episode_0080

Pork cutlet is truly delicious.

Different from the thick beef, the unique tenderness of this pork, along with the juicy meat and crispy fried coating that flows out when you bite into it, drives me crazy.

If I were cursed to only eat two foods for the rest of my life, I would definitely choose fried food and carbonated drinks. Well, beer would be even better.

“Thanks for the meal.”

“Too bad…”

“What’s disappointing?”

Although my heart desires to devour a whole pig, my body just won’t allow it. No, I want to eat it. It’s like a congested highway that won’t let anything pass through.

“I can’t eat anymore. It’s so delicious.”

With a sullen expression, I stared at the pork cutlet on my fork, only for Siwoo to swiftly take it into his mouth.

He didn’t just snatch my fork, he lunged at it like a beast and devoured it.

“Mmm. Mmm….”

Wow. This bastard really knows how to eat well.

“Indeed. Your housemaids really cook well. Just like they did 14 years ago.”

I can’t remember that, but can you? Well, with two brains, maybe if you recall them separately and then combine them, you can retrieve all the memories with only half the effort.

“So, are you not going to eat everything?”

“Even if I want to, I can’t. Are you teasing me?”

“No, then I’ll eat it. Here, give it to me.”

“Go ahead and eat to your heart’s content, you pig.”

“I won’t gain weight even if I eat like this anyway.”

Jeong Siwoo consumes an excessive amount of calories in a day.

Compared to me three years ago…

He would wake up in the morning, rent out a practice room until his lesson, practice the piano vigorously, put even more effort into his lessons, return home to do arm exercises, squats, and back exercises for about 30 minutes before going to bed.

He wasn’t obsessed with working out like a gym rat, but at least he sweated profusely before pushing his body too far. He had to maintain a minimum level of stamina to be able to play the piano for over ten hours a day without collapsing from exhaustion.

However, after injuring his ribs, his daily routine began to crumble.

The routine that used to fill his day disappeared. He was so caught up in something that he didn’t even have time to think about a routine. He cut down on sleep to focus on practice, and over the years, he ruined his body.

“Well, he’s still okay for now.”

Jeong Siwoo received a month of rest due to his rib injury. At the same time, he gained Min Chaewon.

Additionally, he got the opportunity to walk with Strelka. With just that, his stamina would be preserved without any strain for the next three years, as long as his previous routine didn’t break.

“I can definitely make a musician with iron stamina.”

Not as bulky as the gym rat Santa Claus he saw at the pension, but he would surely have a body that would be recognized among humans.

Playing the piano requires skill and technique, but what is needed to develop those is stamina. Without stamina, you can’t do anything.

…Wait. How far did this guy go thinking about calorie consumption?

I may be a bit self-conscious, but lately, I keep thinking that his thoughts on calorie consumption are excessive.

“You can’t expect to lose weight when you play the piano like that.”

“Right. I should probably cut back.”

“Cut back?”

Words that should never have come out of my mouth three years ago are now coming out.

A guy who is a corpse without practice is thinking of reducing practice. Is he planning to become the world’s first zombie pianist?

“If you don’t cut back, we’ll have less time together.”

Rumble.

What’s that sound? It’s like a concrete wall collapsing.

The explosives stored in the warehouse exploded, causing a part of the building to blow up.

“Every time there’s no morning class, I have to walk Strelka and earn money to go on a date with you. I have to find my own color while taking private lessons with you. Apart from that, we also have to go on separate dates… Just practicing won’t cut it.”

Damn it. This damn bastard. Stop it!

“You’ve been practicing too ignorantly. It’s not just about increasing quantity, it’s about being careless. While it’s true that the piece you show at the competition should be perfectly polished… Remembering the wrong way of playing is meaningless, right?”

Fortunately, only the corner of the building blew up, so we urgently reinforced it with rebar and cement. Now we just have to wait for it to dry. The time in my mind’s warehouse flows faster than outside, so it only takes about 10 minutes—

“In that sense, the time we spend playing together like today is the most important. Don’t you think so too?”

Bang.

Kwaaaaah—

Bang bang bang bang bang.

Where is the frog crying? Chaewon, help me. There’s no answer here.

“Wait. Hold on.”

“What?”

“… Can you please shut your mouth? Please.”

Fortunately, only the ceiling of the warehouse blew up.

