically looked around the kitchen counter.

Finally finding a pot lid, I quickly covered the frying pan.

“Haah…”

“Should I just do it…?”

Siho approached cautiously, already worried.

I immediately grabbed her and sat her back down at the table.

“No! I said I’d do it!”

I’ve made the child worry again.

Damn… They say cooking is like battle, and it seems that’s true.

I shouldn’t underestimate it.

I focused my red eyes intensely.

Like during those times when I fought in the great war against the Association rankers…

Concentrate desperately as if you’ve returned to those days!

I turned off the stove.

Then scrubbed the surface thoroughly with a paper towel.

“Phew… Let’s try again.”

I secured my apron tightly.

Then cleared my throat and tied my hair in a ponytail like a chef.

Siho stared blankly at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hm? Nothing… I just noticed a mole on your neck.”

“First time seeing it?”

“Yeah…”

Her unexpected comment gave me an interesting idea for teasing.

I smiled seductively and whispered to her.

“I’ll let you see plenty of it later.”

“Huh…?”

“So eat my food and snap out of it quickly.”

At my words, Siho immediately froze like ice.

The Vice President chuckled at our interaction.

“Ah, youth-.”

I rubbed my finger on the freshly wiped frying pan.

Good, not a drop of water.

This time, I poured just a little oil.

Then slowly rotated it to coat the pan evenly.

I turned on the heat again.

And placed the bright red tenderloin on top.

“—.”

The sizzling sound of meat filled the entire penthouse.

As if intoxicated by that sound, Siho’s fangs peeked out between her lips.

I almost missed the timing to sprinkle salt and pepper while staring at those fangs.

Lightly twice on the top side.

Then flip it and lightly twice again.

Perfect.

The once red meat starts to brown nicely.

Thanks to careful monitoring, it’s cooked to medium, maintaining the red juices in the center.

“Ah, right. The vegetables…”

I muttered to myself without realizing.

At that moment, I heard someone snickering behind me.

“No, no- I just thought it was cute.”

What?

I’m cute?

That’s absurd.

A fox daring to say that to her master…

When I flashed my red eyes, Siho immediately became frightened.

She shut her mouth tightly and waited politely for the food.

She’s getting quite bold these days.

“But still…”

I was pleased to see her gloomy face from earlier starting to brighten.

Yes, this should be enough.

Once her mood improves, I’ll definitely ask her today.

What exactly happened between her and Jisu.