Ch.19Chapter 19. Ramen

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes, thank you for your—wait, who are you?”

“Tsk.”

Juliane, who had been trying to naturally enter through the door, smoothly removed her hat.

After clicking her tongue quietly with furrowed brows, she turned around and immediately transformed her expression into a bright smile.

The contractor employee blushed slightly at her beautiful face.

“Are you the owner of this house?”

“No, I’m not. I’m… from the Department of Justice. Just looking around briefly.”

“Ah, yes. Please look around.”

Only after taking out her wallet and showing her ID card was she finally able to pass through.

The contractor briefly wondered what business a Justice Department employee would have here, but decided to just let it go and focus on his own work.

“Huh…?”

Meanwhile, Juliane, who had entered the living room after passing through the hallway, was taken aback.

Something that should have been there was missing.

“The table. Where on earth is the table…?”

She had definitely attached a listening device under the table.

Come to think of it, most of the other furniture was also missing.

Since the place had been attacked, perhaps the table had been smashed and thrown away.

Juliane rushed back out hurriedly.

“Excuse me!”

“Yes?”

“What happened to the table that was in the living room?”

“Pardon? The table?”

“A silver table about this big.”

Juliane moved her hands to indicate the size, but the employee still looked puzzled.

“We never removed anything like that. There was no table when we arrived.”

“…”

This is bad.

That thought flashed through Juliane’s mind.

If she had known this would happen, she would have used a real-time wireless upload bug instead of that outdated listening device.

Why was this analog department so obsessed with antiquated equipment?

Budget constraints couldn’t be the reason.

Just the day before yesterday, she had seen a new coffee machine being installed in the office.

“Haah… Aaah! You idiot!”

If only she had come a little earlier.

Then she could have retrieved the listening device.

But if the table was removed even before the attack…

“No way.”

Did Jinsoo Kim notice the listening device?

Suddenly, Juliane felt goosebumps all over her body.

Could he have realized that I was the one who installed it?

Jinsoo rarely seemed to invite anyone else to his home, so if he noticed the bug, wouldn’t he naturally suspect me?

As she was fretting with a serious expression—

“Ah well. He probably doesn’t know?”

“Doesn’t know what?”

“Eek?!”

She jumped in surprise at the quiet voice from behind her.

Turning around, she saw Jinsoo and Cuss standing side by side.

Had they been out somewhere?

And both their skin looked smoother and better somehow.

Did they get some kind of facial treatment?

“You scared me… Why did you sneak up on me like that?”

“And why are you standing in front of someone else’s house?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Juliane fully grasp the situation.

She had been caught sneaking into someone’s home without permission.

No, wait. Maybe they didn’t see me coming out of the house?

“Ahaha… Actually, I wanted to see Jinsoo for a moment…”

“Then why didn’t you just call?”

“You weren’t answering your phone…”

“I didn’t receive any calls though.”

“Huh? Really? I was getting a signal. Must be bad reception.”

Good.

I handled that well.

Jinsoo’s expression was a bit dubious, but he didn’t seem completely disbelieving.

Just as Juliane was feeling relieved—

“So why did you enter my house?”

“Ah.”

She found herself cornered again.

Damn. So he did see everything.

“It was just… because it was open…”

“Do you normally enter other people’s homes just because they’re open?”

“I’m sorry…”

Juliane hung her head.

Normally, she would have smoothly offered excuses to get out of the situation.

But for some reason, words failed her in front of this man.

“Sigh. So why did you come to see me anyway?”

“Well…”

*Growl*

At the sound resembling a car drifting, both Jinsoo and Juliane’s gazes converged on one spot.

Cuss also looked down at her own stomach before speaking.

“I’m hungry.”

“Ah, I was trying to skip breakfast, but… Juliane, you haven’t had breakfast either, right?”

“Huh? Yes?”

“Come in and have breakfast before you go. Is ramen okay with you?”

Watching Cuss and Jinsoo opening the door and going inside, Juliane stood dumbfounded.

Was this what they called Eastern hospitality?

If so, refusing would be impolite.

“Yes! That sounds perfect!”

Juliane shouted enthusiastically as she followed them into the house.

***

Damn it.

Shameless woman.

I was just asking out of politeness.

“Yes! That sounds perfect!”

“Ugh…”

I never expected her to actually come in for breakfast.

Does she have no sense of social cues?

I bought three portions so I could eat two myself, but now my plans are ruined.

“Please sit… Wait a moment.”

Looking around the dining table, I realized there were no chairs.

Right, they were all smashed and thrown away.

The new ones I ordered won’t arrive until tomorrow.

In a hurry, I searched every room and somehow managed to find three chairs.

Although they were all mismatched, at least we could sit.

“I’m hungry, Jinsoo.”

“I told you earlier. Shut up and wait.”

She’s really whining a lot.

I’m about to start cooking now, so just wait quietly.

Ramen isn’t anything special.

First, I took out three packets of Shin Ramyun I bought at the supermarket earlier.

For the pot… damn, I don’t have anything big enough for three portions.

I had no choice but to take out a pan larger than a pot.