To prevent it from exploding again, let’s make it even stronger this time. Let’s cover it up as solidly as a nuclear power plant containment vessel.

But seriously, Min Chaewon, this is a big problem. Every time Jung Siwoo says a word, it explodes like crazy. What should the person in charge do if it keeps exploding like this? Reduce the amount of explosives, maybe.

‘Now he’s not even responding anymore…’

I’m starting to get confused about who I’m talking to. I put on the explosives, I’m the one who triggered them, and I’m the one responsible for the poor durability of the warehouse, but he’s not saying anything about it.

Min Chaewon.

‘……..’

Why are you so quiet, Chaewon? Huh?

I’m Chaewon, who are you calling Chaewon? That’s right…

… Huh?

“Hey. How long do I have to wait?”

Siwoo stared at me with his usual sharp eyes.

I receive that gaze with my whole body and think.

Who is it that responds to his gaze, words, actions, and touches?

“Ah. No, you can tell me.”

“…?”

That gaze that seems to ask why makes me feel like a fool.

I’m the only one surprised, the only one rambling, the only one with a racing heart, the only one feeling like a fool.

But I was called a fool from the beginning. Because half of Min Chaewon is in there, it’s only natural.

The woman who spent 14 years longing for Jung Siwoo became a part of me, but will I be compared to a man who only looked at the piano and didn’t think about Chaewon at all?

The sensitivity itself is completely different. When that guy pokes me with a needle, it’s like hitting me with a broadsword.

Even if the exchange rate is bad, it’s too bad. It’s worse than the early days of gasoline engines.

‘Let’s move on to an important conversation. Even if it’s forced…’

To avoid becoming a fool. To pull the initiative towards me. To get out of this situation where I’m the only one hesitating.

Let’s bring up another topic. If I just answer, he won’t be able to do cute things like before.

“Okay. Let’s talk about how to get rid of the white noise.”

Siwoo had an uneasy expression, but fortunately, he didn’t retort or drag out the conversation.

He looked strangely relaxed, and it made me feel uneasy.

Jung Siwoo, did you secretly meet Song Seonghyuk and take alpha mail tutoring? It doesn’t make sense since I didn’t tell you anything. But then…?

“First of all, here’s what I thought.”

Let’s calm down and focus on important tasks or thoughts.

What’s important now is getting rid of the white noise.

Talking about the operation, we’ll have time to repair the ammunition depot. It might take some time to build the atomic barrier, but we can quickly repair the blown ceiling.

“There’s no class on Friday afternoon. Have lunch and then stop by the professor’s house first.”

“Me? Alright. What’s next?”

“After that, contact me as you come out of the house. Make sure Baek Cheongha can hear you. Don’t mention my name directly, just let it slip subtly.”

“Subtly… Got it. What’s next?”

I proposed the plan, so I can probably remember it without taking notes. As long as it’s executed properly, I have no doubts. Siwoo won’t make a mistake.

“And then walk slowly to the meeting place.”

“…Make Baek Cheongha follow us?”

“Yes.”

“Meeting you in the city and showing a dating scene?”

Who put CCTV in my head?

“Will that work?”

“Just showing it should be enough for now. If Baek Cheongha can’t stand it, she’ll probably show up.”

“… I see. Should we use the last resort then?”

We probably won’t have to use it first. Baek Cheongha might throw a fit, but she won’t do it in front of you.

Siwoo’s eyes, looking down for a moment, coughed softly.

“It’s tutoring the next day. She’ll probably ask me what happened yesterday. I’ll confirm it then.”

“If she still acts like nothing happened during tutoring even if she knows, what should we do?”

“Well, we’ll have to keep showing it until she realizes it herself.”

“Hmm. Okay.”

Siwoo smiled slyly and shrugged his shoulders.

The guy who got up from his seat picked up the phone on the table with a confident expression.

“Well, I’m leaving for today.”

“Huh? … Oh. Yeah, you should go.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll come back tomorrow.”

I was surprised and stood up, hitting the table.

“You’re coming back?!”

“Why?”

I strictly followed what was regulated by law, but I didn’t bother to follow things that weren’t. I regret not living more uprightly now.

“There was no mention in the contract that you can’t come every day, right?”

Jeong Siwoo is a bad guy. Yes, he’s a bad guy.