episode_0012

When Kim Tae-hyun joined in, lunch preparation was quickly finished. It wasn’t as comfortable with one less hand to help.

“Wow, you can transform this like that.”

The menu I made was Bulgogi Pasta. By adding a little starch to the sauce to make it thick and using fettuccine pasta to allow the seasoning to adhere better, the taste could be felt more strongly. However, if the taste is too strong, it can become overwhelming, so by drizzling some spinach oil on top, you could achieve a fresh taste and slightly mellow out the seasoning.

Yes, if you think about it.

“You’ve reinterpreted Japchae into Western cuisine? And even mixed in Bulgogi.”

“Yes. Although it may look good, the feedback was quite positive. Hehe.”

Kim Tae-hyun chuckled.

“To whom?”

“Oh, to our son and daughter.”

“Pfft!”

What? Did this guy just laugh? He laughed, right?

“Who?”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry. Somehow, when you scolded me earlier, there was a sense of being a superior, but just now, I felt like a compassionate mother.”

My face blushed at his words.

“I-Is that so?”

Mother… Well, since my body has changed like this, sticking to the position of a father was becoming ambiguous, but I still needed time to accept it for both my children and myself.

Anyway, now it’s a step-family? Or a blended family? Anyway, whether it’s an external or internal family, roles are necessary. There was a sense of responsibility to fulfill both roles.

“Well, ahem! Anyway, let’s eat quickly.”

With that said, as we sat down at the table to start eating, Kim Tae-hyun tasted the pasta and praised it greatly.

“Mmm! Delicious. Amazing. This. It’s somewhat familiar yet different in taste? Texture? Anyway, it shouldn’t follow the typical Japchae taste, but maintain that nuance, and following Western cuisine in texture and composition is quite unique. Above all, this spinach oil adds such a refreshing aroma. How did you make it?”

Seeing Kim Tae-hyun giving feedback with a professional eye, I felt that asking him to taste it was a good decision.

“Making the oil is a bit cumbersome but not difficult. Slightly sauté the spinach to remove the raw taste, blend it with oil, then simmer it for a while, strain it through a sieve onto the pasta, and the oil alone will do the trick once cooled. With proper care, it can last up to a month.”

I generously shared my know-how, explaining the recipe to Kim Tae-hyun.

“Oh, I see. Ah, I think it would be fine to omit carrots here. It feels a bit cliché because it reminds me too much of Japchae. While it’s just my personal preference, perhaps serving the carrots as pickles might create a better harmony.”

I hadn’t thought of that.

“Well, that’s another option. Indeed, pickles might provide a fresher feeling compared to partially cooked carrot texture.”

I took out my phone and immediately made a note.

“Hmm….”

Kim Tae-hyun watched me closely.

“Why, why?”

“No, it’s just… Even though you’re on leave, you seem to be working hard. You’re helping us with our work, running a blog, and doing household chores alone now. Your children must be students.”

His serious gaze as he spoke somehow gave me a strange feeling. Should I say it was unsettling?

“Ah~ It’s just something I do because I like it. It’s work anyway, so I’ll adapt quickly when I return to work. I help where I can, and my blog has been one of my hobbies for years. As for the kids, they’re not someone else’s children; they’re mine, so of course, I have to take care of them.”

With a somewhat cold gaze, he murmured, “There are more people in this world who can’t do that.”

It seemed more sarcastic than cold? But soon, he seemed to return to his original self, seemingly embarrassed.

“Anyway, the meal was delicious.”

His plate was empty now, and he ate much faster compared to what I had left uneaten.

“Already done? Want some more of mine? I’m getting full.”

“Oh… Is it okay?”

“Oh, is it because I was eating it? Hehe.”

Quickly rejecting with his hand forward, Kim Tae-hyun took the remaining food on my plate.

“You ate well.”

As I watched him contentedly, Kim Tae-hyun made a slightly absent-minded remark.

“Wow, you really seemed like a mom just now.”

I lightly tapped Kim Tae-hyun’s shoulder at his words.

“What? Seriously! Are you going to treat me like an old person from now on?”

Though I was getting older, I was still in my thirties!

“Haha, sorry.”

He didn’t seem sorry at all, but I decided to let it go.

After finishing the meal, I made two cups of coffee and had tea time with Kim Tae-hyun.

“So, are you getting used to the company these days?”

“Yes, I’m gradually getting used to the work, and although Manager Kwon is strict, he teaches well when asked, so I’m enjoying learning.”

“Why did you join our company instead of continuing with cooking?”

Scratching his head, Kim Tae-hyun replied, “Oh, it felt like a regular employee meeting. Haha.”

Was it really like that? I casually asked out of curiosity, but it might have felt different from the subordinate’s perspective.

“Sorry, that wasn’t my intention. Well, isn’t it fine? We’ll get to know each other better when I return to work, and we won’t have time then.”