What do they call this thing? A wok?

First, I coated the pan with oil and added chopped green onions.

I was originally going to add minced garlic too, but since Yankees hate garlic smell, I skipped it.

After stir-frying the green onions in oil, I added red pepper powder, the ramen seasoning, and water, then brought it to a boil.

When the water started boiling, I threw in the noodles.

Once the noodles were cooked, I divided them into three bowls and topped them with a heap of washed bean sprouts. Done.

“Um… Jinsoo.”

“Yes?”

“Is this ramen?”

“It looks like ramen to me. Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all…”

“Then eat quickly before it gets cold.”

You talk too much, freeloader.

How dare you complain when you’re getting a free meal.

If I say it’s ramen, then it’s ramen.

“Oh no…”

I turned my head to check on Cuss, who was unusually quiet, and immediately sighed.

She was embarrassingly holding the chopsticks in her fist, trying to pick up the noodles like an idiot.

I shouldn’t have given her chopsticks.

Actually, I shouldn’t have made noodles in the first place.

“If you keep using chopsticks like that, I might just beat you to death. Put them down. I’ll get you a fork.”

“Jinsoo, everyone struggles at first.”

“I still can’t tolerate seeing chopsticks used like that in front of me. I wouldn’t say anything if you were learning, but…”

“Haha… Could I have a fork too, please?”

Juliane’s laughter sounded awkward for some reason.

She was holding chopsticks in both hands, making a complete mess of it.

That’s even worse than Cuss…

In the end, I had to get two forks.

Don’t all Yankees know how to use chopsticks these days?

Every time I check YouTube’s trending tab, it’s full of videos with titles like “America is amazed, Japan is jealous, and China is envious of South Korea’s something-or-other.”

I thought Korea had achieved a cultural victory during the 10 years I was in prison.

So I assumed all Americans would know how to use chopsticks by now.

“I didn’t expect this at all… but it’s actually pretty good?”

“You could have left out the first few words.”

“Haha… Sorry. I actually never really liked noodle dishes.”

She never liked noodle dishes?

This person has been missing out on half of life.

That’s truly pitiful.

“How about you, Cuss? Is it edible?”

“KHAACK! My tongue hurts!”

“Oh dear.”

Cuss started roaring as if she was about to breathe fire.

Must be too spicy for her.

“Drink this.”

“Urghh…!”

I quickly brought her a cup of water.

She drank it while spilling it everywhere like she had a hole in her chin.

I couldn’t let her dirty the floor, so I roughly wiped her mouth with my sleeve.

“Puhaa!”

“I’m sorry. I’ll make you something less spicy.”

“Spicy…?”

“What you just felt. When your tongue hurts, that’s called spicy.”

“That’s fine. It hurts, but it’s still edible.”

“No, don’t force yourself…”

Cuss’s lips were not just red but swollen.

She’s definitely the type who shouldn’t eat spicy food.

“It’s really okay! I don’t know why, but the taste is addictive.”

“Well… if you say so…”

They say girls like spicy food.

Seems like that’s true.

“KHAACK! My tongue stings! I mean, it’s spicy!”

“…”

Somehow, Juliane and I had finished our meals long ago, and now we were waiting for Cuss, who kept repeating the cycle of taking one bite, drinking water, taking another bite, and drinking more water.

Our eyes met occasionally, but I didn’t know what to say and it was awkward, so I just pretended to focus on Cuss.

Juliane also seemed a bit uncomfortable, silently looking back and forth between me and Cuss.

“Isn’t it about time for you to go?”

“Huh? Oh, right, work time… Thanks for reminding me.”

I just said that because it was uncomfortable being together.

And what work? This is your job.

“Keep eating. I’ll see Juliane out and come back.”

“Mmm…”

I brought three full cups of water for Cuss, who was still enthusiastically slurping noodles, then got up from the table with Juliane.

“Are you going to work now?”

“Yes. Thanks for breakfast.”

“Take care…”

“Ah! Wait a moment!”

“What is it?”

“Do you have any days off next week?”

“I do.”

“Would you like to meet up that day?”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“Goodbye.”

I slammed the door shut, ignoring her urgent voice.

I did it because I felt the conversation would drag on if I gave her a chance.

“Jinsoo?”

She keeps knocking on the door, but I decided to pretend I couldn’t hear it.

I was actually the one who approached this Justice Department woman first…

I wonder how much of an idiot I was before losing my memory.

“Pheee…”

When I returned to the dining table, the bowl was already empty.

Cuss had her head buried in the sink, drinking water directly from the faucet.

I can’t let her eat spicy food outside.

She seems to like it quite a bit, so I’ll let her eat as much as she wants when we’re at home.

“Hey. If you’re feeling better, come sit down here.”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to teach you some manners.”

I created a somewhat serious atmosphere and called Cuss over.

We need to finish some minimum preparation before she goes to school.

I’m going to crash-course her on etiquette and manners.

But my ambitious plan…

“So what do you do when someone speaks to you?”

“Grab their balls and twist them.”

“Son of a… Let’s just give up.”

It fell apart in less than an hour.