“Yes, yes?!”

Why was he so flustered?

“Well, to work together, it’s more important to know each other better, right? I’ve known Manager Kwon for 9 years already, but I’ve only spent a week with you. That was during my divorce chaos.”

“Oh, right…”

What was he thinking?

“I love cooking, but for practical reasons. Even star chefs cover restaurant losses through home shopping. After graduating college and working at a hotel for 3 years, I wondered if I could make a living doing this forever. I was skeptical. So, I looked for other jobs and ended up applying here.”

It was a very ordinary and realistic reason.

“Did you say this during the interview?”

“Haha, no way. The spirit of this company’s vision and products matched my life motto and direction. I thought I had to work here! That’s how it went.”

“As expected.” Despite knowing such facts, the HR manager, my colleague, complained about the need for formalities and procedures in the company. Our company still lags behind current corporate interview trends, lacking the horizontal structure, honesty, innovative questions and answers, and boldness. It’s a dull company.

“Honesty is nice. Do I seem easygoing?”

I asked him playfully.

“Haha, since Manager Gwajang treats me so comfortably, I feel at ease too.”

Well, it’s not good to be too relaxed at work. But it doesn’t matter since I’m off now.

“Since we’ve talked about where we live, motivation for working here, and delved into the past, what else should I ask….”

Then, an amusing question came to mind, and with a mischievous smile, I asked him.

“Hehe. So, do you have a girlfriend?”

Haha, how can I hold back from asking such personal questions in a professional setting?

“Uh, uh? Oh… no.”

Intrigued by Taehyun’s denial, I leaned in further, excitedly asking.

“Huh? Wait, earlier, Assistant Kwon mentioned that all the women at the company are taken, is that true? Anyone? Even just a crush? Or maybe someone you’re half interested in. Like, in Team 1, there’s a new hire. Taehyun, your colleague Sehana is nice, and in the Accounting Department, Miss Song is cute, and in HR, there’s Ms. Park Jungyeon… um, she’s five years older, right? It’s ambiguous. She seems fine from above, but being five years older than a guy is a bit awkward, isn’t it?”

Kim Taehyun quickly interjected, waving his hands.

“Oh, no. Age doesn’t matter to me anyway… but… she… was a bit too pushy.”

Ah, things might be getting awkward now. Dealing with such situations can be burdensome.

“I see. So, Taehyun, you prefer older women…”

Oh, what should I do? It’s been a while since I had such an interesting conversation! Am I being too much of a strict boss or maybe like a meddling aunt?

“Oh, that’s…!”

He seemed flustered by his own words, which was quite cute. I thought he was just a cheerful eccentric, but there’s more to him.

“Do you like taking care of and comforting others? Huh? Tell me. I’m curious.”

I couldn’t contain my interest and kept leaning towards him.

“Oh, no. It’s just… well. Younger girls than me lack responsibility… I prefer someone who’s responsible.”

“Ah, that’s admirable. But people your age usually enjoy a carefree culture, right? You can date different kinds of people when it comes to relationships. Just marry someone responsible.”

Taehyun then solemnly replied, “I’m sorry, but I find that kind of lifestyle repulsive. Irresponsible pleasure? That’s garbage.”

Seems like he values responsibility. As a superior, this could be a plus factor. Anyway, I apologized sincerely for my earlier remarks.

“Haha, sorry. Did I cross a line there? Oh, when did I say that?”

Taehyun returned to his default smiling expression, looking relieved by my quick apology.

“You can speak freely. I should have spoken first, but I foolishly hesitated and missed the timing… haha.”

“Is that so? Well, I don’t mind that. It’s not just a story for young people, but irresponsibility has its own charm. Being too strict may make you seem rigid, but having a sense of responsibility, whether in work or personal matters, shows that you understand the weight of things. Hmm, that’s good.”

Nodding approvingly, I looked at Taehyun, who seemed to be gazing below rather than meeting my eyes.

Following his gaze downward, I saw a heavy chunk of fat on the table.

“Why, worried about it?”

Well, as I still identify more strongly as a man, there was no immediate reaction like ‘Eek! Pervert!’ for looking at his chest. After all, isn’t there something called the law of universal gravitational attraction? It’s natural to look at something of a certain size.

“Ah, well, it’s my first time seeing it in person. The thing you put on the table. It was possible, as I saw it only on the internet…”

Me too, but really, this guy is still the same guy.

“Now that I see it, do you like older people…?”

Shocked to the core, he denies it.

“Oh, no. It’s not that I like that elegance or tolerance and that’s why I have a preference for older people. No!”

I looked at Kim Tae-hyun with a cold gaze and said.

“Oh, I see….”

And Kim Tae-hyun just lowered his head deeply, looking like he was in trouble.